derues-第28章
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〃I do not know her。〃
〃But I know you； and know you well。 It was you who hired this cellar under the name of Ducoudray。〃
Derues shrugged his shoulders and answered bitterly
〃I can understand a man being condemned to the torture if he is guilty； but that in order to accomplish one's mission as accuser； and to discover a criminal； false witnesses who can give no evidence should be brought a hundred leagues； that the rabble should be roused up； that divers faces and imaginary names should be bestowed on an innocent man； in order to turn a movement of surprise or an indignant gesture to his disadvantage； all this is iniquitous； and goes beyond the right of judgment bestowed upon men by God。 I do not know this woman； and no matter what she says or does； I shall say no more。〃
Neither the skill nor threats of the police officer could shake this resolution。 It was to no purpose that the widow Masson repeated and asseverated that she recognised him as her tenant Ducoudray； and that he had had a large case of wine taken down into the cellar； Derues folded his arms； and remained as motionless as if he had been blind and deaf。
The walls were sounded； the stones composing them carefully examined； the floor pierced in several places； but nothing unusual was discovered。
Would they have to give it up？ Already the officer was making signs to this effect； when the man who had remained at first below with Monsieur de Lamotte； and who； standing in shadow； had carefully watched Derues when he was brought down； came forward； and pointing to the recess under the stairs； said
〃Examine this corner。 The prisoner glanced involuntarily in this direction when he came down； I have watched him； and it is the only sign he has given。 I was the only person who could see him； and he did not see me。 He is very clever； but one can't be for ever on one's guard； and may the devil take me if I haven't scented the hiding…place。〃
〃Wretch！〃 said Derues to himself； 〃then you have had your hand on me for a whole hour； and amused yourself by prolonging my agony！ Oh！ I ought to have known it； I have found my master。 Never mind； you shall learn nothing from my face； nor yet from the decaying body you will find； worms and poison can only have left an unrecognisable corpse。〃
An iron rod sunk into the ground； encountered a hard substance some four feet below。 Two men set to work； and dug with energy。 Every eye was fixed upon this trench increasing in depth with every shovelful of earth which the two labourers cast aside。 Monsieur de Lamotte was nearly fainting； and his emotion impressed everyone except Derues。 At length the silence was broken by the spades striking heavily on wood； and the noise made everyone shudder。 The chest was uncovered and hoisted out of the trench； it was opened； and the body of a woman was seen； clad only in a chemise； with a red and white headband； face downwards。 The body was turned over； and Monsieur de Lamotte recognised his wife； not yet disfigured。
The feeling of horror was so great that no one spoke or uttered a sound。 Derues； occupied in considering the few chances which remained to him； had not observed that； by the officer's order； one of the guards had left the cellar before the men began to dig。 Everybody had drawn back both from the corpse and the murderer； who alone had not moved； and who was repeating prayers。 The flame of the torches placed on the ground cast a reddish light on this silent and terrible scene。
Derues started and turned round on hearing a terrified cry behind him。 His wife had just been brought to the cellar。 The commissioner seized her with one hand； and taking a torch in the other； compelled her to look down on the body。
〃It is Madame de Lamotte！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Yes； yes；〃 she answered； overwhelmed with terror；〃 yes； I recognise her！〃
Unable to support the sight any longer； she grew pale and fainted away。 She and her husband were removed separately。 One would have supposed the discovery was already known outside； for the people showered curses and cries of 〃Assassin！〃 and 〃Poisoner！〃 on the carriage which conveyed Derues。 He remained silent during the drive； but before re…entering his dungeon； he said
〃I must have been mad when I sought to hide the death and burial of Madame de Lamotte from public knowledge。 It is the only sin I have committed； and； innocent of aught else； I resign myself as a Christian to the judgment of God。〃
It was the only line of defence which remained open to him； and he clung to it； with the hope of imposing on the magistrates by redoubled hypocrisy and pious observances。 But all this laboriously constructed scaffolding of lies was shaken to its base and fell away piece by piece。 Every moment brought fresh and overwhelming revelations。 He professed that Madame de Lamotte had died suddenly in his house； and that； fearing suspicion； he had buried her secretly。 But the doctors called on to examine the body declared that she had been poisoned with corrosive sublimate and opium。 The pretended payment was clearly an odious imposture； the receipt a forgery！ Then； like a threatening spectre； arose another question； to which he found no reply； and his own invention turned against him。
Why； knowing his mother was no more； had he taken young de Lamotte to Versailles？ What had become of the youth？ What had befallen； him？ Once on the track； the cooper with whom he had lodged on the 12th of February was soon discovered； and an Act of Parliament ordered the exhumation of the corpse buried under the name of Beaupre； which the cooper identified by a shirt which he had given for the burial。 Derues； confounded by the evidence； asserted that the youth died of indigestion and venereal disease。 But the doctors again declared the presence of corrosive sublimate and opium。 All this evidence of guilt he met with assumed resignation； lamenting incessantly for Edouard； whom he declared he had loved as his own son。 〃Alas！〃 he said； 〃I see that poor boy every night！ But it softens my grief to know that he was not deprived of the last consolations of religion！ God； who sees me； and who knows my innocence； will enlighten the magistrates； and my honour will be vindicated。〃
The evidence being complete； Derues was condemned by sentence of the Chatelet； pronounced April 30th； and confirmed by Parliament； May 5th。 We give the decree as it is found in the archives：
〃This Court having considered the trial held before the Provost of Paris； or his Deputy…Lieutenant at the Chatelet； for the satisfaction of the aforesaid Deputy at the aforesaid Chatelet； at the request of the Deputy of the King's Attorney General at the aforesaid Court； summoner and plaintiff； against Antoine…Francois Derues； and Marie…Louise Nicolais； his wife； defendants and accused； prisoners in the prisons of the Conciergerie of the Palace at Paris； who have appealed from the sentence given at the aforesaid trial； the thirtieth day of April 1777； by which the aforesaid Antoine…Francois Derues has been declared duly attainted and convicted of attempting unlawfully to appropriate without payment； the estate of Buissony Souef； belonging to the Sieur and Dame de Saint Faust de Lamotte； from whom he had bought the said estate by private contract on the twenty…second day of December 1775； and also of having unworthily abused the hospitality shown by him since the sixteenth day of December last towards the aforesaid Dame de Lamotte； who arrived in Paris on the aforesaid day in order to conclude with him the bargain agreed on in December 1775； and who； for this purpose； and at his request； lodged with her son in the house of the said Derues； who of premeditated design poisoned the said Dame de Lamotte； whether by a medicine composed and prepared by him on the thirtieth day of January last； or by the beverages and drinks administered by him after the aforesaid medicine （he having taken the precaution to send his servant into the country for two or three days； and to keep away strangers from the room where the said Dame de Lamotte was lying）； from the effects of which poison the said Dame de Lamotte died on the night of the said thirty…first day of January last； also of having kept her demis
