marquise de brinvilliers-第16章

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〃Admonished　that　she　should　tell　the　composition　of　the　poisons　and　their　antidotes；　she　said　that　she　did　not　know　what　was　in　them；　the　only　thing　she　could　recall　was　toads；　that　Sainte…Croix　never　revealed　his　secret　to　her；　that　she　did　not　believe　he　made　them　himself；　but　had　them　prepared　by　Glazer；　she　seemed　to　remember　that　some　of　them　contained　nothing　but　rarefied　arsenic；　that　as　to　an　antidote；　she　knew　of　no　other　than　milk；　and　Sainte…Croix　had　told　her　that　if　one　had　taken　milk　in　the　morning；　and　on　the　first　onset　of　the　poison　took　another　glassful；　one　would　have　nothing　to　fear。

〃Admonished　to　say　if　she　could　add　anything　further；　she　said　she　had　now　told　everything；　and　if　they　killed　her；　they　could　not　extract　anything　more。

〃More　water　was　given；　she　writhed　a　little；　and　said　she　was　dead；　but　nothing　more。

〃More　water　was　given；　she　writhed　more　violently；　but　would　say　no　more。

〃Yet　again　water　was　given；　writhing　and　twisting；　she　said；　with　a　deep　groan；　'O　my　God；　I　am　killed！'　but　would　speak　no　more。〃

Then　they　tortured　her　no　further：　she　was　let　down；　untied；　and　placed　before　the　fire　in　the　usual　manner。　　While　there；　close　to　the　fire；　lying　on　the　mattress；　she　was　visited　by　the　good　doctor；　who；　feeling　he　could　not　bear　to　witness　the　spectacle　just　described；　had　asked　her　leave　to　retire；　that　he　might　say　a　mass　for　her；　that　God　might　grant　her　patience　and　courage。　　It　is　plain　that　the　good　priest　had　not　prayed　in　vain。

〃Ah；〃　said　the　marquise；　when　she　perceived　him；　〃I　have　long　been　desiring　to　see　you　again；　that　you　might　comfort　me。　　My　torture　has　been　very　long　and　very　painful；　but　this　is　the　last　time　I　shall　have　to　treat　with　men；　now　all　is　with　God　for　the　future。　　See　my　hands；　sir；　and　my　feet；　are　they　not　torn　and　wounded？　　Have　not　my　executioners　smitten　me　in　the　same　places　where　Christ　was　smitten？〃

〃And　therefore；　madame；〃　replied　the　priest；　〃these　sufferings　now　are　your　happiness；　each　torture　is　one　step　nearer　to　heaven。　　As　you　say；　you　are　now　for　God　alone；　all　your　thoughts　and　hopes　must　be　fastened　upon　Him；　we　must　pray　to　Him；　like　the　penitent　king；　to　give　you　a　place　among　His　elect；　and　since　nought　that　is　impure　can　pass　thither；　we　must　strive；　madame；　to　purify　you　from　all　that　might　bar　the　way　to　heaven。〃

The　marquise　rose　with　the　doctor's　aid；　for　she　could　scarcely　stand；　tottering；　she　stepped　forward　between　him　and　the　executioner；　who　took　charge　of　her　immediately　after　the　sentence　was　read；　and　was　not　allowed　to　leave　her　before　it　was　completely　carried　out。　　They　all　three　entered　the　chapel　and　went　into　the　choir；　where　the　doctor　and　the　marquise　knelt　in　adoration　of　the　Blessed　Sacrament。　　At　that　moment　several　persons　appeared　in　the　nave；　drawn　by　curiosity。　　They　could　not　be　turned　out；　so　the　executioner；　to　save　the　marquise　from　being　annoyed；　shut　the　gate　of　the　choir；　and　let　the　patient　pass　behind　the　altar。　　There　she　sat　down　in　a　chair；　and　the　doctor　on　a　seat　opposite；　then　he　first　saw；　by　the　light　of　the　chapel　window；　how　greatly　changed　she　was。　Her　face；　generally　so　pale；　was　inflamed；　her　eyes　glowing　and　feverish；　all　her　body　involuntarily　trembling。　　The　doctor　would　have　spoken　a　few　words　of　consolation；　but　she　did　not　attend。　〃Sir；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　know　that　my　sentence　is　an　ignominious　one？　Do　you　know　there　is　fire　in　the　sentence？〃

The　doctor　gave　no　answer；　but；　thinking　she　needed　something；　bade　the　gaoler　to　bring　her　wine。　　A　minute　later　he　brought　it　in　a　cup；　and　the　doctor　handed　it　to　the　marquise；　who　moistened　her　lips　and　then　gave　it　back。　　She　then　noticed　that　her　neck　was　uncovered；　and　took　out　her　handkerchief　to　cover　it；　asking　the　gaoler　for　a　pin　to　fasten　it　with。　　When　he　was　slow　in　finding　a　pin；　looking　on　his　person　for　it；　she　fancied　that　he　feared　she　would　choke　herself；　and　shaking　her　head；　said；　with　a　smile；　〃You　have　nothing　to　fear　now；　and　here　is　the　doctor；　who　will　pledge　his　word　that　I　will　do　myself　no　mischief。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　gaoler；　handing　her　the　pin　she　wanted；　〃I　beg　your　pardon　for　keeping　you　waiting。　　I　swear　I　did　not　distrust　you；　if　anyone　distrusts　you；　it　is　not　I。〃

Then　kneeling　before　her；　he　begged　to　kiss　her　hand。　　She　gave　it；　and　asked　him　to　pray　to　God　for　her。　　〃Ah　yes；〃　he　cried；　sobbing；　〃with　all　my　heart。〃　　She　then　fastened　her　dress　as　best　she　could　with　her　hands　tied；　and　when　the　gaoler　had　gone　and　she　was　alone　with　the　doctor；　said：

〃Did　you　not　hear　what　I　said；　sir？　　I　told　you　there　was　fire　in　my　sentence。　　And　though　it　is　only　after　death　that　my　body　is　to　be　burnt；　it　will　always　be　a　terrible　disgrace　on　my　memory。　　I　am　saved　the　pain　of　being　burnt　alive；　and　thus；　perhaps；　saved　from　a　death　of　despair；　but　the　shamefulness　is　the　same；　and　it　is　that　I　think　of。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃it　in　no　way　affects　your　soul's　salvation　whether　your　body　is　cast　into　the　fire　and　reduced　to　ashes　or　whether　it　is　buried　in　the　ground　and　eaten　by　worms；　whether　it　is　drawn　on　a　hurdle　and　thrown　upon　a　dung…heap；　or　embalmed　with　Oriental　perfumes　and　laid　in　a　rich　man's　tomb。　Whatever　may　be　your　end；　your　body　will　arise　on　the　appointed　day；　and　if　Heaven　so　will；　it　will　come　forth　from　its　ashes　more　glorious　than　a　royal　corpse　lying　at　this　moment　in　a　gilded　casket。　Obsequies；　madame；　are　for　those　who　survive；　not　for　the　dead。〃

A　sound　was　heard　at　the　door　of　the　choir。　　The　doctor　went　to　see　what　it　was；　and　found　a　man　who　insisted　on　entering；　all　but　fighting　with　the　executioner。　　The　doctor　approached　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。　　The　man　was　a　saddler；　from　whom　the　marquise　had　bought　a　carriage　before　she　left　France；　this　she　had　partly　paid　for；　but　still　owed　him　two　hundred　livres。　　He　produced　the　note　he　had　had　from　her；　on　which　was　a　faithful　record　of　the　sums　she　had　paid　on　account。　　The　marquise　at　this　point　called　out；　not　knowing　what　was　going　on；　and　the　doctor　and　executioner　went　to　her。　　〃Have　they　come　to　fetch　me　already？〃　said　she。　　〃I　am　not　well　prepared　just　at　this　moment；　but　never　mind；　I　am　ready。〃

The　doctor　reassured　her；　and　told　her　what　was　going　on。　　〃The　man　is　quite　right；〃　she　said　to　the　executioner；　〃　tell　him　I　will　give　orders　as　far　as　I　can　about　the　money。〃　　Then；　seeing　the　executioner　retiring；　she　said　to　the　doctor；　〃　Must　I　go　now；　sir？　I　wish　they　would　give　me　a　little　more　time；　for　though　I　am　ready；　as　I　told　you；　I　am　not　really　prepared。　　Forgive　me；　father；　it　is　the　question　and　the　sentence　that　have　upset　me　it　is　this　fire　burning　in　my　eyes　like　hell…flames。

Had　they　left　me　with　you　all　this　time；　there　would　now　be　better　hope　of　my　salvation。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃you　will　probably　have　all　the　time　before　nightfall　to　compose　yourself　and　think　what　remains　for　you　to　do。〃

〃Ah；　sir；〃　she　replied；　with　a　smile；　〃do　not　think　they　will　show　so　much　consideration　for　a　poor　wretch　condemned　to　be　burnt。　　That　does　not　depend　on　ourselves；　but　as　soon　as　everything　is　ready；　they　will　let　us　know；　and　we　must　start。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I　am　certain　that　they　will　give　you　the　time　you　need。〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　replied　abruptly　and　feverishly；　〃no；　I　will　not　keep　them　waiting。　　As　soon　as　the　tumbril　is　at　this　door；　they　have　only　to　tell　me；　and　I　go　down。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃I　would　not　hold　you　back　if　I　found　you　prepared　to　stand　before　the　face　of　God；　for　in　your　situation　it　is　right　to　ask　for　no　time；　and　to　go　when　the　moment　is　come；　but　not　everyone　is　so　ready　as　Christ　was；　who　rose　from　prayer　and　awaked　His　disciples　that　He　might　leave　the　garden　and　go　out　to　meet　His　enemies。　　You　at　this　moment　are　weak；　and　if　they　come　for　you　just　now　I　should　resist　your　departure。〃

〃Be　calm；　the　time　is　not　yet　come；〃　said　the　executioner；　who　had　heard　this　talk。　　He　knew　his　statement　must　be　believed；　and　wished　as　far　as　possible　to　reassure　the　marquise。　　〃There　is　no　hurry；　and　we　cannot　start　for　another　two　of　three　hours。〃

This　assurance　calmed　the　marquise　somewhat；　and　she　thanked　the　man。　Th