marie antoinette and her son-第125章
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Paris。
〃Well；〃 cried the woman； with a loud laugh； helping Mistress Simon
dismount from the wagon〃 well； you have come at last。 For two
hours I have been waiting for you； for you ordered me to be here at
eleven； and now it is one。 What will my husband and my little boy
say about my coming home so late？〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Jeanne Marie； with a kindly voice。 〃Our
ride was a good deal slower than I thought； for the things were
packed only loosely； and if we had ridden faster they would easily
have been injured。 But； I will not detain you longer； and you shall
have my wash at once。 There are a great many clothes this time； and
I have therefore thrown them all at once into the basket； so you can
put the basket right upon your wagon and bring the things back in
it。 Halloa； Simon； and you； commissioner； take hold and lift the
basket down； and carry it out to the washerwoman's wagon that is
standing near the gate。〃
The two men immediately lifted the great basket out； and carried it
to the open cart which stood there； in which lay arranged in regular
order great bundles of dirty linen。 Near the gate stood the sub…
collector； whose superior Simon now was； and it therefore did not
occur to him to examine the basket which his new chief was putting
in the washerwoman's wagon。 Some busybodies who stood around turned
their whole attention to the wagon which contained the furniture and
goods of the new collector； who was； of course； a very important
person in this remote quarter； and Jeanne Marie endeavored with her
loud words and choleric gesticulations to fasten the attention of
the idlers upon herself。 Nobody regarded the two men； who had just
put the basket into the washerwoman's cart； and no one heard the
words that they softly spoke together。
The washerwoman had raised the cover； and was rolling around the
clothes； as if she wanted to examine the contents of the basket。
〃Sire；〃 she whispered； softly； as she did so〃sire； do you hear
me？〃
A weak； faint voice replied； 〃I hear you。〃
〃And shall you be able to bear it； if you stay a little longer in
your hiding…place？〃
〃Oh yes； I shall be able to bear it； but I am anxious； and I should
like to be away from here。〃
The washerwoman closed the cover of the basket； and sprang down from
the wagon。 〃Every thing is in order；〃 she said； 〃and it is high time
that I should be off。 I have a long way to go； and my husband and
child are expecting me。〃
〃Then go； with God's blessing；〃 said the commissioner； shaking hands
with the washerwoman as if she were an old acquaintance。〃 Go； with
God's blessing； and may He protect you from all calamity； and bless
you with happiness and joy！〃
He spoke loudly； as if this was intended for the ear of some person
besides the washerwoman。 And another had heard the words of Toulan；
and a soft and tremulous voice called： 〃Farewell； Fidele； I thank
you； dear Toulan。〃
The wagon was at once in motion； and drove quickly down the street
through the rows of small houses in the suburbs。 The two men stood
and looked after it till the washerwoman's carriage disappeared in a
cloud of dust。
Toulan raised his eyes slowly to heaven； and a pious expression
illumined his good； energetic countenance。
〃Thou lookest down upon me； my queen and mistress；〃 he said； softly
and inaudibly。〃 I feel the glance of thy heavenly eyes； and it rests
like a hallowed blessing upon my thankful heart。 I know； my queen；
that thou art satisfied with me this hour； and it seems to me as if
thy loved voice were whispering above me in the air the word Fidele。
Give me now thy blessing； that I may end my work； and rescue the
daughter and the sister as I have rescued the son。 My life is
devoted to thy service； and I shall save all thy dear ones or die！〃
〃Well； Toulan；〃 said Simon； softly； 〃I have kept my word； and little
Capet is released。 Are you going to keep yours？〃
〃Certainly I shall；〃 said Toulan； whose glance slowly fell from
heaven； and whose face still glowed like one in a trance。 〃Yes；
Simon； I shall keep my word to you as you have yours to me。 Come
into your house； that I may pay you。〃
He withdrew quickly from the gate and entered the house which
thereafter was to be the house of the collector Simon。 All was going
on busily there； for Jeanne Marie had impressed into her service not
only the sub…collector but some of the curious spectators； and she
scolded her husband； who was just coming in with Toulan； for talking
too long with the washerwoman instead of helping her。
〃Do you two take the heavy mattresses and carry them into the next
room。〃
The two men quickly obeyed； and bore the mattresses into the
chamber。 Then they locked themselves in。
Toulan took several rolls from the great waistcoat which he wore
under his blue blouse； broke them asunder； and let the gold…pieces
fall out upon the mattress。
〃Count them； Simon；〃 he said； 〃to see that there are exactly two
hundred and fifty double gold…pieces； all bearing the exalted
symbols of 'he one； great； and indivisible republic。' May they bring
you joy； and be a reward for the great good fortune which you have
brought to me； and to all who love the king and his house。〃
〃But will no one reveal me？〃 asked Simon； anxiously； while busily
engaged in collecting the gold…pieces； and hiding them between the
mattresses。 〃Say； Toulan； will no one divulge and report me to the
authorities？〃
〃Be quiet； Simon； and fear nothing。 To betray you； would be at the
same time to betray the great cause which we serve； and to surrender
the young king to the persecution of his enemies。 But no one knows；
excepting me； that of your own free will you have helped save the
king。 With express reference to your safety； I have made all the
other allies believe that I have deceived you； and that you know
nothing of the concealment of the child。 So be entirely without
concern。 Only Toulan knows your secret； and Toulan is silent as the
grave。 But let us go out now and help your wife bring the things
into the house； and afterward you can let me go without any further
leave…taking。 Farewell； citizen； may you be entirely successful in
your new field of labor。〃
He nodded with a friendly air to Simon； and as Jeanne Marie just
then called the commissioner with a loud voice； Toulan hastily
opened the door and hurried to her。
Simon followed him with a long； dark look。 Then he slowly shook his
head； and his eye kindled。
〃It must be；〃 he said to himself； softly。 〃I should otherwise have
no rest day or night； and it would be worse than in the Temple。 He
said so himself： only Toulan knows my secret。 So if Toulan dies； my
secret dies with Toulan； and is buried with him； and I cart then
enjoy my life； and shall not need to live in anxiety； and in
perpetual fear of being betrayed。 But；〃 he continued； after a brief
pause； 〃what is done； must be done quickly； otherwise I may fall
into the very pit I have digged for Toulan！ If the little Capet is
fairly carried to a place of safety； and escapes out of the
republic； Toulan can avenge himself by reporting the whole story and
bringing me to misfortune。 I must； therefore； while I am secure；
take away from the fellow the means of betraying me。 Yes； yes； it
must be so； Toulan must die； that Simon may live。 Look out for your
own self first； and then your neighbors。〃
With a decided step； Simon left the room； and entered the chamber；
where Toulan was busy with Jeanne Marie in arranging the furniture。
〃I am glad to find you here still；〃 said Simon； nodding to him； 〃for
I had entirely forgotten to tell you that I have a present for you；
which will certainly please you； and which I have saved and laid
away expressly for you。〃
〃What is it； Simon？ What kind of a present have you for me？〃
〃A very precious one； at least such as you and your like will
consider so； I think。 I have the long； yellow locks which Jeanne
Marie cut yesterday from little Capet's head。〃
〃And will you give them to me？〃 asked Toulan； eagerly。
〃Yes； that will I； and it is for that purpose that I have brought
them along。 They are lying； with all the letters； in my work…box。
But I cannot get at them to…day in all the c
