an historical mystery-第48章

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was　rejected。　The　Imperial　Court　of　Paris　was　by　this　time　instituted。
Monsieur　de　Grandville　was　appointed　assistant　attorney…general；　and
the　department　of　the　Aube　coming　under　the　jurisdiction　of　this
court；　it　became　possible　for　him　to　take　certain　steps　in　favor　of
the　convicted　prisoners；　among　them　that　of　importuning　Cambaceres；
his　protector。　Bordin　and　Monsieur　de　Chargeboeuf　came　to　his　house　in
the　Marais　the　day　after　the　appeal　was　rejected；　where　they　found　him
in　the　midst　of　his　honeymoon；　for　he　had　married　in　the　interval。　In
spite　of　all　these　changes　in　his　condition；　Monsieur　de　Chargeboeuf
saw　very　plainly　that　the　young　lawyer　was　faithful　to　his　late
clients。　Certain　lawyers；　the　artists　of　their　profession；　treat　their
causes　like　mistresses。　This　is　rare；　however；　and　must　not　be
depended　on。

As　soon　as　they　were　alone　in　his　study；　Monsieur　de　Grandville　said
to　the　marquis：　〃I　have　not　waited　for　your　visit；　I　have　already
employed　all　my　influence。　Don't　attempt　to　save　Michu；　if　you　do；　you
cannot　obtain　the　pardon　of　the　Messieurs　de　Simeuse。　The　law　will
insist　on　one　victim。〃

〃Good　God！〃　cried　Bordin；　showing　the　young　magistrate　the　three
petitions　for　mercy；　〃how　can　I　take　upon　myself　to　withdraw　the
application　for　that　man。　If　I　suppress　the　paper　I　cut　off　his　head。〃

He　held　out　the　petition；　de　Grandville　took　it；　looked　it　over；　and
said：

〃We　can't　suppress　it；　but　be　sure　of　one　thing；　if　you　ask　all　you
will　obtain　nothing。〃

〃Have　we　time　to　consult　Michu？〃　asked　Bordin。

〃Yes。　The　order　for　execution　comes　from　the　office　of　the　attorney…
general；　I　will　see　that　you　have　some　days。　We　kill　men；〃　he　said
with　some　bitterness；　〃but　at　least　we　do　it　formally；　especially　in
Paris。〃

Monsieur　de　Chargeboeuf　had　already　received　from　the　chief　justice
certain　information　which　added　weight　to　these　sad　words　of　Monsieur
de　Grandville。

〃Michu　is　innocent；　I　know；〃　continued　the　young　lawyer；　〃but　what　can
we　do　against　so　many？　Remember；　too；　that　my　present　influence
depends　on　my　keeping　silent。　I　must　order　the　scaffold　to　be
prepared；　or　my　late　client　is　certain　to　be　beheaded。〃

Monsieur　de　Chargeboeuf　knew　Laurence　well　enough　to　be　certain　she
would　never　consent　to　save　her　cousins　at　the　expense　of　Michu；　he
therefore　resolved　on　making　one　more　effort。　He　asked　an　audience　of
the　minister　of　foreign　affairs　to　learn　if　salvation　could　be　looked
for　through　the　influence　of　the　great　diplomat。　He　took　Bordin　with
him；　for　the　latter　knew　the　minister　and　had　done　him　some　service。
The　two　old　men　found　Talleyrand　sitting　with　his　feet　stretched　out；
absorbed　in　contemplation　of　his　fire；　his　head　resting　on　his　hand；
his　elbow　on　the　table；　a　newspaper　lying　at　his　feet。　The　minister
had　just　read　the　decision　of　the　Court　of　Appeals。

〃Pray　sit　down；　Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　said　Talleyrand；　〃and　you；
Bordin；〃　he　added；　pointing　to　a　place　at　the　table；　〃write　as
follows：〃

　　Sire；Four　innocent　gentlemen；　declared　guilty　by　a　jury　have
　　just　had　their　condemnation　confirmed　by　your　Court　of　Appeals。

　　Your　Imperial　Majesty　can　now　only　pardon　them。　These　gentlemen
　　ask　this　pardon　of　your　august　clemency；　in　the　hope　that　they　may
　　enter　your　army　and　meet　their　death　in　battle　before　your　eyes；
　　and　thus　praying；　they　are；　of　your　Imperial　and　Royal　Majesty；
　　with　reverence；　etc。

〃None　but　princes　can　do　such　prompt　and　graceful　kindness；〃　said　the
Marquis　de　Chargeboeuf；　taking　the　precious　draft　of　the　petition　from
the　hands　of　Bordin　that　he　might　have　it　signed　by　the　four
gentlemen；　resolving　in　his　own　mind　that　he　would　also　obtain　the
signatures　of　several　august　names。

〃The　life　of　your　young　relatives；　Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　said　the
minister；　〃now　depends　on　the　turn　of　a　battle。　Endeavor　to　reach　the
Emperor　on　the　morning　after　a　victory　and　they　are　saved。〃

He　took　a　pen　and　himself　wrote　a　private　and　confidential　letter　to
the　Emperor；　and　another　of　ten　lines　to　Marechal　Duroc。　Then　he　rang
the　bell；　asked　his　secretary　for　a　diplomatic　passport；　and　said
tranquilly　to　the　old　lawyer；　〃What　is　your　honest　opinion　of　that
trial？〃

〃Do　you　know；　monseigneur；　who　was　at　the　bottom　of　this　cruel　wrong？〃

〃I　presume　I　do；　but　I　have　reasons　to　wish　for　certainty；〃　replied
Talleyrand。　〃Return　to　Troyes；　bring　me　the　Comtesse　de　Cinq…Cygne；
here；　to…morrow　at　the　same　hour；　but　secretly；　ask　to　be　ushered　into
Madame　de　Talleyrand's　salon；　I　will　tell　her　you　are　coming。　If
Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne；　who　shall　be　placed　where　she　can　see　a
man　who　will　be　standing　before　me；　recognizes　that　man　as　an
individual　who　came　to　her　house　during　the　conspiracy　of　de　Polignac
and　Riviere；　tell　her　to　remember　that；　no　matter　what　I　say　or　what
he　answers　me；　she　must　not　utter　a　word　nor　make　a　gesture。　One　thing
more；　think　only　of　saving　the　de　Simeuse　brothers；　don't　embarrass
yourself　with　that　scoundrel　of　a　bailiff〃

〃A　sublime　man；　monseigneur！〃　exclaimed　Bordin。

〃Enthusiasm！　in　you；　Bordin！　The　man　must　be　remarkable。　Our　sovereign
has　an　immense　self…love；　Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　he　said；　changing　the
conversation。　〃He　is　about　to　dismiss　me　that　he　may　commit　follies
without　warning。　The　Emperor　is　a　great　soldier　who　can　change　the
laws　of　time　and　distance；　but　he　cannot　change　men；　yet　he　persists
in　trying　to　run　them　in　his　own　mould！　Now；　remember　this；　the　young
men's　pardon　can　be　obtained　by　one　person　onlyMademoiselle　de　Cinq…
Cygne。〃

The　marquis　went　alone　to　Troyes　and　told　the　whole　matter　to
Laurence。　She　obtained　permission　from　the　authorities　to　see　Michu；
and　the　marquis　accompanied　her　to　the　gates　of　the　prison；　where　he
waited　for　her。　When　she　came　out　her　face　was　bathed　in　tears。

〃Poor　man！〃　she　said；　〃he　tried　to　kneel　to　me；　praying　that　I　would
not　think　of　him；　and　forgetting　the　shackles　that　were　on　his　feet！
Ah；　marquis；　I　/will/　plead　his　cause。　Yes；　I'll　kiss　the　boot　of
their　Emperor。　If　I　failwell；　the　memory　of　that　man　shall　live
eternally　honored　in　our　family。　Present　his　petition　for　mercy　so　as
to　gain　time；　meantime　I　am　resolved　to　have　his　portrait。　Come；　let
us　go。〃

The　next　day；　when　Talleyrand　was　informed　by　a　sign　agreed　upon　that
Laurence　was　at　her　post；　he　rang　the　bell；　his　orderly　came　to　him；
and　received　orders　to　admit　Monsieur　Corentin。

〃My　friend；　you　are　a　very　clever　fellow；〃　said　Talleyrand；　〃and　I
wish　to　employ　you。〃

〃Monsiegneur〃

〃Listen。　In　serving　Fouche　you　will　get　money；　but　never　honor　nor　any
position　you　can　acknowledge。　But　in　serving　me；　as　you　have　lately
done　at　Berlin；　you　can　win　credit　and　repute。〃

〃Monseigneur　is　very　good。〃

〃You　displayed　genius　in　that　late　affair　at　Gondreville。〃

〃To　what　does　Monseigneur　allude？〃　said　Corentin；　with　a　manner　that
was　neither　too　reserved　nor　too　surprised。

〃Ah；　Monsieur！〃　observed　the　minister；　dryly；　〃you　will　never　make　a
successful　man；　you　fear〃

〃What；　monseigneur？〃

〃Death！〃　replied　Talleyrand；　in　his　fine；　deep　voice。　〃Adieu；　my　good
friend。〃

〃That　is　the　man；〃　said　the　Marquis　de　Chargeboeuf　entering　the　room
after　Corentin　was　dismissed；　〃but　we　have　nearly　killed　the
countess。〃

〃He　is　the　only　man　I　know　capable　of　playing　such　a　trick；〃　replied
the　minister。　〃Monsieur　le　marquis；　you　are　in　danger　of　not
succeeding　in　your　mission。　Start　ostensibly　for　Strasburg；　I'll　send
you　double　passports　in　blank　to　be　filled　out。　Provide　yourself　with
substitutes；　change　your　route　and　above　all　your　carriage；　let　your
substitutes　go　on　to　Strasburg；　and　do　you　reach　Prussia　through
Switzerland　and　Bavaria。　Not　a　wordprudence！　The　police　are　against
you；　and　you　do　not　know　what　the　police　are〃

Mademoiselle　de　Cinq…Cygne　offered　the　then　celebrated　Robert　Lefebvre
a　sufficient　sum　to　induce　him　to　go　to　Troyes　and　take　Michu's
portrait。　Monsieur　de　Grandville　promised　to　afford　the　painter　every
possible　facility。　Monsieur　de　Chargeboeuf　then　started　in　the　old
/berlingot/；　with　Laurence　and　a　servant　who　spoke　German。　Not　far
from　Nancy　they　overtook　Mademois