第 110 节
作者:北方网      更新:2021-02-21 16:34      字数:9322
  examined every article of furniture that was put into it; opening
  even the bandboxes and pillows to look into them。 Not; as he said;
  the Welfare Committee doubted the honesty of the faithful and
  zealous servant of the republic; but only to satisfy the forms; and
  to comply with the laws; which demanded that the authorities should
  have a watchful eye on every thing that was at all connected with
  the family of the tyrants。
  〃And you will do me a great pleasure if you will examine every thing
  with the utmost care。 In the republic we are all alike; and I do not
  see why I should not be served to…day as another would be on the
  morrow。 You know; probably; that I have been appointed collector at
  Porte Macon; and after to…morrow I shall have to inspect the goods
  of other people。 It is all fair that I should have my turn to…day。
  Besides; you will not have much more to examine; we are almost
  through; I believe there is only a basket with the soiled clothes
  yet to come。 That is the sacred possession of my wife; and she was
  going to bring it out herself; with the commissioner's help。 Yes;
  there they come。〃
  At that moment; Jeanne Marie appeared in the court; followed by
  Toulan。 They brought along; by two ropes which served as handles; a
  large and longish basket; whose half…opened cover brought to view
  all kinds of women's clothes。
  〃Room there;〃 cried Simon; with a laugh; 〃room for the Citoyenne
  Simon and her costly dowry!〃
  〃Come; no joking; Simon;〃 said his wife; threatening him with her
  fist and laughing。 〃If my dowry is not costly enough; I will only
  ask you to provide me with better things。〃
  〃Your dowry is magnificent;〃 said Simon; 〃and there is not a single
  article lacking to make it complete。 Come; I will help the
  commissioner put the basket in the wagon; for it is too heavy for
  you; my fairest one!〃
  He took hold of the basket with his strong arm; and helped the
  commissioner swing it into the wagon。
  〃But let me look first into the basket; as my duty demands;〃 said
  the official。 〃You are too quick! You know; citizen; that I must
  examine all your goods。 The law compels me to。〃
  〃Then I beg you to climb up into the wagon and open the basket;〃
  said Simon; calmly。 〃You cannot want us to take the heavy thing down
  again for you to examine it。〃
  〃I do not ask that; citizen; but I must examine the basket。〃
  The official sprang into the wagon; but Jeanne Marie was quicker
  than he; and stood close by the basket; whose cover was partly
  opened。
  〃Look in; citizen;〃 she said; with dignity。 〃Convince yourself that
  only the clothing of a woman is in it; and then tell the republic
  that you found it necessary to examine the basket of the famous
  knitter of the guillotine; as if Jeanne Marie was a disguised
  duchess; who wanted to fly from the hand of justice。〃
  〃I beg your pardon;〃 said the official; 〃every one knows and honors
  the knitter of the guillotine; but〃
  〃But you are curious; and want to see some of my clothes。 Well; look
  at them!〃 She raised those which lay at the top; and held them up to
  the official with a laugh。
  〃And down below? What is farther down in the basket?〃
  〃Farther down;〃 replied Jeanne Marie; with an expression of the
  greatest indignation and the most outraged modesty; 〃farther down
  are my dirty clothes; and I hope the republic will not consider it
  necessary to examine these too。 I would at least oppose it; and call
  every female friend I have to my help。〃 'Footnote: Madame Simon's
  own words; reported from her own account; which she gave in the year
  1810 to the Sisters of Mercy who cared for her in her last sickness。
  The sisterhood of the female hospital in the rue Sevres publicly
  repeated; in the year 1851; this statement of Jeanne Marie Simon;
  who died there in 1819。 It was in the civil process brought against
  the Duke de Normandy; who was accused of giving himself out falsely
  as King Louis XVII。; and who could not be proved not to be he。'
  〃Oh! you will not have to do that;〃 replied the official; with a
  friendly nod of the head。 〃It would be presumptuous to go farther
  with the examination of your goods; and the republic regards with
  respect the mysteries of an honorable wife。〃
  He jumped down from the wagon; while Jeanne Marie; still wearing an
  angry look; laid the clothes back into the basket; and shut the
  cover down。
  〃Can we go now?〃 she asked; taking her seat on a low stool which
  happened to be near the great basket。
  〃Yes; if the official has nothing against it; we can go;〃 answered
  Simon。 〃Our goods are all loaded。〃
  〃Then go on; I have nothing against it; and I wish you and your wife
  much happiness and joy in your new career。〃
  The official waved them a last gracious adieu with the hand; and the
  wagon started。 Alongside of the great; hard…mouthed and long…haired
  horse that drew the cart; walked the commissioner; in order; once in
  a while; when they had to turn a corner; to seize the bridle and
  give it a powerful jerk。 At the side of the wagon strode Simon;
  keeping a watchful eye upon his possessions; and carefully setting
  every thing aright which was in danger of being shaken off upon the
  pavement。 Above in the carriage near the great basket sat Jeanne
  Marie; the former knitter of the guillotine。 Her naked brown arm
  rested upon the basket; on whose bottom; covered with dirty linen
  and Mistress Simon's clothes; was the son of Marie Antoinette; King
  Louis XVII。; making his entrance into the world which should have
  for him only sufferings and illusions; shattered hopes and dethroned
  ideals。
  This happened on the 19th of January; 1794; and on the very day in
  which the unhappy King Louis XVII。 was leaving the Temple; his
  sister Theresa; who was still living with her Aunt Elizabeth in the
  upper rooms; wrote in her diary (known subsequently by the title
  〃Recit des evenements arrives au Temple; par Madame Royale〃) the
  following words: 〃On the 19th of January my aunt and I heard beneath
  us; in the room of my brother; a great noise which made us suspect
  that my brother was leaving the Temple。
  We were convinced of it when; looking through the keyhole of the
  door; we saw goods carried away。 On the following day we heard the
  door of the room; in which my brother had been; opened; and
  recognized the steps of men walking around; which confirmed us in
  the belief that he had been carried away。〃
  The pitiful wagon; which gave its hospitality to the knitter of the
  revolution; as well as to a king; drove slowly and carefully through
  the streets; unnoticed by the people who hastily passed by。 Now and
  then they encountered a commissioner who came up to Toulan; greeted
  him as an acquaintance; and asked after his welfare。 Toulan nodded
  to them confidentially and answered them loudly that he was very
  well; and that he was helping Simon move out of the Temple and going
  with him to Porte Macon。
  The commissioners then wished him a pleasant journey; and went their
  way; but the farther they were from the wagon; the quicker were
  their steps; and here and there they met other commissioners; to
  whom they repeated Toulan's words; and who then went from there and
  again told them over to their friends in the streets; in quiet;
  hidden chambers; and in brilliant palaces。 In one such palace the
  tidings caused a singular commotion。 Count Frotte; who lived there;
  and whom the public permitted to live in Paris; ordered his
  travelling carriage to be brought out at once。 The postilion; with
  four swift horses; had already stood in the court below half an
  hour; waiting for this order。 The horses were quickly harnessed to
  the carriage; which was well filled with trunks; and scarcely had it
  reached the front door; when the count hurried down the grand
  staircase; thickly wrapped in his riding…furs。 At his right sat a
  little boy of scarcely ten years; a velvet cap; trimmed with fur;
  upon his short; fair hair; the slender; graceful form concealed with
  a long velvet cloak; that fell down as far as the shoes with golden;
  jewelled buckles。
  Count Frotte seemed to bestow special care and attention upon this
  boy; for he not only had him sit on his right; but remained standing
  near the door; to give precedence to the boy; and then hastened to
  follow him。 He pressed the servants back who stood near the open
  door; bowed respectfully; and gave his hand to the lad to assist him
  in ascending。 The youth received these tokens of respect quietly;
  and seemed to take it as a matter of course that Count Frotte should
  carefully put furs around his feet and body; in order to protect him
  from every draft。 As soon as this was done; the count entered the
  carriage; and took his place at the left of the boy。 The servant
  closed the carriage…door with a loud slam; and the steward advanced
  with respectful mien; and asked whither the count would order to go。
  〃The road to Puy;〃 said the count; with a loud voice; and the
  steward repeated to the postilion just as loudly and clearly; 〃The
  road to Puy。〃
  The carriage drove thunderingly out of the court…door; and the
  servant looked after it till it disappeared; and then followed the
  house…steward; who motioned him to come into the cabinet。
  〃I have something to tell you; citizen;〃 s