第 5 节
作者:莫莫言      更新:2021-02-27 01:49      字数:9322
  empty decanter。
  Monsieur Hermann continued his narrative after the slight pause
  occasioned by this interruption。'
  The next morning Prosper Magnan was awakened by a great noise。 He
  seemed to hear piercing cries; and he felt that violent shuddering of
  the nerves which we suffer when on awaking we continue to feel a
  painful impression begun in sleep。 A physiological fact then takes
  place within us; a start; to use the common expression; which has
  never been sufficiently observed; though it contains very curious
  phenomena for science。 This terrible agony; produced; possibly; by the
  too sudden reunion of our two natures separated during sleep; is
  usually transient; but in the poor young surgeon's case it lasted; and
  even increased; causing him suddenly the most awful horror as he
  beheld a pool of blood between Wahlenfer's bed and his own mattress。
  The head of the unfortunate German lay on the ground; his body was
  still on the bed; all its blood had flowed out by the neck。
  Seeing the eyes still open but fixed; seeing the blood which had
  stained his sheets and even his hands; recognizing his own surgical
  instrument beside him; Prosper Magnan fainted and fell into the pool
  of Wahlenfer's blood。 〃It was;〃 he said to me; 〃the punishment of my
  thoughts。〃 When he recovered consciousness he was in the public room;
  seated on a chair; surrounded by French soldiers; and in presence of a
  curious and observing crowd。 He gazed stupidly at a Republican officer
  engaged in taking the testimony of several witnesses; and in writing
  down; no doubt; the 〃proces…verbal。〃 He recognized the landlord; his
  wife; the two boatmen; and the servant of the Red Inn。 The surgical
  instrument which the murderer had used
  'Here Monsieur Taillefer coughed; drew out his handkerchief to blow
  his nose; and wiped his forehead。 These perfectly natural motions were
  noticed by me only; the other guests sat with their eyes fixed on
  Monsieur Hermann; to whom they were listening with a sort of avidity。
  The purveyor leaned his elbow on the table; put his head into his
  right hand and gazed fixedly at Hermann。 From that moment he showed no
  other sign of emotion or interest; but his face remained passive and
  ghastly; as it was when I first saw him playing with the stopper of
  the decanter。'
  The surgical instrument which the murderer had used was on the table
  with the case containing the rest of the instruments; together with
  Prosper's purse and papers。 The gaze of the assembled crowd turned
  alternately from these convicting articles to the young man; who
  seemed to be dying and whose half…extinguished eyes apparently saw
  nothing。 A confused murmur which was heard without proved the presence
  of a crowd; drawn to the neighborhood of the inn by the news of the
  crime; and also perhaps by a desire to see the murderer。 The step of
  the sentries placed beneath the windows of the public room and the
  rattle of their accoutrements could be heard above the talk of the
  populace; but the inn was closed and the courtyard was empty and
  silent。
  Incapable of sustaining the glance of the officer who was gathering
  his testimony; Prosper Magnan suddenly felt his hand pressed by a man;
  and he raised his eyes to see who his protector could be in that crowd
  of enemies。 He recognized by his uniform the surgeon…major of the
  demi…brigade then stationed at Andernach。 The glance of that man was
  so piercing; so stern; that the poor young fellow shuddered; and
  suffered his head to fall on the back of his chair。 A soldier put
  vinegar to his nostrils and he recovered consciousness。 Nevertheless
  his haggard eyes were so devoid of life and intelligence that the
  surgeon said to the officer after feeling Prosper's pulse;
  〃Captain; it is impossible to question the man at this moment。〃
  〃Very well! Take him away;〃 replied the captain; interrupting the
  surgeon; and addressing a corporal who stood behind the prisoner。 〃You
  cursed coward!〃 he went on; speaking to Prosper in a low voice; 〃try
  at least to walk firmly before these German curs; and save the honor
  of the Republic。〃
  This address seemed to wake up Prosper Magnan; who rose and made a few
  steps forward; but when the door was opened and he felt the fresh air
  and saw the crowd before him; he staggered and his knees gave way
  under him。
  〃This coward of a sawbones deserves a dozen deaths! Get on!〃 cried the
  two soldiers who had him in charge; lending him their arms to support
  him。
  〃There he is!oh; the villain! the coward! Here he is! There he is!〃
  These cries seemed to be uttered by a single voice; the tumultuous
  voice of the crowd which followed him with insults and swelled at
  every step。 During the passage from the inn to the prison; the noise
  made by the tramping of the crowd and the soldiers; the murmur of the
  various colloquies; the sight of the sky; the coolness of the air; the
  aspect of Andernach and the shimmering of the waters of the Rhine;
  these impressions came to the soul of the young man vaguely;
  confusedly; torpidly; like all the sensations he had felt since his
  waking。 There were moments; he said; when he thought he was no longer
  living。
  I was then in prison。 Enthusiastic; as we all are at twenty years of
  age; I wished to defend my country; and I commanded a company of free
  lances; which I had organized in the vicinity of Andernach。 A few days
  before these events I had fallen plump; during the night; into a
  French detachment of eight hundred men。 We were two hundred at the
  most。 My scouts had sold me。 I was thrown into the prison of
  Andernach; and they talked of shooting me; as a warning to intimidate
  others。 The French talked also of reprisals。 My father; however;
  obtained a reprieve for three days to give him time to see General
  Augereau; whom he knew; and ask for my pardon; which was granted。 Thus
  it happened that I saw Prosper Magnan when he was brought to the
  prison。 He inspired me with the profoundest pity。 Though pale;
  distracted; and covered with blood; his whole countenance had a
  character of truth and innocence which struck me forcibly。 To me his
  long fair hair and clear blue eyes seemed German。 A true image of my
  hapless country。 I felt he was a victim and not a murderer。 At the
  moment when he passed beneath my window he chanced to cast about him
  the painful; melancholy smile of an insane man who suddenly recovers
  for a time a fleeting gleam of reason。 That smile was assuredly not
  the smile of a murderer。 When I saw the jailer I questioned him about
  his new prisoner。
  〃He has not spoken since I put him in his cell;〃 answered the man。 〃He
  is sitting down with his head in his hands and is either sleeping or
  reflecting about his crime。 The French say he'll get his reckoning to…
  morrow morning and be shot in twenty…four hours。〃
  That evening I stopped short under the window of the prison during the
  short time I was allowed to take exercise in the prison yard。 We
  talked together; and he frankly related to me his strange affair;
  replying with evident truthfulness to my various questions。 After that
  first conversation I no longer doubted his innocence; I asked; and
  obtained the favor of staying several hours with him。 I saw him again
  at intervals; and the poor lad let me in without concealment to all
  his thoughts。 He believed himself both innocent and guilty。
  Remembering the horrible temptation which he had had the strength to
  resist; he feared he might have done in sleep; in a fit of
  somnambulism; the crime he had dreamed of awake。
  〃But your companion?〃 I said to him。
  〃Oh!〃 he cried eagerly。 〃Wilhelm is incapable of〃
  He did not even finish his sentence。 At that warm defence; so full of
  youth and manly virtue; I pressed his hand。
  〃When he woke;〃 continued Prosper; 〃he must have been terrified and
  lost his head; no doubt he fled。〃
  〃Without awaking you?〃 I said。 〃Then surely your defence is easy;
  Wahlenfer's valise cannot have been stolen。〃
  Suddenly he burst into tears。
  〃Oh; yes!〃 he cried; 〃I am innocent! I have not killed a man! I
  remember my dreams。 I was playing at base with my schoolmates。 I
  couldn't have cut off the head of a man while I dreamed I was
  running。〃
  Then; in spite of these gleams of hope; which gave him at times some
  calmness; he felt a remorse which crushed him。 He had; beyond all
  question; raised his arm to kill that man。 He judged himself; and he
  felt that his heart was not innocent after committing that crime in
  his mind。
  〃And yet; I AM good!〃 he cried。 〃Oh; my poor mother! Perhaps at this
  moment she is cheerfully playing boston with the neighbors in her
  little tapestry salon。 If she knew that I had raised my hand to murder
  a manoh! she would die of it! And I AM in prison; accused of
  committing that crime! If I have not killed a man; I have certainly
  killed my mother!〃
  Saying these words he wept no longer; he was seized by that sho