按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Vautrin seemed thunderstruck。 He turned pale； and staggered back。 He turned his magnetic glance； like a ray of vivid light； on Mlle。 Michonneau； the old maid shrank and trembled under the influence of that strong will； and collapsed into a chair。 The mask of good…nature had dropped from the convict's face； from the unmistakable ferocity of that sinister look； Poiret felt that the old maid was in danger； and hastily stepped between them。 None of the lodgers understood this scene in the least； they looked on in mute amazement。 There was a pause。 Just then there was a sound of tramping feet outside； there were soldiers there； it seemed； for there was a ring of several rifles on the pavement of the street。 Collin was mechanically looking round the walls for a way of escape； when four men entered by way of the sitting…room。
〃In the name of the King and the Law！〃 said an officer； but the words were almost lost in a murmur of astonishment。
Silence fell on the room。 The lodgers made way for three of the men； who had each a hand on a cocked pistol in a side pocket。 Two policemen； who followed the detectives； kept the entrance to the sitting…room； and two more men appeared in the doorway that gave access to the staircase。 A sound of footsteps came from the garden； and again the rifles of several soldiers rang on the cobblestones under the window。 All chance of salvation by flight was cut off for Trompe…la…Mort； to whom all eyes instinctively turned。 The chief walked straight up to him； and commenced operations by giving him a sharp blow on the head； so that the wig fell off； and Collin's face was revealed in all its ugliness。 There was a terrible suggestion of strength mingled with cunning in the short； brick…red crop of hair； the whole head was in harmony with his powerful frame； and at that moment the fires of hell seemed to gleam from his eyes。 In that flash the real Vautrin shone forth； revealed at once before them all； they understood his past； his present； and future； his pitiless doctrines； his actions； the religion of his own good pleasure； the majesty with which his cynicism and contempt for mankind invested him； the physical strength of an organization proof against all trials。 The blood flew to his face； and his eyes glared like the eyes of a wild cat。 He started back with savage energy and a fierce growl that drew exclamations of alarm from the lodgers。 At that leonine start the police caught at their pistols under cover of the general clamor。 Collin saw the gleaming muzzles of the weapons； saw his danger； and instantly gave proof of a power of the highest order。 There was something horrible and majestic in the spectacle of the sudden transformation in his face； he could only be compared to a cauldron full of the steam that can send mountains flying； a terrific force dispelled in a moment by a drop of cold water。 The drop of water that cooled his wrathful fury was a reflection that flashed across his brain like lightning。 He began to smile； and looked down at his wig。
〃You are not in the politest of humors to…day；〃 he remarked to the chief； and he held out his hands to the policemen with a jerk of his head。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃put on the bracelets or the handcuffs。 I call on those present to witness that I make no resistance。〃
A murmur of admiration ran through the room at the sudden outpouring like fire and lava flood from this human volcano； and its equally sudden cessation。
〃There's a sell for you； master crusher；〃 the convict added； looking at the famous director of police。
〃Come； strip！〃 said he of the Petite Rue Saint…Anne； contemptuously。
〃Why？〃 asked Collin。 〃There are ladies present； I deny nothing； and surrender。〃
He paused； and looked round the room like an orator who is about to overwhelm his audience。
〃Take this down； Daddy Lachapelle；〃 he went on； addressing a little； white…haired old man who had seated himself at the end of the table； and after drawing a printed form from the portfolio； was proceeding to draw up a document。 〃I acknowledge myself to be Jacques Collin； otherwise known as Trompe…la…Mort； condemned to twenty years' penal servitude； and I have just proved that I have come fairly by my nickname。If I had as much as raised my hand；〃 he went on； addressing the other lodgers； 〃those three sneaking wretches yonder would have drawn claret on Mamma Vauquer's domestic hearth。 The rogues have laid their heads together to set a trap for me。〃
Mme。 Vauquer felt sick and faint at these words。
〃Good Lord！〃 she cried； 〃this does give one a turn； and me at the Gaite with him only last night！〃 she said to Sylvie。
〃Summon your philosophy； mamma；〃 Collin resumed。 〃Is it a misfortune to have sat in my box at the Gaite yesterday evening？ After all； are you better than we are？ The brand upon our shoulders is less shameful than the brand set on your hearts； you flabby members of a society rotten to the core。 Not the best man among you could stand up to me。〃 His eyes rested upon Rastignac； to whom he spoke with a pleasant smile that seemed strangely at variance with the savage expression in his eyes。〃Our little bargain still holds good； dear boy； you can accept any time you like！ Do you understand？〃 And he sang：
〃A charming girl is my Fanchette In her simplicity。〃
〃Don't you trouble yourself；〃 he went on； 〃I can get in my money。 They are too much afraid of me to swindle me。〃
The convicts' prison； its language and customs； its sudden sharp transitions from the humorous to the horrible； its appalling grandeur； its triviality and its dark depths； were all revealed in turn by the speaker's discourse； he seemed to be no longer a man； but the type and mouthpiece of a degenerate race； a brutal； supple； clear…headed race of savages。 In one moment Collin became the poet of an inferno； wherein all thoughts and passions that move human nature （save repentance） find a place。 He looked about him like a fallen archangel who is for war to the end。 Rastignac lowered his eyes； and acknowledged this kinship claimed by crime as an expiation of his own evil thoughts。
〃Who betrayed me？〃 said Collin； and his terrible eyes traveled round the room。 Suddenly they rested on Mlle。 Michonneau。
〃It was you； old cat！〃 he said。 〃That sham stroke of apoplexy was your doing； lynx eyes！ 。 。 。 Two words from me； and your throat would be cut in less than a week； but I forgive you； I am a Christian。 You did not sell me either。 But who did？Aha！ you may rummage upstairs；〃 he shouted； hearing the police officers opening his cupboards and taking possession of his effects。 〃The nest is empty； the birds flew away yesterday； and you will be none the wiser。 My ledgers are here；〃 he said tapping his forehead。 〃Now I know who sold me！ It could only be that blackguard Fil…de…Soie。 That is who it was； old catchpoll； eh？〃 he said； turning to the chief。 〃It was timed so neatly to get the banknotes up above there。 There is nothing left for youspies！ As for Fil…de…Soie； he will be under the daisies in less than a fortnight； even if you were to tell off the whole force to protect him。 How much did you give the Michonnette？〃 he asked of the police officers。 〃A thousand crowns？ Oh you Ninon in decay； Pompadour in tatters； Venus of the graveyard； I was worth more than that！ If you had given me warning； you should have had six thousand francs。 Ah！ you had no suspicion of that； old trafficker in flesh and blood； or I should have had the preference。 Yes； I would have given six thousand francs to save myself an inconvenient journey and some loss of money；〃 he said； as they fastened the handcuffs on his wrists。 〃These folks will amuse themselves by dragging out this business till the end of time to keep me idle。 If they were to send me straight to jail； I should soon be back at my old tricks in spite of the duffers at the Quai des Orfevres。 Down yonder they will all turn themselves inside out to help their generaltheir good Trompe…la…Mortto get clear away。 Is there a single one among you that can say； as I can； that he has ten thousand brothers ready to do anything for him？〃 he asked proudly。 〃There is some good there；〃 he said tapping his heart； 〃I have never betrayed any one！Look you here； you slut；〃 he said to the old maid； 〃they are all afraid of me； do you see？ but the sight of you turns them sick。 Rake in your gains。〃
He was silent for a moment； and looked round at the lodgers' faces。
〃What dolts you are； all of you！ Have you never seen a convict before？ A convict of Collin's stamp； whom you see before you； is a man less weak…kneed than others； he lifts up his voice against the colossal fraud of the Social Contract； as Jean Jacques did； whose pupil he is proud to declare himself。 In short； I stand here single…handed against a Government and a whole subsidized machinery of tribunals and police； and I am a match for them all。〃
〃Ye gods！〃 cried the painter； 〃what a magnificent sketch one might make of him！〃
〃Look here； you gentlemen…in…waiting to his highness the gibbet； master of ceremonies to the widow〃 （a nickname full of sombre poetry； given by prisoners to the guillotine）； 〃be a good fellow； and tell me if it really was Fil…de…Soie who sold me。 I don't want him to suffer for some one else； that would not be fair。〃