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！
servants； and was then in a place of safety。 Would you like to know
what reply the count made？〃
〃I pray you； tell me；〃 responded Louis Charles； with a sigh。
〃He answered me； 'I advise you； cousin； not to put any confidence in
such idle stories； and not to be duped by any sly rogues。 My
unfortunate little nephew died in the Templethat is a fact
acknowledged by the republic； universally believed； and denied by no
one。 After long sufferings the son has fallen as a new victim to the
bloodthirsty republicans； and we are still wearing mourning for our
deceased nephew； King Louis XVII。 And should any wise…head happen on
the thought of making the dead boy come to life again； I will be the
first to disown him and hold him as an impostor。' Those were the
words of the count； and you will now confess that I am right in
calling him your enemy； and in not daring to communicate to him the
secret of your release？〃
〃I grant you；〃 replied the prince； sadly； 〃I would rather bury the
secret forever。〃
〃Now； hear me further。 A few weeks ago the prince summoned me； and I
saw on his sinister face and in his flashing eyes that he must have
received some unwelcome tidings。 He did not make me wait long for
the confirmation of my conjectures。 With a sharp； cutting voice he
asked me what kind of a nephew of mine that was whom I was educating
at my palace in Vendee。 General de Charette had given him
information through one of his emissaries sending him word that the
report was current in Vendee that this alleged nephew of mine was
the rescued King Louis XVII。； whom I had helped release from the
Temple。 He； General Charette； had believed it at first。 He had
therefore （so the prince went on to say） visited my palace recently；
for the purpose of discovering the supposed young king。 There he
convinced himself that the boy bore no resemblance to the little
Louis Charleswhom he had once seen at the Tuileriesand that he
certainly was not the son of Louis XVI。〃
〃He told me only too truly that he would have his revenge；〃
whispered the young prince。
〃He has kept his oath； for he has loudly and publicly declared his
belief that Louis XVII。 died in the Temple； and he has therefore
administered to his army an oath in favor of King Louis XVIII。that
is； the Count de Provence。 The count himself informed me of this；
and then added； threateningly； 'I advise； you； cousin； either to
acknowledge your young nephew； and treat him openly； or else put him
out of the way。 I advise you further； not to let yourself be imposed
upon by adventurers and impostors。 It is known that you were among
the most active adherents of Queen Marie Antoinette； and there may
be people who would work on your credulity and make you believe that
the poor little Louis Charles was really released from the Temple。
Do not deny that you parted with much money at that time； and
believed that it was wanted for the purpose of setting the young
King of France free。 It was a trap； set in view of your loyalty and
devotion； and you fell into it。 But you gave your money to no
effect； the poor； pitiable king could not be saved； and died in the
Temple as a prisoner of the republic。 Take care how you trust any
idle stories； for； I tell you； you would never bring me to put
confidence in them。 I am now the rightful King of FranceI am Louis
XVIII。and I am resolved not only to declare every pretender who
claims to be Louis XVII。 an impostor； but to bring him to punishment
as a traitor。 Mark this well； and therefore warn this mysterious
nephew of yours not to venture on playing out his comedy； for it
will assuredly change into tragedy； and end with his death。' These
were the words of the Count de Lille； and now you understand why I
have brought you so suddenly； and so secretly； away from my solitary
palace and have you here。〃
〃I understand every thing；〃 said Louis Charles； with a sigh； 〃I
understand； that it would have been better if you had never released
me； and I had died like my father and mother。〃
〃We must postpone the accomplishment of our hopes；〃 said Conde；
sadly； 〃for I confess to you； there is little to expect from the
present； and there is no place where you are safe from the
persecutions and the daggers of your enemies。 The republicans desire
your death as much as the royalists。 In France； two parties threaten
you； and would I now risk every thing； carry you to some European
court and acquaint the sovereign of your arrival； and ask for his
assistance； I should have no credence； for； not the French republic
alone； but the Count de Lille would protest against it； and disavow
you before all Europe。 It is； therefore； absolutely necessary； in
order to secure you against your enemies； that you should disappear
for a season； and that we patiently await the time which shall
permit us to bring you back upon the scenes。〃
〃Do you believe that time will ever come？〃 asked the little prince；
with a shake of the head。
〃I believe it； and； above every thing； I hope it；〃 replied Conde；
quickly。 〃The greatest difficulty is to find a place for you to
remain where you may not be suspected； and where yon may be safe
from assault。 To my great regret I cannot entertain you here； for my
family are too well known for me to suddenly acknowledge a
legitimate nephew of your age； and the Count de Lille would be the
last to believe it。 I confess that it has cost me a great deal of
disquiet and anxious thought to find a secure asylum for you。〃
〃And do you think you have found one at last？〃 asked Louis Charles；
indifferently。
〃Yes； I believe so； or rather； I know that I have found one。 You
must be taken to a place which no one can suspect as that where you
would be likely to be。〃
〃And what place is this？〃
〃It is called Mayence。〃
The boy； who had sat with downcast eyes； perhaps in order not to let
some tears be seen； looked quickly up； and the greatest astonishment
was depicted in his expressive features。
〃Mayence？〃 he asked。 〃Is not that a fortress on the Rhine which the
troops of the French republic have taken possession of？〃
〃Yes； and the commandant of Mayence； the head of the troops； is
General Kleber； one of the bravest and noblest soldiers of the
French republic。〃
〃And you； you want to send me to this General Kleber？ Ah； my prince；
that would be thrusting me； for the purpose of rescuing me from
persecution； into the very crater of the volcano。〃
〃It is not so bad as you suppose； my young friend。 General Kleber is
at heart a good and true royalist； and although he serves the
republic； he does so because he is first of all a soldier； a soldier
of his country； and because his country now has pressing need of
soldiers to defend the honor and glory of France。 I have sent a
trustworthy man to General Kleber to impart this secret to him； and
to ask him for protection； and a place of refuge for you。 General
Kleber is ready to grant both； and he has sent his adjutant to
Coblentz to escort his nephew to Mayence。 You are that nephew； and
if you give your consent； you will set out at once and go to
Mayence。〃
〃And if I do not give my consent？〃 asked Louis Charles； with a
proud； flashing look。
〃I confess；〃 said Conde； with a shrug〃I confess that I am not
prepared for that contingency； and cannot on the instant grasp all
the unfortunate results which would ensue on your refusal。〃
〃Be calmed； Conde； I do not refuse。 I have only this one thing to
care for； to cause no danger； and bring nothing disagreeable to you；
for I see that they are in store for you if I do not disappear again
from view。 The son of the king vanished from sight； to appear as the
nephew of Conde； and now the nephew of Conde is to vanish； to emerge
as the nephew of General Kleber。 Ah；who knows but I may yet be the
nephew of Simon the cobbler； preparatory to my last appearance on
the guillotine？〃
〃I hope； on the contrary； that on the day when France shall rise
again； you will rise too； the acknowledged son of Louis XVI。； and
the heir of the throne of France。 At present the republic has sway；
and there is no hope of an immediate change。 But that will not last
always； and in the decisive hour； when the monarchy and the republic
come to their last great battle for existenceat that hour you must
appear upon the field； must lift the lilies high in the air； and
summon the royalists to your side in the name of God； and of the
king your father。〃
〃And what if my uncle； the Count de Provence； then declares me to be
an impostor？〃
〃Then you must publicly and solemnly appeal to France； lay the
proofs of your lineage before the nation； summon unimpeachable
witnesses； and demand your throne of the French nation。 And believe
me； if the heart of France is compelled to choose between you and
the Count de Provence； it will not choose him； for the count has
never possessed the heart of the people； and God is just。〃
〃God is just；〃 replied Louis Charles； sadly〃God is just； and yet
the King and Queen of France have perished on the guillotine； and
their brother calls himself King of France； while the son of Louis
XVI。 must find shelter with a general of that French republic which
was the enemy of my parents。〃
〃It is true；〃 s