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！
〃Ah！ so you are the doctor from the Hotel Dieu。〃
〃Yes； my friend； I am Citizen Naudin。〃
〃Naudin； the chief physician at the Hotel Dieu？〃 cried Simon。 〃And
you come yourself to see my sick wife？〃
〃Does that surprise you； Citizen Simon？〃
〃Yes； indeed； it surprises me。 For I have been told so often that
Citizen Naudin； the greatest and most skilful physician in all
Paris； never leaves the Hotel Dieu； that the aristocrats and ci…
devants have begged him in vain to attend them； and that even the
Austrian woman； in the days when she was queen； sent to no purpose
to the celebrated Naudin； and begged him to come to Versailles。
We heard that the answer was： 'I am the physician of the poor and
the sick in the Hotel Dieu； and whoever is poor and sick may come to
me in the house which bears the name of God。 But whoever is too rich
and too well for that； must seek another doctor； for my duties with
the sick do not allow me to leave the H6tel Dieu。' And after that
answer reached the palaceso the great Doctor Marat told methe
queen had her horses harnessed； and drove to Paris； to consult
Doctor Naudin at the Hotel Dieu； and to receive his advice。 Is the
story really true； and are you Doctor Naudin？〃
〃The story is strictly true； and； my friend； I am Doctor Naudin。〃
〃And you now leave the Hotel Dieu to come and visit my sick wife？〃
asked Simon； with a pleasant look and a flattered manner。
〃Does your wife not belong to my poor and sick？〃 asked the doctor。
〃Is she not a woman of the people； this dear French people； to whom
I have devoted my services and my life？ For a queen Doctor Naudin
might not leave his hospital； but for a woman of the people he does
it。 And now； citizen； let me see your sick wife； for I did not come
here to talk。〃
Without waiting for Simon's answer； the physician walked up to the
bed； sat down on the chair in front of it； and began at once to
investigate the condition of the woman； who reached him her feverish
hand； and； with an almost inaudible voice； answered his professional
questions。
The cobbler stood at the foot of the bed； and directed his little
cunning eyes to the physician in amazement and admiration。 Behind
him； in the corner； sat the son of Marie Antoinette； humiliated；
still； and motionless。 Yet； in spite of the injunction of Jeanne
Marie； he had turned around； and was looking toward the bed； but not
to the knitter of the guillotine were his looks directed； but to
this venerable old gentleman with his powdered peruke； his satin
coat； silk stockings； breeches； shoe…buckles； gold embroidered
waistcoat and lace ruffles。 This costume reminded him of the past；
the halls of Versailles came back to him； and he saw before him the
shadowy figures of the cavaliers of that time； all clothed like the
dear old gentleman who was sitting before the bed there。
〃Why do you look at me in such a wondering way； Citizen Simon？〃
asked Naudin； who was now through with his examination。
〃I really wonderI really do wonder immensely；〃 said Simon； 〃and
that is saying much； for； in these times； when there are so many
changes； a man can hardly wonder at any thing。 Still I do wonder；
Citizen Naudin； that you can venture to go around in this costume。
That is the style of clothing worn by traitorous ci…devants and
aristocrats。 Anybody else who dare put it on would have only one
more walk to take； that to the guillotine； and yet you venture to
come here！〃
〃Venture？〃 repeated Naudin； with a shrug。 〃I venture nothing；
citizen。 I wear my clothes in conformity with a habit of years'
standing： they fitted well under the monarchy； they fit just as well
under the republic； and I am not going to be such a fool as to put
by my soft and comfortable silk clothes； and put on your hateful；
uncomfortable thick ones； and strut about in them。 I am altogether
too old to take up the new fashions； and altogether too well
satisfied with my own suit to learn how to wear your cloth coats
with swallow…tails； and your leather hose and top…boots。 Defend me
from crowding my old limbs into such stuffs！〃
〃Citizen doctor；〃 cried Simon； with a laugh； 〃you are a jolly； good
old fellow； and I like you well。 I do not blame you for preferring
your comfortable silk clothes to the new style that our
revolutionary heroes have brought into mode； that nothing might
remind us of the cursed； God…forsaken monarchy。 I wonder merely that
they allow it； and do not make you a head shorter！〃
〃But how would they go on with matters in the Hotel Dieu？ Without a
head nothing could be done with the sick and the suffering； for
without a head there is no thinking。 Now； as I am the head of the
hospital； and as they have no head to take my place； and as； in
spite of my old…fashioned clothes； my sick are cured； and have
confidence in me； the great revolutionary heroes wink at me； and let
me do as I please； for they know that under the silk dress of an
aristocrat beats the heart of a true democrat。 But that is not the
question before us now； citizen。 We want to talk about the health of
your wife here。 She is sick； she has a fever； and it will be worse
yet with her； unless we take prompt measures and provide a cooling
drink for her。〃
〃Do it； citizen doctor；〃 said Simon； 〃make my Jeanne Marie well and
bright again； or I shall go crazy here in this accursed house。
Jeanne Marie is sick just with this； that she is not accustomed to
be idle； and to sit still and fold her hands in her lap； and run
around like a wild beast in its cage。 But here in the Temple it is
no better than in a cage； and I tell you； citizen； it is enough to
make one crazy here； and it has made Jeanne sick to have no fresh
air； no exercise and work。〃
〃But why has she no exercise and no work？ Why does she not go out
into the street and take the air？〃
〃Because she cannot；〃 cried Simon； passionately。 〃Because the cursed
little viper there embitters our whole life and makes us prisoners
to this miserable； wretched prisoner； Look at him there； the
infernal little wolf！ he is the one to blame that I cannot go into
the street； cannot visit the clubs； the Convention； or any meeting；
but must lire here like a Trappist； or like an imprisoned criminal。
He is the one to blame that my wife can no longer take her place at
the guillotine； and knit and go on with her work there。〃
〃Yes；〃 cried Jeanne Marie； with a groan； raising her head painfully
from the pillow； 〃he is to blame for it all； the shameless rascal。
He has made me melancholy and sad； he has worried； and vexed； and
changed me！ Oh！ oh！ he is looking at me again； and his eyes burn
into my heart！〃
〃Miserable viper；〃 cried Simon； dashing toward the boy with clinched
fists； 〃how dare you turn your hateful eyes toward her； after her
expressly forbidding it？ Wait； I will teach you to disobey； and give
you a lesson that you will not forget。〃
His heavy hand fell on the back of the boy； and was raised again for
a second stroke； when it was held as in an iron vice。
〃You good…for…nothing； what are you doing？〃 cried a thundering
voice； and two blazing eyes flashed on him from the reddened face of
Doctor Naudin。
Simon's eyes fell before the angry look of the physician； then he
broke out into a loud laugh。
〃Citizen doctor； I say； what a jolly fellow you are；〃 he said；
merrily。 〃You did that just as if you were in a theatre； and you
called out to me just as they call out to the murderers in a
tragedy。 What do you make such a halloo about when I chastise the
wolf's cub a bit； as he has richly deserved？〃
〃It is true；〃 said Naudin； 〃I was a little hasty。 But that comes
from the fact； citizen； that I not only held you to be a good
republican； but a good man as well； and therefore it pained me to
see you do a thing which becomes neither a republican nor a good
man。〃
〃Why； what have I done that is not proper？〃 asked Simon； in
amazement。
〃Look at him； the poor； beaten； swollen； stupefied boy；〃 said
Naudin； solemnly； pointing to Louis； who sat on his chair； weeping
and trembling in all his limbs〃look at him； citizen； and then do
not ask me again what you have done that is not proper。〃
〃Well； but he deserves nothing better；〃 cried Simon； with a sneer。
〃He is the son of the she…wolf； Madame Veto。〃
〃He is a human being；〃 said Doctor Naudin； solemnly； 〃and he is；
besides； a helpless boy； whom the one； indivisible； and righteous
republic deprived of his father and mother； and put under your care
to be educated as if he were a son of your own。 I ask you； citizen；
would you have struck a son of your own as you just struck this
boy？〃
A loud； convulsive sob came from the bed on which Jeanne Marie lay；
and entirely confused and disturbed Simon。
〃No；〃 he said； softly； 〃perhaps I should not have done it。 But；〃
continued he eagerly； and with a grim look； 〃a child of my own would
not have tried and exasperated me as this youngster does。 From
morning till evening he vexes me； for he does nothing that I want
him to。 If I order him to sing with me； he is still and stupid； and
when he ought to be still he makes a noise。 Would you believe me；
citizen； this son of the she…wolf leaves me no quiet for sleep。
Lately； in the night； he knee