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！
tions； it is well known that his bed had not been made for months； that he had not left his room； nor was permitted to leave it； for any purpose whatever； that it was consequently uninhabitable； and that he was covered with vermin and with sores。 The swellings at his knees alone were sufficient to disable him from walking。 One of the commissioners approached the young Prince respectfully。 The latter did not raise his head。 Harmond in a kind voice begged him to speak to them。 The eyes of the boy remained fixed on the table before him。 They told him of the kindly intentions of the Government； of their hopes that he would yet be happy； and their desire that he would speak unreservedly to the medical man that was to visit him。 He seemed to listen with profound attention； but not a single word passed his lips。 It was an heroic principle that impelled that poor young heart to maintain the silence of a mute in presence of these men。 He remembered too well the days when three other commissaries waited on him； regaled him with pastry and wine； and obtained from him that hellish accusation against the mother that he loved。 He had learnt by some means the import of the act； so far as it was an injury to his mother。 He now dreaded seeing again three commissaries； hearing again kind words； and being treated again with fine promises。 Dumb as death itself he sat before them； and remained motionless as stone； and as mute。〃 ＇THIERS＇
His disease now made rapid progress； and Gomin and Lasne； superintendents of the Temple； thinking it necessary to inform the Government of the melancholy condition of their prisoner； wrote on the register： 〃Little Capet is unwell。〃 No notice was taken of this account； which was renewed next day in more urgent terms： 〃Little Capet is dangerously ill。〃 Still there was no word from beyond the walls。 〃We must knock harder；〃 said the keepers to each other； and they added； 〃It is feared he will not live；〃 to the words 〃dangerously ill。〃 At length； on Wednesday； 6th May； 1795； three days after the first report； the authorities appointed M。 Desault to give the invalid the assistance of his art。 After having written down his name on the register he was admitted to see the Prince。 He made a long and very attentive examination of the unfortunate child； asked him many questions without being able to obtain an answer； and contented himself with prescribing a decoction of hops； to be taken by spoonfuls every half…hour； from six o'clock in the morning till eight in the evening。 On the first day the Prince steadily refused to take it。 In vain Gomin several times drank off a glass of the potion in his presence； his example proved as ineffectual as his words。 Next day Lasne renewed his solicitations。 〃Monsieur knows very well that I desire nothing but the good of his health； and he distresses me deeply by thus refusing to take what might contribute to it。 I entreat him as a favour not to give me this cause of grief。〃 And as Lasne； while speaking； began to taste the potion in a glass； the child took what he offered him out of his hands。 〃You have； then； taken an oath that I should drink it；〃 said he； firmly； 〃well； give it me； I will drink it。〃 From that moment he conformed with docility to whatever was required of him； but the policy of the Commune had attained its object； help had been withheld till it was almost a mockery to supply it。
The Prince's weakness was excessive； his keepers could scarcely drag him to the； top of the Tower； walking hurt his tender feet； and at every step he stopped to press the arm of Lasne with both hands upon his breast。 At last he suffered so much that it was no longer possible for him to walk； and his keeper carried him about； sometimes on the platform； and sometimes in the little tower； where the royal family had lived at first。 But the slight improvement to his health occasioned by the change of air scarcely compensated for the pain which his fatigue gave him。 On the battlement of the platform nearest the left turret； the rain had； by perseverance through ages； hollowed out a kind of basin。 The water that fell remained there for several days； and as； during the spring of 1795； storms were of frequent occurrence； this little sheet of water was kept constantly supplied。 Whenever the child was brought out upon the platform； he saw a little troop of sparrows； which used to come to drink and bathe in this reservoir。 At first they flew away at his approach； but from being accustomed to see him walking quietly there every day； they at last grew more familiar； and did not spread their wings for flight till he came up close to them。 They were always the same； he knew them by sight； and perhaps like himself they were inhabitants of that ancient pile。 He called them his birds； and his first action； when the door into the terrace was opened； was to look towards that side； and the sparrows were always there。 He delighted in their chirping； and he must have envied them their wings。
Though so little could be done to alleviate his sufferings； a moral improvement was taking place in him。 He was touched by the lively interest displayed by his physician； who never failed to visit him at nine o'clock every morning。 He seemed pleased with the attention paid him； and ended by placing entire confidence in M。 Desault。 Gratitude loosened his tongue； brutality and insult had failed to extort a murmur； but kind treatment restored his speech he had no words for anger； but he found them to express his thanks。 M。 Desault prolonged his visits as long as the officers of the municipality would permit。 When they announced the close of the visit； the child； unwilling to beg them to allow a longer time； held back M。 Desault by the skirt of his coat。 Suddenly M。 Desault's visits ceased。 Several days passed and nothing was heard of him。 The keepers wondered at his absence； and the poor little invalid was much distressed at it。 The commissary on duty （M。 Benoist） suggested that it would be proper to send to the physician's house to make inquiries as to the cause of so long an absence。 Gomin and Larne had not yet ventured to follow this advice； when next day M。 Benoist was relieved by M。 Bidault； who； hearing M。 Desault's name mentioned as he came in； immediately said； 〃You must not expect to see him any more； he died yesterday。〃
M。 Pelletan； head surgeon of the Grand Hospice de l'Humanite； was next directed to attend the prisoner； and in June he found him in so alarming a state that he at once asked for a coadjutor； fearing to undertake the responsibility alone。 The physiciansent for form's sake to attend the dying child； as an advocate is given by law to a criminal condemned beforehandblamed the officers of the municipality for not having removed the blind； which obstructed the light； and the numerous bolts； the noise of which never failed to remind the victim bf his captivity。 That sound； which always caused him an involuntary shudder； disturbed him in the last mournful scene of his unparalleled tortures。 M。 Pelletan said authoritatively to the municipal on duty； 〃If you will not take these bolts and casings away at once； at least you can make no objection to our carrying the child into another room； for I suppose we are sent here to take charge of him。〃 The Prince； being disturbed by these words； spoken as they were with great animation； made a sign to the physician to come nearer。 〃Speak lower； I beg of you；〃 said he； 〃I am afraid they will hear you up…stairs； and I should be very sorry for them to know that I am ill； as it would give them much uneasiness。〃
At first the change to a cheerful and airy room revived the Prince and gave him evident pleasure； but the improvement did not last。 Next day M。 Pelletan learned that the Government had acceded to his request for a colleague。 M。 Dumangin； head physician of the Hospice de l'Unite； made his appearance at his house on the morning of Sunday； 7th June； with the official despatch sent him by the committee of public safety。 They repaired together immediately to the Tower。 On their arrival they heard that the child； whose weakness was excessive； had had a fainting fit； which had occasioned fears to be entertained that his end was approaching。 He had revived a little； however； when the physicians went up at about nine o'clock。 Unable to contend with increasing exhaustion； they perceived there was no longer any hope of prolonging an existence worn out by so much suffering； and that all their art could effect would be to soften the last stage of this lamentable disease。 While standing by the Prince's bed； Gomin noticed that he was quietly crying； and asked him。 kindly what was the matter。 〃I am always alone；〃 he said。 〃My dear mother remains in the other tower。〃 Night came；his last night； which the regulations of the prison condemned him to pass once more in solitude； with suffering； his old companion； only at his side。 This time； however； death； too； stood at his pillow。 When Gomin went up to the child's room on the morning of 8th June； he said； seeing him calm； motionless； and mute：
〃I hope you are not in pain just now？〃
〃Oh； yes； I am still in pain； but not nearly so much；the music is so beautiful！〃
Now there was no musi