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！
him。〃
He put the letter into Marthe's hand and disappeared toward the forest
without waiting for an answer。 Marthe trembled at the thought that she
was now to hear the secret of the mystery。 She ran to the farm with
her mother and shut herself up to read the following letter：
My dear Marthe；You can rely on the discretion of the man who
will give you this letter； he does not know how to read or to
write。 He is a stanch Republican； and shared in Baboeuf's
conspiracy； your father often made use of him； and he regards the
senator as a traitor。 Now； my dear wife； attend to my directions。
The senator has been shut up by us in the cave where our masters
were hidden。 The poor creature had provisions for only five days；
and as it is our interest that he should live； I wish you； as soon
as you receive this letter； to take him food for at least five
days more。 The forest is of course watched； therefore take as many
precautions as we formerly did for our young masters。 Don't say a
word to Malin； don't speak to him； and put on one of our masks
which you will find on the steps which lead down to the cave。
Unless you wish to compromise our heads you must be absolutely
silent about this letter and the secret I have now confided to
you。 Don't say a word to Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne； who might
tell of it。 Don't fear for me。 We are certain that the matter will
turn out well； when the time comes Malin himself will save us。 I
don't need to tell you to burn this letter as soon as you have
read it； for it would cost me my head if a line of it were seen。 I
kiss you for now and always；
Michu。
The existence of the cave was known only to Marthe； her son； Michu；
the four gentlemen； and Laurence； or rather； Marthe； to whom her
husband had not related the incident of his meeting with Peyrade and
Corentin； believed it was known only to them。 Had she consulted her
mistress and the two lawyers； who knew the innocence of the prisoners；
the shrewd Bordin would have gained some light upon the perfidious
trap which was evidently laid for his clients。 But Marthe； acting like
most women under a first impulse； was convinced by this proof which
came to her own eyes； and flung the letter into the fire as directed。
Nevertheless； moved by a singular gleam of caution； she caught a
portion of it from the flames； tore off the five first lines； which
compromised no one； and sewed them into the hem of her dress。
Terrified at the thought that the prisoner had been without food for
twenty…four hours； she resolved to carry bread； meat； and wine to him
at once； curiosity was well as humanity permitting no delay。
Accordingly； she heated her oven and made； with her mother's help； a
/pate/ of hare and ducks； a rice cake； roasted two fowls； selected
three bottles of wine； and baked two loaves of bread。 About two in the
morning she started for the forest； carrying the load on her back；
accompanied by Couraut； who in all such expeditions showed wonderful
sagacity as a guide。 He scented strangers at immense distances； and as
soon as he was certain of their presence he returned to his mistress
with a low growl； looking at her fixedly and turning his muzzle in the
direction of the danger。
Marthe reached the pond about three in the morning； and left the dog
as sentinel on the bank。 After half an hour's labor in clearing the
entrance she came with a dark lantern to the door of the cave； her
face covered with a mask； which she had found； as directed； on the
steps。 The imprisonment of the senator seemed to have been long
premeditated。 A hole about a foot square； which Marthe had never seen
before； was roughly cut in the upper part of the iron door which
closed the cave； but in order to prevent Malin from using the time and
patience all prisoners have at their command in loosening the iron bar
which held the door； it was securely fastened with a padlock。
The senator； who had risen from his bed of moss； sighed when he saw
the masked face and felt that there was no chance then of his
deliverance。 He examined Marthe； as much as he could by the unsteady
light of her dark lantern； and he recognized her by her clothes； her
stoutness； and her motions。 When she passed the /pate/ through the
door he dropped it to seize her hand and then； with great swiftness；
he tried to pull the rings from her fingers；one her wedding…ring；
the other a gift from Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne。
〃You cannot deny that it is you； my dear Madame Michu；〃 he said。
Marthe closed her fist the moment she felt his fingers； and gave him a
vigorous blow in the chest。 Then； without a word； she turned away and
cut a stick； at the end of which she held out to the senator the rest
of the provisions。
〃What do they want of me？〃 he asked。
Marthe departed giving him no answer。 By five o'clock she had reached
the edge of the forest and was warned by Couraut of the presence of
strangers。 She retraced her steps and made for the pavilion where she
had lived so long； but just as she entered the avenue she was seen
from afar by the forester of Gondreville； and she quickly reflected
that her best plan was to go straight up to him。
〃You are out early； Madame Michu；〃 he said； accosting her。
〃We are so unfortunate；〃 she replied； 〃that I am obliged to do a
servant's work myself。 I am going to Bellache for some grain。〃
〃Haven't you any at Cinq…Cygne？〃 said the forester。
Marthe made no answer。 She continued on her way and reached the farm
at Bellache； where she asked Beauvisage to give her some seed…grain；
saying that Monsieur d'Hauteserre advised her to get it from him to
renew her crop。 As soon as Marthe had left the farm； the forester went
there to find out what she asked for。
Six days later； Marthe； determined to be prudent； went at midnight
with her provisions so as to avoid the keepers who were evidently
patrolling the forest。 After carrying a third supply to the senator
she suddenly became terrified on hearing the abbe read aloud the
public examination of the prisoners；for the trial was by that time
begun。 She took the abbe aside； and after obliging him to swear that
he would keep the secret she was about to reveal as though it was said
to him in the confessional； she showed him the fragments of Michu's
letter； told him the contents of it； and also the secret of the
hiding…place where the senator then was。
The abbe at once inquired if she had other letters from her husband
that he might compare the writing。 Marthe went to her home to fetch
them and there found a summons to appear in court。 By the time she
returned to the chateau the abbe and his sister had received a similar
summons on behalf of the defence。 They were obliged therefore to start
for Troyes immediately。 Thus all the personages of our drama； even
those who were only； as it were； supernumeraries； were collected on
the spot where the fate of the two families was about to be decided。
CHAPTER XVII
THE TRIAL
There are but few localities in France where Law derives from outward
appearance the dignity which ought always to accompany it。 Yet it
surely is； after religion and royalty； the greatest engine of society。
Everywhere； even in Paris； the meanness of its surroundings； the
wretched arrangement of the courtrooms； their barrenness and want of
decoration in the most ornate and showy nation upon earth in the
matter of its public monuments； lessens the action of the law's mighty
power。 At the farther end of some oblong room may be seen a desk with
a green baize covering raised on a platform； behind it sit the judges
on the commonest of arm…chairs。 To the left； is the seat of the public
prosecutor； and beside him； close to the wall； is a long pen filled
with chairs for the jury。 Opposite to the jury is another pen with a
bench for the prisoners and the gendarmes who guard them。 The clerk of
the court sits below the platform at a table covered with the papers
of the case。 Before the imperial changes in the administration of
justice were instituted； a commissary of the government and the
director of the jury each had a seat and a table； one to the right；
the other to the left of the baize…covered desk。 Two sheriffs hovered
about in the space left in front of the desk for the station of
witnesses。 Facing the judges and against the wall above the entrance；
there is always a shabby gallery reserved for officials and for women；
to which admittance is granted only by the president of the court； to
whom the proper management of the courtroom belongs。 The non…
privileged public are compelled to stand in the empty space between
the door of the hall and the bar。 This normal appearance of all French
law courts and assize…rooms was that of the Criminal court of Troyes。
In April； 1806； neither the four judges nor the president （or chief…
justice） who made up the court； nor the public prosecutor； the
director of the jury； the commissary of the government； nor the
sheriffs or lawyers； in fact no one except the gendarmes； wore any
robes or other distinctive sign which might have relieved the
nakedness of the surroundings and the somewhat meagre aspect of the
figures。 The crucifix was suppressed；