第 31 节
作者:男孩不逛街      更新:2021-02-21 10:46      字数:9320
  you will be。
  February the 13th; 1832。
  Pray For Me!
  〃‘These words and dates show that all of them have a great interest to be
  at Paris on the 13th of February; 1832; and that; not by proxy; but in
  person; whether they are minors; married or single。
  〃‘But other persons have an immense interest that none of the descendants
  of this family be at Paris on the 13th February; except Gabriel
  Rennepont; priest of the foreign missions。
  〃‘At all hazards; therefore; Gabriel must be the only person present at
  the appointment made with the descendants of this family; a century and a
  half ago。
  〃‘To prevent the other six persons from reaching Paris on the said day;
  or to render their presence of no effect; much has been already done; but
  much remains to be done to ensure the success of this affair; which is
  considered as the most vital and most important of the age; on account of
  its probable results。'〃
  〃'Tis but too true;〃 observed Rodin's master; interrupting him; and
  shaking his head pensively。  〃And; moreover; that the consequences of
  success are incalculable; and there is no forseeing what may follow
  failure。  In a word; it almost involves a question of existence or non…
  existence during several years。  To succeed; therefore; ‘all possible
  means must be employed。  Nothing must be shunned;' except; however; that
  appearances must be skillfully maintained。〃
  〃I have written it;〃 said Rodin; having added the words his master had
  just dictated; who then said;
  〃Continue。〃
  Rodin read on:
  〃‘To forward or secure the affair in question; it is necessary to give
  some private and secret particulars respecting the seven persons who
  represent this family。
  〃‘The truth of these particulars may be relied on。  In case of need they
  might be completed in the most minute degree for contradictory
  information having been given; very lengthened evidence has been
  obtained。  The order in which the names of the persons stand will be
  observed; and events that have happened up to the present time will only
  be mentioned。
  〃‘NOTE; No。 I。
  〃‘Rose and Blanche Simon; twin sisters; about fifteen years of age; very
  pretty; so much alike; one might be taken for the other; mild and timid
  disposition; but capable of enthusiasm。  Brought up in Siberia by their
  mother; a woman of strong mind and deistical sentiments; they are wholly
  ignorant of our holy religion。
  〃‘General Simon; separated from his wife before they were born; is not
  aware; even now; that he has two daughters。
  〃‘It was hoped that their presence in Paris; on the 13th of February;
  would be prevented; by sending their mother to a place of exile; much
  more distant than the one first allotted her; but their mother dying; the
  Governor of Siberia; who is wholly ours; supposing; by a deplorable
  mistake; that the measure only affected the wife of General Simon
  personally; unfortunately allowed the girls to return to France; under
  the guidance of an old soldier。
  〃‘This man is enterprising; faithful; and determined。  He
  is noted down as dangerous。
  〃‘The Simon girls are inoffensive。  It is hoped; on fair
  grounds; that they are now detained in the neighborhood of
  Leipsic。'〃
  Rodin's master interrupted him; saying:
  〃Now; read the letter just received from Leipsic; it may complete the
  information。〃
  Rodin read it; and exclaimed:
  〃Excellent news!  The maidens and their guide had succeeded in escaping
  during the night from the White Falcon Tavern; but all three were
  overtaken and seized about a league from Mockern。  They have been
  transferred to Leipsic; where they are imprisoned as vagabonds; their
  guide; the soldier; is accused and condemned of resisting the
  authorities; and using violence to a magistrate。〃
  〃It is almost certain; then; considering the tedious mode of proceeding
  in Germany (otherwise we would see to it); that the girls will not be
  able to be here on the 13th February;〃 added Rodin's master。  〃Append
  this to the note on the back。〃
  The secretary obeyed; and endorsed 〃An abstract of Morok's letter。〃
  〃It is written;〃 he then added。
  〃Go on;〃 resumed his master。
  Rodin continued reading。
  〃‘NOTE; No。 II。
  〃‘Francois Hardy; manufacturer at Plessis; near Paris; forty years old; a
  steady; rich; intelligent; active; honest; well…informed man; idolized by
  his workmenthanks to numberless innovations to promote their welfare。
  Never attending to the duties of our holy religion。  Noted down as a very
  dangerous man: but the hatred and envy he excites among other
  manufacturers; especially in M。 le Baron Tripeaud; his competitor; may
  easily be turned against him。  If other means of action on his account;
  and against him; are necessary; the evidence may be consulted; it is very
  voluminous。  This man has been marked and watched for a long time。
  〃‘He has been so effectually misguided with respect to the medal; that he
  is completely deceived as to the interests it represents。  He is;
  however; constantly watched; surrounded; and governed; without suspecting
  it; one of his dearest friends deceives him; and through his means we
  know his secret thoughts。
  〃‘NOTE; No。 III。
  〃‘Prince Djalma; eighteen; energetic and generous; haughty; independent
  and wild; favorite of General Simon; who commanded the troops of his
  father; Kadja…sing; in the struggle maintained by the latter against the
  English in India。  Djalma is mentioned only by way of reminder; for his
  mother died young; while her parents were living。  They resided at
  Batavia。  On the death of the latter; neither Djalma nor the king; his
  father; claimed their little property。  It is; therefore; certain that
  they are ignorant of the grave interests connected with the possession of
  the medal in question; which formed part of the property of Djalma's
  mother。〃
  Rodin's master interrupted him。
  〃Now read the letter from Batavia; and complete the information
  respecting Djalma。〃
  Rodin read; and then observed:
  〃Good news again。  Joshua Van Dael; merchant at Batavia (he was educated
  in our Pondicherry establishment); learns from his correspondent at
  Calcutta that the old Indian king was killed in the last battle with the
  English。  His son; Djalma; deprived of the paternal throne; is
  provisionally detained as a prisoner of state in an Indian fortress。〃
  〃We are at the end of October;〃 said Rodin's master。  〃If Prince Djalma
  were to leave India now; he could scarcely reach Paris by the month of
  February。〃
  〃Van Dael;〃 continued Rodin; 〃regrets that he has not been able to prove
  his zeal in this case。  Supposing Prince Djalma set at liberty; or having
  effected his escape; it is certain he would come to Batavia to claim his
  inheritance from his mother; since he has nothing else left him in the
  world。  In that case; you may rely on Van Dael's devotedness。  In return;
  he solicits very precise information; by the next post; respecting the
  fortune of M。 le Baron Tripeaud; banker and manufacturer; with whom he
  has business transactions。〃
  〃Answer that point evasively。  Van Dael as yet has only shown zeal;
  complete the information respecting Djalma from these new tidings。〃
  Rodin wrote。
  But in a few minutes his master said to him with a singular expression:
  〃Does not Van Dael mention General Simon in connection with Djalma's
  imprisonment and his father's death?〃
  〃He does not allude to him;〃 said the secretary; continuing his task。
  Rodin's master was silent; and paced the room。
  In a few moments Rodin said to him: 〃I have done it。〃
  〃Go on; then。〃
  〃‘NOTE; No。 IV。
  〃'Jacques Rennepont; surnamed 〃Sleepinbuff;〃 i。e。  Lie naked; workman in
  Baron Tripeaud's factory。  This artisan is drunken; idle; noisy; and
  prodigal; he is not without sense; but idleness and debauch have ruined
  him。  A clever agent; on whom we rely; has become acquainted with his
  mistress; Cephyse Soliveau; nicknamed the Bacchanal Queen。  Through her
  means; the agent has formed such ties with him that he may even now be
  considered beyond the reach of the interests that ought to insure his
  presence in Paris on the 13th of February。
  〃‘NOTE; No。 V。
  〃‘Gabriel Rennepont; priest of foreign missions; distant relation of the
  above; but he is alike ignorant of the existence of his relative and the
  relationship。  An orphan foundling; he was adopted by Frances Baudoin;
  the wife of a soldier going by the name Dagobert。
  〃‘Should this soldier; contrary to expectation; reach Paris; his wife
  would be a powerful means of influencing him。  She is an excellent
  creature; ignorant and credulous; of exemplary piety; over whom we have
  long had unlimited control。  She prevailed on Gabriel to take orders;
  notwithstanding his repugnance。
  〃'Gabriel is five…and…twenty; disposition as angelic as his countenance;
  rare and solid virtues; unfortunately he was brought up with his adopted
  brother; Agricola; Dagobert's son。  This Agricola is a poet and workman
  but an excellent workman; he is employed by M。 Hardy; has imbibed the
  most detestable doctrines; fond of his mother; honest; laborious; but
  without religious feeling。  Marked as very dangerous。  This causes his