第 105 节
作者:北方网      更新:2021-02-21 16:34      字数:9322
  powerful within me。 The more I beat the boy; the more his tears
  moved me; and often I thought I should die when I heard him cry and
  moan。 Yes; yes; it is a bad conscience that has made me sick and
  miserable! But I will do right after this。 I repentoh; I repent!
  Here I lay my hand on the heart of this child and swear to his
  murdered mother I will do right again! I swear that I will free her
  son! I swear by all that is sacred in heaven and on earth that I
  will die myself; unless we succeed in freeing this child! I* swear
  to you; Marie Antoinette; that I will free him。 But will you forgive
  me even then? Will you have rest in your poor grave; and not come to
  my bedside and condemn me and accuse me with your sad; dreadful
  eyes?〃
  〃Free her son; Jeanne Marie;〃 said Toulan; solemnly; 〃and his mother
  will forgive you; and her hallowed shade will no longer disturb your
  sleep; for you will then have restored to her the peace of the
  grave! But you; Citizen Simon; will you too not swear that you will
  faithfully assist in releasing the royal prince? Do you not know
  that conscience is awake in your heart too; and compels you to have
  compassion on the poor boy?〃
  〃I know it; yes; I know it;〃 muttered Simon; confused。 〃His gentle
  eyes and his sad bearing have made me as weak and as soft as an old
  woman。 It is high time that I should be rid of the youngster; else
  it will be with me just as it is with my wife; and I shall have
  convulsions and see ghosts with daggers in their eyes。 And so; in
  order to remain a strong man and have a good conscience and a brave
  heart; I must be rid of the boy; and must know that I have done him
  some service; and have been his deliverer。 And so I swear by the
  sacred republic; and by our hallowed freedom; that I will help you
  and do all that in me lies to release little Capet and get him away
  from here。 I hope you will be satisfied with my oath; Toulan; for
  there is nothing for me more sacred than the republic and freedom。〃
  〃I am satisfied; Simon; and I trust you。 And now let us talk it all
  over and consider it; my dear allies。 The whole plan of the escape
  is formed in my head; all the preparations are made; and if you will
  faithfully follow all that I bid you; in one week's time you will be
  free and happy。〃
  〃So soon as a week!〃 cried Simon; delightedly。 〃Yes; in a week; for
  it happens fortunately that one of the officials of the Public
  Safety service is dangerously sick and has been carried to the Hotel
  Dien。 Doctor Naudin says that he can live but three days longer; and
  then the post will be vacant。 We must be active; therefore; and take
  measures for you to gain the place。 Now listen to me; and mark my
  words。〃
  They had a long conversation by the bedside of the little prince;
  and they saw that he perfectly understood the whole plan which
  Toulan unfolded in eloquent words; for his looks took on a great
  deal of expression; he fixed his eyes constantly on Toulan; and a
  smile played about his lips。
  Simon and Simon's wife were also perfectly satisfied with Toulan's
  communication; and repeated their readiness to do every thing to
  further the release of the prince; if they in return could only be
  removed from the Temple。
  〃I will at once take the steps necessary to the success of my plan;〃
  said Toulan; taking his leave with a friendly nod; and kissing the
  boy's hand respectfully。
  〃Fidele;〃 whispered Louis; 〃Fidele; do you believe that I shall be
  saved?〃
  〃I am sure of it; my dear prince。 The grace of God and the blessing
  of your exalted parents will be our helpers in bringing this good
  work to a completion。 Farewell; and preserve as long as you remain
  here the same mood that I found you in。 Show little interest in what
  goes on; and appear numb and stupid。 I shall not come again; for
  after this I must work for you outside of the prison。 But Doctor
  Naudin will come every day to see you; and on the day of your flight
  I shall be by your side。 Till then; God bless you; my dear prince!〃
  Toulan left the prison of the little Capet and repaired at once to
  the H6tel Dieu; where he had a long conversation with Doctor Naudin。
  At the end of it; the director of the hospital entered his carriage
  and drove to the city hall; in whose largest chamber a committee of
  the Public Safety officials were holding a public meeting。 With
  earnest and urgent words the revered and universally valued
  physician gave the report about the visits which he had made at the
  Temple for some days at the command of the authorities; and about
  the condition of affairs there。 Petion the elder; the presiding
  officer of the committee; listened to the report with a grave
  repose; and the picture of the low health of the 〃little Capet;〃
  while he paid the most marked attention to that part of the report
  which concerned the Simons。
  〃Citizen Simon has deserved much of the country; and he is one of
  the most faithful supporters of the one and indivisible republic;〃
  said Petion; when Doctor Naudin ended his report。 〃The republic
  must; like a grateful mother; show gratitude to her loyal sons; and
  care for them tenderly。 So tell us; Citizen Naudin; what must be
  done in order to restore health to Citizen Simon and his wife。〃
  〃They are both sick from the same cause; and; therefore; they both
  require the same remedy。 That remedy is; a change of air and a
  change of location。 Let Simon have another post; where he shall be
  allowed to exercise freely out of doors; and where he shall not be
  compelled to breathe only the confined air of a cell; and let his
  wife not be forced to listen to the whining and the groaning of the
  little sick Capet。 In one word; give to them both liberty to move
  around; and the free air; and they will; without any doubt; and
  within a short time; regain their health。〃
  〃It is true;〃 said Petion; 〃the poor people lead a sad life in the
  Temple; and are compelled to breathe the air that the last scions of
  tyranny have contaminated with their poisonous breaths。 We owe it to
  them to release them from this bad atmosphere; in consideration of
  their faithful and zealous service to the country。 Citizen Simon has
  always taken pains to repair the great neglect in Capet's education;
  and to make the worthless boy prove some day a worthy son of the
  republic。〃
  〃But even if Simon should remain in the Temple; he would not be able
  to go on much longer with the education of the boy;〃 said the
  hospital director; with a shrug。
  〃What do you mean by that; citizen doctor?〃 asked Petion; with a
  pleasant lighting up of his eyes。
  〃I mean that the boy has not a long time to live; for he is
  suffering at once from consumption and softening of the brain; and
  the latter disease will soon reduce him to an idiot; and render him
  incapable of receiving instruction。〃
  〃You are convinced that the son of the tyrants will not recover?〃
  asked Petion; with a strained; eager glance。
  〃My careful examination of his case has convinced me that he has but
  a short time to live; and that he will spend the larger part of this
  time in an idiotic state。 On this account Simon ought to be removed
  from the Temple; in order that his enemies may not be able to
  circulate a report about this zealous and worthy servant of the
  republic; that he is guilty of the death of little Capetthat
  Simon's method of bringing him up killed him。 And besides; in order
  that the same charge should not be laid to the one and great
  republic; and it be accused of cruelty to a poor sick child; kindly
  attentions should be bestowed on him。〃
  Petion's countenance clouded; and his eyes rested on the physician
  with a sinister; searching expression。
  〃You have a great deal of sensibility; doctor; and you appear to
  forget that the boy is a criminal by birth; and that the republic
  can have no special sympathy with him。〃
  〃For me;〃 answered Naudin; with simplicity; 〃every sick person at
  whose bed I am called to stand; is a poor; pitiable Iranian being;
  and I never stop to think whether be is a criminal or not; but
  merely that he is a sufferer; and then I endeavor to discover the
  means to assist him。 The hallowed and indivisible republic; however;
  is an altogether too magnanimous and exalted mother of all her
  children not to have pity on those who are reduced to idiocy; and in
  sore sickness。 The republic is like the sun; which pours its beams
  even into the dungeon of the criminal; and shines upon the just and
  unjust alike。〃
  〃And what do you desire that the republic should do for the
  offspring of tyrants?〃 asked Petion; peevishly。
  〃I desire not much;〃 answered Naudin; with a smile。 〃Let me be
  permitted to visit the sick child from time to time; and in his
  hopeless condition to procure him a little relief from his
  sufferings at least; and let him be treated like the child he is。
  Let a little diversion be allowed him。 If it is not possible or
  practicable for him to play with children of his age; let him at
  least have some playthings for his amusement。〃
  〃Do you demand in earnest that the republic should condescend to
  provide playthings for her imprisoned criminals?〃 asked Petion; with
  a scornful laugh。
  〃You have commanded me to visit the sick boy in the Temple; to
  examine his condit