FOUR carriages, or, rather, four boxes on wheels, inclosed on all sides with iron bars, which bruised1 the prisoners at every jolt2, received the exiles. Four of them were placed in each cage, and no attention was paid either to their weakness or their wounds. Some of them had received sabre cuts; others had been wounded, either by the soldiers who had arrested them or by the mob, whose opinions always will be that the conquered do not suffer enough.
There was a keeper for each wagon3 and each group of four men, who had the care of the key of the padlock which closed the grating which served in lieu of a door.
General Dutertre commanded the escort, which consisted of four hundred infantry4, two hundred cavalry5, and two cannon6.
Every time the exiles got in or out of the cages, the two pieces were trained diagonally upon the carriages, while gunners stood ready, with lighted matches in their hands, to fire the cannon, should any of them attempt to escape, both upon those who made the attempt and upon those who did not.
[Pg 554]
The condemned7 men began their journey on the 22d Fructidor (8th of September) in the midst of a terrible storm. They had to cross the whole length of Paris, starting with the Temple, and leaving the city through the Barrière d'Enfer, to take the road to Orléans. But instead of following the Rue8 Saint-Jacques, the escort, after crossing the bridge, turned to the right and led the procession to the Luxembourg. Here the three directors, or rather Barras, who was the three in himself, was giving a ball.
Barras, when notified, hastened to the balcony, followed by the guests, and pointed9 out Pichegru, three days earlier the rival of Moreau, Hoche, and Bonaparte, and with him Barthélemy, his former colleague, Villot, Delarue, Ramel—in short, all those whom the turn of Fortune's wheel or the forgetfulness of Providence10 had put in his power. The exiles heard Barras, amid noisy bursts of laughter and joy enjoin11 Dutertre, Augereau's man, "to take good care of these gentlemen." To which Dutertre replied: "Never fear, general."
We shall soon see what Barras meant when he said "Take good care of these gentlemen."
In the meantime the people who were coming out of the Odéon Club surrounded the wagons12; and being refused permission to do what they urgently demanded to do—to tear the exiles to pieces—they consoled themselves by throwing fireworks which enabled them to see the prisoners without any trouble.
Finally the procession passed through the Rue d'Enfer to the accompaniment of fierce cries for their death and howls of rage, and left Paris. At two o'clock in the afternoon, having made only twenty-four miles, they reached Arpajon. Barthélemy and Barbé-Marbois, the weakest of the exiles, were lying upon their faces, apparently13 exhausted14.
When they heard that the day's journey was ended, the prisoners hoped that they would be conducted to some suitable place where they could take a little rest. But the commander of the escort took them to the prison reserved[Pg 555] for thieves, eagerly examining their faces and showing the utmost delight when they manifested repulsion and disgust. Unfortunately, the first wagon to be opened was the one in which Pichegru had travelled; his impassive face did not betray the least emotion. He merely said as they approached the hole: "If it is a stairway, give me a light; if it is a well, tell me so at once."
It was a staircase, of which several steps were missing. This calmness exasperated15 Dutertre.
"Ah, rascal," he said, "you think you can defy me; but we shall see one of these days whether I cannot find the end of your insolence16."
Pichegru, who reached the bottom first, called out to his companions that some one had been thoughtful enough to spread straw for them, and thanked Dutertre for the attention. But the straw was soaking wet and the cell was foul17.
Barthélemy came next, gentle, calm, but exhausted and aware that he could not expect an instant's repose18. Lying half in the icy water, he raised his hands murmuring: "My God! my God!"
Then came Barbé-Marbois, who was upheld by the arms. At the mephitic odor which arose from the cell, he drew back and said: "Shoot me, and spare me the horror of such agony."
But the jailer's wife who stood behind him answered: "You are very particular. Better men than you have gone down there without making such a fuss." And with a vigorous shove she sent him head first from top to bottom of the stairs.
Villot, who was next, heard Barbé-Marbois cry out, and the answering cry of his comrades who darted20 forward to seize him as he fell, and grabbing the woman by the neck, he said: "Upon my word, I have a good notion to strangle you. What do you all say?"
"Leave her alone, and come down here with us," answered Pichegru.
They had raised Barbé-Marbois. His face was bruised,[Pg 556] and his jawbone broken. The three exiles who were safe and sound began to cry: "A surgeon! A surgeon!"
There was no answer. Then they asked for water to bathe their comrade's wounds; but the door was closed and it did not open until two hours later, and then only to pass in their dinner, consisting of a loaf of bread and a pitcher21 of water.
They were all very thirsty, but Pichegru, accustomed to all sorts of privations, immediately offered his portion of the water to bathe Barbé-Marbois's wound. The other prisoners, however, would not permit this sacrifice. The necessary amount of water was taken from the general fund; and as Barbé-Marbois could not eat, his portion was divided among the others.
On the next day, 23d Fructidor (9th of September), they started again at seven in the morning. No inquiries22 were made as to how the exiles had passed the night, and the wounded man was not allowed to see a surgeon. They reached Etampes at noon. Dutertre ordered a halt in the middle of the square, and exposed the prisoners to the insults of the crowd, who were permitted to surround the wagons, and who took advantage of the permission to hoot19, curse, and bespatter with mud the men of whose crime they were ignorant, and who were prisoners in their eyes simply because they were prisoners. The exiles insisted that they go on, or be allowed to leave the wagons. Both requests were refused. One of the exiles, Tron?on de Coudray, was deputy for the Department of the Seine-et-Oise, which includes Etampes, and which was then the very canton whose inhabitants had supported his candidacy with the most enthusiasm.
He resented this ingratitude23 and desertion of his people therefore all the more keenly. Rising suddenly, as if he had been in the tribune, and replying to those who had called him by name, he said:
"Yes, it is I—I myself, your representative! Do you recognize him in this iron cage? It is I, whom you have in[Pg 557]trusted with your rights, which are being violated in my person. I am dragged to punishment without having been tried, without even having been accused. My crime is that I have protected your liberty, your property, your persons; that I have wished to give peace to France, and by so doing to return to you your children who are being slaughtered24 by the enemy's bayonets. My crime is that I have been faithful to the Constitution to which we have sworn allegiance, and to-day, as a reward for my zeal25 in defending you, you join the ranks of my executioners! You are wretches26 and cowards, unworthy to be represented by a man of heart."
And he relapsed into his apparent indifference27 once more. The crowd was for a moment crushed and awed28 by this attack; but they soon renewed their insults, which became more outrageous29 than ever when the condemned men were given their dinner, which consisted of four loaves of bread and four bottles of wine. This exhibition lasted three hours.
That evening they stopped for the night at Angerville, and Dutertre wished to put the prisoners together in one cell, as he had done the night before. But an adjutant-general, who by an odd coincidence was named Augereau, took it upon himself to lodge30 them in an inn, where they passed a comfortable night, and where Barbé-Marbois was able to secure the services of a surgeon.
On the 24th Fructidor (10th September) they reached Orléans early, and passed the rest of that day and the following night in a house of confinement31 which had formerly32 been an Ursuline convent. This time the deputies were not guarded by their escort, but by gendarmes33, who, while obeying orders, treated them with the utmost consideration. They quickly recognized in the two servants who had been sent to help them, in spite of their disguise of coarse clothing, two ladies of rank who had sought this opportunity to offer help and money. They even promised Villot and Delarue to assist them to escape. They could facilitate the escape of two prisoners, but no more. Villot and Delarue re[Pg 558]fused, fearing that their flight would aggravate34 the fate of their two companions. The names of these two angels of charity have never been known. To name them at that time would have been to denounce them.
History has from time to time such moments of regret which give rise to a sigh.
The next day the party reached Blois. A crowd of boatmen were waiting for them on the outskirts35 of the town in the hopes of breaking open the wagons and murdering the prisoners. But the captain of cavalry commanding the detachment, whose name was Gautier—history has preserved his name, as it has that of Dutertre—signalled to the exiles that they need have no fear.
Then he took forty men and routed the rabble36. But insults were nevertheless lavished37 upon them. The names of rascals38, regicides, and panders39 were hurled40 blindly at them by the furious crowd, through the midst of which they passed on their way to a damp little church, where the prisoners found a small quantity of straw strewn upon the floor.
As they entered the church, the people crowded near enough for Pichegru to feel some one slip a little note into his hand. As soon as they were alone, Pichegru read the little note. It contained these words:
General, it only depends on yourself to leave your prison, mount a horse, and escape under an assumed name by means of a passport. If you consent, as soon as you have read this note, approach the guard who is watching you, taking care to leave your hat on your head; this will mean that you consent. Then, from midnight until two o'clock be dressed and on the alert.
Pichegru walked toward the guard bareheaded. The man who had endeavored to save him cast a glance of admiration41 at him and walked away.
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1
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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7
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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8
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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9
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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10
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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11
enjoin
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| v.命令；吩咐；禁止 | |
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12
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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13
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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14
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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17
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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18
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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19
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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26
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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27
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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28
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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32
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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gendarmes
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| n.宪兵，警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
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34
aggravate
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| vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火 | |
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35
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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36
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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37
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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39
panders
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| v.迎合（他人的低级趣味或淫欲）( pander的第三人称单数 )；纵容某人；迁就某事物 | |
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40
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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41
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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