At the foot of the staircase, as the viscountess was about to pass the door of the salon5, where there was a great commotion6, she met Madame de Tourville dragging the Duc de La Rochefoucauld toward the princess's cabinet, and engaged in an earnest discussion with him on the way.
"One word, madame, I entreat7," said she; "what decision has been reached?"
"My plan is adopted!" cried Madame de Tourville, triumphantly8.
"What is your plan, madame? I do not know."
"Reprisals9, my dear, reprisals!"
"Pardon me, madame, but I am so unfortunate as not to be familiar as you are with warlike terms; what do you mean by the word 'reprisals'?"
"Nothing simpler, dear child."
"Pray explain yourself."
"They hanged an officer in the army of Messieurs les Princes, did they not?"
"Yes; what then?"
"Why, we hunt up an officer of the royal army in Bordeaux, and hang him."
"Great God!" cried Claire, in dismay; "what do you say, madame?"
"Monsieur le Duc," continued the dowager, apparently10 not heeding11 the viscountess's alarm, "has not the officer who was in command at Saint-Georges already been arrested?"
"Yes, madame," the duke replied.
"Monsieur de Canolles arrested!" cried Claire.
"Yes, madame," rejoined the duke, coldly, "Monsieur de Canolles is arrested, or soon will be; the order was given in my presence, and I saw the men set out to execute it."
"But did they know where he was?" Claire asked with a last ray of hope.
"He was at the house of our host, Monsieur de Lalasne, in the suburbs, where they say he was having great success at tennis."
Claire uttered a cry. Madame de Tourville turned upon her in amazement12, and the duke glanced at her with an imperceptible smile.
"Monsieur de Canolles arrested!" the viscountess repeated. "In God's name, what has he done? What connection has he with the horrible occurrence which saddens us all?"
"What connection has he with it? The very closest, my dear. Is not he a governor, as Richon was?"
Claire tried to speak, but the words died upon her lips.
She seized the duke's arm and gazing at him in terror, succeeded at last in uttering these words in a hoarse13 whisper:—
"Oh! but it's a feint, is it not, Monsieur le Duc? nothing more than a mere14 demonstration15? We can do nothing—at least so it seems to me—to one who is a prisoner on parole."
"Richon also, madame, was a prisoner on parole."
"Monsieur le Duc, I implore16 you—"
"Spare your supplications, madame, for they are useless. I can do nothing in the matter; it is for the council to decide."
Claire dropped the duke's arm and hurried to Madame de Condé's cabinet, where she found Lenet striding back and forth17, pale and agitated18, while Madame de Condé talked with the Duc de Bouillon.
Madame de Cambes glided19 to the princess's side, as white and light of foot as a ghost.
"Oh, madame," said she, "give me one moment, I entreat you!"
"Ah! is it you, little one? I am not at liberty at this moment; but after the council I am at your service."
"Madame, madame, I must speak to you before the council!"
The princess was about to accede20, when a door, opposite that by which the viscountess had come in, opened, and Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld appeared.
"Madame," said he, "the council has assembled and is impatiently awaiting your Highness."
"You see, little one," said Madame de Condé, "that it is impossible for me to listen to you at this moment; but come with us to the council, and when it is at an end we will return and talk together."
It was out of the question to insist. Dazzled and bewildered by the frightful21 rapidity with which events were rushing on, the poor woman began to have the vertigo22; she gazed wildly into the faces, and watched the gestures of all about her, without seeing anything, unable to understand what was going on, and struggling in vain to shake off the frightful nightmare that oppressed her.
The princess walked toward the salon. Claire followed her mechanically, nor did she notice that Lenet had taken in his the ice-cold hand that hung listlessly at her side like the hand of a corpse23.
They entered the council chamber24; it was about eight o'clock in the evening.
It was a vast apartment, naturally dark and gloomy, but made even darker by heavy hangings. A sort of platform had been erected25 between the two doors, and opposite the two windows, through which the last feeble rays of the dying daylight made their way into the room. Upon the platform were two arm-chairs; one for Madame de Condé, the other for the Duc d'Enghien. On either side of these arm-chairs was a row of tabourets for the ladies who composed her Highness's privy26 council. The other judges were to sit upon benches prepared for them. The Duc de Bouillon stood immediately behind Madame de Condé's chair, and the Duc de La Rochefoucauld behind that of the young prince.
Lenet stood opposite the clerk; beside him was Claire, dazed and trembling.
Six officers of the army, six municipal councillors, and six sheriffs were introduced, and took their seats upon the benches.
Two candelabra, each containing three candles, furnished light for the deliberations of this improvised28 tribunal; they were placed upon a table in front of Madame la Princesse, so that they shed a bright light upon the principal group, while the other persons present were more or less in shadow according as they were near to or at a distance from this feeble centre of light.
The doors were guarded by soldiers of the army of Madame la Princesse, halberd in hand. The roaring of the crowd could be heard without.
The clerk called the roll of the judges, and each one rose in turn and answered to his name.
Thereupon the judge advocate opened the business upon which they were called together; he detailed29 the capture of Vayres, Monsieur de La Meilleraie's breach30 of his word, and the infamous31 death of Richon.
At that point an officer, who had been stationed at a window for that express purpose, and had received his orders in advance, threw the window open, and the voices of the people in the street rolled in in waves: "Vengeance32 for Richon! Death to the Mazarinists!" Such was the name bestowed33 upon the royalists.
"You hear," said Monsieur de La Rochefoucauld, "what the voice of the people demands. Two hours hence, either the people will have cast our authority to the winds and taken the law into their own hands, or it will be too late for reprisals. Adjudge this matter, therefore, messieurs, and that without further delay."
The princess rose.
"Why adjudge, I pray to know?" she cried. "What purpose is to be served by a judgment34? You have already heard the judgment pronounced by the good people of Bordeaux."
"Indeed," said Madame de Tourville, "it would be impossible to conceive a simpler situation. It's the law of retaliation35 pure and simple. Such things as this should be done by inspiration, so to speak, between provost and provost."
Lenet could listen to no more; from the place where he stood he rushed into the midst of the circle.
"Oh! not a word more, madame, I beg you," he cried, "for such counsels, were they to prevail, would be too horrible in their consequences. You forget that the royal authorities themselves, although they chose to inflict36 infamous punishment, nevertheless preserved the forms of law, and that the punishment, whether just or unjust, was ratified37 by the decree of a court-martial. Do you think that you have the right to do a thing that the king dared not do?"
"Oh! nothing more is needed than for me to express an opinion, to have Monsieur Lenet maintain the opposite!" exclaimed Madame de Tourville. "Unfortunately, my opinion this time agrees with her Highness's."
"Unfortunately, indeed," said Lenet.
"Monsieur!" cried the princess.
"Ah! madame," continued Lenet, "preserve appearances at least. Will you not still be at liberty to condemn38?"
"Monsieur Lenet is right," said La Rochefoucauld. "The death of a man is too serious a matter, especially under such circumstances, for us to allow the responsibility to rest upon a single head, even though it be a princely head."
Leaning toward the princess then, so that her immediate27 neighbors alone could hear, he added:—
"Madame, take the opinion of all, and then retain only those of whom you are sure, to take part in the trial. In that way we shall have no cause for fear that our vengeance will escape us."
"One moment, one moment," interposed Monsieur de Bouillon, leaning upon his cane39, and raising his gouty leg. "You have spoken of taking the responsibility off the princess's shoulders. I have no desire to shirk it, but I would be glad to have others share it with me. I ask nothing better than to continue in rebellion, but in company with Madame la Princesse on the one hand and the people on the other. Damnation! I don't choose to be isolated40. I lost my sovereignty of Sedan through a pleasantry of this sort. At that time I had a city and a head. Cardinal41 de Richelieu took my city; to-day I have nothing left but a head, and I'm not anxious that Cardinal Mazarin should take that. I therefore demand that the notables of Bordeaux take part in the proceedings42."
"Such signatures beside ours!" murmured the princess; "go to!"
"The mortise holds the timber in place, madame," rejoined Bouillon, whom the conspiracy43 of Cinq-Mars had rendered prudent44 for the rest of his life.
"Is that your opinion, messieurs?"
"Yes," said the Duc de La Rochefoucauld.
"And you, Lenet?"
"Fortunately, madame," replied Lenet, "I am neither prince nor duke, nor municipal official, nor sheriff. I am entitled to hold aloof45, therefore, and I will do so."
Thereupon the princess rose, and called upon the assemblage to reply in energetic and unmistakable fashion to the royal challenge. Hardly had she finished what she had to say when the window was thrown open again, and again the voices of the people without invaded the hall, crying:—
"Vive Madame la Princesse! Vengeance for Richon! Death to the épernonists and Mazarinists!"
Madame de Cambes seized Lenet's arm.
"Monsieur Lenet," said she, "I am dying!"
"Madame la Vicomtesse de Cambes," he replied, "request her Highness's permission to retire."
"No, no," said Claire, "I want—"
"Your place is not here, madame," Lenet interrupted. "You can do nothing for him; I will keep you informed of whatever takes place, and together we will try to save him."
"The viscountess may retire," said the princess. "Those ladies who do not care to be present at this function are at liberty to follow her."
Not a woman stirred; one of the never-ending aspirations46 of that half of the human race whose destiny it is to fascinate is to usurp47 the rights of the half destined48 to command. These ladies saw an opportunity to play the part of men for a moment, and proposed to make the most of it.
Madame de Cambes left the room, supported by Lenet. On the stairs she met Pompée whom she had sent in quest of news.
"Well?" said she inquiringly.
"He is arrested!"
"Monsieur Lenet," said Claire, "I have no confidence or hope save in you and God!" and she rushed despairingly into her own room.
"What questions shall I put to him who is about to appear before us?" Madame la Princess asked, as Lenet resumed his place beside the clerk, "and to whose lot shall it fall to die?"
"It's a very simple matter, madame," replied the duke. "We have some three hundred prisoners, ten or twelve of whom are officers. Let us question them simply as to their names and their rank in the royal army, and the first one who turns out to be the governor of a fortress49, as Richon was, we will consider to be the one to whom the lot has fallen."
"It is useless to waste our time questioning ten or twelve different officers, messieurs," said the princess, "you have the list, Monsieur le Greffier: just glance over it, and read the names of those who hold equal rank to Richon's."
"There are but two, madame," said the clerk; "the governor of ?le Saint-Georges, and the governor of Braune."
"We have two of them, it is true!" cried the princess; "fate is kind to us, you see. Are they under arrest, Labussière?"
"Certainly, madame," the captain of the guards replied, "and both are in the fortress awaiting the order to appear."
"Let them be brought hither," said Madame de Condé.
"Which one shall we bring?" asked Labussière.
"Bring them both: but we will begin with the first in date, Monsieur le Gouverneur de Saint-Georges."
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1
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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8
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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9
reprisals
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| n.报复（行为）( reprisal的名词复数 ) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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11
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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15
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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accede
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| v.应允，同意 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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vertigo
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| n.眩晕 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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privy
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| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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36
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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ratified
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| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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44
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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46
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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usurp
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| vt.篡夺，霸占；vi.篡位 | |
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48
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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