murad the unlucky and other tales-第22部分

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enemies　of　the　constitution　should　have　no　rest。〃

Madame　de　Fleury　was　not　an　enemy　to　any　human　being；　she　had　never
interfered　in　politics；　her　life　had　been　passed　in　domestic
pleasures；　or　employed　for　the　good　of　her　fellow…creatures。　　Even
in　this　hour　of　personal　danger　she　thought　of　others　more　than　of
herself：　　she　thought　of　her　husband；　an　exile　in　a　foreign
country；　who　might　be　reduced　to　the　utmost　distress　now　that　she
was　deprived　of　all　means　of　remitting　him　money。　　She　thought　of
her　friends；　who；　she　knew；　would　exert　themselves　to　obtain　her
liberty；　and　whose　zeal　in　her　cause　might　involve　them　and　their
families　in　distress。　　She　thought　of　the　good　Sister　Frances；　who
had　been　exposed　by　her　means　to　the　unrelenting　persecution　of　the
malignant　and　powerful　Tracassier。　　She　thought　of　her　poor　little
pupils；　now　thrown　upon　the　world　without　a　protector。　　Whilst
these　ideas　were　revolving　in　her　mind　one　night　as　she　lay　awake；
she　heard　the　door　of　her　chamber　open　softly；　and　a　soldier；　one
of　her　guards；　with　a　light　in　his　hand；　entered；　he　came　to　the
foot　of　her　bed；　and；　as　she　started　up；　laid　his　finger　upon　his
lips。

〃Don't　make　the　least　noise；〃　said　he　in　a　whisper；　〃those　without
are　drunk；　and　asleep。　　Don't　you　know　me？don't　you　remember　my
face？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；　yet　I　have　some　recollection　of　your　voice。〃

The　man　took　off　the　bonnet…rougestill　she　could　not　guess　who　he
was。　　〃You　never　saw　me　in　a　uniform　before　nor　without　a　black
face。〃

She　looked　again；　and　recollected　the　smith　to　whom　Maurice　was
bound　apprentice；　and　remembered　his　patois　accent。

〃I　remember　you；〃　said　he；　〃at　any　rate；　and　your　goodness　to　that
poor　girl　the　day　her　arm　was　broken；　and　all　your　goodness　to
Maurice。　　But　I've　no　time　for　talking　of　that　nowget　up；　wrap
this　great　coat　round　youdon't　be　in　a　hurry；　but　make　no　noise
and　follow　me。〃

She　followed　him；　and　he　led　her　past　the　sleeping　sentinels；
opened　a　back　door　into　the　garden；　hurried　her　（almost　carried
her）　across　the　garden　to　a　door　at　the　furthest　end　of　it；　which
opened　into　Les　Champs　Elysees〃La　voila！〃　cried　he；　pushing　her
through　the　half…opened　door。　　〃God　be　praised！〃　answered　a　voice；
which　Madame　de　Fleury　knew　to　be　Victoire's；　whose　arms　were
thrown　round　her　with　a　transport　of　joy。

〃Softly；　she　is　not　safe　yetwait　till　we　get　her　home；　Victoire；〃
said　another　voice；　which　she　knew　to　be　that　of　Maurice。　　He
produced　a　dark　lantern；　and　guided　Madame　de　Fleury　across　the
Champs　Elysees；　and　across　the　bridge；　and　then　through　various　by…
streets；　in　perfect　silence；　till　they　arrived　safely　at　the　house
where　Victoire's　mother　lodged；　and　went　up　those　very　stairs　which
she　had　ascended　in　such　different　circumstances　several　years
before。　　The　mother；　who　was　sitting　up　waiting　most　anxiously　for
the　return　of　her　children；　clasped　her　hands　in　an　ecstasy　when
she　saw　them　return　with　Madame　de　Fleury。

〃Welcome；　madame！　　Welcome；　dear　madame！　but　who　would　have　thought
of　seeing　you　here　in　such　a　way？　　Let　her　rest　herselflet　her
rest；　she　is　quite　overcome。　　Here；　madame；　can　you　sleep　on　this
poor　bed？〃

〃The　very　same　bed　you　laid　me　upon　the　day　my　arm　was　broken；〃
said　Victoire。

〃Ay；　Lord　bless　her！〃　said　the　mother；　〃and　though　it's　seven　good
years　ago；　it　seemed　but　yesterday　that　I　saw　her　sitting　on　that
bed　beside　my　poor　child　looking　like　an　angel。　　But　let　her　rest；
let　her　restwe'll　not　say　a　word　more；　only　God　bless　her；　thank
Heaven；　she's　safe　with　us　at　last！〃

Madame　de　Fleury　expressed　unwillingness　to　stay　with　these　good
people；　lest　she　should　expose　them　to　danger；　but　they　begged　most
earnestly　that　she　would　remain　with　them　without　scruple。

〃Surely；　madame；〃　said　the　mother；　〃you　must　think　that　we　have
some　remembrance　of　all　you　have　done　for　us；　and　some　touch　of
gratitude。〃

〃And　surely；　madame；　you　can　trust　us；　I　hope；〃　said　Maurice。

〃And　surely　you　are　not　too　proud　to　let　us　do　something　for　you。
The　lion　was　not　too　proud　to　be　served　by　the　poor　little　mouse；〃
said　Victoire。　　〃As　to　danger　for　us；〃　continued　she；　〃there　can　be
none；　for　Maurice　and　I　have　contrived　a　hiding…place　for　you；
madame；　that　can　never　be　found　outlet　them　come　spying　here　as
often　as　they　please；　they　will　never　find　her　out；　will　they；
Maurice？　　Look；　madame；　into　this　lumber…room；　you　see　it　seems　to
be　quite　full　of　wood　for　firing；　well；　if　you　creep　in　behind；　you
can　hide　yourself　quite　sung　in　the　loft　above；　and　here's　a　trap…
door　into　the　loft　that　nobody　ever　would　think　of；　for　we　have
hung　these　old　things　from　the　top　of　it；　and　who　could　guess　it
was　a　trap…door？　　So　you　see；　dear　madame；　you　may　sleep　in　peace
here；　and　never　fear　for　us。〃

Though　but　a　girl　of　fourteen；　Victoire　showed　at　this　time　all　the
sense　and　prudence　of　a　woman　of　thirty。　　Gratitude　seemed　at　once
to　develop　all　the　powers　of　her　mind。　　It　was　she　and　Maurice　who
had　prevailed　upon　the　smith　to　effect　Madame　de　Fleury's　escape
from　her　own　house。　　She　had　invented；　she　had　foreseen；　she　had
arranged　everything；　she　had　scarcely　rested　night　or　day　since　the
imprisonment　of　her　benefactress；　and　now　that　her　exertions　had
fully　succeeded；　her　joy　seemed　to　raise　her　above　all　feeling　of
fatigue；　she　looked　as　fresh　and　moved　as　briskly；　her　mother　said；
as　if　she　were　preparing　to　go　to　a　ball。

〃Ah！　my　child；〃　said　she；　〃your　cousin　Manon；　who　goes　to　those
balls　every　night；　was　never　so　happy　as　you　are　this　minute。〃

But　Victoire's　happiness　was　not　of　long　continuance；　for　the　next
day　they　were　alarmed　by　intelligence　that　Tracassier　was　enraged
beyond　measure　at　Madame　de　Fleury's　escape；　that　all　his
emissaries　were　at　work　to　discover　her　present　hiding…place；　that
the　houses　of　all　the　parents　and　relations　of　her　pupils　were　to
be　searched；　and　that　the　most　severe　denunciations　were　issued
against　all　by　whom　she　should　be　harboured。　　Manon　was　the　person
who　gave　this　intelligence；　but　not　with　any　benevolent　design；　she
first　came　to　Victoire；　to　display　her　own　consequence；　and　to
terrify　her；　she　related　all　she　knew　from　a　soldier's　wife；　who
was　M。　Tracassier's　mistress。　　Victoire　had　sufficient　command　over
herself　to　conceal　from　the　inquisitive　eyes　of　Manon　the　agitation
of　her　heart；　she　had　also　the　prudence　not　to　let　any　one　of　her
companions　into　her　secret；　though；　when　she　saw　their　anxiety；　she
was　much　tempted　to　relieve　them；　by　the　assurance　that　Madame　de
Fleury　was　in　safety。　　All　the　day　was　passed　in　apprehension。
Madame　de　Fleury　never　stirred　from　her　place　of　concealment：　　as
the　evening　and　the　hour　of　the　domiciliary　visits　approached；
Victoire　and　Maurice　were　alarmed　by　an　unforeseen　difficulty。
Their　mother；　whose　health　had　been　broken　by　hard　work；　in　vain
endeavoured　to　suppress　her　terror　at　the　thoughts　of　this
domiciliary　visit；　she　repeated　incessantly　that　she　knew　they
should　all　be　discovered；　and　that　her　children　would　be　dragged　to
the　guillotine　before　her　face。　　She　was　in　such　a　distracted
state；　that　they　dreaded　she　would；　the　moment　she　saw　the
soldiers；　reveal　all　she　knew。

〃If　they　question　me；　I　shall　not　know　what　to　answer；〃　cried　the
terrified　woman。　　〃What　can　I　say？What　can　I　do？〃

Reasoning；　entreaties；　all　were　vain；　she　was　not　in　a　condition　to
understand；　or　even　to　listen　to；　anything　that　was　said。　　In　this
situation　they　were　when　the　domiciliary　visitors　arrivedthey
heard　the　noise　of　the　soldiers'　feet　on　the　stairsthe　poor　woman
sprang　from　the　arms　of　her　children；　but　at　the　moment　the　door
was　opened；　and　she　saw　the　glittering　of　the　bayonets；　she　fell　at
full　length　in　a　swoon　on　the　floorfortunately　before　she　had
power　to　utter　a　syllable。　　The　people　of　the　house　knew；　and　said；
that　she　was　subject　to　fits　on　any　sudden　alarm；　so　that　her　being
affected　in　this　manner　did　not　appear　surprising。　　They　threw　her
on　a　bed；　whilst　they　proceeded　to　search　the　house：　　her　children
stayed　with　her；　and；　wholly　occupied　in　attending　to　her；　they
were　not　exposed　to　the　danger　of　betraying　their　anxiety　about
Madame　de　Fleury。　　They　trembled；　however；　from　head　to　foot　when
they　heard　one　of　the　soldiers　swear　that　all　the　wood　in　the
lumber…room　must　be　pulled　out；　and　that　he　would　not　leave　the
house　till　every　stick　was　moved；　the　sound　of　each　log；　as　it　was
thrown　out；　was　heard　by　Victoire；　her　brother　was　now　summoned　to
assist。　　How　great　was　his　terror　when　one　of　the　searchers　looked
up　to　the　roof；　as　if　expecting　to　find　a　trap　door；　fortunately；
however；　he　did　not　discover　it。　　Maurice；　who　had　seized　the
light；　contrived　to　throw　the　shadows　so　as　to　deceive　the　eye。
The　soldiers　at　length　retreated；　and　with　inexpressible
satisfaction　Maurice　lighted　them　down　stairs；　and　saw　them　fairly
out　of　the　house。　　For　some　minutes　after　they　were　in　safety；　the
terrified　mother；　who　had　recovered　her　senses；　could　scarcely
believe　that　the　danger　was　over。　　She　embraced　her　children　by
turns　with　wild　transport；　and　with　tears　begged　Madame　de　Fleury
to　forgive　her　cowardice；　and　not　to　attribute　it　to　ingratitude；
or　to　suspect　that　she　had　a　bad　heart。　　She　protested　that　she　was
now　become　so　courageous；　since　she　found　that　she　had　gone　through
this　trial　successfully；　and　since　she　was　sure　that　the　hiding…
place　was　really　so　secure；　that　she　should　never　be　alarmed　at　any
domiciliary　visit　in　future。　　Madame　de　Fleury；　however；　did　not
think　it　either　just　or　expedient　to　put　her　resolution　to　the
trial。　　She　determined　to　leave　Paris；　and；　if　possible；　to　make
her　escape　from　France。　　The　master　of　one　of　the　Paris　diligences
was　brother　to　Francois；　her　footman：　　he　was　ready　to　assist　her
at　all　hazards；　and　to　convey　her　safely　to　Bourdeaux；　if　she　could
disguise　herself　properly；　and　if　she　could　obtain　a　pass　from　any
friend　under　a　feigned　name。

Victoirethe　indefatigable　Victoirerecollected　that　her　friend
Annette　had　an　aunt；　who　was　nearly　of　Madame　de　Fleury's　size；　and
who　had　just　obtained　a　pass　to　go　to　Bourdeaux；　to　visit　som