louisa of prussia and her times-第58部分

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Paris　in　the　morning；　but　not　far　from　Rastadt　he　was　arrested　by
Austrian　hussars；　robbed　of　his　papers；　and　taken　to　the
headquarters　of　the　Austrian　Colonel　Barbaczy；　at　Gernsbach；
although　our　courier　was　provided　with　a　French　passport　and　an
official　badge；　enabling　him　fully　to　prove　that　he　was　in　our
service。〃　＇Footnote：　Historical。＇

〃This　was　an　unheard…of　violation　of　international　law；　for　which　we
have　vainly　sought　redress；〃　said　Jean　Debry；　gloomily。

〃These　German　cowards　are　not　even　courageous　enough　to　acknowledge
their　own　acts。　They　deny　having　robbed　our　courier；　but　they　cannot
deny　having　imprisoned　him；　contrary　to　international　law。〃

〃Just　as　little　as　Victoria　can　deny　that　she　was　the　person　who　had
informed　Lehrbach　and　Barbaczy　of　the　courier's　departure；〃　said
Bonnier；　〃for；　fifteen　minutes　before　setting　out；　the　courier
himself　did　not　know　any　thing　about　his　mission；　and　the
dispatches；　of　course；　were　of　the　most　harmless　description。　But　my
pretty　lady…bird　there　had　gone　into　the　trap　I　had　set　for　her；　and
I　kept　her　in　it　without　her　knowing　any　thing　about　it。　She　was
quite　unsuspecting；　and；　thanks　to　my　talents　as　a　comedian；　and　to
my　love；　I　finally　found　out　the　real　purpose　of　her　visit　to
Rastadt。　Yesterday　I　promised　her　to　deliver　to　her　to…day　the
papers　that　endanger　Thugut's　position　at　the　head　of　the　Austrian
government；　and　prove　him　to　be　a　hireling　of　England。　In　the
evening　Count　Lehrbach　sent　a　courier　to　Vienna；　then　we　retaliated；
caused　the　courier　to　be　arrested　and　took　his　papers　from　him。　He
had；　however；　only　a　small　note；　addressed　to　Minister　Thugut。　Here
it　is。　It　contains　only　the　following　words：〃

'I　shall　get　the　papers　to…morrow。'

'VICTORIA。'

〃But　these　words　were　written　by　the　beautiful　hand　of　the　same　lady
who　latterly　had　penned　so　many　tender　love…letters　to　myself。　I　had
promised　her　those　papers　if　she　would　call　for　them　to…day；　and　you
see；　my　friends；　that　she　has　come。　But　I　desired　to　know　if　this
really　was　the　only　object　for　which　Baron　Thugut　had　sent　his　most
beautiful　and　sagacious　agent　to　Rastadt；　or　if　there　were　not　some
secondary　objects　at　the　bottom　of　this　mission。　I　therefore
resolved　to　ascertain　this　to…day。　My　astute　spy　had　told　me　that
Madame　de　Poutet　was　also　anxious　to　get　hold　of　some　other
important　papers。　I　therefore　feigned　to…day　to　have　abstracted　the
wrong　papers　and　to　have　brought　here　a　portfolio　containing　our
correspondence　with　the　Prussian　minister　and　documents　in　relation
to　an　alliance　between　France　and　Prussia。　I　told　my　fair　friend
that　the　loss　of　these　papers　would　ruin　me　irretrievably；　and　yet　I
was　such　a　love…sick　fool　as　to　drop　the　portfolio　with　the　papers
while　engaged　in　tenderly　kissing　my　hand　to　my　dulcinea。　Look；
gentlemen；　the　portfolio　is　yet　lying　on　the　floor；　but　the　papers
are　no　longer　in　it。　They　are　carefully　concealed　in　Madame
Victoria's　pocket。　Oh；　it　was　a　very　pretty　scene；　when　she　stole
them。　I　watched　her　through　a　small　hole　which　I　had　bored　through
the　door　this　morning；　and　through　which　I　could　plainly　see　every
motion　of　my　beautiful　Victoria。　Yes；　my　beautiful　Victoria　stole
the　papers；　although　she　knew　that　this　loss　would　seriously
embarrass　me。　However；　my　friends；　it　will　be　unnecessary　for　the
republic　to　punish　me　for　this　theft　Madame　de　Poutet　has　committed；
for　the　papers　she　has　got　in　her　pocket　are　nothing　but　the
faithful　diary　of　my　daily　intercourse　with　Victoria　de　Poutet。　I
have　carefully　noted　in　it　every　conversation　I　had　with　her；　and
every　favor　she　granted　to　me；　and　I　have　no　objection　whatever　to
this　diary　being　transmitted　to　Minister　Thugut。　If　he　is　not
jealous；　he　will　not　complain　of　it。　And　now　I　am　through　with　my
justification；　and　I　ask　you；　did　I　not　act　as　a　good　and　faithful
son　of　the　republic　should？　Have　I　done　my　duty？　Will　the　country　be
content　with　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Roberjot；　solemnly；　〃you　have　acted　as　a　good　and
faithful　son　of　the　republic。　You　have　intrepidly　followed　the　enemy
who　had　approached　you　on　secret　paths；　into　his　hiding…places；　and
you　have　skilfully　exposed　the　perfidious　intrigues　he　had　carried
on　against　France。　You　have　done　your　duty。〃

〃Yes；　the　republic　will　thank　you　for　your　zeal；〃　exclaimed　Jean
Debry；　〃you　have　run　great　risks　for　her　sake。　For　a　beautiful；
voluptuous；　and　intriguing　woman　is　even　more　dangerous　than　a
venomous　serpent。　Like　St。　Anthony；　you　have　withstood　the　temptress
by　praying　to　our　holy　mother；　the　great　French　Republic！　Yes；　the
country　will　be　content　with　you。〃

〃I　thank　you；　my　friends；〃　said　Bonnier；　with　a　happy　smile；　〃I　now
stand　again　before　you　with　a　clear　conscience；　and　without　a　blush
of　shame　on　my　cheeks。　You　have　accepted　my　atonement。　As　for　this
woman；　we　will　inflict　no　further　punishment　on　her。　She　was　only　a
tool　in　Thugut's　hands；　that　was　all。　This　hour　has　punished　her
sufficiently；　and　our　profound　contempt　shall　be　the　only　penalty
she　will　take　away　with　her。〃

〃Yes；　our　profound　contempt　shall　be　the　penalty　she　will　take　with
her；〃　exclaimed　Roberjot　and　Jean　Debry　at　the　same　time。

〃There　is　nothing　more　disgraceful　under　the　sun　than　a　woman　who
sells　her　charms；〃　said　Roberjot。

〃There　is　nothing　more　dreadful　and　dishonorable　than　an　ambitious
and　heartless　wanton！〃　added　Jean　Debry；　in　a　voice　of　profound
disdain。

〃Victoria　de　Poutet；〃　said　Bonnier；　throwing　the　pistol　aside；
〃every　thing　between　us　was　a　comedy；　even　this　pistol；　the
pretended　bullet　of　which　frightened　and　silenced　you。　It　was　not
loaded。　The　comedy　is　now　at　an　end；　and　there　remains　nothing　for
yon　but　to　go　to　your　stage…manager　and　to　tell　him　that　you　utterly
failed　in　performing　your　part。　You　may　go　now；　nothing　further
detains　you　here。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Victoria；　in　a　perfectly　calm　and　sonorous
voice；　〃you　forget　that　you　put　the　key　of　the　door　into　your
pocket；　go；　therefore；　and　unlock　it。〃

She　pointed　at　the　door　with　an　imperious　gesture；　and　Bonnier　went
to　unlock　it。　Victoria；　remaining　still　erect　and　calm　in　her　arm…
chair；　looked　at　him　while　he　was　doing　so；　and　only　when　Bonnier
had　opened　the　door　and　returned　to　the　table；　she　rose　slowly　from
her　seat。

Now　she　stood　there；　drawing　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　her　face
glowing　with　indignation；　a　deep　blush　mantling　her　cheeks；　a
disdainful　smile　playing　on　the　slightly　parted　lips；　the　expansive
white　forehead　deeply　wrinkled；　as　cold　as　marble；　and　yet
concealing　under　this　marble　surface　a　torrent　of　molten　lava；
which；　as　soon　as　it　should　burst　forth；　could　not　but　produce　death
and　destruction。　Hers　was　now　a　diabolic　beauty；　and　when　she　turned
her　eyes　toward　the　three　republicans；　they　glistened　like　dagger…
points。

〃I　have　to　make　but　a　brief　reply　to　M。　Bonnier's　long　speech；〃　she
said；　proudly　and　calmly。　〃This　is　my　answer：　I　shall　obtain　those
papers　in　spite　of　you；　and　I　shall　revenge　myself　for　this　hour！　To
your　last　high…sounding　sentences；　I　answer　by　another　sentence：
there　is　nothing　more　dangerous　than　an　irritated　and　insulted
woman；　for　she　will　revenge　herself　and　imbrue　her　hands　in　the
blood　of　those　who　have　insulted　her。　Roberjot；　Bonnier；　and　Debry；
you　have　insulted　me；　and　I　tell　you　I　shall　revenge　myself。　Before
three　times　three　days　have　passed；　you　will　have　atoned　with　your
blood　for　this　hour；　and　may　God　have　mercy　on　your　poor　souls！〃

She　greeted　all　of　them　with　a　haughty　nod；　and　slowly　turning
around；　she　proudly　crossed　the　room。　The　three　men　looked　at　her
with　pale　and　gloomy　faces；　and　a　slight　shudder　pervaded　for　a
moment　the　hearts　of　the　republicans；　usually　so　bold　and　undaunted。

〃She　looked　like　an　evil　demon　predicting　our　future！〃　murmured
Roberjot。

〃She　will　fulfil　her　word；　she　will　try　to　assassinate　us；〃　said
Bonnier。　〃Did　you　not　see　it？　Her　eyes　were　moist；　no　tears　were
glistening　in　them；　however；　only　the　venom　she　will　discharge　at
us。　Let　us　be　on　our　guard！〃

〃Yes；　let　us　beware　of　the　serpent's　venom！〃　exclaimed　Jean　Debry；
with　gloomy　energy〃let　us　beware；　and　most　of　all；　let　us　be　men
who　cannot　be　intimidated　by　the　furious　threats　of　a　woman。〃

But　Jean　Debry　knew　neither　the　energy　nor　the　power　of　this　woman
whose　threats　he　despised。　He　did　not　know　that；　her　anger　once
aroused；　she　would　not　rest　until　she　had　taken　her　revenge。　Late　in
the　evening　of　that　day；　when　all　Rastadt　was　sleeping；　Victoria
received　in　her　house　her　two　powerful　assistants；　Count　Lehrbach
and　Colonel　Barbaczy；　the　latter　having　been　invited　by　a　mounted
messenger　to　come　to　her　from　Gernsbach。

A　long　and　portentous　conference　these　three　persons　held　in　the
course　of　that　night；　during　which　they　consulted　about　the　best　way
to　punish　the　French　ambassadors；　and　to　take　from　them　the　papers
which　Thugut　wished　to　obtain。　〃We　must　have　those　papers　at　any
price〃　exclaimed　Victoria；　with　flashing　eyes。

〃Oh；　it　will　only　cost　a　little　blood！〃　shouted　Count　Lehrbach；　in　a
hollow　voice；　and　laughing　hoarsely。　〃These　overbearing　French　have
trampled　us　under　foot　for　two　long　years；　and　tormented　us　by
pricking　us　with　pins。　Now　we　will　also　trample　them　under　foot　and
prick　them；　and　if　our　pins　are　longer　than　theirs；　who　will
complain？〃

〃Thugut　wants　those　papers；　and　he　has　forgiven　us　in　advance　if
they　should　be　a　little　blood…stained；〃　said　Victoria；　looking　up
smilingly　to　old　Colonel　Barbaczy；　who；　with　his　hands　folded　on　his
back；　his　large　shaggy　eyebrows　gloomily　contracted；　was　slowly
pacing　the　room。

〃Barbaczy！　Barbaczy！〃　he　muttered；　in　a　low　voice；　〃what　will　the
world　say　of　your　old　head？〃　＇Footnote：　Barbaczy's　own　words。Vide
〃Uteransoher　Lodiacus。〃　Edited　by　Theod。　Mundt；　1835。　Third　number；
p。　208＇

〃The　world　will　not　grudge　these　hot…blooded　French　a　little　blood…
letting；　and　it　will　praise　your　surgical　skill；　my　dear　Barbaczy；〃
exclaimed　Lehrbach；　laughing。　〃The　responsibility；　besides；　does　not
fall　on　your　shoulders。　Who　will　blame　you　if　your　hot…blooded
hussars　commit　some　excesses…some　highway　robberies？