louisa of prussia and her times-第60部分

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ambassadors　that　the　French　ministers　could　safely　depart；　and　that
he　would　give　them　twenty…four　hours　for　this　purpose。　＇Footnote：
Vide　Dohm；　nach　seinem　Wollen　und　Handeln；　von　Cronau；　p。　600。＇

The　officer　brought；　however；　an　autograph　letter　from　Barbaczy　to
the　French　ministers；　and　he　repaired　to　the　castle　in　order　to
deliver　it　to　them。

This　letter　from　Barbaczy　contained　the　following　lines：

〃Ministers：　You　will　understand　that　no　French　citizens　can　be
tolerated　within　the　positions　occupied　by　the　Austrian　forces。　You
will　not　be　surprised；　therefore；　that　I　am　obliged　to　request　you；
ministers；　to　leave　Rastadt　within　twenty…four　hours。〃

〃Barbaczy；　Colonel。〃

〃Gernsbach；　April　28；　1799。〃　＇Footnote：　Dohm　preserved　a　copy　of
this　letter。Ibid。＇

〃Well；　what　are　we　to　do？〃　asked　Roberjot；　when　the　officer　had　left
them。

〃We　will　set　out；〃　said　Jean　Debry；　impetuously。

〃Yes；　we　will　set　out；〃　exclaimed　his　beautiful　young　wife；
encircling　him　with　her　arms。　〃The　air　here；　it　seems　to　me；　smells
of　blood　and　murder；　and　every　minute's　delay　redoubles　our　danger。〃

〃Poor　wife；　did　they　infect　you；　too；　already　with　their　evil
forebodings　and　dreams？〃　said　Jean　Debry；　tenderly　pressing　his　wife
to　his　heart。　〃God　forbid　that　they　should　endanger　a　single　hair　of
your　dear；　beautiful　head！　I　am　not　afraid　for　myself；　but　for　the
sake　of　my　wife　and　of　my　two　little　daughters。　For　you　and　for　our
friends　here　I　would　like　to　choose　the　best　and　most　prudent
course。〃

〃Let　us　set　out；〃　said　Madame　Roberjot；　〃the　terrible　dream　last
night　was　intended　to　give　us　warning。　Death　threatens　us　if　we
remain　here　any　longer。　Oh；　my　husband；　I　love　nothing　on　earth　but
you　alone；　you　are　my　love　and　my　happiness！　I　would　die　of　a　broken
heart　if　I　should　lose　you！　But　no；　no；　not　lose！　We　live　and　die
together。　He　who　kills　you　must　also　take　my　life！〃

〃They　shall　not　kill　us；　my　beloved；〃　said　Roberjot；　feelingly；
〃life；　I　trust；　has　many　joys　yet　in　store　for　us；　and　we　will
return　to　our　country　in　order　to　seek　them　there。　Bonnier；　you
alone　are　silent。　Do　not　you　believe　also　that　we　ought　to　set　out
to…night？〃

Bonnier　started　up　from　his　gloomy　reverie。　〃Let　us　set　out；〃　he
said；　〃we　must　boldly　confront　the　terrors　from　which　we　cannot
escape。　Let　us　set　out。〃

〃Be　it　so！〃　shouted　Roberjot　and　Jean　Debry。　〃The　republic　will
protect　her　faithful　sons！〃

〃And　may　God　protect　us　in　His　infinite　mercy；〃　exclaimed　Madame
Roberjot；　falling　on　her　knees。

And　Jean　Debry's　wife　knelt　down　by　her　side；　drawing　her　little
girls　down　with　her。

〃Let　us　pray；　my　children；　for　your　father；　for　ourselves；　and　for
our　friends；〃　she　said；　folding　the　children's　hands。

While　the　women　were　praying；　the　men　issued　their　last　orders　to
the　servants　and　to　the　postilions。

At　length　every　thing　was　in　readiness；　and　if　they　really　wished　to
set　out；　it　had　to　be　done　at　once。

Roberjot　and　Jean　Debry　approached　softly　and　with　deep　emotion
their　wives；　who　were　kneeling　and　praying　still；　and　raised　them
tenderly。

〃Now　be　strong　and　courageousbe　wives　worthy　of　your　husbands；〃
they　whispered。　〃Dry　your　tears　and　come！　The　carriages　are　waiting
for　us。　Come；　come；　France　is　waiting　for　us！〃

〃Or　the　grave！〃　muttered　Bonnier；　who　accompanied　the　others　to　the
courtyard　where　the　carriages　were　standing。

The　ambassadors　with　their　wives　and　attendants　had　finally　taken
seats　in　the　carriages。　Roberjot　and　his　wife　occupied　the　first
carriage；　Bonnier；　the　second；　Jean　Debry　with　his　wife　and
daughters；　the　third；　in　the　fourth；　fifth；　and　sixth　were　the
secretaries　of　legation；　the　clerks　and　servants　of　the　ambassadors。

The　last　coach…door　was　closed；　a　profound　momentary　silence
succeeded　the　noise　and　turmoil　that　had　prevailed　up　to　this　time。
Then　the　loud；　ringing　voice　of　Roberjot　asked　from　the　first
carriage；　〃All　ready？〃

〃All　ready！〃　was　the　reply　from　the　other　carriages。

〃Then　let　us　start；〃　shouted　Roberjot；　and　his　carriage　immediately
commenced　moving。　The　other　five　carriages　followed　slowly　and
heavily。

The　night　was　chilly　and　dark。　The　sky　was　covered　with　heavy
clouds。　Not　the　faintest　trace　of　the　moon；　not　a　star　was　visible。
In　order　that　they　might　not　lose　their　way；　and　see　the　bridge
across　the　Rhine；　a　man；　bearing　a　torch；　had　to　precede　the
carriages。　But　the　gale　moved　the　flame　so　violently　that　it　now
seemed　near　going　out；　and　then　again　flared　up　and　cast　a　glare
over　the　long　procession　of　the　carriages。　Then　every　thing　once
more　became　dark　and　gloomy　and　ominously　still。

The　torch…bearer；　preceding　the　foremost　carriage；　vigorously
marched　ahead　on　the　road。　All　at　once　it　seemed　to　him　as　though
black　figures　were　emerging　from　both　sides　of　the　highway　and
softly　flitting　past　him。　But　assuredly　he　must　have　been　mistaken；
it　could　not　have　been　any　thing　but　the　shadows　of　the　trees
standing　on　both　sides　of　the　road。

No；　now　he　saw　it　again；　quite　plainly。　The　shadows　were　horsemen；
softly　riding　along　on　both　sides　of　the　highway。　He　raised　his
torch　and　looked　at　the　horsemen。　There　was　quite　a　cavalcade　of
them。　Now　they　crossed　the　ditch　and　took　position　across　the　road；
thus　preventing　the　carriages　from　passing　on。　The　torch…bearer
stood　still　and　turned　around　in　order　to　shout　to　the　postilions　to
halt。　But　only　an　inarticulated；　shrill　cry　escaped　from　his　throat；
for　at　the　same　moment　two　of　the　horsemen　galloped　up　and　struck　at
him　with　their　flashing　swords。　He　parried　the　strokes　with　his
torch；　his　only　weapon；　so　that　one　of　the　swords　did　not　hit　him　at
all；　while　the　other　only　slightly　touched　his　shoulder。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　shouted　Roberjot；　in　an　angry　voice；　from　the
first　carriage。

The　horsemen　seized　the　arms　of　the　torch…bearer　and　dragged　him
toward　the　carriage。　〃Light！〃　they　shouted　to　him；　and　quite　a　squad
of　merry　horsemen　was　now　coming　up　behind　them。　When　they　dashed
past　the　torch；　the　frightened　torch…bearer　was　able　to　see　their
wild；　bearded　faces；　their　flashing　eyes；　and　the　silver　lace　on
their　uniforms。

The　torch　betrayed　the　secret　of　the　night；　and　caused　the　Sczekler
hussars　of　Barbaczy's　regiment　to　be　recognized。

They　now　surrounded　the　first　carriage；　shouting　furiously；　and
shattering　the　windows　with　their　sabres。

〃Minister　Roberjot！　Are　you　Minister　Roberjot？〃　asked　a　dozen　wild；
howling　voices。

Roberjot's　grave　and　threatening　face；　illuminated　by　the　glare　of
the　torch；　appeared　immediately　in　the　aperture　of　the　window。　〃Yes；
I　am　Roberjot；〃　he　said；　loudly；　〃I　am　the　ambassador　of　France；　and
here　is　the　passport　furnished　me　by　the　ambassador　of　the　Elector
of　Mentz。〃

He　exhibited　the　paper；　but　the　hussars　took　no　notice　of　it；　four
vigorous　arms　dragged　Roberjot　from　the　carriage；　and　before　he　had
time　to　stretch　out　his　hand　toward　his　pistols；　the　sabres　of　the
hussars　fell　down　upon　his　head　and　shoulders。

A　terrible　yell　was　heard；　but　it　was　not　Roberjot　who　had　uttered
it；　it　was　his　wife；　who　appeared　with　pale　and　distorted　features
in　the　coach　door；　hastening　to　her　beloved　husband；　to　save　him　or
to　die　with　him。

But　two　stout　arms　kept　her　backthe　arms　of　the　valet　de　chambre
who；　perceiving　that　his　master　was　hopelessly　lost；　wanted　to
protect　at　least　his　mistress　from　the　murderous　sabres　of　the
hussars。

〃Let　me　go；　let　me　go；　I　will　die　with　him！〃　she　cried；　but　the
faithful　servant　would　not　loosen　his　hold；　and；　unable　to　reach　her
husband；　she　had　to　witness　his　assassination　by　the　hussars；　who
cut　him　with　their　sabres　until　he　lay　weltering　in　his　gore。

〃He　is　dead！〃　shrieked　his　wife；　and　her　wail　aroused　Roberjot　once
more　from　his　stupor。　He　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　once　more　at　his
wife。

〃Sauvez！　sauvez！〃　he　shouted；　in　a　voice　full　of　anguish。　〃Oh！〃

〃What！　not　dead　yet？〃　roared　the　hussars；　and　they　struck　him　again。

Now　he　was　dying。　That　loud；　awful　death…rattle　was　his　last　life…
struggle。　The　valet　de　chambre　in　order　to　prevent　her　from　hearing
that　awful　sound；　with　his　hands　closed　the　ears　of　his　mistress；
who；　petrified　with　horror；　was　looking　at　her　dying　husband。

But　she　did　not　hear　it；　she　had　fainted　in　the　servant's　arms。　At
this　moment　a　heavy　hand　was　laid　on　his　shoulder；　and　the　wild；
bearded　face　of　a　hussar　stared　at　him。

〃Footman？〃　asked　the　hussar；　in　his　broken　Hungarian　dialect。　〃Yes；
footman！〃　said　the　valet　de　chambre；　in　broken　German。

The　hussar　smilingly　patted　his　shoulder；　and；　with　his　other　hand；
pulled　the　watch　from　his　vest…pocket；　kindly　saying　to　him；
〃Footman；　stay　here。　No　harm　will　befall　him！〃　He　then　bent　forward；
and　with　a　quick　grasp；　tore　the　watch　and　chain　from　the　neck　of
Roberjot's　fainting　wife。

His　task　was　now　accomplished；　and　he　galloped　to　the　second
carriage；　to　which　the　other　hussars　had　just　dragged　the　torch…
bearer；　and　which　they　had　completely　surrounded。

〃Bonnier；　alight！〃　howled　the　hussars；　furiously〃Bonnier；　alight！〃

〃Here　I　am！〃　said　Bonnier；　opening　the　coach　door；　〃here〃　They　did
not　give　him　time　to　finish　the　sentence。　They　dragged　him　from　the
carriage；　and　struck　him　numerous　blows　amidst　loud　laughter　and
yells。　Bonnier　did　not　defend　himself；　he　did　not　parry　a　single　one
of　their　strokes；　without　uttering　a　cry　or　a　groan；　he　sank　to　the
ground。　His　dying　lips　only　whispered　a　single　word。　That　word　was；
〃Victoria！〃

The　six　hussars　who　crowded　around　him　now　stopped　in　their
murderous　work。　They　saw　that　Bonnier　was　deadreally　deadand
that　their　task　was　accomplished。　Now　commenced　the　appropriation　of
the　spoils；　the　reward　that　had　been　promised　to　them。　Four　of　them
rushed　toward　the　carriage　in　order　to　search　it　and　to　take　out　all
papers；　valuables；　and　trunks；　the　two　others　searched　and　undressed
the　warm　corpse　of　Bonnier　with　practised　hands。

Then　the　six　hussars　rushed　after　their　comrades　toward　the　third
carriagetoward　Jean　Debry。　But　the　others　had　already　outstripped
them。　They　had　dragged　Debry；　his　wife；　and　his　daughters　from　the
carriage；　they　were　robbing　and　searching　t