CHAPTER LVII.
THE JUDGES.
"Well, my brave friend," said Coconnas to La Mole, when the two weretogether after the examination, at which, for the first time, thesubject of the waxen image had been discussed, "it seems to me thateverything is going on finely, and that it will not be long before thejudges will dismiss us. And this diagnosis is entirely different fromthat of a dismissal by physicians. When the doctor gives up the patientit is because he cannot cure him, but when the judge gives up theaccused it is because he has no further hope of having him beheaded."
"Yes," said La Mole; "and moreover, it seems to me, from the politenessand gentleness of the jailer and the looseness of the doors, that Irecognize our kind friends; but I do not recognize Monsieur de Beaulieu,at least from what I had been told of him."
"I recognize him," said Coconnas; "only it will cost dearly. But one isa princess, the other a queen; both are rich, and they will never haveso good an opportunity to use their money. Now let us go over ourlesson. We are to be taken to the chapel, and left there in charge ofour turnkey; we shall each find a dagger in the spot indicated. I am tomake a hole in the body of our guide."
"Yes, but a slight one in the arm; otherwise you will rob him of hisfive hundred crowns."
"Ah, no; not in the arm, for in that case he would have to lose it, andit would be easy to see that it was given intentionally. No, it must bein his right side, gliding skilfully along his ribs; that would looknatural, but in reality would be harmless."
"Well, aim for that, and then"--
"Then you will barricade the front door with benches while our twoprincesses rush from behind the altar, where they are to be hidden, andHenriette opens the vestry door. Ah, faith, how I love Henriette to-day!She must have been faithless to me in some way for me to feel as I do."
"And then," said La Mole, with the trembling voice which falls from lipslike music, "then we shall reach the forest. A kiss given to each of uswill make us strong and happy. Can you not picture us, Annibal, bendingover our swift horses, our hearts gently oppressed? Oh, what a goodthing is fear! Fear in the open air when one has one's naked sword atone's side, when one cries 'hurra' to the courser pricked by the spur,and which at each shout speeds the faster."
"Yes," said Coconnas, "but fear within four walls--what do you say tothat, La Mole? I can speak of it, for I have felt something of it. WhenBeaulieu, with his pale face, entered my cell for the first time, behindhim in the darkness shone halberds, and I heard a sinister sound of ironstriking against iron. I swear to you I immediately thought of the Ducd'Alencon, and I expected to see his ugly face between the two hatefulheads of the halberdiers. I was mistaken, however, and this was my soleconsolation. But that was not all; night came, and I dreamed."
"So," said La Mole, who had been following his happy train of thoughtwithout paying attention to his friend, "so they have foreseeneverything, even the place in which we are to hide. We shall go toLorraine, dear friend. In reality I should rather have had it Navarre,for there I should have been with her, but Navarre is too far; Nanceywould be better; besides, once there, we should be only eighty leaguesfrom Paris. Have you any feeling of regret, Annibal, at leaving thisplace?"
"Ah, no! the idea! Although I confess I am leaving everything thatbelongs to me."
"Well, could we manage to take the worthy jailer with us instead of"--
"He would not go," said Coconnas, "he would lose too much. Think of it!five hundred crowns from us, a reward from the government; promotion,perhaps; how happy will be that fellow's life when I shall have killedhim! But what is the matter?"
"Nothing! An idea came to me."
"It is not a funny one, apparently, for you are frightfully pale."
"I was wondering why they should take us to the chapel."
"Why," said Coconnas, "to receive the sacrament. This is the time forit, I think."
"But," said La Mole, "they take only those condemned to death or thetorture to the chapel."
"Oh!" said Coconnas, becoming somewhat pale in turn, "this deserves ourattention. Let us question the good man whom I am to split open. Here,turnkey!"
"Did monsieur call?" asked the jailer, who had been keeping watch at thetop of the stairs.
"Yes; come here."
"Well?"
"It has been arranged that we are to escape from the chapel, has itnot?"
"Hush!" said the turnkey, looking round him in terror.
"Do not worry; no one can hear us."
"Yes, monsieur; it is from the chapel."
"They are to take us to the chapel, then?"
"Yes; that is the custom."
"The custom?"
"Yes; it is customary to allow every one condemned to death to pass thenight in the chapel."
Coconnas and La Mole shuddered and glanced at each other.
"You think we are condemned to death, then?"
"Certainly. You, too, must think so."
"Why should we think so?" asked La Mole.
"Certainly; otherwise you would not have arranged everything for yourescape."
"Do you know, there is reason in what he says!" said Coconnas to LaMole.
"Yes; and what I know besides is that we are playing a close game,apparently."
"But do you think I am risking nothing?" said the turnkey. "If in amoment of excitement monsieur should make a mistake"--
"Well! by Heaven! I wish I were in your place," said Coconnas, slowly,"and had to deal with no hand but this; with no sword except the onewhich is to graze you."
"Condemned to death!" murmured La Mole, "why, that is impossible!"
"Impossible!" said the turnkey, naively, "and why?"
"Hush!" said Coconnas, "I think some one is opening the lower door."
"To your cells, gentlemen, to your cells!" cried the jailer, hurriedly.
"When do you think the trial will take place?" asked La Mole.
"To-morrow, or later. But be easy; those who must be informed shall be."
"Then let us embrace each other and bid farewell to these walls."
The two friends rushed into each other's arms and then returned to theircells, La Mole sighing, Coconnas singing.
Nothing new happened until seven o'clock. Night fell dark and rainy overthe prison of Vincennes, a perfect night for flight. The evening mealwas brought to Coconnas, who ate with his usual appetite, thinking ofthe pleasure he would feel in being soaked in the rain, which waspattering against the walls, and already preparing himself to fallasleep to the dull, monotonous murmur of the wind, when suddenly itseemed to him that this wind, to which he occasionally listened with afeeling of melancholy never before experienced by him until he came toprison, whistled more strangely than usual under the doors, and that thestove roared with a louder noise than common. This had happened everytime one of the cells above or opposite him was opened. It was by thisnoise that Annibal always knew the jailer was coming from La Mole'scell.
But this time it was in vain that Coconnas remained with eye and earalert.
The moments passed; no one came.
"This is strange," said Coconnas, "La Mole's door has been opened andnot mine. Could La Mole have called? Can he be ill? What does it mean?"
With a prisoner everything is a cause for suspicion and anxiety, aseverything is a cause for joy and hope.
Half an hour passed, then an hour, then an hour and a half.
Coconnas was beginning to grow sleepy from anger when the grating of thelock made him spring to his feet.
"Oh!" said he, "has the time come for us to leave and are they going totake us to the chapel without condemning us? By Heaven, what joy itwould be to escape on such a night! It is as dark as an oven! I hope thehorses are not blind."
He was about to ask some jocular question of the turnkey when he saw thelatter put his finger to his lips and roll his eyes significantly.Behind the jailer Coconnas heard sounds and perceived shadows.
Suddenly in the midst of the darkness he distinguished two helmets, onwhich
the smoking candle threw a yellow light.
"Oh!" said he in a low voice, "what is this sinister procession? What isgoing to happen?"
The jailer replied by a sigh which greatly resembled a groan.
"By Heaven!" murmured Coconnas; "what a wretched existence! always onthe ragged edge; never on firm land; either we paddle in a hundred feetof water or we hover above the clouds; never a happy medium. Well, whereare we going?"
"Follow the halberdiers, monsieur," repeated the same voice.
He had to obey. Coconnas left his room, and perceived the dark man whosevoice had been so disagreeable. He was a clerk, small and hunchbacked,who no doubt had put on the gown in order to hide his bandy legs, aswell as his back. He slowly descended the winding stairs. At the firstlanding the guards paused.
"That is a good deal to go down," murmured Coconnas, "but not enough."
The door opened. The prisoner had the eye of a lynx and the scent of abloodhound. He scented the judges and saw in the shadow the silhouetteof a man with bare arms; the latter sight made the perspiration mount tohis brow. Nevertheless, he assumed his most smiling manner, and enteredthe room with his head tipped to one side, and his hand on his hip,after the most approved manner of the times.
A curtain was raised, and Coconnas perceived the judges and the clerks.
A few feet away La Mole was seated on a bench.
Coconnas was led to the front of the tribunal. Arrived there, hestopped, nodded and smiled to La Mole, and then waited.
"What is your name, monsieur?" inquired the president.
"Marcus Annibal de Coconnas," replied the gentleman with perfect ease."Count de Montpantier, Chenaux, and other places; but they are known, Ipresume."
"Where were you born?"
"At Saint Colomban, near Suza."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-seven years and three months."
"Good!" said the president.
"This pleases him, apparently," said Coconnas.
"Now," said the president after a moment's silence which gave the clerktime to write down the answers of the accused; "what was your reason forleaving the service of Monsieur d'Alencon?"
"To rejoin my friend Monsieur de la Mole, who had already left the dukethree days before."
"What were you doing the day of the hunt, when you were arrested?"
"Why," said Coconnas, "I was hunting."
"The King was also present at that hunt, and was there seized with thefirst attack of the malady from which he is at present suffering."
"I was not near the King, and I can say nothing about this. I was evenignorant of the fact that he had been ill."
The judges looked at one another with a smile of incredulity.
"Ah! you were ignorant of his Majesty's illness, were you?" said thepresident.
"Yes, monsieur, and I am sorry to hear of it. Although the King ofFrance is not my king, I have a great deal of sympathy for him."
"Indeed!"
"On my honor! It is different so far as his brother the Duc d'Alencon isconcerned. The latter I confess"--
"We have nothing to do with the Duc d'Alencon, monsieur; this concernshis Majesty."
"Well, I have already told you that I am his very humble servant," saidCoconnas, turning about in an adorably impudent fashion.
"If as you pretend, monsieur, you are really his servant, will you tellus what you know of a certain waxen figure?"
"Ah, good! we have come back to the figure, have we?"
"Yes, monsieur; does this displease you?"
"On the contrary, I prefer it; go ahead."
"Why was this statue found in Monsieur de la Mole's apartments?"
"At Monsieur de la Mole's? At Rene's, you mean?"
"You acknowledge that it exists, then, do you?"
"Why, if you will show it to me."
"Here it is. Is this the one you know?"
"It is."
"Clerk," said the president, "write down that the accused recognizes theimage as the one seen at Monsieur de la Mole's."
"No, no!" said Coconnas, "do not let us misunderstand each other--as theone seen at Rene's."
"At Rene's; very good! On what day?"
"The only day La Mole and myself were at Rene's."
"You admit, then, that you were at Rene's with Monsieur de la Mole?"
"Why, did I ever deny it?"
"Clerk, write down that the accused admits having gone to Rene's to workconjurations."
"Stop there, Monsieur le President. Moderate your enthusiasm, I beg you.I did not say that at all."
"You deny having been at Rene's to work conjurations?"
"I deny it. The magic took place by accident. It was unpremeditated."
"But it took place?"
"I cannot deny that something resembling a charm did take place."
"Clerk, write down that the accused admits that he obtained at Rene's acharm against the life of the King."
"What! against the King's life? That is an infamous lie! There was nocharm obtained against the life of the King."
"You see, gentlemen!" said La Mole.
"Silence!" said the president; then turning to the clerk: "Against thelife of the King," he continued. "Have you that?"
"Why, no, no!" cried Coconnas. "Besides, the figure is not that of aman, but of a woman."
"What did I tell you, gentlemen?" said La Mole.
"Monsieur de la Mole," said the president, "answer when you arequestioned, but do not interrupt the examination of others."
"So you say that it is a woman?"
"Certainly I say so."
"In that case, why did it have a crown and a cloak?"
"By Heaven!" said Coconnas, "that is simple enough, because it was"--
La Mole rose and put his finger on his lips.
"That is so," said Coconnas, "what was I going to say that couldpossibly concern these gentlemen?"
"You persist in stating that the figure is that of a woman?"
"Yes; certainly I persist."
"And you refuse to say what woman?"
"A woman of my country," said La Mole, "whom I loved and by whom Iwished to be loved in return."
"We are not asking you, Monsieur de la Mole," said the president; "keepsilent, therefore, or you shall be gagged."
"Gagged!" exclaimed Coconnas; "what do you mean, monsieur of the blackrobe? My friend gagged? A gentleman! the idea!"
"Bring in Rene," said the Attorney-General Laguesle.
"Yes; bring in Rene," said Coconnas; "we shall see who is right here, wetwo or you three."
Rene entered, pale, aged, and almost unrecognizable to the two friends,bowed under the weight of the crime he was about to commit much morethan because of those he had already committed.
"Maitre Rene," said the judge, "do you recognize the two accused personshere present?"
"Yes, monsieur," replied Rene, in a voice which betrayed his emotion.
"From having seen them where?"
"In several places; and especially at my house."
"How many times did they go to your house?"
"Once only."
As Rene spoke the face of Coconnas expanded; La Mole's, on the contrary,looked as though he had a presentiment of evil.
"For what purpose were they at your house?"
Rene seemed to hesitate a moment.
"To order me to make a waxen figure," said he.
"Pardon me, Maitre Rene," said Coconnas, "you are making a slightmistake."
"Silence!" said the president; then turning to Rene, "was this figure tobe that of a man or a woman?"
"A man," replied Rene.
Coconnas sprang up as if he had received an electric shock.
"A man!" he exclaimed.
"A man," repeated Rene, but in so low a tone that the president scarcelyheard him.
"Why did this figure of a man have on a mantle and a crown?"
"Because it represented a king."
"Infamous liar!" cried Coconnas, infuriated.
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"Keep still, Coconnas, keep still," interrupted La Mole, "let the manspeak; every one has a right to sell his own soul."
"But not the bodies of others, by Heaven!"
"And what was the meaning of the needle in the heart of the figure, withthe letter 'M' on a small banner?"
"The needle was emblematical of the sword or the dagger; the letter 'M'stands for _mort_."
Coconnas sprang forward as though to strangle Rene, but four guardsrestrained him.
"That will do," said the Attorney Laguesle, "the court is sufficientlyinformed. Take the prisoners to the waiting-room."
"But," exclaimed Coconnas, "it is impossible to hear one's self accusedof such things without protesting."
"Protest, monsieur, no one will hinder you. Guards, did you hear?"
The guards seized the two prisoners and led them out, La Mole by onedoor, Coconnas by another.
Then the attorney signed to the man whom Coconnas had perceived in theshadow, and said to him:
"Do not go away, my good fellow, you shall have work this evening."
"Which shall I begin with, monsieur?" asked the man, respectfullyholding his cap in his hand.
"With that one," said the president, pointing to La Mole, who couldstill be seen disappearing in the distance between the two guards. Thenapproaching Rene, who stood trembling, expecting to be led back to thecell in which he had been confined:
"You have spoken well, monsieur," said he to him, "you need not worry.Both the King and the queen shall know that it is to you they areindebted for the truth of this affair."
But instead of giving him strength, this promise seemed to terrify Rene,whose only answer was a deep sigh.