按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
quickly suppressed。 A grim silence reigned in this thickly…peopled
camp； only the crackling of the torches broke that silence now and
then； or the flapping of canvas in the wintry gale。 They worked on
sullen； desperate； and starving； with no hope of payment save the
miserable rations wrung from poor tradespeople or miserable farmers；
as wretched； as oppressed as themselves； no hope of payment； only
fear of punishment； for that was ever present。
The people of France in arms against tyranny were not allowed to
forget that grim taskmaster with the two great hands stretched
upwards； holding the knife which descended mercilessly；
indiscriminately on necks that did not bend willingly to the task。
A grim look of gratified desire had spread over de Batz' face as
he skirted the open…air camp。 Let them toil； let them groan； let
them starve！ The more these clouts suffer； the more brutal the
heel that grinds them down； the sooner will the Emperor's money
accomplish its work； the sooner will these wretches be clamoring
for the monarchy； which would mean a rich reward in de Batz'
pockets。
To him everything now was for the best： the tyranny； the
brutality； the massacres。 He gloated in the holocausts with as
much satisfaction as did the most bloodthirsty Jacobin in the
Convention。 He would with his own hands have wielded the
guillotine that worked too slowly for his ends。 Let that end
justify the means； was his motto。 What matter if the future King
of France walked up to his throne over steps made of headless
corpses and rendered slippery with the blood of martyrs？
The ground beneath de Batz' feet was hard and white with the
frost。 Overhead the pale； wintry moon looked down serene and
placid on this giant city wallowing in an ocean of misery。
There； had been but little snow as yet this year； and the cold was
intense。 On his right now the Cimetiere des SS。 Innocents lay
peaceful and still beneath the wan light of the moon。 A thin
covering of snow lay evenly alike on grass mounds and smooth
stones。 Here and there a broken cross with chipped arms still
held pathetically outstretched； as if in a final appeal for human
love； bore mute testimony to senseless excesses and spiteful
desire for destruction。
But here within the precincts of the dwelling of the eternal
Master a solemn silence reigned； only the cold north wind shook
the branches of the yew； causing them to send forth a melancholy
sigh into the night； and to shed a shower of tiny crystals of snow
like the frozen tears of the dead。
And round the precincts of the lonely graveyard； and down narrow
streets or open places； the night watchmen went their rounds；
lanthorn in hand； and every five minutes their monotonous call
rang clearly out in the night：
〃Sleep； citizens！ everything is quiet and at peace！〃
We may take it that de Batz did not philosophise over…much on what
went on around him。 He had walked swiftly up the Rue St。 Martin；
then turning sharply to his right he found himself beneath the
tall； frowning walls of the Temple prison； the grim guardian of so
many secrets； such terrible despair； such unspeakable tragedies。
Here； too； as in the Place de la Revolution； an intermittent roll
of muffled drums proclaimed the ever…watchful presence of the
National Guard。 But with that exception not a sound stirred round
the grim and stately edifice； there were no cries； no calls； no
appeals around its walls。 All the crying and wailing was shut in
by the massive stone that told no tales。
Dim and flickering lights shone behind several of the small
windows in the facade of the huge labyrinthine building。 Without
any hesitation de Batz turned down the Rue du Temple； and soon
found himself in front of the main gates which gave on the
courtyard beyond。 The sentinel challenged him； but he had the
pass…word； and explained that he desired to have speech with
citizen Heron。
With a surly gesture the guard pointed to the heavy bell…pull up
against the gate； and de Batz pulled it with all his might。 The
long clang of the brazen bell echoed and re…echoed round the solid
stone walls。 Anon a tiny judas in the gate was cautiously pushed
open； and a peremptory voice once again challenged the midnight
intruder。
De Batz； more peremptorily this time； asked for citizen Heron；
with whom he had immediate and important business； and a glimmer
of a piece of silver which he held up close to the judas secured
him the necessary admittance。
The massive gates slowly swung open on their creaking hinges； and
as de Batz passed beneath the archway they closed again behind him。
The concierge's lodge was immediately on his left。 Again he was
challenged； and again gave the pass…word。 But his face was
apparently known here； for no serious hindrance to proceed was put
in his way。
A man； whose wide； lean frame was but ill…covered by a threadbare
coat and ragged breeches； and with soleless shoes on his feet； was
told off to direct the citoyen to citizen Heron's rooms。 The man
walked slowly along with bent knees and arched spine； and shuffled
his feet as he walked； the bunch of keys which he carried rattled
ominously in his long； grimy hands； the passages were badly
lighted； and he also carried a lanthorn to guide himself on the
way。
Closely followed by de Batz； he soon turned into the central
corridor； which is open to the sky above； and was spectrally
alight now with flag…stones and walls gleaming beneath the silvery
sheen of the moon； and throwing back the fantastic elongated
shadows of the two men as they walked。
On the left； heavily barred windows gave on the corridor； as did
here and there the massive oaken doors； with their gigantic hinges
and bolts； on the steps of which squatted groups of soldiers
wrapped in their cloaks； with wild； suspicious eyes beneath their
capotes； peering at the midnight visitor as he passed。
There was no thought of silence here。 The very walls seemed alive
with sounds； groans and tears； loud wails and murmured prayers；
they exuded from the stones and trembled on the frost…laden air。
Occasionally at one of the windows a pair of white hands would
appear； grasping the heavy iron bar； trying to shake it in its
socket； and mayhap； above the hands； the dim vision of a haggard
face； a man's or a woman's； trying to get a glimpse of the outside
world； a final look at the sky； before the last journey to the
place of death to…morrow。 Then one of the soldiers； with a loud；
angry oath； would struggle to his feet； and with the butt…end of
his gun strike at the thin； wan fingers till their hold on the
iron bar relaxed； and the pallid face beyond would sink back into
the darkness with a desperate cry of pain。
A quick； impatient sigh escaped de Batz' lips。 He had skirted the
wide courtyard in the wake of his guide； and from where he was he
could see the great central tower； with its tiny windows lighted
from within； the grim walls behind which the descendant of the
world's conquerors； the bearer of the proudest name in Europe； and
wearer of its most ancient crown； had spent the last days of his
brilliant life in abject shame； sorrow； and degrad