by Eugène Sue
CHAPTER XXXIX. PIERRE SIMON.
Marshal Pierre Simon, Duke de Ligny, was a man of tall stature, plainlydressed in a blue frock-coat, buttoned up to the throat, with a redribbon tied to the top buttonhole. You could not have wished to seea more frank, honest, and chivalrous cast of countenance than themarshal's. He had a broad forehead, an aquiline nose, a well formedchin, and a complexion bronzed by exposure to the Indian sun. His hair,cut very short, was inclined to gray about the temples; but his eyebrowswere still as black as his large, hanging moustache. His walk was freeand bold, and his decided movements showed his military impetuosity. Aman of the people, a man of war and action, the frank cordiality ofhis address invited friendliness and sympathy. As enlightened as he wasintrepid as generous as he was sincere, his manly, plebeian pride wasthe most remarkable part of his character. As others are proud of theirhigh birth, so was he of his obscure origin, because it was ennobled bythe fine qualities of his father, the rigid republican, the intelligentand laborious artisan, who, for the space of forty years, had been theexample and the glory of his fellow-workmen. In accepting with gratitudethe aristocratic title which the Emperor had bestowed upon him, PierreSimon acted with that delicacy which receives from a friendly hand aperfectly useless gift, and estimates it according to the intention ofthe giver. The religious veneration of Pierre Simon for the Emperor hadnever been blind; in proportion as his devotion and love for his idolwere instructive and necessary, his admiration was serious, and foundedupon reason. Far from resembling those swashbucklers who love fightingfor its own sake, Marshal Simon not only admired his hero as thegreatest captain in the world, but he admired him, above all, because heknew that the Emperor had only accepted war in the hope of one day beingable to dictate universal peace; for if peace obtained by glory andstrength is great, fruitful, and magnificent, peace yielded by weaknessand cowardice is sterile, disastrous, and dishonoring. The son of aworkman, Pierre Simon still further admired the Emperor, because thatimperial parvenu had always known how to make that popular heart beatnobly, and, remembering the people, from the masses of whom he firstarose, had invited them fraternally to share in regal and aristocraticpomp.
When Marshal Simon entered the room, his countenance was much agitated.At sight of Dagobert, a flash of joy illumined his features; he rushedtowards the soldier, extending his arms, and exclaimed, "My friend! myold friend!"
Dagobert answered this affectionate salute with silent emotion. Then themarshal, disengaging himself from his arms, and fixing his moist eyesupon him, said to him in so agitated a voice that his lips trembled,"Well, didst arrive in time for the 13th of February?"
"Yes, general; but everything is postponed for four months."
"And--my wife?--my child?" At this question Dagobert shuddered, hungdown his head, and was silent.
"They are not, then, here?" asked Simon, with more surprise thanuneasiness. "They told me they were not at your house, but that I shouldfind you here--and I came immediately. Are they not with you?"
"General," said Dagobert, becoming deadly pale; "general--" Dryingthe drops of cold sweat that stood upon his forehead, he was unable toarticulate a word, for his voice was checked in his parched throat.
"You frighten me!" exclaimed Pierre Simon, becoming pale as the soldier,and seizing him by the arm.
At this, Adrienne advanced, with a countenance full of grief andsympathy; seeing the cruel embarrassment of Dagobert, she wished to cometo his assistance, and she said to Pierre Simon, in a mild but agitatedvoice, "Marshal, I am Mdlle. de Cardoville--a relation of your dearchildren."
Pierre Simon turned around suddenly, as much struck with the dazzlingbeauty of Adrienne as with the words she had just pronounced. Hestammered out in his surprise, "You, madame--a relation--of mychildren!"
He laid a stress on the last words, and looked at Dagobert in a kind ofstupor.
"Yes, marshal your children," hastily replied Adrienne; "and the love ofthose charming twin sisters--"
"Twin sisters!" cried Pierre Simon, interrupting Mdlle. de Cardoville,with an outburst of joy impossible to describe. "Two daughters insteadof one! Oh! what happiness for their mother! Pardon me, madame, forbeing so impolite," he continued; "and so little grateful for what youtell me. But you will understand it; I have been seventeen years withoutseeing my wife; I come, and I find three loved beings, instead of two.Thanks, madame: would I could express all the gratitude I owe you! Youare our relation; this is no doubt your house; my wife and childrenare with you. Is it so? You think that my sudden appearance might beprejudicial to them? I will wait--but madame, you, that I am certainare good as fair--pity my impatience--will make haste to prepare them toreceive me--"
More and more agitated, Dagobert avoided the marshal's gaze, andtrembled like a leaf. Adrienne cast down her eyes without answering.Her heart sunk within her, at thought of dealing the terrible blow toMarshal Simon.
The latter, astonished at this silence, looking at Adrienne, then atthe soldier, became first uneasy, and at last alarmed. "Dagobert!" heexclaimed, "something is concealed from me!"
"General!" stammered the soldier, "I assure you--I--I--."
"Madame!" cried Pierre Simon, "I conjure you, in pity, speak to mefrankly!--my anxiety is horrible. My first fears return upon me. Whatis it? Are my wife and daughters ill? Are they in danger? Oh! speak!speak!"
"Your daughters, marshal," said Adrienne "have been rather unwell, sincetheir long journey--but they are in no danger."
"Oh, heaven! it is my wife!"
"Have courage, sir!" said Mdlle. de Cardoville, sadly. "Alas! you mustseek consolation in the affection of the two angels that remain to you."
"General!" said Dagobert, in a firm grave tone, "I returned fromSiberia--alone with your two daughters."
"And their mother! their mother!" cried Simon, in a voice of despair.
"I set out with the two orphans the day after her death," said thesoldier.
"Dead?" exclaimed Pierre Simon, overwhelmed by the stroke; "dead?" Amournful silence was the only answer. The marshal staggered beneath thisunexpected shock, leaned on the back of a chair for support, and then,sinking into the seat, concealed his face with his hands. For sameminutes nothing was heard but stifled sobs, for not only had PierreSimon idolized his wife, but by one of those singular compromises, thata man long cruelly tried sometimes makes with destiny, Pierre Simon,with the fatalism of loving souls, thought he had a right to reckon uponhappiness after so many years of suffering, and had not for a momentdoubted that he should find his wife and child--a double consolationreserved to him after going through so much. Very different from certainpeople, whom the habit of misfortune renders less exacting, Simon hadreckoned upon happiness as complete as had been his misery. His wife andchild were the sole, indispensable conditions of this felicity, and, hadthe mother survived her daughters, she would have no more replaced themin his eyes than they did her. Weakness or avarice of the heart, so itwas; we insist upon this singularity, because the consequences of theseincessant and painful regrets exercised a great influence on thefuture life of Marshal Simon. Adrienne and Dagobert had respected theoverwhelming grief of this unfortunate man. When he had given a freecourse to his tears, he raised his manly countenance, now of marblepaleness, drew his hand across his blood-shot eyes, rose, and said toAdrienne, "Pardon me, madame; I could not conquer my first emotion.Permit me to retire. I have cruel details to ask of the worthy friendwho only quitted my wife at the last moment. Have the kindness to letme see my children--my poor orphans!--" And the marshal's voice againbroke.
"Marshal," said Mdlle. de Cardoville, "just now we were expecting yourdear children: unfortunately, we have been deceived in our hopes."Pierre Simon first looked at Adrienne without answering, as if he hadnot heard or understood.--"But console yourself," resumed the younggirl; "we have yet no reason to despair."
"To despair?" repeated the marshaling by turns at Mdlle. de Cardovilledespair?--"of what, in heaven's name?"
"Of seeing your children, marshal
," said Adrienne; "the presence oftheir father will facilitate the search."
"The search!" cried Pierre Simon. "Then, my daughters are not here?"
"No, sir," said Adrienne, at length; "they have been taken from theaffectionate care of the excellent man who brought them from Russia, tobe removed to a convent."
"Wretch!" cried Pierre Simon, advancing towards Dagobert, with amenacing and terrible aspect; "you shall answer to me for all!"
"Oh, sir, do not blame him!" cried Mdlle. de Cardoville.
"General," said Dagobert, in a tone of mournful resignation, "I merityour anger. It is my fault. Forced to absent myself from Paris, Ientrusted the children to my wife; her confessor turned her head, andpersuaded her that your daughters would be better in a convent than atour house. She believed him, and let them be conveyed there. Now theysay at the convent, that they do not know where they are. This is thetruth: do what you will with me; I have only to silently endure."
"This is infamous!" cried Pierre Simon, pointing to Dagobert, with agesture of despairing indignation. "In whom can a man confide, if he hasdeceived me? Oh, my God!"
"Stay, marshal! do not blame him," repeated Mdlle. de Cardoville; "donot think so! He has risked life and honor to rescue your children fromthe convent. He is not the only one who has failed in this attempt. Justnow, a magistrate--despite his character and authority--was not moresuccessful. His firmness towards the superior, his minute search of theconvent, were all in vain. Up to this time it has been impossible tofind these unfortunate children."
"But where's this convent!" cried Marshal Simon, raising his head, hisface all pale and agitated with grief and rage. "Where is it? Do thesevermin know what a father is, deprived of his children?" At the momentwhen Marshal Simon, turning towards Dagobert, pronounced these words,Rodin, holding Rose and Blanche by the hand, appeared at the open doorof the chamber. On hearing the marshal's exclamation, he started withsurprise, and a flash of diabolical joy lit up his grim countenance--forhe had not expected to meet Pierre Simon so opportunely.
Mdlle. de Cardoville was the first to perceive the presence of Rodin.She exclaimed, as she hastened towards him: "Oh! I was not deceived. Heis still our providence."
"My poor children!" said Rodin, in a low voice, to the young girls, ashe pointed to Pierre Simon, "this is your father!"
"Sir!" cried Adrienne, following close upon Rose and Blanche. "Yourchildren are here!"
As Simon turned round abruptly, his two daughters threw themselves intohis arms. Here was a long silence, broken only by sobs, and kisses, andexclamations of joy.
"Come forward, at least, and enjoy the good you have done!" said Mdlle.de Cardoville, drying her eyes, and turning towards Rodin, who, leaningagainst the door, seemed to contemplate this scene with deep emotion.
Dagobert, at sight of Rodin bringing back the children, was at firststruck with stupor, and unable to move a step; but hearing the words ofAdrienne, and yielding to a burst of almost insane gratitude, he threwhimself on his knees before the Jesuit, joined his hands together, andexclaimed in a broken voice: "You have saved me, by bringing back thesechildren."
"Oh, bless you, sir!" said Mother Bunch, yielding to the generalcurrent.
"My good friends, this is too much," said Rodin, as if his emotions werebeyond his strength; "this is really too much for me. Excuse me to themarshal, and tell him that I am repaid by the sight of his happiness."
"Pray, sir," said Adrienne, "let the marshal at least have theopportunity to see and know you."
"Oh, remain! you that have saved us all!" cried Dagobert, trying to stopRodin.
"Providence, you know, my dear young lady, does not trouble itself aboutthe good that is done, but the good that remains to do," said Rodin,with an accent of playful kindness. "Must I not think of Prince Djalma?My task is not finished, and moments are precious. Come," he added,disengaging himself gently from Dagobert's hold, "come the day has beenas good a one as I had hoped.. The Abbe d'Aigrigny is unmasked; youare free, my dear young lady; you have recovered your cross, my bravesoldier; Mother Bunch is sure of a protectress; the marshal has foundhis children. I have my share in all these joys, it is a full share--myheart is satisfied. Adieu, my friends, till we meet again." So saying,Rodin waved his hand affectionately to Adrienne, Dagobert, and thehunchback, and withdrew, waving his hand with a look of delight onMarshal Simon, who, seated between his daughters, held them in his arms,and covered them with tears and kisses, remaining quite indifferent toall that was passing around him.
An hour after this scene, Mdlle. de Cardoville and the sempstress,Marshal Simon, his two daughters and Dagobert quitted Dr. Beleinier'sasylum.
In terminating this episode, a few words by way of moral, with regard tolunatic asylums and convents may not be out of place. We have said, andwe repeat, that the laws which apply to the superintendence of lunaticasylums appear to us insufficient. Facts that have recently transpiredbefore the courts, and other facts that have been privately communicatedto us, evidently prove this insufficiency. Doubtless, magistrates havefull power to visit lunatic asylums. They are even required to makesuch visits. But we know, from the best authority, that the numerousand pressing occupations of magistrates, whose number is often out ofproportion with the labor imposed upon them, render these inspections sorare, that they are, so to speak, illusory. It appears, therefore, to usadvisable to institute a system of inspections, at least twice a month,especially designed for lunatic asylums, and entrusted to a physicianand a magistrate, so that every complaint may be submitted to a doubleexamination. Doubtless, the law is sufficient when its ministers arefully informed; but how many formalities, how many difficulties must begone through, before they can be so, particularly when the unfortunatecreature who needs their assistance, already suspected, isolated, andimprisoned, has no friend to come forward in defence, and demand, in hisor her name, the protection of the authorities! Is it not imperative,therefore, on the civil power, to meet these necessities by a periodicaland well-organized system of inspection?
What we here say of lunatic asylums will apply with still greater forceto convents for women, seminaries, and houses inhabited by religiousbodies. Recent and notorious facts, with which all France has rung,have, unfortunately, proved that violence, forcible detention, barbaroususage, abduction of minors, and illegal imprisonment, accompanied bytorture, are occurrences which, if not frequent, are at least possiblein religious houses. It required singular accidents, audacious andcynical brutalities; to bring these detestable actions to publicknowledge. How many other victims have been, and, perhaps still are,entombed in those large silent mansions, where no profane look maypenetrate, and which, through the privileges of the clergy, escape thesuperintendence of the civil power. Is it not deplorable that thesedwellings should not also be subject to periodical inspection, byvisitors consisting, if it be desired, of a priest, a magistrate, andsome delegate of the municipal authorities? If nothing takes place, butwhat is legal, human, and charitable, in these establishments, whichhave all the character, and incur all the responsibility, of publicinstitutions, why this resistance, this furious indignation of thechurch party, when any mention is made of touching what they call theirprivileges? There is something higher than the constitutions devisedat Rome. We mean the Law of France--the common law--which grants to allprotection, but which, in return, exacts from all respect and obedience.
BOOK VII.
XL. The East Indian in Paris XLI. Rising XLII. Doubts XLIII. The Letter XLIV. Adrienne and Djalma XLV. The Consultation XLVI. Mother Bunch's Diary XLVII. The Diary Continued XLVIII. The Discovery XLIX. The Trysting-Place of the Wolves L. The Common Dwelling-House LI. The Secret LII. Revelations
