The Mysteries of Paris. Эжен Сю

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ my lord, he is."

      "Where is he? Let me see him!" And Rodolph endeavoured to rise, but fell back again, overcome by weakness and the intense pain he felt from his many and severe contusions. "Since I cannot walk," cried he, at length, "let me be instantly carried to Murphy—this moment!"

      "My lord, he sleeps at present; it would be highly dangerous, at this particular juncture, to expose him to the slightest agitation."

      "You are deceiving me, and he is dead! He has been murdered! And I—I am the wretched cause of it!" cried Rodolph, in a tone of agony, raising his clasped hands towards heaven.

      "My lord knows that his servant is incapable of a falsehood. I assert by my honour, that, although severely wounded, Murphy lives, and that his chance of recovery is all but certain."

      "You say that but to prepare me for more disastrous tidings; he lies, doubtless, wounded past all hope; and he, my faithful friend, will die!"

      "My lord—"

      "Yes, you are seeking to deceive me till all is over. But I will see him—I will judge for myself; the sight of a friend cannot be hurtful. Let me be instantly removed to his chamber."

      "Once more, my lord, I pledge my solemn assurance, that, barring chances not likely to occur, Murphy will soon be convalescent."

      "My dear David, may I indeed believe you?"

      "You may, indeed, my lord."

      "Hear me. You know the high opinion I entertain of your ability and knowledge, and that, from the hour in which you were attached to my household, you have possessed my most unbounded confidence—never, for one instant, have I doubted your great skill and perfect acquaintance with your profession; but I conjure you, if a consultation be necessary—"

      "My lord, that would have been my first thought, had I seen the slightest reason for such a step; but, up to the present moment, it would be both useless and unnecessary. And, besides, I should be somewhat tenacious of introducing strangers into the house until I knew whether your orders of yesterday—"

      "But how has all this happened?" said Rodolph, interrupting the black. "Who saved me from drowning in that horrid cellar? I have a confused recollection of having heard the Chourineur's voice there; was I mistaken?"

      "Not at all mistaken, my lord. But let the brave fellow, to whom all praise is due, relate the affair in which he was the principal actor himself."

      "Where is he? Where is he?"

      The doctor looked about for the recently elected sick-nurse, and at length found him, thoroughly silenced and shamed by his late tumble, ensconced behind the curtains of the bed.

      "Here he is," said the doctor; "he looks somewhat shamefaced."

      "Come forward, my brave fellow!" said Rodolph, extending his hand to his preserver.

      The confusion of the poor Chourineur was still further increased from having, when behind his curtain, heard the black doctor address Rodolph continually as "my lord," or "your royal highness."

      "Approach, my friend—my deliverer!" said Rodolph, "and give me your hand."

      "I beg pardon, sir—I mean, my lord—no, highness—no—"

      "Call me M. Rodolph, as you used to do; I like it better."

      "And so do I—it comes so much easier to one. But be so good as to excuse my hand; I have done so much work lately, that—"

      "Your hand, I tell you—your hand!"

      Overcome by this kind and persevering command, the Chourineur timidly extended his black and horny palm, which Rodolph warmly shook.

      "Now, then, sit down, and tell me all about it—how you discovered the cellar. But I think I can guess. The Schoolmaster?"

      "We have him in safety," said the black doctor.

      "Yes, he and the Chouette, tied together like two rolls of tobacco. A pair of pretty creatures they look, as ever you would wish to see, and, I doubt not, sick enough of each other's company by this time."

      "And my poor Murphy! What a selfish wretch must I be to think only of myself! Where is he wounded, David?"

      "In the right side, my lord; but, fortunately, towards the lower false rib."

      "Oh, I must have a deep and terrible revenge for this! David, I depend upon your assistance."

      "My lord knows full well that I am wholly devoted to him, both body and soul," replied the negro, coldly.

      "But how, my noble fellow, were you able to arrive here in time?" said Rodolph to the Chourineur.

      "Why, if you please, my lor—no, sir—highness—Rodolph—I had better begin by the beginning—"

      "Quite right. I am listening—go on. But mind, you are only to call me M. Rodolph."

      "Very well. You know that last night you told me, after you returned from the country, where you had gone with poor Goualeuse, 'Try and find the Schoolmaster in the Cité; tell him you know of a capital "put-up," that you have refused to join it, but that if he will take your place he has only to be to-morrow (that's to-day) at the barrier of Bercy, at the Panier-Fleuri, and there he will see the man who has "made the plant" (qui a nourri le poupard).'"

      "Well."

"On leaving you, I pushed on briskly for the Cité. I goes to the ogress's—no Schoolmaster; then to the Rue Saint Eloi; on to the Rue aux Fêves; then to the Rue de la Vieille Draperie—couldn't find my man. At last I stumbled upon him and that old devil's kin, Chouette, in the front of Notre Dame, at the shop of a tailor, who is a 'fence'[8] and thief; they were 'sporting the blunt' which they had prigged from the tall gentleman in black, who wanted to do something to you; they bought themselves some toggery. The Chouette bargained for a red shawl—an old monster! I told my tale to the Schoolmaster and he snapped at it, and said he would be at the rendezvous accordingly. So far so good. This morning, according to your orders, I ran here to bring you the answer. You said to me, 'My lad, return to-morrow before daybreak; you must pass the day in the house, and in the evening you will see something which will be worth seeing.' You did not let out more than that, but I was 'fly,' and said to myself, 'This is a "dodge" to catch the Schoolmaster to-morrow, by laying a right bait for him. He is a——scoundrel; he murdered the cattle-dealer, and, as they say, another person besides, in the Rue du Roule. I see all about it—'"

      "My mistake was not to have told you all, my good fellow; then this horrible result would not have occurred."

      "That was your affair, M. Rodolph; all that concerned me was to serve you; for, truth to say, I don't know how or why, but, as I have told you before, I feel as if I were your bulldog. But that's enough. I said, then, 'M. Rodolph pays me for my time, so my time is his, and I will employ it for him.' Then an idea strikes me: the Schoolmaster is cunning, he may suspect a trap. M. Rodolph will propose to him the job for to-morrow, it is true, but the 'downy cove' is likely enough to come to-day and lurk about, and reconnoitre the ground, and if he is suspicious of M. Rodolph he will bring some other 'cracksman' (robber) with him, and do the trick on his own account. To prevent this, I said to myself, СКАЧАТЬ