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the countess of saint geran-第9部分

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with the grocer Raguenet; and could get no more from the principals;

she determined to get rid of it。



Her gossips used to tell this woman that she cared but little for her

eldest son; because she was very confident of the second one making

his fortune; and that if she were obliged to give up one of them; she

had better keep the younger; who was a beautiful boy。  To this she

would reply that the matter did not depend upon her; that the boy's

godfather was an uncle in good circumstances; who would not charge

himself with any other child。  She often mentioned this uncle; her

brother…in…law; she said; who was major…domo in a great house。



One morning; the hall porter at the hotel de Saint…Geran came to

Baulieu and told him that a woman carrying a child was asking for him

at the wicket gate; this Baulieu was; in fact; the brother of the

fencing master; and godfather to Pigoreau's second son。  It is now

supposed that he was the unknown person who had placed the child of

quality with her; and who used to go and see him at his nurse's。  La

Pigoreau gave him a long account of her situation。  The major…domo

took the child with some emotion; and told la Pigoreau to wait his

answer a short distance off; in a place which he pointed out。



Baulieu's wife made a great outcry at the first proposal of an

increase of family; but he succeeded in pacifying her by pointing out

the necessities of his sister…in…law; and how easy and inexpensive it

was to do this good work in such a house as the count's。  He went to

his master and mistress to ask permission to bring up this child in

their hotel; a kind of feeling entered into the charge he was

undertaking which in some measure lessened the weight on his

conscience。



The count and countess at first opposed this project; telling him

that having already five children he ought not to burden himself with

any more; but he petitioned so earnestly that he obtained what he

wanted。  The countess wished to see it; and as she was about to start

for Moulins she ordered it to be put in her women's coach; when it

was shown her; she cried out; 〃What a lovely child!〃  The boy was

fair; with large blue eyes and very regular features; She gave him a

hundred caresses; which the child returned very prettily。  She at

once took a great fancy to him; and said to Baulieu; 〃I shall not put

him in my women's coach; I shall put him in my own。〃



After they arrived at the chateau of Saint…Geran; her affection for

Henri; the name retained by the child; increased day by day。  She

often contemplated him with sadness; then embraced him with

tenderness; and kept him long on her bosom。  The count shared this

affection for the supposed nephew of Baulieu; who was adopted; so to

speak; and brought up like a child of quality。



The Marquis de Saint…Maixent and Madame de Bouille had not married;

although the old Marquis de Bouille had long been dead。  It appeared

that they had given up this scheme。  The marchioness no doubt felt

scruples about it; and the marquis was deterred from marriage by his

profligate habits。  It is moreover supposed that other engagements

and heavy bribes compensated the loss he derived from the

marchioness's breach of faith。



He was a man about town at that period; and was making love to the

demoiselle Jacqueline de la Garde; he had succeeded in gaining her

affections; and brought matters to such a point that she no longer

refused her favours except on the grounds of her pregnancy and the

danger of an indiscretion。  The marquis then offered to introduce to

her a matron who could deliver women without the pangs of labour; and

who had a very successful practice。  The same Jacqueline de la Garde

further gave evidence at the trial that M。 de Saint…Maixent had often

boasted; as of a scientific intrigue; of having spirited away the son

of a governor of a province and grandson of a marshal of France; that

he spoke of the Marchioness de Bouille; said that he had made her

rich; and that it was to him she owed her great wealth; and further;

that one day having taken her to a pretty country seat which belonged

to him; she praised its beauty; saying 〃c'etait un beau lieu〃; he

replied by a pun on a man's name; saying that he knew another Baulieu

who had enabled him to make a fortune of five hundred thousand

crowns。  He also said to Jadelon; sieur de la Barbesange; when

posting with him from Paris; that the Countess de Saint…Geran had

been delivered of a son who was in his power。



The marquis had not seen Madame de Bouille for a long time; a common

danger reunited them。  They had both learned with terror the presence

of Henri at the hotel de Saint…Geran。  They consulted about this; the

marquis undertook to cut the danger short。  However; he dared put in

practice nothing overtly against the child; a matter still more

difficult just then; inasmuch as some particulars of his

discreditable adventures had leaked out; and the Saint…Geran family

received him more than coldly。



Baulieu; who witnessed every day the tenderness of the count and

countess for the boy Henri; had been a hundred times on the point of

giving himself up and confessing everything。 He was torn to pieces

with remorse。  Remarks escaped him which he thought he might make

without ulterior consequences; seeing the lapse of time; but they

were noted and commented on。  Sometimes he would say that he held in

his hand the life and honour of Madame the Marchioness de Bouille;

sometimes that the count and countess had more reasons than they knew

of for loving Henri。  One day he put a case of conscience to a

confessor; thus: 〃Whether a man who had been concerned in the

abduction of a child could not satisfy his conscience by restoring

him to his father and mother without telling them who he was?〃  What

answer the confessor made is not known; but apparently it was not

what the major…domo wanted。  He replied to a magistrate of Moulins;

who congratulated him on having a nephew whom his masters

overburdened with kind treatment; that they ought to love him; since

he was nearly related to them。



These remarks were noticed by others than those principally

concerned。  One day a wine merchant came to propose to Baulieu the

purchase of a pipe of Spanish wine; of which he gave him a sample

bottle; in the evening he was taken violently ill。  They carried him

to bed; where he writhed; uttering horrible cries。  One sole thought

possessed him when his sufferings left him a lucid interval; and in

his agony he repeated over and over again that he wished to implore

pardon from the count and countess for a great injury which he had

done them。  The people round about him told him that was a trifle;

and that he ought not to let it embitter his last moments; but he

begged so piteously that he got them to promise that they should be

sent for。



The count thought it was some trifling irregularity; some

misappropriation in the house accounts; and fearing to hasten the

death of the sufferer by the shame of the confession of a fault; he

sent word that he heartily forgave him; that he might die tranquil;

and refused to see him。  Baulieu expired; taking his secret with him。

This happened in 1648。



The child was then seven years old。  His charming manners grew with

his age; and the count and countess felt their love for him increase。

They caused him to be taught dancing and fencing; put him into

breeches and hose; and a page's suit of their livery; in which

capacity he served them。  The marquis turned his attack to this

quarter。  He was doubtless preparing some plot as criminal as the

preceding; when justice overtook him for some other great crimes of

which he had been guilty。  He was arrested one day in the street when

conversing with one of the Saint…Geran footmen; and taken to the

Conciergerie of the Palace of Justice。



Whether owing to these occurrences; or to grounds for suspicion

before mentioned; certain reports spread in the Bourbonnais embodying

some of the real facts; portions of them reached the ears of the

count and countess; but they had only the effect of renewing their

grief without furnishing a clue to the truth。



Meanwhile; the count went to take the waters at Vichy。  The countess

and Madame de Bouille followed him; and there they chanced to

encounter Louise Goillard; the midwife。  This woman renewed her

acquaintance with the house; and in particular often visited the

Marchioness de Bouille。  One day the countess; unexpectedly entering

the marchioness's room; found them both conversing in an undertone。

They stopped talking immediately; and appeared disconcerted。



The countess noticed this without attaching any importance to it; and

asked the subject of their conversation。



〃Oh; nothing;〃 said the marchioness。



〃But what is it?〃 insisted the countess; seeing that she blushed。



The marchioness; no longer able to evade the question; and feeling
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