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！
Doctor Rouget and his intimate friend Monsieur Lousteau； a former sub…
delegate who had lately removed from the town。 When a family
expatriates itself； the natives of a place as attractive as Issoudun
have a right to inquire into the reasons of so surprising a step。 It
was said by certain sharp tongues that Doctor Rouget； a vindictive
man； had been heard to exclaim that Monsieur Lousteau should die by
his hand。 Uttered by a physician； this declaration had the force of a
cannon…ball。 When the National Assembly suppressed the sub…delegates；
Lousteau and his family left Issoudun； and never returned there。 After
their departure Madame Rouget spent most of her time with the sister
of the late sub…delegate； Madame Hochon； who was the godmother of her
daughter； and the only person to whom she confided her griefs。 The
little that the good town of Issoudun ever really knew of the
beautiful Madame Rouget was told by Madame Hochon；though not until
after the doctor's death。
The first words of Madame Rouget； when informed by her husband that he
meant to send Agathe to Paris； were： 〃I shall never see my daughter
again。〃
〃And she was right；〃 said the worthy Madame Hochon。
After this； the poor mother grew as yellow as a quince； and her
appearance did not contradict the tongues of those who declared that
Doctor Rouget was killing her by inches。 The behavior of her booby of
a son must have added to the misery of the poor woman so unjustly
accused。 Not restrained； possibly encouraged by his father； the young
fellow； who was in every way stupid； paid her neither the attentions
nor the respect which a son owes to a mother。 Jean…Jacques Rouget was
like his father； especially on the latter's worst side； and the doctor
at his best was far from satisfactory； either morally or physically。
The arrival of the charming Agathe Rouget did not bring happiness to
her uncle Descoings； for in the same week （or rather； we should say
decade； for the Republic had then been proclaimed） he was imprisoned
on a hint from Robespierre given to Fouquier…Tinville。 Descoings； who
was imprudent enough to think the famine fictitious； had the
additional folly； under the impression that opinions were free； to
express that opinion to several of his male and female customers as he
served them in the grocery。 The citoyenne Duplay； wife of a cabinet…
maker with whom Robespierre lodged； and who looked after the affairs
of that eminent citizen； patronized； unfortunately； the Descoings
establishment。 She considered the opinions of the grocer insulting to
Maximilian the First。 Already displeased with the manners of
Descoings； this illustrious 〃tricoteuse〃 of the Jacobin club regarded
the beauty of his wife as a kind of aristocracy。 She infused a venom
of her own into the grocer's remarks when she repeated them to her
good and gentle master； and the poor man was speedily arrested on the
well…worn charge of 〃accaparation。〃
No sooner was he put in prison； than his wife set to work to obtain
his release。 But the steps she took were so ill…judged that any one
hearing her talk to the arbiters of his fate might have thought that
she was in reality seeking to get rid of him。 Madame Descoings knew
Bridau； one of the secretaries of Roland； then minister of the
interior；the right…hand man of all the ministers who succeeded each
other in that office。 She put Bridau on the war…path to save her
grocer。 That incorruptible officialone of the virtuous dupes who are
always admirably disinterestedwas careful not to corrupt the men on
whom the fate of the poor grocer depended； on the contrary； he
endeavored to enlighten them。 Enlighten people in those days！ As well
might he have begged them to bring back the Bourbons。 The Girondist
minister； who was then contending against Robespierre； said to his
secretary； 〃Why do you meddle in the matter？〃 and all others to whom
the worthy Bridau appealed made the same atrocious reply： 〃Why do you
meddle？〃 Bridau then sagely advised Madame Descoings to keep quiet and
await events。 But instead of conciliating Robespierre's housekeeper；
she fretted and fumed against that informer； and even complained to a
member of the Convention； who； trembling for himself； replied hastily；
〃I will speak of it to Robespierre。〃 The handsome petitioner put faith
in this promise； which the other carefully forgot。 A few loaves of
sugar； or a bottle or two of good liqueur； given to the citoyenne
Duplay would have saved Descoings。
This little mishap proves that in revolutionary times it is quite as
dangerous to employ honest men as scoundrels； we should rely on
ourselves alone。 Descoings perished； but he had the glory of going to
the scaffold with Andre Chenier。 There； no doubt； grocery and poetry
embraced for the first time in the flesh； although they have； and ever
have had； intimate secret relations。 The death of Descoings produced
far more sensation than that of Andre Chenier。 It has taken thirty
years to prove to France that she lost more by the death of Chenier
than by that of Descoings。
This act of Robespierre led to one good result： the terrified grocers
let politics alone until 1830。 Descoings's shop was not a hundred
yards from Robespierre's lodging。 His successor was scarcely more
fortunate than himself。 Cesar Birotteau； the celebrated perfumer of
the 〃Queen of Roses；〃 bought the premises； but； as if the scaffold had
left some inexplicable contagion behind it； the inventor of the 〃Paste
of Sultans〃 and the 〃Carminative Balm〃 came to his ruin in that very
shop。 The solution of the problem here suggested belongs to the realm
of occult science。
During the visits which Roland's secretary paid to the unfortunate
Madame Descoings； he was struck with the cold； calm； innocent beauty
of Agathe Rouget。 While consoling the widow； who； however； was too
inconsolable to carry on the business of her second deceased husband；
he married the charming girl； with the consent of her father； who
hastened to give his approval to the match。 Doctor Rouget； delighted
to hear that matters were going beyond his expectations；for his
wife； on the death of her brother； had become sole heiress of the
Descoings；rushed to Paris； not so much to be present at the wedding
as to see that the marriage contract was drawn to suit him。 The ardent
and disinterested love of citizen Bridau gave carte blanche to the
perfidious doctor； who made the most of his son…in…law's blindness； as
the following history will show。
Madame Rouget； or； to speak more correctly； the doctor； inherited all
the property； landed and personal； of Monsieur and Madame Descoings
the elder； who died within two years of each other； and soon after
that； Rouget got the better； as we may say； of his wife； for she died
at the beginning of the year 1799。 So he had vineyards and he bought
farms； he owned iron…works and he sold fleeces。 His well…beloved son
was stupidly incapable of doing anything； but the father dest