Within an
章节目录
共 422 题- Produced by Dagny; John Bickers; David Widger
- WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE
- PREPARER’S NOTE
- FIRST PART--FIRE AT VALPINSON
- These were the facts:--
- I.
- M. Seneschal was wide awake.
- M. Seneschal trembled with excitement.
- The peasant nodded his head, and said,--
- And, as soon as the mayor entered, he continued:--
- Then, turning to the commonwealth attorney, he added,--
- II.
- M. Seneschal took in the whole situation at a glance.
- III.
- M. Daubigeon could not conceal his annoyance. He called out,--
- M. Galpin turned to M. Daubigeon.
- Then, returning to the count, he said,--
- M. Seneschal and M. Daubigeon trembled with excitement.
- The physician laughed, and said,--
- Loud voices were heard in the crowd; then suddenly a voice said,--
- IV.
- And, when he had heard of the calamity, he added,--
- The peasants were listening with open mouths. One of them said,--
- And sitting down, he asked Cocoleu,--
- M. Galpin heard him, and said angrily,--
- Then, turning again to the poor idiot, he went on,--
- He paused, and after a moment, as Cocoleu kept silent, he asked,--
- But M. Galpin had mastered his excitement. He said solemnly,--
- Then, turning once more to Cocoleu, he said,--
- Count Claudieuse looked angry; but he replied promptly,--
- M. Galpin shook his head, and added,--
- V.
- Then, replying to M. Seneschal, he said,--
- As nobody appeared, he closed the door, and said curtly,--
- The others assented. M. Seneschal added,--
- Count Claudieuse was distressed beyond expression. At last he said,--
- Count Claudieuse raised himself on his pillows, and said eagerly,--
- VI.
- M. Galpin trembled.
- But the magistrate remonstrated--
- M. Galpin hung his head as if to conceal his trouble. Then he asked,--
- The latter was becoming impatient. He exclaimed,--
- M. Galpin assumed all his usual rigidity, and said solemnly,--
- Capt. Parenteau bowed, and said,--
- VII.
- When old Anthony saw them, he exclaimed,--
- The magistrate stopped him, saying harshly,--
- And pointing out Ribot to the gendarmes, he said,--
- Then, turning again to Anthony, he said,--
- VIII.
- And, bowing to M. Daubigeon, he added,--
- The magistrate had never been stiffer in his life, when he replied,--
- M. Galpin did not stir. He replied,--
- The magistrate shook his head gravely. He said,--
- M. de Boiscoran made no reply.
- M. Galpin stopped him by a gesture.
- M. de Boiscoran hung his head. The magistrate went on,--
- M. Galpin rose to his full height, and said in the most solemn manner,--
- IX.
- M. de Boiscoran sprang up as if moved by a spring, and said,--
- M. de Boiscoran seemed to be overwhelmed. He stammered,--
- M. de Boiscoran had no time to answer.
- The attorney rose, and told the gendarme,--
- M. de Boiscoran said nothing.
- The magistrate seemed to reflect for a full minute; then he said,--
- A bitter smile rose on M. de Boiscoran’s lips, as he said,--
- The commonwealth attorney bounded from his chair. He said,--
- M. de Boiscoran sadly shook his head, and replied,--
- And, in spite of the signs which M. Galpin made, he continued,--
- Then, turning to Anthony, he said,--
- SECOND PART--THE BOISCORAN TRIAL
- I.
- With trembling hands the old marquis unfolded the paper, and read,--
- His wife did not understand it. She began again,--
- His wife did not insist any longer. She only asked,--
- Then, recovering his self-control by a powerful effort, he went on,--
- II.
- The young lawyer shook his head, and said,--
- The marchioness straightened herself, and said,--
- Poor grandpapa! At the very first words he uttered, she exclaimed,--
- III.
- The little servant had jumped down, and opened the door, saying,--
- The girl heard them, however; and, drawing herself up, she said,--
- Then, turning to the marchioness, she said,--
- When thus formally introduced, M. Folgat bowed, and said,--
- The older of the two Misses Lavarande rose, and exclaimed,--
- M. Folgat shook his head, and said,--
- M. de Chandore looked at once for his hat, and said,--
- But, thinking it over, he added,--
- The mayor very seriously shook his head, and said,--
- Then, turning to M. Folgat, he said aloud,--
- M. Seneschal was not so easily won over.
- M. de Chandore had risen. He said,--
- IV.
- M. de Chandore was so struck by this, that he asked, first of all,--
- The trusty old servant’s face brightened up, and he exclaimed,--
- The old servant ventured to shrug his shoulders slightly, and replied,--
- Grandpapa Chandore stamped his foot, and said,--
- The old servant shook his head, and said,--
- M. de Chandore seemed to be heartily ashamed, and broke in,--
- Then he added aloud,--
- M. Folgat listened attentively. He asked,--
- Anthony hesitated; at last he said,--
- For several seconds the old servant remained undecided; then he said,--
- He sat down; and the young advocate turned again to Anthony, saying,--
- Old Anthony was literally tearing his hair, as he exclaimed,--
- Anthony shook his head, and said,--
- M. de Chandore interrupted him, and said,--
- Anthony made a face, and said,--
- M. Folgat started, and said,--
- The young girl closed his lips by a single word. She said,--
- V.
- The old lady promptly put a shawl around her shoulders, and said,--
- Dionysia looked threatening, and said sharply,--
- The jailer was certainly touched. He replied,--
- Tears of anger this time sprang from Dionysia’s eyes; and she cried,--
- But, when they had heard every thing, they said,--
- The older of the two, Miss Adelaide, cut him short, saying,--
- M. Galpin was furious. He exclaimed,--
- Grandpapa Chandore started. He said,--
- M. Folgat took the letter, read it, and shook his head. Then he said,--
- M. Folgat looked indignant.
- Grandpapa Chandore seemed to be seriously embarrassed. He said,--
- Then putting on his spectacles again, he added,--
- The doctor shrugged his shoulders furiously; then he said,--
- VI.
- Dr. Seignebos smiled ironically. Then he said, laughing scornfully,--
- M. Daubigeon shook his head and said,--
- But as he went off, he said half aloud,--
- Then, turning again to M. Folgat, he said,--
- M. de Chandore and M. Folgat exclaimed at one time,--
- The brow of the old servant grew still darker, as he replied sadly,--
- M. Folgat did not give her time to say any more. He asked,--
- She interrupted him, putting down her foot impatiently, saying,--
- Dionysia smiled. She thought she saw light. Then she went on,--
- Then going up to her aunts and the marchioness, she said to them,--
- VII.
- He stopped a moment; but she drew him on, saying,--
- M. de Chandore was sure now.
- M. de Chandore stopped.
- And, carried away by his emotion, he added,--
- Dionysia felt that the decisive moment had come. She said,--
- Mechinet had turned painfully pale. He broke in vehemently,--
- The boldness of the request seemed to stun the clerk. He said,--
- The clerk drew back frightened. He cried,--
- And with a determined, though still trembling voice, he went on,--
- He paused, and after a moment’s meditation he went on,--
- The clerk’s face expressed the most startled surprise. He said,--
- VIII.
- M. de Chandore expressed his assent by a gesture, and then said,--
- At last, towards five o’clock, when nothing had come, she said,--
- M. de Chandore smiled at the happiness of his granddaughter.
- When she had left, he said to his companion,--
- Jacques wrote,--
- Dionysia replied to her,--
- Dionysia did not let him conclude. She cried,--
- M. Folgat shook his head.
- M. Folgat’s expression was very encouraging.
- M. Magloire shook his head, and replied,--
- Then looking at M. Folgat, he added,--
- The Paris lawyer had blushed imperceptibly. He said,--
- And, after a moment’s reflection, she added,--
- IX.
- And when he had read the few lines, he replied,--
- M. de Chandore shrugged his shoulders. She repeated in a louder tone,--
- M. de Chandore began to despair.
- X.
- But Dionysia seized his arm, and said in an almost inaudible voice,--
- Blangin bowed. He was a polite jailer. Then he replied,--
- Jacque shook his head, and said,--
- And in a lower tone he added,--
- Dionysia shuddered. She cried,--
- He trembled, and, drawing back, he said,--
- And, feeling how mortifying such an answer must be, he added,--
- XI.
- The evening before, the physicians had said,--
- As if moved by a sudden shock, M. de Chandore started up, and cried,--
- Dionysia had risen painfully, and said feebly,--
- M. de Chandore did not allow her to be interrupted again.
- But Grandpapa Chandore shook his head, and said,--
- And at once he went on with overwhelming volubility,--
- Then turning to M. Folgat, he went on,--
- The doctor was furious. He cried,--
- Before the doctor could find an answer, M. Folgat went on,--
- The doctor would hear nothing more. He said rather uncourteously,--
- Then turning to M. Folgat, he added,--
- M. de Chandore was bitterly undeceived.
- M. Folgat dictated to her certain questions to ask the prisoner.
- Dionysia rose, and said,--
- XII.
- M. Galpin found it difficult to repress his impatience. He said,--
- M. Galpin saw clearly that it was useless to insist any longer.
- And all the time worrying his spectacles, he went on,--
- He broke off here, and, placing himself before M. Folgat, he added,--
- XIII.
- M. Magloire’s face became darker and darker.
- M. de Boiscoran remained unmoved.
- And he went on, in a firmer tone of voice,--
- Jacques was becoming gradually excited. He went on,--
- M. Magloire started, and asked eagerly,--
- M. Magloire shook his head as if he were not fully convinced.
- Evidently M. Magloire was suffering. He said,--
- XIV.
- But Jacques went on,--
- At last, with a great effort, Jacques resumed,--
- Nothing seemed to be able to shake the lawyer’s conviction. He asked,--
- All of M. Magloire’s blood seemed to rise in his face. He cried,--
- Indignation gave Jacques strength to reply,--
- Jacques shrugged his shoulders, and replied in a tone of bitter irony,--
- The advocates’ feelings seemed to be revolted. He broke in,--
- And, in a voice full of pity and emotion, he added,--
- Jacques stood wringing his hand, and said--
- XV.
- Eleven o’clock, and no news. The marchioness got up, and said,--
- As soon as he had been told what they wanted him to do, he said,--
- Then taking down his spectacles, and wiping them diligently, he said,--
- M. Magloire did not say no.
- M. Magloire shook his head, and said,--
- But the other cut him short, and went on,--
- The doctor raised his shoulders, and said,--
- Dr. Seignebos returned a most ironical bow, and then asked,--
- And, wiping his glasses in a perfect rage, he added,--
- M. Magloire did not conceal his impatience. He said dryly,--
- M. Magloire nodded, and said,--
- M. Folgat was following with the utmost attention. He said,--
- M. de Chandore raised his hands to heaven, as if in sheer despair.
- M. Magloire, absorbed in his own views, went on,--
- M. Folgat looked annoyed.
- M. Magloire made no reply.
- But he shook his head, and murmured,--
- And becoming more and more embarrassed, he added,--
- Perhaps M. Folgat was inwardly of the same opinion. Still he said,--
- Dr. Seignebos was boiling over with impatience. He broke in,--
- The marchioness jumped up like a piece of mechanism, and cried,--
- XVI.
- His friend could not listen any further. He said,--
- Then, drawing M. Folgat aside, he asked,--
- XVII.
- M. Magloire held him back.
- And shaking his head, he added,--
- M. Folgat had not uttered a word; but his pallor betrayed his emotions.
- M. Magloire could stand it no longer.
- Jacques shook his head, and said in an icy tone,--
- Jacques did not seem to hear him. He went on,--
- And pressing the lawyer’s arm hard, he went on,--
- He remained for a moment buried in thought; then he added,--
- Jacques shook his head sadly. He began,--
- M. Folgat took careful notes of all he could learn. Then he said,--
- At the foot of the steps, Blangin pointed at a door, and said,--
- Then changing his tone,--
- XVIII.
- And, in a tone of offensive irony, he added,--
- The marchioness did not answer. She quietly went on,--
- Indignation restored to the marchioness her strength. She cried,--
- M. de Boiscoran laughed convulsively.
- And, bowing to his wife, he said,--
- And, when his wife had finished, he added,--
- XIX.
- And, when he saw the astonishment of the advocate, he explained,--
- He smiled; and, looking at the young advocate, he said,--
- The young lawyer stopped him by a friendly gesture, and said,--
- And, sitting down so as to face the advocate, he said,--
- Goudar had finished his beer, and said,--
- Then he added aloud,--
- XX.
- The old gentleman thought so too, and asked her repeatedly,--
- He came up to her, took her hands in his, and said,--
- A deep flush covered the young girl’s cheeks. She stammered,--
- And, pressing his lips on Dionysia’s brow, he added,--
- XXI.
- The next day, they found this,--
- Then came Jacques’s turn,--
- Then came, from day to day, smaller items,--
- Or,--
- And, again,--
- Or, finally,--
- Dionysia interrupted him, saying,--
- XXII.
- And with a tremor in his voice, he asked,--
- Jacques shook his head, and said,--
- The brow of the marquis suddenly darkened; and he replied solemnly,--
- Jacques shrugged his shoulders. He said,--
- The Marquis de Boiscoran shuddered. Then he exclaimed bitterly,--
- Once more the marquis embraced his son, saying,--
- XXIII.
- The prisoner grasped his hand with a profusion of joy, and cried,--
- M. Folgat interrupted him, saying,--
- M. Folgat shook his head, and said,--
- To show this very clearly, M. Folgat went on,--
- Jacques did not seem to be fully convinced of this view. He said,--
- The young lawyer seemed to reflect a moment, and then he said,--
- M. Folgat almost trembled with satisfaction, and Jacques saw it.
- Here M. Magloire interrupted his colleague, saying,--
- M. Folgat was consulting his notes.
- M. Magloire looked disappointed.
- M. Magloire’s face grew darker.
- M. Folgat was a man of quick resolution.
- Jacque immediately sat down, and wrote,--
- XXIV.
- M. Magloire smiled too, as he said,--
- The young lawyer beat his forehead, and cried,--
- The detective looked up, and repeated slowly,--
- Next morning he woke up at daylight, and said to himself,--
- When he saw Folgat enter, he rose, and said at once,--
- And, lowering his voice, he added,--
- The young advocate started, and said, all amazed,--
- M. Folgat could hardly retain an impatient gesture.
- XXV.
- As M. Folgat was bowing, she asked,--
- M. Folgat began with beating heart, but a firm voice,--
- She shook her head with a painful movement, and said very softly,--
- The countess looked impatient, and broke in, saying,--
- She rose at these words, and said in a penetrating voice,--
- M. Folgat turned livid under this insult.
- M. Folgat looked altogether disheartened.
- She shook her head, and, lowering her voice, she said,--
- She pointed to the statues, and all shuddering, she said,--
- M. Folgat and Dr. Seignebos looked anxiously at each other.
- The governess here interposed, saying,--
- The child cut short her story, and said,--
- And, dropping again her nice little courtesy, she said,--
- When the doctor reached home, he said to his servant,--
- And, when he had shown the advocate into his study, he asked,--
- M. Folgat looked completely undone.
- M. Folgat shook his head.
- Then fixing his spectacles on his nose, Dr. Seignebos added,--
- Although he saw very well the doctor’s drift, M. Folgat started up,--
- Then turning to M. Folgat, he added,--
- XXVI.
- M. Daubigeon shrugged his shoulders, and said angrily,--
- M. Daubigeon bowed ironically, and said,--
- M. Gransiere, no doubt, would hold him responsible. He would say,--
- She took him into the garden, and there asked a gardener,--
- And, raising her eyes to heaven, she added,--
- Immediately, however, she returned to earthly things, and asked,--
- The lady superior looked resigned, and said,--
- XXVII.
- And, calling one of the Misses Lavarande, she told her,--
- Jacques interrupted him, and said,--
- And, as he made no reply, she repeated,--
- She did not hear him. Gently shaking her heard, she went on,--
- Overcome with grief and affection, Jacques repeated,--
- XXVIII.
- She turned round at the noise, and cried,--
- Then, suddenly raising her head, she said,--
- And with convulsive haste she added,--
- He stopped her by a threatening gesture, and cried,--
- And drawing close up to him, she said,--
- And, baring his breast, he said,--
- XXIX.
- For M. Folgat the evidence was not satisfactory yet. He asked,--
- M. Folgat made his way through the crowd, and went in.
- And shaking his head with an air of desolation, he added,--
- M. Folgat was thunderstruck.
- M. Folgat could hardly conceal a tear. He murmured,--
- He shuddered, and said fiercely,--
- And, manipulating his spectacles most assiduously, he added,--
- M. Folgat trembled.
- M. Folgat was utterly overcome with amazement.
- The young advocate was prepared for this. He said,--
- XXX.
- Dr. Seignebos sadly shook his head as he said,--
- M. Folgat slapped Michael amicably on the shoulder, and said,--
- XXXI.
- ASSIZES AT SAUVETERRE.
- THURSDAY, 23.
- ASSASSINATION! INCENDIARISM!
- An usher announces,--
- The accused replies,--
- A.--Still, Mr. President--
- M. Gransiere, the prosecuting attorney, rises,--
- M. Magloire replies, in his seat,--
- M. Gransiere, resuming his seat,--
- Then, turning again to the accused, he said,--
- M. Magloire rose, and said,--
- M. Magloire rises, and says,--
- When the usher has left the room, M. Domini says,--
- But, as nothing came, the president continued, turning to witness,--
- The accused rises and says,--
- But the president continues,--
- M. MAGLOIRE.--Does the attorney-general fancy he is preaching peace?
- M. MAGLOIRE.--(Warmly.) Do you refer to me?
- THIRD PART--COCOLEU
- I.
- M. Folgat rose promptly.
- Then, pressing the hands of his counsel, he added,--
- M. Magloire was well-nigh beside himself with grief.
- The most indulgent said,--
- Others added,--
- And on all sides people repeated,--
- And, as they were silent, she added,---
- And, after a moment’s reflection, she added,--
- She stopped him by an impatient gesture, and said,--
- Then, sinking down on her knees, before the countess, she went on,--
- II.
- The magistrate gnashed his teeth, and replied,--
- He shook his head, and said in a melancholy tone of voice,--
- But, interrupting the quotation, M. Galpin asked his clerk,--
- M. Mechinet went on quite eagerly,--
- Standing on their door-steps, they said to each other,--
- The sergeant stepped forward, touched his cap, and reported,--
- The vagabond drew himself up proudly,--
- M. Daubigeon and M. Galpin were utterly astounded.
- M. Daubigeon stopped him by a gesture.
- Then Trumence was directed to go on; and he said,--
- M. Galpin had sunk into a chair: he stammered,--
- The vagabond shook his head, and said,--
- The girl looked at him, and said, only moderately surprised,--
- But there was no need for such evidence; and he was told,--
- Then, turning to Trumence, he said,--
- M. Galpin was dumfounded.
- III.
- The young lawyer started, and asked,--
- M. Folgat handed her the album.
- M. Folgat did not hesitate.
- M. Folgat was pale with excitement. Still he proposed,--
- M. Daubigeon whispered into Dr. Seignebos’s ear,--
- And, laughing with some difficulty, he stammered, and stuttered out,--
- And, turning to his companions, he said,--
- The priest at once went on,--
- V.
- End of Project Gutenberg’s Within an Inch of His Life, by Emile Gaboriau