Taking the Bastile (27 page)

‘How can that be? does the Bastille no longer exist?’ cried Madame de Stafil, feigning astonishment.

‘Did you not hear the firing of cannon ?’

‘Yes; but cannons are only cannons.’

‘Oh I permit me to tell you. madame, that it is impossible that Madame de Staftl. the daughter of Monsieur de Necker, should not know, at this present time, that the Bastille has been taken by the people.’

‘I assure you, sir,’ replied the baroness, somewhat confused, ‘that being unacquainted with any of the events which have taken place since the departure of my father, I no longer occupy my time but in deploring his absence.’

‘Madame 1 madame I’ said Gilbert, shaking hia head, ‘the State messengers are so familiar with the road that leads to the chateau of St Ouen, that at least one bearer

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of despatches must have arrived during the four hours that have elapsed since the capitulation of the Bastills.’

The baroness saw that it was impossible for her to deny it without positively lying. She abhorred a falsehood; she therefore changed the subject of the conversation.

‘And to what lucky event do I owe your visit, sir?’ asked she.

‘I wished to have the honour of speaking to Monsieur de Necker, madame.’

‘But do you know that he is no longer in France?’

‘Madame, it appeared to me so extraordinary that Monsieur de Necker should be absent, so impolitic that he should not have watched the course of events ‘

That ‘

‘That I relied upon you, I must confess, madame, to tell me where I could find him.’

‘You will find him at Brussels, sir.’

Gilbert fixed a scrutinising gaze upon the baroness.

‘Thank you, madame,’ said he, bowing; ‘I shall then set out for Brussels, as I have matters of the highest importance to communicate to him.’

Madame de Stael appeared to hesitate, then she rejoined : ‘Fortunately, I know you, sir said she, ‘and that I know you to be a man of serious character. Tis true, important things might lose a great deal of their value by passing through other lips. But what can there be of importance to my father, after his disgrace after what has taken place?’

‘There is the future, madame. And perhaps I shall not be altogether without influence over the future. But all these reflections are to no purpose. The most important thing for me, and for him, is, that I should see Monsieur de Necker. Thus, madame, you say that he is at Brussels ? ‘

‘Yes, sir.’

‘It will take me twenty hours to go there. Do you know what twenty hours are during a revolution, and how many important events may take place during twenty hours ? Oh I how imprudent it was for Monsieur de Necker, madame, to place twenty hours between himself and any event which might take place between the hand and the object it desires to reach.’

‘In truth, sir, you frighten me,’ said Madame de Stael,

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‘and I begin to think that my father has really been imprudent.’

But what would you have, madame? Things are thus, are they not? I have, therefore, merely to make you a most humble apology for the trouble that I have given you. Adieu, madame.’

But the baroness stopped him,

‘I tell you, sir, that you alarm me,’ she rejoined; ‘you owe me an explanation of all this; you must tell me something that will reassure me.’

‘Alas 1 madame,’ replied Gilbert, ‘I have so many private interests to watch over at this moment, that it is impossible for me to think of those of others; my life and honour are at stake, as would be the life and honour of Monsieur de Necker, if he could take advantage of the words which I shall tell him in the course of twenty hours.’

‘Sir, allow me to remember something that I have too long forgotten : it is that grave subjects ought not to be discussed in the open ait; in a park, within the reach of every ear.’

‘Madame,’ said Gilbert, ‘I am now at your house, and permit me to observe that, consequently, it is you who nave chosen the place where we now are. What do you wish? I am entirely at your command.’

‘I wish you to do me the favour to finish this conversation in my cabinet.’

‘Ah 1 ah I’ said Gilbert to himself, ‘if I did not fear to confuse her, I would ask whether her cabinet is at Brussels.’

But without asking her anything more, he contented himself with following the baroness, who began to walk quickly toward the chateau. The same servant who had . admitted Gilbert was found standing in front of the house. Madame de Stael made a sign to him, and opening the doors herself, she led Gilbert into her cabinet, a charming retreat, more masculine, it is true, than feminine. When they had gone in, Madame de Stael closed the door, and turning towards Gilbert, said,

‘Sir, in the name of humanity, I call upon you to tell me the secret which is so important to my father, and which has brought you to Saint Ouen.’

‘Madame,’ said Gilbert, ‘if your father could now hear me, if he could but know that I am the man who sent the king the secret memoirs entitled. Of the State of Ideas

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and of Progress, I am sore, the Baron de Necker would immediately appear, and say to me, ” Doctor Gilbert, what do you desire of me speak, I am listening.” ‘

Gilbert had hardly pronounced these words when a secret door, which was concealed by a panel painted by Vanloo, was noiselessly slid aside, and the Baron de Necker, with a smiling countenance, suddenly appeared, standing at the foot of a small, winding staircase, at the top of which could be perceived the dim rays of a lamp. Then the Baroness de Stael curtseyed to Gilbert, and, kissing her father’s forehead, left the room.

Necker advanced towards Gilbert and gave him his hand, saying, ‘Here I am, Monsieur Gilbert; what do you desire of me ? speak, I am listening.’

‘Monsieur le Baron,’ said Gilbert, ‘ yon have just heard a secret which has revealed all my ideas to you. It was I who, four years ago, sent an essay to the king on the general state oi Europe; it is I who, since then, have sent him from the United States the various works he has received on all the questions of conciliation and internal administration which have been discussed in France.’

‘Works of which his majesty,’ replied M. de Necker bowing, ‘has never spoken to me without expressing a deep admiration of them, though at the same time a profound terror at their contents.’

‘Yes, because they told the truth. Did the king send these essays to you for perusal ?’ asked Gilbert.

‘Not all of them, sir; only two : one on the subject of the finances and you were of my opinion with a very tew exceptions; but I nevertheless felt myself much honoured by it.’

‘ But that is not all; there was one in which I predicted all the important events which have taken place.’

‘And which of them, sir, I pray?’

‘There were two in particular; one was that the king would find himself some day compelled to dismiss you, in consequence of some engagements he had previously entered into.’

‘That was the first event : what was the second?’

‘The taking of the Bastille.’

Did you predict th taking of the Bastille?’

‘Monsieur le Baron, the Bastille was more than a royal prison, it was the symbol of tyranny. Liberty has commenced its career by destroying the symbol; the revolution will do the rest.’

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‘Have you duly considered the serious nature of the words you have just uttered, sir?’

‘Undoubtedly I have.’

‘And you are not afraid to express such a theory openly?’

‘Monsieur de Necker,’ said Gilbert, smiling, ‘after once having got out of the Bastille, a man has nothing more to fear.’

‘Have you, then, come out of the Bastille?’

‘It was you who caused my imprisonment there.’

‘I had you thrown into the Bastille?’

‘Six days ago; the date, as you see, is not so very remote that you should not be able to recollect it.’

‘It is impossible.’

‘Do you recognise your own signature?’

And Gilbert showed the ex-minister a leaf of the jail-book of the Battille, and the ItUre-de-cachel which was annexed to it.

‘Yes,’ said Necker, ‘that is doubtless the lettrc-dc-cachet. At the moment of my departure, they made me sign several in blank. Your warrant of imprisonment, sir, must have been one of these.’

‘Do you mean to imply by this, that I must in no way attribute my imprisonment to you?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘But still. Monsieur le Baron,’ said Gilbert, smiling, ‘you understand my motives for being so curious; it is absolutely necessary that I should know to whom I am indebted for my captivity. Be good enough, therefore, to tell me.’

‘Oh 1 there is nothing easier. I have never left my letters at the ministry, and every evening I brought them back here. Those of this month are in the drawer B of this chiffonier; let us look for the letter G in the bundle.’

Necker opened the drawer, and looked over an enormous file, which might have contained some five or six hundred letters,

‘I only keep those letters,’ said the ex-minister, ‘which are of such a nature as to cover my responsibility. Every arrest that I order ensures me another enemy. I must, therefore, have guarded myself against such a contingency. The contrary would surprise me greatly. Let us see G G, thy** is the one. Yes, Gilbert your arrest was brought

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about by some one in the queen’s household, my dear sir. Ah ah ! in the queen’s household yes, here is a request for a warrant against a man named Gilbert. Profession not mentioned; black eyes, black hair. The description of your person follows. Travelling from Havre to Paris. That is all. Then the Gilbert mentioned in the warrant must have been you.’

‘It was myself. Can you trust me with that letter?’

‘No; but I can tell you by whom it was signed.’

‘Please to do so.’

‘By the Countess de Charny.’

‘The Countess de Charny,’ repeated Gilbert. ‘I do not know her. I have done nothing to displease her.’

And he raised his head gently, as if endeavouring to recall to mind the name of the person in question.

“There is, moreover, a small postscript,’ continued Necker, ‘without any signature, but written in a hand I know.’

Gilbert stooped down and read in the margin of the letter, ‘Do what the Countess de Charny demands immediately.’

‘It is strange,’ said Gilbert, I can readily conceive why the, the

‘Do you not know her?’

‘It must be an assumed name. Besides, it is not at all to be wondered at .that the notabilities of Versailles should be unknown to me. I have been absent from France for fifteen years, during which time I only came back twice. Who is this Countess de Charny?’

‘The friend, the bosom companion of the queen; the much beloved wife of the Count de Charny; a woman who is both beautiful and virtuous -a prodigy, in short.’

‘Well, then, I do not know this prodigy.’

‘If such be the case, doctor, be persuaded of this, that you are the victim of some political intrigue. Have you never spoken of Count Caghostro?’

‘Yes , ‘Were you acquainted with him?’

‘He was my friend. He was even more than my friend he was my master, my saviour.’

‘Well, then, either Austria or tue Holy See must have demanded your incarceration. You have published some pamphlets, have you not?*

queen should have signed it, for I mentioned both her and Polignacs in my essays. But Madame de Charny ‘

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Alas I yes.’

‘That is it precisely. All their petty revenges point towards the queen. They have been conspiring against you they have had you followed. The queen has ordered Madame de Charny to sign the letter, in order to prevent any suspicion; and now all the mystery is cleared up.’

Gilbert reflected for a moment. This moment of reflection reminded him of the box which had been stolen from Billot’s house; and with which neither the queen, nor Austria, nor the Holy See had any connection. This recollection led his mind to consider the matter in its right point of view.

‘No said he, ‘it is not that; it cannot be that. But it matters not. Let us talk of something else let us talk of you.’

‘Of me? What can you have to say of me?’

‘Only what you know, as well as any one else. It is that, before three days have elapsed, you will be reinstated in your ministerial capacity; and then you may govern France as despotically as you please.’

‘Do you think so? said Necker, smiling. ‘Well, then, what will be the result? for it is the result I wish to come to.’

‘Here it is. You are beloved by the French. You will soon be adored by them. The queen was already tired of seeing you beloved. The king will grow tired of seeing you adored. They will acquire ^popularity at your expense, and you will not suffer it. Then you will become unpopular in your turn. After that you will be lost in oblivion.’

‘I fall into oblivion?’

‘Alas I yes.’

‘And what will cause me to be forgotten? Let us hear what will happen.’

‘Oh 1 it is not difficult to predict what will happen, fo that which is to happen is already in embryo in the Assembly. A party will arise that is slumbering at this moment. I am mistaken, it is not slumbering, but it hides itself. This party has for its chief a principle, and its weapon is an idea.’

‘I understand you you mean the Orleanist party?’

‘No. I should have said of that on that its chief was a man, and its weapon popularity. I speak to you of a

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party whose name has not even yet been pronounced. Of the republican party.’

‘Well, then, I shall become a republican. I am on* already.’

‘A republican from Geneva, certainly.’

‘But it seems to me that a republican is a republican.’

‘There is your mistake, my good baron. Our republicans do not resemble the republicans of other countries. Our republicans will first have to devour all privileges, then the nobility, and after that the monarchy. You may start with our republicans, but they will reach the goal without you, for you will not desire to follow them so far. No, Monsieur do Necker, yon are mistaken, you are not a republican.’