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！
he silently destroyed them。 His terrible celebrity only began in 1777； caused by the double murder of Madame de Lamotte and her son； and his name； unlike those of some other great criminals； does not at first recall a long series of crimes； but when one examines this low； crooked； and obscure life； one finds a fresh stain at every step； and perhaps no one has ever surpassed him in dissimulation； in profound hypocrisy； in indefatigable depravity。 Derues was executed at thirty…two； and his whole life was steeped in vice； though happily so short； it is full of horror； and is only a tissue of criminal thoughts and deeds； a very essence of evil。 He had no hesitation； no remorse； no repose； no relaxation； he seemed compelled to lie； to steal； to poison！ Occasionally suspicion is aroused； the public has its doubts； and vague rumours hover round him； but he burrows under new impostures； and punishment passes by。 When he falls into the hands of human justice his reputation protects him； and for a few days more the legal sword is turned aside。 Hypocrisy is so completely a part of his nature； that even when there is no longer any hope； when he is irrevocably sentenced； and he knows that he can no longer deceive anyone； neither mankind nor Him whose name he profanes by this last sacrilege； he yet exclaims； 〃O Christ！ I shall suffer even as Thou。〃 It is only by the light of his funeral pyre that the dark places of his life can be examined； that this bloody plot is unravelled； and that other victims； forgotten and lost in the shadows； arise like spectres at the foot of the scaffold； and escort the assassin to his doom。
Let us trace rapidly the history of Derues' early years； effaced and forgotten in the notoriety of his death。 These few pages are not written for the glorification of crime； and if in our own days； as a result of the corruption of our manners； and of a deplorable confusion of all notions of right and wrong； it has been sought to make him an object； of public interest； we； on our part； only wish to bring him into notice； and place him momentarily on a pedestal； in order to cast him still lower； that his fall may be yet greater。 What has been permitted by God may be related by man。 Decaying and satiated communities need not be treated as children； they require neither diplomatic handling nor precaution； and it may be good that they should see and touch the putrescent sores which canker them。 Why fear to mention that which everyone knows？ Why dread to sound the abyss which can be measured by everyone？ Why fear to bring into the light of day unmasked wickedness； even though it confronts the public gaze unblushingly？ Extreme turpitude and extreme excellence are both in the schemes of Providence； and the poet has summed up eternal morality for all ages and nations in this sublime exclamation
〃Abstulit hunc tandem Rufini poem tumultum。〃
Besides； and we cannot insist too earnestly that our intention must not be mistaken； if we had wished to inspire any other sentiment than that of horror； we should have chosen a more imposing personage from the annals of crime。 There have been deeds which required audacity； a sort of grandeur； a false heroism； there have been criminals who held in check all the regular and legitimate forces of society； and whom one regarded with a mixture of terror and pity。 There is nothing of that in Derues； not even a trace of courage； nothing but a shameless cupidity； exercising itself at first in the theft of a few pence filched from the poor； nothing but the illicit gains and rascalities of a cheating shopkeeper and vile money…lender； a depraved cowardice which dared not strike openly； but slew in the dark。 It is the story of an unclean reptile which drags itself underground； leaving everywhere the trail of its poisonous saliva。
Such was the man whose life we have undertaken to narrate； a man who represents a complete type of wickedness； and who corresponds to the most hideous sketch ever devised by poet or romance…writer： Facts without importance of their own； which would be childish if recorded of anyone else； obtain a sombre reflection from other facts which precede them； and thenceforth cannot be passed over in silence。 The historian is obliged to collect and note them； as showing the logical development of this degraded being： he unites them in sequence； and counts the successive steps of the ladder mounted by the criminal。
We have seen the early exploit of this assassin by instinct； we find him； twenty years later； an incendiary and a fraudulent bankrupt。 What had happened in the interval？ With how much treachery and crime had he filled this space of twenty years？ Let us return to his infancy。
His unconquerable taste for theft caused him to be expelled by the relations who had taken charge of him。 An anecdote is told which shows his impudence and incurable perversity。 One day he was caught taking some money； and was soundly whipped by his cousins。 When this was over； the child； instead of showing any sorrow or asking forgiveness； ran away with a sneer； and seeing they were out of breath； exclaimed
〃You are tired； are you？ Well； I am not！〃
Despairing of any control over this evil disposition； the relations refused to keep him； and sent him to Chartres； where two other cousins agreed to have him； out of charity。 They were simpleminded women； of great and sincere piety； who imagined that good example and religious teaching might have a happy influence on their young relation。 The result was contrary to their expectation： the sole fruit of their teaching was that Derues learnt to be a cheat and a hypocrite； and to assume the mask of respectability。
Here also repeated thefts insured him sound corrections。 Knowing his cousins' extreme economy； not to say avarice； he mocked them when they broke a lath over his shoulders： 〃There now； I am so glad； that will cost you two farthings！〃
His benefactresses' patience becoming exhausted； he left their house； and was apprenticed to a tinman at Chartres。 His master died； and an ironmonger of the same town took him as shop…boy； and from this he passed on to a druggist and grocer。 Until now； although fifteen years old； he had shown no preference for one trade more than another； but it was now necessary he should choose some profession； and his share in the family property amounted to the modest sum of three thousand five hundred livres。 His residence with this last master revealed a decided taste； but it was only another evil instinct developing itself： the poisoner had scented poison； being always surrounded with drugs which were health…giving or hurtful； according to the use made of them。 Derues would probably have settled at Chartres； but repeated thefts obliged him to leave the town。 The profession of druggist and grocer being one which presented most chances of fortune； and being； moreover； adapted to his tastes； his family apprenticed him to a grocer in the rue Comtesse d'Artois； paying a specified premium for him。
Derues arrived in Paris in 1760。 It was a new horizon； where he was unknown； no suspicion attached to him； and he felt much at his ease。 Lost in the noise and the crowd of this immense re