Chapter 12 -3

"My lord," said Dubois, when he introduced me, "this is the girl you want, and all Grenoble is interested in her. . . . Sentenced to hang with those who made counterfeit money, she was later said to be innocent and moral, and she was released. You see my skill in serving you, my lord? You expressed great desire half a month ago Take her for your amusement, and I bring her to you today. Perhaps you will like her better than the pretty girl from the Benedictine abbey at Lyons; who, though you once loved her, will soon would come here. That girl was very beautiful in body and mind, and this one, very moral, and virtue was a part of her life. You couldn't find anyone more frank and honest than her. They They are both yours, my lord, and you can play with them both to-night; with one today, and with the other tomorrow. As for me, I must bid you farewell. I say goodbye to you. Report on my activities in Grenoble. One is dead, my lord, and the man is dead, and I'm gone."

"Hello! No, no, dear woman," cried the host, "stay here and have nothing to fear, I have you under my protection! You are my happy soul, and you alone have the power to give me All kinds of games are stimulating and satisfying. The more crimes you do, the more I love you madly. ... But this Terris, she is very beautiful ... " Then he asked me: "Girl, how old are you?" "Twenty-six, my lord," I answered, "has too many sorrows." "Yes, yes, I know the sad and the bad, but it's what makes me happy and what I need. We're going to put an end to your rough lot. I assure you, no Leave twenty-four hours and you won't be unlucky..."

Then he laughed loudly and said: "Dubois, I have a way of ending any girl's misfortune, can't I?" "Of course," said the wretched woman, "if Terese hadn't been my friend, I wouldn't have brought her to you. She must be paid for what she has done for me! You can never imagine I cannot tell, my lord, how useful this lovely woman was to my operations at Grenoble. You would be more than willing to thank her for me, and I beg you to thank her for me." The ambiguity of the conversation on both sides, the words Dubois said when he brought me in, the presence of such a person before me, and the young girl they mentioned, all this at once filled my imagination with indescribable indescribability. mess.I was sweating from every pore all over my body, and I felt like I was about to faint. At this moment, the demon finally made me understand with practical actions.He kissed me two or three times as soon as he came up, and our mouths had to come together: he sipped my tongue, sucked it, his tongue deep in my throat, seemed to keep sucking my breath away.Then he ordered me to bow my head before him, pulled my hair, and looked closely at my neck.

"Oh! That's great," he exclaimed, choking me hard. "I've never seen such a good connection, and it's wonderful to have it disconnected!" This last sentence confirmed all my doubts: once again I fell into the hands of a sensuality dominated by cruel sexual desires, whose greatest pleasure is to appreciate the pain, or death, of a woman bought by money, and now I There is a danger of losing life again! At this time, someone knocked on the door.Dubois went out and immediately brought the girl from Lyons whom she had just mentioned. Now, let me briefly describe to you the two new characters you will see with me.I never knew the gentleman's name or condition, as I have told you, he was a man of forty.He is slender but powerful, and his thick black-haired arms always have bulging muscles, which shows that he is in good health and extremely powerful.His face was flushed with lust, his small black eyes were evil and vicious, his teeth were sharp, and his whole expression was extremely sly. He had a slim figure and was taller than ordinary people.I have never seen a man so hairy, like a satyr in mythology.His hands were dry and stiff, with long fingers, and their strength must have surpassed that of a vice.As for his character, I think it is tough, rough, and cruel.He sometimes turned to sarcasm, which was to add fuel to his bad deeds.Facing such a man, such bad things are inevitable.

O'Leary was the name of the little girl in Lyons.As long as you see her, you can judge her origin and character.She was originally a lady of Lyon's famous family, and she was tricked by Dubois, who pretended to take her to a tryst with her passionate lover.She is innocent, pure, and intoxicating.She had the sweetest face imaginable.O'Leary, who just turned sixteen, has a virginal face, and her childlike innocence complements her beauty.She wasn't rosy enough, but that only made her more interesting.Her beautiful dark eyes had a sparkle which brought some spirit to her pretty face.Her slightly larger mouth was filled with the most beautiful teeth, and her already full breasts seemed whiter than her complexion.She was born to be painted, and no part of her had been damaged by obesity.Her body was round and plump, her flesh was firm and tender and chubby, and DuBois claimed it was impossible to see a prettier ass.I am not much of a connoisseur in this regard, so allow me to pass judgment on what she has to say.Her thin head-curtain loomed over her forehead, and above these enchanting charms her golden hair flowed, making them all the more provocative.Nature, which seemed to have constructed her at will, to perfect its masterpieces, endowed her with the tenderest and loveliest characters.Delicate, delicate flowers, do you adorn the earth for a moment, only to wither at once?

"Oh, Madame," she said to her, recognizing Dubois, "that's how you deceive me! God! Where have you taken me?" "You'll know, my child," said the master here, while suddenly pulling her towards him, he began his kiss, while one of my hands prodded him at his command. Olélie was about to fight back, but Dubois pinned her down on the whore, depriving her of any possibility of escape.The pleasure lasts a long time: the more juicy the flower, the more the nasty hornet is drawn to its nectar. "Very well," said the master, "Dubois, you have sent me two little girls who will make me happy to death, and you have served me well, and I shall reward you well. Come into my bedroom Go, dear woman, you come with us and follow behind." He led us and continued, "You don't go until tonight, I still need you tonight."

Dubois obeyed.We came to the house where this licentious fellow was having fun, and we were stripped naked. well!Madam, I am not going to describe to you the heinous acts of which I was both a witness and a victim.This obscene pleasure is the kind enjoyed by the executioner.The only way to satisfy his sexual desire is to cut off a woman's neck.My unfortunate companion... oh!No, Madame... No, don't ask me to tell! The same fate awaits me.Instigated by Dubois, the devil decided to make my torment even more terrible.At this moment, the need to restore strength brought the two of them to the dinner table... What a lewdness!But since she saved my life, how can I hate her?The two were well fed, drunk, and passed out on the leftovers.As soon as I saw them, I grabbed the skirt and short cloak that Dubois had taken off to appear more impudent in front of my master, put them on, and, taking a candle, I ran to the stairs.There are not many servants in this house, and there is no obstacle to my escape.I met only one footman, and with feigned dismay I told him to hurry to the rescue of his master, who was dying.I came to the door without incident, but I didn't know which way to go, and they didn't let me see the way when I came.Whichever way I had to run into, it would be that way.It happened to be the main road to Grenoble.As long as the world is a little favored by fate, everything will go well.When we reached the hotel, everyone was still asleep, so I sneaked in and went straight to Fabois' room.I knocked, and Vabois woke up with a start, hardly recognizing me in the way I was.He asked me what happened and I stated to him the horrific things that I was both a victim and a witness.

"You can have Dubois arrested," I said to him, "she's not far from here, maybe I can show the way. Damned woman! Besides these crimes, she took my clothes and the clothes you gave me." five louis." "Alas, Thérèse," said Valbois to me, "you must be the most unfortunate girl in the world, but you see, as a righteous woman, God always has a hand in your misery." Saved you. This should be a new reason for you to always be a moral person, good deeds will always be rewarded. We are not going after Dubois, the reason, I told you yesterday, we will make it up Forget the damage she did to you, first of all, she took your money. In an hour, a seamstress will bring two dresses and some underwear. But you must go, Tyrese, today I must go. Madame Bertrand is waiting, I have asked her to postpone my departure for a few hours, go and find her."

"Oh, good-hearted young man!" I cried and threw myself into the arms of my benefactor. "God will reward you for the good you have done for me." "Come on, Thérèse," replied Vabois, embracing me, "I have the happiness you wished for me, because I gave it to you. . . Good-bye." I must leave Grenoble, madam.If in this city I did not find all the happiness I imagined, at least here I met so many good people who sympathized with me and comforted me in my pains, as I never found in any other city. The woman who led me and I were in a small covered carriage, and we drove the horses from it.In it were Madame Bertrand's goods and a fifteen-month-old baby girl whom she was still nursing.Unfortunately, I soon came to love the child as much as the woman who gave her life could.

Bertrand was a rather nasty woman.She is suspicious, talkative, an annoying gossip, and very narrow-minded.We moved all her belongings to the hostel every night and slept in the same room.Everything went well until Lyon.However, during the three days that this woman was dealing with affairs in this city, I met someone I never expected. One afternoon, I was walking on the banks of the Rhone with a maid from the hotel (I asked her to come out to accompany me) when I suddenly saw Father Antonin of the monastery of the "Madonna of the Woods", who is now the head of the city. Abbot of a Benedictine monastery.The friar approached me, and after reprimanding me in a low and sharp voice for my escape, he signaled that if he spoke to the monastery in Burganti, I would be in great danger of being taken back, and then, in a slightly lessened tone, he added, He would say nothing if I would go at once to see his new lodgings with the girl who accompanied me, who he thought was in good shape.

Then, he made the same request to the girl who accompanied me, "We will pay you very high wages. We have ten people there. If you are attentive and responsive, I promise to give each of you at least one louis." I blushed with embarrassment at these words, and for a moment I tried to convince the monk that he was mistaken, but in vain.I tried to stop him with gestures, but nothing could calm the reckless fellow, who insisted on it even more frantically.Finally, seeing that we kept refusing to go with him, he kept asking for our address.To get rid of him, I gave him a fake address, which he wrote down in a little notebook.As he left us, he assured us that he would see us again soon. On my way back to the hotel, I did my best to explain to the girl who accompanied me the unfortunate experience of acquainting this man.However, either she is not satisfied with what I said, or it may be because I am morally obsessed and deprived her of a chance to try her luck, and her intention of earning a lot of money fell through. angry.When the unfortunate catastrophe I am about to tell you befell, I saw very clearly from the words of Madame Bertrand that she had stabbed it.However, the monk did not appear again, and we set off again. It was already late when we started from Lyon, so we had to spend the night at Villefranche the first day.There, madam, terrible misfortune befell me, and I appear before you today as a criminal.But I was not at fault in this matter at all, as you know that fate has struck me in every case before, and nothing but the goodness of my heart and the ferocity of men drove me into the abyss of disaster. Arriving at Villefranche at six o'clock in the evening, we ate and slept quickly in order to have a longer walk the next day.Less than two hours after we fell asleep, we were woken up by thick smoke.It seemed that the fire was not far away, so we got up quickly.Oh, God!The fire was already burning so fiercely that we ran out the door with hardly any clothes on.At this time, I remembered that the woman who led me cared more about herself than her daughter, and never thought of protecting her life.Before I could tell her, I ran to our room through the raging fire, which burned me in many places, picked up the poor baby girl, and rushed out to give her to her mother.I was leaning on a pillar that was almost burnt down, and my feet were empty. The immediate impulse was to stretch my hands forward. This natural impulse forced me to let go of the precious child in my arms. . . . she fell Down, the poor child fell into the fire before his mother's eyes.Just then, someone grabbed me and dragged me out.I was so frightened that I didn't understand anything. I didn't know if I was saved or if some disaster befell me.I'm really out of luck.When I came to my senses, I was already lying in a stage express, and beside me sat Dubois, who pointed a pistol to my temple and threatened me that if I dared to speak out, she would kill me immediately. The head is blossoming. "Ah! damn woman," she said to me, "I've got you now, and this time you can't escape!" "Oh! Madame, why are you here?!" I yelled. "All that has just happened is my work," the devil replied, "I saved your life by setting it on fire, and now I will kill you by setting it on fire... To catch you, I will, if necessary, You can go all the way to hell. The master was furious when he learned that you had escaped. I got two hundred louis for every girl I got him, but this time he not only refused to pay me O'Leary's money, but threatened me, If you don't get him back again, he'll make me look good! I found you, I missed you by two hours at Lyons, and an hour after you arrived at Villefranche. I sent I'll burn you, or I'll catch you if you don't. I'll take you back to the house that was disturbed by your flight, Therese, To send you back is to make you suffer. The master swore that any of his tortures would not be terrible enough for you, and we will only get out of the car when we reach his house. Now, then, Therese, you have a good opinion of Virtue. What's your opinion?" "Oh, ma'am! Morality is often the prey of sin, and even though man's sins overwhelm morality on earth, it must be the only object of God's reward in heaven." "You'll soon find out, Tyrese, that if there is a God who punishes or rewards human activity, . Will regret that your stubbornness caused you to make unnecessary sacrifices to those ghosts who only rewarded you with misfortune! There is still time, Tyrese, are you willing to do it? My accomplice?I could save your life, but I cannot bear to see you continually fail on the morally dangerous path.What? Haven't you been punished enough for your cleverness and false principles?How much more will you have to suffer before you can get over it? How many more examples must you have before you understand that the path you have chosen is the worst path? I have told you no less than a hundred times that in a society that is completely corrupt, a People keep themselves clean and run counter to the public, and will only suffer twists and turns and failures in the end.You're counting on a god to avenge you, Tyrese, it's time to wake up.Your invented God is nothing but a dream, which has ever existed only stupidly in the minds of madmen.It is a phantom invented by men of ill-intention, to deceive others, or to arm some against others.It would have been better for the people to have killed the first liar who dared to tell them there was a God! How much blood would have been saved by killing one! Active nature has no need of a master to direct it.If such a master really exists, since he has so many shortcomings in the process of creation, besides contempt and insult, is it worth treating him otherwise?what!If your God existed, I would hate it, Tyrese, I would hate it!Yes, if he does exist, I admit, the pleasure of continually irritating those who wear his guise is the most precious compensation I have to pretend to believe in it.I ask you again, Tyrese, will you be my accomplice?There is a great opportunity right now, and we muster the courage to seize it.If you will do it, I will save your life.The owner of the house we are going to is known to you, who lives alone in his country house where he makes fun.You know how to play, the kind of game that requires him to be secluded from the world, and when he goes out there for his pleasures he is accompanied only by a manservant.You and I, and the man running in front of the stage-coach, my dear, we are three against two.When that harlot's lust is burning, I'll take the sword with which he kills the woman for his pleasure, and you hold him down; while our helper kills his servant.There is money hidden in that house, more than eight hundred thousand francs, and I am sure, Therese, that the operation is worthwhile.You choose, wise girl, choose, die or serve me.If you betray me, and tell him my plan, and I say you alone did it, don't doubt it, and be sure I have the upper hand, because he always trusted me.Think well before answering me.This man is a villain, so killing him is only to punish him for the law.There is not a day, Therese, when that fiend does not kill a girl, and is it not against virtue, Therese, to punish such a crime? Is it not against your dreadful principles that I propose to you, so sensible? " "Of course, ma'am," I answered, "the action you propose to me is not intended to correct a crime, but only because you are about to commit a crime yourself. Therefore, it can only be done as you say. A bad thing, not at all reasonable. Take a step back, even if your intention is only to avenge this man for human suffering, you are still doing a bad thing. Because such revenge is none of your business, and the law punishes the criminal , let the law act! The sword of God is not in our weak hands, and we wield it only in blasphemy of the law." "Well! go to hell, you hateful woman," continued Dubois, indignantly, "go to die, and stop thinking that you can escape your fate." "What does it matter," I replied calmly, "by dying, I will be relieved of all my sufferings, and I am not afraid of death at all. It is only the final rest of life, only the eternal sleep of the suffering." Hearing these words, this ferocious beast rushed towards me, I thought she was going to strangle me, but who knew she just punched me hard on the chest, as soon as I yelled, she let me go immediately, she was afraid Let the coachman at the post station hear. However, we are moving fast.The one who ran ahead prepared the horses in advance, and we did not stop at any post.When I passed the post station, Dubois took her weapon and aimed it at my heart... What should I do?In truth, my weakness and situation have so discouraged me that I would rather die than live and suffer. As we were about to enter the Dauphiné region, we saw six men galloping behind our carriage, who overtook us, brandished sabers, and forced our carriage to stop.We soon recognized that these horsemen belonged to the Mounted Police.They ordered the cart to be driven to a hut thirty paces off the road.After stopping there, they dropped us off.We all went into the farmer's house.Dubois, who had been guilty of many crimes, asked the mounted policeman with an unimaginably shameless arrogance whether he knew her, and what right he had to treat a lady of her stature in this way. "We did not have the honor of acquainting you, Madame," replied the sergeant, "but we are sure that in your car there is a hideous woman who set fire to a great hotel in Villefranche yesterday. This is what she looks like." Character, ma'am, we are not mistaken. Will you allow us to take her away, and please tell us, how can a man who looks so respectable like you take care of such a woman?" Dubois was still more arrogant, saying: "It couldn't be simpler. If she really committed the terrible crime you speak of, I have no intention of hiding her, and I have no intention of standing in her position." Talk. I stayed yesterday at this hotel in Villefranche with her, and I set out in the confusion. As I got into the car, this girl rushed up to me and begged me to take pity on her, saying she was in the fire Having lost everything, she begged me to take her to Lyon, where she hoped to find a job. In a gesture of kindness, I granted her request without giving it a second thought. As soon as she got into the car, she offered to wait on me, and I I was even more imprudent, promised her everything, and brought her to Dauphine, where my family is, and where I have my estate. Of course, this is a lesson, and I now know all the evils of pity. , I must correct. Here she is, gentlemen, here she is. God bless me no longer interested in such a devil! I hand her over to the strict law, to punish severely. I was fooled, believed her, I Please keep this secret carefully." I wanted to defend myself, I wanted to expose the real criminal, but what I said was taken as a slanderous rebuttal, and Dubois just smiled contemptuously at it.oh!Poverty and prejudice, wealth and arrogance, what a terrible result! Such a woman dared to call herself Baroness Filconi, flaunting luxury and luxury, how much land she had, and a family, such a woman How was it possible to commit a crime in which it seemed she had no interest in it?On the contrary, doesn't everything point to my guilt?I have no protection, and I am poor, so I must be guilty. The sergeant read to me Madame Bertrand's accusation against me.Said I set fire to the inn to steal her treasures, and she was robbed; and I threw her children into the fire, and made her so sad and hopeless that she could see nothing more, couldn't see what I did stolen.Besides, Bertrand said, I was a slut who narrowly escaped being hanged in Grenoble, and she only took me because I was too friendly and stupid for a young man from the same country (no doubt my lover) .In Lyon, I openly seduced monks in broad daylight.In short, this wretched woman will do anything to destroy me, and she will kill me with all the most vicious slanders invented by her heart and despair.At the woman's request, a forensic inspection of the scene was carried out.The fire started in a hay attic, and several people testified that I had been in the attic on the night of the fire.Indeed.I was trying to use the toilet and one of the maids I asked pointed me in the wrong direction, I went into this top floor and didn't find the right place, but lingered long enough to make one suspect that I had indeed committed the crime I was accused of , or at least there is a possibility.You know, these are the evidences of the age.I defended myself in vain, and the sergeant's answer was only to put me in chains. "But, monsieur," I continued, before letting him handcuff me, "if I really stole at Villefranche from the money of the girl I was traveling with, it must be with me, and you may Search me." This naive justification only elicited a burst of laughter.They asserted that I did not do it alone, that I must have had accomplices, that I had transferred the stolen money to them, and then I ran away.At this moment, the vicious Dubois put on a look of mercy, knowing that I had been branded unfortunately at the Rawden family. "Sir," she said to the non-commissioned officer, "many people make mistakes of one kind or another every day, so I have an idea, please forgive me. If this girl really committed the crime she was accused of, she would not be the first Well, no one can fall so low at once. Search her, sir, I beseech you! If in case you find in her poor body . . . but if there is nothing against her , then allow me to defend her and protect her." The non-commissioned officer agrees to check it out, and the search is about to begin. At this point I objected: "Wait a minute, sir, a body search is of no avail. Madame knows very well that I do bear the marks of this disgrace; This trick is yet another crime that will be unmasked along with her other crimes in the temple of Themis. Take me there, gentlemen. Here are my hands, handcuffed! Only criminals only blushes at wearing it, and virtue groans in misfortune, but never fears." "Ah," said Dubois, "aha, I did not expect that an occasional thought of mine would have such an effect! But since this woman repays my kindness with insidious accusations, I would, if necessary, Go back with her." "It's not necessary at all, Baroness," said the sergeant, "we're only searching for this girl. Her confession, her brand, all of this proves her guilt. We just need to take her away, and we'll bother you so long." Time, I'm so sorry." Immediately I was handcuffed and thrown on the butt of a mounted policeman's horse.Dubois went away, with a final insult to me: she handed me a few crowns, which she gave to the mounted police, to help me through the miserable days before my trial. "O Virtue!" cried I, after having suffered such a shame, "could you accept a greater insult than this? How dare crime thus invade you, beat you with such audacity and impunity!" We are back in Lyon soon.Once there, I was immediately thrown into a criminal cell.Throw me into the dungeon of criminals.In the prisoner's register I was listed as an arsonist, a whore, an infanticide, and a thief. Seven people were burned to death in the inn, I thought I would be burned to death, and I tried to save a baby, but it brought destruction; while the real criminal escaped the vigilant eyes of the law, and escaped the justice of God .She won, she is about to commit another crime, and I, who was innocently victimized, have only the prospect of being ruined, and what awaits me is branding and death. I have long been used to being slandered, treated unfairly, and bad luck will come at any time.I have been bred from childhood to be willing to die for virtue, though I knew there were only thorns in it, and now I am numb to pain, and I do not weep so much as I imagine.However, like all people who suffer, there is always a way out of their misery whenever possible.I suddenly thought of Father Antonin, and although I had little hope of him, I could not help but look forward to seeing him.I asked to see him and he came.He was not told who was going to see him, so he pretended not to know me, and I said to the porter: He probably doesn't remember me very much, because he only guided my mind when I was very young. , for which I asked to speak to him alone.Both he and the other party agreed.As soon as I could be alone with this priest, I threw myself at his feet, with tears on his knees, and begged him to save me from this terrible situation.I tried to prove my innocence to him, and I told him that the woman who was so displeased with me because of the lewd things he said to me a few days ago was now my accuser.The obscene listened carefully, and then said: "Terrese, don't throw a tantrum whenever anyone violates your goddamn principles like you always do, and see for yourself what those principles have done to you! You can always believe it now, lustful and lucky It's a hundred times better than being chaste and unlucky. My dear little girl, you have a terrible case, and I don't need to hide it from you. That Dubois you told me about, since it would be of great importance to her to have you die. Good thing, she will be active secretly. And Bertrand continues to accuse you, everything on the surface is not good for you. Now you can be sentenced to death only on the surface. Therefore, you are finished! This is a clear thing There is only one way to save you, I have a good relationship with the governor, he has a great influence on the judges of this city powerful.I went to tell him that you are my niece, and in this name I asked to release you, and he would cancel all legal proceedings, and I asked to send you to my home, and then I hijacked you. You are imprisoned in our monastery, and once you enter, you will never come out again for the rest of your life.There, I don't have to hide it from you, Tyrese, you have to be my sex slave honestly, and you must not hesitate to meet any of my whimsical requests, and at the same time meet all the requests of my colleagues.In short, you can only be my humblest slave, you... did you hear what I said?It's hard work, you know what the lusts of us sluts are.Make up your mind, don't make me wait too long for your answer. " "Go away, my priest," I replied in horror, "go away, you are a monster! How dare you use me so cruelly to get into trouble, and to put me in a situation where I must die without insult. If If necessary, I can die, but at least I can die without regret.” "Do as you please," said the cruel man to me as he left, "I never force luck on anyone. Virtue has so far favored you, Teres, so you have good reason Keep worshiping it! . . . Goodbye, and especially don't try to invite me again." As he said that, he was about to go out. I couldn't restrain my impulse, and threw myself at his feet again, crying: "People like tigers and wolves! Open your heart like a stone, and face up to the many sufferings I have endured! Don't force me to accept conditions that are more terrible than death for me, so that you are willing to rescue me from danger." My violent movement knocked off the tattered clothing that covered my breasts, and my disheveled hair fluttered over my bare breast, which was dripping with tears.Seeing this, the obscene demon burned with desire and demanded immediate gratification, shamelessly expressing that the image of me was too much for him to bear when I was surrounded by chains and a sharp sword was waiting to stab me court me. ... I was kneeling, and he threw me to the ground and threw himself on me, and the two of them rolled down together on the straw pile that I used as a bed.I wanted to yell, and frantically he stuffed a handkerchief into my mouth, and he tied my arm.After subduing me, his sexual desire was finally fully satisfied. "Listen," he said to me as he let go of me and straightened his clothes, "you don't want me to help you, great! You can go, but if you confide in me what just happened一个字的话，我就要把一些弥天大罪加在你的头上，立刻让你失去可能为你辩护的一切办法。说话之前好好想一想。他们相信我是来指导你忏悔的，你明白吗?我们有权揭露，只要对方是个罪犯。因此，我待会儿会对看门人说什么，你就好好体会吧，否则，我这就把你碾个粉碎。” 他敲门，狱吏来了。这狗奸贼对他说： “先生，这位好姑娘搞错了，她说的是另外一位安东宁神父，他现在在波尔多，我根本不认识他，甚至没见过他。她请我听她忏悔，我就听了。现在就向二位告别，今后只要您认为我来指导是必需的，就请随时吩咐，我立即就会再来。” 安东宁说完这些话就出去了，我既对他的欺诈感到目瞪口呆，又对他的蛮横和荒淫感到愤恨。 无论如何，我的处境太险恶了，我不得不使用一切办法。我又想起了圣弗洛朗先生，鉴于我对待他未曾行为有亏，我不可能相信此人此刻会把我看得很坏。我从前对他有过相当重要的帮助，他却以相当残酷的手段来对待我，但我想，他至少不会在如此紧要的关头拒绝我，势必会弥补他当时对我造成的损害，至少会尽可能报答我那样真诚救助他的恩情。我两次与他相遇的时候，他可能是被情欲迷住了心窍，而在现在这样的情况下，我认为任何情欲都不会阻止他来帮助我。他会向我重提他最后一次的建议吗？我要求他帮助我，他会以他向我解释过的可怕的服务为代价吗？不管它!我同意就是，只要自由了，我会找到办法来逃避他厚颜无耻地要我加入的令人作呕的生活方式的。我带着这些想法给他写了一封信，向他描述了我的不幸，请求他来见我。我并没有清醒地看透此人的灵魂极其肮脏，只是设想善良的愿望终于能穿透他的心灵。我没有很好地回忆一下他那些可怕的准则，又或者，就是我一向软弱，总是用自己的心去度量别人，错误地认为此人想必会像我以前对待他那样对待我。 he came.因为我请求和他单独见面，他们就让他随意待在我的牢房里。从他们对他毕恭毕敬的态度可以看出，他在里昂颇有势力。 他以轻蔑的目光对我瞅了一眼，说道：“怎么，是你! 我搞错了，我收到信，还以为是比你正派的女人写的呢。那样的话，我就会尽心尽力地帮助她。可是，你让我为你这种愚蠢的女人做什么呢？怎么，当人家向你建议一种堂堂正正地挣钱过日子的方法时，你顽固地加以拒绝，然而，你却犯下了更可怕的无数件罪行！我们永远也不会听到比这更蠢的事了。” “噢！先生，”我大声喊道，“我没有犯罪!” “那么，还要怎样才算有罪呢?”这个心狠手辣的男人酸溜溜地说，“我头一次见到你时，你和一伙要杀我的强盗在一起。现在，你又在这座城市的监狱里，被指控犯有三四起新的罪行；并且，据说你肩膀上还有确实犯有前科的烙印。如果你说这叫做正派的话，那么，请告诉我怎样才叫不正派呢?” “公正的上帝啊！”我回答，“先生，您怎能指责我认识您时的处境？不是更应该由我来让您为那个时候感到脸红吗？先生，您是知道的，我是被迫与抓到您的强盗们在一起的。他们要结果您的性命，是我救了您，帮助您逃跑了，我们两人逃走的时候，你又干了什么来报答我呢?你自己回想起来，不感到愧疚吗?您还想把我杀掉，把我打得昏死过去，利用我晕厥的机会，夺去了我最宝贵的童贞，又以极其卑鄙残忍的手段抢走了我不多的几个钱，仿佛您只想用屈辱和贫困来彻底粉碎受你蹂躏的人!您成功了，野蛮的家伙，非常成功!是您把我陷入了灾难，把我投入了我从此一再陷入的深渊。但是，我忘掉了一切，先生，是的，一切都从我的记忆中抹去了，我甚至请求您原谅我斗胆对您这样指责，但是您能够避而不谈您应该对我的补偿与感谢吗？唉！请您在死亡的悲惨阴影笼罩着我的时刻，不要封闭自己的心灵。我并不惧怕死亡，而是害怕耻辱。把我从像罪犯一样死去的恐惧中解脱出去吧，我请求您的只是这一点点赏赐，请不要拒绝我，上帝和我的心有朝一日会报答您的。” 我泪如雨下，跪在这个凶狠的男人面前。在他的脸上我根本没有看到我所期待的，我自以为能对他的灵魂所产生的震动效果，我只看到了他脸上肌肉的变化，这是一种因残酷而产生的淫欲引起的。圣弗洛朗坐在我的面前，他那邪恶的黑眼睛以一种可怕的眼神打量着我，我看见他用手抚摸自己的身体，这证明我使他产生的情感绝对不是怜悯，尽管他竭力掩盖。他站起身来，说道： “听我说，你在这里的诉讼程序全部掌握在卡尔多维尔先生手里，用不着告诉你他身居何职，你只要知道你的命运由他来决定就行了。从童年时起，他就是我亲密的朋友。我去对他说一声，要是他同意某些安排，今天傍晚就会有人来接你去他家或者去我家。到时你要为自己辩护，用使他信服的方式证明你是无辜的。我能为你做的就是这些。再见吧，泰瑞丝，你要准备好应付一切情况，尤其不要让我徒劳无功了。” 圣弗洛朗出去了。我迷惑不解，茫然摸不着头脑。这个男人的这番话语、我所知道的他的性格和他现在的表现太不一致，因此，我还是担心其中有诈。不过，夫人，请您评断，处于我当时的情况下，我又怎能犹豫呢?只要是好像可以救我的办法，难道我不应该连忙抓住?于是，我决定抓住出现在我眼前的机会。要是逼迫我出卖肉体，我一定拼命抵抗；也许只是叫我去死吧?那就好极了！这种死法至少不是耻辱的，我就可以解脱一切苦难了。九点的钟声敲响了，狱吏出现了。我浑身打颤。 “跟着我，”这位看守对我说，“是圣弗洛朗先生和卡尔多维尔先生吩咐的。您想想，这是上天赐予您的良机，好好利用吧!这里的许多人渴望能得到这种恩典，却永远也得不到。” 我尽可能整理了一下自己，然后跟着看守走了。他把我交给两个高个头的古里古怪的家伙，他们那凶神恶煞般的外表增添了我的恐怖情绪。他们一声不吭，马车前行，抵达了一处府邸，我很快就认出来了，这是圣弗洛朗的住所。里面悄无声息，这只能使我更加害怕。领我来的人紧紧抓住我的胳膊，把我一直拖到了五层楼上，进了几套小房间，里面装饰精美而气氛神秘。我们往里边走，在我们身后的房门一一关上了，最后走进了一间看不到任何窗户的客厅里。圣弗洛朗和那个据说决定我的案子的男人卡尔多维尔先生就在里面。这个人又胖又大，阴沉凶狠的面容，可能五十岁上下。尽管他身着便服，但还是看得出来是个法官。一种严肃的气派布满了他的全身，叫我不寒而栗。残酷的、不公正的上帝呀！罪恶竟总是令美德望而生畏！我借着客厅里照耀的灯光把带我来的两个男人看清楚了，他们至多二十五岁至三十岁的样子。一个叫做拉罗斯，好像年长些，是个深肤色的漂亮小伙子，大力士般的体格；另一个年轻一点，像个女人，一头栗色的秀发，大大的黑眼睛，身高至少五尺六寸，画中人儿似的，美丽的肤色世所罕见，大家叫他朱利安。至于圣弗洛朗嘛，您已经认识他了，面相和性情都粗暴，但不失其英俊。 “都关上了吗？”圣弗洛朗向朱利安问。 “是的，先生，”年轻人回答，“所有的下人都按照您的吩咐在寻欢作乐。只有看门的人在值班，他会小心不让任何人进来的。” 这几句话使我全明白了，我浑身发抖。但是，面对四个男人，我又能怎样呢? “我的朋友们，请坐在那里吧，”卡尔多维尔一边亲吻那两个年轻人，一边说，“需要时我就会使用你们。” “泰瑞丝，”这时，圣弗洛朗指着卡尔多维尔对我说，“这位就是我们的法官，就是决定你的命运的人。我们仔细研究了你的案子，我们觉得你的罪行的性质使通融十分困难。” “有四十二个证人不利于她，”坐在朱利安膝盖上的卡尔多维尔说，同时吻着朱利安的嘴巴，手指头在这个年轻人身上进行着最下流的触摸。“我们很长时间没有判处过罪行这么确凿的人死刑了！” “什么，我，我的罪行确凿？” 卡尔多维尔站起身来，走过来，厚颜无耻地对着我的嘴唇说：“什么确凿不确凿!要是你不彻底心甘情愿，不乖乖顺从，立即送过来满足我们要求你干的一切，那你就会立刻被当做妓女施以火刑!” “又是这样的卑鄙无耻!”我大声叫喊，“唉，怎么，清白无辜的人只有供人淫乐，才能逃脱坏人设下的圈套?” “这是规矩，”圣弗洛朗接着说，“弱者必须满足强者的欲望，再不，就得沦为强者邪恶的刀下之鬼。你自己的经历就说明了这一点，泰瑞丝，你还是顺从了吧!” 与此同时，这个淫棍迅速掀起我的裙子，我吓得直往后退，一边恐惧地推开他。不料，我退着退着就落入了卡尔多维尔的怀抱。他抓住我的双手，于是，我毫无反抗能力地供他的朋友袭击。 他们一边扒去我的衣服，一边叫喊：“还反抗，还反抗!这婊子以为反抗得了!”每扒去一件衣服都伴随着一阵拳打脚踢。 一旦我处于他们希望的状态之后，他们就各坐一张扶手椅中，两张椅子圈成一个圆，他们把我这个可怜的人放在中间的空地上，开始恣意审视，这两个淫棍的邪恶嗜好差不多是一般无二的。 玩了一两个钟头，正式进攻方才开始。仍然一个接一个上，四个人把我摧残得晕了过去，等我醒来，已是深夜。 恣情纵欲之后，他们也让我喘息片刻功夫。我稍稍休息之后，残酷的游戏重新开始。我实在疼痛难忍，又疲备不堪，但是令我惊讶的是，他们治好我的伤口的时间比把我弄伤的时间还要短，并且没有留下一点痕迹。于是，淫戏又从头再来。这样，我死去活来，直到拂晓。 把我送回监狱的途中，我再次成为那两个无耻的仆人罪恶的淫乱的受害者。我们终于进了监狱，狱吏迎接我们，就他一个人在那儿，没有别人看见我回来。 他把我送回囚室，对我说：“泰瑞丝，你去睡会儿吧。不论你打算对谁说你今天夜里出过监狱，请你记住我都会揭穿你的谎言，这种无用的指控救不了你。” 只剩下我一人的时候，我暗暗想道，我还舍不得这个世界么?我难道还害怕抛弃这尽是恶魔的人间吗?唉，但愿上帝此刻就来以他觉得恰当的任何方式把我撕扯出这个世界，我绝不再抱怨!生于这许多凶恶猛兽中间的受苦人惟一的慰藉，就是希望能尽早脱离他们。 第二天，我什么也听不进去，下定决心把我托付给上帝，我不愿吃任何东西，就这么半死不活地待着。第三天，卡尔多维尔来审问我。看到这个淫棍那么镇静自若地来执行司法权力，我禁不住浑身颤抖。他，他是人间渣滓，他，违背他标榜的这种正义的一切权力，他刚刚如此残酷地利用了我的无辜和厄运。不管我怎样为自己申辩，这个坏蛋都有本领把我的辩解变成罪行，等到对我的控告全部按照这个一心满足私欲的法官的意思成立之后，他居然还恬不知耻地问我认识不认识圣弗洛朗先生，我回答说认识。 “好吧，”卡尔多维尔说，“这就足够了，你承认认识的这位圣弗洛朗先生也对你有透彻的认识，他作证说见过你在一群匪徒中间，是你第一个偷了他的钱和钱包。你的同伙打算饶了他的性命，你却劝他们把他干掉，但是，他后来还是成功地逃脱了。这位圣弗洛朗先生还说，几年之后他在里昂又遇见你，在你的一再要求之下，在你说你现在已经改邪归正的情况之下，他允许你到他家里去向他致意。结果，正当他开导你，正当他要求你走正道的时候，你却厚颜无耻、罪恶透顶，利用他做好事的机会，偷走了他放在壁炉台子上的一只表和一百路易……” “恶魔，”我大声叫着，“我相信公正的上帝，他会对你的罪行复仇的，他一定会证实我的无辜，他会让你因无耻地滥用职权而后悔的！” 卡尔多维尔拉拉铃，吩咐狱吏把我带回牢房，因为我被绝望和内疚所困扰，已经无法继续讯问下去了。不过，审问已经很完整了，因为我已承认了我的全部罪行。这个魔鬼若无其事地出去了！但愿雷电把他劈死！ 我的案子在仇恨、报复和淫欲的操纵之下进展顺利，我很快就被判决并被押解到巴黎去复核。就在这致我死命的旅程中，我尽管无辜受害，却被当做最卑贱的罪犯押解，种种辛酸痛苦的思虑涌上心头，我的心完全碎了。我自问，我到底降生在哪一颗倒霉的星宿之下，以致我只要产生了一点正直的情感，命运就把我立即投入苦难的海洋!我崇拜其公正无私的、英明的上帝怎么可能在惩罚我的道德的同时，又让我目睹那些以罪恶粉碎我的人登上荣耀的顶峰呢! 我小的时候，一个放高利贷的家伙打算教唆我去偷盗，我拒绝了，他却发了财。我落入了一伙强盗的手中，我救了一个男人的命，还把他带出了牢笼，他给我的报答却是强奸了我。我来到一个荒淫的老爷家中，因为我不愿意毒死他的婶子，他就放出恶狗把我咬得遍体鳞伤。从那里我到了一个外科医生家里，此人乱伦而且杀人，我试图使他的阴谋不能得逞，他便给我打上罪犯的烙印。他应是恶贯满盈，却大走鸿运，我倒不得不沦为乞丐。我想接近圣体，我想虔诚地恳求至高无上的主，他却给了我这么多的不幸。我希望在庄严肃穆的圣殿里、在我们最神圣的教义中净化自己的灵魂，那圣殿却变成了我蒙受耻辱的血污的场所，那欺骗了我、玷污了我的恶魔却爬上了他那个教会的最高峰，我却再次跌入苦难的深渊。我试图将一个女人从她疯狂的丈夫身边解救出来，这个惨无人道的丈夫却让我一滴一滴地流血，想把我置于死地。我想减轻一个穷人的痛苦，她却抢了我的钱。我救助了一个晕倒的男人，他却忘恩负义，强迫我推转盘，把我当做牲口，还把我吊起来取乐。他处处走运，我却因为被迫为他工作而差点死在绞架上。一个卑鄙的女人想引诱我干坏事，我就再次丧失了可怜的一点点钱财，仅仅是为了保住她要杀害的人的财产。一个心地善良的男人打算娶我以补偿我遭受的所有不幸。然而他的愿望还没有实现，就死在了我的怀里。为了抢救一个并非我自己的婴儿，我冲进了熊熊的大火之中，几乎丧命，母亲却控告我，对我提出刑事诉讼。我落在了我最凶恶的死敌的手里，她却要把我强行带到一个以砍掉人头刺激情欲的男人家里去。我躲开了这个恶魔的利刃，却落入了特弥斯的利剑之下。我救了一个男人的命，还保住了他的财产，便寻求他的保护，他却把我骗到他家里去，对我横加凌辱，还把决定案件结果的法官引来，他俩玩弄了我，践踏了我，要加速我的灭亡。我即将被处死，他们却始终是命运的宠儿。 人们就是这样迫使我经受苦难的，与人们危险地交往就是这样教训了我，我的被不幸激怒的、因屈辱和非正义而忿忿不平的灵魂只希望能粉碎这些禁锢，这又何足为奇呢？ 不幸的姑娘结束讲述，说道，夫人，实在抱歉，请多多原谅我这样以种种淫秽的描述亵渎听闻，一句话，这样絮絮叨叨，滥用了您的耐心。也许我用这些肮脏的故事冒犯了上帝，我揭开了我的伤疤，我搅扰了您的安宁。永别了，夫人，永别了。星星升起来了，卫兵们在 叫我了，就让我去承受厄运吧!我再也无所畏惧，死亡只是了结我的苦难。日子过得无忧无虑、幸运的人才会害怕这最后的时刻。然而，受尽苦难的人吸取的只是蛇蝎的毒液，东倒西歪的脚步踩着的只是荆棘，见着阳光照耀，就像迷路的旅人颤抖地看着电闪雷鸣一样。残酷的坎坷命运使她丧失了父母、朋友、财产、保护和救助，人间对她只剩下眼泪作为饮料，磨难作为吃食，这样的人看见死亡到来时毫不畏惧，她甚至把死亡当作可靠的港口而希望它的到来。在那里，她在上帝的怀抱中将重新得到宁静，公正的上帝是不会听任在人世间被玷污的清白在另一世界得不到补偿的。 正直的科韦勒先生听了这个故事之后深深地被感动了。至于洛桑热夫人嘛，我们说过，尽管她年轻时有过重大的错误，但同情心并未泯灭，她听着听着，几乎晕了过去。 “小姐，”她对鞠斯汀娜说，“听了您的这番讲述，谁都不能不对您表示最大的关怀。但是，我得承认，有一种我解释不清的感情不可克制地吸引我趋向于您，使我把您的苦难当作自己的苦难。您没有告诉我您的真名实姓，还隐瞒了您的出身，我请求您说出您的秘密。请不要以为我是出于好奇才请您这样做的。……伟大的上帝啊！我怀疑的事情是真的吗？……噢，泰瑞丝！您是不是鞠斯汀娜？……您是不是我的妹妹？” “鞠斯汀娜！夫人，多奇怪的名字!” “她现在也是您这样的年纪……” 不幸的女囚投入洛桑热夫人的怀抱，叫道：“鞠丽埃特!我面前的就是你吗?是你，我的姐姐! 啊！我就是死了，也不至于这样悲伤了，因为我可以再亲吻你一次了！ 姐妹二人紧紧地拥抱在一起，只听见她们的抽泣，表达她们激动的只有她们的眼泪。 科韦勒先生也禁不住潸然泪下，他感到不能不对这件事情表示极大的关注。他到另一个房间里，给司法大臣写了一封信。他用热情洋溢的笔触描述了可怜的鞠斯汀娜(我们还是称她为泰瑞丝吧)的悲惨命运，他保证她是无辜的，请求在案件得到澄清以前，不把她关进监狱，就让她在他的城堡里安身，保证只要这位主管司法的部长一声吩咐，就立即叫她出庭受审。他还向押解犯人的两个人亮出自己的身分，把信交给他们去递交，并保证看管好女囚。他们遵命办理，把泰瑞丝交给了他，便乘车走了。 “过来吧，你这实在不幸的姑娘，”科韦勒对洛桑热夫人那身世堪哀的妹妹说，“请过来，一切即将改变。从此以后，你的美德再也不会总是得不到回报，你受之于自然的高尚灵魂今后再也不会总是获得脚镣手铐。跟我们走吧，今后您的事就由我来负责好了……” 接着，科韦勒先生用几句话解释了他刚刚做的事情。 “可敬的、亲爱的人啊！”洛桑热夫人扑上去，投身于情人的脚下，叫道，“这是您一生中做得最美好的一件事情。就是应该由深刻了解人心、深刻懂得法律精神的人来为无辜受压迫者报仇雪恨!她在这里，先生，她是您的囚徒了。去吧，泰瑞丝，去吧，马上跑过去，飞奔过去跪在这位公正的保护人脚下，他不会像其他的人那样抛弃你。啊！先生，我非常珍惜咱们之间的爱情关系，现在由于我对您感到最温馨的敬重，从而使我更加珍视它！” 这两个女人一一搂抱这位如此慷慨的朋友的膝盖，并且在上面洒满了泪水。 不多时，他们就抵达了城堡。在那里，科韦勒先生和洛桑热夫人争先恐后地让泰瑞丝立即解脱过度的不幸，享受最优裕的生活。他们欣喜异常地让她享受最丰盛的美味佳肴，让她睡在最舒适的床上，他们还让她在家里发号施令。总之，他们给予了两个心地善良的人可能具有的全部关怀与体贴。他们还请人给她好好治疗了多日，要她洗澡，给她打扮，增添她的美貌，她成了这对情侣崇拜的偶像，两人比赛着看谁最先使她忘记以往的苦难。经过一位高明的外科医生的精心医治，残暴的罗登留下的可耻的烙印终于消除掉了。一切都在响应泰瑞丝的两位恩人的照顾：这可爱的姑娘的额头上再也看不见苦难的痕迹，美惠女神恢复了她的魅力。洁白如玉的脸颊上原来的苍白渐渐消逝，重新浮上了她这个年龄的红润色彩，而这本已被过于悲伤摧毁了。多年以来从她的唇边被抹去的微笑终于在快乐的庇护下又重新绽开了。从宫廷一再传来好消息，因为科韦勒先生已经把整个法国调动起来，他重新鼓起塞先生的热诚，与他携手共同拯救泰瑞丝遭受的苦难，努力把她早该享有的安宁还给她。国王的诏书终于来了，他取消了针对泰瑞丝的一切不公正的诉讼，还她正直公民的身分，叫王国的所有法庭噤声，不许再败坏她的名誉，同时还从没收多菲内的伪币制造者的钱财中拿出一些作为她的年金。本来打算逮捕卡尔多维尔和圣弗洛朗，但正如所有迫害泰瑞丝的恶人命不该绝，反倒走运一样，卡尔多维尔在他的罪行还没有揭发出来之前，已经被任命为XXX的总督，而圣弗洛朗则被任命为殖民地商务总管，他们两个人斗已经到任。逮捕令碰上了势力强大的某些家族的阻挠，它们不久就设法平息了风暴，这两个恶棍安享着财富，其滔天罪行不久就被淡忘了①。 ①至于“林中的圣母玛丽”修道院的修士们，由于取缔宗教教派，发现了这些万恶的败类的累累罪行。——原注 对泰瑞丝来说，她一旦得知这么多愉快的消息，简直高兴死了。她接连几天在其保护者的怀抱里流下甜蜜的泪水，但是，不知是何缘故，她的情绪突然急转直下，变得阴沉不安，精神恍惚。有时候，她在朋友们中间哭起来，自己也说不清楚为什么伤心。 “我命中注定无法享受这么多的幸福。”她对洛桑热夫人说，“噢！我亲爱的姐姐，不可能长久的。” 不管他们怎样叫她放心，说她的所有案子都结束了，她用不着担心了，但是没有用处，任何东西都不能使她平静下来。这个可怜的姑娘仿佛命中注定只能遭受灾难，总是觉得厄运一直在她的头上悬着，她似乎已经预见到使她粉身碎骨的最后的打击。 科韦勒先生依然住在乡下，已是夏末秋初时节。大家正准备出去散步，但是即将到来的一场惊天动地的暴风雨打乱了他们的计划。天气闷热，不得不把所有的门窗都敞开着。一阵闪电，降下冰雹，风声大作，天火搅动得乌云翻滚，天翻地覆似的可怕。仿佛自然厌倦了它的作品，准备把所有的元素搅合起来，迫使它们改变形态。吓得要死的洛桑热夫人请妹妹以尽可能快的速度关上所有的门窗。泰瑞丝急于让姐姐平静下来，连忙奔向已经破裂的窗户，狂风把她推向一边，她挣扎着，与狂风搏斗了一会儿，忽然，一声巨响，一个响雷把她击倒在客厅的中央。 洛桑热夫人发出一声令人胆颤心惊的喊叫，晕了过去。科韦勒先生赶紧叫人来抢救，采取了各种措施。洛桑热夫人被救醒了，但是不幸的泰瑞丝被雷电击中了，再也没有生还的希望。雷电从她的右乳劈进去，烧坏了她的胸部、脸部，而后从肚子当中穿了出去。这个可怜的女人的模样真是惨不忍睹，科韦勒先生吩咐下人把她抬出去。 ... “不，”洛桑热夫人极其镇静地站起来说，“不，先生，把她留在那里，让我看着她。我要仔细端详她，好坚定我刚下的决心。听我说，科韦勒，请您千万别反对我作出的决定，现在世界上已没有任何东西能改变我的意图了。尽管我不幸的妹妹一直安分守己，但她还是遭受前所未闻的磨难，这里面有着极不寻常的动力，不能不使我睁开眼睛看看自身。您不要以为我们看到的凌辱她的恶魔们享有幸福的虚幻光芒就能使我盲目。上帝这样喜怒无常，是我们琢磨不透的谜，但也不应该引诱我们盲目。噢，我的朋友！罪恶的猖獗无非是上帝希望道德经受的考验，它就像雷电一样，其虚假的闪光使天空瞬间美丽异常，只是为了把看得头晕眼花的人迅即投入死亡的深渊。我们眼前就有例证，这个美丽的姑娘不断遭受令人难以置信的灾难，不断遇到令人胆颤心惊的挫折，这是永恒的上帝给我的一个警告，他要我倾听内心悔恨的呼声，最后投入他的怀抱。我生活中的每时每刻都打下了淫荡、不信教和抛弃一切原则的烙印，我怎能不畏惧他的惩罚呢？因为既然她活着的时候从来没有任何可以指责的真正错误，却遭到这样的对待，那么我还期待什么呢？咱们分手吧，科韦勒，是时候了。没有任何枷锁把咱们锁在一起，忘了我吧，让我去跪倒在上帝的脚下，不断地忏悔，发誓弃绝我玷污自己的可耻行为。刚才这个可怕的打击促使我皈依上帝脚下，对于我敢于希望在另一世界获得幸福是绝对必要的。永别了，先生，我对您的友情的最后期待，就是不要进行任何搜寻以打探我的下落。噢，科韦勒！我将在一个美好的世界里等着您，您的美德一定会把您带到那里去的。我为赎罪将会在有生之年苦行修炼，但愿能在那里再见到您!” 洛桑热夫人立即出了家门，她随身只带了一点钱，跳上一辆马车，她把所剩的全部家当交托给科韦勒先生，叮嘱他赠给慈善机构，然后直奔巴黎而去。在那里，她进了巴黎的加尔默罗会修道院，几年之后，她就以高度的虔诚、心智的聪慧和道德的规范，成了那里的楷模，启迪世人。 应该获得祖国首要职务的科韦勒先生完全胜任，他让人民获得了幸福，为祖国增添光辉，为国王克尽职守，尽管他还因使朋友们发了大财而备受尊敬。 诸位，当你们在为美德遭受苦难而抛洒眼泪，为不幸的鞠斯汀娜哀叹时，请原谅我不得不使用的也许有点过火的笔触，只请你们至少能够从这个故事中得出与洛桑热夫人相同的结论吧！但愿你们像她那样坚信真正的幸福仅仅在于奉行美德本身！即使出于我们不能了解的、深不可测的目的，上帝让美德在人间受到迫害的话，那他只是为了在天上以最令人欣喜的报酬来给予补偿!