ferragus-第16章

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short；　to　end　this　sketch　of　a　philosopher　unknown　to　himself；　he　had
never　suspected　and　never　in　all　his　life　would　suspect　the　advantages
he　might　have　drawn　from　his　position；that　of　having　for　his
intimate　friend　a　broker；　and　of　knowing　every　morning　all　the　secrets
of　the　State。　This　man；　sublime　after　the　manner　of　that　nameless
soldier　who　died　in　saving　Napoleon　by　a　〃qui　vive；〃　lived　at　the
ministry。

In　ten　minutes　Jules　was　in　his　friend's　office。　Jacquet　gave　him　a
chair；　laid　aside　methodically　his　green　silk　eye…shade；　rubbed　his
hands；　picked　up　his　snuff…box；　rose；　stretched　himself　till　his
shoulder…blades　cracked；　swelled　out　his　chest；　and　said：

〃What　brings　you　here；　Monsieur　Desmarets？　What　do　you　want　with　me？〃

〃Jacquet；　I　want　you　to　decipher　a　secret；a　secret　of　life　and
death。〃

〃It　doesn't　concern　politics？〃

〃If　it　did；　I　shouldn't　come　to　you　for　information；〃　said　Jules。　〃No；
it　is　a　family　matter；　about　which　I　require　you　to　be　absolutely
silent。〃

〃Claude…Joseph　Jacquet；　dumb　by　profession。　Don't　you　know　me　by　this
time？〃　he　said；　laughing。　〃Discretion　is　my　lot。〃

Jules　showed　him　the　letter。

〃You　must　read　me　this　letter；　addressed　to　my　wife。〃

〃The　deuce！　the　deuce！　a　bad　business！〃　said　Jacquet；　examining　the
letter　as　a　usurer　examines　a　note　to　be　negotiated。　〃Ha！　that's　a
gridiron　letter！　Wait　a　minute。〃

He　left　Jules　alone　for　a　moment；　but　returned　immediately。

〃Easy　enough　to　read；　my　friend！　It　is　written　on　the　gridiron　plan；
used　by　the　Portuguese　minister　under　Monsieur　de　Choiseul；　at　the
time　of　the　dismissal　of　the　Jesuits。　Here；　see！〃

Jacquet　placed　upon　the　writing　a　piece　of　paper　cut　out　in　regular
squares；　like　the　paper　laces　which　confectioners　wrap　round　their
sugarplums；　and　Jules　then　read　with　perfect　ease　the　words　that　were
visible　in　the　interstices。　They　were　as　follows：

　　〃Don't　be　uneasy；　my　dear　Clemence；　our　happiness　cannot　again　be
　　troubled；　and　your　husband　will　soon　lay　aside　his　suspicions。
　　However　ill　you　may　be；　you　must　have　the　courage　to　come　here
　　to…morrow；　find　strength　in　your　love　for　me。　Mine　for　you　has
　　induced　me　to　submit　to　a　cruel　operation；　and　I　cannot　leave　my
　　bed。　I　have　had　the　actual　cautery　applied　to　my　back；　and　it　was
　　necessary　to　burn　it　in　a　long　time；　you　understand　me？　But　I
　　thought　of　you；　and　I　did　not　suffer。

　　〃To　baffle　Maulincour　（who　will　not　persecute　us　much　longer）；　I
　　have　left　the　protecting　roof　of　the　embassy；　and　am　now　safe　from
　　all　inquiry　in　the　rue　des　Enfants…Rouges；　number　12；　with　an　old
　　woman；　Madame　Etienne　Gruget；　mother　of　that　Ida；　who　shall　pay
　　dear　for　her　folly。　Come　to…morrow；　at　nine　in　the　morning。　I　am
　　in　a　room　which　is　reached　only　by　an　interior　staircase。　Ask　for
　　Monsieur　Camuset。　Adieu；　I　kiss　your　forehead；　my　darling。〃

Jacquet　looked　at　Jules　with　a　sort　of　honest　terror；　the　sign　of　a
true　compassion；　as　he　made　his　favorite　exclamation　in　two　separate
and　distinct　tones；

〃The　deuce！　the　deuce！〃

〃That　seems　clear　to　you；　doesn't　it？〃　said　Jules。　〃Well；　in　the
depths　of　my　heart　there　is　a　voice　that　pleads　for　my　wife；　and　makes
itself　heard　above　the　pangs　of　jealousy。　I　must　endure　the　worst　of
all　agony　until　to…morrow；　but　to…morrow；　between　nine　and　ten　I　shall
know　all；　I　shall　be　happy　or　wretched　for　all　my　life。　Think　of　me
then；　Jacquet。〃

〃I　shall　be　at　your　house　to…morrow　at　eight　o'clock。　We　will　go
together；　I'll　wait　for　you；　if　you　like；　in　the　street。　You　may　run
some　danger；　and　you　ought　to　have　near　you　some　devoted　person　who'll
understand　a　mere　sign；　and　whom　you　can　safely　trust。　Count　on　me。〃

〃Even　to　help　me　in　killing　some　one？〃

〃The　deuce！　the　deuce！〃　said　Jacquet；　repeating；　as　it　were；　the　same
musical　note。　〃I　have　two　children　and　a　wife。〃

Jules　pressed　his　friend's　hand　and　went　away；　but　returned
immediately。

〃I　forgot　the　letter；〃　he　said。　〃But　that's　not　all；　I　must　reseal
it。〃

〃The　deuce！　the　deuce！　you　opened　it　without　saving　the　seal；　however；
it　is　still　possible　to　restore　it。　Leave　it　with　me　and　I'll　bring　it
to　you　/secundum　scripturam/。〃

〃At　what　time？〃

〃Half…past　five。〃

〃If　I　am　not　yet　in；　give　it　to　the　porter　and　tell　him　to　send　it　up
to　madame。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to…morrow？〃

〃No。　Adieu。〃

Jules　drove　at　once　to　the　place　de　la　Rotonde　du　Temple；　where　he
left　his　cabriolet　and　went　on　foot　to　the　rue　des　Enfants…Rouges。　He
found　the　house　of　Madame　Etienne　Gruget　and　examined　it。　There；　the
mystery　on　which　depended　the　fate　of　so　many　persons　would　be　cleared
up；　there；　at　this　moment；　was　Ferragus；　and　to　Ferragus　all　the
threads　of　this　strange　plot　led。　The　Gordian　knot　of　the　drama；
already　so　bloody；　was　surely　in　a　meeting　between　Madame　Jules；　her
husband；　and　that　man；　and　a　blade　able　to　cut　the　closest　of　such
knots　would　not　be　wanting。

The　house　was　one　of　those　which　belong　to　the　class　called
/cabajoutis/。　This　significant　name　is　given　by　the　populace　of　Paris
to　houses　which　are　built；　as　it　were；　piecemeal。　They　are　nearly
always　composed　of　buildings　originally　separate　but　afterwards　united
according　to　the　fancy　of　the　various　proprietors　who　successively
enlarge　them；　or　else　they　are　houses　begun；　left　unfinished；　again
built　upon；　and　completed；unfortunate　structures　which　have　passed；
like　certain　peoples；　under　many　dynasties　of　capricious　masters。
Neither　the　floors　nor　the　windows　have　an　/ensemble/；to　borrow　one
of　the　most　picturesque　terms　of　the　art　of　painting；　all　is　discord；
even　the　external　decoration。　The　/cabajoutis/　is　to　Parisian
architecture　what　the　/capharnaum/　is　to　the　apartment；a　poke…hole；
where　the　most　heterogeneous　articles　are　flung　pell…mell。

〃Madame　Etienne？〃　asked　Jules　of　the　portress。

This　portress　had　her　lodge　under　the　main　entrance；　in　a　sort　of
chicken　coop；　or　wooden　house　on　rollers；　not　unlike　those　sentry…
boxes　which　the　police　have　lately　set　up　by　the　stands　of　hackney…
coaches。

〃Hein？〃　said　the　portress；　without　laying　down　the　stocking　she　was
knitting。

In　Paris　the　various　component　parts　which　make　up　the　physiognomy　of
any　given　portion　of　the　monstrous　city；　are　admirably　in　keeping　with
its　general　character。　Thus　porter；　concierge；　or　Suisse；　whatever
name　may　be　given　to　that　essential　muscle　of　the　Parisian　monster；　is
always　in　conformity　with　the　neighborhood　of　which　he　is　a　part；　in
fact；　he　is　often　an　epitome　of　it。　The　lazy　porter　of　the　faubourg
Saint…Germain；　with　lace　on　every　seam　of　his　coat；　dabbles　in　stocks；
he　of　the　Chaussee　d'Antin　takes　his　ease；　reads　the　money…articles　in
the　newspapers；　and　has　a　business　of　his　own　in　the　faubourg
Montmartre。　The　portress　in　the　quarter　of　prostitution　was　formerly　a
prostitute；　in　the　Marais；　she　has　morals；　is　cross…grained；　and　full
of　crotchets。

On　seeing　Monsieur　Jules　this　particular　portress；　holding　her
knitting　in　one　hand；　took　a　knife　and　stirred　the　half…extinguished
peat　in　her　foot…warmer；　then　she　said：

〃You　want　Madame　Etienne；　do　you　mean　Madame　Etienne　Gruget？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jules；　assuming　a　vexed　air。

〃Who　makes　trimmings？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　then；　monsieur；〃　she　said；　issuing　from　her　cage；　and　laying
her　hand　on　Jules'　arm　and　leading　him　to　the　end　of　a　long　passage…
way；　vaulted　like　a　cellar；　〃go　up　the　second　staircase　at　the　end　of
the　court…yardwhere　you　will　see　the　windows　with　the　pots　of　pinks；
that's　where　Madame　Etienne　lives。〃

〃Thank　you；　madame。　Do　you　think　she　is　alone？〃

〃Why　shouldn't　she　be　alone？　she's　a　widow。〃

Jules　hastened　up　a　dark　stairway；　the　steps　of　which　were　knobby　with
hardened　mud　left　by　the　feet　of　those　who　came　and　went。　On　the
second　floor　he　saw　three　doors　but　no　signs　of　pinks。　Fortunately；　on
one　of　the　doors；　the　oiliest　and　darkest　of　the　three；　he　read　these
words；　chalked　on　a　panel：　〃Ida　will　come　to…night　at　nine　o'clock。〃

〃This　is　the　place；〃　thought　Jules。

He　pulled　an　old　bellrope；　black　with　age；　and　heard　the　smothered
sound　of　a　cracked　bell　and　the　barking　of　an　asthmatic　little　dog。　By
the　way　the　sounds　echoed　from　the　interior　he　knew　that　the　rooms
were　encumbered　with　articles　which　left　no　space　for　reverberation；
a　characteristic　feature　of　the　homes　of　workmen　and　humble
households；　where　space　and　air　are　always　lacking。

Jules　looked　out　mechanically　for　the　pinks；　and　found　them　on　the
outer　sill　of　a　sash　window　between　two　filthy　drain…pipes。　So　here
were　flowers；　here；　a　garden；　two　yards　long　and　six　inches　wide；
here；　a　wheat…ear；　here；　a　whole　life　epitomized；　but　here；　too；　all
the　miseries　of　that　life。　A　ray　of　light　falling　from　heaven　as　if　by
special　favor　on　those　puny　flowers　and　the　vigorous　wheat…ear　brought
out　in　full　relief　the　dust；　the　grease；　and　that　nameless　color；
peculiar　to　Parisian　squalor；　made　of　dirt；　which　crusted　and　spotted
the　damp　walls；　the　worm…eaten　balusters；　the　disjointed　window…
casings；　and　the　door　originally　red。　Presently　the　cough　of　an　old
woman；　and　a　heavy　female　step；　shuffling　painfully　in　list　slippers；
announced　the　coming　of　the　mother　of　Ida　Gruget。　The　creature　opened
the　door　and　came　out　upon　the　landing；　looked　up；　and　said：

〃Ah！　is　this　Monsieur　Bocquillon？　Why；　no？　But　perhaps　you're　his
brother。　What　can　I　do　for　you？　Come　in；　monsieur。〃

Jules　followed　her　into　the　first　room；　where　he　saw；　huddled
together；　cages；　household　utensils；　ovens；　furniture；　little
earthenware　dishes　full　of　food　or　water　for　the　dog　and　the　cats；　a
wooden　clock；　bed…quilts；　engravings　of　Eisen；　heaps　of　old　iron；　all
these　things　mingled　and　massed　together　in　a　way　that　produced　a　most
grotesque　effect；a　true　Parisian　dusthole；　in　which　were　not　lacking
a　few　old　numbers　of　the　〃Constitutionel。〃

Jules；　impelled　by　a　sense　of　prudence；　paid　no　attention　to　the
widow's　invitation　when　she　said　civilly；　showing　him　an　inner　room：

〃Come　in　here；　monsieur；　and　warm　yourself。〃

Fearing　to　be　overheard　by　Ferragus；　Jules　asked　himself　whether　it
were　not　wisest　to　conclude　the　arrangement　he　had　come　to　make　with
the　old　woman　in　the　crowded　antechamber。　A　hen；　which　descended
cackling　from　a　loft；　roused　him　from　this　inward　meditation。　He　came
to　a　resolution；　and　followed　Ida's　mother　into　the　inner　room；
whither　they　were　accompanied　by　the　wheezy　pug；　a　personage　otherwise
mute；　who　jumped　upon　a　stool。　Madame　Gruget　showed　the　assumption　of
semi…pauperism　when　she　invited　her　visitor　to　warm　himself。　Her　fire…
pot　contained；　or　rather　concealed　two　bits　of　sticks；　which　lay
apart：　the　grating　was　on　the　ground；　its　handle　in　the　ashes。　The
mantel…shelf；　adorned　with　a　little　wax　Jesus　under　a　shade　of　squares
of　glass　held　together　with　blue　paper；　was　piled　with　wools；　bobbins；
and　tools　used　in　the　making　of　gimps　and　trimmings。　Jules　examined
everything　in　the　room　with　a　curiosity　that　was　full　of　interest；　and
showed；　in　spite　of　himself；　an　inward　satisfaction。

〃Well；　monsieur；　tell　me；　do　you　want　to　buy　any　of　my　things？〃　said
the　old　woman；　seating　herself　in　a　cane　arm…chair；　which　appear