ferragus-第17章

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〃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　appeared　to
be　her　headquarters。　In　it　she　kept　her　handkerchief；　snuffbox；
knitting；　half…peeled　vegetables；　spectacles；　calendar；　a　bit　of
livery　gold　lace　just　begun；　a　greasy　pack　of　cards；　and　two　volumes
of　novels；　all　stuck　into　the　hollow　of　the　back。　This　article　of
furniture；　in　which　the　old　creature　was　floating　down　the　river　of
life；　was　not　unlike　the　encyclopedic　bag　which　a　woman　carries　with
her　when　she　travels；　in　which　may　be　found　a　compendium　of　her
household　belongings；　from　the　portrait　of　her　husband　to　/eau　de
Melisse/　for　faintness；　sugarplums　for　the　children；　and　English
court…plaster　in　case　of　cuts。

Jules　studied　all。　He　looked　attentively　at　Madame　Gruget's　yellow
visage；　at　her　gray　eyes　without　either　brows　or　lashes；　her　toothless
mouth；　her　wrinkles　marked　in　black；　her　rusty　cap；　her　still　more
rusty　ruffles；　her　cotton　petticoat　full　of　holes；　her　worn…out
slippers；　her　disabled　fire…pot；　her　table　heaped　with　dishes　and
silks　and　work　begun　or　finished；　in　wool　or　cotton；　in　the　midst　of
which　stood　a　bottle　of　wine。　Then　he　said　to　himself：　〃This　old　woman
has　some　passion；　some　strong　liking　or　vice；　I　can　make　her　do　my
will。〃

〃Madame；〃　he　said　aloud；　with　a　private　sign　of　intelligence；　〃I　have
come　to　order　some　livery　trimmings。〃　Then　he　lowered　his　voice。　〃I
know；〃　he　continued；　〃that　you　have　a　lodger　who　has　taken　the　name　of
Camuset。〃　The　old　woman　looked　at　him　suddenly；　but　without　any　sign
of　astonishment。　〃Now；　tell　me；　can　we　come　to　an　understanding？　This
is　a　question　which　means　fortune　for　you。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　she　replied；　〃speak　out；　and　don't　be　afraid。　There's　no
one　here。　But　if　I　had　any　one　above；　it　would　be　impossible　for　him
to　hear　you。〃

〃Ha！　the　sly　old　creature；　she　answers　like　a　Norman；〃　thought　Jules；
〃We　shall　agree。　Do　not　give　yourself　the　trouble　to　tell　falsehoods；
madame；〃　he　resumed；　〃In　the　first　place；　let　me　tell　you　that　I　mean
no　harm　either　to　you　or　to　your　lodger　who　is　suffering　from　cautery；
or　to　your　daughter　Ida；　a　stay…maker；　the　friend　of　Ferragus。　You
see；　I　know　all　your　affairs。　Do　not　be　uneasy；　I　am　not　a　detective
policeman；　nor　do　I　desire　anything　that　can　hurt　your　conscience。　A
young　lady　will　come　here　to…morrow…morning　at　half…past　nine　o'clock；
to　talk　with　this　lover　of　your　daughter。　I　want　to　be　where　I　can　see
all　and　hear　all；　without　being　seen　or　heard　by　them。　If　you　will
furnish　me　with　the　means　of　doing　so；　I　will　reward　that　service　with
the　gift　of　two　thousand　francs　and　a　yearly　stipend　of　six　hundred。
My　notary　shall　prepare　a　deed　before　you　this　evening；　and　I　will
give　him　the　money　to　hold；　he　will　pay　the　two　thousand　to　you
to…morrow　after　the　conference　at　which　I　desire　to　be　present；　as　you
will　then　have　given　proofs　of　your　good　faith。〃

〃Will　it　injure　my　daughter；　my　good　monsieur？〃　she　asked；　casting　a
cat…like　glance　of　doubt　and　uneasiness　upon　him。

〃In　no　way；　madame。　But；　in　any　case；　it　seems　to　me　that　your
daughter　does　not　treat　you　well。　A　girl　who　is　loved　by　so　rich　a　man
as　Ferragus　ought　to　make　you　more　comfortable　than　you　seem　to　be。〃

〃Ah；　my　dear　monsieur；　just　think；　not　so　much　as　one　poor　ticket　to
the　Ambigu；　or　the　Gaiete；　where　she　can　go　as　much　as　she　likes。　It's
shameful！　A　girl　for　whom　I　sold　my　silver　forks　and　spoons！　and　now　I
eat；　at　my　age；　with　German　metal；and　all　to　pay　for　her
apprenticeship；　and　give　her　a　trade；　where　she　could　coin　money　if
she　chose。　As　for　that；　she's　like　me；　clever　as　a　witch；　I　must　do
her　that　justice。　But；　I　will　say；　she　might　give　me　her　old　silk
gowns；I；　who　am　so　fond　of　wearing　silk。　But　no！　Monsieur；　she　dines
at　the　Cadran…Bleu　at　fifty　francs　a　head；　and　rolls　in　her　carriage
as　if　she　were　a　princess；　and　despises　her　mother　for　a　Colin…Lampon。
Heavens　and　earth！　what　heedless　young　ones　we've　brought　into　the
world；　we　have　nothing　to　boast　of　there。　A　mother；　monsieur；　can't　be
anything　else　but　a　good　mother；　and　I've　concealed　that　girl's　ways；
and　kept　her　in　my　bosom；　to　take　the　bread　out　of　my　mouth　and　cram
everything　into　her　own。　Well；　well！　and　now　she　comes　and　fondles　one
a　little；　and　says；　'How　d'ye　do；　mother？'　And　that's　all　the　duty　she
thinks　of　paying。　But　she'll　have　children　one　of　these　days；　and　then
she'll　find　out　what　it　is　to　have　such　baggage；which　one　can't　help
loving　all　the　same。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　she　does　nothing　for　you？〃

〃Ah；　nothing？　No；　monsieur；　I　didn't　say　that；　if　she　did　nothing；
that　would　be　a　little　too　much。　She　gives　me　my　rent　and　thirty…six
francs　a　month。　But；　monsieur；　at　my　age；and　I'm　fifty…two　years
old；　with　eyes　that　feel　the　strain　at　night；ought　I　to　be　working
in　this　way？　Besides；　why　won't　she　have　me　to　live　with　her？　I　should
shame　her；　should　I？　Then　let　her　say　so。　Faith；　one　ought　to　be
buried　out　of　the　way　of　such　dogs　of　children；　who　forget　you　before
they've　even　shut　the　door。〃

She　pulled　her　handkerchief　from　her　pocket；　and　with　it　a　lottery
ticket　that　dropped　on　the　floor；　but　she　hastily　picked　it　up；
saying；　〃Hi！　that's　the　receipt　for　my　taxes。〃

Jules　at　once　perceived　the　reason　of　the　sagacious　parsimony　of　which
the　mother　complained；　and　he　was　the　more　certain　that　the　widow
Gruget　would　agree　to　the　proposed　bargain。

〃Well；　then；　madame；〃　he　said；　〃accept　what　I　offer　you。〃

〃Did　you　say　two　thousand　francs　in　ready　money；　and　six　hundred
annuity；　monsieur？〃

〃Madame；　I've　changed　my　mind；　I　will　promise　you　only　three　hundred
annuity。　This　way　seems　more　to　my　own　interests。　But　I　will　give　you
five　thousand　francs　in　ready　money。　Wouldn't　you　like　that　as　well？〃

〃Bless　me；　yes；　monsieur！〃

〃You'll　get　more　comfort　out　of　it；　and　you　can　go　to　the　Ambigu　and
Franconi's　at　your　ease　in　a　coach。〃

〃As　for　Franconi；　I　don't　like　that；　for　they　don't　talk　there。
Monsieur；　if　I　accept；　it　is　because　it　will　be　very　advantageous　for
my　child。　I　sha'n't　be　a　drag　on　her　any　longer。　Poor　little　thing！
I'm　glad　she　has　her　pleasures；　after　all。　Ah；　monsieur；　youth　must　be
amused！　And　so；　if　you　assure　me　that　no　harm　will　come　to　anybody〃

〃Not　to　anybody；〃　replied　Jules。　〃But　now；　how　will　you　manage　it？〃

〃Well；　monsieur；　if　I　give　Monsieur　Ferragus　a　little　tea　made　of
poppy…heads　to…night；　he'll　sleep　sound；　the　dear　man；　and　he　needs
it；　too；　because　of　his　sufferings；　for　he　does　suffer；　I　can　tell
you；　and　more's　the　pity。　But　I'd　like　to　know　what　a　healthy　man　like
him　wants　to　burn　his　back　for；　just　to　get　rid　of　a　tic　douleureux
which　troubles　him　once　in　two　years。　However；　to　come　back　to　our
business。　I　have　my　neighbor's　key；　her　lodging　is　just　above　mine；
and　in　it　there's　a　room　adjoining　the　one　where　Monsieur　Ferragus　is；
with　only　a　partition　between　them。　My　neighbor　is　away　in　the　country
for　ten　days。　Therefore；　if　I　make　a　hole　to…night　while　Monsieur
Ferragus　is　sound　asleep；　you　can　see　and　hear　them　to…morrow　at　your
ease。　I'm　on　good　terms　with　a　locksmith；a　very　friendly　man；　who
talks　like　an　angel；　and　he'll　do　the　work　for　me　and　say　nothing
about　it。〃

〃Then　here's　a　hundred　francs　for　him。　Come　to…night　to　Monsieur
Desmaret's　office；　he's　a　notary；　and　here's　his　address。　At　nine
o'clock　the　deed　will　be　ready；　butsilence！〃

〃Enough；　monsieur；　as　you　saysilence！　Au　revoir；　monsieur。〃

Jules　went　home；　almost　calmed　by　the　certainty　that　he　should　know
the　truth　on　the　morrow。　As　he　entered　the　house；　the　porter　gave　him
the　letter　properly　resealed。

〃How　do　you　feel　now？〃　he　said　to　his　wife；　in　spite　of　the　coldness
that　separated　them。

〃Pretty　well；　Jules；〃　she　answered　in　a　coaxing　voice；　〃do　come　and
dine　beside　me。〃

〃Very　good；〃　he　said；　giving　her　the　letter。　〃Here　is　something
Fouguereau　gave　me　for　you。〃

Clemence；　who　was　very　pale；　colored　high　when　she　saw　the　letter；　and
that　sudden　redness　was　a　fresh　blow　to　her　husband。

〃Is　that　joy；〃　he　said；　laughing；　〃or　the　effect　of　expectation？〃

〃Oh；　of　many　things！〃　she　said；　examining　the　seal。

〃I　leave　you　now　for　a　few　moments。〃

He　went　down　to　his　study；　and　wrote　to　his　brother；　giving　him
directions　about　the　payment　to　the　widow　Gruget。　When　he　returned；　he
found　his　dinner　served　on　a　little　table　by　his　wife's　bedside；　and
Josephine　ready　to　wait　on　him。

〃If　I　were　up　how　I　should　like　to　serve　you　myself；〃　said　Clemence；
when　Josephine　had　left　them。　〃Oh；　yes；　on　my　knees！〃　she　added；
passing　her　white　hands　through　her　husband's　hair。　〃Dear；　noble
heart；　you　were　very　kind　and　gracious　to　me　just　now。　You　did　me　more
good　by　showing　me　such　confidence　than　all　the　doctors　on　earth　could
do　me　with　their　prescriptions。　That　feminine　delicacy　of　yoursfor
you　do　know　how　to　love　like　a　womanwell；　it　has　shed　a　balm　into　my
heart　which　has　almost　cured　me。　There's　truce　between　us；　Jules；
lower　your　head；　that　I　may　kiss　it。〃

Jules　could　not　deny　himself　the　pleasure　of　that　embrace。　But　it　was
not　without　a　feeling　of　remorse　in　his　heart；　he　felt　himself　small
before　this　woman　whom　he　was　still　tempted　to　think　innocent。　A　sort
of　melancholy　joy　possessed　him。　A　tender　hope　shone　on　her　features
in　spite　of　their　grieved　expression。　They　both　were　equally　unhappy
in　deceiving　each　other；　another　caress；　and；　unable　to　resist　their
suffering；　all　would　then　have　been　avowed。

〃To…morrow　evening；　Clemence。〃

〃No；　no；　to…morrow　morning；　by　twelve　o'clock；　you　will　know　all；　and
you'll　kneel　down　before　your　wifeOh；　no！　you　shall　not　be
humiliated；　you　are　all　forgiven　now；　you　have　done　no　wrong。　Listen；
Jules；　yesterday　you　did　crush　meharshly；　but　perhaps　my　life　would
not　have　been　complete　without　that　agony；　it　may　be　a　shadow　that
will　make　our　coming　days　celestial。〃

〃You　lay　a　spell　upon　me；〃　cried　Jules；　〃you　fill　me　with　remorse。〃

〃Poor　love！　destiny　is　stronger　than　we；　and　I　am　not　the　accomplice
of　mine。　I　shall　go　out　to…morrow。〃

〃At　what　hour？〃　asked　Jules。

〃At　half…past　nine。〃

〃Clemence；〃　he　said；　〃take　every　precaution；　consult　Doctor　Desplein
and　old　Haudry。〃

〃I　shall　consult　nothing　but　my　heart　and　my　courage。〃

〃I　shall　leave　you　free；　you　will　not　see　me　till　twelve　o'clock。〃

〃Won't　you　keep　me　company　this　evening？　I　feel　so　much　better。〃

After　attending　to　some　business；　Jules　returned　to　his　wife；
recalled　by　her　invincible　attraction。　His　passion　was　stronger　than
his　anguish。

The　next　day；　at　nine　o'clock　Jules　left　home；　hurried　to　the　rue　des
Enfants…Rouges；　went　upstairs；　and　rang　the　bell　of　the　widow　Gruget's
lodgings。

〃Ah！　you've　kept　your　word；　as　true　as　the　dawn。　Come　in；　monsieur；〃
said　the　old　woman　when　she　saw　him。　〃I've　made　you　a　cup　of　coffee
with　cream；〃　she　added；　when　the　door　was　closed。　〃Oh！　real　cream；　I
saw　it　milked　myself　at　the　dairy　we　have　in　this　very　street。〃

〃Thank　you；　no；　madame；　nothing。　Take　me　at　once〃

〃Very　good；　monsieur。　Follow　me；　this　way。〃

She　led　him　up　into　the　room　above　her　own；　where　she　showed　him；
triumpha