albert savarus-第12章

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Rupt。　This　enterprise；　which　to　the　Abbe　de　Grancey　even　would　have
seemed　the　climax　of　the　impossible；　was　a　mere　passing　thought。

〃Ah！〃　said　she　to　herself；　〃my　father　has　a　dispute　pending　as　to　his
land　at　les　Rouxey。　I　will　go　there！　If　there　is　no　lawsuit；　I　will
manage　to　make　one；　and　/he/　shall　come　into　our　drawing…room！〃　she
cried；　as　she　sprang　out　of　bed　and　to　the　window　to　look　at　the
fascinating　gleam　which　shone　through　Albert's　nights。　The　clock
struck　one；　he　was　still　asleep。

〃I　shall　see　him　when　he　gets　up；　perhaps　he　will　come　to　his　window。〃

At　this　instant　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville　was　witness　to　an　incident
which　promised　to　place　in　her　power　the　means　of　knowing　Albert's
secrets。　By　the　light　of　the　moon　she　saw　a　pair　of　arms　stretched　out
from　the　kiosk　to　help　Jerome；　Albert's　servant；　to　get　across　the
coping　of　the　wall　and　step　into　the　little　building。　In　Jerome's
accomplice　Rosalie　at　once　recognized　Mariette　the　lady's…maid。

〃Mariette　and　Jerome！〃　said　she　to　herself。　〃Mariette；　such　an　ugly
girl！　Certainly　they　must　be　ashamed　of　themselves。〃

Though　Mariette　was　horribly　ugly　and　six…and…thirty；　she　had
inherited　several　plots　of　land。　She　had　been　seventeen　years　with
Madame　de　Watteville；　who　valued　her　highly　for　her　bigotry；　her
honesty；　and　long　service；　and　she　had　no　doubt　saved　money　and
invested　her　wages　and　perquisites。　Hence；　earning　about　ten　louis　a
year；　she　probably　had　by　this　time；　including　compound　interest　and
her　little　inheritance；　not　less　than　ten　thousand　francs。

In　Jerome's　eyes　ten　thousand　francs　could　alter　the　laws　of　optics；
he　saw　in　Mariette　a　neat　figure；　he　did　not　perceive　the　pits　and
seams　which　virulent　smallpox　had　left　on　her　flat；　parched　face；　to
him　the　crooked　mouth　was　straight；　and　ever　since　Savaron；　by　taking
him　into　his　service；　had　brought　him　so　near　to　the　Wattevilles'
house；　he　had　laid　siege　systematically　to　the　maid；　who　was　as　prim
and　sanctimonious　as　her　mistress；　and　who；　like　every　ugly　old　maid；
was　far　more　exacting　than　the　handsomest。

If　the　night…scene　in　the　kiosk　is　thus　fully　accounted　for　to　all
perspicacious　readers；　it　was　not　so　to　Rosalie；　though　she　derived
from　it　the　most　dangerous　lesson　that　can　be　given；　that　of　a　bad
example。　A　mother　brings　her　daughter　up　strictly；　keeps　her　under　her
wing　for　seventeen　years；　and　then；　in　one　hour；　a　servant　girl
destroys　the　long　and　painful　work；　sometimes　by　a　word；　often　indeed
by　a　gesture！　Rosalie　got　into　bed　again；　not　without　considering　how
she　might　take　advantage　of　her　discovery。

Next　morning；　as　she　went　to　Mass　accompanied　by　Marietteher　mother
was　not　wellRosalie　took　the　maid's　arm；　which　surprised　the　country
wench　not　a　little。

〃Mariette；〃　said　she；　〃is　Jerome　in　his　master's　confidence？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　mademoiselle。〃

〃Do　not　play　the　innocent　with　me；〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Watteville
drily。　〃You　let　him　kiss　you　last　night　under　the　kiosk；　I　no　longer
wonder　that　you　so　warmly　approved　of　my　mother's　ideas　for　the
improvements　she　planned。〃

Rosalie　could　feel　how　Mariette　was　trembling　by　the　shaking　of　her
arm。

〃I　wish　you　no　ill；〃　Rosalie　went　on。　〃Be　quite　easy；　I　shall　not　say
a　word　to　my　mother；　and　you　can　meet　Jerome　as　often　as　you　please。〃

〃But；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Mariette；　〃it　is　perfectly　respectable；
Jerome　honestly　means　to　marry　me〃

〃But　then；〃　said　Rosalie；　〃why　meet　at　night？〃

Mariette　was　dumfounded；　and　could　make　no　reply。

〃Listen；　Mariette；　I　am　in　love　too！　In　secret　and　without　any　return。
I　am；　after　all；　my　father's　and　mother's　only　child。　You　have　more　to
hope　for　from　me　than　from　any　one　else　in　the　world〃

〃Certainly；　mademoiselle；　and　you　may　count　on　us　for　life　or　death；〃
exclaimed　Mariette；　rejoiced　at　the　unexpected　turn　of　affairs。

〃In　the　first　place；　silence　for　silence；〃　said　Rosalie。　〃I　will　not
marry　Monsieur　de　Soulas；　but　one　thing　I　will　have；　and　must　have；　my
help　and　favor　are　yours　on　one　condition　only。〃

〃What　is　that？〃

〃I　must　see　the　letters　which　Monsieur　Savaron　sends　to　the　post　by
Jerome。〃

〃But　what　for？〃　said　Mariette　in　alarm。

〃Oh！　merely　to　read　them；　and　you　yourself　shall　post　them　afterwards。
It　will　cause　a　little　delay；　that　is　all。〃

At　this　moment　they　went　into　church；　and　each　of　them；　instead　of
reading　the　order　of　Mass；　fell　into　her　own　train　of　thought。

〃Dear；　dear；　how　many　sins　are　there　in　all　that？〃　thought　Mariette。

Rosalie；　whose　soul；　brain；　and　heart　were　completely　upset　by　reading
the　story；　by　this　time　regarded　it　as　history；　written　for　her　rival。
By　dint　of　thinking　of　nothing　else；　like　a　child；　she　ended　by
believing　that　the　/Eastern　Review/　was　no　doubt　forwarded　to　Albert's
lady…love。

〃Oh！〃　said　she　to　herself；　her　head　buried　in　her　hands　in　the
attitude　of　a　person　lost　in　prayer；　〃oh！　how　can　I　get　my　father　to
look　through　the　list　of　people　to　whom　the　/Review/　is　sent？〃

After　breakfast　she　took　a　turn　in　the　garden　with　her　father；　coaxing
and　cajoling　him；　and　brought　him　to　the　kiosk。

〃Do　you　suppose；　my　dear　little　papa；　that　our　/Review/　is　ever　read
abroad？〃

〃It　is　but　just　started〃

〃Well；　I　will　wager　that　it　is。〃

〃It　is　hardly　possible。〃

〃Just　go　and　find　out；　and　note　the　names　of　any　subscribers　out　of
France。〃

Two　hours　later　Monsieur　de　Watteville　said　to　his　daughter：

〃I　was　right；　there　is　not　one　foreign　subscriber　as　yet。　They　hope　to
get　some　at　Neufchatel；　at　Berne；　and　at　Geneva。　One　copy；　is　in　fact；
sent　to　Italy；　but　it　is　not　paid　forto　a　Milanese　lady　at　her
country　house　at　Belgirate；　on　Lago　Maggiore。

〃What　is　her　name？〃

〃The　Duchesse　d'Argaiolo。〃

〃Do　you　know　her；　papa？〃

〃I　have　heard　about　her。　She　was　by　birth　a　Princess　Soderini；　a
Florentine；　a　very　great　lady；　and　quite　as　rich　as　her　husband；　who
has　one　of　the　largest　fortunes　in　Lombardy。　Their　villa　on　the　Lago
Maggiore　is　one　of　the　sights　of　Italy。〃

Two　days　after；　Mariette　placed　the　following　letter　in　Mademoiselle
de　Watteville's　hand：

　　Albert　Savaron　to　Leopold　Hannequin。

　　〃Yes；　'tis　so；　my　dear　friend；　I　am　at　Besancon；　while　you　thought
　　I　was　traveling。　I　would　not　tell　you　anything　till　success　should
　　begin；　and　now　it　is　dawning。　Yes；　my　dear　Leopold；　after　so　many
　　abortive　undertakings；　over　which　I　have　shed　the　best　of　my
　　blood；　have　wasted　so　many　efforts；　spent　so　much　courage；　I　have
　　made　up　my　mind　to　do　as　you　have　doneto　start　on　a　beaten　path；
　　on　the　highroad；　as　the　longest　but　the　safest。　I　can　see　you　jump
　　with　surprise　in　your　lawyer's　chair！

　　〃But　do　not　suppose　that　anything　is　changed　in　my　personal　life；
　　of　which　you　alone　in　the　world　know　the　secret；　and　that　under
　　the　reservations　/she/　insists　on。　I　did　not　tell　you；　my　friend；
　　but　I　was　horribly　weary　of　Paris。　The　outcome　of　the　first
　　enterprise；　on　which　I　had　founded　all　my　hopes；　and　which　came　to
　　a　bad　end　in　consequence　of　the　utter　rascality　of　my　two
　　partners；　who　combined　to　cheat　and　fleece　meme；　though
　　everything　was　done　by　my　energymade　me　give　up　the　pursuit　of　a
　　fortune　after　the　loss　of　three　years　of　my　life。　One　of　these
　　years　was　spent　in　the　law　courts；　and　perhaps　I　should　have　come
　　worse　out　of　the　scrape　if　I　had　not　been　made　to　study　law　when　I
　　was　twenty。

　　〃I　made　up　my　mind　to　go　into　politics　solely；　to　the　end　that　I
　　may　some　day　find　my　name　on　a　list　for　promotion　to　the　Senate
　　under　the　title　of　Comte　Albert　Savaron　de　Savarus；　and　so　revive
　　in　France　a　good　name　now　extinct　in　Belgiumthough　indeed　I　am
　　neither　legitimate　nor　legitimized。〃

〃Ah！　I　knew　it！　He　is　of　noble　birth！〃　exclaimed　Rosalie；　dropping　the
letter。

　　〃You　know　how　conscientiously　I　studied；　how　faithful　and　useful　I
　　was　as　an　obscure　journalist；　and　how　excellent　a　secretary　to　the
　　statesman　who；　on　his　part；　was　true　to　me　in　1829。　Flung　to　the
　　depths　once　more　by　the　revolution　of　July　just　when　my　name　was
　　becoming　known；　at　the　very　moment　when；　as　Master　of　Appeals；　I
　　was　about　to　find　my　place　as　a　necessary　wheel　in　the　political
　　machine；　I　committed　the　blunder　of　remaining　faithful　to　the
　　fallen；　and　fighting　for　them；　without　them。　Oh！　why　was　I　but
　　three…and…thirty；　and　why　did　I　not　apply　to　you　to　make　me
　　eligible？　I　concealed　from　you　all　my　devotedness　and　my　dangers。
　　What　would　you　have？　I　was　full　of　faith。　We　should　not　have
　　agreed。

　　〃Ten　months　ago；　when　you　saw　me　so　gay　and　contented；　writing　my
　　political　articles；　I　was　in　despair；　I　foresaw　my　fate；　at　the
　　age　of　thirty…seven；　with　two　thousand　francs　for　my　whole
　　fortune；　without　the　smallest　fame；　just　having　failed　in　a　noble
　　undertaking；　the　founding；　namely；　of　a　daily　paper　answering　only
　　to　a　need　of　the　future　instead　of　appealing　to　the　passions　of
　　the　moment。　I　did　not　know　which　way　to　turn；　and　I　felt　my　own
　　value！　I　wandered　about；　gloomy　and　hurt；　through　the　lonely
　　places　of　ParisParis　which　had　slipped　through　my　fingers
　　thinking　of　my　crushed　ambitions；　but　never　giving　them　up。　Oh；
　　what　frantic　letters　I　wrote　at　that　time　to　/her/；　my　second
　　conscience；　my　other　self！　Sometimes　I　would　say　to　myself；　'Why
　　did　I　sketch　so　vast　a　programme　of　life？　Why　demand　everything？
　　Why　not　wait　for　happiness　while　devoting　myself　to　some
　　mechanical　employment。'

　　〃I　then　looked　about　me　for　some　modest　appointment　by　which　I
　　might　live。　I　was　about　to　get　the　editorship　of　a　paper　under　a
　　manager　who　did　not　know　much　about　it；　a　man　of　wealth　and
　　ambition；　when　I　took　fright。　'Would　/she/　ever　accept　as　her
　　husband　a　man　who　had　stooped　so　low？'　I　wondered。

　　〃This　reflection　made　me　two…and…twenty　again。　But；　oh；　my　dear
　　Leopold；　how　the　soul　is　worn　by　these　perplexities！　What　must　not
　　the　caged　eagles　suffer；　and　imprisoned　lions！They　suffer　what
　　Napoleon　suffered；　not　at　Saint　Helena；　but　on　the　Quay　of　the
　　Tuileries；　on　the　10th　of　August；　when　he　saw　Louis　XVI。　defending
　　himself　so　badly　while　he　could　have　quelled　the　insurrection；　as
　　he　actually　did；　on　the　same　spot；　a　little　later；　in　Vendemiaire。
　　Well；　my　life　has　been　a　torment　of　that　kind；　extending　over　four
　　years。　How　many　a　speech　to　the　Chamber　have　I　not　delivered　in
　　the　deserted　alleys　of　the　Bois　de　Boulogne！　These　wasted
　　harangues　have　at　any　rate　sharpened　my　tongue　and　accustomed　my
　　mind　to　formulate　its　ideas　in　words。　And　while　I　was　undergoing
　　this　secret　torture；　you　were　getting　married；　you　had　paid　for
　　your　business；　you　were　made　law…clerk　to　the　Maire　of　your
　　district；　after　gaining　a　cross　for　a　wound　at　Saint…Merri。

　　〃Now；　listen。　When　I　was　a　small　boy　and　tortured　cock…chafers；
　　the　poor　insects　had　one　form　of　struggle　which　used　almost　to　put
　　me　in　a　fever。　It　was　when　I　saw　them　making　repeated　efforts　to
　　fly　but　without　getting　away；　though　they　could　spread　their
　　wings。　We　used　to　say；　'They　are　marking　time。'　Now　was　this
　　sympathy？　Was　it　a　vision　of　my　own　future？Oh！　to　spread　my
　　wings　and　yet　be　unable　to　fly