two poets-第15章

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　M。　de　Bargeton　mutely　implored　his　visitor　to　come　to　his　assistance。　Turning　westward　his　old　asthmatic　pug…dog　countenance；　he　gazed　at　you　with　big；　lustreless　eyes；　in　a　way　that　said；　〃You　were　saying？〃

The　people　whom　he　loved　best　were　bores　anxious　to　talk　about　themselves；　he　listened　to　them　with　an　unfeigned　and　delicate　interest　which　so　endeared　him　to　the　species　that　all　the　twaddlers　of　Angouleme　credited　M。　de　Bargeton　with　more　understanding　than　he　chose　to　show；　and　were　of　the　opinion　that　he　was　underrated。　So　it　happened　that　when　these　persons　could　find　nobody　else　to　listen　to　them；　they　went　off　to　give　M。　de　Bargeton　the　benefit　of　the　rest　of　the　story；　argument；　or　what　not；　sure　beforehand　of　his　eulogistic　smile。　Madame　de　Bargeton's　rooms　were　always　crowded；　and　generally　her　husband　felt　quite　at　ease。　He　interested　himself　in　the　smallest　details；　he　watched　those　who　came　in　and　bowed　and　smiled；　and　brought　the　new　arrivals　to　his　wife；　he　lay　in　wait　for　departing　visitors；　and　went　with　them　to　the　door；　taking　leave　of　them　with　that　eternal　smile。　When　conversation　grew　lively；　and　he　saw　that　every　one　was　interested　in　one　thing　or　another；　he　stood；　happy　and　mute；　planted　like　a　swan　on　both　feet；　listening；　to　all　appearance；　to　a　political　discussion；　or　he　looked　over　the　card…players'　hands　without　a　notion　of　what　it　was　all　about；　for　he　could　not　play　at　any　game；　or　he　walked　about　and　took　snuff　to　promote　digestion。　Anais　was　the　bright　side　of　his　life；　she　made　it　unspeakably　pleasant　for　him。　Stretched　out　at　full　length　in　his　armchair；　he　watched　admiringly　while　she　did　her　part　as　hostess；　for　she　talked　for　him。　It　was　a　pleasure；　too；　to　him　to　try　to　see　the　point　in　her　remarks；　and　as　it　was　often　a　good　while　before　he　succeeded；　his　smiles　appeared　after　a　delay；　like　the　explosion　of　a　shell　which　has　entered　the　earth　and　worked　up　again。　His　respect　for　his　wife；　moreover；　almost　amounted　to　adoration。　And　so　long　as　we　can　adore；　is　there　not　happiness　enough　in　life？　Anais'　husband　was　as　docile　as　a　child　who　asks　nothing　better　than　to　be　told　what　to　do；　and；　generous　and　clever　woman　as　she　was；　she　had　taken　no　undue　advantage　of　his　weaknesses。　She　had　taken　care　of　him　as　you　take　care　of　a　cloak；　she　kept　him　brushed；　neat；　and　tidy；　looked　closely　after　him；　and　humored　him；　and　humored；　looked　after；　brushed；　kept　tidy；　and　cared　for；　M。　de　Bargeton　had　come　to　feel　an　almost　dog…like　affection　for　his　wife。　It　is　so　easy　to　give　happiness　that　costs　nothing！　Mme。　de　Bargeton；　knowing　that　her　husband　had　no　pleasure　but　in　good　cheer；　saw　that　he　had　good　dinners；　she　had　pity　upon　him；　she　had　never　uttered　a　word　of　complaint；　indeed；　there　were　people　who　could　not　understand　that　a　woman　might　keep　silence　through　pride；　and　argued　that　M。　de　Bargeton　must　possess　good　qualities　hidden　from　public　view。　Mme。　de　Bargeton　had　drilled　him　into　military　subordination；　he　yielded　a　passive　obedience　to　his　wife。　〃Go　and　call　on　Monsieur　So…and…So　or　Madame　Such…an…One；〃　she　would　say；　and　he　went　forthwith；　like　a　soldier　at　the　word　of　command。　He　stood　at　attention　in　her　presence；　and　waited　motionless　for　his　orders。

There　was　some　talk　about　this　time　of　nominating　the　mute　gentleman　for　a　deputy。　Lucien　as　yet　had　not　lifted　the　veil　which　hid　such　an　unimaginable　character；　indeed；　he　had　scarcely　frequented　the　house　long　enough。　M。　de　Bargeton；　spread　at　full　length　in　his　great　chair；　appeared　to　see　and　understand　all　that　was　going　on；　his　silence　added　to　his　dignity；　and　his　figure　inspired　Lucien　with　a　prodigious　awe。　It　is　the　wont　of　imaginative　natures　to　magnify　everything；　or　to　find　a　soul　to　inhabit　every　shape；　and　Lucien　took　this　gentleman；　not　for　a　granite　guard…post；　but　for　a　formidable　sphinx；　and　thought　it　necessary　to　conciliate　him。

〃I　am　the　first　comer；〃　he　said；　bowing　with　more　respect　than　people　usually　showed　the　worthy　man。

〃That　is　natural　enough；〃　said　M。　de　Bargeton。

Lucien　took　the　remark　for　an　epigram；　the　lady's　husband　was　jealous；　he　thought；　he　reddened　under　it；　looked　in　the　glass　and　tried　to　give　himself　a　countenance。

〃You　live　in　L'Houmeau；〃　said　M。　de　Bargeton；　〃and　people　who　live　a　long　way　off　always　come　earlier　than　those　who　live　near　by。〃

〃What　is　the　reason　of　that？〃　asked　Lucien　politely。

〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　M。　de　Bargeton；　relapsing　into　immobility。

〃You　have　not　cared　to　find　out；〃　Lucien　began　again；　〃any　one　who　could　make　an　observation　could　discover　the　cause。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　M。　de　Bargeton；　〃final　causes！　Eh！　eh！　。　。　。〃

The　conversation　came　to　a　dead　stop；　Lucien　racked　his　brains　to　resuscitate　it。

〃Mme。　de　Bargeton　is　dressing；　no　doubt；〃　he　began；　shuddering　at　the　silliness　of　the　question。

〃Yes；　she　is　dressing；〃　her　husband　naturally　answered。

Lucien　looked　up　at　the　ceiling　and　vainly　tried　to　think　of　something　else　to　say。　As　his　eyes　wandered　over　the　gray　painted　joists　and　the　spaces　of　plaster　between；　he　saw；　not　without　qualms；　that　the　little　chandelier　with　the　old…fashioned　cut…glass　pendants　had　been　stripped　of　its　gauze　covering　and　filled　with　wax　candles。　All　the　covers　had　been　removed　from　the　furniture；　and　the　faded　flowered　silk　damask　had　come　to　light。　These　preparations　meant　something　extraordinary。　The　poet　looked　at　his　boots；　and　misgivings　about　his　costume　arose　in　his　mind。　Grown　stupid　with　dismay；　he　turned　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　a　Japanese　jar　standing　on　a　begarlanded　console　table　of　the　time　of　Louis　Quinze；　then；　recollecting　that　he　must　conciliate　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　husband；　he　tried　to　find　out　if　the　good　gentleman　had　a　hobby　of　any　sort　in　which　he　might　be　humored。

〃You　seldom　leave　the　city；　monsieur？〃　he　began；　returning　to　M。　de　Bargeton。

〃Very　seldom。〃

Silence　again。　M。　de　Bargeton　watched　Lucien's　slightest　movements　like　a　suspicious　cat；　the　young　man's　presence　disturbed　him。　Each　was　afraid　of　the　other。

〃Can　he　feel　suspicious　of　my　attentions？〃　thought　Lucien；　〃he　seems　to　be　anything　but　friendly。〃

Lucien　was　not　a　little　embarrassed　by　the　uneasy　glances　that　the　other　gave　him　as　he　went　to　and　fro；　when　luckily　for　him；　the　old　man…servant　（who　wore　livery　for　the　occasion）　announced　〃M。　du　Chatelet。〃　The　Baron　came　in；　very　much　at　ease；　greeted　his　friend　Bargeton；　and　favored　Lucien　with　the　little　nod　then　in　vogue；　which　the　poet　in　his　mind　called　purse…proud　impertinence。

Sixte　du　Chatelet　appeared　in　a　pair　of　dazzling　white　trousers　with　invisible　straps　that　kept　them　in　shape。　He　wore　pumps　and　thread　stockings；　the　black　ribbon　of　his　eyeglass　meandered　over　a　white　waistcoat；　and　the　fashion　and　elegance　of　Paris　was　strikingly　apparent　in　his　black　coat。　He　was　indeed　just　the　faded　beau　who　might　be　expected　from　his　antecedents；　though　advancing　years　had　already　endowed　him　with　a　certain　waist…girth　which　somewhat　exceeded　the　limits　of　elegance。　He　had　dyed　the　hair　and　whiskers　grizzled　by　his　sufferings　during　his　travels；　and　this　gave　a　hard　look　to　his　face。　The　skin　which　had　once　been　so　delicate　had　been　tanned　to　the　copper…red　color　of　Europeans　from　India；　but　in　spite　of　his　absurd　pretensions　to　youth；　you　could　still　discern　traces　of　the　Imperial　Highness'　charming　private　secretary　in　du　Chatelet's　general　appearance。　He　put　up　his　eyeglass　and　stared　at　his　rival's　nankeen　trousers；　at　his　boots；　at　his　waistcoat；　at　the　blue　coat　made　by　the　Angouleme　tailor；　he　looked　him　over　from　head　to　foot；　in　short；　then　he　coolly　returned　his　eyeglass　to　his　waistcoat　pocket　with　a　gesture　that　said；　〃I　am　satisfied。〃　And　Lucien；　eclipsed　at　this　moment　by　the　elegance　of　the　inland　revenue　department；　thought　that　it　would　be　his　turn　by　and　by；　when　he　should　turn　a　face　lighted　up　with　poetry　upon　the　assembly；　but　this　prospect　did　not　prevent　him　from　feeling　the　sharp　pang　that　succeeded　to　the　uncomfortable　sense　of　M。　de　Bargeton's　imagined　hostility。　The　Baron　seemed　to　bring　all　the　weight　of　his　fortune　to　bear　upon　him；　the　better　to　humiliate　him　in　his　poverty。　M。　de　Bargeton　had　counted　on　having　no　more　to　say；　and　his　soul　was　dismayed　by　the　pause　spent　by　the　rivals　in　mutual　survey；　he　had　a　question　which　he　kept　for　desperate　emergencies；　laid　up　in　his　mind；　as　it　were；　against　a　rainy　day。　Now　was　the　proper　time　to　bring　it　out。

〃Well；　monsieur；〃　he　said；　looking　at　Chatelet　with　an　important　air；　〃is　there　anything　fresh？　anything　that　people　are　talking　about？〃

〃Why；　the　latest　thing　is　M。　Chardon；〃　Chatelet　said　maliciously。　〃Ask　him。　Have　you　brought　some　charming　poet　for　us？〃　inquired　the　vivacious　Baron；　adjusting　the　side　curl　that　had　gone　astray　on　his　temple。

〃I　should　have　asked　you　whether　I　had　succeeded；〃　Lucien　answered；　〃you　have　been　before　me　in　the　field　of　verse。〃

〃Pshaw！〃　said　the　other；　〃a　few　vaudevilles；　well　enough　in　their　way；　written　to　oblige；　a　song　now　and　again　to　suit　some　occasion；　lines　for　music；　no　good　without　the　music；　and　my　long　Epistle　to　a　Sister　of　Bonaparte　（ungrateful　that　he　was）；　will　not　hand　down　my　name　to　posterity。〃

At　this　moment　Mme。　de　Bargeton　appeared　in　all　the　glory　of　an　elaborate　toilette。　She　wore　a　Jewess'　turban；　enriched　with　an　Eastern　clasp。　The　cameos　on　her　neck　gleamed　through　the　gauze　scarf　gracefully　wound　about　her　shoulders；　the　sleeves　of　her　printed　muslin　dress　were　short　so　as　to　display　a　series　of　bracelets　on　her　shapely　white　arms。　Lucien　was　charmed　with　this　theatrical　style　of　dress。　M。　du　Chatelet　gallantly　plied　the　queen　with　fulsome　compliments；　that　made　her　smile　with　pleasure；　she　was　so　glad　to　be

praised　in　Lucien's　hearing。　But　she　scarcely　gave　her　dear　poet　a　glance；　and　met　Chatelet　with　a　mortifying　civility　that　kept　him　at　a　distance。

By　this　time　the　guests　began　to　arrive。　First　and　foremost　appeared　the　Bishop　and　his　Vicar…General；　dignified　and　reverend　figures　both；　though　no　two　men　could　well　be　more　unlike；　his　lordship　being　tall　and　attenuated；　and　his　acolyte　short　and　fat。　Both　churchmen's　eyes　were　bright；　but　while　the　Bishop　was　pallid；　his　Vicar…General's　countenance　glowed　with　high　health。　Both　were　impassive；　and　gesticulated　but　little；　both　appeared　to　be　prudent　men；　and　their　silence　and　reserve　were　supposed　to　hide　great　intellectual　powers。

Close　upon　the　two　ecclesiastics　followed　Mme。　de　Chandour　and　her　husband；　a　couple　so　extraordinary　that　those　who　are　unfamiliar　with　provincial　life　might　be　tempted　to　think　that　such　persons　are　purely　imaginary。　Amelie　de　Chandour　posed　as　the　rival　queen　of　Angouleme；　her　husband；　M。　de　Chandour；　known　in　the　circle　as　Stanislas；　was　a　ci…devant　young　man；　slim　still　at　five…and…forty；　with　a　countenance　like　a　sieve。　His　cravat　was　always　tied　so　as　to　present　two　menacing　pointsone　spike　reached　the　height　of　his　right　ear；　the　other　pointed　downwards　to　the　red　ribbon　of　his　cross。　His　coat…tails　were　violently　at　strife。　A　cut…away　waistcoat　displayed　the　ample；　swelling　curves　of　a　stiffly…starched　shirt　fastened　by　massive　gold　studs。　His　dress；　in　fact；　was　exaggerated；　till　he　looked　almost　like　a　living