two poets-第22章

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〃I　do　not　know　whether　you　have　found　the　evening　pleasant；〃　said　he；　〃it　has　been　a　cruel　time　for　me。〃

〃Poor　Lucien！　what　can　have　happened？〃　cried　Eve；　as　she　saw　her　brother's　excited　face。

The　poet　told　the　history　of　his　agony；　pouring　out　a　flood　of　clamorous　thoughts　into　those　friendly　hearts；　Eve　and　David　listening　in　pained　silence　to　a　torrent　of　woes　that　exhibited　such　greatness　and　such　pettiness。

〃M。　de　Bargeton　is　an　old　dotard。　The　indigestion　will　carry　him　off　before　long；　no　doubt；〃　Lucien　said；　as　he　made　an　end；　〃and　then　I　will　look　down　on　these　proud　people；　I　will　marry　Mme。　de　Bargeton。　I　read　to…night　in　her　eyes　a　love　as　great　as　mine　for　her。　Yes；　she　felt　all　that　I　felt；　she　comforted　me；　she　is　as　great　and　noble　as　she　is　gracious　and　beautiful。　She　will　never　give　me　up。〃

〃It　is　time　that　life　was　made　smooth　for　him；　is　it　not？〃　murmured　David；　and　for　answer　Eve　pressed　his　arm　without　speaking。　David　guessed　her　thoughts；　and　began　at　once　to　tell　Lucien　about　his　own　plans。

If　Lucien　was　full　of　his　troubles；　the　lovers　were　quite　as　full　of　themselves。　So　absorbed　were　they；　so　eager　that　Lucien　should　approve　their　happiness；　that　neither　Eve　nor　David　so　much　as　noticed　his　start　of　surprise　at　the　news。　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　lover　had　been　dreaming　of　a　great　match　for　his　sister；　he　would　reach　a　high　position　first；　and　then　secure　himself　by　an　alliance　with　some　family　of　influence；　and　here　was　one　more　obstacle　in　his　way　to　success！　His　hopes　were　dashed　to　the　ground。　〃If　Mme。　de　Bargeton　consents　to　be　Mme。　de　Rubempre；　she　would　never　care　to　have　David　Sechard　for　a　brother…in…law！〃

This　stated　clearly　and　precisely　was　the　thought　that　tortured　Lucien's　inmost　mind。　〃Louise　is　right！〃　he　thought　bitterly。　〃A　man　with　a　career　before　him　is　never　understood　by　his　family。〃

If　the　marriage　had　not　been　announced　immediately　after　Lucien's　fancy　had　put　M。　de　Bargeton　to　death；　he　would　have　been　radiant　with　heartfelt　delight　at　the　news。　If　he　had　thought　soberly　over　the　probable　future　of　a　beautiful　and　penniless　girl　like　Eve　Chardon；　he　would　have　seen　that　this　marriage　was　a　piece　of　unhoped…for　good　fortune。　But　he　was　living　just　now　in　a　golden　dream；　he　had　soared　above　all　barriers　on　the　wigs　of　an　IF；　he　had　seen　a　vision　of　himself；　rising　above　society；　and　it　was　painful　to　drop　so　suddenly　down　to　hard　fact。

Eve　and　David　both　thought　that　their　brother　was　overcome　with　the　sense　of　such　generosity；　to　them；　with　their　noble　natures；　the　silent　consent　was　a　sign　of　true　friendship。　David　began　to　describe　with　kindly　and　cordial　eloquence　the　happy　fortunes　in　store　for　them　all。　Unchecked　by　protests　put　in　by　Eve；　he　furnished　his　first　floor　with　a　lover's　lavishness；　built　a　second　floor　with　boyish　good　faith　for　Lucien；　and　rooms　above　the　shed　for　Mme。　Chardonhe　meant　to　be　a　son　to　her。　In　short；　he　made　the　whole　family　so　happy　and　his　brother…in…law　so　independent；　that　Lucien　fell　under　the　spell　of　David's　voice　and　Eve's　caresses；　and　as　they　went　through　the　shadows　beside　the　still　Charente；　a　gleam　in　the　warm；　star…lit　night；　he　forgot　the　sharp　crown　of　thorns　that　had　been　pressed　upon　his　head。　〃M。　de　Rubempre〃　discovered　David's　real　nature；　in　fact。　His　facile　character　returned　almost　at　once　to　the　innocent；　hard…working　burgher　life　that　he　knew；　he　saw　it　transfigured　and　free　from　care。　The　buzz　of　the　aristocratic　world　grew　more　and　more　remote；　and　when　at　length　they　came　upon　the　paved　road　of　L'Houmeau；　the　ambitious　poet　grasped　his　brother's　hand；　and　made　a　third　in　the　joy　of　the　happy　lovers。

〃If　only　your　father　makes　no　objection　to　the　marriage；〃　he　said。

〃You　know　how　much　he　troubles　himself　about　me；　the　old　man　lives　for　himself；〃　said　David。　〃But　I　will　go　over　to　Marsac　to…morrow　and　see　him；　if　it　is　only　to　ask　leave　to　build。〃

David　went　back　to　the　house　with　the　brother　and　sister；　and　asked　Mme。　Chardon's　consent　to　his　marriage　with　the　eagerness　of　a　man　who　would　fain　have　no　delay。　Eve's　mother　took　her　daughter's　hand；　and　gladly　laid　it　in　David's；　and　the　lover；　grown　bolder　on　this；　kissed　his　fair　betrothed　on　the　forehead；　and　she　flushed　red；　and　smiled　at　him。

〃The　betrothal　of　the　poor；〃　the　mother　said；　raising　her　eyes　as　if　to　pray　for　heaven's　blessing　upon　them。〃You　are　brave；　my　boy；〃　she　added；　looking　at　David；　〃but　we　have　fallen　on　evil　fortune；　and　I　am　afraid　lest　our　bad　luck　should　be　infectious。〃

〃We　shall　be　rich　and　happy；〃　David　said　earnestly。　〃To　begin　with；　you　must　not　go　out　nursing　any　more；　and　you　must　come　and　live　with　your　daughter　and　Lucien　in　Angouleme。〃

The　three　began　at　once　to　tell　the　astonished　mother　all　their　charming　plans；　and　the　family　party　gave　themselves　up　to　the　pleasure　of　chatting　and　weaving　a　romance；　in　which　it　is　so　pleasant　to　enjoy　future　happiness；　and　to　store　the　unsown　harvest。　They　had　to　put　David　out　at　the　door；　he　could　have　wished　the　evening　to　last　for　ever；　and　it　was　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　Lucien　and　his　future　brother…in…law　reached　the　Palet　Gate。　The　unwonted　movement　made　honest　Postel　uneasy；　he　opened　the　window；　and　looking　through　the　Venetian　shutters；　he　saw　a　light　in　Eve's　room。

〃What　can　be　happening　at　the　Chardons'？〃　thought　he；　and　seeing　Lucien　come　in；　he　called　out　to　him

〃What　is　the　matter；　sonny？　Do　you　want　me　to　do　anything？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　returned　the　poet；　〃but　as　you　are　our　friend；　I　can　tell　you　about　it；　my　mother　has　just　given　her　consent　to　my　sister's　engagement　to　David　Sechard。〃

For　all　answer；　Postel　shut　the　window　with　a　bang；　in　despair　that　he　had　not　asked　for　Mlle。　Chardon　earlier。

David；　however；　did　not　go　back　into　Angouleme；　he　took　the　road　to　Marsac　instead；　and　walked　through　the　night　the　whole　way　to　his　father's　house。　He　went　along　by　the　side　of　the　croft　just　as　the　sun　rose；　and　caught　sight　of　the　old　〃bear's〃　face　under　an　almond…tree　that　grew　out　of　the　hedge。

〃Good　day；　father；〃　called　David。

〃Why；　is　it　you；　my　boy？　How　come　you　to　be　out　on　the　road　at　this　time　of　day？　There　is　your　way　in；〃　he　added；　pointing　to　a　little　wicket　gate。　〃My　vines　have　flowered　and　not　a　shoot　has　been　frosted。　There　will　be　twenty　puncheons　or　more　to　the　acre　this　year；　but　then　look　at　all　the　dung　that　has　been　put　on　the　land！〃

〃Father；　I　have　come　on　important　business。〃

〃Very　well；　how　are　your　presses　doing？　You　must　be　making　heaps　of　money　as　big　as　yourself。〃

〃I　shall　some　day；　father；　but　I　am　not　very　well　off　just　now。〃

〃They　all　tell　me　that　I　ought　not　to　put　on　so　much　manure；〃　replied　his　father。　〃The　gentry；　that　is　M。　le　Marquis；　M。　le　Comte；　and　Monsieur　What…do…you…call…'em；　say　that　I　am　letting　down　the　quality　of　the　wine。　What　is　the　good　of　book…learning　except　to　muddle　your　wits？　Just　you　listen：　these　gentlemen　get　seven；　or　sometimes　eight　puncheons　of　wine　to　the　acre；　and　they　sell　them　for　sixty　francs　apiece；　that　means　four　hundred　francs　per　acre　at　most　in　a　good　year。　Now；　I　make　twenty　puncheons；　and　get　thirty　francs　apiece　for　themthat　is　six　hundred　francs！　And　where　are　they；　the　fools？　Quality；　quality；　what　is　quality　to　me？　They　can　keep　their　quality　for　themselves；　these　Lord　Marquises。　Quality　means　hard　cash　for　me；　that　is　what　it　means；　You　were　saying？〃

〃I　am　going　to　be　married；　father；　and　I　have　come　to　ask　for〃

〃Ask　me　for　what？　Nothing　of　the　sort；　my　boy。　Marry；　I　give　you　my　consent；　but　as　for　giving　you　anything　else；　I　haven't　a　penny　to　bless　myself　with。　Dressing　the　soil　is　the　ruin　of　me。　These　two　years　I　have　been　paying　money　out　of　pocket　for　top…dressing；　and　taxes；　and　expenses　of　all　kinds；　Government　eats　up　everything；　nearly　all　the　profit　goes　to　the　Government。　The　poor　growers　have　made　nothing　these　last　two　seasons。　This　year　things　don't　look　so　bad；　and；　of　course；　the　beggarly　puncheons　have　gone　up　to　eleven　francs　already。　We　work　to　put　money　into　the　coopers'　pockets。　Why；　are　you　going　to　marry　before　the　vintage？〃

〃I　only　came　to　ask　for　your　consent；　father。〃

〃Oh！　that　is　another　thing。　And　who　is　the　victim；　if　one　may　ask？〃

〃I　am　going　to　marry　Mlle。　Eve　Chardon。〃

〃Who　may　she　be？　What　kind　of　victual　does　she　eat？〃

〃She　is　the　daughter　of　the　late　M。　Chardon；　the　druggist　in　L'Houmeau。〃

〃You　are　going　to　marry　a　girl　out　of　L'Houmeau！　YOU！　a　burgess　of　Angouleme；　and　printer　to　His　Majesty！　This　is　what　comes　of　book…　learning！　Send　a　boy　to　school；　forsooth！　Oh！　well；　then　she　is　very　rich；　is　she；　my　boy？〃　and　the　old　vinegrower　came　up　closer　with　a　cajoling　manner；　〃if　you　are　marrying　a　girl　out　of　L'Houmeau；　it　must　be　because　she　has　lots　of　cash；　eh？　Good！　you　will　pay　me　my　rent　now。　There　are　two　years　and　one…quarter　owing；　you　know；　my　boy；　that　is　two　thousand　seven　hundred　francs　altogether；　the　money　will　come　just　in　the　nick　of　time　to　pay　the　cooper。　If　it　was　anybody　else；　I　should　have　a　right　to　ask　for　interest；　for；　after　all；　business　is　business；　but　I　will　let　you　off　the　interest。　Well；　how　much　has　she？〃

〃Just　as　much　as　my　mother　had。〃

The　old　vinegrower　very　nearly　said；　〃Then　she　has　only　ten　thousand　francs！〃　but　he　recollected　just　in　time　that　he　had　declined　to　give　an　account　of　her　fortune　to　her　son；　and　exclaimed；　〃She　has　nothing！〃

〃My　mother's　fortune　was　her　beauty　and　intelligence；〃　said　David。

〃You　just　go　into　the　market　and　see　what　you　can　get　for　it！　Bless　my　buttons！　what　bad　luck　parents　have　with　their　children。　David；　when　I　married；　I　had　a　paper　cap　on　my　head　for　my　whole　fortune；　and　a　pair　of　arms；　I　was　a　poor　pressman；　but　with　the　fine　printing…house　that　I　gave　you；　with　your　industry；　and　your　education；　you　might　marry　a　burgess'　daughter；　a　woman　with　thirty　or　forty　thousand　francs。　Give　up　your　fancy；　and　I　will　find　you　a　wife　myself。　There　is　some　one　about　three　miles　away；　a　miller's　widow；　thirty…two　years　old；　with　a　hundred　thousand　francs　in　land。　There　is　your　chance！　You　can　add　her　property　to　Marsac；　for　they　touch。　Ah！　what　a　fine　property　we　should　have；　and　how　I　would　look　after　it！　They　say　she　is　going　to　marry　her　foreman　Courtois；　but　you　are　the　better　man　of　the　two。　I　would　look　after　the　mill；　and　she　should　live　like　a　lady　up　in　Angouleme。〃

〃I　am　engaged；　father。〃

〃David；　you　know　nothing　of　business；　you　will　ruin　yourself；　I　see。　Yes；　if　you　marry　this　girl　out　of　L'Houmeau；　I　shall　square　accounts　and　summons　you　for　the　rent；　for　I　see　that　no　good　will　come　of　this。　Oh！　my　presses；　my　poor　presses！　it　took　some　money　to　grease　you　and　keep　you　going。　Nothing　but　a　good　year　can　comfort　me　after　this。〃

〃It　seems　to　me；　father；　that　until　now　I　have　given　you　very　little　trouble〃

〃And　paid　mighty　little　rent；〃　put　in　his　parent。

〃I　came　to　ask　you　something　else　besides。　Will　you　build　a　second　floor　to　your　house；　and　some　rooms　above　the　shed？〃

〃Deuce　a　bit　of　it；　I　have　not　the　cash；　and　that　you　know　right　well。　Besides；　it　would　be　money　thrown　clean　away；　for　what　would　it　bring　in？　Oh！　you　get　up　early　of　a　morning　to　come　and　ask　me　to　build　you　a　place　that　would　r