two poets-第23章

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ruin　a　king；　do　you？　Your　name　may　be　David；　but　I　have　not　got　Solomon's　treasury。　Why；　you　are　mad！　or　they　changed　my　child　at　nurse。　There　is　one　for　you　that　will　have　grapes　on　it；〃　he　said；　interrupting　himself　to　point　out　a　shoot。　〃Offspring　of　this　sort　don't　disappoint　their　parents；　you　dung　the　vines；　and　they　repay　you　for　it。　I　sent　you　to　school；　I　spent　any　amount　of　money　to　make　a　scholar　of　you；　I　sent　you　to　the　Didots　to　learn　your　business；　and　all　this　fancy　education　ends　in　a　daughter…in…law　out　of　L'Houmeau　without　a　penny　to　her　name。　If　you　had　not　studied　books；　if　I　had　kept　you　under　my　eye；　you　would　have　done　as　I　pleased；　and　you　would　be　marrying　a　miller's　widow　this　day　with　a　hundred　thousand　francs　in　hand；　to　say　nothing　of　the　mill。　Oh！　your　cleverness　leads　you　to　imagine　that　I　am　going　to　reward　this　fine　sentiment　by　building　palaces　for　you；　does　it？　。　。　。　Really；　anybody　might　think　that　the　house　that　has　been　a　house　these　two　hundred　years　was　nothing　but　a　pigsty；　not　fit　for　the　girl　out　of　L'Houmeau　to　sleep　in！　What　next！　She　is　the　Queen　of　France；　I　suppose。〃

〃Very　well；　father；　I　will　build　the　second　floor　myself；　the　son　will　improve　his　father's　property。　It　is　not　the　usual　way；　but　it　happens　so　sometimes。〃

〃What；　my　lad！　you　can　find　money　for　building；　can　you；　though　you　can't　find　money　to　pay　the　rent；　eh！　You　sly　dog；　to　come　round　your　father。〃

The　question　thus　raised　was　hard　to　lay；　for　the　old　man　was　only　too　delighted　to　seize　an　opportunity　of　posing　as　a　good　father　without　disbursing　a　penny；　and　all　that　David　could　obtain　was　his　bare　consent　to　the　marriage　and　free　leave　to　do　what　he　liked　in　the　houseat　his　own　expense；　the　old　〃bear；〃　that　pattern　of　a　thrifty　parent；　kindly　consenting　not　to　demand　the　rent　and　drain　the　savings　to　which　David　imprudently　owned。　David　went　back　again　in　low　spirits。　He　saw　that　he　could　not　reckon　on　his　father's　help　in　misfortune。



In　Angouleme　that　day　people　talked　of　nothing　but　the　Bishop's　epigram　and　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　reply。　Every　least　thing　that　happened　that　evening　was　so　much　exaggerated　and　embellished　and　twisted　out　of　all　knowledge；　that　the　poet　became　the　hero　of　the　hour。　While　this　storm　in　a　teacup　raged　on　high；　a　few　drops　fell　among　the　bourgeoisie；　young　men　looked　enviously　after　Lucien　as　he　passed　on　his　way　through　Beaulieu；　and　he　overheard　chance　phrases　that　filled　him　with　conceit。

〃There　is　a　lucky　young　fellow！〃　said　an　attorney's　clerk；　named　Petit…Claud；　a　plain…featured　youth　who　had　been　at　school　with　Lucien；　and　treated　him　with　small；　patronizing　airs。

〃Yes；　he　certainly　is；〃　answered　one　of　the　young　men　who　had　been　present　on　the　occasion　of　the　reading；　〃he　is　a　good…looking　fellow；　he　has　some　brains；　and　Mme。　de　Bargeton　is　quite　wild　about　him。〃

Lucien　had　waited　impatiently　until　he　could　be　sure　of　finding　Louise　alone。　He　had　to　break　the　tidings　of　his　sister's　marriage　to　the　arbitress　of　his　destinies。　Perhaps　after　yesterday's　soiree；　Louise　would　be　kinder　than　usual；　and　her　kindness　might　lead　to　a　moment　of　happiness。　So　he　thought；　and　he　was　not　mistaken；　Mme。　de　Bargeton　met　him　with　a　vehemence　of　sentiment　that　seemed　like　a　touching　progress　of　passion　to　the　novice　in　love。　She　abandoned　her　hands；　her　beautiful　golden　hair；　to　the　burning　kisses　of　the　poet　who　had　passed　through　such　an　ordeal。

〃If　only　you　could　have　seen　your　face　whilst　you　were　reading；〃　cried　Louise；　using　the　familiar　tu；　the　caress　of　speech；　since　yesterday；　while　her　white　hands　wiped　the　pearls　of　sweat　from　the　brows　on　which　she　set　a　poet's　crown。　〃There　were　sparks　of　fire　in　those　beautiful　eyes！　From　your　lips；　as　I　watched　them；　there　fell　the　golden　chains　that　suspend　the　hearts　of　men　upon　the　poet's　mouth。　You　shall　read　Chenier　through　to　me　from　beginning　to　end；　he　is　the　lover's　poet。　You　shall　not　be　unhappy　any　longer；　I　will　not　have　it。　Yes；　dear　angel；　I　will　make　an　oasis　for　you；　there　you　shall　live　your　poet's　life；　sometimes　busy；　sometimes　languid；　indolent；　full　of　work；　and　musing　by　turns；　but　never　forget　that　you　owe　your　laurels　to　me；　let　that　thought　be　my　noble　guerdon　for　the　sufferings　which　I　must　endure。　Poor　love！　the　world　will　not　spare　me　any　more　than　it　has　spared　you；　the　world　is　avenged　on　all　happiness　in　which　it　has　no　share。　Yes；　I　shall　always　be　a　mark　for　envydid　you　not　see　that　last　night？　The　bloodthirsty　insects　are　quick　enough　to　drain　every　wound　that　they　pierce。　But　I　was　happy；　I　lived。　It　is　so　long　since　all　my　heartstrings　vibrated。〃

The　tears　flowed　fast；　and　for　all　answer　Lucien　took　Louise's　hand　and　gave　it　a　lingering　kiss。　Every　one　about　him　soothed　and　caressed　the　poet's　vanity；　his　mother　and　his　sister　and　David　and　Louise　now　did　the　same。　Every　one　helped　to　raise　the　imaginary　pedestal　on　which　he　had　set　himself。　His　friends's　kindness　and　the　fury　of　his　enemies　combined　to　establish　him　more　firmly　in　an　ureal　world。　A　young　imagination　readily　falls　in　with　the　flattering　estimates　of　others；　a　handsome　young　fellow　so　full　of　promise　finds　others　eager　to　help　him　on　every　side；　and　only　after　one　or　two　sharp　and　bitter　lessons　does　he　begin　to　see　himself　as　an　ordinary　mortal。

〃My　beautiful　Louise；　do　you　mean　in　very　truth　to　be　my　Beatrice；　a　Beatrice　who　condescends　to　be　loved？〃

Louise　raised　the　fine　eyes；　hitherto　down…dropped。

〃If　you　show　yourself　worthysome　day！〃　she　said；　with　an　angelic　smile　which　belied　her　words。　〃Are　you　not　happy？　To　be　the　sole　possessor　of　a　heart；　to　speak　freely　at　all　times；　with　the　certainty　of　being　understood；　is　not　this　happiness？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　with　a　lover's　pout　of　vexation。

〃Child！〃　she　exclaimed；　laughing　at　him。　〃Come；　you　have　something　to　tell　me；　have　you　not？　You　came　in　absorbed　in　thought；　my　Lucien。〃

Lucien；　in　fear　and　trembling；　confided　to　his　beloved　that　David　was　in　love　with　his　sister　Eve；　and　that　his　sister　Eve　was　in　love　with　David；　and　that　the　two　were　to　be　married　shortly。

〃Poor　Lucien！〃　said　Louise；　〃he　was　afraid　he　should　be　beaten　and　scolded；　as　if　it　was　he　himself　that　was　going　to　be　married！　Why；　where　is　the　harm？〃　she　continued；　her　fingers　toying　with　Lucien's　hair。　〃What　is　your　family　to　me　when　you　are　an　exception？　Suppose　that　my　father　were　to　marry　his　cook；　would　that　trouble　you　much？　Dear　boy；　lovers　are　for　each　other　their　whole　family。　Have　I　a　greater　interest　than　my　Lucien　in　the　world？　Be　great；　find　the　way　to　win　fame；　that　is　our　affair！〃

This　selfish　answer　made　Lucien　the　happiest　of　mortals。　But　in　the　middle　of　the　fantastic　reasonings；　with　which　Louise　convinced　him　that　they　two　were　alone　in　the　world；　in　came　M。　de　Bargeton。　Lucien　frowned　and　seemed　to　be　taken　aback；　but　Louise　made　him　a　sign；　and　asked　him　to　stay　to　dinner　and　to　read　Andre　de　Chenier　aloud　to　them　until　people　arrived　for　their　evening　game　at　cards。

〃You　will　give　her　pleasure；〃　said　M。　de　Bargeton；　〃and　me　also。　Nothing　suits　me　better　than　listening　to　reading　aloud　after　dinner。〃

Cajoled　by　M。　de　Bargeton；　cajoled　by　Louise；　waited　upon　with　the　respect　which　servants　show　to　a　favored　guest　of　the　house；　Lucien　remained　in　the　Hotel　de　Bargeton；　and　began　to　think　of　the　luxuries　which　he　enjoyed　for　the　time　being　as　the　rightful　accessories　of　Lucien　de　Rubempre。　He　felt　his　position　so　strong　through　Louise's　love　and　M。　de　Bargeton's　weakness；　that　as　the　rooms　filled；　he　assumed　a　lordly　air；　which　that　fair　lady　encouraged。　He　tasted　the　delights　of　despotic　sway　which　Nais　had　acquired　by　right　of　conquest；　and　liked　to　share　with　him；　and；　in　short；　that　evening　he　tried　to　act　up　to　the　part　of　the　lion　of　the　little　town。　A　few　of　those　who　marked　these　airs　drew　their　own　conclusions　from　them；　and　thought　that；　according　to　the　old　expression；　he　had　come　to　the　last　term　with　the　lady。　Amelie；　who　had　come　with　M。　du　Chatelet；　was　sure　of　the　deplorable　fact；　in　a　corner　of　the　drawing…room；　where　the　jealous　and　envious　gathered　together。

〃Do　not　think　of　calling　Nais　to　account　for　the　vanity　of　a　youngster；　who　is　as　proud　as　he　can　be　because　he　has　got　into　society；　where　he　never　expected　to　set　foot；〃　said　Chatelet。　〃Don't　you　see　that　this　Chardon　takes　the　civility　of　a　woman　of　the　world　for　an　advance？　He　does　not　know　the　difference　between　the　silence　of　real　passion　and　the　patronizing　graciousness　due　to　his　good　looks　and　youth　and　talent。　It　would　be　too　bad　if　women　were　blamed　for　all　the　desires　which　they　inspire。　HE　certainly　is　in　love　with　her；　but　as　for　Nais〃

〃Oh！　Nais；〃　echoed　the　perfidious　Amelie；　〃Nais　is　well　enough　pleased。　A　young　man's　love　has　so　many　attractionsat　her　age。　A　woman　grows　young　again　in　his　company；　she　is　a　girl；　and　acts　a　girl's　hesitation　and　manners；　and　does　not　dream　that　she　is　ridiculous。　Just　look！　Think　of　a　druggist's　son　giving　himself　a　conqueror's　airs　with　Mme。　de　Bargeton。〃

〃Love　knows　nought　of　high　or　low　degree；〃　hummed　Adrien。

There　was　not　a　single　house　in　Angouleme　next　day　where　the　degree　of　intimacy　between　M。　Chardon　（alias　de　Rubempre）　and　Mme。　de　Bargeton　was　not　discussed；　and　though　the　utmost　extent　of　their　guilt　amounted　to　two　or　three　kisses；　the　world　already　chose　to　believe　the　worst　of　both。　Mme。　de　Bargeton　paid　the　penalty　of　her　sovereignty。　Among　the　various　eccentricities　of　society；　have　you　never　noticed　its　erratic　judgments　and　the　unaccountable　differences　in　the　standard　it　requires　of　this　or　that　man　or　woman？　There　are　some　persons　who　may　do　anything；　they　may　behave　totally　irrationally；　anything　becomes　them；　and　it　is　who　shall　be　first　to　justify　their　conduct；　then；　on　the　other　hand；　there　are　those　on　whom　the　world　is　unaccountably　severe；　they　must　do　everything　well；　they　are　not　allowed　to　fail　nor　to　make　mistakes；　at　their　peril　they　do　anything　foolish；　you　might　compare　these　last　to　the　much…admired　statues　which　must　come　down　at　once　from　their　pedestal　if　the　frost　chips　off　a　nose　or　a　finger。　They　are　not　permitted　to　be　human；　they　are　required　to　be　for　ever　divine　and　for　ever　impeccable。　So　one　glance　exchanged　between　Mme。　de　Bargeton　and　Lucien　outweighed　twelve　years　of　Zizine's　connection　with　Francis　in　the　social　balance；　and　a　squeeze　of　the　hand　drew　down　all　the　thunders　of　the　Charente　upon　the　lovers。

David　had　brought　a　little　secret　hoard　back　with　him　from　Paris；　and　it　was　this　sum　that　he　set　aside　for　the　expenses　of　his　marriage　and　for　the　building　of　the　second　floor　in　his　father's　house。　His　father's　house　it　was；　but；　after　all；　was　he　not　working　for　himself？　It　would　all　be　his　again　some　day；　and　his　father　was　sixty…eight　years　old。　So　David　build　a　timbered　second　story　for　Lucien；　so　as　not　to　put　too　great　a　strain　on　the　old　rifted　house…walls。　He　took　pleasure　in　making　the　rooms　where　the　fair　Eve　was　to　spend　her　life　as　brave　as　might　be。

It　was　a　time　of　blithe　and　unmixed　happiness　for　the　friends。　Lucien　was　tired　of　the　shabbiness　of　provincial　life；　and　weary　of　the　sordid　frugality　that　looked　on　a　five…franc　piece　as　a　fortune；　but　he　bo