two poets-第27章

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e　knows　better　than　we　do　how　I　should　act　in　the　present　state　of　things。〃

〃Then　is　everything　ready　here？〃　asked　Mme。　Chardon。

〃Come　and　see；〃　cried　David；　delighted　to　exhibit　the　transformation　of　the　first　floor。　Everything　there　was　new　and　fresh；　everything　was　pervaded　by　the　sweet　influences　of　early　married　days；　still　crowned　by　the　wreath　of　orange　blossoms　and　the　bridal　veil；　days　when　the　springtide　of　love　finds　its　reflection　in　material　things；　and　everything　is　white　and　spotless　and　has　not　lost　its　bloom。

〃Eve's　home　will　be　fit　for　a　princess；〃　said　the　mother；　〃but　you　have　spent　too　much；　you　have　been　reckless。〃

David　smiled　by　way　of　answer。　But　Mme。　Chardon　had　touched　the　sore　spot　in　a　hidden　wound　which　caused　the　poor　lover　cruel　pangs。　The　cost　of　carrying　out　his　ideas　had　far　exceeded　his　estimates；　he　could　not　afford　to　build　above　the　shed。　His　mother…in…law　must　wait　awhile　for　the　home　he　had　meant　to　make　for　her。　There　is　nothing　more　keenly　painful　to　a　generous　nature　than　a　failure　to　keep　such　promises　as　these；　it　is　like　mortification　to　the　little　vanities　of　affection；　as　they　may　be　styled。　David　sedulously　hid　his　embarrassment　to　spare　Lucien；　he　was　afraid　that　Lucien　might　be　overwhelmed　by　the　sacrifices　made　for　his　sake。

〃Eve　and　her　girl　friends　have　been　working　very　hard；　too；〃　said　Mme。　Chardon。　〃The　wedding　clothes　and　the　house　linen　are　all　ready。　The　girls　are　so　fond　of　her；　that；　without　letting　her　know　about　it；　they　have　covered　the　mattresses　with　white　twill　and　a　rose…colored　piping　at　the　edges。　So　pretty！　It　makes　one　wish　one　were　going　to　be　married。〃

Mother　and　daughter　had　spent　all　their　little　savings　to　furnish　David's　home　with　the　things　of　which　a　young　bachelor　never　thinks。　They　knew　that　he　was　furnishing　with　great　splendor；　for　something　had　been　said　about　ordering　a　dinner…service　from　Limoges；　and　the　two　women　had　striven　to　make　Eve's　contributions　to　the　housekeeping　worthy　of　David's。　This　little　emulation　in　love　and　generosity　could　but　bring　the　husband　and　wife　into　difficulties　at　the　very　outset　of　their　married　life；　with　every　sign　of　homely　comfort　about　them；　comfort　that　might　be　regarded　as　positive　luxury　in　a　place　so　behind　the　times　as　the　Angouleme　of　those　days。

As　soon　as　Lucien　saw　his　mother　and　David　enter　the　bedroom　with　the　blue…and…white　draperies　and　neat　furniture　that　he　knew；　he　slipped　away　to　Mme。　de　Bargeton。　He　found　Nais　at　table　with　her　husband；　M。　de　Bargeton's　early　morning　walk　had　sharpened　his　appetite；　and　he　was　breakfasting　quite　unconcernedly　after　all　that　had　passed。　Lucien　saw　the　dignified　face　of　M。　de　Negrepelisse；　the　old　provincial　noble；　a　relic　of　the　old　French　noblesse；　sitting　beside　Nais。

When　Gentil　announced　M。　de　Rubempre；　the　white…headed　old　man　gave　him　a　keen；　curious　glance；　the　father　was　anxious　to　form　his　own　opinions　of　this　man　whom　his　daughter　had　singled　out　for　notice。　Lucien's　extreme　beauty　made　such　a　vivid　impression　upon　him；　that　he　could　not　repress　an　approving　glance；　but　at　the　same　time　he　seemed　to　regard　the　affair　as　a　flirtation；　a　mere　passing　fancy　on　his　daughter's　part。　Breakfast　over；　Louise　could　leave　her　father　and　M。　de　Bargeton　together；　she　beckoned　Lucien　to　follow　her　as　she　withdrew。

〃Dear；〃　she　said；　and　the　tones　of　her　voice　were　half　glad；　half　melancholy；　〃I　am　going　to　Paris；　and　my　father　is　taking　Bargeton　back　with　him　to　the　Escarbas；　where　he　will　stay　during　my　absence。　Mme。　d'Espard　（she　was　a　Blamont…Chauvry　before　her　marriage）　has　great　influence　herself；　and　influential　relations。　The　d'Espards　are　connections　of　ours；　they　are　the　older　branch　of　the　Negrepelisses；　and　if　she　vouchsafes　to　acknowledge　the　relationship；　I　intend　to　cultivate　her　a　good　deal；　she　may　perhaps　procure　a　place　for　Bargeton。　At　my　solicitation；　it　might　be　desired　at　Court　that　he　should　represent　the　Charente；　and　that　would　be　a　step　towards　his　election　here。　If　he　were　a　deputy；　it　would　further　other　steps　that　I　wish　to　take　in　Paris。　You；　my　darling；　have　brought　about　this　change　in　my　life。　After　this　morning's　duel；　I　am　obliged　to　shut　up　my　house　for　some　time；　for　there　will　be　people　who　will　side　with　the　Chandours　against　us。　In　our　position；　and　in　a　small　town；　absence　is　the　only　way　of　softening　down　bad　feeling。　But　I　shall　either　succeed；　and　never　see　Angouleme　again；　or　I　shall　not　succeed；　and　then　I　mean　to　wait　in　Paris　until　the　time　comes　when　I　can　spend　my　summers　at　the　Escarbas　and　the　winters　in　Paris。　It　is　the　only　life　for　a　woman　of　quality；　and　I　have　waited　too　long　before　entering　upon　it。　The　one　day　will　be　enough　for　our　preparations；　to…morrow　night　I　shall　set　out；　and　you　are　coming　with　me；　are　you　not？　You　shall　start　first。　I　will　overtake　you　between　Mansle　and　Ruffec；　and　we　shall　soon　be　in　Paris。　There；　beloved；　is　the　life　for　a　man　who　has　anything　in　him。　We　are　only　at　our　ease　among　our　equals；　we　are　uncomfortable　in　any　other　society。　Paris；　besides；　is　the　capital　of　the　intellectual　world；　the　stage　on　which　you　will　succeed；　overleap　the　gulf　that　separates　us　quickly。　You　must　not　allow　your　ideas　to　grow　rancid　in　the　provinces；　put　yourself　into　communication　at　once　with　the　great　men　who　represent　the　nineteenth　century。　Try　to　stand　well　with　the　Court　and　with　those　in　power。　No　honor；　no　distinction；　comes　to　seek　out　the　talent　that　perishes　for　lack　of　light　in　a　little　town；　tell　me；　if　you　can；　the　name　of　any　great　work　of　art　executed　in　the　provinces！　On　the　contrary；　see　how　Jean…Jacques；　himself　sublime　in　his　poverty；　felt　the　irresistible　attraction　of　that　sun　of　the　intellectual　world；　which　produces　ever…　new　glories　and　stimulates　the　intellectParis；　where　men　rub　against　one　another。　What　is　it　but　your　duty　to　hasten　to　take　your　place　in　the　succession　of　pleiades　that　rise　from　generation　to　generation？　You　have　no　idea　how　it　contributes　to　the　success　of　a　clever　young　man　to　be　brought　into　a　high　light；　socially　speaking。　I　will　introduce　you　to　Mme。　d'Espard；　it　is　not　easy　to　get　into　her　set；　but　you　meet　all　the　greatest　people　at　her　house；　Cabinet　ministers　and　ambassadors；　and　great　orators　from　the　Chamber　of　Deputies；　and　peers　and　men　of　influence；　and　wealthy　or　famous　people。　A　young　man　with　good　looks　and　more　than　sufficient　genius　could　fail　to　excite　interest　only　by　very　bad　management。

〃There　is　no　pettiness　about　those　who　are　truly　great；　they　will　lend　you　their　support；　and　when　you　yourself　have　a　high　position；　your　work　will　rise　immensely　in　public　opinion。　The　great　problem　for　the　artist　is　the　problem　of　putting　himself　in　evidence。　In　these　ways　there　will　be　hundreds　of　chances　of　making　your　way；　of　sinecures；　of　a　pension　from　the　civil　list。　The　Bourbons　are　so　fond　of　encouraging　letters　and　the　arts；　and　you　therefore　must　be　a　religious　poet　and　a　Royalist　poet　at　the　same　time。　Not　only　is　it　the　right　course；　but　it　is　the　way　to　get　on　in　life。　Do　the　Liberals　and　the　Opposition　give　places　and　rewards；　and　make　the　fortunes　of　men　of　letters？　Take　the　right　road　and　reach　the　goal　of　genius。　You　have　my　secret；　do　not　breathe　a　syllable　of　it；　and　prepare　to　follow　me。Would　you　rather　not　go？〃　she　added；　surprised　that　her　lover　made　no　answer。

To　Lucien；　listening　to　the　alluring　words；　and　bewildered　by　the　rapid　bird's…eye　view　of　Paris　which　they　brought　before　him；　it　seemed　as　if　hitherto　he　had　been　using　only　half　his　brain　and　suddenly　had　found　the　other　half；　so　swiftly　his　ideas　widened。　He　saw　himself　stagnating　in　Angouleme　like　a　frog　under　a　stone　in　a　marsh。　Paris　and　her　splendors　rose　before　him；　Paris；　the　Eldorado　of　provincial　imaginings；　with　golden　robes　and　the　royal　diadem　about　her　brows；　and　arms　outstretched　to　talent　of　every　kind。　Great　men　would　greet　him　there　as　one　of　their　order。　Everything　smiled　upon　genius。　There；　there　were　no　jealous　booby…squires　to　invent　stinging　gibes　and　humiliate　a　man　of　letters；　there　was　no　stupid　indifference　to　poetry　in　Paris。　Paris　was　the　fountain…head　of　poetry；　there　the　poet　was　brought　into　the　light　and　paid　for　his　work。　Publishers　should　no　sooner　read　the　opening　pages　of　An　Archer　of　Charles　IX。　than　they　should　open　their　cash…boxes　with　〃How　much　do　you　want？〃　And　besides　all　this；　he　understood　that　this　journey　with　Mme。　de　Bargeton　would　virtually　give　her　to　him；　that　they　should　live　together。

So　at　the　words；　〃Would　you　rather　not　go？〃　tears　came　into　his　eyes；　he　flung　his　arms　about　Louise；　held　her　tightly　to　his　heart；　and　marbled　her　throat　with　impassioned　kisses。　Suddenly　he　checked　himself；　as　if　memory　had　dealt　him　a　blow。

〃Great　heavens！〃　he　cried；　〃my　sister　is　to　be　married　on　the　day　after　to…morrow！〃



That　exclamation　was　the　last　expiring　cry　of　noble　and　single…hearted　boyhood。　The　so…powerful　ties　that　bind　young　hearts　to　home；　and　a　first　friendship；　and　all　early　affections；　were　to　be　severed　at　one　ruthless　blow。

〃Well；〃　cried　the　haughty　Negrepelisse；　〃and　what　has　your　sister's　marriage　to　do　with　the　progress　of　our　love？　Have　you　set　your　mind　so　much　on　being　best　man　at　a　wedding　party　of　tradespeople　and　workingmen；　that　you　cannot　give　up　these　exalted　joys　for　my　sake？　A　great　sacrifice；　indeed！〃　she　went　on；　scornfully。　〃This　morning　I　sent　my　husband　out　to　fight　in　your　quarrel。　There；　sir；　go；　I　am　mistaken　in　you。〃

She　sank　fainting　upon　the　sofa。　Lucien　went　to　her；　entreating　her　pardon；　calling　execrations　upon　his　family；　his　sister；　and　David。

〃I　had　such　faith　in　you！〃　she　said。　〃M。　de　Cante…Croix　had　an　adored　mother；　but　to　win　a　letter　from　me；　and　the　words；　'I　am　satisfied；'　he　fell　in　the　thick　of　the　fight。　And　now；　when　I　ask　you　to　take　a　journey　with　me；　you　cannot　think　of　giving　up　a　wedding　dinner　for　my　sake。〃

Lucien　was　ready　to　kill　himself；　his　desperation　was　so　unfeigned；　that　Louise　forgave　him；　though　at　the　same　time　she　made　him　feel　that　he　must　redeem　his　mistake。

〃Come；　come；〃　she　said；　〃be　discreet；　and　to…morrow　at　midnight　be　upon　the　road；　a　hundred　paces　out　of　Mansle。〃

Lucien　felt　the　globe　shrink　under　his　feet；　he　went　back　to　David's　house；　hopes　pursuing　him　as　the　Furies　followed　Orestes；　for　he　had　glimmerings　of　endless　difficulties；　all　summed　up　in　the　appalling　words；　〃Where　is　the　money　to　come　from？〃

He　stood　in　such　terror　of　David's　perspicacity；　that　he　locked　himself　into　his　pretty　new　study　until　he　could　recover　himself；　his　head　was　swimming　in　this　new　position。　So　he　must　leave　the　rooms　just　furnished　for　him　at　such　a　cost；　and　all　the　sacrifices　that　had　been　made　for　him　had　been　made　in　vain。　Then　it　occurred　to　Lucien　that　his　mother　might　take　the　rooms　and　save　David　the　heavy　expense　of　building　at　the　end　of　the　yard；　as　he　had　meant　to　do；　his　departure　would　be；　in　fact；　a　convenience　to　the　family。　He　discovered　any　quantity　of　urgent　reasons　for　his　sudden　flight；　for　there　is　no　such　Jesuit　as　the　desire　of　your　heart。　He　hurried　down　at　once　to　tell　the　news　to　his　sister　in　L'Houmeau　and　to　take　counsel　with　her。　As　he　reached　Postel's　shop；　he　bethough