ursula-第22章
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〃I am too much of the old school； madame；〃 interrupted the doctor；
〃not to know what a man owes to a woman of your rank； and I am very
glad to be able； as Monsieur l'abbe tells me； to be of service to
you。〃
Madame de Portenduere； who disliked the step the abbe had advised so
much that she had almost decided； after he left her； to apply to the
notary instead； was surprised by Minoret's attention to such a degree
that she rose to receive him and signed to him to take a chair。
〃Be seated； monsieur；〃 she said with a regal air。 〃Our dear abbe has
told you that the viscount is in prison on account of some youthful
debts；a hundred thousand francs or so。 If you could lend them to him
I would secure you on my farm at Bordieres。〃
〃We will talk of that； madame； when I have brought your son back to
youif you will allow me to be your emissary in the matter。〃
〃Very good； monsieur；〃 she said； bowing her head and looking at the
abbe as if to say； 〃You were right； he really is a man of good
society。〃
〃You see； madame；〃 said the abbe； 〃that my friend the doctor is full
of devotion to your family。〃
〃We shall be grateful； monsieur；〃 said Madame de Portenduere； making a
visible effort； 〃a journey to Paris； at your age； in quest of a
prodigal； is〃
〃Madame； I had the honor to meet； in '65； the illustrious Admiral de
Portenduere in the house of that excellent Monsieur de Malesherbes；
and also in that of Monsieur le Comte de Buffon； who was anxious to
question him on some curious results of his voyages。 Possibly Monsieur
de Portenduere； your late husband； was present。 Those were the
glorious days of the French navy； it bore comparison with that of
Great Britain； and its officers had their full quota of courage。 With
what impatience we awaited in '83 and '84 the news from St。 Roch。 I
came very near serving as surgeon in the king's service。 Your great…
uncle； who is still living； Admiral Kergarouet； fought his splendid
battle at that time in the 'Belle…Poule。'〃
〃Ah！ if he did but know his great…nephew is in prison！〃
〃He would not leave him there a day；〃 said old Minoret； rising。
He held out his hand to take that of the old lady； which she allowed
him to do； then he kissed it respectfully； bowed profoundly； and left
the room； but returned immediately to say：
〃My dear abbe； may I ask you to engage a place in the diligence for me
to…morrow？〃
The abbe stayed behind for half an hour to sing the praises of his
friend； who meant to win and had succeeded in winning the good graces
of the old lady。
〃He is an astonishing man for his age；〃 she said。 〃He talks of going
to Paris and attending to my son's affairs as if he were only twenty…
five。 He has certainly seen good society。〃
〃The very best； madame； and to…day more than one son of a peer of
France would be glad to marry his goddaughter with a million。 Ah！ if
that idea should come into Savinien's head！times are so changed that
the objections would not come from your side； especially after his
late conduct〃
The amazement into which the speech threw the old lady alone enabled
him to finish it。
〃You have lost your senses；〃 she said at last。
〃Think it over； madame； God grant that your son may conduct himself in
future in a manner to win that old man's respect。〃
〃If it were not you； Monsieur l'abbe；〃 said Madame de Portenduere； 〃if
it were any one else who spoke to me in that way〃
〃You would not see him again；〃 said the abbe； smiling。 〃Let us hope
that your dear son will enlighten you as to what occurs in Paris in
these days as to marriages。 You will think only of Savinien's good； as
you really have helped to compromise his future you will not stand in
the way of his making himself another position。〃
〃And it is you who say that to me？〃
〃If I did not say it to you； who would？〃 cried the abbe rising and
making a hasty retreat。
As he left the house he saw Ursula and her godfather standing in their
courtyard。 The weak doctor had been so entreated by Ursula that he had
just yielded to her。 She wanted to go with him to Paris； and gave a
thousand reasons。 He called to the abbe and begged him to engage the
whole coupe for him that very evening if the booking…office were still
open。
The next day at half…past six o'clock the old man and the young girl
reached Paris； and the doctor went at once to consult his notary。
Political events were then very threatening。 Monsieur Bongrand had
remarked in the course of the preceding evening that a man must be a
fool to keep a penny in the public funds so long as the quarrel
between the press and the court was not made up。 Minoret's notary now
indirectly approved of this opinion。 The doctor therefore took
advantage of his journey to sell out his manufacturing stocks and his
shares in the Funds； all of which were then at a high value；
depositing the proceeds in the Bank of France。 The notary also advised
his client to sell the stocks left to Ursula by Monsieur de Jordy。 He
promised to employ an extremely clever broker to treat with Savinien's
creditors； but said that in order to succeed it would be necessary for
the young man to stay several days longer in prison。
〃Haste in such matters always means the loss of at least fifteen per
cent；〃 said the notary。 〃Besides； you can't get your money under seven
or eight days。〃
When Ursula heard that Savinien would have to say at least a week
longer in jail she begged her godfather to let her go there； if only
once。 Old Minoret refused。 The uncle and niece were staying at a hotel
in the Rue Croix des Petits…Champs where the doctor had taken a very
suitable apartment。 Knowing the scrupulous honor and propriety of his
goddaughter he made her promise not to go out while he was away； at
other times he took her to see the arcades； the shops； the boulevards；
but nothing seemed to amuse or interest her。
〃What do you want to do？〃 asked the old man。
〃See Saint…Pelagie；〃 she answered obstinately。
Minoret called a hackney…coach and took her to the Rue de la Clef；
where the carriage drew up before the shabby front of an old convent
then transformed into a prison。 The sight of those high gray walls；
with every window barred； of the wicket through which none can enter
without stooping （horrible lesson！）； of the whole gloomy structure in
a quarter full of wretchedness； where it rises amid squalid streets
like a supreme misery；this assemblage of dismal things so oppressed
Ursula's heart that she burst into tears。
〃Oh！〃 she said； 〃to imprison young men in this dreadful place for
money！ How can a debt to a money…lender have a power the king has not？
HE there！〃 she cried。 〃Where； godfather？〃 she added； looking from
window to window。
〃Ursula；〃 said the old man； 〃you are making me commit great follies。
This is not forgetting him as you promised。〃
〃But；〃 she argued； 〃if I must renounce him must I also cease to feel
an interest in him？ I can love him and not marry at all。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried the doctor； 〃there is so much reason in your
unreasonableness that I am sorry I brought you。〃
Three days later the worthy man had all the receipts signed； and the
legal papers ready for Savinien's release。 The payings； including the
notaries' fees； amounted to eighty thousand francs。 The doctor went
himself to see Savinien released on Saturday at two o'clock。 The young
viscount； already informed of what had happened by his mother； thanked
his liberator with sincere warmth of heart。
〃You must return at once to see your mother；〃 the old doctor said to
him。
Savinien answered in a sort of confusion that he had contracted
certain debts of honor while in prison； and related the visit of his
friends。
〃I suspected there was some personal debt；〃 cried the doctor； smiling。
〃Your mother borrowed a hundred thousand francs of me； but I have paid
out only eighty thousand。 Here is the rest； be careful how you spend
it； monsieur； consider what you have left of it as your stake on the
green cloth of fortune。〃
During the last eight days Savinien had made many reflections on the
present conditions of life。 Competition in everything necessitated
hard work on the part of whoever sought a fortune。 Illegal methods and
underhand dealing demanded more talent than open efforts in face of
day。 Success in society； far from giving a man position； wasted his
time and required an immense deal of money。 The name of Portenduere；
which his mother considered all…powerful； had no power at all in
Paris。 His cousin the deputy； Comte de Portenduere； cut a very poor
figure in the Elective Chamber in presence of the peerage and the
court； and had none too much credit personally。 Admiral Kergarouet
existed only as the husband of his wife。 Savinien admitted to himself
that he had seen orators； men from the middle classes； or lesser
noblemen； become influential personages。 Money was the pivot； the sole
means； the only mechanism of a society which Louis XVIII。 had tried to
create in the likeness of that of England。
On his way from the Rue de la Clef to the Rue Croix des Petits…Champs
the young gentleman divulged the upshot of these meditations （which
were certainly in keeping with de Marsay's advice） to the old doctor。
〃I ought；〃 he said； 〃to go into oblivion for three or four years and
seek a career。 Perhaps I could make myself a name by writing a book on
statesmanship or morals； or a treatise on some of the great questions
of the day。 While I am looking out for a marriage with some young lady
who could make me eligible to the Chamber； I will work hard in silence
and in obscurity。〃
Studying the young fellow's face with a keen eye； the doctor saw the
serious purpose of a wounded man who was anxious to vindicate himself。
He therefore cordially approved of the scheme。
〃My friend；〃 he said； 〃if you strip off the skin of the old nobility
（which is no longer worn these days） I will undertake； after you have
lived for three or four years in a steady and industrious manner； to
find you a superior young girl； beautiful； amiable； pious； and
possessing from seven to eight hundred thousand francs； who will make
you happy and of whom you will have every reason to be proud；one
whose only nobility is that of the heart！〃
〃Ah； doctor！〃 cried the young man； 〃there is no longer a nobility in
these days；nothing but an aristocracy。〃
〃Go and pay your debts of honor and come back here。 I shall engage the
coupe of the diligence； for my niece is with me；〃 said the old man。
That evening； at six o'clock； the three travelers started from the Rue
Dauphine。 Ursula had put on a veil and did not say a word。 Savinien；
who once； in a moment of superficial gallantry； had sent her that kiss
which invaded and conquered her soul like a love…poem； had completely
forgotten the young girl in the hell of h
