the nabob-第10章

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rely　provisory　home；　in　the　suggestion　of　travel　which　hovered　like　an　uncertainty　or　a　menace　over　this　fortune　derived　from　far…off　sources。

Coffee　having　been　served；　in　the　Eastern　manner；　with　all　its　grounds；　in　little　cups　filigreed　with　silver；　the　guests　grouped　themselves　round；　making　haste　to　drink；　scalding　themselves；　keeping　watchful　eyes　on　each　other　and　especially　on　the　Nabob　as　they　looked　out　for　the　favourable　moment　to　spring　upon　him；　draw　him　into　some　corner　of　those　immense　rooms；　and　at　length　negotiate　their　loan。　For　this　it　was　that　they　had　been　awaiting　for　two　hours；　this　was　the　object　of　their　visit　and　the　fixed　idea　which　gave　them　during　the　meal　that　absent；　falsely　attentive　manner。　But　here　no　more　constraint；　no　more　pretence。　In　that　peculiar　social　world　of　theirs　it　is　of　common　knowledge　that　in　the　Nabob's　busy　life　the　hour　of　coffee　remains　the　only　time　free　for　private　audiences；　and　each　desiring　to　profit　by　it；　all　having　come　there　in　order　to　snatch　a　handful　of　wool　from　the　golden　fleece　offered　them　with　so　much　good　nature；　people　no　longer　talk；　they　no　longer　listen；　every　man　is　absorbed　in　his　own　errand　of　business。

It　is　the　good　Jenkins　who　begins。　Having　drawn　his　friend　Jansoulet　aside　into　a　recess；　he　submits　to　him　the　estimates　for　the　house　at　Nanterre。　A　big　purchase；　indeed！　A　cash　price　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　francs；　then　considerable　expenses　in　connection　with　getting　the　place　into　proper　order；　the　personal　staff；　the　bedding；　the　nanny…goats　for　milking　purposes；　the　manager's　carriage；　the　omnibuses　going　to　meet　the　children　coming　by　every　train。　A　great　deal　of　money。　But　how　well　off　and　comfortable　they　will　be　there；　those　dear　little　things！　what　a　service　rendered　to　Paris；　to　humanity！　The　Government　cannot　fail　to　reward　with　a　bit　of　red　ribbon　so　disinterested；　so　philanthropic　a　devotion。　〃The　Cross；　on　the　15th　of　August。〃　With　these　magic　words　Jenkins　will　obtain　everything　he　desires。　In　his　merry；　guttural　voice；　which　seems　always　as　though　it　were　hailing　a　boat　in　a　fog；　the　Nabob　calls；　〃Bompain！〃

The　man　in　the　fez；　quickly　leaving　the　liqueur…stand；　walks　majestically　across　the　room；　whispers；　moves　away；　and　returns　with　an　inkstand　and　a　counterfoil　check…book　from　which　the　slips　detach　themselves　and　fly　away　of　their　own　accord。　A　fine　thing；　wealth！　To　sign　a　check　on　his　knee　for　two　hundred　thousand　francs　troubles　Jansoulet　no　more　than　to　draw　a　louis　from　his　pocket。

Furious；　with　noses　in　their　cups；　the　others　watch　this　little　scene　from　a　distance。　Then；　as　Jenkins　takes　his　departure；　bright；　smiling；　with　a　nod　to　the　various　groups；　Monpavon　seizes　the　governor：　〃Now　is　our　chance。〃　And　both；　springing　on　the　Nabob；　drag　him　off　towards　a　couch；　oblige　him　almost　forcibly　to　sit　down；　press　upon　each　side　of　him　with　a　ferocious　little　laugh　that　seems　to　signify；　〃What　shall　we　do　with　him　now？〃　Get　the　money　out　of　him；　the　largest　amount　possible。　It　is　needed；　to　set　afloat　once　more　the　Territorial　Bank；　for　years　lain　aground　on　a　sand…bank；　buried　to　the　very　top　of　its　masts。　A　superb　operation；　this　re…flotation；　if　these　two　gentlemen　are　to　be　believed；　for　the　submerged　bank　is　full　of　ingots；　of　precious　things；　of　the　thousand　various　forms　of　wealth　of　a　new　country　discussed　by　everybody　and　known　by　none。

In　founding　this　unique　establishment；　Paganetti　of　Porto…Vecchio　had　as　his　aim　to　monopolize　the　commercial　development　of　the　whole　of　Corsica：　iron　mines；　sulphur　mines；　copper　mines；　marble　quarries；　coral　fisheries；　oyster　beds；　water　ferruginous　and　sulphurous；　immense　forests　of　thuya；　of　cork…oak；　and　to　establish　for　the　facilitation　of　this　development　a　network　of　railways　over　the　island；　with　a　service　of　packet…boats　in　addition。　Such　is　the　gigantic　undertaking　to　which　he　has　devoted　himself。　He　has　sunk　considerable　capital　in　it；　and　it　is　the　new…comer；　the　workman　of　the　last　hour；　who　will　gain　the　whole　profit。

While　with　his　Italian　accent　and　violent　gestures　the　Corsican　enumerates　the　〃splendours〃　of　the　affair；　Monpavon；　haughty；　and　with　an　air　calculated　to　command　confidence；　nods　his　head　approvingly　with　conviction；　and　from　time　to　time；　when　he　judges　the　moment　propitious；　throws　into　the　conversation　the　name　of　the　Duc　de　Mora；　which　never　fails　in　its　effect　on　the　Nabob。

〃Well；　in　short；　how　much　would　be　required？〃

〃Millions；〃　says　Monpavon　boldly；　in　the　tone　of　a　man　who　would　have　no　difficulty　in　addressing　himself　elsewhere。　〃Yes；　millions；　but　the　enterprise　is　magnificent。　And；　as　his　excellency　was　saying；　it　would　provide　even　a　political　position。　Just　think！　In　that　district　without　a　metallic　currency；　you　might　become　counsellor…general；　deputy。〃　The　Nabob　gives　a　start。　And　the　little　Paganetti；　who　feels　the　bait　quiver　on　his　hook：　〃Yes；　deputy。　You　will　be　that　whenever　I　choose。　At　a　sign　from　me　all　Corsica　is　at　your　disposal。〃　Then　he　launches　out　into　an　astonishing　improvisation；　counting　the　votes　which　he　controls；　the　cantons　which　will　obey　his　call。　〃You　bring　me　your　capital。　II　give　you　an　entire　people。〃　The　cause　is　gained。

〃Bompain；　Bompain！〃　calls　the　Nabob；　roused　to　enthusiasm。　He　has　now　but　one　fear；　that　is　lest　the　thing　escape　him；　and　in　order　to　bind　Paganetti；　who　has　not　concealed　his　need　of　money；　he　hastens　to　effect　the　payment　of　a　first　instalment　to　the　Territorial　bank。　New　appearance　of　the　man　in　red　breeches　with　the　check…book　which　he　carries　clasped　gravely　to　his　chest；　like　a　choir…boy　moving　the　Gospel　from　one　side　to　the　other。　New　inscription　of　Jansoulet's　signature　upon　a　slip；　which　the　governor　pockets　with　a　negligent　air　and　which　operates　on　his　person　a　sudden　transformation。　The　Paganetti　who　was　so　humble　and　spiritless　just　now；　goes　away　with　the　assurance　of　a　man　worth　four　hundred　thousand　francs；　while　Monpavon；　carrying　it　even　higher　than　usual；　follows　after　him　in　his　steps；　and　watches　over　him　with　a　more　than　paternal　solicitude。

〃That's　a　good　piece　of　business　done；〃　says　the　Nabob　to　himself。　〃I　can　drink　my　coffee　now。〃

But　the　borrowers　are　waiting　for　him　to　pass。　The　most　prompt；　the　most　adroit；　is　Cardailhac；　the　manager；　who　lays　hold　of　him　and　bears　him　off　into　a　side…room。

〃Let　us　have　a　little　talk；　old　friend。　I　must　explain　to　you　the　situation　of　affairs　in　connection　with　our　theatre。〃　Very　complicated；　doubtless；　the　situation；　for　here　is　M。　Bompain　who　advances　once　more；　and　there　are　the　slips　of　blue　paper　flying　away　from　the　check…book。　Whose　turn　now？　There　is　the　journalist　Moessard　coming　to　draw　his　pay　for　the　article　in　the　/Messenger/；　the　Nabob　will　find　out　what　it　costs　to　have　one's　self　called　〃benefactor　of　childhood〃　in　the　morning　papers。　There　is　the　parish　priest　from　the　country　who　demands　funds　for　the　restoration　of　his　church；　and　takes　checks　by　assault　with　the　brutality　of　a　Peter　the　Hermit。　There　is　old　Schwalbach　coming　up　with　nose　in　his　beard　and　winking　mysteriously。

〃Sh！　He　had　found　a　pearl　for　monsieur's　gallery；　an　Hobbema　from　the　collection　of　the　Duc　de　Mora。　But　several　people　are　after　it。　It　will　be　difficult〃

〃I　must　have　it　at　any　price；〃　says　the　Nabob；　hooked　by　the　name　of　Mora。　〃You　understand；　Schwalbach。　I　must　have　this　Hobbema。　Twenty　thousand　francs　for　you　if　you　secure　it。〃

〃I　shall　do　my　utmost；　M。　Jansoulet。〃

And　the　old　rascal　calculates；　as　he　goes　away；　that　the　twenty　thousand　of　the　Nabob　added　to　the　ten　thousand　promised　him　by　the　duke　if　he　gets　rid　of　his　picture　for　him；　will　make　a　nice　little　profit　for　himself。

While　these　fortunate　ones　follow　each　other；　others　look　on　around；　wild　with　impatience；　biting　their　nails　to　the　quick；　for　all　are　come　on　the　same　errand。　From　the　good　Jenkins；　who　opened　the　advance；　to　the　masseur　Cabassu；　who　closes　it；　all　draw　the　Nabob　away　to　some　room　apart。　But；　however　far　they　lead　him　down　this　gallery　of　reception…rooms；　there　is　always　some　indiscreet　mirror　to　reflect　the　profile　of　the　host　and　the　gestures　of　his　broad　back。　That　back　has　eloquence。　Now　and　then　it　straightens　itself　up　in　indignation。　〃Oh；　no；　that　is　too　much。〃　Or　again　it　sinks　forward　with　a　comical　resignation。　〃Well；　since　it　must　be　so。〃　And　always　Bompain's　fez　in　some　corner　of　the　view。

When　those　are　finished；　others　arrive。　They　are　the　small　fry　who　follow　in　the　wake　of　the　big　eaters　in　the　ferocious　hunts　of　the　rivers。　There　is　a　continual　coming　and　going　through　these　handsome　white…and…gold　drawing　rooms；　a　noise　of　doors；　an　established　current　of　bare…faced　and　vulgar　exploitation　attracted　from　the　four　corners　of　Paris　and　the　suburbs　by　this　gigantic　fortune　and　incredible　facility。

For　these　small　sums；　these　regular　distributions；　recourse　was　not　had　to　the　check…book。　For　such　purposes　the　Nabob　kept　in　one　of　his　rooms　a　mahogany　chest　of　drawers；　a　horrible　little　piece　of　furniture　representing　the　savings　of　a　house　porter；　the　first　that　Jansoulet　had　bought　when　he　had　been　able　to　give　up　living　in　furnished　apartments；　which　he　had　preserved　since；　like　a　gambler's　fetish；　and　the　three　drawers　of　which　contained　always　two　hundred　thousand　francs　in　cash。　It　was　to　this　constant　supply　that　he　had　recourse　on　the　days　of　his　large　receptions；　displaying　a　certain　ostentation　in　the　way　in　which　he　would　handle　the　gold　and　silver；　by　great　handfuls；　thrusting　it　to　the　bottom　of　his　pockets　to　draw　it　out　thence　with　the　gesture　of　a　cattle　dealer；　a　certain　vulgar　way　of　raising　the　skirts　of　his　frock…coat　and　of　sending　his　hand　〃to　the　bottom　and　into　the　pile。〃　To…day　there　must　be　a　terrible　void　in　the　drawers　of　the　little　chest。

After　so　many　mysterious　whispered　confabulations；　demands　more　or　less　clearly　formulated；　chance　entries　and　triumphant　departures；　the　last　client　having　been　dismissed；　the　chest　of　drawers　closed　and　locked；　the　flat　in　the　Place　Vendome　began　to　empty　in　the　uncertain　light　of　the　afternoon　towards　four　o'clock；　that　close　of　the　November　days　so　exceedingly　prolonged　afterward　by　artificial　light。　The　servants　were　clearing　away　the　coffee　and　the　raki；　and　bearing　off　the　open　and　half…emptied　cigar…boxes。　The　Nabob；　thinking　himself　alone；　gave　a　sigh　of　relief。　〃Ouf！　that's　over。〃　But　no。　Opposite　him；　some　one　comes　out　from　a　corner　that　is　already　dark；　and　approaches　with　a　letter　in　his　hand。

Another！

And　at　once；　mechanically；　the　poor　man　made　that　eloquent；　horse…　dealer's　gesture　of　his。　Instinctively；　also；　the　visitor　showed　a　movement　of　recoil　so　prompt；　so　hurt；　that　the　Nabob　understood　that　he　was　making　a　mistake；　and　took　the　trouble　to　examine　the　young　man　who　stood　before　him；　simply　but　correctly　dressed；　of　a　dull　complexion；　without　the　least　sign　of　a　beard；　with　regular　features；　perhaps　a　little　too　serious　and　fixed　for　his　age；　which；　aided　by　his　hair　of　pale　blond　colour；　curled　in　little　ringlets　like　a　powdered　wig；　gave　him　the　appearance　of　a　young　deputy　of　the　Commons　under　Louis　XVI；　the　head　of　a　Barnave　at　twenty！　This　face；　although　the　Nabob　beheld　it　for　the　first　time；　w