the nabob-第16章

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urious　world；　splashing　the　very　walls；　seemed　to　him　now　to　be　loaded　with　all　the　dross；　all　the　filth　of　its　impure　and　muddy　source。　There　remained；　then；　for　him；　de　Gery；　but　one　thing　to　do；　to　go　away；　to　quit　with　all　possible　speed　this　situation　in　which　he　risked　the　compromising　of　his　good　name；　the　one　heritage　from　his　father。　Doubtless。　But　the　two　little　brothers　down　yonder　in　the　country。　Who　would　pay　for　their　board　and　lodging？　Who　would　keep　up　the　modest　home　miraculously　brought　into　being　once　more　by　the　handsome　salary　of　the　eldest　son；　the　head　of　the　family？　Those　words；　〃head　of　the　family；〃　plunged　him　immediately　into　one　of　those　internal　combats　in　which　interest　and　conscience　struggled　for　the　masterythe　one　brutal；　substantial；　attacking　vigorously　with　straight　thrusts；　the　other　elusive；　breaking　away　by　subtle　disengagementswhile　the　worthy　Jansoulet；　unconscious　cause　of　the　conflict；　walked　with　long　strides　close　by　his　young　friend；　inhaling　the　fresh　air　with　delight　at　the　end　of　his　lighted　cigar。

Never　had　he　felt　it　such　a　happiness　to　be　alive；　and　this　evening　party　at　Jenkins's；　which　had　been　his　own　first　real　entry　into　society　as　well　as　de　Gery's；　had　left　with　him　an　impression　of　porticoes　erected　as　for　a　triumph；　of　an　eagerly　assembled　crowd；　of　flowers　thrown　on　his　path。　So　true　is　it　that　things　only　exist　through　the　eyes　that　observe　them。　What　a　success！　the　duke；　as　he　took　leave　of　him　inviting　him　to　come　to　see　his　picture　gallery；　which　meant　the　doors　of　Mora　House　opened　to　him　within　a　week。　Felicia　Ruys　consenting　to　do　his　bust；　so　that　at　the　next　exhibition　the　son　of　the　nail…dealer　would　have　his　portrait　in　marble　by　the　same　great　artist　who　had　signed　that　of　the　Minister　of　State。　Was　it　not　the　satisfaction　of　all　his　childish　vanities？

And　each　pondering　his　own　thoughts；　sombre　or　glad；　they　continued　to　walk　shoulder　to　shoulder；　absorbed　and　so　absent　in　mind　that　the　Place　Vendome；　silent　and　bathed　in　a　blue　and　chilly　light；　rang　under　their　steps　before　a　word　had　been　uttered　between　them。

〃Already？〃　said　the　Nabob。　〃I　should　not　at　all　have　minded　walking　a　little　longer。　What　do　you　say？〃　And　while　they　strolled　two　or　three　times　around　the　square；　he　gave　vent　in　spasmodic　bursts　to　the　immense　joy　which　filled　him。

〃How　pleasant　the　air　is！　How　one　can　breathe！　Thunder　of　God！　I　would　not　have　missed　this　evening's　party　for　a　hundred　thousand　francs。　What　a　worthy　soul　that　Jenkins　is！　Do　you　like　Felicia　Ruys's　style　of　beauty？　For　my　part；　I　dote　on　it。　And　the　duke；　what　a　great　gentleman！　so　simple；　so　kind。　A　fine　place；　Paris；　is　it　not；　my　son？〃

〃It　is　too　complicated　for　me。　It　frightens　me；〃　answered　Paul　de　Gery　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　understand；〃　replied　the　other　with　an　adorable　fatuity。　〃You　are　not　yet　accustomed　to　it；　but；　never　mind；　one　quickly　becomes　so。　See　how　after　a　single　month　I　find　myself　at　my　ease。〃

〃That　is　because　it　is　not　your　first　visit　to　Paris。　You　have　lived　here。〃

〃I？　Never　in　my　life。　Who　told　you　that？〃

〃Indeed！　I　thought〃　answered　the　young　man；　and　immediately；　a　host　of　reflections　crowding　into　his　mind：

〃What；　then；　have　you　done　to　this　Baron　Hemerlingue？　It　is　a　hatred　to　the　death　between　you。〃

For　a　moment　the　Nabob　was　taken　aback。　That　name　of　Hemerlingue；　thrown　suddenly　into　his　glee；　recalled　to　him　the　one　annoying　episode　of　the　evening。

〃To　him　as　to　the　others；〃　said　he　in　a　saddened　voice；　〃I　have　never　done　anything　save　good。　We　began　together　in　poverty。　We　made　progress　and　prospered　side　by　side。　Whenever　he　wished　to　try　a　flight　on　his　own　wings；　I　always　aided　and　supported　him　to　the　best　of　my　ability。　It　was　I　who　during　ten　consecutive　years　secured　for　him　the　contracts　for　the　fleet　and　the　army；　almost　his　whole　fortune　came　from　that　source。　Then　one　fine　morning　this　slow…blooded　imbecile　of　a　Bernese　goes　crazy　over　an　odalisk　whom　the　mother　of　the　Bey　had　caused　to　be　expelled　from　the　harem。　The　hussy　was　beautiful　and　ambitious；　she　made　him　marry　her；　and　naturally；　after　this　brilliant　match；　Hemerlingue　was　obliged　to　leave　Tunis。　Somebody　had　persuaded　him　to　believe　that　I　was　urging　the　Bey　to　close　the　principality　to　him。　It　was　not　true。　On　the　contrary；　I　obtained　from　his　Highness　permission　for　Hemerlingue's　sona　child　by　his　first　wifeto　remain　in　Tunis　in　order　to　look　after　their　suspended　interests；　while　the　father　came　to　Paris　to　found　his　banking…house。　Moreover；　I　have　been　well　rewarded　for　my　kindness。　When；　at　the　death　of　my　poor　Ahmed；　the　Mouchir；　his　brother；　ascended　the　throne；　the　Hemerlingues；　restored　to　favour；　never　ceased　to　work　for　my　undoing　with　the　new　master。　The　Bey　still　keeps　on　good　terms　with　me；　but　my　credit　is　shaken。　Well；　in　spite　of　that；　in　spite　of　all　the　shabby　tricks　that　Hemerlingue　has　played　me；　that　he　plays　me　still；　I　was　ready　this　evening　to　hold　out　my　hand　to　him。　Not　only　does　the　blackguard　refuse　it；　but　he　causes　me　to　be　insulted　by　his　wife；　a　savage　and　evil…disposed　creature；　who　does　not　pardon　me　for　always　having　declined　to　receive　her　in　Tunis。　Do　you　know　what　she　called　me　just　now　as　she　passed　me？　'Thief　and　son　of　a　dog。'　As　free　in　her　language　as　that；　the　odaliskThat　is　to　say；　that　if　I　did　not　know　my　Hemerlingue　to　be　as　cowardly　as　he　is　fatAfter　all；　bah！　let　them　say　what　they　like。　I　snap　my　fingers　at　them。　What　can　they　do　against　me？　Ruin　me　with　the　Bey？　That　is　a　matter　of　indifference　to　me。　There　is　nothing　any　longer　for　me　to　do　in　Tunis；　and　I　shall　withdraw　myself　from　the　place　altogether　as　soon　as　possible。　There　is　only　one　town；　one　country　in　the　world；　and　that　is　ParisParis　welcoming；　hospitable；　not　prudish；　where　every　intelligent　man　may　find　space　to　do　great　things。　And　I；　now；　do　you　see；　de　Gery；　I　want　to　do　great　things。　I　have　had　enough　of　mercantile　life。　For　twenty　years　I　have　worked　for　money；　to…day　I　am　greedy　of　glory；　of　consideration；　of　fame。　I　want　to　be　somebody　in　the　history　of　my　country；　and　that　will　be　easy　for　me。　With　my　immense　fortune；　my　knowledge　of　men　and　of　affairs；　the　things　I　know　I　have　here　in　my　head；　nothing　is　beyond　my　reach　and　I　aspire　to　everything。　Believe　me；　therefore；　my　dear　boy；　never　leave　me〃one　would　have　said　that　he　was　replying　to　the　secret　thought　of　his　young　companion〃remain　faithfully　on　board　my　ship。　The　masts　are　firm；　I　have　my　bunkers　full　of　coal。　I　swear　to　you　that　we　shall　go　far；　and　quickly；　/nom　d'un　sort/！〃

The　ingenuous　southerner　thus　poured　out　his　projects　into　the　night　with　many　expressive　gestures；　and　from　time　to　time；　as　they　walked　rapidly　to　and　fro　in　the　vast　and　deserted　square；　majestically　surrounded　by　its　silent　and　closed　palaces；　he　raised　his　head　towards　the　man　of　bronze　on　the　column；　as　though　taking　to　witness　that　great　upstart　whose　presence　in　the　midst　of　Paris　authorizes　all　ambitions；　endows　every　chimera　with　probability。

There　is　in　young　people　a　warmth　of　heart；　a　need　of　enthusiasm　which　is　awakened　by　the　least　touch。　As　the　Nabob　talked；　de　Gery　felt　his　suspicion　take　wing　and　all　his　sympathy　return；　together　with　a　shade　of　pity。　No；　very　certainly　this　man　was　not　a　rascal；　but　a　poor；　illuded　being　whose　fortune　had　gone　to　his　head　like　a　wine　too　heavy　for　a　stomach　long　accustomed　to　water。　Alone　in　the　midst　of　Paris；　surrounded　by　enemies　and　people　ready　to　take　advantage　of　him；　Jansoulet　made　upon　him　the　impression　of　a　man　on　foot　laden　with　gold　passing　through　some　evil…haunted　wood；　in　the　dark　and　unarmed。　And　he　reflected　that　it　would　be　well　for　the　/protege/　to　watch；　without　seeming　to　do　so；　over　the　protector；　to　become　the　discerning　Telemachus　of　the　blind　Mentor；　to　point　out　to　him　the　quagmires；　to　defend　him　against　the　highwaymen；　to　aid　him；　in　a　word；　in　his　combats　amid　all　that　swarm　of　nocturnal　ambuscades　which　he　felt　were　prowling　ferociously　around　the　Nabob　and　his　millions。



THE　JOYEUSE　FAMILY

Every　morning　of　the　year；　at　exactly　eight　o'clock；　a　new　and　almost　tenantless　house　in　a　remote　quarter　of　Paris；　echoed　to　cries；　calls；　merry　laughter；　ringing　clear　in　the　desert　of　the　staircase：

〃Father；　don't　forget　my　music。〃

〃Father；　my　crochet　wool。〃

〃Father；　bring　us　some　rolls。〃

And　the　voice　of　the　father　calling　from　below：

〃Yaia；　bring　me　down　my　portfolio；　please。〃

〃There　you　are；　you　see！　He　has　forgotten　his　portfolio。〃

And　there　would　be　a　glad　scurry　from　top　to　bottom　of　the　house；　a　running　of　all　those　pretty　faces　confused　by　sleep；　of　all　those　heads　with　disordered　hair　which　the　owners　made　tidy　as　they　ran；　until　the　moment　when；　leaning　over　the　baluster；　half　a　dozen　girls　bade　loud　good…bye　to　a　little；　old　gentleman；　neat　and　well…groomed；　whose　reddish　face　and　short　profile　disappeared　at　length　in　the　spiral　perspective　of　the　stairs。　M。　Joyeuse　had　departed　for　his　office。　At　once　the　whole　band；　escaped　from　their　cage；　would　rush　quickly　upstairs　again　to　the　fourth　floor；　and；　the　door　having　been　opened；　group　themselves　at　an　open　casement　to　gain　one　last　glimpse　of　their　father。　The　little　man　used　to　turn　round；　kisses　were　exchanged　across　the　distance；　then　the　windows　were　closed；　the　new　and　tenantless　house　became　quiet　again；　except　for　the　posters　dancing　their　wild　saraband　in　the　wind　of　the　unfinished　street；　as　if　made　gay；　they　also；　by　all　these　proceedings。　A　moment　later　the　photographer　on　the　fifth　floor　would　descend　to　hang　at　the　door　his　showcase；　always　the　same；　in　which　was　to　be　seen　the　old　gentleman　in　a　white　tie　surrounded　by　his　daughters　in　various　groups；　he　went　upstairs　again　in　his　turn；　and　the　calm　which　succeeded　immediately　upon　this　little　morning　uproar　left　one　to　imagine　that　the　〃father〃　and　his　young　ladies　had　re…entered　the　case　of　photographs；　where　they　remained　smiling　and　motionless　until　evening。

From　the　Rue　Saint…Ferdinand　to　the　establishment　of　Hemerlingue　&　Son；　his　employers；　M。　Joyeuse　had　a　good　three…quarters　of　an　hour's　journey。　He　walked　with　head　erect　and　straight；　as　though　he　had　feared　to　disarrange　the　smart　knot　of　the　cravat　tied　by　his　daughters；　or　his　hat　put　on　by　them；　and　when　the　eldest；　ever　anxious　and　prudent；　just　as　he　went　out　raised　his　coat…collar　to　protect　him　against　the　harsh　gusts　of　the　wind　that　blew　round　the　street　corner；　even　if　the　temperature　were　that　of　a　hothouse　M。　Joyeuse　would　not　lower　it　again　until　he　reached　the　office；　like　the　lover　who；　quitting　his　mistress's　arms；　dares　not　to　move　for　fear　of　losing　the　intoxicating　perfume。

A　widower　for　some　years；　this　worthy　man　lived　only　for　his　children；　thought　only　of　them；　went　through　life　surrounded　by　those　fair　little　heads　that　fluttered　around　him　confusedly　as　in　a　picture　of　the　Assumption。　All　his　desires；　all　his　projects；　bore　reference　to　〃those　young　ladies；〃　returned　to　them　without　ceasing；　sometimes　after　long　circuits；　for　M。　Joyeusethis　was　connected　no　doubt　with　the　fact　that　he　possessed　a　short　neck　and　a　small　figure　whereof　his　turbulent　blood　made　the　circuit　in　a　momentwas　a　man　of　fec