the nabob-第22章

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　joined　the　sense　of　a　vast　solitude　surrounded　by　darkness　and　perils。

A　few　of　the　sculptor's　friends　gathered　together　as　a　family　council　to　consider　the　future　of　this　unfortunate　child　without　relatives　or　fortune。　Fifty　francs　had　been　discovered　in　the　box　where　Sebastien　used　to　put　his　money；　on　a　piece　of　the　studio　furniture　well　known　to　its　needy　frequenters　and　visited　by　them　without　scruple。　There　was　no　other　inheritance；　at　least　in　cash；　only　a　quantity　of　artistic　and　curious　furniture　of　the　most　sumptuous　description；　a　few　valuable　pictures；　and　a　certain　amount　of　money　owing　but　scarcely　sufficing　to　cover　numberless　debts。　It　was　proposed　to　organize　a　sale。　Felicia；　when　she　was　consulted；　replied　that　she　would　not　care　if　everything　were　sold；　but；　for　God's　sake；　let　them　leave　her　in　peace。

The　sale　did　not　take　place；　however；　thanks　to　the　godmother；　the　excellent　Crenmitz；　who　suddenly　made　her　appearance；　calm　and　gentle　as　usual。

〃Don't　listen　to　them；　my　child。　Sell　nothing。　Your　old　Constance　has　an　income　of　fifteen　thousand　francs；　which　was　destined　to　come　to　you　later　on。　You　will　take　advantage　of　it　at　once；　that　is　all。　We　will　live　here　together。　You　will　see；　I　shall　not　be　in　the　way。　You　will　work　at　your　sculpture；　I　shall　manage　the　house。　Does　that　suit　you？〃

It　was　said　so　tenderly；　with　that　childishness　of　accent　which　foreigners　have　when　expressing　themselves　in　French；　that　the　girl　was　deeply　moved。　Her　heart　that　had　seemed　turned　to　stone　opened；　a　burning　flood　came　pouring　from　her　eyes；　and　she　rushed；　flung　herself　into　the　arms　of　the　dancer。　〃Ah；　godmother；　how　good　you　are　to　me！　Yes；　yes；　don't　leave　me　any　more。　Stay　with　me　always。　Life　frightens　and　disgusts　me。　I　see　so　much　hypocrisy　in　it；　so　much　falsehood。〃　And　the　old　woman　arranged　for　herself　a　silken　and　embroidered　nest　in　this　house　so　like　a　traveller's　camp　laden　with　treasures　from　every　land；　and　the　suggested　dual　life　began　for　these　two　different　natures。

It　was　no　small　sacrifice　that　Constance　had　made　for　the　dear　demon　in　quitting　her　Fontainebleau　retreat　for　Paris；　which　inspired　her　with　terror。　Ever　since　the　day　when　this　dancer；　with　her　extravagant　caprices；　who　made　princely　fortunes　flow　and　disappear　through　her　five　open　fingers；　had　descended　from　her　triumphant　position；　a　little　of　its　dazzling　glitter　still　in　her　eyes；　and　had　attempted　to　resume　an　ordinary　existence；　to　manage　her　little　income　and　her　modest　household；　she　had　been　the　object　of　a　thousand　impudent　exploitations；　of　frauds　that　were　easy　in　view　of　the　ignorance　of　this　poor　butterfly　that　was　frightened　by　reality　and　came　into　collision　with　all　its　unknown　difficulties。　Living　in　Felicia's　house；　the　responsibility　became　still　more　serious　by　reason　of　the　wastefulness　introduced　long　ago　by　the　father　and　continued　by　the　daughter；　two　artists　knowing　nothing　of　economy。　She　had；　moreover；　other　difficulties　to　conquer。　She　found　the　studio　insupportable　with　its　permanent　atmosphere　of　tobacco　smoke；　an　impenetrable　cloud　for　her；　in　which　the　discussions　on　art；　the　analysis　of　ideas；　were　lost　and　which　infallibly　gave　her　a　headache。　〃Chaff；〃　above　all；　frightened　her。　As　a　foreigner；　as　at　one　time　a　divinity　of　the　green…room；　brought　up　on　out…of…date　compliments；　on　gallantries　/a　la　Dorat/；　she　did　not　understand　it；　and　would　feel　terrified　in　the　presence　of　the　wild　exaggerations；　the　paradoxes　of　these　Parisians　refined　by　the　liberty　of　the　studio。

That　kind　of　thing　was　intimidating　to　her　who　had　never　possessed　wit　save　in　the　vivacity　of　her　feet；　and　reduced　her　simply　to　the　rank　of　a　lady…companion；　and；　seeing　this　amiable　old　dame　sitting；　silent　and　smiling；　her　knitting　in　her　lap；　like　one　of　Chardin's　/bourgeoises/；　or　hastening　by　the　side　of　her　cook　up　the　long　Rue　de　Chaillot；　where　the　nearest　market　happened　to　be；　one　would　never　have　guessed　that　that　simple　old　body　had　ruled　kings；　princes；　the　whole　class　of　amorous　nobles　and　financiers；　at　the　caprice　of　her　step　and　pirouettings。

Paris　is　full　of　such　fallen　stars；　extinguished　by　the　crowd。

Some　of　these　famous　ones；　these　conquerors　of　a　former　day；　cherish　a　rage　in　their　heart；　others；　on　the　contrary；　enjoy　the　past　blissfully；　digest　in　an　ineffable　content　all　their　glorious　and　ended　joys；　asking　only　repose；　silence；　shadow；　good　enough　for　memory　and　contemplations；　so　that　when　they　die　people　are　quite　astonished　to　learn　that　they　had　been　still　living。

Constance　Crenmitz　was　among　these　fortunate　ones。　The　household　of　these　two　women　was　a　curious　one。　Both　were　childlike；　placing　side　by　side　in　a　common　domain；　inexperience　and　ambition；　the　tranquility　of　an　accomplished　destiny　and　the　fever　of　a　life　plunged　in　struggle；　all　the　different　qualities　manifest　even　in　the　serene　style　of　dress　affected　by　this　blonde　who　seemed　all　white　like　a　faded　rose；　with　something　beneath　her　bright　colours　that　vaguely　suggested　the　footlights；　and　that　brunette　with　the　regular　features；　who　almost　always　clothed　her　beauty　in　dark　materials；　simple　in　fold；　a　semblance；　as　it　were；　of　virility。

Things　unforeseen；　caprices；　ignorance　of　even　the　least　important　details；　led　to　an　extreme　disorder　in　the　finances　of　the　household；　disorder　which　was　only　rectified　by　dint　of　privations；　by　the　dismissal　of　servants；　by　reforms　that　were　laughable　in　their　exaggeration。　During　one　of　these　crises；　Jenkins　had　made　veiled　delicate　offers；　which；　however；　were　repulsed　with　contempt　by　Felicia。

〃It　is　not　nice　of　you；〃　Constance　would　remark　to　her；　〃to　be　so　hard　on　the　poor　doctor。　After　all；　there　was　nothing　offensive　in　his　suggestion。　An　old　friend　of　your　father。〃

〃He；　any　one's　friend！　Ah；　the　hypocrite！〃

And　Felicia；　hardly　able　to　contain　herself；　would　give　an　ironical　turn　to　her　wrath；　imitating　Jenkins　with　his　oily　manner　and　his　hand　on　his　heart；　then；　puffing　out　her　cheeks；　she　would　say　in　a　loud；　deep　voice　full　of　lying　unction：

〃Let　us　be　humane；　let　us　be　kind。　To　do　good　without　hope　of　reward！　That　is　the　whole　point。〃

Constance　used　to　laugh　till　the　tears　came；　in　spite　of　herself。　The　resemblance　was　so　perfect。

〃All　the　same；　you　are　too　hard。　You　will　end　by　driving　him　away　altogether。〃

〃Little　fear　of　that；〃　a　shake　of　the　girl's　head　would　reply。

In　effect　he　always　came　back；　pleasant；　amiable；　dissimulating　his　passion；　which　was　visible　only　when　it　grew　jealous　of　newcomers；　paying　assiduous　attention　to　the　old　dancer；　who；　in　spite　of　everything；　found　his　good…nature　pleasing　and　recognised　in　him　a　man　of　her　own　time；　of　the　time　when　one　accosted　a　woman　with　a　kiss　on　her　hand；　with　a　compliment　on　her　appearance。

One　morning；　Jenkins　having　called　in　the　course　of　his　round；　found　Constance　alone　and　doing　nothing　in　the　antechamber。

〃You　see；　doctor；　I　am　on　guard；〃　she　remarked　tranquilly。

〃How　is　that？〃

〃Felicia　is　at　work。　She　wishes　not　to　be　disturbed；　and　the　servants　are　so　stupid；　I　am　myself　seeing　that　her　orders　are　obeyed。〃

Then；　seeing　that　the　Irishman　made　a　step　towards　the　studio：

〃No；　no；　don't　go　in。　She　told　me　very　particularly　not　to　let　any　one　go　in。〃

〃But　I？〃

〃I　beg　you　not。　You　would　get　me　a　scolding。〃

Jenkins　was　about　to　take　his　leave　when　a　burst　of　laughter　from　Felicia；　coming　through　the　curtains；　made　him　prick　up　his　ears。

〃She　is　not　alone；　then？〃

〃No；　the　Nabob　is　with　her。　They　are　having　a　sitting　for　the　portrait。〃

〃And　why　this　mystery？　It　is　a　very　singular　thing。〃　He　commenced　to　walk　backward　and　forward；　evidently　very　angry；　but　containing　his　wrath。

At　last　he　burst　forth。

It　was　an　unheard…of　impropriety　to　let　a　girl　thus　shut　herself　in　with　a　man。

He　was　surprised　that　one　so　serious；　so　devoted　as　Constance　What　did　it　look　like？

The　old　lady　looked　at　him　with　stupefaction。　As　though　Felicia　were　like　other　girls！　And　then　what　danger　was　there　with　the　Nabob；　so　staid　a　man　and　so　ugly？　Besides；　Jenkins　ought　to　know　quite　well　that　Felicia　never　consulted　anybody；　that　she　always　had　her　own　way。

〃No；　no；　it　is　impossible！　I　cannot　tolerate　this；〃　exclaimed　the　Irishman。

And；　without　paying　any　further　heed　to　the　dancer；　who　raised　her　arms　to　heaven　as　a　call　upon　it　to　witness　what　was　about　to　happen；　he　moved　towards　the　studio；　but；　instead　of　entering　immediately；　he　softly　half…opened　the　door　and　raised　a　corner　of　the　hangings；　whereby　the　portion　of　the　room　in　which　the　Nabob　was　posing　became　visible　to　him；　although　at　a　considerable　distance。

Jansoulet；　seated　without　cravat　and　with　his　waist…coat　open；　was　talking　apparently　in　some　agitation　and　in　a　low　voice。　Felicia　was　replying　in　a　similar　tone；　in　laughing　whispers。　The　sitting　was　very　animated。　Then　a　silence；　a　silken　rustle　of　skirts；　and　the　artist；　going　up　to　her　model；　turned　down　his　linen　collar　all　round　with　familiar　gesture；　allowing　her　light　hand　to　run　over　the　sun…tanned　skin。

That　Ethiopian　face　on　which　the　muscles　stood　out　in　the　very　intoxication　of　health；　with　its　long　drooping　eyelashes　as　of　some　deer　being　gently　stroked　in　its　sleep；　the　bold　profile　of　the　girl　as　she　leaned　over　those　strange　features　in　order　to　verify　their　proportions；　then　a　violent；　irresistible　gesture；　clutching　the　delicate　hand　as　it　passed　and　pressing　it　to　two　thick；　passionate　lips。　Jenkins　saw　all　that　in　one　red　flash。

The　noise　that　he　made　in　entering　caused　the　two　personages　instantly　to　resume　their　respective　positions；　and；　in　the　strong　light　which　dazzled　his　prying　eyes；　he　saw　the　young　girl　standing　before　him；　indignant；　stupefied。

〃Who　is　that？　Who　has　taken　the　liberty？〃　and　the　Nabob；　on　his　platform；　with　his　collar　turned　down；　petrified；　monumental。

Jenkins；　a　little　abashed；　frightened　by　his　own　audacity；　murmured　some　excuses。　He　had　something　very　urgent　to　say　to　M。　Jansoulet；　a　piece　of　news　which　was　most　important　and　would　suffer　no　delay。　〃He　knew　upon　the　best　authority　that　certain　decorations　were　to　be　bestowed　on　the　16th　of　March。〃

Immediately　the　face　of　the　Nabob；　that　for　a　moment　had　been　frowning；　relaxed。

〃Ah！　can　it　be　true？〃

He　abandoned　his　pose。　The　thing　was　worth　the　trouble；　/que　diable！/　M。　de　la　Perriere；　a　secretary　of　the　department　involved　had　been　commissioned　by　the　Empress　to　visit　the　Bethlehem　Refuge。　Jenkins　had　come　in　search　of　the　Nabob　to　take　him　to　see　the　secretary　at　the　Tuileries　and　to　appoint　a　day。　This　visit　to　Bethlehem；　it　meant　the　cross　for　him。

〃Quick；　let　us　start；　my　dear　doctor。　I　follow　you。〃

He　was　no　longer　angry　with　Jenkins　for　having　disturbed　him；　and　he　knotted　his　cravat　feverishly；　forgetting　in　his　new　emotions　how　he　had　been　upset　a　moment　earlier；　for　ambition　with　him　came　before　all　else。

While　the　two　men　were　talking　in　a　half…whisper；　Felicia；　standing　motionless　before　them；　with　quivering　nostrils　and　her　lip　curled　in　contempt；　watched　them　with　an　air　of　saying；　〃Well；　I　am　waiting。〃

Jansoulet　apologized　for　being　obliged　to　interrupt　the　sitting；　but　a　visit　of　the　most　extreme　importanc