the nabob-第36章

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n。　You　remember　Jean…Baptiste　Bompain？　And　you　shall　keep　them　for　two　long　months。　They　will　come　to　you　and　make　you　tell　them　stories；　and　they　will　go　to　sleep　with　their　heads　on　your　lap　there；　like　that。〃

And　he　himself；　putting　his　heavy；　woolly　head　on　her　knee；　remembered　the　happy　evenings　of　his　childhood　when　he　would　go　to　sleep　so；　if　she　would　let　him；　and　his　brother　had　not　taken　up　all　the　room。　He　tasted　for　the　first　time　since　his　return　to　France　a　few　minutes　of　delicious　peace　away　from　his　restless　and　artificial　life；　as　he　lay　pressed　to　his　old　mother's　heart；　in　the　deep　silence　of　night　and　of　the　country　which　one　feels　hovering　over　him　in　limitless　space；　the　only　sounds　the　beating　of　that　old　faithful　heart　and　the　swing　of　the　pendulum　of　the　ancient　clock　in　the　corner。　Suddenly　came　the　same　long　sigh；　as　of　a　child　fallen　asleep　sobbing。　Jansoulet　lifted　his　head　and　looked　at　his　mother；　and　softly　asked：　〃Is　it？〃　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　make　him　sleep　there。　He　might　need　me　in　the　night。〃

〃I　would　like　to　see　him；　to　embrace　him。〃

〃Come；　then。〃　She　rose　very　gravely；　took　the　lamp　and　went　to　the　alcove；　of　which　she　softly　drew　the　large　curtain；　making　a　sign　to　her　son　to　draw　near　quietly。

He　was　sleeping。　And　no　doubt　something　lived　in　him　while　he　slept　that　was　not　there　when　he　waked；　for　instead　of　the　flaccid　immobility　in　which　he　was　congealed　all　day；　he　was　now　shaken　by　sudden　starts；　and　on　the　inexpressive　and　death…like　face　there　were　lines　of　pain　and　the　contractions　of　suffering　life。　Jansoulet；　much　affected；　looked　long　at　those　wasted　features；　faded　and　sickly；　where　the　beard　grew　with　a　surprising　vigour。　Then　he　bent　down；　put　his　lips　to　the　damp　brow；　and　feeling　him　move；　said　very　gravely　and　respectfully；　as　one　speaks　to　the　head　of　the　family；　〃Good…night；　my　brother。〃　Perhaps　the　captive　soul　had　heard　it　from　the　depths　of　its　dark　and　abject　limbo。　For　the　lips　moved　and　a　long　moan　answered　him；　a　far…away　wail；　a　despairing　cry；　which　filled　with　helpless　tears　the　glance　exchanged　between　Francoise　and　her　son；　and　tore　from　them　both　the　same　cry　in　which　their　sorrow　met；　〃Pecaire；〃　the　local　word　which　expressed　all　pity　and　all　tenderness。

The　next　day；　from　early　morning；　the　commotion　began　with　the　arrival　of　the　actors；　an　avalanche　of　hats　and　wigs　and　big　boots；　of　short　skirts　and　affected　cries；　of　floating　veils　and　fresh　make…ups。　The　women　were　in　a　great　majority；　as　Cardailhac　thought　that　for　a　Bey　the　play　was　of　little　consequence；　and　that　all　that　was　needful　was　to　have　catchy　tunes　in　pretty　mouths；　to　show　fine　arms　and　shapely　legs　in　the　easy　costume　of　light　opera。　All　the　well…made　celebrities　of　his　theatre　were　there；　Amy　Ferat　at　the　head　of　them；　a　bold　young　woman　who　had　already　had　her　teeth　in　the　gold　of　several　crowns。　There　were　two　or　three　well…known　men　whose　pale　faces　made　the　same　kind　of　chalky　and　spectral　spots　amid　the　green　of　the　trees　as　the　plaster　of　the　statues。　All　these　people；　enlivened　by　the　journey；　the　surprise　of　the　country；　the　overflowing　hospitality；　as　well　as　the　hope　of　making　something　out　of　this　sojourn　of　Beys　and　Nabobs　and　other　gilded　fools；　wanted　only　to　play；　to　jest　and　sing　with　the　vulgar　boisterousness　of　a　crew　of　freshly　discharged　Seine　boatmen。　But　Cardailhac　meant　otherwise。　No　sooner　were　they　unpacked；　freshened　up；　and　luncheon　over　than；　quick；　the　parts；　the　rehearsals！　There　was　no　time　to　lose。　They　worked　in　the　small　drawing…room　next　the　summer　gallery；　where　the　theatre　was　already　being　fitted　up；　and　the　noise　of　hammers；　the　songs　from　the　burlesque；　the　shrill　voices；　the　conductor's　fiddle；　mingled　with　the　loud　trumpet…like　calls　of　the　peacocks；　and　rose　upon　the　hot　southern　wind；　which；　not　recognising　it　as　only　the　mad　rattle　of　its　own　grasshoppers；　shook　it　all　disdainfully　on　the　trailing　tip　of　its　wings。

Seated　in　the　centre　of　the　terrace；　as　in　the　stage…box　of　his　theatre；　Cardailhac　watched　the　rehearsals；　gave　orders　to　a　crowd　of　workmen　and　gardeners；　had　trees　cut　down　as　spoiling　the　view；　designed　the　triumphal　arches；　sent　off　telegrams；　express　messengers　to　mayors；　to　sub…prefects；　to　Arlesto　arrange　for　a　deputation　of　girls　in　national　costume；　to　Barbantane；　where　the　best　dancers　are；　to　Faraman；　famous　for　its　wild　bulls　and　Camargue　horses。　And　as　the　name　of　Jansoulet；　joined　to　that　of　the　Bey　of　Tunis；　flared　at　the　end　of　all　these　messages；　on　all　sides　they　hastened　to　obey；　the　telegraph　wires　were　never　still；　messengers　wore　out　horses　on　the　roads。　And　this　little　Sardanapalus　of　the　stage　called　Cardailhac　repeated　ever；　〃There's　something　to　work　on　here；〃　happy　to　scatter　gold　at　random　like　handfuls　of　seed；　to　have　a　stage　of　forty　leagues　to　stir　aboutthe　whole　of　Provence；　of　which　this　rabid　Parisian　was　a　native　and　whose　picturesque　resources　he　knew　to　the　core。

Dispossessed　of　her　office；　the　old　mother　never　appeared。　She　occupied　herself　with　the　farm；　and　her　invalid。　She　was　terrified　by　this　crowd　of　visitors；　these　insolent　servants　whom　it　was　difficult　to　know　from　the　masters；　these　women　with　their　impudent　and　elegant　airs；　these　clean…shaven　men　who　looked　like　bad　priestsall　these　mad…caps　who　chased　each　other　at　night　in　the　corridors　with　pillows；　with　wet　sponges；　with　curtain　tassels　they　had　torn　down；　for　weapons。　Even　after　dinner　she　no　longer　had　her　son；　he　was　obliged　to　stay　with　his　guests；　whose　number　grew　each　day　as　the　/fetes/　approached；　not　even　the　resource　of　talking　to　M。　Paul　about　her　grandchildren　was　left；　for　Jansoulet；　a　little　embarrassed　by　the　seriousness　of　his　friend；　had　sent　him　to　spend　a　few　days　with　his　brothers。　And　the　careful　housekeeper；　to　whom　they　came　every　minute　asking　the　keys　for　linen；　for　a　room；　for　extra　silver；　thought　of　her　piles　of　beautiful　dishes；　of　the　sacking　of　her　cupboards　and　larders；　remembered　the　state　in　which　the　old　Bey's　visit　had　left　the　castle；　devastated　as　by　a　cyclone；　and　said　in　her　/patois/　as　she　feverishly　wet　the　linen　on　her　distaff：　〃May　lightning　strike　them；　this　Bey　and　all　the　Beys！〃

At　last　the　day　came；　the　great　day　which　is　still　spoken　of　in　all　the　country…side。　Towards　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　after　a　sumptuous　luncheon　at　which　the　old　mother　presided；　this　time　in　a　new　cap；　over　a　company　composed　of　Parisian　celebrities；　prefects；　deputies；　all　in　full　uniform；　mayors　with　their　sashes；　priests　newshaven；　Jansoulet　in　full　dress　stepped　out　on　to　the　terrace　surrounded　by　his　guests。　He　saw　before　him　in　that　splendid　frame　of　magnificent　natural　scenery；　in　the　midst　of　flags　and　arches　and　coats　of　arms；　a　vast　swarm　of　people；　a　flare　of　brilliant　costumes　in　rows　on　the　slopes；　at　corners　of　the　walks；　here；　grouped　in　beds；　like　flowers　on　a　lawn；　the　prettiest　girls　of　Arles；　whose　little　dark　heads　showed　delicately　from　beneath　their　lace　fichus；　farther　down　were　the　dancers　from　Barbantaneeight　tambourine　players　in　a　line；　ready　to　begin；　their　hands　joined；　ribbons　flying；　hats　cocked；　and　the　red　scarves　round　their　hips；　beyond　them；　on　the　succeeding　terraces　were　the　choral　societies　in　rows；　dressed　in　black　with　red　caps；　their　standard…bearer　in　front；　grave；　important；　his　teeth　clinched；　holding　high　his　carved　staff；　farther　down　still；　on　a　vast　circular　space　now　arranged　as　an　amphitheatre；　were　the　black　bulls；　and　the　herdsmen　from　Camargue　seated　on　their　long…haired　white　horses；　their　high　boots　over　their　knees；　at　their　wrists　an　uplifted　spear；　then　more　flags；　helmets；　bayonets；　and　decorations　right　down　to　the　triumphal　arch　at　the　gates；　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　on　the　other　side　of　the　Rhone　（across　which　the　two　railways　had　made　a　pontoon　bridge　that　they　might　come　straight　from　the　station　to　Saint…Romans）；　whole　villages　were　assembling　from　every　side；　crowding　to　the　Giffas　road　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　a　confusion　of　cries；　sitting　at　the　hedge…sides；　clinging　to　the　elms；　squeezed　in　cartsa　living　wall　for　the　procession。　Above　all　a　great　white　sun　which　scintillated　in　every　directionon　the　copper　of　a　tambourine；　on　the　point　of　a　trident；　on　the　fringe　of　a　banner；　and　in　the　midst　the　great　proud　Rhone　carrying　to　the　sea　the　moving　picture　of　this　royal　feast。　Before　these　marvels；　where　shone　all　the　gold　of　his　coffers；　the　Nabob　had　a　sudden　feeling　of　admiration　and　of　pride。

〃This　is　beautiful；〃　he　said；　paling；　and　behind　him　his　mother　murmured；　〃It　is　too　beautiful　for　man。　It　is　as　if　God　were　coming。〃　She　was　pale；　too；　but　with　an　unutterable　fear。

The　sentiment　of　the　old　Catholic　peasant　was　indeed　that　which　was　vaguely　felt　by　all　those　people　massed　upon　the　roads　as　though　for　the　passing　of　a　gigantic　Corpus　Christi　procession；　and　whom　this　visit　of　an　Eastern　prince　to　a　child　of　their　own　country　reminded　of　the　legends　of　the　Magi；　or　the　advent　of　Gaspard　the　Moor；　bringing　to　the　carpenter's　son　myrrh　and　the　triple　crown。

As　Jansoulet　was　being　warmly　congratulated　by　every　one；　Cardailhac；　who　had　not　been　seen　since　morning；　suddenly　appeared；　triumphant　and　perspiring。　〃Didn't　I　tell　you　there　was　something　to　work　on！　Eh？　Isn't　it　fine？　What　a　scene！　I　bet　our　Parisians　would　pay　dear　to　be　at　such　a　first　performance　as　this！〃　And　lowering　his　voice；　on　account　of　the　mother　who　was　quite　near；　〃Have　you　seen　our　country　girls？　No？　Examine　them　more　closelythe　first；　the　one　in　front；　who　is　to　present　the　bouquet。〃

〃Why；　it　is　Amy　Ferat！〃

〃Just　so。　You　see；　old　fellow；　if　the　Bey　should　throw　his　handkerchief　amid　that　group　of　loveliness　there　must　be　some　one　to　pick　it　up。　They　wouldn't　understand；　these　innocents。　Oh；　I　have　thought　of　everything；　you　will　see。　Everything　is　prepared　and　regulated　just　as　on　the　stage。　Garden　sidefarm　side。〃

Here；　to　give　an　idea　of　the　perfect　organization；　the　manager　raised　his　stick。　Immediately　his　gesture　was　repeated　from　the　top　to　the　bottom　of　the　park；　and　from　the　choral　societies；　from　the　brass　bands；　from　the　tambourines；　there　burst　forth　the　majestic　strains　of　the　popular　southern　song；　/Grand　Soleil　de　la　Provence/。　Voices　and　instruments　rose　in　the　sunlight；　the　banners　filled；　the　dancers　swayed　to　their　first　movement；　while　on　the　other　side　of　the　river　a　report　flew　like　a　breeze　that　the　Bey　had　arrived　unexpectedly　by　another　route。　The　manager　made　another　gesture；　and　the　immense　orchestra　was　hushed。　The　response　was　slower　this　time；　there　were　little　delays；　a　hail　of　words　lost　in　the　leaves；　but　one　could　not　expect　more　from　a　concourse　of　three　thousand　people。　Just　then　the　carriages　appeared；　the　state　coaches　which　had　been　used　on　the　occasion　of　the　last　Bey's　visittwo　large　chariots；　pink　and　gold　as　at　Tunis。　Mme。　Jansoulet　had　tended　them　almost　as　holy　relics；　and　they　had　come　out　of　their　coverings；　with　their　panels；　their　hangings　and　their　gold　fringes；　as　shining　and　new　as　the　day　they　were　made。　Here　again　Cardailhac's　ingenuity　had　been　freely　exercised。　He　had　thought　horses　looked　too　heavy　for　those　unreal　fragilities；　so　he　had　harnessed　instead　eight　mules；　with　whi