the nabob-第38章

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　even　worse。　Seeing　the　procession　hurrying；　all　the　road　began　to　gallop　with　it。　To　the　dull　booming　of　their　tambourines　the　dancers　from　Barbantane；　hand　in　hand；　spranga　living　garlandround　the　carriage　doors。　The　choral　societies；　breathless　with　singing　as　they　ran；　but　singing　all　the　same；　dragged　on　their　standard…bearers；　the　banners　now　hanging　over　their　shoulders；　and　the　good；　fat　priests；　red　and　panting；　shoving　their　vast　overworked　bellies　before　them；　still　found　strength　to　shout　into　the　very　ear　of　the　mules；　in　an　unctuous；　effusive　voice；　〃Long　live　our　noble　Bey！〃　The　rain　on　all　this；　the　rain　falling　in　buckets；　discolouring　the　pink　coaches；　precipitating　the　disorder；　giving　the　appearance　of　a　rout　to　this　triumphal　return；　but　a　comic　rout；　mingled　with　songs　and　laughs；　mad　embraces；　and　infernal　oaths。　It　was　something　like　the　return　of　a　religious　procession　flying　before　a　storm；　cassocks　turned　up；　surplices　over　heads；　and　the　Blessed　Sacrament　put　back　in　all　haste；　under　a　porch。

The　dull　roll　of　the　wheels　over　the　wooden　bridge　told　the　poor　Nabob；　motionless　and　silent　in　a　corner　of　his　carriage；　that　they　were　almost　there。　〃At　last！〃　he　said；　looking　through　the　clouded　windows　at　the　foaming　waters　of　the　Rhone；　whose　tempestuous　rush　seemed　calm　after　what　he　had　just　suffered。　But　at　the　end　of　the　bridge；　when　the　first　carriage　reached　the　great　triumphal　arch；　rockets　went　off；　drums　beat；　saluting　the　monarch　as　he　entered　the　estates　of　his　faithful　subject。　To　crown　the　irony；　in　the　gathering　darkness　a　gigantic　flare　of　gas　suddenly　illuminated　the　roof　of　the　castle；　and　in　spite　of　the　wind　and　the　rain；　these　fiery　letters　could　still　be　seen　very　plainly；　〃Long　liv'　th'　B'Y　'HMED！〃

〃Thatthat　is　the　wind…up；〃　said　the　poor　Nabob；　who　could　not　help　laughing；　though　it　was　a　very　piteous　and　bitter　laugh。　But　no；　he　was　mistaken。　The　end　was　the　bouquet　waiting　at　the　castle　door。　Amy　Ferat　came　to　present　it；　leaving　the　group　of　country　maidens　under　the　veranda；　where　they　were　trying　to　shelter　the　shining　silks　of　their　skirts　and　the　embroidered　velvets　of　their　caps　as　they　waited　for　the　first　carriage。　Her　bunch　of　flowers　in　her　hand；　modest；　her　eyes　downcast；　but　showing　a　roguish　leg；　the　pretty　actress　sprang　forward　to　the　door　in　a　low　courtesy；　almost　on　her　knees；　a　pose　she　had　worked　at　for　a　week。　Instead　of　the　Bey；　Jansoulet　got　out；　stiff　and　troubled；　and　passed　without　even　seeing　her。　And　as　she　stayed　there；　bouquet　in　hand；　with　the　silly　look　of　a　stage　fairy　who　has　missed　her　cue；　Cardailhac　said　to　her　with　the　ready　chaff　of　the　Parisian　who　is　never　at　a　loss：　〃Take　away　your　flowers；　my　dear。　The　Bey　is　not　coming。　He　had　forgotten　his　handkerchief；　and　as　it　is　only　with　that　he　speaks　to　ladies；　you　understand〃



Now　it　is　night。　Everything　is　asleep　at　Saint…Romans　after　the　tremendous　uproar　of　the　day。　Torrents　of　rain　continue　to　fall；　and　in　the　park；　where　the　triumphal　arches　and　the　Venetian　masts　still　lift　vaguely　their　soaking　carcasses；　one　can　hear　streams　rushing　down　the　slopes　transformed　into　waterfalls。　Everything　streams　or　drips。　A　noise　of　water；　an　immense　noise　of　water。　Alone　in　his　sumptuous　room；　with　its　lordly　bed　all　hung　with　purple　silks；　the　Nabob　is　still　awake；　turning　over　his　own　black　thoughts　as　he　strides　to　and　fro。　It　is　not　the　affront；　that　public　outrage　before　all　these　people；　that　occupies　him；　it　is　not　even　the　gross　insult　the　Bey　had　flung　at　him　in　the　presence　of　his　mortal　enemies。　No；　this　southerner；　whose　sensations　were　all　physical　and　as　rapid　as　the　firing　of　new　guns；　had　already　thrown　off　the　venom　of　his　rancour。　And　then；　court　favourites；　by　famous　examples；　are　always　prepared　for　these　sudden　falls。　What　terrifies　him　is　that　which　he　guesses　to　lie　behind　this　affront。　He　reflects　that　all　his　possessions　are　over　there；　firms；　counting…houses；　ships；　all　at　the　mercy　of　the　Bey；　in　that　lawless　East；　that　country　of　the　ruler's　good…pleasure。　Pressing　his　burning　brow　to　the　streaming　windows；　his　body　in　a　cold　sweat；　his　hands　icy；　he　remains　looking　vaguely　out　into　the　night；　as　dark；　as　obscure　as　his　own　future。

Suddenly　a　noise　of　footsteps；　of　precipitate　knocks　at　the　door。

〃Who　is　there？〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Noel；　coming　in　half　dressed；　〃it　is　a　very　urgent　telegram　that　has　been　sent　from　the　post…office　by　special　messenger。〃

〃A　telegram！　What　can　there　be　now？〃

He　takes　the　envelope　and　opens　it　with　shaking　fingers。　The　god；　struck　twice　already；　begins　to　feel　himself　vulnerable；　to　know　the　fears；　the　nervous　weakness　of　other　men。　Quickto　the　signature。　MORA！　Is　it　possible？　The　dukethe　duke　to　him！　Yes；　it　is　indeed　M…O…R…A。　And　above　it：　〃Popolasca　is　dead。　Election　coming　in　Corsica。　You　are　official　candidate。〃

Deputy！　It　was　salvation。　With　that；　nothing　to　fear。　No　one　dares　treat　a　representative　of　the　great　French　nation　as　a　mere　swindler。　The　Hemerlingues　were　finely　defeated。

〃Oh；　my　duke；　my　noble　duke！〃

He　was　so　full　of　emotion　that　he　could　not　sign　his　name。　Suddenly：　〃Where　is　the　man　who　brought　this　telegram？〃

〃Here；　M。　Jansoulet；〃　replied　a　jolly　south…country　voice　from　the　corridor。

He　was　lucky；　that　postman。

〃Come　in；〃　said　the　Nabob。　And　giving　him　the　receipt；　he　took　in　a　heap　from　his　pocketsever　fullas　many　gold　pieces　as　his　hands　could　hold；　and　threw　them　into　the　cap　of　the　poor　fellow；　who　stuttered；　distracted　and　dazzled　by　the　fortune　showered　upon　him；　in　the　night　of　this　fairy　palace。



A　CORSICAN　ELECTION

Pozzonegronear　Sartene。

At　last　I　can　give　you　my　news；　dear　M。　Joyeuse。　During　the　five　days　we　have　been　in　Corsica　we　have　rushed　about　so　much；　made　so　many　speeches；　so　often　changed　carriages　and　mountsnow　on　mules；　now　on　asses；　or　even　on　the　backs　of　men　for　crossing　the　torrentswritten　so　many　letters；　noted　so　many　requests；　visited　so　many　schools；　presented　chasubles；　altar…cloths；　renewed　cracked　bells；　and　founded　kindergartens；　we　have　inaugurated　so　many　things；　proposed　so　many　toasts；　listened　to　so　many　harangues；　consumed　so　much　Talano　wine　and　white　cheese；　that　I　have　not　found　time　to　send　even　a　greeting　to　the　little　family　circle　round　the　big　table；　from　which　I　have　been　missing　these　two　months。　Happily　my　absence　will　not　be　for　much　longer；　as　we　expect　to　leave　the　day　after　to…morrow；　and　are　coming　straight　back　to　Paris。　From　the　electioneering　point　of　view；　I　think　our　journey　has　been　a　success。　Corsica　is　an　admirable　country；　indolent　and　poor；　a　mixture　of　poverty　and　pride；　which　makes　both　the　nobles　and　the　middle　classes　strive　to　keep　up　an　appearance　of　easy　circumstances　at　the　price　of　the　most　painful　privations。　They　speak　quite　seriously　of　Popolasca's　fortunethat　needy　deputy　whom　death　robbed　of　the　four　thousand　pounds　his　resignation　in　favour　of　the　Nabob　would　have　brought　him。　All　these　people　have；　as　well；　an　administrative　mania；　a　thirst　for　places　which　give　them　any　sort　of　uniform；　and　a　cap　to　wear　with　the　words　〃Government　official〃　written　on　it。　If　you　gave　a　Corsican　peasant　the　choice　between　the　richest　farm　in　France　and　the　shabbiest　sword…belt　of　a　village　policeman；　he　would　not　hesitate　and　would　take　the　belt。　In　that　conditions　of　things；　you　may　imagine　what　chances　of　election　a　candidate　has　who　can　dispose　of　a　personal　fortune　and　the　Government　favours。　Thus；　M。　Jansoulet　will　be　elected；　and　especially　if　he　succeeds　in　his　present　undertaking；　which　has　brought　us　here　to　the　only　inn　of　a　little　place　called　Pozzonegro　（black　well）。　It　is　a　regular　well；　black　with　foliage；　consisting　of　fifty　small　red…stone　houses　clustered　round　a　long　Italian　church；　at　the　bottom　of　a　ravine　between　rigid　hills　and　coloured　sandstone　rocks；　over　which　stretch　immense　forests　of　larch　and　juniper　trees。　From　my　open　window；　at　which　I　am　writing；　I　see　up　above　there　a　bit　of　blue　sky；　the　orifice　of　the　well；　down　below　on　the　little　squarewhich　a　huge　nut…tree　shades　as　though　the　shadows　were　not　already　thick　enough　two　shepherds　clothed　in　sheep…skins　are　playing　at　cards；　with　their　elbows　on　the　stone　of　a　fountain。　Gambling　is　the　bane　of　this　land　of　idleness；　where　they　get　men　from　Lucca　to　do　their　harvesting。　The　two　poor　wretches　I　see　probably　haven't　a　farthing　between　them；　but　one　bets　his　knife　against　a　cheese　wrapped　up　in　vine　leaves；　and　the　stakes　lie　between　them　on　the　bench。　A　little　priest　smokes　his　cigar　as　he　watches　them；　and　seems　to　take　the　liveliest　interest　in　their　game。

And　that　is　not　all。　Not　a　sound　anywhere　except　the　drops　of　water　on　the　stone；　the　oaths　of　one　of　the　players　who　swears　by　the　/sango　del　seminaro/；　and　from　underneath　my　room　in　the　inn　parlour　the　eager　voice　of　our　friend　mingling　with　the　sputterings　of　the　illustrious　Paganetti；　who　is　interpreter；　in　his　conversation　with　the　not　less　illustrious　Piedigriggio。

M。　Piedigriggio　（gray　feet）　is　a　local　celebrity。　He　is　a　tall；　old　man　of　seventy…five；　with　a　flowing　beard　and　a　straight　back。　He　wears　a　little　pilot　coat；　a　brown　wool　Catalonian　cap　on　his　white　locks。　At　his　belt　he　carries　a　pair　of　scissors　to　cut　the　long　leaves　of　the　green　tobacco　he　smokes　into　the　hollow　of　his　hand。　A　venerable…looking　person　in　fact；　and　when　he　crossed　the　square；　shaking　hands　with　the　priest；　smiling　protectingly　at　the　gamblers；　I　would　never　have　believed　that　I　was　looking　at　the　famous　brigand　Piedigriggio；　who　held　the　woods　in　Monte…Rotondo　from　1840　to　1860；　outwitted　the　police　and　the　military；　and　who　to…day；　thanks　to　the　proscription　by　which　he　benefits；　after　seven　or　eight　cold…blooded　murders；　moves　peaceably　about　the　country　which　witnessed　his　crimes；　and　enjoys　a　considerable　importance。　This　is　why：　Piedigriggio　has　two　sons　who；　nobly　following　in　his　footsteps；　have　taken　to　the　carbine　and　the　woods；　in　their　turn　not　to　be　found；　not　to　be　caught；　as　their　father　was；　for　twenty　years；　warned　by　the　shepherds　of　the　movements　of　the　police；　when　the　latter　leave　a　village；　they　make　their　appearance　in　it。　The　eldest；　Scipio；　came　to　mass　last　Sunday　at　Pozzonegro。　To　say　they　love　them；　and　that　the　bloody　hand…　shake　of　those　wretches　is　a　pleasure　to　all　who　harbour　them；　would　be　to　calumniate　the　peaceful　inhabitants　of　this　parish。　But　they　fear　them；　and　their　will　is　law。

Now；　these　Piedigriggios　have　taken　it　into　their　heads　to　favour　our　opponent　in　the　election。　And　their　influence　is　a　formidable　power；　for　they　can　make　two　whole　cantons　vote　against　us。　They　have　long　legs；　the　rascals；　as　long　in　proportion　as　the　reach　of　their　guns。　Naturally；　we　have　the　police　on　our　side；　but　the　brigands　are　far　more　powerful。　As　our　innkeeper　said　this　morning：　〃The　police；　they　go　away；　/ma/　the　/banditti/　they　stay。〃　In　the　face　of　this　logical　reasoning　we　understood　that　the　only　thing　to　be　done　was　to　treat　with　the　Gray…feet；　to　try　a　〃job；〃　in　fact。　The　mayor　said　something　of　this　to　the　old　man；　who　consulted　his　sons；　and　it　is　the　conditions　of　this　treaty　they　are　discussing　downstairs。　I　hear　the　voice　of　our　general　director；　〃Come；　my