the nabob-第4章

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THE　NABOB

by　Alphonse　Daudet



DOCTOR　JENKIN'S　PATIENTS

Standing　on　the　steps　of　his　little　town…house　in　the　Rue　de　Lisbonne；　freshly　shaven；　with　sparkling　eyes；　and　lips　parted　in　easy　enjoyment；　his　long　hair　slightly　gray　flowing　over　a　huge　coat　collar；　square　shouldered；　strong　as　an　oak；　the　famous　Irish　doctor；　Robert　Jenkins；　Knight　of　the　Medjidjieh　and　of　the　distinguished　order　of　Charles　III　of　Spain；　President　and　Founder　of　the　Bethlehem　Society。　Jenkins　in　a　word；　the　Jenkins　of　the　Jenkins　Pills　with　an　arsenical　basethat　is　to　say；　the　fashionable　doctor　of　the　year　1864；　the　busiest　man　in　Paris；　was　preparing　to　step　into　his　carriage　when　a　casement　opened　on　the　first　floor　looking　over　the　inner　court…yard　of　the　house；　and　a　woman's　voice　asked　timidly：

〃Shall　you　be　home　for　luncheon；　Robert？〃

Oh；　how　good　and　loyal　was　the　smile　that　suddenly　illumined　the　fine　apostle…like　head　with　its　air　of　learning；　and　in　the　tender　〃good…　morning〃　which　his　eyes　threw　up　towards　the　warm；　white　dressing…gown　visible　behind　the　raised　curtains；　how　easy　it　was　to　divine　one　of　those　conjugal　passions；　tranquil　and　sure；　which　habit　re…enforces　and　with　supple　and　stable　bonds　binds　closer。

〃No；　Mrs。　Jenkins。〃　He　was　fond　of　thus　bestowing　upon　her　publicly　her　title　as　his　lawful　wife；　as　if　he　found　in　it　an　intimate　gratification；　a　sort　of　acquittal　of　conscience　towards　the　woman　who　made　life　so　bright　for　him。　〃No；　do　not　expect　me　this　morning。　I　lunch　in　the　Place　Vendome。〃

〃Ah！　yes；　the　Nabob；〃　said　the　handsome　Mrs。　Jenkins　with　a　very　marked　note　of　respect　for　this　personage　out　of　the　/Thousand　and　One　Nights/　of　whom　all　Paris　had　been　talking　for　the　last　month；　then；　after　a　little　hesitation；　very　tenderly；　in　a　quite　low　voice；　from　between　the　heavy　tapestries；　she　whispered　for　the　ears　of　the　doctor　only：

〃Be　sure　you　do　not　forget　what　you　promised　me。〃

Apparently　it　was　something　very　difficult　to　fulfil；　for　at　the　reminder　of　this　promise　the　eyebrows　of　the　apostle　contracted　into　a　frown；　his　smile　became　petrified；　his　whole　visage　assumed　an　expression　of　incredible　hardness；　but　it　was　only　for　an　instant。　At　the　bedside　of　their　patients　the　physiognomies　of　these　fashionable　doctors　become　expert　in　lying。　In　his　most　tender；　most　cordial　manner；　he　replied；　disclosing　a　row　of　dazzling　white　teeth：

〃What　I　promised　shall　be　done；　Mrs。　Jenkins。　And　now；　go　in　quickly　and　shut　your　window。　The　fog　is　cold　this　morning。〃

Yes；　the　fog　was　cold；　but　white　as　snow　mist；　and；　filling　the　air　outside　the　glasses　of　the　large　brougham；　it　brightened　with　soft　gleams　the　unfolded　newspaper　in　the　doctor's　hands。　Over　yonder；　in　the　populous　quarters；　confined　and　gloomy；　in　the　Paris　of　tradesman　and　mechanic；　that　charming　morning　haze　which　lingers　in　the　great　thoroughfares　is　not　known。　The　bustle　of　awakening；　the　going　and　coming　of　the　market…carts；　of　the　omnibuses；　of　the　heavy　trucks　rattling　their　old　iron；　have　early　and　quickly　cut　it　up；　unravelled　and　scattered　it。　Every　passer…by　carries　away　a　little　of　it　in　a　threadbare　overcoat；　a　muffler　which　shows　the　woof；　and　coarse　gloves　rubbed　one　against　the　other。　It　soaks　through　the　thin　blouses；　and　the　mackintoshes　thrown　over　the　working　skirts；　it　melts　away　at　every　breath　that　is　drawn；　warm　from　sleeplessness　or　alcohol；　it　is　engulfed　in　the　depths　of　empty　stomachs；　dispersed　in　the　shops　as　they　are　opened；　and　the　dark　courts；　or　even　to　the　fireless　attics。　That　is　the　reason　why　there　remains　so　little　of　it　out　of　doors。　But　in　that　spacious　and　grandiose　region　of　Paris；　which　was　inhabited　by　Jenkins's　clients；　on　those　wide　boulevards　planted　with　trees；　and　those　deserted　quays；　the　fog　hovered　without　a　stain；　like　so　many　sheets；　with　waverings　and　cotton　wool…like　flakes。　The　effect　was　of　a　place　inclosed；　secret；　almost　sumptuous；　as　the　sun　after　his　slothful　rising　began　to　diffuse　softly　crimsoned　tints；　which　gave　to　the　mist　enshrouding　the　rows　of　houses　to　their　summits　the　appearance　of　white　muslin　thrown　over　some　scarlet　material。　One　might　have　fancied　it　a　great　curtain　beneath　which　nothing　could　be　heard　save　the　cautious　closing　of　some　court…yard　gate；　the　tin　measuring…cans　of　the　milkmen；　the　little　bells　of　a　herd　of　she…asses　passing　at　a　quick　trot　followed　by　the　short　and　panting　breath　of　their　shepherd；　and　the　dull　rumble　of　Jenkins's　brougham　commencing　its　daily　round。

First；　to　Mora　House。　This　was　a　magnificent　palace　on　the　Quai　d'Orsay；　next　door　to　the　Spanish　embassy；　whose　long　terraces　succeeded　its　own；　having　its　principal　entrance　in　the　Rue　de　Lille；　and　a　door　upon　the　side　next　the　river。　Between　two　lofty　walls　overgrown　with　ivy；　and　united　by　imposing　vaulted　arches；　the　brougham　shot　in；　announced　by　two　strokes　of　a　sonorous　bell　which　roused　Jenkins　from　the　reverie　into　which　the　reading　of　his　newspaper　seemed　to　have　plunged　him。　Then　the　noise　of　the　wheels　became　deadened　on　the　sand　of　a　vast　court…yard；　and　they　drew　up；　after　describing　an　elegant　curve；　before　the　steps　of　the　mansion；　which　were　surrounded　by　a　large　circular　awning。　In　the　obscurity　of　the　fog；　a　dozen　carriages　could　be　seen　ranged　in　line；　and　along　an　avenue　of　acacias；　quite　withered　at　that　season　and　leafless　in　their　bark；　the　profiles　of　English　grooms　leading　out　the　saddle…horses　of　the　duke　for　their　exercise。　Everything　revealed　a　luxury　thought…out；　settled；　grandiose；　and　assured。

〃It　is　quite　useless　for　me　to　come　early；　others　always　arrive　before　me；〃　said　Jenkins　to　himself　as　he　saw　the　file　in　which　his　brougham　took　its　place；　but；　certain　of　not　having　to　wait；　with　head　carried　high；　and　an　air　of　tranquil　authority；　he　ascended　that　official　flight　of　steps　which　is　mounted　every　day　by　so　many　trembling　ambitions；　so　many　anxieties　on　hesitating　feet。

From　the　very　antechamber；　lofty　and　resonant　like　a　church；　which；　although　calorifers　burned　night　and　day；　possessed　two　great　wood…　fires　that　filled　it　with　a　radiant　life；　the　luxury　of　this　interior　reached　you　by　warm　and　heady　puffs。　It　suggested　at　once　a　hot…house　and　a　Turkish　bath。　A　great　deal　of　heat　and　yet　brightness；　white　wainscoting；　white　marbles；　immense　windows；　nothing　stifling　or　shut　in；　and　yet　a　uniform　atmosphere　meet　for　the　surrounding　of　some　rare　existence；　refined　and　nervous。　Jenkins　always　expanded　in　this　factitious　sun　of　wealth；　he　greeted　with　a　〃good…morning；　my　lads；〃　the　powdered　porter；　with　his　wide　golden　scarf；　the　footmen　in　knee…　breeches　and　livery　of　gold　and　blue；　all　standing　to　do　him　honour；　lightly　drew　his　finger　across　the　bars　of　the　large　cages　of　monkeys　full　of　sharp　cries　and　capers；　and；　whistling　under　his　breath；　stepped　quickly　up　the　staircase　of　shining　marble　laid　with　a　carpet　as　thick　as　the　turf　of　a　lawn；　which　led　to　the　apartments　of　the　duke。　Although　six　months　had　passed　since　his　first　visit　to　Mora　House；　the　good　doctor　was　not　yet　become　insensible　to　the　quite　physical　impression　of　gaiety；　of　frivolity；　which　he　received　from　this　dwelling。

Although　you　were　in　the　abode　of　the　first　official　of　the　Empire　there　was　nothing　here　suggestive　of　the　work　of　government　or　its　boxes　of　dusty　old　papers。　The　duke　had　only　consented　to　accept　his　high　dignitaries　as　Minister　of　State　and　President　of　the　Council　upon　the　condition　that　he　should　not　quit　his　private　mansion；　he　only　went　to　his　office　for　an　hour　or　two　daily；　the　time　necessary　to　give　the　indispensable　signatures；　and　held　his　receptions　in　his　bed…chamber。　At　this　moment；　notwithstanding　the　earliness　of　the　hour；　the　hall　was　crowded。　You　saw　there　grave；　anxious　faces；　provincial　prefects　with　shaven　lips；　and　administrative　whiskers；　slightly　less　arrogant　in　this　antechamber　than　yonder　in　their　prefectures；　magistrates　of　austere　air；　sober　in　gesture；　deputies　important　of　manner；　big…wigs　of　the　financial　world；　rich　and　boorish　manufacturers；　among　whom　stood　out　here　and　there　the　slender；　ambitious　figure　of　some　substitute　of　a　prefectorial　councillor；　in　the　garb　of　one　seeking　a　favour；　dress…coat　and　white　tie；　and　all；　standing；　sitting　in　groups　or　solitary；　sought　silently　to　penetrate　with　their　gaze　that　high　door　closed　upon　their　destiny；　by　which　they　would　issue　forth　directly　triumphant　or　with　cast…down　head。　Jenkins　passed　through　the　crowd　rapidly；　and　every　one　followed　with　an　envious　eye　this　newcomer　whom　the　doorkeeper；　with　his　official　chain；　correct　and　icy　in　his　demeanour；　seated　at　a　table　beside　the　door；　greeted　with　a　little　smile　at　once　respectful　and　familiar。

〃Who　is　with　him？〃　asked　the　doctor；　indicating　the　chamber　of　the　duke。

Hardly　moving　his　lips；　and　not　without　a　slightly　ironical　glance　of　the　eye；　the　doorkeeper　whispered　a　name　which；　if　they　had　heard　it；　would　have　roused　the　indignation　of　all　these　high　personages　who　had　been　waiting　for　an　hour　past　until　the　costumier　of　the　opera　should　have　ended　his　audience。

A　sound　of　voices；　a　ray　of　light。　Jenkins　had　just　entered　the　duke's　presence；　he　never　waited；　he。

Standing　with　his　back　to　the　fireplace；　closely　wrapped　in　a　dressing…jacket　of　blue　fur；　the　soft　reflections　from　which　gave　an　air　of　refinement　to　an　energetic　and　haughty　head；　the　President　of　the　Council　was　causing　to　be　designed　under　his　eyes　a　Pierrette　costume　for　the　duchess　to　wear　at　her　next　ball；　and　was　giving　his　directions　with　the　same　gravity　with　which　he　would　have　dictated　the　draft　of　a　new　law。

〃Let　the　frill　be　very　fine　on　the　ruff；　and　put　no　frills　on　the　sleeves。Good…morning；　Jenkins。　I　am　with　you　directly。〃

Jenkins　bowed；　and　took　a　few　steps　in　the　immense　room；　of　which　the　windows；　opening　on　a　garden　that　extended　as　far　as　the　Seine；　framed　one　of　the　finest　views　of　Paris；　the　bridges；　the　Tuileries；　the　Louvre；　in　a　network　of　black　trees　traced　as　it　were　in　Indian　ink　upon　the　floating　background　of　fog。　A　large　and　very　low　bed；　raised　by　a　few　steps　above　the　floor；　two　or　three　little　lacquer　screens　with　vague　and　capricious　gilding；　indicating；　like　the　double　doors　and　the　carpets　of　thick　wool；　a　fear　of　cold　pushed　even　to　excess；　various　seats；　lounges；　warmers；　scattered　about　rather　indiscriminately；　all　low；　rounded；　indolent；　or　voluptuous　in　shape；　composed　the　furniture　of　this　celebrated　chamber　in　which　the　gravest　questions　and　the　most　frivolous　were　wont　to　be　treated　alike　with　the　same　seriousness。　On　the　wall　was　a　handsome　portrait　of　the　duchess；　on　the　chimneypiece　a　bust　of　the　duke；　the　work　of　Felicia　Ruys；　which　at　the　recent　Salon　had　received　the　honours　of　a　first　medal。

〃Well；　Jenkins；　how　are　we　this　morning？〃　said　his　excellency；　approaching；　while　the　costumier　was　picking　up　his　fashion…plates；　scattered　over　all　the　easy　chairs。

〃And　you；　my　dear　duke？　I　thought　you　a　little　pale　last　evening　at　the　Varietes。〃

〃Come；　come！　I　have　never　felt　so　well。　Your　pills　have　a　most　marvellous　effect　upon　me。　I　am　conscious　of　a　vivacity；　a　freshness；　when　I　remember　how　run　down　I　was　six　months　ago。〃

Jenkins；　without　saying　anything；　had　laid　his　gre