the nabob-第46章

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〃Have　been　amply　paid　for。　That　is　how　it　seems　to　me　also。　Two　hundred　thousand　francs　in　five　months！　We　will　draw　the　line　there；　if　you　please。　Your　teeth　are　long；　young　man；　you　will　have　to　file　them　down　a　little。〃

They　exchanged　these　words　as　they　walked；　pushed　forward　by　the　surging　wave　of　the　people　going　out。　Moessard　stopped：

〃That　is　your　last　word？〃

The　Nabob　hesitated　for　a　moment；　seized　by　a　presentiment　as　he　looked　at　that　pale；　evil　mouth；　then　he　remembered　the　promise　which　he　had　given　to　his　friend：

〃That　is　my　last　word。〃

〃Very　well！　We　shall　see；〃　said　the　handsome　Moessard；　whose　switch…　cane　cut　the　air　with　the　hiss　of　a　viper；　and；　turning　on　his　heel；　he　made　off　with　great　strides；　like　a　man　who　is　expected　somewhere　on　very　urgent　business。

Jansoulet　continued　his　triumphal　progress。　That　day　much　more　would　have　been　required　to　upset　the　equilibrium　of　his　happiness；　on　the　contrary；　he　felt　himself　relieved　by　the　so…quickly　achieved　fulfilment　of　his　purpose。

The　immense　vestibule　was　thronged　by　a　dense　crowd　of　people　whom　the　approach　of　the　hour　of　closing　was　bringing　out；　but　whom　one　of　those　sudden　showers；　which　seem　inseparable　from　the　opening　of　the　/Salon/；　kept　waiting　beneath　the　porch；　with　its　floor　beaten　down　and　sandy　like　the　entrance　to　the　circus　where　the　young　dandies　strut　about。　The　scene　that　met　the　eye　was　curious；　and　very　Parisian。

Outside；　great　rays　of　sunshine　traversing　the　rain；　attaching　to　its　limpid　beads　those　sharp　and　brilliant　blades　which　justify　the　proverbial　saying；　〃It　rains　halberds〃；　the　young　greenery　of　the　Champs…Elysees；　the　clumps　of　rhododendrons；　rustling　and　wet；　the　carriages　ranged　in　the　avenue；　the　mackintosh　capes　of　the　coachmen；　all　the　splendid　harness…trappings　of　the　horses　receiving　from　the　rain　and　the　sunbeams　an　added　richness　and　effect；　and　blue　everywhere　looming　out；　the　blue　of　a　sky　which　is　about　to　smile　in　the　interval　between　two　downpours。

Within；　laughter；　gossip；　greetings；　impatience；　skirts　held　up；　satins　bulging　out　above　the　delicate　folds　of　frills；　of　lace；　of　flounces　gathered　up　in　the　hands　of　their　wearers　in　heavy；　terribly　frayed　bundles。　Then；　to　unite　the　two　sides　of　the　picture；　these　prisoners　framed　in　by　the　vaulted　ceiling　of　the　porch　and　in　the　gloom　of　its　shadow；　with　the　immense　background　in　brilliant　light；　footmen　running　beneath　umbrellas；　crying　out　names　of　coachmen　or　of　masters；　broughams　coming　up　at　walking　pace；　and　flustered　couples　getting　into　them。

〃M。　Jansoulet's　carriage！〃

Everybody　turned　round；　but；　as　one　knows；　that　did　not　embarrass　him。　And　while　the　good　Nabob；　waiting　for　his　suite；　stood　posing　a　little　amid　these　fashionable　and　famous　people；　this　mixed　/tout　Paris/　which　was　there；　with　its　every　face　bearing　a　well…known　name；　a　nervous　and　well…gloved　hand　was　stretched　out　to　him；　and　the　Duc　de　Mora；　on　his　way　to　his　brougham；　threw　to　him；　as　he　passed；　these　words；　with　that　effusion　which　happiness　gives　to　the　most　reserved　of　men：

〃My　congratulations；　my　dear　deputy。〃

It　was　said　in　a　loud　voice；　and　every　one　could　hear　it：　〃My　dear　deputy。〃



There　is　in　the　life　of　all　men　one　golden　hour；　one　luminous　peak；　whereon　all　that　they　can　hope　of　prosperity；　joy；　triumph；　waits　for　them　and　is　given　into　their　hands。　The　summit　is　more　or　less　lofty；　more　or　less　rugged　and　difficult　to　climb；　but　it　exists　equally　for　all；　for　powerful　and　humble　alike。　Only；　like　that　longest　day　of　the　year　on　which　the　sun　has　shone　with　its　utmost　brilliance；　and　of　which　the　morrow　seems　a　first　step　towards　winter；　this　/summum/　of　human　existences　is　but　a　moment　given　to　be　enjoyed；　after　which　one　can　but　redescend。　This　late　afternoon　of　the　first　of　May；　streaked　with　rain　and　sunshine；　thou　must　forget　it　not；　poor　manmust　fix　forever　its　changing　brilliance　in　thy　memory。　It　was　the　hour　of　thy　full　summer；　with　its　flowers　in　bloom；　its　fruits　bending　their　golden　boughs；　its　ripe　harvests　of　which　so　recklessly　thou　wast　plucking　the　corn。　The　star　will　now　pale；　gradually　growing　more　remote　and　falling；　incapable　ere　long　of　piercing　the　mournful　night　wherein　thy　destiny　shall　be　accomplished。



MEMOIRS　OF　AN　OFFICE　PORTER　IN　THE　ANTCHAMBER

Great　festivities　last　Saturday　in　the　Place　Vendome。　In　honour　of　his　election；　M。　Bernard　Jansoulet；　the　new　deputy　for　Corsica；　gave　a　magnificent　evening　party；　with　municipal　guards　at　the　door；　illumination　of　the　entire　mansion；　and　two　thousand　invitations　sent　out　to　fashionable　Paris。

I　owed　to　the　distinction　of　my　manners；　to　the　sonority　of　my　vocal　organ；　which　the　chairman　of　the　board　had　had　occasion　to　notice　at　the　meetings　at　the　Territorial　Bank；　the　opportunity　of　taking　part　in　this　sumptuous　entertainment；　at　which；　for　three　hours；　standing　in　the　vestibule；　amid　the　flowers　and　hangings；　clad　in　scarlet　and　gold；　with　that　majesty　peculiar　to　persons　who　are　rather　generously　built；　and　with　my　calves　exposed　for　the　first　time　in　my　life；　I　launched；　like　a　cannon…ball；　through　the　five　communicating　drawing…　rooms；　the　name　of　each　guest；　which　a　glittering　beadle　saluted　every　time　with　the　〃/bing/〃　of　his　halberd　on　the　floor。

How　many　the　curious　observations　which　that　evening　again　I　was　able　to　make；　how　many　the　pleasant　sallies；　the　high…toned　jests　exchanged　among　the　servants　upon　all　that　world　as　it　passed　by！　Not　with　the　vine…dressers　of　Montbars　in　any　case　should　I　have　heard　such　drolleries。　I　should　remark　that　the　worthy　M。　Barreau；　to　begin　with；　had　caused　to　be　served　to　us　all　in　his　pantry；　filled　to　the　ceiling　with　iced　drinks　and　provisions；　a　solid　lunch　well　washed　down；　which　put　each　of　us　in　a　good　humour　that　was　maintained　during　the　evening　by　the　glasses　of　punch　and　champagne　pilfered　from　the　trays　when　dessert　was　served。

The　masters；　indeed；　seemed　in　less　joyous　mood　than　we。　So　early　as　nine　o'clock；　when　I　arrived　at　my　post；　I　was　struck　by　the　uneasy　nervousness　apparent　on　the　face　of　the　Nabob；　whom　I　saw　walking　with　M。　de　Gery　through　the　lighted　and　empty　drawing…rooms；　talking　quickly　and　making　large　gestures。

〃I　will　kill　him！〃　he　said；　〃I　will　kill　him！〃

The　other　endeavoured　to　soothe　him；　then　madame　came　in；　and　the　subject　of　their　conversation　was　changed。

A　mighty　fine　woman；　this　Levantine；　twice　as　stout　as　I　am；　dazzling　to　look　at　with　her　tiara　of　diamonds；　the　jewels　with　which　her　huge　white　shoulders　were　laden；　her　back　as　round　as　her　bosom；　her　waist　compressed　within　a　cuirass　of　green　gold；　which　was　continued　in　long　braids　down　the　whole　length　of　her　stiff　skirt。　I　have　never　seen　anything　so　imposing；　so　rich。　She　suggested　one　of　those　beautiful　white　elephants　that　carry　towers　on　their　backs；　of　which　we　read　in　books　of　travel。　When　she　walked；　supporting　herself　with　difficulty　by　means　of　clinging　to　the　furniture；　her　whole　body　quivered；　her　ornaments　clattered　like　a　lot　of　old　iron。　Added　to　this；　a　small；　very　piercing　voice；　and　a　fine　red　face　which　a　little　negro　boy　kept　cooling　for　her　all　the　time　with　a　white　feather　fan　as　big　as　a　peacock's　tail。

It　was　the　first　time　that　this　indolent　and　retiring　person　had　showed　herself　to　Parisian　society；　and　M。　Jansoulet　seemed　very　happy　and　proud　that　she　had　been　willing　to　preside　over　his　party；　which　undertaking；　for　that　matter；　did　not　cost　the　lady　much　trouble；　for；　leaving　her　husband　to　receive　the　guests　in　the　first　drawing…room；　she　went　and　lay　down　on　the　divan　of　the　small　Japanese　room；　wedged　between　two　piles　of　cushions；　motionless；　so　that　you　could　see　her　from　a　distance　right　in　the　background；　looking　like　an　idol；　beneath　the　great　fan　which　her　negro　waved　regularly　like　a　piece　of　clockwork。　These　foreign　women　possess　an　assurance！

All　the　same；　the　Nabob's　irritation　had　struck　me；　and　seeing　the　/valet　de　chambre/　go　by；　descending　the　staircase　four　steps　at　a　time；　I　caught　him　on　the　wing　and　whispered　in　his　ear：

〃What's　the　matter；　then；　with　your　governor；　M。　Noel？〃

〃It　is　the　article　in　the　/Messenger/；〃　was　his　reply；　and　I　had　to　give　up　the　idea　of　learning　anything　further　for　the　moment；　the　loud　ringing　of　a　bell　announcing　that　the　first　carriage　had　arrived；　followed　soon　by　a　crowd　of　others。

Wholly　absorbed　in　my　occupation；　careful　to　utter　clearly　the　names　which　were　given　to　me；　and　to　make　them　echo　from　salon　to　salon；　I　had　no　longer　a　thought　for　anything　besides。　It　is　no　easy　business　to　announce　in　a　proper　manner　persons　who　are　always　under　the　impression　that　their　name　must　be　known；　whisper　it　under　their　breath　as　they　pass；　and　then　are　surprised　to　hear　you　murder　it　with　the　finest　accent；　and　are　almost　angry　with　you　on　account　of　those　entrances　which；　missing　fire　and　greeted　with　little　smiles；　follow　upon　an　ill…made　announcement。　At　M。　Jansoulet's；　what　made　the　work　still　more　difficult　for　me　was　the　number　of　foreignersTurks；　Egyptians；　Persians；　Tunisians。　I　say　nothing　of　the　Corsicans；　who　were　very　numerous　that　day；　because　during　my　four　years　at　the　Territorial　I　have　become　accustomed　to　the　pronunciation　of　those　high…sounding；　interminable　names；　always　followed　by　that　of　the　locality：　〃Paganetti　de　Porto　Vecchio；　Bastelica　di　Bonifacio；　Paianatchi　de　Barbicaglia。〃

It　was　always　a　pleasure　to　me　to　modulate　these　Italian　syllables；　to　give　them　all　their　sonority；　and　I　saw　clearly；　from　the　bewildered　airs　of　these　worthy　islanders；　how　charmed　and　surprised　they　were　to　be　introduced　in　such　a　manner　into　the　high　society　of　the　Continent。　But　with　the　Turks；　these　pashas；　beys；　and　effendis；　I　had　much　more　trouble；　and　I　must　have　happened　often　to　fall　on　a　wrong　pronunciation；　for　M。　Jansoulet；　on　two　separate　occasions；　sent　word　to　me　to　pay　more　attention　to　the　names　that　were　given　to　me；　and　especially　to　announce　in　a　more　natural　manner。　This　remark；　uttered　aloud　before　the　whole　vestibule　with　a　certain　roughness；　annoyed　me　greatly；　and　prevented　meshall　I　confess　it？from　pitying　this　rich　/parvenu/　when　I　learned；　in　the　course　of　the　evening；　what　cruel　thorns　lay　concealed　in　his　bed　of　roses。

From　half　past　ten　until　midnight　the　bell　was　constantly　ringing；　carriages　rolling　up　under　the　portico；　guests　succeeding　one　another；　deputies；　senators；　councillors　of　state；　municipal　councillors；　who　looked　much　rather　as　though　they　were　attending　a　meeting　of　shareholders　than　an　evening…party　of　society　people。　What　could　account　for　this？　I　had　not　succeeded　in　finding　an　explanation；　but　a　remark　of　the　beadle　Nicklauss　opened　my　eyes。

〃Do　you　notice；　M。　Passajon；〃　said　that　worthy　henchman；　as　he　stood　opposite　me；　halberd　in　hand；　〃do　you　notice　how　few　ladies　we　have？〃

That　was　it；　egad！　Nor　were　we　the　only　two　to　observe　the　fact。　As　each　new　arrival　made　his　entry　I　could　hear　the　Nabob；　who　was　standing　near　the　door；　exclaim；　with　consternation　in　his　thick　voice　like　that　of　a　Marseillais　with　a　cold　in　his　head：

〃What！　all　alone？〃

The　guest　would　murmur　his　excuses。　〃Mn…mn…mnhis　wife　a　trifle　indisposed。　Certainly　very　sorry。〃　Then　a