the nabob-第53章

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　and　sweet；　in　the　silence　of　the　factories；　passing　with　the　ringing　of　church…bells　and　that　sharp　whistle　of　the　railways；　and　filling　the　horizon；　all　around　the　outskirts　of　the　city；　with　an　immense　song；　as　it　were；　of　departure　and　of　deliverance。　Then　one　understands　it　and　loves　it。

O　Sunday　of　Paris；　Sunday　of　the　toilers　and　the　humble；　often　have　I　cursed　thee　without　reason；　I　have　poured　whole　streams　of　abusive　ink　over　thy　noisy　and　extravagant　joys；　over　the　dust　of　railway　stations　filled　by　thy　uproar　and　the　maddening　omnibuses　that　thou　takest　by　assault；　over　thy　tavern　songs　bawled　everywhere　from　carts　adorned　with　green　and　pink　dresses；　on　thy　barrel…organs　grinding　out　their　tunes　beneath　the　balconies　of　deserted　court…yards；　but　to…day；　abjuring　my　errors；　I　exalt　thee；　and　I　bless　thee　for　all　the　joy　and　relief　thou　givest　to　courageous　and　honest　labour；　for　the　laughter　of　the　children　who　greet　thee　with　acclamation；　the　pride　of　mothers　happy　to　dress　their　little　ones　in　their　best　clothes　in　thy　honour；　for　the　dignity　thou　dost　preserve　in　the　homes　of　the　poorest；　the　glorious　raiment　set　aside　for　thee　at　the　bottom　of　the　old　shaky　chest　of　drawers；　I　bless　thee　especially　by　reason　of　all　the　happiness　thou　hast　brought　that　morning　to　the　great　new　house　in　the　old　faubourg。

Toilettes　having　been　completed；　the　/dejeuner/　finished；　taken　on　the　thumb；　as　they　sayand　you　can　imagine　what　quantity　these　young　ladies'　thumbs　would　carrythey　came　to　put　on　their　hats　before　the　mirror　in　the　drawing…room。　Bonne　Maman　threw　around　her　supervising　glance；　inserted　a　pin　here；　retied　a　ribbon　there；　straightened　her　father's　cravat；　but　while　all　this　little　world　was　stamping　with　impatience；　beckoned　out　of　doors　by　the　beauty　of　the　day；　there　came　a　ring　at　the　bell；　echoing　through　the　apartment　and　disturbing　their　gay　proceedings。

〃Suppose　we　don't　open　the　door？〃　propose　the　children。

And　what　a　relief；　with　a　cry　of　delight；　they　see　their　friend　Paul　come　in！

〃Quick！　quick！　Come　and　let　us　tell　you　the　good　news。〃

He　knew　well；　before　any　of　them；　that　the　play　had　been　accepted。　He　had　had　a　good　deal　of　trouble　to　get　it　read　by　Cardailhac；　who；　the　moment　he　saw　its　〃short　lines；〃　as　he　called　verse；　wished　to　send　the　manuscript　to　the　Levantine　and　her　/masseur/；　as　he　was　wont　to　do　in　the　case　of　all　beginners　in　the　writing　of　drama。　But　Paul　was　careful　not　to　refer　to　his　own　intervention。　As　for　the　other　event；　the　one　of　which　nothing　was　said；　on　account　of　the　children；　he　guessed　it　easily　by　the　trembling　greeting　of　Maranne；　whose　fair　mane　was　standing　straight　up　over　his　forehead　by　reason　of　the　poet's　two　hands　having　been　pushed　through　it　so　many　times；　a　thing　he　always　did　in　his　moments　of　joy；　by　the　slightly　embarrassed　demeanour　of　Elise；　by　the　triumphant　airs　of　M。　Joyeuse；　who　was　standing　very　erect　in　his　new　summer　clothes；　with　all　the　happiness　of　his　children　written　on　his　face。

Bonne　Maman　alone　preserved　her　usual　peaceful　air；　but　one　noticed；　in　the　eager　alacrity　with　which　she　forestalled　her　sister's　wants；　a　certain　attention　still　more　tender　than　before；　an　anxiety　to　make　her　look　pretty。　And　it　was　delicious　to　watch　the　girl　of　twenty　as　she　busied　herself　about　the　adornment　of　others；　without　envy；　without　regret；　with　something　of　the　gentle　renunciation　of　a　mother　welcoming　the　young　love　of　her　daughter　in　memory　of　a　happiness　gone　by。　Paul　saw　this；　he　was　the　only　one　who　did　see　it；　but　while　admiring　Aline；　he　asked　himself　sadly　if　in　that　maternal　heart　there　would　ever　be　place　for　other　affections；　for　preoccupations　outside　the　tranquil　and　bright　circle　wherein　Bonne　Maman　presided　so　prettily　over　the　evening　work。

Love　is；　as　one　knows；　a　poor　blind　creature；　deprived　of　hearing　and　speech；　and　only　led　by　presentiments；　divinations；　the　nervous　faculties　of　a　sick　man。　It　is　pitiable　indeed　to　see　him　wandering；　feeling　his　way；　constantly　making　false　steps；　passing　his　hands　over　the　supports　by　which　he　guides　himself　with　the　distrustful　awkwardness　of　the　infirm。　At　the　very　moment　when　Paul　was　doubting　Aline's　sensibility；　in　announcing　to　his　friends　that　he　was　about　to　start　on　a　journey　which　would　occupy　several　days；　perhaps　several　weeks；　did　not　remark　the　girl's　sudden　paleness；　did　not　hear　the　distressed　cry　that　escaped　her　lips：

〃You　are　going　away？〃

He　was　going　away；　going　to　Tunis；　very　much　troubled　at　leaving　his　poor　Nabob　in　the　midst　of　the　pack　of　furious　wolves　that　surrounded　him。　Mora's　protection；　however；　gave　him　some　reassurance；　and　then；　the　journey　in　question　was　absolutely　necessary。

〃And　the　Territorial？〃　asked　the　old　accountant；　ever　returning　to　the　subject　in　his　mind。　〃How　are　things　standing　there？　I　see　Jansoulet's　name　still　at　the　head　of　the　board。　You　cannot　get　him　out；　then；　from　that　Ali…Baba's　cave？　Take　caretake　care！〃

〃Ah；　I　know　all　about　that；　M。　Joyeuse。　But；　to　leave　it　with　honour；　money　is　needed；　much　money；　a　fresh　sacrifice　of　two　or　three　millions；　and　we　have　not　got　them。　That　is　exactly　the　reason　why　I　am　going　to　Tunis　to　try　to　wrest　from　the　rapacity　of　the　Bey　a　slice　of　that　great　fortune　which　he　is　retaining　in　his　possession　so　unjustly。　At　present　I　have　still　some　chance　of　succeeding；　while　later　on；　perhaps〃

〃Go；　then；　and　make　haste；　my　dear　lad；　and　if　you　return；　as　I　wish　you　may；　with　a　heavy　bag；　see　that　you　deal　first　of　all　with　the　Paganetti　gang。　Remember　that　one　shareholder　less　patient　than　the　rest　has　the　power　to　smash　the　whole　thing　up；　to　demand　an　inquiry；　and　you　know　what　the　inquiry　would　reveal。　Now　I　come　to　think　of　it；〃　added　M。　Joyeuse；　whose　brow　had　contracted　a　frown；　〃I　am　even　surprised　that　Hemerlingue；　in　his　hatred　for　you；　has　not　secretly　brought　up　a　few　shares。〃

He　was　interrupted　by　the　chorus　of　imprecations　which　the　name　of　Hemerlingue　raised　from　all　the　young　people；　who　detested　the　fat　banker　for　the　injury　he　had　done　their　father；　and　for　the　ill…will　he　bore　that　good　Nabob；　who　was　adored　in　the　house　through　Paul　de　Gery。

〃Hemerlingue；　the　heartless　monster！　Wretch！　That　wicked　man！〃

But　amid　all　these　exclamations；　the　Visionary　was　following　up　his　idea　of　the　fat　baron　becoming　a　shareholder　in　the　Territorial　for　the　purpose　of　dragging　his　enemy　into　the　courts。　And　you　may　imagine　the　stupefaction　of　Andre　Maranne；　a　complete　stranger　to　the　whole　affair；　when　he　saw　M。　Joyeuse　turn　to　him；　and；　with　face　purple　and　swollen　with　rage；　point　his　finger　at　him；　with　these　terrible　words：

〃The　greatest　rascal；　after　all；　in　this　affair；　is　you；　sir！〃

〃Oh；　papa；　papa！　what　are　you　saying？〃

〃Eh；　what？　Ah；　forgive　me；　my　dear　Andre。　I　was　fancying　myself　in　the　examining　magistrate's　private　room；　face　to　face　with　that　rogue。　It　is　my　confounded　brain　that　is　always　running　away　with　me。〃

All　broke　into　uproarious　laughter；　which　escaped　into　the　outer　air　through　the　open　windows；　and　went　to　mingle　with　the　thousand　noises　of　moving　vehicles　and　people　in　their　Sunday　clothes　going　up　the　Avenue　des　Ternes。　The　author　of　/Revolt/　took　advantage　of　the　diversion　to　ask　whether　they　were　not　soon　going　to　start。　It　was　latethe　good　places　would　be　taken　in　the　Bois。

〃To　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　on　Sunday！〃　exclaimed　Paul　de　Gery。

〃Oh；　our　Bois　is　not　yours；〃　replied　Aline　with　a　smile。　〃Come　with　us；　and　you　will　see。〃

Did　it　ever　happen　to　you；　in　the　course　of　a　solitary　and　contemplative　walk；　to　lie　down　on　your　face　in　the　undergrowth　of　a　forest；　amid　that　vegetation　which　springs　up；　various　and　manifold；　through　the　fallen　autumn　leaves；　and　allow　your　eyes　to　wander　along　the　level　of　the　ground　before　you？　Little　by　little　the　sense　of　height　is　lost；　the　interwoven　branches　of　the　oaks　above　your　head　form　an　inaccessible　sky；　and　you　behold　a　new　forest　extending　beneath　the　other；　opening　its　deep　avenues　filled　by　a　green　and　mysterious　light；　and　formed　of　tiny　shrubs　or　root　fibres　taking　the　appearance　of　the　stems　of　sugar…canes；　of　severely　graceful　palm…　trees；　of　delicate　cups　containing　a　drop　of　water；　of　many…branched　candlesticks　bearing　little　yellow　lights　which　the　wind　blows　on　as　it　passes。　And　the　miraculous　thing　is；　that　beneath　these　light　shadows　live　minute　plants　and　thousand　of　insects　whose　existence；　observed　from　so　near　at　hand；　is　a　revelation　to　you　of　all　the　mysteries。　An　ant；　bending　like　a　wood…cutter　under　his　burden；　drags　after　it　a　splinter　of　bark　bigger　than　itself；　a　beetle　makes　its　way　along　a　blade　of　grass　thrown　like　a　bridge　from　one　stem　to　another；　while　beneath　a　lofty　bracken　standing　isolated　in　the　middle　of　a　patch　of　velvety　moss；　a　little　blue　or　red　insect　waits；　with　antennae　at　attention；　for　another　little　insect　on　its　way　through　some　desert　path　over　there　to　arrive　at　the　trysting…place　beneath　the　giant　tree。　It　is　a　small　forest　beneath　a　great　one；　too　near　the　soil　to　be　noticed　by　its　big　neighbours；　too　humble；　too　hidden　to　be　reached　by　its　great　orchestra　of　song　and　storm。

A　similar　revelation　awaits　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne。　Behind　those　sanded　drives；　watered　and　clean；　whereon　files　of　carriage…wheels　moving　slowly　round　the　lake　trace　all　day　long　a　worn　and　mechanical　furrow；　behind　that　admirably　set　scene　of　trimmed　green　hedges；　of　captive　water；　of　flowery　rocks；　the　true　Bois；　a　wild　wood　with　perennial　undergrowth；　grows　and　flourishes；　forming　impenetrable　recesses　traversed　by　narrow　paths　and　bubbling　springs。

This　is　the　Bois　of　the　children；　the　Bois　of　the　humble；　the　little　forest　beneath　the　great　one。　And　Paul；　who　knew　only　the　long　avenues　of　the　aristocratic　Parisian　promenades；　the　sparkling　lake　perceived　from　the　depths　of　a　carriage　or　from　the　top　of　a　coach　in　a　drive　back　from　Longchamps；　was　astonished　to　see　the　deliciously　sheltered　nook　to　which　his　friends　had　led　him。　It　was　on　the　banks　of　a　pond　lying　like　a　mirror　under　willow…trees；　covered　with　water…lilies；　with　here　and　there　large　white　shimmering　spaces　where　sunbeams　fell　and　lay　on　the　bright　surface。

On　the　sloping　bank；　sheltered　by　the　boughs　of　trees　where　the　leaves　were　already　thick；　they　sat　down　to　listen　to　the　reading　of　the　play；　and　the　pretty；　attentive　faces；　the　skirts　lying　puffed　out　over　the　grass；　made　one　think　of　some　Decameron；　more　innocent　and　chaste；　in　a　peaceful　atmosphere。　To　complete　this　pleasant　country　scene；　two　windmill…sails　seen　through　an　opening　in　the　branches　were　revolving　over　in　the　direction　of　Suresnes；　while　of　the　dazzling　and　luxurious　vision　to　be　met　at　every　cross…roads　in　the　Bois　there　reached　them　only　a　confused　and　perpetual　murmur；　which　one　ended　by　ceasing　to　notice。　The　poet's　voice　alone　rose　in　the　silence；　the　verses　fell　on　the　air　tremblingly；　repeated　below　the　breath　by　other　moved　lips；　and　stifled　sounds　of　approbation　greeted　them；　with　shudders　at　the　tragic　passages。　Bonne　Maman　was　even　seen　to　wipe　away　a　big　tear。　That　comes；　you　see；　from　having　no　embroidery　in　one's　hand！

His　first　work！　That　was　what　the　/Revolt/　was　for　Andre；　that　first　work　always　too