the nabob-第54章

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　one's　hand！

His　first　work！　That　was　what　the　/Revolt/　was　for　Andre；　that　first　work　always　too　exuberant　and　ornate；　into　which　the　author　throws；　to　begin　with；　whole　arrears　of　ideas　and　opinions；　pent　up　like　the　waters　of　a　river…lock；　that　first　work　which　is　often　the　richest　if　not　the　best　of　its　writer's　productions。　As　for　the　fate　that　awaited　it；　no　one　could　predict　it；　and　the　uncertainty　that　hovered　over　the　reading　of　the　drama　added　to　its　own　emotion　that　of　each　auditor；　the　hopes；　all　arrayed　in　white；　of　Mlle。　Elise；　the　fantastic　hallucinations　of　M。　Joyeuse；　and　the　more　positive　desires　of　Aline　as　she　installed　in　advance　the　modest　fortune　of　her　sister　in　the　nest　of　an　artist's　household；　beaten　by　the　winds　but　envied　by　the　crowd。

Ah；　if　one　of　those　idle　people；　taking　a　turn　for　the　hundredth　time　round　the　lake；　overwhelmed　by　the　monotony　of　his　habitual　promenade；　had　come　and　parted　the　branches；　how　surprised　he　would　have　been　at　this　picture！　But　would　he　ever　have　suspected　how　much　passion；　how　many　dreams；　what　poetry　and　hope　there　could　be　contained　in　that　little　green　corner；　hardly　larger　than　the　shadow　a　fern　throws　on　the　moss？

〃You　were　right；　I　did　not　know　the　Bois；〃　said　Paul　in　a　low　voice　to　Aline；　who　was　leaning　on　his　arm。

They　were　following　a　narrow　path　overarched　by　the　boughs　of　trees；　and　as　they　talked　were　moving　forward　at　a　quick　pace；　well　in　advance　of　the　others。　It　was　not；　however；　/pere/　Kontzen's　terrace　nor　his　appetizing　fried　dishes　that　drew　them　on。　No；　the　beautiful　lines　which　they　had　just　heard　had　carried　them　away；　lifting　them　to　great　heights；　and　they　had　not　yet　come　down　to　earth　again。　They　walked　straight　on　towards　the　ever…retreating　end　of　the　road；　which　opened　out　at　its　extremity　into　a　luminous　glory；　a　mass　of　sunbeams；　as　if　all　the　sunshine　of　that　beautiful　day　lay　waiting　for　them　where　it　had　fallen　on　the　outskirts　of　the　wood。　Never　had　Paul　felt　so　happy。　That　light　arm　that　lay　on　his　arm；　that　child's　step　by　which　his　own　was　guided；　these　alone　would　have　made　life　sweet　and　pleasant　to　him；　no　less　than　this　walk　over　the　mossy　turf　of　a　green　path。　He　would　have　told　the　girl　so；　simply；　as　he　felt　it；　had　he　not　feared　to　alarm　that　confidence　which　Aline　placed　in　him；　no　doubt　because　of　the　sentiments　which　she　knew　he　possessed　for　another　woman；　and　which　seemed　to　hold　at　a　distance　from　them　every　thought　of　love。

Suddenly；　right　before　them；　against　the　bright　background；　a　group　of　persons　riding　on　horseback　came　in　sight；　at　first　vague　and　indistinct；　then　appearing　as　a　man　and　a　woman；　handsomely　mounted；　and　entered　the　mysterious　path　among　the　bars　of　gold；　the　leafy　shadows；　the　thousand　dots　of　light　with　which　the　ground　was　strewn；　and　which；　displaced　by　their　progress　as　they　cantered　along；　rose　and　covered　them　with　flowery　patterns　from　the　chests　of　the　horses　to　the　blue　veil　of　the　lady　rider。　They　came　along　slowly；　capriciously；　and　the　two　young　people；　who　had　drawn　back　into　the　copse；　could　see　pass　close　by　them；　with　a　clinking　of　bits　proudly　shaken　and　white　with　foam　as　though　after　a　furious　gallop；　two　splendid　animals　carrying　a　pair　of　human　beings　brought　very　near　together　by　the　narrowing　of　the　path；　he；　supporting　with　one　arm　the　supple　figure　moulded　in　a　dark　cloth　habit；　she；　with　a　hand　resting　on　the　shoulder　of　her　cavalier　and　her　small　head　seen　in　retreating　profile　beneath　the　half…dropped　tulle　of　her　veil；　resting　on　it　tenderly。　This　embrace；　half　disturbed　by　the　impatience　of　the　horses；　that　kiss　on　which　their　reins　became　confused；　that　passion　which　stalked　in　broad　day　through　the　Bois　with　so　great　a　contempt　for　public　opinion；　would　have　been　enough　to　betray　the　duke　and　Felicia；　if　the　haughty　and　charming　mein　of　the　lady　and　the　aristocratic　ease　of　her　companion；　his　pallor　slightly　tinged　with　colour　as　the　result　of　his　ride　and　of　Jenkins's　miraculous　pearls；　had　not　already　betrayed　them。

It　is　not　an　extraordinary　thing　to　meet　Mora　in　the　Bois　on　a　Sunday。　Like　his　master；　he　loved　to　show　himself　to　the　Parisians；　to　advertise　his　popularity　with　all　sections　of　the　public；　and　then　the　duchess　never　accompanied　him　on　that　day；　and　he　could　make　a　halt　quite　at　his　ease　in　that　little　villa　of　Saint…James；　known　to　all　Paris；　whose　red　towers；　outlined　among　the　trees　schoolboys　used　to　point　out　to　each　other　in　whispers。　But　only　a　mad　woman；　a　daring　affronter　of　society　like　this　Felicia；　could　have　dreamt　of　advertising　herself　like　this；　with　the　loss　of　her　reputation　forever。　A　sound　of　hoofs　dying　away　in　the　distance；　of　shrubs　brushed　in　passing；　a　few　plants　that　had　been　pressed　down　and　were　straightening　themselves　again；　branches　pushed　out　of　the　way　resuming　their　placesthat　was　all　that　remained　of　the　apparition。

〃You　saw？〃　said　Paul；　speaking　first。

She　had　seen；　and　she　had　understood；　notwithstanding　the　candour　of　her　innocence；　for　a　blush　spread　over　her　features；　one　of　those　feelings　of　shame　experienced　for　the　faults　of　those　we　love。

〃Poor　Felicia！〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　pitying　not　only　the　unhappy　woman　who　had　just　passed　them；　but　also　him　whom　this　defection　must　have　smitten　to　the　very　heart。　The　truth　is　that　Paul　de　Gery　had　felt　no　surprise　at　this　meeting；　which　justified　previous　suspicions　and　the　instinctive　aversion　which　he　had　felt　for　Felicia　at　their　dinner　some　days　before。　But　he　found　it　pleasant　to　be　pitied　by　Aline；　to　feel　the　compassion　in　that　voice　becoming　more　tender；　in　that　arm　leaning　upon　his。　Like　children　who　pretend　to　be　ill　for　the　sake　of　the　pleasure　of　being　fondled　by　their　mother；　he　allowed　his　consoler　to　strive　to　appease　his　grief；　speaking　to　him　of　his　brothers；　of　the　Nabob；　and　of　his　forthcoming　trip　to　Tunisa　fine　country；　they　said。　〃You　must　write　to　us　often；　and　long　letters　about　the　interesting　things　on　the　journey；　the　place　you　stay　in。　For　one　can　see　those　who　are　far　away　better　when　one　imagines　the　kind　of　place　they　are　inhabiting。〃

So　talking；　they　reached　the　end　of　the　bowered　path　terminating　in　an　immense　open　glade　through　which　there　moved　the　tumult　of　the　Bois；　carriages　and　riders　on　horseback　alternating　with　each　other；　and　the　crowd　at　that　distance　seeming　to　be　tramping　through　a　flaky　dust　which　blended　it　into　a　single　confused　herd。　Paul　slackened　his　pace；　emboldened　by　this　last　minute　of　solitude。

〃Do　you　know　what　I　am　thinking　of？〃　he　said；　taking　Aline's　hand。　〃I　am　thinking　that　it　would　be　a　pleasure　to　be　unhappy　so　as　to　be　comforted　by　you。　But　however　precious　your　pity　may　be　to　me；　I　cannot　allow　you　to　waste　your　compassion　on　an　imaginary　pain。　No；　my　heart　is　not　broken；　but　more　alive；　on　the　contrary；　and　stronger。　And　if　I　were　to　tell　you　what　miracle　it　is　that　has　preserved　it；　what　talisman〃

He　held　out　before　her　eyes　a　little　oval　frame　in　which　was　set　a　simple　profile；　a　pencil　outline　wherein　she　recognised　herself；　surprised　to　see　herself　so　pretty；　reflected；　as　it　were；　in　the　magic　mirror　of　Love。　Tears　came　into　her　eyes　without　her　knowing　the　reason；　an　open　spring　whose　stream　beat　within　her　chaste　breast。　He　continued：

〃This　portrait　belongs　to　me。　It　was　drawn　for　me。　And　yet；　at　the　moment　of　starting　on　this　journey　I　have　a　scruple。　I　do　not　wish　to　have　it　except　from　yourself。　Take　it；　then；　and　if　you　find　a　worthier　friend；　some　one　who　loves　you　with　a　love　deeper　and　more　loyal　than　mine；　I　am　willing　that　you　should　give　it　to　him。〃

She　had　regained　her　composure；　and　looking　de　Gery　full　in　the　face　with　a　serious　tenderness；　she　said：

〃If　I　listened　only　to　my　heart；　I　should　feel　no　hesitation　about　my　reply：　for；　if　you　love　me　as　you　say；　I　am　sure　that　I　love　you　too。　But　I　am　not　free；　I　am　not　alone　in　the　world。　Look　yonder。〃

She　pointed　to　her　father　and　her　sisters；　who　were　beckoning　to　them　in　the　distance　and　hastening　to　come　up　with　them。

〃Well；　and　I　myself？〃　answered　Paul　quickly。　〃Have　I　not　similar　duties；　similar　responsibilities？　We　are　like　two　widowed　heads　of　families。　Will　you　not　love　mine　as　much　as　I　love　yours？〃

〃True？　is　it　true？　You　will　let　me　stay　with　them？　I　shall　be　Aline　for　you；　and　Bonne　Maman　for　all　our　children？　Oh！　then；〃　exclaimed　the　dear　creature；　beaming　with　joy；　〃there　is　my　portraitI　give　it　to　you！　And　all　my　soul　with　it；　too；　and　forever。〃



THE　JENKINS　PEARLS

About　a　week　after　his　adventure　with　Moessard；　that　new　complication　in　the　terrible　muddle　of　his　affairs；　Jansoulet；　on　leaving　the　Chamber；　one　Thursday；　ordered　his　coachman　to　drive　him　to　Mora's　house。　He　had　not　paid　a　visit　there　since　the　scuffle　in　the　Rue　Royale；　and　the　idea　of　finding　himself　in　the　duke's　presence　gave　him；　through　his　thick　skin；　something　of　the　panic　that　agitates　a　boy　on　his　way　upstairs　to　see　the　head…master　after　a　fight　in　the　schoolroom。　However；　the　embarrassment　of　this　first　interview　had　to　be　gone　through。　They　said　in　the　committee…rooms　that　Le　Merquier　had　completed　his　report；　a　masterpiece　of　logic　and　ferocity；　that　it　meant　an　invalidation；　and　that　he　was　bound　to　carry　it　with　a　high　hand　unless　Mora；　so　powerful　in　the　Assembly；　should　himself　intervene　and　give　him　his　word　of　command。　A　serious　matter；　and　one　that　made　the　Nabob's　cheeks　flush；　while　in　the　curved　mirrors　of　his　brougham　he　studied　his　appearance；　his　courtier's　smiles；　trying　to　think　out　a　way　of　effecting　a　brilliant　entry；　one　of　those　strokes　of　good…natured　effrontery　which　had　brought　him　fortune　with　Ahmed；　and　which　served　him　likewise　in　his　relations　with　the　French　ambassador。　All　this　accompanied　by　beatings　of　the　heart　and　by　those　shudders　between　the　shoulder…blades　which　precede　decisive　actions；　even　when　these　are　settled　within　a　gilded　chariot。

When　he　arrived　at　the　mansion　by　the　river；　he　was　much　surprised　to　notice　that　the　porter　on　the　quay；　as　on　the　days　of　great　receptions；　was　sending　carriages　up　the　Rue　de　Lille；　in　order　to　keep　a　door　free　for　those　leaving。　Rather　anxious；　he　wondered；　〃What　is　there　going　on？〃　Perhaps　a　concert　given　by　the　duchess；　a　charity　bazaar；　some　festivity　from　which　Mora　might　have　excluded　him　on　account　of　the　scandal　of　his　last　adventure。　And　this　anxiety　was　augmented　still　further　when　Jansoulet；　after　having　passed　across　the　principal　court…yard　amid　a　din　of　slamming　doors　and　a　dull　and　continuous　rumble　of　wheels　over　the　sand；　found　himselfafter　ascending　the　stepsin　the　immense　entrance…hall　filled　by　a　crowd　which　did　not　extend　beyond　any　of　the　doors　leading　to　the　rooms；　centring　its　anxious　going　and　coming　around　the　porter's　table；　where　all　the　famous　names　of　fashionable　Paris　were　being　inscribed。　It　seemed　as　though　a　disastrous　gust　of　wind　had　gone　through　the　house；　carrying　off　a　little　of　its　calm；　and　allowing　disquiet　and　danger　to　filter　into　its　comfort。

〃What　a　misfortune！〃

〃Ah！　it　is　terrible。〃

〃And　so　suddenly！〃

Such　were　the　remarks　that　people　were　exchanging　as　they　met。

An　idea　flashed　into　Jansoulet's　mind：

〃Is　the　duke　ill？〃　he　inquired　of　a　servant。