the nabob-第59章

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　dull　and　heavy　sound；　like　that　of　earth　falling　on　a　coffin…lid。

What　torture　for　Felicia！　It　was　her　weakness　and　her　remorse　crossing　Paris　in　this　solemn　pomp；　this　funeral　train；　this　public　mourning　reflected　by　the　very　clouds；　and　the　proud　girl　revolted　against　this　affront　done　her　by　fate；　and　tried　to　escape　from　it　to　the　back　of　the　carriage；　where　she　remained　exhausted　with　eyes　closed；　while　old　Crenmitz；　believing　her　nervousness　to　be　grief；　did　her　best　to　comfort　her；　herself　wept　over　their　separation；　and　hiding　also；　left　the　entire　window　of　the　cab　to　the　big　Algerian　hound　with　his　finely　modelled　head　scenting　the　wind；　and　his　two　paws　resting　in　the　sash　with　an　heraldic　stiffness　of　pose。　Finally；　after　a　thousand　interminable　windings；　the　cab　suddenly　came　to　a　halt；　jolted　on　again　with　difficulty　amid　cries　and　abuse；　then；　tossed　about；　the　luggage　on　top　threatening　its　equilibrium；　it　ended　by　coming　to　a　full　stop；　held　prisoner；　as　it　were；　at　anchor。

〃/Bon　Dieu！/　what　a　mass　of　people！〃　murmured　the　Crenmitz；　terrified。

Felicia　came　out　of　her　stupor。

〃Where　are　we？〃

Under　a　colourless；　smoky　sky；　blotted　out　by　a　fine　network　of　rain　and　stretched　like　gauze　over　everything；　there　lay　an　immense　space　filled　by　an　ocean　of　humanity　surging　from　all　the　streets　that　led　to　it；　and　motionless　around　a　lofty　column　of　bronze；　which　dominated　this　sea　like　the　gigantic　mast　of　a　sunken　vessel。　Cavalry　in　squadrons；　with　swords　drawn；　guns　in　batteries　stood　at　intervals　along　an　open　passage；　awaiting　him　who　was　to　come　by；　perhaps　in　order　to　try　to　retake　him；　to　carry　him　off　by　force　from　the　formidable　enemy　who　was　bearing　him　away。　Alas！　all　the　cavalry　charges；　all　the　guns　could　be　of　no　avail　here。　The　prisoner　was　departing；　firmly　guarded；　defended　by　a　triple　wall　of　hardwood；　metal；　and　velvet；　impervious　to　grape…shot；　and　it　was　not　from　those　soldiers　that　he　could　hope　for　his　deliverance。

〃Get　away　from　this。　I　will　not　stay　here；〃　said　Felicia；　furious；　plucking　at　the　wet　box…coat　of　the　driver；　and　seized　by　a　wild　dread　at　the　thought　of　the　nightmare　which　was　pursuing　her；　of　/that/　which　she　could　hear　coming　in　a　frightful　rumbling；　still　distant；　but　growing　nearer　from　minute　to　minute。　At　the　first　movement　of　the　wheels；　however；　the　cries　and　shouts　broke　out　anew。　Thinking　that　he　would　be　allowed　to　cross　the　square；　the　driver　had　penetrated　with　great　difficulty　to　the　front　ranks　of　the　crowd；　it　now　closed　behind　him　and　refused　to　allow　him　to　go　forward。　There　they　had　to　remain；　to　endure　those　odours　of　common　people　and　of　alcohol；　those　curious　glances；　already　fired　by　the　prospect　of　an　exceptional　spectacle。　They　stared　rudely　at　the　beautiful　traveller　who　was　starting　off　with　so　many　trunks；　and　a　dog　of　such　size　for　her　defender。　Crenmitz　was　horribly　afraid；　Felicia；　for　her　part；　could　think　of　only　one　thing；　and　that　was　that　/he/　was　about　to　pass　before　her　eyes；　that　she　would　be　in　the　front　rank　to　see　him。

Suddenly　a　great　shout　〃Here　it　comes！〃　Then　silence　fell　on　the　whole　square　at　last　at　the　end　of　three　weary　hours　of　waiting。

It　came。

Felicia's　first　impulse　was　to　lower　the　blind　on　her　side；　on　the　side　past　which　the　procession　was　about　to　pass。　But　at　the　rolling　of　the　drums　close　at　hand；　seized　by　the　nervous　wrath　at　her　inability　to　escape　the　obsession　of　the　thing；　perhaps　also　infected　by　the　morbid　curiosity　around　her；　she　suddenly　let　the　blind　fly　up；　and　her　pale　and　passionate　little　face　showed　itself　at　the　window；　supported　by　her　two　clinched　hands。

〃There！　since　you　will　have　it：　I　am　watching　you。〃

As　a　funeral　it　was　as　fine　a　thing　as　can　be　seen；　the　supreme　honours　rendered　in　all　their　vain　splendour；　as　sonorous；　as　hollow　as　the　rhythmic　accompaniment　on　the　muffled　drums。　First　the　white　surplices　of　the　clergy；　amid　the　mourning　drapery　of　the　first　five　carriages；　next；　drawn　by　six　black　horses；　veritable　horses　of　Erebus；　there　advanced　the　funeral　car；　all　beplumed；　fringed　and　embroidered　in　silver；　with　big　tears；　heraldic　coronets　surmounting　gigantic　M's；　prophetic　initials　which　seemed　those　of　Death　himself；　/La　Mort/　made　a　duchess　decorated　with　the　eight　waving　plumes。　So　many　canopies　and　massive　hangings　hid　the　vulgar　body　of　the　hearse；　as　it　trembled　and　quivered　at　each　step　from　top　to　bottom　as　though　crushed　beneath　the　majesty　of　its　dead　burden。　On　the　coffin；　the　sword；　the　coat；　the　embroidered　hat；　parade　undresswhich　had　never　been　wornshone　with　gold　and　mother…of…pearl　in　the　darkened　little　tent　formed　by　the　hangings　and　among　the　bright　tints　of　fresh　flowers　telling　of　spring　in　spite　of　the　sullenness　of　the　sky。　At　a　distance　of　ten　paces　came　the　household　servants　of　the　duke；　then；　behind；　in　majestic　isolation；　the　cloaked　officer　bearing　the　emblems　of　honoura　veritable　display　of　all　the　orders　of　the　whole　world　crosses；　multicoloured　ribbons；　which　covered　to　overflowing　the　cushion　of　black　velvet　with　silver　fringe。

The　master　of　ceremonies　came　next；　in　front　of　the　representatives　of　the　Legislative　Assemblya　dozen　deputies　chosen　by　lot；　among　them　the　tall　figure　of　the　Nabob；　wearing　the　official　costume　for　the　first　time；　as　if　ironical　Fortune　had　desired　to　give　to　the　representative　on　probation　a　foretaste　of　all　parliamentary　joys。　The　friends　of　the　dead　man；　who　followed；　formed　a　rather　small　group；　singularly　well　chosen　to　exhibit　in　its　crudity　the　superficiality　and　the　void　of　that　existence　of　a　great　personage　reduced　to　the　intimacy　of　a　theatrical　manager　thrice　bankrupt；　of　a　picture…dealer　grown　wealthy　through　usuary；　of　a　nobleman　of　tarnished　reputation；　and　of　a　few　men　about　town　without　distinction。　Up　to　this　point　everybody　was　walking　on　foot　and　bareheaded；　among　the　parliamentary　representatives　there　were　only　a　few　black　skull…caps；　which　had　been　put　on　timidly　as　they　approached　the　populous　districts。　After　them　the　carriages　began。

At　the　death　of　a　great　warrior　it　is　the　custom　for　the　funeral　convoy　to　be　followed　by　the　favourite　horse　of　the　hero；　his　battle　charger；　regulating　to　the　slow　step　of　the　procession　that　dancing　step　excited　by　the　smell　of　powder　and　the　pageantry　of　standards。　In　this　case；　Mora's　great　brougham；　that　〃C…spring〃　which　used　to　bear　him　to　fashionable　or　political　gatherings；　took　the　place　of　that　companion　in　victory；　its　panels　draped　with　black；　its　lamps　veiled　in　long　streamers　of　light　crape；　floating　to　the　ground　with　undulating　feminine　grace。　These　veiled　lamps　constituted　a　new　fashion　for　funeralsthe　supreme　〃chic〃　of　mourning；　and　it　well　became　this　dandy　to　give　a　last　lesson　in　elegance　to　the　Parisians；　who　flocked　to　his　obsequies　as　to　a　〃Longchamps〃　of　death。

Three　more　masters　of　ceremony；　then　came　the　impassive　official　procession；　always　the　same　for　marriages；　deaths；　baptisms；　openings　of　Parliament；　or　receptions　of　sovereigns；　the　interminable　cortege　of　glittering　carriages；　with　large　windows　and　showy　liveries　bedizened　with　gilt；　which　passed　through　the　midst　of　the　dazzled　people；　to　whom　they　recalled　fairy…tales；　Cinderella　chariots；　while　evoking　those　〃Oh's！〃　of　admiration　that　mount　and　die　away　with　the　rockets　on　the　evenings　of　firework　displays。　And　in　the　crowd　there　was　always　to　be　found　some　good…natured　policeman；　some　learned　little　grocer　sauntering　round　on　the　lookout　for　public　ceremonies；　ready　to　name　in　a　loud　voice　all　the　people　in　the　carriages；　as　they　defiled　past；　with　their　regulation　escorts　of　dragoons；　cuirassiers；　or　Paris　guards。

First　the　representatives　of　the　Emperor；　the　Empress　and　all　the　Imperial　family；　after　these；　in　the　hierarchic　order；　cunningly　elaborated；　and　the　least　infraction　of　which　might　have　been　the　cause　of　grave　conflicts　between　the　various　departments　of　the　State　the　members　of　the　Privy　Council；　the　Marshals；　the　Admirals；　the　High　Chancellor　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　then　the　Senate；　the　Legislative　Assembly；　the　Council　of　State；　the　whole　organization　of　the　law　and　of　the　university；　the　costumes；　the　ermine；　the　headgear　of　which　took　you　back　to　the　days　of　old　Parisan　air　of　something　stately　and　antiquated；　out　of　date　in　our　sceptical　epoch　of　the　workman's　blouse　and　the　dress…coat。

Felicia；　to　avoid　her　thoughts；　voluntarily　fixed　her　eyes　upon　this　monotonous　defile；　exasperating　in　its　length；　and　little　by　little　a　torpor　stole　over　her；　as　if　on　a　rainy　day　she　had　been　turning　over　the　leaves　of　an　album　of　engravings；　a　history　of　official　costumes　from　the　most　remote　times　down　to　our　own　day。　All　these　people；　seen　in　profile；　still　and　upright；　behind　the　large　glass　panes　of　the　carriage　windows；　had　indeed　the　appearance　of　personages　in　coloured　plates；　sitting　well　forward　on　the　edge　of　the　seats　in　order　that　the　spectators　should　miss　nothing　of　their　golden　embroideries；　their　palm…leaves；　their　galloons；　their　braidspuppets　given　over　to　the　curiosity　of　the　crowdand　exposing　themselves　to　it　with　an　air　of　indifference　and　detachment。

Indifference！　That　was　the　most　special　characteristic　of　this　funeral。　It　was　to　be　felt　everywhere；　on　people's　faces　and　in　their　hearts；　as　well　among　these　functionaries　of　whom　the　greater　part　had　only　known　the　duke　by　sight；　as　in　the　ranks　on　foot　between　his　hearse　and　his　brougham；　his　closest　friends；　or　those　who　had　been　in　daily　attendance　upon　him。　The　fat　minister；　Vice…President　of　the　Council；　seemed　indifferent；　and　even　glad；　as　he　held　in　his　powerful　fist　the　strings　of　the　pall　and　seemed　to　draw　it　forward；　in　more　haste　than　the　horses　and　the　hearse　to　conduct　to　his　six　feet　of　earth　the　enemy　of　twenty　years'　standing；　the　eternal　rival；　the　obstacle　to　all　his　ambitions。　The　other　three　dignitaries　did　not　advance　with　the　same　vigour；　and　the　long　cords　floated　loosely　in　their　weary　or　careless　hands　with　significant　slackness。　The　priests　were　indifferent　by　profession。　Indifferent　were　the　servants　of　his　household；　whom　he　never　called　anything　but　〃/chose/；〃　and　whom　he　treated　really　like　〃things。〃　Indifferent　was　M。　Louis；　for　whom　it　was　the　last　day　of　servitude；　a　slave　become　emancipated；　rich　enough　to　enjoy　his　ransom。　Even　among　the　intimate　friends　of　the　dead　man　this　glacial　cold　had　penetrated。　Yet　some　of　them　had　been　deeply　attached　to　him。　But　Cardailhac　was　too　busy　superintending　the　order　and　the　progress　of　the　procession　to　give　way　to　the　least　emotion；　which　would；　besides；　have　been　foreign　to　his　nature。　Old　Monpavon；　stricken　to　the　heart；　would　have　considered　the　least　bending　of　his　linen　cuirass　and　of　his　tall　figure　a　piece　of　deplorably　bad　taste；　totally　unworthy　of　his　illustrious　friend。　His　eyes　remained　as　dry　and　glittering　as　ever；　since　the　undertakers　provide　the　tears　for　great　mournings；　embroidered　in　silver　on　black　cloth。　Some　one　was　weeping；　however；　away　yonder　among　the　members　of　the　committee；　but　he　was　expending　his　compassion　very　naively　upon　himself。　Poor　Nabob！　softened　by　that　music　and　splendour；　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　burying　all　his　ambitions　of　glory　and　dignity。　And　his