the nabob-第7章

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The　address　required　to　be　repeated　twice　to　the　coachman；　Joey；　who　was　scandalized；　the　very　horse　showed　a　momentary　hesitation；　as　if　the　valuable　beast　and　the　impeccably　clad　servant　had　felt　revolt　at　the　idea　of　driving　out　to　such　a　distant　suburb；　beyond　the　limited　but　so　brilliant　circle　wherein　their　master's　clients　were　scattered。　The　carriage　arrived；　all　the　same；　without　accident；　at　the　end　of　a　provincial…looking；　unfinished　street；　and　at　the　last　of　its　buildings；　a　house　of　unfurnished　apartments　with　five　stories；　which　the　street　seemed　to　have　despatched　forward　as　a　reconnoitring　party　to　discover　whether　it　might　continue　on　that　side　isolated　as　it　stood　between　vaguely　marked…out　sites　waiting　to　be　built　upon　or　heaped　with　the　debris　of　houses　broken　down；　with　blocks　of　freestone；　old　shutters　lying　amid　the　desolation；　mouldy　butchers'　blocks　with　broken　hinges　hanging；　an　immense　ossuary　of　a　whole　demolished　region　of　the　town。

Innumerable　placards　were　stuck　above　the　door；　the　latter　being　decorated　by　a　great　frame　of　photographs　white　with　dust　before　which　Jenkins　paused　for　a　moment　as　he　passed。　Had　the　famous　doctor　come　so　far；　then；　simply　for　the　purpose　of　having　a　photograph　taken？　It　might　have　been　thought　so；　judging　by　the　attention　with　which　he　stayed　to　examine　this　display；　the　fifteen　or　twenty　photographs　which　represented　the　same　family　in　different　poses　and　actions　and　with　varying　expressions；　an　old　gentleman；　with　chin　supported　by　a　high　white　neckcloth；　and　a　leathern　portfolio　under　his　arm；　surrounded　by　a　bevy　of　young　girls　with　their　hair　in　plait　or　in　curls；　and　with　modest　ornaments　on　their　black　frocks。　Sometimes　the　old　gentleman　had　posed　with　but　two　of　his　daughters；　or　perhaps　one　of　those　young　and　pretty　profile　figures　stood　out　alone；　the　elbow　resting　upon　a　broken　column；　the　head　bowed　over　a　book　in　a　natural　and　easy　pose。　But；　in　short；　it　was　always　the　same　air　with　variations；　and　within　the　glass　frame　there　was　no　gentleman　save　the　old　gentleman　with　the　white　neckcloth；　nor　other　feminine　figures　that　those　of　his　numerous　daughters。

〃Studios　upstairs；　on　the　fifth　floor；〃　said　a　line　above　the　frame。　Jenkins　sighed；　measured　with　his　eye　the　distance　that　separated　the　ground　from　the　little　balcony　up　there　in　the　clouds；　then　he　decided　to　enter。　In　the　corridor　he　passed　a　white　neckcloth　and　a　majestic　leathern　portfolio；　evidently　the　old　gentleman　of　the　photographic　exhibition。　Questioned；　this　individual　replied　that　M。　Maranne　did　indeed　live　on　the　fifth　floor。　〃But；〃　he　added；　with　an　engaging　smile；　〃the　stories　are　not　lofty。〃　Upon　this　encouragement　the　Irishman　began　to　ascend　a　narrow　and　quite　new　staircase　with　landings　no　larger　than　a　step；　only　one　door　on　each　floor；　and　badly　lighted　windows　through　which　could　be　seen　a　gloomy；　ill…paved　court…　yard　and　other　cage…like　staircases；　all　empty；　one　of　those　frightful　modern　houses；　built　by　the　dozen　by　penniless　speculators；　and　having　as　their　worst　disadvantage　thin　partition　walls　which　oblige　all　the　inhabitants　to　live　in　a　phalansterian　community。

At　this　particular　time　the　inconvenience　was　not　great；　the　fourth　and　fifth　floors　alone　happening　to　be　occupied；　as　though　the　tenants　had　dropped　into　them　from　the　sky。

On　the　fourth　floor；　behind　a　door　with　a　copper　plate　bearing　the　announcement　〃M。　Joyeuse；　Expert　in　Bookkeeping；〃　the　doctor　heard　a　sound　of　fresh　laughter；　of　young　people's　chatter；　and　of　romping　steps；　which　accompanied　him　to　the　floor　above；　to　the　photographic　establishment。

These　little　businesses　perched　away　in　corners　with　the　air　of　having　no　communication　with　any　outside　world　are　one　of　the　surprises　of　Paris。　One　asks　one's　self　how　the　people　live　who　go　into　these　trades；　what　fastidious　Providence　can；　for　example；　send　clients　to　a　photographer　lodged　on　a　fifth　floor　in　a　nondescript　region；　well　beyond　the　Rue　Saint…Ferdinand；　or　books　to　keep　to　the　accountant　below。　Jenkins；　as　he　made　this　reflection；　smiled　in　pity；　then　went　straight　in　as　he　was　invited　by　the　following　inscription；　〃Enter　without　knocking。〃　Alas！　the　permission　was　scarcely　abused。　A　tall　young　man　wearing　spectacles；　and　writing　at　a　small　table；　with　his　legs　wrapped　in　a　travelling…rug；　rose　precipitately　to　greet　the　visitor　whom　his　short　sight　had　prevented　him　from　recognising。

〃Good…morning；　Andre；〃　said　the　doctor；　stretching　out　his　loyal　hand。

〃M。　Jenkins！〃

〃You　see；　I　am　good…natured　as　I　have　always　been。　Your　conduct　towards　us；　your　obstinacy　in　persisting　in　living　far　away　from　your　parents；　imposed　a　great　reserve　on　me；　for　my　own　dignity's　sake；　but　your　mother　has　wept。　And　here　I　am。〃

While　he　spoke；　he　examined　the　poor　little　studio；　with　its　bare　walls；　its　scanty　furniture；　the　brand…new　photographic　apparatus；　the　little　Prussian　fireplace；　new　also　and　never　yet　used　for　a　fire；　all　forced　into　painfully　clear　evidence　beneath　the　direct　light　falling　from　the　glass　roof。　The　drawn　face；　the　scanty　beard　of　the　young　man；　to　whom　the　bright　colour　of　his　eyes；　the　narrow　height　of　his　forehead；　his　long　and　fair　hair　thrown　backward　gave　the　air　of　a　visionary；　everything　was　accentuated　in　the　crude　light；　and　also　the　resolute　will　in　that　clear　glance　which　settled　upon　Jenkins　coldly；　and　in　advance　to　all　his　reasonings；　to　all　his　protestations；　opposed　an　invincible　resistance。

But　the　good　Jenkins　feigned　not　to　perceive　anything　of　this。

〃You　know；　my　dear　Andre；　since　the　day　when　I　married　your　mother　I　have　regarded　you　as　my　son。　I　looked　forward　to　leaving　you　my　practice　and　my　patients；　to　putting　your　foot　in　a　golden　stirrup；　happy　to　see　you　following　a　career　consecrated　to　the　welfare　of　humanity。　All　at　once；　without　giving　any　reason；　without　taking　into　any　consideration　the　effect　which　such　a　rupture　might　well　have　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　you　have　separated　yourself　from　us；　you　have　abandoned　your　studies；　renounced　your　future；　in　order　to　launch　out　into　I　know　not　what　eccentric　life；　engaging　in　a　ridiculous　trade；　the　refuge　and　the　excuse　of　all　unclassed　people。〃

〃I　follow　this　occupation　in　order　to　earn　a　living。　It　is　bread　and　butter　in　the　meantime。〃

〃In　what　meantime？　While　you　are　waiting　for　literary　glory？〃

He　glanced　disdainfully　at　the　scribbling　scattered　over　the　table。

〃All　that　is　not　serious；　you　know；　and　here　is　what　I　am　come　to　tell　you。　An　opportunity　presents　itself　to　you；　a　double…swing　door　opening　into　the　future。　The　Bethlehem　Society　is　founded。　The　most　splendid　of　my　philanthropic　dreams　has　taken　body。　We　have　just　purchased　a　superb　villa　at　Nanterre　for　the　housing　of　our　first　establishment。　It　is　the　care；　the　management　of　this　house　that　I　have　thought　of　intrusting　to　you　as　to　an　/alter　ego/。　A　princely　dwelling；　the　salary　of　the　commander　of　a　division；　and　the　satisfaction　of　a　service　rendered　to　the　great　human　family。　Say　one　word；　and　I　take　you　to　see　the　Nabob；　the　great…hearted　man　who　defrays　the　expense　of　our　undertaking。　Do　you　accept？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　other　so　curtly　that　Jenkins　was　somewhat　put　out　of　countenance。

〃Just　so。　I　was　prepared　for　this　refusal　when　I　came　here。　But　I　am　come　nevertheless。　I　have　taken　for　motto；　'To　do　good　without　hope；'　and　I　remain　faithful　to　my　motto。　So　then；　it　is　understood　you　prefer　to　the　honourable；　worthy；　and　profitable　existence　which　I　have　just　proposed　to　you；　a　life　of　hazard　without　aim　and　without　dignity？〃

Andre　answered　nothing；　but　his　silence　spoke　for　him。

〃Take　care。　You　know　what　that　decision　will　involve；　a　definitive　estrangement；　but　you　have　always　wanted　that。　I　need　not　tell　you；〃　continued　Jenkins；　〃that　to　break　with　me　is　to　break　off　relations　also　with　your　mother。　She　and　I　are　one。〃

The　young　man　turned　pale；　hesitated　a　moment；　then　said　with　effort：

〃If　it　please　my　mother　to　come　to　see　me　here；　I　shall　be　delighted；　certainly。　But　my　determination　to　quit　your　house；　to　have　no　longer　anything　in　common　with　you；　is　irrevocable。〃

〃And　will　you　at　least　say　why？〃

He　made　a　negative　sign；　he　would　not　say。

For　once　the　Irishman　felt　a　genuine　impulse　of　anger。　His　whole　face　assumed　a　cunning；　savage　expression　which　would　have　very　much　astonished　those　that　only　knew　the　good　and　loyal　Jenkins；　but　he　took　good　care　not　to　push　further　an　explanation　which　he　feared　perhaps　as　much　as　he　desired　it。

〃Adieu；〃　said　he；　half　turning　his　head　on　the　threshold。　〃And　never　apply　to　us。〃

〃Never；〃　replied　his　stepson　in　a　firm　voice。

This　time；　when　the　doctor　had　said　to　Joey；　〃Place　Vendome；〃　the　horse；　as　though　he　had　understood　that　they　were　going　to　the　Nabob's；　gave　a　proud　shake　to　his　glittering　curb…chains；　and　the　brougham　set　off　at　full　speed；　transforming　each　axle　of　its　wheels　into　sunshine。　〃To　come　so　far　to　get　a　reception　like　that！　A　celebrity　of　the　time　to　be　treated　thus　by　that　Bohemian！　One　may　try　indeed　to　do　good！〃　Jenkins　gave　vent　to　his　anger　in　a　long　monologue　of　this　character；　then　suddenly　rousing　himself；　exclaimed；　〃Ah；　bah！〃　and　what　anxiety　there　was　remaining　on　his　brow　quickly　vanished　on　the　pavement　of　the　Place　Vendome。　Noon　was　striking　everywhere　in　the　sunshine。　Issued　forth　from　behind　its　curtain　of　mist；　luxurious　Paris；　awake　and　on　its　feet；　was　commencing　its　whirling　day。　The　shop…windows　of　the　Rue　de　la　Paix　shone　brightly。　The　mansions　of　the　square　seemed　to　be　ranging　themselves　haughtily　for　the　receptions　of　the　afternoon；　and；　right　at　the　end　of　the　Rue　Castiglione　with　its　white　arcades；　the　Tuileries；　beneath　a　fine　burst　of　winter　sunshine；　raised　shivering　statues；　pink　with　cold；　amid　the　stripped　trees。



A　LUNCHEON　IN　THE　PLACE　VENDOME

There　were　scarcely　more　than　a　score　of　persons　that　morning　in　the　Nabob's　dining…room；　a　dining…room　in　carved　oak；　supplied　the　previous　evening　as　it　were　by　some　great　upholsterer；　who　at　the　same　stroke　had　furnished　these　suites　of　four　drawing…rooms　of　which　you　caught　sight　through　an　open　doorway；　the　hangings　on　the　ceiling；　the　objects　of　art；　the　chandeliers；　even　the　very　plate　on　the　sideboards　and　the　servants　who　were　in　attendance。　It　was　obviously　the　kind　of　interior　improvised　the　moment　he　was　out　of　the　railway…train　by　a　gigantic　/parvenu/　in　haste　to　enjoy。　Although　around　the　table　there　was　no　trace　of　any　feminine　presence；　no　bright　frock　to　enliven　it；　its　aspect　was　yet　not　monotonous；　thanks　to　the　dissimilarity；　the　oddness　of　the　guests；　people　belonging　to　every　section　of　society；　specimens　of　humanity　detached　from　all　races；　in　France；　in　Europe；　in　the　entire　globe；　from　the　top　to　the　bottom　of　the　social　ladder。　To　begin　with；　the　master　of　the　housea　kind　of　giant；　tanned；　burned　by　the　sun；　saffron…coloured；　with　head　in　his　shoulders。　His　nose；　which　was　short　and　lost　in　the　puffiness　of　his　face；　his　woolly　hair　massed　like　a　cap　of　astrakhan　above　a　low　and　obstinate　forehead；　and　his　bristly　eyebrows　with　eyes　like　those　of　an　ambushed　chapard　gave　him　the　ferocious　aspect　of　a　Kalmuck；　of　some　frontier　savage　living　by　war　and　rap