the nabob-第72章

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rom　coming　to　my　marriage？〃

She　makes　excuses；　imagines　reasons；　but　her　hands　burning　between　her　son's；　and　her　altered　voice；　tell　Andre　that　she　is　not　speaking　the　truth。　He　is　going　to　strike　a　light；　she　prevents　him。

〃No；　no；　it　is　useless。　We　are　better　without　it。　Besides；　I　have　so　much　to　get　ready　still。　I　must　go　away。〃

They　are　both　standing　up；　ready　for　the　separation；　but　Andre　will　not　let　her　go　without　telling　him　what　is　the　matter；　what　tragic　care　is　hollowing　that　fair　face　where　the　eyeswas　it　an　effect　of　the　dusk？shone　with　a　strange　light。

〃Nothing；　no；　nothing；　I　assure　you。　Only　the　idea　of　not　being　able　to　take　part　in　your　happiness；　your　triumph。　At　any　rate；　you　know　I　love　you；　you　don't　mistrust　your　mother；　do　you？　I　have　never　been　a　day　without　thinking　of　you：　do　the　samekeep　me　in　your　heart。　And　now　kiss　me　and　let　me　go　quickly。　I　have　waited　too　long。〃

Another　minute　and　she　would　have　the　strength　for　what　she　had　to　do。　She　darts　forward。

〃No；　you　shall　not　go。　I　feel　that　something　extraordinary　is　happening　in　your　life　which　you　do　not　want　to　tell。　You　are　in　some　great　trouble；　I　am　sure。　This　man　has　done　some　infamous　thing。〃

〃No；　no。　Let　me　go！　Let　me　go！〃

But　he　held　her　fast。

〃Tell　me；　what　is　it？　Tell　me。〃

Then；　whispering　in　her　ear；　with　a　voice　tender　and　low　as　a　kiss：

〃He　has　left　you；　hasn't　he？〃

The　wretched　woman　shivers；　hesitates。

〃Ask　me　nothing。　I　will　say　nothing。　Adieu！〃

He　pressed　her　to　his　heart：

〃What　could　you　tell　me　that　I　do　not　know　already；　poor　mother？　You　did　not　guess；　then；　why　I　left　six　months　ago？〃

〃You　know？〃

〃I　know　everything。　And　what　has　happened　to　you　to…day　I　have　foreseen　for　long；　and　hoped　for。〃

〃Oh；　wretch；　wretch　that　I　am；　why　did　I　come？〃

〃Because　it　is　your　home；　because　you　owe　me　ten　years　of　my　mother。　You　see　now　that　I　must　keep　you。〃

He　said　all　this　on　his　knees；　before　the　sofa　on　which　she　had　let　herself　fall；　in　a　flood　of　tears；　and　the　last　painful　sobs　of　her　wounded　pride。　She　wept　thus　for　long；　her　child　at　her　feet。　And　now　the　Joyeuse　family；　anxious　because　Andre　did　not　come　down；　hurried　up　in　a　troop　to　look　for　him。　It　was　an　invasion　of　innocent　faces；　transparent　gaiety；　floating　curls；　modest　dress；　and　over　all　the　group　shone　the　big　lamp；　the　good　old　lamp　with　the　vast　shade　which　M。　Joyeuse　solemnly　carried；　as　high；　as　straight　as　he　could；　with　the　gesture　of　a　caryatid。　Suddenly　they　stopped　before　this　pale　and　sad　lady；　who　looked；　touched　to　the　depths；　at　all　this　smiling　grace；　above　all　at　Elise；　a　little　behind　the　others；　whose　conscious　air　in　this　indiscreet　visit　points　her　out　as　the　/fiancee/。

〃Elise；　embrace　our　mother　and　thank　her。　She　has　come　to　live　with　her　children。〃

There　she　is；　caught　in　all　these　caressing　arms；　pressed　against　four　little　feminine　hearts　which　have　missed　the　shelter　of　a　mother's　love　for　so　long；　there　she　is　introduced；　and　so　gently；　into　the　luminous　circle　of　the　family　lamp；　widened　to　allow　her　to　take　her　place　there；　to　dry　her　eyes；　to　warm　and　brighten　her　spirit　at　this　steady　flame；　even　in　this　little　studio　near　the　roof；　where　just　now　the　terrible　storm　blew　so　wildly。



He　who　breathes　his　last　over　there；　lying　in　his　blood…stained　bath；　has　never　known　this　sacred　flame。　Egoistical　and　hard；　he　has　lived　up　to　the　last　for　show；　throwing　out　his　chest　in　a　bubble　of　vanity。　And　this　vanity　was　what　was　best　in　him。　It　alone　had　held　him　firm　and　upright　so　long；　it　alone　clinched　his　teeth　on　the　groans　of　his　last　agony。　In　the　damp　garden　the　water　drips　sadly。　The　bugle　of　the　firemen　sounds　the　curfew。　〃Go　and　look　at　No。　7；〃　says　the　mistress；　〃he　will　never　have　done　with　his　bath。〃　The　attendant　goes；　and　utters　a　cry　of　fright；　of　horror：　〃Oh；　madame；　he　is　dead！　But　it　is　not　the　same　man。〃　They　go；　but　nobody　can　recognise　the　fine　gentleman　who　entered　a　short　time　ago；　in　this　death's…head　puppet；　the　head　leaning　on　the　edge　of　the　bath；　a　face　where　the　blood　mingles　with　paint　and　powder；　all　the　limbs　lying　in　the　supreme　lassitude　of　a　part　played　to　the　endto　the　death　of　the　actor。　Two　cuts　of　the　razor　across　the　magnificent　chest；　and　all　the　factitious　majesty　has　burst　and　resolved　itself　into　this　nameless　horror；　this　heap　of　mud；　of　blood；　of　spoiled　and　dead　flesh；　where；　unrecognisable；　lies　the　man　of　appearances；　the　Marquis　Louis…Marie…　Agenor　de　Monpavon。



MEMOIRS　OF　AN　OFFICE　PORTER　THE　LAST　LEAVES

I　put　down　in　haste　and　with　an　agitated　pen　the　terrible　events　of　which　I　have　been　the　plaything　for　the　last　few　days。　This　time　it　is　all　up　with　the　Territorial　and　with　my　ambitious　dreams。　Disputed　bills；　men　in　possession；　visits　of　the　police；　all　our　books　in　the　hands　of　the　courts；　the　governor　fled；　Bois　l'Hery；　the　director；　in　prison；　anotherMonpavondisappeared。　My　brain　reels　in　the　midst　of　these　catastrophes。　And　if　I　had　obeyed　the　warnings　of　reason；　I　should　have　been　quietly　six　months　ago　at　Montbars　cultivating　my　vineyard；　with　no　other　care　than　that　of　seeing　the　clusters　grow　round　and　golden　in　the　good　Burgundian　sun；　and　to　gather　from　the　leaves；　after　the　dew；　the　little　gray　snails；　so　excellent　when　they　are　fried。　I　should　have　built　for　myself　with　my　savings；　at　the　end　of　the　vineyard；　on　the　heightI　can　see　the　place　at　this　momenta　tower　in　rough　stone；　like　M。　Chalmette's；　so　convenient　for　an　afternoon　nap；　while　the　quails　are　chirping　round　the　place。　But　always　misled　by　deceiving　illusions；　I　wished　to　enrich　myself；　speculate；　meddle　in　finance；　chain　my　fortune　to　the　car　of　the　conquerors　of　the　day；　and　now　here　I　am　back　again　in　the　saddest　pages　of　my　history；　clerk　in　a　bankrupt　establishment；　my　duty　to　answer　a　horde　of　creditors；　of　shareholders　drunk　with　fury；　who　load　my　white　hairs　with　the　worst　outrages；　and　would　like　to　make　me　responsible　for　the　ruin　of　the　Nabob　and　the　flight　of　the　governor；　as　if　I　myself　was　not　as　cruelly　struck　by　the　loss　of　my　four　years　of　arrears；　and　my　seven　thousand　francs　which　I　had　confided　to　that　scoundrel　of　Paganetti　de　Porto…Vecchio。

But　it　is　my　fate　to　empty　the　cup　of　humiliation　and　degradation　to　the　dregs。　Have　I　not　been　made　to　appear　before　a　Juge　d'Instruction　I；　Passajon；　former　apparitor　of　the　faculty；　with　thirty　years　of　faithful　service；　and　the　ribbon　of　Officer　of　the　Academy？　Oh！　when　I　saw　myself　going　up　that　staircase　of　the　Palace　of　Justice；　so　big；　so　conspicuous；　without　a　rail　to　hold　by；　I　felt　my　head　turning　and　my　legs　sinking　under　me。　I　was　forced　to　reflect　there；　crossing　these　halls；　black　with　lawyers　and　judges；　studded　with　great　green　doors　behind　which　one　heard　the　imposing　noise　of　the　hearings；　and　up　higher；　in　the　corridor　of　the　Juges　d'Instruction；　during　my　hour's　waiting　on　a　bench；　where　the　prison　vermin　crawled　on　my　legs；　while　I　listened　to　a　lot　of　thieves；　pickpockets；　and　loose　women　talking　and　laughing　with　the　gendarmes；　and　the　butts　of　the　rifles　echo　in　the　passages；　and　the　dull　roll　of　prison　vans。　I　understood　then　the　danger　of　〃combinations；〃　and　that　it　was　not　always　good　to　ridicule　M。　Gogo。

What　reassured　me；　however；　was　that　never　having　taken　any　part　in　the　deliberations　of　the　Territorial；　I　had　no　share　in　their　dealings　and　intrigues。　But　explain　this　to　me：　Once　in　the　judge's　office；　before　that　man　in　a　velvet　cap　looking　at　me　across　his　table　with　his　little　eyes　like　hooks；　I　felt　so　pierced　through；　searched；　turned　over　to　the　very　depth　of　my　being；　that；　in　spite　of　my　innocence；　I　wanted　to　confess。　Confess　what？　I　don't　know。　But　that　is　the　effect　which　the　law　had。　This　devil　of　a　man　spent　five　minutes　looking　at　me　without　speaking；　all　the　while　turning　over　a　book　filled　with　writing　not　unknown　to　me；　and　suddenly　he　said；　in　a　mocking　and　severe　tone：

〃Well；　M。　Passajon；　how　long　is　it　since　the　affair　of　the　drayman？〃

The　memory　of　a　certain　little　misdeed；　in　which　I　had　taken　part　in　my　days　of　distress；　was　already　so　distant　that　I　did　not　understand　at　once；　but　some　words　of　the　judge　showed　me　how　completely　he　knew　the　history　of　our　bank。　This　terrible　man　knew　everything；　down　to　the　least　details；　the　most　secret　things。　Who　could　have　informed　him　so　thoroughly？

It　was　all　very　short；　very　dry；　and；　when　I　wished　to　enlighten　justice　with　some　wise　observations；　a　certain　insolent　fashion　of　saying；　〃Don't　make　phrases；〃　so　much　the　more　wounding　at　my　age　and　with　my　reputation　of　a　good　talker；　also　we　were　not　alone　in　his　office。　A　clerk　seated　near　me　was　writing　down　my　deposition；　and　behind　I　heard　the　noise　of　great　leaves　turning。　The　judge　asked　me　all　sorts　of　questions　about　the　Nabobthe　time　when　he　had　made　his　payments；　the　place　where　we　kept　our　books；　and　all　at　once；　addressing　himself　to　the　person　whom　I　could　not　see：　〃Show　us　the　cash…book；　/M。　l'Expert/。〃

A　little　man　in　a　white　tie　brought　the　great　register　to　the　table。　It　was　M。　Joyeuse；　the　former　cashier　of　Hemerlingue　&　Sons。　But　I　had　not　time　to　offer　him　my　respects。

〃Who　has　done　that？〃　asked　the　judge；　opening　the　book　where　a　page　was　torn　out。　〃Don't　lie；　now。〃

I　did　not　lie；　I　knew　nothing　of　it；　never　having　had　to　do　with　the　books。　However；　I　thought　it　my　duty　to　mention　M。　de　Gery；　the　Nabob's　secretary；　who　often　came　at　night　into　the　office　and　shut　himself　up　for　hours　casting　balances。　Then　little　Father　Joyeuse　turned　red　with　anger。

〃That　is　an　absurdity；　M。　le　Juge　d'Instruction。　M。　de　Gery　is　the　young　man　of　whom　I　have　spoken　to　you。　He　came　to　the　Territorial　as　a　superintendent；　and　thought　too　much　of　this　poor　M。　Jansoulet　to　remove　the　receipts　for　his　payments；　that　is　the　proof　of　his　blind　but　thorough　honesty。　Besides；　M。　de　Gery；　who　has　been　detained　in　Tunis；　is　on　his　way　back；　and　will　furnish　before　long　all　the　explanation　necessary。〃

I　felt　that　my　zeal　was　about　to　compromise　me。

〃Take　care；　Passajon；〃　said　the　judge。　〃You　are　only　here　as　a　witness；　but　if　you　attempt　to　mislead　justice；　you　may　return　a　prisoner〃　（he；　the　monster；　had；　indeed；　the　manner　of　desiring　it）。　〃Come　now；　consider；　who　tore　out　this　page？〃

Then　I　very　fortunately　remembered　that　some　days　before　he　left　Paris　the　governor　had　me　made　bring　the　books　to　his　house；　where　they　were　all　night。　The　clerk　took　a　note　of　my　declaration；　after　which　the　judge　dismissed　me　with　a　sign；　warning　me　to　be　ready　when　I　was　wanted。　Then；　on　the　threshold；　he　called　me　back：　〃Stay；　M。　Passajon；　take　this　away。　I　don't　want　it　any　more。〃

He　held　out　the　papers　he　had　been　consulting　while　he　was　questioning　me；　and　judge　of　my　confusion　when　I　saw　on　the　cover　the　word　〃Memoirs；〃　written　in　my　best　round…hand。　I；　myself；　had　provided　material　to　Justiceimportant　details　which　the　suddenness　of　our　catastrophe　had　prevented　me　from　saving　from　the　police　search　of　our　office。

My　first　idea　on　returning　home　was　to　tear　up　these　indiscreet　papers；　but　on　reflection；　and　after　having　assured　myself　that　the　Memoirs　contained　nothing　that　would　compromise　me；　I　have　decided　to　go　on　with　them；　with　th