cousin betty-第2章

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the　general　effect；　when　the　rustle　of　her　silk　skirt　announced　the
Baroness。　He　at　once　struck　at　attitude。

After　dropping　on　to　a　sofa；　which　had　been　a　very　handsome　one　in　the
year　1809；　the　Baroness；　pointing　to　an　armchair　with　the　arms　ending
in　bronze　sphinxes'　heads；　while　the　paint　was　peeling　from　the　wood；
which　showed　through　in　many　places；　signed　to　Crevel　to　be　seated。

〃All　the　precautions　you　are　taking；　madame；　would　seem　full　of
promise　to　a〃

〃To　a　lover；〃　said　she；　interrupting　him。

〃The　word　is　too　feeble；〃　said　he；　placing　his　right　hand　on　his
heart；　and　rolling　his　eyes　in　a　way　which　almost　always　makes　a　woman
laugh　when　she；　in　cold　blood；　sees　such　a　look。　〃A　lover！　A　lover？
Say　a　man　bewitched〃

〃Listen；　Monsieur　Crevel；〃　said　the　Baroness；　too　anxious　to　be　able
to　laugh；　〃you　are　fiftyten　years　younger　than　Monsieur　Hulot；　I
know；　but　at　my　age　a　woman's　follies　ought　to　be　justified　by　beauty；
youth；　fame；　superior　meritsome　one　of　the　splendid　qualities　which
can　dazzle　us　to　the　point　of　making　us　forget　all　elseeven　at　our
age。　Though　you　may　have　fifty　thousand　francs　a　year；　your　age
counterbalances　your　fortune；　thus　you　have　nothing　whatever　of　what　a
woman　looks　for〃

〃But　love！〃　said　the　officer；　rising　and　coming　forward。　〃Such　love
as〃

〃No；　monsieur；　such　obstinacy！〃　said　the　Baroness；　interrupting　him　to
put　an　end　to　his　absurdity。

〃Yes；　obstinacy；〃　said　he；　〃and　love；　but　something　stronger　stilla
claim〃

〃A　claim！〃　cried　Madame　Hulot；　rising　sublime　with　scorn；　defiance；
and　indignation。　〃But；〃　she　went　on；　〃this　will　bring　us　to　no　issues；
I　did　not　ask　you　to　come　here　to　discuss　the　matter　which　led　to　your
banishment　in　spite　of　the　connection　between　our　families〃

〃I　had　fancied　so。〃

〃What！　still？〃　cried　she。　〃Do　you　not　see；　monsieur；　by　the　entire
ease　and　freedom　with　which　I　can　speak　of　lovers　and　love；　of
everything　least　creditable　to　a　woman；　that　I　am　perfectly　secure　in
my　own　virtue？　I　fear　nothingnot　even　to　shut　myself　in　alone　with
you。　Is　that　the　conduct　of　a　weak　woman？　You　know　full　well　why　I
begged　you　to　come。〃

〃No；　madame；〃　replied　Crevel；　with　an　assumption　of　great　coldness。　He
pursed　up　his　lips；　and　again　struck　an　attitude。

〃Well；　I　will　be　brief；　to　shorten　our　common　discomfort；〃　said　the
Baroness；　looking　at　Crevel。

Crevel　made　an　ironical　bow；　in　which　a　man　who　knew　the　race　would
have　recognized　the　graces　of　a　bagman。

〃Our　son　married　your　daughter〃

〃And　if　it　were　to　do　again〃　said　Crevel。

〃It　would　not　be　done　at　all；　I　suspect；〃　said　the　baroness　hastily。
〃However；　you　have　nothing　to　complain　of。　My　son　is　not　only　one　of
the　leading　pleaders　of　Paris；　but　for　the　last　year　he　has　sat　as
Deputy；　and　his　maiden　speech　was　brilliant　enough　to　lead　us　to
suppose　that　ere　long　he　will　be　in　office。　Victorin　has　twice　been
called　upon　to　report　on　important　measures；　and　he　might　even　now；　if
he　chose；　be　made　Attorney…General　in　the　Court　of　Appeal。　So；　if　you
mean　to　say　that　your　son…in…law　has　no　fortune〃

〃Worse　than　that；　madame；　a　son…in…law　whom　I　am　obliged　to　maintain；〃
replied　Crevel。　〃Of　the　five　hundred　thousand　francs　that　formed　my
daughter's　marriage　portion；　two　hundred　thousand　have　vanishedGod
knows　how！in　paying　the　young　gentleman's　debts；　in　furnishing　his
house　splendaciouslya　house　costing　five　hundred　thousand　francs；
and　bringing　in　scarcely　fifteen　thousand；　since　he　occupies　the
larger　part　of　it；　while　he　owes　two　hundred　and　sixty　thousand　francs
of　the　purchase…money。　The　rent　he　gets　barely　pays　the　interest　on
the　debt。　I　have　had　to　give　my　daughter　twenty　thousand　francs　this
year　to　help　her　to　make　both　ends　meet。　And　then　my　son…in…law；　who
was　making　thirty　thousand　francs　a　year　at　the　Assizes；　I　am　told；　is
going　to　throw　that　up　for　the　Chamber〃

〃This；　again；　Monsieur　Crevel；　is　beside　the　mark；　we　are　wandering
from　the　point。　Still；　to　dispose　of　it　finally；　it　may　be　said　that
if　my　son　gets　into　office；　if　he　has　you　made　an　officer　of　the
Legion　of　Honor　and　councillor　of　the　municipality　of　Paris；　you；　as　a
retired　perfumer；　will　not　have　much　to　complain　of〃

〃Ah！　there　we　are　again；　madame！　Yes；　I　am　a　tradesman；　a　shopkeeper；
a　retail　dealer　in　almond…paste；　eau…de…Portugal；　and　hair…oil；　and
was　only　too　much　honored　when　my　only　daughter　was　married　to　the　son
of　Monsieur　le　Baron　Hulot　d'Ervymy　daughter　will　be　a　Baroness！
This　is　Regency；　Louis　XV。；　（Eil…de…boeufquite　tip…top！very　good。）
I　love　Celestine　as　a　man　loves　his　only　childso　well　indeed；　that；
to　preserve　her　from　having　either　brother　or　sister；　I　resigned
myself　to　all　the　privations　of　a　widowerin　Paris；　and　in　the　prime
of　life；　madame。　But　you　must　understand　that；　in　spite　of　this
extravagant　affection　for　my　daughter；　I　do　not　intend　to　reduce　my
fortune　for　the　sake　of　your　son；　whose　expenses　are　not　wholly
accounted　forin　my　eyes；　as　an　old　man　of　business。〃

〃Monsieur；　you　may　at　this　day　see　in　the　Ministry　of　Commerce
Monsieur　Popinot；　formerly　a　druggist　in　the　Rue　des　Lombards〃

〃And　a　friend　of　mine；　madame；〃　said　the　ex…perfumer。　〃For　I；　Celestin
Crevel；　foreman　once　to　old　Cesar　Birotteau；　brought　up　the　said　Cesar
Birotteau's　stock；　and　he　was　Popinot's　father…in…law。　Why；　that　very
Popinot　was　no　more　than　a　shopman　in　the　establishment；　and　he　is　the
first　to　remind　me　of　it；　for　he　is　not　proud；　to　do　him　justice；　to
men　in　a　good　position　with　an　income　of　sixty　thousand　francs　in　the
funds。〃

〃Well　then；　monsieur；　the　notions　you　term　'Regency'　are　quite　out　of
date　at　a　time　when　a　man　is　taken　at　his　personal　worth；　and　that　is
what　you　did　when　you　married　your　daughter　to　my　son。〃

〃But　you　do　not　know　how　the　marriage　was　brought　about！〃　cried
Crevel。　〃Oh；　that　cursed　bachelor　life！　But　for　my　misconduct；　my
Celestine　might　at　this　day　be　Vicomtesse　Popinot！〃

〃Once　more　have　done　with　recriminations　over　accomplished　facts；〃
said　the　Baroness　anxiously。　〃Let　us　rather　discuss　the　complaints　I
have　found　on　your　strange　behavior。　My　daughter　Hortense　had　a　chance
of　marrying；　the　match　depended　entirely　on　you；　I　believed　you　felt
some　sentiments　of　generosity；　I　thought　you　would　do　justice　to　a
woman　who　has　never　had　a　thought　in　her　heart　for　any　man　but　her
husband；　that　you　would　have　understood　how　necessary　it　is　for　her
not　to　receive　a　man　who　may　compromise　her；　and　that　for　the　honor　of
the　family　with　which　you　are　allied　you　would　have　been　eager　to
promote　Hortense's　settlement　with　Monsieur　le　Conseiller　Lebas。And
it　is　you；　monsieur；　you　have　hindered　the　marriage。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　ex…perfumer；　〃I　acted　the　part　of　an　honest　man。　I
was　asked　whether　the　two　hundred　thousand　francs　to　be　settled　on
Mademoiselle　Hortense　would　be　forthcoming。　I　replied　exactly　in　these
words：　'I　would　not　answer　for　it。　My　son…in…law；　to　whom　the　Hulots
had　promised　the　same　sum；　was　in　debt；　and　I　believe　that　if　Monsieur
Hulot　d'Ervy　were　to　die　to…morrow；　his　widow　would　have　nothing　to
live　on。'There；　fair　lady。〃

〃And　would　you　have　said　as　much；　monsieur；〃　asked　Madame　Hulot；
looking　Crevel　steadily　in　the　face；　〃if　I　had　been　false　to　my　duty？〃

〃I　should　not　be　in　a　position　to　say　it；　dearest　Adeline；〃　cried　this
singular　adorer；　interrupting　the　Baroness；　〃for　you　would　have　found
the　amount　in　my　pocket…book。〃

And　adding　action　to　word；　the　fat　guardsman　knelt　down　on　one　knee
and　kissed　Madame　Hulot's　hand；　seeing　that　his　speech　had　filled　her
with　speechless　horror；　which　he　took　for　hesitancy。

〃What；　buy　my　daughter's　fortune　at　the　cost　of？　Rise；　monsieur
or　I　ring　the　bell。〃

Crevel　rose　with　great　difficulty。　This　fact　made　him　so　furious　that
he　again　struck　his　favorite　attitude。　Most　men　have　some　habitual
position　by　which　they　fancy　that　they　show　to　the　best　advantage　the
good　points　bestowed　on　them　by　nature。　This　attitude　in　Crevel
consisted　in　crossing　his　arms　like　Napoleon；　his　head　showing　three…
quarters　face；　and　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　horizon；　as　the　painter　has
shown　the　Emperor　in　his　portrait。

〃To　be　faithful；〃　he　began；　with　well…acted　indignation；　〃so　faithful
to　a　liber〃

〃To　a　husband　who　is　worthy　of　such　fidelity；〃　Madame　Hulot　put　in；　to
hinder　Crevel　from　saying　a　word　she　did　not　choose　to　hear。

〃Come；　madame；　you　wrote　to　bid　me　here；　you　ask　the　reasons　for　my
conduct；　you　drive　me　to　extremities　with　your　imperial　airs；　your
scorn；　and　your　contempt！　Any　one　might　think　I　was　a　Negro。　But　I
repeat　it；　and　you　may　believe　me；　I　have　a　right　toto　make　love　to
you；　for　But　no；　I　love　you　well　enough　to　hold　my　tongue。〃

〃You　may　speak；　monsieur。　In　a　few　days　I　shall　be　eight…and…forty；　I
am　no　prude；　I　can　hear　whatever　you　can　say。〃

〃Then　will　you　give　me　your　word　of　honor　as　an　honest　womanfor　you
are；　alas　for　me！　an　honest　womannever　to　mention　my　name　or　to　say
that　it　was　I　who　betrayed　the　secret？〃

〃If　that　is　the　condition　on　which　you　speak；　I　will　swear　never　to
tell　any　one　from　whom　I　heard　the　horrors　you　propose　to　tell　me；　not
even　my　husband。〃

〃I　should　think　not　indeed；　for　only　you　and　he　are　concerned。〃

Madame　Hulot　turned　pale。

〃Oh；　if　you　still　really　love　Hulot；　it　will　distress　you。　Shall　I　say
no　more？〃

〃Speak；　monsieur；　for　by　your　account　you　wish　to　justify　in　my　eyes
the　extraordinary　declarations　you　have　chosen　to　make　me；　and　your
persistency　in　tormenting　a　woman　of　my　age；　whose　only　wish　is　to　see
her　daughter　married；　and　thento　die　in　peace〃

〃You　see；　you　are　unhappy。〃

〃I；　monsieur？〃

〃Yes；　beautiful；　noble　creature！〃　cried　Crevel。　〃You　have　indeed　been
too　wretched！〃

〃Monsieur；　be　silent　and　goor　speak　to　me　as　you　ought。〃

〃Do　you　know；　madame；　how　Master　Hulot　and　I　first　made　acquaintance？
At　our　mistresses'；　madame。〃

〃Oh；　monsieur！〃

〃Yes；　madame；　at　our　mistresses'；〃　Crevel　repeated　in　a　melodramatic
tone；　and　leaving　his　position　to　wave　his　right　hand。

〃Well；　and　what　then？〃　said　the　Baroness　coolly；　to　Crevel's　great
amazement。

Such　mean　seducers　cannot　understand　a　great　soul。

〃I；　a　widower　five　years　since；〃　Crevel　began；　in　the　tone　of　a　man
who　has　a　story　to　tell；　〃and　not　wishing　to　marry　again　for　the　sake
of　the　daughter　I　adore；　not　choosing　either　to　cultivate　any　such
connection　in　my　own　establishment；　though　I　had　at　the　time　a　very
pretty　lady…accountant。　I　set　up；　'on　her　own　account；'　as　they　say；　a
little　sempstress　of　fifteenreally　a　miracle　of　beauty；　with　whom　I
fell　desperately　in　love。　And　in　fact；　madame；　I　asked　an　aunt　of　my
own；　my　mother's　sister；　whom　I　sent　for　from　the　country；　to　live
with　the　sweet　creature　and　keep　an　eye　on　her；　that　she　might　behave
as　well　as　might　be　in　this　ratherwhat　shall　I　sayshady？no；
delicate　position。

〃The　child；　whose　talent　for　music　was　striking；　had　masters；　she　was
educatedI　had　to　give　her　something　to　do。　Besides；　I　wished　to　be
at　once　her　father；　her　benefactor；　andwell；　out　with　ither　lover；
to　kill　two　birds　with　one　stone；　a　good　action　and　a　sweetheart。　For
five　years　I　was　very　happy。　The