cousin betty-第20章

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a　word。　He　cares　less　for　his　boy　than　I　care　for　one　of　the　marble
children　that　play　at　the　feet　of　one　of　the　river…gods　in　the
Tuileries。　If　I　do　not　come　home　to　dinner；　he　dines　quite　contentedly
with　the　maid；　for　the　maid　is　devoted　to　monsieur；　and　he　goes　out
every　evening　after　dinner；　and　does　not　come　in　till　twelve　or　one
o'clock。　Unfortunately；　for　a　year　past；　I　have　had　no　ladies'　maid；
which　is　as　much　as　to　say　that　I　am　a　widow！

〃I　have　had　one　passion；　once　have　been　happya　rich　Brazilianwho
went　away　a　year　agomy　only　lapse！He　went　away　to　sell　his
estates；　to　realize　his　land；　and　come　back　to　live　in　France。　What
will　he　find　left　of　his　Valerie？　A　dunghill。　Well！　it　is　his　fault
and　not　mine；　why　does　he　delay　coming　so　long？　Perhaps　he　has　been
wreckedlike　my　virtue。〃

〃Good…bye；　my　dear；〃　said　Lisbeth　abruptly；　〃we　are　friends　for　ever。
I　love　you；　I　esteem　you；　I　am　wholly　yours！　My　cousin　is　tormenting
me　to　go　and　live　in　the　house　you　are　moving　to；　in　the　Rue　Vanneau；
but　I　would　not　go；　for　I　saw　at　once　the　reasons　for　this　fresh　piece
of　kindness〃

〃Yes；　you　would　have　kept　an　eye　on　me；　I　know！〃　said　Madame　Marneffe。

〃That　was；　no　doubt；　the　motive　of　his　generosity；〃　replied　Lisbeth。
〃In　Paris；　most　beneficence　is　a　speculation；　as　most　acts　of
ingratitude　are　revenge！　To　a　poor　relation　you　behave　as　you　do　to
rats　to　whom　you　offer　a　bit　of　bacon。　Now；　I　will　accept　the　Baron's
offer；　for　this　house　has　grown　intolerable　to　me。　You　and　I　have　wit
enough　to　hold　our　tongues　about　everything　that　would　damage　us；　and
tell　all　that　needs　telling。　So；　no　blabbingand　we　are　friends。〃

〃Through　thick　and　thin！〃　cried　Madame　Marneffe；　delighted　to　have　a
sheep…dog；　a　confidante；　a　sort　of　respectable　aunt。　〃Listen　to　me；
the　Baron　is　doing　a　great　deal　in　the　Rue　Vanneau〃

〃I　believe　you！〃　interrupted　Lisbeth。　〃He　has　spent　thirty　thousand
francs！　Where　he　got　the　money；　I　am　sure　I　don't　know；　for　Josepha
the　singer　bled　him　dry。Oh！　you　are　in　luck；〃　she　went　on。　〃The
Baron　would　steal　for　a　woman　who　held　his　heart　in　two　little　white
satin　hands　like　yours！〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Madame　Marneffe；　with　the　liberality　of　such
creatures；　which　is　mere　recklessness；　〃look　here；　my　dear　child；　take
away　from　here　everything　that　may　serve　your　turn　in　your　new
quartersthat　chest　of　drawers；　that　wardrobe　and　mirror；　the　carpet；
the　curtains〃

Lisbeth's　eyes　dilated　with　excessive　joy；　she　was　incredulous　of　such
a　gift。

〃You　are　doing　more　for　me　in　a　breath　than　my　rich　relations　have
done　in　thirty　years！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃They　have　never　even　asked
themselves　whether　I　had　any　furniture　at　all。　On　his　first　visit；　a
few　weeks　ago；　the　Baron　made　a　rich　man's　face　on　seeing　how　poor　I
was。Thank　you；　my　dear；　and　I　will　give　you　your　money's　worth；　you
will　see　how　by　and　by。〃

Valerie　went　out　on　the　landing　with　/her/　Cousin　Betty；　and　the　two
women　embraced。

〃Pouh！　How　she　stinks　of　hard　work！〃　said　the　pretty　little　woman　to
herself　when　she　was　alone。　〃I　shall　not　embrace　you　often；　my　dear
cousin！　At　the　same　time；　I　must　look　sharp。　She　must　be　skilfully
managed；　for　she　can　be　of　use；　and　help　me　to　make　my　fortune。〃



Like　the　true　Creole　of　Paris；　Madame　Marneffe　abhorred　trouble；　she
had　the　calm　indifference　of　a　cat；　which　never　jumps　or　runs　but　when
urged　by　necessity。　To　her；　life　must　be　all　pleasure；　and　the
pleasure　without　difficulties。　She　loved　flowers；　provided　they　were
brought　to　her。　She　could　not　imagine　going　to　the　play　but　to　a　good
box；　at　her　own　command；　and　in　a　carriage　to　take　her　there。　Valerie
inherited　these　courtesan　tastes　from　her　mother；　on　whom　General
Montcornet　had　lavished　luxury　when　he　was　in　Paris；　and　who　for
twenty　years　had　seen　all　the　world　at　her　feet；　who　had　been　wasteful
and　prodigal；　squandering　her　all　in　the　luxurious　living　of　which　the
programme　has　been　lost　since　the　fall　of　Napoleon。

The　grandees　of　the　Empire　were　a　match　in　their　follies　for　the　great
nobles　of　the　last　century。　Under　the　Restoration　the　nobility　cannot
forget　that　it　has　been　beaten　and　robbed；　and　so；　with　two　or　three
exceptions；　it　has　become　thrifty；　prudent；　and　stay…at…home；　in
short；　bourgeois　and　penurious。　Since　then；　1830　has　crowned　the　work
of　1793。　In　France；　henceforth；　there　will　be　great　names；　but　no
great　houses；　unless　there　should　be　political　changes　which　we　can
hardly　foresee。　Everything　takes　the　stamp　of　individuality。　The
wisest　invest　in　annuities。　Family　pride　is　destroyed。

The　bitter　pressure　of　poverty　which　had　stung　Valerie　to　the　quick　on
the　day　when；　to　use　Marneffe's　expression；　she　had　〃caught　on〃　with
Hulot；　had　brought　the　young　woman　to　the　conclusion　that　she　would
make　a　fortune　by　means　of　her　good　looks。　So；　for　some　days；　she　had
been　feeling　the　need　of　having　a　friend　about　her　to　take　the　place
of　a　mothera　devoted　friend；　to　whom　such　things　may　be　told　as　must
be　hidden　from　a　waiting…maid；　and　who　could　act；　come　and　go；　and
think　for　her；　a　beast　of　burden　resigned　to　an　unequal　share　of　life。
Now；　she；　quite　as　keenly　as　Lisbeth；　had　understood　the　Baron's
motives　for　fostering　the　intimacy　between　his　cousin　and　herself。

Prompted　by　the　formidable　perspicacity　of　the　Parisian　half…breed；
who　spends　her　days　stretched　on　a　sofa；　turning　the　lantern　of　her
detective　spirit　on　the　obscurest　depths　of　souls；　sentiments；　and
intrigues；　she　had　decided　on　making　an　ally　of　the　spy。　This
supremely　rash　step　was；　perhaps　premeditated；　she　had　discerned　the
true　nature　of　this　ardent　creature；　burning　with　wasted　passion；　and
meant　to　attach　her　to　herself。　Thus；　their　conversation　was　like　the
stone　a　traveler　casts　into　an　abyss　to　demonstrate　its　depth。　And
Madame　Marneffe　had　been　terrified　to　find　this　old　maid　a　combination
of　Iago　and　Richard　III。；　so　feeble　as　she　seemed；　so　humble；　and　so
little　to　be　feared。

For　that　instant；　Lisbeth　Fischer　had　been　her　real　self；　that
Corsican　and　savage　temperament；　bursting　the　slender　bonds　that　held
it　under；　had　sprung　up　to　its　terrible　height；　as　the　branch　of　a
tree　flies　up　from　the　hand　of　a　child　that　has　bent　it　down　to　gather
the　green　fruit。

To　those　who　study　the　social　world；　it　must　always　be　a　matter　of
astonishment　to　see　the　fulness；　the　perfection；　and　the　rapidity　with
which　an　idea　develops　in　a　virgin　nature。

Virginity；　like　every　other　monstrosity；　has　its　special　richness；　its
absorbing　greatness。　Life；　whose　forces　are　always　economized；　assumes
in　the　virgin　creature　an　incalculable　power　of　resistance　and
endurance。　The　brain　is　reinforced　in　the　sum…total　of　its　reserved
energy。　When　really　chaste　natures　need　to　call　on　the　resources　of
body　or　soul；　and　are　required　to　act　or　to　think；　they　have　muscles
of　steel；　or　intuitive　knowledge　in　their　intelligencediabolical
strength；　or　the　black　magic　of　the　Will。

From　this　point　of　view　the　Virgin　Mary；　even　if　we　regard　her　only　as
a　symbol；　is　supremely　great　above　every　other　type；　whether　Hindoo；
Egyptian；　or　Greek。　Virginity；　the　mother　of　great　things；　/magna
parens　rerum/；　holds　in　her　fair　white　hands　the　keys　of　the　upper
worlds。　In　short；　that　grand　and　terrible　exception　deserves　all　the
honors　decreed　to　her　by　the　Catholic　Church。

Thus；　in　one　moment；　Lisbeth　Fischer　had　become　the　Mohican　whose
snares　none　can　escape；　whose　dissimulation　is　inscrutable；　whose
swift　decisiveness　is　the　outcome　of　the　incredible　perfection　of
every　organ　of　sense。　She　was　Hatred　and　Revenge；　as　implacable　as
they　are　in　Italy；　Spain；　and　the　East。　These　two　feelings；　the
obverse　of　friendship　and　love　carried　to　the　utmost；　are　known　only
in　lands　scorched　by　the　sun。　But　Lisbeth　was　also　a　daughter　of
Lorraine；　bent　on　deceit。

She　accepted　this　detail　of　her　part　against　her　will；　she　began　by
making　a　curious　attempt；　due　to　her　ignorance。　She　fancied；　as
children　do；　that　being　imprisoned　meant　the　same　thing　as　solitary
confinement。　But　this　is　the　superlative　degree　of　imprisonment；　and
that　superlative　is　the　privilege　of　the　Criminal　Bench。

As　soon　as　she　left　Madame　Marneffe；　Lisbeth　hurried　off　to　Monsieur
Rivet；　and　found　him　in　his　office。

〃Well；　my　dear　Monsieur　Rivet；〃　she　began；　when　she　had　bolted　the
door　of　the　room。　〃You　were　quite　right。　Those　Poles！　They　are　low
villainsall　alike；　men　who　know　neither　law　nor　fidelity。〃

〃And　who　want　to　set　Europe　on　fire；〃　said　the　peaceable　Rivet；　〃to
ruin　every　trade　and　every　trader　for　the　sake　of　a　country　that　is
all　bog…land；　they　say；　and　full　of　horrible　Jews；　to　say　nothing　of
the　Cossacks　and　the　peasantsa　sort　of　wild　beasts　classed　by
mistake　with　human　beings。　Your　Poles　do　not　understand　the　times　we
live　in；　we　are　no　longer　barbarians。　War　is　coming　to　an　end；　my　dear
mademoiselle；　it　went　out　with　the　Monarchy。　This　is　the　age　of
triumph　for　commerce；　and　industry；　and　middle…class　prudence；　such　as
were　the　making　of　Holland。

〃Yes；〃　he　went　on　with　animation；　〃we　live　in　a　period　when　nations
must　obtain　all　they　need　by　the　legal　extension　of　their　liberties
and　by　the　pacific　action　of　Constitutional　Institutions；　that　is　what
the　Poles　do　not　see；　and　I　hope

〃You　were　saying；　my　dear？〃　he　added；　interrupting　himself　when　he
saw　from　his　work…woman's　face　that　high　politics　were　beyond　her
comprehension。

〃Here　is　the　schedule；〃　said　Lisbeth。　〃If　I　don't　want　to　lose　my
three　thousand　two　hundred　and　ten　francs；　I　must　clap　this　rogue　into
prison。〃

〃Didn't　I　tell　you　so？〃　cried　the　oracle　of　the　Saint…Denis　quarter。

The　Rivets；　successor　to　Pons　Brothers；　had　kept　their　shop　still　in
the　Rue　des　Mauvaises…Paroles；　in　the　ancient　Hotel　Langeais；　built　by
that　illustrious　family　at　the　time　when　the　nobility　still　gathered
round　the　Louvre。

〃Yes；　and　I　blessed　you　on　my　way　here；〃　replied　Lisbeth。

〃If　he　suspects　nothing；　he　can　be　safe　in　prison　by　eight　o'clock　in
the　morning；〃　said　Rivet；　consulting　the　almanac　to　ascertain　the　hour
of　sunrise；　〃but　not　till　the　day　after　to…morrow；　for　he　cannot　be
imprisoned　till　he　has　had　notice　that　he　is　to　be　arrested　by　writ；
with　the　option　of　payment　or　imprisonment。　And　so〃

〃What　an　idiotic　law！〃　exclaimed　Lisbeth。　〃Of　course　the　debtor
escapes。〃

〃He　has　every　right　to　do　so；〃　said　the　Assessor；　smiling。　〃So　this　is
the　way〃

〃As　to　that；〃　said　Lisbeth；　interrupting　him；　〃I　will　take　the　paper
and　hand　it　to　him；　saying　that　I　have　been　obliged　to　raise　the
money；　and　that　the　lender　insists　on　this　formality。　I　know　my
gentleman。　He　will　not　even　look　at　the　paper；　he　will　light　his　pipe
with　it。〃

〃Not　a　bad　idea；　not　bad；　Mademoiselle　Fischer！　Well；　make　your　mind
easy；　the　job　shall　be　done。But　stop　a　minute；　to　put　your　man　in
prison　is　not　the　only　point　to　be　considered；　you　only　want　to
indulge　in　that　legal　luxury　in　order　to　get　your　money。　Who　is　to　pay
you？〃

〃Those　who　give　him　money。〃

〃To　be　sure；　I　forgot　that　the　Minister　of　War　had　commissioned　him　to
erect　a　monument　to　one　of　our　late　customers。　Ah！　the　house　has
supplied　many　an　uniform　to　Ge