cousin betty-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Phidias　have　lived。

While　Lisbeth　kept　Wenceslas　Steinbock　in　thraldom　in　his　garret；　he
was　on　the　thorny　road　trodden　by　all　these　great　men；　which　leads　to
the　Alpine　heights　of　glory。　Then　happiness；　in　the　person　of
Hortense；　had　reduced　the　poet　to　idlenessthe　normal　condition　of
all　artists；　since　to　them　idleness　is　fully　occupied。　Their　joy　is
such　as　that　of　the　pasha　of　a　seraglio；　they　revel　with　ideas；　they
get　drunk　at　the　founts　of　intellect。　Great　artists；　such　as
Steinbock；　wrapped　in　reverie；　are　rightly　spoken　of　as　dreamers。
They；　like　opium…eaters；　all　sink　into　poverty；　whereas　if　they　had
been　kept　up　to　the　mark　by　the　stern　demands　of　life；　they　might　have
been　great　men。

At　the　same　time；　these　half…artists　are　delightful；　men　like　them　and
cram　them　with　praise；　they　even　seem　superior　to　the　true　artists；
who　are　taxed　with　conceit；　unsociableness；　contempt　of　the　laws　of
society。　This　is　why：　Great　men　are　the　slaves　of　their　work。　Their
indifference　to　outer　things；　their　devotion　to　their　work；　make
simpletons　regard　them　as　egotists；　and　they　are　expected　to　wear　the
same　garb　as　the　dandy　who　fulfils　the　trivial　evolutions　called
social　duties。　These　men　want　the　lions　of　the　Atlas　to　be　combed　and
scented　like　a　lady's　poodle。

These　artists；　who　are　too　rarely　matched　to　meet　their　fellows；　fall
into　habits　of　solitary　exclusiveness；　they　are　inexplicable　to　the
majority；　which；　as　we　know；　consists　mostly　of　foolsof　the　envious；
the　ignorant；　and　the　superficial。

Now　you　may　imagine　what　part　a　wife　should　play　in　the　life　of　these
glorious　and　exceptional　beings。　She　ought　to　be　what；　for　five　years；
Lisbeth　had　been；　but　with　the　added　offering　of　love；　humble　and
patient　love；　always　ready　and　always　smiling。

Hortense；　enlightened　by　her　anxieties　as　a　mother；　and　driven　by　dire
necessity；　had　discovered　too　late　the　mistakes　she　had　been
involuntarily　led　into　by　her　excessive　love。　Still；　the　worthy
daughter　of　her　mother；　her　heart　ached　at　the　thought　of　worrying
Wenceslas；　she　loved　her　dear　poet　too　much　to　become　his　torturer；
and　she　could　foresee　the　hour　when　beggary　awaited　her；　her　child；
and　her　husband。

〃Come；　come；　my　child；〃　said　Lisbeth；　seeing　the　tears　in　her　cousin's
lovely　eyes；　〃you　must　not　despair。　A　glassful　of　tears　will　not　buy　a
plate　of　soup。　How　much　do　you　want？〃

〃Well；　five　or　six　thousand　francs。〃

〃I　have　but　three　thousand　at　the　most；〃　said　Lisbeth。　〃And　what　is
Wenceslas　doing　now？〃

〃He　has　had　an　offer　to　work　in　partnership　with　Stidmann　at　a　table
service　for　the　Duc　d'Herouville　for　six　thousand　francs。　Then
Monsieur　Chanor　will　advance　four　thousand　to　repay　Monsieur　de　Lora
and　Bridaua　debt　of　honor。〃

〃What；　you　have　had　the　money　for　the　statue　and　the　bas…reliefs　for
Marshal　Montcornet's　monument；　and　you　have　not　paid　them　yet？〃

〃For　the　last　three　years；〃　said　Hortense；　〃we　have　spent　twelve
thousand　francs　a　year；　and　I　have　but　a　hundred　louis　a　year　of　my
own。　The　Marshal's　monument；　when　all　the　expenses　were　paid；　brought
us　no　more　than　sixteen　thousand　francs。　Really　and　truly；　if
Wenceslas　gets　no　work；　I　do　not　know　what　is　to　become　of　us。　Oh；　if
only　I　could　learn　to　make　statues；　I　would　handle　the　clay！〃　she
cried；　holding　up　her　fine　arms。

The　woman；　it　was　plain；　fulfilled　the　promise　of　the　girl；　there　was
a　flash　in　her　eye；　impetuous　blood；　strong　with　iron；　flowed　in　her
veins；　she　felt　that　she　was　wasting　her　energy　in　carrying　her
infant。

〃Ah；　my　poor　little　thing！　a　sensible　girl　should　not　marry　an　artist
till　his　fortune　is　madenot　while　it　is　still　to　make。〃

At　this　moment　they　heard　voices；　Stidmann　and　Wenceslas　were　seeing
Chanor　to　the　door；　then　Wenceslas　and　Stidmann　came　in　again。

Stidmann；　an　artist　in　vogue　in　the　world　of　journalists；　famous
actresses；　and　courtesans　of　the　better　class；　was　a　young　man　of
fashion　whom　Valerie　much　wished　to　see　in　her　rooms；　indeed；　he　had
already　been　introduced　to　her　by　Claude　Vignon。　Stidmann　had　lately
broken　off　an　intimacy　with　Madame　Schontz；　who　had　married　some
months　since　and　gone　to　live　in　the　country。　Valerie　and　Lisbeth；
hearing　of　this　upheaval　from　Claude　Vignon；　thought　it　well　to　get
Steinbock's　friend　to　visit　in　the　Rue　Vanneau。

Stidmann；　out　of　good　feeling；　went　rarely　to　the　Steinbocks'；　and　as
it　happened　that　Lisbeth　was　not　present　when　he　was　introduced　by
Claude　Vignon；　she　now　saw　him　for　the　first　time。　As　she　watched　this
noted　artist；　she　caught　certain　glances　from　his　eyes　at　Hortense；
which　suggested　to　her　the　possibility　of　offering　him　to　the　Countess
Steinbock　as　a　consolation　if　Wenceslas　should　be　false　to　her。　In
point　of　fact；　Stidmann　was　reflecting　that　if　Steinbock　were　not　his
friend；　Hortense；　the　young　and　superbly　beautiful　countess；　would　be
an　adorable　mistress；　it　was　this　very　notion；　controlled　by　honor；
that　kept　him　away　from　the　house。　Lisbeth　was　quick　to　mark　the
significant　awkwardness　that　troubles　a　man　in　the　presence　of　a　woman
with　whom　he　will　not　allow　himself　to　flirt。

〃Very　good…lookingthat　young　man；〃　said　she　in　a　whisper　to
Hortense。

〃Oh；　do　you　think　so？〃　she　replied。　〃I　never　noticed　him。〃

〃Stidmann；　my　good　fellow；〃　said　Wenceslas；　in　an　undertone　to　his
friend；　〃we　are　on　no　ceremony；　you　and　Iwe　have　some　business　to
settle　with　this　old　girl。〃

Stidmann　bowed　to　the　ladies　and　went　away。

〃It　is　settled；〃　said　Wenceslas；　when　he　came　in　from　taking　leave　of
Stidmann。　〃But　there　are　six　months'　work　to　be　done；　and　we　must　live
meanwhile。〃

〃There　are　my　diamonds；〃　cried　the　young　Countess；　with　the　impetuous
heroism　of　a　loving　woman。

A　tear　rose　in　Wenceslas'　eye。

〃Oh；　I　am　going　to　work；〃　said　he；　sitting　down　by　his　wife　and
drawing　her　on　to　his　knee。　〃I　will　do　odd　jobsa　wedding　chest；
bronze　groups〃

〃But；　my　children；〃　said　Lisbeth；　〃for；　as　you　know；　you　will　be　my
heirs；　and　I　shall　leave　you　a　very　comfortable　sum；　believe　me；
especially　if　you　help　me　to　marry　the　Marshal；　nay；　if　we　succeed　in
that　quickly；　I　will　take　you　all　to　board　with　meyou　and　Adeline。
We　should　live　very　happily　together。But　for　the　moment；　listen　to
the　voice　of　my　long　experience。　Do　not　fly　to　the　Mont…de…Piete；　it
is　the　ruin　of　the　borrower。　I　have　always　found　that　when　the
interest　was　due；　those　who　had　pledged　their　things　had　nothing
wherewith　to　pay　up；　and　then　all　is　lost。　I　can　get　you　a　loan　at
five　per　cent　on　your　note　of　hand。〃

〃Oh；　we　are　saved！〃　said　Hortense。

〃Well；　then；　child；　Wenceslas　had　better　come　with　me　to　see　the
lender；　who　will　oblige　him　at　my　request。　It　is　Madame　Marneffe。　If
you　flatter　her　a　littlefor　she　is　as　vain　as　a　/parvenue/she　will
get　you　out　of　the　scrape　in　the　most　obliging　way。　Come　yourself　and
see　her；　my　dear　Hortense。〃

Hortense　looked　at　her　husband　with　the　expression　a　man　condemned　to
death　must　wear　on　his　way　to　the　scaffold。

〃Claude　Vignon　took　Stidmann　there；〃　said　Wenceslas。　〃He　says　it　is　a
very　pleasant　house。〃

Hortense's　head　fell。　What　she　felt　can　only　be　expressed　in　one　word；
it　was　not　pain；　it　was　illness。

〃But；　my　dear　Hortense；　you　must　learn　something　of　life！〃　exclaimed
Lisbeth；　understanding　the　eloquence　of　her　cousin's　looks。
〃Otherwise；　like　your　mother；　you　will　find　yourself　abandoned　in　a
deserted　room；　where　you　will　weep　like　Calypso　on　the　departure　of
Ulysses；　and　at　an　age　when　there　is　no　hope　of　Telemachus〃　she
added；　repeating　a　jest　of　Madame　Marneffe's。　〃We　have　to　regard　the
people　in　the　world　as　tools　which　we　can　make　use　of　or　let　alone；
according　as　they　can　serve　our　turn。　Make　use　of　Madame　Marneffe　now；
my　dears；　and　let　her　alone　by　and　by。　Are　you　afraid　lest　Wenceslas；
who　worships　you；　should　fall　in　love　with　a　woman　four　or　five　years
older　than　himself；　as　yellow　as　a　bundle　of　field　peas；　and？〃

〃I　would　far　rather　pawn　my　diamonds；〃　said　Hortense。　〃Oh；　never　go
there；　Wenceslas！It　is　hell！〃

〃Hortense　is　right；〃　said　Steinbock；　kissing　his　wife。

〃Thank　you；　my　dearest；〃　said　Hortense；　delighted。　〃My　husband　is　an
angel；　you　see；　Lisbeth。　He　does　not　gamble；　he　goes　nowhere　without
me；　if　he　only　could　stick　to　workoh；　I　should　be　too　happy。　Why
take　us　on　show　to　my　father's　mistress；　a　woman　who　is　ruining　him
and　is　the　cause　of　troubles　that　are　killing　my　heroic　mother？〃

〃My　child；　that　is　not　where　the　cause　of　your　father's　ruin　lies。　It
was　his　singer　who　ruined　him；　and　then　your　marriage！〃　replied　her
cousin。　〃Bless　me！　why；　Madame　Marneffe　is　of　the　greatest　use　to　him。
However；　I　must　tell　no　tales。〃

〃You　have　a　good　word　for　everybody；　dear　Betty〃

Hortense　was　called　into　the　garden　by　hearing　the　child　cry；　Lisbeth
was　left　alone　with　Wenceslas。

〃You　have　an　angel　for　your　wife；　Wenceslas！〃　said　she。　〃Love　her　as
you　ought；　never　give　her　cause　for　grief。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　I　love　her　so　well　that　I　do　not　tell　her　all；〃　replied
Wenceslas；　〃but　to　you；　Lisbeth；　I　may　confess　the　truth。If　I　took
my　wife's　diamonds　to　the　Monte…de…Piete；　we　should　be　no　further
forward。〃

〃Then　borrow　of　Madame　Marneffe；〃　said　Lisbeth。　〃Persuade　Hortense；
Wenceslas；　to　let　you　go　there；　or　else；　bless　me！　go　there　without
telling　her。〃

〃That　is　what　I　was　thinking　of；〃　replied　Wenceslas；　〃when　I　refused
for　fear　of　grieving　Hortense。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　I　care　too　much　for　you　both　not　to　warn　you　of　your
danger。　If　you　go　there；　hold　your　heart　tight　in　both　hands；　for　the
woman　is　a　witch。　All　who　see　her　adore　her；　she　is　so　wicked；　so
inviting！　She　fascinates　men　like　a　masterpiece。　Borrow　her　money；　but
do　not　leave　your　soul　in　pledge。　I　should　never　be　happy　again　if　you
were　false　to　Hortensehere　she　is！　not　another　word！　I　will　settle
the　matter。〃

〃Kiss　Lisbeth；　my　darling；〃　said　Wenceslas　to　his　wife。　〃She　will　help
us　out　of　our　difficulties　by　lending　us　her　savings。〃

And　he　gave　Lisbeth　a　look　which　she　understood。

〃Then；　I　hope　you　mean　to　work；　my　dear　treasure；〃　said　Hortense。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　the　artist。　〃I　will　begin　to…morrow。〃

〃To…morrow　is　our　ruin！〃　said　his　wife；　with　a　smile。

〃Now；　my　dear　child！　say　yourself　whether　some　hindrance　has　not　come
in　the　way　every　day；　some　obstacle　or　business？〃

〃Yes；　very　true；　my　love。〃

〃Here！〃　cried　Steinbock；　striking　his　brow；　〃here　I　have　swarms　of
ideas！　I　mean　to　astonish　all　my　enemies。　I　am　going　to　design　a
service　in　the　German　style　of　the　sixteenth　century；　the　romantic
style：　foliage　twined　with　insects；　sleeping　children；　newly　invented
monsters；　chimerasreal　chimeras；　such　as　we　dream　of！I　see　it　all！
It　will　be　undercut；　light；　and　yet　crowded。　Chanor　was　quite　amazed。
And　I　wanted　some　encouragement；　for　the　last　article　on
Montcornet's　monument　had　been　crushing。〃

At　a　moment　in　the　course　of　the　day　when　Lisbeth　and　Wenceslas　were
left　together；　the　artist　agreed　to　go　on　the　morrow　to　see　Madame
Marneffehe　either　would　win　his　wife's　consent；　or　he　would　go
without　telling　her。



Valerie；　informed　the　same　evening　of　this　success；　insisted　that
Hulot　should　go　to　invite　Sti