cousin betty-第48章

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〃Hector！〃

At　this　cry　the　Baron　turned　round；　suddenly　showing　his　wife　a　face
bathed　in　tears；　she　threw　her　arms　round　him　with　the　strength　of
despair。

〃Do　not　leave　us　thusdo　not　go　away　in　anger。　I　have　not　said　a　word
not　I！〃

At　this　heart…wrung　speech　the　children　fell　at　their　father's　feet。

〃We　all　love　you；〃　said　Hortense。

Lisbeth；　as　rigid　as　a　statue；　watched　the　group　with　a　superior　smile
on　her　lips。　Just　then　Marshal　Hulot's　voice　was　heard　in　the
anteroom。　The　family　all　felt　the　importance　of　secrecy；　and　the　scene
suddenly　changed。　The　young　people　rose；　and　every　one　tried　to　hide
all　traces　of　emotion。

A　discussion　was　going　on　at　the　door　between　Mariette　and　a　soldier；
who　was　so　persistent　that　the　cook　came　in。

〃Monsieur；　a　regimental　quartermaster；　who　says　he　is　just　come　from
Algiers；　insists　on　seeing　you。〃

〃Tell　him　to　wait。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　Mariette　to　her　master　in　an　undertone；　〃he　told　me
to　tell　you　privately　that　it　has　to　do　with　your　uncle　there。〃

The　Baron　started；　he　believed　that　the　funds　had　been　sent　at　last
which　he　had　been　asking　for　these　two　months；　to　pay　up　his　bills；　he
left　the　family…party；　and　hurried　out　to　the　anteroom。

〃You　are　Monsieur　de　Paron　Hulot？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Your　own　self？〃

〃My　own　self。〃

The　man；　who　had　been　fumbling　meanwhile　in　the　lining　of　his　cap；
drew　out　a　letter；　of　which　the　Baron　hastily　broke　the　seal；　and　read
as　follows：

　　〃DEAR　NEPHEW；Far　from　being　able　to　send　you　the　hundred
　　thousand　francs　you　ask　of　me；　my　present　position　is　not　tenable
　　unless　you　can　take　some　decisive　steps　to　save　me。　We　are　saddled
　　with　a　public　prosecutor　who　talks　goody；　and　rhodomontades
　　nonsense　about　the　management。　It　is　impossible　to　get　the　black…
　　chokered　pump　to　hold　his　tongue。　If　the　War　Minister　allows
　　civilians　to　feed　out　of　his　hand；　I　am　done　for。　I　can　trust　the
　　bearer；　try　to　get　him　promoted；　he　has　done　us　good　service。　Do
　　not　abandon　me　to　the　crows！〃

This　letter　was　a　thunderbolt；　the　Baron　could　read　in　it　the
intestine　warfare　between　civil　and　military　authorities；　which　to
this　day　hampers　the　Government；　and　he　was　required　to　invent　on　the
spot　some　palliative　for　the　difficulty　that　stared　him　in　the　face。
He　desired　the　soldier　to　come　back　next　day；　dismissing　him　with
splendid　promises　of　promotion；　and　he　returned　to　the　drawing…room。
〃Good…day　and　good…bye；　brother；〃　said　he　to　the　Marshal。〃Good…bye；
children。Good…bye；　my　dear　Adeline。And　what　are　you　going　to　do；
Lisbeth？〃　he　asked。

〃I？I　am　going　to　keep　house　for　the　Marshal；　for　I　must　end　my　days
doing　what　I　can　for　one　or　another　of　you。〃

〃Do　not　leave　Valerie　till　I　have　seen　you　again；〃　said　Hulot　in　his
cousin's　ear。〃Good…bye；　Hortense；　refractory　little　puss；　try　to　be
reasonable。　I　have　important　business　to　be　attended　to　at　once；　we
will　discuss　your　reconciliation　another　time。　Now；　think　it　over；　my
child；〃　said　he　as　he　kissed　her。

And　he　went　away；　so　evidently　uneasy；　that　his　wife　and　children　felt
the　gravest　apprehensions。

〃Lisbeth；〃　said　the　Baroness；　〃I　must　find　out　what　is　wrong　with
Hector；　I　never　saw　him　in　such　a　state。　Stay　a　day　or　two　longer　with
that　woman；　he　tells　her　everything；　and　we　can　then　learn　what　has　so
suddenly　upset　him。　Be　quite　easy；　we　will　arrange　your　marriage　to
the　Marshal；　for　it　is　really　necessary。〃

〃I　shall　never　forget　the　courage　you　have　shown　this　morning；〃　said
Hortense；　embracing　Lisbeth。

〃You　have　avenged　our　poor　mother；〃　said　Victorin。

The　Marshal　looked　on　with　curiosity　at　all　the　display　of　affection
lavished　on　Lisbeth；　who　went　off　to　report　the　scene　to　Valerie。

This　sketch　will　enable　guileless　souls　to　understand　what　various
mischief　Madame　Marneffes　may　do　in　a　family；　and　the　means　by　which
they　reach　poor　virtuous　wives　apparently　so　far　out　of　their　ken。　And
then；　if　we　only　transfer；　in　fancy；　such　doings　to　the　upper　class　of
society　about　a　throne；　and　if　we　consider　what　kings'　mistresses　must
have　cost　them；　we　may　estimate　the　debt　owed　by　a　nation　to　a
sovereign　who　sets　the　example　of　a　decent　and　domestic　life。



In　Paris　each　ministry　is　a　little　town　by　itself；　whence　women　are
banished；　but　there　is　just　as　much　detraction　and　scandal　as　though
the　feminine　population　were　admitted　there。　At　the　end　of　three
years；　Monsieur　Marneffe's　position　was　perfectly　clear　and　open　to
the　day；　and　in　every　room　one　and　another　asked；　〃Is　Marneffe　to　be；
or　not　to　be；　Coquet's　successor？〃　Exactly　as　the　question　might　have
been　put　to　the　Chamber；　〃Will　the　estimates　pass　or　not　pass？〃　The
smallest　initiative　on　the　part　of　the　board　of　Management　was
commented　on；　everything　in　Baron　Hulot's　department　was　carefully
noted。　The　astute　State　Councillor　had　enlisted　on　his　side　the　victim
of　Marneffe's　promotion；　a　hard…working　clerk；　telling　him　that　if　he
could　fill　Marneffe's　place；　he　would　certainly　succeed　to　it；　he　had
told　him　that　the　man　was　dying。　So　this　clerk　was　scheming　for
Marneffe's　advancement。

When　Hulot　went　through　his　anteroom；　full　of　visitors；　he　saw
Marneffe's　colorless　face　in　a　corner；　and　sent　for　him　before　any　one
else。

〃What　do　you　want　of　me；　my　dear　fellow？〃　said　the　Baron；　disguising
his　anxiety。

〃Monsieur　le　Directeur；　I　am　the　laughing…stock　of　the　office；　for　it
has　become　known　that　the　chief　of　the　clerks　has　left　this　morning
for　a　holiday；　on　the　ground　of　his　health。　He　is　to　be　away　a　month。
Now；　we　all　know　what　waiting　for　a　month　means。　You　deliver　me　over
to　the　mockery　of　my　enemies；　and　it　is　bad　enough　to　be　drummed　upon
one　side；　drumming　on　both　at　once；　monsieur；　is　apt　to　burst　the
drum。〃

〃My　dear　Marneffe；　it　takes　long　patience　to　gain　an　end。　You　cannot
be　made　head…clerk　in　less　than　two　months；　if　ever。　Just　when　I　must；
as　far　as　possible；　secure　my　own　position；　is　not　the　time　to　be
applying　for　your　promotion；　which　would　raise　a　scandal。〃

〃If　you　are　broke；　I　shall　never　get　it；〃　said　Marneffe　coolly。　〃And
if　you　get　me　the　place；　it　will　make　no　difference　in　the　end。〃

〃Then　I　am　to　sacrifice　myself　for　you？〃　said　the　Baron。

〃If　you　do　not；　I　shall　be　much　mistaken　in　you。〃

〃You　are　too　exclusively　Marneffe；　Monsieur　Marneffe；〃　said　Hulot；
rising　and　showing　the　clerk　the　door。

〃I　have　the　honor　to　wish　you　good…morning；　Monsieur　le　Baron；〃　said
Marneffe　humbly。

〃What　an　infamous　rascal！〃　thought　the　Baron。　〃This　is　uncommonly　like
a　summons　to　pay　within　twenty…four　hours　on　pain　of　distraint。〃

Two　hours　later；　just　when　the　Baron　had　been　instructing　Claude
Vignon；　whom　he　was　sending　to　the　Ministry　of　Justice　to　obtain
information　as　to　the　judicial　authorities　under　whose　jurisdiction
Johann　Fischer　might　fall；　Reine　opened　the　door　of　his　private　room
and　gave　him　a　note；　saying　she　would　wait　for　the　answer。

〃Valerie　is　mad！〃　said　the　Baron　to　himself。　〃To　send　Reine！　It　is
enough　to　compromise　us　all；　and　it　certainly　compromises　that
dreadful　Marneffe's　chances　of　promotion！〃

But　he　dismissed　the　minister's　private　secretary；　and　read　as
follows：

　　〃Oh；　my　dear　friend；　what　a　scene　I　have　had　to　endure！　Though　you
　　have　made　me　happy　for　three　years；　I　have　paid　dearly　for　it！　He
　　came　in　from　the　office　in　a　rage　that　made　me　quake。　I　knew　he
　　was　ugly；　I　have　seen　him　a　monster！　His　four　real　teeth
　　chattered；　and　he　threatened　me　with　his　odious　presence　without
　　respite　if　I　should　continue　to　receive　you。　My　poor；　dear　old
　　boy；　our　door　is　closed　against　you　henceforth。　You　see　my　tears；
　　they　are　dropping　on　the　paper　and　soaking　it；　can　you　read　what　I
　　write；　dear　Hector？　Oh；　to　think　of　never　seeing　you；　of　giving
　　you　up　when　I　bear　in　me　some　of　your　life；　as　I　flatter　myself　I
　　have　your　heartit　is　enough　to　kill　me。　Think　of　our　little
　　Hector！

　　〃Do　not　forsake　me；　but　do　not　disgrace　yourself　for　Marneffe's
　　sake；　do　not　yield　to　his　threats。

　　〃I　love　you　as　I　have　never　loved！　I　remember　all　the　sacrifices
　　you　have　made　for　your　Valerie；　she　is　not；　and　never　will　be；
　　ungrateful；　you　are；　and　will　ever　be；　my　only　husband。　Think　no
　　more　of　the　twelve　hundred　francs　a　year　I　asked　you　to　settle　on
　　the　dear　little　Hector　who　is　to　come　some　months　hence；　I　will
　　not　cost　you　anything　more。　And　besides；　my　money　will　always　be
　　yours。

　　〃Oh；　if　you　only　loved　me　as　I　love　you；　my　Hector；　you　would
　　retire　on　your　pension；　we　should　both　take　leave　of　our　family；
　　our　worries；　our　surroundings；　so　full　of　hatred；　and　we　should　go
　　to　live　with　Lisbeth　in　some　pretty　country　placein　Brittany；　or
　　wherever　you　like。　There　we　should　see　nobody；　and　we　should　be
　　happy　away　from　the　world。　Your　pension　and　the　little　property　I
　　can　call　my　own　would　be　enough　for　us。　You　say　you　are　jealous；
　　well；　you　would　then　have　your　Valerie　entirely　devoted　to　her
　　Hector；　and　you　would　never　have　to　talk　in　a　loud　voice；　as　you
　　did　the　other　day。　I　shall　have　but　one　childoursyou　may　be
　　sure；　my　dearly　loved　old　veteran。

　　〃You　cannot　conceive　of　my　fury；　for　you　cannot　know　how　he
　　treated　me；　and　the　foul　words　he　vomited　on　your　Valerie。　Such
　　words　would　disgrace　my　paper；　a　woman　such　as　I　amMontcornet's
　　daughterought　never　to　have　heard　one　of　them　in　her　life。　I
　　only　wish　you　had　been　there；　that　I　might　have　punished　him　with
　　the　sight　of　the　mad　passion　I　felt　for　you。　My　father　would　have
　　killed　the　wretch；　I　can　only　do　as　women　dolove　you　devotedly！
　　Indeed；　my　love；　in　the　state　of　exasperation　in　which　I　am；　I
　　cannot　possibly　give　up　seeing　you。　I　must　positively　see　you；　in
　　secret；　every　day！　That　is　what　we　are；　we　women。　Your　resentment
　　is　mine。　If　you　love　me；　I　implore　you；　do　not　let　him　be
　　promoted；　leave　him　to　die　a　second…class　clerk。

　　〃At　this　moment　I　have　lost　my　head；　I　still　seem　to　hear　him
　　abusing　me。　Betty；　who　had　meant　to　leave　me；　has　pity　on　me；　and
　　will　stay　for　a　few　days。

　　〃My　dear　kind　love；　I　do　not　know　yet　what　is　to　be　done。　I　see
　　nothing　for　it　but　flight。　I　always　delight　in　the　country
　　Brittany；　Languedoc；　what　you　will；　so　long　as　I　am　free　to　love
　　you。　Poor　dear；　how　I　pity　you！　Forced　now　to　go　back　to　your　old
　　Adeline；　to　that　lachrymal　urnfor；　as　he　no　doubt　told　you；　the
　　monster　means　to　watch　me　night　and　day；　he　spoke　of　a　detective！
　　Do　not　come　here；　he　is　capable　of　anything　I　know；　since　he　could
　　make　use　of　me　for　the　basest　purposes　of　speculation。　I　only　wish
　　I　could　return　you　all　the　things　I　have　received　from　your
　　generosity。

　　〃Ah！　my　kind　Hector；　I　may　have　flirted；　and　have　seemed　to　you　to
　　be　fickle；　but　you　did　not　know　your　Valerie；　she　liked　to　tease
　　you；　but　she　loves　you　better　than　any　one　in　the　world。

　　〃He　cannot　prevent　your　coming　to　see　your　cousin；　I　will　arrange
　　with　her　that　we　have　speech　with　each　other。　My　dear　old　boy；
　　write　me　just　a　line；　pray；　to　comfort　me　in　the　absence　of　your
　　dear　self。　（Oh；　I　would　give　one　of　my　hands　to　have　you　by　me　on
　　our　sofa！）　A　letter　will　work　like　a　c