cousin betty-第52章

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of　marriage　were　published　between　the　old　maid　and　the　distinguished
old　officer；　to　whom；　to　win　his　consent；　Adeline　had　related　the
financial　disaster　that　had　befallen　her　Hector；　begging　him　never　to
mention　it　to　the　Baron；　who　was；　as　she　said；　much　saddened；　quite
depressed　and　crushed。

〃Alas！　he　is　as　old　as　his　years；〃　she　added。

So　Lisbeth　had　triumphed。　She　was　achieving　the　object　of　her
ambition；　she　would　see　the　success　of　her　scheme；　and　her　hatred
gratified。　She　delighted　in　the　anticipated　joy　of　reigning　supreme
over　the　family　who　had　so　long　looked　down　upon　her。　Yes；　she　would
patronize　her　patrons；　she　would　be　the　rescuing　angel　who　would　dole
out　a　livelihood　to　the　ruined　family；　she　addressed　herself　as
〃Madame　la　Comtesse〃　and　〃Madame　la　Marechale；〃　courtesying　in　front
of　a　glass。　Adeline　and　Hortense　should　end　their　days　in　struggling
with　poverty；　while　she；　a　visitor　at　the　Tuileries；　would　lord　it　in
the　fashionable　world。



A　terrible　disaster　overthrew　the　old　maid　from　the　social　heights
where　she　so　proudly　enthroned　herself。

On　the　very　day　when　the　banns　were　first　published；　the　Baron
received　a　second　message　from　Africa。　Another　Alsatian　arrived；
handed　him　a　letter；　after　assuring　himself　that　he　spoke　to　Baron
Hulot；　and　after　giving　the　Baron　the　address　of　his　lodgings；　bowed
himself　out；　leaving　the　great　man　stricken　by　the　opening　lines　of
this　letter：

　　〃DEAR　NEPHEW；You　will　receive　this　letter；　by　my　calculations；
　　on　the　7th　of　August。　Supposing　it　takes　you　three　days　to　send　us
　　the　help　we　need；　and　that　it　is　a　fortnight　on　the　way　here；　that
　　brings　us　to　the　1st　of　September。

　　〃If　you　can　act　decisively　within　that　time；　you　will　have　saved
　　the　honor　and　the　life　of　yours　sincerely；　Johann　Fischer。

　　〃This　is　what　I　am　required　to　demand　by　the　clerk　you　have　made
　　my　accomplice；　for　I　am　amenable；　it　would　seem；　to　the　law；　at
　　the　Assizes；　or　before　a　council　of　war。　Of　course；　you　understand
　　that　Johann　Fischer　will　never　be　brought　to　the　bar　of　any
　　tribunal；　he　will　go　of　his　own　act　to　appear　at　that　of　God。

　　〃Your　clerk　seems　to　me　a　bad　lot；　quite　capable　of　getting　you
　　into　hot　water；　but　he　is　as　clever　as　any　rogue。　He　says　the　line
　　for　you　to　take　is　to　call　out　louder　than　any　one；　and　to　send
　　out　an　inspector；　a　special　commissioner；　to　discover　who　is
　　really　guilty；　rake　up　abuses；　and　make　a　fuss；　in　short；　but　if
　　we　stir　up　the　struggle；　who　will　stand　between　us　and　the　law？

　　〃If　your　commissioner　arrives　here　by　the　1st　of　September；　and
　　you　have　given　him　your　orders；　sending　by　him　two　hundred
　　thousand　francs　to　place　in　our　storehouses　the　supplies　we
　　profess　to　have　secured　in　remote　country　places；　we　shall　be
　　absolutely　solvent　and　regarded　as　blameless。　You　can　trust　the
　　soldier　who　is　the　bearer　of　this　letter　with　a　draft　in　my　name
　　on　a　house　in　Algiers。　He　is　a　trustworthy　fellow；　a　relation　of
　　mine；　incapable　of　trying　to　find　out　what　he　is　the　bearer　of。　I
　　have　taken　measures　to　guarantee　the　fellow's　safe　return。　If　you
　　can　do　nothing；　I　am　ready　and　willing　to　die　for　the　man　to　whom
　　we　owe　our　Adeline's　happiness！〃

The　anguish　and　raptures　of　passion　and　the　catastrophe　which　had
checked　his　career　of　profligacy　had　prevented　Baron　Hulot's　ever
thinking　of　poor　Johann　Fischer；　though　his　first　letter　had　given
warning　of　the　danger　now　become　so　pressing。　The　Baron　went　out　of
the　dining…room　in　such　agitation　that　he　literally　dropped　on　to　a
sofa　in　the　drawing…room。　He　was　stunned；　sunk　in　the　dull　numbness　of
a　heavy　fall。　He　stared　at　a　flower　on　the　carpet；　quite　unconscious
that　he　still　held　in　his　hand　Johann's　fatal　letter。

Adeline；　in　her　room；　heard　her　husband　throw　himself　on　the　sofa；
like　a　lifeless　mass；　the　noise　was　so　peculiar　that　she　fancied　he
had　an　apoplectic　attack。　She　looked　through　the　door　at　the　mirror；
in　such　dread　as　stops　the　breath　and　hinders　motion；　and　she　saw　her
Hector　in　the　attitude　of　a　man　crushed。　The　Baroness　stole　in　on
tiptoe；　Hector　heard　nothing；　she　went　close　up　to　him；　saw　the
letter；　took　it；　read　it；　trembling　in　every　limb。　She　went　through
one　of　those　violent　nervous　shocks　that　leave　their　traces　for　ever
on　the　sufferer。　Within　a　few　days　she　became　subject　to　a　constant
trembling；　for　after　the　first　instant　the　need　for　action　gave　her
such　strength　as　can　only　be　drawn　from　the　very　wellspring　of　the
vital　powers。

〃Hector；　come　into　my　room；〃　said　she；　in　a　voice　that　was　no　more
than　a　breath。　〃Do　not　let　your　daughter　see　you　in　this　state！　Come；
my　dear；　come！〃

〃Two　hundred　thousand　francs？　Where　can　I　find　them？　I　can　get　Claude
Vignon　sent　out　there　as　commissioner。　He　is　a　clever；　intelligent
fellow。That　is　a　matter　of　a　couple　of　days。But　two　hundred
thousand　francs！　My　son　has　not　so　much；　his　house　is　loaded　with
mortgages　for　three　hundred　thousand。　My　brother　has　saved　thirty
thousand　francs　at　most。　Nucingen　would　simply　laugh　at　me！Vauvinet？
he　was　not　very　ready　to　lend　me　the　ten　thousand　francs　I　wanted　to
make　up　the　sum　for　that　villain　Marneffe's　boy。　No；　it　is　all　up　with
me；　I　must　throw　myself　at　the　Prince's　feet；　confess　how　matters
stand；　hear　myself　told　that　I　am　a　low　scoundrel；　and　take　his
broadside　so　as　to　go　decently　to　the　bottom。〃

〃But；　Hector；　this　is　not　merely　ruin；　it　is　disgrace；〃　said　Adeline。
〃My　poor　uncle　will　kill　himself。　Only　kill　usyourself　and　me；　you
have　a　right　to　do　that；　but　do　not　be　a　murderer！　Come；　take　courage；
there　must　be　some　way　out　of　it。〃

〃Not　one；〃　said　Hulot。　〃No　one　in　the　Government　could　find　two
hundred　thousand　francs；　not　if　it　were　to　save　an　Administration！
Oh；　Napoleon！　where　art　thou？〃

〃My　uncle！　poor　man！　Hector；　he　must　not　be　allowed　to　kill　himself　in
disgrace。〃

〃There　is　one　more　chance；〃　said　he；　〃but　a　very　remote　one。Yes；
Crevel　is　at　daggers　drawn　with　his　daughter。He　has　plenty　of　money；
he　alone　could〃

〃Listen；　Hector　it　will　be　better　for　your　wife　to　perish　than　to
leave　our　uncle　to　perishand　your　brotherthe　honor　of　the　family！〃
cried　the　Baroness；　struck　by　a　flash　of　light。　〃Yes；　I　can　save　you
all。Good　God！　what　a　degrading　thought！　How　could　it　have　occurred
to　me？〃

She　clasped　her　hands；　dropped　on　her　knees；　and　put　up　a　prayer。　On
rising；　she　saw　such　a　crazy　expression　of　joy　on　her　husband's　face；
that　the　diabolical　suggestion　returned；　and　then　Adeline　sank　into　a
sort　of　idiotic　melancholy。

〃Go；　my　dear；　at　once　to　the　War　Office；〃　said　she；　rousing　herself
from　this　torpor；　〃try　to　send　out　a　commission；　it　must　be　done。　Get
round　the　Marshal。　And　on　your　return；　at　five　o'clock；　you　will　find
perhapsyes！　you　shall　find　two　hundred　thousand　francs。　Your
family；　your　honor　as　a　man；　as　a　State　official；　a　Councillor　of
State；　your　honestyyour　sonall　shall　be　saved；but　your　Adeline
will　be　lost；　and　you　will　see　her　no　more。　Hector；　my　dear；〃　said
she；　kneeling　before　him；　clasping　and　kissing　his　hand；　〃give　me　your
blessing！　Say　farewell。〃

It　was　so　heart…rending　that　Hulot　put　his　arms　round　his　wife；　raised
her　and　kissed　her；　saying：

〃I　do　not　understand。〃

〃If　you　did；〃　said　she；　〃I　should　die　of　shame；　or　I　should　not　have
the　strength　to　carry　out　this　last　sacrifice。〃

〃Breakfast　is　served；〃　said　Mariette。

Hortense　came　in　to　wish　her　parents　good…morning。　They　had　to　go　to
breakfast　and　assume　a　false　face。

〃Begin　without　me；　I　will　join　you；〃　said　the　Baroness。

She　sat　down　to　her　desk　and　wrote　as　follows：

　　〃MY　DEAR　MONSIEUR　CREVEL；I　have　to　ask　a　service　of　you；　I　shall
　　expect　you　this　morning；　and　I　count　on　your　gallantry；　which　is　
　　well　known　to　me；　to　save　me　from　having　too　long　to　wait　for　you。
　　Your　faithful　servant；

〃ADELINE　HULOT。〃


〃Louise；〃　said　she　to　her　daughter's　maid；　who　waited　on　her；　〃take
this　note　down　to　the　porter　and　desire　him　to　carry　it　at　once　to
this　address　and　wait　for　an　answer。〃

The　Baron；　who　was　reading　the　news；　held　out　a　Republican　paper　to
his　wife；　pointing　to　an　article；　and　saying：

〃Is　there　time？〃

This　was　the　paragraph；　one　of　the　terrible　〃notes〃　with　which　the
papers　spice　their　political　bread　and　butter：

　　〃A　correspondent　in　Algiers　writes　that　such　abuses　have　been
　　discovered　in　the　commissariate　transactions　of　the　province　of
　　Oran；　that　the　Law　is　making　inquiries。　The　peculation　is　self…
　　evident；　and　the　guilty　persons　are　known。　If　severe　measures　are
　　not　taken；　we　shall　continue　to　lose　more　men　through　the
　　extortion　that　limits　their　rations　than　by　Arab　steel　or　the
　　fierce　heat　of　the　climate。　We　await　further　information　before
　　enlarging　on　this　deplorable　business。　We　need　no　longer　wonder　at
　　the　terror　caused　by　the　establishment　of　the　Press　in　Africa；　as
　　was　contemplated　by　the　Charter　of　1830。〃

〃I　will　dress　and　go　to　the　Minister；〃　said　the　Baron；　as　they　rose
from　table。　〃Time　is　precious；　a　man's　life　hangs　on　every　minute。〃

〃Oh；　mamma；　there　is　no　hope　for　me！〃　cried　Hortense。　And　unable　to
check　her　tears；　she　handed　to　her　mother　a　number　of　the　/Revue　des
Beaux　Arts/。

Madame　Hulot's　eye　fell　on　a　print　of　the　group　of　〃Delilah〃　by　Count
Steinbock；　under　which　were　the　words；　〃The　property　of　Madame
Marneffe。〃

The　very　first　lines　of　the　article；　signed　V。；　showed　the　talent　and
friendliness　of　Claude　Vignon。

〃Poor　child！〃　said　the　Baroness。

Alarmed　by　her　mother's　tone　of　indifference；　Hortense　looked　up；　saw
the　expression　of　a　sorrow　before　which　her　own　paled；　and　rose　to
kiss　her　mother；　saying：

〃What　is　the　matter；　mamma？　What　is　happening？　Can　we　be　more　wretched
than　we　are　already？〃

〃My　child；　it　seems　to　me　that　in　what　I　am　going　through　to…day　my
past　dreadful　sorrows　are　as　nothing。　When　shall　I　have　ceased　to
suffer？〃

〃In　heaven；　mother；〃　said　Hortense　solemnly。

〃Come；　my　angel；　help　me　to　dress。No；　no；　I　will　not　have　you　help
me　in　this！　Send　me　Louise。〃

Adeline；　in　her　room；　went　to　study　herself　in　the　glass。　She　looked
at　herself　closely　and　sadly；　wondering　to　herself：

〃Am　I　still　handsome？　Can　I　still　be　desirable？　Am　I　not　wrinkled？〃

She　lifted　up　her　fine　golden　hair；　uncovering　her　temples；　they　were
as　fresh　as　a　girl's。　She　went　further；　she　uncovered　her　shoulders；
and　was　satisfied；　nay；　she　had　a　little　feeling　of　pride。　The　beauty
of　really　handsome　shoulders　is　one　of　the　last　charms　a　woman　loses；
especially　if　she　has　lived　chastely。

Adeline　chose　her　dress　carefully；　but　the　pious　and　blameless　woman
is　decent　to　the　end；　in　spite　of　her　little　coquettish　graces。　Of
what　use　were　brand…new　gray　silk　stockings　and　high　heeled　satin
shoes　when　she　was　absolutely　ignorant　of　the　art　of　displaying　a
pretty　foot　at　a　critical　moment；　by　obtruding　it　an　inch　or　two
beyond　a　half…lifted　skirt；　opening　horizons　to　desire？　She　put　on；
indeed；　her　prettiest　flowered　muslin　dress；　with　a　low　body　and　short
sleeves；　but　horrified　at　so　much　bareness；　she　covered　her　fine　arms
with　clear　gauze　sleeves　and　hid　her　shoulders　under　an　embroide