cousin betty-第58章

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　　〃The　story；　briefly　told；　is　this：　Baron　Hulot　d'Ervy　sent　out　to
　　the　province　of　Oran　an　uncle　of　his　as　a　broker　in　grain　and
　　forage；　and　gave　him　an　accomplice　in　the　person　of　a　storekeeper。
　　This　storekeeper；　to　curry　favor；　has　made　a　confession；　and
　　finally　made　his　escape。　The　Public　Prosecutor　took　the　matter　up
　　very　thoroughly；　seeing；　as　he　supposed；　that　only　two　inferior
　　agents　were　implicated；　but　Johann　Fischer；　uncle　to　your　Chief　of
　　the　Commissariat　Department；　finding　that　he　was　to　be　brought　up
　　at　the　Assizes；　stabbed　himself　in　prison　with　a　nail。

　　〃That　would　have　been　the　end　of　the　matter　if　this　worthy　and
　　honest　man；　deceived；　it　would　seem；　by　his　agent　and　by　his
　　nephew；　had　not　thought　proper　to　write　to　Baron　Hulot。　This
　　letter；　seized　as　a　document；　so　greatly　surprised　the　Public
　　Prosecutor；　that　he　came　to　see　me。　Now；　the　arrest　and　public
　　trial　of　a　Councillor　of　State　would　be　such　a　terrible　thingof
　　a　man　high　in　office　too；　who　has　a　good　record　for　loyal　service
　　for　after　the　Beresina；　it　was　he　who　saved　us　all　by
　　reorganizing　the　administrationthat　I　desired　to　have　all　the
　　papers　sent　to　me。

　　〃Is　the　matter　to　take　its　course？　Now　that　the　principal　agent　is
　　dead；　will　it　not　be　better　to　smother　up　the　affair　and　sentence
　　the　storekeeper　in　default？

　　〃The　Public　Prosecutor　has　consented　to　my　forwarding　the
　　documents　for　your　perusal；　the　Baron　Hulot　d'Ervy；　being　resident
　　in　Paris；　the　proceedings　will　lie　with　your　Supreme　Court。　We
　　have　hit　on　this　rather　shabby　way　of　ridding　ourselves　of　the
　　difficulty　for　the　moment。

　　〃Only；　my　dear　Marshal；　decide　quickly。　This　miserable　business　is
　　too　much　talked　about　already；　and　it　will　do　as　much　harm　to　us
　　as　to　you　all　if　the　name　of　the　principal　culpritknown　at
　　present　only　to　the　Public　Prosecutor；　the　examining　judge；　and
　　myselfshould　happen　to　leak　out。〃

At　this　point　the　letter　fell　from　Marshal　Hulot's　hands；　he　looked　at
his　brother；　he　saw　that　there　was　no　need　to　examine　the　evidence。
But　he　looked　for　Johann　Fischer's　letter；　and　after　reading　it　at　a
glance；　held　it　out　to　Hector：

〃FROM　THE　PRISON　AT　ORAN。

　　〃DEAR　NEPHEW；When　you　read　this　letter；　I　shall　have　ceased　to
　　live。

　　〃Be　quite　easy；　no　proof　can　be　found　to　incriminate　you。　When　I
　　am　dead　and　your　Jesuit　of　a　Chardin　fled；　the　trial　must
　　collapse。　The　face　of　our　Adeline；　made　so　happy　by　you；　makes
　　death　easy　to　me。　Now　you　need　not　send　the　two　hundred　thousand
　　francs。　Good…bye。

　　〃This　letter　will　be　delivered　by　a　prisoner　for　a　short　term　whom
　　I　can　trust；　I　believe。

〃JOHANN　FISCHER。〃


〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Marshal　Hulot　to　the　Prince　de　Wissembourg
with　pathetic　pride。

〃Come；　come；　say　/tu/；　not　the　formal　/vous/；〃　replied　the　Minister；
clasping　his　old　friend's　hand。　〃The　poor　lancer　killed　no　one　but
himself；〃　he　added；　with　a　thunderous　look　at　Hulot　d'Ervy。

〃How　much　have　you　had？〃　said　the　Comte　de　Forzheim　to　his　brother。

〃Two　hundred　thousand　francs。〃

〃My　dear　friend；〃　said　the　Count；　addressing　the　Minister；　〃you　shall
have　the　two　hundred　thousand　francs　within　forty…eight　hours。　It
shall　never　be　said　that　a　man　bearing　the　name　of　Hulot　has　wronged
the　public　treasury　of　a　single　sou。〃

〃What　nonsense！〃　said　the　Prince。　〃I　know　where　the　money　is；　and　I
can　get　it　back。Send　in　your　resignation　and　ask　for　your　pension！〃
he　went　on；　sending　a　double　sheet　of　foolscap　flying　across　to　where
the　Councillor　of　State　had　sat　down　by　the　table；　for　his　legs　gave
way　under　him。　〃To　bring　you　to　trial　would　disgrace　us　all。　I　have
already　obtained　from　the　superior　Board　their　sanction　to　this　line
of　action。　Since　you　can　accept　life　with　dishonorin　my　opinion　the
last　degradationyou　will　get　the　pension　you　have　earned。　Only　take
care　to　be　forgotten。〃

The　Minister　rang。

〃Is　Marneffe；　the　head…clerk；　out　there？〃

〃Yes；　monseigneur。〃

〃Show　him　in！〃

〃You；〃　said　the　Minister　as　Marneffe　came　in；　〃you　and　your　wife　have
wittingly　and　intentionally　ruined　the　Baron　d'Ervy　whom　you　see。〃

〃Monsieur　le　Ministre；　I　beg　your　pardon。　We　are　very　poor。　I　have
nothing　to　live　on　but　my　pay；　and　I　have　two　children；　and　the　one
that　is　coming　will　have　been　brought　into　the　family　by　Monsieur　le
Baron。〃

〃What　a　villain　he　looks！〃　said　the　Prince；　pointing　to　Marneffe　and
addressing　Marshal　Hulot。〃No　more　of　Sganarelle　speeches；〃　he　went
on；　〃you　will　disgorge　two　hundred　thousand　francs；　or　be　packed　off
to　Algiers。〃

〃But；　Monsieur　le　Ministre；　you　do　not　know　my　wife。　She　has　spent　it
all。　Monsieur　le　Baron　asked　six　persons　to　dinner　every　evening。
Fifty　thousand　francs　a　year　are　spent　in　my　house。〃

〃Leave　the　room！〃　said　the　Minister；　in　the　formidable　tones　that　had
given　the　word　to　charge　in　battle。　〃You　will　have　notice　of　your
transfer　within　two　hours。　Go！〃

〃I　prefer　to　send　in　my　resignation；〃　said　Marneffe　insolently。　〃For
it　is　too　much　to　be　what　I　am　already；　and　thrashed　into　the　bargain。
That　would　not　satisfy　me　at　all。〃

And　he　left　the　room。

〃What　an　impudent　scoundrel！〃　said　the　Prince。

Marshal　Hulot；　who　had　stood　up　throughout　this　scene；　as　pale　as　a
corpse；　studying　his　brother　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　went　up　to
the　Prince；　and　took　his　hand；　repeating：

〃In　forty…eight　hours　the　pecuniary　mischief　shall　be　repaired；　but
honor！Good…bye；　Marshal。　It　is　the　last　shot　that　kills。　Yes；　I
shall　die　of　it！〃　he　said　in　his　ear。

〃What　the　devil　brought　you　here　this　morning？〃　said　the　Prince；　much
moved。

〃I　came　to　see　what　can　be　done　for　his　wife；〃　replied　the　Count；
pointing　to　his　brother。　〃She　is　wanting　breadespecially　now！〃

〃He　has　his　pension。〃

〃It　is　pledged！〃

〃The　Devil　must　possess　such　a　man；〃　said　the　Prince；　with　a　shrug。
〃What　philtre　do　those　baggages　give　you　to　rob　you　of　your　wits？〃　he
went　on　to　Hulot　d'Ervy。　〃How　could　youyou；　who　know　the　precise
details　with　which　in　French　offices　everything　is　written　down　at
full　length；　consuming　reams　of　paper　to　certify　to　the　receipt　or
outlay　of　a　few　centimesyou；　who　have　so　often　complained　that　a
hundred　signatures　are　needed　for　a　mere　trifle；　to　discharge　a
soldier；　to　buy　a　curry…combhow　could　you　hope　to　conceal　a　theft
for　any　length　of　time？　To　say　nothing　of　the　newspapers；　and　the
envious；　and　the　people　who　would　like　to　steal！those　women　must　rob
you　of　your　common…sense！　Do　they　cover　your　eyes　with　walnut…shells？
or　are　you　yourself　made　of　different　stuff　from　us？You　ought　to
have　left　the　office　as　soon　as　you　found　that　you　were　no　longer　a
man；　but　a　temperament。　If　you　have　complicated　your　crime　with　such
gross　folly；　you　will　endI　will　not　say　where〃

〃Promise　me；　Cottin；　that　you　will　do　what　you　can　for　her；〃　said　the
Marshal；　who　heard　nothing；　and　was　still　thinking　of　his　sister…in…
law。

〃Depend　on　me；！〃　said　the　Minister。

〃Thank　you；　and　good…bye　then！Come；　monsieur；〃　he　said　to　his
brother。

The　Prince　looked　with　apparent　calmness　at　the　two　brothers；　so
different　in　their　demeanor；　conduct；　and　characterthe　brave　man　and
the　coward；　the　ascetic　and　the　profligate；　the　honest　man　and　the
peculatorand　he　said　to　himself：

〃That　mean　creature　will　not　have　courage　to　die！　And　my　poor　Hulot；
such　an　honest　fellow！　has　death　in　his　knapsack；　I　know！〃

He　sat　down　again　in　his　big　chair　and　went　on　reading　the　despatches
from　Africa　with　a　look　characteristic　at　once　of　the　coolness　of　a
leader　and　of　the　pity　roused　by　the　sight　of　a　battle…field！　For　in
reality　no　one　is　so　humane　as　a　soldier；　stern　as　he　may　seem　in　the
icy　determination　acquired　by　the　habit　of　fighting；　and　so　absolutely
essential　in　the　battle…field。

Next　morning　some　of　the　newspapers　contained；　under　various　headings；
the　following　paragraphs：

　　〃Monsieur　le　Baron　Hulot　d'Ervy　has　applied　for　his　retiring
　　pension。　The　unsatisfactory　state　of　the　Algerian　exchequer；　which
　　has　come　out　in　consequence　of　the　death　and　disappearance　of　two
　　employes；　has　had　some　share　in　this　distinguished　official's
　　decision。　On　hearing　of　the　delinquencies　of　the　agents　whom　he
　　had　unfortunately　trusted；　Monsieur　le　Baron　Hulot　had　a　paralytic
　　stroke　in　the　War　Minister's　private　room。

　　〃Monsieur　Hulot　d'Ervy；　brother　to　the　Marshal　Comte　de　Forzheim；
　　has　been　forty…five　years　in　the　service。　His　determination　has
　　been　vainly　opposed；　and　is　greatly　regretted　by　all　who　know
　　Monsieur　Hulot；　whose　private　virtues　are　as　conspicuous　as　his
　　administrative　capacity。　No　one　can　have　forgotten　the　devoted
　　conduct　of　the　Commissary　General　of　the　Imperial　Guard　at　Warsaw；
　　or　the　marvelous　promptitude　with　which　he　organized　supplies　for
　　the　various　sections　of　the　army　so　suddenly　required　by　Napoleon
　　in　1815。

　　〃One　more　of　the　heroes　of　the　Empire　is　retiring　from　the　stage。
　　Monsieur　le　Baron　Hulot　has　never　ceased；　since　1830；　to　be　one　of
　　the　guiding　lights　of　the　State　Council　and　of　the　War　Office。〃

　　〃ALGIERS。The　case　known　as　the　forage　supply　case；　to　which　some
　　of　our　contemporaries　have　given　absurd　prominence；　has　been
　　closed　by　the　death　of　the　chief　culprit。　Johann　Wisch　has
　　committed　suicide　in　his　cell；　his　accomplice；　who　had　absconded；
　　will　be　sentenced　in　default。

　　〃Wisch；　formerly　an　army　contractor；　was　an　honest　man　and　highly
　　respected；　who　could　not　survive　the　idea　of　having　been　the　dupe
　　of　Chardin；　the　storekeeper　who　has　disappeared。〃

And　in　the　/Paris　News/　the　following　paragraph　appeared：

　　〃Monsieur　le　Marechal　the　Minister　of　War；　to　prevent　the
　　recurrence　of　such　scandals　for　the　future；　has　arranged　for　a
　　regular　Commissariat　office　in　Africa。　A　head…clerk　in　the　War
　　Office；　Monsieur　Marneffe；　is　spoken　of　as　likely　to　be　appointed
　　to　the　post　of　director。〃



　　〃The　office　vacated　by　Baron　Hulot　is　the　object　of　much　ambition。
　　The　appointment　is　promised；　it　is　said；　to　Monsieur　le　Comte
　　Martial　de　la　Roche…Hugon；　Deputy；　brother…in…law　to　Monsieur　le
　　Comte　de　Rastignac。　Monsieur　Massol；　Master　of　Appeals；　will　fill
　　his　seat　on　the　Council　of　State；　and　Monsieur　Claude　Vignon
　　becomes　Master　of　Appeals。〃

Of　all　kinds　of　false　gossip；　the　most　dangerous　for　the　Opposition
newspapers　is　the　official　bogus　paragraph。　However　keen　journalists
may　be；　they　are　sometimes　the　voluntary　or　involuntary　dupes　of　the
cleverness　of　those　who　have　risen　from　the　ranks　of　the　Press；　like
Claude　Vignon；　to　the　higher　realms　of　power。　The　newspaper　can　only
be　circumvented　by　the　journalist。　It　may　be　said；　as　a　parody　on　a
line　by　Voltaire：

〃The　Paris　news　is　never　what　the　foolish　folk　believe。〃

Marshal　Hulot　drove　home　with　his　brother；　who　took　the　front　seat；
respectfully　leaving　the　whole　of　the　back　of　the　carriage　to　his
senior。　The　two　men　spoke　not　a　word。　Hector　was　helpless。　The　Marshal
was　lost　in　thought；　like　a　man　who　is　collecting　all　his　strength；
and　bracing　himself　to　bear　a　crushing　weight。　On　arriving　at　his　own
house；　still　without　speaking；　but　by　an　imperiou