cousin betty-第61章

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〃And　monstrously　droll？　So　I　have　been　told。　What　does　she　do；　I　say？
Is　she　better　fun　than　I　am？〃

〃I　don't　want　to　talk　about　her；〃　said　Hulot。

〃And　I　hear　she　has　come　round　my　Crevel；　and　little　Steinbock；　and　a
gorgeous　Brazilian？〃

〃Very　likely。〃

〃And　that　she　has　got　a　house　as　good　as　this；　that　Crevel　has　given
her。　The　baggage！　She　is　my　provost…marshal；　and　finishes　off　those　I
have　spoiled。　I　tell　you　why　I　am　so　curious　to　know　what　she　is　like；
old　boy；　I　just　caught　sight　of　her　in　the　Bois；　in　an　open　carriage
but　a　long　way　off。　She　is　a　most　accomplished　harpy；　Carabine　says。
She　is　trying　to　eat　up　Crevel；　but　he　only　lets　her　nibble。　Crevel　is
a　knowing　hand；　good…natured　but　hard…headed；　who　will　always　say　Yes；
and　then　go　his　own　way。　He　is　vain　and　passionate；　but　his　cash　is
cold。　You　can　never　get　anything　out　of　such　fellows　beyond　a　thousand
to　three　thousand　francs　a　month；　they　jib　at　any　serious　outlay；　as　a
donkey　does　at　a　running　stream。

〃Not　like　you；　old　boy。　You　are　a　man　of　passions；　you　would　sell　your
country　for　a　woman。　And；　look　here；　I　am　ready　to　do　anything　for
you！　You　are　my　father；　you　started　me　in　life；　it　is　a　sacred　duty。
What　do　you　want？　Do　you　want　a　hundred　thousand　francs？　I　will　wear
myself　to　a　rag　to　gain　them。　As　to　giving　you　bed　and　boardthat　is
nothing。　A　place　will　be　laid　for　you　here　every　day；　you　can　have　a
good　room　on　the　second　floor；　and　a　hundred　crowns　a　month　for
pocket…money。〃

The　Baron；　deeply　touched　by　such　a　welcome；　had　a　last　qualm　of
honor。

〃No；　my　dear　child；　no；　I　did　not　come　here　for　you　to　keep　me；〃　said
he。

〃At　your　age　it　is　something　to　be　proud　of；〃　said　she。

〃This　is　what　I　wish；　my　child。　Your　Duc　d'Herouville　has　immense
estates　in　Normandy；　and　I　want　to　be　his　steward；　under　the　name　of
Thoul。　I　have　the　capacity；　and　I　am　honest。　A　man　may　borrow　of　the
Government；　and　yet　not　steal　from　a　cash…box〃

〃H'm；　h'm；〃　said　Josepha。　〃Once　drunk；　drinks　again。〃

〃In　short；　I　only　want　to　live　out　of　sight　for　three　years〃

〃Well；　it　is　soon　done；〃　said　Josepha。　〃This　evening；　after　dinner；　I
have　only　to　speak。　The　Duke　would　marry　me　if　I　wished　it；　but　I　have
his　fortune；　and　I　want　something　betterhis　esteem。　He　is　a　Duke　of
the　first　water。　He　is　high…minded；　as　noble　and　great　as　Louis　XIV。
and　Napoleon　rolled　into　one；　though　he　is　a　dwarf。　Besides；　I　have
done　for　him　what　la　Schontz　did　for　Rochefide；　by　taking　my　advice　he
has　made　two　millions。

〃Now；　listen　to　me；　old　popgun。　I　know　you；　you　are　always　after　the
women；　and　you　would　be　dancing　attendance　on　the　Normandy　girls；　who
are　splendid　creatures；　and　getting　your　ribs　cracked　by　their　lovers
and　fathers；　and　the　Duke　would　have　to　get　you　out　of　the　scrape。
Why；　can't　I　see　by　the　way　you　look　at　me　that　the　/young/　man　is　not
dead　in　youas　Fenelon　put　it。No；　this　stewardship　is　not　the　thing
for　you。　A　man　cannot　be　off　with　his　Paris　and　with　us；　old　boy；　for
the　saying！　You　would　die　of　weariness　at　Herouville。〃

〃What　is　to　become　of　me？〃　said　the　Baron；　〃for　I　will　only　stay　here
till　I　see　my　way。〃

〃Well；　shall　I　find　a　pigeon…hole　for　you？　Listen；　you　old　pirate。
Women　are　what　you　want。　They　are　consolation　in　all　circumstances。
Attend　now。At　the　end　of　the　Alley；　Rue　Saint…Maur…du…Temple；　there
is　a　poor　family　I　know　of　where　there　is　a　jewel　of　a　little　girl；
prettier　than　I　was　at　sixteen。Ah！　there　is　a　twinkle　in　your　eye
already！The　child　works　sixteen　hours　a　day　at　embroidering　costly
pieces　for　the　silk　merchants；　and　earns　sixteen　sous　a　dayone　sou
an　hour！and　feeds　like　the　Irish；　on　potatoes　fried　in　rats'
dripping；　with　bread　five　times　a　weekand　drinks　canal　water　out　of
the　town　pipes；　because　the　Seine　water　costs　too　much；　and　she　cannot
set　up　on　her　own　account　for　lack　of　six　or　seven　thousand　francs。
Your　wife　and　children　bore　you　to　death；　don't　they？Besides；　one
cannot　submit　to　be　nobody　where　one　has　been　a　little　Almighty。　A
father　who　has　neither　money　nor　honor　can　only　be　stuffed　and　kept　in
a　glass　case。〃

The　Baron　could　not　help　smiling　at　these　abominable　jests。

〃Well；　now；　Bijou　is　to　come　to…morrow　morning　to　bring　me　an
embroidered　wrapper；　a　gem！　It　has　taken　six　months　to　make；　no　one
else　will　have　any　stuff　like　it！　Bijou　is　very　fond　of　me；　I　give　her
tidbits　and　my　old　gowns。　And　I　send　orders　for　bread　and　meat　and
wood　to　the　family；　who　would　break　the　shin…bones　of　the　first　comer
if　I　bid　them。I　try　to　do　a　little　good。　Ah！　I　know　what　I　endured
from　hunger　myself！Bijou　has　confided　to　me　all　her　little　sorrows。
There　is　the　making　of　a　super　at　the　Ambigu…Comique　in　that　child。
Her　dream　is　to　wear　fine　dresses　like　mine；　above　all；　to　ride　in　a
carriage。　I　shall　say　to　her；　'Look　here；　little　one；　would　you　like
to　have　a　friend　of'　How　old　are　you？〃　she　asked；　interrupting
herself。　〃Seventy…two？〃

〃I　have　given　up　counting。〃

〃　'Would　you　like　an　old　gentleman　of　seventy…two？'　I　shall　say。　'Very
clean　and　neat；　and　who　does　not　take　snuff；　who　is　as　sound　as　a
bell；　and　as　good　as　a　young　man？　He　will　marry　you　（in　the　Thirteenth
Arrondissement）　and　be　very　kind　to　you；　he　will　place　seven　thousand
francs　in　your　account；　and　furnish　you　a　room　all　in　mahogany；　and　if
you　are　good；　he　will　sometimes　take　you　to　the　play。　He　will　give　you
a　hundred　francs　a　month　for　pocket…money；　and　fifty　francs　for
housekeeping。'I　know　Bijou；　she　is　myself　at　fourteen。　I　jumped　for
joy　when　that　horrible　Crevel　made　me　his　atrocious　offers。　Well；　and
you；　old　man；　will　be　disposed　of　for　three　years。　She　is　a　good
child；　well　behaved；　for　three　or　four　years　she　will　have　her
illusionsnot　for　longer。〃

Hulot　did　not　hesitate；　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to　refuse；　but　to　seem
grateful　to　the　kind…hearted　singer；　who　was　benevolent　after　her
lights；　he　affected　to　hesitate　between　vice　and　virtue。

〃Why；　you　are　as　cold　as　a　paving…stone　in　winter！〃　she　exclaimed　in
amazement。　〃Come；　now。　You　will　make　a　whole　family　happya
grandfather　who　runs　all　the　errands；　a　mother　who　is　being　worn　out
with　work；　and　two　sistersone　of　them　very　plainwho　make　thirty…
two　sous　a　day　while　putting　their　eyes　out。　It　will　make　up　for　the
misery　you　have　caused　at　home；　and　you　will　expiate　your　sin　while
you　are　having　as　much　fun　as　a　minx　at　Mabille。〃

Hulot；　to　put　an　end　to　this　temptation；　moved　his　fingers　as　if　he
were　counting　out　money。

〃Oh！　be　quite　easy　as　to　ways　and　means；〃　replied　Josepha。　〃My　Duke
will　lend　you　ten　thousand　francs；　seven　thousand　to　start　an
embroidery　shop　in　Bijou's　name；　and　three　thousand　for　furnishing；
and　every　three　months　you　will　find　a　cheque　here　for　six　hundred　and
fifty　francs。　When　you　get　your　pension　paid　you；　you　can　repay　the
seventeen　thousand　francs。　Meanwhile　you　will　be　as　happy　as　a　cow　in
clover；　and　hidden　in　a　hole　where　the　police　will　never　find　you。　You
must　wear　a　loose　serge　coat；　and　you　will　look　like　a　comfortable
householder。　Call　yourself　Thoul；　if　that　is　your　fancy。　I　will　tell
Bijou　that　you　are　an　uncle　of　mine　come　from　Germany；　having　failed
in　business；　and　you　will　be　cosseted　like　a　divinity。There　now；
Daddy！And　who　knows！　you　may　have　no　regrets。　In　case　you　should　be
bored；　keep　one　Sunday　rig…out；　and　you　can　come　and　ask　me　for　a
dinner　and　spend　the　evening　here。〃

〃I！and　I　meant　to　settle　down　and　behave　myself！Look　here；　borrow
twenty　thousand　francs　for　me；　and　I　will　set　out　to　make　my　fortune
in　America；　like　my　friend　d'Aiglemont　when　Nucingen　cleaned　him　out。〃

〃You！〃　cried　Josepha。　〃Nay；　leave　morals　to　work…a…day　folks；　to　raw
recruits；　to　the　/worrrthy/　citizens　who　have　nothing　to　boast　of　but
their　virtue。　You！　You　were　born　to　be　something　better　than　a
nincompoop；　you　are　as　a　man　what　I　am　as　a　womana　spendthrift　of
genius。〃

〃We　will　sleep　on　it　and　discuss　it　all　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃You　will　dine　with　the　Duke。　My　d'Herouville　will　receive　you　as
civilly　as　if　you　were　the　saviour　of　the　State；　and　to…morrow　you　can
decide。　Come；　be　jolly；　old　boy！　Life　is　a　garment；　when　it　is　dirty；
we　must　brush　it；　when　it　is　ragged；　it　must　be　patched；　but　we　keep
it　on　as　long　as　we　can。〃

This　philosophy　of　life；　and　her　high　spirits；　postponed　Hulot's
keenest　pangs。

At　noon　next　day；　after　a　capital　breakfast；　Hulot　saw　the　arrival　of
one　of　those　living　masterpieces　which　Paris　alone　of　all　the　cities
in　the　world　can　produce；　by　means　of　the　constant　concubinage　of
luxury　and　poverty；　of　vice　and　decent　honesty；　of　suppressed　desire
and　renewed　temptation；　which　makes　the　French　capital　the　daughter　of
Ninevah；　of　Babylon；　and　of　Imperial　Rome。

Mademoiselle　Olympe　Bijou；　a　child　of　sixteen；　had　the　exquisite　face
which　Raphael　drew　for　his　Virgins；　eyes　of　pathetic　innocence；　weary
with　overworkblack　eyes；　with　long　lashes；　their　moisture　parched
with　the　heat　of　laborious　nights；　and　darkened　with　fatigue；　a
complexion　like　porcelain；　almost　too　delicate；　a　mouth　like　a　partly
opened　pomegranate；　a　heaving　bosom；　a　full　figure；　pretty　hands；　the
whitest　teeth；　and　a　mass　of　black　hair；　and　the　whole　meagrely　set
off　by　a　cotton　frock　at　seventy…five　centimes　the　metre；　leather
shoes　without　heels；　and　the　cheapest　gloves。　The　girl；　all
unconscious　of　her　charms；　had　put　on　her　best　frock　to　wait　on　the
fine　lady。

The　Baron；　gripped　again　by　the　clutch　of　profligacy；　felt　all　his
life　concentrated　in　his　eyes。　He　forgot　everything　on　beholding　this
delightful　creature。　He　was　like　a　sportsman　in　sight　of　the　game；　if
an　emperor　were　present；　he　must　take　aim！

〃And　warranted　sound；〃　said　Josepha　in　his　ear。　〃An　honest　child；　and
wanting　bread。　This　is　ParisI　have　been　there！〃

〃It　is　a　bargain；〃　replied　the　old　man；　getting　up　and　rubbing　his
hands。

When　Olympe　Bijou　was　gone；　Josepha　looked　mischievously　at　the　Baron。

〃If　you　want　things　to　keep　straight；　Daddy；〃　said　she；　〃be　as　firm　as
the　Public　Prosecutor　on　the　bench。　Keep　a　tight　hand　on　her；　be　a
Bartholo！　Ware　Auguste；　Hippolyte；　Nestor；　Victor/or/；　that　is　gold；
in　every　form。　When　once　the　child　is　fed　and　dressed；　if　she　gets　the
upper　hand；　she　will　drive　you　like　a　serf。I　will　see　to　settling
you　comfortably。　The　Duke　does　the　handsome；　he　will　lendthat　is；
giveyou　ten　thousand　francs；　and　he　deposits　eight　thousand　with　his
notary；　who　will　pay　you　six　hundred　francs　every　quarter；　for　I
cannot　trust　you。Now；　am　I　nice？〃

〃Adorable。〃

Ten　days　after　deserting　his　family；　when　they　were　gathered　round
Adeline；　who　seemed　to　be　dying；　as　she　said　again　and　again；　in　a
weak　voice；　〃Where　is　he？〃　Hector；　under　the　name　of　Thoul；　was
established　in　the　Rue　Saint…Maur；　at　the　head　of　a　business　as
embroiderer；　under　the　name　of　Thoul　and　Bijou。



Victorin　Hulot；　under　the　overwhelming　disasters　of　his　family；　had
received　the　finishing　touch　which　makes　or　mars　the　man。　He　was
perfection。　In　the　great　storms　of　life　we　act　like　the　captain　of　a
ship　who；　under　the　stress　of　a　hurricane；　lightens　the　ship　of　its
heaviest　cargo。　The　young　lawyer　lost　his　self…conscious　pride；　hi