cousin betty-第75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！


that　the　blood　was　poisoned　by　some　hitherto　unknown　morbid　infection。
Bianchon　produced　Professor　Duval's　analysis　of　the　blood。　The
remedies　to　be　applied；　though　absolutely　empirical　and　without　hope；
depended　on　the　verdict　in　this　medical　dilemma。

Lisbeth　stood　as　if　petrified　three　yards　away　from　the　bed　where
Valerie　lay　dying；　as　she　saw　a　priest　from　Saint…Thomas　d'Aquin
standing　by　her　friend's　pillow；　and　a　sister　of　charity　in
attendance。　Religion　could　find　a　soul　to　save　in　a　mass　of　rottenness
which；　of　the　five　senses　of　man；　had　now　only　that　of　sight。　The
sister　of　charity　who　alone　had　been　found　to　nurse　Valerie　stood
apart。　Thus　the　Catholic　religion；　that　divine　institution；　always
actuated　by　the　spirit　of　self…sacrifice；　under　its　twofold　aspect　of
the　Spirit　and　the　Flesh；　was　tending　this　horrible　and　atrocious
creature；　soothing　her　death…bed　by　its　infinite　benevolence　and
inexhaustible　stores　of　mercy。

The　servants；　in　horror；　refused　to　go　into　the　room　of　either　their
master　or　mistress；　they　thought　only　of　themselves；　and　judged　their
betters　as　righteously　stricken。　The　smell　was　so　foul　that　in　spite
of　open　windows　and　strong　perfumes；　no　one　could　remain　long　in
Valerie's　room。　Religion　alone　kept　guard　there。

How　could　a　woman　so　clever　as　Valerie　fail　to　ask　herself　to　what　end
these　two　representatives　of　the　Church　remained　with　her？　The　dying
woman　had　listened　to　the　words　of　the　priest。　Repentance　had　risen　on
her　darkened　soul　as　the　devouring　malady　had　consumed　her　beauty。　The
fragile　Valerie　had　been　less　able　to　resist　the　inroads　of　the
disease　than　Crevel；　she　would　be　the　first　to　succumb；　and；　indeed；
had　been　the　first　attacked。

〃If　I　had　not　been　ill　myself；　I　would　have　come　to　nurse　you；〃　said
Lisbeth　at　last；　after　a　glance　at　her　friend's　sunken　eyes。　〃I　have
kept　my　room　this　fortnight　or　three　weeks；　but　when　I　heard　of　your
state　from　the　doctor；　I　came　at　once。〃

〃Poor　Lisbeth；　you　at　least　love　me　still；　I　see！〃　said　Valerie。
〃Listen。　I　have　only　a　day　or　two　left　to　think；　for　I　cannot　say　to
live。　You　see；　there　is　nothing　left　of　meI　am　a　heap　of　mud！　They
will　not　let　me　see　myself　in　a　glass。Well；　it　is　no　more　than　I
deserve。　Oh；　if　I　might　only　win　mercy；　I　would　gladly　undo　all　the
mischief　I　have　done。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Lisbeth；　〃if　you　can　talk　like　that；　you　are　indeed　a　dead
woman。〃

〃Do　not　hinder　this　woman's　repentance；　leave　her　in　her　Christian
mind；〃　said　the　priest。

〃There　is　nothing　left！〃　said　Lisbeth　in　consternation。　〃I　cannot
recognize　her　eyes　or　her　mouth！　Not　a　feature　of　her　is　there！　And
her　wit　has　deserted　her！　Oh；　it　is　awful！〃

〃You　don't　know；〃　said　Valerie；　〃what　death　is；　what　it　is　to　be
obliged　to　think　of　the　morrow　of　your　last　day　on　earth；　and　of　what
is　to　be　found　in　the　grave。Worms　for　the　bodyand　for　the　soul；
what？Lisbeth；　I　know　there　is　another　life！　And　I　am　given　over　to
terrors　which　prevent　my　feeling　the　pangs　of　my　decomposing　body。I；
who　could　laugh　at　a　saint；　and　say　to　Crevel　that　the　vengeance　of
God　took　every　form　of　disaster。　Well；　I　was　a　true　prophet。Do　not
trifle　with　sacred　things；　Lisbeth；　if　you　love　me；　repent　as　I　do。〃

〃I！〃　said　Lisbeth。　〃I　see　vengeance　wherever　I　turn　in　nature；　insects
even　die　to　satisfy　the　craving　for　revenge　when　they　are　attacked。
And　do　not　these　gentlemen　tell　us〃and　she　looked　at　the　priest
〃that　God　is　revenged；　and　that　His　vengeance　lasts　through　all
eternity？〃

The　priest　looked　mildly　at　Lisbeth　and　said：

〃You；　madame；　are　an　atheist！〃

〃But　look　what　I　have　come　to；〃　said　Valerie。

〃And　where　did　you　get　this　gangrene？〃　asked　the　old　maid；　unmoved
from　her　peasant　incredulity。

〃I　had　a　letter　from　Henri　which　leaves　me　in　no　doubt　as　to　my　fate。
He　has　murdered　me。　Andjust　when　I　meant　to　live　honestlyto　die　an
object　of　disgust！

〃Lisbeth；　give　up　all　notions　of　revenge。　Be　kind　to　that　family　to
whom　I　have　left　by　my　will　everything　I　can　dispose　of。　Go；　child；
though　you　are　the　only　creature　who；　at　this　hour；　does　not　avoid　me
with　horrorgo；　I　beseech　you；　and　leave　me。I　have　only　time　to
make　my　peace　with　God！〃

〃She　is　wandering　in　her　wits；〃　said　Lisbeth　to　herself；　as　she　left
the　room。

The　strongest　affection　known；　that　of　a　woman　for　a　woman；　had　not
such　heroic　constancy　as　the　Church。　Lisbeth；　stifled　by　the　miasma；
went　away。　She　found　the　physicians　still　in　consultation。　But
Bianchon's　opinion　carried　the　day；　and　the　only　question　now　was　how
to　try　the　remedies。

〃At　any　rate；　we　shall　have　a　splendid　/post…mortem/；〃　said　one　of　his
opponents；　〃and　there　will　be　two　cases　to　enable　us　to　make
comparisons。〃

Lisbeth　went　in　again　with　Bianchon；　who　went　up　to　the　sick　woman
without　seeming　aware　of　the　malodorous　atmosphere。

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃we　intend　to　try　a　powerful　remedy　which　may　save
you〃

〃And　if　you　save　my　life；〃　said　she；　〃shall　I　be　as　good…looking　as
ever？〃

〃Possibly；〃　said　the　judicious　physician。

〃I　know　your　/possibly/；〃　said　Valerie。　〃I　shall　look　like　a　woman　who
has　fallen　into　the　fire！　No；　leave　me　to　the　Church。　I　can　please　no
one　now　but　God。　I　will　try　to　be　reconciled　to　Him；　and　that　will　be
my　last　flirtation；　yes；　I　must　try　to　come　round　God！〃

〃That　is　my　poor　Valerie's　last　jest；　that　is　all　herself！〃　said
Lisbeth　in　tears。

Lisbeth　thought　it　her　duty　to　go　into　Crevel's　room；　where　she　found
Victorin　and　his　wife　sitting　about　a　yard　away　from　the　stricken
man's　bed。

〃Lisbeth；〃　said　he；　〃they　will　not　tell　me　what　state　my　wife　is　in；
you　have　just　seen　herhow　is　she？〃

〃She　is　better；　she　says　she　is　saved；〃　replied　Lisbeth；　allowing
herself　this　play　on　the　word　to　soothe　Crevel's　mind。

〃That　is　well；〃　said　the　Mayor。　〃I　feared　lest　I　had　been　the　cause　of
her　illness。　A　man　is　not　a　traveler　in　perfumery　for　nothing；　I　had
blamed　myself。If　I　should　lose　her；　what　would　become　of　me？　On　my
honor；　my　children；　I　worship　that　woman。〃

He　sat　up　in　bed　and　tried　to　assume　his　favorite　position。

〃Oh；　Papa！〃　cried　Celestine；　〃if　only　you　could　be　well　again；　I　would
make　friends　with　my　stepmotherI　make　a　vow！〃

〃Poor　little　Celestine！〃　said　Crevel；　〃come　and　kiss　me。〃

Victorin　held　back　his　wife；　who　was　rushing　forward。

〃You　do　not　know；　perhaps；〃　said　the　lawyer　gently；　〃that　your　disease
is　contagious；　monsieur。〃

〃To　be　sure；〃　replied　Crevel。　〃And　the　doctors　are　quite　proud　of
having　rediscovered　in　me　some　long　lost　plague　of　the　Middle　Ages；
which　the　Faculty　has　had　cried　like　lost　propertyit　is　very　funny！〃

〃Papa；〃　said　Celestine；　〃be　brave；　and　you　will　get　the　better　of　this
disease。〃

〃Be　quite　easy；　my　children；　Death　thinks　twice　of　it　before　carrying
off　a　Mayor　of　Paris；〃　said　he；　with　monstrous　composure。　〃And　if；
after　all；　my　district　is　so　unfortunate　as　to　lose　a　man　it　has　twice
honored　with　its　suffragesyou　see；　what　a　flow　of　words　I　have！
Well；　I　shall　know　how　to　pack　up　and　go。　I　have　been　a　commercial
traveler；　I　am　experienced　in　such　matters。　Ah！　my　children；　I　am　a
man　of　strong　mind。〃

〃Papa；　promise　me　to　admit　the　Church〃

〃Never；〃　replied　Crevel。　〃What　is　to　be　said？　I　drank　the　milk　of
Revolution；　I　have　not　Baron　Holbach's　wit；　but　I　have　his　strength　of
mind。　I　am　more　/Regence/　than　ever；　more　Musketeer；　Abbe　Dubois；　and
Marechal　de　Richelieu！　By　the　Holy　Poker！My　wife；　who　is　wandering
in　her　head；　has　just　sent　me　a　man　in　a　gownto　me！　the　admirer　of
Beranger；　the　friend　of　Lisette；　the　son　of　Voltaire　and　Rousseau。
The　doctor；　to　feel　my　pulse；　as　it　were；　and　see　if　sickness　had
subdued　me'You　saw　Monsieur　l'Abbe？'　said　he。Well；　I　imitated　the
great　Montesquieu。　Yes；　I　looked　at　the　doctorsee；　like　this；〃　and
he　turned　to　show　three…quarters　face；　like　his　portrait；　and　extended
his　hand　authoritatively〃and　I　said：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃The　slave　was　here；
　　He　showed　his　order；　but　he　nothing　gained。

〃/His　order/　is　a　pretty　jest；　showing　that　even　in　death　Monsieur　le
President　de　Montesquieu　preserved　his　elegant　wit；　for　they　had　sent
him　a　Jesuit。　I　admire　that　passageI　cannot　say　of　his　life；　but　of
his　deaththe　passageanother　joke！The　passage　from　life　to　death
the　Passage　Montesquieu！〃

Victorin　gazed　sadly　at　his　father…in…law；　wondering　whether　folly　and
vanity　were　not　forces　on　a　par　with　true　greatness　of　soul。　The
causes　that　act　on　the　springs　of　the　soul　seem　to　be　quite
independent　of　the　results。　Can　it　be　that　the　fortitude　which　upholds
a　great　criminal　is　the　same　as　that　which　a　Champcenetz　so　proudly
walks　to　the　scaffold？

By　the　end　of　the　week　Madame　Crevel　was　buried；　after　dreadful
sufferings；　and　Crevel　followed　her　within　two　days。　Thus　the
marriage…contract　was　annulled。　Crevel　was　heir　to　Valerie。

On　the　very　day　after　the　funeral；　the　friar　called　again　on　the
lawyer；　who　received　him　in　perfect　silence。　The　monk　held　out　his
hand　without　a　word；　and　without　a　word　Victorin　Hulot　gave　him　eighty
thousand…franc　notes；　taken　from　a　sum　of　money　found　in　Crevel's
desk。

Young　Madame　Hulot　inherited　the　estate　of　Presles　and　thirty　thousand
francs　a　year。

Madame　Crevel　had　bequeathed　a　sum　of　three　hundred　thousand　francs　to
Baron　Hulot。　Her　scrofulous　boy　Stanislas　was　to　inherit；　at　his
majority；　the　Hotel　Crevel　and　eighty　thousand　francs　a　year。



Among　the　many　noble　associations　founded　in　Paris　by　Catholic
charity；　there　is　one；　originated　by　Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　for
promoting　civil　and　religious　marriages　between　persons　who　have
formed　a　voluntary　but　illicit　union。　Legislators；　who　draw　large
revenues　from　the　registration　fees；　and　the　Bourgeois　dynasty；　which
benefits　by　the　notary's　profits；　affect　to　overlook　the　fact　that
three…fourths　of　the　poorer　class　cannot　afford　fifteen　francs　for　the
marriage…contract。　The　pleaders；　a　sufficiently　vilified　body；
gratuitously　defend　the　cases　of　the　indigent；　while　the　notaries　have
not　as　yet　agreed　to　charge　nothing　for　the　marriage…contract　of　the
poor。　As　to　the　revenue　collectors；　the　whole　machinery　of　Government
would　have　to　be　dislocated　to　induce　the　authorities　to　relax　their
demands。　The　registrar's　office　is　deaf　and　dumb。

Then　the　Church；　too；　receives　a　duty　on　marriages。　In　France　the
Church　depends　largely　on　such　revenues；　even　in　the　House　of　God　it
traffics　in　chairs　and　kneeling　stools　in　a　way　that　offends
foreigners；　though　it　cannot　have　forgotten　the　anger　of　the　Saviour
who　drove　the　money…changers　out　of　the　Temple。　If　the　Church　is　so
loath　to　relinquish　its　dues；　it　must　be　supposed　that　these　dues；
known　as　Vestry　dues；　are　one　of　its　sources　of　maintenance；　and　then
the　fault　of　the　Church　is　the　fault　of　the　State。

The　co…operation　of　these　conditions；　at　a　time　when　charity　is　too
greatly　concerned　with　the　negroes　and　the　petty　offenders　discharged
from　prison　to　trouble　itself　about　honest　folks　in　difficulties；
results　in　the　existence　of　a　number　of　decent　couples　who　have　never
been　legally　married　for　lack　of　thirty　francs；　the　lowest　figure　for
which　the　Notary；　the　Registrar；　the　Mayor　and　the　Church　will　unite