honorine-第3章

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my　mother。

〃　'In　Comte　Octave　you　will　find　not　a　master；　but　a　friend；'　said　my
uncle　on　the　way　to　the　Rue　Payenne。　'But　he　is　distrustful；　or　to　be
more　exact；　he　is　cautious。　The　statesman's　friendship　can　be　won　only
with　time；　for　in　spite　of　his　deep　insight　and　his　habit　of　gauging
men；　he　was　deceived　by　the　man　you　are　succeeding；　and　nearly　became
a　victim　to　his　abuse　of　confidence。　This　is　enough　to　guide　you　in
your　behavior　to　him。'

〃When　we　knocked　at　the　enormous　outer　door　of　a　house　as　large　as　the
Hotel　Carnavalet；　with　a　courtyard　in　front　and　a　garden　behind；　the
sound　rang　as　in　a　desert。　While　my　uncle　inquired　of　an　old　porter　in
livery　if　the　Count　were　at　home；　I　cast　my　eyes；　seeing　everything　at
once；　over　the　courtyard　where　the　cobblestones　were　hidden　in　the
grass；　the　blackened　walls　where　little　gardens　were　flourishing　above
the　decorations　of　the　elegant　architecture；　and　on　the　roof；　as　high
as　that　of　the　Tuileries。　The　balustrade　of　the　upper　balconies　was
eaten　away。　Through　a　magnificent　colonnade　I　could　see　a　second　court
on　one　side；　where　were　the　offices；　the　door　was　rotting。　An　old
coachman　was　there　cleaning　an　old　carriage。　The　indifferent　air　of
this　servant　allowed　me　to　assume　that　the　handsome　stables；　where　of
old　so　many　horses　had　whinnied；　now　sheltered　two　at　most。　The
handsome　facade　of　the　house　seemed　to　me　gloomy；　like　that　of　a
mansion　belonging　to　the　State　or　the　Crown；　and　given　up　to　some
public　office。　A　bell　rang　as　we　walked　across；　my　uncle　and　I；　from
the　porter's　lodge/Inquire　of　the　Porter/　was　still　written　over　the
doortowards　the　outside　steps；　where　a　footman　came　out　in　a　livery
like　that　of　Labranche　at　the　Theatre　Francais　in　the　old　stock　plays。
A　visitor　was　so　rare　that　the　servant　was　putting　his　coat　on　when　he
opened　a　glass　door　with　small　panes；　on　each　side　of　which　the　smoke
of　a　lamp　had　traced　patterns　on　the　walls。

〃A　hall　so　magnificent　as　to　be　worthy　of　Versailles　ended　in　a
staircase　such　as　will　never　again　be　built　in　France；　taking　up　as
much　space　as　the　whole　of　a　modern　house。　As　we　went　up　the　marble
steps；　as　cold　as　tombstones；　and　wide　enough　for　eight　persons　to
walk　abreast；　our　tread　echoed　under　sonorous　vaulting。　The　banister
charmed　the　eye　by　its　miraculous　workmanshipgoldsmith's　work　in
ironwrought　by　the　fancy　of　an　artist　of　the　time　of　Henri　III。
Chilled　as　by　an　icy　mantle　that　fell　on　our　shoulders；　we　went
through　ante…rooms；　drawing…rooms　opening　one　out　of　the　other；　with
carpetless　parquet　floors；　and　furnished　with　such　splendid
antiquities　as　from　thence　would　find　their　way　to　the　curiosity
dealers。　At　last　we　reached　a　large　study　in　a　cross　wing；　with　all
the　windows　looking　into　an　immense　garden。

〃　'Monsieur　le　Cure　of　the　White　Friars；　and　his　nephew；　Monsieur　de
l'Hostal；'　said　Labranche；　to　whose　care　the　other　theatrical　servant
had　consigned　us　in　the　first　ante…chamber。

〃Comte　Octave；　dressed　in　long　trousers　and　a　gray　flannel　morning
coat；　rose　from　his　seat　by　a　huge　writing…table；　came　to　the
fireplace；　and　signed　to　me　to　sit　down；　while　he　went　forward　to　take
my　uncle's　hands；　which　he　pressed。

〃　'Though　I　am　in　the　parish　of　Saint…Paul；'　said　he；　'I　could
scarcely　have　failed　to　hear　of　the　Cure　of　the　White　Friars；　and　I　am
happy　to　make　his　acquaintance。'

〃　'Your　Excellency　is　most　kind；'　replied　my　uncle。　'I　have　brought　to
you　my　only　remaining　relation。　While　I　believe　that　I　am　offering　a
good　gift　to　your　Excellency；　I　hope　at　the　same　time　to　give　my
nephew　a　second　father。'

〃　'As　to　that；　I　can　only　reply；　Monsieur　l'Abbe；　when　we　shall　have
tried　each　other；'　said　Comte　Octave。　'Your　name？'　he　added　to　me。

〃　'Maurice。'

〃　'He　has　taken　his　doctor's　degree　in　law；'　my　uncle　observed。

〃　'Very　good；　very　good！'　said　the　Count；　looking　at　me　from　head　to
foot。　'Monsieur　l'Abbe；　I　hope　that　for　your　nephew's　sake　in　the
first　instance；　and　then　for　mine；　you　will　do　me　the　honor　of　dining
here　every　Monday。　That　will　be　our　family　dinner；　our　family　party。'

〃My　uncle　and　the　Count　then　began　to　talk　of　religion　from　the
political　point　of　view；　of　charitable　institutes；　the　repression　of
crime；　and　I　could　at　my　leisure　study　the　man　on　whom　my　fate　would
henceforth　depend。　The　Count　was　of　middle　height；　it　was　impossible
to　judge　of　his　build　on　account　of　his　dress；　but　he　seemed　to　me　to
be　lean　and　spare。　His　face　was　harsh　and　hollow；　the　features　were
refined。　His　mouth；　which　was　rather　large；　expressed　both　irony　and
kindliness。　His　forehead　perhaps　too　spacious；　was　as　intimidating　as
that　of　a　madman；　all　the　more　so　from　the　contrast　of　the　lower　part
of　the　face；　which　ended　squarely　in　a　short　chin　very　near　the　lower
lip。　Small　eyes；　of　turquoise　blue；　were　as　keen　and　bright　as　those
of　the　Prince　de　Talleyrandwhich　I　admired　at　a　later　timeand
endowed；　like　the　Prince's；　with　the　faculty　of　becoming
expressionless　to　the　verge　of　gloom；　and　they　added　to　the
singularity　of　a　face　that　was　not　pale　but　yellow。　This　complexion
seemed　to　bespeak　an　irritable　temper　and　violent　passions。　His　hair；
already　silvered；　and　carefully　dressed；　seemed　to　furrow　his　head
with　streaks　of　black　and　white　alternately。　The　trimness　of　this　head
spoiled　the　resemblance　I　had　remarked　in　the　Count　to　the　wonderful
monk　described　by　Lewis　after　Schedoni　in　the　/Confessional　of　the
Black　Penitents　（The　Italian）/；　a　superior　creation；　as　it　seems　to
me；　to　/The　Monk/。

〃The　Count　was　already　shaved；　having　to　attend　early　at　the　law
courts。　Two　candelabra　with　four　lights；　screened　by　lamp…shades；　were
still　burning　at　the　opposite　ends　of　the　writing…table；　and　showed
plainly　that　the　magistrate　rose　long　before　daylight。　His　hands；
which　I　saw　when　he　took　hold　of　the　bell…pull　to　summon　his　servant；
were　extremely　fine；　and　as　white　as　a　woman's。

〃As　I　tell　you　this　story；〃　said　the　Consul…General；　interrupting
himself；　〃I　am　altering　the　titles　and　the　social　position　of　this
gentleman；　while　placing　him　in　circumstances　analogous　to　what　his
really　were。　His　profession；　rank；　luxury；　fortune；　and　style　of
living　were　the　same；　all　these　details　are　true；　but　I　would　not　be
false　to　my　benefactor；　nor　to　my　usual　habits　of　discretion。

〃Instead　of　feelingas　I　really　was；　socially　speakingan　insect　in
the　presence　of　an　eagle；〃　the　narrator　went　on　after　a　pause；　〃I　felt
I　know　not　what　indefinable　impression　from　the　Count's　appearance；
which；　however；　I　can　now　account　for。　Artists　of　genius〃　（and　he
bowed　gracefully　to　the　Ambassador；　the　distinguished　lady；　and　the
two　Frenchmen）；　〃real　statesmen；　poets；　a　general　who　has　commanded
armiesin　short；　all　really　great　minds　are　simple；　and　their
simplicity　places　you　on　a　level　with　themselves。You　who　are　all　of
superior　minds；〃　he　said；　addressing　his　guests；　〃have　perhaps
observed　how　feeling　can　bridge　over　the　distances　created　by　society。
If　we　are　inferior　to　you　in　intellect；　we　can　be　your　equals　in
devoted　friendship。　By　the　temperatureallow　me　the　wordof　our
hearts　I　felt　myself　as　near　my　patron　as　I　was　far　below　him　in　rank。
In　short；　the　soul　has　its　clairvoyance；　it　has　presentiments　of
suffering；　grief；　joy；　antagonism；　or　hatred　in　others。

〃I　vaguely　discerned　the　symptoms　of　a　mystery；　from　recognizing　in
the　Count　the　same　effects　of　physiognomy　as　I　had　observed　in　my
uncle。　The　exercise　of　virtue；　serenity　of　conscience；　and　purity　of
mind　had　transfigured　my　uncle；　who　from　being　ugly　had　become　quite
beautiful。　I　detected　a　metamorphosis　of　a　reverse　kind　in　the　Count's
face；　at　the　first　glance　I　thought　he　was　about　fifty…five；　but　after
an　attentive　examination　I　found　youth　entombed　under　the　ice　of　a
great　sorrow；　under　the　fatigue　of　persistent　study；　under　the　glowing
hues　of　some　suppressed　passion。　At　a　word　from　my　uncle　the　Count's
eyes　recovered　for　a　moment　the　softness　of　the　periwinkle　flower；　and
he　had　an　admiring　smile；　which　revealed　what　I　believed　to　be　his
real　age；　about　forty。　These　observations　I　made；　not　then　but
afterwards；　as　I　recalled　the　circumstances　of　my　visit。

〃The　man…servant　came　in　carrying　a　tray　with　his　master's　breakfast
on　it。

〃　'I　did　not　ask　for　breakfast；'　remarked　the　Count；　'but　leave　it；
and　show　monsieur　to　his　rooms。'

〃I　followed　the　servant；　who　led　the　way　to　a　complete　set　of　pretty
rooms；　under　a　terrace；　between　the　great　courtyard　and　the　servants'
quarters；　over　a　corridor　of　communication　between　the　kitchens　and
the　grand　staircase。　When　I　returned　to　the　Count's　study；　I
overheard；　before　opening　the　door；　my　uncle　pronouncing　this　judgment
on　me：

〃　'He　may　do　wrong；　for　he　has　strong　feelings；　and　we　are　all　liable
to　honorable　mistakes；　but　he　has　no　vices。'

〃　'Well；'　said　the　Count；　with　a　kindly　look；　'do　you　like　yourself
there？　Tell　me。　There　are　so　many　rooms　in　this　barrack　that；　if　you
were　not　comfortable；　I　could　put　you　elsewhere。'

〃　'At　my　uncle's　I　had　but　one　room；'　replied　I。

〃　'Well；　you　can　settle　yourself　this　evening；'　said　the　Count；　'for
your　possessions；　no　doubt；　are　such　as　all　students　own；　and　a
hackney　coach　will　be　enough　to　convey　them。　To…day　we　will　all　three
dine　together；'　and　he　looked　at　my　uncle。

〃A　splendid　library　opened　from　the　Count's　study；　and　he　took　us　in
there；　showing　me　a　pretty　little　recess　decorated　with　paintings；
which　had　formerly　served；　no　doubt；　as　an　oratory。

〃　'This　is　your　cell；'　said　he。　'You　will　sit　there　when　you　have　to
work　with　me；　for　you　will　not　be　tethered　by　a　chain；'　and　he
explained　in　detail　the　kind　and　duration　of　my　employment　with　him。
As　I　listened　I　felt　that　he　was　a　great　political　teacher。

〃It　took　me　about　a　month　to　familiarize　myself　with　people　and
things；　to　learn　the　duties　of　my　new　office；　and　accustom　myself　to
the　Count's　methods。　A　secretary　necessarily　watches　the　man　who　makes
use　of　him。　That　man's　tastes；　passions；　temper；　and　manias　become　the
subject　of　involuntary　study。　The　union　of　their　two　minds　is　at　once
more　and　less　than　a　marriage。

〃During　these　months　the　Count　and　I　reciprocally　studied　each　other。
I　learned　with　astonishment　that　Comte　Octave　was　but　thirty…seven
years　old。　The　merely　superficial　peacefulness　of　his　life　and　the
propriety　of　his　conduct　were　the　outcome　not　solely　of　a　deep　sense
of　duty　and　of　stoical　reflection；　in　my　constant　intercourse　with
this　manan　extraordinary　man　to　those　who　knew　him　wellI　felt　vast
depths　beneath　his　toil；　beneath　his　acts　of　politeness；　his　mask　of
benignity；　his　assumption　of　resignation；　which　so　closely　resembled
calmness　that　it　is　easy　to　mistake　it。　Just　as　when　walking　through
forest…lands　certain　soils　give　forth　under　our　feet　a　sound　which
enables　us　to　guess　whether　they　are　dense　masses　of　stone　or　a　void；
so　intense　egoism；　though　hidden　under　the　flowers　of　politeness；　and
subterranean　caverns　eaten　out　by　sorrow　sound　hollow　under　the
constant　touch　of　familiar　life。　It　was　sorrow　and　not　despondency
that　dwelt　in　that　really　great　soul。　The　Count　had　understood　that
a