the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第22章
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uncle had become absolutely unsufferable now that his sister was no
longer there to calm him down。 The harp of David was broken； and Saul
was wholly delivered over to the spirit of madness。 The fall of Charles X。
had increased the audacity of the old Napoleonic veteran； who uttered all
imaginable bravadoes。 He no longer frequented our house； which had
become too silent for him。 But sometimes； at the dinner…hour； we would
see him suddenly make his appearance； all covered with flowers； like a
mausoleum。 Ordinarily he would sit down to table with an oath； growled
out from the very bottom of his chest； and brag； between every two
mouthfuls； of his good fortune with the ladies as a vieux brave。 Then；
when the dinner was over； he would fold up his napkin in the shape of a
bishop's mitre； gulp down half a decanter of brandy； and rush away with
the hurried air of a man terrified at the mere idea of remaining for any
length of time； without drinking； in conversation with an old philosopher
and a young scholar。 I felt perfectly sure that； if ever he and Monsieur de
Lessay should come together； all would be lost。 But that day came；
Madame！
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〃The captain was almost hidden by flowers that day； and seemed so
much like a monument commemorating the glories of the Empire that one
would have liked to pass a garland of immortelles over each of his arms。
He was in an extraordinarily good humour； and the first person to profit by
that good humour was our cookfor he put his arm around her waist while
she was placing the roast on the table。
〃After dinner he pushed away the decanter presented to him； observing
that he was going to burn some brandy in his coffee later on。 I asked him
tremblingly whether he would not prefer to have his coffee at once。 He
was very suspicious； and not at all dull of comprehensionmy Uncle
Victor。 My precipitation seemed to him in very bad taste； for he looked at
me in a peculiar way； and said；
〃'Patience！ my nephew。 It isn't the business of the baby of the regiment
to sound the retreat！ Devil take it！ You must be in a great hurry； Master
Pedant； to see if I've got spurs on my boots！'
〃It was evident the captain had divined that I wanted him to go。 And I
knew him well enough to be sure that he was going to stay。 He stayed。 The
least circumstances of that evening remain impressed on my memory。 My
uncle was extremely jovial。 The mere idea of being in somebody's way
was enough to keep him in good humour。 He told us； in regular barrack
style； ma foi！ a certain story about a monk； a trumpet； and five bottles of
Chambertin； which must have been much enjoyed in the garrison society；
but which I would not venture to repeat to you； Madame； even if I could
remember it。 When we passed into the parlour； the captain called attention
to the bad condition of our andirons； and learnedly discoursed on the
merits of rotten…stone as a brass…polisher。 Not a word on the subject of
politics。 He was husbanding his forces。 Eight o'clock sounded from the
ruins of Carthage on the mantlepiece。 It was Monsieur de Lessay's hour。 A
few moments later he entered the parlour with his daughter。 The ordinary
evening chat began。 Clementine sat down and began to work on some
embroidery beside the lamp； whose shade left her pretty head in a soft
shadow； and threw down upon her fingers a radiance that made them seem
almost self… luminous。 Monsieur de Lessay spoke of a comet announced
by the astronomers； and developed some theories in relation to the subject；
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which； however audacious； betrayed at least a certain degree of intellectual
culture。 My father； who knew a good deal about astronomy； advanced
some sound ideas of his own； which he ended up with his eternal； 'But
what do we know about it； after all？' In my turn I cited the opinion of our
neighbour of the Observatory the great Arago。 My Uncle Victor declared
that comets had a peculiar influence on the quality of wines； and related in
support of this view a jolly tavern…story。 I was so delighted with the turn
the conversation had taken that I did all in my power to maintain it in the
same groove； with the help of my most recent studies； by a long exposition
of the chemical composition of those nebulous bodies which； although
extending over a length of billions of leagues； could be contained in a
small bottle。 My father； a little surprised at my unusual eloquence；
watched me with his peculiar； placid； ironical smile。 But one cannot
always remain in heaven。 I spoke； as I looked at Clementine； of a certain
comete of diamonds； which I had been admiring in a jeweller's window
the evening before。 It was a most unfortunate inspiration of mine。
〃'Ah！ my nephew；' cried Uncle Victor； that 〃comete〃 of yours was
nothing to the one which the Empress Josephine wore in her hair when she
came to Strasburg to distribute crosses to the army。'
〃'That little Josephine was very fond of finery and display；' observed
Monsieur de Lessay； between two sips of coffee。 'I do not blame her for it；
she had good qualities； though rather frivolous in character。 She was a
Tascher； and she conferred a great honour on Bonaparte by marrying him。
To say a Tascher does not； of course； mean a great deal； but to say a
Bonaparte simply means nothing at all。'
〃'What do you mean by that； Monsieur the Marquis？' demanded
Captain Victor。
〃'I am not a marquis；' dryly responded Monsieur de Lessay； 'and I
mean simply that Bonaparte would have been very well suited had he
married one of those cannibal women described by Captain Cook in his
voyagesnaked； tattooed； with a ring in her nosedevouring with delight
putrefied human flesh。'
〃I had foreseen it； and in my anguish （O pitiful human heart！） my first
idea was about the remarkable exactness of my anticipations。 I must say
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that the captain's reply belonged to the sublime order。 He put his arms
akimbo； eyed Monsieur de Lessay contemptuously from head to food； and
said；
〃'Napoleon； Monsieur the Vidame； had another spouse besides
Josephine； another spouse besides Marie…Louise。 that companion you
know nothing of； but I have seen her； close to me。 She wears a mantle of
azure gemmed with stars； she is crowned with laurels； the Cross…of…
Honour flames upon her breast。 Her name is GLORY！'
〃Monsieur de Lessay set his cup on the mantlepiece and quietly
observed；
〃'Your Bonaparte was a blackguard！'
〃My father rose up calmly； extended his arm； and said very softly to
Monsieur de Lessay；
〃Whatever the man was who died at St。 Helena； I worked for ten years
in his government； and my brother…in…law was three times wounded under
his eagles。 I beg of you； dear sir and friend； never to forget these facts in
future。'
〃What the sublime and burlesque insolence of the captain could not do；
the courteous remonstrance of my father effected immediately； throwing
Monsieur de Lessay into a furious passion。
〃'I did forget；' he exclaimed； between his set teeth； livid in his rage；
and fairly foaming at the mouth； 'the herring…cask always smells of herring
and when one has been in the service of rascals…'
〃As he uttered the word； the Captain sprang at his throat； I am sure he
would have strangled him upon the spot but for his daughter and me。
〃My father； a little paler than his wont； stood there with his arms
folded； and watched the scene with a look of inexpressible pity。 What
followed was still more lamentablebut why dwell further upon the folly
of two old men。 Finally I succeeded in separating them。 Monsieur de
Lessay made a sign to his daughter and left the room。 As she was
following him； I ran out into the stairway after her。
〃'Mademoiselle；' I said to her； wildly； taking her hand as I spoke； 'I
love you！ I love you！'
〃For a moment she pressed my hand； her lips opened。 What was it that
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she was going to say to me？ But suddenly； lifting her eyes towards her
father ascending the stairs； she drew her hand away； and made me a
gesture of farewell。
〃I never saw her again。 Her father went to live in the neighbourhood of
the Pantheon； in an apartment which he had rented for the sale of his
historical atlas。 He died in a few months afterward of an apoplectic stroke。
His daughter； I was told； retired to Caen to live with some aged relative。 It
was there that； later on； she married a bank…clerk； the same Noel
Alexandre who became so rich and died so poor。
〃As for me； Madame； I have lived alone； at peace with myself； my
existence； equally exempt from great pains and great joys； has been
tolerably happy。 But for many years I could never see an empty chair
beside my own of a winter's evening without feeling a sudden painful
sinking at my heart。 Last year I learned from you； who had known her； the
story of her old age and death。 I saw her daughter at your house。 I have
seen her； but I cannot yet say like the aged mad of Scripture； 'And now； O
Lord； let thy servant depart in peace！' For if an old fellow like me can be
of any use to anybody； I would wish； with your help； to
