the brotherhood of consolation-第10章

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Godefroid　with　a　shrewd　air；　〃I　thought　it　best　to　tell　him　a　bit　of　a
fib。〃

〃'That　is　all　I　possess　in　the　world；'　I　said。　'I　have　been　waiting
for　a　fall　in　the　Funds　to　invest　that　money；　but　I　will　put　it　in
your　hands　instead；　and　you　shall　consider　me　your　partner；　I　will
leave　to　your　conscience　the　duty　of　returning　it　to　me　in　due　time。
The　conscience　of　an　honest　man；'　I　said；　'is　a　better　security　than
the　Funds。'　Mongenod　looked　at　me　fixedly　as　I　spoke；　and　seemed　to　be
inlaying　my　words　upon　his　heart。　He　put　out　his　right　hand；　I　laid　my
left　into　it；　and　we　held　them　together；I　deeply　moved；　and　he　with
two　big　tears　rolling　down　his　cheeks。　The　sight　of　those　tears　wrung
my　heart。　I　was　more　moved　still　when　Mongenod　pulled　out　a　ragged
foulard　handkerchief　to　wipe　them　away。　'Wait　here；'　I　said；　and　I
went　to　my　secret　hiding…place　with　a　heart　as　agitated　as　though　I
had　heard　a　woman　say　she　loved　me。　I　came　back　with　two　rolls　of
fifty　louis　each。　'Here；　count　them。'　He　would　not　count　them；　and　he
looked　about　him　for　a　desk　on　which　to　write；　he　said；　a　proper
receipt。　I　positively　refused　to　take　any　paper。　'If　I　should　die；'　I
said；　'my　heirs　would　trouble　you。　This　is　to　be　between　ourselves。'

〃Well；〃　continued　Monsieur　Alain；　smiling；　〃when　Mongenod　found　me　a
good　friend　he　ceased　to　look　as　sad　and　anxious　as　when　he　entered；
in　fact；　he　became　quite　gay。　My　housekeeper　gave　us　some　oysters；
white　wine；　and　an　omelet；　with　broiled　kidneys；　and　the　remains　of　a
pate　my　old　mother　had　sent　me；　also　some　dessert；　coffee；　and　liqueur
of　the　Iles。　Mongenod；　who　had　been　starving　for　two　days；　was　fed　up。
We　were　so　interested　in　talking　about　our　life　before　the　Revolution
that　we　sat　at　table　till　three　in　the　afternoon。　Mongenod　told　me　how
he　had　lost　his　fortune。　In　the　first　place；　his　father　having
invested　the　greater　part　of　his　capital　in　city　loans；　when　they　fell
Mongenod　lost　two　thirds　of　all　he　had。　Then；　having　sold　his　house　in
the　rue　de　Savoie；　he　was　forced　to　receive　the　price　in　assignats。
After　that　he　took　into　his　head　to　found　a　newspaper；　'La
Sentinelle；'　that　compelled　him　to　fly　at　the　end　of　six　months。　His
hopes；　he　said；　were　now　fixed　on　the　success　of　a　comic　opera　called
'Les　Peruviens。'　When　he　said　that　I　began　to　tremble。　Mongenod　turned
author；　wasting　his　money　on　a　newspaper；　living　no　doubt　in　the
theatres；　connected　with　singers　at　the　Feydeau；　with　musicians；　and
all　the　queer　people　who　lurk　behind　the　scenes；to　tell　you　the
truth；　he　didn't　seem　my　Mongenod。　I　trembled。　But　how　could　I　take
back　the　hundred　louis？　I　saw　each　roll　in　each　pocket　of　his　breeches
like　the　barrels　of　two　pistols。

〃Then；〃　continued　Monsieur　Alain；　and　this　time　he　sighed；　〃Mongenod
went　away。　When　I　was　alone；　and　no　longer　in　presence　of　hard　and
cruel　poverty；　I　began；　in　spite　of　myself；　to　reflect。　I　was　sobered。
'Mongenod；'　thought　I；　'is　perhaps　thoroughly　depraved；　he　may　have
been　playing　a　comedy　at　my　expense。'　His　gaiety；　the　moment　I　had
handed　over　to　him　readily　such　a　large　sum　of　money；　struck　me　then
as　being　too　like　the　joy　of　the　valets　on　the　stage　when　they　catch　a
Geronte。　I　ended；　where　I　ought　to　have　begun；　by　resolving　to　make
some　investigations　as　to　my　friend　Mongenod；　who　had　given　me　his
address；written　on　the　back　of　a　playing　card！　I　did　not　choose；　as
a　matter　of　delicacy；　to　go　and　see　him　the　next　day；　he　might　have
thought　there　was　distrust　in　such　promptness；　as；　indeed；　there　would
have　been。　The　second　day　I　had　certain　matters　to　attend　to　which
took　all　my　time；　and　it　was　only　at　the　end　of　two　weeks　that；　not
seeing　or　hearing　of　Mongenod；　I　went　one　morning　from　the　Croix…
Rouge；　where　I　was　then　living；　to　the　rue　des　Moineaux；　where　he
lived。　I　found　he　was　living　in　furnished　lodgings　of　the　lowest
class；　but　the　landlady　was　a　very　worthy　woman；　the　widow　of　a
magistrate　who　had　died　on　the　scaffold；　she　was　utterly　ruined　by　the
Revolution；　and　had　only　a　few　louis　with　which　to　begin　the　hazardous
trade　of　taking　lodgers。〃

Here　Monsieur　Alain　interrupted　himself　to　explain。　〃I　knew　her
later；〃　he　said；　〃she　then　had　seven　houses　in　Saint…Roch；　and　was
making　quite　a　little　fortune。

〃'The　citizen　Mongenod　is　not　at　home；'　the　landlady　said　to　me；　'but
there　is　some　one　there。'　This　remark　excited　my　curiosity。　I　went　up
to　the　fifth　story。　A　charming　person　opened　the　door；oh；　such　a
pretty　young　woman！　who　looked　at　me　rather　suspiciously　and　kept　the
door　half　closed。　'I　am　Alain；　a　friend　of　Mongenod's；'　I　said。
Instantly　the　door　opened　wide；　and　I　entered　a　miserable　garret；
which　was；　nevertheless；　kept　with　the　utmost　neatness。　The　pretty
young　woman　offered　me　a　chair　before　a　fireplace　where　were　ashes　but
no　fire；　at　the　corner　of　which　I　saw　a　common　earthen　foot…warmer。
'It　makes　me　very　happy；　monsieur；'　she　said；　taking　my　hand　and
pressing　it　affectionately；　'to　be　able　to　express　to　you　my
gratitude。　You　have　indeed　saved　us。　Were　it　not　for　you　I　might　never
have　seen　Mongenod　again。　He　might；yes；　he　would　have　thrown　himself
in　the　river。　He　was　desperate　when　he　left　me　to　go　and　see　you。'　On
examining　this　person　I　was　surprised　to　see　her　head　tied　up　in　a
foulard；　and　along　the　temples　a　curious　dark　line；　but　I　presently
saw　that　her　head　was　shaved。　'Have　you　been　ill？'　I　asked；　as　I
noticed　this　singularity。　She　cast　a　glance　at　a　broken　mirror　in　a
shabby　frame　and　colored；　then　the　tears　came　into　her　eyes。　'Yes；
monsieur；'　she　said；　'I　had　horrible　headaches；　and　I　was　obliged　to
have　my　hair　cut　off；　it　came　to　my　feet。'　'Am　I　speaking　to　Madame
Mongenod？'　I　asked。　'Yes；　monsieur；'　she　answered；　giving　me　a　truly
celestial　look。　I　bowed　to　the　poor　little　woman　and　went　away；
intending　to　make　the　landlady　tell　me　something　about　them；　but　she
was　out。　I　was　certain　that　poor　young　woman　had　sold　her　hair　to　buy
bread。　I　went　from　there　to　a　wood　merchant　and　ordered　half　a　cord　of
wood；　telling　the　cartman　and　the　sawyer　to　take　the　bill；　which　I
made　the　dealer　receipt　to　the　name　of　citizen　Mongenod；　and　give　it
to　the　little　woman。

〃There　ends　the　period　of　what　I　long　called　/my　foolishness/；〃　said
Monsieur　Alain；　clasping　his　hands　and　lifting　them　with　a　look　of
repentance。

Godefroid　could　not　help　smiling。　He　was；　as　we　shall　see；　greatly
mistaken　in　that　smile。

〃Two　days　later；〃　resumed　the　worthy　man；　〃I　met　one　of　those　men　who
are　neither　friends　nor　strangers；　with　whom　we　have　relations　from
time　to　time；　and　call　acquaintances；a　certain　Monsieur　Barillaud；
who　remarked　accidentally；　/a　propos/　of　the　'Peruviens；'　that　the
author　was　a　friend　of　his。　'Then　you　know　citizen　Mongenod？'　I　said。

〃In　those　days　we　were　obliged　by　law　to　call　each　other　'citizen；'〃
said　Monsieur　Alain　to　Godefroid；　by　way　of　parenthesis。　Then　he
continued　his　narrative：

〃The　citizen　looked　at　me；　exclaiming；　'I　wish　I　never　had　known　him；
for　he　has　several　times　borrowed　money　of　me；　and　shown　his
friendship　by　not　returning　it。　He　is　a　queer　fellow；good…hearted
and　all　that；　but　full　of　illusions！　always　an　imagination　on　fire！　I
will　do　him　this　justice；he　does　not　mean　to　deceive；　but　as　he
deceives　himself　about　everything；　he　manages　to　behave　like　a
dishonest　man。'　'How　much　does　he　owe　you？'　I　asked。　'Oh！　a　good　many
hundred　francs。　He's　a　basket　with　a　hole　in　the　bottom。　Nobody　knows
where　his　money　goes；　perhaps　he　doesn't　know　himself。'　'Has　he　any
resources？'　'Well；　yes；'　said　Barillaud；　laughing；　'just　now　he　is
talking　of　buying　land　among　the　savages　in　the　United　States。'　I
carried　away　with　me　the　drop　of　vinegar　which　casual　gossip　thus　put
into　my　heart；　and　it　soured　all　my　feelings。　I　went　to　see　my　old
master；　in　whose　office　Mongenod　and　I　had　studied　law；　he　was　now　my
counsel。　When　I　told　him　about　my　loan　to　Mongenod　and　the　manner　in
which　I　had　acted；'What！'　he　cried；　'one　of　my　old　clerks　to　behave
in　that　way！　You　ought　to　have　put　him　off　till　the　next　day　and　come
to　see　me。　You　would　then　have　found　out　that　I　have　forbidden　my
clerks　to　let　Mongenod　into　this　office。　Within　the　last　year　he　has
borrowed　three　hundred　francs　of　me　in　silver；an　enormous　sum　at
present　rates。　Three　days　before　he　breakfasted　with　you　I　met　him　on
the　street；　and　he　gave　such　a　piteous　account　of　his　poverty　that　I
let　him　have　two　louis。'　'If　I　have　been　the　dupe　of　a　clever
comedian；'　I　said　to　Bordin；　'so　much　the　worse　for　him；　not　for　me。
But　tell　me　what　to　do。'　'You　must　try　to　get　from　him　a　written
acknowledgment；　for　a　debtor；　however；　insolvent　he　may　be；　may　become
solvent；　and　then　he　will　pay。'　Thereupon　Bordin　took　from　a　tin　box　a
case　on　which　I　saw　the　name　of　Mongenod；　he　showed　me　three　receipts
of　a　hundred　francs　each。　'The　next　time　he　comes　I　shall　have　him
admitted；　and　I　shall　make　him　add　the　interest　and　the　two　louis；　and
give　me　a　note　for　the　whole。　I　shall；　at　any　rate；　have　things
properly　done；　and　be　in　a　position　to　obtain　payment。'　'Well；'　said　I
to　Bordin；　'can　you　have　my　matter　set　right　so　far；　as　well　as　yours？
for　I　know　you　are　a　good　man；　and　what　you　do　will　be　right。'　'I　have
remained　master　of　my　ground；'　he　said；　'but　when　persons　behave　as
you　have　done　they　are　at　the　mercy　of　a　man　who　can　snap　his　fingers
at　them。　As　for　me；　I　don't　choose　that　any　man　should　get　the　better
of　me；get　the　better　of　a　former　attorney　to　the　Chatelet！ta…ra…
ra！　Every　man　to　whom　a　sum　of　money　is　lent　as　heedlessly　as　you　lent
yours　to　Mongenod；　ends；　after　a　certain　time；　by　thinking　that　money
his　own。　It　is　no　longer　your　money；　it　is　/his/　money；　you　become　his
creditor；an　inconvenient；　unpleasant　person。　A　debtor　will　then　try
to　get　rid　of　you　by　some　juggling　with　his　conscience；　and　out　of　one
hundred　men　in　his　position；　seventy…five　will　do　their　best　never　to
see　or　hear　of　you　again。'　'Then　you　think　only　twenty…five　men　in　a
hundred　are　honest？'　'Did　I　say　that？'　he　replied；　smiling
maliciously。　'The　estimate　is　too　high？'〃

Monsieur　Alain　paused　to　put　the　fire　together；　that　done；　he
resumed：

〃Two　weeks　later　I　received　a　letter　from　Bordin　asking　me　to　go　to
his　office　and　get　my　receipt。　I　went。　'I　tried　to　get　fifty　of　your
louis　for　you；'　he　said；　'but　the　birds　had　flown。　Say　good…by　to　your
yellow　boys；　those　pretty　canaries　are　off　to　other　climes。　You　have
had　to　do　with　a　sharper；　that's　what　he　is。　He　declared　to　me　that
his　wife　and　father…in…law　had　gone　to　the　United　States　with　sixty　of
your　louis　to　buy　land；　that　he　intended　to　follow；　for　the　purpose；
he　said；　of　making　a　fortune　and　paying　his　debts；　the　amount　of
which；　carefully　drawn　up；　he　confided　to　me；　requesting　me　to　keep　an
eye　on　what　became　of　his　creditors。　Here　is　a　list　of　the　items；'
continued　Bordin；　showing　me　a　paper　from　which　he　read　the　total；
'Seventeen　thousand　francs　in　coin；　a　sum　with　which　a　house　could　be
bought　that　would　bring　in　two　thousand　francs　a　year。'　After
replacing　the　list　in　the　case；　Bordin　gave　me　a　note　for　a　sum
equivalent　to　a　hundred　louis　in　gold；　with　a　letter　in