the brotherhood of consolation-第27章

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have　an　explanation　with　your　gardener　in　my　room；　come　in。〃

The　old　man；　half　stupefied　with　his　troubles；　cast　a　look　of
gratitude　on　Godefroid。

〃As　for　you；　my　dear　Madame　Vauthier；〃　continued　Godefroid；　〃don't　be
so　rough　with　monsieur；　who　is　in　the　first　place　an　old　man；　and　one
to　whom　you　owe　the　obligation　of　my　lodging　here。〃

〃Oh；　pooh！〃　said　the　widow。

〃Besides；　if　poor　people　do　not　help　each　other；　who　will　help　them？
Leave　us；　Madame　Vauthier；　I'll　blow　the　fire　myself。　Have　the　rest　of
my　wood　put　in　your　cellar；　I　am　sure　you　will　take　good　care　of　it。〃

Madame　Vauthier　disappeared；　for　Godefroid　in　telling　her　to　take　care
of　his　wood　had　given　an　opportunity　to　her　greed。

〃Come　in　this　way；〃　said　Godefroid；　offering　chairs　to　both　debtor　and
creditor。

The　old　man　conversed　standing；　but　the　gardener　sat　down。

〃My　good　Monsieur　Cartier；〃　went　on　Godefroid；　〃rich　people　do　not　pay
as　regularly　as　you　say　they　do；　and　you　ought　not　to　dun　a　worthy　man
for　a　few　louis。　Monsieur　draws　his　pension　every　six　months；　and　he
could　not　make　you　an　assignment　of　it　for　such　a　paltry　sum。　I　am
willing　to　advance　the　money；　if　you　absolutely　insist　on　having　it。〃

〃Monsieur　Bernard　drew　his　pension　two　weeks　ago；　and　has　not　paid　me。
I　am　sorry　to　trouble　him；　of　course。〃

〃Have　you　furnished　him　with　plants　all　along？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur；　for　six　years；　and　he　has　always　paid　me。〃

Monsieur　Bernard；　who　was　listening　to　some　sound　in　his　own　rooms　and
paying　no　attention　to　what　was　being　said；　now　heard　a　cry　through
the　partitions　and　hurried　away　without　a　word。

〃Come；　come；　my　good　man；〃　said　Godefroid；　taking　advantage　of　the　old
man's　absence；　〃bring　some　nice　flowers；　your　best　flowers；　this　very
morning；　and　tell　your　wife　to　send　the　eggs　and　milk　as　usual；　I　will
pay　you　this　evening。〃

Cartier　looked　oddly　at　Godefroid。

〃Then　you　must　know　more　than　Madame　Vauthier　does；　she　sent　me　word
to　hurry　if　I　hoped　to　be　paid；〃　he　said。　〃Neither　she　nor　I　can　make
out　why　folks　who　eat　nothing　but　bread　and　the　odds　and　ends　of
vegetables；　bits　of　carrots；　turnips；　and　such　things；　which　they　get
at　the　back…doors　of　restaurants；yes；　monsieur；　I　assure　you　I　came
one　day　on　the　little　fellow　filling　an　old　handbag；well；　I　want　to
know　why　such　persons　spend　nearly　forty　francs　a　month　on　flowers。
They　say　the　old　man's　pension　is　only　three　thousand　francs。〃

〃At　any　rate；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃it　is　not　your　business　to　complain　if
they　ruin　themselves　in　flowers。〃

〃That's　true；　monsieur；provided　they　pay　me。〃

〃Bring　your　bill　to　me。〃

〃Very　good；　monsieur；〃　said　the　gardener；　with　a　tinge　of　respect。
〃Monsieur　no　doubt　wants　to　see　the　mysterious　lady。〃

〃My　good　friend；〃　said　Godefroid；　stiffly；　〃you　forget　yourself。　Go
home　now　and　bring　fresh　plants　for　those　you　are　to　take　away。　If　you
can　also　supply　me　with　good　cream　and　fresh　eggs　I　will　take　them；
and　I　will　go　this　morning　and　take　a　look　at　your　establishment。〃

〃It　is　one　of　the　finest　in　Paris；　monsieur。　I　exhibit　at　the
Luxembourg。　My　garden；　which　covers　three　acres；　is　on　the　boulevard；
behind　the　garden　of　La　Grande…Chaumiere。〃

〃Very　good；　Monsieur　Cartier。　You　are；　I　see；　much　richer　than　I。　Have
some　consideration　for　us；　therefore。　Who　knows　how　soon　we　may　have
mutual　need　of　each　other？〃

The　gardener　went　away；　much　puzzled　as　to　who　and　what　Godefroid
might　be。

〃And　yet　I　was　once　just　like　that；〃　thought　Godefroid；　blowing　his
fire。　〃What　a　fine　specimen　of　the　bourgeois　of　to…day！gossiping；
inquisitive；　crazy　for　equality；　jealous　of　his　customers；　furious　at
not　knowing　why　a　poor　sick　woman　stays　in　her　room　without　being
seen；　concealing　his　wealth；　and　yet　vain　enough　to　betray　it　when　he
thinks　it　will　put　him　above　his　neighbor。　That　man　ought　to　be　the
lieutenant　of　his　company。　I　dare　say　he　is。　With　what　ease　he　plays
the　scene　of　Monsieur　Dimanche！　A　little　more　and　I　should　have　made　a
friend　of　Monsieur　Cartier。〃

The　old　man　broke　into　this　soliloquy；　which　proves　how　Godefroid's
ideas　had　changed　in　four　months。

〃Excuse　me；　neighbor；〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard；　in　a　troubled　voice；　〃I
see　you　have　sent　that　gardener　away　satisfied；　for　he　bowed　civilly
to　me　on　the　landing。　It　seems；　young　man；　as　if　Providence　had　sent
you　to　me　at　the　very　moment　when　I　was　about　to　succumb。　Alas！　the
hard　talk　of　that　man　must　have　shown　you　many　things！　It　is　true　that
I　received　the　half…yearly　payment　of　my　pension　two　weeks　ago；　but　I
had　more　pressing　debts　than　his；　and　I　was　forced　to　put　aside　my
rent　for　fear　of　being　turned　out　of　the　house。　I　have　told　you　the
state　my　daughter　is　in；　and　you　have　probably　heard　her。〃

He　looked　uneasily　at　Godefroid；　who　made　him　an　affirmative　sign。

〃Well；　then；　you　know　it　would　be　her　death　warrant；　for　I　should　then
be　compelled　to　put　her　in　a　hospital。　My　grandson　and　I　were　fearing
that　end　this　morning；　but　we　do　not　dread　Cartier　so　much　as　we　do
the　cold。〃

〃My　dear　Monsieur　Bernard；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃I　have　plenty　of　wood；
take　all　you　want。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　old　man；　〃but　how　can　I　ever　return　such　services？〃

〃By　accepting　them　without　difficulty；〃　said　Godefroid；　quickly；　〃and
by　giving　me　your　confidence。〃

〃But　what　are　my　claims　to　so　much　generosity？〃　asked　Monsieur
Bernard；　becoming　once　more　distrustful。　〃Ah！　my　pride　and　that　of　my
grandson　are　lowered　indeed！〃　he　cried　bitterly。　〃We　are　compelled　to
offer　explanations　to　the　few　creditorsonly　two　or　threewhom　we
cannot　pay。　The　utterly　unfortunate　have　no　creditors；　to　have　them
one　must　needs　present　an　exterior　of　some　show；　and　that　we　have　now
lost。　But　I　have　not　yet　abdicated　my　common…sense；my　reason；〃　he
added；　as　if　he　were　talking　to　himself。

〃Monsieur；〃　replied　Godefroid；　gravely；　〃the　history　you　gave　me
yesterday　would　touch　even　a　usurer。〃

〃No；　no！　for　Barbet；　that　publisher；　the　proprietor　of　this　house；　is
speculating　on　my　poverty；　and　has　sent　the　Vauthier　woman；　his　former
cook；　to　spy　upon　it。〃

〃How　can　he　speculate　upon　you？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃I　will　tell　you　later；〃　replied　the　old　man。　〃My　daughter　is　cold；
and　since　you　offer　it；　I　am　reduced　to　accept　alms；　were　it　even　from
my　worst　enemy。〃

〃I　will　carry　in　some　wood；〃　said　Godefroid；　gathering　up　ten　or　a
dozen　sticks；　and　taking　them　into　Monsieur　Bernard's　first　room。　The
old　man　took　as　many　himself；　and　when　he　saw　the　little　provision
safely　deposited；　he　could　not　restrain　the　silly；　and　even　idiotic
smile　with　which　those　who　are　saved　from　a　mortal　danger；　which　has
seemed　to　them　inevitable；　express　their　joy；　for　terror　still　lingers
in　their　joy。

〃Accept　things　from　me；　my　dear　Monsieur　Bernard；　without　reluctance；
and　when　your　daughter　is　safe；　and　you　are　once　more　at　ease；　we　will
settle　all。　Meantime；　let　me　act　for　you。　I　have　been　to　see　that
Polish　doctor；　unfortunately　he　is　absent；　he　will　not　be　back　for　two
days。〃

At　this　moment　a　voice　which　seemed　to　Godefroid　to　have；　and　really
had；　a　fresh；　melodious　ring；　cried　out；　〃Papa；　papa！〃　on　two
expressive　notes。

While　speaking　to　the　old　man；　Godefroid　had　noticed　that　the　jambs　of
a　door　leading　to　another　room　were　painted　in　a　delicate　manner；
altogether　different　from　that　of　the　rest　of　the　lodging。　His
curiosity；　already　so　keenly　excited；　was　now　roused　to　the　highest
pitch。　He　was　conscious　that　his　mission　of　benevolence　was　becoming
nothing　more　than　a　pretext；　what　he　really　wanted　was　to　see　that
sick　woman。　He　refused　to　believe　for　an　instant　that　a　creature
endowed　with　such　a　voice　could　be　an　object　of　repulsion。

〃You　do；　indeed；　take　too　much　trouble；　papa！〃　said　the　voice。　〃Why
not　have　more　servants？and　at　your　age；　too！　Good　God！〃

〃But　you　know；　my　dear　Vanda；　that　the　boy　and　I　cannot　bear　that　any
one　should　wait　upon　you　but　ourselves！〃

Those　sentences；　which　Godefroid　heard　through　the　door；　or　rather
divined；　for　a　heavy　portiere　on　the　inside　smothered　the　sounds；　gave
him　an　inkling　of　the　truth。　The　sick　woman；　surrounded　by　luxury；　was
evidently　kept　in　ignorance　of　the　real　situation　of　her　father　and
son。　The　violet　silk　dressing…gown　of　Monsieur　Bernard；　the　flowers；
his　remarks　to　Cartier；　had　already　roused　some　suspicion　of　this　in
Godefroid's　mind。　The　young　man　stood　still　where　he　was；　bewildered
by　this　prodigy　of　paternal　love。　The　contrast；　such　as　he　imagined
it；　between　the　invalid's　room　and　the　rest　of　that　squalid　place；
yes；　it　was　bewildering！



XIV

HOW　THE　POOR　AND　HELPLESS　ARE　PREYED　UPON

Through　the　door　of　a　third　chamber；　which　the　old　man　had　left　open；
Godefroid　beheld　two　cots　of　painted　wood；　like　those　of　the　cheapest
boarding…schools；　each　with　a　straw　bed　and　a　thin　mattress；　on　which
there　was　but　one　blanket。　A　small　iron　stove　like　those　that　porters
cook　by；　near　which　lay　a　few　squares　of　peat；　would　alone　have　shown
the　poverty　of　the　household　without　the　help　of　other　details。

Advancing　a　step　or　two；　Godefroid　saw　utensils　such　as　the　poorest
persons　use；earthenware　jugs；　and　pans　in　which　potatoes　floated　in
dirty　water。　Two　tables　of　blackened　wood；　covered　with　books　and
papers；　stood　before　the　windows　that　looked　out　upon　the　rue　Notre…
Dame　des　Champs；　and　indicated　the　nocturnal　occupations　of　father　and
son。　On　each　of　the　tables　was　a　flat　iron　candlestick；　such　as　are
used　by　the　very　poor；　and　in　them　Godefroid　noticed　tallow…candles　of
the　kind　that　are　sold　at　eight　to　the　pound。

On　a　third　table　glittered　two　forks　and　spoons　and　another　little
spoon　of　silver…gilt；　together　with　plates；　bowls；　and　cups　of　Sevres
china；　and　a　silver…gilt　knife　and　fork　in　an　open　case；　all　evidently
for　the　service　of　the　sick　woman。

The　stove　was　lighted；　the　water　in　the　copper　was　steaming　slightly。
A　painted　wooden　closet　or　wardrobe　contained；　no　doubt；　the　linen　and
clothing　of　Monsieur　Bernard's　daughter。　On　the　old　man's　bed
Godefroid　noticed　that　the　habiliments　he　had　worn　the　night　before
lay　spread　as　a　covering。　The　floor；　evidently　seldom　swept；　looked
like　that　of　a　boy's　class…room。　A　six…pound　loaf　of　bread；　from　which
some　slices　had　been　cut；　was　on　a　shelf　above　the　table。　Here　was
poverty　in　its　last　stages；　poverty　resolutely　accepted　with　stern
endurance；　making　shift　with　the　lowest　and　poorest　means。　A　strong
and　sickening　odor　came　from　this　room；　which　was　rarely　cleaned。

The　antechamber；　in　which　Godefroid　stood；　was　at　any　rate　decent；　and
he　suspected　that　it　served　to　conceal　the　horrors　of　the　room　in
which　the　grandfather　and　the　grandson　lived。　This　antechamber；　hung
with　a　checked　paper　of　Scotch　pattern；　held　four　walnut　chairs；　a
small　table；　a　colored　engraving　of　the　Emperor　after　Horace　Vernet；
also　portraits　of　Louis　XVIII。；　Charles　X。；　and　Prince　Poniatowski；　no
doubt　the　friend　of　Monsieur　Bernard's　father…in…law。　The　window　was
draped　with　white　calico　curtains　edged　with　red　bands　and　fringe。

Godefroid　watched　for　Nepomucene；　and　when　the　latter　made　his　next
trip　with　wood　signed　to　him　to　stack　it　very　gently　in　Monsieur
Bernard's