the brotherhood of consolation-第28章

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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　antechamber；　then　（a　perception　which　proved　some　progress
in　our　initiate）　he　closed　the　door　of　the　inner　lair　that　Madame
Vauthier's　slave　might　not　see　the　old　man's　squalor。

The　antechamber　was　just　then　encumbered　with　three　plant…stands
filled　with　plants；　two　were　oblong；　one　round；　all　three　were　of　a
species　of　ebony　and　of　great　elegance；　even　Nepomucene　took　notice　of
them　and　said　as　he　deposited　the　wood：

〃Hey！　ain't　they　pretty？　They　must　have　cost　a　good　bit！〃

〃Jean！　don't　make　so　much　noise！〃　called　Monsieur　Bernard　from　his
daughter's　room。

〃Did　you　hear　that？〃　whispered　Nepomucene　to　Godefroid。　〃He's　cracked；
for　sure；　that　old　fellow。〃

〃You　don't　know　what　you　may　be　at　his　age。〃

〃Yes；　I　do　know；〃　responded　Nepomucene；　〃I　shall　be　in　the　sugar…
bowl。〃

〃The　sugar…bowl？〃

〃Yes；　they'll　have　made　my　bones　into　charcoal　by　that　time；　I　often
see　the　carts　of　the　refineries　coming　to　Montsouris　for　charcoal；
they　tell　me　they　make　sugar　of　it。〃　And　he　departed　after　another
load　of　wood；　satisfied　with　this　philosophical　reflection。

Godefroid　discreetly　withdrew　to　his　own　rooms；　closing　Monsieur
Bernard's　door　behind　him。　Madame　Vauthier；　who　during　this　time　had
been　preparing　her　new　lodger's　breakfast；　now　came　up　to　serve　it；
attended　by　Felicite。　Godefroid；　lost　in　reflection；　stared　into　his
fire。　He　was　absorbed　in　meditation　on　this　great　misery　which
contained　so　many　different　miseries；　and　yet　within　which　he　could
see　the　ineffable　joys　of　the　many　triumphs　of　paternal　and　filial
love；　they　were　gems　shining　in　the　blackness　of　the　pit。

〃What　romances；　even　those　that　are　most　famous；　can　equal　such
realities？〃　he　thought。　〃What　a　life　it　will　be　to　relieve　the　burden
of　such　existences；　to　seek　out　causes　and　effects　and　remedy　them；
calming　sorrows；　helping　good；　to　incarnate　one's　own　being　in　misery；
to　familiarize　one's　self　with　homes　like　that；　to　act　out　constantly
in　life　those　dramas　which　move　us　so　in　fiction！　I　never　imagined
that　good　could　be　more　interesting；　more　piquant　than　vice。〃

〃Is　monsieur　satisfied　with　his　breakfast？〃　asked　Madame　Vauthier；　who
now；　with　Felicite's　assistance；　brought　the　table　close　to　Godefroid。

Godefroid　then　saw　a　cup　of　excellent　/cafe　au　lait/　with　a　smoking
omelet；　fresh　butter；　and　little　red　radishes。

〃Where　the　devil　did　you　get　those　radishes？〃　he　asked。

〃They　were　given　me　by　Monsieur　Cartier；〃　answered　Madame　Vauthier；
〃and　I　make　a　present　of　them　to　monsieur。〃

〃And　what　are　you　going　to　ask　me　for　such　a　breakfast　daily？〃

〃Well　now；　monsieur；　be　fair；I　couldn't　do　it　for　less　than　thirty
sous。〃

〃Very　good；　thirty　sous　then；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃but　how　is　it　that
they　ask　me　only　forty…five　francs　a　month　for　dinner；　close　by　here
at　Machillot's？　That　is　the　same　price　you　ask　me　for　breakfast。〃

〃But　what　a　difference；　monsieur；　between　preparing　a　dinner　for
fifteen　or　twenty　persons　and　going　out　to　get　you　just　what　you　want
for　breakfast！　See　here！　there's　a　roll；　eggs；　butter；　the　cost　of
lighting　a　fire；　sugar；　milk；　coffee！just　think！　they　ask　you
sixteen　sous　for　a　cup　of　coffee　alone　on　the　place　de　l'Odeon；　and
then　you　have　to　give　a　sou　or　two　to　the　waiter。　Here　you　have　no
trouble；　you　can　breakfast　in　slippers。〃

〃Very　well；　very　well；〃　said　Godefroid。

〃Without　Madame　Cartier　who　supplies　me　with　milk　and　eggs　and　herbs　I
couldn't　manage　it。　You　ought　to　go　and　see　their　establishment；
monsieur。　Ha！　it's　fine！　They　employ　five　journeymen　gardeners；　and
Nepomucene　goes　there　in　summer　to　draw　water　for　them；　they　hire　him
of　me　as　a　waterer。　They　make　lots　of　money　out　of　melons　and
strawberries。　It　seems　monsieur　takes　quite　an　interest　in　Monsieur
Bernard；〃　continued　the　widow　in　dulcet　tones；　〃or　he　wouldn't　be
responsible　for　his　debts。　Perhaps　he　doesn't　know　all　that　family
owes。　There's　the　lady　who　keeps　the　circulating　library　on　the　place
Saint…Michel；　she　is　always　coming　here　after　thirty　francs　they　owe
her；and　she　needs　it；　God　knows！　That　sick　woman　in　there；　she
reads；　reads；　reads！　Two　sous　a　volume　makes　thirty　francs　in　three
months。〃

〃That　means　a　hundred　volumes　a　month；〃　said　Godefroid。

〃Ah！　there's　the　old　man　going　now　to　fetch　a　roll　and　cream　for　his
daughter's　tea；yes；　tea！　she　lives　on　tea；　that　lady。　She　drinks　it
twice　a　day。　And　twice　a　week　she　has　to　have　sweet　things。　Oh！　she's
dainty！　The　old　man　buys　cakes　and　pates　from　the　pastry　cook　in　the
rue　de　Buci。　He　don't　care　what　he　spends；　if　it's　for　her。　He　calls
her　his　daughter！　It　ain't　often　that　men　of　his　age　do　for　a　daughter
what　he　does　for　her！　He　just　kills　himself；　he　and　Auguste　too；　for
that　woman。　Monsieur　is　just　like　me；　I'd　give　anything　to　see　her。
Monsieur　Berton　says　she's　a　monster；something　like　those　they　show
for　money。　That's　the　reason　they've　come　to　live　here；　in　this　lonely
quarter。　Well；　so　monsieur　thinks　of　dining　at　Madame　Machillot's；
does　he？〃

〃Yes；　I　think　of　making　an　arrangement　there。〃

〃Monsieur；　it　isn't　that　I　want　to　interfere；　but　I　must　say；
comparing　food　with　food；　you'd　do　much　better　to　dine　in　the　rue　de
Tournon；　you　needn't　engage　by　the　month；　and　you'll　find　a　better
table。〃

〃Whereabouts　in　the　rue　de　Tournon？〃

〃At　the　successors　to　Madame　Giraud。　That's　where　the　gentlemen
upstairs　go；　they　are　satisfied；　and　more　than　satisfied。〃

〃Well；　I'll　take　your　advice　and　dine　there　to…day。〃

〃My　dear　monsieur；〃　said　the　woman；　emboldened　by　the　good…nature
which　Godefroid　intentionally　assumed；　〃tell　me　seriously；　you　are　not
going　to　be　such　a　muff　as　to　pay　Monsieur　Bernard's　debts？　It　would
really　trouble　me　if　you　did；　for　just　reflect；　my　kind　monsieur
Godefroid；　he's　nearly　seventy；　and　after　him；　what　then？　not　a　penny
of　pension！　How'll　you　get　paid？　Young　men　are　so　imprudent！　Do　you
know　that　he　owes　three　thousand　francs？〃

〃To　whom？〃　inquired　Godefroid。

〃Oh！　to　whom？　that's　not　my　affair；〃　said　the　widow；　mysteriously；　〃it
is　enough　that　he　does　owe　them。　Between　ourselves　I'll　tell　you　this：
somebody　will　soon　be　down　on　him　for　that　money；　and　he　can't　get　a
penny　of　credit　now　in　the　quarter　just　on　that　account。〃

〃Three　thousand　francs！〃　repeated　Godefroid；　〃oh；　you　needn't　be
afraid　I'll　lend　him　that。　If　I　had　three　thousand　francs　to　dispose
of　I　shouldn't　be　your　lodger。　But　I　can't　bear　to　see　others　suffer；
and　just　for　a　hundred　or　so　of　francs　I　sha'n't　let　my　neighbor；　a
man　with　white　hair　too；　lack　for　bread　or　wood；　why；　one　often　loses
as　much　as　that　at　cards。　But　three　thousand　francs！　good　heavens！
what　are　you　thinking　of？〃

Madame　Vauthier；　deceived　by　Godefroid's　apparent　frankness；　let　a
smile　of　satisfaction　appear　on　her　specious　face；　which　confirmed　all
her　lodger's　suspicions。　Godefroid　was　convinced　that　the　old　woman
was　an　accomplice　in　some　plot　that　was　brewing　against　the
unfortunate　old　man。

〃It　is　strange；　monsieur；〃　she　went　on；　〃what　fancies　one　takes　into
one's　head！　You'll　think　me　very　curious；　but　yesterday；　when　I　saw
you　talking　with　Monsieur　Bernard　I　said　to　myself　that　you　were　the
clerk　of　some　publisher；　for　this；　you　know；　is　a　publisher's　quarter。
I　once　lodged　the　foreman　of　a　printing…house　in　the　rue　de　Vaugirard；
and　his　name　was　the　same　as　yours〃

〃What　does　my　business　signify　to　you？〃　interrupted　Godefroid。

〃Oh；　pooh！　you　can　tell　me；　or　you　needn't　tell　me；　I　shall　know　it
all　the　same；〃　retorted　Vauthier。　〃There's　Monsieur　Bernard；　for
instance；　for　eighteen　months　he　concealed　everything　from　me；　but　on
the　nineteenth　I　discovered　that　he　had　been　a　magistrate；　a　judge
somewhere　or　other；　I　forget　where；　and　was　writing　a　book　on　law
matters。　What　did　he　gain　by　concealing　it；　I　ask　you。　If　he　had　told
me　I'd　have　said　nothing　about　itso　there！〃

〃I　am　not　yet　a　publisher's　clerk；　but　I　expect　to　be；〃　said
Godefroid。

〃I　thought　so！〃　exclaimed　Madame　Vauthier；　turning　round　from　the　bed
she　had　been　making　as　a　pretext　for　staying　in　the　room。　〃You　have
come　here　to　cut　the　ground　from　under　the　feet　ofGood！　/a　man
warned/　is　a　man　armed。〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Godefroid；　placing　himself　between　the　Vauthier　and　the
door。　〃Look　here；　what　interest　have　you　in　the　matter？〃

〃Gracious！〃　said　the　old　woman；　eyeing　Godefroid　cautiously；　〃you're　a
bold　one；　anyhow。〃

She　went　to　the　door　of　the　outer　room　and　bolted　it；　then　she　came
back　and　sat　down　on　a　chair　beside　the　fire。

〃On　my　word　of　honor；　and　as　sure　as　my　name　is　Vauthier；　I　took　you
for　a　student　until　I　saw　you　giving　your　wood　to　that　old　Bernard。
Ha！　you're　a　sly　one；　and　what　a　play…actor！　I　was　so　certain　you　were
a　ninny！　Look　here；　will　you　guarantee　me　a　thousand　francs？　As　sure
as　the　sun　shines；　my　old　Barbet　and　Monsieur　Metivier　have　promised
me　five　hundred　to　keep　my　eyes　open　for　them。〃

〃They！　five　hundred　francs！　nonsense！〃　cried　Godefroid。　〃I　know　their
ways；　two　hundred　is　the　very　most；　my　good　woman；　and　even　that　is
only　promised；　you　can't　assign　it。　But　I　will　say　this：　if　you　will
put　me　in　the　way　to　do　the　business　they　want　to　do　with　Monsieur
Bernard　I　will　pay　you　four　hundred　francs。　Now；　then；　how　does　the
matter　stand？〃

〃They　have　advanced　fifteen　hundred　francs　upon　the　work；〃　said　Madame
Vauthier；　making　no　further　effort　at　deception；　〃and　the　old　man　has
signed　an　acknowledgment　for　three　thousand。　They　wouldn't　do　it　under
a　hundred　per　cent。　He　thought　he　could　easily　pay　them　out　of　his
book；　but　they　have　arranged　to　get　the　better　of　him　there。　It　was
they　who　sent　Cartier　here；　and　the　other　creditors。〃

Here　Godefroid　gave　the　old　woman　a　glance　of　ironical　intelligence；
which　showed　her　that　he　saw　through　the　role　she　was　playing　in　the
interest　of　her　proprietor。　Her　words　were；　in　fact；　a　double
illumination　to　Godefroid；　the　curious　scene　between　himself　and　the
gardener　was　now　explained。

〃Well；〃　she　resumed；　〃they　have　got　him　now。　Where　is　he　to　find　three
thousand　francs？　They　intend　to　offer　him　five　hundred　the　day　he　puts
the　first　volume　of　his　book　into　their　hands；　and　five　hundred　for
each　succeeding　volume。　The　affair　isn't　in　their　names；　they　have　put
it　into　the　hands　of　a　publisher　whom　Barbet　set　up　on　the　quai　des
Augustins。〃

〃What；　that　little　fellow？〃

〃Yes；　that　little　Morand；　who　was　formerly　Barbet's　clerk。　It　seems
they　expect　a　good　bit　of　money　out　of　the　affair。〃

〃There's　a　good　bit　to　spend；〃　said　Godefroid；　with　a　significant
grimace。

Just　then　a　gentle　rap　was　heard　at　the　door　of　the　outer　room。
Godefroid；　glad　of　the　interruption；　having　got　all　he　wanted　to　know
out　of　Madame　Vauthier；　went　to　open　it。

〃What　is　said；　is　said；　Madame　Vauthier；〃　he　remarked　as　he　did　so。
The　visitor　was　Monsieur　Bernard。

〃Ah！　Monsieur　Bernard；〃　cried　the　widow　when　she　saw　him；　〃I've　got　a
letter　downstairs　for　you。〃

The　old　man　followed　her　down　a　few　steps。　When　they　were　out　of
hearing　from　Godefroid's　room　she　stopped。