the brotherhood of consolation-第30章

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〃Ah；　here　you　are；　monsieur！〃　said　Madame　Vauthier。　〃If　I　had　known
you　were　coming　home　so　early　I　would　have　made　your　fire。〃

〃I　don't　want　one；〃　said　Godefroid；　seeing　that　the　widow　followed
him。　〃I　shall　spend　the　evening　in　Monsieur　Bernard's　apartment。〃

〃Well；　well！　you　must　be　his　cousin；　if　you　are　hand　and　glove　like
that！　Perhaps　monsieur　will　finish　now　the　little　conversation　we
began。〃

〃Ah；　yes！about　that　four　hundred　francs。　Look　here；　my　good　Madame
Vauthier；　you　are　trying　to　see　which　way　the　cat　jumps；　and　you'll
tumble　yourself　between　two　stools。　As　for　me；　you　have　betrayed　me；
and　made　me　miss　the　whole　affair。〃

〃Now；　don't　think　that；　my　dear　monsieur。　To…morrow；　while　you
breakfast〃

〃To…morrow　I　shall　not　breakfast　here。　I　am　going　out；　like　your
authors；　at　cock…crow。〃

Godefroid's　antecedents；　his　life　as　a　man　of　the　world　and　a
journalist；　served　him　in　this；　that　he　felt　quite　sure；　unless　he
took　this　tone；　that　Barbet's　spy　would　warn　the　old　publisher　of
danger；　and　probably　lead　to　active　measures　under　which　Monsieur
Bernard　would　before　long　be　arrested；　whereas；　if　he　left　the　trio　of
harpies　to　suppose　that　their　scheme　ran　no　risk　of　defeat；　they　would
keep　quiet。

But　Godefroid　did　not　yet　know　Parisian　human　nature　when　embodied　in
a　Vauthier。　That　woman　resolved　to　have　Godefroid's　money　and　Barbet's
too。　She　instantly　ran　off　to　her　proprietor；　while　Godefroid　changed
his　clothes　in　order　to　present　himself　properly　before　the　daughter
of　Monsieur　Bernard。



XV

AN　EVENING　WITH　VANDA

Eight　o'clock　was　striking　from　the　convent　of　the　Visitation；　the
clock　of　the　quarter；　when　the　inquisitive　Godefroid　tapped　gently　at
his　neighbor's　door。　Auguste　opened　it。　As　it　happened　to　be　a
Saturday；　the　young　lad　had　his　evening　to　himself。　Godefroid　beheld
him　in　a　little　sack…coat　of　black　velvet；　a　blue　silk　cravat；　and
black　trousers。　But　his　surprise　at　the　youth's　appearance；　so
different　from　that　of　this　outside　life；　ceased　as　soon　as　he　had
entered　the　invalid's　chamber。　He　then　understood　the　reason　why　both
father　and　son　were　well　dressed。

For　a　moment　the　contrast　between　the　squalor　of　the　other　rooms；　as
he　had　seen　them　that　morning；　and　the　luxury　of　this　chamber；　was　so
great　that　Godefroid　was　dazzled；　though　habituated　for　years　to　the
luxury　and　elegance　procured　by　wealth。

The　walls　of　the　room　were　hung　with　yellow　silk；　relieved　by　twisted
fringes　of　a　bright　green；　giving　a　gay　and　cheerful　aspect　to　the
chamber；　the　cold　tiled　floor　of　which　was　hidden　by　a　moquette　carpet
with　a　white　ground　strewn　with　flowers。　The　windows；　draped　by
handsome　curtains　lined　with　white　silk；　were　like　conservatories；　so
full　were　they　of　plants　in　flower。　The　blinds　were　lowered；　which
prevented　this　luxury；　so　rare　in　that　quarter　of　the　town；　from　being
seen　from　the　street。　The　woodwork　was　painted　in　white　enamel；
touched　up；　here　and　there；　by　a　few　gold　lines。

At　the　door　was　a　heavy　portiere；　embroidered　by　hand　with　fantastic
foliage　on　a　yellow　ground；　so　thick　that　all　sounds　from　without　were
stifled。　This　magnificent　curtain　was　made　by　the　sick　woman　herself；
who　could　work；　when　she　had　the　use　of　her　hands；　like　a　fairy。

At　the　farther　end　of　the　room；　and　opposite　to　the　door；　was　the
fireplace；　with　a　green　velvet　mantel…shelf；　on　which　a　few　extremely
elegant　ornaments；　the　last　relics　of　the　opulence　of　two　families；
were　arranged。　These　consisted　of　a　curious　clock；　in　the　shape　of　an
elephant　supporting　on　its　back　a　porcelain　tower　which　was　filled
with　the　choicest　flowers；　two　candelabra　in　the　same　style；　and
several　precious　Chinese　treasures。　The　fender；　andirons；　tongs；　and
shovel　were　all　of　the　handsomest　description。

The　largest　of　the　flower…stands　was　placed　in　the　middle　of　the　room；
and　above　it　hung　a　porcelain　chandelier　designed　with　wreaths　of
flowers。

The　bed　on　which　the　old　man's　daughter　lay　was　one　of　those　beautiful
white　and　gold　carved　bedsteads　such　as　were　made　in　the　Louis　XV。
period。　By　the　sick　woman's　pillow　was　a　very　pretty　marquetry　table；
on　which　were　the　various　articles　necessary　to　this　bedridden　life。
Against　the　wall　was　a　bracket　lamp　with　two　branches；　either　of　which
could　be　moved　forward　or　back　by　a　mere　touch　of　the　hand。　A　small
table；　adapted　to　the　use　of　the　invalid；　extended　in　front　of　her。
The　bed；　covered　with　a　beautiful　counterpane；　and　draped　with
curtains　held　back　by　cords；　was　heaped　with　books；　a　work…basket；　and
articles　of　embroidery；　beneath　which　Godefroid　would　scarcely　have
distinguished　the　sick　woman　herself　had　it　not　been　for　the　light　of
the　bracket　lamps。

There　was　nothing　of　her　to　be　seen　but　a　face　of　extreme　whiteness；
browned　around　the　eyes　by　suffering；　in　which　shone　eyes　of　fire；　its
principal　adornment　being　a　magnificent　mass　of　black　hair；　the
numerous　heavy　curls　of　which；　carefully　arranged；　showed　that　the
dressing　of　those　beautiful　locks　occupied　a　good　part　of　the
invalid's　morning。　This　supposition　was　further　strengthened　by　the
portable　mirror　which　lay　on　the　bed。

No　modern　arrangement　for　comfort　was　lacking。　Even　a　few　knick…
knacks；　which　amused　poor　Vanda；　proved　that　the　father's　love　was
almost　fanatical。

The　old　man　rose　from　an　elegant　Louis　XV。　sofa　in　white　and　cold；
covered　with　tapestry；　and　advanced　to　Godefroid；　who　would　certainly
not　have　recognized　him　elsewhere；　for　that　cold；　stern　face　now　wore
the　gay　expression　peculiar　to　old　men　of　the　world；　who　retain　the
manners　and　apparent　frivolity　of　the　nobility　about　a　court。　His
wadded　violet　gown　was　in　keeping　with　this　luxury；　and　he　took　snuff
from　a　gold　box　studded　with　diamonds。

〃Here；　my　dear　daughter；〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard；　taking　Godefroid　by
the　hand；　〃is　the　neighbor　of　whom　I　told　you。〃

He　signed　to　his　grandson　to　draw　up　one　of　two　armchairs；　similar　in
style　to　the　sofa；　which　stood　beside　the　fireplace。

〃Monsieur's　name　is　Godefroid；　and　he　is　full　of　friendly　kindness　for
us。〃

Vanda　made　a　motion　with　her　head　in　answer　to　Godefroid's　low　bow；　by
the　very　way　in　which　her　neck　bent　and　then　recovered　itself；
Godefroid　saw　that　the　whole　physical　life　of　the　invalid　was　in　her
head。　The　thin　arms　and　flaccid　hands　lay　on　the　fine；　white　linen　of
the　sheets；　like　things　not　connected　with　the　body；　which；　indeed；
seemed　to　fill　no　place　at　all　in　the　bed。　The　articles　necessary　for
a　sick　person　were　on　shelves　standing　behind　the　bedstead；　and　were
concealed　by　a　drawn　curtain。

〃You　are　the　first　person；　monsieur；except　my　doctors；　who　are　not
men　to　me；whom　I　have　seen　for　six　years；　therefore　you　cannot　doubt
the　interest　you　have　excited　in　my　mind；　since　my　father　told　me　this
morning　that　you　were　to　pay　me　a　visitinterest！　no；　it　was　an
unconquerable　curiosity；　like　that　of　our　mother　Eve。　My　father；　who
is　so　good　to　me；　and　my　son；　whom　I　love　so　much；　do　certainly
suffice　to　fill　the　desert　of　a　soul　which　is　almost　without　a　body；
but　after　all；　that　soul　is　still　a　woman's；　I　feel　it　in　the　childish
joy　the　thought　of　your　visit　has　brought　me。　You　will　do　me　the
pleasure　to　take　a　cup　of　tea　with　us；　I　hope？〃

〃Monsieur　has　promised　to　pass　the　evening　here；〃　said　the　old　man；
with　the　air　of　a　millionnaire　receiving　a　guest。

Auguste；　sitting　on　a　tapestried　chair　at　a　marquetry　table　with　brass
trimmings；　was　reading　a　book　by　the　light　of　the　candelabra　on　the
chimney　piece。

〃Auguste；　my　dear；〃　said　his　mother；　〃tell　Jean　to　serve　tea　in　an
hour。　Would　you　believe　it　monsieur；〃　she　added；　〃that　for　six　years　I
have　been　waited　upon　wholly　by　my　father　and　son；　and　now；　I　really
think；　I　could　bear　no　other　attendance。　If　they　were　to　fail　me　I
should　die。　My　father　will　not　even　allow　Jean；　a　poor　Norman　who　has
served　us　for　thirty　years；　to　come　into　my　room。〃

〃I　should　think　not！〃　said　the　old　man；　quickly；　〃monsieur　knows　him；
he　chops　wood　and　brings　it　in；　and　cooks；　he　wears　dirty　aprons；　and
would　soon　spoil　all　this　elegance　in　which　you　take　such　pleasure
this　room　is　really　the　whole　of　life　to　my　poor　daughter；　monsieur。〃

〃Ah！　madame；　your　father　is　quite　right。〃

〃But　why？〃　she　said；　〃if　Jean　did　any　damage　to　my　room　my　father
would　restore　it。〃

〃Yes；　my　child；　but　remember　you　could　not　leave　it；　you　don't　know
what　Parisian　tradesmen　are；　they　would　take　three　months　to　renovate
your　room。　Let　Jean　take　care　of　it？　no；　indeed！　how　can　you　think　of
it？　Auguste　and　I　take　such　precautions　that　we　allow　no　dust；　and　so
avoid　all　sweeping。〃

〃It　is　a　matter　of　health；　not　economy；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃your　father
is　right。〃

〃I　am　not　complaining；〃　said　Vanda；　in　a　caressing　voice。

That　voice　was　a　concert　of　delightful　sounds。　Soul；　motion；　life
itself　were　concentrated　in　the　glance　and　in　the　voice　of　this　woman；
for　Vanda　had　succeeded　by　study；　for　which　time　was　certainly　not
lacking　to　her；　in　conquering　the　difficulty　produced　by　the　loss　of
her　teeth。

〃I　have　much　to　make　me　happy　in　the　midst　of　my　sufferings；
monsieur；〃　she　said；　〃and　certainly　ample　means　are　a　great　help　in
bearing　trouble。　If　we　had　been　poor　I　should　have　died　eighteen　years
ago；　but　I　still　live。　Oh；　yes；　I　have　many　enjoyments；　and　they　are
all　the　greater　because　they　are　perpetually　won　from　death。　I　am
afraid　you　will　think　me　quite　garrulous；〃　she　added；　smiling。

〃Madame；　I　should　like　to　listen　to　you　forever；〃　replied　Godefroid；
〃I　have　never　heard　a　voice　that　was　comparable　to　yours；　it　is　music；
Rubini　is　not　more　enchanting。〃

〃Don't　speak　of　Rubini　or　the　opera；〃　said　the　old　man；　sadly。　〃That
is　a　pleasure　that；　rich　as　I　am；　I　cannot　give　to　my　daughter。　She
was　once　a　great　musician；　and　the　opera　was　her　greatest　pleasure。〃

〃Forgive　me；〃　said　Godefroid。

〃You　will　soon　get　accustomed　to　us；〃　said　the　old　man。

〃Yes；　and　this　is　the　process；〃　said　the　sick　woman；　laughing；　〃when
they've　cried　'puss；　puss；　puss；'　often　enough　you'll　learn　the　puss…
in…the…corner　of　our　conversations。〃

Godefroid　gave　a　rapid　glance　at　Monsieur　Bernard；　who；　seeing　the
tears　in　the　eyes　of　his　new　neighbor；　seemed　to　be　making　him　a　sign
not　to　undo　the　results　of　the　self…command　he　and　his　grandson　had
practised　for　so　many　years。

This　sublime　and　perpetual　imposture；　proved　by　the　complete　illusion
of　the　sick　woman；　produced　on　Godefroid's　mind　the　impression　of　an
Alpine　precipice　down　which　two　chamois　hunters　picked　their　way。　The
magnificent　gold　snuff…box　enriched　with　diamonds　with　which　the　old
man　carelessly　toyed　as　he　sat　by　his　daughter's　bedside　was　like　the
stroke　of　genius　which　in　the　work　of　a　great　man　elicits　a　cry　of
admiration。　Godefroid　looked　at　that　snuff…box；　wondering　it　had　not
been　sold　or　found　its　way　to　the　mont…de…piete。

〃This　evening；　Monsieur　Godefroid；　my　daughter　received　the
announcement　of　your　visit　with　such　excitement　that　all　the　curious
symptoms　of　her　malady　which　have　troubled　us　very　much　for　the　last
twelve　days　have　entirely　disappeared。　You　can　fancy　how　grateful　I　am
to　you。〃

〃And　I；　too；〃