the brotherhood of consolation-第34章

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had　he　feared　to　rouse　hopes　in　her　mind　which　might　not　be　realized。

Vanda　hung　upon　Godefroid's　words　like　one　fascinated；　and　she　fell
into　a　sort　of　ecstasy　in　her　passionate　desire　to　see　this　strange
Polish　doctor。

〃Poland　has　produced　many　singular；　mysterious　beings；〃　said　Monsieur
Bernard。　〃To…day；　for　instance；　besides　this　extraordinary　doctor；　we
have　Hoene　Wronski；　the　enlightened　mathematician；　the　poet
Mickievicz；　Towianksi　the　mystic；　and　Chopin；　whose　talent　is
supernatural。　Great　national　convulsions　always　produce　various
species　of　dwarfed　giants。〃

〃Oh！　dear　papa；　what　a　man　you　are！　If　you　would　only　write　down　what
we　hear　you　say　merely　to　amuse　me　you　would　make　your　reputation。
Fancy；　monsieur；　my　dear　old　father　invents　wonderful　stories　when　I
have　no　novels　to　read；　he　often　puts　me　to　sleep　in　that　way。　His
voice　lulls　me；　and　he　quiets　my　mind　with　his　wit。　Who　can　ever
reward　him？　Auguste；　my　child；　you　ought　for　my　sake；　to　kiss　the
print　of　your　grandfather's　footsteps。〃

The　young　man　raised　his　beautiful　moist　eyes　to　his　mother；　and　the
look　he　gave　her；　full　of　a　long…repressed　compassion；　was　a　poem。
Godefroid　rose；　took　the　lad's　hand；　and　pressed　it。

〃God　has　placed　two　angels　beside　you；　madame；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　I　know　that。　And　for　that　reason　I　often　reproach　myself　for
harassing　them。　Come；　my　dear　Auguste；　and　kiss　your　mother。　He　is　a
child；　monsieur；　of　whom　all　mothers　might　be　proud；　pure　as　gold；
frank　and　honest；　a　soul　without　sinbut　too　passionate　a　soul；　alas！
like　that　of　his　poor　mother。　Perhaps　God　has　fastened　me　in　this　bed
to　keep　me　from　the　follies　of　womenwho　have　too　much　heart；〃　she
added；　smiling。

Godefroid　replied　with　a　smile　and　a　bow。

〃Adieu；　monsieur；　and　thank　your　friend　for　the　instrument；　tell　him
it　makes　the　happiness　of　a　poor　cripple。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　Godefroid；　when　they　were　alone　in　the　latter's　room。
〃I　think　I　may　assure　you　that　you　shall　not　be　robbed　by　that　trio　of
bloodsuckers。　I　have　the　necessary　sum　to　free　your　book；　but　you　must
first　show　me　your　written　agreement　with　them。　And　after　that；　in
order　to　do　still　more　for　you；　you　must　let　me　have　your　work　to
read；not　I　myself；　of　course；　I　have　not　knowledge　enough　to　judge
of　it；　but　a　former　magistrate；　a　lawyer　of　eminence　and　of　perfect
integrity；　who　will　undertake；　according　to　what　he　thinks　of　the
book；　to　find　you　an　honorable　publisher　with　whom　you　can　make　an
equitable　agreement。　This；　however；　I　will　not　insist　upon。　Meantime
here　are　five　hundred　francs；〃　he　added；　giving　a　bank…note　to　the
stupefied　old　man；　〃to　meet　your　present　needs。　I　do　not　ask　for　any
receipt；　you　will　be　under　obligations　to　your　own　conscience　only；
and　that　conscience　is　not　to　move　you　until　you　have　recovered　a
sufficient　competence；I　undertake　to　pay　Halpersohn。〃

〃Who　are　you；　then？〃　asked　the　old　man；　dropping　into　a　chair。

〃I　myself；〃　replied　Godefroid；　〃am　nothing；　but　I　serve　powerful
persons　to　whom　your　distress　is　known；　and　who　feel　an　interest　in
you。　Ask　me　nothing　more　about　them。〃

〃But　what　induces　them　to　do　this？〃　said　the　old　man。

〃Religion。〃

〃Religion！　is　it　possible？〃

〃Yes；　the　catholic；　apostolic；　and　Roman　religion。〃

〃Ah！　do　you　belong　to　the　order　of　Jesus？〃

〃No；　monsieur；〃　replied　Godefroid。　〃Do　not　feel　uneasy；　these　persons
have　no　designs　upon　you；　except　that　of　helping　you　to　restore　your
family　to　prosperity。〃

〃Can　philanthropy　be　anything　but　vanity？〃

〃Ah！　monsieur；〃　said　Godefroid；　hastily；　〃do　not　insult　the　virtue
defined　by　Saint　Paul；　sacred；　catholic　Love！〃

Monsieur　Bernard；　hearing　this　answer；　began　to　stride　up　and　down
with　long　steps。

〃I　accept；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃and　I　have　but　one　way　of　thanking　you；
and　that　is　to　offer　you　my　work。　The　notes　and　citations　are
unnecessary　to　the　magistrate　you　speak　of；　and　I　have　still　two
months'　work　to　do　in　arranging　them　for　the　press。　To…morrow　I　will
give　you　the　five　volumes；〃　he　added；　offering　Godefroid　his　hand。

〃Can　I　have　made　a　conversion？〃　thought　Godefroid；　struck　by　the　new
expression　which　he　saw　on　the　old　man's　face。



XVII

HALPERSOHN

The　next　afternoon　at　three　o'clock　a　cabriolet　stopped　before　the
house；　and　Godefroid　saw　Halpersohn　getting　out　of　it；　wrapped　in　a
monstrous　bear…skin　pelisse。　The　cold　had　strengthened　during　the
night；　the　thermometer　marking　ten　degrees　of　it。

The　Jewish　doctor　examined　with　curious　eyes；　though　furtively；　the
room　in　which　his　client　of　the　day　before　received　him；　and　Godefroid
detected　the　suspicious　thought　which　darted　from　his　eyes　like　the
sharp　point　of　a　dagger。　This　rapid　conception　of　distrust　gave
Godefroid　a　cold　chill；　for　he　thought　within　himself　that　such　a　man
would　be　pitiless　in　all　relations；　it　is　so　natural　to　suppose　that
genius　is　connected　with　goodness　that　a　strong　sensation　of　disgust
took　possession　of　him。

〃Monsieur；〃　he　said；　〃I　see　that　the　simplicity　of　my　room　makes　you
uneasy；　therefore　you　need　not　be　surprised　at　my　method　of
proceeding。　Here　are　your　two　hundred　francs；　and　here；　too；　are　three
notes　of　a　thousand　francs　each；〃　he　added；　drawing　from　his　pocket…
book　the　money　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　had　given　him　to　release
Monsieur　Bernard's　book；　but　in　case　you　still　feel　doubtful　of　my
solvency　I　offer　you　as　reference　Messrs。　Mongenod；　bankers；　rue　de　la
Victoire。〃

〃I　know　them；〃　said　Halpersohn；　putting　the　ten　gold　pieces　into　his
pocket。

〃He'll　inquire　of　them；〃　thought　Godefroid。

〃Where　is　the　patient？〃　asked　the　doctor；　rising　like　a　man　who　knows
the　value　of　time。

〃This　way；　monsieur；〃　said　Godefroid；　preceding　him　to　show　the　way。

The　Jew　examined　with　a　shrewd　and　suspicious　eye　the　places　he　passed
through；　giving　them　the　keen；　rapid　glance　of　a　spy；　he　saw　all　the
horrors　of　poverty　through　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　the
grandfather　and　the　grandson　lived；　for；　unfortunately；　Monsieur
Bernard　had　gone　in　to　change　his　clothes　before　entering　his
daughter's　room；　and　in　his　haste　to　open　the　outer　door　to　the
doctor；　he　had　forgotten　to　close　that　of　his　lair。

He　bowed　in　a　stately　manner　to　Halpersohn；　and　opened　the　door　of　his
daughter's　room　cautiously。

〃Vanda；　my　child；　here　is　the　doctor；〃　he　said。

Then　he　stood　aside　to　allow　Halpersohn；　who　kept　on　his　bear…skin
pelisse；　to　pass　him。　The　Jew　was　evidently　surprised　at　the　luxury　of
the　room；　which　in　this　quarter；　and　more　especially　in　this　house；
was　an　anomaly；　but　his　surprise　only　lasted　for　an　instant；　for　he
had　seen　among　German　and　Russian　Jews　many　instances　of　the　same
contrast　between　apparent　misery　and　hoarded　wealth。　As　he　walked　from
the　door　to　the　bed　he　kept　his　eye　on　the　patient；　and　the　moment　he
reached　her　he　said　in　Polish：

〃You　are　a　Pole？〃

〃No；　I　am　not；　my　mother　was。〃

〃Whom　did　your　grandfather；　Colonel　Tarlowski；　marry？〃

〃A　Pole。〃

〃From　what　province？〃

〃A　Soboleska；　of　Pinsk。〃

〃Very　good；　monsieur　is　your　father？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　old　man；　〃your　wife〃

〃Is　dead；〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard。

〃Was　she　very　fair？〃　said　Halpersohn；　showing　a　slight　impatience　at
being　interrupted。

〃Here　is　her　portrait；〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard；　unhooking　from　the　wall
a　handsome　frame　which　enclosed　several　fine　miniatures。

Halpersohn　felt　the　head　and　handled　the　hair　of　the　patient　while　he
looked　at　the　portrait　of　Vanda　Tarlowska；　born　Countess　Sobolewska。

〃Relate　to　me　the　symptoms　of　your　illness；〃　he　said；　placing　himself
on　the　sofa　and　looking　fixedly　at　Vanda　during　the　twenty　minutes　the
history；　given　alternately　by　the　father　and　daughter；　lasted。

〃How　old　are　you？〃

〃Thirty…eight。〃

〃Ah！　good！〃　he　cried；　rising；　〃I　will　answer　for　the　cure。　Mind；　I　do
not　say　that　I　can　restore　the　use　of　her　legs；　but　cured　of　the
disease；　that　she　shall　be。　Only；　I　must　have　her　in　a　private
hospital　under　my　own　eye。〃

〃But；　monsieur；　my　daughter　cannot　be　moved！〃

〃I　will　answer　for　her；〃　said　Halpersohn；　curtly；　〃but　I　will　answer
for　her　only　on　those　conditions。　She　will　have　to　exchange　her
present　malady　for　another　still　more　terrible；　which　may　last　a　year；
six　months　at　the　very　least。　You　may　come　and　see　her　at　the
hospital；　since　you　are　her　father。〃

〃Are　you　certain　of　curing　her？〃　said　Monsieur　Bernard。

〃Certain；〃　repeated　the　Jew。　〃Madame　has　in　her　body　an　element；　a
vitiated　fluid；　the　national　disease；　and　it　must　be　eliminated。　You
must　bring　her　to　me　at　Challot；　rue　Basse…Saint…Pierre；　private
hospital　of　Doctor　Halpersohn。〃

〃How　can　I？〃

〃On　a　stretcher；　just　as　all　sick　persons　are　carried　to　hospitals。〃

〃But　the　removal　will　kill　her！〃

〃No。〃

As　he　said　the　word　in　a　curt　tone　he　was　already　at　the　door；
Godefroid　rejoined　him　on　the　staircase。　The　Jew；　who　was　stifling
with　heat；　said　in　his　ear：

〃Besides　the　three　thousand　francs；　the　cost　will　be　fifteen　francs　a
day；　payable　three　months　in　advance。〃

〃Very　good；　monsieur。　And；〃　continued　Godefroid；　putting　one　foot　on
the　step　of　the　cabriolet；　into　which　the　doctor　had　sprung；　〃you　say
you　will　answer　for　the　cure？〃

〃I　will　answer　for　it；〃　said　the　Jewish　doctor。　〃Are　you　in　love　with
the　lady？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Godefroid。

〃You　must　not　repeat　what　I　am　about　to　say　to　you；　I　only　say　it　to
prove　to　you　that　I　am　certain　of　a　cure。　If　you　are　guilty　of　the
slightest　indiscretion　you　will　kill　her。〃

Godefroid　replied　with　a　gesture　only。

〃For　the　last　seventeen　years　she　has　been　a　victim　to　the　element　in
her　system　called　/plica　polonica/；＇*＇　which　has　produced　all　these
ravages。　I　have　seen　more　terrible　cases　than　this。　Now；　I　alone　in
the　present　day　know　how　to　bring　this　disease　to　a　crisis；　and　force
it　outward　so　as　to　obtain　a　chance　to　cure　itfor　it　cannot　always
be　cured。　You　see；　monsieur；　that　I　am　disinterested。　If　this　lady
were　of　great　importance；　a　Baronne　de　Nucingen；　or　any　other　wife　or
daughter　of　a　modern　Croesus；　this　cure　would　bring　me　one　hundredtwo
hundred　thousand　francs；　in　short；　anything　I　chose　to　ask　for　it。
However；　it　is　only　a　trifling　loss　to　me。〃

＇*＇　Balzac's　description　of　/plica　polonica/　does　not　agree　with　that
　　　　given　in　English　medical　dictionaries　and　cyclopedias。　But　as　the
　　　　book　was　written　at　Wierschovnia；　Poland；　in　1847；　when　he　was
　　　　attended　by　a　celebrated　Polish　physician；　and　as；　moreover；　he
　　　　was　always　so　scrupulously　accurate　in　his　descriptions；　it　is
　　　　fair　to　suppose　that　he　knew　of　some　form　of　the　disease　other
　　　　than　that　given　in　the　books。　His　account　probably　applies　to　the
　　　　period　before　it　takes　the　visible　form　described　in　the　books。


〃About　conveying　her？〃

〃Bah！　she'll　seem　to　be　dying；　but　she　won't　die。　There's　life　enough
in　her　to　last　a　hundred　years；　when　the　disease　is　out　of　her　system。
Come；　Jacques；　drive　on！　quick；rue　de　Monsieur！　quick！〃　he　said　to
his　man。

Godefroid　was　left　on　the　boulevard　gazing　stupidly　after　the
cabriolet。

〃Who　is　that　queer　man　in　a　bearskin？〃　asked　Madame　Vauthier；　whom
nothing　escaped；　〃is　it　true；　w