the brotherhood of consolation-第37章

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　　were　about　to　be　seized　by　usurers；　who　even　threatened　to　put　him
　　in　prison。　Three　thousand　three　hundred　francs　were　enough　to　save
　　him。　Seeing　all　that　money　on　your　table；　I　could　not　resist　the
　　happiness　of　freeing　my　grandfather　from　his　danger。　I　borrowed；
　　without　your　consent；　four　thousand　francs　of　you；　but　as　three
　　thousand　three　hundred　were　all　that　was　necessary；　I　send　the
　　other　seven　hundred　in　money；　together　with　a　gold　snuff…box　set
　　with　diamonds；　given　to　my　grandfather　by　the　Emperor；　the　value
　　of　which　will　probably　cover　the　whole　sum。

　　In　case　you　do　not　believe　in　the　honor　of　him　who　will　forever
　　regard　you　as　a　benefactor；　I　pray　you　to　keep　silence　about　an
　　act　which　would　be　quite　unjustifiable　under　other　circumstances；
　　for　by　so　doing　you　will　save　my　grandfather's　life；　just　as　you
　　are　saving　my　mother's　life；　and　I　shall　be　forever

Your　devoted　servant；
Auguste　de　Mergi。


About　half…past　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　Auguste；　who　went
himself　as　far　as　the　Champs　Elysees；　sent　the　package　from　there　by　a
street　messenger　to　Doctor　Halpersohn's　house；　then　he　walked　slowly
homeward　by　the　pont　de　Jena；　the　Invalides；　and　the　boulevards；
relying　on　Halpersohn's　generosity。

The　Polish　doctor　had　meanwhile　discovered　the　theft；　and　he　instantly
changed　his　opinion　of　his　clients。　He　now　thought　the　old　man　had
come　to　rob　him；　and　being　unable　to　succeed；　had　sent　the　boy。　He
doubted　the　rank　they　had　claimed；　and　went　straight　to　the　police…
office　where　he　lodged　a　complaint；　requesting　that　the　lad　might　be
arrested　at　once。

The　prudence　with　which　the　law　proceeds　seldom　allows　it　to　move　as
rapidly　as　complainants　desire；　but　about　three　o'clock　of　that　day　a
commissary　of　police；　accompanied　by　agents　who　kept　watch　outside　the
house；　was　questioning　Madame　Vauthier　as　to　her　lodgers；　and　the
widow　was　increasing；　without　being　aware　of　it；　the　suspicions　of　the
policeman。

When　Nepomucene　saw　the　police　agents　stationed　outside　the　house；　he
thought　they　had　come　to　arrest　the　old　man；　and　as　he　was　fond　of
Monsieur　Auguste；　he　rushed　to　meet　Monsieur　Bernard；　whom　he　now　saw
on　his　way　home　in　the　avenue　de　l'Observatoire。

〃Hide　yourself；　monsieur！〃　he　cried；　〃the　police　have　come　to　arrest
you。　The　sheriff　was　here　yesterday　and　seized　everything。　Madame
Vauthier　didn't　give　you　the　stamped　papers；　and　she　says　you'll　be　in
Clichy　to…night　or　to…morrow。　There；　don't　you　see　those　policemen？〃

Baron　Bourlac　immediately　resolved　to　go　straight　to　Barbet。　The
former　publisher　lived　in　the　rue　Saint…Catherine　d'Enfer；　and　it　took
him　a　quarter　of　an　hour　to　reach　the　house。

〃Ah！　I　suppose　you　have　come　to　get　that　bill　of　sale；〃　said　Barbet；
replying　to　the　salutation　of　his　victim。　〃Here　it　is。〃

And；　to　Baron　Bourlac's　great　astonishment；　he　held　out　the　document；
which　the　baron　took；　saying；

〃I　do　not　understand。〃

〃Didn't　you　pay　me？〃　said　the　usurer。

〃Are　you　paid？〃

〃Yes；　your　grandson　took　the　money　to　the　sheriff　this　morning。〃

〃Then　it　is　true　you　made　a　seizure　at　my　house　yesterday？〃

〃Haven't　you　been　home　for　two　days？〃　asked　Barbet。　〃But　an　old
magistrate　ought　to　know　what　a　notification　of　arrest　means。〃

Hearing　that　remark；　the　baron　bowed　coldly　to　Barbet　and　returned
home；　thinking　that　the　policemen　whom　Nepomucene　had　pointed　out　must
have　come　for　the　two　impecunious　authors　on　the　upper　floor。　He
walked　slowly；　lost　in　vague　apprehensions；　for；　in　spite　of　the
explanation　he　gave　himself；　Nepomucene's　words　came　back；　and　seemed
to　him　more　and　more　obscure　and　inexplicable。　Was　it　possible　that
Godefroid　had　betrayed　him？



XIX

VENGEANCE

The　old　man　walked　mechanically　along　the　rue　Notre…Dame　des　Champs；
and　entered　the　house　by　the　little　door；　which　he　noticed　was　open。
There　he　came　suddenly　upon　Nepomucene。

〃Oh；　monsieur；　come　quick！　they　are　taking　Monsieur　Auguste　to　prison！
They　arrested　him　on　the　boulevard；　it　was　he　they　were　looking　for；
they　have　examined　him。〃

The　old　man　bounded　like　a　tiger；　rushed　through　the　house　with　the
speed　of　an　arrow；　and　reached　the　door　on　the　boulevard　in　time　to
see　his　grandson　getting　into　a　hackney…coach　with　three　men。

〃Auguste；〃　he　said；　〃what　does　all　this　mean？〃

The　poor　boy　burst　into　tears　and　fainted　away。

〃Monsieur；　I　am　the　Baron　Bourlac；　formerly　attorney…general；〃　he　said
to　the　commissary　of　police；　whose　scarf　now　attracted　his　eye。　〃I
entreat　you　to　explain　all　this。〃

〃Monsieur；　if　you　are　Baron　Bourlac；　two　words　will　be　enough。　I　have
just　examined　this　young　man；　and　he　admits〃

〃What？〃

〃The　robbery　of　four　thousand　francs　from　Doctor　Halpersohn！〃

〃Is　that　true；　Auguste？〃

〃Grandpapa；　I　sent　him　as　security　your　diamond　snuff…box。　I　did　it　to
save　you　from　going　to　prison。〃

〃Unhappy　boy！　what　have　you　done？　The　diamonds　are　false！〃　cried　the
baron；　〃I　sold　the　real　ones　three　years　ago！〃

The　commissary　of　police　and　his　agents　looked　at　each　other。　That
look；　full　of　many　things；　was　intercepted　by　Baron　Bourlac；　and
seemed　to　blast　him。

〃Monsieur；〃　he　said　to　the　commissary；　〃you　need　not　feel　uneasy；　I
shall　go　myself　to　the　prefect；　but　you　are　witness　to　the　fact　that　I
kept　my　grandson　ignorant　of　the　loss　of　the　diamonds。　Do　your　duty；
but　I　implore　you；　in　the　name　of　humanity；　put　that　lad　in　a　cell　by
himself；　I　will　go　to　the　prison。　To　which　one　are　you　taking　him？〃

〃Are　you　really　Baron　Bourlac？〃　asked　the　commissary。

〃Oh；　monsieur！〃

〃The　fact　is　that　the　municipal　judge　and　I　doubted　if　it　were
possible　that　you　and　your　grandson　could　be　guilty。　We　thought；　and
the　doctor；　too；　that　some　scoundrels　had　taken　your　name。〃

He　took　the　baron　aside；　and　added：

〃Did　you　go　to　see　Doctor　Halpersohn　this　morning？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur。〃

〃Your　grandson　went　there　half　an　hour　after　you。〃

〃Did　he？　I　knew　nothing　of　that。　I　have　just　returned　home；　and　have
not　seen　my　grandson　for　two　days。〃

〃The　writs　he　has　shown　me　and　the　examination　explain　everything；〃
said　the　commissary　of　police。　〃I　see　the　cause　of　the　crime。
Monsieur；　I　ought　by　rights　to　arrest　you　as　accomplice　to　your
grandson；　for　your　answers　confirm　the　allegations　in　Doctor
Halpersohn's　complaint。　But　these　papers；　which　I　here　return　to　you；〃
holding　out　to　the　old　man　a　bundle　of　papers；　〃do　prove　you　to　be
Baron　Bourlac。　Nevertheless；　you　must　hold　yourself　ready　to　appear
before　Monsieur　Marest；　the　judge　of　the　Municipal　Court　who　has
cognizance　of　the　case。　As　for　your　grandson；　I　will　speak　to　the
/procureur　du　roi/；　and　we　will　take　all　the　care　of　him　that　is　due
to　the　grandson　of　a　former　judge；the　victim；　no　doubt；　of　youthful
error。　But　the　complaint　has　been　made；　the　delinquent　admits　his
guilt；　I　have　drawn　up　the　proces…verbal；　and　served　the　warrant　of
arrest；　I　cannot　go　back　on　that。　As　for　the　incarceration；　I　will　put
him　in　the　Conciergerie。〃

〃Thank　you；　monsieur；〃　said　the　unhappy　Bourlac。

With　the　words　he　fell　rigid　on　the　snow；　and　rolled　into　one　of　the
hollows　round　the　trees　of　the　boulevard。

The　commissary　of　police　called　for　help；　and　Nepomucene　ran　up；
together　with　Madame　Vauthier。　The　old　man　was　carried　to　his　room；
and　Madame　Vauthier　begged　the　commissary　to　call　on　his　way　in　the
rue　d'Enfer；　and　send　Doctor　Berton　as　soon　as　possible。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　my　grandfather？〃　asked　poor　Auguste。

〃He　is　out　of　his　head。　You　see　what　it　is　to　steal；〃　said　the
Vauthier。

Auguste　made　a　movement　as　though　he　would　dash　out　his　brains。　The
two　agents　caught　him。

〃Come；　young　man；　be　calm；〃　said　the　commissary　of　police；　〃you　have
done　wrong；　but　it　may　not　be　irreparable〃

〃Monsieur；　will　you　tell　that　woman　my　grandfather　hasn't　had　anything
to　ear　for　twenty…four　hours？〃

〃Oh！　the　poor　things！〃　exclaimed　the　commissary　under　his　breath。

He　stopped　the　coach；　which　had　started；　and　said　a　word　in　the　ear　of
one　of　his　agents；　who　got　out　and　ran　to　Madame　Vauthier；　and　then
returned。

When　Dr。　Berton　arrived　he　declared　that　Monsieur　Bernard　（he　knew　him
only　under　that　name）　had　a　high　fever　of　great　intensity。　After
hearing　from　Madame　Vauthier　all　the　events　which　had　brought　on　this
crisis　（related　after　the　manner　of　such　women）　he　informed　Monsieur
Alain　the　next　morning；　at　Saint…Jacques　du　Haut…Pas；　of　the　present
state　of　affairs；　on　which　Monsieur　Alain　despatched　a　note　in　pencil
by　a　street　messenger　to　Monsieur　Joseph。

Godefroid　had　given　Monsieur　Joseph；　on　his　return　from　the　boulevard
du　Mont…Parnasse　the　night　before；　the　notes　confided　to　him　by
Auguste；　and　Monsieur　Joseph　had　spent　part　of　the　night　in　reading
the　first　volume　of　Baron　Bourlac's　work。

The　next　morning　after　breakfast　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　told　her
neophyte　that　he　should；　if　his　resolution　still　held　good；　be　put　to
work　at　once。　Godefroid；　initiated　by　her　into　the　financial　secrets
of　the　society；　worked　steadily　seven　or　eight　hours　a　day　for　several
months；　under　the　inspection　of　Frederic　Mongenod；　who　came　every
Sunday　to　examine　the　work；　and　from　whom　he　received　much　praise　and
encouragement。

〃You　are；〃　he　said；　when　the　books　were　all　in　order　and　the　accounts
audited；　〃a　precious　acquisition　to　the　saints　among　whom　you　live。
Two　or　three　hours　a　day　will　now　suffice　to　keep　the　current　accounts
in　order；　and　you　will　have　plenty　of　surplus　time　to　help　the　work　in
other　ways；　if　you　still　have　the　vocation　you　showed　for　it　six
months　ago。〃

It　was　now　July；　1838。　During　the　time　that　had　elapsed　since　his
opening　attempt　on　the　boulevard　du　Mont…Parnasse；　Godefroid；　eager　to
prove　himself　worthy　of　his　friends；　had　refrained　from　asking　any
question　relating　to　Baron　Bourlac。　Not　hearing　a　single　word　on　the
subject；　and　finding　no　record　of　any　transaction　concerning　it　in　the
accounts；　he　regarded　the　silence　maintained　about　the　enemy　of　Madame
de　la　Chanterie　and　his　family　either　as　a　test　to　which　he　himself
was　subjected；　or　as　a　proof　that　the　friends　of　the　noble　woman　had
in　some　way　avenged　her。

Some　two　months　after　he　had　left　Madame　Vauthier's　lodgings　he　turned
his　steps　when　out　for　a　walk　towards　the　boulevard　du　Mont…Parnasse；
where　he　came　upon　the　widow　herself；　and　asked　for　news　of　the
Bernard　family。

〃Just　as　if　I　knew　what　has　become　of　them！〃　she　replied。　〃Two　days
after　your　departurefor　it　was　you；　slyboots；　who　got　the　affair
away　from　my　proprietorsome　men　came　here　and　rid　me　of　that
arrogant　old　fool　and　all　his　belongings。　Bless　me！　if　they　didn't
move　everything　out　within　twenty…four　hours；　and　as　close　as　wax　they
were　too；　not　a　word　would　they　say　to　me。　I　think　he　went　off　to
Algiers　with　his　rogue　of　a　grandson；　for　Nepomucene；　who　had　a　fancy
for　that　young　thief；　being　no　better　himself；　couldn't　find　him　at
the　Conciergerie。　I　dare　say　Nepomucene　knows　where　he　is；　though；　for
he；　too；　has　run　away。　That's　what　it　is　to　bring　up　foundlings！
that's　how　they　reward　you　for　all　your　trouble；　leaving　you　in　the
lurch！　I　haven't　yet　been　able　to　get　a　man　in　his　place