the brotherhood of consolation-第38章

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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；　and　as　the
quarter　is　looking　up　the　house　is　full；　and　I　am　worked　to　death。〃

Godefroid　would　never　have　known　more　about　Baron　Bourlac　and　his
family　if　it　had　not　been　for　one　of　those　chance　encounters　such　as
often　happens　in　Paris。

In　the　month　of　September　he　was　walking　down　the　great　avenue　of　the
Champs　Elysees；　thinking；　as　he　passed　the　end　of　the　rue　Marbeuf；　of
Dr。　Halpersohn。

〃I　might；〃　thought　he；　〃go　and　see　him　and　ask　if　he　ever　cured
Bourlac's　daughter。　What　a　voice；　what　immense　talents　she　had！and
she　wanted　to　consecrate　herself　to　God！〃

When　he　reached　the　Rond…point　Godefroid　crossed　it　quickly；　on
account　of　the　many　carriages　that　were　passing　rapidly。　As　he　reached
the　other　side　in　haste　he　knocked　against　a　young　man　with　a　lady　on
his　arm。

〃Take　care！〃　said　the　young　man；　〃are　you　blind？〃

〃Hey！　is　it　you？〃　cried　Godefroid；　recognizing　Auguste　de　Mergi。

Auguste　was　so　well…dressed；　and　looked　so　dandified　and　handsome　and
so　proud　of　giving　his　arm　to　a　pretty　woman；　that　if　it　had　not　been
for　the　youth's　voice　and　the　memories　that　were　just　then　in　his　own
mind　he　might　not　have　recognized　him。

〃Oh！　it　is　our　dear　Monsieur　Godefroid！〃　said　the　lady。

Hearing　those　words　in　the　celestial　notes　of　Vanda's　enchanting
voice；　Godefroid　stopped　short　on　the　spot　where　he　stood。

〃Cured！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃For　the　last　ten　days　he　has　allowed　me　to　walk　out；〃　she　replied。

〃Who？　Halpersohn？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Why　have　you　not　been　to　see　us？　Perhaps　it　was　well
you　didn't；〃　she　added；　〃my　hair　came　off；　this　that　you　see　is　a　wig；
but　the　doctor　assures　me　it　will　grow　again。　Oh！　how　many　things　we
have　to　tell　each　other！　Come　and　dine　with　us。　Oh！　your　accordion！
oh！　monsieur；〃she　put　her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes。

〃I　shall　keep　it　all　my　life；〃　she　went　on；　〃and　my　son　will　preserve
it　as　a　relic　after　me。　My　father　has　searched　all　Paris　for　you。　And
he　is　also　in　search　of　his　unknown　benefactors；　he　will　grieve
himself　to　death　if　you　do　not　help　him　to　discover　them。　Poor　father！
he　is　gnawed　by　a　melancholy　I　cannot　always　get　the　better　of。〃

As　much　attracted　by　that　exquisite　voice；　now　rescued　from　the
silence　of　the　grave；　as　by　a　burning　curiosity；　Godefroid　offered　his
arm　to　the　hand　held　out　to　him　by　the　Baronne　de　Mergi；　who　signed　to
her　son　to　precede　them；　charging　him　with　a　commission　which　he
seemed　to　understand。

〃I　shall　not　take　you　far；〃　she　said；　〃we　live　in　the　Allee　d'Antin；
in　a　pretty　little　house　built　in　the　English　fashion。　We　occupy　it
alone；　each　of　us　has　a　floor。　Oh！　we　are　so　comfortable。　My　father
thinks　that　you　had　a　great　deal　to　do　with　our　good　fortune。〃

〃I？〃

〃Yes；　did　you　know　that　on　a　recommendation　made　by　the　minister　of
public　instruction　a　chair　of　international　law　has　been　created　for
papa　at　the　Sorbonne？　He　begins　his　first　course　next　November。　The
great　work　on　which　he　has　been　engaged　for　so　long　will　be　published
this　month　by　the　firm　of　Cavalier　and　Co。；　who　agree　to　share　the
profits　with　my　father；　they　have　already　paid　him　on　account　thirty
thousand　francs。　My　father　bought　our　house　with　that　money。　The
minister　of　justice　has　awarded　me　a　pension　of　twelve　hundred　francs
as　the　daughter　of　a　former　judge；　my　father　has　his　retiring　pension
of　three　thousand；　and　his　professorship　will　give　him　five　thousand
more。　We　are　so　economical　that　we　are　almost　rich。　My　dear　Auguste
will　begin　his　law　studies　in　two　months；　but　he　is　already　employed
in　the　office　of　the　attorney…general；　and　is　earning　twelve　hundred
francs　a　year。　Ah！　Monsieur　Godefroid；　promise　me　you　will　never　speak
of　that　unhappy　affair　of　my　poor　Auguste。　As　for　me；　I　bless　him
every　day　for　his　action；　though　his　grandfather　has　not　yet　forgiven
him。　Yes；　his　mother　blesses　him；　Halpersohn　adores　him；　but　my　father
is　implacable！〃

〃What　affair？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃Ah！　I　recognize　your　generosity；〃　cried　Vanda。　〃What　a　heart　you
have！　Your　mother　must　be　proud　of　you。〃

She　stopped　as　if　a　pain　had　struck　her　heart。

〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　know　nothing　of　the　affair　of　which　you　speak；〃
said　Godefroid。

〃It　is　possible　that　you　really　did　not　know　it？〃　said　Vanda。　And　she
related　naively；　in　terms　of　admiration　for　her　son；　the　story　of　the
loan　that　he　had　secured　from　the　doctor。

〃We　may　not　speak　of　it　before　Baron　Bourlac；〃　said　Godefroid；　〃tell
me　now　how　your　son　got　out　of　his　trouble。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Vanda；　〃I　told　you；　I　think；　that　he　is　now　employed　by
the　attorney…general；　who　shows　him　the　greatest　kindness。　Auguste　was
only　forty…eight　hours　in　the　Conciergerie；　where　he　was　put　into　the
governor's　house。　The　good　doctor；　who　did　not　receive　a　noble　letter
the　boy　wrote　him　till　late　at　night；　withdrew　his　complaint；　and；
through　the　influence　of　a　former　judge　of　the　Royal　Courts；　whom　my
father　has　never　been　able　to　meet；　the　attorney…general　was　induced
to　annul　the　proceedings　in　the　court。　There　is　no　trace　left　of　the
affair　except　in　my　heart　and　my　son's　conscience；　and　alas！　in　his
grandfather's　mind。　From　that　day　he　has　treated　Auguste　as　almost　a
stranger。　Only　yesterday　Halpersohn　begged　him　to　forgive　the　boy；　but
my　father；　who　never　before　refused　me　anythingme；　whom　he　loves　so
well！replied：　'You　are　the　person　robbed；　you　can；　and　you　ought　to
forgive；　but　I　am　responsible　for　the　thief。　When　I　was　attorney…
general　I　never　pardoned。'　'You'll　kill　your　daughter；'　said
Halpersohn。　My　father　made　no　reply　and　turned　away。〃

〃But　who　helped　you　in　all　this？〃

〃A　gentleman；　whom　we　think　is　employed　to　do　the　queen's　benefits。〃

〃What　is　he　like？〃

〃Well；　he　is　of　medium　height；　rather　stout；　but　active；　with　a
kindly；　genial　face。　It　was　he　who　found　my　father　ill　of　fever　in　the
house　where　you　knew　us　and　had　him　brought　to　that　in　which　we　now
live。　And　just　fancy；　as　soon　as　my　father　recovered　/I/　was　installed
there　too；　in　my　very　own　room；　just　as　if　I　had　never　left　it。
Halpersohn；　whom　the　gentleman　captivated；　I　am　sure　I　don't　know　how；
then　told　me　all　the　sufferings　my　father　had　endured。　Ah；　when　I
think　of　it！　my　father　and　my　son　often　without　bread　to　eat；　and　when
with　me　pretending　to　be　rich！　even　the　diamonds　in　the　snuff　box
sold！　Oh；　Monsieur　Godefroid！　those　two　beings　are　martyrs。　And　so；
what　can　I　say　to　my　father？　Between　him　and　my　son　I　can　take　no
part；　I　can　only　make　return　to　them　in　kind　by　suffering　with　them；
as　they　once　suffered　with　me。〃

〃And　you　say　you　think　that　gentleman　came　from　the　queen？〃

〃Oh！　I　am　sure　you　know　him；　I　see　it　in　your　face；〃　cried　Vanda；　now
at　the　door　of　the　house。

She　seized　Godefroid　by　the　hand　with　the　vigor　of　a　nervous　woman　and
dragged　him　into　a　salon；　the　door　of　which　stood　open。

〃Papa！〃　she　cried；　〃here　is　Monsieur　Godefroid！　and　I　am　certain　he
knows　our　benefactors。〃

Baron　Bourlac；　whom　Godefroid　now　saw　dressed　in　a　manner　suitable　for
a　man　of　his　rank　and　position；　rose　and　came　forward；　holding　out　his
hand　to　Godefroid；　saying　as　he　did　so：

〃I　was　sure　of　it。〃

Godefroid　made　a　gesture　denying　that　he　shared　in　this　noble
vengeance；　but　the　former　attorney…general　gave　him　no　chance　to
speak。

〃Ah！　monsieur；〃　he　said；　continuing；　〃Providence　could　not　be　more
powerful；　love　more　ingenious；　motherhood　more　clear…sighted　than　your
friends　have　been　for　us。　I　bless　the　chance　that　has　brought　you　here
to…day；　for　Monsieur　Joseph　has　disappeared　forever；　he　has　evaded　all
the　traps　I　set　to　discover　his　true　name　and　residence。　Here；　read
his　last　letter。　But　perhaps　you　already　know　it。〃

Godefroid　read　as　follows：

　　Monsieur　le　Baron　Bourlac；The　sums　which　we　have　spent　for　you；
　　under　the　orders　of　a　charitable　lady；　amount　to　fifteen　thousand
　　francs。　Take　note　of　this；　so　that　you　may　return　that　sum　either
　　yourself；　or　through　your　descendants；　whenever　the　prosperity　of
　　your　family　will　admit　of　it；for　that　money　is　the　money　of　the
　　poor。　When　you　or　your　family　are　able　to　make　this　restitution；
　　pay　the　sum　you　owe　into　the　hands　of　Messrs。　Mongenod　and
　　Company；　bankers。

　　May　God　forgive　you。

Five　crosses　formed　the　mysterious　signature　of　this　letter；　which
Godefroid　returned　to　the　baron。

〃The　five　crosses　are　there；〃　he　said　as　if　to　himself。

〃Ah！　monsieur；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃you　do　know　all；　you　were　sent　to
me　by　that　mysterious　ladytell　me　her　name！〃

〃Her　name！〃　exclaimed　Godefroid；　〃her　name！　Unhappy　man！　you　must　not
ask　it；　never　seek　to　find　it　out。　Ah！　madame；〃　he　cried；　taking
Madame　de　Mergi's　hand；　〃tell　your　father；　if　he　values　his　peace　of
mind；　to　remain　in　his　ignorance　and　make　no　effort　to　discover　the
truth。〃

〃No；　tell　it！〃　said　Vanda。

〃Well；　then；　she　who　saved　your　daughter；〃　said　Godefroid；　looking　at
the　old　man；　〃who　returns　her　to　you　young　and　beautiful　and　fresh　and
happy；　who　rescued　her　from　her　coffin；　she　who　saved　your　grandson
from　disgrace；　and　has　given　you　an　old　age　of　peace　and　honor〃　He
stopped　short〃is　a　woman　whom　you　sent　innocent　to　prison　for　twenty
years；　to　whom；　as　a　magistrate；　you　did　the　foulest　wrong；　whose
sanctity　you　insulted；　whose　beautiful　daughter　you　tore　from　her　arms
and　condemned　to　the　cruellest　of　all　deaths；　for　she　died　on　the
guillotine。〃

Godefroid；　seeing　that　Vanda　had　fallen　back　half　fainting　on　her
chair；　rushed　into　the　corridor　and　from　there　into　the　street；
running　at　full　speed。

〃If　you　want　your　pardon；〃　said　Baron　Bourlac　to　his　grandson；　〃follow
that　man　and　find　out　where　he　lives。〃

Auguste　was　off　like　an　arrow。

The　next　morning　at　eight　o'clock；　Baron　Bourlac　knocked　at　the　old
yellow　door　in　the　rue　Chanoinesse；　and　asked　for　Madame　de　la
Chanterie。　The　portress　showed　him　the　portico。　Happily　it　was　the
breakfast　hour。　Godefroid　saw　the　baron；　through　one　of　the　casements
on　the　stairs；　crossing　the　court…yard；　he　had　just　time　to　get　down
into　the　salon　where　the　friends　were　all　assembled　and　to　cry　out：

〃Baron　Bourlac　is　here！〃

Madame　de　la　Chanterie；　hearing　the　name；　rose；　supported　by　the　Abbe
de　Veze　she　went　to　her　room。

〃You　shall　not　come　in；　tool　of　Satan！〃　cried　Manon；　recognizing　their
former　prosecutor　and　preventing　his　entrance　through　the　door　of　the
salon。　〃Have　you　come　to　kill　Madame？〃

〃Manon；　let　the　gentleman　come　in；〃　said　Monsieur　Alain。

Manon　sat　down　on　a　chair　as　if　both　her　legs　had　given　way　at　once。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　baron　in　an　agitated　voice；　recognizing　Monsieur
Joseph　and　Godefroid；　and　bowing　to　Monsieur　Nicolas；　〃mercy　gives
rights　to　those　it　benefits。〃

〃You　owe　us　nothing；　monsieur；〃　said　the　good　old　Alain；　〃you　owe
everything　to　God。〃

〃You　are　saints；　and　you　have　the　calmness　of　saints；〃　said　the　former
magistrate；　〃you　will　therefore　listen　to　me。　I　know　that　the　vast
benefits　I　have　received　during　the　last　eighteen　months　have　come
from　the　hand　of　a　person　whom　I　grievously　injured　in　doing　my　duty。
It　was　fifteen　years