the deputy of arcis-第10章

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Violette　is　the　worthy　son　of　his　grandfather；　I　think　he　is　capable　of　enriching　himself　by　going　into　bankruptcy；there's　neither　law　nor　gospel　in　him。〃

〃He　is　very　intelligent；〃　said　Beauvisage。

〃You　have　given　him　the　good…will　of　a　fine　business　for　thirty　thousand　francs；　which　is　certainly　worth　fifty　thousand；　and　in　ten　years　he　has　only　paid　you　ten　thousand〃

〃I　never　sued　anybody　yet；〃　replied　Beauvisage；　〃and　I'd　rather　lose　my　money　than　torment　a　poor　man〃

〃A　man　who　laughs　at　you！〃

Beauvisage　was　silent；　feeling　unable　to　reply　to　that　cruel　remark；　he　looked　at　the　boards　which　formed　the　floor　of　the　salon。

Perhaps　the　progressive　abolition　of　mind　and　will　in　Beauvisage　will　be　explained　by　the　abuse　of　sleep。　Going　to　bed　every　night　at　eight　o'clock　and　getting　up　the　next　morning　at　eight；　he　had　slept　his　twelve　hours　nightly　for　the　last　twenty　years；　never　waking；　or　if　that　extraordinary　event　did　occur；　it　was　so　serious　a　matter　to　his　mind　that　he　talked　of　it　all　day。　He　spent　an　hour　at　his　toilet；　for　his　wife　had　trained　him　not　to　appear　in　her　presence　at　breakfast　unless　properly　shaved；　cleaned；　and　dressed　for　the　day。　When　he　was　in　business；　he　departed　to　his　office　after　breakfast　and　returned　only　in　time　for　dinner。　Since　1832；　he　had　substituted　for　his　business　occupations　a　daily　visit　to　his　father…in…law；　a　promenade　about　the　town；　or　visits　to　his　friends。

In　all　weather　he　wore　boots；　blue　coat　and　trousers；　and　a　white　waistcoat；the　style　of　dress　exacted　by　his　wife。　His　linen　was　remarkable　for　its　fineness　and　purity；　owing　to　the　fact　that　Severine　obliged　him　to　change　it　daily。　Such　care　for　his　person；　seldom　taken　in　the　provinces；　contributed　to　make　him　considered　in　Arcis　very　much　as　a　man　of　elegance　is　considered　in　Paris。　Externally　this　worthy　seller　of　cotton　hose　seemed　to　be　a　personage；　for　his　wife　had　sense　enough　never　to　utter　a　word　which　could　put　the　public　of　Arcis　on　the　scent　of　her　disappointment　and　the　utter　nullity　of　her　husband；　who；　thanks　to　his　smiles；　his　handsome　dress；　and　his　manners；　passed　for　a　man　of　importance。　People　said　that　Severine　was　so　jealous　of　him　that　she　prevented　him　from　going　out　in　the　evening；　while　in　point　of　fact　Phileas　was　bathing　the　roses　and　lilies　of　his　skin　in　happy　slumber。

Beauvisage；　who　lived　according　to　his　tastes；　pampered　by　his　wife；　well　served　by　his　two　servants；　cajoled　by　his　daughter；　called　himself　the　happiest　man　in　Arcis；　and　really　was　so。　The　feeling　of　Severine　for　this　nullity　of　a　man　never　went　beyond　the　protecting　pity　of　a　mother　for　her　child。　She　disguised　the　harshness　of　the　words　she　was　frequently　obliged　to　say　to　him　by　a　joking　manner。　No　household　was　ever　more　tranquil；　and　the　aversion　Phileas　felt　for　society；　where　he　went　to　sleep；　and　where　he　could　not　play　cards　（being　incapable　of　learning　a　game）；　had　made　Severine　sole　mistress　of　her　evenings。

Cecile's　entrance　now　put　an　end　to　her　father's　embarrassment；　and　he　cried　out　heartily：

〃Hey！　how　fine　we　are！〃

Madame　Beauvisage　turned　round　abruptly　and　cast　a　look　upon　her　daughter　which　made　the　girl　blush。

〃Cecile；　who　told　you　to　dress　yourself　in　that　way？〃　she　demanded。

〃Are　we　not　going　to…night　to　Madame　Marion's？　I　dressed　myself　now　to　see　if　my　new　gown　fitted　me。〃

〃Cecile！　Cecile！〃　exclaimed　Severine；　〃why　do　you　try　to　deceive　your　mother？　It　is　not　right；　and　I　am　not　pleased　with　youyou　are　hiding　something　from　me。〃

〃What　has　she　done？〃　asked　Beauvisage；　delighted　to　see　his　daughter　so　prettily　dressed。

〃What　has　she　done？　I　shall　tell　her；〃　said　Madame　Beauvisage；　shaking　her　finger　at　her　only　child。

Cecile　flung　herself　on　her　mother's　neck；　kissing　and　coaxing　her；　which　is　a　means　by　which　only　daughters　get　their　own　way。

Cecile　Beauvisage；　a　girl　of　nineteen；　had　put　on　a　gown　of　gray　silk　trimmed　with　gimp　and　tassels　of　a　deeper　shade　of　gray；　making　the　front　of　the　gown　look　like　a　pelisse。　The　corsage；　ornamented　with　buttons　and　caps　to　the　sleeves；　ended　in　a　point　in　front；　and　was　laced　up　behind　like　a　corset。　This　species　of　corset　defined　the　back；　the　hips；　and　the　bust　perfectly。　The　skirt；　trimmed　with　three　rows　of　fringe；　fell　in　charming　folds；　showing　by　its　cut　and　its　make　the　hand　of　a　Parisian　dressmaker。　A　pretty　fichu　edged　with　lace　covered　her　shoulders；　around　her　throat　was　a　pink　silk　neckerchief；　charmingly　tied；　and　on　her　head　was　a　straw　hat　ornamented　with　one　moss　rose。　Her　hands　were　covered　with　black　silk　mittens；　and　her　feet　were　in　bronze　kid　boots。　This　gala　air；　which　gave　her　somewhat　the　appearance　of　the　pictures　in　a　fashion…book；　delighted　her　father。

Cecile　was　well　made；　of　medium　height；　and　perfectly　well…　proportioned。　She　had　braided　her　chestnut　hair；　according　to　the　fashion　of　1839；　in　two　thick　plaits　which　followed　the　line　of　the　face　and　were　fastened　by　their　ends　to　the　back　of　her　head。　Her　face；　a　fine　oval；　and　beaming　with　health；　was　remarkable　for　an　aristocratic　air　which　she　certainly　did　not　derive　from　either　her　father　or　her　mother。　Her　eyes；　of　a　light　brown；　were　totally　devoid　of　that　gentle；　calm；　and　almost　timid　expression　natural　to　the　eyes　of　young　girls。　Lively；　animated；　and　always　well　in　health；　Cecile　spoiled；　by　a　sort　of　bourgeois　matter…of…factness；　and　the　manners　of　a　petted　child；　all　that　her　person　presented　of　romantic　charm。　Still；　a　husband　capable　of　reforming　her　education　and　effacing　the　traces　of　provincial　life；　might　still　evolve　from　that　living　block　a　charming　woman　of　the　world。

Madame　Beauvisage　had　had　the　courage　to　bring　up　her　daughter　to　good　principles；　she　had　made　herself　employ　a　false　severity　which　enabled　her　to　compel　obedience　and　repress　the　little　evil　that　existed　in　the　girl's　soul。　Mother　and　daughter　had　never　been　parted；　thus　Cecile　had；　what　is　more　rare　in　young　girls　than　is　generally　supposed；　a　purity　of　thought；　a　freshness　of　heart；　and　a　naivete　of　nature；　real；　complete；　and　flawless。

〃Your　dress　is　enough　to　make　me　reflect；〃　said　Madame　Beauvisage。　〃Did　Simon　Giguet　say　anything　to　you　yesterday　that　you　are　hiding　from　me？〃

〃Dear　mamma；〃　said　Cecile　in　her　mother's　ear；　〃he　bores　me；　but　there　is　no　one　else　for　me　in　Arcis。〃

〃You　judge　him　rightly；　but　wait　till　your　grandfather　has　given　an　opinion；〃　said　Madame　Beauvisage；　kissing　her　daughter；　whose　reply　proved　her　good…sense；　though　it　also　revealed　the　breach　made　in　her　innocence　by　the　idea　of　marriage。

Severine　was　devoted　to　her　father；　she　and　her　daughter　allowed　no　one　but　themselves　to　take　charge　of　his　linen；　they　knitted　his　socks　for　him；　and　gave　the　most　minute　care　to　his　comfort。　Grevin　knew　that　no　thought　of　self…interest　had　entered　their　affection；　the　million　they　would　probably　inherit　could　not　dry　their　tears　at　his　death；　old　men　are　very　sensible　to　disinterested　tenderness。　Every　morning　before　going　to　see　him；　Madame　Beauvisage　and　Cecile　attended　to　his　dinner　for　the　next　day；　sending　him　the　best　that　the　market　afforded。

Madame　Beauvisage　had　always　desired　that　her　father　would　present　her　at　the　Chateau　de　Gondreville　and　connect　her　with　the　count's　daughters；　but　the　wise　old　man　explained；　again　and　again；　how　difficult　it　would　be　to　have　permanent　relations　with　the　Duchesse　de　Carigliano；　who　lived　in　Paris　and　seldom　came　to　Gondreville；　or　with　the　brilliant　Madame　Keller；　after　doing　a　business　in　hosiery。

〃Your　life　is　lived；〃　he　said　to　his　daughter；　〃find　all　your　enjoyments　henceforth　in　Cecile；　who　will　certainly　be　rich　enough　to　give　you　an　existence　as　broad　and　high　as　you　deserve。　Choose　a　son…　in…law　with　ambition　and　means；　and　you　can　follow　her　to　Paris　and　leave　that　jackass　Beauvisage　behind　you。　If　I　live　long　enough　to　see　Cecile's　husband　I'll　pilot　you　all　on　the　sea　of　political　interests；　as　I　once　piloted　others；　and　you　will　reach　a　position　equal　to　that　of　the　Kellers。〃

These　few　words　were　said　before　the　revolution　of　July；　1830。　Grevin　desired　to　live　that　he　might　get　under　way　the　future　grandeur　of　his　daughter；　his　grand…daughter；　and　his　great…grandchildren。　His　ambition　extended　to　the　third　generation。

When　he　talked　thus；　the　old　man's　idea　was　to　marry　Cecile　to　Charles　Keller；　he　was　now　grieving　over　that　lost　hope；　uncertain　where　to　look　in　the　future。　Having　no　relations　with　Parisian　society；　and　seeing　in　the　department　of　the　Aube　no　other　husband　for　Cecile　than　the　youthful　Marquis　de　Cinq…Cygne；　he　was　asking　himself　whether　by　the　power　of　gold　he　could　surmount　the　animosities　which　the　revolution　of　July　had　roused　between　the　royalists　who　were　faithful　to　their　principles；　and　their　conquerors。　The　happiness　of　his　grand…　daughter　seemed　to　him　so　doubtful　if　he　delivered　her　into　the　hands　of　the　proud　and　haughty　Marquise　de　Cinq…Cygne　that　he　decided　in　his　own　mind　to　trust　to　the　friend　of　old　age；　Time。　He　hoped　that　his　bitter　enemy　the　marquise　might　die；　and；　in　that　case；　he　thought　he　could　win　the　son　through　his　grandfather；　old　d'Hauteserre；　who　was　then　living　at　Cinq…Cygne　and　whom　he　knew　to　be　accessible　to　the　persuasions　of　money。

If　this　plan　failed；　and　Cecile　Beauvisage　remained　unmarried；　he　resolved　as　a　last　resort　to　consult　his　friend　Gondreville；　who　would；　he　believed；　find　his　Cecile　a　husband；　after　his　heart　and　his　ambition；　among　the　dukes　of　the　Empire。



IX

A　STRANGER

Severine　found　her　father　seated　on　a　wooden　bench　at　the　end　of　his　terrace；　under　a　bower　of　lilacs　then　in　bloom；　and　taking　his　coffee；　for　it　was　half…past　five　in　the　afternoon。　She　saw；　by　the　pain　on　her　father's　face；　that　he　had　already　heard　the　news。　In　fact；　the　old　count　had　sent　a　valet　to　his　friend；　begging　him　to　come　to　him。

Up　to　the　present　time；　old　Grevin　had　endeavored　not　to　encourage　his　daughter's　ambition　too　far；　but　now；　in　the　midst　of　the　contradictory　reflections　which　the　melancholy　death　of　Charles　Keller　caused　him；　his　secret　escaped　his　lips。

〃My　dear　child；〃　he　said　to　her；　〃I　had　formed　the　finest　plans　for　your　future。　Cecile　was　to　have　been　Vicomtesse　Keller；　for　Charles；　by　my　influence；　would　now　have　been　selected　deputy。　Neither　Gondreville　nor　his　daughter　Madame　Keller　would　have　refused　Cecile's　/dot/　of　sixty　thousand　francs　a　year；　especially　with　the　prospect　of　a　hundred　thousand　more　which　she　will　some　day　have　from　you。　You　would　have　lived　in　Paris　with　your　daughter；　and　played　your　part　of　mother…in…law　in　the　upper　regions　of　power。〃

Madame　Beauvisage　made　a　sign　of　satisfaction。

〃But　we　are　knocked　down　by　the　death　of　this　charming　young　man；　to　whom　the　prince　royal　had　already　given　his　friendship。　Now　this　Simon　Giguet；　who　has　thrust　himself　upon　the　scene；　is　a　fool；　and　the　worst　of　all　fools；　for　he　thinks　himself　an　eagle。　You　are；　however；　too　intimate　with　the　Giguets　and　the　Marion　household　not　to　put　the　utmost　politeness　into　your　refusalbut　you　must　refuse　him。〃

〃As　usual；　you　and　I　are　of　the　same　opinion；　father。〃

〃You　can　say　that　I　have　otherwise　disposed　of　Cecile's　hand；　and　that　will　cut　short　all　preposter