the deputy of arcis-第21章

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ng　empty　for　the　most　part　during　the　entr'acte；　Monsieur　Dorlange　saw　at　some　distance　the　celebrated　sculptor　Stidmann；　and　went　up　to　him。

〃Have　you　a　note…book　of　any　kind　in　your　pocket？〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　I　always　carry　one。〃

〃Will　you　lend　it　to　me　and　let　me　tear　out　a　page？　I　have　an　idea　in　my　mind　which　I　don't　want　to　lose。　If　I　do　not　see　you　again　after　the　play　to　make　restitution；　I　will　send　it　to　you　to…morrow　morning　without　fail。〃

Returning　to　his　place；　Monsieur　Dorlange　sketched　something　rapidly；　and　when　the　curtain　rose　and　the　two　gentlemen　returned　to　their　seats；　he　touched　the　Duc　de　Rhetore　lightly　on　the　shoulder　and　said；　giving　him　the　drawing：

〃My　card；　which　I　have　the　honor　to　present　to　you。〃

This　〃card〃　was　a　charming　sketch　of　an　architectural　design　placed　in　a　landscape。　Beneath　it　was　written　〃Plan　for　a　mausoleum　to　be　erected　to　the　memory　of　Madame　Marie…Gaston；　/nee/　Chaulieu；　by　her　husband；　from　the　designs　of　Charles　Dorlange；　sculptor；　42　rue　de　l'Ouest。〃

It　was　impossible　to　let　Monsieur　de　Rhetore　know　more　delicately　that　he　had　to　do　with　a　suitable　adversary；　and　you　will　remark；　my　dear　Monsieur　Gaston；　that　Monsieur　Dorlange　made　this　drawing　the　means　of　enforcing　his　denial　and　giving　proof　of　your　disinterestedness　and　the　sincerity　of　your　grief。

After　the　play　was　over；　Monsieur　de　Rhetore　parted　from　Monsieur　de　Ronquerolles；　and　the　latter　went　up　to　Monsieur　Dorlange　and　endeavored；　very　courteously；　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation；　remarking　to　him　that；　while　he　was　right　in　the　subject…matter；　his　method　of　proceeding　was　unusual　and　offensive；　Monsieur　de　Rhetore；　on　the　other　hand；　had　shown　great　moderation；　and　would　now　be　satisfied　with　a　mere　expression　of　regret；　in　short；　Monsieur　de　Ronquerolles　said　all　that　can　be　said　on　such　an　occasion。

Monsieur　Dorlange　would　not　listen　to　anything　which　seemed　a　submission　on　his　part；　and　the　next　day　he　received　a　visit　from　Monsieur　de　Ronquerolles　and　General　Montriveau　on　behalf　of　the　Duc　de　Rhetore。　Again　an　effort　was　made　to　induce　Monsieur　Dorlange　to　give　another　turn　to　his　words。　But　your　friend　would　not　depart　from　this　ultimatum：

〃Will　Monsieur　de　Rhetore　withdraw　the　words　I　felt　bound　to　notice；　if　so；　I　will　withdraw　mine。〃

〃But　that　is　impossible；〃　they　said　to　him。　〃Monsieur　de　Rhetore　has　been　personally　insulted；　you；　on　the　contrary；　have　not　been。　Right　or　wrong；　he　has　the　conviction　that　Monsieur　Marie…Gaston　has　done　him　an　injury。　We　must　always　make　certain　allowances　for　wounded　self…interests；　you　can　never　get　absolute　justice　from　them。〃

〃It　comes　to　this；　then；〃　replied　Monsieur　Dorlange；　〃that　Monsieur　de　Rhetore　may　continue　to　calumniate　my　friend　at　his　ease；　in　the　first　place；　because　he　is　in　Italy；　and　secondly；　because　Marie…Gaston　would　always　feel　extreme　repugnance　to　come　to　certain　extremities　with　the　brother　of　his　wife。　It　is　precisely　that　powerlessness；　relatively　speaking；　to　defend　himself；　which　constitutes　my　rightI　will　say　moremy　duty　to　interfere。　It　was　not　without　a　special　permission　of　Providence　that　I　was　enabled　to　catch　a　few　of　the　malicious　words　that　were　said　of　him；　and；　as　Monsieur　de　Rhetore　declines　to　modify　any　of　them；　we　must；　if　it　please　you；　continue　this　matter　to　the　end。〃

The　duel　then　became　inevitable；　the　terms　were　arranged　in　the　course　of　the　day；　and　the　meeting；　with　pistols；　was　appointed　for　the　day　after。　On　the　ground　Monsieur　Dorlange　was　perfectly　cool。　When　the　first　fire　was　exchanged　without　result；　the　seconds　proposed　to　put　an　end　to　the　affair。

〃No；　one　more　shot！〃　he　said　gaily；　as　if　he　were　shooting　in　a　pistol…gallery。

This　time　he　was　shot　in　the　fleshy　part　of　the　thigh；　not　a　dangerous　wound；　but　one　which　caused　him　to　lose　a　great　deal　of　blood。　As　they　carried　him　to　the　carriage　which　brought　him；　Monsieur　de　Rhetore；　who　hastened　to　assist　them；　being　close　beside　him；　he　said；　aloud：

〃This　does　not　prevent　Marie…Gaston　from　being　a　man　of　honor　and　a　heart　of　gold。〃

Then　he　fainted。

This　duel；　as　you　can　well　believe；　has　made　a　great　commotion；　Monsieur　Dorlange　has　been　the　hero　of　the　hour　for　the　last　two　days；　it　is　impossible　to　enter　a　single　salon　without　finding　him　the　one　topic　of　conversation。　I　heard　more；　perhaps；　in　the　salon　of　Madame　de　Montcornet　than　elsewhere。　She　receives；　as　you　know；　many　artists　and　men　of　letters；　and　to　give　you　an　idea　of　the　manner　in　which　your　friend　is　considered；　I　need　only　stenograph　a　conversation　at　which　I　was　present　in　the　countess's　salon　last　evening。

The　chief　talkers　were　Emile　Blondet　of　the　〃Debats；〃　and　Monsieur　Bixiou；　the　caricaturist；　one　of　the　best…informed　/ferrets/　of　Paris。　They　are　both；　I　think；　acquaintances　of　yours；　but；　at　any　rate；　I　am　certain　of　your　intimacy　with　Joseph　Bridau；　our　great　painter；　who　shared　in　the　talk；　for　I　well　remember　that　he　and　Daniel　d'Arthez　were　the　witnesses　of　your　marriage。

〃The　first　appearance　of　Dorlange　in　art；〃　Joseph　Bridau　was　saying；　when　I　joined　them；　〃was　fine；　the　makings　of　a　master　were　already　so　apparent　in　the　work　he　did　for　his　examinations　that　the　Academy；　under　pressure　of　opinion；　decided　to　crown　himthough　he　laughed　a　good　deal　at　its　programme。〃

〃True；〃　said　Bixiou；　〃and　that　'Pandora'　he　exhibited　in　1837；　after　his　return　from　Rome；　is　also　a　very　remarkable　figure。　But　as　she　won　him；　at　once；　the　cross　and　any　number　of　commissions　from　the　government　and　the　municipality；　together　with　scores　of　flourishing　articles　in　the　newspapers；　I　don't　see　how　he　can　rise　any　higher　after　all　that　success。〃

〃That；〃　said　Blondet；　〃is　a　regular　Bixiou　opinion。〃

〃No　doubt；　and　well…founded　it　is。　Do　you　know　the　man？〃

〃No；　he　is　never　seen　anywhere。〃

〃Exactly；　he　is　a　bear；　but　a　premeditated　bear；　a　reflecting　and　determined　bear。〃

〃I　don't　see；〃　said　Joseph　Bridau；　〃why　this　savage　inclination　for　solitude　should　be　so　bad　for　an　artist。　What　does　a　sculptor　gain　by　frequenting　salons　where　gentlemen　and　ladies　have　taken　to　a　habit　of　wearing　clothes？〃

〃Well；　in　the　first　place；　a　sculptor　can　amuse　himself　in　a　salon；　and　that　will　keep　him　from　taking　up　a　mania；　or　becoming　a　visionary；　besides；　he　sees　the　world　as　it　is；　and　learns　that　1839　is　not　the　fifteenth　nor　the　sixteenth　century。〃

〃Has　Dorlange　any　such　delusions？〃　asked　Emile　Blondet。

〃He？　he　will　talk　to　you　by　the　hour　of　returning　to　the　life　of　the　great　artists　of　the　middle　ages　with　the　universality　of　their　studies　and　their　knowledge；　and　that　frightfully　laborious　life　of　theirs；　which　may　help　us　to　understand　the　habits　and　ways　of　a　semi…　barbarous　society；　but　can　never　exist　in　ours。　He　does　not　see；　the　innocent　dreamer；　that　civilization；　by　strangely　complicating　all　social　conditions；　absorbs　for　business；　for　interests；　for　pleasures；　thrice　as　much　time　as　a　less　advanced　society　required　for　the　same　purposes。　Look　at　the　savage　in　his　hut；　he　hasn't　anything　to　do。　Whereas　we；　with　the　Bourse；　the　opera；　the　newspapers；　parliamentary　discussions；　salons；　elections；　railways；　the　Cafe　de　Paris　and　the　National　Guardwhat　time　have　we；　if　you　please；　to　go　to　work？〃

〃Beautiful　theory　of　a　do…nothing！〃　cried　Emile　Blondet；　laughing。

〃No；　my　dear　fellow；　I　am　talking　truth。　The　curfew　no　longer　rings　at　nine　o'clock。　Only　last　night　my　concierge　Ravenouillet　gave　a　party；　and　I　think　I　made　a　great　mistake　in　not　accepting　the　indirect　invitation　he　gave　me　to　be　present。〃

〃Nevertheless；〃　said　Joseph　Bridau；　〃it　is　certain　that　if　a　man　doesn't　mingle　in　the　business；　the　interests；　and　the　pleasures　of　our　epoch；　he　can　make　out　of　the　time　he　thus　saves　a　pretty　capital。　Independently　of　his　orders；　Dorlange　has；　I　think；　a　little　competence；　so　that　nothing　hinders　him　from　arranging　his　life　to　suit　himself。〃

〃But　you　see　he　goes　to　the　opera；　for　it　was　there　he　found　his　duel。　Besides；　you　are　all　wrong　in　representing　him　as　isolated　from　this　contemporaneous　life；　for　I　happen　to　know　that　he　is　just　about　to　harness　himself　to　it　by　the　most　rattling　and　compelling　chains　of　the　social　systemI　mean　political　interests。〃

〃Does　he　want　to　be　a　statesman？〃　asked　Emile　Blondet；　sarcastically。

〃Yes；　no　doubt　that's　in　his　famous　programme　of　universality；　and　you　ought　to　see　the　consistency　and　perseverance　he　puts　into　that　idea！　Only　last　year　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　francs　dropped　into　his　mouth　as　if　from　the　skies；　and　he　instantly　bought　a　hovel　in　the　rue　Saint…Martin　to　make　himself　eligible　for　the　Chamber。　Thenanother　pretty　speculationwith　the　rest　of　the　money　he　bought　stock　in　the　'National；'　where　I　meet　him　every　time　I　want　to　have　a　laugh　over　the　republican　Utopia。　He　has　his　flatterers　on　the　staff　of　that　estimable　newspaper；　they　have　persuaded　him　that　he's　a　born　orator　and　can　cut　the　finest　figure　in　the　Chamber。　They　even　talk　of　getting　up　a　candidacy　for　him；　and　on　some　of　their　enthusiastic　days　they　go　so　far　as　to　assert　that　he　bears　a　distant　likeness　to　Danton。〃

〃But　this　is　getting　burlesque；〃　said　Emile　Blondet。

I　don't　know　if　you　have　ever　remarked；　my　dear　Monsieur　Gaston；　that　in　men　of　real　talent　there　is　always　great　leniency　of　judgment。　In　this；　Joseph　Bridau　is　pre…eminent。

〃I　think　with　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　if　Dorlange　takes　this　step；　and　enters　politics；　he　will　be　lost　to　art。　But；　after　all；　why　should　he　not　succeed　in　the　Chamber？　He　expresses　himself　with　great　facility；　and　seems　to　me　to　have　ideas　at　his　command。　Look　at　Canalis　when　he　was　made　deputy！　'What！　a　poet！'　everybody　cried　out；which　didn't　prevent　him　from　making　himself　a　fine　reputation　as　orator；　and　becoming　a　minister。〃

〃But　the　first　question　is　how　to　get　into　the　Chamber；〃　said　Emile　Blondet。　〃Where　does　Dorlange　propose　to　stand？〃

〃Why；　naturally；　for　one　of　the　rotten　boroughs　of　the　'National。'　I　don't　know　if　it　has　yet　been　chosen。〃

〃General　rule；〃　said　the　writer　for　the　〃Debats。〃　〃To　obtain　your　election；　even　though　you　may　have　the　support　of　an　active　and　ardent　party；　you　must　also　have　a　somewhat　extended　political　notoriety；　or；　at　any　rate；　some　provincial　backing　of　family　or　fortune。　Has　Dorlange　any　of　those　elements　of　success？〃

〃As　for　the　backing　of　a　family；　that　element　is　particularly　lacking；〃　replied　Bixiou；　〃in　fact；　in　his　case；　it　is　conspicuously　absent。〃

〃Really？〃　said　Emile　Blondet。　〃Is　he　a　natural　child？〃

〃Nothing　could　be　more　natural；father　and　mother　unknown。　But　I　believe；　myself；　that　he　can　be　elected。　It　is　the　ins　and　outs　of　his　political　ideas　that　will　be　the　wonder。〃

〃He　is　a　republican；　I　suppose；　if　he　is　a　friend　of　those　'National'　gentlemen；　and　resembles　Danton？〃

〃Yes；　of　course；　but　he　despises　his　co…religionists；　declaring　they　are　only　good　for　carrying　a　point；　and　for　violence　and　bullying。　Provisionally；　he　is　satisfied　with　a　monarchy　hedged　in　by　republican　institutions；　but　he　insists　that　our　civic　royalty　will　infallibly　be　lost　through　the　abuse　of　influence；　which　he　roughly　calls　corruption。　This　will　lead　him　towards　the　little　Church　of　the　Left…　centre；　but　th