the deputy of arcis-第3章

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the　Comte　de　Gondreville　contrived　to　counterbalance　this　Cinq…Cygne　royalty　by　the　secret　authority　he　wielded　over　the　liberals　of　the　town　through　the　notary　Grevin；　Colonel　Giguet；　his　son…in…law　Keller　（always　elected　deputy　in　spite　of　the　Cinq…Cygnes）；　and　also　by　the　credit　he　maintained；　as　long　as　Louis　XVIII。　lived；　in　the　counsels　of　the　crown。　It　was　not　until　after　the　death　of　that　king　that　the　Comtesse　de　Cinq…Cygne　was　able　to　get　Michu　appointed　judge　of　the　court　of　assizes　in　Arcis。　She　desired　of　all　things　to　obtain　this　place　for　the　son　of　the　steward　who　had　perished　on　the　scaffold　at　Troyes；　the　victim　of　his　devotion　to　the　Simeuse　family；　whose　full…length　portrait　always　hung　in　her　salon；　whether　in　Paris　or　at　Cinq…Cygne。　Until　1823　the　Comte　de　Gondreville　had　possessed　sufficient　power　over　Louis　XVIII。　to　prevent　this　appointment　of　Michu。

It　was　by　the　advice　of　the　Comte　de　Gondreville　that　Colonel　Giguet　made　his　son　a　lawyer。　Simon　had　all　the　more　opportunity　of　shining　at　the　bar　in　the　arrondissement　of　Arcis　because　he　was　the　only　barrister；　solicitors　pleading　their　own　cases　in　these　petty　localities。　The　young　man　had　really　secured　certain　triumphs　in　the　court　of　assizes　of　the　Aube；　but　he　was　none　the　less　an　object　of　derision　to　Frederic　Marest；　/procureur…du…roi/；　Olivier　Vinet；　the　substitute　/procureur/；　and　the　judge；　Michu；the　three　best　minds　in　the　court。

Simon　Giguet；　like　other　men；　paid　goodly　tribute　to　the　mighty　power　of　ridicule　that　pursued　him。　He　liked　to　hear　himself　talk；　and　he　talked　on　all　occasions；　he　solemnly　delivered　himself　of　dry　and　long…winded　sentences　which　passed　for　eloquence　among　the　upper　bourgeoisie　of　Arcis。　The　poor　fellow　belonged　to　that　species　of　bore　which　desires　to　explain　everything；　even　the　simplest　thing。　He　explained　rain；　he　explained　the　revolution　of　July；　he　explained　things　impenetrable；　he　explained　Louis…Philippe；　Odilon　Barrot；　Monsieur　Thiers；　the　Eastern　Question；　he　explained　Champagne；　he　explained　1788；　he　explained　the　tariff　of　custom　houses　and　humanitarians；　magnetism　and　the　economy　of　the　civil　list。

This　lean　young　man；　with　a　bilious　skin；　tall　enough　to　justify　his　sonorous　nullity　（for　it　is　rare　that　a　tall　man　does　not　have　eminent　faculties　of　some　kind）　outdid　the　puritanism　of　the　votaries　of　the　extreme　Left；　all　of　them　so　sensitive；　after　the　manner　of　prudes　who　have　their　intrigues　to　hide。　Dressed　invariably　in　black；　he　wore　a　white　cravat　which　came　down　low　on　his　chest；　so　that　his　face　seemed　to　issue　from　a　horn　of　white　paper；　for　the　collar　of　his　shirt　was　high　and　stiff　after　a　fashion　now；　fortunately；　exploded。　His　trousers　and　his　coats　were　always　too　large　for　him。　He　had　what　is　called　in　the　provinces　dignity；　that　is　to　say；　he　was　stiffly　erect　and　pompously　dull　in　manner。　His　friend；　Antonin　Goulard；　accused　him　of　imitating　Monsieur　Dupin。　And　in　truth；　the　young　barrister　was　apt　to　wear　shoes　and　stout　socks　of　black　filoselle。

Protected　by　the　respect　that　every　one　bore　to　his　father；　and　by　the　influence　exercised　by　his　aunt　over　a　little　town　whose　principal　inhabitants　had　frequented　her　salon　for　many　years；　Simon　Giguet；　possessing　already　ten　thousand　francs　a　year；　not　counting　the　fees　of　his　profession　and　the　fortune　his　aunt　would　not　fail　to　leave　him；　felt　no　doubt　of　his　election。　Nevertheless；　the　first　sound　of　the　bell　announcing　the　arrival　of　the　most　influential　electors　echoed　in　the　heart　of　the　ambitious　aspirant　and　filled　it　with　vague　fears。　Simon　did　not　conceal　from　himself　the　cleverness　and　the　immense　resources　of　old　Grevin；　nor　the　prestige　attending　the　means　that　would　surely　be　employed　by　the　ministry　to　promote　the　candidacy　of　a　young　and　dashing　officer　then　in　Africa；　attached　to　the　staff　of　the　prince…royal。

〃I　think；〃　he　said　to　his　father；　〃that　I　have　the　colic；　I　feel　a　warmth　at　the　pit　of　my　stomach　that　makes　me　very　uneasy。〃

〃Old　soldiers；〃　replied　the　colonel；　〃have　the　same　feeling　when　they　hear　the　cannon　beginning　to　growl　at　the　opening　of　a　battle。〃

〃What　will　it　be　in　the　Chamber！〃　said　the　barrister。

〃The　Comte　de　Gondreville　told　me；〃　said　the　old　colonel；　〃that　he　has　known　more　than　one　orator　affected　with　the　qualms　which　precede；　even　with　us　old　fire…eaters；　the　opening　of　a　battle。　But　all　this　is　idle　talk。　You　want　to　be　a　deputy；〃　added　the　old　man；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃then　be　one！〃

〃Father；　the　real　triumph　will　be　Cecile！　Cecile　has　an　immense　fortune。　Now…a…days　an　immense　fortune　means　power。〃

〃Dear　me！　how　times　have　changed！　Under　the　Emperor　men　had　to　be　brave。〃

〃Each　epoch　is　summed　up　in　a　phrase；〃　said　Simon；　recalling　an　observation　of　the　Comte　de　Gondreville；　which　paints　that　personage　well。　He　remarked：　〃Under　the　Empire；　when　it　was　desirable　to　destroy　a　man；　people　said；　'He　is　a　coward。'　To…day　we　say；　'He　is　a　cheat。'〃

〃Poor　France！　where　are　they　leading　you？〃　cried　the　colonel；　〃I　shall　go　back　to　my　roses。〃

〃Oh；　stay；　father！　You　are　the　keystone　of　the　arch。〃



III

OPPOSITION　DEFINES　ITSELF

The　mayor；　Monsieur　Phileas　Beauvisage；　was　the　first　to　present　himself；　accompanied　by　the　successor　of　his　father…in…law；　the　busiest　notary　in　town；　Achille　Pigoult；　grandson　of　an　old　man　who　had　continued　justice　of　the　peace　in　Arcis　during　the　Revolution；　the　Empire；　and　the　Restoration。　Achille　Pigoult；　thirty…two　years　of　age；　had　been　eighteen　years　a　clerk　in　Grevin's　office　with　no　means　of　becoming　himself　a　notary。　His　father；　son　of　the　justice　of　peace；　had　died　of　a　so…called　apoplexy；　having　gone　wrong　in　business。

The　Comte　de　Gondreville；　however；　with　whom　old　Pigoult　had　relations　dating　back　to　1793；　lent　money　for　the　necessary　security；　and　thus　enabled　the　grandson　of　the　judge　who　made　the　first　examination　in　the　Simeuse　case　to　buy　the　practice　of　his　master；　Grevin。　Achille　had　set　up　his　office　in　the　Place　de　l'Eglise；　in　a　house　belonging　to　the　Comte　de　Gondreville；　which　the　latter　had　leased　to　him　at　so　low　a　price　that　any　one　could　see　how　desirous　that　crafty　politician　was　to　hold　the　leading　notary　of　Arcis　in　the　hollow　of　his　hand。

Young　Pigoult；　a　short；　skinny　man；　whose　eyes　seemed　to　pierce　the　green　spectacles　which　could　not　modify　the　spitefulness　of　his　glance；　well…informed　as　to　all　the　interests　of　the　neighborhood；　owing　his　aptitude　in　managing　affairs　to　a　certain　facility　of　speech；　passed　for　what　is　called　a　/quizzer/；　saying　things　plainly　and　with　more　cleverness　than　the　aborigines　could　put　into　their　conversations。　Still　a　bachelor；　he　was　awaiting　a　rich　marriage　through　the　offices　of　his　two　protectors；　Grevin　and　the　Comte　de　Gondreville。　Consequently；　barrister　Giguet　was　not　a　little　surprised　on　seeing　Achille　appear　at　the　meeting　in　company　with　Monsieur　Phileas　Beauvisage。

The　notary；　whose　face　was　so　seamed　by　the　smallpox　that　it　seemed　to　be　covered　with　a　white　net；　formed　a　perfect　contrast　to　the　rotund　person　of　the　mayor；　whose　face　resembled　a　full　moon；　but　a　warm　and　lively　moon；　its　tones　of　lily　and　of　rose　being　still　further　brightened　by　a　gracious　smile；　the　result　not　so　much　of　a　disposition　of　the　soul　as　of　that　formation　of　the　lips　for　which　the　word　〃simpering〃　seems　to　have　been　created。　Phileas　Beauvisage　was　endowed　with　so　great　a　contentment　with　himself　that　he　smiled　on　all　the　world　and　under　all　circumstances。　Those　simpering　lips　smiled　at　a　funeral。　The　liveliness　that　abounded　in　his　infantine　blue　eyes　did　not　contradict　that　perpetual　and　well…nigh　intolerable　smile。

This　internal　satisfaction　passed　all　the　more　readily　for　benevolence　and　affability；　because　Phileas　had　made　himself　a　language　of　his　own；　remarkable　for　its　immoderate　use　of　the　formulas　of　politeness。　He　always　〃had　the　honor〃；　to　all　his　inquiries　as　to　the　health　of　absent　persons　he　added　the　adjectives　〃dear；〃　〃good；〃　〃excellent。〃　He　lavished　condoling　or　congratulatory　phrases　apropos　of　all　the　petty　miseries　and　all　the　little　felicities　of　life。　He　concealed　under　a　deluge　of　commonplaces　his　native　incapacity；　his　total　want　of　education；　and　a　weakness　of　character　which　can　only　be　expressed　by　the　old　word　〃weathercock。〃　Be　not　uneasy：　the　weathercock　had　for　its　axis　the　beautiful　Madame　Beauvisage；　Severine　Grevin；　the　most　remarkable　woman　in　the　arrondissement。

When　Severine　heard　of　what　she　called　her　husband's　〃freak〃　as　to　the　election；　she　said　to　him　on　the　morning　of　the　meeting　at　Madame　Marion's：

〃It　was　well　enough　to　give　yourself　an　air　of　independence；　but　you　mustn't　go　to　that　Giguet　meeting　unless　Achille　Pigoult　accompanies　you；　I've　told　him　to　come　and　take　you。〃

Giving　Achille　Pigoult　as　mentor　to　Beauvisage　meant　sending　a　spy　from　the　Gondreville　party　to　the　Giguet　assemblage。　We　may　therefore　imagine　the　grimace　which　contracted　the　puritan　visage　of　Simon；　who　was　forced　to　welcome　graciously　an　/habitue/　of　his　aunt's　salon　and　an　influential　elector；　in　whom；　nevertheless；　he　saw　an　enemy。

〃Ah！〃　he　thought　to　himself；　〃what　a　mistake　I　made　in　refusing　him　that　security　when　he　asked　for　it！　Old　Gondreville　had　more　sense　than　IGood…day　to　you；　Achille；〃　he　said；　assuming　a　jaunty　manner；　〃I　suppose　you　mean　to　trip　me　up。〃

〃Your　meeting　isn't　a　conspiracy　against　the　independence　of　our　votes；〃　replied　the　notary；　smiling。　〃We　are　all　playing　above…board；　I　take　it。〃

〃Above…board；〃　echoed　Beauvisage。

And　the　mayor　began　to　laugh　with　that　expressionless　laugh　by　which　some　persons　end　all　their　sentences；　which　may；　perhaps；　be　called　the　/ritornello/　of　their　conversation。　After　which　he　placed　himself　in　what　we　must　describe　as　his　third　position；　standing　full…front；　his　chest　expanded；　and　his　hands　behind　his　back。　He　was　dressed　in　black　coat　and　trousers；　with　an　effulgent　white　waistcoat；　opened　in　such　a　way　as　to　show　two　diamond　shirt…buttons　worth　several　thousand　francs。

〃We　shall　fight；　but　we　shall　not　be　the　less　good　friends；〃　he　said。　〃That　is　the　essence　of　constitutional　morals；　he！　he！　he！　That　is　how　/I/　understand　the　alliance　of　monarchy　with　liberty；　ha！　ha！　ha！〃

Whereupon　the　mayor　took　Simon's　hand；　saying：

〃How　are　you；　my　good　friend？　Your　dear　aunt　and　our　worthy　colonel　are　no　doubt　as　well　to…day　as　they　were　yesterday；that　is；　I　presume　so；he！　he！　he！〃　adding；　with　an　air　of　perfect　beatitude；　〃perhaps　a　little　agitated　by　the　ceremony　now　about　to　take　place。　Ha！　ha！　young　man；　so　we　intend　to　enter　a　political　career？　Ha！　ha！　ha！　This　is　our　first　stepmustn't　step　backit　is　a　great　career。　I'd　rather　it　were　you　than　I　to　rush　into　the　storms　and　tempests　of　the　legislative　body；　hi！　hi！however　agreeable　it　may　be　to　see　that　body　in　our　own　person；　hi！　hi！　hi！the　sovereign　power　of　France　in　one　four　hundred　and　fifty…third！　Hi！　hi！　hi！〃

The　vocal　organ　of　Phileas　Beauvisage　had　an　agreeable　sonority　altogether　in　harmony　with　the　leguminous　curves　of　his　face　（of　the　color　of　a　light　yellow　pumpkin）；　his　solid　back；　and　his　broadly　expanded　chest。　That　voice；　bass　in　volume；　could　soften　to　a　baritone　and　utter；　in　the　giggle　with　which　P