the deputy of arcis-第38章

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value　received　in　furniture；〃　a　charming　ambiguity；　the　furniture　having　been　received　by；　and　not　from；　Mademoiselle　Chocardelle；　who　estimated　at　ten　thousand　francs　the　sacrifice　she　made　in　accepting　it。

A　few　days　after　Charles　Keller's　death；　the　note　being　almost　due；　Mademoiselle　Antonia　went　to　the　counting…room　of　the　Keller　Brothers　to　inquire　about　its　payment。　The　cashier；　who　is　crabbed；　like　all　cashiers；　replied　that　he　did　not　see　how　Mademoiselle　Antonia　had　the　face　to　present　such　a　note；　at　any　rate；　the　heads　of　the　house　were　at　Gondreville；　where　the　whole　family　had　met　after　receiving　the　fatal　news；　and　he　should　pay　no　such　note　without　referring　the　matter　to　them。

〃Very　good；　then　I'll　refer　it　to　them　myself；〃　replied　Mademoiselle　Antonia。　Thereupon　she　was　meditating　a　departure　alone　to　Arcis；　when　the　government　felt　the　need　of　insulting　us　with　more　wit　and　point　than　provincial　journalism　can　muster；　and　so　confided　that　employment　to　a　middle…aged　journalist　to　whom　Mademoiselle　Antonia　had；　during　the　absence　of　Charles　Keller；　shown　some　kindness。　〃I　am　going　to　Arcis；〃　seems　to　have　been　said　at　the　same　instant　by　writer　and　lady。　The　most　commonplace　lives　encounter　similar　coincidences。

Now；　madame；　admire　the　manner　in　which　things　link　together。　Setting　forth　on　a　purely　selfish　financial　enterprise；　behold　Mademoiselle　Chocardelle　suddenly　brought　to　the　point　of　wielding　an　immense　electoral　influence！　And　observe　also　that　her　influence　is　of　a　nature　to　compensate　for　all　the　witty　pin…pricks　of　her　gallant　companion。

Mademoiselle's　affair；　it　appears；　hung　fire。　Twice　she　went　to　Gondreville；　and　was　not　admitted。　The　journalist　was　busy；partly　with　his　articles；　and　partly　with　certain　commissions　given　to　him　by　Monsieur　de　Trailles；　under　whose　orders　he　was　told　to　place　himself。　Mademoiselle　Antonia　was　therefore　much　alone；　and　in　the　ennui　of　such　solitude；　she　was　led　to　create　for　herself　a　really　desperate　amusement。

A　few　steps　from　the　Hotel　de　la　Poste　is　a　bridge　across　the　Aube；　a　path　leads　down　beside　it；　by　a　steep　incline；　to　the　water's　edge；　which；　being　hidden　from　the　roadway　above　and　little　frequented；　offers　peace　and　solitude　to　whoever　may　like　to　dream　there　to　the　sound　of　the　rippling　current。　Mademoiselle　Antonia　at　first　took　a　book　with　her；　but　books　not　being；　as　she　says；　in　her　line；　she　looked　about　for　other　ways　of　killing　her　time；　and　bethought　herself　of　fishing；　for　which　amusement　the　landlord　of　the　inn　supplied　her　with　a　rod。　Much　pleased　with　her　first　successes；　the　pretty　exile　devoted　herself　to　an　occupation　which　must　be　attractive；witness　the　fanatics　that　it　makes；　and　the　few　persons　who　crossed　the　bridge　could　admire　at　all　hours　a　charming　naiad　in　a　flounced　gown　and　a　broad…brimmed　straw　hat；　engaged　in　fishing　with　the　conscientious　gravity　of　a　/gamin　de　Paris/。

Up　to　this　time　Mademoiselle　Antonia　and　her　fishing　have　had　nothing　to　do　with　our　election；　but　if　you　will　recall；　madame；　in　the　history　of　Don　Quixote　（which　I　have　heard　you　admire　for　its　common…　sense　and　jovial　reasoning）　the　rather　disagreeable　adventures　of　Rosinante　and　the　muleteers；　you　will　have　a　foretaste　of　the　good　luck　which　the　development　of　Mademoiselle　Antonia's　new　passion　brought　to　us。

Our　rival；　Beauvisage；　is　not　only　a　successful　stocking…maker　and　an　exemplary　mayor；　but　he　is　also　a　model　husband；　having　never　tripped　in　loyalty　to　his　wife；　whom　he　respects　and　admires。　Every　evening；　by　her　orders；　he　goes　to　bed　before　ten　o'clock；　while　Madame　Beauvisage　and　her　daughter　go　into　what　Arcis　is　pleased　to　call　society。　But　there　is　no　more　treacherous　water；　they　say；　than　still　water；　just　as　there　was　nothing　less　proper　and　well…behaved　than　the　calm　and　peaceable　Rosinante　on　the　occasion　referred　to。

At　any　rate；　while　making　the　tour　of　his　town　according　to　his　laudable　official　habit；　Beauvisage　from　the　top　of　the　bridge　chanced　to　catch　sight　of　the　fair　Parisian　who　with　outstretched　arms　and　gracefully　bent　body　was　pursuing　her　favorite　pastime。　A　slight　movement；　the　charming　impatience　with　which　the　pretty　fisher　twitched　her　line　from　the　water　when　the　fish　had　not　bitten；　was　perhaps　the　electric　shock　which　struck　upon　the　heart　of　the　magistrate；　hitherto　irreproachable。　No　one　can　say；　perhaps；　how　the　thing　really　came　about。　But　I　ought　to　remark　that　during　the　interregnum　that　occurred　between　the　making　of　socks　and　night…caps　and　the　assumption　of　municipal　duties；　Beauvisage　himself　had　practised　the　art　of　fishing　with　a　line　with　distinguished　success。　Probably　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　poor　young　lady；　having　more　ardor　than　science；　was　not　going　the　right　way　to　work；　and　the　thought　of　improving　her　method　may　have　been　the　real　cause　of　his　apparent　degeneracy。　However　that　may　be；　it　is　certain　that；　crossing　the　bridge　in　company　with　her　mother；　Mademoiselle　Beauvisage　suddenly　cried　out；　like　a　true　/enfant　terrible/；

〃Goodness！　there's　papa　talking　with　that　Parisian　woman！〃

To　assure　herself　at　a　glance　of　the　monstrous　fact；　to　rush　down　the　bank　and　reach　her　husband　（whom　she　found　with　laughing　lips　and　the　happy　air　of　a　browsing　sheep）；　to　blast　him　with　a　stern　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　to　order　his　retreat　to　Arcis　with　the　air　of　a　queen；　while　Mademoiselle　Chocardelle；　first　astonished　and　then　enlightened　as　to　what　it　all　meant；　went　off　into　fits　of　laughter；　took　scarcely　the　time　I　have　taken　to　tell　it。　Such；　madame；　was　the　proceeding　by　which　Madame　Beauvisage；　/nee/　Grevin；　rescued　her　husband；　and　though　that　proceeding　may　be　called　justifiable；　it　was　certainly　injudicious；　for　before　night　the　whole　town　had　heard　of　the　catastrophe；　and　Beauvisage；　arraigned　and　convicted　by　common　consent　of　deplorable　immorality；　saw　fresh　desertions　taking　place　in　the　already　winnowed　phalanx　of　his　partisans。

However；　the　Gondreville　and　Grevin　side　still　held　firm；　andwould　you　believe　it；　madame？it　was　again　Mademoiselle　Antonia　to　whom　we　owe　the　overthrow　of　their　last　rampart。

Here　is　the　tale　of　that　phenomenon：　Mother　Marie…des…Anges　wanted　an　interview　with　the　Comte　de　Gondreville；　but　how　to　get　it　she　did　not　know；　because　to　ask　for　it　was　not；　as　she　thought；　proper。　Having；　it　appears；　unpleasant　things　to　say　to　him；　she　did　not　wish　to　bring　the　old　man　to　the　convent　expressly　to　hear　them；　such　a　proceeding　seemed　to　her　uncharitable。　Besides；　things　comminatory　delivered　point…blank　will　often　provoke　their　recipient　instead　of　alarming　him；　whereas　the　same　things　slipped　in　sweetly　never　fail　of　their　effect。　Still；　time　was　passing；　the　election；　as　you　know；　takes　place　to…morrow；　Sunday；　and　the　preparatory　meeting　of　all　the　candidates　and　the　electors；　to…night。　The　poor　dear　saintly　woman　did　not　know　what　course　to　take；　when　a　little　matter　occurred；　most　flattering　to　her　vanity；　which　solved　her　doubts。　A　pretty　sinner；　she　was　told；　who　had　come　to　Arcis　to　〃do〃　Monsieur　Keller　the　financier；　then　at　Gondreville；　out　of　some　money；　had　heard　of　the　virtues　and　the　inexhaustible　kindness　of　Mother　Marie…des…Angesin　short；　she　regarded　her；　after　Danton；　as　the　most　interesting　object　of　the　place；　and　deeply　regretted　that　she　dared　not　ask　to　be　admitted　to　her　presence。

An　hour　later　the　following　note　was　left　at　the　Hotel　de　la　Poste：

　　Mademoiselle；I　am　told　that　you　desire　to　see　me；　but　that　you　　　do　not　know　how　to　accomplish　it。　Nothing　is　easier。　Ring　the　　　door…bell　of　my　quiet　house；　ask　to　see　me；　and　do　not　be　alarmed　　　at　my　black　robe　and　aged　face。　I　am　not　one　of　those　who　force　　　their　advice　upon　pretty　young　women　who　do　not　ask　for　it；　and　　　who　may　become　in　time　greater　saints　than　I。　That　is　the　whole　　　mystery　of　obtaining　an　interview　with　Mother　Marie…des…Anges；　who　　　salutes　you　in　the　name　of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ。　＇Picture　of　　　small　cross。＇

An　invitation　so　graciously　given　was　not　to　be　resisted；　and　Mademoiselle　Antonia；　after　putting　on　the　soberest　costume　she　could　get　together；　went　to　the　convent。

I　wish　I　could　give　you　the　details　of　that　interview；　which　must　have　been　curious；　but　no　one　was　present；　and　nothing　was　known　except　what　the　lost　sheep；　who　returned　in　tears；　told　of　it。　When　the　journalist　tried　to　joke　her　on　this　conversion；　Mademoiselle　Antonia　turned　upon　him。

〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　she　said；　〃you　never　in　your　life　wrote　a　sentence　like　what　she　said　to　me。〃

〃What　did　she　say　to　you？〃

〃'Go；　my　child；'　said　that　old　woman；　'the　ways　of　God　are　beautiful；　and　little　known；　there　is　often　more　of　a　saint　in　a　Magdalen　than　in　a　nun。'〃

The　journalist　laughed；　but　scenting　danger　he　said；

〃When　are　you　going　again　to　Gondreville　to　see　that　Keller？　If　he　doesn't　pay　the　money　soon；　I'll　hit　him　a　blow　in　some　article；　in　spite　of　all　Maxime　may　say。〃

〃I　don't　play　dirty　tricks　myself；〃　replied　Antonia；　with　dignity。

〃Don't　you？　Do　you　mean　you　are　not　going　to　present　that　note　again？〃

〃Not　now；〃　replied　the　admirer　and　probably　the　echo　of　Mother　Marie…　des…Anges；　but　using　her　own　language；　〃I　don't　blackmail　a　family　in　affliction。　I　should　remember　it　on　my　death…bed；　and　doubt　God's　mercy。〃

〃Why　don't　you　make　yourself　an　Ursuline；　now　that　we　are　here？〃

〃Ha；　if　I　only　had　the　courage！　I　might　be　happier　if　I　did。　But；　in　any　case；　I　am　not　going　to　Gondreville；　Mother　Marie…des…Anges　has　undertaken　to　arrange　that　matter　for　me。〃

〃Foolish　girl！　Have　you　given　her　that　note？〃

〃I　wanted　to　tear　it　up；　but　she　prevented　me；　and　told　me　to　give　it　to　her　and　she　would　arrange　it　honestly　for　my　interests。〃

〃Very　fine！　You　were　a　creditor；　and　now　you　are　a　beggar。〃

〃No；　for　I　have　given　the　money　in　alms。　I　told　madame　to　keep　it　for　her　poor。〃

〃Oh！　if　you　add　the　vice　of　patronizing　convents　to　your　other　vice　of　fishing　in　rivers；　you　will　be　a　pleasant　girl　to　frequent。〃

〃You　won't　frequent　me　much　longer；　for　I　go　to…night；　and　leave　you　to　your　dirty　work。〃

〃Bless　me！　so　you　retire　to　the　Carmelites？〃

〃The　Carmelites！〃　replied　Antonia；　wittily；　〃no；　my　old　fellow；　we　don't　retire　to　the　Carmelites　unless　we　leave　a　king。〃

Such　women；　even　the　most　ignorant；　all　know　the　story　of　La　Valliere；　whom　they　would　assuredly　have　made　their　patroness　if　Sister　Louise…　of…the…Sacred…Mercy　had　been　canonized。

I　don't　know　how　Mother　Marie…des…Anges　managed　it；　but　early　this　morning　the　carriage　of　the　old　Comte　de　Gondreville　stopped　before　the　gate　of　the　convent；　and　when　the　count　again　entered　it　he　was　driven　to　the　office　of　his　friend　Grevin；　and　later　in　the　day　the　latter　said　to　several　friends　that　certainly　his　son…in…law　was　too　much　of　a　fool；　he　had　compromised　himself　with　that　Parisian　woman；　and　would　undoubtedly　lose　his　election。

I　am　told　that　the　rectors　of　the　two　parishes　in　Arcis　have　each　received　a　thousand　crowns　for　their　poor　from　Mother　Marie…des…Anges；　who　informed　them　that　it　came　from　a　benefactor　who　did　not　wish　his　name　known。　Sallenauve　is　furious　because　our　partisans　are　going　about　saying　that　the　money　came　from　him。　But　when　you　are　running　before　the