the deputy of arcis-第4章

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　chest。　That　voice；　bass　in　volume；　could　soften　to　a　baritone　and　utter；　in　the　giggle　with　which　Phileas　ended　his　phrases；　a　silvery　note。　When　God　desired；　in　order　to　place　all　species　of　mankind　in　this　his　terrestrial　paradise；　to　create　within　it　a　provincial　bourgeois；　his　hands　never　made　a　more　perfect　and　complete　type　than　Phileas　Beauvisage。

〃I　admire；〃　said　that　great　work；　〃the　devotion　of　those　who　fling　themselves　into　the　tumult　of　political　life；　he！　he！　he！　It　takes　more　nerve　than　I　possess。　Who　could　have　told　us　in　1812　or　1813　that　we　should　come　to　this？　As　for　me；　nothing　can　surprise　me　in　these　days；　when　asphalt；　India…rubber；　railroads；　and　steam　have　changed　the　ground　we　tread　on；　and　overcoats；　and　distances；　he；　he！〃

These　last　words　were　seasoned　with　a　prolonged　laugh；　and　accompanied　by　a　gesture　which　he　had　made　more　especially　his　own：　he　closed　his　right　fist；　struck　it　into　the　rounded　palm　of　his　left　hand；　and　rubbed　it　there　with　joyous　satisfaction。　This　performance　coincided　with　his　laughs　on　the　frequent　occasions　when　he　thought　he　had　said　a　witty　thing。　Perhaps　it　is　superfluous　to　add　that　Phileas　Beauvisage　was　regarded　in　Arcis　as　an　amiable　and　charming　man。

〃I　shall　endeavor；〃　replied　Simon　Giguet；　〃to　worthily　represent〃

〃The　sheep　of　Champagne；〃　interpolated　Achille　Pigoult；　interrupting　him。

The　candidate　swallowed　that　shaft　without　reply；　for　he　was　forced　at　that　moment　to　go　forward　and　receive　two　more　influential　electors。

One　was　the　landlord　of　the　Mulet；　the　best　inn　in　Arcis；　standing　on　the　Grande…Place　at　the　corner　of　the　rue　de　Brienne。　This　worthy　landlord；　named　Poupart；　had　married　the　sister　of　a　man…servant　attached　to　the　Comtesse　de　Cinq…Cygne；　the　well…known　Gothard；　one　of　the　actors　and　witnesses　in　the　Simeuse　affair。

Poupart；　though　a　most　devoted　adherent　of　the　Cinq…Cygne　family；　had　been　sounded　during　the　last　day　or　two；　by　Colonel　Giguet's　valet；　with　so　much　cleverness　and　perseverance　that　he　thought　he　was　doing　an　ill…turn　to　the　Comte　de　Gondreville；　the　enemy　of　the　Cinq…Cygnes；　by　giving　his　influence　to　the　election　of　Simon　Giguet；　and　he　was　now　conversing　on　that　point　with　the　man　who　accompanied　him；　an　apothecary　named　Fromaget；　who；　as　he　did　not　furnish　his　wares　to　the　chateau　de　Gondreville；　desired　nothing　better　than　to　cabal　against　the　Kellers。

These　two　individuals　of　the　lesser　bourgeoisie　could；　in　consequence　of　their　connections；　determine　a　certain　number　of　floating　votes；　for　they　influenced　and　advised　a　number　of　persons　to　whom　the　political　opinions　of　the　candidate　were　a　matter　of　indifference。　Consequently；　Simon　took　possession　of　Poupart；　and　delivered　the　apothecary　Fromaget　to　his　father；　who　had　just　come　in　to　make　his　bow　to　the　electors。

The　sub…engineer　of　the　arrondissement；　the　secretary　of　the　mayor's　office；　four　sheriffs；　three　solicitors；　the　clerk　of　the　court；　and　the　clerk　of　the　justice　of　the　peace；　the　registry…clerk；　and　the　tax…collector；　all　officials　under　government；　two　doctors；　rivals　of　Varlet；　Grevin's　brother…in…law；　a　miller　named　Laurent　Goussard；　the　head　of　the　republicans　of　Arcis；　the　two　assistant　mayors；　the　printer　and　publisher　of　Arcis；　and　about　a　dozen　other　bourgeois　arrived　in　succession；　and　walked　about　the　garden　until　the　gathering　seemed　numerous　enough　to　admit　of　opening　the　session。

At　length；　about　mid…day；　fifty　men；　all　in　their　best　clothes；most　of　them　having　come　out　of　curiosity　to　see　the　handsome　salons　which　were　much　talked　of　throughout　the　arrondissement；were　seated　on　the　chairs　Madame　Marion　had　provided　for　them。　The　windows　were　left　open；　and　presently　so　deep　a　silence　reigned　that　the　rustle　of　Madame　Marion's　gown　was　heard；that　good　woman　not　being　able　to　resist　the　pleasure　of　descending　to　the　garden　and　placing　herself　in　a　corner　whence　she　could　listen　to　what　went　on　in　the　salon。　The　cook；　the　chamber…maid；　and　the　man…servant　stood　in　the　dining…room　and　shared　the　emotions　of　their　masters。

〃Messieurs；〃　said　Simon　Giguet；　〃some　among　you　desire　to　honor　my　father　by　asking　him　to　preside　at　this　meeting；　but　Colonel　Giguet　requests　me　to　present　his　thanks；　and　express　due　gratitude　for　a　desire　in　which　he　sees　a　reward　for　his　services　to　the　country。　We　are　in　his　house；　he　thinks　he　ought；　therefore；　to　decline　those　functions；　and　he　desires　to　propose　in　his　stead　an　honorable　merchant　on　whom　your　suffrages　have　already　bestowed　the　chief　magistracy　of　this　town；　Monsieur　Phileas　Beauvisage。〃

〃Bravo！　bravo！〃

〃We　are；　I　think；　all　of　one　mind　in　adopting　for　this　meeting　essentially　friendly；　but　entirely　free；　which　will　prejudice　in　no　way　whatever　the　great　preparatory　and　primary　meeting　in　which　you　will　produce　your　candidates　and　weigh　their　meritsin　adopting；　as　I　said；　the　parliamentary　and　constitutionalformsof　theelectoral　Chamber。〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　cried　the　assembly　with　one　voice。

〃Consequently；〃　continued　Simon；　〃I　have　the　honor　to　request；　according　to　the　wish　of　all　present；　that　his　honor　the　mayor　will　now　take　the　chair。〃

Phileas　rose　and　crossed　the　salon；　conscious　that　he　was　becoming　as　red　as　a　cherry。　Then；　when　he　stood　behind　the　table；　he　saw；　not　a　hundred　eyes；　but　a　hundred　thousand　candles。　The　sun　seemed　to　him　to　be　setting　fire　to　the　salon；　and　he　had；　to　use　his　own　expression；　a　lump　of　salt　in　his　throat。

〃Return　thanks；〃　said　Simon；　in　a　low　voice。

〃Messieurs〃

Such　total　silence　ensued　that　Phileas　had　a　spasm　of　colic。

〃What　must　I　say；　Simon？〃　he　whispered。

〃Well；　well！〃　exclaimed　Achille　Pigoult。

〃Messieurs；〃　said　Simon；　goaded　by　the　sarcastic　interjection　of　the　little　notary；　〃the　honor　which　you　have　done　to　Monsieur　le　Maire　may　take　him　unawares；　but　it　cannot　surprise　him。〃

〃That's　it；〃　said　Beauvisage；　〃I　am　too　sensible　of　this　attention　on　the　part　of　my　fellow…citizens　not　to　be　excessively　flattered　by　it。〃

〃Bravo！〃　cried　the　notary　alone。

〃The　devil　take　me！〃　thought　Beauvisage；　〃if　I　am　ever　caught　haranguing　again。〃

〃Will　Messieurs　Fromaget　and　Marcelin　accept　the　functions　of　inspectors　of　the　ballot？〃

〃It　would　be　more　regular；〃　said　Achille　Pigoult；　rising；　〃if　the　meeting　itself　nominated　those　officers；following；　of　course；　the　parliamentary　forms　of　the　Chamber。〃

〃That　is　best；〃　said　the　huge　Monsieur　Mollot；　clerk　of　the　court；　〃otherwise　what　is　here　taking　place　would　be　a　mere　farce；　we　should　not　be　free　in　our　action；　in　which　case　we　might　as　well　continue　to　do　the　will　of　Monsieur　Simon　Giguet。〃

Simon　said　a　few　words　to　Beauvisage；　who　rose　and　delivered　himself　of　a　〃Messieurs！〃　in　palpitating　tones。

〃Pardon　me；　Monsieur　le　president；〃　said　Achille　Pigoult；　〃the　chairman　presides；　he　does　not　speak。〃

〃Messieurs；〃　continued　Beauvisage；　prompted　by　Simon；　〃if　we　areto　conformto　parliamentary　usageI　shall　begthe　honorable　gentleman　Monsieur　Pigoultto　address　the　meetingfrom　this　tablehere　present〃

Pigoult　sprang　to　the　table；　stood　beside　it　with　his　fingers　resting　lightly　on　its　edge；　and　gave　proof　of　his　boldness　by　delivering　the　following　speech　without　the　slightest　embarrassment；　and　somewhat　after　the　manner　of　the　illustrious　Monsieur　Thiers。

〃Messieurs；　it　was　not　I　who　made　that　proposal　for　parliamentary　usage；　nevertheless　I　can　conceive　that　an　assemblage　of　some　sixty　notabilities　of　Champagne　needs　a　chairman　to　guide　it；　for　no　flock　can　get　on　without　a　shepherd。　If　we　had　voted　for　secret　balloting；　I　am　certain　that　the　name　of　our　excellent　mayor　would　have　been　returned　unanimously。　His　opposition　to　the　candidate　put　forward　by　his　relations　proves　to　us　that　he　possesses　civic　courage　in　the　highest　degree；　inasmuch　as　he　has　dared　to　free　himself　from　the　closest　tiesthose　of　family。　Patriotism　before　family！　that　is　indeed　so　great　an　effort　that；　to　make　it；　we　are　forced　to　believe　that　Brutus　from　his　realm　of　justice　still　contemplates　us　after　the　lapse　of　two　thousand；　five　hundred　and　some　years。　It　seemed　natural　to　Maitre　Giguet；　who　had　the　merit　of　divining　our　wishes　in　the　choice　of　a　chairman；　to　guide　us　still　further　in　electing　inspectors；　but；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；　you　think　with　me　that　once　is　enoughand　you　are　right。　Our　mutual　friend；　Simon　Giguet；　who　intends　to　offer　himself　as　candidate；　would　have　the　air　of　assuming　mastery；　and　he　might；　consequently；　lose　in　our　minds　the　good…will　we　should　otherwise　bestow　upon　a　modest　attitude　like　that　of　his　venerable　father。　Now　what　is　our　worthy　chairman　doing　at　this　moment　by　accepting　the　method　of　presiding　suggested　to　him　by　the　candidate？　He　is　depriving　us　of　our　liberty！　I　ask　you：　is　it　proper　that　the　chairman　of　our　choice　should　tell　us　to　nominate；　by　rising　or　sitting；　inspectors　of　the　ballot　thus　forced　upon　us？　Have　we　any　liberty　of　choice？　If　I　were　proposed；　I　believe　all　present　would　rise　out　of　politeness；　indeed；　we　should　all　feel　bound　to　rise　for　one　another；　and　I　say　there　can　be　no　choice　where　there　is　no　freedom　of　action。〃

〃He　is　right；〃　said　the　sixty　auditors。

〃Therefore；　let　us　each　write　two　names　on　a　ballot；　and　the　two　gentlemen　who　are　elected　will　then　feel　themselves　the　real　choice　of　this　assembly；　they　will　have　the　right；　conjointly　with　our　honorable　chairman；　to　pronounce　upon　the　majority　when　we　come　to　a　vote　on　the　resolutions　to　be　offered。　We　are　here；　I　think；　to　promise　to　a　candidate　the　fullest　support　that　each　can　give　at　the　coming　primary　meeting　of　all　the　electors　of　the　arrondissement。　This　act　is　therefore；　and　I　so　declare　it；　a　grave　one。　Does　it　not　concern　one　four…hundredth　part　of　the　governing　power；as　our　excellent　mayor　has　lately　said　with　the　ready　wit　that　characterizes　him　and　for　which　we　have　so　high　an　appreciation？〃

During　these　remarks　Colonel　Giguet　was　cutting　a　sheet　of　paper　into　strips；　and　Simon　had　sent　for　pens　and　ink。

This　preliminary　discussion　on　forms　had　already　made　Simon　extremely　uneasy；　and　had　also　aroused　the　attention　of　the　sixty　assembled　bourgeois。　Presently　they　began　to　write　their　ballots；　and　the　wily　Pigoult　contrived　to　obtain　a　majority　for　Monsieur　Mollot；　the　clerk　of　the　court；　and　Monsieur　Godivet；　the　registrar。　These　nominations　were　naturally　very　displeasing　to　Fromaget；　the　apothecary；　and　Marcelin　the　solicitor。

〃You　enable　us；〃　said　Achille　Pigoult；　〃to　manifest　our　independence。　Therefore　you　may　feel　more　pride　in　being　rejected　than　you　could　have　felt　in　being　chosen。〃

Everybody　laughed。

Simon　Giguet　then　produced　silence　by　demanding　speech　of　the　chairman；　whose　shirt　was　already　wet　and　became　still　wetter　as　he　mustered　all　his　courage　to　say：

〃Monsieur　Simon　Giguet　has　the　floor。〃



IV

THE　FIRST　PARLIAMENTARY　TEMPEST

〃Messieurs；〃　said　Simon　Giguet；　〃I　ask　permission　to　thank　Monsieur　Achille　Pigoult；　who；　although　our　meeting　is　altogether　friendly〃

〃It　is　a　meeting　preparatory　to　the　great　primary　meeting；〃　said　the　solicitor　Marcelin。

〃That　is　what　I　was　about　to　explain；〃　resumed　Simon；　〃I　thank　Monsieur　Achille　Pigoult　for　having　insisted　on　the　strictness　of　parliamentary　forms。　This　is