the deputy of arcis-第43章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Ha！〃　said　the　colonel；　〃those　fellows　do　have　lucky　stars；　to　be　sure。　I　am　not　surprised　if　one　of　them　mowed　the　grass　from　under　your　feet。〃

〃My　dear　friend；〃　said　Maxime；　〃if　we　were　in　the　middle　ages；　I　should　explain　by　magic　and　sorcery　the　utter　discomfiture　of　my　candidate；　and　the　election　of　the　stone…man；　whom　you　are　fated　to　have　for　your　colleague。　How　is　it　possible　to　believe；　what　is　however　the　fact；　that　an　old　/tricoteuse/；　a　former　friend　of　Danton；　and　now　the　abbess　of　a　convent　of　Ursulines；　should　actually；　by　the　help　of　her　nephew；　an　obscure　organist　in　Paris；　have　so　bewitched　the　whole　electoral　college　that　this　upstart　has　been　elected　by　a　large　majority？〃

〃But　I　suppose　he　had　some　friends　and　acquaintances　in　the　town？〃

〃Not　the　ghost　of　one；unless　it　might　be　that　nun。　Fortune；　relations；　father；　even　a　name；　he　never　had　until　the　day　of　his　arrival　at　Arcis　two　weeks　ago；　and　now；　if　you　please；　the　Comte　Charles　de　Sallenauve；　seigneur　of　the　chateau　of　Arcis；　is　elected　to　the　Chamber　of　deputies！　God　only　knows　how　it　was　done！　The　pretended　head　of　a　former　great　family；　representing　himself　as　absent　in　foreign　lands　for　many　years；　suddenly　appears　with　this　schemer　before　a　notary　in　Arcis；　recognizes　him　at　a　gallop　as　his　son；　buys　the　chateau　of　Arcis　and　presents　it　to　him；　and　is　off　during　the　night　before　any　one　could　even　know　what　road　he　took。　The　trick　thus　played；　the　abbess　and　her　aide…de…camp；　the　organist；　launched　the　candidate；　and　at　once　republicans；　legitimists；　conservatives；　clergy；　nobility；　bourgeoisie；　in　fact　everybody；　as　if　by　some　spell　cast　upon　that　region；　all　did　the　bidding　of　that　old　witch　of　a　nun；　and　without　the　stalwart　battalion　of　the　functionaries　（who　under　my　eye　stood　firm　and　did　not　flinch）；　his　election　would　have　been；　like　yours；　unanimous。〃

〃Then；　my　poor　friend；　good…bye　to　the　/dot/。〃

〃Not　precisely；　though　it　must　certainly　be　adjourned。　The　father　grumbles　because　the　blessed　tranquillity　of　his　life　was　disturbed　and　he　himself　covered　with　ridicule；　though　the　poor　dear　man　had　already　enough　of　that！　The　daughter　still　wants　to　be　a　countess；　but　the　mother　takes　it　hard　that　her　political　salon　should　be　floating　away　from　her；　and　God　knows　how　far　I　shall　be　led　in　order　to　comfort　her。　Besides　all　this；　I　myself　am　goaded　by　the　necessity　of　having　to　find　the　solution　of　my　own　problem　pretty　soon。　I　/had/　found　it　there：　I　intended　to　marry；　and　take　a　year　to　settle　my　affairs；　at　the　next　session　I　should　have　made　my　father…in…law　resign　and　stepped　into　his　seat　in　the　Chamber；　then；　you　understand；　what　an　horizon　before　me！〃

〃But；　my　dear　fellow；　political　horizon　apart；　don't　let　that　million　slip　through　your　fingers。〃

〃Oh；　heavens！　as　for　that；　except　for　the　delay；　I　feel　safe　enough。　My　future　family　is　about　to　remove　to　Paris。　After　this　mortifying　defeat；　life　in　Arcis　will　not　be　endurable。　Beauvisage　（forgive　the　name；　it　is　that　of　my　adopted　family）Beauvisage　is　like　Coriolanus；　ready　if　he　can　to　bring　fire　and　slaughter　on　his　ungrateful　birthplace。　Besides；　in　transplanting　themselves　hither；　these　unfortunate　exiles　know　where　to　lay　their　heads；　being　the　owners　of　the　hotel　Beauseant。〃

〃Owners　of　the　hotel　Beauseant！〃　cried　the　colonel；　in　amazement。

〃Yes；　BeauseantBeauvisage；　only　a　termination　to　change。　Ah！　my　dear　fellow；　you　don't　know　what　these　provincial　fortunes　are；　accumulated　penny　by　penny；　especially　when　to　the　passion　for　saving　is　added　the　incessant　aspiration　of　that　leech　called　commerce。　We　must　make　up　our　minds　to　some　course；　the　bourgeoisie　are　rising　round　us　like　a　flood；　it　is　almost　affable　in　them　to　buy　our　chateaus　and　estates　when　they　might　guillotine　us　as　in　1793；　and　get　them　for　nothing。〃

〃Happily　for　you；　my　dear　Maxime；　you　have　reduced　the　number　of　your　chateaus　and　estates。〃

〃You　see　yourself　that　is　not　so；〃　replied　Maxime；　〃inasmuch　as　I　am　now　engaged　in　providing　myself　with　one。　The　Beauseant　house　is　to　be　repaired　and　refurnished　immediately；　and　I　am　charged　with　the　ordering　of　the　work。　But　I　have　made　my　future　mother…in…law　another　promise；　and　I　want　your　help；　my　dear　fellow；　in　fulfilling　it。〃

〃It　isn't　a　tobacco　license；　or　a　stamped…paper　office；　is　it？〃

〃No；　something　less　difficult。　These　damned　women；　when　hatred　or　a　desire　for　vengeance　takes　possession　of　them；　are　marvels　of　instinct；　and　Madame　Beauvisage；　who　roars　like　a　lioness　at　the　very　name　of　Sallenauve；　has　taken　it　into　her　head　that　beneath　his　incomprehensible　success　there　is　some　foul　intrigue　or　mystery。　It　is　certain　that　the　appearance　and　disappearance　of　this　mysterious　father　have　given　rise　to　very　singular　conjectures；　and　probably　if　the　thumb…screws　were　put　upon　the　organist；　who　was；　they　say；　entrusted　with　the　education　of　the　interesting　bastard；　we　might　get　the　secret　of　his　birth　and　possibly　other　unexpected　revelations。　Now　I　have　thought　of　a　man　on　whom　you　have；　I　believe；　great　influence；　who　might　in　this　hunt　for　facts　assist　us　immensely。　Don't　you　remember　the　robbery　of　those　jewels　from　Jenny　Cardine；　about　which　she　was　so　unhappy　one　night　at　Very's？　You　asked　the　waiter　for　pens　and　paper；　and　on　a　simple　note　which　you　sent　at　three　o'clock　in　the　morning　to　a　Monsieur　Saint…Esteve　the　police　went　to　work；　and　before　the　evening　of　the　next　day　the　thieves　were　captured　and　the　jewels　restored。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　colonel；　〃I　remember　all　that；　my　interference　was　lucky。　But　I　must　tell　you　that　had　I　paused　to　reflect　I　should　not　have　treated　Monsieur　de　Saint…Esteve　so　cavalierly。　He　is　a　man　to　be　approached　with　greater　ceremony。〃

〃/Ah　ca/！　but　isn't　he　a　former　galley…slave；　whose　pardon　you　helped　to　obtain；　and　who　feels　for　you　the　veneration　they　say　Fieschi　felt　for　one　of　his　protectors？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　true。　Monsieur　de　Saint…Esteve；　like　his　predecessor；　Bibi…Lupin；　has　had　/misfortunes/；　but　he　is　to…day　the　head　of　the　detective　police；　the　important　functions　of　which　office　he　fulfils　with　rare　capacity。　If　the　matter　concerned　anything　that　comes　within　his　department；　I　should　not　hesitate　to　give　you　a　letter　to　him；　but　the　affair　you　speak　of　is　delicate；　and　in　any　case　I　must　first　sound　him　and　see　if　he　is　willing　to　talk　with　you。〃

〃I　thought　you　managed　him　despotically。　Let　us　say　no　more　about　it；　if　you　think　it　so　very　difficult。〃

〃The　greatest　difficulty　is　that　I　never　see　him；　and　I　naturally　cannot　write　to　him　for　such　an　object。　I　should　have　to　watch　for　an　occasion；　a　chance　meeting。　But　why　don't　you　speak　of　this　to　Rastignac？　He　could　give　him　an　order　to　act　at　once。〃

〃Don't　you　understand　that　Rastignac　will　receive　me　very　ill　indeed？　I　had　assured　him；　by　letter；　of　success；　and　now　I　am　forced　to　report　in　person　our　defeat。　Besides；　on　every　account；　I　would　rather　owe　this　service　to　your　friendship。〃

〃Well；　it　sha'n't　fail　you；〃　said　the　colonel；　rising。　〃I'll　do　my　best　to　satisfy　you；　only；　there　must　be　a　delay。〃

The　visit　had　lasted　long；　and　Maxime　felt　that　a　hint　was　given　him　to　abridge　it。　He　therefore　took　leave；　putting　into　his　manner　a　certain　coldness　which　the　colonel　appeared　not　to　notice。

No　sooner　had　Monsieur　de　Trailles　departed　than　Franchessini　opened　a　pack　of　cards　and　took　out　the　knave　of　spades。　This　he　cut　up　in　a　curious　manner；　leaving　the　figure　untouched。　Placing　this　species　of　hieroglyphic　between　two　sheets　of　paper；　he　consigned　it　to　an　envelope。　On　this　envelope　and　disguising　his　hand　the　colonel　wrote　as　follows：

　　Monsieur　de　Saint…Esteve；　rue　Saint…Anne；　near　the　Quai　des　　　Orfevres。

That　done；　he　rang　the　bell　and　gave　orders　to　put　up　his　carriage；　which　he　had　ordered　before　Maxime's　arrival；　after　which　he　went　out　alone　on　foot；　and　threw　his　singular　missive　into　the　first　street　letter…box　that　he　passed。　He　had　taken　care；　before　he　left　the　house；　to　see　if　it　were　properly　sealed。



II

A　CONVERSATION　BETWEEN　ELEVEN　O'CLOCK　AND　MIDNIGHT

As　a　result　of　the　elections　which　had　just　taken　place；　the　ministry；　contrary　to　expectation；　maintained　a　majority　in　the　Chamber；a　doubtful　and　provisional　majority　which　would　give　it　an　uncertain　and　struggling　existence。　But；　at　any　rate；　it　had　obtained　that　merely　numerical　success　which　parties　seek　at　any　price　to　prolong　their　power。　The　Te　Deum　was　sung　in　all　its　camps；a　paean　which　serves　as　well　to　celebrate　victorious　defeats　as　honest　victories。

On　the　evening　of　the　day　when　Colonel　Franchessini　received　the　visit　from　Maxime　de　Trailles；　the　general　result　of　the　elections　was　made　known。　The　ministers　of　the　left　bank；　whose　wives　received　on　that　day；　found　their　salons　crowded；　particularly　the　Comte　de　Rastignac；　the　minister　of　Public　Works。

Madame　de　l'Estorade；　too　much　absorbed　in　her　children　to　be　very　exact　in　the　fulfilment　of　her　social　duties；　had　owed　a　visit　to　Madame　de　Rastignac　ever　since　the　evening　when　the　minister's　wife　had　interrupted　her　conversation　with　the　sculptor　apropos　of　the　famous　statue。　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　zealous　conservative　as　we　know　already；　had　insisted　that　politics　and　politeness　now　combined　to　oblige　them　both　to　pay　this　social　debt。　Arriving　early；　in　order　to　be　rid　the　sooner　of　such　a　bore；　Madame　de　l'Estorade　found　herself　seated　at　the　upper　end　of　a　circle　of　women；　while　the　men　stood　about　them　conversing。　Her　chair　was　side　by　side　with　that　of　Madame　de　Rastignac。

In　hoping　to　make　her　visit　short；　Madame　de　l'Estorade　had　not　counted　on　the　allurements　of　conversation　which；　under　the　circumstances　of　this　so…called　political　victory；　laid　hold　of　her　husband。　A　man　of　more　influence　by　his　judgment　than　by　his　oratory　in　the　Chamber　of　Peers；　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　as　he　circulated　through　the　salons；　was　stopped　at　every　turn　by　the　various　notabilities　of　politics；　finance；　and　diplomacy；　and　requested　to　give　his　opinion　on　the　future　of　the　session　now　about　to　begin。　To　all　such　questions　he　replied　with　more　or　less　extended　observations；　and　sometimes　he　had　the　pleasure　of　finding　himself　the　centre　of　a　group　respectfully　receptive　of　his　opinions。　This　success　rendered　him　very　inattentive　to　the　telegraphy　of　his　wife；　who；　watching　his　various　evolutions；　made　him　signs　whenever　she　could　catch　his　eye　that　she　wished　to　go　away。

The　years　that　had　elapsed　since　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　had　obtained　the　hand　of　the　beautiful　Renee　de　Maucombe；　while　they　had　scarcely　dimmed　the　splendor　of　her　beauty；　had　considerably　aged　her　husband。　The　twenty　years'　difference　in　their　ageshe　being　now　fifty…two；　she　thirty…twowas　growing　all　the　more　apparent　because　even　at　the　time　of　the　marriage　he　was　turning　gray　and　his　health　was　failing。　An　affection　of　the　liver；　latent　for　several　years；　was　now　developing；　and　at　the　same　time　the　wilful　disposition　which　is　noticeable　in　statesmen　and　men　of　ambition　made　his　mouth　less　sensitive　to　the　conjugal　bit。　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　talked　so　long　and　so　well　that　after　a　time　the　salons　thinned；　leaving　a　group　of　the　intimates　of　the　house　around　his　wife　and　their　hostess。　At　this