the deputy of arcis-第45章

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aken。　The　usher；　not　venturing　to　choose　among　so　many　eminent　personages；　turned　a　mute；　caressing　glance　on　all；　as　if　to　say；

〃Whom　shall　I　have　the　honor　of　first　announcing？〃

〃Gentlemen；〃　said　Colonel　Franchessini；　〃I　believe　I　have　seen　you　all　arrive。〃

And　he　walked　to　the　closed　door；　which　the　usher　threw　open；　announcing　in　a　loud；　clear　voice；

〃Monsieur　le　Colonel　Franchessini！〃

〃Ha！　so　you　are　the　first　this　morning；〃　said　the　minister；　making　a　few　steps　towards　the　colonel；　and　giving　him　his　hand。　〃What　have　you　come　for；　my　dear　fellow？a　railroad；　a　canal；　a　suspension　bridge？〃

〃I　have　come；　my　good…natured　minister；　on　private　business　in　which　you　are　more　interested　than　I。〃

〃That　is　not　a　judicious　way　of　urging　it；　for　I　warn　you　I　pay　little　or　no　attention　to　my　own　business。〃

〃I　had　a　visit　from　Maxime　this　morning；　on　his　return　from　Arcis…sur…　Aube；〃　said　the　colonel；　coming　to　the　point。　〃He　gave　me　all　the　particulars　of　that　election。　He　thinks　a　spoke　might　be　put　in　the　wheel　of　it。　Now；　if　you　have　time　to　let　me　make　a　few　explanations〃

The　minister；　who　was　sitting　before　his　desk　with　his　back　to　the　fireplace；　turned　round　to　look　at　the　clock。

〃Look　here；　my　dear　fellow；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　afraid　you　will　be　long；　and　I　have　a　hungry　pack　outside　there　waiting　for　me。　I　shouldn't　listen　to　you　comfortably。　Do　me　the　favor　to　go　and　take　a　walk　and　come　back　at　twelve　o'clock　to　breakfast。　I'll　present　you　to　Madame　de　Rastignac；　whom　you　don't　know；　I　think；　and　after　breakfast　we　will　take　a　few　turns　in　the　garden；　then　I　can　listen　to　you　in　peace。〃

〃Very　good；　I　accept　that　arrangement；〃　said　the　colonel；　rising。

As　he　crossed　the　waiting…room；　he　said；

〃Messieurs；　I　have　not　delayed　you　long；　I　hope。〃

Then；　after　distributing　a　few　grasps　of　the　hand；　he　departed。

Three　hours　later；　when　the　colonel　entered　the　salon　where　he　was　presented　to　Madame　de　Rastignac；　he　found　there　the　Baron　de　Nucingen；　who　came　nearly　every　day　to　breakfast　with　his　son…in…law　before　the　Bourse　hour；　Emile　Blondet　of　the　〃Debats；〃　Messieurs　Moreau　（de　l'Oise）；　Dionis；　and　Camusot；　three　deputies　madly　loquacious；　and　two　newly　elected　deputies　whose　names　it　is　doubtful　if　Rastignac　knew　himself。　Franchessini　also　recognized　Martial　de　la　Roche…Hugon；　the　minister's　brother…in…law；　and　the　inevitable　des　Lupeaulx；　peer　of　France。　As　for　another　figure；　who　stood　talking　with　the　minister　for　some　time　in　the　recess　of　a　window；　the　colonel　learned；　after　inquiring　of　Emile　Blondet；　that　it　was　that　of　a　former　functionary　of　the　upper　police；　who　continued；　as　an　amateur；　to　do　part　of　his　former　business；　going　daily　to　each　minister　under　all　administrations　with　as　much　zeal　and　regularity　as　if　he　were　still　charged　with　his　official　duties。

Madame　de　Rastignac　seen　at　close　quarters　seemed　to　the　colonel　a　handsome　blonde；　not　at　all　languishing。　She　was　strikingly　like　her　mother；　but　with　that　shade　of　greater　distinction　which　in　the　descendants　of　parvenus　increases　from　generation　to　generation　as　they　advance　from　their　source。　The　last　drop　of　the　primitive　Goriot　blood　had　evaporated　in　this　charming　young　woman；　who　was　particularly　remarkable　for　the　high…bred　delicacy　of　all　her　extremities；　the　absence　of　which　in　Madame　de　Nucingen　had　shown　the　daughter　of　Pere　Goriot。

As　the　colonel　wished　to　retain　a　footing　in　the　house　he　now　entered　for　the　first　time；　he　talked　about　his　wife。

〃She　lived；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　old　English　fashion；　in　her　/home/；　but　he　should　be　most　glad　to　bring　her　out　of　her　retreat　in　order　to　present　her　to　Madame　de　Rastignac　if　the　latter　would　graciously　consent。〃

〃Now；〃　said　the　minister；　dropping　the　arm　of　Emile　Blondet；　with　whom　he　had　been　conversing；　〃let　us　go　into　the　garden；〃adding；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone；　〃We　want　no　ears　about　us　in　this　matter。〃

〃Maxime　came　to　see　me；　as　I　told　you；〃　said　the　colonel；　〃on　his　return　from　Arcis…sur…Aube；　and　he　is　full　of　an　idea　of　discovering　something　about　the　pretended　parentage　of　this　sculptor　by　which　to　oust　him〃

〃I　know；〃　interrupted　Rastignac；　〃he　spoke　to　me　about　that　idea；　and　there's　neither　rhyme　nor　reason　in　it。　Either　this　Sallenauve　has　some　value；　or　he　is　a　mere　cipher。　If　the　latter；　it　is　useless　to　employ　such　a　dangerous　instrument　as　the　man　Maxime　proposes　to　neutralize　a　power　that　does　not　exist。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　this　new　deputy　proves　really　an　orator；　we　can　deal　with　him　in　the　tribune　and　in　the　newspapers　without　the　help　of　such　underground　measures。　General　rule：　in　a　land　of　unbridled　publicity　like　ours；　wherever　the　hand　of　the　police　appears；　if　even　to　lay　bare　the　most　shameful　villany；　there's　always　a　hue　and　cry　against　the　government。　Public　opinion　behaves　like　the　man　to　whom　another　man　sang　an　air　of　Mozart　to　prove　that　Mozart　was　a　great　musician。　Was　he　vanquished　by　evidence？　'Mozart；'　he　replied　to　the　singer；　'may　have　been　a　great　musician；　but　you；　my　dear　fellow；　have　a　cold　in　your　head。'〃

〃There's　a　great　deal　of　truth　in　what　you　say；〃　replied　Franchessini；　〃but　the　man　whom　Maxime　wants　to　unmask　may　be　one　of　those　honest　mediocrities　who　make　themselves　a　thorn　in　the　side　of　all　administrations；　your　most　dangerous　adversaries　are　not　the　giants　of　oratory。〃

〃I　expect　to　find　out　the　real　weight　of　the　man　before　long；〃　replied　Rastignac；　〃from　a　source　I　have　more　confidence　in　than　I　have　in　Monsieur　de　Trailles。　On　this　very　occasion　he　has　allowed　himself　to　be　tripped　up；　and　now　wants　to　compensate　by　heroic　measures　for　his　own　lack　of　ability。　As　for　your　other　man；　I　shall　not　employ　him　for　the　purpose　Maxime　suggests；　but　you　may　tell　him　from　me〃

〃Yes！〃　said　Franchessini；　with　redoubled　attention。

〃that　if　he　meddles　in　politics；　as　he　shows　an　inclination　to　do；　there　are　certain　deplorable　memories　in　his　life〃

〃But　they　are　only　memories　now；　he　has　made　himself　a　new　skin。〃

〃I　know　all　about　him；〃　replied　Rastignac；　〃do　you　suppose　there　are　no　other　detectives　in　Paris？　I　know　that　since　1830；　when　he　took　Bibi…Lupin's　place　as　chief　of　the　detective　police；　he　has　given　his　life　a　most　respectable　bourgeois　character；　the　only　fault　I　find　is　that　he　overdoes　it。〃

〃And　yet〃　said　the　colonel。

〃He　is　rich；〃　continued　Rastignac；　not　heeding　the　interruption。　〃His　salary　is　twelve　thousand　francs；　and　he　has　the　three　hundred　thousand　Lucien　de　Rubempre　left　him；also　the　proceeds　of　a　manufactory　of　varnished　leather　which　he　started　at　Gentilly；　it　pays　him　a　large　profit。　His　aunt；　Jacqueline　Collin；　who　lives　with　him；　still　does　a　shady　business　secretly；　which　of　course　brings　in　large　fees；　and　I　have　the　best　of　reasons　for　believing　that　they　both　gamble　at　the　Bourse。　He　is　so　anxious　to　keep　out　of　the　mud　that　he　has　gone　to　the　other　extreme。　Every　evening　he　plays　dominoes；　like　any　bourgeois；　in　a　cafe　near　the　Prefecture；　and　Sundays　he　goes　out　to　a　little　box　of　a　place　he　has　bought　near　the　forest　of　Romainville；　in　the　Saint…Gervais　meadows；　there　he　cultivates　blue　dahlias；　and　talked；　last　year；　of　crowning　a　Rosiere。　All　that；　my　dear　colonel；　is　too　bucolic　to　allow　of　my　employing　him　on　any　political　police…work。〃

〃I　think　myself；〃　said　Franchessini；　〃that　in　order　not　to　attract　attention；　he　rolls　himself　too　much　into　a　ball。〃

〃Make　him　unwind；　and　then；　if　he　wants　to　return　to　active　life　and　take　a　hand　in　politics；　he　may　find　some　honest　way　of　doing　so。　He'll　never　make　a　Saint　Vincent　de　Paul；though　the　saint　was　at　the　galleys　once　upon　a　time；　but　there　are　plenty　of　ways　in　which　he　could　get　a　third　or　fourth　class　reputation。　If　Monsieur　de　Saint…　Esteve；　as　he　now　calls　himself；　takes　that　course；　and　I　am　still　in　power；　tell　him　to　come　and　see　me；　I　might　employ　him　then。〃

〃That　is　something；　certainly；〃　said　Franchessini；　aloud；　but　he　thought　to　himself　that　since　the　days　of　the　pension　Vauquer　the　minister　had　taken　long　strides　and　that　roles　had　changed　between　himself　and　Vautrin。

〃You　can　tell　him　what　I　say；〃　continued　Rastignac；　going　up　the　steps　of　the　portico；　〃but　be　cautious　how　you　word　it。〃

〃Don't　be　uneasy；〃　replied　the　colonel。　〃I　will　speak　to　him　judiciously；　for　he's　a　man　who　must　not　be　pushed　too　far；　there　are　some　old　scores　in　life　one　can't　wipe　out。〃

The　minister；　by　making　no　reply　to　this　remark；　seemed　to　admit　the　truth　of　it。

〃You　must　be　in　the　Chamber　when　the　king　opens　it；　we　shall　want　all　the　enthusiasm　we　can　muster；〃　said　Rastignac　to　the　colonel；　as　they　parted。

The　latter；　when　he　took　leave　of　Madame　de　Rastignac；　asked　on　what　day　he　might　have　the　honor　of　presenting　his　wife。

〃Why；　any　day；〃　replied　the　countess；　〃but　particularly　on　Fridays。〃



IV

A　CATECHISM

Rastignac　called　on　Madame　de　l'Estorade　the　next　day　at　the　hour　named　to　him　by　his　wife。　Like　all　those　present　at　the　scene　produced　by　Monsieur　de　Ronquerolles；　the　minister　had　been　struck　by　the　emotion　shown　by　the　countess；　and；　without　stopping　to　analyze　the　nature　of　the　sentiment　she　might　feel　for　the　man　who　had　saved　her　child；　he　was　convinced　of　her　serious　interest　in　him。

By　the　suddenness　and　the　masterly　stroke　of　his　election；　Sallenauve　had　become　an　object　of　strong　interest　to　the　minister；all　the　more　because　up　to　the　last　moment　his　candidacy　was　not　seriously　considered。　It　was　now　known　that　in　the　preparatory　meeting　he　had　given　proofs　of　talent。　To　his　active　and　dangerous　party；　which　had　but　few　representatives　in　the　Chamber；　he　might　become　an　organ　that　would　echo　far。　By　his　peculiar　position　of　birth　and　fortune；　whatever　might　be　the　truth　of　it；　he　was　one　who　could　do　without　the　favors　of　government；　and　all　information　obtained　about　him　went　to　show　that　he　was　a　man　of　grave　character　and　opinions；　who　could　not　be　turned　from　his　chosen　way。

On　the　other　hand；　the　cloud　upon　his　life　might　at　a　given　moment　serve　to　neutralize　his　honor；　and　Rastignac；　while　rejecting　the　proposal　of　de　Trailles　and　Franchessini　to　put　the　mystery　into　the　hands　of　the　police；　did　not　himself　renounce　a　means　which；　dangerous　as　it　seemed　to　him；　he　might　use　if　occasion　warranted。

In　this　situation　Madame　de　l'Estorade　could　be　useful　to　him　in　two　ways。　Through　her　he　could　meet　the　new　deputy　accidentally；　without　appearing　to　seek　him；　and　thus　study　him　at　his　ease；　in　order　to　know　if　he　had　a　vulnerable　point　accessible　to　persuasion。　And；　secondly；　if　he　found　him　unpersuadable；　he　could　let　Madame　de　l'Estorade　know　in　confidence　of　the　secret　inquiry　about　to　be　carried　on　into　Sallenauve's　antecedents；　which；　conveyed　by　her　to　the　deputy；　would　have　the　effect　of　making　him　cautious　and；　consequently；　less　aggressive。

However；　his　immediate　plan　suffered　some　modification；　for　Madame　de　l'Estorade　was　not　at　home；　and　he　was　just　leaving　the　house　when　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　returned　on　foot。

〃My　wife　will　be　here　soon；〃　he　said；　〃she　has　gone　to　Ville　d'Avray　with　her　daughter；　and　Monsieur　and　Madame　Octave　de　Camps。　Monsieur　Marie…Gaston；　one　of　our　good　friends；you　know；　the　charming　poet　who　married　Louise　de　Cha