the deputy of arcis-第52章

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is　face；　the　outward　and　visible　signs　of　the　terrible　blow　which　his　unfortunate　curiosity　had　brought　down　upon　him。　His　heart；　his　mind；　his　self…respect　staggered　under　one　and　the　same　shock；　the　madness　evident　in　the　sort　of　prediction　made　about　him　only　added　to　his　sense　of　its　horror。　Presently　convincing　himself；　like　a　mussulman；　that　madmen　have　the　gift　of　second　sight；　he　believed　he　was　a　lost　man；　and　instantly　a　stabbing　pain　began　on　his　liver　side；　while　in　the　direction　of　Sallenauve；　his　predicted　successor；　an　awful　hatred　succeeded　to　his　mild　good…will。　But　at　the　same　time；　conscious　of　the　total　want　of　reason　and　even　of　the　absurdity　of　the　impression　which　had　suddenly　surged　into　his　mind；　he　was　afraid　lest　its　existence　should　be　suspected；　and　he　looked　about　him　to　see　in　what　way　he　could　conceal　from　his　wife　his　fatal　indiscretion；　the　consequences　of　which　must　forever　weigh　upon　his　life。　It　was　certain；　he　thought；　that　if　she　found　the　paper　in　his　study　she　would　deduce　therefrom　the　fact　that　he　had　read　it。　Rising　from　his　desk；　he　softly　opened　the　door　leading　from　the　study　to　the　salon；　crossed　the　latter　room　on　tiptoe；　and　dropped　the　letter　at　the　farther　end　of　it；　as　Madame　de　l'Estorade　might　suppose　she　had　herself　done　in　her　hasty　departure。　Then　returning　to　his　study；　he　scattered　his　papers　over　his　desk；　like　a　school…boy　up　to　mischief；　who　wants　to　mislead　his　master　by　a　show　of　application；　intending　to　appear　absorbed　in　his　accounts　when　his　wife　returned。　Useless　to　add　that　he　listened　with　keen　anxiety　lest　some　other　person　than　she　should　come　into　the　salon；　in　which　case　he　determined　to　rush　out　and　prevent　other　eyes　from　reading　the　dreadful　secrets　contained　in　that　paper。

Presently；　however；　the　voice　of　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　speaking　to　some　one　at　the　door　of　the　salon；　reassured　him　as　to　the　success　of　his　trick；　and　a　moment　later　she　entered　the　study　accompanied　by　Monsieur　Octave　de　Camps。　Going　forward　to　receive　his　visitor；　he　was　able　to　see　through　the　half…opened　door　the　place　where　he　had　thrown　the　letter。　Not　only　had　it　disappeared；　but　he　detected　a　movement　which　assured　him　that　Madame　de　l'Estorade　had　tucked　it　away　in　that　part　of　her　gown　where　Louis　XIV。　did　not　dare　to　search　for　the　secrets　of　Mademoiselle　d'Hautefort。

〃I　have　come；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Camps；　〃to　get　you　to　go　with　me　to　Rastignac's；　as　agreed　on　last　night。〃

〃Very　good；〃　said　the　peer；　putting　away　his　papers　with　a　feverish　haste　that　plainly　indicated　he　was　not　in　his　usual　state　of　mind。

〃Don't　you　feel　well？〃　asked　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　who　knew　her　husband　by　heart　too　well　not　to　be　struck　by　the　singular　stupefaction　of　his　manner；　while　at　the　same　time；　looking　in　his　face；　she　saw　the　signs　of　internal　convulsion。

〃True；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Camps；　〃you　certainly　do　not　look　so　well　as　usual。　If　you　prefer　it；　we　will　put　off　this　visit。〃

〃No；　not　at　all；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade。　〃I　have　tired　myself　with　this　work；　and　I　need　the　air。　But　what　was　the　matter　with　Rene？〃　he　inquired　of　his　wife；　whose　attention　he　felt　was　unpleasantly　fixed　upon　him。　〃What　made　him　cry　like　that？〃

〃Oh；　a　mere　nothing！〃　she　replied；　not　relaxing　her　attention。

〃Well；　my　dear　fellow；〃　said　the　peer；　trying　to　take　an　easy　tone；　〃just　let　me　change　my　coat　and　I'll　be　with　you。〃

When　the　countess　was　alone　with　Monsieur　de　Camps；　she　said；　rather　anxiously；

〃Don't　you　think　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　seems　very　much　upset？〃

〃Yes；　as　I　said　just　now；　he　does　not　look　like　himself。　But　the　explanation　he　gave　seems　sufficient。　This　office　life　is　bad　for　the　health。　I　have　never　been　as　well　as　since　I　am　actively　engaged　about　my　iron…works。〃

〃Yes；　certainly；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　with　a　heavy　sigh；　〃he　ought　to　have　a　more　active　life。　It　seems　plain　that　there　is　something　amiss　with　his　liver。〃

〃What！　because　he　is　so　yellow？　He　has　been　so　ever　since　I　have　known　him。〃

〃Oh；　monsieur；　I　can't　be　mistaken！　There　is　something　seriously　the　matter　with　him；　and　if　you　would　kindly　do　me　a　service〃

〃Madame；　I　am　always　at　your　orders。〃

〃When　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　returns；　speak　of　the　injury　to　Rene's　finger；　and　tell　me　that　little　wounds　like　that　sometimes　have　serious　consequences　if　not　attended　to　at　once；　and　that　will　give　me　an　excuse　to　send　for　Doctor　Bianchon。〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　Camps；　〃but　I　really　don't　think　a　physician　is　necessary。　Still；　if　it　reassures　you〃

At　this　moment　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　reappeared。　He　had　almost　recovered　his　usual　expression　of　face；　but　he　exhaled　a　strong　odor　of　/melisse　des　Carmes/；　which　indicated　that　he　had　felt　the　need　of　that　tonic。　Monsieur　de　Camps　played　his　part　admirably；　and　as　for　Madame　de　l'Estorade　it　did　not　cost　her　much　trouble　to　simulate　maternal　anxiety。

〃My　dear；〃　she　said　to　her　husband；　when　Monsieur　de　Camps　had　delivered　himself　of　his　medical　opinion；　〃as　you　return　from　Monsieur　de　Rastignac's；　please　call　on　Doctor　Bianchon　and　ask　him　to　come　here。〃

〃Pooh！〃　said　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　〃the　idea　of　disturbing　a　busy　man　like　him　for　what　you　yourself　said　was　a　mere　nothing！〃

〃If　you　won't　go；　I　shall　send　Lucas；　Monsieur　de　Camps'　opinion　has　completely　upset　me。〃

〃If　it　pleases　you　to　be　ridiculous；〃　said　the　peer　of　France；　crossly；　〃I　have　no　means　of　preventing　it；　but　I　beg　you　to　remark　one　thing：　if　people　disturb　physicians　for　mere　nonsense；　they　often　can't　get　them　when　they　are　really　wanted。〃

〃Then　you　won't　go　for　the　doctor？〃

〃Not　I；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　〃and　if　I　had　the　honor　of　being　anything　in　my　own　house；　I　should　forbid　you　to　send　anybody　in　my　place。〃

〃My　dear；　you　are　the　master　here；　and　since　you　put　so　much　feeling　into　your　refusal；　let　us　say　no　more；　I　will　bear　my　anxiety　as　best　I　can。〃

〃Come；　de　Camps；〃　said　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　〃for　if　this　goes　on；　I　shall　be　sent　to　order　that　child's　funeral。〃

〃But；　my　dear　husband；〃　said　the　countess；　taking　his　hand；　〃you　must　be　ill；　to　say　such　dreadful　things　in　that　cool　way。　Where　is　your　usual　patience　with　my　little　maternal　worries；　or　your　exquisite　politeness　for　every　one；　your　wife　included？〃

〃But；〃　said　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　getting　more　excited　instead　of　calmer；　under　this　form　of　studied　though　friendly　reproach；　〃your　maternal　feelings　are　turning　into　monomania；　and　you　make　life　intolerable　to　every　one　but　your　children。　The　devil！　suppose　they　are　your　children；　I　am　their　father；　and；　though　I　am　not　adored　as　they　are；　I　have　the　right　to　request　that　my　house　be　not　made　uninhabitable！〃

While　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　striding　about　the　room；　delivered　himself　of　this　philippic；　the　countess　made　a　despairing　sign　to　Monsieur　de　Camps；　as　if　to　ask　him　whether　he　did　not　see　most　alarming　symptoms　in　such　a　scene。　In　order　to　cut　short　the　quarrel　of　which　he　had　been　the　involuntary　cause；　the　latter　said；　as　if　hurried；

〃Come；　let　us　go！〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　passing　out　first　and　neglecting　to　say　good…bye　to　his　wife。

〃Ah！　stay；　I　have　forgotten　a　message　my　wife　gave　me；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Camps；　turning　back　to　Madame　de　l'Estorade。　〃She　told　me　to　say　she　would　come　for　you　at　two　o'clock　to　go　and　see　the　spring　things　at　the　'Jean　de　Paris；'　and　she　has　arranged　that　after　that　we　shall　all　four　go　to　the　flower…show。　When　we　leave　Rastignac；　l'Estorade　and　I　will　come　back　here；　and　wait　for　you　if　you　have　not　returned　before　us。〃

Madame　de　l'Estorade　paid　little　attention　to　this　programme；　for　a　flash　of　light　had　illumined　her　mind。　As　soon　as　she　was　alone；　she　took　Marie…Gaston's　letter　from　her　gown；　and；　finding　it　folded　in　the　proper　manner；　she　exclaimed；

〃Not　a　doubt　of　it！　I　remember　perfectly　that　I　folded　it　with　the　writing　outside；　as　I　put　it　back　into　the　envelope；　he　must　have　read　it！〃

An　hour　later；　Madame　de　l'Estorade　and　Madame　de　Camps　met　in　the　same　salon　where　they　had　talked　of　Sallenauve　a　few　days　earlier。

〃Good　heavens！　what　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　cried　Madame　de　Camps；　seeing　tears　on　the　face　of　her　friend；　who　was　finishing　a　letter　she　had　written。

Madame　de　l'Estorade　told　her　all　that　had　happened；　and　showed　her　Marie…Gaston's　letter。

〃Are　you　very　sure；〃　asked　Madame　de　Camps；　〃that　your　husband　has　read　the　luckless　scrawl？〃

〃How　can　I　doubt　it？〃　returned　Madame　de　l'Estorade。　〃The　paper　can't　have　turned　of　itself；　besides；　in　recalling　the　circumstances；　I　have　a　dim　recollection　that　at　the　moment　when　I　started　to　run　to　Rene　I　felt　something　drop；fate　willed　that　I　should　not　stop　to　pick　it　up。〃

〃Often；　when　people　strain　their　memories　in　that　way　they　fasten　on　some　false　indication。〃

〃But；　my　dear　friend；　the　extraordinary　change　in　the　face　and　behavior　of　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　coming　so　suddenly　as　it　did；　must　have　been　the　result　of　some　sudden　shock。　He　looked　like　a　man　struck　by　lightning。〃

〃But　if　you　account　for　the　change　in　his　appearance　in　that　way；　why　look　for　symptoms　of　something　wrong　with　his　liver？〃

〃Ah！　this　is　not　the　first　time　I　have　seen　symptoms　of　that；〃　replied　Madame　de　l'Estorade。　〃But　you　know　when　sick　people　don't　complain；　we　forget　about　their　illness。　See；〃　and　she　pointed　to　a　volume　lying　open　beside　her；　〃just　before　you　came　in；　I　found　in　this　medical　dictionary　that　persons　who　suffer　from　diseases　of　the　liver　are　apt　to　be　morose；　irritable；　impatient。　Well；　for　some　time　past；　I　have　noticed　a　great　change　in　my　husband's　disposition。　You　yourself　mentioned　it　to　me　the　other　day。　Besides；　the　scene　Monsieur　de　Camps　has　just　witnessedwhich　is；　I　may　truly　say；　unprecedented　in　our　householdis　enough　to　prove　it。〃

〃My　dear　love；　you　are　like　those　unpleasant　persons　who　are　resolved　to　torture　themselves。　In　the　first　place；　you　have　looked　into　medical　books；　which　is　the　very　height　of　imprudence。　I　defy　you　to　read　a　description　of　any　sort　of　disease　without　fancying　that　either　you　or　some　friends　of　yours　have　the　symptoms　of　it。　In　the　next　place；　you　are　mixing　up　things；　the　effects　of　fear　and　of　a　chronic　malady　are　totally　different。〃

〃No；　I　am　not　mixing　them　up；　I　know　what　I　am　talking　about。　You　don't　need　to　be　told　that　if　in　our　poor　human　machine　some　one　part　gets　out　of　order；　it　is　on　/that/　that　any　strong　emotion　will　strike。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Madame　de　Camps；　not　pursuing　the　medical　discussion；　〃if　the　letter　of　that　unhappy　madman　has　really　fallen　into　the　hands　of　your　husband；　the　peace　of　your　home　is　seriously　endangered；　that　is　the　point　to　be　discussed。〃

〃There　are　not　two　ways　to　be　followed　as　to　that；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade。　〃Monsieur　de　Sallenauve　must　never　set　foot　in　this　house　again。〃

〃That　is　precisely　what　I　came　to　speak　about　to…day。　Do　you　know　that　last　night　I　did　not　think　you　showed　the　composure　which　is　so　marked　a　trait　in　your　character？〃

〃When？〃　asked　Madame　de　l'Estorade。

〃Why；　when　you　expressed　so　effusively　your　gratitude　to　Monsieur　de　Sallenauve。　When　I　advised　you　not　to　avoid　him；　for　fear　it