the deputy of arcis-第58章

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ught　him　by　the　arm；　and　his　face　became　livid；　but；　turning　round；　he　saw　at　once　that　his　fears　were　causeless。

〃Is　your　hat　glued　on　your　head；　young　man？〃　said　the　beadle；　pompously。

〃Oh；　pardon　me；　monsieur；〃　he　replied；　snatching　it　off；　〃I　forgot　myself。〃

Then　he　slipped　into　the　thickest　of　the　crowd　and　disappeared。

A　few　seconds　after　the　irruption　of　this　youth　the　same　door　gave　access　to　a　man　around　whose　powerful；　seamed　face　was　the　collar　of　a　white　beard；　which；　combined　with　a　thick　shock　of　hair；　also　white　but　slightly　reddish　in　tone　and　falling　almost　to　his　shoulders；　gave　him　very　much　the　air　of　an　old　Conventional；　or　a　Bernardin　de　Saint…　Pierre　who　had　had　the　small…pox。　His　face　and　his　hair　placed　him　in　the　sixties；　but　his　robust　figure；　the　energetic　decision　of　his　movements；　and；　above　all；　the　piercing　keenness　of　the　glance　which　he　cast　about　him　on　entering　the　church；　showed　a　powerful　organization　on　which　the　passage　of　years　had　made　little　or　no　impression。　No　doubt；　he　was　in　search　of　the　young　fellow　who　had　preceded　him；　but　he　did　not　commit　the　mistake　of　entering　the　crowd；　where　he　knew　of　course　that　the　youth　had　lost　himself。　Like　a　practised　hunter；　he　saw　that　pursuit　was　useless；　and　he　was　just　about　to　leave　the　church　when；　after　a　short　organ　prelude；　the　contralto　of　the　signora　delivering　its　solemn　notes　gave　forth　that　glorious　harmony　to　which　is　sung　the　Litany　of　the　Virgin。　The　beauty　of　the　voice；　the　beauty　of　the　chant；　the　beauty　of　the　words　of　the　sacred　hymn；　which　the　fine　method　of　the　singer　brought　out　distinctly；　made　a　singular　impression　on　the　stalwart　stranger。　Instead　of　leaving　the　church；　he　put　himself　in　the　shadow　of　a　column；　against　which　he　leaned　as　he　stood；　but　as　the　last　notes　of　the　divine　canticle　died　away　among　the　arches　of　the　church；　he　knelt　on　the　pavement；　and　whoever　had　chanced　to　look　that　way　would　have　seen　two　heavy　tears　rolling　slowly　down　his　cheeks。　The　benediction　given；　and　the　crowd　dispersing；　he　rose；　wiped　his　eyes；　and；　muttering；　〃What　a　fool　I　am！〃　left　the　church。　Then　he　went　to　the　Place　Saint…Sulpice；　and；　beckoning　to　a　coach　on　the　stand；　he　said　to　the　driver；

〃Rue　de　Provence；　my　man；　quick！　there's　fat　in　it。〃

Reaching　the　house；　he　went　rapidly　up　the　stairway；　and　rang　at　the　door　of　an　apartment　on　the　first　floor。

〃Is　my　aunt　at　home？〃　he　inquired　of　the　Negro　who　opened　it。　Then　he　followed　the　man；　and　was　presently　ushered　into　a　salon　where　the　Negro　announced；

〃Monsieur　de　Saint…Esteve。〃

The　salon　which　the　famous　chief　of　the　detective　police　now　entered　was　remarkable　for　the　luxury；　but　still　more　for　the　horribly　bad　taste；　of　its　appointments。　Three　women　of　advanced　age　were　seated　round　a　card…table　earnestly　employed　in　a　game　of　dominoes。　Three　glasses　and　an　empty　silver　bowl　which　gave　forth　a　vinous　odor　showed　that　the　worship　of　double…sixes　was　not　without　its　due　libations。

〃Good　evening；　mesdames；〃　said　the　chief　of　police；　sitting　down；　〃for　I　have　something　to　say　to　each　of　you。〃

〃We'll　listen　presently；〃　said　his　aunt；　〃you　can't　interrupt　the　game。　It　won't　be　long；　I　play　for　four。〃

〃White　all　round！〃　said　one　of　the　hags。

〃Domino！〃　cried　the　Saint…Esteve。　〃I　win；　you　have　four　points　between　you　two；　and　the　whites　are　all　out。　Well；　my　dear；　what　is　it？〃　she　said；　turning　to　her　nephew；　after　a　rather　stormy　reckoning　among　the　witches　was　over。

〃You；　Madame　Fontaine；〃　said　the　chief　of　police；　addressing　one　of　the　venerable　beings；　whose　head　was　covered　with　disorderly　gray　hair　and　a　battered　green　bonnet；〃you　neglect　your　duty；　you　have　sent　me　no　report；　and；　on　the　contrary；　I　get　many　complaints　of　you。　The　prefect　has　a　great　mind　to　close　your　establishment。　I　protect　you　on　account　of　the　services　you　are　supposed　to　render　us；　but　if　you　don't　render　them；　I　warn　you；　without　claiming　any　gifts　of　prediction；　that　your　fate…shop　will　be　shut　up。〃

〃There　now！〃　replied　the　pythoness；　〃you　prevented　me　from　hiring　Mademoiselle　Lenormand's　apartment　in　the　rue　de　Tournon；　and　how　can　you　expect　me　to　make　reports　about　the　cooks　and　clerks　and　workmen　and　grisettes　who　are　all　I　get　where　I　am？　If　you　had　let　me　work　among　the　great　folks；　I'd　make　you　reports　and　plenty　of　them。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　you　can　say　that；　Madame　Fontaine；〃　said　Madame　de　Saint…Esteve。　〃I　am　sure　I　send　you　all　my　clients。　It　was　only　the　other　day；〃　continued　the　matrimonial　agent；　〃I　sent　you　that　Italian　singer；　living　with　a　deputy　who　is　against　the　government；　why　didn't　you　report　about　that？〃

〃There's　another　thing；〃　said　the　chief　of　police；　〃which　appears　in　several　of　the　complaints　that　I　received　about　you；that　nasty　animal〃

〃What；　Astaroth？〃　said　Madame　Fontaine。

〃Yes；　that　batrachian；　that　toad；　to　come　down　to　his　right　name。　It　seems　he　nearly　killed　a　woman　who　was　pregnant〃

〃Well；　well；〃　interrupted　the　sorceress；　〃if　I　am　to　tell　fortunes　alone；　you　might　as　well　guillotine　me　at　once。　Because　a　fool　of　a　woman　lay…in　with　a　dead　child；　must　toads　be　suppressed　in　nature？　Why　did　God　make　them？〃

〃My　dear　woman；〃　said　the　chief；　〃did　you　never　hear　that　in　1617　a　learned　man　was　put　to　death　for　having　a　toad　in　a　bottle？〃

〃Yes；　I　know　that；　but　we　are　not　in　those　light　ages；〃　replied　Madame　Fontaine；　facetiously。

〃As　for　you；　Madame　Nourrisson；　the　complaint　is　that　you　gather　your　fruit　unripe。　You　ought　to　know　by　this　time　the　laws　and　regulations；　and　I　warn　you　that　everything　under　twenty…one　years　of　age　is　forbidden。　I　wonder　I　have　to　remind　you　of　it。　Now；　aunt；　what　I　have　to　say　to　you　is　confidential。〃

Thus　dismissed；　two　of　the　Fates　departed。

Since　the　days　when　Jacques　Collin　had　abdicated　his　former　kingship　and　had　made　himself；　as　they　say；　a　new　skin　in　the　police　force；　Jacqueline　Collin；　though　she　had　never　put　herself　within　reach　of　the　law；　had　certainly　never　donned　the　robe　of　innocence。　But　having　attained；　like　her　nephew；　to　what　might　fairly　be　called　opulence；　she　kept　at　a　safe　and　respectful　distance　from　the　Penal　Code；　and　under　cover　of　an　agency　that　was　fairly　avowable；　she　sheltered　practices　more　or　less　shady；　on　which　she　continued　to　bestow　an　intelligence　and　an　activity　that　were　really　infernal。

〃Aunt；〃　said　Vautrin；　〃I　have　so　many　things　to　say　to　you　that　I　don't　know　where　to　begin。〃

〃I　should　think　so！　It　is　a　week　since　I've　seen　you。〃

〃In　the　first　place；　I　must　tell　you　that　I　have　just　missed　a　splendid　chance。〃

〃What　sort　of　chance？〃　asked　Jacqueline。

〃In　the　line　of　my　odious　calling。　But　this　time　the　capture　was　worth　making。　Do　you　remember　that　little　Prussian　engraver　about　whom　I　sent　you　to　Berlin？〃

〃The　one　who　forged　those　Vienna　bank　bills　in　that　wonderful　way？〃

〃Yes。　I　just　missed　arresting　him　near　Saint…Sulpice。　But　I　followed　him　into　the　church；　where　I　heard　your　Signora　Luigia。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Jacqueline；　〃she　has　made　up　her　mind　at　last；　and　has　left　that　imbecile　of　a　sculptor。〃

〃It　is　about　her　that　I　have　come　to　talk　to　you；〃　said　Vautrin。　〃Here　are　the　facts。　The　Italian　opera　season　in　London　has　begun　badly；　their　prima　donna　is　taken　ill。　Sir　Francis　Drake；　the　impresario；　arrived　in　Paris　yesterday；　at　the　Hotel　des　Princes；　rue　de　Richelieu；　in　search　of　a　prima　donna；　at　any　rate　/pro　tem/。　I　have　been　to　see　him　in　the　interests　of　the　signora。　Sir　Francis　Drake　is　an　Englishman；　very　bald；　with　a　red　nose；　and　long　yellow　teeth。　He　received　me　with　cold　politeness；　and　asked　in　very　good　French　what　my　business　was。〃

〃Did　you　propose　to　him　Luigia？〃

〃That　was　what　I　went　for；in　the　character；　be　it　understood；　of　a　Swedish　nobleman。　He　asked　if　her　talent　was　known。　'Absolutely　unknown；'　I　replied。　'It　is　risky；'　said　Sir　Francis；　'nevertheless　arrange　to　let　me　hear　her。'　I　told　him　that　she　was　staying　with　her　friend　Madame　de　Saint…Esteve；　at　whose　house　I　could　take　the　liberty　to　invite　him　to　dinner。〃

〃When？〃　asked　Jacqueline。

〃To…day　is　the　19th；　I　said　the　21st。　Order　the　dinner　from　Chevet　for　fifteen　persons；　and　send　for　your　client　Bixiou　to　make　you　out　the　list。　Tell　him　you　want　the　chief　men　of　the　press；　a　lawyer　to　settle　the　terms　of　the　contract；　and　a　pianist　to　accompany　the　signora。　Let　her　know　what　hangs　upon　it。　Sir　Francis　Drake　and　I　will　make　up　the　number。　Useless　to　tell　you　that　I　am　your　friend　Comte　Halphertius；　who；　having　no　house　in　Paris；　gives　this　dinner　at　yours。　Mind　that　everything　is　done　in　the　best　taste。〃

In　designating　Bixiou　to　his　aunt　as　the　recruiting…officer　of　the　dinner；　Vautrin　knew　that　through　the　universality　of　his　relations　with　writing；　singing；　designing；　eating；　living；　and　squirming　Paris；　no　one　was　as　capable　as　he　of　spreading　the　news　of　the　dinner　broadcast。

At　seven　o'clock　precisely　all　the　guests　named　by　Desroches　to　Maxime；　plus　Desroches　himself；　were　assembled　in　the　salon　of　the　rue　de　Provence；　when　the　Negro　footman　opened　the　door　and　announced　Sir　Francis　Drake　and　his　Excellency　the　Comte　Halphertius。　The　dress　of　the　Swedish　nobleman　was　correct　to　the　last　degree；black　coat；　white　cravat；　and　white　waistcoat；　on　which　glowed　the　ribbon　of　an　order　hanging　from　his　neck；　the　rest　of　his　decorations　were　fastened　to　his　coat　by　chainlets。　At　the　first　glance　which　he　cast　upon　the　company；　Vautrin　had　the　annoyance　of　beholding　that　Jacqueline's　habits　and　instincts　had　been　more　potent　than　his　express　order；for　a　species　of　green　and　yellow　turban　surmounted　her　head　in　a　manner　which　he　felt　to　be　ridiculous；　but　thanks　to　the　admirable　manner　in　which　the　rest　of　his　programme　had　been　carried　out；　the　luckless　coiffure　was　forgiven。

As　for　Signora　Luigia；　dressed　in　black；　which　was　customary　with　her；　and　having　had　the　good　sense　to　reject　the　services　of　a　/coiffeur/；　she　was　royally　beautiful。　An　air　of　melancholy　gravity；　expressed　by　her　whole　person；　inspired　a　sentiment　of　respect　which　surprised　the　men　who　on　Bixiou's　invitation　were　there　to　judge　of　her。　The　only　special　presentation　that　was　made　among　the　guests　was　that　of　Desroches　to　Vautrin；　which　Bixiou　made　in　the　following　lively　formula：

〃Maitre　Desroches；　the　most　intelligent　solicitor　of　modern　times　Comte　Halphertius　of　Sweden。〃

As　for　Sir　Francis　Drake；　he　seemed　at　first　inclined　to　disdain　the　influence　of　the　dramatic　newspapers；　whose　representatives　were　there　assembled；　but　presently　recognizing　Felicien　Vernou　and　Lousteau；　two　noted　men　of　that　secondary　press；　he　greeted　them　heartily　and　shook　them　by　the　hand。

Before　dinner　was　announced；　Comte　Halphertius　judged　it　advisable　to　make　a　little　speech。

〃Dear　madame；〃　he　said　to　his　aunt；　〃you　are　really　a　fairy　godmother。　This　is　the　first　time　I　have　ever　been　in　a　Parisian　salon；　and　here　you　have　assembled　to　meet　me　all　that　literature；　the　arts；　and　the　legal　profession　can　offer　of　their　best。　I；　who　am　only　a　northern　barbarian；though　our　country；　too；　can　boast　of　its　celebrities；　Linnaeus；　Berzelius；　Thorwaldsen；　Tegner；　Franzen；　Geier；　and　the　charming　novelist　Frederika　Bremer；I　find　myself　a　cipher　in　such　company。〃

〃