modeste mignon-第2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！



development　has　forced　up　the　suburb　of　Graville　like　a　mushroom。　It

is　to…day　more　extensive　than　Havre　itself；　which　lies　at　the　foot　of

its　slopes　like　a　serpent。



At　the　crest　of　the　hill　Ingouville　has　but　one　street；　and　（as　in　all

such　situations）　the　houses　which　overlook　the　river　have　an　immense

advantage　over　those　on　the　other　side　of　the　road；　whose　view　they

obstruct；　and　which　present　the　effect　of　standing　on　tip…toe　to　look

over　the　opposing　roofs。　However；　there　exist　here；　as　elsewhere；

certain　servitudes。　Some　houses　standing　at　the　summit　have　a　finer

position　or　possess　legal　rights　of　view　which　compel　their　opposite

neighbors　to　keep　their　buildings　down　to　a　required　height。　Moreover；

the　openings　cut　in　the　capricious　rock　by　roads　which　follow　its

declensions　and　make　the　ampitheatre　habitable；　give　vistas　through

which　some　estates　can　see　the　city；　or　the　river；　or　the　sea。　Instead

of　rising　to　an　actual　peak；　the　hill　ends　abruptly　in　a　cliff。　At　the

end　of　the　street　which　follows　the　line　of　the　summit；　ravines　appear

in　which　a　few　villages　are　clustered　（Sainte…Adresse　and　two　or　three

other　Saint…somethings）　together　with　several　creeks　which　murmur　and

flow　with　the　tides　of　the　sea。　These　half…deserted　slopes　of

Ingouville　form　a　striking　contrast　to　the　terraces　of　fine　villas

which　overlook　the　valley　of　the　Seine。　Is　the　wind　on　this　side　too

strong　for　vegetation？　Do　the　merchants　shrink　from　the　cost　of

terracing　it？　However　this　may　be；　the　traveller　approaching　Havre　on

a　steamer　is　surprised　to　find　a　barren　coast　and　tangled　gorges　to

the　west　of　Ingouville；　like　a　beggar　in　rags　beside　a　perfumed　and

sumptuously　apparelled　rich　man。



In　1829　one　of　the　last　houses　looking　toward　the　sea；　and　which　in

all　probability　stands　about　the　centre　of　the　Ingouville　to…day；　was

called；　and　perhaps　is　still　called；　〃the　Chalet。〃　Originally　it　was　a

porter's　lodge　with　a　trim　little　garden　in　front　of　it。　The　owner　of

the　villa　to　which　it　belonged；a　mansion　with　park；　gardens；

aviaries；　hot…houses；　and　lawnstook　a　fancy　to　put　the　little

dwelling　more　in　keeping　with　the　splendor　of　his　own　abode；　and　he

reconstructed　it　on　the　model　of　an　ornamental　cottage。　He　divided

this　cottage　from　his　own　lawn；　which　was　bordered　and　set　with

flower…beds　and　formed　the　terrace　of　his　villa；　by　a　low　wall　along

which　he　planted　a　concealing　hedge。　Behind　the　cottage　（called；　in

spite　of　all　his　efforts　to　prevent　it；　the　Chalet）　were　the　orchards

and　kitchen　gardens　of　the　villa。　The　Chalet；　without　cows　or　dairy；

is　separated　from　the　roadway　by　a　wooden　fence　whose　palings　are

hidden　under　a　luxuriant　hedge。　On　the　other　side　of　the　road　the

opposite　house；　subject　to　a　legal　privilege；　has　a　similar　hedge　and

paling；　so　as　to　leave　an　unobstructed　view　of　Havre　to　the　Chalet。



This　little　dwelling　was　the　torment　of　the　present　proprietor　of　the

villa；　Monsieur　Vilquin；　and　here　is　the　why　and　the　wherefore。　The

original　creator　of　the　villa；　whose　sumptuous　details　cry　aloud；

〃Behold　our　millions！〃　extended　his　park　far　into　the　country　for　the

purpose；　as　he　averred；　of　getting　his　gardeners　out　of　his　pockets；

and　so；　when　the　Chalet　was　finished；　none　but　a　friend　could　be

allowed　to　inhabit　it。　Monsieur　Mignon；　the　next　owner　of　the

property；　was　very　much　attached　to　his　cashier；　Dumay；　and　the

following　history　will　prove　that　the　attachment　was　mutual；　to　him

therefore　he　offered　the　little　dwelling。　Dumay；　a　stickler　for　legal

methods；　insisted　on　signing　a　lease　for　three　hundred　francs　for

twelve　years；　and　Monsieur　Mignon　willingly　agreed；　remarking；



〃My　dear　Dumay；　remember；　you　have　now　bound　yourself　to　live　with　me

for　twelve　years。〃



In　consequence　of　certain　events　which　will　presently　be　related；　the

estates　of　Monsieur　Mignon；　formerly　the　richest　merchant　in　Havre；

were　sold　to　Vilquin；　one　of　his　business　competitors。　In　his　joy　at

getting　possession　of　the　celebrated　villa　Mignon；　the　latter　forgot

to　demand　the　cancelling　of　the　lease。　Dumay；　anxious　not　to　hinder

the　sale；　would　have　signed　anything　Vilquin　required；　but　the　sale

once　made；　he　held　to　his　lease　like　a　vengeance。　And　there　he

remained；　in　Vilquin's　pocket　as　it　were；　at　the　heart　of　Vilquin's

family　life；　observing　Vilquin；　irritating　Vilquin；in　short；　the

gadfly　of　all　the　Vilquins。　Every　morning；　when　he　looked　out　of　his

window；　Vilquin　felt　a　violent　shock　of　annoyance　as　his　eye　lighted

on　the　little　gem　of　a　building；　the　Chalet；　which　had　cost　sixty

thousand　francs　and　sparkled　like　a　ruby　in　the　sun。　That　comparison

is　very　nearly　exact。　The　architect　has　constructed　the　cottage　of

brilliant　red　brick　pointed　with　white。　The　window…frames　are　painted

of　a　lively　green；　the　woodwork　is　brown　verging　on　yellow。　The　roof

overhangs　by　several　feet。　A　pretty　gallery；　with　open…worked

balustrade；　surmounts　the　lower　floor　and　projects　at　the　centre　of

the　facade　into　a　veranda　with　glass　sides。　The　ground…floor　has　a

charming　salon　and　a　dining…room；　separated　from　each　other　by　the

landing　of　a　staircase　built　of　wood；　designed　and　decorated　with

elegant　simplicity。　The　kitchen　is　behind　the　dining…room；　and　the

corresponding　room　back　of　the　salon；　formerly　a　study；　is　now　the

bedroom　of　Monsieur　and　Madame　Dumay。　On　the　upper　floor　the　architect

has　managed　to　get　two　large　bedrooms；　each　with　a　dressing…room；　to

which　the　veranda　serves　as　a　salon；　and　above　this　floor；　under　the

eaves；　which　are　tipped　together　like　a　couple　of　cards；　are　two

servants'　rooms　with　mansard　roofs；　each　lighted　by　a　circular　window

and　tolerably　spacious。



Vilquin　has　been　petty　enough　to　build　a　high　wall　on　the　side　toward

the　orchard　and　kitchen　garden；　and　in　consequence　of　this　piece　of

spite；　the　few　square　feet　which　the　lease　secured　to　the　Chalet

resembled　a　Parisian　garden。　The　out…buildings；　painted　in　keeping

with　the　cottage；　stood　with　their　backs　to　the　wall　of　the　adjoining

property。



The　interior　of　this　charming　dwelling　harmonized　with　its　exterior。

The　salon；　floored　entirely　with　iron…wood；　was　painted　in　a　style

that　suggested　the　beauties　of　Chinese　lacquer。　On　black　panels　edged

with　gold；　birds　of　every　color；　foliage　of　impossible　greens；　and

fantastic　oriental　designs　glowed　and　shimmered。　The　dining…room　was

entirely　sheathed　in　Northern　woods　carved　and　cut　in　open…work　like

the　beautiful　Russian　chalets。　The　little　antechamber　formed　by　the

landing　and　the　well　of　the　staircase　was　painted　in　old　oak　to

represent　Gothic　ornament。　The　bedrooms；　hung　with　chintz；　were

charming　in　their　costly　simplicity。　The　study；　where　the　cashier　and

his　wife　now　slept；　was　panelled　from　top　to　bottom；　on　the　walls　and

ceiling；　like　the　cabin　of　a　steamboat。　These　luxuries　of　his

predecessor　excited　Vilquin's　wrath。　He　would　fain　have　lodged　his

daughter　and　her　husband　in　the　cottage。　This　desire；　well　known　to

Dumay；　will　presently　serve　to　illustrate　the　Breton　obstinacy　of　the

latter。



The　entrance　to　the　Chalet　is　by　a　little　trellised　iron　door；　the

uprights　of　which；　ending　in　lance…heads；　show　for　a　few　inches　above

the　fence　and　its　hedge。　The　little　garden；　about　as　wide　as　the　more

pretentious　lawn；　was　just　now　filled　with　flowers；　roses；　and　dahlias

of　the　choicest　kind；　and　many　rare　products　of　the　hot…houses；　for

（another　Vilquinard　grievance）　the　elegant　little　hot…house；　a　very

whim　of　a　hot…house；　a　hot…house　representing　dignity　and　style；

belonged　to　the　Chalet；　and　separated；　or　if　you　prefer；　united　it　to

the　villa　Vilquin。　Dumay　consoled　himself　for　the　toils　of　business　in

taking　care　of　this　hot…house；　whose　exotic　treasures　were　one　of

Modeste's　joys。　The　billiard…room　of　the　villa　Vilquin；　a　species　of

gallery；　formerly　communicated　through　an　immense　aviary　with　this

hot…house。　But　after　the　building　of　the　wall　which　deprived　him　of　a

view　into　the　orchards；　Dumay　bricked　up　the　door　of　communication。

〃Wall　for　wall！〃　he　said。



In　1827　Vilquin　offered　Dumay　a　salary　of　six　thousand　francs；　and　ten

thousand　more　as　indemnity；　if　he　would　give　up　the　lease。　The　cashier

refused；　though　he　had　but　three　thousand　francs　from　Gobenheim；　a

former　clerk　of　his　master。　Dumay　was　a　Breton　transplanted　by　fate

into　Normandy。　Imagine　therefore　the　hatred　conceived　for　the　tenants

of　the　Chalet　by　the　Norman　Vilquin；　a　man　worth　three　millions！　What

criminal　leze…million　on　the　part　of　a　cashier；　to　hold　up　to　the　eyes

of　such　a　man　the　impotence　of　his　wealth！　Vilquin；　whose　desperation

in　the　matter　made　him　the　talk　of　Havre；　had　just　proposed　to　give

Dumay　a　pretty　house　of　his　own；　and　had　again　been　refused。　Havre

itself　began　to　grow　uneasy　at　the　man's　obstinacy；　and　a　good　many

persons　explained　it　by　the　phrase；　〃Dumay　is　a　Breton。〃　As　for　the

cashier；　he　thought　Madame　and　Mademoiselle　Mignon　would　be　ill…lodged

elsewhere。　His　two　idols　now　inhabited　a　temple　worthy　of　them；　the

sumptuous　little　cottage　gave　them　a　home；　where　these　dethroned

royalties　could　keep　the　semblance　of　majesty　about　them；a　species

of　dignity　usually　denied　to　those　who　have　seen　better　days。



Perhaps　as　the　story　goes　on；　the　reader　will　not　regret　having

learned　in　advance　a　few　particulars　as　to　the　home　and　the　habitual

companions　of　Modeste　Mignon；　for；　at　her　age；　people　and　things　have

as　much　influence　upon　the　future　life　as　a　person's　own　character；

indeed；　character　often　receives　ineffaceable　impressions　from　its

surroundings。







CHAPTER　II



A　PORTRAIT　FROM　LIFE



From　the　manner　with　which　the　Latournelles　entered　the　Chalet　a

stranger　would　readily　have　guessed　that　they　came　there　every

evening。



〃Ah；　you　are　here　already；〃　said　the　notary；　perceiving　the　young

banker　Gobenheim；　a　connection　of　Gobenheim…Keller；　the　head　of　the

great　banking　house　in　Paris。



This　young　man　with　a　livid　facea　blonde　of　the　type　with　black

eyes；　whose　immovable　glance　has　an　indescribable　fascination；　sober

in　speech　as　in　conduct；　dressed　in　black；　lean　as　a　consumptive；　but

nevertheless　vigorously　framedvisited　the　family　of　his　former

master　and　the　house　of　his　cashier　less　from　affection　than　from

self…interest。　Here　they　played　whist　at　two　sous　a　point；　a　dress…

coat　was　not　required；　he　accepted　no　refreshment　except　〃eau　sucree；〃

and　consequently　had　no　civilities　to　return。　This　apparent　devotion

to　the　Mignon　family　allowed　it　to　be　supposed　that　Gobenheim　had　a

heart；　it　also　released　him　from　the　necessity　of　going　into　the

society　of　Havre　and　incurring　useless　expenses；　thus　upsetting　the

orderly　economy　of　his　domestic　life。　This　disciple　of　the　golden　calf

went　to　bed　at　half…past　ten　o'clock　and　got　up　at　five　in　the

morning。　Moreover；　being　perfectly　sure　of　Latourn