modeste mignon-第3章

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

morning。　Moreover；　being　perfectly　sure　of　Latournelle's　and　Butscha's

discretion；　he　could　talk　over　difficult　business　matters；　obtain　the

advice　of　the　notary　gratis；　and　get　an　inkling　of　the　real　truth　of

the　gossip　of　the　street。　This　stolid　gold…glutton　（the　epithet　is

Butscha's）　belonged　by　nature　to　the　class　of　substances　which

chemistry　terms　absorbents。　Ever　since　the　catastrophe　of　the　house　of

Mignon；　where　the　Kellers　had　placed　him　to　learn　the　principles　of

maritime　commerce；　no　one　at　the　Chalet　had　ever　asked　him　to　do　the

smallest　thing；　no　matter　what；　his　reply　was　too　well　known。　The

young　fellow　looked　at　Modeste　precisely　as　he　would　have　looked　at　a

cheap　lithograph。



〃He's　one　of　the　pistons　of　the　big　engine　called　'Commerce；'〃　said

poor　Butscha；　whose　clever　mind　made　itself　felt　occasionally　by　such

little　sayings　timidly　jerked　out。



The　four　Latournelles　bowed　with　the　most　respectful　deference　to　an

old　lady　dressed　in　black　velvet；　who　did　not　rise　from　the　armchair

in　which　she　was　seated；　for　the　reason　that　both　eyes　were　covered

with　the　yellow　film　produced　by　cataract。　Madame　Mignon　may　be

sketched　in　one　sentence。　Her　august　countenance　of　the　mother　of　a

family　attracted　instant　notice　as　that　of　one　whose　irreproachable

life　defies　the　assaults　of　destiny；　which　nevertheless　makes　her　the

target　of　its　arrows　and　a　member　of　the　unnumbered　tribe　of　Niobes。

Her　blonde　wig；　carefully　curled　and　well　arranged　upon　her　head；

became　the　cold　white　face　which　resembled　that　of　some　burgomaster's

wife　painted　by　Hals　or　Mirevelt。　The　extreme　neatness　of　her　dress；

the　velvet　boots；　the　lace　collar；　the　shawl　evenly　folded　and　put　on；

all　bore　testimony　to　the　solicitous　care　which　Modeste　bestowed　upon

her　mother。



When　silence　was；　as　the　notary　had　predicted；　restored　in　the　pretty

salon；　Modeste；　sitting　beside　her　mother；　for　whom　she　was

embroidering　a　kerchief；　became　for　an　instant　the　centre　of

observation。　This　curiosity；　barely　veiled　by　the　commonplace

salutations　and　inquiries　of　the　visitors；　would　have　revealed　even　to

an　indifferent　person　the　existence　of　the　domestic　plot　to　which

Modeste　was　expected　to　fall　a　victim；　but　Gobenheim；　more　than

indifferent；　noticed　nothing；　and　proceeded　to　light　the　candles　on

the　card…table。　The　behavior　of　Dumay　made　the　whole　scene　terrifying

to　Butscha；　to　the　Latournelles；　and　above　all　to　Madame　Dumay；　who

knew　her　husband　to　be　capable　of　firing　a　pistol　at　Modeste's　lover

as　coolly　as　though　he　were　a　mad　dog。



After　dinner　that　day　the　cashier　had　gone　to　walk　followed　by　two

magnificent　Pyrenees　hounds；　whom　he　suspected　of　betraying　him；　and

therefore　left　in　charge　of　a　farmer；　a　former　tenant　of　Monsieur

Mignon。　On　his　return；　just　before　the　arrival　of　the　Latournelles；　he

had　taken　his　pistols　from　his　bed's　head　and　placed　them　on　the

chimney…piece；　concealing　this　action　from　Modeste。　The　young　girl

took　no　notice　whatever　of　these　preparations；　singular　as　they　were。



Though　short；　thick…set；　pockmarked；　and　speaking　always　in　a　low

voice　as　if　listening　to　himself；　this　Breton；　a　former　lieutenant　in

the　Guard；　showed　the　evidence　of　such　resolution；　such　sang…froid　on

his　face　that　throughout　life；　even　in　the　army；　no　one　had　ever

ventured　to　trifle　with　him。　His　little　eyes；　of　a　calm　blue；　were

like　bits　of　steel。　His　ways；　the　look　on　his　face；　his　speech；　his

carriage；　were　all　in　keeping　with　the　short　name　of　Dumay。　His

physical　strength；　well…known　to　every　one；　put　him　above　all　danger

of　attack。　He　was　able　to　kill　a　man　with　a　blow　of　his　fist；　and　had

performed　that　feat　at　Bautzen；　where　he　found　himself；　unarmed；　face

to　face　with　a　Saxon　at　the　rear　of　his　company。　At　the　present　moment

the　usually　firm　yet　gentle　expression　of　the　man's　face　had　risen　to

a　sort　of　tragic　sublimity；　his　lips　were　pale　as　the　rest　of　his

face；　indicating　a　tumult　within　him　mastered　by　his　Breton　will；　a

slight　sweat；　which　every　one　noticed　and　guessed　to　be　cold；

moistened　his　brow。　The　notary　knew　but　too　well　that　these　signs

might　result　in　a　drama　before　the　criminal　courts。　In　fact　the

cashier　was　playing　a　part　in　connection　with　Modeste　Mignon；　which

involved　to　his　mind　sentiments　of　honor　and　loyalty　of　far　greater

importance　than　mere　social　laws；　and　his　present　conduct　proceeded

from　one　of　those　compacts　which；　in　case　disaster　came　of　it；　could

be　judged　only　in　a　higher　court　than　one　of　earth。　The　majority　of

dramas　lie　really　in　the　ideas　which　we　make　to　ourselves　about

things。　Events　which　seem　to　us　dramatic　are　nothing　more　than

subjects　which　our　souls　convert　into　tragedy　or　comedy　according　to

the　bent　of　our　characters。



Madame　Latournelle　and　Madame　Dumay；　who　were　appointed　to　watch

Modeste；　had　a　certain　assumed　stiffness　of　demeanor　and　a　quiver　in

their　voices；　which　the　suspected　party　did　not　notice；　so　absorbed

was　she　in　her　embroidery。　Modeste　laid　each　thread　of　cotton　with　a

precision　that　would　have　made　an　ordinary　workwoman　desperate。　Her

face　expressed　the　pleasure　she　took　in　the　smooth　petals　of　the

flower　she　was　working。　The　dwarf；　seated　between　his　mistress　and

Gobenheim；　restrained　his　emotion；　trying　to　find　means　to　approach

Modeste　and　whisper　a　word　of　warning　in　her　ear。



By　taking　a　position　in　front　of　Madame　Mignon；　Madame　Latournelle；

with　the　diabolical　intelligence　of　conscientious　duty；　had　isolated

Modeste。　Madame　Mignon；　whose　blindness　always　made　her　silent；　was

even　paler　than　usual；　showing　plainly　that　she　was　aware　of　the　test

to　which　her　daughter　was　about　to　be　subjected。　Perhaps　at　the　last

moment　she　revolted　from　the　stratagem；　necessary　as　it　might　seem　to

her。　Hence　her　silence；　she　was　weeping　inwardly。　Exupere；　the　spring

of　the　trap；　was　wholly　ignorant　of　the　piece　in　which　he　was　to　play

a　part。　Gobenheim；　by　reason　of　his　character；　remained　in　a　state　of

indifference　equal　to　that　displayed　by　Modeste。　To　a　spectator　who

understood　the　situation；　this　contrast　between　the　ignorance　of　some

and　the　palpitating　interest　of　others　would　have　seemed　quite　poetic。

Nowadays　romance…writers　arrange　such　effects；　and　it　is　quite　within

their　province　to　do　so；　for　nature　in　all　ages　takes　the　liberty　to

be　stronger　than　they。　In　this　instance；　as　you　will　see；　nature；

social　nature；　which　is　a　second　nature　within　nature；　amused　herself

by　making　truth　more　interesting　than　fiction；　just　as　mountain

torrents　describe　curves　which　are　beyond　the　skill　of　painters　to

convey；　and　accomplish　giant　deeds　in　displacing　or　smoothing　stones

which　are　the　wonder　of　architects　and　sculptors。



It　was　eight　o'clock。　At　that　season　twilight　was　still　shedding　its

last　gleams；　there　was　not　a　cloud　in　the　sky；　the　balmy　air　caressed

the　earth；　the　flowers　gave　forth　their　fragrance；　the　steps　of

pedestrians　turning　homeward　sounded　along　the　gravelly　road；　the　sea

shone　like　a　mirror；　and　there　was　so　little　wind　that　the　wax　candles

upon　the　card…tables　sent　up　a　steady　flame；　although　the　windows　were

wide　open。　This　salon；　this　evening；　this　dwellingwhat　a　frame　for

the　portrait　of　the　young　girl　whom　these　persons　were　now　studying

with　the　profound　attention　of　a　painter　in　presence　of　the　Margharita

Doni；　one　of　the　glories　of　the　Pitti　palace。　Modeste；blossom

enclosed；　like　that　of　Catullus；was　she　worth　all　these　precautions？



You　have　seen　the　cage；　behold　the　bird！　Just　twenty　years　of　age；

slender　and　delicate　as　the　sirens　which　English　designers　invent　for

their　〃Books　of　Beauty；〃　Modeste　was；　like　her　mother　before　her；　the

captivating　embodiment　of　a　grace　too　little　understood　in　France；

where　we　choose　to　call　it　sentimentality；　but　which　among　German

women　is　the　poetry　of　the　heart　coming　to　the　surface　of　the　being

and　spending　itselfin　affectations　if　the　owner　is　silly；　in　divine

charms　of　manner　if　she　is　〃spirituelle〃　and　intelligent。　Remarkable

for　her　pale　golden　hair；　Modeste　belonged　to　the　type　of　woman

called；　perhaps　in　memory　of　Eve；　the　celestial　blonde；　whose　satiny

skin　is　like　a　silk　paper　applied　to　the　flesh；　shuddering　at　the

winter　of　a　cold　look；　expanding　in　the　sunshine　of　a　loving　glance；

teaching　the　hand　to　be　jealous　of　the　eye。　Beneath　her　hair；　which

was　soft　and　feathery　and　worn　in　many　curls；　the　brow；　which　might

have　been　traced　by　a　compass　so　pure　was　its　modelling；　shone　forth

discreet；　calm　to　placidity；　and　yet　luminous　with　thought：　when　and

where　could　another　be　found　so　transparently　clear　or　more

exquisitely　smooth？　It　seemed；　like　a　pearl；　to　have　its　orient。　The

eyes；　of　a　blue　verging　on　gray　and　limpid　as　the　eyes　of　a　child；　had

all　the　mischief；　all　the　innocence　of　childhood；　and　they　harmonized

well　with　the　arch　of　the　eyebrows；　faintly　indicated　by　lines　like

those　made　with　a　brush　on　Chinese　faces。　This　candor　of　the　soul　was

still　further　evidenced　around　the　eyes；　in　their　corners；　and　about

the　temples；　by　pearly　tints　threaded　with　blue；　the　special　privilege

of　these　delicate　complexions。　The　face；　whose　oval　Raphael　so　often

gave　to　his　Madonnas；　was　remarkable　for　the　sober　and　virginal　tone

of　the　cheeks；　soft　as　a　Bengal　rose；　upon　which　the　long　lashes　of

the　diaphanous　eyelids　cast　shadows　that　were　mingled　with　light。　The

throat；　bending　as　she　worked；　too　delicate　perhaps；　and　of　milky

whiteness；　recalled　those　vanishing　lines　that　Leonardo　loved。　A　few

little　blemishes　here　and　there；　like　the　patches　of　the　eighteenth

century；　proved　that　Modeste　was　indeed　a　child　of　earth；　and　not　a

creation　dreamed　of　in　Italy　by　the　angelic　school。　Her　lips；　delicate

yet　full；　were　slightly　mocking　and　somewhat　sensuous；　the　waist；

which　was　supple　and　yet　not　fragile；　had　no　terrors　for　maternity；

like　those　of　girls　who　seek　beauty　by　the　fatal　pressure　of　a　corset。

Steel　and　dimity　and　lacings　defined　but　did　not　create　the　serpentine

lines　of　the　elegant　figure；　graceful　as　that　of　a　young　poplar

swaying　in　the　wind。



A　pearl…gray　dress　with　crimson　trimmings；　made　with　a　long　waist；

modestly　outlined　the　bust　and　covered　the　shoulders；　still　rather

thin；　with　a　chemisette　which　left　nothing　to　view　but　the　first

curves　of　the　throat　where　it　joined　the　shoulders。　From　the　aspect　of

the　young　girl's　face；　at　once　ethereal　and　intelligent；　where　the

delicacy　of　a　Greek　nose　with　its　rosy　nostrils　and　firm　modelling

marked　something　positive　and　defined；　where　the　poetry　enthroned　upon

an　almost　mystic　brow　seemed　belied　at　times　by　the　pleasure…loving

expression　of　the　mouth；　where　candor　claimed　the　depths　profound　and

varied　of　the　eye；　and　disputed　them　with　a　spirit　of　irony　that　was

trained　and　educated；from　all　these　signs　a