the nabob-第11章

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　XVI；　the　head　of　a　Barnave　at　twenty！　This　face；　although　the　Nabob　beheld　it　for　the　first　time；　was　not　absolutely　unknown　to　him。

〃What　do　you　desire；　monsieur？〃

Taking　the　letter　which　the　young　man　held　out　to　him；　he　went　to　a　window　in　order　to　see　to　read　it。

〃Te！　It　is　from　mamma。〃

He　said　it　with　so　happy　an　air；　that　word　〃mamma〃　lit　up　all　his　face　with　so　young；　so　kind　a　smile；　that　the　visitor；　who　had　been　at　first　repulsed　by　the　vulgar　aspect　of　this　/parvenu/；　felt　himself　filled　with　sympathy　for　him。

In　an　undertone　the　Nabob　read　these　few　lines　written　in　an　awkward　hand；　incorrect　and　shaky；　which　contrasted　with　the　large　glazed　note…paper；　with　its　heading　〃Chateau　de　Saint…Romans。〃

〃My　dear　son；　this　letter　will　be　delivered　to　you　by　the　eldest　son　of　M。　de　Gery；　the　former　justice　of　the　peace　for　Bourg…Saint…Andeol；　who　has　shown　us　so　much　kindness。〃

The　Nabob　broke　off　his　reading。

〃I　ought　to　have　recognised　you；　M。　de　Gery。　You　resemble　your　father。　Sit　down；　I　beg　of　you。〃

Then　he　finished　running　through　the　letter。　His　mother　asked　him　nothing　precise；　but；　in　the　name　of　the　services　which　the　de　Gery　family　had　rendered　them　in　former　years；　she　recommended　M。　Paul　to　him。　An　orphan；　burdened　with　the　care　of　his　two　young　brothers；　he　had　been　called　to　the　bar　in　the　south；　and　was　now　coming　to　Paris　to　seek　his　fortune。　She　implored　Jansoulet　to　aid　him；　〃for　he　needed　it　badly；　poor　fellow；〃　and　she　signed　herself；　〃Thy　mother　who　pines　for　thee；　Francoise。〃

This　letter　from　his　mother；　whom　he　had　not　seen　for　six　years；　those　expressions　of　the　south　country　of　which　he　could　hear　the　intonations　that　he　knew　so　well；　that　coarse　handwriting　which　sketched　for　him　an　adored　face；　all　wrinkled；　scored；　and　cracked；　but　smiling　beneath　its　peasant's　head…dress；　had　affected　the　Nabob。　During　the　six　weeks　that　he　had　been　in　France；　lost　in　the　whirl　of　Paris；　the　business　of　getting　settled　in　his　new　habitation；　he　had　not　yet　given　a　thought　to　his　dear　old　lady　at　home；　and　now　he　saw　all　of　her　again　in　these　lines。　He　remained　a　moment　looking　at　the　letter；　which　trembled　in　his　heavy　fingers。

Then；　this　emotion　having　passed：

〃M。　de　Gery；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　glad　of　the　opportunity　which　is　about　to　permit　me　to　repay　to　you　a　little　of　the　kindness　which　your　family　has　shown　to　mine。　From　to…day；　if　you　consent；　I　take　you　into　my　house。　You　are　educated；　you　seem　intelligent；　you　can　be　of　great　service　to　me。　I　have　a　thousand　plans；　a　thousand　affairs　in　hand。　I　am　being　drawn　into　a　crowd　of　large　industrial　enterprises。　I　want　some　one　who　will　aid　me；　represent　me　at　need。　I　have　indeed　a　secretary；　a　steward；　that　excellent　Bompain；　but　the　unfortunate　fellow　knows　nothing　of　Paris；　he　has　been；　as　it　were；　bewildered　ever　since　his　arrival。　You　will　tell　me　that　you　also　come　straight　from　the　country；　but　that　does　not　matter。　Well　brought　up　as　you　are；　a　southerner；　alert　and　adaptable；　you　will　quickly　pick　up　the　routine　of　the　Boulevard。　For　the　rest；　I　myself　undertake　your　education　from　that　point　of　view。　In　a　few　weeks　you　will　find　yourself；　I　answer　for　it；　as　much　at　home　in　Paris　as　I　am。〃

Poor　man！　It　was　touching　to　hear　him　speak　of　his　Parisian　habits；　and　of　his　experience；　he　whose　destiny　it　was　to　be　always　a　beginner。

〃Now；　that　is　understood；　is　it　not？　I　engage　you　as　secretary。　You　will　have　a　fixed　salary　which　we　will　settle　directly；　and　I　shall　provide　you　with　the　opportunity　to　make　your　fortune　rapidly。〃

And　while　de　Gery；　raised　suddenly　above　all　the　anxieties　of　a　newcomer；　of　one　who　solicits　a　favour；　of　a　neophyte；　did　not　move　for　fear　of　awaking　from　a　dream：

〃Now；〃　said　the　Nabob　to　him　in　a　gentle　voice；　〃sit　down　there；　next　me；　and　let　us　talk　a　little　about　mamma。〃



MEMOIRS　OF　AN　OFFICE　PORTER　A　MERE　GLANCE　AT　THE　TERRITORIAL　BANK

I　had　just　finished　my　frugal　morning　repast　and；　as　my　habit　was；　placed　the　remains　of　my　modest　provisions　in　the　board…room　safe　with　a　secret　lock；　which　has　served　me　as　a　store…cupboard　during　four　years；　almost；　that　I　have　been　at　the　Territorial。　Suddenly　the　governor　walks　into　the　offices；　with　his　face　all　red　and　eyes　inflamed；　as　though　after　a　night's　feasting；　draws　in　his　breath　noisily；　and　in　rude　terms　says　to　me；　with　his　Italian　accent：

〃But　this　place　stinks；　/Moussiou/　Passajon。〃

The　place　did　not　stink；　if　you　like　the　word。　Onlyshall　I　say　it？　I　had　ordered　a　few　onions　to　garnish　a　knuckle　of　veal　which　Mme。　Seraphine　had　sent　down　to　me；　she　being　the　cook　on　the　second　floor；　whose　accounts　I　write　out　for　her　every　evening。　I　tried　to　explain　the　matter　to　the　governor；　but　he　had　flown　into　a　temper；　saying　that　to　his　mind　there　was　no　sense　in　poisoning　the　atmosphere　of　an　office　in　that　way；　and　that　it　was　not　worth　while　to　maintain　premises　at　a　rent　of　twelve　thousand　francs；　with　eight　windows　fronting　full　on　the　Boulevard　Malesherbes；　in　order　to　roast　onions　in　them。　I　don't　know　what　he　did　not　say　to　me　in　his　passion。　For　my　own　part；　naturally　I　got　angry　at　hearing　myself　addressed　in　that　insolent　manner。　It　is　surely　the　least　a　man　can　do　to　be　polite　with　people　in　his　service　whom　he　does　not　pay。　What　the　deuce！　So　I　answered　him　that　it　was　annoying；　in　truth；　but　that　if　the　Territorial　Bank　paid　me　what　it　owed　me；　namely；　four　years'　arrears　of　salary；　/plus/　seven　thousand　francs　personal　advances　made　by　me　to　the　governor　for　expenses　of　cabs；　newspapers；　cigars；　and　American　grogs　on　board　days；　I　would　go　and　eat　decently　at　the　nearest　cookshop；　and　should　not　be　reduced　to　cooking；　in　the　room　where　our　board　was　accustomed　to　sit；　a　wretched　stew；　for　which　I　had　to　thank　the　public　compassion　of　female　cooks。　Take　that！

In　speaking　thus　I　had　yielded　to　an　impulse　of　indignation　very　excusable　in　the　eyes　of　any　person　whatever　acquainted　with　my　position　here。　Even　so；　I　had　said　nothing　improper　and　had　confined　myself　within　the　limits　of　language　conformable　to　my　age　and　education。　（I　must　have　mentioned　somewhere　in　the　course　of　these　memoirs　that　of　the　sixty…five　years　I　have　lived　I　passed　more　than　thirty　as　beadle　to　the　Faculty　of　Letters　in　Dijon。　Hence　my　taste　for　reports　and　memoirs；　and　those　ideas　of　academical　style　of　which　traces　will　be　found　in　many　passages　of　this　lucubration。）　I　had；　then；　expressed　myself　in　the　governor's　presence　with　the　most　complete　reserve；　without　employing　any　one　of　those　terms　of　abuse　to　which　he　is　treated　by　everybody　here；　from　our　two　censorsM。　de　Monpavon；　who；　every　time　he　comes；　calls　him　laughingly　〃Fleur…de…　Mazas；〃　and　M。　de　Bois　l'Hery；　of　the　Trumpet　Club；　coarse　as　a　groom；　who；　for　adieu；　always　greets　him　with；　〃To　your　bedstead；　bug！〃to　our　cashier；　whom　I　have　heard　repeat　a　hundred　times；　tapping　on　his　big　book；　〃That　he　has　in　there　enough　to　send　him　to　the　galleys　when　he　pleases。〃　Ah；　well！　All　the　same；　my　simple　observation　produced　an　extraordinary　effect　upon　him。　The　circles　round　his　eyes　became　quite　yellow；　and；　trembling　with　rage；　one　of　those　evil　rages　of　his　country；　he　uttered　these　words：　〃Passajon；　you　are　a　blackguard。　One　word　more；　and　I　discharge　you！〃　Stupor　nailed　me　to　the　floor　when　I　heard　them。　Discharge　me/me！/　and　my　four　years'　arrears；　and　my　seven　thousand　francs　of　money　lent！

As　though　he　could　read　my　thought　before　it　was　put　into　words；　the　governor　replied　that　all　accounts　were　going　to　be　settled；　mine　included。　〃And　as　to　that；〃　he　added；　〃summon　these　gentlemen　to　my　private　room。　I　have　important　news　to　announce　to　them。〃

Upon　that；　he　went　into　his　office；　banging　the　doors。

That　devil　of　a　man！　In　vain　you　may　know　him　to　the　coreknow　him　a　liar；　a　comedianhe　manages　always　to　get　the　better　of　you　with　his　stories。　My　account；　mine！mine！　I　was　so　affected　by　the　thought　that　my　legs　seemed　to　give　way　beneath　me　as　I　went　to　inform　the　staff。

According　to　the　regulations；　there　are　twelve　of　us　employed　at　the　Territorial　Bank；　including　the　governor　and　the　handsome　Moessard；　manager　of　/Financial　Truth/；　but　more　than　half　of　that　number　were　wanting。　To　begin　with；　since　/Truth/　ceased　to　be　issuedit　is　two　years　since　its　last　appearanceM。　Moessard　has　not　once　set　foot　in　the　place。　It　seems　he　moves　amid　honours　and　riches；　has　a　queen　for　his　mistressa　real　queenwho　gives　him　all　the　money　he　desires。　Oh；　what　a　Babylon；　this　Paris！　The　others　come　from　time　to　time　to　learn　whether　by　chance　anything　new　has　happened　at　the　bank；　and；　as　nothing　ever　has；　we　remain　weeks　without　seeing　them。　Four　or　five　faithful　ones；　all　poor　old　men　like　myself；　persist　in　putting　in　an　appearance　regularly　every　morning　at　the　same　hour；　from　habit；　from　want　of　occupation；　not　knowing　what　else　to　do。　Every　one；　however；　busies　himself　about　things　quite　foreign　to　the　work　of　the　office。　A　man　must　live；　you　know。　And　then；　too；　one　cannot　pass　the　day　dragging　one's　self　from　easy　chair　to　easy　chair；　from　window　to　window；　to　look　out　of　doors　（eight　windows　fronting　on　the　Boulevard）。　So　one　tries　to　do　some　work　as　best　one　can。　I　myself；　as　I　have　said；　keep　the　accounts　of　Mme。　Seraphine；　and　of　another　cook　in　the　building。　Also；　I　write　my　memoirs；　which；　again；　takes　a　good　deal　of　my　time。　Our　receipt　clerkone　who　has　not　very　hard　work　with　usmakes　line　for　a　firm　that　deals　in　fishing　requisites。　Of　our　two　copying…clerks；　one；　who　writes　a　good　hand；　copies　plays　for　a　dramatic　agency；　the　other　invents　little　halfpenny　toys　which　the　hawkers　sell　at　street　corners　about　the　time　of　the　New　Year；　and　manages　by　this　means　to　keep　himself　from　dying　of　hunger　during　all　the　rest　of　the　year。　Our　cashier　is　the　only　one　who　does　no　outside　work。　He　would　believe　his　honour　lost　if　he　did。　He　is　a　very　proud　man；　who　never　utters　a　complaint；　and　whose　one　dread　is　to　have　the　appearance　of　being　in　want　of　linen。　Locked　in　his　office；　he　is　occupied　from　morning　till　evening　in　the　manufacture　of　shirt…fronts；　collars；　and　cuffs　of　paper。　In　this；　he　has　attained　very　great　skill；　and　his　ever…dazzling　linen　would　deceive；　if　it　were　not　that　at　the　least　movement；　when　he　walks；　when　he　sits　down；　the　stuff　crackles　upon　him　as　though　he　had　a　cardboard　box　under　his　waistcoat。　Unfortunately　all　this　paper　does　not　feed　him；　and　he　is　so　thin；　has　such　a　mien；　that　you　ask　yourself　on　what　he　lives。　Between　ourselves；　I　suspect　him　of　paying　a　visit　sometimes　to　my　store…cupboard。　He　can　do　so　with　ease；　for；　as　cashier；　he　has　the　〃word〃　which　opens　the　safe　with　the　secret　lock；　and　I　fancy　that　when　my　back　is　turned　he　forages　a　little　among　my　provisions。

These　are　certainly　very　extraordinary；　very　incredible　internal　arrangements　for　a　banking　house。　It　is；　however；　the　mere　truth　that　I　am　telling；　and　Paris　is　full　of　financial　institutions　after　the　pattern　of　ours。　Oh；　if　ever　I　publish　my　memoirs！　But　to　take　up　the　interrupted　thread　of　my　story。

When　he　saw　us　all　collected　in　his　private　room；　the　manager　said　to　us　with　solemnity：

〃Gentlemen　and　dear　comrades；　the　time　of　trials　is　ended。　The　Territorial　Bank　inaugu