the nabob-第35章

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　the　white　wall　of　a　terrace；　the　long　figure　of　the　old　woman；　elegant　and　straight　as　her　spindle；　picking　up　bits　of　dead　wood；　breaking　off　some　uneven　branch　of　a　shrub；　careless　of　the　shock　it　caused　her　and　the　sweat　which　broke　out　over　her　skin。　Towards　this　hour　another　figure　was　to　be　seen　in　the　park　alsoless　active；　less　noisy；　dragging　rather　than　walking；　leaning　against　the　walls　and　railingsa　poor　round…shouldered　being；　shaky　and　stiff；　a　figure　from　which　life　seemed　to　have　gone　out；　never　speaking；　when　he　was　tired　giving　a　little　plaintive　cry　towards　the　servant；　who　was　always　near；　who　helped　him　to　sit　down；　to　crouch　upon　some　step；　where　he　would　stay　for　hours；　motionless；　mute；　his　mouth　hanging；　his　eyes　blinking；　hushed　by　the　strident　monotony　of　the　grasshopper's　crya　blotch　of　humanity　in　the　splendid　horizon。

This；　this　was　the　first…born；　Bernard's　brother；　the　darling　child　of　his　father　and　mother；　the　glorious　hope　of　the　nail…maker's　family。　Slaves；　like　so　many　others　in　the　Midi；　to　the　superstition　of　the　rights　of　primogeniture；　they　had　made　every　possible　sacrifice　to　send　to　Paris　their　fine；　ambitious　lad；　who　set　out　assured　of　success；　the　admiration　of　all　the　young　women　of　the　town；　and　Paris；　after　having　for　six　years；　beaten；　twisted；　and　squeezed　in　its　great　vat　the　brilliant　southern　stripling；　after　having　burnt　him　with　all　its　vitriol；　rolled　him　in　all　its　mud；　finished　by　sending　him　back　in　this　state　of　wreckage；　stupefied　and　paralyzedkilling　his　father　with　sorrow；　and　forcing　his　mother　to　sell　her　all；　and　live　as　a　sort　of　char…woman　in　the　better…class　houses　of　her　own　country…side。　Lucky　it　was　that　just　then；　when　this　broken　piece　of　humanity；　discharged　from　all　the　hospitals　of　Paris；　was　sent　back　by　public　charity　to　Bourg…Saint…Andeol；　Bernardhe　whom　they　called　Cadet；　as　in　these　southern　families；　half　Arab　as　they　are；　the　eldest　always　takes　the　family　name；　and　the　last…comer　that　of　CadetBernard　was　at　Tunis　making　his　fortune；　and　sending　home　money　regularly。　But　what　pain　it　was　for　the　poor　mother　to　owe　everything；　even　the　life；　the　comfort　of　the　sad　invalid；　to　the　robust　and　courageous　boy　whom　his　father　and　she　had　loved　without　any　tenderness；　who；　since　he　was　five　years　old；　they　had　treated　as　a　〃hand；〃　because　he　was　very　strong；　woolly…headed；　and　ugly；　and　even　then　knew　better　than　any　one　in　the　house　how　to　deal　in　old　nails。　Ah！　how　she　longed　to　have　him　near　her；　her　Cadet；　to　make　some　return　to　him　for　all　the　good　he　did；　to　pay　at　last　the　debt　of　love　and　motherly　tenderness　that　she　owed　him！

But；　you　see；　these　princely　fortunes　have　the　burdens；　the　wearinesses　of　royal　lives。　This　poor　mother；　in　her　dazzling　surroundings；　was　very　like　a　real　queen：　familiar　with　long　exiles；　cruel　separations；　and　the　trials　which　detract　from　greatness；　one　of　her　sons　forever　stupefied；　the　other　far　away；　seldom　writing；　absorbed　in　his　business；　saying；　〃I　will　come；〃　and　never　coming。　She　had　only　seen　him　once　in　twelve　years；　and　then　in　the　whirl　of　a　visit　of　the　Bey　to　Saint…Romansa　rush　of　horses　and　carriages；　of　fireworks；　and　of　banquets。　He　had　gone　in　the　suite　of　his　monarch；　having　scarcely　time　to　say　good…bye　to　his　old　mother；　to　whom　there　remained　of　this　great　joy　only　a　few　pictures　in　the　illustrated　papers；　showing　Bernard　Jansoulet　arriving　at　the　castle　with　Ahmed；　and　presenting　his　mother。　Is　it　not　thus　that　kings　and　queens　have　their　family　feelings　exploited　in　the　journals？　There　was　also　a　cedar　of　Lebanon；　brought　from　the　other　end　of　the　world；　a　regular　mountain　of　a　tree；　whose　transport　had　been　as　difficult　and　as　costly　as　that　of　Cleopatra's　needle；　and　whose　erection　as　a　souvenir　of　the　royal　visit　by　dint　of　men；　money；　and　teams　had　shaken　the　very　foundations。　But　this　time；　at　least；　knowing　him　to　be　in　France　for　several　monthsperhaps　for　goodshe　hoped　to　have　her　Bernard　to　herself。　And　now　he　returned　to　her；　one　fine　evening；　enveloped　in　the　same　triumphant　glory；　in　the　same　official　display；　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　counts；　of　marquises；　of　fine　gentlemen　from　Paris；　filling；　they　and　their　servants；　the　two　large　wagonettes　she　had　sent　to　meet　them　at　the　little　station　of　Giffas　on　the　other　side　of　the　Rhone。

〃Come；　give　me　a　kiss；　my　dear　mother。　There　is　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of　in　giving　a　good　hug　to　the　boy　you　haven't　seen　all　these　years。　Besides；　all　these　gentlemen　are　our　friends。　This　is　the　Marquis　de　Monpavon；　the　Marquis　de　Bois　d'Hery。　Ah！　the　time　is　past　when　I　brought　you　to　eat　vegetable　soup　with　us；　little　Cabassu　and　Jean…　Batiste　Bompain。　You　know　M。　de　Gery？　With　my　old　friend　Cardailhac；　whom　I　now　present；　that　makes　the　first　batch。　There　are　others　to　come。　Prepare　yourself　for　a　fine　upsetting。　We　entertain　the　Bey　in　four　days。〃

〃The　Bey　again！〃　said　the　old　woman；　astounded。　〃I　thought　he　was　dead。〃

Jansoulet　and　his　guests　could　not　help　laughing　at　this　comical　terror；　accentuated　by　her　southern　intonation。

〃It　is　another；　mamma。　There　is　always　a　Beythank　goodness。　But　don't　be　afraid。　You　won't　have　so　much　bother　this　time。　Our　friend　Cardailhac　has　undertaken　everything。　We　are　going　to　have　magnificent　celebrations。　In　the　meantime；　quickdinner　and　our　rooms。　Our　Parisians　are　worn　out。〃

〃Everything　is　ready；　my　son；〃　said　the　old　lady　quietly；　stiff　and　straight　under　her　Cambrai　cap；　the　head…dress　with　its　yellowing　flaps；　which　she　never　left　off　even　for　great　occasions。　Good　fortune　had　not　changed　her。　She　was　a　true　peasant　of　the　Rhone　valley；　independent　and　proud；　without　any　of　the　sly　humilities　of　Balzac's　country　folk；　too　artless　to　be　purse…proud。　One　pride　alone　she　had　that　of　showing　her　son　with　what　scrupulous　care　she　had　discharged　her　duties　as　guardian。　Not　an　atom　of　dust；　not　a　trace　of　damp　on　the　walls。　All　the　splendid　ground…floor；　the　reception…rooms　with　their　hangings　of　iridescent　silk　new　out　of　the　dust　sheets；　the　long　summer　galleries　cool　and　sonorous；　paved　with　mosaics　and　furnished　with　a　flowery　lightness　in　the　old…fashioned　style；　with　Louis　XIV　sofas　in　cane　and　silk；　the　immense　dining…room　decorated　with　palms　and　flowers；　the　billiard…room　with　its　rows　of　brilliant　ivory　balls；　its　crystal　chandeliers　and　its　suits　of　armourall　the　length　of　the　castle；　through　its　tall　windows；　wide　open　to　the　stately　terrace；　lay　displayed　for　the　admiration　of　the　visitors。　The　marvellous　beauty　of　the　horizon　and　the　setting　sun；　its　own　serene　and　peaceful　richness；　were　reflected　in　the　panes　of　glass　and　in　the　waxed　and　polished　wood　with　the　same　clearness　as　in　the　mirror…like　ornamental　lakes；　the　pictures　of　the　poplars　and　the　swans。　The　setting　was　so　lovely；　the　whole　effect　so　grand；　that　the　clamorous　and　tasteless　luxury　melted　away；　disappeared；　even　to　the　most　hypercritical　eyes。

〃There　is　something　to　work　on；〃　said　Cardailhac；　the　manager；　his　glass　in　his　eye；　his　hat　on　one　side；　combining　already　his　stage…　effect。　And　the　haughty　air　of　Monpavon；　whom　the　head…dress　of　the　old　woman　receiving　them　on　the　terrace　had　shocked；　gave　way　to　a　condescending　smile。　Here　was　something　to　work　on；　certainly；　and；　guided　by　persons　of　taste；　their　friend　Jansoulet　could　really　give　his　Moorish　Highness　an　exceedingly　suitable　reception。　All　the　evening　they　talked　of　nothing　else。　In　the　sumptuous　dining…room；　their　elbows　on　the　table；　full　of　meat　and　drink；　they　planned　and　discussed。　Cardailhac；　who　had　great　ideas；　had　already　his　plan　complete。

〃First　of　all；　you　give　me　/carte…blanche/；　don't　you；　Nabob？　/Carte…　blanche/；　old　fellow；　and　make　that　fat　Hemerlingue　burst　with　envy。〃

Then　the　manager　explained　his　scheme。　The　festivities　were　to　be　divided　into　days；　as　at　Vaux；　when　Fouquet　entertained　Louis　XIV。　One　day　a　play；　another　day　Provencal　games；　dances；　bull…fights；　local　bands；　the　third　day　And　already　the　manager's　hand　sketched　programmes；　announcements；　while　Bois　l'Hery　slept；　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　his　chair　tilted　back；　his　cigar　sunk　in　the　corner　of　his　sneering　mouth；　and　the　Marquis　de　Monpavon；　always　on　his　best　behaviour；　straightened　his　shirt…front　to　keep　himself　awake。

De　Gery　had　left　them　early。　He　had　sought　refuge　beside　the　old　motherwho　had　known　him　as　a　boy；　him　and　his　brothersin　the　humble　parlour　of　the　brightly　decorated；　white…curtained　house；　where　the　Nabob's　mother　tried　to　perpetuate　her　humble　past　with　the　help　of　a　few　relics　saved　from　its　wreck。

Paul　chatted　quietly　with　the　fine　old　woman；　admiring　her　severe　and　regular　features；　her　white　hair　massed　together　like　the　hemp　of　her　distaff；　as　she　sat　holding　herself　straight　in　her　seatnever　in　her　life　having　leaned　back　or　sat　in　an　arm…chaira　little　green　shawl　folded　tightly　across　her　flat　breast。　He　called　her　Francoise；　and　she　called　him　M。　Paul。　They　were　old　friends。　And　guess　what　they　talked　about？　Of　her　grandchildren；　of　Bernard's　three　sons；　whom　she　did　not　know　and　so　much　longed　to　know。

〃Ah；　M。　Paul；　if　you　knew　how　I　long　to　see　them！　I　should　have　been　so　happy　if　he　had　brought　them；　my　three　little　ones；　instead　of　these　fine　gentlemen。　Think；　I　have　never　seen　them；　only　their　portraits　which　are　over　there。　I　am　a　little　afraid　of　their　mother；　she　is　quite　a　great　lady；　a　Miss　Afchin。　But　them；　the　children；　I　am　sure　they　are　not　proud；　and　they　would　love　their　old　granny。　It　would　be　like　having　their　father　a　little　boy　again；　and　I　would　give　to　them　what　I　did　not　give　to　him。　You　see；　M。　Paul；　parents　are　not　always　just。　They　have　their　favourites。　But　God　is　just；　he　is。　The　ones　that　are　most　petted　and　spoiled　at　the　expense　of　the　others；　you　should　see　what　he　does　to　them　for　you！　And　the　favour　of　the　old　often　brings　misfortune　to　the　young！〃

She　sighed；　looking　towards　the　large　recess　from　behind　the　curtains　of　which　there　came；　at　intervals；　a　long　sobbing　breath　like　the　sleeping　wail　of　a　beaten　child　who　has　cried　bitterly。

A　heavy　step　on　the　staircase；　a　loud；　sweet　voice　saying；　very　softly；　〃It　is　I；　don't　move；〃　and　Jansoulet　appeared。　He　knew　his　mother's　habits；　how　her　lamp　was　the　last　to　go　out；　so　when　every　one　in　the　castle　was　in　bed；　he　came　to　see　her；　to　chat　with　her　for　a　little；　to　rejoice　her　heart　with　an　affection　he　could　not　show　before　the　others。　〃Oh；　stay；　my　dear　Paul；　we　don't　mind　you；〃　and　once　more　a　child　in　his　mother's　presence；　with　loving　gestures　and　words　that　were　really　touching；　the　huge　man　threw　himself　on　the　ground　at　her　feet。　She　was　very　happy　to　have　him　there；　so　dearly　near；　but　she　was　just　a　little　shy。　She　looked　upon　him　as　an　all…　powerful　being；　extraordinary；　raising　him；　in　her　simplicity；　to　the　greatness　of　an　Olympian　commanding　the　thunder　and　lightning。　She　spoke　to　him；　asking　about　his　friends；　his　business；　but　not　daring　to　put　the　question　she　had　asked　de　Gery：　〃Why　haven't　my　grandchildren　come？〃　But　he　spoke　of　them　himself。　〃They　are　at　school；　mother。　Whenever　the　holidays　begin　they　shall　be　sent　with　Bompain。　You　remember　Jean…Baptiste　Bompain？　And　you　shall　keep　them　for　two　long　months。　They　will　come　t