the nabob-第63章

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〃Oh；　she　will　come；〃　said　the　banker；　his　mouth　full。　〃I　am　sure　she　will　come。〃

The　noise　of　dresses；　of　a　train　rustling　in　the　next　room　made　the　baroness　turn　quickly。　But；　to　the　great　joy　of　the　〃bundles；〃　looking　on　from　their　corners；　it　was　not　the　lady　they　were　expecting。

This　tall；　elegant　blonde；　with　worn　features　and　irreproachable　toilette；　was　not　like　Mlle。　Afchin。　She　was　worthy　in　every　way　to　bear　a　name　as　celebrated　as　that　of　Dr。　Jenkins。　In　the　last　two　or　three　months　the　beautiful　Mme。　Jenkins　had　greatly　changed；　become　much　older。　In　the　life　of　a　woman　who　has　long　remained　young　there　comes　a　time　when　the　years；　which　have　passed　over　her　head　without　leaving　a　wrinkle；　trace　their　passage　all　at　once　brutally　in　indelible　marks。　People　no　longer　say；　on　seeing　her；　〃How　beautiful　she　is！〃　but　〃How　beautiful　she　must　have　been！〃　And　this　cruel　way　of　speaking　in　the　past；　of　throwing　back　to　a　distant　period　that　which　was　but　yesterday　a　visible　fact；　marks　a　beginning　of　old　age　and　of　retirement；　a　change　of　all　her　triumphs　into　memories。　Was　it　the　disappointment　of　seeing　the　doctor's　wife　arrive；　instead　of　Mme。　Jansoulet；　or　did　the　discredit　which　the　Duke　de　Mora's　death　had　thrown　on　the　fashionable　physician　fall　on　her　who　bore　his　name？　There　was　a　little　of　each　of　these　reasons；　and　perhaps　of　another；　in　the　cool　greeting　of　the　baroness。　A　slight　greeting　on　the　ends　of　her　lips；　some　hurried　words；　and　she　returned　to　the　noble　battalion　nibbling　vigorously　away。　The　room　had　become　animated　under　the　effects　of　wine。　People　no　longer　whispered；　they　talked。　The　lamps　brought　in　added　a　new　brilliance　to　the　gathering；　but　announced　that　it　was　near　its　close；　some　indeed；　not　interested　in　the　great　event；　having　already　taken　their　leave。　And　still　the　Jansoulets　did　not　come。

All　at　once　a　heavy；　hurried　step。　The　Nabob　appeared；　alone；　buttoned　up　in　his　black　coat；　correctly　dressed；　but　with　his　face　upset；　his　eyes　haggard；　still　trembling　from　the　terrible　scene　which　he　had　left。

She　would　not　come。

In　the　morning　he　had　told　the　maids　to　dress　madame　for　three　o'clock；　as　he　did　each　time　he　took　out　the　Levantine　with　him；　when　it　was　necessary　to　move　this　indolent　person；　who；　not　being　able　to　accept　even　any　responsibility　whatever；　left　others　to　think；　decide；　act　for　her；　going　willingly　where　she　was　desired　to　go；　once　she　was　started。　And　it　was　on　this　amiability　that　he　counted　to　take　her　to　Hemerlingue's。　But　when；　after　/dejeuner/；　Jansoulet　dressed；　superb；　perspiring　with　the　effort　to　put　on　gloves；　asked　if　madame　would　soon　be　ready；　he　was　told　that　she　was　not　going　out。　The　matter　was　grave；　so　grave；　that　putting　on　one　side　all　the　intermediaries　of　valets　and　maids；　which　they　made　use　of　in　their　conjugal　dialogues；　he　ran　up　the　stairs　four　steps　at　once　like　a　gust　of　wind；　and　entered　the　draperied　rooms　of　the　Levantine。

She　was　still　in　bed；　dressed　in　that　great　open　tunic　of　silk　of　two　colours；　which　the　Moors　call　a　/djebba/；　and　in　a　little　cap　embroidered　with　gold；　from　which　escaped　her　heavy　long　black　hair；　all　entangled　round　her　moon…shaped　face；　flushed　from　her　recent　meal。　The　sleeves　of　her　/djebba/　pushed　back　showed　two　enormous　shapeless　arms；　loaded　with　bracelets；　with　long　chains　wandering　through　a　heap　of　little　mirrors；　of　red　beads；　of　scent…boxes；　of　microscopic　pipes；　of　cigarette　casesthe　childish　toyshop　collection　of　a　Moorish　woman　at　her　rising。

The　room；　filled　with　the　heavy　opium…scented　smoke　of　Turkish　tobacco；　was　in　similar　disorder。　Negresses　went　and　came；　slowly　removing　their　mistress's　coffee；　the　favourite　gazelle　was　licking　the　dregs　of　a　cup　which　its　delicate　muzzle　had　overturned　on　the　carpet；　while　seated　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　with　a　touching　familiarity；　the　melancholy　Cabassu　was　reading　aloud　to　madame　a　drama　in　verse　which　Cardailhac　was　shortly　going　to　produce。　The　Levantine　was　stupefied　with　this　reading；　absolutely　astounded。

〃My　dear；〃　said　she　to　Jansoulet；　in　her　thick　Flemish　accent；　〃I　don't　know　what　our　manager　is　thinking　of。　I　am　just　reading　this　/Revolt/；　which　he　is　so　mad　about。　But　it　is　impossible。　There　is　nothing　dramatic　about　it。〃

〃Don't　talk　to　me　of　the　theatre；〃　said　Jansoulet；　furious；　in　spite　of　his　respect　for　the　daughter　of　the　Afchins。　〃What；　you　are　not　dressed　yet？　Weren't　you　told　that　we　were　going　out？〃

They　had　told　her；　but　she　had　begun　to　read　this　stupid　piece。　And　with　her　sleepy　air：

〃We　will　go　out　to…morrow。〃

〃To…morrow！　Impossible。　We　are　expected　to…day。　A　most　important　visit。〃

〃But　where？〃

He　hesitated　a　second。

〃To　Hemerlingue's。〃

She　raised　her　great　eyes；　thinking　he　was　making　game　of　her。　Then　he　told　her　of　his　meeting　with　the　baron　at　the　funeral　of　de　Mora　and　the　understanding　they　had　come　to。

〃Go　there；　if　you　like；〃　said　she　coldly。　〃But　you　little　know　me　if　you　believe　that　I；　an　Afchin；　will　ever　set　foot　in　that　slave's　house。〃

Cabassu；　prudently　seeing　what　was　likely　to　happen；　had　fled　into　a　neighbouring　room；　carrying　with　him　the　five　acts　of　/The　Revolt/　under　his　arm。

〃Come；〃　said　the　Nabob　to　his　wife；　〃I　see　that　you　do　not　know　the　terrible　position　I　am　in。　Listen。〃

Without　thinking　of　the　maids　or　the　negresses；　with　the　sovereign　indifference　of　an　Oriental　for　his　household；　he　proceeded　to　picture　his　great　distress；　his　fortune　sequestered　over　seas；　his　credit　destroyed　over　here；　his　whole　career　in　suspense　before　the　judgment　of　the　Chamber；　the　influence　of　the　Hemerlingues　on　the　judge…　advocate；　and　the　necessity　of　the　sacrifice　at　the　moment　of　all　personal　feeling　to　such　important　interests。　He　spoke　hotly；　tried　to　convince　her；　to　carry　her　away。　But　she　merely　answered　him；　〃I　shall　not　go；〃　as　if　it　were　only　a　matter　of　some　unimportant　walk；　a　little　too　long　for　her。

He　said　trembling：

〃See；　now；　it　is　not　possible　that　you　should　say　that。　Think　that　my　fortune　is　at　stake；　the　future　of　our　children；　the　name　you　bear。　Everything　is　at　stake　in　what　you　cannot　refuse　to　do。〃

He　could　have　spoken　thus　for　hours　and　been　always　met　by　the　same　firm；　unshakable　obstinacyan　Afchin　could　not　visit　a　slave。

〃Well；　madame；〃　said　he　violently；　〃this　slave　is　worth　more　than　you。　She　has　increased　tenfold　her　husband's　wealth　by　her　intelligence；　while　you；　on　the　contrary〃

For　the　first　time　in　the　twelve　years　of　their　married　life　Jansoulet　dared　to　hold　up　his　head　before　his　wife。　Was　he　ashamed　of　this　crime　of　/lese…majeste/；　or　did　he　understand　that　such　a　remark　would　place　an　impassable　gulf　between　them？　He　changed　his　tone；　knelt　down　before　the　bed；　with　that　cheerful　tenderness　when　one　persuades　children　to　be　reasonable。

〃My　little　Martha；　I　beg　of　youget　up；　dress　yourself。　It　is　for　your　own　sake　I　ask　it；　for　your　comfort；　for　your　own　welfare。　What　would　become　of　you　if；　for　a　caprice；　a　stupid　whim；　we　should　become　poor？〃

But　the　wordpoorrepresented　absolutely　nothing　to　the　Levantine。　One　could　speak　of　it　before　her；　as　of　death　before　little　children。　She　was　not　moved　by　it；　not　knowing　what　it　was。　She　was　perfectly　determined　to　keep　in　bed　in　her　/djebba/；　and　to　show　her　decision；　she　lighted　a　new　cigarette　at　her　old　one　just　finished；　and　while　the　poor　Nabob　surrounded　his　〃dear　little　wife〃　with　excuses；　with　prayers；　with　supplications；　promising　her　a　diadem　of　pearls　a　hundred　times　more　beautiful　than　her　own；　if　she　would　come；　she　watched　the　heavy　smoke　rising　to　the　painted　ceiling；　wrapping　herself　up　in　it　as　in　an　imperturbable　calm。　At　last；　in　face　of　this　refusal；　this　silence；　this　barrier　of　headstrong　obstinacy；　Jansoulet　unbridled　his　wrath　and　rose　up　to　his　full　height：

〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃I　wish　it。〃

He　turned　to　the　negresses：

〃Dress　your　mistress　at　once。〃

And　boor　as　he　was　at　the　bottom；　the　son　of　a　southern　nail…maker　asserting　itself　in　this　crisis　which　moved　him　so　deeply；　he　threw　back　the　coverlids　with　a　brutal　and　contemptuous　gesture；　knocking　down　the　innumerable　toys　they　bore；　and　forcing　the　half…clad　Levantine　to　bound　to　her　feet　with　a　promptitude　amazing　in　so　massive　a　person。　She　roared　at　the　outrage；　drew　the　folds　of　her　dalmatic　against　her　bust；　pushed　her　cap　sideways　on　her　dishevelled　hair；　and　began　to　abuse　her　husband。

〃Never；　understand　me；　never！　You　may　drag　me　sooner　to　this〃

The　filth　flowed　from　her　heavy　lips　as　from　a　spout。　Jansoulet　could　have　imagined　himself　in　some　frightful　den　of　the　port　of　Marseilles；　at　some　quarrel　of　prostitutes　and　bullies；　or　again　at　some　open…air　dispute　between　Genoese；　Maltese；　and　Provencal　hags；　gleaning　on　the　quays　round　the　sacks　of　wheat；　and　abusing　each　other；　crouched　in　the　whirlwinds　of　golden　dust。　She　was　indeed　a　Levantine　of　a　seaport；　a　spoiled　child；　who；　in　the　evening；　left　alone；　had　heard　from　her　terrace　or　from　her　gondola　the　sailors　revile　each　other　in　every　tongue　of　the　Latin　seas；　and　had　remembered　it　all。　The　wretched　man　looked　at　her；　frightened；　terrified　at　what　she　forced　him　to　hear；　at　her　grotesque　figure；　foaming　and　gasping：

〃No；　I　will　not　gono；　I　will　not　go！〃

And　this　was　the　mother　of　his　children；　a　daughter　of　the　Afchins！　Suddenly；　at　the　thought　that　his　fate　was　in　the　hands　of　this　woman；　that　it　would　only　cost　her　a　dress　to　put　on　to　save　himand　that　time　was　flyingthat　soon　it　would　be　too　late；　a　criminal　feeling　rose　to　his　brain　and　distorted　his　features。　He　came　straight　to　her；　his　hands　contracted；　with　such　a　terrible　expression　that　the　daughter　of　the　Afchins；　frightened；　rushed；　calling　towards　the　door　by　which　the　/masseur/　had　just　gone　out：

〃Aristide！〃

This　cry；　the　words；　this　intimacy　of　his　wife　with　a　servant！　Jansoulet　stopped；　his　rage　suddenly　calmed；　then；　with　a　gesture　of　disgust；　he　flung　himself　out；　slamming　the　doors；　more　eager　to　fly　the　misfortune　and　the　horror　whose　presence　he　divined　in　his　own　home；　than　to　seek　elsewhere　the　help　he　had　been　promised。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　he　made　his　appearance　at　the　Hemerlingues'；　making　a　despairing　gesture　as　he　entered　to　the　banker；　and　approached　the　baroness　stammering　the　ready…made　phrase　he　had　heard　repeated　so　often　the　night　of　his　ball；　〃His　wife；　very　unwellmost　grieved　not　to　have　been　able　to　come〃　She　did　not　give　him　time　to　finish；　rose　slowly；　unwound　herself　like　a　long　and　slender　snake　from　the　pleated　folds　of　her　tight　dress；　and　said；　without　looking　at　him；　〃Oh；　I　knewI　knew！〃　then　changed　her　place　and　took　no　more　notice　of　him。　He　attempted　to　approach　Hemerlingue；　but　the　good　man　seemed　absorbed　in　his　conversation　with　Maurice　Trott。　Then　he　went　to　sit　down　near　Mme。　Jenkins；　whose　isolation　seemed　like　his　own。　But；　even　while　talking　to　the　poor　woman；　as　languid　as　he　was　preoccupied；　he　was　watching　the　baroness　doing　the　honours　of　this　drawing…room；　so　comfortable　when　compared　with　his　own　gilded　halls。

It　was　time　to　leave。　Mme。　Hemerlingue　went　to　the　door　with　some　of　the　ladies；　presented　her　forehead　to　the　old　princess；　bent　under　the　benediction　of　the　Armenian　bishop；　nodd