the nabob-第70章

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her　vast　repertory。　She　worked　constantly；　passing　her　afternoons　in　turning　over　new　music；　choosing　by　preference　sad　and　complicated　harmonies；　the　modern　music　which　no　longer　contents　itself　with　being　an　art；　but　becomes　a　science；　and　answers　better　to　our　nerves；　to　our　restlessness；　than　to　sentiment。

Daylight　flooded　the　room　as　a　maid　brought　a　card　to　her　mistress；　〃Heurteux；　business　agent。〃

The　gentleman　was　there；　he　insisted　on　seeing　madame。

〃You　have　told　him　the　doctor　is　travelling？〃

He　had　been　told；　but　it　was　to　madame　he　wished　to　speak。

〃To　me？〃

Disturbed；　she　examined　this　rough；　crumpled　card；　this　unknown　name：　〃Heurteux。〃　What　could　it　be？

〃Well；　show　him　in。〃

Heurteux；　business　agent；　coming　from　broad　daylight　into　the　semi…　obscurity　of　the　room；　was　blinking　with　an　uncertain　air；　trying　to　see。　She；　on　the　other　hand；　saw　very　distinctly　a　stiff　figure；　with　iron…gray　whiskers　and　protruding　jaw；　one　of　those　hangers…on　of　the　law　whom　one　meets　round　the　law　courts；　born　fifty　years　old；　with　a　bitter　mouth；　an　envious　air；　and　a　morocco　portfolio　under　the　arm。　He　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　chair　which　she　pointed　out　to　him；　turned　his　head　to　make　sure　that　the　servant　had　gone　out；　then　opened　his　portfolio　methodically　to　search　for　a　paper。　Seeing　that　he　did　not　speak；　she　began　in　a　tone　of　impatience：

〃I　ought　to　warn　you；　sir；　that　my　husband　is　absent；　and　that　I　am　not　acquainted　with　his　business。〃

Without　any　astonishment；　his　hand　in　his　papers；　the　man　answered：　〃I　know　that　/M。　Jenkins/　is　absent；　madame〃he　emphasized　more　particularly　the　two　words　〃M。　Jenkins〃〃especially　as　I　come　on　his　behalf。〃

She　looked　at　him　frightened。　〃On　his　behalf？〃

〃Alas！　yes；　madame。　The　doctor's　situation；　as　you　are　no　doubt　aware；　is　one；　for　the　moment；　of　very　great　embarrassment。　Unfortunate　dealings　on　the　Stock　Exchange；　the　failure　of　a　great　financial　enterprise　in　which　his　money　is　invested；　the　/OEuvre　de　Bethleem/　which　weighs　heavily　on　him；　all　these　reverses　coming　at　once　have　forced　him　to　a　grave　resolution。　He　is　selling　his　mansion；　his　horses；　everything　that　he　possesses；　and　has　given　me　a　power　of　attorney　for　that　purpose。〃

He　had　at　last　found　what　he　was　looking　forone　of　those　stamped　folded　papers；　interlined　and　riddled　with　references；　where　the　impassible　law　makes　itself　responsible　for　so　many　lies。　Mme。　Jenkins　was　going　to　say：　〃But　I　was　here。　I　would　have　carried　out　all　his　wishes；　all　his　orders〃　when　she　suddenly　understood　by　the　coolness　of　her　visitor；　his　easy；　almost　insolent　attitude；　that　she　was　included　in　this　clearing　up；　in　the　getting　rid　of　the　costly　mansion　and　useless　riches；　and　that　her　departure　would　be　the　signal　for　the　sale。

She　rose　suddenly。　The　man；　still　seated；　went　on：　〃What　I　have　still　to　say；　madame〃oh；　she　knew　it；　she　could　have　dictated　to　him；　what　he　had　still　to　say〃is　so　painful；　so　delicate。　M。　Jenkins　is　leaving　Paris　for　a　long　time；　and　in　the　fear　of　exposing　you　to　the　hazards　and　adventures　of　the　new　life　he　is　undertaking；　of　taking　you　away　from　a　son　you　cherish；　and　in　whose　interest　perhaps　you　had　better〃

She　heard　no　more；　saw　no　more；　and　while　he　was　spinning　out　his　gossamer　phrases；　given　over　to　despair；　she　heard　the　song　over　and　over　in　her　mind；　as　the　last　image　seen　pursues　a　drowning　man：

　　Le　temps　nous　enleve　　　Notre　enchantement。

All　at　once　her　pride　returned。　〃Let　us　put　a　stop　to　this；　sir。　All　your　turns　and　phrases　are　only　an　additional　insult。　The　fact　is　that　I　am　driven　outturned　into　the　street　like　a　servant。〃

〃Oh；　madame；　madame！　The　situation　is　cruel　enough；　don't　let　us　make　it　worse　by　hard　words。　In　the　evolution　of　his　/modus　vivendi/　M。　Jenkins　has　to　separate　from　you；　but　he　does　so　with　the　greatest　pain　to　himself；　and　the　proposals　which　I　am　charged　to　make　are　a　proof　of　his　sentiments　for　you。　First；　as　to　furniture　and　clothes；　I　am　authorized　to　let　you　take〃

〃That　will　do；〃　said　she。　She　flew　to　the　bell。　〃I　am　going　out。　Quick　my　hat；　my　mantle；　anything；　never　mind　what。　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃

And　while　they　went　to　fetch　her　what　she　wanted　she　said：

〃Everything　here　belongs　to　M。　Jenkins。　Let　him　dispose　of　it　as　he　likes。　I　want　nothing　from　him。　Don't　insist；　it　is　useless。〃

The　man　did　not　insist。　His　mission　fulfilled；　the　rest　mattered　little　to　him。

Steadily；　coldly；　she　arranged　her　hat　carefully　before　the　glass；　the　maid　fastening　her　veil；　and　arranging　on　her　shoulders　the　folds　of　her　mantle；　then　she　looked　round　her　and　considered　for　a　moment　whether　she　was　forgetting　anything　precious　to　her。　No；　nothingher　son's　letters　were　in　her　pocket；　she　never　allowed　them　to　be　away　from　her。

〃Madame　does　not　wish　for　the　carriage？〃

〃No。〃　And　she　left　the　house。

It　was　about　five　o'clock。　At　that　moment　Bernard　Jansoulet　was　crossing　the　doorway　of　the　legislative　chamber；　his　mother　on　his　arm；　but　poignant　as　was　the　drama　enacted　there；　this　one　surpassed　itmore　sudden；　unforeseen；　and　without　any　stage　effects。　A　drama　between　four　walls；　improvised　in　Paris　day　by　day。　Perhaps　it　is　this　which　gives　that　vibration　to　the　air　of　the　city；　that　tremor　which　forces　the　nerves　into　activity。　The　weather　was　magnificent。　The　streets　of　the　wealthy　quarter；　large　and　straight　as　avenues；　shone　in　the　declining　light；　embellished　with　open　windows；　flowery　balconies；　and　patches　of　green　seen　on　the　boulevards；　light　and　soft　among　the　narrow；　hard　prospects　of　stone。　Mme。　Jenkins　hurried　in　this　direction；　walking　aimlessly；　in　a　dull　stupor。　What　a　horrible　crash！　Five　minutes　ago　rich；　surrounded　by　all　the　respect　and　comfort　of　easy　circumstances。　Nownothing。　Not　even　a　roof　to　sleep　under；　not　even　a　name。　The　street！

Where　was　she　to　go？　What　would　become　of　her？

At　first　she　had　thought　of　her　son。　But；　to　acknowledge　her　fault；　to　blush　before　her　own　child；　to　weep　while　taking　from　him　the　right　to　console　her；　was　more　than　she　could　do。　No；　there　was　nothing　for　her　but　death。　To　die　as　soon　as　possible；　to　escape　shame　by　a　complete　disappearance；　to　unravel　in　this　way　an　inextricable　situation。　But　where　to　die！　How？　There　are　so　many　ways　of　departure！　And　she　called　them　all　up　mentally　while　she　walked。　Life　flowed　around　her；　its　luxury　at　this　time　of　the　year　in　full　flower；　round　the　Madeleine　and　its　market；　in　a　space　marked　off　by　the　perfume　of　carnations　and　roses。　On　the　wide　footpath　were　well…dressed　women　whose　skirts　mingled　their　rustle　with　the　trembling　of　the　young　leaves；　there　was　some　of　the　pleasure　here　of　a　meeting　in　a　drawing…room；　an　air　of　acquaintance　among　the　passers…by；　of　smiles　and　discreet　greetings　in　passing。　And　all　at　once　Mme。　Jenkins；　anxious　lest　her　features　might　betray　her；　fearing　what　might　be　thought　if　any　one　saw　her　rushing　on　so　blindly；　slackened　her　pace　to　the　aimless　gait　of　an　afternoon　walk；　stopping　here　and　there。　The　light　materials　of　the　dresses　spoke　of　summer；　of　the　country；　a　thin　skirt　for　the　sandy　paths　of　the　parks；　gauze…trimmed　hats　for　the　seaside；　fans；　sunshades。　Her　fixed　eyes　fastened　on　these　trifles　without　seeing　them；　but　in　a　vague　and　pale　reflection　in　the　clear　windows　she　saw　her　image；　lying　motionless　on　the　bed　of　some　hotel；　the　leaden　sleep　of　a　poison　in　her　head；　or；　down　there；　beyond　the　walls；　among　the　slime　of　some　sunken　boat。　Which　of　the　two　was　better？

She　hesitated；　considered；　compared；　then；　her　decision　made；　started　off　with　the　resolved　air　of　a　woman　tearing　herself　regretfully　from　the　temptations　of　the　window。　As　she　moved　away；　the　Marquis　de　Monpavon；　proud　and　well…dressed；　a　flower　in　his　coat；　saluted　her　at　a　distance　with　that　sweep　of　the　hat　so　dear　to　women's　vanity；　the　well…bred　brow；　with　the　hat　lifted　high　above　the　erect　head。　She　answered　him　with　her　pretty　Parisian's　greeting；　expressed　in　an　imperceptible　inclination　of　the　body　and　a　smile；　and　seeing　this　exchange　of　politeness　in　the　midst　of　the　spring　gaiety；　one　would　never　think　that　the　same　sinister　idea　was　guiding　the　two；　meeting　by　chance　on　the　road　they　were　traversing　in　opposite　directions；　but　to　the　same　end。

The　prediction　of　Mora's　valet　had　come　true　for　the　marquis：　〃We　may　die　or　lose　power；　then　there　will　be　a　reckoning；　and　it　will　be　terrible。〃　It　was　terrible。　The　former　receiver…general　had　obtained　with　difficulty　a　delay　of　a　fortnight　to　make　up　his　deficiencies；　taking　the　last　chance　that　Jansoulet；　with　his　election　confirmed；　and　with　full　control　over　his　millions　again；　would　come　to　the　rescue　once　more。　The　decision　of　the　Assembly　had　just　taken　from　him　this　last　hope。　As　soon　as　he　knew　it；　he　returned　to　the　club　calmly；　and　went　up　to　his　room；　where　Francis　was　waiting　impatiently　for　him　with　an　important　paper　just　arrived。　It　was　a　notification　to　the　Sieur　Louis…Marie…Agenor　de　Monpavon　to　appear　the　next　day　in　the　office　of　the　Juge　d'Instruction。　Was　it　addressed　to　the　censor　of　the　Territorial　Bank　or　to　the　former　receiver…general？　In　any　case；　the　bold　formula　of　a　judicial　assignation　in　the　first　instance；　instead　of　a　private　invitation；　spoke　sufficiently　of　the　gravity　of　the　situation　and　the　firm　resolution　of　Justice。

In　view　of　such　an　extremity；　foreseen　and　expected　for　long；　he　had　made　his　plans。　A　Monpavon　in　the　criminal　courts！a　Monpavon；　librarian　in　a　convict　prison！　Never！　He　put　all　his　affairs　in　order；　tore　up　his　papers；　emptied　his　pockets　carefully；　and　took　something　from　his　toilet…table；　so　calmly　and　naturally；　that　when　he　said　to　Francis；　as　he　was　going　out；　〃Am　going　to　the　bathsThat　dirty　ChamberFilthy　dust〃the　servant　took　him　at　his　word。　And　the　marquis　was　not　lying。　His　exciting　post　up　there　in　the　dust　of　the　tribune　had　tired　him　as　much　as　two　nights　in　the　train；　and　his　decision　to　die　associated　itself　with　his　desire　to　take　a　bath；　the　old　Sybarite　thought　of　going　to　sleep　in　the　bath；　like　what's　his　name；　and　other　famous　personages　of　antiquity。　And　in　justice；　it　must　be　said　that　not　one　of　these　Stoics　went　to　his　death　more　quietly　than　he。

With　a　white　camellia　in　his　buttonhole；　above　his　rosette　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　he　was　going　up　the　Boulevard　des　Capucines　with　a　light　step；　when　the　sight　of　Mme。　Jenkins　troubled　his　serenity　for　a　moment。　She　had　a　youthful　air；　a　light　in　her　eyes；　something　so　piquant　that　he　stopped　to　look　at　her。　Tall　and　beautiful；　with　her　long　dress　of　black　gauze；　her　shoulders　wrapped　in　a　lace　mantle；　her　hat　trimmed　with　a　garland　of　autumn　leaves；　she　disappeared　in　the　midst　of　other　elegant　women　in　the　balmy　atmosphere；　and　the　thought　that　his　eyes　were　going　to　close　forever　on　this　delightful　sight；　whose　pleasures　he　knew　so　well；　saddened　Monpavon　a　little；　and　took　the　spring　from　his　step。　But　a　few　paces　farther　on；　a　meeting　of　another　kind　gave　him　back　all　his　courage。

Some　one；　threadbare；　shamefaced；　dazzled　by　the　light；　was　coming　down　the　Boulevard。　It　was　old　Marestang；　former　senator；　former　minister；　so　deeply　compromised　in　the　affairs　of　the　〃Malta　Biscuits；〃　that；　in　spite　of　his　age；　his　servic