la constantin-第3章

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An　hour　before　the　treasurer's　arrival　there　had　been　a　knock　at　the　door　of　the　old　house；　and　Maitre　Quennebert；　curled；　pomaded；　and　prepared　for　conquest；　had　presented　himself　at　the　widow's。　　She　received　him　with　a　more　languishing　air　than　usual；　and　shot　such　arrows　at　him　froth　her　eyes　that　to　escape　a　fatal　wound　he　pretended　to　give　way　by　degrees　to　deep　sadness。　　The　widow；　becoming　alarmed；　asked　with　tenderness

〃What　ails　you　this　evening？〃

He　rose；　feeling　he　had　nothing　to　fear　from　his　rival；　and；　being　master　of　the　field；　might　henceforth　advance　or　recede　as　seemed　best　for　his　interests。

〃What　ails　me？〃　he　repeated；　with　a　deep　sigh。　　〃I　might　deceive　you；　might　give　you　a　misleading　answer；　but　to　you　I　cannot　lie。　　I　am　in　great　trouble；　and　how　to　get　out　of　it　I　don't　know。〃

〃But　tell　me　what　it　is；〃　said　the　widow；　standing　up　in　her　turn。

Maitre　Quennebert　took　three　long　strides；　which　brought　him　to　the　far　end　of　the　room；　and　asked

〃Why　do　you　want　to　know？　　You　can't　help　me。　　My　trouble　is　of　a　kind　a　man　does　not　generally　confide　to　women。〃

〃What　is　it？　　An　affair　of　honour？

〃Yes。〃

〃Good　God！　　You　are　going　to　fight！〃　she　exclaimed；　trying　to　seize　him　by　the　arm。　　〃You　are　going　to　fight！〃

〃Ah！　if　it　were　nothing　worse　than　that！〃　said　Quennebert；　pacing　up　and　down　the　room：　〃but　you　need　not　be　alarmed；　it　is　only　a　money　trouble。　　I　lent　a　large　sum；　a　few　months　ago；　to　a　friend；　but　the　knave　has　run　away　and　left　me　in　the　lurch。　　It　was　trust　money；　and　must　be　replaced　within　three　days。　　But　where　am　I　to　get　two　thousand　francs？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　a　large　sum；　and　not　easy　to　raise　at　such　short　notice。〃

〃I　shall　be　obliged　to　have　recourse　to　some　Jew；　who　will　drain　me　dry。　　But　I　must　save　my　good　name　at　all　costs。〃

Madame　Rapally　gazed　at　him　in　consternation。　　Maitre　Quennebert；　divining　her　thought；　hastened　to　add

〃I　have　just　one…third　of　what　is　needed。〃

〃Only　one…third？〃

〃With　great　care；　and　by　scraping　together　all　I　possess；　I　can　make　up　eight　hundred　livres。　　But　may　I　be　damned　in　the　next　world；　or　punished　as　a　swindler　in　this；　and　one's　as　bad　as　the　other　to　me；　if　I　can　raise　one　farthing　more。〃

〃But　suppose　someone　should　lend　you　the　twelve　hundred　francs；　what　then？〃

〃Pardieu！　　I　should　accept　them；〃　cried　the　notary　as　if　he　had　not　the　least　suspicion　whom　she　could　mean。　　〃Do　you　happen　to　know　anyone；　my　dear　Madame　Rapally？〃

The　widow　nodded　affirmatively；　at　the　same　time　giving　him　a　passionate　glance。

〃Tell　me　quick　the　name　of　this　delightful　person；　and　I　shall　go　to　him　to…morrow　morning。　　You　don't　know　what　a　service　you　are　rendering　me。　　And　I　was　so　near　not　telling　you　of　the　fix　I　was　in；　lest　you　should　torment　yourself　uselessly。　　Tell　me　his　name。〃

〃Can　you　not　guess　it？〃

〃How　should　I　guess　it？〃

〃Think　well。　　Does　no　one　occur　to　you？〃

〃No；　no　one；〃　said　Quennebert；　with　the　utmost　innocence。

〃Have　you　no　friends？〃

〃One　or　two。〃

〃Would　they　not　be　glad　to　help　you？〃

〃They　might。　　But　I　have　mentioned　the　matter　to　no　one。〃

〃To　no　one？〃

〃Except　you。〃

〃Well？〃

〃Well；　Madame　RapallyI　hope　I　don't　understand　you；　it's　not　possible；　you　would　not　humiliate　me。　　Come；　come；　it's　a　riddle；　and　I　am　too　stupid　to　solve　it。　　I　give　it　up。　　Don't　tantalise　me　any　longer；　tell　me　the　name。〃

The　widow；　somewhat　abashed　by　this　exhibition　of　delicacy　on　the　part　of　Maitre　Quennebert；　blushed；　cast　down　her　eyes；　and　did　not　venture　to　speak。

As　the　silence　lasted　some　time；　it　occurred　to　the　notary　that　he　had　been　perhaps　too　hasty　in　his　supposition；　and　he　began　to　cast　round　for　the　best　means　of　retrieving　his　blunder。

〃You　do　not　speak；〃　he　said；　〃I　see　it　was　all　a　joke。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　widow　at　last　in　a　timid　voice；　〃it　was　no　joke；　I　was　quite　in　earnest。　　But　the　way　you　take　things　is　not　very　encouraging。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Pray；　do　you　imagine　that　I　can　go　on　while　you　glare　at　me　with　that　angry　frown　puckering　your　forehead；　as　if　you　had　someone　before　you　who　had　tried　to　insult　you？〃

A　sweet　smile　chased　the　frown　from　the　notary's　brow。　　Encouraged　by　the　suspension　of　hostilities；　Madame　Rapally　with　sudden　boldness　approached　him；　and；　pressing　one　of　his　hands　in　both　her　own；　whispered

〃　It　is　I　who　am　going　to　lend　you　the　money。〃

He　repulsed　her　gently；　but　with　an　air　of　great　dignity；　and　said

〃Madame；　I　thank　you；　but　I　cannot　accept。〃

〃Why　can't　you？〃

At　this　he　began　to　walk　round　and　round　the　room；　while　the　widow；　who　stood　in　the　middle；　turned　as　upon　a　pivot；　keeping　him　always　in　view。　This　circus…ring　performance　lasted　some　minutes　before　Quennebert　stood　still　and　said

〃I　cannot　be　angry　with　you；　Madame　Rapally；　　I　know　your　offer　was　made　out　of　the　kindness　of　your　heart；but　I　must　repeat　that　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　accept　it。〃

〃There　you　go　again！　　I　don't　understand　you　at　all！　　Why　can't　you　accept？　　What　harm　would　it　do？〃

〃If　there　were　no　other　reason；　because　people　might　suspect　that　I　confided　my　difficulties　to　you　in　the　hope　of　help。〃

〃And　supposing　you　did；　what　then？　　People　speak　hoping　to　be　understood。　　You　wouldn't　have　minded　asking　anyone　else。〃

〃So　you　really　think　I　did　come　in　that　hope？〃

〃Mon　Dieu！　　I　don't　think　anything　at　all　that　you　don't　want。　　It　was　I　who　dragged　the　confidence　from　you　by　my　questions；　I　know　that　very　well。　　But　now　that　you　have　told　me　your　secret；　how　can　you　hinder　me　from　sympathising　with　you；　from　desiring　to　aid　you？　When　I　learned　your　difficulty；　ought　I　to　have　been　amused；　and　gone　into　fits　of　laughter？　　What！　it's　an　insult　to　be　in　a　position　to　render　you　a　service！　　That's　a　strange　kind　of　delicacy！〃

〃Are　you　astonished　that　I　should　feel　so　strongly　about　it？〃

〃Nonsense！　　Do　you　still　think　I　meant　to　offend　you？　　I　look　on　you　as　the　most　honourable　man　in　the　world。　　If　anyone　were　to　tell　me　that　he　had　seen　you　commit　a　base　action；　I　should　reply　that　it　was　a　lie。　　Does　that　satisfy　you？〃

〃But　suppose　they　got　hold　of　it　in　the　city；　suppose　it　were　reported　that　Maitre　Quennebert　had　taken　money　from　Madame　de　Rapally；　would　it　be　the　same　as　if　they　said　Maitre　Quennebert　had　borrowed　twelve　hundred　livres　from　Monsieur　Robert　or　some　other　business　man？〃

〃I　don't　see　what　difference　it　could　make。〃

〃But　I　do。〃

〃What　then？〃

〃It's　not　easy　to　express；　but〃

〃But　you　exaggerate　both　the　service　and　the　gratitude　you　ought　to　feel。　　I　think　I　know　why　you　refuse。　　You're　ashamed　to　take　it　as　a　gift；　aren't　you。〃

〃Yes；　I　am。〃

〃Well；　I'm　not　going　to　make　you　a　gift。　　Borrow　twelve　hundred　livres　from　me。　　For　how　long　do　you　want　the　money？〃

〃I　really　don't　know　how　soon　I　can　repay　you。〃

〃Let's　say　a　year；　and　reckon　the　interest。　　Sit　down　there；　you　baby；　and　write　out　a　promissory　note。〃

Maitre　Quennebert　made　some　further　show　of　resistance；　but　at　last　yielded　to　the　widow's　importunity。　　It　is　needless　to　say　that　the　whole　thing　was　a　comedy　on　his　part；　except　that　he　really　needed　the　money。　　But　he　did　not　need　it　to　replace　a　sum　of　which　a　faithless　friend　had　robbed　him；　but　to　satisfy　his　own　creditors；　who；　out　of　all　patience　with　him；　were　threatening　to　sue　him；　and　his　only　reason　for　seeking　out　Madame　de　Rapally　was　to　take　advantage　of　her　generous　disposition　towards　himself。　　His　feigned　delicacy　was　intended　to　induce　her　to　insist　so　urgently；　that　in　accepting　he　should　not　fall　too　much　in　her　esteem；　but　should　seem　to　yield　to　force。　　And　his　plan　met　with　complete　success；　for　at　the　end　of　the　transaction　he　stood　higher　than　ever　in　the　opinion　of　his　fair　creditor；　on　account　of　the　noble　sentiments　he　had　expressed。　　The　note　was　written　out　in　legal　form　and　the　money　counted　down　on　the　spot。

〃How　glad　I　am！〃　said　she　then；　while　Quennebert　still　kept　up　some　pretence　of　delicate　embarrassment；　although　he　could　not　resist　casting　a　stolen　look　at　the　bag　of　crowns　lying　on　the　table　beside　his　cloak。　　〃Do　you　intend　to　go　back　to　Saint　Denis　to…night？〃

Even　had　such　been　his　intention；　the　notary　would　have　taken　very　good　care　not　to　say　so；　for　he　foresaw　the　accusations　of　imprudence　that　would　follow；　the　enumeration　of　the　dangers　by　the　way；　and　it　was　quite　on　the　cards　even　that；　having　thus　aroused　his　fears；　his　fair　hostess　should　in　deference　to　them　offer　him　hospitality　for　the　night；　and　he　did　not　feel　inclined　for　an　indefinitely　prolonged　tete…a…tete。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　sleep　at　Maitre　Terrasson's；　rue　des　Poitevins；　I　have　sent　him　word　to　expect　me。　　But　although　his　house　is　only　a　few　yards　distant；　I　must　leave　you　earlier　than　I　could　have　wished；　on　account　of　this　money。〃

〃Will　you　think　of　me？〃

〃How　can　you　ask？〃　replied　Quennebert；　with　a　sentimental　expression。　〃You　have　compelled　me　to　accept　the　money；　butI　shall　not　be　happy　till　I　have　repaid　you。　　Suppose　this　loan　should　make　us　fall　out？〃

〃You　may　be　quite　sure　that　if　you　don't　pay　when　the　bill　falls　due；　I　shall　have　recourse　to　the　law。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　that　very　well。〃

〃I　shall　enforce　all　my　rights　as　a　creditor。〃

〃I　expect　nothing　else。〃

〃I　shall　show　no　pity。〃

And　the　widow　gave　a　saucy　laugh　and　shook　her　finger　at　him。

〃Madame　Rapally；〃　said　the　notary；　who　was　most　anxious　to　bring　this　conversation　to　an　end；　dreading　every　moment　that　it　would　take　a　languishing　tone；…〃Madame　Rapally；　will　you　add　to　your　goodness　by　granting　me　one　more　favour？〃

〃What　is　it？〃

The　gratitude　that　is　simulated　is　not　difficult　to　bear；　but　genuine；　sincere　gratitude；　such　as　I　feel；　is　a　heavy　burden；　as　I　can　assure　you。　　It　is　much　easier　to　give　than　to　receive。　　Promise　me；　then；　that　from　now　till　the　year　is　up　there　shall　be　no　more　reference　between　us　to　this　money；　and　that　we　shall　go　on　being　good　friends　as　before。　　Leave　it　to　me　to　make　arrangements　to　acquit　myself　honourably　of　my　obligations　towards　you。　　I　need　say　no　more；　till　a　year's　up；　mum's　the　word。〃

It　shall　be　as　you　desire；　Maitre　Quennebert；〃　answered　Madame　Rapally；　her　eyes　shining　with　delight。　　〃It　was　never　my　intention　to　lay　you　under　embarrassing　obligations；　and　I　leave　it　all　to　you。　Do　you　know　that　I　am　beginning　to　believe　in　presentiments？〃

〃You　becoming　superstitious！　　Why；　may　I　ask？〃

〃I　refused　to　do　a　nice　little　piece　of　ready…money　business　this　morning。〃

〃Did　you？〃

〃Yes；　because　I　had　a　sort　of　feeling　that　made　me　resist　all　temptation　to　leave　myself　without　cash。　　Imagine！　　I　received　a　visit　to…day　from　a　great　lady　who　lives　in　this　housein　the　suite　of　apartments　next　to　mine。〃

〃What　is　her　name？〃

〃Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi。〃

〃And　what　did　she　want　with　you？〃

〃She　called　in　order　to　ask　me　to　buy；　for　four　hundred　livres；　some　of　her　jewels　which　are　well　worth　six　hundred；　for　I　understand　such　things；　or　should　I　prefer　it　to　lend　her　that　sum　and　keep　the　jewels　as　security？　　It　appears　that　mademoiselle　is　in　great　straits。　　De　Guerchido　you　know　the　name？〃

〃I　think　I　have　heard　it。〃

〃They　say　she　has　had　a　stormy　past；　and　has　been　greatly　talked　of