the lesser bourgeoisie-第85章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃Profits！〃　exclaimed　Thuillier。　〃I　don't　see　that　he　got　anything　out
of　that　transaction；　except　the　marriage　which　he　now　refuses〃

〃But；〃　interrupted　Cerizet；　〃there's　the　ten　thousand　francs　he　got
out　of　you　on　pretence　of　the　cross　which　you　never　received；　and　the
twenty…five　thousand　he　owes　to　Madame　Lambert；　for　which　you　went
security；　and　which　you　will　soon　have　to　pay　like　a　good　fellow。〃

〃What's　this　I　hear？〃　cried　Brigitte；　up　in　arms；　〃twenty…five
thousand　francs　for　which　you　have　given　security？〃

〃Yes；　mademoiselle；〃　interposed　Cerizet；　〃behind　that　sum　which　this
woman　had　lent　him　there　was　a　mystery；　and　if　I　had　not　laid　my　hand
on　the　true　explanation；　there　would　certainly　have　been　a　very　dirty
ending　to　it。　La　Peyrade　was　clever　enough　not　only　to　whitewash
himself　in　Monsieur　Thuillier's　eyes；　but　to　get　him　to　secure　the
debt。〃

〃But；〃　said　Thuillier；　〃how　do　you　know　that　I　did　give　security　for
that　debt；　if　you　have　not　seen　him　since　then？〃

〃I　know　it　from　the　woman　herself；　who　tells　the　whole　story　now　she
is　certain　of　being　paid。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Brigitte　to　her　brother；　〃a　pretty　business　you　are
engaged　in！〃

〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　Cerizet；　〃I　only　meant　to　warn　Monsieur　Thuillier
a　little。　I　think　myself　that　you　are　sure　to　be　paid。　Without　knowing
the　exact　particulars　of　this　new　marriage；　I　am　certain　the　family
would　never　allow　him　to　owe　you　to　such　mortifying　debts；　if
necessary；　I　should　be　very　glad　to　intervene。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　Thuillier；　stiffly；　〃thanking　you　for　your　officious
intervention；　permit　me　to　say　that　it　surprises　me　a　little；　for　the
manner　in　which　we　parted　would　not　have　allowed　me　to　hope　it。〃

〃Ah　ca！〃　said　Cerizet；　〃you　don't　think　I　was　angry　with　you　for　that；
do　you？　I　pitied　you；　that　was　all。　I　saw　you　under　the　spell；　and　I
said　to　myself：　'Leave　him　to　learn　la　Peyrade　by　experience。'　I　knew
very　well　that　the　day　of　justice　would　dawn　for　me；　and　before　long；
too。　La　Peyrade　is　a　man　who　doesn't　make　you　wait　for　his
questionable　proceedings。〃

〃Allow　me　to　say；〃　remarked　Thuillier；　〃that　I　do　not　consider　the
rupture　of　the　marriage　we　had　proposed　a　questionable　proceeding。　The
matter　was　arranged；　I　may　say；　by　mutual　consent。〃

〃And　the　trick　he　is　going　to　play　you　by　leaving　the　paper　in　the
lurch；　and　the　debt　he　has　saddled　you　with；　what　are　they？〃

〃Monsieur　Cerizet；〃　continued　Thuillier；　still　holding　himself　on　the
reserve；　〃as　I　have　said　more　than　once　to　la　Peyrade；　no　man　is
indispensable；　and　if　the　editorship　of　my　paper　becomes　vacant；　I
feel　confident　that　I　shall　at　once　meet　with　persons　very　eager　to
offer　me　their　services。〃

〃Is　it　for　me　you　say　that？〃　asked　Cerizet。　〃Well；　you　haven't　hit　the
nail；　if　you　did　me　the　honor　to　want　my　services　it　would　be
impossible　for　me　to　grant　them。　I　have　long　been　disgusted　with
journalism。　I　let　la　Peyrade；　I　hardly　know　why；　persuade　me　to　make
this　campaign　with　you；　it　didn't　turn　out　happily；　and　I　have　vowed
to　myself　to　have　no　more　to　do　with　newspapers。　It　was　about　another
matter　altogether　than　I　came　to　speak　to　you。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Thuillier。

〃Yes；〃　continued　Cerizet；　〃remembering　the　business…like　manner　in
which　you　managed　the　affair　of　this　house　in　which　you　do　me　the
honor　to　receive　me；　I　thought　I　could　not　do　better　than　to　call　your
attention　to　a　matter　of　the　same　kind　which　I　have　just　now　in　hand。
But　I　shall　not　do　as　la　Peyrade　did；make　a　bargain　for　the　hand　of
your　goddaughter；　and　profess　great　friendship　and　devotion　to　you
personally。　This　is　purely　business；　and　I　expect　to　make　my　profit
out　of　it。　Now；　as　I　still　desire　to　become　the　principal　tenant　of
this　house；the　letting　of　which　must　be　a　care　and　a　disappointment
to　mademoiselle；　for　I　saw　as　I　came　along　that　the　shops　were　still
unrented；I　think　that　this　lease　to　me；　if　you　will　make　it；　might
be　reckoned　in　to　my　share　of　the　profits。　You　see；　monsieur；　that　the
object　of　my　visit　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　newspaper。〃

〃What　is　this　new　affair？〃　said　Brigitte；　〃that's　the　first　thing　to
know。〃

〃It　relates　to　a　farm　in　Beauce；　which　has　just　been　sold　for　a　song；
and　it　is　placed　in　my　hands　to　resell；　at　an　advance；　but　a　small
one；　you　could　really　buy　it；　as　the　saying　is；　for　a　bit　of　bread。〃

And　Cerizet　went　on　to　explain　the　whole　mechanism　of　the　affair；
which　we　need　not　relate　here；　as　no　one　but　Brigitte　would　take　any
interest　in　it。　The　statement　was　clear　and　precise；　and　it　took　close
hold　on　the　old　maid's　mind。　Even　Thuillier　himself；　in　spite　of　his
inward　distrust；　was　obliged　to　own　that　the　affair　had　all　the
appearance　of　a　good　speculation。

〃Only；〃　said　Brigitte；　〃we　must　first　see　the　farm　ourselves。〃

This；　the　reader　will　remember；　was　her　answer　to　la　Peyrade　when　he
first　proposed　the　purchase　of　the　house　at　the　Madeleine。

〃Nothing　is　easier　than　that；〃　said　Cerizet。　〃I　myself　want　to　see　it；
and　I　have　been　intending　to　make　a　little　excursion　there。　If　you
like；　I'll　be　at　your　door　this　afternoon　with　a　post…chaise；　and
to…morrow　morning；　very　early；　we　can　examine　the　farm；　breakfast　at
some　inn　near　by；　and　be　back　in　time　for　dinner。〃

〃A　post…chaise！〃　said　Brigitte；　〃that's　very　lordly；　why　not　take　the
diligence？〃

〃Diligences　are　so　uncertain；〃　replied　Cerizet；　〃you　never　know　at
what　time　they　will　get　to　a　place。　But　you　need　not　think　about　the
expense；　for　I　should　otherwise　go　alone；　and　I　am　only　too　happy　to
offer　you　two　seats　in　my　carriage。〃

To　misers；　small　gains　are　often　determining　causes　in　great　matters；
after　a　little　resistance　〃pro　forma；〃　Brigitte　ended　by　accepting　the
proposal；　and　three　hours　later　the　trio　were　on　the　road　to　Chartres；
Cerizet　having　advised　Thuillier　not　to　let　la　Peyrade　know　of　his
absence；　lest　he　might　take　some　unfair　advantage　of　it。

The　next　day；　by　five　o'clock；　the　party　had　returned；　and　the　brother
and　sister；　who　kept　their　opinions　to　themselves　in　presence　of
Cerizet；　were　both　agreed　that　the　purchase　was　a　good　one。　They　had
found　the　soil　of　the　best　quality；　the　buildings　in　perfect　repair；
the　cattle　looked　sound　and　healthy；　in　short；　this　idea　of　becoming
the　mistress　of　rural　property　seemed　to　Brigitte　the　final
consecration　of　opulence。

〃Minard；〃　she　remarked；　〃has　only　a　town…house　and　invested　capital；
whereas　we　shall　have　all　that　and　a　country…place　besides；　one　can't
be　really　rich　without　it。〃

Thuillier　was　not　sufficiently　under　the　charm　of　that　dreamthe
realization　of　which　was；　in　any　case；　quite　distantto　forget；　even
for　a　moment；　the　〃Echo　de　la　Bievre〃　and　his　candidacy。　No　sooner　had
he　reached　home　than　he　asked　for　the　morning's　paper。

〃It　has　not　come；〃　said　the　〃male　domestic。〃

〃That's　a　fine　distribution；　when　even　the　owner　of　the　paper　is　not
served！〃　cried　Thuillier；　discontentedly。

Although　it　was　nearly　dinner…time；　and　after　his　journey　he　would
much　rather　have　taken　a　bath　than　rush　to　the　rue　Saint…Dominique；
Thuillier　ordered　a　cab　and　drove　at　once　to　the　office　of　the　〃Echo。〃

There　a　fresh　disappointment　met　him。　The　paper　〃was　made；〃　as　they
say；　and　all　the　employees　had　departed；　even　la　Peyrade。　As　for
Coffinet；　who　was　not　to　be　found　at　his　post　of　office…boy；　nor　yet
at　his　other　post　of　porter；　he　had　gone　〃of　an　errand；〃　his　wife
said；　taking　the　key　of　the　closet　in　which　the　remaining　copies　of
the　paper　were　locked　up。　Impossible；　therefore；　to　procure　the　number
which　the　unfortunate　proprietor　had　come　so　far　to　fetch。

To　describe　Thuillier's　indignation　would　be　impossible。　He　marched　up
and　down　the　room；　talking　aloud　to　himself；　as　people　do　in　moments
of　excitement。

〃I'll　turn　them　all　out！〃　he　cried。　And　we　are　forced　to　omit　the　rest
of　the　furious　objurgation。

As　he　ended　his　anathema　a　rap　was　heard　on　the　door。

〃Come　in！〃　said　Thuillier；　in　a　tone　that　depicted　his　wrath　and　his
frantic　impatience。

The　door　opened；　and　Minard　rushed　precipitately　into　his　arms。

〃My　good；　my　excellent　friend！〃　cried　the　mayor　of　the　eleventh
arrondissement；　concluding　his　embrace　with　a　hearty　shake　of　the
hand。

〃Why！　what　is　it？〃　said　Thuillier；　unable　to　comprehend　the　warmth　of
this　demonstration。

〃Ah！　my　dear　friend；〃　continued　Minard；　〃such　an　admirable　proceeding！
really　chivalrous！　most　disinterested！　The　effect；　I　assure　you；　is
quite　stupendous　in　the　arrondissement。〃

〃But　what；　I　say？〃　cried　Thuillier；　impatiently。

〃The　article；　the　whole　action；〃　continued　Minard；　〃so　noble；　so
elevated！〃

〃But　what　article？　what　action？〃　said　the　proprietor　of　the　〃Echo；〃
getting　quite　beside　himself。

〃The　article　of　this　morning；〃　said　Minard。

〃The　article　of　this　morning？〃

〃Ah　ca！　did　you　write　it　when　you　were　asleep；　or；　like　Monsieur
Jourdain　doing　prose；　do　you　do　heroism　without　knowing　it？〃

〃I！　I　haven't　written　any　article！〃　cried　Thuillier。　〃I　have　been　away
from　Paris　for　a　day；　and　I　don't　even　know　what　is　in　this　morning's
paper；　and　the　office…boy　is　not　here　to　give　me　a　copy。〃

〃I　have　one；〃　said　Minard；　pulling　the　much　desired　paper　from　his
pocket。　〃If　the　article　is　not　years　you　have　certainly　inspired　it；
in　any　case；　the　deed　is　done。〃

Thuillier　hurriedly　unfolded　the　sheet　Minard　had　given　him；　and
devoured　rather　than　read　the　following　article：

　　Long　enough　has　the　proprietor　of　this　regenerated　journal
　　submitted　without　complaint　and　without　reply　to　the　cowardly
　　insinuations　with　which　a　venal　press　insults　all　citizens　who；
　　strong　in　their　convictions；　refuse　to　pass　beneath　the　Caudine
　　Forks　of　power。　Long　enough　has　a　man；　who　has　already　given
　　proofs　of　devotion　and　abnegation　in　the　important　functions　of
　　the　aedility　of　Paris；　allowed　these　sheets　to　call　him　ambitious
　　and　self…seeking。　Monsieur　Jerome　Thuillier；　strong　in　his
　　dignity；　has　suffered　such　coarse　attacks　to　pass　him　with
　　contempt。　Encouraged　by　this　disdainful　silence；　the　stipendiaries
　　of　the　press　have　dared　to　write　that　this　journal；　a　work　of
　　conviction　and　of　the　most　disinterested　patriotism；　was　but　the
　　stepping…stone　of　a　man；　the　speculation　of　a　seeker　for　election。
　　Monsieur　Jerome　Thuillier　has　held　himself　impassible　before　these
　　shameful　imputations　because　justice　and　truth　are　patient；　and　he
　　bided　his　time　to　scotch　the　reptile。　That　time　has　come。

〃That　deuce　of　a　Peyrade！〃　said　Thuillier；　stopping　short；　〃how　he
does　touch　it　off！〃

〃It　is　magnificent！〃　cried　Minard。

Reading　aloud；　Thuillier　continued：

　　Every　one；　friends　and　enemies　alike；　can　bear　witness　that
　　Monsieur　Jerome　Thuillier　has　done　nothing　to　seek　a　candidacy
　　which　was　offered　to　him　spontaneously。

〃That's　evident；〃　said　Thuillier；　interrupting　himself。　Then　he
resumed：

　　But；　since　his　sentiments　are　so　odiously　misrepresented；　and　his
　　intentions　so　falsely　travestied；　Monsieur　Jerome　Thuillier　owes
　　it　to　himself；　and　above　all　to　the　great　national　party　of　which
　　he　is　the　humblest　soldier；　to　give　an　example　which　shall
　　confound　the　vile　sycophants　of　power。

〃It　is　fine；　th