the alkahest-第35章

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without　an　element　of　fear　in　the　midst　of　the　general　joy。〃



〃My　dear　Marguerite；〃　he　said；　taking　her　hands　and　kissing　them　with

a　grace　that　seemed　a　memory　of　her　youth；　〃you　would　scold　me〃



〃No；〃　she　said。



〃Truly？〃　he　asked；　giving　way　to　childish　expressions　of　delight。　〃Can

I　tell　you　all？　will　you　pay〃



〃Yes；〃　she　said；　repressing　the　tears　which　came　into　her　eyes。



〃Well；　I　oweoh！　I　dare　not〃



〃Tell　me；　father。〃



〃It　is　a　great　deal。〃



She　clasped　her　hands；　with　a　gesture　of　despair。



〃I　owe　thirty　thousand　francs　to　Messieurs　Protez　and　Chiffreville。〃



〃Thirty　thousand　francs；〃　she　said；　〃is　just　the　sum　I　have　laid　by。　I

am　glad　to　give　it　to　you；〃　she　added；　respectfully　kissing　his　brow。



He　rose；　took　his　daughter　in　his　arms；　and　whirled　about　the　room；

dancing　her　as　though　she　were　an　infant；　then　he　placed　her　in　the

chair　where　she　had　been　sitting；　and　exclaimed：



〃My　darling　child！　my　treasure　of　love！　I　was　half…dead：　the

Chiffrevilles　have　written　me　three　threatening　letters；　they　were

about　to　sue　me；me；　who　would　have　made　their　fortune！〃



〃Father；〃　said　Marguerite　in　accents　of　despair；　〃are　you　still

searching？〃



〃Yes；　still　searching；〃　he　said；　with　the　smile　of　a　madman；　〃and　I

shall　FIND。　If　you　could　only　understand　the　point　we　have　reached〃



〃We？　who　are　we？〃



〃I　mean　Mulquinier：　he　has　understood　me；　he　loves　me。　Poor　fellow！　he

is　devoted　to　me。〃



Conyncks　entered　at　the　moment　and　interrupted　the　conversation。

Marguerite　made　a　sign　to　her　father　to　say　no　more；　fearing　lest　he

should　lower　himself　in　her　uncle's　eyes。　She　was　frightened　at　the

ravages　thought　had　made　in　that　noble　mind；　absorbed　in　searching　for

the　solution　of　a　problem　that　was　perhaps　insoluble。　Balthazar；　who

saw　and　knew　nothing　outside　of　his　furnaces；　seemed　not　to　realize

the　liberation　of　his　fortune。



On　the　morrow　they　started　for　Flanders。　During　the　journey　Marguerite

gained　some　confused　light　upon　the　position　in　which　Lemulquinier　and

her　father　stood　to　each　other。　The　valet　had　acquired　an　ascendancy

over　his　master　such　as　common　men　without　education　are　able　to

obtain　over　great　minds　to　whom　they　feel　themselves　necessary；　such

men；　taking　advantage　of　concession　after　concession；　aim　at　complete

dominion　with　the　persistency　that　comes　of　a　fixed　idea。　In　this　case

the　master　had　contracted　for　the　man　the　sort　of　affection　that　grows

out　of　habit；　like　that　of　a　workman　for　his　creative　tool；　or　an　Arab

for　the　horse　that　gives　him　freedom。　Marguerite　studied　the　signs　of

this　tyranny；　resolving　to　withdraw　her　father　from　its　humiliating

yoke　if　it　were　real。



They　stopped　several　days　in　Paris　on　the　way　home；　to　enable

Marguerite　to　pay　off　her　father's　debts　and　request　the　manufacturers

of　chemical　products　to　send　nothing　to　Douai　without　first　informing

her　of　any　orders　given　by　Claes。　She　persuaded　her　father　to　change

his　style　of　dress　and　buy　clothes　that　were　suitable　to　a　man　of　his

station。　This　corporal　restoration　gave　Balthazar　a　certain　physical

dignity　which　augured　well　for　a　change　in　his　ideas；　and　Marguerite；

joyous　in　the　thought　of　all　the　surprises　that　awaited　her　father

when　he　entered　his　own　house；　started　for　Douai。



Nine　miles　from　the　town　Balthazar　was　met　by　Felicie　on　horseback；

escorted　by　her　two　brothers；　Emmanuel；　Pierquin；　and　some　of　the

nearest　friends　of　the　three　families。　The　journey　had　necessarily

diverted　the　chemist's　mind　from　its　habitual　thoughts；　the　aspect　of

his　own　Flanders　acted　on　his　heart；　when；　therefore；　he　saw　the

joyous　company　of　his　family　and　friends　gathering　about　him　his

emotion　was　so　keen　that　the　tears　came　to　his　eyes；　his　voice

trembled；　his　eyelids　reddened；　and　he　held　his　children　in　so

passionate　an　embrace；　seeming　unable　to　release　them；　that　the

spectators　of　the　scene　were　moved　to　tears。



When　at　last　he　saw　the　House　of　Claes　he　turned　pale；　and　sprang　from

the　carriage　with　the　agility　of　a　young　man；　he　breathed　the　air　of

the　court…yard　with　delight；　and　looked　about　him　at　the　smallest

details　with　a　pleasure　that　could　express　itself　only　in　gestures：　he

drew　himself　erect；　and　his　whole　countenance　renewed　its　youth。　The

tears　came　into　his　eyes　when　he　entered　the　parlor　and　noticed　the

care　with　which　his　daughter　had　replaced　the　old　silver　candelabra

that　he　formerly　had　sold；a　visible　sign　that　all　the　other

disasters　had　been　repaired。　Breakfast　was　served　in　the　dining…room；

whose　sideboards　and　shelves　were　covered　with　curios　and　silver…ware

not　less　valuable　than　the　treasures　that　formerly　stood　there。　Though

the　family　meal　lasted　a　long　time；　it　was　still　too　short　for　the

narratives　which　Balthazar　exacted　from　each　of　his　children。　The

reaction　of　his　moral　being　caused　by　this　return　to　his　home　wedded

him　once　more　to　family　happiness；　and　he　was　again　a　father。　His

manners　recovered　their　former　dignity。　At　first　the　delight　of

recovering　possession　kept　him　from　dwelling　on　the　means　by　which　the

recovery　had　been　brought　about。　His　joy　therefore　was　full　and

unalloyed。



Breakfast　over；　the　four　children；　the　father　and　Pierquin　went　into

the　parlor；　where　Balthazar　saw　with　some　uneasiness　a　number　of　legal

papers　which　the　notary's　clerk　had　laid　upon　a　table；　by　which　he　was

standing　as　if　to　assist　his　chief。　The　children　all　sat　down；　and

Balthazar；　astonished；　remained　standing　before　the　fireplace。



〃This；〃　said　Pierquin；　〃is　the　guardianship　account　which　Monsieur

Claes　renders　to　his　children。　It　is　not　very　amusing；〃　he　added；

laughing　after　the　manner　of　notaries　who　generally　assume　a　lively

tone　in　speaking　of　serious　matters；　〃but　I　must　really　oblige　you　to

listen　to　it。〃



Though　the　phrase　was　natural　enough　under　the　circumstances；　Monsieur

Claes；　whose　conscience　recalled　his　past　life；　felt　it　to　be　a

reproach；　and　his　brow　clouded。



The　clerk　began　the　reading。　Balthazar's　amazement　increased　as　little

by　little　the　statement　unfolded　the　facts。　In　the　first　place；　the

fortune　of　his　wife　at　the　time　of　her　decease　was　declared　to　have

been　sixteen　hundred　thousand　francs　or　thereabouts；　and　the　summing

up　of　the　account　showed　clearly　that　the　portion　of　each　child　was

intact　and　as　well…invested　as　if　the　best　and　wisest　father　had

controlled　it。　In　consequence　of　this　the　House　of　Claes　was　free　from

all　lien；　Balthazar　was　master　of　it；　moreover；　his　rural　property　was

likewise　released　from　encumbrance。　When　all　the　papers　connected　with

these　matters　were　signed；　Pierquin　presented　the　receipts　for　the

repayment　of　the　moneys　formerly　borrowed；　and　releases　of　the　various

liens　on　the　estates。



Balthazar；　conscious　that　he　had　recovered　the　honor　of　his　manhood；

the　life　of　a　father；　the　dignity　of　a　citizen；　fell　into　a　chair；　and

looked　about　for　Marguerite；　but　she；　with　the　distinctive　delicacy　of

her　sex；　had　left　the　room　during　the　reading　of　the　papers；　as　if　to

see　that　all　the　arrangements　for　the　fete　were　properly　prepared。

Each　member　of　the　family　understood　the　old　man's　wish　when　the

failing　humid　eyes　sought　for　the　daughter；who　was　seen　by　all

present；　with　the　eyes　of　the　soul；　as　an　angel　of　strength　and　light

within　the　house。　Gabriel　went　to　find　her。　Hearing　her　step；

Balthazar　ran　to　clasp　her　in　his　arms。



〃Father；〃　she　said；　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　where　the　old　man

caught　her　and　strained　her　to　his　breast；　〃I　implore　you　not　to

lessen　your　sacred　authority。　Thank　me　before　the　family　for　carrying

out　your　wishes；　and　be　the　sole　author　of　the　good　that　has　been　done

here。〃



Balthazar　lifted　his　eyes　to　heaven；　then　looked　at　his　daughter；

folded　his　arms；　and　said；　after　a　pause；　during　which　his　face

recovered　an　expression　his　children　had　not　seen　upon　it　for　ten　long

years；



〃Pepita；　why　are　you　not　here　to　praise　our　child！〃



He　strained　Marguerite　to　him；　unable　to　utter　another　word；　and　went

back　to　the　parlor。



〃My　children；〃　he　said；　with　the　nobility　of　demeanor　that　in　former

days　had　made　him　so　imposing；　〃we　all　owe　gratitude　and　thanks　to　my

daughter　Marguerite　for　the　wisdom　and　courage　with　which　she　has

fulfilled　my　intentions　and　carried　out　my　plans；　when　I；　too　absorbed

by　my　labors；　gave　the　reins　of　our　domestic　government　into　her

hands。〃



〃Ah；　now！〃　cried　Pierquin；　looking　at　the　clock；　〃we　must　read　the

marriage　contracts。　But　they　are　not　my　affair；　for　the　law　forbids　me

to　draw　up　such　deeds　between　my　relations　and　myself。　Monsieur

Raparlier　is　coming。〃



The　friends　of　the　family；　invited　to　the　dinner　given　to　celebrate

Claes's　return　and　the　signing　of　the　marriage　contracts；　now　began　to

arrive；　and　their　servants　brought　in　the　wedding…presents。　The

company　quickly　assembled；　and　the　scene　was　imposing　as　much　from　the

quality　of　the　persons　present　as　from　the　elegance　of　the　toilettes。

The　three　families；　thus　united　through　the　happiness　of　their

children；　seemed　to　vie　with　each　other　in　contributing　to　the

splendor　of　the　occasion。　The　parlor　was　soon　filled　with　the　charming

gifts　that　are　made　to　bridal　couples。　Gold　shimmered　and　glistened；

silks　and　satins；　cashmere　shawls；　necklaces；　jewels；　afforded　as　much

delight　to　those　who　gave　as　to　those　who　received；　enjoyment　that　was

almost　childlike　shone　on　every　face；　and　the　mere　value　of　the

magnificent　presents　was　lost　sight　of　by　the　spectators；who　often

busy　themselves　in　estimating　it　out　of　curiosity。



The　ceremonial　forms　used　for　generations　in　the　Claes　family　for

solemnities　of　this　nature　now　began。　The　parents　alone　were　seated；

all　present　stood　before　them　at　a　little　distance。　To　the　left　of　the

parlor　on　the　garden　side　were　Gabriel　and　Mademoiselle　Conyncks；　next

to　them　stood　Monsieur　de　Solis　and　Marguerite；　and　farther　on；

Felicie　and　Pierquin。　Balthazar　and　Monsieur　Conyncks；　the　only

persons　who　were　seated；　occupied　two　armchairs　beside　the　notary　who；

for　this　occasion；　had　taken　Pierquin's　duty。　Jean　stood　behind　his

father。　A　score　of　ladies　elegantly　dressed；　and　a　few　men　chosen　from

among　the　nearest　relatives　of　the　Pierquins；　the　Conyncks；　and　the

Claes；　the　mayor　of　Douai；　who　was　to　marry　the　couples；　the　twelve

witnesses　chosen　from　among　the　nearest　friends　of　the　three　families；

all；　even　the　curate　of　Saint…Pierre；　remained　standing　and　formed　an

imposing　circle　at　the　end　of　the　parlor　next　the　court…yard。　This

homage　paid　by　the　whole　assembly　to　Paternity；　which　at　such　a　moment

shines　with　almost　regal　majesty；　gave　to　the　scene　a　certain　antique

character。　It　was　the　only　moment　for　sixteen　long　years　when

Balthazar　forgot　the　Alkahest。



Monsieur　Raparlier　went　up　to　Marguerite　and　her　sister　and　ask