the brotherhood of consolation-第12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！


'Nevertheless；'　I　said　to　myself；　'he；　the　old　lawyer；　did　as　I　did。'
I　do　not　think　it　necessary　to　explain　to　you　how　I　lost　all；　or
nearly　all；　my　property。　I　had　placed　a　little　in　the　Funds；　which
gave　me　five　hundred　francs　a　year；　all　else　was　gone。　I　was　then
thirty…four　years　old。　I　obtained；　through　the　influence　of　Monsieur
Bordin；　a　place　as　clerk；　with　a　salary　of　eight　hundred　francs；　in　a
branch　office　of　the　Mont…de…piete；　rue　des　Augustins。＇*＇　From　that
time　I　lived　very　modestly。　I　found　a　small　lodging　in　the　rue　des
Marais；　on　the　third　floor　（two　rooms　and　a　closet）；　for　two　hundred
and　fifty　francs　a　year。　I　dined　at　a　common　boarding…house　for　forty
francs　a　month。　I　copied　writings　at　night。　Ugly　as　I　was　and　poor；　I
had　to　renounce　marriage。〃

＇*＇　The　Mont…de…Piete　and　its　branches　are　pawn…shops　under　control　of
　　　　the　government。TR。

As　Godefroid　heard　this　judgment　which　the　poor　man　passed　upon
himself　with　beautiful　simplicity　and　resignation；　he　made　a　movement
which　proved；　far　more　than　any　confidence　in　words　could　have　done；
the　resemblance　of　their　destinies；　and　the　goodman；　in　answer　to　that
eloquent　gesture；　seemed　to　expect　the　words　that　followed　it。

〃Have　you　never　been　loved？〃　asked　Godefroid。

〃Never！〃　he　said；　〃except　by　Madame；　who　returns　to　us　all　the　love　we
have　for　her；a　love　which　I　may　call　divine。　You　must　be　aware　of
it。　We　live　through　her　life　as　she　lives　through　ours；　we　have　but
one　soul　among　us；　and　such　pleasures；　though　they　are　not　physical；
are　none　the　less　intense；　we　exist　through　our　hearts。　Ah；　my　child！〃
he　continued；　〃when　women　come　to　appreciate　moral　qualities；　they　are
indifferent　to　others；　and　they　are　then　oldOh！　I　have　suffered
deeply；yes；　deeply！〃

〃And　I；　in　the　same　way；〃　said　Godefroid。

〃Under　the　Empire；〃　said　the　worthy　man；　resuming　his　narrative；　〃the
Funds　did　not　always　pay　their　dividends　regularly；　it　was　necessary
to　be　prepared　for　suspensions　of　payment。　From　1802　to　1814　there　was
scarcely　a　week　that　I　did　not　attribute　my　misfortune　to　Mongenod。
'If　it　were　not　for　Mongenod；'　I　used　to　say　to　myself；　'I　might　have
married。　If　I　had　never　known　him　I　should　not　be　obliged　to　live　in
such　privation。'　But　then；　again；　there　were　other　times　when　I　said；
'Perhaps　the　unfortunate　fellow　has　met　with　ill　luck　over　there。'　In
1806；　at　a　time　when　I　found　my　life　particularly　hard　to　bear；　I
wrote　him　a　long　letter；　which　I　sent　by　way　of　Holland。　I　received　no
answer。　I　waited　three　years；　placing　all　my　hopes　on　that　answer。　At
last　I　resigned　myself　to　my　life。　To　the　five　hundred　francs　I
received　from　the　Funds　I　now　added　twelve　hundred　from　the　Mont…de…
piete　（for　they　raised　my　salary）；　and　five　hundred　which　I　obtained
from　Monsieur　Cesar　Birotteau；　perfumer；　for　keeping　his　books　in　the
evening。　Thus；　not　only　did　I　manage　to　get　along　comfortably；　but　I
laid　by　eight　hundred　francs　a　year。　At　the　beginning　of　1814　I
invested　nine　thousand　francs　of　my　savings　at　forty　francs　in　the
Funds；　and　thus　I　was　sure　of　sixteen　hundred　francs　a　year　for　my　old
age。　By　that　time　I　had　fifteen　hundred　a　year　from　the　Mont…de…piete；
six　hundred　for　my　book…keeping；　sixteen　hundred　from　the　Funds；　in
all；　three　thousand　seven　hundred　francs　a　year。　I　took　a　lodging　in
the　rue　de　Seine；　and　lived　a　little　better。　My　place　had　brought　me
into　relations　with　many　unfortunates。　For　the　last　twelve　years　I　had
known　better　than　any　man　whatsoever　the　misery　of　the　poor。　Once　or
twice　I　had　been　able　to　do　a　real　service。　I　felt　a　vivid　pleasure
when　I　found　that　out　of　ten　persons　relieved；　one　or　two　households
had　been　put　on　their　feet。　It　came　into　my　mind　that　benevolence
ought　not　to　consist　in　throwing　money　to　those　who　suffered。　'Doing
charity；'　to　use　that　common　expression；　seemed　to　me　too　often　a
premium　offered　to　crime。　I　began　to　study　the　question。　I　was　then
fifty　years　of　age；　and　my　life　was　nearly　over。　'Of　what　good　am　I？'
thought　I。　'To　whom　can　I　leave　my　savings？　When　I　have　furnished　my
rooms　handsomely；　and　found　a　good　cook；　and　made　my　life　suitable　in
all　respects；　what　then？how　shall　I　employ　my　time？'　Eleven　years　of
revolution；　and　fifteen　years　of　poverty；　had；　as　I　may　say；　eaten　up
the　most　precious　parts　of　my　life；used　it　up　in　sterile　toil　for　my
own　individual　preservation。　No　man　at　the　age　of　fifty　could　spring
from　that　obscure；　repressed　condition　to　a　brilliant　future；　but
every　man　could　be　of　use。　I　understood　by　this　time　that　watchful
care　and　wise　counsels　have　tenfold　greater　value　than　money　given；
for　the　poor；　above　all　things；　need　a　guide；　if　only　in　the　labor
they　do　for　others；　for　speculators　are　never　lacking　to　take
advantage　of　them。　Here　I　saw　before　me　both　an　end　and　an　occupation；
not　to　speak　of　the　exquisite　enjoyments　obtained　by　playing　in　a
miniature　way　the　role　of　Providence。〃

〃And　to…day　you　play　it　in　a　grand　way；　do　you　not？〃　asked　Godefroid；
eagerly。

〃Ah！　you　want　to　know　everything；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃No；　no！　Would
you　believe　it；〃　he　continued　after　this　interruption；　〃the　smallness
of　my　means　to　do　the　work　I　now　desired　to　do　brought　back　the
thought　of　Mongenod。　'If　it　were　not　for　Mongenod；'　I　kept　saying　to
myself；　'I　could　do　so　much　more。　If　a　dishonest　man　had　not　deprived
me　of　fifteen　hundred　francs　a　year　I　could　save　this　or　that　poor
family。'　Excusing　my　own　impotence　by　accusing　another；　I　felt　that
the　miseries　of　those　to　whom　I　could　offer　nothing　but　words　of
consolation　were　a　curse　upon　Mongenod。　That　thought　soothed　my　heart。
One　morning；　in　January；　1816；　my　housekeeper　announced；whom　do　you
suppose？Mongenod！　Monsieur　Mongenod！　And　whom　do　you　think　I　saw
enter　my　room？　The　beautiful　young　woman　I　had　once　seen；only　now
she　was　thirty…six　years　old；followed　by　her　three　children　and
Mongenod。　He　looked　younger　than　when　he　went　away；　for　prosperity　and
happiness　do　shed　a　halo　round　their　favorites。　Thin；　pale；　yellow；
shrivelled；　when　I　last　saw　him；　he　was　now　plump；　sleek；　rosy　as　a
prebendary；　and　well　dressed。　He　flung　himself　into　my　arms。　Feeling；
perhaps；　that　I　received　him　coldly；　his　first　words　were：　'Friend；　I
could　not　come　sooner。　The　ocean　was　not　free　to　passenger　ships　till
1815；　then　it　took　me　a　year　to　close　up　my　business　and　realize　my
property。　I　have　succeeded；　my　friend。　When　I　received　your　letter　in
1806；　I　started　in　a　Dutch　vessel　to　bring　you　myself　a　little
fortune；　but　the　union　of　Holland　with　the　French　Empire　caused　the
vessel　to　be　taken　by　the　English　and　sent　to　Jamaica；　from　which
island　I　escaped　by　mere　chance。　When　I　reached　New　York　I　found　I　was
a　victim　to　the　bankruptcy　of　others。　In　my　absence　my　poor　Charlotte
had　not　been　able　to　protect　herself　against　schemers。　I　was　therefore
forced　to　build　up　once　more　the　edifice　of　my　fortunes。　However；　it
is　all　done　now；　and　here　we　are。　By　the　way　those　children　are
looking　at　you；　you　must　be　aware　that　we　have　often　talked　to　them　of
their　father's　benefactor。'　'Oh；　yes；　yes；　monsieur！'　said　the
beautiful　Mongenod；　'we　have　never　passed　a　single　day　without
remembering　you。　Your　share　has　been　set　aside　in　all　our　affairs。　We
have　looked　forward　eagerly　to　the　happiness　we　now　have　in　returning
to　you　your　fortune；　not　thinking　for　a　moment　that　the　payment　of
these　just　dues　can　ever　wipe　out　our　debt　of　gratitude。'　With　those
words　Madame　Mongenod　held　out　to　me　that　magnificent　box　you　see　over
there；　in　which　were　one　hundred　and　fifty　notes　of　a　thousand　francs
each。〃

The　old　man　paused　an　instant　as　if　to　dwell　on　that　moment；　then　he
went　on：

〃Mongenod　looked　at　me　fixedly　and　said：　'My　poor　Alain；　you　have
suffered；　I　know；　but　we　did　divine　your　sufferings；　we　did　try　every
means　to　send　the　money　to　you；　and　failed　in　every　attempt。　You　told
me　you　could　not　marry；that　I　had　prevented　it。　But　here　is　our
eldest　daughter；　she　has　been　brought　up　in　the　thought　of　becoming
your　wife；　and　she　will　have　a　dowry　of　five　hundred　thousand　francs。'
'God　forbid　that　I　should　make　her　miserable！'　I　cried　hastily；
looking　at　the　girl；　who　was　as　beautiful　as　her　mother　when　I　first
saw　her。　I　drew　her　to　me　to　kiss　her　brow。　'Don't　be　afraid；　my
beautiful　child！'　I　said。　'A　man　of　fifty　to　a　girl　of　seventeen？
never！　and　a　man　as　plain　and　ugly　as　I　am？never！'　I　cried。
'Monsieur；'　she　said；　'my　father's　benefactor　could　not　be　ugly　for
me。'　Those　words；　said　spontaneously；　with　simple　candor；　made　me
understand　how　true　was　all　that　Mongenod　had　said。　I　then　gave　him　my
hand；　and　we　embraced　each　other　again。　'My　friend；'　I　said；　'I　have
done　you　wrong。　I　have　often　accused　you；　cursed　you。'　'You　had　the
right　to　do　so；　Alain；'　he　replied；　blushing；　'you　suffered；　and
through　me。'　I　took　Mongenod's　note　from　my　desk　and　returned　it　to
him。　'You　will　all　stay　and　breakfast　with　me；　I　hope？'　I　said　to　the
family。　'On　condition　that　you　dine　with　us；'　said　Mongenod。　'We
arrived　yesterday。　We　are　going　to　buy　a　house；　and　I　mean　to　open　a
banking　business　between　Paris　and　North　America；　so　as　to　leave　it　to
this　fellow　here；'　he　added；　showing　me　his　eldest　son；　who　was
fifteen　years　old。　We　spent　the　rest　of　the　day　together　and　went　to
the　play；　for　Mongenod　and　his　family　were　actually　hungry　for　the
theatre。　The　next　morning　I　placed　the　whole　sum　in　the　Funds；　and　I
now　had　in　all　about　fifteen　thousand　francs　a　year。　This　fortune
enabled　me　to　give　up　book…keeping　at　night；　and　also　to　resign　my
place　at　the　Mont…de…piete；　to　the　great　satisfaction　of　the　underling
who　stepped　into　my　shoes。　My　friend　died　in　1827；　at　the　age　of
sixty…three；　after　founding　the　great　banking…house　of　Mongenod　and
Company；　which　made　enormous　profits　from　the　first　loans　under　the
Restoration。　His　daughter；　to　whom　he　subsequently　gave　a　million　in
dowry；　married　the　Vicomte　de　Fontaine。　The　eldest　son；　whom　you　know；
is　not　yet　married；　he　lives　with　his　mother　and　brother。　We　obtain
from　them　all　the　sums　we　need。　Frederic　（his　father　gave　him　my　name
in　America）；Frederic　Mongenod　is；　at　thirty…seven　years　of　age；　one
of　the　ablest；　and　most　upright；　bankers　in　Paris。　Not　very　long　ago
Madame　Mongenod　admitted　to　me　that　she　had　sold　her　hair；　as　I
suspected；　for　twelve　francs　to　buy　bread。　She　gives　me　now　twenty…
four　cords　of　wood　a　year　for　my　poor　people；　in　exchange　for　the　half
cord　which　I　once　sent　her。〃

〃This　explains　to　me　your　relations　with　the　house　of　Mongenod；〃　said
Godefroid；〃and　your　fortune。〃

Again　the　goodman　looked　at　Godefroid　with　a　smile；　and　the　same
expression　of　kindly　mischief。

〃Oh；　go　on！〃　said　Godefroid；　seeing　from　his　manner　that　he　had　more
to　tell。

〃This　conclusion；　my　dear　Godefroid；　made　the　deepest　impression　on
me。　If　the　man　who　had　suffered　so　much；　if　my　friend　forgave　my
injustice；　I　could　not　forgive　myself。〃

〃Oh！〃　ejaculated　Godefroid。

〃I　resolved　to　devote　all　my　superfluous　meansabout　ten　thousand
francs　a　yearto　acts　of　intelligent　benevolence；〃　continued　Monsieur
Alain；　tranquilly。　〃About　this　time　it　was　that　I　made　the
acquaintance　of　a