the deputy of arcis-第31章

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〃Then　you　think　me　capable　of　the　impertinence　Marie…Gaston　is　good　enough　to　suspect　in　me？〃

〃I　don't　know　about　its　being　an　impertinence；〃　I　said　stiffly；　〃but　if　such　a　fancy　came　into　your　mind；　I　should　think　you　very　much　to　be　pitied。〃

His　answer　was　vehement。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　not　have　to　pity　me。　In　my　opinion；　first　love　is　a　vaccination　which　protects　us　from　a　second。〃

The　conversation　stopped　there。　We　had　now　reached　my　own　door；　and　I　invited　Monsieur　Dorlange　to　come　in。　He　accepted　my　politeness；　remarking　that　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　had　probably　returned　and　he　could　thus　take　leave　of　him。

My　husband　was　at　home。　I　don't　know　whether　Lucas；　forestalling　the　rebuke　I　intended　to　give　him；　had　made　out　a　story　to　excuse　himself；　or　whether　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　felt；　in　view　of　my　maternal　escapade；　a　movement　of　jealousy。　It　is　certain；　however；　that　his　manner　of　receiving　me　was　curt；　he　called　it　an　unheard…of　thing　to　go　out　at　such　an　hour；　in　such　weather；　to　see　a　boy　who　proved；　by　announcing　his　own　illness；　that　it　was　nothing　serious。　After　letting　him　talk　in　this　discourteous　way　for　some　little　time；　I　thought　it　was　time　to　put　an　end　to　the　scene；　so　I　said　in　a　rather　peremptory　tone：

〃As　I　wanted　to　sleep　at　night；　I　went　to　the　school　in　a　pelting　rain；　I　came　back　by　moonlight；　and　I　beg　you　to　remark　that　monsieur；　who　was　so　good　as　to　escort　me；　has　come　upstairs　to　bid　you　good…　bye；　because　he　leaves　Paris　to…morrow　morning。〃

I　have　habitually　enough　power　over　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　to　make　this　call　to　order　effective；　but　I　saw　that　my　husband　was　displeased；　and　that　instead　of　having　made　Monsieur　Dorlange　an　easy　diversion；　I　had　called　down　upon　his　head　the　ill…humor　of　my　ogre；　who　instantly　turned　upon　him。

After　telling　him　that　much　had　been　said　about　his　candidacy　during　dinner　at　the　ministry；　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　began　to　show　him　all　the　reasons　why　he　might　expect　an　overwhelming　defeat；　namely；　that　Arcis…sur…Aube　was　one　of　the　boroughs　where　the　administration　felt　itself　most　secure；　that　a　man　of　extraordinary　political　ability　had　already　been　sent　there　to　manipulate　the　election；　and　had　made　a　first　report　giving　triumphant　news　of　his　success。　These　were　only　generalities；　to　which　Monsieur　Dorlange　replied　with　modesty；　but　also　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　had　resolved　who　take　his　chances　against　all　risks　to　which　his　election　might　be　exposed。　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　then　produced　a　final　shaft　which；　under　the　circumstances；　was　calculated　to　have　a　marvellous　effect；　because　it　attacked　both　the　candidate　and　his　private　life。

〃Listen　to　me；　my　dear　monsieur；〃　said　my　husband；　〃when　a　man　starts　on　an　electoral　career　he　must　remember　that　he　stakes　everything；　his　public　life　and　also　his　private　life。　Your　adversaries　will　ransack　your　present　and　your　past　with　a　pitiless　hand；　and　sorrow　to　him　who　has　any　dark　spots　to　hide。　Now　I　ought　not　to　conceal　from　you　that　to…night；　at　the　ministers'；　much　was　said　about　a　little　scandal　which；　while　it　may　be　venial　in　the　life　of　an　artist；　takes　proportions　altogether　more　serious　in　that　of　the　people's　representative。　You　understand　me；　of　course。　I　refer　to　that　handsome　Italian　woman　whom　you　have　in　your　house。　Take　care；　some　puritanical　elector　whose　own　morality　may　be　more　or　less　problematical；　is　likely　to　call　you　to　account　for　her　presence。〃

The　reply　made　by　Monsieur　Dorlange　was　very　dignified。

〃To　those；〃　he　said；　〃who　may　arraign　me　on　that　detail　of　my　private　life　I　wish　but　one　thingthat　they　may　have　nothing　worse　upon　their　consciences。　If　I　had　not　already　wearied　madame　on　our　way　from　the　school　with　an　interminable　story；　I　would　tell　you　the　facts　relating　to　my　handsome　Italian；　and　you　would　see；　Monsieur　le　comte；　that　her　presence　in　my　house　reflects　in　no　way　upon　me。

〃But；〃　returned　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　softening　his　tone；　〃you　take　my　observation　rather　too　seriously。　As　I　said　just　now；　an　artist　may　have　a　handsome　model　in　his　housethat　may　be　natural　enoughbut　she　is　not　a　usual　piece　of　furniture　in　that　of　a　legislator。〃

〃No；　what　seems　more　to　their　liking；〃　replied　Monsieur　Dorlange；　with　some　heat；　〃is　the　good　they　can　get　for　themselves　out　of　a　calumny　accepted　eagerly　and　without　examination。　However；　far　from　dreading　inquiry　on　the　subject　you　mention；　I　desire　it；　and　the　ministry　will　do　me　a　great　service　if　it　will　employ　the　extremely　able　political　personage　you　say　they　have　put　upon　my　path　to　bring　that　delicate　question　before　the　electors。〃

〃Do　you　really　start　to…morrow？〃　asked　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　finding　that　he　had　started　a　subject　which　not　only　did　not　confound　Monsieur　Dorlange；　but；　on　the　contrary；　gave　him　the　opportunity　to　reply　with　a　certain　hauteur　of　tone　and　speech。

〃Yes；　and　very　early　too；　so　that　I　must　now　take　leave　of　you；　having　certain　preparations　still　to　make。〃

So　saying；　Monsieur　Dorlange　rose；　and　after　making　me　a　rather　ceremonious　bow　and　not　bestowing　his　hand　on　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　who；　in　turn；　did　not　hold　out　his　own；　he　left　the　room。

〃What　was　the　matter　with　Armand？〃　asked　my　husband；　as　if　to　avoid　any　other　explanation。

〃Never　mind　Armand；〃　I　said；　〃it　is　far　more　interesting　to　know　what　is　the　matter　with　you；　for　never　did　I　see　you　so　out　of　tune；　so　sharp　and　uncivil。〃

〃What！　because　I　told　a　ridiculous　candidate　that　he　would　have　to　go　into　mourning　for　his　reputation？〃

〃In　the　first　place；　that　was　not　complimentary；　and　in　any　case　the　moment　was　ill…chosen　with　a　man　on　whom　my　maternal　anxiety　had　just　imposed　a　disagreeable　service。〃

〃I　don't　like　meddlers；〃　retorted　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　raising　his　voice　more　than　I　had　ever　known　him　do　to　me。　〃And　after　all；　if　he　had　not　been　here　to　give　you　his　arm　you　would　not　have　gone。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　I　should　have　gone　alone；　for　your　servant；　being　master　here；　refused　to　accompany　me。〃

〃But　you　must　certainly　admit　that　if　any　acquaintance　had　met　you　at　half…past　nine　o'clock　walking　arm…in…arm　with　Monsieur　Dorlange　the　thing　would　have　seemed　to　them；　to　say　the　least；　singular。〃

Pretending　to　discover　what　I　had　known　for　the　last　hour；　I　exclaimed：

〃Is　it　possible　that　after　sixteen　years　of　married　life　you　do　me　the　honor　to　be　jealous。　Now　I　see　why；　in　spite　of　your　respect　for　proprieties；　you　spoke　to　Monsieur　Dorlange　in　my　presence　of　that　Italian　woman　whom　people　think　his　mistress；　that　was　a　nice　little　perfidy　by　which　you　meant　to　ruin　him　in　my　estimation。〃

Thus　exposed　to　the　light；　my　poor　husband　talked　at　random　for　a　time；　and　finally　had　no　resource　but　to　ring　for　Lucas　and　lecture　him　severely。　That　ended　the　explanation。

What　do　you　think　of　this　conjugal　proceeding；　by　which　my　husband；　wishing　to　do　a　man　some　harm　in　my　estimation；　gave　him　the　opportunity　to　appear　to　the　utmost　advantage？　Forthere　was　no　mistaking　itthe　sort　of　emotion　with　which　Monsieur　Dorlange　repelled　the　charge　was　the　cry　of　a　conscience　at　peace　with　itself；　and　which　knows　itself　able　to　confound　a　calumny。



XII

DORLANGE　TO　MARIE…GASTON

Paris；　May；　1839。

On　my　return　this　evening　from　the　Estorades；　on　whom　I　had　paid　my　parting　call；　I　found　your　letter；　my　dear　friend；　in　which　you　announce　your　coming　arrival。　I　shall　await　you　to…morrow　during　the　day；　but　in　the　evening　I　must；　without　further　delay；　start　for　Arcis…sur…Aube；　where；　in　the　course　of　the　next　week　my　political　matters　will　come　to　a　head。　What　particular　hold　I　may　have　on　that　town；　which；　as　it　appears；　I　have　the　ambition　to　represent；　and　on　what　co…operation　and　assistance　I　may　rely；in　a　word；　/who/　is　making　my　electoral　bed；all　that　I　know　as　little　about　as　I　did　last　year　when　I　was　told　for　the　first　time　that　I　must　enter　political　life。

A　few　days　ago　I　received　a　second　letter　from　my　father；　postmarked　Paris　this　time；　and　not　Stockholm。　Judging　by　the　style　of　the　document；　it　would　not　surprise　me　if　the　〃eminent　services〃　rendered　in　a　Northern　court　by　the　mysterious　author　of　my　days　turned　out　to　be　those　of　a　Prussian　corporal。　It　would　be　impossible　to　issue　orders　in　a　more　imperative　tone；　or　to　dwell　more　minutely　on　trifling　particulars。

The　note　or　memorandum　was　headed　thus：　/What　my　son　is　to　do/。

On　receipt　of　these　instructions　I　am　to　send　to　its　destination　the　Saint…Ursula；　to　superintend　the　packing　and　boxing　of　it　myself；　and　to　despatch　it　by　the　fastest　carrier；　to　Mother　Marie…des…Anges；　superior　of　the　convent　of　the　Ursulines　at　Arcis…sur…Aube。

The　order　went　on　to　say　that　I　was　to　follow　the　statue　in　a　few　days；　so　as　to　arrive　at　the　said　Arcis…sur…Aube　not　later　than　the　3rd　of　May。　Even　the　inn　at　which　I　was　to　put　up　was　dictated。　I　would　find　myself　expected　at　the　Hotel　de　la　Poste；　so　that　if　I　happen　to　prefer　any　of　the　others　I　must　resign　that　fancy。　I　am　also　enjoined　to　publish　in　the　newspapers　on　the　day　of　my　departure　the　fact　that　I　present　myself　as　candidate　in　the　electoral　arrondissement　of　Arcis…sur…Aube；　avoiding；　however；　to　make　any　profession　of　political　faith；　which　would　be　both　useless　and　premature。　The　document　ended　with　an　injunction　which；　while　it　humiliated　me　somewhat；　gave　me　a　certain　faith　in　what　was　happening。　The　Mongenod　Brothers；　and　draw　for　another　sum　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　francs；　which　/is　to　be/　deposited　in　my　name；　〃taking　the　utmost　care；〃　continued　my　instructions；　〃when　transporting　this　money　from　Paris　to　Arcis…sur…Aube　that　it　be　not　lost　or　stolen。〃

What　do　you　think　of　that　last　clause；　dear　friend？　That　sum　/is　to　be/　deposited；　then　it　is　not　already　there；　and　suppose　it　is　not　there？Besides；　what　am　I　to　do　with　it　in　Arcis？　Am　I　to　stand　my　election　on　English　principles？　if　so；　a　profession　of　political　faith　would　certainly　be　useless　and　premature。　As　to　the　advice　not　to　lose　or　allow　to　be　stolen　the　money　in　my　possession；　do　you　not　think　that　that　is　making　me　rather　juvenile？　I　feel　an　inclination　to　suck　my　thumb　and　cry　for　a　rattle。　However；　I　shall　let　myself　go　with　the　current　that　is　bearing　me　along；　and；　notwithstanding　the　news　of　your　coming　arrival；　after　paying　a　visit　to　the　Brothers　Mongenod；　I　shall　valiantly　start；　imagining　the　stupefaction　of　the　good　people　of　Arcis　on　seeing　another　candidate　pop　up　in　their　midst　like　a　Jack…in…the…box。

In　Paris　I　have　already　fired　my　gun。　The　〃National〃　has　announced　my　candidacy　in　the　warmest　terms；　and　it　seems　that　this　evening；　in　the　house　of　the　Minister　of　the　Interior；　where　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade　was　dining；　I　was　discussed　at　some　length。　I　ought　to　add　that；　according　to　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　the　general　impression　is　that　I　shall　certainly　fail　of　election。　The　ministry　might　possibly　fear　a　candidate　from　the　Left　centre；　but　as　for　the　democratic　party　to　which　I　am　supposed　to　belong；　they　do　not　even　allow　that　it　exists。　The　Left　centre　candidate　has；　however；　been　disposed　of　by　a　ministerial　envoy　of　the　ablest　and　most　active　description；　and　at　this　moment；　when　I　set　off　my　small　balloon；　the