two poets-第13章
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Political opinion expanded itself in wordy commonplaces vociferated with emphasis； the Quotidienne was comparatively Laodicean in its loyalty； and Louis XVIII。 a Jacobin。 The women； for the most part； were awkward； silly； insipid； and ill dressed； there was always something amiss that spoiled the whole； nothing in them was complete； toilette or talk； flesh or spirit。 But for his designs on Mme。 de Bargeton； Chatelet could not have endured the society。 And yet the manners and spirit of the noble in his ruined manor…house； the knowledge of the traditions of good breeding；these things covered a multitude of deficiencies。 Nobility of feeling was far more real here than in the lofty world of Paris。 You might compare these country Royalists； if the metaphor may be allowed； to old…fashioned silver plate； antiquated and tarnished； but weighty； their attachment to the House of Bourbon as the House of Bourbon did them honor。 The very fixity of their political opinions was a sort of faithfulness。 The distance that they set between themselves and the bourgeoisie； their very exclusiveness； gave them a certain elevation； and enhanced their value。 Each noble represented a certain price for the townsmen； as Bambara Negroes； we are told； attach a money value to cowrie shells。
Some of the women； flattered by M。 du Chatelet； discerned in him the superior qualities lacking in the men of their own sect； and the insurrection of self…love was pacified。 These ladies all hoped to succeed to the Imperial Highness。 Purists were of the opinion that you might see the intruder in Mme。 de Bargeton's house； but not elsewhere。 Du Chatelet was fain to put up with a good deal of insolence； but he held his ground by cultivating the clergy。 He encouraged the queen of Angouleme in foibles bred of the soil； he brought her all the newest books； he read aloud the poetry that appeared。 Together they went into ecstasies over these poets； she in all sincerity； he with suppressed yawns； but he bore with the Romantics with a patience hardly to be expected of a man of the Imperial school； who scarcely could make out what the young writers meant。 Not so Mme。 de Bargeton； she waxed enthusiastic over the renaissance； due to the return of the Bourbon Lilies； she loved M。 de Chateaubriand for calling Victor Hugo 〃a sublime child。〃 It depressed her that she could only know genius from afar； she sighed for Paris； where great men live。 For these reasons M。 du Chatelet thought he had done a wonderfully clever thing when he told the lady that at that moment in Angouleme there was 〃another sublime child；〃 a young poet； a rising star whose glory surpassed the whole Parisian galaxy； though he knew it not。 A great man of the future had been born in L'Houmeau！ The headmaster of the school had shown the Baron some admirable verses。 The poor and humble lad was a second Chatterton； with none of the political baseness and ferocious hatred of the great ones of earth that led his English prototype to turn pamphleteer and revile his benefactors。 Mme。 de Bargeton in her little circle of five or six persons； who were supposed to share her tastes for art and letters； because this one scraped a fiddle； and that splashed sheets of white paper； more or less； with sepia； and the other was president of a local agricultural society； or was gifted with a bass voice that rendered Se fiato in corpo like a war whoop Mme。 de Bargeton amid these grotesque figures was like a famished actor set down to a stage dinner of pasteboard。 No words； therefore； can describe her joy at these tidings。 She must see this poet； this angel！ She raved about him； went into raptures； talked of him for whole hours together。 Before two days were out the sometime diplomatic courier had negotiated （through the headmaster） for Lucien's appearance in the Hotel de Bargeton。
Poor helots of the provinces； for whom the distances between class and class are so far greater than for the Parisian （for whom； indeed； these distances visibly lessen day by day）； souls so grievously oppressed by the social barriers behind which all sorts and conditions of men sit crying Raca！ with mutual anathemasyou； and you alone； will fully comprehend the ferment in Lucien's heart and brain； when his awe…inspiring headmaster told him that the great gates of the Hotel de Bargeton would shortly open and turn upon their hinges at his fame！ Lucien and David； walking together of an evening in the Promenade de Beaulieu； had looked up at the house with the old… fashioned gables； and wondered whether their names would ever so much as reach ears inexorably deaf to knowledge that came from a lowly origin； and now he （Lucien） was to be made welcome there！
No one except his sister was in the secret。 Eve； like the thrifty housekeeper and divine magician that she was； conjured up a few louis d'or from her savings to buy thin shoes for Lucien of the best shoemaker in Angouleme； and an entirely new suit of clothes from the most renowned tailor。 She made a frill for his best shirt； and washed and pleated it with her own hands。 And how pleased she was to see him so dressed！ How proud she felt of her brother； and what quantities of advice she gave him！ Her intuition foresaw countless foolish fears。 Lucien had a habit of resting his elbows on the table when he was in deep thought； he would even go so far as to draw a table nearer to lean upon it； Eve told him that he must not forget himself in those aristocratic precincts。
She went with him as far as St。 Peter's Gate； and when they were almost opposite the cathedral she stopped； and watched him pass down the Rue de Beaulieu to the Promenade； where M。 du Chatelet was waiting for him。 And after he was out of sight； she still stood there； poor girl！ in a great tremor of emotion； as though some great thing had happened to them。 Lucien in Mme。 de Bargeton's house！for Eve it meant the dawn of success。 The innocent creature did not suspect that where ambition begins； ingenuous feeling ends。
Externals in the Rue du Minage gave Lucien no sense of surprise。 This palace； that loomed so large in his imagination； was a house built of the soft stone of the country； mellowed by time。 It looked dismal enough from the street； and inside it was extremely plain； there was the usual provincial courtyardchilly； prim； and neat； and the house itself was sober； almost convent…like； but in good repair。
Lucien went up the old staircase with the balustrade of chestnut wood （the stone steps ceased after the second floor）； crossed a shabby antechamber； and came into the presence in a little wainscoted drawing…room； beyond a dimly…lit salon。 The carved woodwork； in the taste of the eighteenth century； had been painted gray。 There were monochrome paintings on the frieze panels； and the walls were adorned with crimson damask with a meagre border。 The old…fashioned furniture shrank piteously from sight under covers of a red…and…white check pattern。 On the sofa； covered with thin mattressed cushions； sat Mme。 de Bargeton； the poet beheld her by the light of two wax candles on a sconce with a screen fitted to it； that stood before her on a round table with a green cloth。
The queen did not attempt to rise； but she twisted very gracefully on her seat； smiling on the poet； who was not a little fluttered by the serpentine quiverings； her manner was distinguished； he thought。 For Mme。 de Bargeton； she was impressed with Lucien's extreme beauty； with his diffidence； with everything about him； for her the poet already was poetry incarnate。 Lucien scrutinized his hostess with discreet side glances； she disappointed none of his expectations of a great lady。
Mme。 de Bargeton； following a new fashion； wore a coif of slashed black velvet； a head…dress that recalls memories of mediaeval legend to a young imagination； to amplify； as it were； the dignity of womanhood。 Her red…gold hair； escaping from under her cap； hung loose； bright golden color in the light； red in the rounded shadow of the curls that only partially hid her neck。 Beneath a massive white brow； clean cut and strongly outlined； shone a pair of bright gray eyes encircled by a margin of mother…of…pearl； two blue veins on each side of the nose bringing out the whiteness of that delicate setting。 The
