ferragus-第23章
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〃Well; monsieur; tell me; do you want to buy any of my things?〃 said
the old woman; seating herself in a cane arm…chair; which appeared to
be her headquarters。 In it she kept her handkerchief; snuffbox;
knitting; half…peeled vegetables; spectacles; calendar; a bit of
livery gold lace just begun; a greasy pack of cards; and two volumes
of novels; all stuck into the hollow of the back。 This article of
furniture; in which the old creature was floating down the river of
life; was not unlike the encyclopedic bag which a woman carries with
her when she travels; in which may be found a compendium of her
household belongings; from the portrait of her husband to /eau de
Melisse/ for faintness; sugarplums for the children; and English
court…plaster in case of cuts。
Jules studied all。 He looked attentively at Madame Gruget's yellow
visage; at her gray eyes without either brows or lashes; her toothless
mouth; her wrinkles marked in black; her rusty cap; her still more
rusty ruffles; her cotton petticoat full of holes; her worn…out
slippers; her disabled fire…pot; her table heaped with dishes and
silks and work begun or finished; in wool or cotton; in the midst of
which stood a bottle of wine。 Then he said to himself: 〃This old woman
has some passion; some strong liking or vice; I can make her do my
will。〃
〃Madame;〃 he said aloud; with a private sign of intelligence; 〃I have
come to order some livery trimmings。〃 Then he lowered his voice。 〃I
know;〃 he continued; 〃that you have a lodger who has taken the name of
Camuset。〃 The old woman looked at him suddenly; but without any sign
of astonishment。 〃Now; tell me; can we come to an understanding? This
is a question which means fortune for you。〃
〃Monsieur;〃 she replied; 〃speak out; and don't be afraid。 There's no
one here。 But if I had any one above; it would be impossible for him
to hear you。〃
〃Ha! the sly old creature; she answers like a Norman;〃 thought Jules;
〃We shall agree。 Do not give yourself the trouble to tell falsehoods;
madame;〃 he resumed; 〃In the first place; let me tell you that I mean
no harm either to you or to your lodger who is suffering from cautery;
or to your daughter Ida; a stay…maker; the friend of Ferragus。 You
see; I know all your affairs。 Do not be uneasy; I am not a detective
policeman; nor do I desire anything that can hurt your conscience。 A
young lady will come here to…morrow…morning at half…past nine o'clock;
to talk with this lover of your daughter。 I want to be where I can see
all and hear all; without being seen or heard by them。 If you will
furnish me with the means of doing so; I will reward that service with
the gift of two thousand francs and a yearly stipend of six hundred。
My notary shall prepare a deed before you this evening; and I will
give him the money to hold; he will pay the two thousand to you
to…morrow after the conference at which I desire to be present; as you
will then have given proofs of your good faith。〃
〃Will it injure my daughter; my good monsieur?〃 she asked; casting a
cat…like glance of doubt and uneasiness upon him。
〃In no way; madame。 But; in any case; it seems to me that your
daughter does not treat you well。 A girl who is loved by so rich a man
as Ferragus ought to make you more comfortable than you seem to be。〃
〃Ah; my dear monsieur; just think; not so much as one poor ticket to
the Ambigu; or the Gaiete; where she can go as much as she likes。 It's
shameful! A girl for whom I sold my silver forks and spoons! and now I
eat; at my age; with German metal;and all to pay for her
apprenticeship; and give her a trade; where she could coin money if
she chose。 As for that; she's like me; clever as a witch; I must do
her that justice。 But; I will say; she might give me her old silk
gowns;I; who am so fond of wearing silk。 But no! Monsieur; she dines
at the Cadran…Bleu at fifty francs a head; and rolls in her carriage
as if she were a princess; and despises her mother for a Colin…Lampon。
Heavens and earth! what heedless young ones we've brought into the
world; we have nothing to boast of there。 A mother; monsieur; can't be
anything else but a good mother; and I've concealed that girl's ways;
and kept her in my bosom; to take the bread out of my mouth and cram
everything into her own。 Well; well! and now she comes and fondles one
a little; and says; 'How d'ye do; mother?' And that's all the duty she
thinks of paying。 But she'll have children one of these days; and then
she'll find out what it is to have such baggage;which one can't help
loving all the same。〃
〃Do you mean that she does nothing for you?〃
〃Ah; nothing? No; monsieur; I didn't say that; if she did nothing;
that would be a little too much。 She gives me my rent and thirty…six
francs a month。 But; monsieur; at my age;and I'm fifty…two years
old; with eyes that feel the strain at night;ought I to be working
in this way? Besides; why won't she have me to live with her? I should
shame her; should I? Then let her say so。 Faith; one ought to be
buried out of the way of such dogs of children; who forget you before
they've even shut the door。〃
She pulled her handkerchief from her pocket; and with it a lottery
ticket that dropped on the floor; but she hastily picked it up;
saying; 〃Hi! that's the receipt for my taxes。〃
Jules at once perceived the reason of the sagacious parsimony of which
the mother complained; and he was the more certain that the widow
Gruget would agree to the proposed bargain。
〃Well; then; madame;〃 he said; 〃accept what I offer you。〃
〃Did you say two thousand francs in ready money; and six hundred
annuity; monsieur?〃
〃Madame; I've changed my mind; I will promise you only three hundred
annuity。 This way seems more to my own interests。 But I will give you
five thousand francs in ready money。 Wouldn't you like that as well?〃
〃Bless me; yes; monsieur!〃
〃You'll get more comfort out of it; and you can go to the Ambigu and
Franconi's at your ease in a coach。〃
〃As for Franconi; I don't like that; for they don't talk there。
Monsieur; if I accept; it is because it will be very advantageous for
my child。 I sha'n't be a drag on her any longer。 Poor little thing!
I'm glad she has her pleasures; after all。 Ah; monsieur; youth must be
amused! And so; if you assure me that no harm will come to anybody〃
〃Not to anybody;〃 replied Jules。 〃But now; how will you manage it?〃
〃Well; monsieur; if I give Monsieur Ferragus a little tea made of
poppy…heads to…night; he'll sleep sound; the dear man; and he needs
it; too; because of his sufferings; for he does suffer; I can tell
you; and more's the pity。 But I'd like to know what a healthy man like
him wants to burn his back for; just to get rid of a tic douleureux
which troubles him once in two years。 However; to come back to our
business。 I have my neighbor's key; her lodging is just above mine;
and in it there's a room adjoining the one where Monsieur Ferragus is;
with only a partition between them。 My neighbor is away in the country
for ten days。 Therefore; if I make a hole to…night while Monsieur
Ferragus is sound asleep; you can see and hear them to…morrow at your
ease。 I'm on good terms with a locksmith;a very friendly man; who
talks like an angel; and he'll do the work for me and say nothing
about it。〃
〃Then here's a hundred francs for him。 Come to…night to Monsieur
Desmaret's office; he's a notary; and here's his address。 At nine
o'clock the deed will be ready; butsilence!〃
〃Enough; monsieur; as you saysilence! Au revoir; monsieur。〃
Jules went home; almost calmed by the certainty that he should know
the truth on the morrow。 As he entered the house; the porter gave him
the letter properly resealed。
〃How do you feel now?〃 he said to his wife; in spite of the coldness
that separated them。
〃Pretty well; Jules;〃 she answered in a coaxing voice; 〃do come and
dine beside me。〃
〃Very good;〃 he said; giving her the letter。 〃Here is something
Fouguereau gave me for you。〃
Clemence; who was very pale; colored high when she saw the letter; and
that sudden redness was a fresh blow to her husband。
〃Is that joy;〃 he said; laughing; 〃or the effect of expectation?〃
〃Oh; of many thing