the brotherhood of consolation-第46章
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through them。 As soon as he reached the landing； Auguste； who was
probably on the watch for him； opened the door of Monsieur Bernard's
apartment and said：
〃Mamma would like to see you； and my grandfather offers you a cup of
tea。〃
When Godefroid entered； the patient seemed to him transfigured by the
pleasure she felt in making music； her face was radiant； her eyes were
sparkling like diamonds。
〃I ought to have waited to let you hear the first sounds；〃 she said to
Godefroid； 〃but I flung myself upon the little organ as a starving man
flings himself on food。 You have a soul that comprehends me； and I
know you will forgive。〃
Vanda made a sign to her son； who placed himself in such a way as to
press with his foot the pedal which filled the bellows； and then the
invalid； whose fingers had for the time recovered all their strength
and agility； raising her eyes to heaven like Saint Cecilia； played the
〃Prayer of Moses in Egypt；〃 which her son had bought for her and which
she had learned by heart in a few hours。 Godefroid recognized in her
playing the same quality as in Chopin's。 The soul was satisfied by
divine sounds of which the dominant note was that of tender
melancholy。 Monsieur Bernard had received Godefroid with a look that
was long a stranger to his eyes。 If tears were not forever dried at
their source； withered by such scorching sorrows； that look would have
been tearful。
The old man sat playing with his snuff…box and looking at his daughter
in silent ecstasy。
〃To…morrow； madame；〃 said Godefroid； when the music ceased； 〃to…morrow
your fate will be decided。 I bring you good news。 The celebrated
Halpersohn is coming to see you at three o'clock in the afternoon。 He
has promised；〃 added Godefroid in a low voice to Monsieur Bernard； 〃to
tell me the exact truth。〃
The old man rose； and grasping Godefroid's hand； drew him to a corner
of the room beside the fireplace。
〃Ah！ what a night I shall pass！ a definitive decision！ My daughter
cured or doomed！〃
〃Courage！〃 said Godefroid； 〃after tea come out with me。〃
〃My child； my child； don't play any more；〃 said the old man； 〃you will
bring on an attack； such a strain upon your strength must end in
reaction。〃
He made Auguste take away the instrument and offered a cup of tea to
his daughter with the coaxing manner of a nurse quieting the petulance
of a child。
〃What is the doctor like？〃 she asked； her mind already distracted by
the prospect of seeing a new person。
Vanda； like all prisoners； was full of eager curiosity。 When the
physical phenomena of her malady ceased； they seemed to betake
themselves to the moral nature； she conceived the strangest fancies；
the most violent caprices； she insisted on seeing Rossini； and wept
when her father； whom she believed to be all powerful； refused to
fetch him。
Godefroid now gave her a minute account of the Jewish doctor and his
study； of which she knew nothing； for Monsieur Bernard had cautioned
Auguste not to tell his mother of his visits to Halpersohn； so much
had he feared to rouse hopes in her mind which might not be realized。
Vanda hung upon Godefroid's words like one fascinated； and she fell
into a sort of ecstasy in her passionate desire to see this strange
Polish doctor。
〃Poland has produced many singular； mysterious beings；〃 said Monsieur
Bernard。 〃To…day； for instance； besides this extraordinary doctor； we
have Hoene Wronski； the enlightened mathematician； the poet
Mickievicz； Towianksi the mystic； and Chopin； whose talent is
supernatural。 Great national convulsions always produce various
species of dwarfed giants。〃
〃Oh！ dear papa； what a man you are！ If you would only write down what
we hear you say merely to amuse me you would make your reputation。
Fancy； monsieur； my dear old father invents wonderful stories when I
have no novels to read； he often puts me to sleep in that way。 His
voice lulls me； and he quiets my mind with his wit。 Who can ever
reward him？ Auguste； my child； you ought for my sake； to kiss the
print of your grandfather's footsteps。〃
The young man raised his beautiful moist eyes to his mother； and the
look he gave her； full of a long…repressed compassion； was a poem。
Godefroid rose； took the lad's hand； and pressed it。
〃God has placed two angels beside you； madame；〃 he said。
〃Yes； I know that。 And for that reason I often reproach myself for
harassing them。 Come； my dear Auguste； and kiss your mother。 He is a
child； monsieur； of whom all mothers might be proud； pure as gold；
frank and honest； a soul without sinbut too passionate a soul； alas！
like that of his poor mother。 Perhaps God has fastened me in this bed
to keep me from the follies of womenwho have too much heart；〃 she
added； smiling。
Godefroid replied with a smile and a bow。
〃Adieu； monsieur； and thank your friend for the instrument； tell him
it makes the happiness of a poor cripple。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Godefroid； when they were alone in the latter's room。
〃I think I may assure you that you shall not be robbed by that trio of
bloodsuckers。 I have the necessary sum to free your book； but you must
first show me your written agreement with them。 And after that； in
order to do still more for you； you must let me have your work to
read；not I myself； of course； I have not knowledge enough to judge
of it； but a former magistrate； a lawyer of eminence and of perfect
integrity； who will undertake； according to what he thinks of the
book； to find you an honorable publisher with whom you can make an
equitable agreement。 This； however； I will not insist upon。 Meantime
here are five hundred francs；〃 he added； giving a bank…note to the
stupefied old man； 〃to meet your present needs。 I do not ask for any
receipt； you will be under obligations to your own conscience only；
and that conscience is not to move you until you have recovered a
sufficient competence；I undertake to pay Halpersohn。〃
〃Who are you； then？〃 asked the old man； dropping into a chair。
〃I myself；〃 replied Godefroid； 〃am nothing； but I serve powerful
persons to whom your distress is known； and who feel an interest in
you。 Ask me nothing more about them。〃
〃But what induces them to do this？〃 said the old man。
〃Religion。〃
〃Religion！ is it possible？〃
〃Yes； the catholic； apostolic； and Roman religion。〃
〃Ah！ do you belong to the order of Jesus？〃
〃No； monsieur；〃 replied Godefroid。 〃Do not feel uneasy； these persons
have no designs upon you； except that of helping you to restore your
family to prosperity。〃
〃Can philanthropy be anything but vanity？〃
〃Ah！ monsieur；〃 said Godefroid； hastily； 〃do not insult the virtue
defined by Saint Paul； sacred； catholic Love！〃
Monsieur Bernard； hearing this answer； began to stride up and down
with long steps。
〃I accept；〃 he said suddenly； 〃and I have but one way of thanking you；
and that is to offer you my work。 The notes and citations are
unnecessary to the magistrate you speak of； and I have still two
months' work to do in arranging them for the press。 To…morrow I will
give you the five volumes；〃 he added； offering Godefroid his hand。
〃Can I have made a conversion？〃 thought Godefroid； struck by the new
expression which he saw on the old man's face。
XVII
HALPERSOHN
The next afternoon at three o'clock a cabriolet stopped before the
house； and Godefroid saw Halpersohn getting out of it； wrapped in a
monstrous bear…skin pelisse。 The cold had strengthened during the
night； the thermometer marking ten degrees of it。
The Jewish doctor examined with curious eyes； though furtively； the
room in which his client of the day before received him； and Godefroid
detected the suspicious thought which darted from his eyes like the
sharp point of a dagger。 This rapid conception of distrust gave
Godefroid a cold chill； for he thought within himself that such a man
would be pitiless in all relations； it is so natural to suppose that
genius is connected with goodness that a strong sensation of disgust
took possession of him。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃I see that the simplicity of my room makes you
uneasy； therefore you need not be surprised at my method of
proceeding。 Here are your two hundred francs； and here
