the brotherhood of consolation-第50章
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among a pile of gold louis。 Under the circumstances in which the
unhappy boy was placed the temptation was stronger than his
principles； solid as they were。 He saw a means of saving his
grandfather and the fruits of almost a lifetime of toil。 He yielded。
The fascination was rapid as thought； and it was justified to the
child's mind by the idea of self…devotion。 〃I destroy myself； but I
save my mother and my grandfather；〃 he thought。 Under the strain put
upon his reason by this criminal temptation he acquired； like madmen；
a singular and momentary dexterity。
Halpersohn； an experienced observer； had divined； retrospectively； the
life of the old man and that of the lad and of the mother。 He felt or
perceived the truth； the Baronne de Mergi's remarks had helped to
unveil it to him； and the result was a feeling of benevolent pity for
his new clients。 As for respect or admiration； he was incapable of
those emotions。
〃Well； my dear boy；〃 he replied familiarly； 〃I am taking care of your
mother； and I shall return her to you young and handsome and perfectly
well in health。 Here is one of those rare cases in which physicians
take an interest。 Besides； through her mother； she is a compatriot of
mine。 You and your grandfather must for two weeks have the courage to
keep away from Madame？〃
〃The Baronne de Mergi。〃
〃Ah！ if she is a baroness； you must be a baron；〃 remarked Halpersohn。
At that instant the theft was accomplished。 While the doctor was
looking at his sopped bread heavy with chocolate； Auguste snatched
four notes and put them into his pocket； as if he were merely putting
his hand there by accident。
〃Yes； monsieur；〃 he replied； 〃I am a baron； and so is my grandfather；
he was attorney…general under the Restoration。〃
〃You blush； young man； there's no need to blush for being a poor
baron； that's common enough。〃
〃Who told you； monsieur； that we are poor？〃
〃Your grandfather told me he had spent the night in the Champs
Elysees； and though I know no palace with half so fine a ceiling as
that of the skies at two o'clock this morning； I assure you it was
pretty cold in the palace where your grandfather passed the night。 We
don't select the 'Star' inn from choice。〃
〃Has my grandfather been here this morning？〃 said Auguste； seizing the
opportunity to get away。 〃I thank you； monsieur； and I will call
again； if you will permit me； to ask for news of my mother。〃
As soon as he was in the street the young baron took a cab to go as
rapidly as he could to the sheriff's office； where he paid his
grandfather's debt。 The sheriff gave him the papers and a receipted
bill of costs； and told one of his clerks to accompany the young man
home and relieve the legal guardian of her functions。
〃As Messieurs Barbet and Metivier live in your quarter；〃 he said； 〃I
will tell my young man to carry the money there and obtain the bill of
sale of the books and return it to you。〃
Auguste who did not understand either the terms or the formalities of
the law； did exactly as he was told。 He received seven hundred francs
change from the four thousand francs he had stolen； and went away with
the clerk。 He got back into the cab in a condition of semi…stupor；
for； the result being now obtained； remorse began； he saw himself
dishonored； cursed by his grandfather； whose inflexible nature was
well…known to him； and he felt that his mother would surely die if she
knew him guilty。 All nature changed for him。 He was hot； he did not
see the snow； the houses looked like spectres flitting past him。
By the time he reached home the young baron had decided on his course
which was certainly that of an honest man。 He went to his mother's
room； took the gold snuff…box set with diamonds given to his
grandfather by the Emperor； and wrapped it in a parcel with the seven
hundred francs and the following letter； which required several rough
copies before it was satisfactory。 Then he directed the whole to
Doctor Halpersohn：
Monsieur；The fruits of twenty years of my grandfather's toil
were about to be seized by usurers； who even threatened to put him
in prison。 Three thousand three hundred francs were enough to save
him。 Seeing all that money on your table； I could not resist the
happiness of freeing my grandfather from his danger。 I borrowed；
without your consent； four thousand francs of you； but as three
thousand three hundred were all that was necessary； I send the
other seven hundred in money； together with a gold snuff…box set
with diamonds； given to my grandfather by the Emperor； the value
of which will probably cover the whole sum。
In case you do not believe in the honor of him who will forever
regard you as a benefactor； I pray you to keep silence about an
act which would be quite unjustifiable under other circumstances；
for by so doing you will save my grandfather's life； just as you
are saving my mother's life； and I shall be forever
Your devoted servant；
Auguste de Mergi。
About half…past two o'clock in the afternoon； Auguste； who went
himself as far as the Champs Elysees； sent the package from there by a
street messenger to Doctor Halpersohn's house； then he walked slowly
homeward by the pont de Jena； the Invalides； and the boulevards；
relying on Halpersohn's generosity。
The Polish doctor had meanwhile discovered the theft； and he instantly
changed his opinion of his clients。 He now thought the old man had
come to rob him； and being unable to succeed； had sent the boy。 He
doubted the rank they had claimed； and went straight to the police…
office where he lodged a complaint； requesting that the lad might be
arrested at once。
The prudence with which the law proceeds seldom allows it to move as
rapidly as complainants desire； but about three o'clock of that day a
commissary of police； accompanied by agents who kept watch outside the
house； was questioning Madame Vauthier as to her lodgers； and the
widow was increasing； without being aware of it； the suspicions of the
policeman。
When Nepomucene saw the police agents stationed outside the house； he
thought they had come to arrest the old man； and as he was fond of
Monsieur Auguste； he rushed to meet Monsieur Bernard； whom he now saw
on his way home in the avenue de l'Observatoire。
〃Hide yourself； monsieur！〃 he cried； 〃the police have come to arrest
you。 The sheriff was here yesterday and seized everything。 Madame
Vauthier didn't give you the stamped papers； and she says you'll be in
Clichy to…night or to…morrow。 There； don't you see those policemen？〃
Baron Bourlac immediately resolved to go straight to Barbet。 The
former publisher lived in the rue Saint…Catherine d'Enfer； and it took
him a quarter of an hour to reach the house。
〃Ah！ I suppose you have come to get that bill of sale；〃 said Barbet；
replying to the salutation of his victim。 〃Here it is。〃
And； to Baron Bourlac's great astonishment； he held out the document；
which the baron took； saying；
〃I do not understand。〃
〃Didn't you pay me？〃 said the usurer。
〃Are you paid？〃
〃Yes； your grandson took the money to the sheriff this morning。〃
〃Then it is true you made a seizure at my house yesterday？〃
〃Haven't you been home for two days？〃 asked Barbet。 〃But an old
magistrate ought to know what a notification of arrest means。〃
Hearing that remark； the baron bowed coldly to Barbet and returned
home； thinking that the policemen whom Nepomucene had pointed out must
have come for the two impecunious authors on the upper floor。 He
walked slowly； lost in vague apprehensions； for； in spite of the
explanation he gave himself； Nepomucene's words came back； and seemed
to him more and more obscure and inexplicable。 Was it possible that
Godefroid had betrayed him？
XIX
VENGEANCE
The old man walked mechanically along the rue Notre…Dame des Champs；
and entered the house by the little door； which he noticed was open。
There he came suddenly upon Nepomucene。
〃Oh； monsieur； come quick！ they are taking Monsieur Auguste to prison！
They arrested him on the boulevard； it was he they were looking for；
they have examined him。〃
The old man bounded like a tiger； rushed through the house with t
