the brotherhood of consolation-第51章
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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 the
speed of an arrow； and reached the door on the boulevard in time to
see his grandson getting into a hackney…coach with three men。
〃Auguste；〃 he said； 〃what does all this mean？〃
The poor boy burst into tears and fainted away。
〃Monsieur； I am the Baron Bourlac； formerly attorney…general；〃 he said
to the commissary of police； whose scarf now attracted his eye。 〃I
entreat you to explain all this。〃
〃Monsieur； if you are Baron Bourlac； two words will be enough。 I have
just examined this young man； and he admits〃
〃What？〃
〃The robbery of four thousand francs from Doctor Halpersohn！〃
〃Is that true； Auguste？〃
〃Grandpapa； I sent him as security your diamond snuff…box。 I did it to
save you from going to prison。〃
〃Unhappy boy！ what have you done？ The diamonds are false！〃 cried the
baron； 〃I sold the real ones three years ago！〃
The commissary of police and his agents looked at each other。 That
look； full of many things； was intercepted by Baron Bourlac； and
seemed to blast him。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said to the commissary； 〃you need not feel uneasy； I
shall go myself to the prefect； but you are witness to the fact that I
kept my grandson ignorant of the loss of the diamonds。 Do your duty；
but I implore you； in the name of humanity； put that lad in a cell by
himself； I will go to the prison。 To which one are you taking him？〃
〃Are you really Baron Bourlac？〃 asked the commissary。
〃Oh； monsieur！〃
〃The fact is that the municipal judge and I doubted if it were
possible that you and your grandson could be guilty。 We thought； and
the doctor； too； that some scoundrels had taken your name。〃
He took the baron aside； and added：
〃Did you go to see Doctor Halpersohn this morning？〃
〃Yes； monsieur。〃
〃Your grandson went there half an hour after you。〃
〃Did he？ I knew nothing of that。 I have just returned home； and have
not seen my grandson for two days。〃
〃The writs he has shown me and the examination explain everything；〃
said the commissary of police。 〃I see the cause of the crime。
Monsieur； I ought by rights to arrest you as accomplice to your
grandson； for your answers confirm the allegations in Doctor
Halpersohn's complaint。 But these papers； which I here return to you；〃
holding out to the old man a bundle of papers； 〃do prove you to be
Baron Bourlac。 Nevertheless； you must hold yourself ready to appear
before Monsieur Marest； the judge of the Municipal Court who has
cognizance of the case。 As for your grandson； I will speak to the
/procureur du roi/； and we will take all the care of him that is due
to the grandson of a former judge；the victim； no doubt； of youthful
error。 But the complaint has been made； the delinquent admits his
guilt； I have drawn up the proces…verbal； and served the warrant of
arrest； I cannot go back on that。 As for the incarceration； I will put
him in the Conciergerie。〃
〃Thank you； monsieur；〃 said the unhappy Bourlac。
With the words he fell rigid on the snow； and rolled into one of the
hollows round the trees of the boulevard。
The commissary of police called for help； and Nepomucene ran up；
together with Madame Vauthier。 The old man was carried to his room；
and Madame Vauthier begged the commissary to call on his way in the
rue d'Enfer； and send Doctor Berton as soon as possible。
〃What is the matter with my grandfather？〃 asked poor Auguste。
〃He is out of his head。 You see what it is to steal；〃 said the
Vauthier。
Auguste made a movement as though he would dash out his brains。 The
two agents caught him。
〃Come； young man； be calm；〃 said the commissary of police； 〃you have
done wrong； but it may not be irreparable〃
〃Monsieur； will you tell that woman my grandfather hasn't had anything
to ear for twenty…four hours？〃
〃Oh！ the poor things！〃 exclaimed the commissary under his breath。
He stopped the coach； which had started； and said a word in the ear of
one of his agents； who got out and ran to Madame Vauthier； and then
returned。
When Dr。 Berton arrived he declared that Monsieur Bernard （he knew him
only under that name） had a high fever of great intensity。 After
hearing from Madame Vauthier all the events which had brought on this
crisis （related after the manner of such women） he informed Monsieur
Alain the next morning； at Saint…Jacques du Haut…Pas； of the present
state of affairs； on which Monsieur Alain despatched a note in pencil
by a street messenger to Monsieur Joseph。
Godefroid had given Monsieur Joseph； on his return from the boulevard
du Mont…Parnasse the night before； the notes confided to him by
Auguste； and Monsieur Joseph had spent part of the night in reading
the first volume of Baron Bourlac's work。
The next morning after breakfast Madame de la Chanterie told her
neophyte that he should； if his resolution still held good； be put to
work at once。 Godefroid； initiated by her into the financial secrets
of the society； worked steadily seven or eight hours a day for several
months； under the inspection of Frederic Mongenod； who came every
Sunday to examine the work； and from whom he received much praise and
encouragement。
〃You are；〃 he said； when the books were all in order and the accounts
audited； 〃a precious acquisition to the saints among whom you live。
Two or three hours a day will now suffice to keep the current accounts
in order； and you will have plenty of surplus time to help the work in
other ways； if you still have the vocation you showed for it six
months ago。〃
It was now July； 1838。 During the time that had elapsed since his
opening attempt on the boulevard du Mont…Parnasse； Godefroid； eager to
prove himself worthy of his friends； had refrained from asking any
question relating to Baron Bourlac。 Not hearing a single word on the
subject； and finding no record of any transaction concerning it in the
accounts； he regarded the silence maintained about the enemy of Madame
de la Chanterie and his family either as a test to which he himself
was subjected； or as a proof that the friends of the noble woman had
in some way avenged her。
Some two months after he had left Madame Vauthier's lodgings he turned
his steps when out for a walk towards the boulevard du Mont…Parnasse；
where he came upon the widow herself； and asked for news of the
Bernard family。
〃Just as if I knew what has become of them！〃 she replied。 〃Two days
after your departurefor it was you； slyboots； who got the affair
away from my proprietorsome men came here and rid me of that
arrogant old fool and all his belongings。 Bless me！ if they didn't
move everything out within twenty…four hours； and as close as wax they
were too； not a word would they say to me。 I think he went off to
Algiers with his rogue of a grandson； for Nepomucene； who had a fancy
for that young thief； being no better himself； couldn't find him at
the Conciergerie。 I dare say Nepomucene knows where he is； though； for
he； too； has run away。 That's what it is to bring up foundlings！
that's how they reward you for all your trouble； leaving you in the
lurch！ I haven't yet been able to get a man in his place； and as the
quarter is looking up the house is full； and I am worked to death。〃
Godefroid would never have known more about Baron Bourlac and his
family if it had not been for one of those chance encounters such as
often happens in Paris。
In the month of September he was walking down the great avenue of the
Champs Elysees； thinking； as he passed the end of the rue Marbeuf； of
Dr。 Halpersohn。
〃I might；〃 thought he； 〃go and see him and ask if he ever cured
Bourlac's daughter。 What a voice； what immense talents she had！and
she wanted to consecrate herself to God！〃
When he reached the Rond…point Godefroid crossed it quickly； on
account of the many carriages that were passing rapidly。 As he reached
the other side in haste he knocked against a young man with a lady on
his arm。
〃Take care！〃 said the young man； 〃are you blind？〃
〃Hey！ is it you？〃 cried Godefroid； recognizing Auguste de Mergi。
Auguste was so well…dressed； and looked so da
