the alkahest-第30章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
grown beside my anguish； the mother still survives。 Spare them！ Spare
my children！〃
〃Lemulquinier！〃 cried Claes in a voice of thunder。
The old man appeared。
〃Go up and destroy allinstruments； apparatus； everything！ Be
careful； but destroy all。 I renounce Science；〃 he said to his wife。
〃Too late；〃 she answered； looking at Lemulquinier。 〃Marguerite！〃 she
cried； feeling herself about to die。
Marguerite came through the doorway and uttered a piercing cry as she
saw her mother's eyes now glazing。
〃MARGUERITE！〃 repeated the dying woman。
The exclamation contained so powerful an appeal to her daughter； she
invested that appeal with such authority； that the cry was like a
dying bequest。 The terrified family ran to her side and saw her die；
the vital forces were exhausted in that last conversation with her
husband。
Balthazar and Marguerite stood motionless； she at the head； he at the
foot of the bed； unable to believe in the death of the woman whose
virtues and exhaustless tenderness were known fully to them alone。
Father and daughter exchanged looks freighted with meaning： the
daughter judged the father； and already the father trembled； seeing in
his daughter an instrument of vengeance。 Though memories of the love
with which his Pepita had filled his life crowded upon his mind； and
gave to her dying words a sacred authority whose voice his soul must
ever hear； yet Balthazar knew himself helpless in the grasp of his
attendant genius； he heard the terrible mutterings of his passion；
denying him the strength to carry his repentance into action： he
feared himself。
When the grave had closed upon Madame Claes； one thought filled the
minds of all；the house had had a soul； and that soul was now
departed。 The grief of the family was so intense that the parlor；
where the noble woman still seemed to linger； was closed； no one had
the courage to enter it。
CHAPTER X
Society practises none of the virtues it demands from individuals：
every hour it commits crimes； but the crimes are committed in words；
it paves the way for evil actions with a jest； it degrades nobility of
soul by ridicule； it jeers at sons who mourn their fathers；
anathematizes those who do not mourn them enough； and finds diversion
（the hypocrite！） in weighing the dead bodies before they are cold。
The evening of the day on which Madame Claes died； her friends cast a
few flowers upon her memory in the intervals of their games of whist；
doing homage to her noble qualities as they sorted their hearts and
spades。 Then； after a few lachrymal phrases；the fi； fo； fum of
collective grief； uttered in precisely the same tone； and with neither
more nor less of feeling； at all hours and in every town in France；
they proceeded to estimate the value of her property。 Pierquin was the
first to observe that the death of this excellent woman was a mercy；
for her husband had made her unhappy； and it was even more fortunate
for her children： she was unable while living to refuse her money to
the husband she adored； but now that she was dead； Claes was debarred
from touching it。 Thereupon all present calculated the fortune of that
poor Madame Claes； wondered how much she had laid by （had she； in
fact； laid by anything？）； made an inventory of her jewels； rummaged in
her wardrobe； peeped into her drawers； while the afflicted family were
still weeping and praying around her death…bed。
Pierquin； with an appraising eye； stated that Madame Claes's
possessions in her own rightto use the notarial phrasemight still
be recovered； and ought to amount to nearly a million and a half of
francs； basing this estimate partly on the forest of Waignies；whose
timber； counting the full…grown trees； the saplings； the primeval
growths； and the recent plantations； had immensely increased in value
during the last twelve years；and partly on Balthazar's own property；
of which enough remained to 〃cover〃 the claims of his children； if the
liquidation of their mother's fortune did not yield sufficient to
release him。 Mademoiselle Claes was still； in Pierquin's slang； 〃a
four…hundred…thousand…franc girl。〃 〃But；〃 he added； 〃if she doesn't
marry；a step which would of course separate her interests and permit
us to sell the forest and auction； and so realize the property of the
minor children and reinvest it where the father can't lay hands on it；
Claes is likely to ruin them all。〃
Thereupon； everybody looked about for some eligible young man worthy
to win the hand of Mademoiselle Claes； but none of them paid the
lawyer the compliment of suggesting that he might be the man。
Pierquin； however； found so many good reasons to reject the suggested
matches as unworthy of Marguerite's position； that the confabulators
glanced at each other and smiled； and took malicious pleasure in
prolonging this truly provincial method of annoyance。 Pierquin had
already decided that Madame Claes's death would have a favorable
effect upon his suit； and he began mentally to cut up the body in his
own interests。
〃That good woman；〃 he said to himself as he went home to bed； 〃was as
proud as a peacock； she would never gave given me her daughter。 Hey；
hey！ why couldn't I manage matters now so as to marry the girl？ Pere
Claes is drunk on carbon； and takes no care of his children。 If； after
convincing Marguerite that she must marry to save the property of her
brothers and sister； I were to ask him for his daughter； he will be
glad to get rid of a girl who is likely to thwart him。〃
He went to sleep anticipating the charms of the marriage contract； and
reflecting on the advantages of the step and the guarantees afforded
for his happiness in the person he proposed to marry。 In all the
provinces there was certainly not a better brought…up or more
delicately lovely young girl than Mademoiselle Claes。 Her modesty； her
grace； were like those of the pretty flower Emmanuel had feared to
name lest he should betray the secret of his heart。 Her sentiments
were lofty； her principles religious； she would undoubtedly make him a
faithful wife： moreover； she not only flattered the vanity which
influences every man more or less in the choice of a wife； but she
gratified his pride by the high consideration which her family； doubly
ennobled； enjoyed in Flanders；a consideration which her husband of
course would share。
The next day Pierquin extracted from his strong…box several thousand…
franc notes； which he offered with great friendliness to Balthazar； so
as to relieve him of pecuniary annoyance in the midst of his grief。
Touched by this delicate attention； Balthazar would； he thought；
praise his goodness and his personal qualities to Marguerite。 In this
he was mistaken。 Monsieur Claes and his daughter thought it was a very
natural action； and their sorrow was too absorbing to let them even
think of the lawyer。
Balthazar's despair was indeed so great that persons who were disposed
to blame his conduct could not do otherwise than forgive him；less on
account of the Science which might have excused him； than for the
remorse which could not undo his deeds。 Society is satisfied by
appearances： it takes what it gives； without considering the intrinsic
worth of the article。 To the world real suffering is a show； a species
of enjoyment； which inclines it to absolve even a criminal； in its
thirst for emotions it acquits without judging the man who raises a
laugh； or he who makes it weep； making no inquiry into their methods。
Marguerite was just nineteen when her father put her in charge of the
household； and her brothers and sister； whom Madame Claes in her last
moments exhorted to obey their elder sister； accepted her authority
with docility。 Her mourning attire heightened the dewy whiteness of
her skin； just as the sadness of her expression threw into relief the
gentleness and patience of her manner。 From the first she gave proofs
of feminine courage； of
