the alkahest-第47章
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expression of the old valet's face showed a singular mixture of
anxiety and admiration for his master which might easily have misled
an onlooker。 Though he listened to Balthazar's words with respect； and
followed his every movement with tender solicitude； he took charge of
the servant of science very much as a mother takes care of her child；
and even seemed to protect him； because in the vulgar details of life；
to which Balthazar gave no thought； he actually did protect him。 These
old men； wrapped in one idea； confident of the reality of their hope；
stirred by the same breath； the one representing the shell； the other
the soul of their mutual existence； formed a spectacle at once tender
and distressing。
When Marguerite and Monsieur Conyncks arrived； they found Claes living
at an inn。 His successor had not been kept waiting； and was already in
possession of his office。
CHAPTER XV
Through all the preoccupations of science； the desire to see his
native town； his house； his family； agitated Balthazar's mind。 His
daughter's letters had told him of the happy family events； he dreamed
of crowning his career by a series of experiments that must lead to
the solution of the great Problem； and he awaited Marguerite's arrival
with extreme impatience。
The daughter threw herself into her father's arms and wept for joy。
This time she came to seek a recompense for years of pain； and pardon
for the exercise of her domestic authority。 She seemed to herself
criminal； like those great men who violate the liberties of the people
for the safety of the nation。 But she shuddered as she now
contemplated her father and saw the change which had taken place in
him since her last visit。 Monsieur Conyncks shared the secret alarm of
his niece； and insisted on taking Balthazar as soon as possible to
Douai； where the influence of his native place might restore him to
health and reason amid the happiness of a recovered domestic life。
After the first transports of the heart were over；which were far
warmer on Balthazar's part than Marguerite had expected；he showed a
singular state of feeling towards his daughter。 He expressed regret at
receiving her in a miserable inn； inquired her tastes and wishes； and
asked what she would have to eat； with the eagerness of a lover； his
manner was even that of a culprit seeking to propitiate a judge。
Marguerite knew her father so well that she guessed the motive of this
solicitude； she felt sure he had contracted debts in the town which he
wished to pay before his departure。 She observed him carefully for a
time； and saw the human heart in all its nakedness。 Balthazar had
dwindled from his true self。 The consciousness of his abasement； and
the isolation of his life in the pursuit of science made him timid and
childish in all matters not connected with his favorite occupations。
His daughter awed him； the remembrance of her past devotion； of the
energy she had displayed； of the powers he had allowed her to take
away from him； of the wealth now at her command； and the indefinable
feelings that had preyed upon him ever since the day when he had
abdicated a paternity he had long neglected；all these things
affected his mind towards her； and increased her importance in his
eyes。 Conyncks was nothing to him beside Marguerite； he saw only his
daughter； he thought only of her； and seemed to fear her； as certain
weak husbands fear a superior woman who rules them。 When he raised his
eyes and looked at her； Marguerite noticed with distress an expression
of fear； like that of a child detected in a fault。 The noble girl was
unable to reconcile the majestic and terrible expression of that bald
head； denuded by science and by toil； with the puerile smile； the
eager servility exhibited on the lips and countenance of the old man。
She suffered from the contrast of that greatness to that littleness；
and resolved to use her utmost influence to restore her father's sense
of dignity before the solemn day on which he was to reappear in the
bosom of his family。 Her first step when they were alone was to ask
him；
〃Do you owe anything here？〃
Balthazar colored； and replied with an embarrassed air：
〃I don't know； but Lemulquinier can tell you。 That worthy fellow knows
more about my affairs than I do myself。〃
Marguerite rang for the valet： when he came she studied； almost
involuntarily； the faces of the two old men。
〃What does monsieur want？〃 asked Lemulquinier。
Marguerite； who was all pride and dignity； felt an oppression at her
heart as she perceived from the tone and manner of the servant that
some mortifying familiarity had grown up between her father and the
companion of his labors。
〃My father cannot make out the account of what he owes in this place
without you；〃 she said。
〃Monsieur；〃 began Lemulquinier； 〃owes〃
At these words Balthazar made a sign to his valet which Marguerite
intercepted； it humiliated her。
〃Tell me all that my father owes；〃 she said。
〃Monsieur owes； here； about three thousand francs to an apothecary who
is a wholesale dealer in drugs； he has supplied us with pearl…ash and
lead； and zinc and the reagents〃
〃Is that all？〃 asked Marguerite。
Again Balthazar made a sign to Lemulquinier； who replied； as if under
a spell；
〃Yes； mademoiselle。〃
〃Very good；〃 she said； 〃I will give them to you。〃
Balthazar kissed her joyously and said；
〃You are an angel； my child。〃
He breathed at his ease and glanced at her with eyes that were less
sad； and yet； in spite of this apparent joy； Marguerite easily
detected the signs of deep anxiety upon his face； and felt certain
that the three thousand francs represented only the pressing debts of
his laboratory。
〃Be frank with me； father；〃 she said； letting him seat her on his
knee； 〃you owe more than that。 Tell me all； and come back to your home
without an element of fear in the midst of the general joy。〃
〃My dear Marguerite；〃 he said； taking her hands and kissing them with
a grace that seemed a memory of her youth； 〃you would scold me〃
〃No；〃 she said。
〃Truly？〃 he asked； giving way to childish expressions of delight。 〃Can
I tell you all？ will you pay〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； repressing the tears which came into her eyes。
〃Well； I oweoh！ I dare not〃
〃Tell me； father。〃
〃It is a great deal。〃
She clasped her hands； with a gesture of despair。
〃I owe thirty thousand francs to Messieurs Protez and Chiffreville。〃
〃Thirty thousand francs；〃 she said； 〃is just the sum I have laid by。 I
am glad to give it to you；〃 she added； respectfully kissing his brow。
He rose； took his daughter in his arms； and whirled about the room；
dancing her as though she were an infant； then he placed her in the
chair where she had been sitting； and exclaimed：
〃My darling child！ my treasure of love！ I was half…dead： the
Chiffrevilles have written me three threatening letters； they were
about to sue me；me； who would have made their fortune！〃
〃Father；〃 said Marguerite in accents of despair； 〃are you still
searching？〃
〃Yes； still searching；〃 he said； with the smile of a madman； 〃and I
shall FIND。 If you could only understand the point we have reached〃
〃We？ who are we？〃
〃I mean Mulquinier： he has understood me； he loves me。 Poor fellow！ he
is devoted to me。〃
Conyncks entered at the moment and interrupted the conversation。
Marguerite made a sign to her father to say no more； fearing lest he
should lower himself in her uncle's eyes。 She was frightened at the
ravages thought had made in that noble mind； absorbed in searching for
the solution of a problem that was perhaps insoluble。 Balthazar； who
saw and knew nothing outside of his furnaces； seemed not to realize
the liberation of his fortune。
On the morrow they started for Flanders。 During the journey Marguerite
gained some confused light upon the posi
