an old maid-第23章
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direction of the river Sarthe。 Then began the usual conversation；
which for twenty years had echoed at that hour through this particular
street of Alencon。 It was invariably：
〃Mademoiselle Cormon looked very well to…night。〃
〃Mademoiselle Cormon？ why； I thought her rather strange。〃
〃How that poor abbe fails！ Did you notice that he slept？ He does not
know what cards he holds； he is getting very absent…minded。〃
〃We shall soon have the grief of losing him。〃
〃What a fine night！ It will be a fine day to…morrow。〃
〃Good weather for the apple…blossoms。〃
〃You beat us； but when you play with Monsieur de Valois you never do
otherwise。〃
〃How much did he win？〃
〃Well； to…night； three or four francs； he never loses。〃
〃True； and don't you know there are three hundred and sixty…five days
a year？ At that price his gains are the value of a farm。〃
〃Ah！ what hands we had to…night！〃
〃Here you are at home； monsieur and madame； how lucky you are； while
we have half the town to cross！〃
〃I don't pity you； you could afford a carriage； and dispense with the
fatigue of going on foot。〃
〃Ah； monsieur！ we have a daughter to marry； which takes off one wheel；
and the support of our son in Paris carries off another。〃
〃You persist in making a magistrate of him？〃
〃What else can be done with a young man？ Besides； there's no shame in
serving the king。〃
Sometimes a discussion on ciders and flax； always couched in the same
terms； and returning at the same time of year； was continued on the
homeward way。 If any observer of human customs had lived in this
street； he would have known the months and seasons by simply
overhearing the conversations。
On this occasion it was exclusively jocose； for du Bousquier； who
chanced to march alone in front of the groups； was humming the well…
known air；little thinking of its appropriateness；〃Tender woman！
hear the warble of the birds；〃 etc。 To some； du Bousquier was a strong
man and a misjudged man。 Ever since he had been confirmed in his
present office by a royal decree； Monsieur du Ronceret had been in
favor of du Bousquier。 To others the purveyor seemed dangerous；a man
of bad habits； capable of anything。 In the provinces； as in Paris； men
before the public eye are like that statue in the fine allegorical
tale of Addison； for which two knights on arriving near it fought； for
one saw it white； the other saw it black。 Then； when they were both
off their horses； they saw it was white one side and black the other。
A third knight coming along declared it red。
When the chevalier went home that night； he made many reflections； as
follows：
〃It is high time now to spread a rumor of my marriage with
Mademoiselle Cormon。 It will leak out from the d'Esgrignon salon； and
go straight to the bishop at Seez； and so get round through the grand
vicars to the curate of Saint…Leonard's； who will be certain to tell
it to the Abbe Couturier； and Mademoiselle Cormon will get the shot in
her upper works。 The old Marquis d'Esgrignon shall invite the Abbe de
Sponde to dinner； so as to stop all gossip about Mademoiselle Cormon
if I decide against her； or about me if she refuses me。 The abbe shall
be well cajoled； and Mademoiselle Cormon will certainly not hold out
against a visit from Mademoiselle Armande； who will show her the
grandeur and future chances of such an alliance。 The abbe's property
is undoubtedly as much as three hundred thousand； her own savings must
amount to more than two hundred thousand； she has her house and
Prebaudet and fifteen thousand francs a year。 A word to my friend the
Comte de Fontaine； and I should be mayor of Alencon to…morrow； and
deputy。 Then； once seated on the Right benches； we shall reach the
peerage； shouting； 'Cloture！' 'Ordre！'〃
As soon as she reached home Madame Granson had a lively argument with
her son； who could not be made to see the connection which existed
between his love and his political opinions。 It was the first quarrel
that had ever troubled that poor household。
CHAPTER VI
FINAL DISAPPOINTMENT AND ITS FIRST RESULT
The next day； Mademoiselle Cormon； packed into the old carriole with
Josette； and looking like a pyramid on a vast sea of parcels； drove up
the rue Saint…Blaise on her way to Prebaudet； where she was overtaken
by an event which hurried on her marriage；an event entirely unlooked
for by either Madame Granson； du Bousquier； Monsieur de Valois； or
Mademoiselle Cormon himself。 Chance is the greatest of all artificers。
The day after her arrival at Prebaudet； she was innocently employed；
about eight o'clock in the morning； in listening； as she breakfasted；
to the various reports of her keeper and her gardener； when Jacquelin
made a violent irruption into the dining…room。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he cried； out of breath； 〃Monsieur l'abbe sends you an
express； the son of Mere Grosmort； with a letter。 The lad left Alencon
before daylight； and he has just arrived； he ran like Penelope！ Can't
I give him a glass of wine？〃
〃What can have happened； Josette？ Do you think my uncle can be〃
〃He couldn't write if he were；〃 said Josette； guessing her mistress's
fears。
〃Quick！ quick！〃 cried Mademoiselle Cormon； as soon as she had read the
first lines。 〃Tell Jacquelin to harness Penelope Get ready； Josette；
pack up everything in half an hour。 We must go back to town〃
〃Jacquelin！〃 called Josette； excited by the sentiment she saw on her
mistress's face。
Jacquelin； informed by Josette； came in to say；
〃But； mademoiselle； Penelope is eating her oats。〃
〃What does that signify？ I must start at once。〃
〃But； mademoiselle； it is going to rain。〃
〃Then we shall get wet。〃
〃The house is on fire！〃 muttered Josette； piqued at the silence her
mistress kept as to the contents of the letter； which she read and
reread。
〃Finish your coffee； at any rate； mademoiselle； don't excite your
blood； just see how red you are。〃
〃Am I red； Josette？〃 she said； going to a mirror； from which the
quicksilver was peeling； and which presented her features to her
upside down。
〃Good heavens！〃 thought Mademoiselle Cormon； 〃suppose I should look
ugly！ Come； Josette； come； my dear； dress me at once； I want to be
ready before Jacquelin has harnessed Penelope。 If you can't pack my
things in time； I will leave them here rather than lose a single
minute。〃
If you have thoroughly comprehended the positive monomania to which
the desire of marriage had brought Mademoiselle Cormon； you will share
her emotion。 The worthy uncle announced in this sudden missive that
Monsieur de Troisville； of the Russian army during the Emigration；
grandson of one of his best friends； was desirous of retiring to
Alencon； and asked his； the abbe's hospitality； on the ground of his
friendship for his grandfather； the Vicomte de Troisville。 The old
abbe； alarmed at the responsibility； entreated his niece to return
instantly and help him to receive this guest； and do the honors of the
house； for the viscount's letter had been delayed； and he might
descend upon his shoulders that very night。
After reading this missive could there be a question of the demands of
Prebaudet？ The keeper and the gardener； witnesses to Mademoiselle
Cormon's excitement； stood aside and awaited her orders。 But when； as
she was about to leave the room； they stopped her to ask for
instructions； for the first time in her life the despotic old maid；
who saw to everything at Prebaudet with her own eyes； said； to their
stupefaction； 〃Do what you like。〃 This from a mistress who carried her
administration to the point of counting her fruits； and marking them
so as to order their consumption according to the number and condition
of each！
〃I believe I'm dreaming；〃 thought Josette； as she saw her mistress
flying down the staircase like an elephant to which God has given
wings。
