贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > modeste mignon >

第28章

modeste mignon-第28章

小说: modeste mignon 字数: 每页4000字

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!




fully as disquieted and uncertain as they were before the old soldier

tried the experiment which he expected would be so decisive。 The ill…

success of his past efforts so stimulated Dumay's sense of duty; that

he determined not to go to Paris to see after his own fortune as

announced by his patron; until he had guessed the riddle of Modeste's

heart。 These friends; to whom feelings were more precious than

interests; well knew that unless the daughter were pure and innocent;

the father would die of grief when he came to know the death of

Bettina and the blindness of his wife。 The distress of poor Dumay made

such an impression on the Latournelles that they even forgot their

parting with Exupere; whom they had sent off that morning to Paris。

During dinner; while the three were alone; Monsieur and Madame

Latournelle and Butscha turned the problem over and over in their

minds; and discussed every aspect of it。



〃If Modeste loved any one in Havre she would have shown some fear

yesterday;〃 said Madame Latournelle; 〃her lover; therefore; lives

somewhere else。〃



〃She swore to her mother this morning;〃 said the notary; 〃in presence

of Dumay; that she had not exchanged a look or a word with any living

soul。〃



〃Then she loves after my fashion!〃 exclaimed Butscha。



〃And how is that; my poor lad?〃 asked Madame Latournelle。



〃Madame;〃 said the little cripple; 〃I love alone and afaroh! as far

as from here to the stars。〃



〃How do you manage it; you silly fellow?〃 said Madame Latournelle;

laughing。



〃Ah; madame!〃 said Butscha; 〃what you call my hump is the socket of my

wings。〃



〃So that is the explanation of your seal; is it?〃 cried the notary。



Butscha's seal was a star; and under it the words 〃Fulgens; sequar;〃

〃Shining One; I follow thee;〃the motto of the house of

Chastillonest。



〃A beautiful woman may feel as distrustful as the ugliest;〃 said

Butscha; as if speaking to himself; 〃Modeste is clever enough to fear

she may be loved only for her beauty。〃



Hunchbacks are extraordinary creations; due entirely to society for;

according to Nature's plan; feeble or aborted beings ought to perish。

The curvature or distortion of the spinal column creates in these

outwardly deformed subjects as it were a storage…battery; where the

nerve currents accumulate more abundantly than under normal

conditions;where they develop; and whence they are emitted; so to

say; in lightning flashes; to energize the interior being。 From this;

forces result which are sometimes brought to light by magnetism;

though they are far more frequently lost in the vague spaces of the

spiritual world。 It is rare to find a deformed person who is not

gifted with some special faculty;a whimsical or sparkling gaiety

perhaps; an utter malignity; or an almost sublime goodness。 Like

instruments which the hand of art can never fully waken; these beings;

highly privileged though they know it not; live within themselves; as

Butscha lived; provided their natural forces so magnificently

concentrated have not been spent in the struggle they have been forced

to maintain; against tremendous odds; to keep alive。 This explains

many superstitions; the popular legends of gnomes; frightful dwarfs;

deformed fairies;all that race of bottles; as Rabelais called them;

containing elixirs and precious balms。



Butscha; therefore; had very nearly found the key to the puzzle。 With

all the anxious solicitude of a hopeless lover; a vassal ever ready to

die;like the soldiers alone and abandoned in the snows of Russia;

who still cried out; 〃Long live the Emperor;〃he meditated how to

capture Modeste's secret for his own private knowledge。 So thinking;

he followed his patrons to the Chalet that evening; with a cloud of

care upon his brow: for he knew it was most important to hide from all

these watchful eyes and ears the net; whatever it might be; in which

he should entrap his lady。 It would have to be; he thought; by some

intercepted glance; some sudden start or quiver; as when a surgeon

lays his finger on a hidden sore。 That evening Gobenheim did not

appear; and Butscha was Dumay's partner against Monsieur and Madame

Latournelle。 During the few moment's of Modeste's absence; about nine

o'clock; to prepare for her mother's bedtime; Madame Mignon and her

friends spoke openly to one another; but the poor clerk; depressed by

the conviction of Modeste's love; which had now seized upon him as

upon the rest; seemed as remote from the discussion as Gobenheim had

been the night before。



〃Well; what's the matter with you; Butscha?〃 cried Madame Latournelle;

〃one would really think you hadn't a friend in the world。〃



Tears shone in the eyes of the poor fellow; who was the son of a

Swedish sailor; and whose mother was dead。



〃I have no one in the world but you;〃 he answered with a troubled

voice; 〃and your compassion is so much a part of your religion that I

can never lose itand I will never deserve to lose it。〃



This answer struck the sensitive chord of true delicacy in the minds

of all present。



〃We love you; Monsieur Butscha;〃 said Madame Mignon; with much feeling

in her voice。



〃I've six hundred thousand francs of my own; this day;〃 cried Dumay;

〃and you shall be a notary and the successor of Latournelle。〃



The American wife took the hand of the poor hunchback and pressed it。



〃What! you have six hundred thousand francs!〃 exclaimed Latournelle;

pricking up his ears as Dumay let fall the words; 〃and you allow these

ladies to live as they do! Modeste ought to have a fine horse; and why

doesn't she continue to take lessons in music; and painting; and〃



〃Why; he has only had the money a few hours!〃 cried the little wife。



〃Hush!〃 murmured Madame Mignon。



While these words were exchanged; Butscha's august mistress turned

towards him; preparing to make a speech:



〃My son;〃 she said; 〃you are so surrounded by true affection that I

never thought how my thoughtless use of that familiar phrase might be

construed; but you must thank me for my little blunder; because it has

served to show you what friends your noble qualities have won。〃



〃Then you must have news from Monsieur Mignon;〃 resumed the notary。



〃He is on his way home;〃 said Madame Mignon; 〃but let us keep the

secret to ourselves。 When my husband learns how faithful Butscha has

been to us; how he has shown us the warmest and the most disinterested

friendship when others have given us the cold shoulder; he will not

let you alone provide for him; Dumay。 And so; my friend;〃 she added;

turning her blind face toward Butscha; 〃you can begin at once to

negotiate with Latournelle。〃



〃He's of legal age; twenty…five and a half years。 As for me; it will

be paying a debt; my boy; to make the purchase easy for you;〃 said the

notary。



Butscha was kissing Madame Mignon's hand; and his face was wet with

tears as Modeste opened the door of the salon。



〃What are you doing to my Black Dwarf?〃 she demanded。 〃Who is making

him unhappy?〃



〃Ah! Mademoiselle Mignon; do we luckless fellows; cradled in

misfortune; ever weep for grief? They have just shown me as much

affection as I could feel for them if they were indeed my own

relations。 I'm to be a notary; I shall be rich。 Ha! ha! the poor

Butscha may become the rich Butscha。 You don't know what audacity

there is in this abortion;〃 he cried。



With that he gave himself a resounding blow on the cavity of his chest

and took up a position before the fireplace; after casting a glance at

Modeste; which slipped like a ray of light between his heavy

half…closed eyelids。 He perceived; in this unexpected incident; a

chance of interrogating the heart of his sovereign。 Dumay thought for

a moment that the clerk dared to aspire to Modeste; and he exchanged a

rapid glance with the others; who understood him; and began to eye the

little man with a species of terror mingled with curiosity。



〃I; too; have

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的