贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the vicar of tours >

第10章

the vicar of tours-第10章

小说: the vicar of tours 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!




down upon it and devouring it。 She had long since laid a plan which

the poor dumbfounded priest was quite incapable of imagining; and

which she now proceeded to unfold with that genius for little things

often shown by solitary persons; whose souls; incapable of feeling the

grandeur of true piety; fling themselves into the details of outward

devotion。



The petty nature of his troubles prevented Birotteau; always effusive

and liking to be pitied and consoled; from enjoying the soothing

pleasure of taking his friends into his confidence;a last but cruel

aggravation of his misery。 The little amount of tact which he derived

from his timidity made him fear to seem ridiculous in concerning

himself with such pettiness。 And yet those petty things made up the

sum of his existence;that cherished existence; full of busyness

about nothings; and of nothingness in its business; a colorless barren

life in which strong feelings were misfortunes; and the absence of

emotion happiness。 The poor priest's paradise was changed; in a

moment; into hell。 His sufferings became intolerable。 The terror he

felt at the prospect of a discussion with Mademoiselle Gamard

increased day by day; the secret distress which blighted his life

began to injure his health。 One morning; as he put on his mottled blue

stockings; he noticed a marked dimunition in the circumference of his

calves。 Horrified by so cruel and undeniable a symptom; he resolved to

make an effort and appeal to the Abbe Troubert; requesting him to

intervene; officially; between Mademoiselle Gamard and himself。



When he found himself in presence of the imposing canon; who; in order

to receive his visitor in a bare and cheerless room; had hastily

quitted a study full of papers; where he worked incessantly; and where

no one was ever admitted; the vicar felt half ashamed at speaking of

Mademoiselle Gamard's provocations to a man who appeared to be so

gravely occupied。 But after going through the agony of the mental

deliberations which all humble; undecided; and feeble persons endure

about things of even no importance; he decided; not without much

swelling and beating of the heart; to explain his position to the Abbe

Troubert。



The canon listened in a cold; grave manner; trying; but in vain; to

repress an occasional smile which to more intelligent eyes than those

of the vicar might have betrayed the emotions of a secret

satisfaction。 A flame seemed to dart from his eyelids when Birotteau

pictured with the eloquence of genuine feeling the constant bitterness

he was made to swallow; but Troubert laid his hand above those lids

with a gesture very common to thinkers; maintaining the dignified

demeanor which was usual with him。 When the vicar had ceased to speak

he would indeed have been puzzled had he sought on Troubert's face;

marbled with yellow blotches even more yellow than his usually bilious

skin; for any trace of the feelings he must have excited in that

mysterious priest。



After a moment's silence the canon made one of those answers which

required long study before their meaning could be thoroughly

perceived; though later they proved to reflecting persons the

astonishing depths of his spirit and the power of his mind。 He simply

crushed Birotteau by telling him that 〃these things amazed him all the

more because he should never have suspected their existence were it

not for his brother's confession。 He attributed such stupidity on his

part to the gravity of his occupations; his labors; the absorption in

which his mind was held by certain elevated thoughts which prevented

his taking due notice of the petty details of life。〃 He made the vicar

observe; but without appearing to censure the conduct of a man whose

age and connections deserved all respect; that 〃in former days;

recluses thought little about their food and lodging in the solitude

of their retreats; where they were lost in holy contemplations;〃 and

that 〃in our days; priests could make a retreat for themselves in the

solitude of their own hearts。〃 Then; reverting to Birotteau's affairs;

he added that 〃such disagreements were a novelty to him。 For twelve

years nothing of the kind had occurred between Mademoiselle Gamard and

the venerable Abbe Chapeloud。 As for himself; he might; no doubt; be

an arbitrator between the vicar and their landlady; because his

friendship for that person had never gone beyond the limits imposed by

the Church on her faithful servants; but if so; justice demanded that

he should hear both sides。 He certainly saw no change in Mademoiselle

Gamard; who seemed to him the same as ever; he had always submitted to

a few of her caprices; knowing that the excellent woman was kindness

and gentleness itself; the slight fluctuations of her temper should be

attributed; he thought; to sufferings caused by a pulmonary affection;

of which she said little; resigning herself to bear them in a truly

Christian spirit。〃 He ended by assuring the vicar that 〃if he stayed a

few years longer in Mademoiselle Gamard's house he would learn to

understand her better and acknowledge the real value of her excellent

nature。〃



Birotteau left the room confounded。 In the direful necessity of

consulting no one; he now judged Mademoiselle Gamard as he would

himself; and the poor man fancied that if he left her house for a few

days he might extinguish; for want of fuel; the dislike the old maid

felt for him。 He accordingly resolved to spend; as he formerly did; a

week or so at a country…house where Madame de Listomere passed her

autumns; a season when the sky is usually pure and tender in Touraine。

Poor man! in so doing he did the thing that was most desired by his

terrible enemy; whose plans could only have been brought to nought by

the resistant patience of a monk。 But the vicar; unable to divine

them; not understanding even his own affairs; was doomed to fall; like

a lamb; at the butcher's first blow。



Madame de Listomere's country…place; situated on the embankment which

lies between Tours and the heights of Saint…Georges; with a southern

exposure and surrounded by rocks; combined the charms of the country

with the pleasures of the town。 It took but ten minutes from the

bridge of Tours to reach the house; which was called the 〃Alouette;〃

a great advantage in a region where no one will put himself out for

anything whatsoever; not even to seek a pleasure。



The Abbe Birotteau had been about ten days at the Alouette; when; one

morning while he was breakfasting; the porter came to say that

Monsieur Caron desired to speak with him。 Monsieur Caron was

Mademoiselle Gamard's laywer; and had charge of her affairs。

Birotteau; not remembering this; and unable to think of any matter of

litigation between himself and others; left the table to see the

lawyer in a stage of great agitation。 He found him modestly seated on

the balustrade of a terrace。



〃Your intention of ceasing to reside in Mademoiselle Gamard's house

being made evident〃 began the man of business。



〃Eh! monsieur;〃 cried the Abbe Birotteau; interrupting him; 〃I have

not the slightest intention of leaving it。〃



〃Nevertheless; monsieur;〃 replied the lawyer; 〃you must have had some

agreement in the matter with Mademoiselle; for she has sent me to ask

how long you intend to remain in the country。 The event of a long

absence was not foreseen in the agreement; and may lead to a contest。

Now; Mademoiselle Gamard understanding that your board〃



〃Monsieur;〃 said Birotteau; amazed; and again interrupting the lawyer;

〃I did not suppose it necessary to employ; as it were; legal means

to〃



〃Mademoiselle Gamard; who is anxious to avoid all dispute;〃 said

Monsieur Caron; 〃has sent me to come to an understanding with you。〃



〃Well; if you will have the goodness to return to…morrow;〃 said the

abbe; 〃I shall then have taken advice in the matter。〃



The quill…driver withdrew。 The poor vicar; frightened at the

persistence with which Ma

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的