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第11章

the vicar of tours-第11章

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

persistence with which Mademoiselle Gamard pursued him; returned to

the dining…room with his face so convulsed that everybody cried out

when they saw him: 〃What IS the matter; Monsieur Birotteau?〃



The abbe; in despair; sat down without a word; so crushed was he by

the vague presence of approaching disaster。 But after breakfast; when

his friends gathered round him before a comfortable fire; Birotteau

naively related the history of his troubles。 His hearers; who were

beginning to weary of the monotony of a country…house; were keenly

interested in a plot so thoroughly in keeping with the life of the

provinces。 They all took sides with the abbe against the old maid。



〃Don't you see; my dear friend;〃 said Madame de Listomere; 〃that the

Abbe Troubert wants your apartment?〃



Here the historian ought to sketch this lady; but it occurs to him

that even those who are ignorant of Sterne's system of 〃cognomology;〃

cannot pronounce the three words 〃Madame de Listomere〃 without

picturing her to themselves as noble and dignified; softening the

sternness of rigid devotion by the gracious elegance and the courteous

manners of the old monarchical regime; kind; but a little stiff;

slightly nasal in voice; allowing herself the perusal of 〃La Nouvelle

Heloise〃; and still wearing her own hair。



〃The Abbe Birotteau must not yield to that old vixen;〃 cried Monsieur

de Listomere; a lieutenant in the navy who was spending a furlough

with his aunt。 〃If the vicar has pluck and will follow my suggestions

he will soon recover his tranquillity。〃



All present began to analyze the conduct of Mademoiselle Gamard with

the keen perceptions which characterize provincials; to whom no one

can deny the talent of knowing how to lay bare the most secret motives

of human actions。



〃You don't see the whole thing yet;〃 said an old landowner who knew

the region well。 〃There is something serious behind all this which I

can't yet make out。 The Abbe Troubert is too deep to be fathomed at


once。 Our dear Birotteau is at the beginning of his troubles。 Besides;

would he be left in peace and comfort even if he did give up his

lodging to Troubert? I doubt it。 If Caron came here to tell you that

you intended to leave Mademoiselle Gamard;〃 he added; turning to the

bewildered priest; 〃no doubt Mademoiselle Gamard's intention is to

turn you out。 Therefore you will have to go; whether you like it or

not。 Her sort of people play a sure game; they risk nothing。〃



This old gentleman; Monsieur de Bourbonne; could sum up and estimate

provincial ideas as correctly as Voltaire summarized the spirit of his

times。 He was thin and tall; and chose to exhibit in the matter of

clothes the quiet indifference of a landowner whose territorial value

is quoted in the department。 His face; tanned by the Touraine sun; was

less intellectual than shrewd。 Accustomed to weigh his words and

measure his actions; he concealed a profound vigilance behind a

misleading appearance of simplicity。 A very slight observation of him

sufficed to show that; like a Norman peasant; he invariably held the

upper hand in business matters。 He was an authority on wine…making;

the leading science of Touraine。 He had managed to extend the meadow

lands of his domain by taking in a part of the alluvial soil of the

Loire without getting into difficulties with the State。 This clever

proceeding gave him the reputation of a man of talent。 If Monsieur de

Bourbonne's conversation pleased you and you were to ask who he was of

a Tourainean; 〃Ho! a sly old fox!〃 would be the answer of those who

were envious of himand they were many。 In Touraine; as in many of

the provinces; jealousy is the root of language。



Monsieur de Bourbonne's remark occasioned a momentary silence; during

which the persons who composed the little party seemed to be

reflecting。 Meanwhile Mademoiselle Salomon de Villenoix was announced。

She came from Tours in the hope of being useful to the poor abbe; and

the news she brought completely changed the aspect of the affair。 As

she entered; every one except Monsieur de Bourbonne was urging

Birotteau to hold his own against Troubert and Gamard; under the

auspices of the aristocractic society of the place; which would

certainly stand by him。



〃The vicar…general; to whom the appointments to office are entrusted;

is very ill;〃 said Mademoiselle Salomon; 〃and the archbishop has

delegated his powers to the Abbe Troubert provisionally。 The canonry

will; of course; depend wholly upon him。 Now last evening; at

Mademoiselle de la Blottiere's the Abbe Poirel talked about the

annoyances which the Abbe Birotteau had inflicted on Mademoiselle

Gamard; as though he were trying to cast all the blame on our good

abbe。 'The Abbe Birotteau;' he said; 'is a man to whom the Abbe

Chapeloud was absolutely necessary; and since the death of that

venerable man; he has shown'and then came suggestions; calumnies!

you understand?〃



〃Troubert will be made vicar…general;〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne;

sententiously。



〃Come!〃 cried Madame de Listomere; turning to Birotteau; 〃which do you

prefer; to be made a canon; or continue to live with Mademoiselle

Gamard?〃



〃To be a canon!〃 cried the whole company。



〃Well; then;〃 resumed Madame de Listomere; 〃you must let the Abbe

Troubert and Mademoiselle Gamard have things their own way。 By sending

Caron here they mean to let you know indirectly that if you consent to

leave the house you shall be made canon;one good turn deserves

another。〃



Every one present applauded Madame de Listomere's sagacity; except her

nephew the Baron de Listomere; who remarked in a comic tone to

Monsieur de Bourbonne; 〃I would like to have seen a fight between the

Gamard and the Birotteau。〃



But; unhappily for the vicar; forces were not equal between these

persons of the best society and the old maid supported by the Abbe

Troubert。 The time soon came when the struggle developed openly; went

on increasing; and finally assumed immense proportions。 By the advice

of Madame de Listomere and most of her friends; who were now eagerly

enlisted in a matter which threw such excitement into their vapid

provincial lives; a servant was sent to bring back Monsieur Caron。 The

lawyer returned with surprising celerity; which alarmed no one but

Monsieur de Bourbonne。



〃Let us postpone all decision until we are better informed;〃 was the

advice of that Fabius in a dressing…gown; whose prudent reflections

revealed to him the meaning of these moves on the Tourainean chess…

board。 He tried to enlighten Birotteau on the dangers of his position;

but the wisdom of the old 〃sly…boots〃 did not serve the passions of

the moment; and he obtained but little attention。



The conference between the lawyer and Birotteau was short。 The vicar

came back quite terrified。



〃He wants me to sign a paper stating my relinquishment of domicile。〃



〃That's formidable language!〃 said the naval lieutenant。



〃What does it mean?〃 asked Madame de Listomere。



〃Merely that the abbe must declare in writing his intention of leaving

Mademoiselle Gamard's house;〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne; taking a

pinch of snuff。



〃Is that all?〃 said Madame de Listomere。 〃Then sign it at once;〃 she

added; turning to Birotteau。 〃If you positively decide to leave her

house; there can be no harm in declaring that such is your will。〃



Birotteau's will!



〃That is true;〃 said Monsieur de Bourbonne; closing his snuff…box with

a gesture the significance of which it is impossible to render; for it

was a language in itself。 〃But writing is always dangerous;〃 he added;

putting his snuff…box on the mantelpiece with an air and manner that

alarmed the vicar。



Birotteau was so bewildered by the upsetting of all his ideas; by the

rapidity of events which found him defenceless; by the ease with which

his friends were settling the

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