the nabob-第107章
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to shout it aloud in the silence； to denounce that insulting crowdwho knows？to spring into the midst of it； kill one of themah！ kill /one/ of them when he felt a light tap on his shoulder； and a fair head came before his eyes； serious and frank； two hands held out； which he grasped convulsively； like a drowning man。
〃Ah！ dear friend； dear〃 the poor man stammered。 But he had not the strength to say more。 This emotion of joy coming suddenly in the midst of his fury melted him into a sobbing torrent of tears； and stifled words。 His face became purple。 He motioned 〃Take me away。〃 And； stumbling in his walk； leaning on de Gery's arm； he only managed to cross the threshold of his box before he fell prostrate in the corridor。
〃Bravo！ Bravo！ cried the house in reply to the speech which the actor had just finished； and there was a noise like a hailstorm； and stamping of enthusiastic feet while the great lifeless body； raised with difficulty by the scene…shifters； was carried through the brightly lighted wings； crowded with people pressing in their curiosity round the stage； excited by the atmosphere of success and who hardly noticed the passage of the inert and vanquished man； borne on men's arms like some victim of a riot。 They laid him on a couch in the room where the properties were stored； Paul de Gery at his side； with a doctor and two porters who eagerly lent all the assistance in their power。 Cardailhac； extremely busy over his play； had sent word that he should come to hear the news 〃directly； after the fifth act。〃
Bleeding after bleeding； cuppings； mustard leavesnothing brought even a quiver to the skin of the patient； insensible apparently to all the remedies usually employed in cases of apoplexy。 The whole being seemed to be surrendering to death； to be preparing the way for the rigidity of the corpse； and this in the most sinister place in the world； this chaos； lighted by a lantern merely； amid which there lie about pell…mell in the dust all the remains of former playsgilt furniture； curtains with gay fringes； coaches； boxes； card…tables； dismantled staircases and balusters； among ropes and pulleys； a confusion of out…of…date theatrical properties； thrown down； broken； and damaged。 Bernard Jansoulet； as he lay among this wreckage； his shirt opened over his chest； pale and covered with blood； was indeed a man come to the shipwreck of his life； bruised and tossed aside along with the pitiful ruins of his artificial luxury dispersed and broken up； in the whirlpool of Paris。 Paul； with aching heart； contemplated the scene sadly； that face with its short nose； preserving in its inertia the savage yet kindly expression of an inoffensive creature that tried to defend itself before it died and had not time to bite。 He reproached himself bitterly with his inability to be of any service to him。 Where was that fine project of leading Jansoulet across the bogs； of guarding him against ambushes？ All that he had been able to do had been to save a few millions for him； and even these had come too late。
The windows had just been thrown open upon the curved balcony over the boulevard； now at the height of its noisy and brilliant stir。 The theatre was surrounded by； as it were； a plinth of gas…jets； a zone of fire which brought the gloomiest recesses into light； pricked out with revolving lanterns； like stars journeying through a dark sky。 The play was over。 People were coming out。 The black and dense crowd on the steps was dispersing over the white pavements； on its way to spread through the town the news of a great success and the name of an unknown author who to…morrow would be triumphant and famous。 A splendid evening； so that the windows of the restaurants were lighted up in gaiety and files of carriages passed through the streets at a late hour。 This tumult of festivity which the poor Nabob had loved so keenly； which seemed to go so well with the dizzy whirl of his existence； roused him to life for a moment。 His lips moved； and into his dilated eyes； turned towards de Gery； there came before he died a pained expression； beseeching and protesting； as though to call upon him as witness of one of the greatest and most cruel acts of injustice that Paris has ever committed。
End
