the nabob-第24章
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ion of the happy day。 /Dieu！/ how pretty they looked in the front of their box； the Demoiselles Joyeuse； what a bouquet of rosy faces！ And then； the next day； the two eldest asked in marriage by Impossible to determine by whom； for M。 Joyeuse had just suddenly found himself once more beneath the arch of the Hemerlingue establishment； before the swing…door surmounted by a 〃counting…house〃 in letters of gold。
〃I shall always be the same； it seems；〃 said he to himself； laughing a little and passing his hand over his forehead； on which the perspiration stood in drops。
In a good humour as the result of this pleasant fancy and at the sight of the fire crackling in the suite of parquet…floored offices； with their screens of iron trellis…work and their air of secrecy in the cold light of the ground floor； where one could count the pieces of gold without dazzling his eyes； M。 Joyeuse gave a gay greeting to the other clerks and slipped on his working coat and his black velvet cap。 Suddenly； some one whistled from upstairs； and the cashier； applying his ear to the tube； heard the oily and gelatinous voice of Hemerlingue； the sole and veritable Hemerlinguethe other； the son； was always absentasking for M。 Joyeuse。
What！ Could the dream be continuing？
He was conscious of a great agitation； took the little inside staircase which he had seen himself ascending just before so bravely； and found himself in the banker's private room； a narrow apartment； with a very high ceiling； furnished only with green curtains and enormous leather easy chairs of a size proportioned to the terrific bulk of the head of the house。 He was there； seated at his desk which his belly prevented him from approaching very closely； obese； ill… shaped； and so yellow that his round face with its hooked nose； the head of a fat and sick owl； suggested as it were a light at the end of the solemn and gloomy room。 A rich Moorish merchant grown mouldy in the damp of his little court…yard。 Beneath his heavy eyelids； raised with an effort； his glance glittered for a second when the accountant entered； he signed to him to approach； and slowly； coldly； pausing to take breath between his sentences； instead of 〃M。 Joyeuse； how many daughters have you？〃 he said this：
〃Joyeuse； you have allowed yourself to criticise in the office our last operations in the Tunis market。 Useless to defend yourself。 Your remarks have been reported to me word for word。 And as I am unable to admit them from the mouth of one in my service； I give you notice that dating from the end of this month you cease to be a member of my establishment。〃
A wave of blood mounted to the accountant's face； fell back； returned again； bringing each time a confused whizzing into his ears； into his brain a tumult of thoughts and images。
His daughters！
What was to become of them？
Employment is so hard to find at that period of the year。
Poverty appeared before his eyes and also the vision of an unfortunate man falling at Hemerlingue's feet； supplicating him； threatening him； springing at his throat in an access of despairing rage。 All this agitation passed over his features like a gust of wind which throws the surface of a lake into ripples； fashioning there all manner of mobile whirlpools； but he remained mute； standing in the same place； and upon the master's intimation that he could withdraw； went down with tottering step to resume his work in the counting…house。
In the evening when he went home to the Rue Saint…Ferdinand； M。 Joyeuse told his daughters nothing。 He did not dare。 The idea of darkening that radiant gaiety which was the life of the house； of making dull with heavy tears those pretty bright eyes； was insupportable to him。 Timorous； too； and weak； he was of those who always say； 〃Let us wait till to…morrow。〃 He waited therefore before speaking； at first until the month of November should be ended； deluding himself with the vague hope that Hemerlingue might change his mind； as though he did not know that will as of some mollusk flabby and tenacious upon its ingot of gold。 Then when his salary had been paid up and another accountant had taken his place before the high desk at which he had stood for so long； he hoped to find something else quickly and repair his misfortune before being obliged to confess it。
Every morning he feigned to start for the office； allowed himself to be equipped and accompanied to the door as usual； his huge leather portfolio all ready for the evening's numerous commissions。 Although he would forget some of them on purpose because of the approaching and so problematical end of the month； he did not lack time now to execute them。 He had his day to himself； the whole of an interminable day which he spent in rushing about Paris in search for an employment。 People gave him addresses； excellent recommendations。 But in that terrible month of December； so cold and with such short hours of daylight； bringing with it so many expenses and preoccupations； employees need to take patience and employers also。 Each man tries to end the year in peace； postponing to the month of January； to that great leap of time towards a fresh halting…place； any changes； ameliorations； attempts at a new life。
In every house where M。 Joyeuse presented himself； he beheld faces suddenly grow cold as soon as he explained the object of his visit。
〃What！ You are no longer with Hemerlingue & Son？ How is that？〃
He would explain the matter as best he could through a caprice of the head of the firm； the ferocious Hemerlingue whom Paris knew； but he was conscious of a coldness； a mistrust in the uniform reply which he received： 〃Call on us again after the holidays。〃 And； timid as he was to begin with； he reached a point at which he could no longer bring himself to call on any one； a point at which he could walk past the same door a score of times and never have crossed its threshold at all had it not been for the thought of his daughters。 This alone pushed him along by the shoulders； put heart in his legs； despatched him in the course of the same day to the opposite extremities of Paris； to very vague addresses given to him by comrades； to a great manufactory of animal black at Aubervilliers； where he was made to return for nothing three days in succession。
Oh； the journeys in the rain； in the frost； the closed doors； the master who is out or engaged； the promises given and immediately withdrawn； the hopes deceived； the enervation of hours of waiting； the humiliations reserved for every man who asks for work； as though it were a shameful thing to lack it。 M。 Joyeuse knew all these melancholy things and； too； the good will that tires and grows discouraged before the persistence of evil fortune。 And you may imagine how the hard martyrdom of 〃the man who seeks a place〃 was rendered tenfold more bitter by the mirages of his imagination； by those chimeras which rose before him from the Paris pavements as over them he journeyed along on foot in every direction。
For a month he was one of those woeful puppets； talking in monologue； gesticulating on the footways； from whom every chance collision with the crowd wrests an exclamation as of one walking in his sleep。 〃I told you so；〃 or 〃I have no doubt of it； sir。〃 One passes by； almost one would laugh； but one is seized with pity before the unconsciousness of those unhappy men possessed by a fixed idea； blind whom the dream leads； drawn along by an invisible leash。 The terrible thing was that after those long； cruel days of inaction and fatigue； when M。 Joyeuse returned home； he had perforce to play the comedy of the man returning from his work； to recount the incidents of the day； the things he had heard； the gossip of the office with which he had been always wont to entertain his girls。
In humble homes there is always a name which comes up more often than all others； which is invoked in days of stress； which is mingled with every wish； with every hope； even with the games of the children； penetrated as they are with its importance； a name which sustains in the dwelling the part of a sub…Providence； or rather of a household divinity； familiar and supernatural。 In the Joyeuse family； it was Hemerlingue； always Hemerlingue； returning ten times； twent
