the nabob-第30章
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〃Don't listen to them； my child。 Sell nothing。 Your old Constance has an income of fifteen thousand francs； which was destined to come to you later on。 You will take advantage of it at once； that is all。 We will live here together。 You will see； I shall not be in the way。 You will work at your sculpture； I shall manage the house。 Does that suit you？〃
It was said so tenderly； with that childishness of accent which foreigners have when expressing themselves in French； that the girl was deeply moved。 Her heart that had seemed turned to stone opened； a burning flood came pouring from her eyes； and she rushed； flung herself into the arms of the dancer。 〃Ah； godmother； how good you are to me！ Yes； yes； don't leave me any more。 Stay with me always。 Life frightens and disgusts me。 I see so much hypocrisy in it； so much falsehood。〃 And the old woman arranged for herself a silken and embroidered nest in this house so like a traveller's camp laden with treasures from every land； and the suggested dual life began for these two different natures。
It was no small sacrifice that Constance had made for the dear demon in quitting her Fontainebleau retreat for Paris； which inspired her with terror。 Ever since the day when this dancer； with her extravagant caprices； who made princely fortunes flow and disappear through her five open fingers； had descended from her triumphant position； a little of its dazzling glitter still in her eyes； and had attempted to resume an ordinary existence； to manage her little income and her modest household； she had been the object of a thousand impudent exploitations； of frauds that were easy in view of the ignorance of this poor butterfly that was frightened by reality and came into collision with all its unknown difficulties。 Living in Felicia's house； the responsibility became still more serious by reason of the wastefulness introduced long ago by the father and continued by the daughter； two artists knowing nothing of economy。 She had； moreover； other difficulties to conquer。 She found the studio insupportable with its permanent atmosphere of tobacco smoke； an impenetrable cloud for her； in which the discussions on art； the analysis of ideas； were lost and which infallibly gave her a headache。 〃Chaff；〃 above all； frightened her。 As a foreigner； as at one time a divinity of the green…room； brought up on out…of…date compliments； on gallantries /a la Dorat/； she did not understand it； and would feel terrified in the presence of the wild exaggerations； the paradoxes of these Parisians refined by the liberty of the studio。
That kind of thing was intimidating to her who had never possessed wit save in the vivacity of her feet； and reduced her simply to the rank of a lady…companion； and； seeing this amiable old dame sitting； silent and smiling； her knitting in her lap； like one of Chardin's /bourgeoises/； or hastening by the side of her cook up the long Rue de Chaillot； where the nearest market happened to be； one would never have guessed that that simple old body had ruled kings； princes； the whole class of amorous nobles and financiers； at the caprice of her step and pirouettings。
Paris is full of such fallen stars； extinguished by the crowd。
Some of these famous ones； these conquerors of a former day； cherish a rage in their heart； others； on the contrary； enjoy the past blissfully； digest in an ineffable content all their glorious and ended joys； asking only repose； silence； shadow； good enough for memory and contemplations； so that when they die people are quite astonished to learn that they had been still living。
Constance Crenmitz was among these fortunate ones。 The household of these two women was a curious one。 Both were childlike； placing side by side in a common domain； inexperience and ambition； the tranquility of an accomplished destiny and the fever of a life plunged in struggle； all the different qualities manifest even in the serene style of dress affected by this blonde who seemed all white like a faded rose； with something beneath her bright colours that vaguely suggested the footlights； and that brunette with the regular features； who almost always clothed her beauty in dark materials； simple in fold； a semblance； as it were； of virility。
Things unforeseen； caprices； ignorance of even the least important details； led to an extreme disorder in the finances of the household； disorder which was only rectified by dint of privations； by the dismissal of servants； by reforms that were laughable in their exaggeration。 During one of these crises； Jenkins had made veiled delicate offers； which； however； were repulsed with contempt by Felicia。
〃It is not nice of you；〃 Constance would remark to her； 〃to be so hard on the poor doctor。 After all； there was nothing offensive in his suggestion。 An old friend of your father。〃
〃He； any one's friend！ Ah； the hypocrite！〃
And Felicia； hardly able to contain herself； would give an ironical turn to her wrath； imitating Jenkins with his oily manner and his hand on his heart； then； puffing out her cheeks； she would say in a loud； deep voice full of lying unction：
〃Let us be humane； let us be kind。 To do good without hope of reward！ That is the whole point。〃
Constance used to laugh till the tears came； in spite of herself。 The resemblance was so perfect。
〃All the same； you are too hard。 You will end by driving him away altogether。〃
〃Little fear of that；〃 a shake of the girl's head would reply。
In effect he always came back； pleasant； amiable； dissimulating his passion； which was visible only when it grew jealous of newcomers； paying assiduous attention to the old dancer； who； in spite of everything； found his good…nature pleasing and recognised in him a man of her own time； of the time when one accosted a woman with a kiss on her hand； with a compliment on her appearance。
One morning； Jenkins having called in the course of his round； found Constance alone and doing nothing in the antechamber。
〃You see； doctor； I am on guard；〃 she remarked tranquilly。
〃How is that？〃
〃Felicia is at work。 She wishes not to be disturbed； and the servants are so stupid； I am myself seeing that her orders are obeyed。〃
Then； seeing that the Irishman made a step towards the studio：
〃No； no； don't go in。 She told me very particularly not to let any one go in。〃
〃But I？〃
〃I beg you not。 You would get me a scolding。〃
Jenkins was about to take his leave when a burst of laughter from Felicia； coming through the curtains； made him prick up his ears。
〃She is not alone； then？〃
〃No； the Nabob is with her。 They are having a sitting for the portrait。〃
〃And why this mystery？ It is a very singular thing。〃 He commenced to walk backward and forward； evidently very angry； but containing his wrath。
At last he burst forth。
It was an unheard…of impropriety to let a girl thus shut herself in with a man。
He was surprised that one so serious； so devoted as Constance What did it look like？
The old lady looked at him with stupefaction。 As though Felicia were like other girls！ And then what danger was there with the Nabob； so staid a man and so ugly？ Besides； Jenkins ought to know quite well that Felicia never consulted anybody； that she always had her own way。
〃No； no； it is impossible！ I cannot tolerate this；〃 exclaimed the Irishman。
And； without paying any further heed to the dancer； who raised her arms to heaven as a call upon it to witness what was about to happen； he moved towards the studio； but； instead of entering immediately； he softly half…opened the door and raised a corner of the hangings； whereby the portion of the room in which the Nabob was posing became visible to him； although at a considerable distance。
Jansoulet； seated without cravat and with his waist…coat open； was talking apparently in some agitation and in a low voice。 Felicia was replying in a similar tone； in laughing whispers。 The sitting was very animated。 Then a silence； a silken rustle of skirts； and the artist； going up to her model； turned down his linen collar all round with familiar gesture； allowing her light hand to run over the sun…tanned skin。
That Ethiopian face on which the muscles stood out in the very intoxication of health； with its
