the nabob-第33章
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unset on the beautiful lake of El…Baheira？ However luxurious the apartment of the Place Vendome might be； it could not compensate for the loss of these marvels。 And then she would be more miserable than ever。 At last； a man who was a frequent visitor to the house succeeded in lifting her out of her despair。 This was Cabassu； the man who described himself on his cards as 〃professor of massage；〃 a big； dark； thick…set man； smelling of garlic and pomade； square…shouldered； hairy to the eyes； and who knew stories of Parisian seraglios； tales within the reach of madame's intelligence。 Having once come to massage her； she wished to see him again； retained him。 He had to give up all his other clients； and became； at the salary of a senator； the masseur of this stout lady； her page； her reader； her body…guard。 Jansoulet； delighted to see his wife contented； was unconscious of the ridicule attached to this intimacy。
Cabassu was now seen in the Bois； seated beside the favourite maid in the huge and sumptuous open carriage； also at the back of the theatre boxes taken by the Levantine； for she began to go out； since she had grown less torpid under the treatment of her masseur and was determined to amuse herself。 The theatre pleased her； especially farces or melodramas。 The apathy of her large body found a stimulus in the false glare of the footlights。 But it was to Cardailhac's theatre that she went for preference。 There； the Nabob found himself in his own house。 From the chief superintendent to the humblest /ouvreuse/； the whole staff was under his control。 He had a key which enabled him to pass from the corridors on to the stage； and the small drawing…room communicating with his box was decorated in Oriental manner； with a concave ceiling like a beehive； its couches covered in camel's hair； the flame of the gas inclosed in a little Moorish lantern。 Here one could enjoy a siesta during rather long intervals between the acts； a gallant attention on the part of the manager to the wife of his partner。 Nor did that ape of a Cardailhac stop at this。 Remarking the taste of the Demoiselle Afchin for the drama； he had ended by persuading her that she also possessed the intuition； the knowledge of it； and by begging her when she had nothing better to do to glance over and let him know what she thought of the pieces that were submitted to him。 A good way of cementing the partnership more firmly。
Poor manuscripts in your blue or yellow covers； bound by hope with fragile ribbons； that set out full of ambition and dreams； who knows what hands may touch you； turn over your pages； what indiscreet fingers deflower your charm； the charm of the unknown； that glittering dust which lies on new ideas？ Who may judge you and who condemn？ Sometimes； before dining out； Jansoulet； mounting to his wife's room； would find her on her lounge； smoking； her head thrown back； bundles of manuscripts by her side； and Cabassu； armed with a blue pencil； reading in his thick voice and with the Bourg…Saint…Andeol accent； some dramatic lucubration which he cut and scored without pity at the least criticism from the lady。
〃Don't disturb yourselves；〃 the good Nabob would signal with his hand； entering on tiptoe。 He would listen； shake his head with an admiring air； as he watched his wife： 〃She is astonishing！〃 for he himself understood nothing about literature； and there； at least； he could discover once again the superiority of Mlle。 Afchin。
〃She had the instinct of the stage；〃 as Cardailhac used to say； but； on the other hand； the maternal instinct was wanting in her。 Never did she take any interest in her children； abandoning them to the hands of strangers； and； when they were brought to her once a month； contenting herself with offering to them the flaccid and inanimate flesh of her cheeks between two puffs of cigarette…smoke； without making any inquiries into those details of their bringing up and of their health which perpetuate the physical bond of maternity and make the hearts of true mothers bleed at the least suffering of their children。
They were three big； dull and apathetic boys of eleven； nine； and seven years； having； with the sallow complexion and the precocious bloatedness of the Levantine； the kind； black； velvety eyes of their father。 They were ignorant as young lords of the middle ages。 At Tunis； M。 Bompain had directed their studies； but at Paris； the Nabob； anxious to give them the benefit of a Parisian education； had sent them to that smartest and most expensive of boarding…schools； the College Bourdaloue； managed by good priests who sought less to instruct their pupils than to make of them good…mannered and right… thinking men of the world； and succeeded in turning them out affectedly grave and ridiculous little prigs； disdainful of games； absolutely ignorant； without anything spontaneous or boyish about them； and of a desperate precocity。 The little Jansoulets were not very happy in this forcing…house； notwithstanding the immunities which they enjoyed by reason of their immense wealth； they were； indeed； utterly left to themselves。 Even the creoles in the charge of the institution had some friend whom they visited and people who came to see them； but the Jansoulets were never summoned to the parlour； no one knew any of their relatives； from time to time they received basketfuls of sweetmeats； piles of confectionery； and that was all。 The Nabob； doing some shopping in Paris； would strip for them the whole of a pastry…cook's window and send the spoils to the college； with that generous impulse of the heart mingled with negro ostentation which characterized all his actions。 It was the same in the matter of playthings。 They were always too pretty； tricked out too finely； uselessthose toys that are for show but which the Parisian does not buy。 But that which above all attracted to the little Jansoulets the respect both of pupils and masters； were their purses heavy with gold； ever ready for school subscriptions； for the professors' birthdays； and the charity visits； those famous visits organized by the College Bourdaloue； one of the tempting things in the prospectus； the marvel of sensitive souls。
Twice a month； turn and turn about； the pupils who were members of the miniature Society of St。 Vincent de Paul founded in the college upon the model of the great one； went in little squads； alone； as though they had been grown…up； to bear succour and consolation into the deepest recesses of the more densely populated quarters of the town。 This was designed to teach them a practical charity； the art of knowing the needs； the miseries of the lower classes； and to heal these heart…rending evils by a nostrum of kind words and ecclesiastical maxims。 To console； to evangelize the masses by the help of childhood； to disarm religious incredulity by the youth and /naivete/ of the apostles； such was the aim of this little society； an aim entirely missed； moreover。 The children； healthy； well…dressed； well…fed； calling only at addresses previously selected； found poor persons of good appearance； sometimes rather unwell； but very clean； already on the parish register and in receipt of aid from the wealthy organization of the Church。 Never did they chance to enter one of those nauseous dwellings wherein hunger； grief； humiliation； all physical and moral ills are written in leprous mould on the walls； in indelible lines on the brows。 Their visits were prepared for； like that of the sovereign who enters a guard…room to taste the soldiers' soup： the guard…room is warmed and the soup seasoned for the royal palate。 Have you seen those pictures in pious books； where a little communicant； with candle in hand； and perfectly groomed； comes to minister to a poor old man lying sick on his straw pallet and turning the whites of his eyes to heaven？ These visits of charity had the same conventionality of setting and of accent。 To the measured gestures of the little preachers were corresponding words learned by heart and false enough to make one squint。 To the comic encouragement； to the 〃consolations lavished〃 in prize…book phrases by the voices of young urchins with colds； were the affecting benedictions； the whining and piteous mummeries of a church…porch after vespers。 And the m
