the nabob-第34章
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affecting benedictions； the whining and piteous mummeries of a church…porch after vespers。 And the moment the young visitors departed； what an explosion of laughter and shouting in the garret； what a dance in a circle round the present brought； what an upsetting of the arm…chair in which one had pretended to be lying ill； of the medicine spilt in the fire； a fire of cinders very artistically prepared！
When the little Jansoulets went out to visit their parents at home； they were intrusted to the care of the man with the red fez； the indispensable Bompain。 It was Bompain who conducted them to the Champs…Elysees； clad in English jackets； bowler hats of the latest fashionat seven years old！and carrying little canes in their dog… skin…gloved hands。 It was Bompain who stuffed the race…wagonette with provisions。 Here he mounted with the children； who； with their entrance…cards stuck in their hats round which green veils were twisted； looked very like those personages in Liliputian pantomimes whose entire funniness lies in the enormous size of their heads compared with their small legs and dwarf…like gestures。 They smoked and drank； it was a painful sight。 Sometimes the man in the fez； hardly able to hold himself upright； would bring them home frightfully sick。 And yet Jansoulet was fond of them； the youngest especially； who； with his long hair； his doll…like manner； recalled to him the little Afchin passing in her carriage。 But they were still of the age when children belong to the mother； when neither the fashionable tailor； nor the most accomplished masters； nor the smart boarding… school； nor the ponies girthed specially for the little men in the stable； nor anything else can replace the attentive and caressing hand； the warmth and the gaiety of the home…nest。 The father could not give them that； and then； too； he was so busy！
A thousand irons in the fire： the Territorial Bank； the installation of the picture gallery； drives to Tattersall's with Bois l'Hery； some /bibelot/ to inspect； here or there； at the houses of collectors indicated by Schwalbach； hours passed with trainers； jockeys； dealers in curiosities； the encumbered and multiple existence of a /bourgeois gentilhomme/ in modern Paris。 This rubbing of shoulders with all sorts and conditions of people brought him improvement； in that each day he was becoming a little more Parisianized； he was received at Monpavon's club； in the green…room of the ballet； behind the scenes at the theatres； and presided regularly at his famous bachelor luncheons； the only receptions possible in his household。 His existence was really a very busy one； and de Gery relieved him of the heaviest part of it； the complicated department of appeals and of charities。
The young man now became acquainted with all the audacious and burlesque inventions； all the serio…comic combinations of that mendicancy of great cities； organized like a department of state； innumerable as an army； which subscribes to the newspapers and knows its /Bottin/ by heart。 He received the blonde lady； bold； young； and already faded； who only asks for a hundred napoleons； with the threat that she will throw herself into the river when she leaves if they are not given to her； and the stout matron of prepossessing and unceremonious manner； who says； as she enters： 〃Sir； you do not know me。 Neither have I the honour of knowing you。 But we shall soon make each other's acquaintance。 Be kind enough to sit down and let us have a chat。〃 The merchant at bay； on the verge of bankruptcysometimes it is truewho comes to entreat you to save his honour； with a pistol ready to shoot himself； bulging out the pocket of his overcoat sometimes it is only his pipe…case。 And often genuine distresses； wearisome and prolix； of people who are unable even to tell how little competent they are to earn a livelihood。 Side by side with this open begging； there was that which wears various kinds of disguise： charity； philanthropy； good works； the encouragement of projects of art； the house…to…house begging for infant asylums； parish churches； rescued women； charitable societies； local libraries。 Finally； those who wear a society mask； with tickets for concerts； benefit performances； entrance…cards of all colours； 〃platform； front seats； reserved seats。〃 The Nabob insisted that no refusals should be given； and it was a concession that he no longer burdened his own shoulders with such matters。 For quite a long time； in generous indifference； he had gone on covering with gold all that hypocritical exploitation； paying five hundred francs for a ticket for the concert of some Wurtemberg cithara…player or Languedocian flutist； which at the Tuileries or at the Duc de Mora's might have fetched ten francs。 There were days when the young de Gery issued from these audiences nauseated。 All the honesty of his youth revolted； he approached the Nabob with schemes of reform。 But the Nabob's face； at the first word； would assume the bored expression of weak natures when they have to make a decision； or he would perhaps reply： 〃But that is Paris； my dear boy。 Don't get frightened or interfere with my plans。 I know what I am doing and what I want。〃
At that time he wanted two things： a deputyship and the cross of the Legion of Honour。 These were for him the first two stages of the great ascent to which his ambition pushed him。 Deputy he would certainly be through the influence of the Territorial Bank； at the head of which he stood。 Paganetti of Porto…Vecchio was often saying it to him： 〃When the day arrives； the island will rise and vote for you as one man。〃
It is not enough； however； to control electors； it is necessary also that there be a seat vacant in the Chamber； and the representation of Corsica was complete。 One of its members； however； the old Popolusca； infirm and in no condition to do his work； might perhaps； upon certain conditions； be willing to resign his seat。 It was a difficult matter to negotiate； but quite feasible； the old fellow having a numerous family； estates which produced little or nothing； a palace in ruins at Bastia； where his children lived on /polenta/； and a furnished apartment at Paris in an eighteenth…rate lodging…house。 If a hundred or two hundred thousand francs were not a consideration； one ought to be able to obtain a favourable decision from this honourable pauper who； sounded by Paganetti； would say neither yes nor no； tempted by the large sum of money； held back by the vainglory of his position。 The matter had reached that point； it might be decided from one day to another。
As for the cross； things were going still better。 The Bethlehem Society had assuredly made the devil of a noise at the Tuileries。 They were now only waiting until after the visit of M。 de la Perriere and his report； which could not be other than favorable； before inscribing on the list for the 16th March； on the date of an imperial anniversary； the glorious name of Jansoulet。 The 16th March； that was to say； within a month。 What would the fat Hemerlingue find to say of this signal favour； he who for so long had had to content himself with the Nisham？ And the Bey； who had been misled into believing that Jansoulet was cut by Parisian society； and the old mother； down yonder at Saint…Romans； ever so happy in the successes of her son！ Was that not worth a few millions cleverly squandered along the path of glory which the Nabob was treading like a child； all unconscious of the fate that lay waiting to devour him at its end？ And in these external joys； these honours； this consideration so dearly bought； was there not a compensation for all the troubles of this Oriental won back to European life； who desired a home and possessed only a caravansary； looked for a wife and found only a Levantine？
THE BETHLEHEM SOCIETY
BETHLEHEM！ Why did it give one such a chill to see written in letters of gold over the iron gate that historic name； sweet and warm like the straw of the miraculous stable！ Perhaps it was partly to be accounted for by the melancholy of the landscape； that immense gloomy plain which stretches from Nanterre to Saint Cloud； broken only by a few clumps of trees or the smoke of factory chimneys。 Possibly also by the disproportion that existed between the
