the nabob-第38章
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mselves with their hips and their elbows； some fallen on one side and unable to regain their balance； others raising in the air their little benumbed； swaddled legs； spontaneously they cease their gesticulations and cries as they see the door open； but M。 de la Perrier's nodding goatee beard reassures them； encourages them anew； and in the renewed tumult the explanation given by the director is only heard with difficulty： 〃Children kept separateContagionSkin…diseases。〃 This is quite enough for Monsieur the Departmental Secretary； less heroic than Bonaparte on his visit to the plague…stricken of Jaffa； he hastens towards the door； and in his timid anxiety； wishing to say something and yet not finding words； murmurs with an ineffable smile： 〃They are char…ar…ming。〃
Next； the inspection at an end； see them all gathered in the salon on the ground floor； where Mme。 Polge has prepared a little luncheon。 The cellar of Bethlehem is well stocked。 The keen air of the table…land； these climbs up and downstairs have given the old gentleman from the Tuileries an appetite such as he has not known for a long time； so that he chats and laughs as if he were at a picnic； and at the moment of departure； as they are all standing； raises his glass； nodding his head； to drink； 〃To Be…Be…Bethlehem！〃 Those present are moved； glasses are touched； then； at a quick trot； the carriage bears the party away down the long avenue of limes； over which a red and cold sun is just setting。 Behind them the park resumes its dismal silence。 Great dark masses gather in the depths of the copses； surround the house； gain little by little the paths and open spaces。 Soon all is lost in gloom save the ironical letters embossed above the entrance…gate； and； away over yonder； at a first…floor window； one red and wavering spot； the light of a candle burning by the pillow of the dead child。
〃By a decree dated the 12th March； 1865； issued upon the proposal of the Minister of the Interior； Monsieur the Doctor Jenkins； President and Founder of the Bethlehem Society is named a Chevalier of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour。 Great devotion to the cause of humanity。〃
As he read these words on the front page of the /Official Journal/； on the morning of the 16th； the poor Nabob felt dazed。
Was it possible？
Jenkins decorated； and not he！
He read the paragraph twice over； distrusting his own eyes。 His ears buzzed。 The letters danced double before his eyes with those great red rings round them which they have in strong sunlight。 He had been so confident of seeing his name in this place； Jenkins； only the evening before； had repeated to him with so much assurance； 〃It is already done！〃 that he still thought his eyes must have deceived him。 But no； it was indeed Jenkins。 The blow was heavy； deep； prophetic； as it were a first warning from destiny； and one that was felt all the more intensely because for years this man had been unaccustomed to failure。 Everything good in him learned mistrust at the same time。
〃Well；〃 said he to de Gery as he came as usual every morning into his room； and found him visibly affected； holding the newspaper in his hand； 〃have you seen？ I am not in the /Official/。〃
He tried to smile； his features puckered like those of a child restraining his tears。 Then； suddenly； with that frankness which was such a pleasing quality in him： 〃It is a great disappointment to me。 I was looking forward to it too confidently。〃
The door opened upon these words； and Jenkins rushed in； out of breath； stammering； extraordinarily agitated。
〃It is an infamy； a frightful infamy！ The thing cannot be； it shall not be！〃
The words stumbled over each other in disorder on his lips； all trying to get out at once； then he seemed to despair of finding expression for his thoughts and in disgust threw on the table a small box and a large envelope； both bearing the stamp of the chancellor's office。
〃There are my cross and my brevet。 They are yours； friend。 I could not keep them。〃
At bottom the words did not signify much。 Jansoulet adorning himself with Jenkins's ribbon might very well have been guilty of illegality。 But a piece of theatrical business is not necessarily logical； this one brought about between the two men an effusion of feeling； embraces； a generous battle； at the end of which Jenkins replaced the objects in his pocket； speaking of protests； letters to the newspapers。 The Nabob was again obliged to check him。
〃Be very careful you do no such thing。 To begin with； it would be to injure my chances for another timewho knows； perhaps on the 15th of August； which will soon be here。〃
〃Oh； as to that；〃 said Jenkins； jumping at this idea； and stretching out his arm as in the /Oath/ of David； 〃I solemnly swear it。〃
The matter was dropped at this point。 At luncheon the Nabob was as gay as usual。 This good humour was maintained all day； and de Gery； for whom the scene had been a revelation of the true Jenkins； the explanation of the ironies and the restrained wrath of Felicia Ruys whenever she spoke of the doctor； asked himself in vain how he could enlighten his dear patron about such hypocrisy。 He should have been aware； however； that in southerners； with all their superficiality and effusion； there is no blindness； no enthusiasm； so complete as to remain insensible before the wisdom of reflection。 In the evening the Nabob had opened a shabby little letter…case； worn at the corners； in which for ten years he had been accustomed to work out the calculations of his millions； writing down in hieroglyphics understood only by himself his receipts and expenditures。 He buried himself in his accounts for a moment； then turning to de Gery：
〃Do you know what I am doing； my dear Paul？〃 he asked。
〃No； sir。〃
〃I am just calculating〃and his mocking glance thoroughly characteristic of his race； rallied the good nature of his smile〃I am just calculating that I have spend four hundred and thirty thousand francs to get a decoration for Jenkins。〃
Four hundred and thirty thousand francs！ And that was not the end。
BONNE MAMAN
Paul de Gery went three times a week in the evening to take his lesson in bookkeeping in the Joyeuses' dining…room； not far from that little parlour in which he had seen the family the first day； and while with his eyes fixed on his teacher he was being initiated into all the mysteries of 〃debtor and creditor；〃 he used to listen； in spite of himself； for the light sounds coming from the industrious group behind the door； with thoughts dwelling regretfully on the vision of all those pretty brows bent in the lamplight。 M。 Joyeuse never said a word of his daughters； jealous of their charms as a dragon watching over beautiful princesses in a tower； and excited by the fantastic imaginings of his excessive affection for them； he would answer with marked brevity the inquiries of his pupil regarding the health of 〃the young ladies；〃 so that at last the young man ceased to mention them。
He was surprised； however； at not once seeing that Bonne Maman whose name was constantly recurring in the conversation of M。 Joyeuse； entering into the least details of his existence； hovering over the household like the emblem of its perfect ordering and of its peace。
So great a reserve on the part of a venerable lady who must assuredly have passed the age at which the interest of young men is to be feared； seemed to him exaggerated。 The lessons； however； were good ones； given with great clearness； the teacher having an excellent system of demonstration； and only one fault； that of becoming absorbed in silences； broken by sudden starts and exclamations let off like rockets。 Apart from this； he was the best of masters； intelligent； patient； and conscientious； and Paul learned to know his way through the complex labyrinth of commercial books and resigned himself to ask nothing beyond。
One evening； towards nine o'clock； as the young man had risen to go； M。 Joyeuse asked him if he would do him the honour of taking a cup of tea with his family； a custom dating from the time when Mme。 Joyeuse； /nee/ de Saint…Amand； was alive； she having been used to receive her friends on Thursdays。 Since her death and the change in the financial positio
