the nabob-第48章
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ortune； and sending home money regularly。 But what pain it was for the poor mother to owe everything； even the life； the comfort of the sad invalid； to the robust and courageous boy whom his father and she had loved without any tenderness； who； since he was five years old； they had treated as a 〃hand；〃 because he was very strong； woolly…headed； and ugly； and even then knew better than any one in the house how to deal in old nails。 Ah！ how she longed to have him near her； her Cadet； to make some return to him for all the good he did； to pay at last the debt of love and motherly tenderness that she owed him！
But； you see； these princely fortunes have the burdens； the wearinesses of royal lives。 This poor mother； in her dazzling surroundings； was very like a real queen： familiar with long exiles； cruel separations； and the trials which detract from greatness； one of her sons forever stupefied； the other far away； seldom writing； absorbed in his business； saying； 〃I will come；〃 and never coming。 She had only seen him once in twelve years； and then in the whirl of a visit of the Bey to Saint…Romansa rush of horses and carriages； of fireworks； and of banquets。 He had gone in the suite of his monarch； having scarcely time to say good…bye to his old mother； to whom there remained of this great joy only a few pictures in the illustrated papers； showing Bernard Jansoulet arriving at the castle with Ahmed； and presenting his mother。 Is it not thus that kings and queens have their family feelings exploited in the journals？ There was also a cedar of Lebanon； brought from the other end of the world； a regular mountain of a tree； whose transport had been as difficult and as costly as that of Cleopatra's needle； and whose erection as a souvenir of the royal visit by dint of men； money； and teams had shaken the very foundations。 But this time； at least； knowing him to be in France for several monthsperhaps for goodshe hoped to have her Bernard to herself。 And now he returned to her； one fine evening； enveloped in the same triumphant glory； in the same official display； surrounded by a crowd of counts； of marquises； of fine gentlemen from Paris； filling； they and their servants； the two large wagonettes she had sent to meet them at the little station of Giffas on the other side of the Rhone。
〃Come； give me a kiss； my dear mother。 There is nothing to be ashamed of in giving a good hug to the boy you haven't seen all these years。 Besides； all these gentlemen are our friends。 This is the Marquis de Monpavon； the Marquis de Bois d'Hery。 Ah！ the time is past when I brought you to eat vegetable soup with us； little Cabassu and Jean… Batiste Bompain。 You know M。 de Gery？ With my old friend Cardailhac； whom I now present； that makes the first batch。 There are others to come。 Prepare yourself for a fine upsetting。 We entertain the Bey in four days。〃
〃The Bey again！〃 said the old woman； astounded。 〃I thought he was dead。〃
Jansoulet and his guests could not help laughing at this comical terror； accentuated by her southern intonation。
〃It is another； mamma。 There is always a Beythank goodness。 But don't be afraid。 You won't have so much bother this time。 Our friend Cardailhac has undertaken everything。 We are going to have magnificent celebrations。 In the meantime； quickdinner and our rooms。 Our Parisians are worn out。〃
〃Everything is ready； my son；〃 said the old lady quietly； stiff and straight under her Cambrai cap； the head…dress with its yellowing flaps； which she never left off even for great occasions。 Good fortune had not changed her。 She was a true peasant of the Rhone valley； independent and proud； without any of the sly humilities of Balzac's country folk； too artless to be purse…proud。 One pride alone she had that of showing her son with what scrupulous care she had discharged her duties as guardian。 Not an atom of dust； not a trace of damp on the walls。 All the splendid ground…floor； the reception…rooms with their hangings of iridescent silk new out of the dust sheets； the long summer galleries cool and sonorous； paved with mosaics and furnished with a flowery lightness in the old…fashioned style； with Louis XIV sofas in cane and silk； the immense dining…room decorated with palms and flowers； the billiard…room with its rows of brilliant ivory balls； its crystal chandeliers and its suits of armourall the length of the castle； through its tall windows； wide open to the stately terrace； lay displayed for the admiration of the visitors。 The marvellous beauty of the horizon and the setting sun； its own serene and peaceful richness； were reflected in the panes of glass and in the waxed and polished wood with the same clearness as in the mirror…like ornamental lakes； the pictures of the poplars and the swans。 The setting was so lovely； the whole effect so grand； that the clamorous and tasteless luxury melted away； disappeared； even to the most hypercritical eyes。
〃There is something to work on；〃 said Cardailhac； the manager； his glass in his eye； his hat on one side； combining already his stage… effect。 And the haughty air of Monpavon； whom the head…dress of the old woman receiving them on the terrace had shocked； gave way to a condescending smile。 Here was something to work on； certainly； and； guided by persons of taste； their friend Jansoulet could really give his Moorish Highness an exceedingly suitable reception。 All the evening they talked of nothing else。 In the sumptuous dining…room； their elbows on the table； full of meat and drink； they planned and discussed。 Cardailhac； who had great ideas； had already his plan complete。
〃First of all； you give me /carte…blanche/； don't you； Nabob？ /Carte… blanche/； old fellow； and make that fat Hemerlingue burst with envy。〃
Then the manager explained his scheme。 The festivities were to be divided into days； as at Vaux； when Fouquet entertained Louis XIV。 One day a play； another day Provencal games； dances； bull…fights； local bands； the third day And already the manager's hand sketched programmes； announcements； while Bois l'Hery slept； his hands in his pockets； his chair tilted back； his cigar sunk in the corner of his sneering mouth； and the Marquis de Monpavon； always on his best behaviour； straightened his shirt…front to keep himself awake。
De Gery had left them early。 He had sought refuge beside the old motherwho had known him as a boy； him and his brothersin the humble parlour of the brightly decorated； white…curtained house； where the Nabob's mother tried to perpetuate her humble past with the help of a few relics saved from its wreck。
Paul chatted quietly with the fine old woman； admiring her severe and regular features； her white hair massed together like the hemp of her distaff； as she sat holding herself straight in her seatnever in her life having leaned back or sat in an arm…chaira little green shawl folded tightly across her flat breast。 He called her Francoise； and she called him M。 Paul。 They were old friends。 And guess what they talked about？ Of her grandchildren； of Bernard's three sons； whom she did not know and so much longed to know。
〃Ah； M。 Paul； if you knew how I long to see them！ I should have been so happy if he had brought them； my three little ones； instead of these fine gentlemen。 Think； I have never seen them； only their portraits which are over there。 I am a little afraid of their mother； she is quite a great lady； a Miss Afchin。 But them； the children； I am sure they are not proud； and they would love their old granny。 It would be like having their father a little boy again； and I would give to them what I did not give to him。 You see； M。 Paul； parents are not always just。 They have their favourites。 But God is just； he is。 The ones that are most petted and spoiled at the expense of the others； you should see what he does to them for you！ And the favour of the old often brings misfortune to the young！〃
She sighed； looking towards the large recess from behind the curtains of which there came； at intervals； a long sobbing breath like the sleeping wail of a beaten child who has cried bitterly。
A heavy step on the staircase； a loud； sweet voice saying； very softly； 〃It is I； don't move；〃 and Jansoulet appeared。 He knew his mother's habits； how her
