the nabob-第49章
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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 lamp was the last to go out； so when every one in the castle was in bed； he came to see her； to chat with her for a little； to rejoice her heart with an affection he could not show before the others。 〃Oh； stay； my dear Paul； we don't mind you；〃 and once more a child in his mother's presence； with loving gestures and words that were really touching； the huge man threw himself on the ground at her feet。 She was very happy to have him there； so dearly near； but she was just a little shy。 She looked upon him as an all… powerful being； extraordinary； raising him； in her simplicity； to the greatness of an Olympian commanding the thunder and lightning。 She spoke to him； asking about his friends； his business； but not daring to put the question she had asked de Gery： 〃Why haven't my grandchildren come？〃 But he spoke of them himself。 〃They are at school； mother。 Whenever the holidays begin they shall be sent with Bompain。 You remember Jean…Baptiste Bompain？ And you shall keep them for two long months。 They will come to you and make you tell them stories； and they will go to sleep with their heads on your lap there； like that。〃
And he himself； putting his heavy； woolly head on her knee； remembered the happy evenings of his childhood when he would go to sleep so； if she would let him； and his brother had not taken up all the room。 He tasted for the first time since his return to France a few minutes of delicious peace away from his restless and artificial life； as he lay pressed to his old mother's heart； in the deep silence of night and of the country which one feels hovering over him in limitless space； the only sounds the beating of that old faithful heart and the swing of the pendulum of the ancient clock in the corner。 Suddenly came the same long sigh； as of a child fallen asleep sobbing。 Jansoulet lifted his head and looked at his mother； and softly asked： 〃Is it？〃 〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃I make him sleep there。 He might need me in the night。〃
〃I would like to see him； to embrace him。〃
〃Come； then。〃 She rose very gravely； took the lamp and went to the alcove； of which she softly drew the large curtain； making a sign to her son to draw near quietly。
He was sleeping。 And no doubt something lived in him while he slept that was not there when he waked； for instead of the flaccid immobility in which he was congealed all day； he was now shaken by sudden starts； and on the inexpressive and death…like face there were lines of pain and the contractions of suffering life。 Jansoulet； much affected； looked long at those wasted features； faded and sickly； where the beard grew with a surprising vigour。 Then he bent down； put his lips to the damp brow； and feeling him move； said very gravely and respectfully； as one speaks to the head of the family； 〃Good…night； my brother。〃 Perhaps the captive soul had heard it from the depths of its dark and abject limbo。 For the lips moved and a long moan answered him； a far…away wail； a despairing cry； which filled with helpless tears the glance exchanged between Francoise and her son； and tore from them both the same cry in which their sorrow met； 〃Pecaire；〃 the local word which expressed all pity and all tenderness。
The next day； from early morning； the commotion began with the arrival of the actors； an avalanche of hats and wigs and big boots； of short skirts and affected cries； of floating veils and fresh make…ups。 The women were in a great majority； as Cardailhac thought that for a Bey the play was of little consequence； and that all that was needful was to have catchy tunes in pretty mouths； to show fine arms and shapely legs in the easy costume of light opera。 All the well…made celebrities of his theatre were there； Amy Ferat at the head of them； a bold young woman who had already had her teeth in the gold of several crowns。 There were two or three well…known men whose pale faces made the same kind of chalky and spectral spots amid the green of the trees as the plaster of the statues。 All these people； enlivened by the journey； the surprise of the country； the overflowing hospitality； as well as the hope of making something out of this sojourn of Beys and Nabobs and other gilded fools； wanted only to play； to jest and sing with the vulgar boisterousness of a crew of freshly discharged Seine boatmen。 But Cardailhac meant otherwise。 No sooner were they unpacked； freshened up； and luncheon over than； quick； the parts； the rehearsals！ There was no time to lose。 They worked in the small drawing…room next the summer gallery； where the theatre was already being fitted up； and the noise of hammers； the songs from the burlesque； the shrill voices； the conductor's fiddle； mingled with the loud trumpet…like calls of the peacocks； and rose upon the hot southern wind； which； not recognising it as only the mad rattle of its own grasshoppers； shook it all disdainfully on the trailing tip of its wings。
Seated in the centre of the terrace； as in the stage…box of his theatre； Cardailhac watched the rehearsals； gave orders to a crowd of workmen and gardeners； had trees cut down as spoiling the view； designed the triumphal arches； sent off telegrams； express messengers to mayors； to sub…prefects； to Arlesto arrange for a deputation of girls in national costume； to Barbantane； where the best dancers are； to Faraman； famous for its wild bulls and Camargue horses。 And as the name of Jansoulet； joined to that of the Bey of Tunis； flared at the end of all these messages； on all sides they hastened to obey； the telegraph wires were never still； messengers wore out horses on the roads。 And this little Sardanapalus of the stage called Cardailhac repeated ever； 〃There's something to work on here；〃 happy to scatter gold at random like handfuls of seed； to have a stage of forty leagues to stir aboutthe whole of Provence； of which this rabid Parisian was a native and whose picturesque resources he knew to the core。
Dispossessed of her office； the old mother never appeared。 She occupied herself with the farm； and her invalid。 She was terrified by this crowd of visitors； these insolent servants whom it was difficult to know from the masters； these women with their impudent and elegant airs； these clean…shaven men who looked like bad priestsall these mad…caps who chased each other at night in the corridors with pillows； with wet sponges； with curtain tassels they had torn down； for weapons。 Even after dinner she no longer had her son； he was obliged to stay with his guests； whose number grew each day as the /fetes/ approached； not even the resource of talking to M。 Paul about her grandchildren was left； for Jansoulet； a little embarrassed by the seriousness of his friend； had sent him to spend a few days with his brothers。 And the careful housekeeper； to whom they came every minute asking the keys for linen； for a room； for extra silver； thought of her piles of beautiful dishes； of the sacking of her cupboards and larders； remembered the state in which the old Bey's visit had left the castle； devastated as by a cyclone； and said in her /patois/ as she feverishly wet the linen on her distaff： 〃May lightning strike them； this Bey and all the Beys！〃
At last the day came； the great day which is still spoken of in all the country…side。 Towards three o'clock in the afternoon； after a sumptuous luncheon at which the old mother presided； this time in a new cap； over a company composed of Parisian celebrities； prefects； deputies； all in full uniform； mayors with their sashes； priests newshaven； Jansoulet in full dress stepped out on to the terrace surrounded by his guests。 He saw before him in that splendid frame of magnificent natural scenery； in the midst of flags and arches and coats of arms； a vast swarm of people； a flare of brilliant costumes in rows on the slopes； at corners of the walks； here； grouped in beds； like flowers on a lawn； the prettiest girls of Arles； whose little dark heads showed delicately from beneath their lace fichus； farther down were the dancers from Barbantaneeight tambourine players in a line； ready to begin； their hands joined； ribbons flying； hats c
