the nabob-第62章
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ne and spoke to her in a low voice。 That young lady blushed； protested with smiles and words under her breath： 〃How can you think of such a thing？ At my agea 'grandmamma'！〃 and finally seized her father's arm in order to escape some friendly teasing。
When Felicia saw the two young people going off together； when she had realized the fact； which they had not yet grasped themselves； that they were in love with each other； she felt as it were a crumbling all around her。 Then upon her dream； now fallen to the ground in a thousand fragments； she set herself to stamp furiously。 After all； he was quite right to prefer this little Aline to herself。 Would an honest man ever dare to marry Mlle。 Ruys？ She； a home； a familywhat nonsense！ A harlot's daughter you are； my dear； you must be a harlot too if you want to become anything at all。
The day wore on。 The crowd； more active now that there were empty spaces here and there； commenced to stream towards the door of exit after great eddyings round the successes of the year； satisfied； rather tired； but excited still by that air charged with the electricity of art。 A great flood of sunlight； such as sometimes occurs at four o'clock in the afternoon； fell on the stained…glass rose…window； threw on the sand tracks of rainbow…coloured lights； softly bathing the bronze or the marble of the statues； imparting an iridescent hue to the nudity of a beautiful figure； giving to the vast museum something of the luminous life of a garden。 Felicia； absorbed in her deep and sad reverie； did not notice the man who advanced towards her； superb； elegant； fascinating； through the respectfully opened ranks of the public； while the name of 〃Mora〃 was everywhere whispered。
〃Well； mademoiselle； you have made a splendid success。 I only regret one thing about it； and that is the cruel symbol which you have hidden in your masterpiece。〃
As she saw the duke before her； she shuddered。
〃Ah； yes； the symbol；〃 she said； lifting her face towards his with a smile of discouragement； and leaning against the pedestal of the large； voluptuous statue near which they happened to be standing； with the closed eyes of a woman who gives or abandons herself； she murmured low； very low：
〃Rabelais lied； as all men lie。 The truth is that the fox is utterly wearied； that he is at the end of his breath and his courage； ready to fall into the ditch； and that if the greyhound makes another effort〃
Mora started； became a shade paler； all the blood he had in his body rushing back to his heart。 Two sombre flames met with their eyes； two rapid words were exchanged by lips that hardly moved； then the duke bowed profoundly； and walked away with a step gay and light； as though the gods were bearing him。
At that moment there was in the palace only one man as happy as he； and that was the Nabob。 Escorted by his friends； he occupied； quite filled up； the principal bay with his own party alone； speaking loudly； gesticulating； proud to such a degree that he looked almost handsome； as though by dint of naive and long contemplation of his bust he had been touched by something of the splendid idealization with which the artist had haloed the vulgarity of his type。 The head； raised to the three…quarters position； standing freely out from the wide； loose collar； drew contradictory remarks on the resemblance from the passers…by； and the name of Jansoulet； so many times repeated by the electoral ballot…boxes； was repeated over again now by the prettiest mouths； by the most authoritative voices； in Paris。 Any other than the Nabob would have been embarrassed to hear uttered； as he passed； these expressions of curiosity which were not always friendly。 But the platform； the springing…board； well suited that nature which became bolder under the fire of glances； like those women who are beautiful or witty only in society； and whom the least admiration transfigures and completes。
When he felt this delirious joy growing calmer； when he thought to have drunk the whole of its proud intoxication； he had only to say to himself； 〃Deputy！ I am a Deputy！〃 And the triumphal cup foamed once more to the brim。 It meant the embargo raised from all his possessions； the awakening from a nightmare that had lasted two months； the puff of cool wind sweeping away all his anxieties； all his inquietudes； even to the affront of Saint…Romans； very heavy though that was in his memory。
Deputy！
He laughed to himself as he thought of the baron's face when he learned the news； of the stupefaction of the Bey when he had been led up to his bust； and suddenly； upon the reflection that he was no longer merely an adventurer stuffed with gold； exciting the stupid admiration of the crowd； as might an enormous rough nugget in the window of a money…changer； but that people saw in him； as he passed； one of the men elected by the will of the nation； his simple and mobile face grew thoughtful with a deliberate gravity； there suggested themselves to him projects of a career； of reform； and the wish to profit by the lessons that had been latterly taught by destiny。 Already； remembering the promise which he had given to de Gery； for the household troop that wriggled ignobly at his heels； he made exhibition of certain disdainful coldnesses； a deliberate pose of authoritative contradiction。 He called the Marquis de Bois l'Hery 〃my good fellow；〃 imposed silence very sharply on the governor； whose enthusiasm was becoming scandalous； and made a solemn vow to himself to get rid as soon as possible of all that mendicant and promising Bohemian set； when he should have occasion to begin the process。
Penetrating the crowd which surrounded him； Moessardthe handsome Moessard； in a sky…blue cravat； pale and bloated like a white embodiment of disease； and pinched at the waist in a fine frock…coat seeing that the Nabob； after having gone twenty times round the hall of sculpture； was making for the door； dashed forward； and passing his arm through his； said：
〃You are taking me with you； you know。〃
Especially of late； since the time of the election； he had assumed； in the establishment of the Place Vendome； an authority almost equal to that of Monpavon； but more impudent； for； in point of impudence； the Queen's lover was without his equal on the pavement that stretches from the Rue Drouot to the Madeleine。 This time he had gone too far。 The muscular arm which he pressed was shaken violently； and the Nabob answered very dryly：
〃I am sorry； /mon cher/； but I have not a place to offer you。〃
No place in a carriage that was as big as a house； and which five of them had come in！
Moessard gazed at him in stupefaction。
〃I had； however； a few words to say to you which are very urgent。 With regard to the subject of my noteyou received it； did you not？〃
〃Certainly； and M。 de Gery should have sent you a reply this very morning。 What you ask is impossible。 Twenty thousand francs！ /Tonnerre de Dieu！/ You go at a fine rate！〃
〃Still； it seems to me that my services〃 stammered the beauty…man。
〃Have been amply paid for。 That is how it seems to me also。 Two hundred thousand francs in five months！ We will draw the line there； if you please。 Your teeth are long； young man； you will have to file them down a little。〃
They exchanged these words as they walked； pushed forward by the surging wave of the people going out。 Moessard stopped：
〃That is your last word？〃
The Nabob hesitated for a moment； seized by a presentiment as he looked at that pale； evil mouth； then he remembered the promise which he had given to his friend：
〃That is my last word。〃
〃Very well！ We shall see；〃 said the handsome Moessard； whose switch… cane cut the air with the hiss of a viper； and； turning on his heel； he made off with great strides； like a man who is expected somewhere on very urgent business。
Jansoulet continued his triumphal progress。 That day much more would have been required to upset the equilibrium of his happiness； on the contrary； he felt himself relieved by the so…quickly achieved fulfilment of his purpose。
The immense vestibule was thronged by a dense crowd of people whom the approach of the hour of closing was bringing out； but whom one of those sudden showers； which seem inseparable
