the nabob-第66章
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he necks of people who displease us； if we do not throw them into the water in a sack； we have other methods of effecting their disappearance。 Noel； let your master take care。 One of these mornings Paris will swallow him as I swallow this plum； without spitting out either the stone or skin。〃
He was terrible； this old man； and notwithstanding the paint on his face； I felt a certain respect for him。 While he was speaking； we could hear the music upstairs； and the horses of the municipal guards shaking their curb…chains in the square。 From without； our festivities must have seemed very brilliant； all lighted up by their thousands of candles； and with the great portico illuminated。 And when one reflected that ruin perhaps lay beneath it all！ We sat there in the vestibule like rats that hold counsel with each other at the bottom of a ship's hold； when the vessel is beginning to leak and before the crew has found it out； and I saw clearly that all the lackeys and chambermaids would not be long in decamping at the first note of alarm。 Could such a catastrophe indeed be possible？ And in that case what would become of me； and the Territorial； and the money I had advanced； and the arrears due to me？
That Francis has left me with a cold shudder down my back。
A PUBLIC MAN
The bright warmth of a clear May afternoon heated the lofty casement windows of the Mora mansion to the temperature of a greenhouse。 The blue silk curtains were visible from outside through the branches of the trees； and the wide terraces； where exotic flowers were planted out of doors for the first time of the season； ran in borders along the whole length of the quay。 The raking of the garden paths traced the light footprints of summer in the sand； while the soft fall of the water from the hoses on the lawns was its refreshing song。
All the luxury of the princely residence lay sunning itself in the soft warmth of the temperature； borrowing a beauty from the silence； the repose of this noontide hour； the only hour when the roll of carriages was not to be heard under the arches； nor the banging of the great doors of the antechamber； and that perpetual vibration which the ringing of bells upon arrivals or departures sent coursing through the very ivy on the walls； the feverish pulse of the life of a fashionable house。 It was well known that up to three o'clock the duke held his reception at the Ministry； and that the duchess； a Swede still benumbed by the snows of Stockholm； had hardly issued from her drowsy curtains； consequently nobody came to call； neither visitors or petitioners； and only the footmen； perched like flamingoes on the deserted flight of steps in front of the house； gave the place a touch of animation with the slim shadows of their long legs and their yawning weariness of idlers。
As an exception； however； that day Jenkins's brougham was standing waiting in a corner of the court…yard。 The duke； unwell since the previous evening； had felt worse after leaving the breakfast…table； and in all haste had sent for the man of the pearls in order to question him on his singular condition。 Pain nowhere； sleep and appetite as usual； only an inconceivable lassitude； and a sense of terrible chill which nothing could dissipate。 Thus at that moment； notwithstanding the brilliant spring sunshine which flooded his chamber and almost extinguished the fire flaming in the grate； the duke was shivering beneath his furs； surrounded by screens； and while signing papers for an /attache/ of his cabinet on a low table of gold lacquer； placed so near to the fire that it frizzled； he kept holding out his numb fingers every moment toward the blaze； which might have burned the skin without restoring circulation。
Was it anxiety caused by the indisposition of his illustrious client？ Jenkins appeared nervous； disquieted； walked backward and forward with long strides over the carpet； hunting about right and left； seeking in the air something which he believed to be present； a subtle and intangible something like the trace of a perfume or the invisible track left by a bird in its flight。 You heard the crackling of the wood in the fireplace； the rustle of papers hurriedly turned over； the indolent voice of the duke indicating in a sentence； always precise and clear； a reply to a letter of four pages； and the respectful monosyllables of the /attache/〃Yes； M。 le Ministre；〃 〃No； M。 le Ministre〃； then the scraping of a rebellious and heavy pen。 Out of doors the swallows were twittering merrily over the water； the sound of a clarinet was wafted from somewhere near the bridges。
〃It is impossible；〃 suddenly said the Minister of State； rising。 〃Take that away； Lartigues； you must return to…morrow。 I cannot write。 I am too cold。 See； doctor； feel my handsone would think that they had just come out of a pail of iced water。 For the last two days my whole body has been the same。 Isn't it too absurd； in this weather！〃
〃I am not surprised；〃 muttered the Irishman； in a sullen； curt tone； rarely heard from that honeyed personage。
The door had closed upon the young /attache/； bearing off his papers with majestic dignity； but very happy； I imagine； to feel himself free and to be able to stroll for an hour or two； before returning to the Ministry； in the Tuileries gardens； full of spring frocks and pretty girls sitting near the still empty chairs round the band； under the chestnut…trees in flower； through which from root to summit there ran the great thrill of the month when nests are built。 The /attache/ was certainly not frozen。
Jenkins； silently； examined his patient； sounded him； and tapped his chest； then； in the same rough tone which might be explained by his anxious devotion； the annoyance of the doctor who sees his orders transgressed：
〃Ah； now； my dear duke； what sort of life have you been living lately？〃
He knew from the gossip of the antechamberin the case of his regular clients the doctor did not disdain thishe knew that the duke had a new favourite； that this caprice of recent date possessed him； excited him in an extraordinary measure； and the fact； taken together with other observations made elsewhere； had implanted in Jenkins's mind a suspicion； a mad desire to know the name of this new mistress。 It was this that he was trying to read on the pale face of his patient； attempting to fathom the depth of his thoughts rather than the origin of his malady。 But he had to deal with one of those faces which are hermetically sealed； like those little coffers with a secret spring which hold jewels and women's letters； one of those discreet natures closed by a cold； blue eye； a glance of steel by which the most astute perspicacity may be baffled。
〃You are mistaken； doctor；〃 replied his excellency tranquilly。 〃I have made no changes in my habits。〃
〃Very well； M。 le Duc； you have done wrong；〃 remarked the Irishman abruptly； furious at having made no discovery。
And then； feeling that he was going too far； he gave vent to his bad temper and to the severity of his diagnosis in words which were a tissue of banalities and axioms。 One ought to take care。 Medicine was not magic。 The power of the Jenkins pearls was limited by human strength； by the necessities of age； by the resources of nature； which； unfortunately； are not inexhaustible。 The duke interrupted him in an irritable tone：
〃Come； Jenkins； you know very well that I don't like phrases。 I am not all right； then？ What is the matter with me？ What is the reason of this chilliness？〃
〃It is anaemia； exhaustiona sinking of the oil in the lamp。〃
〃What must I do？〃
〃Nothing。 An absolute rest。 Eat； sleep； nothing besides。 If you could go and spend a few weeks at Grandbois。〃
Mora shrugged his shoulders：
〃And the Chamberand the Counciland？ Nonsense！ how is it possible？〃
〃In any case； M。 le Duc； you must put the brake on； as somebody said； renounce absolutely〃
Jenkins was interrupted by the entry of the servant on duty； who； discreetly； on tiptoe； like a dancing…master； came in to deliver a letter and a card to the Minister of State； who was still shivering before the fire。 At the sight of that satin…gray envelope of a peculiar shape the Irishman started involuntarily； while the duke； having opened and
