the nabob-第69章
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Those terrible electors added to his embarrassments。
They arrived in crowds； invaded the Salle des Pas…Perdus； galloped all over the place like little fiery black kids； shouting to each other from one end to the other of the echoing room； 〃O Pe！ O Tche！〃 inhaling with delight the odour of government； of administration； pervading the air； watching admiringly the ministers as they passed； following in their trail with keen nose； as though from their respected pockets； from their swollen portfolios； there might fall some appointment； but especially surrounding 〃Moussiou〃 Jansoulet with so many exacting petitions； reclamations； demonstrations； that； in order to free himself from the gesticulating uproar which made everybody turn round； and turned him as it were into the delegate of a tribe of Tuaregs in the midst of civilized folk； he was obliged to implore with a look the help of some attendant on duty familiar with such acts of rescue； who would come to him with an air of urgency to say 〃that he was wanted immediately in Bureau No。 8。〃 So at last； embarrassed everywhere； driven from the corridors； from the Pas… Perdus； from the refreshment…room； the poor Nabob had adopted the course of never leaving his seat； where he remained motionless and without speaking during the whole time of the sitting。
He had； however； one friend in the Chamber； a deputy newly elected for the Deux…Sevres； called M。 Sarigue； a poor man sufficiently resembling the inoffensive and ill…favoured animal whose name he bore； with his red and scanty hair； his timorous eyes； his hopping walk； his white gaiters； he was so timid that he could not utter two words without stuttering； almost voiceless； continually sucking jujubes； which completed the confusion of his speech。 One asked what such a weakling as he had come to do in the Assembly； what feminine ambition run mad had urged into public life this being useless for no matter what private activity。
By an amusing irony of fate； Jansoulet； himself agitated by all the anxieties of his own validation； was chosen in Bureau no。 8 to draw up the report on the election in the Deux…Sevres； and M。 Sarigue； humble and supplicating； conscious of his incapacity and filled by a horrible dread of being sent back to his home in disgrace； used to follow about this great jovial fellow with the curly hair and big shoulder blades that moved like the bellows of a forge beneath a light and tightly fitting frock…coat； without any suspicion that a poor anxious being like himself lay concealed within that solid envelope。
As he worked at the report on the Deux…Sevres election； as he examined the numerous protests； the accusations of electioneering trickery； meals given； money spent； casks of wine broached at the doors of the mayors' houses； the usual accompaniments of an election in those days； Jansoulet used to shudder on his own account。 〃Why； I did all that myself；〃 he would say to himself； terrified。 Ah！ M。 Sarigue need not be afraid； never could he have put his hand on an examiner with kinder intentions or more indulgent； for the Nabob； taking pity on the sufferer； knowing by experience how painful is the anguish of waiting； had made haste through his labour； and the enormous portfolio which he carried under his arm； as he left the Mora mansion； contained his report ready to be sent in to the bureau。
Whether it were this first essay in a public function； the kind words of the duke； or the magnificent weather out of doors； keenly enjoyed by this southerner； with his susceptibility to wholly physical impressions and accustomed to life under a blue sky and the warmth of the sunshinehowever that may have been； certain it is that the attendants of the legislative body beheld that day a proud and haughty Jansoulet whom they had not previously known。 The fat Hemerlingue's carriage； caught sight of at the gate； recognisable by the unusual width of its doors； completed his reinstatement in the possession of his true nature of assurance and bold audacity。 〃The enemy is there。 Attention！〃 As he crossed the Salle des Pas…Perdus； he caught sight of the financier chatting in a corner with Le Merquier； the examiner； he passed quite near them； and looked at them with a triumphant air which made people wonder：
〃What is the meaning of this？〃
Then； highly pleased at his own coolness； he passed on towards the committee…rooms； big and lofty apartments opening right and left on a long corridor； and having large tables covered with green baize； and heavy chairs all of a similar pattern and bearing the impress of a dull solemnity。 People were beginning to come in。 Groups were taking up their positions； discussing matters； gesticulating； with bows； shakings of hands； inclinations of the head； like Chinese shadows against the luminous background of the windows。
Men were there who walked about with bent back； solitary； as it were crushed down beneath the weight of the thoughts which knitted their brow。 Others whispering in their neighbour's ears； confiding to each other exceedingly mysterious and terribly important pieces of news； finger on lip； eyes opened wide in silent recommendation to discretion。 A provincial flavour characterized it all； varieties of intonation； the violence of southern speech； drawling accents of the central districts； the sing…song of Brittany； fused into one and the same imbecile self…conceit； frock…coats as they cut them at Landerneau； mountain shoes； home…spun linen； and a self…assurance begotten in a village or in the club of some insignificant town； local expressions； provincialisms abruptly introduced into the speech of the political and administrative world； that flabby and colourless phraseology which has invented such expressions as 〃burning questions that come again to the surface〃 and 〃individualities without mandate。〃
To see these excited or thoughtful people； you might have supposed them the greatest apostles of ideas in the world； unfortunately； on the days of the sittings they underwent a transformation； sat in hushed silence in their places； laughing in servile fashion at the jests of the clever man who presided over them； or only rising to make ridiculous propositions； the kind of interruption which would tempt one to believe that it is not a type only； but a whole race； that Henri Monnier has satirized in his immortal sketch。 Two or three orators in all the Chamber； the rest well qualified to plant themselves before the fireplace of a provincial drawing…room； after an excellent meal at the Prefect's； and to say in nasal voice； 〃The administration； gentlemen；〃 or 〃The Government of the Emperor；〃 but incapable of anything further。
Ordinarily the good Nabob had been dazzled by these poses； that buzzing as of an empty spinning…wheel which is made by would…be important people； but to…day he found his own place； and fell in with the general note。 Seated at the centre of the green table； his portfolio open before him； his elbows planted well forward upon it； he read the report drawn up by de Gery； and the members of the committee looked at him in amazement。
It was a concise； clear； and rapid summary of their fortnight's proceedings； in which they found their ideas so well expressed that they had great difficulty in recognising them。 Then； as two or three among them considered the report too favourable； that it passed too lightly over certain protests that had reached the committee； the examiner addressed the meeting with an astonishing assurance； with the prolixity； the verbosity of his own people； demonstrated that a deputy ought not to be held responsible beyond a certain point for the imprudence of his election agents； that no election； otherwise； would bear a minute examination； and since in reality it was his own cause that he was pleading； he brought to the task a conviction； an irresistible enthusiasm； taking care to let out now and then one of those long； dull substantives with a thousand feet； such as the committee loved。
The others listened to him thoughtfully； communicating their sentiments to each other by nods of the head； making flourishes； in order the better to concentrate their attention； and drawing heads on their blotting…padsa proceeding which harmonized well with the schoo
