the nabob-第70章
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their blotting…padsa proceeding which harmonized well with the schoolboyish noises in the corridors； a murmur of lessons in course of repetition； and those droves of sparrows which you could hear chirping under the casements in a flagged court…yard； just like the court…yard of a school。 The report having been adopted； M。 Sarigue was summoned in order that he might offer some supplementary explanations。 He arrived； pale； emaciated； stuttering like a criminal before conviction； and you would have laughed to see with what an air of authority and protection Jansoulet encouraged and reassured him。 〃Calm yourself； my dear colleague。〃 But the members of Committee No。 8 did not laugh。 They were all； or nearly all； Sarigues in their way； two or three of them being absolutely broken down； stricken by partial paralysis。 So much assurance； such great eloquence； had moved them to enthusiasm。
When Jansoulet issued from the legislative assembly； reconducted to his carriage by his grateful colleague； it was about six o'clock。 The splendid weathera beautiful sunset over the Seine； which lay stretching away like molten gold on the Trocadero sidewas a temptation to a walk for this robust plebeian； on whom it was imposed by the conventions that he should ride in a carriage and wear gloves； but who escaped such encumbrances as often as he possibly could。 He dismissed his servants； and； with his portfolio under his arm； set forth across the Pont de la Concorde。
Since the first of May he had not experienced such a sense of well… being。 With rolling gait； hat a little to the back of his head； in the position in which he had seen it worn by overworked politicians harassed by pressure of business； allowing all the laborious fever of their brain to evaporate in the coolness of the air； as a factory discharges its steam into the gutter at the end of a day's work； he moved forward among other figures like his own； evidently coming too from that colonnaded temple which faces the Madeleine above the fountains of the /Place/。 As they passed； people turned to look after them； saying； 〃Those are deputies。〃 And Jansoulet felt the delight of a child； a plebeian joy； compounded of ignorance and naive vanity。
〃Ask for the /Messenger/； evening edition。〃
The words came from a newspaper kiosk at the corner of the bridge； full at that hour of fresh printed sheets in heaps； which two women were quickly folding； and which smelt of the damp presslate news； the success of the day or its scandal。
Nearly all the deputies bought a copy as they passed； and glanced over it quickly in the hope of finding their name。 Jansoulet； for his part； feared to see his in it and did not stop。 Then suddenly he reflected： 〃Must not a public man be above these weaknesses？ I am strong enough now to read everything。〃 He retraced his steps and took a newspaper like his colleagues。 He opened it； very calmly； right at the place usually occupied by Moessard's articles。 As it happened； there was one。 Still the same title： 〃/Chinoiseries/；〃 and an /M。/ for signature。
〃Ah！ ah！〃 said the public man； firm and cold as marble； with a fine smile of disdain。 Mora's lesson still rung in his ears； and； had he forgotten it； the air from /Norma/ which was being slowly played in little ironical notes not far off would have sufficed to recall it to him。 Only； after all calculations have been made amid the fleeting happenings of our existence； there is always the unforeseen to be reckoned with； and that is how it came that the poor Nabob suddenly felt a wave of blood blind him； a cry of rage strangle itself in the sudden contraction of his throat。 This time his mother； his old Frances； had been dragged into the infamous joke of the 〃Bateau de fleurs。〃 How well he aimed his blows； this Moessard； how well he knew the really sensitive spots in that heart； so frankly exposed！
〃Be quiet； Jansoulet； be quiet。〃
It was in vain that he repeated the words to himself again and again： anger； a wild anger； that intoxication of the blood that demands blood； took possession of him。 His first impulse was to hail a cab； that he might escape from the irritating street； free his body from the preoccupation of walking and maintaining a physical composureto hail a cab as for a wounded man。 But the carriages which thronged the square at that hour of general home…going were victorias； landaus； private broughams； hundreds of them； passing down from the lurid splendour of the Arc de Triomphe towards the violet shadows of the Tuileries； rushing； it seemed； one over another； in the sloping perspective of the avenue； down to the great square where the motionless statues； with their circular crowns on their brows； watched them as they separated towards the Faubourg Saint…Germain； the Rue Royale and the Rue de Rivoli。
Jansoulet； his newspaper in his hand； traversed this tumult without giving it a thought； carried by force of habit towards the club where he went every day for his game of cards from six to seven。 A public man； he was that still； but excited； speaking aloud； muttering oaths and threats in a voice that had suddenly grown tender again at the memory of the dear old woman。 To have dragged her into thather also！ Oh； if she should read it； if she should understand！ What punishment could he invent for such an infamy？ He had reached the Rue Royale； up which were disappearing with the speed of horses that knew they were going home and with glancings of shining axles； visions of veiled women； heads of fair…haired children； equipages of all kinds returning from the Bois； depositing a little genuine earth upon the Paris pavement； and bringing odours of spring mingled with the scent of /poudre de riz/。
Opposite the Ministry of Marine； a very high phaeton on light wheels； rather like a great spider； its body represented by the little groom hanging on to the box and the two persons occupying the front seat； just missed a collision with the curb as it turned the corner。
The Nabob raised his head and stifled a cry。
Beside a painted woman； with red hair and wearing a tiny hat with wide strings； who； perched on her leathern cushion； sat leaning stiffly forward； hands； eyes； her whole factitious person intent on driving the horse； there sat； pink and made…up also； grown fat with the same vices； Moessard； the handsome Moessardthe harlot and the journalist； and of the two； it was not the woman who had sold herself the most。 High above those women reclining in their open carriages； those men opposite them half buried beneath the flounces of their gowns； all those poses of fatigue and weariness which the overfed exhibit in public as in contempt of pleasure and riches； they lorded it insolently； she very proud to be seen driving with the lover of the Queen； and he without the least shame in sitting beside a creature who hooked men in the drives of the Bois with the lash of her whip； removed on her high…perched seat from all fear of the salutary raids of the police。 Perhaps； in order to whet the appetite of his royal mistress； he chose to parade beneath her windows in company of Suzanne Bloch； known as Suze the Red。
〃Hep！ hep； then！〃
The horse； a high trotter with slim legs； just such a horse as a /cocotte/ would care to own； recovered from its swerve and resumed its proper place with dancing steps； graceful pawings executed on the same spot without advancing。 Jansoulet let fall his portfolio； and as though he had dropped with it all his gravity； his prestige as a public man； he made a terrible spring； and dashed to the bit of the animal； which he held firm with his strong； hairy hands。
A carriage forcibly stopped in the Rue Royale； and in broad daylight only this Tartar would have dared such a stroke as that！
〃Get down！〃 said he to Moessard； whose face had turned green and yellow when he saw him。 〃Get down immediately！〃
〃Will you let go my horse； you bloated idiot！ Whip up Suzanne； it is the Nabob。〃
She tried to gather up the reins； but the animal； held firmly； reared so sharply that a little more and like a sling the fragile vehicle would have sent everybody in it flying far away。 At this； furious with one of those plebeian rages which in women of her kind shatter all the veneer of their luxury； she dealt
