the nabob-第73章
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ver the supports by which he guides himself with the distrustful awkwardness of the infirm。 At the very moment when Paul was doubting Aline's sensibility； in announcing to his friends that he was about to start on a journey which would occupy several days； perhaps several weeks； did not remark the girl's sudden paleness； did not hear the distressed cry that escaped her lips：
〃You are going away？〃
He was going away； going to Tunis； very much troubled at leaving his poor Nabob in the midst of the pack of furious wolves that surrounded him。 Mora's protection； however； gave him some reassurance； and then； the journey in question was absolutely necessary。
〃And the Territorial？〃 asked the old accountant； ever returning to the subject in his mind。 〃How are things standing there？ I see Jansoulet's name still at the head of the board。 You cannot get him out； then； from that Ali…Baba's cave？ Take caretake care！〃
〃Ah； I know all about that； M。 Joyeuse。 But； to leave it with honour； money is needed； much money； a fresh sacrifice of two or three millions； and we have not got them。 That is exactly the reason why I am going to Tunis to try to wrest from the rapacity of the Bey a slice of that great fortune which he is retaining in his possession so unjustly。 At present I have still some chance of succeeding； while later on； perhaps〃
〃Go； then； and make haste； my dear lad； and if you return； as I wish you may； with a heavy bag； see that you deal first of all with the Paganetti gang。 Remember that one shareholder less patient than the rest has the power to smash the whole thing up； to demand an inquiry； and you know what the inquiry would reveal。 Now I come to think of it；〃 added M。 Joyeuse； whose brow had contracted a frown； 〃I am even surprised that Hemerlingue； in his hatred for you； has not secretly brought up a few shares。〃
He was interrupted by the chorus of imprecations which the name of Hemerlingue raised from all the young people； who detested the fat banker for the injury he had done their father； and for the ill…will he bore that good Nabob； who was adored in the house through Paul de Gery。
〃Hemerlingue； the heartless monster！ Wretch！ That wicked man！〃
But amid all these exclamations； the Visionary was following up his idea of the fat baron becoming a shareholder in the Territorial for the purpose of dragging his enemy into the courts。 And you may imagine the stupefaction of Andre Maranne； a complete stranger to the whole affair； when he saw M。 Joyeuse turn to him； and； with face purple and swollen with rage； point his finger at him； with these terrible words：
〃The greatest rascal； after all； in this affair； is you； sir！〃
〃Oh； papa； papa！ what are you saying？〃
〃Eh； what？ Ah； forgive me； my dear Andre。 I was fancying myself in the examining magistrate's private room； face to face with that rogue。 It is my confounded brain that is always running away with me。〃
All broke into uproarious laughter； which escaped into the outer air through the open windows； and went to mingle with the thousand noises of moving vehicles and people in their Sunday clothes going up the Avenue des Ternes。 The author of /Revolt/ took advantage of the diversion to ask whether they were not soon going to start。 It was latethe good places would be taken in the Bois。
〃To the Bois de Boulogne； on Sunday！〃 exclaimed Paul de Gery。
〃Oh； our Bois is not yours；〃 replied Aline with a smile。 〃Come with us； and you will see。〃
Did it ever happen to you； in the course of a solitary and contemplative walk； to lie down on your face in the undergrowth of a forest； amid that vegetation which springs up； various and manifold； through the fallen autumn leaves； and allow your eyes to wander along the level of the ground before you？ Little by little the sense of height is lost； the interwoven branches of the oaks above your head form an inaccessible sky； and you behold a new forest extending beneath the other； opening its deep avenues filled by a green and mysterious light； and formed of tiny shrubs or root fibres taking the appearance of the stems of sugar…canes； of severely graceful palm… trees； of delicate cups containing a drop of water； of many…branched candlesticks bearing little yellow lights which the wind blows on as it passes。 And the miraculous thing is； that beneath these light shadows live minute plants and thousand of insects whose existence； observed from so near at hand； is a revelation to you of all the mysteries。 An ant； bending like a wood…cutter under his burden； drags after it a splinter of bark bigger than itself； a beetle makes its way along a blade of grass thrown like a bridge from one stem to another； while beneath a lofty bracken standing isolated in the middle of a patch of velvety moss； a little blue or red insect waits； with antennae at attention； for another little insect on its way through some desert path over there to arrive at the trysting…place beneath the giant tree。 It is a small forest beneath a great one； too near the soil to be noticed by its big neighbours； too humble； too hidden to be reached by its great orchestra of song and storm。
A similar revelation awaits in the Bois de Boulogne。 Behind those sanded drives； watered and clean； whereon files of carriage…wheels moving slowly round the lake trace all day long a worn and mechanical furrow； behind that admirably set scene of trimmed green hedges； of captive water； of flowery rocks； the true Bois； a wild wood with perennial undergrowth； grows and flourishes； forming impenetrable recesses traversed by narrow paths and bubbling springs。
This is the Bois of the children； the Bois of the humble； the little forest beneath the great one。 And Paul； who knew only the long avenues of the aristocratic Parisian promenades； the sparkling lake perceived from the depths of a carriage or from the top of a coach in a drive back from Longchamps； was astonished to see the deliciously sheltered nook to which his friends had led him。 It was on the banks of a pond lying like a mirror under willow…trees； covered with water…lilies； with here and there large white shimmering spaces where sunbeams fell and lay on the bright surface。
On the sloping bank； sheltered by the boughs of trees where the leaves were already thick； they sat down to listen to the reading of the play； and the pretty； attentive faces； the skirts lying puffed out over the grass； made one think of some Decameron； more innocent and chaste； in a peaceful atmosphere。 To complete this pleasant country scene； two windmill…sails seen through an opening in the branches were revolving over in the direction of Suresnes； while of the dazzling and luxurious vision to be met at every cross…roads in the Bois there reached them only a confused and perpetual murmur； which one ended by ceasing to notice。 The poet's voice alone rose in the silence； the verses fell on the air tremblingly； repeated below the breath by other moved lips； and stifled sounds of approbation greeted them； with shudders at the tragic passages。 Bonne Maman was even seen to wipe away a big tear。 That comes； you see； from having no embroidery in one's hand！
His first work！ That was what the /Revolt/ was for Andre； that first work always too exuberant and ornate； into which the author throws； to begin with； whole arrears of ideas and opinions； pent up like the waters of a river…lock； that first work which is often the richest if not the best of its writer's productions。 As for the fate that awaited it； no one could predict it； and the uncertainty that hovered over the reading of the drama added to its own emotion that of each auditor； the hopes； all arrayed in white； of Mlle。 Elise； the fantastic hallucinations of M。 Joyeuse； and the more positive desires of Aline as she installed in advance the modest fortune of her sister in the nest of an artist's household； beaten by the winds but envied by the crowd。
Ah； if one of those idle people； taking a turn for the hundredth time round the lake； overwhelmed by the monotony of his habitual promenade； had come and parted the branches； how surprised he would have been at this picture！ But would he ever have suspected how much passion； how many dreams； what poetry and hope there could be contained in t
