the nabob-第76章
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uity of the idle world had begun to make fashionable in Paris。
This consultation was like all others： solemn and sinister。 Doctors no longer wear their great periwigs of the time of Moliere； but they still assume the same gravity of the priests of Isis； of astrologers bristling with cabalistic formulae pronounced with sage noddings of the head； to which； for comical effect； there is only wanting the high pointed cap of former days。 In this case the scene borrowed an imposing aspect from its setting。 In the vast bed…chamber； transformed； heightened； as it were； in dignity by the immobility of the owner； these grave figures came forward round the bed on which the light was concentrated； illuminating amid the whiteness of the linen and the purple of the hangings a face worn into hollows； pale from lips to eyes； but wrapped in serenity as in a veil； as in a shroud。 The consultants spoke in low tones； cast furtive glances as each other； or exchanged some barbarous word； remaining impassive； without even a frown。 But this mute and reticent expression of the doctor and magistrate； this solemnity with which science and justice hedge themselves about to hide their frailty or ignorance； had no power to move the duke。
Sitting up in bed； he continued to talk quietly； with the upward glance of the eye in which it seems as if thought rises before it finally takes wing； and Monpavon coldly followed his cue； hardening himself against his own emotion； taking from his friend a last lesson in 〃form〃； while Louis； in the background； stood leaning against the door leading to the duchess's apartment； the spectre of a silent domestic in whom detached indifference is a duty。
The most agitated； nervous man present was Jenkins。 Full of obsequious attentions for his 〃illustrious colleagues；〃 as he called them； with his lips pursed up； he hung round their consultation and attempted to take part in it； but the colleagues kept him at a distance and hardly answered him； as Fagonthe Fagon of Louis XIVmight have addressed some empiric summoned to the royal bedside。 Old Bouchereau especially had black looks for the inventor of the Jenkins pearls。 Finally； when they had thoroughly examined and questioned their patient； they retired to deliberate among themselves in a little room with lacquered ceilings and walls； filled by an assortment of /bric…a…brac/ the triviality of which contrasted strangely with the importance of the discussion。
Solemn moment！ Anguish of the accused awaiting the decision of his judgeslife； death； reprieve； or pardon！
With his long； white hand Mora continued to stroke his mustache with a favourite gesture； to talk with Monpavon of the club； of the foyer of the /Varietes/； asking news of the Chamber； how matters stood with regard to the Nabob's electionall this coldly； without the least affectation。 Then； tired； no doubt； or fearing lest his glance； constantly drawn to that curtain opposite him； from behind which the sentence was to come presently； should betray the emotion which he must have felt in the depths of his soul； he laid his head on the pillow； closed his eyes； and did not open them again until the return of the doctors。 Still the same cold and sinister faces； veritable physiognomies of judges having on their lips the terrible decree of human fate； the final word which the courts pronounce fearlessly； but which the doctors； whose science it mocks； elude； and express in periphrases。
〃Well； gentlemen； what says the faculty？〃 demanded the sick man。
There were sundry murmurs of hypocritical encouragement； vague recommendations； then the three learned physicians hastened to depart； eager to escape from the responsibility of this disaster。 Monpavon rushed after them。 Jenkins remained at the bedside； overwhelmed by the cruel truths which he had just heard during the consultation。 In vain had he laid his hand on his heart； quoted his famous motto； Bouchereau had not spared him。 It was not the first of the Irishman's clients whom he had seen thus suddenly collapse； but he fervently hoped that the death of Mora would act as a salutary warning to the world of fashion； and that the prefect of police； after this great calamity； would send the 〃dealer in cantharides〃 to retail his drugs on the other side of the Channel。
The duke understood immediately that neither Jenkins nor Louis would tell him the true issue of the consultation。 He abstained； therefore； from any insistence in his questionings of them； submitted to their pretended confidence； affected even to share it； to believe the most hopeful things they announced to him。 But when Monpavon returned； he summoned him to his bedside； and； confronted by the lie visible even beneath the make…up of the decrepit old man； remarked：
〃Oh； you knowno humbug！ From you to me； truth。 What do they say？ I am in a very bad way； eh？〃
Monpavon prefaced his reply with a significant silence； then brutally； cynically； for fear of breaking down as he spoke：
〃Done for； my poor Augustus！〃
The duke received the sentence full in the face without flinching。
〃Ah！〃 he said simply。
He pulled his mustache with a mechanical gesture； but his features remained motionless。 And immediately he made up his mind。
That the poor wretch who dies in a hospital； without home or family； without other name than the number of his bed； that he should accept death as a deliverance or bear it as his last trial； that the old peasant who passes away； bent double； worn out； in his dark and smoky cellar； that he should depart without regret； savouring in advance the taste of that fresh earth which he has so many times dug over and over that is intelligible。 And yet how many； even among such； cling to existence despite all their misery！ how many there are who cry； holding on to their sordid furniture and to their rags； 〃I don't want to die！〃 and depart with nails broken and bleeding from that supreme wrench。 But here there was nothing of the kind。
To possess all； and to lose all。 What a catastrophe！
In the first silence of that dreadful moment； while he heard the sound of the music coming faintly from the duchess's ball at the other end of the palace； whatever attached this man to life； power； honour； wealth； all that splendour must have seemed to him already far away and in an irrevocable past。 A courage of a quite exceptional temper must have been required to bear up under such a blow without any spur of personal vanity。 No one was present save the friend； the doctor； the servant； three intimates acquainted with all his secrets； the lights moved back； left the bed in shadow； and the dying man might quite well have turned his face to the wall in lamentation of his own fate without being noticed。 But not an instant of weakness； nor of useless demonstration。 Without breaking a branch of the chestnut…trees in the garden； without withering a flower on the great staircase of the palace； his footsteps muffled on the thick pile of the carpets； Death had opened the door of this man of power and signed to him 〃Come！〃 And he answered simply； 〃I am ready。〃 The true exit of a man of the world； unforeseen； rapid； and discreet。
Man of the world！ Mora was nothing if not that。 Passing through life masked； gloved； breast…platedbreast…plate of white satin； such as the masters of fence wear on great days； preserving his fighting dress immaculate and clean； sacrificing everything to that irreproachable exterior which with him did duty for armour； he had determined on his /role/ as statesman in the passage from the drawing…room to a wider scene； and made； indeed； a statesman of the first rank on the strength alone of his qualities as a man about town； the art of listening and of smiling； knowledge of men； scepticism； and coolness。 That coolness did not leave him at the supreme moment。
With eyes fixed on the time； so short； which still remained to him for the dark visitor was in a hurry； and he could feel on his face the draught from the door which he had not closed behind himhis one thought now was to occupy the time well； to satisfy all the obligations of an end like his； which must leave no devotion unrecompensed nor compromise any friend。 He gave a list of certain persons whom he wished to see and who were sen
