the nabob-第9章

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〃You　know　quite　well　that　nothing　amuses　me；〃　said　she；　shrugging　her　shoulders　with　a　supreme　impertinence。

Then；　without　looking　at　him；　without　adding　another　word；　she　plunged　into　one　of　those　dumb　activities　by　which　true　artists　escape　from　themselves　and　from　everything　that　surrounds　them。

Jenkins　paced　a　few　steps　in　the　studio；　much　moved；　with　avowals　on　the　tip　of　his　tongue　which　yet　dared　not　put　themselves　into　words。　At　length；　feeling　himself　dismissed；　he　took　his　hat　and　walked　towards　the　door。

〃So　it　is　understood。　I　must　bring　him　to　see　you。〃

〃Who？〃

〃Why；　the　Nabob。　It　was　you　who　this　very　moment〃

〃Ah；　yes；〃　remarked　the　strange　person　whose　caprices　were　short…　lived。　〃Bring　him　if　you　like。　I　don't　care；　otherwise。〃

And　her　beautiful　dejected　voice；　in　which　something　seemed　broken；　the　listlessness　of　her　whole　personality；　said　distinctly　enough　that　it　was　true；　that　she　cared　really　for　nothing　in　the　world。

Jenkins　left　the　room；　extremely　troubled；　and　with　a　gloomy　brow。　But；　the　moment　he　was　outside；　he　assumed　once　more　his　laughing　and　cordial　expression；　being　of　those　who；　in　the　streets；　go　masked。　The　morning　was　advancing。　The　mist；　still　perceptible　in　the　vicinity　of　the　Seine；　floated　now　only　in　shreds　and　gave　a　vaporous　unsubstantiality　to　the　houses　on　the　quay；　to　the　river　steamers　whose　paddles　remained　invisible；　to　the　distant　horizon　in　which　the　dome　of　the　Invalides　hung　poised　like　a　gilded　balloon　with　a　rope　that　darted　sunbeams。　A　diffused　warmth；　the　movement　in　the　streets；　told　that　noon　was　not　far　distant；　that　it　would　be　there　directly　with　the　striking　of　all　the　bells。

Before　going　on　to　the　Nabob's；　Jenkins　had；　however；　one　other　visit　to　make。　But　he　appeared　to　find　it　a　great　nuisance。　However；　since　he　had　made　the　promise！　And；　resolutely：

〃68　Rue　Saint…Ferdinand；　at　the　Ternes；〃　he　said；　as　he　sprang　into　his　carriage。

The　address　required　to　be　repeated　twice　to　the　coachman；　Joey；　who　was　scandalized；　the　very　horse　showed　a　momentary　hesitation；　as　if　the　valuable　beast　and　the　impeccably　clad　servant　had　felt　revolt　at　the　idea　of　driving　out　to　such　a　distant　suburb；　beyond　the　limited　but　so　brilliant　circle　wherein　their　master's　clients　were　scattered。　The　carriage　arrived；　all　the　same；　without　accident；　at　the　end　of　a　provincial…looking；　unfinished　street；　and　at　the　last　of　its　buildings；　a　house　of　unfurnished　apartments　with　five　stories；　which　the　street　seemed　to　have　despatched　forward　as　a　reconnoitring　party　to　discover　whether　it　might　continue　on　that　side　isolated　as　it　stood　between　vaguely　marked…out　sites　waiting　to　be　built　upon　or　heaped　with　the　debris　of　houses　broken　down；　with　blocks　of　freestone；　old　shutters　lying　amid　the　desolation；　mouldy　butchers'　blocks　with　broken　hinges　hanging；　an　immense　ossuary　of　a　whole　demolished　region　of　the　town。

Innumerable　placards　were　stuck　above　the　door；　the　latter　being　decorated　by　a　great　frame　of　photographs　white　with　dust　before　which　Jenkins　paused　for　a　moment　as　he　passed。　Had　the　famous　doctor　come　so　far；　then；　simply　for　the　purpose　of　having　a　photograph　taken？　It　might　have　been　thought　so；　judging　by　the　attention　with　which　he　stayed　to　examine　this　display；　the　fifteen　or　twenty　photographs　which　represented　the　same　family　in　different　poses　and　actions　and　with　varying　expressions；　an　old　gentleman；　with　chin　supported　by　a　high　white　neckcloth；　and　a　leathern　portfolio　under　his　arm；　surrounded　by　a　bevy　of　young　girls　with　their　hair　in　plait　or　in　curls；　and　with　modest　ornaments　on　their　black　frocks。　Sometimes　the　old　gentleman　had　posed　with　but　two　of　his　daughters；　or　perhaps　one　of　those　young　and　pretty　profile　figures　stood　out　alone；　the　elbow　resting　upon　a　broken　column；　the　head　bowed　over　a　book　in　a　natural　and　easy　pose。　But；　in　short；　it　was　always　the　same　air　with　variations；　and　within　the　glass　frame　there　was　no　gentleman　save　the　old　gentleman　with　the　white　neckcloth；　nor　other　feminine　figures　that　those　of　his　numerous　daughters。

〃Studios　upstairs；　on　the　fifth　floor；〃　said　a　line　above　the　frame。　Jenkins　sighed；　measured　with　his　eye　the　distance　that　separated　the　ground　from　the　little　balcony　up　there　in　the　clouds；　then　he　decided　to　enter。　In　the　corridor　he　passed　a　white　neckcloth　and　a　majestic　leathern　portfolio；　evidently　the　old　gentleman　of　the　photographic　exhibition。　Questioned；　this　individual　replied　that　M。　Maranne　did　indeed　live　on　the　fifth　floor。　〃But；〃　he　added；　with　an　engaging　smile；　〃the　stories　are　not　lofty。〃　Upon　this　encouragement　the　Irishman　began　to　ascend　a　narrow　and　quite　new　staircase　with　landings　no　larger　than　a　step；　only　one　door　on　each　floor；　and　badly　lighted　windows　through　which　could　be　seen　a　gloomy；　ill…paved　court…　yard　and　other　cage…like　staircases；　all　empty；　one　of　those　frightful　modern　houses；　built　by　the　dozen　by　penniless　speculators；　and　having　as　their　worst　disadvantage　thin　partition　walls　which　oblige　all　the　inhabitants　to　live　in　a　phalansterian　community。

At　this　particular　time　the　inconvenience　was　not　great；　the　fourth　and　fifth　floors　alone　happening　to　be　occupied；　as　though　the　tenants　had　dropped　into　them　from　the　sky。

On　the　fourth　floor；　behind　a　door　with　a　copper　plate　bearing　the　announcement　〃M。　Joyeuse；　Expert　in　Bookkeeping；〃　the　doctor　heard　a　sound　of　fresh　laughter；　of　young　people's　chatter；　and　of　romping　steps；　which　accompanied　him　to　the　floor　above；　to　the　photographic　establishment。

These　little　businesses　perched　away　in　corners　with　the　air　of　having　no　communication　with　any　outside　world　are　one　of　the　surprises　of　Paris。　One　asks　one's　self　how　the　people　live　who　go　into　these　trades；　what　fastidious　Providence　can；　for　example；　send　clients　to　a　photographer　lodged　on　a　fifth　floor　in　a　nondescript　region；　well　beyond　the　Rue　Saint…Ferdinand；　or　books　to　keep　to　the　accountant　below。　Jenkins；　as　he　made　this　reflection；　smiled　in　pity；　then　went　straight　in　as　he　was　invited　by　the　following　inscription；　〃Enter　without　knocking。〃　Alas！　the　permission　was　scarcely　abused。　A　tall　young　man　wearing　spectacles；　and　writing　at　a　small　table；　with　his　legs　wrapped　in　a　travelling…rug；　rose　precipitately　to　greet　the　visitor　whom　his　short　sight　had　prevented　him　from　recognising。

〃Good…morning；　Andre；〃　said　the　doctor；　stretching　out　his　loyal　hand。

〃M。　Jenkins！〃

〃You　see；　I　am　good…natured　as　I　have　always　been。　Your　conduct　towards　us；　your　obstinacy　in　persisting　in　living　far　away　from　your　parents；　imposed　a　great　reserve　on　me；　for　my　own　dignity's　sake；　but　your　mother　has　wept。　And　here　I　am。〃

While　he　spoke；　he　examined　the　poor　little　studio；　with　its　bare　walls；　its　scanty　furniture；　the　brand…new　photographic　apparatus；　the　little　Prussian　fireplace；　new　also　and　never　yet　used　for　a　fire；　all　forced　into　painfully　clear　evidence　beneath　the　direct　light　falling　from　the　glass　roof。　The　drawn　face；　the　scanty　beard　of　the　young　man；　to　whom　the　bright　colour　of　his　eyes；　the　narrow　height　of　his　forehead；　his　long　and　fair　hair　thrown　backward　gave　the　air　of　a　visionary；　everything　was　accentuated　in　the　crude　light；　and　also　the　resolute　will　in　that　clear　glance　which　settled　upon　Jenkins　coldly；　and　in　advance　to　all　his　reasonings；　to　all　his　protestations；　opposed　an　invincible　resistance。

But　the　good　Jenkins　feigned　not　to　perceive　anything　of　this。

〃You　know；　my　dear　Andre；　since　the　day　when　I　married　your　mother　I　have　regarded　you　as　my　son。　I　looked　forward　to　leaving　you　my　practice　and　my　patients；　to　putting　your　foot　in　a　golden　stirrup；　happy　to　see　you　following　a　career　consecrated　to　the　welfare　of　humanity。　All　at　once；　without　giving　any　reason；　without　taking　into　any　consideration　the　effect　which　such　a　rupture　might　well　have　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　you　have　separated　yourself　from　us；　you　have　abandoned　your　studies；　renounced　your　future；　in　order　to　launch　out　into　I　know　not　what　eccentric　life；　engaging　in　a　ridiculous　trade；　the　refuge　and　the　excuse　of　all　unclassed　people。〃

〃I　follow　this　occupation　in　order　to　earn　a　living。　It