the nabob-第95章
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She ran before the attendant； walking quickly； talking aloud； pushing aside out of her way the little black and bearded men who were gesticulating in the passages。 After the waiting…hall she crossed a great round antechamber where servants in respectful rows made a living wainscotting to the high； blank wall。 From there she could see through the glass doors； the outside railing； the crowd in waiting； and among the other vehicles； the Nabob's carriage waiting。 As she passed； the peasant recognised in one of the groups her enormous neighbour of the gallery； with the pale man in spectacles who had attacked her son； who was receiving all sorts of felicitation for his discourse。 At the name of Jansoulet； pronounced among mocking and satisfied sneers； she stopped。
〃At any rate；〃 said a handsome man with a bad feminine face； 〃he has not proved where our accusations were false。〃
The old woman； hearing that； wrenched herself through the crowd； and facing Moessard said：
〃What he did not say I will。 I am his mother； and it is my duty to speak。〃
She stopped to seize Le Merquier by the sleeve； who was escaping：
〃Wicked man； you must listen； first of all。 What have you got against my child？ Don't you know who he is？ Wait a little till I tell you。〃
And turning to the journalist：
〃I had two sons； sir。〃
Moessard was no longer there。 She returned to Le Merquier： 〃Two sons； sir。〃 Le Merquier had disappeared。
〃Oh； listen to me； some one； I beg；〃 said the poor mother； throwing her hands and her voice round her to assemble and retain her hearers； but all fled； melted away； disappeareddeputies； reporters； unknown and mocking faces to whom she wished at any cost to tell her story； careless of the indifference where her sorrows and her joys fell； her pride and maternal tenderness expressed in a tornado of feeling。 And while she was thus exciting herself and strugglingdistracted； her bonnet awryat once grotesque and sublime； as are all the children of nature when brought into civilization； taking to witness the honesty of her son and the injustice of men； even the liveried servants； whose disdainful impassibility was more cruel than all； Jansoulet appeared suddenly beside her。
〃Take my arm； mother。 You must not stop there。〃
He said it in a tone so firm and calm that all the laughter ceased； and the old woman； suddenly quieted； sustained by this solid hold； still trembling a little with anger； left the palace between two respectful rows。 A dignified and rustic couple； the millions of the son gilding the countrified air of the mother； like the rags of a saint enshrined in a golden /chasse/they disappeared in the bright sunlight outside； in the splendour of their glittering carriagea ferocious irony in their deep distress； a striking symbol of the terrible misery of the rich。
They sat well back； for both feared to be seen； and hardly spoke at first。 But when the vehicle was well on its way； and he had behind him the sad Calvary where his honour hung gibbeted； Jansoulet； utterly overcome； laid his head on his mother's shoulder； hid it in the old green shawl； and there； with the burning tears flowing； all his great body shaken by sobs； he returned to the cry of his childhood： 〃Mother。〃
DRAMAS OF PARIS
Que l'heure est donc breve； Qu'on passe en aimant！ C'est moins qu'un moment； Un peu plus qu'un reve。
In the semi…obscurity of a great drawing…room filled with flowers； the seats of the furniture covered with holland； the chandeliers draped with muslin； the windows open； and the venetians lowered； Mme。 Jenkins is seated at the piano reading the new song of the fashionable musician； some melodic phrases accompanying exquisite verse； a melancholy /Lied/； unequally divided； which seems written for the tender gravities of her voice and the disturbed state of her soul。
Le temps nous enleve Notre enchantement
sighs the poor woman； moved by the sound of her own voice； and while the notes float away in the court…yard of the house； where the fountain falls drop by drop among a bed of rhododendrons； the singer breaks off； her hands holding the chord； her eyes fixed on the music； but her look far away。 The doctor is absent。 The care of his health and business has exiled him from Paris for some days； and the thoughts of the beautiful Mme。 Jenkins have taken that grave turn； as often happens in solitude； that analytical tendency which sometimes makes even momentary separations fatal in the most united households。 United they had not been for sometime。 They only saw each other at meal… times； before the servants； hardly speaking unless he； the man of unctuous manners； allowed himself to make some disobliging or brutal remark on her son； or on her age； which she began to show； or on some dress which did not become her。 Always gentle and serene； she stifled her tears； accepted everything； feigned not to understand； not that she loved him still after so much cruelty and contempt； but it was the story； as their coachman Joe told it； 〃of an old clinger who was determined to make him marry her。〃 Up to then a terrible obstaclethe life of the legitimate wifehad prolonged a dishonourable situation。 Now that the obstacle no longer existed she wished to put an end to the situation； because of Andre； who from one day to another might be forced to despise his mother； because of the world which they had deceived for ten yearsa world she never entered but with a beating heart； for fear of the treatment she would receive after a discovery。 To her allusions； to her prayers； Jenkins had answered at first by phrases； grand gestures： 〃Could you distrust me？ Is not our engagement sacred？〃
He pointed out the difficulty of keeping an act of this importance secret。 Then he shut himself up in a malignant silence； full of cold anger and violent determinations。 The death of the duke； the fall of an absurd vanity； had struck a final blow at the household； for disaster； which often brings hearts ready to understand one another nearer； finishes and completes disunions。 And it was indeed a disaster。 The popularity of the Jenkins pearls suddenly stopped； the situation of the foreign doctor and charlatan； ably defined by Bouchereau in the Journal of the Academy； and people of fashion looked at each other in fright； paler from terror than from the arsenic they had imbibed。 Already the Irishman had felt the effect of those counter blasts which make Parisian infatuations so dangerous。
It was for that reason； no doubt； that Jenkins had judged it wise to disappear for some time； leaving madame to continue to frequent the houses still open to them； to gauge and hold public opinion in respect。 It was a hard task for the poor woman； who found everywhere the cool and distant welcome which she had received at the Hemerlingues。 But she did not complain； thus earning her marriage； she was putting between them as a last resource the sad tie of pity and common trials。 And as she knew that she was welcomed in the world on account of her talent； of the artistic distraction she lent to their private parties； she was always ready to lay on the piano her fan and long gloves； to play some fragment of her vast repertory。 She worked constantly； passing her afternoons in turning over new music； choosing by preference sad and complicated harmonies； the modern music which no longer contents itself with being an art； but becomes a science； and answers better to our nerves； to our restlessness； than to sentiment。
Daylight flooded the room as a maid brought a card to her mistress； 〃Heurteux； business agent。〃
The gentleman was there； he insisted on seeing madame。
〃You have told him the doctor is travelling？〃
He had been told； but it was to madame he wished to speak。
〃To me？〃
Disturbed； she examined this rough； crumpled card； this unknown name： 〃Heurteux。〃 What could it be？
〃Well； show him in。〃
Heurteux； business agent； coming from broad daylight into the semi… obscurity of the room； was blinking with an uncertain air； trying to see。 She； on the other hand； saw very distinctly a stiff figure； with iron…gray whiskers and protruding jaw； one of those hangers…on of the law whom one meets round the law courts； born fifty years old； with a bitter mouth
