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第34节

the two brothers-第34节

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The doctor had seen; too late for remedy; the havoc wrought in his

son's life by a temperament and a character of this kind。 He would

have been glad to get him married; but to do that; he must deliver him

over to an influence that was certain to become tyrannical; and the

doctor hesitated。 Was it not practically giving the whole management

of the property into the hands of a stranger; some unknown girl? The

doctor knew how difficult it was to gain true indications of the moral

character of a woman from any study of a young girl。 So; while he

continued to search for a daughter…in…law whose sentiments and

education offered some guarantees for the future; he endeavored to

push his son into the ways of avarice; meaning to give the poor fool a

sort of instinct that might eventually take the place of intelligence。



He trained him; in the first place; to mechanical habits of life; and

instilled into him fixed ideas as to the investment of his revenues:

and he spared him the chief difficulties of the management of a

fortune; by leaving his estates all in good order; and leased for long

periods。 Nevertheless; a fact which was destined to be of paramount

importance in the life of the poor creature escaped the notice of the

wily old doctor。 Timidity is a good deal like dissimulation; and is

equally secretive。 Jean…Jacques was passionately in love with the

Rabouilleuse。 Nothing; of course; could be more natural。 Flore was the

only woman who lived in the bachelor's presence; the only one he could

see at his ease; and at all hours he secretly contemplated her and

watched her。 To him; she was the light of his paternal home; she gave

him; unknown to herself; the only pleasures that brightened his youth。

Far from being jealous of his father; he rejoiced in the education the

old man was giving to Flore: would it not make her all he wanted; a

woman easy to win; and to whom; therefore; he need pay no court? The

passion; observe; which is able to reflect; gives even to ninnies;

fools; and imbeciles a species of intelligence; especially in youth。

In the lowest human creature we find an animal instinct whose

persistency resembles thought。



The next day; Flore; who had been reflecting on her master's silence;

waited in expectation of some momentous communication; but although he

kept near her; and looked at her on the sly with passionate glances;

Jean…Jacques still found nothing to say。 At last; when the dessert was

on the table; he recommenced the scene of the night before。



〃You like your life here?〃 he said to Flore。



〃Yes; Monsieur Jean。〃



〃Well; stay here then。〃



〃Thank you; Monsieur Jean。〃



This strange situation lasted three weeks。 One night; when no sound

broke the stillness of the house; Flore; who chanced to wake up; heard

the regular breathing of human lungs outside her door; and was

frightened to discover Jean…Jacques; crouched like a dog on the

landing。



〃He loves me;〃 she thought; 〃but he will get the rheumatism if he

keeps up that sort of thing。〃



The next day Flore looked at her master with a certain expression。

This mute almost instinctive love had touched her; she no longer

thought the poor ninny so ugly; though his forehead was crowned with

pimples resembling ulcers; the signs of a vitiated blood。



〃You don't want to go back and live in the fields; do you?〃 said Jean…

Jacques when they were alone。



〃Why do you ask me that?〃 she said; looking at him。



〃To know〃 replied Rouget; turning the color of a boiled lobster。



〃Do you wish to send me back?〃 she asked。



〃No; mademoiselle。〃



〃Well; what is it you want to know? You have some reason〃



〃Yes; I want to know〃



〃What?〃 said Flore。



〃You won't tell me?〃 exclaimed Rouget。



〃Yes I will; on my honor〃



〃Ah! that's it;〃 returned Rouget; with a frightened air。 〃Are you an

honest girl?〃



〃I'll take my oath〃



〃Are you; truly?〃



〃Don't you hear me tell you so?〃



〃Come; are you the same as you were when your uncle brought you here

barefooted?〃



〃A fine question; faith!〃 cried Flore; blushing。



The heir lowered his head and did not raise it again。 Flore; amazed at

such an encouraging sign from a man who had been overcome by a fear of

that nature; left the room。



Three days later; at the same hour (for both seemed to regard the

dessert as a field of battle); Flore spoke first; and said to her

master;



〃Have you anything against me?〃



〃No; mademoiselle;〃 he answered; 〃No〃 'a pause' 〃On the contrary。〃



〃You seemed annoyed the other day to hear I was an honest girl。〃



〃No; I only wished to know〃 'a pause' 〃But you would not tell me〃



〃On my word!〃 she said; 〃I will tell you the whole truth。〃



〃The whole truth aboutmy father?〃 he asked in a strangled voice。



〃Your father;〃 she said; looking full into her master's eye; 〃was a

worthy manhe liked a jokeWhat of that?there was nothing in it。

But; poor dear man; it wasn't the will that was wanting。 The truth is;

he had some spite against you; I don't know what; and he meantoh! he

meant you harm。 Sometimes he made me laugh; but there! what of that?〃



〃Well; Flore;〃 said the heir; taking her hand; 〃as my father was

nothing to you〃



〃What did you suppose he was to me?〃 she cried; as if offended by some

unworthy suspicion



〃Well; but just listen〃



〃He was my benefactor; that was all。 Ah! he would have liked to make

me his wife; but〃



〃But;〃 said Rouget; taking the hand which Flore had snatched away from

him; 〃if he was nothing to you you can stay here with me; can't you?〃



〃If you wish it;〃 she said; dropping her eyes。



〃No; no! if you wish it; you!〃 exclaimed Rouget。 〃Yes; you shall be

mistress here。 All that is here shall be yours; you shall take care of

my property; it is almost yours nowfor I love you; I have always

loved you since the day you came and stood therethere!with bare

feet。〃



Flore made no answer。 When the silence became embarrassing; Jean…

Jacques had recourse to a terrible argument。



〃Come;〃 he said; with visible warmth; 〃wouldn't it be better than

returning to the fields?〃



〃As you will; Monsieur Jean;〃 she answered。



Nevertheless; in spite of her 〃as you will;〃 Jean…Jacques got no

further。 Men of his nature want certainty。 The effort that they make

in avowing their love is so great; and costs them so much; that they

feel unable to go on with it。 This accounts for their attachment to

the first woman who accepts them。 We can only guess at circumstances

by results。 Ten months after the death of his father; Jean…Jacques

changed completely; his leaden face cleared; and his whole countenance

breathed happiness。 Flore exacted that he should take minute care of

his person; and her own vanity was gratified in seeing him well…

dressed; she always stood on the sill of the door; and watched him

starting for a walk; until she could see him no longer。 The whole town

noticed these changes; which had made a new man of the bachelor。



〃Have you heard the news?〃 people said to each other in Issoudun。



〃What is it?〃



〃Jean…Jacques inherits everything from his father; even the

Rabouilleuse。〃



〃Don't you suppose the old doctor was wicked enough to provide a ruler

for his son?〃



〃Rouget has got a treasure; that's certain;〃 said everybody。



〃She's a sly one! She is very handsome; and she will make him marry

her。〃



〃What luck that girl has had; to be sure!〃



〃The luck that only comes to pretty girls。〃



〃Ah; bah! do you believe that? look at my uncle Borniche…Herau。 You

have heard of Mademoiselle Ganivet? she was as ugly as seven capital

sins; but for all that; she got three thousand francs a year out of

him。〃



〃Yes; but that was in 1778。〃



〃Still; Rouget is making a mistake。 His father left him a good forty

thousand francs' income; and he ought to marry Mademoiselle Herau。〃



〃The doctor tried to arrange it; but she would not consent; Jean…

Jacques is so stupid〃



〃Stupid! why women are very happy with that style of man。〃



〃Is your wife happy?〃



Such was the sort of tattle that ran through Issoudun。 If people;

following the use and wont of the provinces; began by laughing at this

quasi…marriage; they ended by praising Flore for devoting herself to

the poor fellow。 We now see how it was that Flore Brazier obtained the

management of the Rouget household;from father to son; as young

Goddet had said。 It is desirable to sketch the history of that

management for the edification of old bachelors。



Fanchette; the cook; was the only person in Issoudun who thought it

wrong that Flore Brazier should be queen over Jean…Jacques Rouget and

his home。 She protested against the immorality of the connection; and

took a tone of injured virtue; the fact being that she was humiliated

by having; at her age; a crab…girl for a mistress;a child who had

been brought b

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