the two brothers-第69节
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doubtless concocted together。 The word 〃disgusting〃 is a positive to
which no superlative exists； and we must therefore use it to convey
the impression caused by this sight。 When the dying woman saw Joseph
approaching her； two great tears rolled down her cheeks。
〃She can still weep！〃 whispered Bixiou。 〃A strange sight；tears from
dominos！ It is like the miracle of Moses。〃
〃How burnt up！〃 cried Joseph。
〃In the fires of repentance；〃 said Flore。 〃I cannot get a priest； I
have nothing； not even a crucifix； to help me see God。 Ah； monsieur！〃
she cried； raising her arms； that were like two pieces of carved wood；
〃I am a guilty woman； but God never punished any one as he has
punished me！ Philippe killed Max； who advised me to do dreadful
things； and now he has killed me。 God uses him as a scourge！〃
〃Leave me alone with her；〃 said Bianchon； 〃and let me find out if the
disease is curable。〃
〃If you cure her； Philippe Bridau will die of rage；〃 said Desroches。
〃I am going to draw up a statement of the condition in which we have
found his wife。 He has not brought her before the courts as an
adulteress； and therefore her rights as a wife are intact： he shall
have the shame of a suit。 But first； we must remove the Comtesse de
Brambourg to the private hospital of Doctor Dubois； in the rue du
Faubourg…Saint…Denis。 She will be well cared for there。 Then I will
summon the count for the restoration of the conjugal home。〃
〃Bravo； Desroches！〃 cried Bixiou。 〃What a pleasure to do so much good
that will make some people feel so badly！〃
Ten minutes later； Bianchon came down and joined them。
〃I am going straight to Despleins；〃 he said。 〃He can save the woman by
an operation。 Ah！ he will take good care of the case； for her abuse of
liquor has developed a magnificent disease which was thought to be
lost。〃
〃Wag of a mangler！ Isn't there but one disease in life？〃 cried Bixiou。
But Bianchon was already out of sight； so great was his haste to tell
Despleins the wonderful news。 Two hours later； Joseph's miserable
sister…in…law was removed to the decent hospital established by Doctor
Dubois； which was afterward bought of him by the city of Paris。 Three
weeks later； the 〃Hospital Gazette〃 published an account of one of the
boldest operations of modern surgery； on a case designated by the
initials 〃F。 B。〃 The patient died；more from the exhaustion produced
by misery and starvation than from the effects of the treatment。
No sooner did this occur； than the Comte de Brambourg went； in deep
mourning； to call on the Comte de Soulanges； and inform him of the sad
loss he had just sustained。 Soon after； it was whispered about in the
fashionable world that the Comte de Soulanges would shortly marry his
daughter to a parvenu of great merit； who was about to be appointed
brigadier…general and receive command of a regiment of the Royal
Guard。 De Marsay told this news to Eugene de Rastignac； as they were
supping together at the Rocher de Cancale； where Bixiou happened to
be。
〃It shall not take place！〃 said the witty artist to himself。
Among the many old friends whom Philippe now refused to recognize；
there were some； like Giroudeau； who were unable to revenge
themselves； but it happened that he had wounded Bixiou； who； thanks to
his brilliant qualities； was everywhere received； and who never
forgave an insult。 One day at the Rocher de Cancale； before a number
of well…bred persons who were supping there； Philippe had replied to
Bixiou； who spoke of visiting him at the hotel de Brambourg： 〃You can
come and see me when you are made a minister。〃
〃Am I to turn Protestant before I can visit you？〃 said Bixiou；
pretending to misunderstand the speech； but he said to himself； 〃You
may be Goliath； but I have got my sling； and plenty of stones。〃
The next day he went to an actor； who was one of his friends； and
metamorphosed himself； by the all…powerful aid of dress； into a
secularized priest with green spectacles； then he took a carriage and
drove to the hotel de Soulanges。 Received by the count； on sending in
a message that he wanted to speak with him on a matter of serious
importance； he related in a feigned voice the whole story of the dead
countess； the secret particulars of whose horrible death had been
confided to him by Bianchon； the history of Agathe's death； the
history of old Rouget's death； of which the Comte de Brambourg had
openly boasted； the history of Madame Descoings's death； the history
of the theft from the newspaper； and the history of Philippe's private
morals during his early days。
〃Monsieur le comte； don't give him your daughter until you have made
every inquiry； interrogate his former comrades；Bixiou； Giroudeau；
and others。〃
Three months later； the Comte de Brambourg gave a supper to du Tillet；
Nucingen； Eugene de Rastignac； Maxime de Trailles； and Henri de
Marsay。 The amphitryon accepted with much nonchalance the half…
consolatory condolences they made to him as to his rupture with the
house of Soulanges。
〃You can do better；〃 said Maxime de Trailles。
〃How much money must a man have to marry a demoiselle de Grandlieu？〃
asked Philippe of de Marsay。
〃You？ They wouldn't give you the ugliest of the six for less than ten
millions；〃 answered de Marsay insolently。
〃Bah！〃 said Rastignac。 〃With an income of two hundred thousand francs
you can have Mademoiselle de Langeais； the daughter of the marquis；
she is thirty years old； and ugly； and she hasn't a sou； that ought to
suit you。〃
〃I shall have ten millions two years from now；〃 said Philippe Bridau。
〃It is now the 16th of January； 1829；〃 cried du Tillet； laughing。 〃I
have been hard at work for ten years and I have not made as much as
that yet。〃
〃We'll take counsel of each other；〃 said Bridau； 〃you shall see how
well I understand finance。〃
〃How much do you really own？〃 asked Nucingen。
〃Three millions； excluding my house and my estate； which I shall not
sell； in fact； I cannot； for the property is now entailed and goes
with the title。〃
Nucingen and du Tillet looked at each other； after that sly glance du
Tillet said to Philippe； 〃My dear count； I shall be delighted to do
business with you。〃
De Marsay intercepted the look du Tillet had exchanged with Nucingen；
and which meant； 〃We will have those millions。〃 The two bank magnates
were at the centre of political affairs； and could； at a given time；
manipulate matters at the Bourse； so as to play a sure game against
Philippe； when the probabilities might all seem for him and yet be
secretly against him。
The occasion came。 In July； 1830； du Tillet and Nucingen had helped
the Comte de Brambourg to make fifteen hundred thousand francs； he
could therefore feel no distrust of those who had given him such good
advice。 Philippe； who owed his rise to the Restoration； was misled by
his profound contempt for 〃civilians〃； he believed in the triumph of
the Ordonnances； and was bent on playing for a rise； du Tillet and
Nucingen； who were sure of a revolution； played against him for a
fall。 The crafty pair confirmed the judgment of the Comte de Brambourg
and seemed to share his convictions； they encouraged his hopes of
doubling his millions； and apparently took steps to help him。 Philippe
fought like a man who had four millions depending on the issue of the
struggle。 His devotion was so noticeable； that he received orders to
go to Saint…Cloud with the Duc de Maufrigneuse and attend a council。
This mark of favor probably saved Philippe's life； for when the order
came； on the 25th of July； he was intending to make a charge and sweep
the boulevards； when he would undoubtedly have been shot down by his
friend Giroudeau； who commanded a division of the assailants。
A month later； nothing was left of Colonel Bridau's immense fortune
but his house and furniture； his estates； and the pictures which had
come from Issoudun。 He committed the still further folly； as he said
himself； of believing in the restoration of the elder branch； to which
he remained faithful until 1834。 The not imcomprehensible jealousy
Philippe felt on seeing Giroudeau a colonel drove him to re…enter the
service。 Unluckily for himself； he obtained； in 1835； the command of a
regiment in Algiers； where he remained three years in a post of
danger； always hoping for the epaulets of a general。 But some
malignant influencethat； in fact； of General Giroudeau；continually
balked him。 Grown hard and brutal； Philippe exceeded the ordinary
severity of the service； and was hated； in spite of his bravery a la
Murat。
At the beginning of the fatal year 1839； while making a sudden dash
upon the Arabs during a retreat before superior forces； he flung
himself against the enemy； followed by only a single company； and fell
in； unfortunately； with the main body of the enemy。 The battle was
bloody and terrible； man to man； a
