the brotherhood of consolation-第6节
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conspiracy。 When he found himself in the banker's counting…room held
by the scrutinizing eye of Frederic Mongenod while he made his
inquiry； he felt ashamed as he saw a derisive smile on the lips of the
listener。
〃Madame la Baronne de la Chanterie；〃 replied the banker； 〃is one of
the most obscure persons in Paris； but she is also one of the most
honorable。 Have you any object in asking for information？〃
Godefroid retreated into generalities： he was going to live among
strangers； he naturally wished to know something of those with whom he
should be intimately thrown。 But the banker's smile became more and
more sarcastic； and Godefroid； more and more embarrassed； was ashamed
of the step he had taken； and which bore no fruit； for he dared not
continue his questions about Madame de la Chanterie and her inmates。
IV
FAREWELL TO THE LIFE OF THE WORLD
Two days later； of a Monday evening； having dined for the last time at
the Cafe Anglais； and seen the two first pieces at the Varietes； he
went； at ten o'clock； to sleep for the first time in the rue
Chanoinesse； where Manon conducted him to his room。
Solitude has charms comparable only to those of savage life； which no
European has ever really abandoned after once tasting them。 This may
seem strange at an epoch when every one lives so much to be seen of
others that all the world concern themselves in their neighbors'
affairs； and when private life will soon be a thing of the past； so
bold and so intrusive are the eyes of the press；that modern Argus。
Nevertheless； it is a truth which rests on the authority of the first
six Christian centuries； during which no recluse ever returned to
social life。 Few are the moral wounds that solitude will not heal。
So； at first； Godefroid was soothed by the deep peace and absolute
stillness of his new abode； as a weary traveller is relaxed by a bath。
The very day after his arrival at Madame de la Chanterie's he was
forced to examine himself； under the sense that he was separated from
all； even from Paris； though he still lived in the shadow of its
cathedral。 Stripped of his social vanities； he was about to have no
other witnesses of his acts than his own conscience and the inmates of
that house。 He had quitted the great high…road of the world to enter
an unknown path。 Where was that path to lead him to？ to what
occupation should he now be drawn？
He had been for two hours absorbed in such reflections when Manon； the
only servant of the house； knocked at his door to tell him that the
second breakfast was served and the family were waiting for him。
Twelve o'clock was striking。 The new lodger went down at once； stirred
by a wish to see and judge the five persons among whom his life was in
future to be spent。
When he entered the room he found all the inmates of the house
standing； they were dressed precisely as they were on the day when he
came to make his first inquiries。
〃Did you sleep well？〃 asked Madame de la Chanterie。
〃So well that I did not wake up till ten o'clock；〃 replied Godefroid；
bowing to the four men； who returned the bow with gravity。
〃We thought so；〃 said an old man named Alain； smiling。
〃Manon spoke of a second breakfast；〃 said Godefroid； 〃but I fear that
I have already broken some rule。 At what hour do you rise？〃
〃Not quite so early as the old monks；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie；
courteously； 〃but as early as the working…men；six in winter； half…
past three in summer。 Our bed…time is ruled by that of the sun。 We are
always asleep by nine in winter and eleven in summer。 On rising； we
all take a little milk； which comes from our farm； after saying our
prayers； except the Abbe de Veze； who says the first mass； at six
o'clock in summer and seven o'clock in winter； at Notre…Dame； where
these gentlemen are present daily； as well as your humble servant。〃
Madame de la Chanterie ended her explanation as the five lodgers took
their seats at table。
The dining…room； painted throughout in gray； the design of the
woodwork being in the style of Louis XIV。； adjoined the sort of
antechamber in which Manon was usually stationed； and it seemed to be
parallel with Madame de la Chanterie's bedroom； which also opened into
the salon。 This room had no other ornament than a tall clock。 The
furniture consisted of six chairs with oval backs covered with
worsted…work； done probably by Madame de la Chanterie's own hand； two
buffets and a table； all of Mahogany； on which Manon did not lay a
cloth for breakfast。 The breakfast； of monastic frugality； was
composed of a small turbot with a white sauce； potatoes； a salad； and
four dishes of fruit；peaches； grapes； strawberries； and fresh
almonds； also； for relishes； honey in the comb （as in Switzerland）；
radishes； cucumbers； sardines； and butter；the whole served in the
well…known china with tiny blue flowers and green leaves on a white
ground； which was no doubt a luxury in the days of Louis XIV。； but had
now； under the growing demands of luxury； come to be regarded as
common。
〃We keep the fasts；〃 said Monsieur Alain。 〃As we go to mass every
morning； you will not be surprised to find us blindly following all
the customs of the Church； even the severest。〃
〃And you shall begin by imitating us；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie；
with a glance at Godefroid； whom she had placed beside her。
Of the five persons present Godefroid knew the names of three；Madame
de la Chanterie； the Abbe de Veze； and Monsieur Alain。 He wished to
know those of the other two； but they kept silence and ate their food
with the attention which recluses appear to give to every detail of a
meal。
〃Does this fine fruit come also from your farm； madame？〃 asked
Godefroid。
〃Yes； monsieur；〃 she replied。 〃We have a little model farm； like the
government itself； we call it our country house； it is twelve miles
from here； on the road to Italy； near Villeneuve…Saint…Georges。〃
〃It is a property that belongs to us all； and is to go to the
survivor；〃 said the goodman Alain。
〃Oh； it is not very considerable！〃 added Madame de la Chanterie；
rather hastily； as if she feared that Godefroid might think these
remarks a bait。
〃There are thirty acres of tilled land；〃 said one of the two
personages still unknown to Godefroid； 〃six of meadow； and an
enclosure containing four acres； in which our house； which adjoins the
farmhouse； stands。〃
〃But such a property as that；〃 said Godefroid； 〃must be worth a
hundred thousand francs。〃
〃Oh； we don't get anything out of it but our provisions！〃 said the
same personage。
He was a tall； grave； spare man； with all the appearance of having
served in the army。 His white hair showed him to be past sixty； and
his face betrayed some violent grief controlled by religion。
The second unnamed person； who seemed to be something between a master
of rhetoric and a business agent； was of ordinary height； plump； but
active withal。 His face had the jovial expression which characterizes
those of lawyers and notaries in Paris。
The dress of these four personages revealed a neatness due to the most
scrupulous personal care。 The same hand； and it was that of Manon；
could be seen in every detail。 Their coats were perhaps ten years old；
but they were preserved； like the coats of vicars； by the occult power
of the servant…woman； and the constant care with which they were worn。
These men seemed to wear on their backs the livery of a system of
life； they belonged to one thought； their looks said the same word；
their faces breathed a gentle resignation； a provoking quietude。
〃Is it an indiscretion； madame；〃 said Godefroid； 〃to ask the names of
these gentlemen？ I am ready to explain my life； can I know as much of
theirs as custom will allow？〃
〃That gentleman；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie； motioning to the tall；
thin man； 〃is Monsieur Nicolas； he is a colonel of gendarmerie；
retired with the rank of brigadier…general。 And this；〃 she added；
looking towards the stout little man； 〃is a former councillor of the
royal courts of Paris； who retired from the magistracy in 1830。 His
name is Monsieur Joseph。 Though you have only been with us one day； I
will tell you that in the world Monsieur Nicolas once bore the name of
the Marquis de Montauran； and Monsieur Joseph that of Lecamus； Baron
de Tresnes； but for us； as for the world； those names no longer exist。
These gentlemen are without heirs； they only advance by a little the
oblivion which awaits their names； they are simply Monsieur Nicolas
and Monsieur Joseph； as you will be Monsieur Godefroid。〃
As he heard those names；one so celebrated in the annals of royalism
by the catastrophe which put an end to the uprising of the Chouans；
the other so revered in the halls of the old parliament of Paris；
Godefroid could not repress a quiver。 He looked at these relics of the
grandest things of the fallen monarchy；the /noblesse/ and the law；
and he could see no movement of the features； no change in the
countenance； that revealed the presence of a worldly thought。 Those
men no longer remembered； or did not choose to remember； what they had
been。 This was Godefroid's first lesson。
〃Each of your names； gentlemen； is a whole history in itself；〃 he
