the alkahest-第31节
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Emmanuel de Solis； who was now principal of the college…school in
Douai； thanks to the influence of his uncle and to his own merits
which made him worthy of the post； came every evening to see the two
young girls； who called the old duenna into the parlor as soon as
their father had gone to bed。 Emmanuel's gentle rap at the street…door
was never missing。 For the last three months； encouraged by the
gracious； though mute gratitude with which Marguerite now accepted his
attentions； he became at his ease； and was seen for what he was。 The
brightness of his pure spirit shone like a flawless diamond；
Marguerite learned to understand its strength and its constancy when
she saw how inexhaustible was the source from which it came。 She loved
to watch the unfolding； one by one； of the blossoms of his heart；
whose perfume she had already breathed。 Each day Emmanuel realized
some one of Marguerite's hopes； and illumined the enchanted regions of
love with new lights that chased away the clouds and brought to view
the serene heavens； giving color to the fruitful riches hidden away in
the shadow of their lives。 More at his ease； the young man could
display the seductive qualities of his heart until now discreetly
hidden； the expansive gaiety of his age； the simplicity which comes of
a life of study； the treasures of a delicate mind that life has not
adulterated； the innocent joyousness which goes so well with loving
youth。 His soul and Marguerite's understood each other better； they
went together to the depths of their hearts and found in each the same
thoughts；pearls of equal lustre； sweet fresh harmonies like those
the legends tell of beneath the waves； which fascinate the divers。
They made themselves known to one another by an interchange of
thought； a reciprocal introspection which bore the signs； in both； of
exquisite sensibility。 It was done without false shame； but not
without mutual coquetry。 The two hours which Emmanuel spent with the
sisters and old Martha enabled Marguerite to accept the life of
anguish and renunciation on which she had entered。 This artless；
progressive love was her support。 In all his testimonies of affection
Emmanuel showed the natural grace that is so winning； the sweet yet
subtile mind which breaks the uniformity of sentiment as the facets of
a diamond relieve； by their many…sided fires； the monotony of the
stone；adorable wisdom； the secret of loving hearts； which makes a
woman pliant to the artistic hand that gives new life to old； old
forms； and refreshes with novel modulations the phrases of love。 Love
is not only a sentiment； it is an art。 Some simple word； a trifling
vigilance； a nothing； reveals to a woman the great； the divine artist
who shall touch her heart and yet not blight it。 The more Emmanuel was
free to utter himself； the more charming were the expressions of his
love。
〃I have tried to get here before Pierquin；〃 he said to Marguerite one
evening。 〃He is bringing some bad news； I would rather you heard it
from me。 Your father has sold all the timber in your forest at
Waignies to speculators； who have resold it to dealers。 The trees are
already felled； and the logs are carried away。 Monsieur Claes received
three hundred thousand francs in cash as a first instalment of the
price； which he has used towards paying his bills in Paris； but to
clear off his debts entirely he has been forced to assign a hundred
thousand francs of the three hundred thousand still due to him on the
purchase…money。〃
Pierquin entered at this moment。
〃Ah！ my dear cousin；〃 he said； 〃you are ruined。 I told you how it
would be； but you would not listen to me。 Your father has an
insatiable appetite。 He has swallowed your woods at a mouthful。 Your
family guardian； Monsieur Conyncks； is just now absent in Amsterdam；
and Claes has seized the opportunity to strike the blow。 It is all
wrong。 I have written to Monsieur Conyncks； but he will get here too
late； everything will be squandered。 You will be obliged to sue your
father。 The suit can't be long； but it will be dishonorable。 Monsieur
Conyncks has no alternative but to institute proceedings； the law
requires it。 This is the result of your obstinacy。 Do you now see my
prudence； and how devoted I was to your interests？〃
〃I bring you some good news； mademoiselle；〃 said young de Solis in his
gentle voice。 〃Gabriel has been admitted to the Ecole Polytechnique。
The difficulties that seemed in the way have all been removed。〃
Marguerite thanked him with a smile as she said：
〃My savings will now come in play！ Martha； we must begin to…morrow on
Gabriel's outfit。 My poor Felicie； we shall have to work hard；〃 she
added； kissing her sister's forehead。
〃To…morrow you shall have him at home； to remain ten days；〃 said
Emmanuel； 〃he must be in Paris by the fifteenth of November。〃
〃My cousin Gabriel has done a sensible thing；〃 said the lawyer； eyeing
the professor from head to foot； 〃for he will have to make his own
way。 But； my dear cousin； the question now is how to save the honor of
the family： will you listen to what I say this time？〃
〃No；〃 she said； 〃not if it relates to marriage。〃
〃Then what will you do？〃
〃I？nothing。〃
〃But you are of age。〃
〃I shall be in a few days。 Have you any course to suggest to me；〃 she
added； 〃which will reconcile our interests with the duty we owe to our
father and to the honor of the family？〃
〃My dear cousin； nothing can be done till your uncle arrives。 When he
does； I will call again。〃
〃Adieu； monsieur；〃 said Marguerite。
〃The poorer she is the more airs she gives herself；〃 thought the
notary。 〃Adieu； mademoiselle；〃 he said aloud。 〃Monsieur； my respects
to you〃； and he went away； paying no attention to Felicie or Martha。
〃I have been studying the Code for the last two days； and I have
consulted an experienced old lawyer； a friend of my uncle；〃 said
Emmanuel； in a hesitating voice。 〃If you will allow me； I will go to
Amsterdam to…morrow and see Monsieur Conyncks。 Listen； dear
Marguerite〃
He uttered her name for the first time； she thanked him with a smile
and a tearful glance； and made a gentle inclination of her head。 He
paused； looking at Felicie and Martha。
〃Speak before my sister；〃 said Marguerite。 〃She is so docile and
courageous that she does not need this discussion to make her resigned
to our life of toil and privation； but it is best that she should see
for herself how necessary courage is to us。〃
The two sisters clasped hands and kissed each other； as if to renew
some pledge of union before the coming disaster。
〃Leave us； Martha。〃
〃Dear Marguerite；〃 said Emmanuel； letting the happiness he felt in
conquering the lesser rights of affection sound in the inflections of
his voice； 〃I have procured the names and addresses of the purchasers
who still owe the remaining two hundred thousand francs on the felled
timber。 To…morrow； if you give consent； a lawyer acting in the name of
Monsieur Conyncks； who will not disavow the act； will serve an
injunction upon them。 Six days hence； by which time your uncle will
have returned； the family council can be called together； and Gabriel
put in possession of his legal rights； for he is now eighteen。 You and
your brother being thus authorized to use those rights； you will
demand your share in the proceeds of the timber。 Monsieur Claes cannot
refuse you the two hundred thousand francs on which the injunction
will have been put； as to the remaining hundred thousand which is due
to you； you must obtain a mortgage on this house。 Monsieur Conyncks
will demand securities for the three hundred thousand belonging to
Felicie and Jean。 Under these circumstances your father will be
obliged to mortgage his property on the plain of Orchies； which he has
already encumbered to the amount of three hundred thousand francs。 The
law gives a retrospective priority to the claims of minors； and that
will save you。 Monsieur Claes's hands will be tied for the future；
your property becomes inalienable； and he can no longer borrow on his
own estates because they will be held as security for other sums。
Moreover； the whole can be done quietly； without scandal or legal
proceedings。 Your father will be forced to greater prudence in making
his researches； even if he cannot be persuaded to relinquish them
altogether。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Marguerite； 〃but where； meantime； can we find the means of
living？ The hundred thousand francs for which； you say； I must obtain
a mortgage on this house； would bring in nothing while we still live
here。 The proceeds of my father's property in the country will pay the
interest on the three hundred thousand francs he owes to others； but
how are we to live？〃
〃In the first place；〃 said Emmanuel； 〃by investing the fifty thousand
francs which belong to Gabriel in the public Funds you will get；
according to present rates； more than four t
