the collection of antiquities-第9节

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〃And　he　is　sleeping　upstairs；　without　a　word　of　this　to　his　father；〃　exclaimed　the　Marquis。

〃Sleeping　innocently　as　a　child　who　has　merely　got　five　or　six　little　bourgeoises　into　trouble；　and　now　must　have　duchesses；〃　returned　the　Chevalier。

〃Why；　he　deserves　a　lettre　de　cachet！〃

〃　'They'　have　done　away　with　lettres　de　cachet；〃　said　the　Chevalier。　〃You　know　what　a　hubbub　there　was　when　they　tried　to　institute　a　law　for　special　cases。　We　could　not　keep　the　provost's　courts；　which　M。　DE　Bonaparte　used　to　call　commissions　militaires。〃

〃Well；　well；　what　are　we　to　do　if　our　boys　are　wild；　or　turn　out　scapegraces？　Is　there　no　locking　them　up　in　these　days？〃　asked　the　Marquis。

The　Chevalier　looked　at　the　heartbroken　father　and　lacked　courage　to　answer；　〃We　shall　be　obliged　to　bring　them　up　properly。〃

〃And　you　have　never　said　a　word　of　this　to　me；　Mlle。　d'Esgrignon；〃　added　the　Marquis；　turning　suddenly　round　upon　Mlle。　Armande。　He　never　addressed　her　as　Mlle。　d'Esgrignon　except　when　he　was　vexed；　usually　she　was　called　〃my　sister。〃

〃Why；　monsieur；　when　a　young　man　is　full　of　life　and　spirits；　and　leads　an　idle　life　in　a　town　like　this；　what　else　can　you　expect？〃　asked　Mlle。　d'Esgrignon。　She　could　not　understand　her　brother's　anger。

〃Debts！　eh！　why；　hang　it　all！〃　added　the　Chevalier。　〃He　plays　cards；　he　has　little　adventures；　he　shoots；all　these　things　are　horribly　expensive　nowadays。〃

〃Come；〃　said　the　Marquis；　〃it　is　time　to　send　him　to　the　King。　I　will　spend　to…morrow　morning　in　writing　to　our　kinsmen。〃

〃I　have　some　acquaintance　with　the　Ducs　de　Navarreins；　de　Lenoncourt；　de　Maufrigneuse；　and　de　Chaulieu；〃　said　the　Chevalier；　though　he　knew；　as　he　spoke；　that　he　was　pretty　thoroughly　forgotten。

〃My　dear　Chevalier；　there　is　no　need　of　such　formalities　to　present　a　d'Esgrignon　at　court；〃　the　Marquis　broke　in。〃A　hundred　thousand　livres；〃　he　muttered；　〃this　Chesnel　makes　very　free。　This　is　what　comes　of　these　accursed　troubles。　M。　Chesnel　protects　my　son。　And　now　I　must　ask　him。　。　。　。　No；　sister；　you　must　undertake　this　business。　Chesnel　shall　secure　himself　for　the　whole　amount　by　a　mortgage　on　our　lands。　And　just　give　this　harebrained　boy　a　good　scolding；　he　will　end　by　ruining　himself　if　he　goes　on　like　this。〃

The　Chevalier　and　Mlle。　d'Esgrignon　thought　these　words　perfectly　simple　and　natural；　absurd　as　they　would　have　sounded　to　any　other　listener。　So　far　from　seeing　anything　ridiculous　in　the　speech；　they　were　both　very　much　touched　by　a　look　of　something　like　anguish　in　the　old　noble's　face。　Some　dark　premonition　seemed　to　weigh　upon　M。　d'Esgrignon　at　that　moment；　some　glimmering　of　an　insight　into　the　changed　times。　He　went　to　the　settee　by　the　fireside　and　sat　down；　forgetting　that　Chesnel　would　be　there　before　long；　that　Chesnel；　of　whom　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　ask　anything。

Just　then　the　Marquis　d'Esgrignon　looked　exactly　as　any　imagination　with　a　touch　of　romance　could　wish。　He　was　almost　bald；　but　a　fringe　of　silken；　white　locks；　curled　at　the　tips；　covered　the　back　of　his　head。　All　the　pride　of　race　might　be　seen　in　a　noble　forehead；　such　as　you　may　admire　in　a　Louis　XV。；　a　Beaumarchais；　a　Marechal　de　Richelieu；　it　was　not　the　square；　broad　brow　of　the　portraits　of　the　Marechal　de　Saxe；　nor　yet　the　small　hard　circle　of　Voltaire；　compact　to　overfulness；　it　was　graciously　rounded　and　finely　moulded；　the　temples　were　ivory　tinted　and　soft；　and　mettle　and　spirit；　unquenched　by　age；　flashed　from　the　brilliant　eyes。　The　Marquis　had　the　Conde　nose　and　the　lovable　Bourbon　mouth；　from　which；　as　they　used　to　say　of　the　Comte　d'Artois；　only　witty　and　urbane　words　proceed。　His　cheeks；　sloping　rather　than　foolishly　rounded　to　the　chin；　were　in　keeping　with　his　spare　frame；　thin　legs；　and　plump　hands。　The　strangulation　cravat　at　his　throat　was　of　the　kind　which　every　marquis　wears　in　all　the　portraits　which　adorn　eighteenth　century　literature；　it　is　common　alike　to　Saint…Preux　and　to　Lovelace；　to　the　elegant　Montesquieu's　heroes　and　to　Diderot's　homespun　characters　（see　the　first　editions　of　those　writers'　works）。

The　Marquis　always　wore　a　white；　gold…embroidered；　high　waistcoat；　with　the　red　ribbon　of　a　commander　of　the　Order　of　St。　Louis　blazing　upon　his　breast；　and　a　blue　coat　with　wide　skirts；　and　fleur…de…lys　on　the　flaps；　which　were　turned　backan　odd　costume　which　the　King　had　adopted。　But　the　Marquis　could　not　bring　himself　to　give　up　the　Frenchman's　knee…breeches　nor　yet　the　white　silk　stockings　or　the　buckles　at　the　knees。　After　six　o'clock　in　the　evening　he　appeared　in　full　dress。

He　read　no　newspapers　but　the　Quotidienne　and　the　Gazette　de　France；　two　journals　accused　by　the　Constitutional　press　of　obscurantist　views　and　uncounted　〃monarchical　and　religious〃　enormities；　while　the　Marquis　d'Esgrignon；　on　the　other　hand；　found　heresies　and　revolutionary　doctrines　in　every　issue。　No　matter　to　what　extremes　the　organs　of　this　or　that　opinion　may　go；　they　will　never　go　quite　far　enough　to　please　the　purists　on　their　own　side；　even　as　the　portrayer　of　this　magnificent　personage　is　pretty　certain　to　be　accused　of　exaggeration；　whereas　he　has　done　his　best　to　soften　down　some　of　the　cruder　tones　and　dim　the　more　startling　tints　of　the　original。

The　Marquis　d'Esgrignon　rested　his　elbows　on　his　knees　and　leant　his　head　on　his　hands。　During　his　meditations　Mlle。　Armande　and　the　Chevalier　looked　at　one　another　without　uttering　the　thoughts　in　their　minds。　Was　he　pained　by　the　discovery　that　his　son's　future　must　depend　upon　his　sometime　land　steward？　Was　he　doubtful　of　the　reception　awaiting　the　young　Count？　Did　he　regret　that　he　had　made　no　preparation　for　launching　his　heir　into　that　brilliant　world　of　court？　Poverty　had　kept　him　in　the　depths　of　his　province；　how　should　he　have　appeared　at　court？　He　sighed　heavily　as　he　raised　his　head。

That　sigh；　in　those　days；　came　from　the　real　aristocracy　all　over　France；　from　the　loyal　provincial　noblesse；　consigned　to　neglect　with　most　of　those　who　had　drawn　sword　and　braved　the　storm　for　the　cause。

〃What　have　the　Princes　done　for　the　du　Guenics；　or　the　Fontaines；　or　the　Bauvans；　who　never　submitted？〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　〃They　fling　miserable　pensions　to　the　men　who　fought　most　bravely；　and　give　them　a　royal　lieutenancy　in　a　fortress　somewhere　on　the　outskirts　of　the　kingdom。〃

Evidently　the　Marquis　doubted　the　reigning　dynasty。　Mlle。　d'Esgrignon　was　trying　to　reassure　her　brother　as　to　the　prospects　of　the　journey；　when　a　step　outside　on　the　dry　narrow　footway　gave　them　notice　of　Chesnel's　coming。　In　another　moment　Chesnel　appeared；　Josephin；　the　Count's　gray…aired　valet；　admitted　the　notary　without　announcing　him。

〃Chesnel；　my　boy〃　（Chesnel　was　a　white…haired　man　of　sixty…nine；　with　a　square…jawed；　venerable　countenance；　he　wore　knee…breeches；　ample　enough　to　fill　several　chapters　of　dissertation　in　the　manner　of　Sterne；　ribbed　stockings；　shoes　with　silver　clasps；　an　ecclesiastical…　looking　coat　and　a　high　waistcoat　of　scholastic　cut。）

〃Chesnel；　my　boy；　it　was　very　presumptuous　of　you　to　lend　money　to　the　Comte　d'Esgrignon！　If　I　repaid　you　at　once　and　we　never　saw　each　other　again；　it　would　be　no　more　than　you　deserve　for　giving　wings　to　his　vices。〃

There　was　a　pause；　a　silence　such　as　there　falls　at　court　when　the　King　publicly　reprimands　a　courtier。　The　old　notary　looked　humble　and　contrite。

〃I　am　anxious　about　that　boy；　Chesnel；〃　continued　the　Marquis　in　a　kindly　tone；　〃I　should　like　to　send　him　to　Paris　to　serve　His　Majesty。　Make　arrangements　with　my　sister　for　his　suitable　appearance　at　court。And　we　will　settle　accounts〃

The　Marquis　looked　grave　as　he　left　the　room　with　a　friendly　gesture　of　farewell　to　Chesnel。

〃I　thank　M。　le　Marquis　for　all　his　goodness；〃　returned　the　old　man；　who　still　remained　standing。

Mlle。　Armande　rose　to　go　to　the　door　with　her　brother；　she　had　rung　the　bell；　old　Josephin　was　in　readiness　to　light　his　master　to　his　room。

〃Take　a　seat；　Chesnel；〃　said　the　lady；　as　she　returned；　and　with　womanly　tact　she　explained　away　and　softened　the　Marquis'　harshness。　And　yet　beneath　that　harshness　Chesnel　saw　a　great　affection。　The　Marquis'　attachment　for　his　old　servant　was　something　of　the　same　order　as　a　man's　affection　for　his　dog；　he　will　fight　any　one　who　kicks　the　animal；　the　dog　is　like　a　part　of　his　existence；　a　something　which；　if　not　exactly　himself；　represents　him　in　that　which　is　nearest　and　dearesthis　sensibilities。

〃It　is　quite　time　that　M。　le　Comte　should　be　sent　away　from　the　town；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said　sententiously。

〃Yes；〃　returned　she。　〃Has　he　been　indulging　in　some　new　escapade？〃

〃No；　mademoiselle。〃

〃Well；　why　do　you　blame　him？〃

〃I　am　not　blaming　him；　mademoiselle。　No；　I　am　not　blaming　him。　I　am　very　far　from　blaming　him。　I　will　even　say　that　I　shall　never　blame　him；　whatever　he　may　do。〃

There　was　a　pause。　The　Chevalier；　nothing　if　not　quick　to　take　in　a　situation；　began　to　yawn　like　a　sleep…ridden　mortal。　Gracefully　he　made　his　excuses　and　went；　with　as　little　mind　to　sleep　as　to　go　and　drown　himself。　The　imp　Curiosity　kept　the　Chevalier　wide　awake；　and　with　airy　fingers　plucked　away　the　cotton　wool　from　his　ears。

〃Well；　Chesnel；　is　it　something　new？〃　Mlle。