the village rector-第6节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


affection　for　her　parents；　prevented　her　from　making　a　single
objection；　it　did　not　even　cross　her　mind　to　think　that　she　had　been
disposed　of　without　reference　to　her　own　will。　On　the　morrow　Sauviat
went　to　Paris；　and　was　absent　for　nearly　a　week。

Pierre　Graslin　was；　as　can　readily　be　imagined；　not　much　of　a　talker；
he　went　straight　and　rapidly　to　deeds。　A　thing　decided　on　was　a　thing
done。　In　February；　1822；　a　strange　piece　of　news　burst　like　a
thunderbolt　on　the　town　of　Limoges。　The　hotel　Graslin　was　being
handsomely　furnished；　carriers'　carts　came　day　after　day　from　Paris；
and　their　contents　were　unpacked　in　the　courtyard。　Rumors　flew　about
the　town　as　to　the　beauty　and　good　taste　of　the　modern　or　the　antique
furniture　as　it　was　seen　to　arrive。　The　great　firm　of　Odiot　and
Company　sent　down　a　magnificent　service　of　plate　by　the　mail…coach。
Three　carriages；　a　caleche；　a　coupe；　and　a　cabriolet　arrived；　wrapped
in　straw　with　as　much　care　as　if　they　were　jewels。

〃Monsieur　Graslin　is　going　to　be　married！〃

These　words　were　said　by　every　pair　of　lips　in　Limoges　in　the　course
of　a　single　evening；in　the　salons　of　the　upper　classes；　in　the
kitchens；　in　the　shops；　in　the　streets；　in　the　suburbs；　and　before
long　throughout　the　whole　surrounding　country。　But　to　whom？　No　one
could　answer。　Limoges　had　a　mystery。



III

MARRIAGE

On　the　return　of　old　Sauviat　Graslin　paid　his　first　evening　visit　at
half…past　nine　o'clock。　Veronique　was　expecting　him；　dressed　in　her
blue　silk　gown　and　muslin　guimpe；　over　which　fell　a　collaret　made　of
lawn　with　a　deep　hem。　Her　hair　was　simply　worn　in　two　smooth　bandeaus；
gathered　into　a　Grecian　knot　at　the　back　of　her　head。　She　was　seated
on　a　tapestried　chair　beside　her　mother；　who　occupied　a　fine　armchair
with　a　carved　back；　covered　with　red　velvet　（evidently　the　relic　of
some　old　chateau）；　which　stood　beside　the　fireplace。　A　bright　fire
blazed　on　the　hearth。　On　the　chimney…piece；　at　either　side　of　an
antique　clock；　the　value　of　which　was　wholly　unknown　to　the　Sauviats；
six　wax　candles　in　two　brass　sconces　twisted　like　vine…shoots；　lighted
the　dark　room　and　Veronique　in　all　her　budding　prime。　The　old　mother
was　wearing　her　best　gown。

From　the　silent　street；　at　that　tranquil　hour；　through　the　soft
shadows　of　the　ancient　stairway；　Graslin　appeared　to　the　modest；
artless　Veronique；　her　mind　still　dwelling　on　the　sweet　ideas　which
Bernadin　de　Saint…Pierre　had　given　her　of　love。

Graslin；　who　was　short　and　thin；　had　thick　black　hair　like　the
bristles　of　a　brush；　which　brought　into　vigorous　relief　a　face　as　red
as　that　of　a　drunkard　emeritus；　and　covered　with　suppurating　pimples；
either　bleeding　or　about　to　burst。　Without　being　caused　by　eczema　or
scrofula；　these　signs　of　a　blood　overheated　by　continual　toil；
anxiety；　and　the　lust　of　business；　by　wakeful　nights；　poor　food；　and　a
sober　life；　seemed　to　partake　of　both　these　diseases。　In　spite　of　the
advice　of　his　partners；　his　clerks；　and　his　physician；　the　banker
would　never　compel　himself　to　take　the　healthful　precautions　which
might　have　prevented；　or　would　at　least　modify；　this　malady；　which　was
slight　at　first；　but　had　greatly　increased　from　year　to　year。　He
wanted　to　cure　it；　and　would　sometimes　take　baths　or　drink　some
prescribed　potion；　but；　hurried　along　on　the　current　of　his　business；
he　soon　neglected　the　care　of　his　person。　Sometimes　he　thought　of
suspending　work　for　a　time；　travelling　about；　and　visiting　the　noted
baths　for　such　diseases；　but　where　is　the　hunter　after　millions　who　is
willing　to　stop　short？

In　that　blazing　furnace　shone　two　gray　eyes　rayed　with　green　lines
starting　from　the　pupils；　and　speckled　with　brown　spots；two
implacable　eyes；　full　of　resolution；　rectitude；　and　shrewd
calculation。　Graslin's　nose　was　short　and　turned　up；　he　had　a　mouth
with　thick　lips；　a　prominent　forehead；　and　high　cheek…bones；　coarse
ears　with　large　edges　discolored　by　the　condition　of　his　blood；in
short；　he　was　an　ancient　satyr　in　a　black　satin　waistcoat；　brown
frock…coat；　and　white　cravat。　His　strong　and　vigorous　shoulders；　which
began　life　by　bearing　heavy　burdens；　were　now　rather　bent；　and　beneath
this　torso；　unduly　developed；　came　a　pair　of　weak　legs；　rather　badly
affixed　to　the　short　thighs。　His　thin　and　hairy　hands　had　the　crooked
fingers　of　those　whose　business　it　is　to　handle　money。　The　habit　of
quick　decision　could　be　seen　in　the　way　the　eyebrows　rose　into　a　point
over　each　arch　of　the　eye。　Though　the　mouth　was　grave　and　pinched；　its
expression　was　that　of　inward　kindliness；　it　told　of　an　excellent
nature；　sunk　in　business；　smothered　possibly；　though　it　might　revive
by　contact　with　a　woman。

At　this　apparition　Veronique's　heart　was　violently　agitated；　blackness
came　before　her　eyes；　she　thought　she　cried　aloud；　but　she　really　sat
there　mute；　with　fixed　and　staring　gaze。

〃Veronique；　this　is　Monsieur　Graslin；〃　said　old　Sauviat。

Veronique　rose；　curtsied；　dropped　back　into　her　chair；　and　looked　at
her　mother；　who　was　smiling　at　the　millionaire；　seeming；　as　her　father
did；　so　happy；so　happy　that　the　poor　girl　found　strength　to　hide　her
surprise　and　her　violent　repulsion。　During　the　conversation　which　then
took　place　something　was　said　of　Graslin's　health。　The　banker　looked
naively　into　the　mirror；　with　bevelled　edges　in　an　ebony　frame。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　not　good…looking。〃

Thereupon　he　proceeded　to　explain　the　blotches　on　his　face　as　the
result　of　his　overworked　life。　He　related　how　he　had　constantly
disobeyed　his　physician's　advice；　and　remarked　that　he　hoped　to　change
his　appearance　altogether　when　he　had　a　wife　to　rule　his　household；
and　take　better　care　of　him　than　he　took　of　himself。

〃Is　a　man　married　for　his　face；　compatriot？〃　said　Sauviat；　giving　the
other　a　hearty　slap　on　the　thigh。

Graslin's　speech　went　straight　to　those　natural　feelings　which；　more
or　less；　fill　the　heart　of　every　woman。　The　thought　came　into
Veronique's　mind　that　her　face；　too；　had　been　destroyed　by　a　horrible
disease；　and　her　Christian　modesty　rebuked　her　first　impression。

Hearing　a　whistle　in　the　street；　Graslin　went　downstairs；　followed　by
Sauviat。　They　speedily　returned。　The　office…boy　had　brought　the　first
bouquet；　which　was　a　little　late　in　coming。　When　the　banker　exhibited
this　mound　of　exotic　flowers；　the　fragrance　of　which　completely　filled
the　room；　and　offered　it　to　his　future　wife；　Veronique　felt　a　rush　of
conflicting　emotions；　she　was　suddenly　plunged　into　the　ideal　and
fantastic　world　of　tropical　nature。　Never　before　had　she　seen　white
camelias；　never　had　she　smelt　the　fragrance　of　the　Alpine　cistus；　the
Cape　jessamine；　the　cedronella；　the　volcameria；　the　moss…rose；　or　any
of　the　divine　perfumes　which　woo　to　love；　and　sing　to　the　heart　their
hymns　of　fragrance。　Graslin　left　Veronique　that　night　in　the　grasp　of
such　emotions。

From　this　time　forth；　as　soon　as　all　Limoges　was　sleeping；　the　banker
would　slip　along　the　walls　to　the　Sauviats'　house。　There　he　would　tap
gently　on　the　window…shutter；　the　dog　did　not　bark；　old　Sauviat　came
down　and　let　him　in；　and　Graslin　would　then　spend　an　hour　or　two　with
Veronique　in　the　brown　room；　where　Madame　Sauviat　always　served　him　a
true　Auvergnat　supper。　Never　did　this　singular　lover　arrive　without　a
bouquet　made　of　the　rarest　flowers　from　the　greenhouse　of　his　old
partner；　Monsieur　Grossetete；　the　only　person　who　as　yet　knew　of　the
approaching　marriage。　The　man…of…all…work　went　every　evening　to　fetch
the　bunch；　which　Monsieur　Grossetete　made　himself。

Graslin　made　about　fifty　such　visits　in　two　months；　each　time；　besides
the　flowers；　he　brought　with　him　some　rich　present；rings；　a　watch；　a
gold　chain；　a　work…box；　etc。　These　inconceivable　extravagances　must　be
explained；　and　a　word　suffices。　Veronique's　dowry；　promised　by　her
father；　consisted　of　nearly　the　whole　of　old　Sauviat's　property；
namely；　seven　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　francs。　The　old　man　retained
an　income　of　eight　thousand　francs　derived　from　the　Funds；　bought　for
him　originally　for　sixty　thousand　francs　in　assignats　by　his
correspondent　Brezac；　to　whom；　at　the　time　of　his　imprisonment；　he　had
confided　that　sum；　and　who　kept　it　for　him　safely。　These　sixty
thousand　francs　in　assignats　were　the　half　of　Sauviat's　fortune　at　the
time　he　came　so　near　being　guillotined。　Brezac　was　also；　at　the　same
time；　the　faithful　repository　of　the　rest；　namely；　seven　hundred　louis
d'or　（an　enormous　sum　at　that　time　in　gold）；　with　which　old　Sauviat
began　his　business　once　more　as　soon　as　he　recovered　his　liberty。　In
thirty　years　each　of　those　louis　d'or　had　been　transformed　into　a
bank…note　for　a　thousand　francs；　by　means　of　the　income　from　the
Funds；　of　Madame　Sauviat's　inheritance　from　her　father；　old
Champagnac；　and　of　the　profits　accruing　from　the　business　and　the
accumulated　interest　thereon　in　the　hands　of　the　Brezac　firm。　Brezac
himself　had　a　loyal　and　honest　friendship　for　Sauviat；such　as　all
Auvergnats　are　apt　to　feel　for　one　another。

So；　whenever　Sauviat　passed　the　front　of　the　Graslin　mansion　he　had
said　to　himself；　〃Veronique　shall　live　in　that　fine　palace。〃　He　knew
very　well　that　no　girl　in　all　the　dep