cousin betty-第4节

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name？a　dwarf。Ah；　the　Duc　d'Herouville。　This　fine　gentleman　insists
on　having　Josepha　for　his　very　own；　and　all　that　set　are　talking　about
it；　the　Baron　knows　nothing　of　it　as　yet；　for　it　is　the　same　in　the
Thirteenth　Arrondissement　as　in　every　other：　the　lover；　like　the
husband；　is　last　to　get　the　news。

〃Now；　do　you　understand　my　claim？　Your　husband；　dear　lady；　has　robbed
me　of　my　joy　in　life；　the　only　happiness　I　have　known　since　I　became　a
widower。　Yes；　if　I　had　not　been　so　unlucky　as　to　come　across　that　old
rip；　Josepha　would　still　be　mine；　for　I；　you　know；　should　never　have
placed　her　on　the　stage。　She　would　have　lived　obscure；　well　conducted；
and　mine。　Oh！　if　you　could　but　have　seen　her　eight　years　ago；　slight
and　wiry；　with　the　golden　skin　of　an　Andalusian；　as　they　say；　black
hair　as　shiny　as　satin；　an　eye　that　flashed　lightning　under　long　brown
lashes；　the　style　of　a　duchess　in　every　movement；　the　modesty　of　a
dependent；　decent　grace；　and　the　pretty　ways　of　a　wild　fawn。　And　by
that　Hulot's　doing　all　this　charm　and　purity　has　been　degraded　to　a
man…trap；　a　money…box　for　five…franc　pieces！　The　girl　is　the　Queen　of
Trollops；　and　nowadays　she　humbugs　every　oneshe　who　knew　nothing；
not　even　that　word。〃

At　this　stage　the　retired　perfumer　wiped　his　eyes；　which　were　full　of
tears。　The　sincerity　of　his　grief　touched　Madame　Hulot；　and　roused　her
from　the　meditation　into　which　she　had　sunk。

〃Tell　me；　madame；　is　a　man　of　fifty…two　likely　to　find　such　another
jewel？　At　my　age　love　costs　thirty　thousand　francs　a　year。　It　is
through　your　husband's　experience　that　I　know　the　price；　and　I　love
Celestine　too　truly　to　be　her　ruin。　When　I　saw　you；　at　the　first
evening　party　you　gave　in　our　honor；　I　wondered　how　that　scoundrel
Hulot　could　keep　a　Jenny　Cadineyou　had　the　manner　of　an　Empress。　You
do　not　look　thirty；〃　he　went　on。　〃To　me；　madame；　you　look　young；　and
you　are　beautiful。　On　my　word　of　honor；　that　evening　I　was　struck　to
the　heart。　I　said　to　myself；　'If　I　had　not　Josepha；　since　old　Hulot
neglects　his　wife；　she　would　fit　me　like　a　glove。'　Forgive　meit　is　a
reminiscence　of　my　old　business。　The　perfumer　will　crop　up　now　and
then；　and　that　is　what　keeps　me　from　standing　to　be　elected　deputy。

〃And　then；　when　I　was　so　abominably　deceived　by　the　Baron；　for　really
between　old　rips　like　us　our　friend's　mistress　should　be　sacred；　I
swore　I　would　have　his　wife。　It　is　but　justice。　The　Baron　could　say
nothing；　we　are　certain　of　impunity。　You　showed　me　the　door　like　a
mangy　dog　at　the　first　words　I　uttered　as　to　the　state　of　my　feelings；
you　only　made　my　passionmy　obstinacy；　if　you　willtwice　as　strong；
and　you　shall　be　mine。〃

〃Indeed；　how？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　but　it　will　come　to　pass。　You　see；　madame；　an　idiot　of
a　perfumerretired　from　businesswho　has　but　one　idea　in　his　head；
is　stronger　than　a　clever　fellow　who　has　a　thousand。　I　am　smitten　with
you；　and　you　are　the　means　of　my　revenge；　it　is　like　being　in　love
twice　over。　I　am　speaking　to　you　quite　frankly；　as　a　man　who　knows
what　he　means。　I　speak　coldly　to　you；　just　as　you　do　to　me；　when　you
say；　'I　never　will　be　yours；'　In　fact；　as　they　say；　I　play　the　game
with　the　cards　on　the　table。　Yes；　you　shall　be　mine；　sooner　or　later；
if　you　were　fifty；　you　should　still　be　my　mistress。　And　it　will　be；
for　I　expect　anything　from　your　husband！〃

Madame　Hulot　looked　at　this　vulgar　intriguer　with　such　a　fixed　stare
of　terror；　that　he　thought　she　had　gone　mad；　and　he　stopped。

〃You　insisted　on　it；　you　heaped　me　with　scorn；　you　defied　meand　I
have　spoken；〃　said　he；　feeling　that　he　must　justify　the　ferocity　of
his　last　words。

〃Oh；　my　daughter；　my　daughter；〃　moaned　the　Baroness　in　a　voice　like　a
dying　woman's。

〃Oh！　I　have　forgotten　all　else；〃　Crevel　went　on。　〃The　day　when　I　was
robbed　of　Josepha　I　was　like　a　tigress　robbed　of　her　cubs；　in　short；
as　you　see　me　now。Your　daughter？　Yes；　I　regard　her　as　the　means　of
winning　you。　Yes；　I　put　a　spoke　in　her　marriageand　you　will　not　get
her　married　without　my　help！　Handsome　as　Mademoiselle　Hortense　is；　she
needs　a　fortune〃

〃Alas！　yes；〃　said　the　Baroness；　wiping　her　eyes。

〃Well；　just　ask　your　husband　for　ten　thousand　francs；〃　said　Crevel；
striking　his　attitude　once　more。　He　waited　a　minute；　like　an　actor　who
has　made　a　point。

〃If　he　had　the　money；　he　would　give　it　to　the　woman　who　will　take
Josepha's　place；〃　he　went　on；　emphasizing　his　tones。　〃Does　a　man　ever
pull　up　on　the　road　he　has　taken？　In　the　first　place；　he　is　too　sweet
on　women。　There　is　a　happy　medium　in　all　things；　as　our　King　has　told
us。　And　then　his　vanity　is　implicated！　He　is　a　handsome　man！He　would
bring　you　all　to　ruin　for　his　pleasure；　in　fact；　you　are　already　on
the　highroad　to　the　workhouse。　Why；　look；　never　since　I　set　foot　in
your　house　have　you　been　able　to　do　up　your　drawing…room　furniture。
'Hard　up'　is　the　word　shouted　by　every　slit　in　the　stuff。　Where　will
you　find　a　son…in…law　who　would　not　turn　his　back　in　horror　of　the
ill…concealed　evidence　of　the　most　cruel　misery　there　isthat　of
people　in　decent　society？　I　have　kept　shop；　and　I　know。　There　is　no
eye　so　quick　as　that　of　the　Paris　tradesman　to　detect　real　wealth　from
its　sham。You　have　no　money；〃　he　said；　in　a　lower　voice。　〃It　is
written　everywhere；　even　on　your　man…servant's　coat。

〃Would　you　like　me　to　disclose　any　more　hideous　mysteries　that　are
kept　from　you？〃

〃Monsieur；〃　cried　Madame　Hulot；　whose　handkerchief　was　wet　through
with　her　tears；　〃enough；　enough！〃

〃My　son…in…law；　I　tell　you；　gives　his　father　money；　and　this　is　what　I
particularly　wanted　to　come　to　when　I　began　by　speaking　of　your　son's
expenses。　But　I　keep　an　eye　on　my　daughter's　interests；　be　easy。〃

〃Oh；　if　I　could　but　see　my　daughter　married；　and　die！〃　cried　the　poor
woman；　quite　losing　her　head。

〃Well；　then；　this　is　the　way；〃　said　the　ex…perfumer。

Madame　Hulot　looked　at　Crevel　with　a　hopeful　expression；　which　so
completely　changed　her　countenance；　that　this　alone　ought　to　have
touched　the　man's　feelings　and　have　led　him　to　abandon　his　monstrous
schemes。

〃You　will　still　be　handsome　ten　years　hence；〃　Crevel　went　on；　with　his
arms　folded；　〃be　kind　to　me；　and　Mademoiselle　Hulot　will　marry。　Hulot
has　given　me　the　right；　as　I　have　explained　to　you；　to　put　the　matter
crudely；　and　he　will　not　be　angry。　In　three　years　I　have　saved　the
interest　on　my　capital；　for　my　dissipations　have　been　restricted。　I
have　three　hundred　thousand　francs　in　the　bank　over　and　above　my
invested　fortunethey　are　yours〃

〃Go；〃　said　Madame　Hulot。　〃Go；　monsieur；　and　never　let　me　see　you
again。　But　for　the　necessity　in　which　you　placed　me　to　learn　the
secret　of　your　cowardly　conduct　with　regard　to　the　match　I　had　planned
for　Hortenseyes；　cowardly！〃　she　repeated；　in　answer　to　a　gesture
from　Crevel。　〃How　can　you　load　a　poor　girl；　a　pretty；　innocent
creature；　with　such　a　weight　of　enmity？　But　for　the　necessity　that
goaded　me　as　a　mother；　you　would　never　have　spoken　to　me　again；　never
again　have　come　within　my　doors。　Thirty…two　years　of　an　honorable　and
loyal　life　shall　not　be　swept　away　by　a　blow　from　Monsieur　Crevel〃

〃The　retired　perfumer；　successor　to　Cesar　Birotteau　at　the　/Queen　of
the　Roses/；　Rue　Saint…Honore；〃　added　Crevel；　in　mocking　tones。
〃Deputy…mayor；　captain　in　the　National　Guard；　Chevalier　of　the　Legion
of　Honorexactly　what　my　predecessor　was！〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　Baroness；　〃if；　after　twenty　years　of　constancy；
Monsieur　Hulot　is　tired　of　his　wife；　that　is　nobody's　concern　but
mine。　As　you　see；　he　has　kept　his　infidelity　a　mystery；　for　I　did　not
know　that　he　had　succeeded　you　in　the　affections　of　Mademoiselle
Josepha〃

〃Oh；　it　has　cost　him　a　pretty　penny；　madame。　His　singing…bird　has　cost
him　more　than　a　hundred　thousand　francs　in　these　two　years。　Ah；　ha！
you　have　not　seen　the　end　of　it！〃

〃Have　done　with　all　this；　Monsieur　Crevel。　I　will　not；　for　your　sake；
forego　the　happiness　a　mother　knows　who　can　embrace　her　children
without　a　single　pang　of　remorse　in　her　heart；　who　sees　herself
respected　and　loved　by　her　family；　and　I　will　give　up　my　soul　to　God
unspotted〃

〃Amen！〃　exclaimed　Crevel；　with　the　diabolical　rage　that　embitters　the
face　of　these　pretenders　when　they　fail　for　the　second　time　in　such　an
attempt。　〃You　do　not　yet　know　the　latter　end　of　povertyshame；
disgrace。I　have　tried　to　warn　you；　I　would　have　saved　you；　you　and
your　daughter。　Well；　you　must　study　the　modern　parable　of　the
/Prodigal　Father/　from　A　to　Z。　Your　tears　and　your　pride　move　me
deeply；〃　said　Crevel；　seating　himself；　〃for　it　is　frightful　to　see　the
woman　one　loves　weeping。　All　I　can　promise　you；　dear　Adeline；　is　to　do
nothing　against　your　interests　or　your　husband's。　Only　never　send　to
me　for　information。　That　is　all。〃

〃What　is　to　be　done？〃　cried　Madame　Hulot。

Up　to　now　the　Baroness　had　bravely　faced　the　threefold　torment　which
this　explanation　inflicted　on　her；　for　she　was　wounded　as　a　woman；　as
a　mother；　and　as　a　wife。　In　fact；　so　long　as　her　son's　father…in…law
was　insolent　and　offensive；　she　had　found　the　strength　in　her
resistance　to　the　aggressive　tradesman；　but　the　sort　of　good…nature　he
showed；　in　spite　of　his　exasperation　as　a　mortifi