the nabob-第19节

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there　to　witness　this　triumph　in　which　the　Nabob　was　bearing　his　part　as　in　a　dream；　intoxicated　by　those　fairy　harmonies　rather　faint　in　the　distance；　whose　songs　that　reached　him　in　snatches　as　over　the　resonant　obstacle　of　a　pool；　the　perfume　of　flowers　that　seem　to　become　full　blown　in　so　singular　fashion　towards　the　end　of　Parisian　balls；　when　the　late　hour　that　confuses　all　notions　of　time　and　the　weariness　of　the　sleepless　nights　communicate　to　brains　soothed　in　a　more　nervous　atmosphere；　as　it　were；　a　dizzy　sense　of　enjoyment。　The　robust　nature　of　Jansoulet；　civilized　savage　that　he　was；　was　more　sensitive　than　another　to　these　unknown　subtleties；　and　he　had　need　of　all　his　strength　to　refrain　from　manifesting　by　some　glad　hurrah；　by　some　untimely　effusion　of　gestures　and　speech；　the　impulse　of　physical　gaiety　which　pervaded　his　whole　being；　as　happens　to　those　great　mountain　dogs　that　are　thrown　into　epileptic　fits　of　madness　by　the　inhaling　of　a　drop　of　some　essence。

〃The　sky　is　clear；　the　pavement　dry。　If　you　like；　my　dear　boy；　we　will　send　the　carriage　away　and　return　on　foot；〃　said　Jansoulet　to　his　companion　as　they　left　Jenkins's　house。

De　Gery　accepted　with　eagerness。　He　felt　that　he　required　to　walk；　to　shake　off　in　the　open　air　the　infamies　and　the　lies　of　that　comedy　of　society　which　had　left　his　heart　cold　and　oppressed；　with　all　his　life…blood　driven　to　his　temples　where　he　could　hear　the　swollen　veins　beating。　He　staggered　as　he　walked；　like　those　unfortunate　persons　who；　having　been　operated　upon　for　cataract；　in　the　terror　of　sight　regained；　do　not　dare　put　one　foot　before　the　other。　But　with　what　a　brutal　hand　the　operation　had　been　performed！　So　that　great　artist　with　the　glorious　name；　that　pure　and　untamed　beauty　the　sight　alone　of　whom　had　troubled　him　like　an　apparition；　was　only　a　courtesan。　Mme。　Jenkins；　that　stately　woman；　of　bearing　at　once　so　proud　and　so　gentle；　had　no　real　title　to　the　name。　That　illustrious　man　of　science　with　the　open　countenance；　and　a　manner　so　pleasant　in　his　welcome；　had　the　impudence　thus　to　parade　a　disgraceful　concubinage。　And　Paris　suspected　it；　but　that　did　not　prevent　it　from　running　to　their　parties。　And；　finally；　Jansoulet；　so　kind；　so　generous；　for　whom　he　felt　in　his　heart　so　much　gratitude；　he　knew　him　to　be　fallen　into　the　hands　of　a　gang　of　brigands；　a　brigand　himself　and　well　worthy　of　the　conspiracy　organized　to　cause　him　to　disgorge　his　millions。

Was　it　possible；　and　how　much　of　it　was　he　to　be　obliged　to　believe？

A　glance　which　he　threw　sideways　at　the　Nabob；　whose　immense　person　almost　blocked　the　pavement；　revealed　to　him　suddenly　in　that　walk　oppressed　by　the　weight　of　his　wealth；　a　something　low　and　vulgar　which　he　had　not　previously　remarked。　Yes；　he　was　indeed　the　adventurer　from　the　south；　moulded　of　the　slimy　clay　that　covers　the　quays　of　Marseilles；　trodden　down　by　all　the　nomads　and　wanderers　of　a　seaport。　Kind；　generous；　forsooth！　as　harlots　are；　or　thieves。　And　the　gold；　flowing　in　torrents　through　that　tainted　and　luxurious　world；　splashing　the　very　walls；　seemed　to　him　now　to　be　loaded　with　all　the　dross；　all　the　filth　of　its　impure　and　muddy　source。　There　remained；　then；　for　him；　de　Gery；　but　one　thing　to　do；　to　go　away；　to　quit　with　all　possible　speed　this　situation　in　which　he　risked　the　compromising　of　his　good　name；　the　one　heritage　from　his　father。　Doubtless。　But　the　two　little　brothers　down　yonder　in　the　country。　Who　would　pay　for　their　board　and　lodging？　Who　would　keep　up　the　modest　home　miraculously　brought　into　being　once　more　by　the　handsome　salary　of　the　eldest　son；　the　head　of　the　family？　Those　words；　〃head　of　the　family；〃　plunged　him　immediately　into　one　of　those　internal　combats　in　which　interest　and　conscience　struggled　for　the　masterythe　one　brutal；　substantial；　attacking　vigorously　with　straight　thrusts；　the　other　elusive；　breaking　away　by　subtle　disengagementswhile　the　worthy　Jansoulet；　unconscious　cause　of　the　conflict；　walked　with　long　strides　close　by　his　young　friend；　inhaling　the　fresh　air　with　delight　at　the　end　of　his　lighted　cigar。

Never　had　he　felt　it　such　a　happiness　to　be　alive；　and　this　evening　party　at　Jenkins's；　which　had　been　his　own　first　real　entry　into　society　as　well　as　de　Gery's；　had　left　with　him　an　impression　of　porticoes　erected　as　for　a　triumph；　of　an　eagerly　assembled　crowd；　of　flowers　thrown　on　his　path。　So　true　is　it　that　things　only　exist　through　the　eyes　that　observe　them。　What　a　success！　the　duke；　as　he　took　leave　of　him　inviting　him　to　come　to　see　his　picture　gallery；　which　meant　the　doors　of　Mora　House　opened　to　him　within　a　week。　Felicia　Ruys　consenting　to　do　his　bust；　so　that　at　the　next　exhibition　the　son　of　the　nail…dealer　would　have　his　portrait　in　marble　by　the　same　great　artist　who　had　signed　that　of　the　Minister　of　State。　Was　it　not　the　satisfaction　of　all　his　childish　vanities？

And　each　pondering　his　own　thoughts；　sombre　or　glad；　they　continued　to　walk　shoulder　to　shoulder；　absorbed　and　so　absent　in　mind　that　the　Place　Vendome；　silent　and　bathed　in　a　blue　and　chilly　light；　rang　under　their　steps　before　a　word　had　been　uttered　between　them。

〃Already？〃　said　the　Nabob。　〃I　should　not　at　all　have　minded　walking　a　little　longer。　What　do　you　say？〃　And　while　they　strolled　two　or　three　times　around　the　square；　he　gave　vent　in　spasmodic　bursts　to　the　immense　joy　which　filled　him。

〃How　pleasant　the　air　is！　How　one　can　breathe！　Thunder　of　God！　I　would　not　have　missed　this　evening's　party　for　a　hundred　thousand　francs。　What　a　worthy　soul　that　Jenkins　is！　Do　you　like　Felicia　Ruys's　style　of　beauty？　For　my　part；　I　dote　on　it。　And　the　duke；　what　a　great　gentleman！　so　simple；　so　kind。　A　fine　place；　Paris；　is　it　not；　my　son？〃

〃It　is　too　complicated　for　me。　It　frightens　me；〃　answered　Paul　de　Gery　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　understand；〃　replied　the　other　with　an　adorable　fatuity。　〃You　are　not　yet　accustomed　to　it；　but；　never　mind；　one　quickly　becomes　so。　See　how　after　a　single　month　I　find　myself　at　my　ease。〃

〃That　is　because　it　is　not　your　first　visit　to　Paris。　You　have　lived　here。〃

〃I？　Never　in　my　life。　Who　told　you　that？〃

〃Indeed！　I　thought〃　answered　the　young　man；　and　immediately；　a　host　of　reflections　crowding　into　his　mind：

〃What；　then；　have　you　done　to　this　Baron　Hemerlingue？　It　is　a　hatred　to　the　death　between　you。〃

For　a　moment　the　Nabob　was　taken　aback。　That　name　of　Hemerlingue；　thrown　suddenly　into　his　glee；　recalled　to　him　the　one　annoying　episode　of　the　evening。

〃To　him　as　to　the　others；〃　said　he　in　a　saddened　voice；　〃I　have　never　done　anything　save　good。　We　began　together　in　poverty。　We　made　progress　and　prospered　side　by　side。　Whenever　he　wished　to　try　a　flight　on　his　own　wings；　I　always　aided　and　supported　him　to　the　best　of　my　ability。　It　was　I　who　during　ten　consecutive　years　secured　for　him　the　contracts　for　the　fleet　and　the　army；　almost　his　whole　fortune　came　from　that　source。　Then　one　fine　morning　this　slow…blooded　imbecile　of　a　Bernese　goes　crazy　over　an　odalisk　whom　the　mother　of　the　Bey　had　caused　to　be　expelled　from　the　harem。　The　hussy　was　beautiful　and　ambitious；　she　made　him　marry　her；　and　naturally；　after　this　brilliant　match；　Hemerlingue　was　obliged　to　leave　Tunis。　Somebody　had　persuaded　him　to　believe　that　I　was　urging　the　Bey　to　close　the　principality　to　him。　It　was　not　true。　On　the　contrary；　I　obtained　from　his　Highness　permission　for　Hemerlingue's　sona　child　by　his　first　wifeto　remain　in　Tunis　in　order　to　look　after　their　suspended　interests；　while　the　father　came　to　Paris　to　found　his　banking…house。　Moreover；　I　have　been　well　rewarded　for　my　kindness。　When；　at　the　death　of　my　poor　Ahmed；　the　Mouchir；　his　brother；　ascended　the　throne；　the　Hemerlingues；　restored　to　favour；　never　ceased　to　work　for　my　undoing　with　the　new　master。　The　Bey　still　keeps　on　good　terms　with　me；　but　my　credit　is　shaken。　Well；　in　spite　of　that；　in　spite　of　all　the　shabby　tricks　that　Hemerlingue　has　played　me；　that　he　plays　me　still；　I　was　ready　this　evening　to　hold　out　my　hand　to　him。　Not　only　does　the　blackguard　refuse　it；　but　he　causes　me　to　be　insulted　by　his　wife；　a　savage　and　evil…disposed　creature；　who　does　not　pardon　me　for　always　having　declined　to　receive　her　in　Tunis。　Do　you　know　what　she　called　me　just　now　as　she　passed　me？　'Thief　and　son　of　a　dog。'　As　free　in　her　language　as　that；　the　odaliskThat　is　to　say；　that　if　I　did　not　know　my　Hemerlingue　to　be　as　cowardly　as　he　is　fatAfter　all；　bah！　let　them　say　what　they　like。　I　snap　my　fingers　at　them。　What　can　they　do　against　me？　Ruin　me　with　the　Bey？　That　is　a　matter　of　indifference　to　me。　There　is　nothing　any　longer　for　me　to　do　in　Tunis；　and　I　shall　withdraw　myself　from　the　place　altogether　as　soon　as　possible。　There　is　only　one　town；　one　country　in　the　world；　and　that　is　ParisParis　welcoming；　hospitable；　not　prudish；　where　every　intelligent　man　may　find　space　to　do　great　things。　And　I；　now；　do　you　see；　de　Gery；　I　want　to　do　great　things。　I　have　had　enough　of　mercantile　life。　For　twenty　years　I　have　worked　for　money；　to…day　I　am　greedy　of　glory；　of　consideration；　of　fame。　I　want　to　be　somebody　in　the　history　of　my　country；　and　that　will　be　easy　for　me。　With　my　immense　fortune；　my　knowledge　of