the nabob-第54节
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r plaster with a layer of ochre； which gave it almost the weather…beaten and sunburned tone of the model。 The Arabs； when they saw it； uttered a stifled exclamation； 〃Bou…Said！〃 （the father of good fortune）。 This was the surname of the Nabob in Tunis； the label； as it were； of his luck。 The Bey； for his part； thinking that some one had wished to play a trick on him in thus leading him to inspect the bust of the hated trader； regarded his guide with mistrust。
〃Jansoulet？〃 said he in his guttural voice。
〃Yes； Highness： Bernard Jansoulet； the new deputy for Corsica。〃
This time the Bey turned to Hemerlingue； with a frown on his brow。
〃Deputy？〃
〃Yes； monseigneur； since this morning； but nothing is yet settled。〃
And the banker； raising his voice； added with a stutter：
〃No French Chamber will ever admit that adventurer。〃
No matter。 The stroke had fallen on the blind faith of the Bey in his baron financier。 The latter had so confidently affirmed to him that the other would never be elected and that their action with regard to him need not be fettered or in any way hampered by the least fear。 And now； instead of a man ruined and overthrown； there rose before him a representative of the nation； a deputy whose portrait in stone the Parisians were coming to admire； for in the eyes of the Oriental； an idea of distinction being mingled in spite of everything with this public exhibition； that bust had the prestige of a statue dominating a square。 Still more yellow than usual； Hemerlingue internally accused himself of clumsiness and imprudence。 But how could he ever have dreamed of such a thing？ He had been assured that the bust was not finished。 And in fact it had been there only since morning； and seemed quite at home； quivering with satisfied pride； defying its enemies with the good…tempered smile of its curling lip。 A veritable silent revenge for the disaster of Saint…Romans。
For some minutes the Bey； cold and impassible as the sculptured image； gazed at it without saying anything； his forehead divided by a straight crease wherein his courtiers alone could read his anger； then； after two quick words in Arabic； to order the carriages and to reassemble his scattered suite； he directed his steps gravely towards the door of exit； without consenting to give even a glance to anything else。 Who shall say what passes in these august brains surfeited with power？ Even our sovereigns of the West have incomprehensible fantasies； but they are nothing compared with Oriental caprices。 Monsieur the Inspector of Fine Arts； who had made sure of taking his Highness all round the exhibition and of thus winning the pretty red… and…green ribbon of the Nicham…Iftikahr； never knew the secret of this sudden flight。
At the moment when the white /haiks/ were disappearing under the porch； just in time to see the last wave of their folds； the Nabob made his entry by the middle door。 In the morning he had received the news； 〃Elected by an overwhelming majority〃； and after a sumptuous luncheon； at which the new deputy for Corsica had been extensively toasted； he came； with some of his guests； to show himself； to see himself also； to enjoy all his new glory。
The first person whom he saw as he arrived was Felicia Ruys； standing； leaning on the pedestal of a statue； surrounded by compliments and tributes of admiration； to which he made haste to add his own。 She was simply dressed； clad in a black costume embroidered and trimmed with jet； tempering the severity of her attire with a glittering of reflected lights； and with a delightful little hat all made of downy plumes； the play of colour in which her hair； curled delicately on her forehead and drawn back to the neck in great waves； seemed to continue and to soften。
A crowd of artists and fashionable people were assiduous in their attentions to so great a genius allied to so much beauty； and Jenkins； bareheaded； and puffing with warm effusiveness； was going from one to the other； stimulating their enthusiasm but widening the circle around this young fame of which he constituted himself at once the guardian and the trumpeter。 His wife during this time was talking to the young girl。 Poor Mme。 Jenkins！ She had heard that savage voice； which she alone knew； say to her； 〃You must go and greet Felicia。〃 And she had gone to do so； controlling her emotion； for she knew now what it was that hid itself at the bottom of that paternal affection； although she avoided all discussion of it with the doctor； as if she had been fearful of the issue。
After Mme。 Jenkins； it is the turn of the Nabob to rush up； and taking the artist's two long； delicately…gloved hands between his fat paws； he expresses his gratitude with a cordiality which brings the tears to his own eyes。
〃It is a great honour that you have done me； mademoiselle； to associate my name with yours； my humble person with your triumph； and to prove to all this vermin gnawing at my heels that you do not believe the calumnies which have been spread with regard to me。 Yes； truly； I shall never forget it。 In vain I may cover this magnificent bust with gold and diamonds； I shall still be your debtor。〃
Fortunately for the good Nabob； with more feeling than eloquence； he is obliged to make way for all the others attracted by a dazzling talent； the personality in view； extravagant enthusiasms which； for want of words to express themselves； disappear as they come； the conventional admirations of society； moved by good…will； by a lively desire to please； but of which each word is a douche of cold water； and then the hearty hand…shakes of rivals； of comrades； some very frank； others that communicate to you the weakness of their grasp； the pretentious great booby； at whose idiotic eulogy you must appear to be transported with gladness； and who； lest he should spoil you too much； accompanies it with 〃a few little reserves；〃 and the other； who； while overwhelming you with compliments； demonstrates to you that you have not learned the first word of your profession； and the excellent busy fellow； who stops just long enough to whisper in your ear 〃that so… and…so； the famous critic； does not look very pleased。〃 Felicia listened to it all with the greatest calm； raised by her success above the littleness of envy； and quite proud when a glorious veteran； some old comrade of her father； threw to her a 〃You've done very well； little one！〃 which took her back to the past； to the little corner reserved for her in the old days in her father's studio； when she was beginning to carve out a little glory for herself under the protection of the renown of the great Ruys。 But； taken altogether； the congratulations left her rather cold； because there lacked one which she desired more than any other； and which she was surprised not to have yet received。 Decidedly he was more often in her thoughts than any other man had ever been。 Was it love at last； the great love which is so rare in an artist's soul； incapable as that is of giving itself entirely up to the sway of sentiment； or was it perhaps simply a dream of honest /bourgeoise/ life； well sheltered against /ennui/； that spiritless /ennui/； the precursor of storms； which she had so much reason to dread？ In any case； she was herself taken in by it； and had been living for some days past in a state of delicious trouble； for love is so strong； so beautiful a thing； that its semblances； its mirages； allure and can move us as deeply as itself。
Has it ever happened to you in the street； when you have been preoccupied with thoughts of some one dear to you； to be warned of his approach by meeting persons with a vague resemblance to him； preparatory images； sketches of the type to appear directly afterward； which stand out for you from the crowd like successive appeals to your overexcited attention？ Such presentiments are magnetic and nervous impressions at which one should not be too disposed to smile； since they constitute a faculty of suffering。 Already； in the moving and constantly renewed stream of visitors； Felicia had several times thought to recognise the curly head of Paul de Gery； when suddenly she uttered a cry of joy。 It was not he； however； this time again； but some one who resembled him closely； whose regular and peaceful physiognomy was always now connected in her mind with that of her friend Paul through the effect of a likeness more moral than physical； and the gentle authority which both exercised over her thoughts。
〃Aline！〃
〃Felicia！〃
If nothing is more open to suspicion than the friendship of two fashionable ladies sharing the prerogatives of drawing…room royalty and lavishing on each other epithets； and the trivial graces of feminine fondness； the friendships of childhood keep in the grown woman a frankness of manner which distinguishes them； and makes them recognisable among all others； bonds woven naively and firm as the needlework of little girls in which an experienced hand had been prodigal of thread and big knots； plants reared in fresh soil； in flower； but with strong roots； full of vitality and new shoots。 And what a joy； hand in handyou glad dances of boarding…school days； where are you？to retrace some steps of one's way with somebody who has an equal acquaintance with it and its least incident
