the nabob-第61节
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ar deputy； I will remind you that you have a meeting at three o'clock at the office； and I must send you back to the Chamber。〃
Then turning to Jenkins：
〃You know what I asked of you； doctorpearls for the day after to…morrow； and let them be extra strong！〃
Jenkins started； shook himself as at the sudden awakening from a dream：
〃Certainly； my dear duke。 You shall be given some staminaoh； yes； stamina； breath enough to win the great Derby stakes。〃
He bowed； and left the room laughing； the veritable laugh of a wolf showing its gleaming white teeth。 The Nabob took leave in his turn； his heart filled with gratitude； but not daring to let anything of it appear in the presence of this sceptic in whom all demonstrativeness aroused distrust。 And the Minister of State； left alone； rolled up in his wraps before the crackling and blazing fire； sheltered in the padded warmth of his luxury； doubled that day by the feverish caress of the May sunshine； began to shiver with cold again； to shiver so violently that Felicia's letter which he had reopened and was reading rapturously shook in his hands。
A deputy is in a very singular situation during the period which follows his election and precedesas they say in parliamentary jargon the verification of its validity。 It is a little like the position of the newly married man during the twenty…four hours separating the civil marriage from its consecration by the Church。 Rights of which he cannot avail himself； a half…happiness； a semi…authority； the embarrassment of keeping the balance a little on this side or on that； the lack of a defined footing。 One is married and yet not married； a deputy and yet not perfectly sure of being it； only； for the deputy； this uncertainty is prolonged over days and weeks； and since the longer it lasts the more problematical does the validation become； it is like torture for the unfortunate representative on probation to be obliged to attend the Chamber； to occupy a place which he will perhaps not keep； to listen to discussions of which it is possible that he will never hear the end； to fix in his eyes and ears the delicious memory of parliamentary sittings with their sea of bald or apoplectic foreheads； their confused noise of rustling papers； the cries of attendants； wooden knives beating a tattoo on the tables； private conversations from amid which the voice of the orator issues； a thundering or timid solo with a continuous accompaniment。
This situation； at best so trying to the nerves； was complicated in the Nabob's case by these calumnies； at first whispered； now printed； circulated in thousands of copies by the newspapers； with the consequence that he found himself tacitly put in quarantine by his colleagues。
The first days he went and came in the corridors； the library； the dining…room； the lecture…hall； like the rest； delighted to roam through all the corners of that majestic labyrinth； but he was unknown to most of his associates； unacknowledged by a few members of the Rue Royale Club； who avoided him； detested by all the clerical party of which Le Merquier was the head。 The financial set was hostile to this multi…millionaire； powerful in both 〃bull〃 and 〃bear〃 market； like those vessels of heavy tonnage which displace the water of a harbour； and thus his isolation only became the more marked by the change in his circumstances and the same enmity followed him everywhere。
His gestures； his manner； showed trace of it in a certain constraint； a sort of hesitating distrust。 He felt he was watched。 If he went for a minute into the /buffet/； that large bright room opening on the gardens of the president's house； which he liked because there； at the broad counter of white marble laden with bottles and provisions； the deputies lost their big； imposing airs； the legislative haughtiness allowed itself to become more familiar； even there he knew that the next day there would appear in the /Messenger/ a mocking； offensive paragraph exhibiting him to his electors as a wine…bibber of the most notorious order。
Those terrible electors added to his embarrassments。
They arrived in crowds； invaded the Salle des Pas…Perdus； galloped all over the place like little fiery black kids； shouting to each other from one end to the other of the echoing room； 〃O Pe！ O Tche！〃 inhaling with delight the odour of government； of administration； pervading the air； watching admiringly the ministers as they passed； following in their trail with keen nose； as though from their respected pockets； from their swollen portfolios； there might fall some appointment； but especially surrounding 〃Moussiou〃 Jansoulet with so many exacting petitions； reclamations； demonstrations； that； in order to free himself from the gesticulating uproar which made everybody turn round； and turned him as it were into the delegate of a tribe of Tuaregs in the midst of civilized folk； he was obliged to implore with a look the help of some attendant on duty familiar with such acts of rescue； who would come to him with an air of urgency to say 〃that he was wanted immediately in Bureau No。 8。〃 So at last； embarrassed everywhere； driven from the corridors； from the Pas… Perdus； from the refreshment…room； the poor Nabob had adopted the course of never leaving his seat； where he remained motionless and without speaking during the whole time of the sitting。
He had； however； one friend in the Chamber； a deputy newly elected for the Deux…Sevres； called M。 Sarigue； a poor man sufficiently resembling the inoffensive and ill…favoured animal whose name he bore； with his red and scanty hair； his timorous eyes； his hopping walk； his white gaiters； he was so timid that he could not utter two words without stuttering； almost voiceless； continually sucking jujubes； which completed the confusion of his speech。 One asked what such a weakling as he had come to do in the Assembly； what feminine ambition run mad had urged into public life this being useless for no matter what private activity。
By an amusing irony of fate； Jansoulet； himself agitated by all the anxieties of his own validation； was chosen in Bureau no。 8 to draw up the report on the election in the Deux…Sevres； and M。 Sarigue； humble and supplicating； conscious of his incapacity and filled by a horrible dread of being sent back to his home in disgrace； used to follow about this great jovial fellow with the curly hair and big shoulder blades that moved like the bellows of a forge beneath a light and tightly fitting frock…coat； without any suspicion that a poor anxious being like himself lay concealed within that solid envelope。
As he worked at the report on the Deux…Sevres election； as he examined the numerous protests； the accusations of electioneering trickery； meals given； money spent； casks of wine broached at the doors of the mayors' houses； the usual accompaniments of an election in those days； Jansoulet used to shudder on his own account。 〃Why； I did all that myself；〃 he would say to himself； terrified。 Ah！ M。 Sarigue need not be afraid； never could he have put his hand on an examiner with kinder intentions or more indulgent； for the Nabob； taking pity on the sufferer； knowing by experience how painful is the anguish of waiting； had made haste through his labour； and the enormous portfolio which he carried under his arm； as he left the Mora mansion； contained his report ready to be sent in to the bureau。
Whether it were this first essay in a public function； the kind words of the duke； or the magnificent weather out of doors； keenly enjoyed by this southerner； with his susceptibility to wholly physical impressions and accustomed to life under a blue sky and the warmth of the sunshinehowever that may have been； certain it is that the attendants of the legislative body beheld that day a proud and haughty Jansoulet whom they had not previously known。 The fat Hemerlingue's carriage； caught sight of at the gate； recognisable by the unusual width of its doors； completed his reinstatement in the possession of his true nature of assurance and bold audacity。 〃The enemy is there。 Attention！〃 As he crossed the Salle des Pas…Perdus； he caught sight of the financier chatting in a corner with Le Merquier； the examiner； he passed quite near them； and looked at them with a triumphant air which made people wonder：
〃What is the meaning of this？〃
Then； highly pleased at his own coolness； he passed on towards the committee…rooms； big and lofty apartments opening right and left on a long corridor； and having large tables covered with green baize； and heavy chairs all of a similar pattern and bearing the impress of a dull solemnity。 People were beginning to come in。 Groups were taking up their positions； discussing matters； gesticulating； with bows； shakings of hands； inclinations of the head； like Chinese shadows against the luminous background of the windows。
Men were there who walked about with bent back； solitary； as it were crushed down beneath the weight of the thoughts which knitted their brow。 Others whispering in their neighbour's ears； confiding to each other exceedingly mysterious and terribly important pieces of news； finger on lip； eyes opened wide in silent recommendation to discretion。 A provincial flavour characterized it all； varieties of in
