original short stories-8-第12节

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〃Come　now；　own　up；〃　he　persisted。　　〃He　looked　like　a　ninny；　that
creature！　　It　would　be　funny；　so　funny！　　Good　old　Souris！　　Come；　come；
dearie；　you　do　not　mind　telling　me；　me；　of　all　people。〃

He　insisted　on　the　〃me〃　thinking　that　if　she　had　wished　to　deceive　Souris
she　would　have　chosen　him；　and　he　was　trembling　in　anticipation　of　her
avowal；　sure　that　if　she　had　not　been　a　virtuous　woman　she　would　have
encouraged　his　own　attentions。

But　she　did　not　answer；　laughing　still；　as　at　the　recollection　of
something　exceedingly　comical。

Leuillet；　in　his　turn　began　to　laugh；　thinking　he　might　have　been　the
lucky　man；　and　he　muttered　amid　his　mirth：　〃That　poor　Souris；　that　poor
Souris；　oh；　yes；　he　looked　like　a　fool！〃

Mme。　Leuillet　was　almost　in　spasms　of　laughter。

〃Come；　confess；　be　frank。　　You　know　I　will　not　mind。〃

Then　she　stammered　out；　almost　choking　with　laughter：　〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃Yes；　what？〃　insisted　her　husband。　　〃Come；　tell　all。〃

She　was　quieter　now　and　putting　her　mouth　to　her　husband's　ear；　she
whispered：　〃Yes；　I　did　deceive　him。〃

He　felt　a　chill　run　down　his　back　and　to　his　very　bones；　and　he　stammered
out；　dumfounded：　〃Youyoudeceived　himcriminally？〃

She　still　thought　he　was　amused　and　replied：　〃Yesyes；　absolutely。〃

He　was　obliged　to　sit　up　to　recover　his　breath；　he　was　so　shocked　and
upset　at　what　he　had　heard。

She　had　become　serious；　understanding　too　late　what　she　had　done。

〃With　whom？〃　said　Leuillet　at　length。

She　was　silent　seeking　some　excuse。

〃A　young　man；〃　she　replied　at　length。

He　turned　suddenly　toward　her　and　said　drily：

〃I　did　not　suppose　it　was　the　cook。　　I　want　to　know　what　young　man；　do
you　hear？〃

She　did　not　answer。

He　snatched　the　covers　from　her　face；　repeating：

〃I　want　to　know　what　young　man；　do　you　hear？〃

Then　she　said　sorrowfully：　〃I　was　only　in　fun。〃　　But　he　was　trembling
with　rage。　　〃What？　　How？　　You　were　only　in　fun？　　You　were　making　fun　of
me；　then？　　But　I　am　not　satisfied；　do　you　hear？　　I　want　the　name　of　the
young　man！〃

She　did　not　reply；　but　lay　there　motionless。

He　took　her　by　the　arm　and　squeezed　it；　saying：　〃Do　you　understand　me；
finally？　　I　wish　you　to　reply　when　I　speak　to　you。〃

〃I　think　you　are　going　crazy；〃　she　said　nervously；　〃let　me　alone！〃

He　was　wild　with　rage；　not　knowing　what　to　say；　exasperated；　and　he　shook
her　with　all　his　might；　repeating：

〃Do　you　hear　me；　do　you　hear　me？〃

She　made　an　abrupt　effort　to　disengage　herself　and　the　tips　of　her
fingers　touched　her　husband's　nose。　　He　was　furious；　thinking　she　had
tried　to　hit　him；　and　he　sprang　upon　her　holding　her　down；　and　boxing　her
ears　with　all　his　might；　he　cried：　〃Take　that；　and　that；　there；　there；
wretch！〃

When　he　was　out　of　breath　and　exhausted；　he　rose　and　went　toward　the
dressing　table　to　prepare　a　glass　of　eau　sucree　with　orange　flower；　for
he　felt　as　if　he　should　faint。

She　was　weeping　in　bed；　sobbing　bitterly；　for　she　felt　as　if　her
happiness　was　over；　through　her　own　fault。

Then；　amidst　her　tears；　she　stammered　out：

〃Listen；　Antoine；　come　here；　I　told　you　a　lie；　you　will　understand；
listen。〃

And　prepared　to　defend　herself　now；　armed　with　excuses　and　artifice；　she
raised　her　disheveled　head　with　its　nightcap　all　awry。

Turning　toward　her；　he　approached；　ashamed　of　having　struck　her；　but
feeling　in　the　bottom　of　his　heart　as　a　husband；　a　relentless　hatred
toward　this　woman　who　had　deceived　the　former　husband；　Souris。






MY　UNCLE　JULES

A　white…haired　old　man　begged　us　for　alms。　　My　companion；　Joseph
Davranche；　gave　him　five　francs。　　Noticing　my　surprised　look；　he　said：

〃That　poor　unfortunate　reminds　me　of　a　story　which　I　shall　tell　you；　the
memory　of　which　continually　pursues　me。　　Here　it　is：

〃My　family；　which　came　originally　from　Havre；　was　not　rich。　　We　just
managed　to　make　both　ends　meet。　　My　father　worked　hard；　came　home　late
from　the　office；　and　earned　very　little。　　I　had　two　sisters。

〃My　mother　suffered　a　good　deal　from　our　reduced　circumstances；　and　she
often　had　harsh　words　for　her　husband；　veiled　and　sly　reproaches。　　The
poor　man　then　made　a　gesture　which　used　to　distress　me。　　He　would　pass
his　open　hand　over　his　forehead；　as　if　to　wipe　away　perspiration　which
did　not　exist；　and　he　would　answer　nothing。　　I　felt　his　helpless
suffering。　　We　economized　on　everything；　and　never　would　accept　an
invitation　to　dinner；　so　as　not　to　have　to　return　the　courtesy。　　All　our
provisions　were　bought　at　bargain　sales。　　My　sisters　made　their　own
gowns；　and　long　discussions　would　arise　on　the　price　of　a　piece　of　braid
worth　fifteen　centimes　a　yard。　　Our　meals　usually　consisted　cf　soup　and
beef；　prepared　with　every　kind　of　sauce。

They　say　it　is　wholesome　and　nourishing；　but　I　should　have　preferred　a
change。

〃I　used　to　go　through　terrible　scenes　on　account　of　lost　buttons　and　torn
trousers。

〃Every　Sunday；　dressed　in　our　best；　we　would　take　our　walk　along　the
breakwater。　　My　father；　in　a　frock　coat；　high　hat　and　kid　gloves；　would
offer　his　arm　to　my　mother；　decked　out　and　beribboned　like　a　ship　on　a
holiday。　　My　sisters；　who　were　always　ready　first；　would　await　the　signal
for　leaving；　but　at　the　last　minute　some　one　always　found　a　spot　on　my
father's　frock　coat；　and　it　had　to　be　wiped　away　quickly　with　a　rag
moistened　with　benzine。

〃My　father；　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　his　silk　hat　on　his　head；　would　await
the　completion　of　the　operation；　while　my　mother；　putting　on　her
spectacles；　and　taking　off　her　gloves　in　order　not　to　spoil　them；　would
make　haste。

〃Then　we　set　out　ceremoniously。　　My　sisters　marched　on　ahead；　arm　in　arm。
They　were　of　marriageable　age　and　had　to　be　displayed。　　I　walked　on　the
left　of　my　mother　and　my　father　on　her　right。　　I　remember　the　pompous　air
of　my　poor　parents　in　these　Sunday　walks；　their　stern　expression；　their
stiff　walk。　　They　moved　slowly；　with　a　serious　expression；　their　bodies
straight；　their　legs　stiff；　as　if　something　of　extreme　importance
depended　upon　their　appearance。

〃Every　Sunday；　when　the　big　steamers　were　returning　from　unknown　and
distant　countries；　my　father　would　invariably　utter　the　same　words：

〃'What　a　surprise　it　would　be　if　Jules　were　on　that　one！　　Eh？'

〃My　Uncle　Jules；　my　father's　brother；　was　the　only　hope　of　the　family；
after　being　its　only　fear。　　I　had　heard　about　him　since　childhood；　and　it
seemed　to　me　that　I　should　recognize　him　immediately；　knowing　as　much
about　him　as　I　did。　　I　knew　every　detail　of　his　life　up　to　the　day　of　his
departure　for　America；　although　this　period　of　his　life　was　spoken　of
only　in　hushed　tones。

〃It　seems　that　he　had　led　a　bad　life；　that　is　to　say；　he　had　squandered　a
little　money；　which　action；　in　a　poor　family；　is　one　of　the　greatest
crimes。　　With　rich　people　a　man　who　amuses　himself　only　sows　his　wild
oats。　　He　is　what　is　generally　called　a　sport。　　But　among　needy　families
a　boy　who　forces　his　parents　to　break　into　the　capital　becomes　a　good…
for…nothing；　a　rascal；　a　scamp。　　And　this　distinction　is　just；　although
the　action　be　the　same；　for　consequences　alone　determine　the　seriousness
of　the　act。

〃Well；　Uncle　Jules　had　visibly　diminished　the　inheritance　on　which　my
father　had　counted；　after　he　had　swallowed　his　own　to　the　last　penny。
Then；　according　to　the　custom　of　the　times；　he　had　been　shipped　off　to
America　on　a　freighter　going　from　Havre　to　New　York。

〃Once　there；　my　uncle　began　to　sell　something　or　other；　and　he　soon　wrote
that　he　was　making　a　little　money　and　that　he　soon　hoped　to　be　able　to
indemnify　my　father　for　the　harm　he　had　done　him。　　This　letter　caused　a
profound　emotion　in　the　family。　　Jules；　who　up　to　that　time　had　not　been
worth　his　salt；　suddenly　became　a　good　man；　a　kind…hearted　fellow；　true
and　honest　like　all　the　Davranches。

〃One　of　the　captains　told　us　that　he　had　rented　a　large　shop　and　was
doing　an　important　business。

〃Two　years　later　a　second　letter　came；　saying：　'My　dear　Philippe；　I　am
writing　to　tell　you　not　to　worry　about　my　health；　which　is　excellent。
Business　is　good。　　I　leave　to…morrow　for　a　long　trip　to　South　America。
I　may　be　away　for　several　years　without　sending　you　any　news。　　If　I
shouldn't　write；　don't　worry。　　When　my　fortune　is　made　I　shall　return　to
Havre。　　I　hope　that　it　will　not　be　too　long　and　that　we　shall　all　live
happily　together　。　　。　　。　　。'

〃This　letter　became　the　gospel　of　the　family。　　It　was　read　on　the
slightest　provocation；　and　it　was　shown　to　everybody。

〃For　ten　years　nothing　was　heard　from　Uncle　Jules；　but　as　time　went　on　my
father's　hope　grew；　and　my　mother；　also；　often　said：

〃'When　that　good　Jules　is　here；　our　position　will　be　different。　　There　is
one　who　knew　how　to　get　along！'

〃And　every　Sunday；　while　watching　the　big　steamers　approaching　from　the
horizon；　pouring　out　a　stream　of　smoke；　my　father　would　repeat　his
eternal　question：

〃'What　a　surprise　it　would　be　if　Jules　were　on　that　one！　　Eh？'

〃We　almost　expected　to　see　him　waving　his　handkerchief　and　crying：

〃'Hey！　　Philippe！'

〃Thousands　of　schemes　had　been　planned　on　the　strength　of　this　expected
return；　we　were　even　to　buy　a　little　house　with　my　uncle's　money
a　little　place　in　the　country　near