太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > derues >

第3节

derues-第3节

小说: derues 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




〃You are right;〃 said the abbe; with a severe and inquisitorial look; under which Derues remained quite untroubled; 〃it is an attribute of God to reward and to punish; and the Almighty is not deceived by him who deceives men。  The Psalmist has said; 'Righteous art Thou; O Lord; and upright are Thy judgments。'〃

〃He has said also; 'The judgments of the Lord are true and ; righteous altogether;'〃  Derues promptly replied。  This exchange of quotations from Scripture might have lasted for hours without his being at a loss; had the abbe thought fit to continue in this strain; but such a style of conversation; garnished with grave and solemn words; seemed almost sacrilegious in the mouth of a man of such ridiculous appearancea profanation at once sad and grotesque。 Derues seemed to comprehend the impression it produced; and tuning again to Madame Legrand; he said

〃We have got a long way from what I came to ask you; my kind friend。 I was so ill that I went early to bed; but I cannot sleep; and I have no fire。  Would you have the kindness to have this egg mulled for me?〃

〃Cannot your servant do that for you?〃 asked Madame Legrand。

〃I gave her leave to go out this evening; and though it is late she has not yet returned。  If I had a fire; I would not give you so much trouble; but I do not care to light one at this hour。  You know I am always afraid of accidents; and they so easily happen!〃

〃Very well; then;〃 replied Madame Legrand; 〃go back to your room; and my servant will bring it to you。〃

〃Thank you;〃 said Derues; bowing;〃many thanks。〃

As he turned to depart; Madame Legrand spoke again。

〃This day week; Derues; you have to pay me half the twelve hundred livres due for the purchase of my business。〃

〃So soon as that?〃

〃Certainly; and I want the money。  Have you forgotten the date; then?〃

〃Oh dear; I have never looked at the agreement since it was drawn up。 I did not think the time was so near; it is the fault of my bad memory; but I will contrive to pay you; although trade is very bad; and in three days I shall have to pay more than fifteen thousand livres to different people。〃

He bowed again and departed; apparently exhausted by the effort of sustaining so long a conversation。

As soon as they were alone; the abbe exclaimed

〃That man is assuredly an utter rascal!  May God forgive him his hypocrisy!  How is it possible we could allow him to deceive us for so long?〃

〃But; my father;〃 interposed one of the visitors; 〃are you really sure of what you have just said?〃

〃I am not now speaking of the seventy…nine Louis d'or which have been stolen from me; although I never mentioned to anyone but you; and he was then present; that I possessed such a sum; and although that very day he made a false excuse for coming to my rooms when I was out。 Theft is indeed infamous; but slander is not less so; and he has slandered you disgracefully。  Yes; he has spread a report that you; Madame Legrand; you; his former mistress and benefactress; have put temptation in his way; and desired to commit carnal sin with him。 This is now whispered the neighbourhood all round us; it will soon be said aloud; and we have been so completely his dupes; we have helped him so much to acquire a reputation for uprightness; that it would now be impossible to destroy our own work; if I were to accuse him of theft; and you charged him with lying; probably neither of us would be believed。  Beware; these odious tales have not been spread without a reason。  Now that your eyes are open; beware of him。〃

〃Yes;〃 replied Madame Legrand; 〃my brother…in…law warned me three years ago。  One day Derues said to my sister…in…law;I remember the words。  perfectly;'I should like to be a druggist; because one would always be able to punish an enemy; and if one has a quarrel with anyone it would be easy to get rid of him by means of a poisoned draught。'  I neglected these warnings。  I surmounted the feeling of repugnance I first felt at the sight of him; I have responded to his advances; and I greatly fear I may have cause to repent it。  But you know him as well as I do; who would not have thought his piety sincere?who would not still think so?  And notwithstanding all you have said; I still hesitate to feel serious alarm; I am unwilling to believe in such utter depravity。〃

The conversation continued in this strain for some time; and then; as it was getting late; the party separated。

Next morning early; a large and noisy crowd was assembled in the rue Saint…Victor before Derues' shop of drugs and groceries。  There was a confusion of cross questions; of inquiries which obtained no answer; of answers not addressed to the inquiry; a medley of sound; a pell…mell of unconnected words; of affirmations; contradictions; and interrupted narrations。  Here; a group listened to an orator who held forth in his shirt sleeves; a little farther there were disputes; quarrels; exclamations of 〃Poor man!〃  〃Such a good fellow!〃  〃My poor gossip Derues!〃  〃Good heavens! what will he do now?〃  〃Alas! he is quite done for; it is to be hoped his creditors will give him time!  〃Above all this uproar was heard a voice; sharp and piercing like a cat's; lamenting; and relating with sobs the terrible misfortune of last night。  At about three in the morning the inhabitants of the rue St。 Victor had been startled out of their sleep by the cry of 〃Fire; fire!〃  A conflagration had burst forth in Derues' cellar; and though its progress had been arrested and the house saved from destruction; all the goods stored therein had perished。  It apparently meant a considerable loss in barrels of oil; casks of brandy; boxes of soap; etc。; which Derues estimated at not less than nine thousand livres。

By what unlucky chance the fire had been caused he had no idea。  He recounted his visit to Madame Legrand; and pale; trembling; hardly able to sustain himself; he cried

〃I shall die of grief!  A poor man as ill as I am!  I am lost!  I am ruined!〃

A harsh voice interrupted his lamentations; and drew the attention of the crowd to a woman carrying printed broadsides; and who forced a passage through the crowd up to the shop door。  She unfolded one of her sheets; and cried as loudly and distinctly as her husky voice permitted

〃Sentence pronounced by the Parliament of Paris against John Robert Cassel; accused and convicted of Fraudulent Bankruptcy!〃

Derues looked up and saw a street…hawker who used to come to his shop for a drink; and with whom he had had a violent quarrel about a month previously; she having detected him in a piece of knavery; and abused him roundly in her own style; which was not lacking in energy。  He had not seen her since。  The crowd generally; and all the gossips of the quarter; who held Derues in great veneration; thought that the woman's cry was intended as an indirect insult; and threatened to punish her for this irreverence。  But; placing one hand on her hip; and with the other warning off the most pressing by a significant gesture

〃Are you still befooled by his tricks; fools that you are?  Yes; no doubt there was a fire in the cellar last night; no doubt his creditors will be geese enough to let him off paying his debts!  But what you don't know is; that he didn't really lose by it at all!〃

〃He lost all his goods!〃 the crowd cried on all sides。  〃More than nine thousand livres!  Oil and brandy; do you think those won't burn? The old witch; she drinks enough to know!  If one put a candle near her she would take fire; fast enough!〃

〃Perhaps;〃 replied the woman; with renewed gesticulations; 〃perhaps; but I don't advise any of you to try。  Anyhow; this fellow here is a rogue; he has been emptying his cellar for the last three nights; there were only old empty casks in it and empty packing…cases!  Oh yes!  I have swallowed his daily lies like everybody else; but I know the truth by now。  He got his liquor taken away by Michael Lambourne's son; the cobbler in the rue de la Parcheminerie。  How do I know?  Why; because the young man came and told me!〃

〃I turned that woman out of my shop a month ago; for stealing;〃 said Derues。

Notwithstanding this retaliatory accusation; the woman's bold assertion might have changed the attitude of the crowd and chilled the enthusiasm; but at that moment a stout man pressed forward; and seizing the hawker by the arm; said

〃Go; and hold your tongue; backbiting woman!〃

To this man; the honour of Derues was an article of faith; he had not yet ceased to wonder at the probity of this sainted person; and to doubt it in the least was as good as suspecting his own。

〃My dear friend;〃 he said; 〃we all know what to think of you。  I know you well。  Send to me tomorrow; and you shall have what goods you want; on credit; for as long as is necessary。  Now; evil tongue; what do you say to that?〃

〃I say that you are as great a fool as the rest。  Adieu; friend Derues; go on as you have begun; and I shall be selling your 'sentence' some day〃; and dispersing the crowd with a few twirls of her right arm; she passed on; crying

〃Sentence pronounced by the Parliament of Paris against John Robert Cassel; accused and convicted of Fraudulent Bankruptcy!〃

This accusation emanated from too insignificant a quarter to have any effect on

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的