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！
dazzled by the idea of getting out of his difficulties at one stroke。
He left the trente…et…quarante； hearing that the black had come up
sixteen times at the roulette table； and was about to put five
thousand francs on the red； when the black came up for the seventeenth
time。 The colonel then put a thousand francs on the black and won。 In
spite of this remarkable piece of luck； his head grew weary； he felt
it； though he continued to play。 But that divining sense which leads a
gambler； and which comes in flashes； was already failing him。
Intermittent perceptions； so fatal to all gamblers； set in。 Lucidity
of mind； like the rays of the sun； can have no effect except by the
continuity of a direct line； it can divine only on condition of not
breaking that line； the curvettings of chance bemuddle it。 Philippe
lost all。 After such a strain； the careless mind as well as the
bravest weakens。 When Philippe went home that night he was not
thinking of suicide； for he had never really meant to kill himself； he
no longer thought of his lost place； nor of the sacrificed security；
nor of his mother； nor of Mariette； the cause of his ruin； he walked
along mechanically。 When he got home； his mother in tears； Madame
Descoings； and Joseph； all fell on his neck and kissed him and brought
him joyfully to a seat by the fire。
〃Bless me！〃 thought he； 〃the threat has worked。〃
The brute at once assumed an air suitable to the occasion； all the
more easily； because his ill…luck at cards had deeply depressed him。
Seeing her atrocious Benjamin so pale and woe…begone； the poor mother
knelt beside him； kissed his hands； pressed them to her heart； and
gazed at him for a long time with eyes swimming in tears。
〃Philippe；〃 she said； in a choking voice； 〃promise not to kill
yourself； and all shall be forgotten。〃
Philippe looked at his sorrowing brother and at Madame Descoings；
whose eyes were full of tears； and thought to himself； 〃They are good
creatures。〃 Then he took his mother in his arms； raised her and put
her on his knee； pressed her to his heart and whispered as he kissed
her； 〃For the second time； you give me life。〃
The Descoings managed to serve an excellent dinner； and to add two
bottles of old wine with a little 〃liqueur des iles；〃 a treasure left
over from her former business。
〃Agathe；〃 she said at dessert； 〃we must let him smoke his cigars；〃 and
she offered some to Philippe。
These two poor creatures fancied that if they let the fellow take his
ease； he would like his home and stay in it； both； therefore； tried to
endure his tobacco…smoke； though each loathed it。 That sacrifice was
not so much as noticed by Philippe。
On the morrow； Agathe looked ten years older。 Her terrors calmed；
reflection came back to her； and the poor woman had not closed an eye
throughout that horrible night。 She was now reduced to six hundred
francs a year。 Madame Descoings； like all fat women fond of good
eating； was growing heavy； her step on the staircase sounded like the
chopping of logs； she might die at any moment； with her life； four
thousand francs would disappear。 What folly to rely on that resource！
What should she do？ What would become of them？ With her mind made up
to become a sick…nurse rather than be supported by her children；
Agathe did not think of herself。 But Philippe？ what would he do if
reduced to live on the five hundred francs of an officer of the Legion
of honor？ During the past eleven years； Madame Descoings； by giving up
three thousand francs a year； had paid her debt twice over； but she
still continued to sacrifice her grandson's interests to those of the
Bridau family。 Though all Agathe's honorable and upright feelings were
shocked by this terrible disaster； she said to herself： 〃Poor boy！ is
it his fault？ He is faithful to his oath。 I have done wrong not to
marry him。 If I had found him a wife； he would not have got entangled
with this danseuse。 He has such a vigorous constitution〃
Madame Descoings had likewise reflected during the night as to the
best way of saving the honor of the family。 At daybreak； she got out
of bed and went to her friend's room。
〃Neither you nor Philippe should manage this delicate matter；〃 she
urged。 〃Our two old friends Du Bruel and Claparon are dead； but we
still have Desroches； who is very sagacious。 I'll go and see him this
morning。 He can tell the newspaper people that Philippe trusted a
friend and has been made a victim； that his weakness in such respects
makes him unfit to be a cashier； what has now happened may happen
again； and that Philippe prefers to resign。 That will prevent his
being turned off。〃
Agathe； seeing that this business lie would save the honor of her son；
at any rate in the eyes of strangers； kissed Madame Descoings； who
went out early to make an end of the dreadful affair。
Philippe； meanwhile； had slept the sleep of the just。 〃She is sly；
that old woman；〃 he remarked； when his mother explained to him why
breakfast was late。
Old Desroches； the last remaining friend of these two poor women； who；
in spite of his harsh nature； never forgot that Bridau had obtained
for him his place； fulfilled like an accomplished diplomat the
delicate mission Madame Descoings had confided to him。 He came to dine
that evening with the family； and notified Agathe that she must go the
next day to the Treasury； rue Vivienne； sign the transfer of the funds
involved； and obtain a coupon for the six hundred francs a year which
still remained to her。 The old clerk did not leave the afflicted
household that night without obliging Philippe to sign a petition to
the minister of war； asking for his reinstatement in the active army。
Desroches promised the two women to follow up the petition at the war
office； and to profit by the triumph of a certain duke over Philippe
in the matter of the danseuse； and so obtain that nobleman's
influence。
〃Philippe will be lieutenant…colonel in the Duc de Maufrigneuse's
regiment within three months；〃 he declared； 〃and you will be rid of
him。〃
Desroches went away； smothered with blessings from the two poor widows
and Joseph。 As to the newspaper； it ceased to exist at the end of two
months； just as Finot had predicted。 Philippe's crime had； therefore；
so far as the world knew； no consequences。 But Agathe's motherhood had
received a deadly wound。 Her belief in her son once shaken； she lived
in perpetual fear； mingled with some satisfactions； as she saw her
worst apprehensions unrealized。
When men like Philippe； who are endowed with physical courage； and yet
are cowardly and ignoble in their moral being； see matters and things
resuming their accustomed course about them after some catastrophe in
which their honor and decency is well…nigh lost； such family kindness；
or any show of friendliness towards them is a premium of
encouragement。 They count on impunity； their minds distorted； their
passions gratified； only prompt them