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！
her hair powdered； a taffet petticoat of changeable colors like a
pigeon's breast； tight sleeves； and her feet in high…heeled slippers；
deposited her snuff…box on a little table； and said：
〃Really； Monsieur Hochon； how can a man of your sense repeat
absurdities which； unhappily； cost my poor friend her peace of mind；
and Agathe the property which she ought to have had from her father。
Max Gilet is not the son of my brother； whom I often advised to save
the money he paid for him。 You know as well as I do that Madame Rouget
was virtue itself〃
〃And the daughter takes after her； for she strikes me as uncommonly
stupid。 After losing all her fortune； she brings her sons up so well
that here is one in prison and likely to be brought up on a criminal
indictment before the Court of Peers for a conspiracy worthy of
Berton。 As for the other； he is worse off； he's a painter。 If your
proteges are to stay here till they have extricated that fool of a
Rouget from the claws of Gilet and the Rabouilleuse； we shall eat a
good deal more than half a measure of salt with them。〃
〃That's enough； Monsieur Hochon； you had better wish they may not have
two strings to their bow。〃
Monsieur Hochon took his hat； and his cane with an ivory knob； and
went away petrified by that terrible speech； for he had no idea that
his wife could show such resolution。 Madame Hochon took her prayer…
book to read the service； for her advanced age prevented her from
going daily to church； it was only with difficulty that she got there
on Sundays and holidays。 Since receiving her goddaughter's letter she
had added a petition to her usual prayers； supplicating God to open
the eyes of Jean…Jacques Rouget； and to bless Agathe and prosper the
expedition into which she herself had drawn her。 Concealing the fact
from her grandchildren； whom she accused of being 〃parpaillots；〃 she
had asked the curate to say a mass for Agathe's success during a
neuvaine which was being held by her granddaughter； Adolphine
Borniche； who thus made her prayers in church by proxy。
Adolphine； then eighteen；who for the last seven years had sewed at
the side of her grandmother in that cold household of monotonous and
methodical customs；had undertaken her neuvaine all the more
willingly because she hoped to inspire some feeling in Joseph Bridau；
in whom she took the deepest interest because of the monstrosities
which her grandfather attributed in her hearing to the young Parisian。
All the old people and sensible people of the town； and the fathers of
families approved of Madame Hochon's conduct in receiving her
goddaughter； and their good wishes for the latter's success were in
proportion to the secret contempt with which the conduct of Maxence
Gilet had long inspired them。 Thus the news of the arrival of Rouget's
sister and nephew raised two parties in Issoudun；that of the higher
and older bourgeoisie； who contented themselves with offering good
wishes and in watching events without assisting them； and that of the
Knights of Idleness and the partisans of Max； who； unfortunately； were
capable of committing many high…handed outrages against the Parisians。
CHAPTER XI
Agathe and Joseph arrived at the coach…office of the Messageries…
Royales in the place Misere at three o'clock。 Though tired with the
journey； Madame Bridau felt her youth revive at sight of her native
land； where at every step she came upon memories and impressions of
her girlish days。 In the then condition of public opinion in Issoudun；
the arrival of the Parisians was known all over the town in ten
minutes。 Madame Hochon came out upon her doorstep to welcome her
godchild； and kissed her as though she were really a daughter。 After
seventy…two years of a barren and monotonous existence； exhibiting in
their retrospect the graves of her three children； all unhappy in
their lives； and all dead； she had come to feel a sort of fictitious
motherhood for the young girl whom she had； as she expressed it；
carried in her pouch for sixteen years。 Through the gloom of
provincial life the old woman had cherished this early friendship；
this girlish memory； as closely as if Agathe had remained near her；
and she had also taken the deepest interest in Bridau。 Agathe was led
in triumph to the salon where Monsieur Hochon was stationed； chilling
as a tepid oven。
〃Here is Monsieur Hochon； how does he seem to you？〃 asked his wife。
〃Precisely the same as when I last saw him；〃 said the Parisian woman。
〃Ah！ it is easy to see you come from Paris； you are so complimentary；〃
remarked the old man。
The presentations took place： first； young Baruch Borniche； a tall
youth of twenty…two； then Francois Hochon； twenty…four； and lastly
little Adolphine； who blushed and did not know what to do with her
arms； she was anxious not to seem to be looking at Joseph Bridau； who
in his turn was narrowly observed； though from different points of
view； by the two young men and by old Hochon。 The miser was saying to
himself； 〃He is just out of the hospital； he will be as hungry as a
convalescent。〃 The young men were saying； 〃What a head！ what a
brigand！ we shall have our hands full！〃
〃This is my son； the painter； my good Joseph；〃 said Agathe at last；
presenting the artist。
There was an effort in the accent that she put upon the word 〃good；〃
which revealed the mother's heart； whose thoughts were really in the
prison of the Luxembourg。
〃He looks ill；〃 said Madame Hochon； 〃he is not at all like you。〃
〃No； madame；〃 said Joseph； with the brusque candor of an artist； 〃I am
like my father； and very ugly at that。〃
Madame Hochon pressed Agathe's hand which she was holding； and glanced
at her as much as to say； 〃Ah！ my child； I understand now why you
prefer your good…for…nothing Philippe。〃
〃I never saw your father； my dear boy；〃 she said aloud； 〃it is enough
to make me love you that you are your mother's son。 Besides； you have
talent； so the late Madame Descoings used to write to me； she was the
only one of late years who told me much about you。〃
〃Talent！〃 exclaimed the artist； 〃not as yet； but with time and
patience I may win fame and fortune。〃
〃By painting？〃 said Monsieur Hochon ironically。
〃Come； Adolphine；〃 said Madame Hochon； 〃go and see about dinner。〃
〃Mother；〃 said Joseph； 〃I will attend to the trunks which they are
bringing in。〃
〃Hochon；〃 said the grandmother to Francois； 〃show the rooms to
Monsieur Bridau。〃
As the dinner was to be served at four o'clock and it was now only
half past three； Baruch rushed into the town to tell the news of the
Bridau arrival； describe Agathe's dress； and more particularly to
picture Joseph； whose haggard； unhealthy； and determined face was not
unlike the ideal of a brigand。 That evening Joseph was the topic of
conversation in all the households of Issoudun。
〃That sister of Rouget must have seen a monkey before her son was
born；〃 said o