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！
； restored all his doubts； all his perplexities。 He did not give himself away yet； however； and let Le Merquier advance； word by word； testing the ground for his stumbling advances。 People had told him often of the collection of his honourable colleague。 〃Would it be indiscreet to ask the favour of being admitted； to〃
〃On the contrary； I should feel much honoured；〃 said the Nabob； tickled in the most sensiblesince the most costlypoint of his vanity； and looking round him at the walls of the room； he added with the tone of a connoisseur； 〃You have some fine things； too。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the other modestly； 〃just a few canvases。 Painting is so dear now； it is a taste so difficult to satisfy； a true passion /de luxe/a passion for a Nabob；〃 said he； smiling； with a furtive look over his glasses。
They were two prudent players； face to face； but Jansoulet was a little astray in this new situation； where he who only knew how to be bold； had to be on his guard。
〃When I think；〃 murmured the lawyer； 〃that I have been ten years covering these walls； and that I have still this panel to fill。〃
In fact； at the most conspicuous place on the wall there was an empty place； emptied rather； for a great gold…headed nail near the ceiling showed the visible； almost clumsy； trace of a snare laid for the poor simpleton； who let himself be taken in it so foolishly。
〃My dear M。 Le Merquier；〃 said he with his engaging； good…natured voice； 〃I have a Virgin of Tintoretto's just the size of your panel。〃
Impossible to read anything in the eyes of the lawyer； this time hidden under their overhanging brows。
〃Permit me to hang it there； opposite your table。 That will help you to think sometimes of me。〃
〃And to soften the severities of my report； too； sir？〃 cried Le Merquier； formidable and upright； his hand on the bell。 〃I have seen many shameless things in my life； but never anything like this。 Such offers to me； in my own house！〃
〃But； my dear colleague； I swear to you〃
〃Show him out；〃 said the lawyer to the hang…dog servant who had just entered； and from the middle of his office； whose door remained open； before all the waiting…room； where the paternosters were silent； he pursued Jansouletwho slunk off murmuring excuses to the doorwith these terrible words：
〃You have outraged the honour of the Chamber in my person； sir。 Our colleagues shall be informed of it this very day； and； this crime coming after your others； you will learn to your cost that Paris is not the East； and that here we do not make shameless traffic of the human conscience。〃
Then； after having chased the seller from the temple； the just man closed his door； and approaching the mysterious green curtain； said in a tone that sounded soft amidst his pretended anger：
〃Is that what you wanted； Baroness Marie？〃
THE SITTING
That morning there were no guests to lunch at 32 Place Vendome； so that towards one o'clock might have been seen the majestic form of M。 Barreau； gleaming white at the gate； among four or five of his scullions in their cook's caps； and as many stable…boys in Scotch caps an imposing group； which gave to the house the aspect of an hotel where the staff was taking the air between the arrivals of the trains。 To complete the resemblance； a cab drew up before the door and the driver took down an old leather trunk； while a tall old woman； her upright figure wrapped in a little green shawl； jumped lightly to the footpath； a basket on her arm； looked at the number with great attention； then approached the servants to ask if it was there that M。 Bernard Jansoulet lived。
〃It is here；〃 was the answer； 〃but he is not in。〃
〃That does not matter；〃 said the old lady simply。
She returned to the driver； who put her trunk in the porch； and paid him； returning her purse to her pocket at once with a gesture that said much for the caution of the provincial。
Since Jansoulet had been deputy for Corsica； the domestics had seen so many strange and exotic figures at his house； that they were not surprised at this sunburnt woman； with eyes glowing like coals； a true Corsican under her severe coif； but different from the ordinary provincial in the ease and tranquility of her manners。
〃What； the master is not here？〃 said she； with an intonation which seemed better fitted for farm people in her part of the country； than for the insolent servants of a great Parisian mansion。
〃No； the master is not here。〃
〃And the children？〃
〃They are at lessons。 You cannot see them。〃
〃And madame？〃
〃She is asleep。 No one sees her before three o'clock。〃
It seemed to astonish the good woman a little that any one could stay in bed so late； but the tact which guides a refined nature； even without education； prevented her from saying anything before the servants； and she asked for Paul de Gery。
〃He is abroad。〃
〃Bompain Jean…Baptiste； then。〃
〃He is with monsieur at the sitting。〃
Her great gray eyebrows wrinkled。
〃It does not matter； take up my trunk just the same。〃
And with a little malicious twinkle of her eye； a proud revenge for their insolent looks； she added： 〃I am his mother。〃
The scullions and stable…boys drew back respectfully。 M。 Barreau raised his cap：
〃I thought I had seen madame somewhere。〃
〃And I too； my lad；〃 answered Mme。 Jansoulet； who shivered still at the remembrance of the Bey's /fete/。
〃My lad；〃 to M。 Barreau； to a man of his importance！ It raised her at once to a very high place in the esteem of the others。
Well！ grandeur and splendour hardly dazzled this courageous old lady。 She did not go into ecstasies over gilding and petty baubles； and as she walked up the grand staircase behind her trunk； the baskets of flowers on the landings； the lamps held by bronze statues； did not prevent her from noticing that there was an inch of dust on the balustrade； and holes in the carpet。 She was taken to the rooms on the second floor belonging to the Levantine and her children； and there； in an apartment used as a linen…room； which seemed to be near the school…room （to judge by the murmur of children's voices）； she waited alone； her basket on her knees； for the return of her Bernard； perhaps the waking of her daughter…in…law； or the great joy of embracing her grandchildren。 What she saw around her gave her an idea of the disorder of this house left to the care of the servants； without the oversight and foreseeing activity of a mistress。 The linen was heaped in disorder； piles on piles in great wide…open cupboards； fine linen sheets and table…cloths crumpled up； the locks prevented from shutting by pieces of torn lace； which no one took the trouble to mend。 And yet there were many servants aboutnegresses in yellow Madras muslin； who came to snatch here a towel； there a table…cloth； walking among the scattered domestic treasures； dragging with their great flat feet frills of fine lace from a petticoat which some lady's…maid had thrown downthimble here； scissors thereready to pick up again in a few minutes。
Jansoulet's mother was doubly wounded。 The half…rustic artisan in her was outraged in the tenderness； the respect； the sweet unreasonableness the woman of the provinces feels towards a full linen cupboarda cupboard fi