the nabob-第19部分

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！



This　imagination　constantly　on　the　stretch；　gave　to　M。　Joyeuse　a　singular　physiognomy；　feverish　and　worn；　in　strong　contrast　with　the　general　correct　appearance　of　a　subordinate　clerk　which　he　presented。　In　one　day　he　lived　so　many　passionate　existences。　The　race　is　more　numerous　than　one　thinks　of　these　waking　dreamers；　in　whom　a　too　restricted　fate　compresses　forces　unemployed　and　heroic　faculties。　Dreaming　is　the　safety…valve　through　which　all　those　expend　themselves　with　terrible　ebullitions；　as　of　the　vapour　of　a　furnace　and　floating　images　that　are　forthwith　dissipated　into　air。　From　these　visions　some　return　radiant；　others　exhausted　and　discouraged；　as　they　find　themselves　once　more　on　the　every…day　level。　M。　Joyeuse　was　of　these　latter；　rising　without　ceasing　to　heights　whence　a　man　cannot　but　re…descend；　somewhat　bruised　by　the　velocity　of　the　transit。

Now；　one　morning　that　our　〃visionary〃　had　left　his　house　at　his　habitual　hour；　and　under　the　usual　circumstances；　he　began　at　the　turning　of　the　Rue　Saint…Ferdinand　one　of　his　little　private　romances。　As　the　end　of　the　year　was　at　hand；　perhaps　it　was　the　hammer…strokes　on　a　wooden　hut　which　was　being　erected　in　the　neighbouring　timber…　yard　that　caused　his　thoughts　to　turn　to　〃presentsNew　Year's　Day。〃　And　immediately　the　word　bounty　implanted　itself　in　his　mind　as　the　first　landmark　of　a　marvelous　story。　In　the　month　of　December　all　persons　in　Hemerlingue's　service　received　double　pay；　and　you　know　that　in　small　households　there　are　founded　on　windfalls　of　this　kind　a　thousand　projects；　ambitious　or　kind；　presents　to　be　made；　a　piece　of　furniture　to　be　replaced；　a　little　sum　of　money　to　be　saved　in　a　drawer　against　the　unforeseen。

In　simple　fact；　M。　Joyeuse　was　not　rich。　His　wife；　a　Mlle。　de　Saint…　Armand；　tormented　with　ideas　of　greatness　and　society；　had　set　this　little　clerk's　household　on　a　ruinous　footing；　and　though　since　her　death　three　years　had　passed　during　which　Bonne　Maman　had　managed　the　housekeeping　with　so　much　wisdom；　they　had　not　yet　been　able　to　save　anything；　so　heavy　had　proved　the　burden　of　the　past。　Suddenly　it　occurred　to　the　good　fellow　that　this　year　the　bounty　would　be　larger　by　reason　of　the　increase　of　work　which　had　been　caused　by　the　Tunisian　loan。　The　loan　constituted　a　very　fine　stroke　of　business　for　the　firm；　too　fine　even；　for　M。　Joyeuse　had　permitted　himself　to　remark　in　the　office　that　this　time　〃Hemerlingue　&　Son　had　shaved　the　Turk　a　little　too　close。〃

〃Certainly；　yes；　the　bounty　will　be　doubled；〃　reflected　the　visionary；　as　he　walked；　and　already　he　saw　himself；　a　month　thence；　mounting　with　his　comrades；　for　the　New　Year's　visit；　the　little　staircase　that　led　to　Hemerlingue's　apartment。　He　announced　the　good　news　to　them；　then　he　detained　M。　Joyeuse　for　a　few　words　in　private。　And；　behold；　that　master　habitually　so　cold　in　his　manner；　sheathed　in　his　yellow　fat　as　in　a　bale　of　raw　silk；　became　affectionate；　paternal；　communicative。　He　desired　to　know　how　many　daughters　Joyeuse　had。

〃I　have　three；　no；　I　should　say；　four；　M。　le　Baron。　I　always　confuse　them。　The　eldest　is　such　a　sensible　girl。〃

Further　he　wished　to　know　their　ages。

〃Aline　is　twenty；　M。　le　Baron。　She　is　the　eldest。　Then　we　have　Elise；　who　is　preparing　for　the　examination　which　she　must　pass　when　she　is　eighteen。　Henriette；　who　is　fourteen；　and　Zara　or　Yaia　who　is　only　twelve。〃

That　pet　name　of　Yaia　intensely　amused　M。　le　Baron；　who　inquired　next　what　were　the　resources　of　this　interesting　family。

〃My　salary；　M。　le　Baron；　nothing　else。　I　had　a　little　money　put　aside；　but　my　poor　wife's　illness；　the　education　of　the　girls〃

〃What　you　are　earning　is　not　sufficient；　my　dear　Joyeuse。　I　raise　your　salary　to　a　thousand　francs　a　month。〃

〃Oh；　M。　le　Baron；　it　is　too　much。〃

But　although　he　had　uttered　this　last　sentence　aloud；　in　the　ear　of　a　policeman　who　watched　with　a　mistrustful　eye　the　little　man　pass；　gesticulating　and　nodding　his　head；　the　poor　visionary　awoke　not。　With　admiration　he　saw　himself　returning　home；　announcing　the　news　to　his　daughters；　taking　them　to　the　theatre　in　the　evening　in　celebration　of　the　happy　day。　/Dieu！/　how　pretty　they　looked　in　the　front　of　their　box；　the　Demoiselles　Joyeuse；　what　a　bouquet　of　rosy　faces！　And　then；　the　next　day；　the　two　eldest　asked　in　marriage　by　Impossible　to　determine　by　whom；　for　M。　Joyeuse　had　just　suddenly　found　himself　once　more　beneath　the　arch　of　the　Hemerlingue　establishment；　before　the　swing…door　surmounted　by　a　〃counting…house〃　in　letters　of　gold。

〃I　shall　always　be　the　same；　it　seems；〃　said　he　to　himself；　laughing　a　little　and　passing　his　hand　over　his　forehead；　on　which　the　perspiration　stood　in　drops。

In　a　good　humour　as　the　result　of　this　pleasant　fancy　and　at　the　sight　of　the　fire　crackling　in　the　suite　of　parquet…floored　offices；　with　their　screens　of　iron　trellis…work　and　their　air　of　secrecy　in　the　cold　light　of　the　ground　floor；　where　one　could　count　the　pieces　of　gold　without　dazzling　his　eyes；　M。　Joyeuse　gave　a　gay　greeting　to　the　other　clerks　and　slipped　on　his　working　coat　and　his　black　velvet　cap。　Suddenly；　some　one　whistled　from　upstairs；　and　the　cashier；　applying　his　ear　to　the　tube；　heard　the　oily　and　gelatinous　voice　of　Hemerlingue；　the　sole　and　veritable　Hemerlinguethe　other；　the　son；　was　always　absentasking　for　M。　Joyeuse。

What！　Could　the　dream　be　continuing？

He　was　conscious　of　a　great　agitation；　took　the　little　inside　staircase　which　he　had　seen　himself　ascending　just　before　so　bravely；　and　found　himself　in　the　banker's　private　room；　a　narrow　apartment；　with　a　very　high　ceiling；　furnished　only　with　green　curtains　and　enormous　leather　easy　chairs　of　a　size　proportioned　to　the　terrific　bulk　of　the　head　of　the　house。　He　was　there；　seated　at　his　desk　which　his　belly　prevented　him　from　approaching　very　closely；　obese；　ill…　shaped；　and　so　yellow　that　his　round　face　with　its　hooked　nose；　the　head　of　a　fat　and　sick　owl；　suggested　as　it　were　a　light　at　the　end　of　the　solemn　and　gloomy　room。　A　rich　Moorish　merchant　grown　mouldy　in　the　damp　of　his　little　court…yard。　Beneath　his　heavy　eyelids；　raised　with　an　effort；　his　glance　glittered　for　a　second　when　the　accountant　entered；　he　signed　to　him　to　approach；　and　slowly；　coldly；　pausing　to　take　breath　between　his　sentences；　instead　of　〃M。　Joyeuse；　how　many　daughters　have　you？〃　he　said　this：

〃Joyeuse；　you　have　allowed　yourself　to　criticise　in　the　office　our　last　operations　in　the　Tunis　market。　Useless　to　defend　yourself。　Your　remarks　have　been　reported　to　me　word　for　word。　And　as　I　am　unable　to　admit　them　from　the　mouth　of　one　in　my　service；　I　give　you　notice　that　dating　from　the　end　of　this　month　you　cease　to　be　a　member　of　my　establishment。〃

A　wave　of　blood　mounted　to　the　accountant's　face；　fell　back；　returned　again；　bringing　each　time　a　confused　whizzing　into　his　ears；　into　his　brain　a　tumult　of　thoughts　and　images。

His　daughters！

What　was　to　become　of　them？

Employment　is　so　hard　to　find　at　that　period　of　the　year。

Poverty　appeared　before　his　eyes　and　also　the　vision　of　an　unfortunate　man　falling　at　Hemerlingue's　feet；　supplicating　him；　threatening　him；　springing　at　his　throat　in　an　access　of　despairing　rage。　All　this　agitation　passed　over　his　features　like　a　gust　of　wind　which　throws　the　surface　of　a　lake　into　ripples；　fashioning　there　all　manner　of　mobile　whirlpools；　but　he　remained　mute；　standing　in　the　same　place；　and　upon　the　master's　intimation　that　he　could　withdraw；　went　down　with　tottering　step　to　resume　his　work　in　the　counting…house。

In　the　evening　when　he　went　home　to　the　Rue　Saint…Ferdinand；　M。　Joyeuse　told　his　daughters　nothing。　He　did　not　dare。　The　idea　of　darkening　that　radiant　gaiety　which　was　the　life　of　the　house；　of　making　dull　with　heavy　tears　those　pretty　bright　eyes；　was　insupportable　to　him。　Timorous；　too；　and　weak；　he　was　of　those　who　always　say；　〃Let　us　wait　till　to…morrow。〃　He　waited　therefore　before　speaking；　at　first　until　the　month　of　November　should　be　ended；　deluding　himself　with　the　vague　hope　that　Hemerlingue　might　change　his　mind；　as　though　he　did　not　know　that　will　as　of　some　mollusk　flabby　and　tenacious　upon　its　ingot　of　gold。　Then　when　his　salary　had　been　paid　up　and　another　accountant　had　taken　his　place　before　the　high　desk　at　which　he　had　stood　for　so　long；　he　hoped　to　find　something　else　quickly　and　repair　his　misfortune　before　being　obliged　to　confess　it。

Every　morning　he　feigned　to　start　for　the　office；　allowed　himself　to　be　equipped　and　accompanied　to　the　door　as　usual；　his　huge　leather　portfolio　all　ready　for　the　evening's　numerous　commissions。　Although　he　would　forget　some　of　them　on　purpose　because　of　the　approaching　and　so　problematical　end　of　the　month；　he　did　not　lack　time　now　to　execute　them。　He　had　his　day　to　himself；　the　whole　of　an　interminable　day　which　he　spent　in　rushing　about　Paris　in　search　for　an　employment。　People　gave　him　addresses；　excellent　recommendations。　But　in　that　terrible　month　of　December；　so　cold　and　with　such　short　hours　of　daylight；　bringing　with　it　so　many　expenses　and　preoccupations；　employees　need　to　take　patience　and　employers　also。　Each　man　tries　to　end　the　year　in　peace；　postponing　to　the　month　of　January；　to　that　great　leap　of　time　towards　a　fresh　halting…place；　any　changes；　ameliorations；　attempts　at　a　new　life。

In　every　house　where　M。　Joyeuse　presented　himself；　he　beheld　faces　suddenly　grow　cold　as　soon　as　he　explained　the　object　of　his　visit。

〃What！　You　are　no　longer　with　Hemerlingue　&　Son？　How　is　that？〃

He　would　explain　the　matter　as　best　he　could　through　a　caprice　of　the　head　of　the　firm；　the　ferocious　Hemerlingue　whom　Paris　knew；　but　he　was　conscious　of　a　coldness；　a　mistrust　in　the　uniform　reply　which　he　received：　〃Call　on　us　again　after　the　holidays。〃　And；　timid　as　he　was　to　begin　with；　he　reached　a　point　at　which　he　could　no　longer　bring　himself　to　call　on　any　one；　a　point　at　which　he　could　walk　past　the　same　door　a　score　of　times　and　never　have　crossed　its　threshold　at　all　had　it　not　been　for　the　thought　of　his　daughters。　This　alone　pushed　him　along　by　the　shoulders；　put　heart　in　his　legs；　despatched　him　in　the　course　of　the　same　day　to　the　opposite　extremities　of　Paris；　to　very　vague　addresses　given