the nabob-第8部分

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cription；　〃Enter　without　knocking。〃　Alas！　the　permission　was　scarcely　abused。　A　tall　young　man　wearing　spectacles；　and　writing　at　a　small　table；　with　his　legs　wrapped　in　a　travelling…rug；　rose　precipitately　to　greet　the　visitor　whom　his　short　sight　had　prevented　him　from　recognising。

〃Good…morning；　Andre；〃　said　the　doctor；　stretching　out　his　loyal　hand。

〃M。　Jenkins！〃

〃You　see；　I　am　good…natured　as　I　have　always　been。　Your　conduct　towards　us；　your　obstinacy　in　persisting　in　living　far　away　from　your　parents；　imposed　a　great　reserve　on　me；　for　my　own　dignity's　sake；　but　your　mother　has　wept。　And　here　I　am。〃

While　he　spoke；　he　examined　the　poor　little　studio；　with　its　bare　walls；　its　scanty　furniture；　the　brand…new　photographic　apparatus；　the　little　Prussian　fireplace；　new　also　and　never　yet　used　for　a　fire；　all　forced　into　painfully　clear　evidence　beneath　the　direct　light　falling　from　the　glass　roof。　The　drawn　face；　the　scanty　beard　of　the　young　man；　to　whom　the　bright　colour　of　his　eyes；　the　narrow　height　of　his　forehead；　his　long　and　fair　hair　thrown　backward　gave　the　air　of　a　visionary；　everything　was　accentuated　in　the　crude　light；　and　also　the　resolute　will　in　that　clear　glance　which　settled　upon　Jenkins　coldly；　and　in　advance　to　all　his　reasonings；　to　all　his　protestations；　opposed　an　invincible　resistance。

But　the　good　Jenkins　feigned　not　to　perceive　anything　of　this。

〃You　know；　my　dear　Andre；　since　the　day　when　I　married　your　mother　I　have　regarded　you　as　my　son。　I　looked　forward　to　leaving　you　my　practice　and　my　patients；　to　putting　your　foot　in　a　golden　stirrup；　happy　to　see　you　following　a　career　consecrated　to　the　welfare　of　humanity。　All　at　once；　without　giving　any　reason；　without　taking　into　any　consideration　the　effect　which　such　a　rupture　might　well　have　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　you　have　separated　yourself　from　us；　you　have　abandoned　your　studies；　renounced　your　future；　in　order　to　launch　out　into　I　know　not　what　eccentric　life；　engaging　in　a　ridiculous　trade；　the　refuge　and　the　excuse　of　all　unclassed　people。〃

〃I　follow　this　occupation　in　order　to　earn　a　living。　It　is　bread　and　butter　in　the　meantime。〃

〃In　what　meantime？　While　you　are　waiting　for　literary　glory？〃

He　glanced　disdainfully　at　the　scribbling　scattered　over　the　table。

〃All　that　is　not　serious；　you　know；　and　here　is　what　I　am　come　to　tell　you。　An　opportunity　presents　itself　to　you；　a　double…swing　door　opening　into　the　future。　The　Bethlehem　Society　is　founded。　The　most　splendid　of　my　philanthropic　dreams　has　taken　body。　We　have　just　purchased　a　superb　villa　at　Nanterre　for　the　housing　of　our　first　establishment。　It　is　the　care；　the　management　of　this　house　that　I　have　thought　of　intrusting　to　you　as　to　an　/alter　ego/。　A　princely　dwelling；　the　salary　of　the　commander　of　a　division；　and　the　satisfaction　of　a　service　rendered　to　the　great　human　family。　Say　one　word；　and　I　take　you　to　see　the　Nabob；　the　great…hearted　man　who　defrays　the　expense　of　our　undertaking。　Do　you　accept？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　other　so　curtly　that　Jenkins　was　somewhat　put　out　of　countenance。

〃Just　so。　I　was　prepared　for　this　refusal　when　I　came　here。　But　I　am　come　nevertheless。　I　have　taken　for　motto；　'To　do　good　without　hope；'　and　I　remain　faithful　to　my　motto。　So　then；　it　is　understood　you　prefer　to　the　honourable；　worthy；　and　profitable　existence　which　I　have　just　proposed　to　you；　a　life　of　hazard　without　aim　and　without　dignity？〃

Andre　answered　nothing；　but　his　silence　spoke　for　him。

〃Take　care。　You　know　what　that　decision　will　involve；　a　definitive　estrangement；　but　you　have　always　wanted　that。　I　need　not　tell　you；〃　continued　Jenkins；　〃that　to　break　with　me　is　to　break　off　relations　also　with　your　mother。　She　and　I　are　one。〃

The　young　man　turned　pale；　hesitated　a　moment；　then　said　with　effort：

〃If　it　please　my　mother　to　come　to　see　me　here；　I　shall　be　delighted；　certainly。　But　my　determination　to　quit　your　house；　to　have　no　longer　anything　in　common　with　you；　is　irrevocable。〃

〃And　will　you　at　least　say　why？〃

He　made　a　negative　sign；　he　would　not　say。

For　once　the　Irishman　felt　a　genuine　impulse　of　anger。　His　whole　face　assumed　a　cunning；　savage　expression　which　would　have　very　much　astonished　those　that　only　knew　the　good　and　loyal　Jenkins；　but　he　took　good　care　not　to　push　further　an　explanation　which　he　feared　perhaps　as　much　as　he　desired　it。

〃Adieu；〃　said　he；　half　turning　his　head　on　the　threshold。　〃And　never　apply　to　us。〃

〃Never；〃　replied　his　stepson　in　a　firm　voice。

This　time；　when　the　doctor　had　said　to　Joey；　〃Place　Vendome；〃　the　horse；　as　though　he　had　understood　that　they　were　going　to　the　Nabob's；　gave　a　proud　shake　to　his　glittering　curb…chains；　and　the　brougham　set　off　at　full　speed；　transforming　each　axle　of　its　wheels　into　sunshine。　〃To　come　so　far　to　get　a　reception　like　that！　A　celebrity　of　the　time　to　be　treated　thus　by　that　Bohemian！　One　may　try　indeed　to　do　good！〃　Jenkins　gave　vent　to　his　anger　in　a　long　monologue　of　this　character；　then　suddenly　rousing　himself；　exclaimed；　〃Ah；　bah！〃　and　what　anxiety　there　was　remaining　on　his　brow　quickly　vanished　on　the　pavement　of　the　Place　Vendome。　Noon　was　striking　everywhere　in　the　sunshine。　Issued　forth　from　behind　its　curtain　of　mist；　luxurious　Paris；　awake　and　on　its　feet；　was　commencing　its　whirling　day。　The　shop…windows　of　the　Rue　de　la　Paix　shone　brightly。　The　mansions　of　the　square　seemed　to　be　ranging　themselves　haughtily　for　the　receptions　of　the　afternoon；　and；　right　at　the　end　of　the　Rue　Castiglione　with　its　white　arcades；　the　Tuileries；　beneath　a　fine　burst　of　winter　sunshine；　raised　shivering　statues；　pink　with　cold；　amid　the　stripped　trees。



A　LUNCHEON　IN　THE　PLACE　VENDOME

There　were　scarcely　more　than　a　score　of　persons　that　morning　in　the　Nabob's　dining…room；　a　dining…room　in　carved　oak；　supplied　the　previous　evening　as　it　were　by　some　great　upholsterer；　who　at　the　same　stroke　had　furnished　these　suites　of　four　drawing…rooms　of　which　you　caught　sight　through　an　open　doorway；　the　hangings　on　the　ceiling；　the　objects　of　art；　the　chandeliers；　even　the　very　plate　on　the　sideboards　and　the　servants　who　were　in　attendance。　It　was　obviously　the　kind　of　interior　improvised　the　moment　he　was　out　of　the　railway…train　by　a　gigantic　/parvenu/　in　haste　to　enjoy。　Although　around　the　table　there　was　no　trace　of　any　feminine　presence；　no　bright　frock　to　enliven　it；　its　aspect　was　yet　not　monotonous；　thanks　to　the　dissimilarity；　the　oddness　of　the　guests；　people　belonging　to　every　section　of　society；　specimens　of　humanity　detached　from　all　races；　in　France；　in　Europe；　in　the　entire　globe；　from　the　top　to　the　bottom　of　the　social　ladder。　To　begin　with；　the　master　of　the　housea　kind　of　giant；　tanned；　burned　by　the　sun；　saffron…coloured；　with　head　in　his　shoulders。　His　nose；　which　was　short　and　lost　in　the　puffiness　of　his　face；　his　woolly　hair　massed　like　a　cap　of　astrakhan　above　a　low　and　obstinate　forehead；　and　his　bristly　eyebrows　with　eyes　like　those　of　an　ambushed　chapard　gave　him　the　ferocious　aspect　of　a　Kalmuck；　of　some　frontier　savage　living　by　war　and　rapine。　Fortunately　the　lower　part　of　the　face；　the　fleshy　and　strong　lip　which　was　lightened　now　and　then　by　a　smile　adorable　in　its　kindness；　quite　redeemed；　by　an　expression　like　that　of　a　St。　Vincent　de　Paul；　this　fierce　ugliness；　this　physiognomy　so　original　that　it　was　no　longer　vulgar。　An　inferior　extraction；　however；　betrayed　itself　yet　again　by　the　voice；　the　voice　of　a　Rhone　waterman；　raucous　and　thick；　in　which　the　southern　accent　became　rather　uncouth　than　hard；　and　by　two　broad　and　short　hands；　hairy　at　the　back；　square　and　nailless　fingers　which；　laid　on　the　whiteness　of　the　table…cloth；　spoke　of　their　past　with　an　embarrassing　eloquence。　Opposite　him；　on　the　other　side　of　the　table　at　which　he　was　one　of　the　habitual　guests；　was　seated　the　Marquis　de　Monpavon；　but　a　Monpavon　presenting　no　resemblance　to　the　painted　spectre　of　whom　we　had　a　glimpse　in　the　last　chapter。　He　was　now　a　haughty　man　of　no　particular　age；　fine　majestic　nose；　a　lordly　bearing；　displaying　a　large　shirt…front　of　immaculate　linen　crackling　beneath　the　continual　effort　of　the　chest　to　throw　itself　forward；　and　bulging　itself　out　each　time　with　a　noise　like　that　made　by　a　white　turkey　when　it　struts　in　anger；　or　by　a　peacock　when　he　spreads　his　tail。　His　name　of　Monpavon　suited　him　well。

Of　great　family　and　of　a　wealthy　stock；　but　ruined　by　gambling　and　speculation；　the　friendship　of　the　Duc　de　Mora　had　secured　him　an　appointment　as　receiver…general　in　the　first　class。　Unfortunately　his　health　had　not　permitted　him　to　retain　this　handsome　positionwell…　informed　people　said　his　health　had　nothing　to　do　with　itand　for　the　last　year　he　had　been　living　in　Paris；　awaiting　his　restoration　to　health；　according　to　his　own　account　of　the　matter；　before　resuming　his　post。　The　same　people　were　confident　that　he　would　never　regain　it；　and　that　even　were　it　not　for　certain　exalted　influencesHowever；　he　was　the　important　personage　of　the　luncheon；　that　was　clear　from　the　manner　in　which　the　servants　waited　upon　him；　and　the　Nabob　consulted　him；　calling　him　〃Monsieur　le　Marquis；〃　as　at　the　Comedie…　Francaise；　less　almost　out　of　deference　than　from　pride；　by　reason　of　the　honour　which　it　reflected　upon　himself。　Full　of　disdain　for　the　people　around　him；　M。　le　Marquis　spoke　little；　in　a　very　high　voice；　and　as　though　he　were　stooping　towards　those　whom　he　was　honouring　with　his　conversation。　From　time　to　time　he　would　throw　to　the　Nabob　across　the　table　a　few　words　enigmatical　for　all。

〃I　saw　the　duke　yesterday。　He　was　talking　a　great　deal　about　you　in　connection　with　that　matter。　You　know；　that　thingthat　business。　What　was　the　name　of　it？〃

〃You　really　mean　it？　He　spoke　of　me　to　you？〃　And　the　good　Nabob；　quite　proud；　would　look　around　him　with　movements　of　the　head　that　were　supremely　laughable；　or　perhaps　assume　the　contemplative　air　of　a　devotee　who　should　hear　the　name　of　Our　Lord　pronounced。

〃His　excellency　would　have　pleasure　in　seeing　you　take　up　theps；　ps；　psthe　thing。〃

〃He　told　you　so？〃

〃Ask　the　governor　if　he　did　notheard　it　like　myself。〃

The　person　who　was　called　the　governorPaganetti；　to　give　him　his　real　namewas