the nabob-第84部分

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ousands　of　people；　to　pluck　them　away　from　their　preoccupation；　and　to　send　through　this　crowd　a　single　current　which　should　draw　to　himself　those　absent　glances；　those　minds　of　every　different　calibre；　so　difficult　to　move　to　unison。　Instinctively　his　eyes　sought　friendly　faces；　a　box　facing　the　stage　occupied　by　the　Joyeuse　family；　Elise　and　the　younger　girls　seated　in　the　front；　Aline　and　the　father　in　the　row　behinda　charming　family　group；　like　a　bouquet　wet　with　dew　amid　a　display　of　artificial　flowers。　And　while　all　Paris　was　disdainfully　asking；　〃Who　are　those　people　there？〃　the　poet　instrusted　his　fate　to　those　little　fairy　hands；　new　gloved　for　the　occasion；　which　very　soon　would　boldly　give　the　signal　for　applause。

The　curtain　is　going　up！　Maranne　has　barely　time　to　spring　into　the　wings；　and　suddenly　he　hears　as　from　far；　very　far　away；　the　first　words　of　his　play；　which　rise；　like　a　flight　of　timid　birds；　into　the　silence　and　immensity　of　the　theatre。　A　terrible　moment。　Where　should　he　go？　What　should　he　do？　Remain　there　leaning　against　a　wing；　with　straining　ear　and　beating　heart？　Encourage　the　actors　when　he　himself　stood　in　so　much　need　of　encouragement？　He　prefers　rather　to　look　the　peril　in　the　face；　and　by　the　little　door　communicating　with　the　corridor　behind　the　boxes　he　slips　out　to　a　corner　box；　which　he　orders　to　be　opened　for　him　softly。　〃Sh！　It　is　I。〃　Some　one　is　seated　in　the　shadowa　woman；　she　whom　all　Paris　knows　and　who　is　hiding　herself　from　the　public　gaze。　Andre　sits　down　by　her　side；　and　so；　close　to　one　another；　mother　and　son　tremblingly　watch　the　progress　of　the　play。

It　astonished　the　audience　at　first。　This　Theatre　des　Nouveautes；　situated　in　the　very　heart　of　the　boulevard；　where　its　portico　glitters　all　illuminated　among　the　great　restaurants　of　the　smart　clubs；　this　theatre；　to　which　people　were　accustomed　to　come　in　parties　after　a　luxurious　dinner　to　listen　until　supper…time　to　an　act　or　two　of　some　suggestive　piece；　had　become　in　the　hands　of　its　clever　manager　the　most　fashionable　of　all　Parisian　entertainments；　without　any　very　precise　character　of　its　own；　and　partaking　something　of　all；　from　the　fairy…operetta　which　exhibits　undressed　women；　to　the　serious　modern　drama。　Cardailhac　was　especially　anxious　to　justify　his　title　of　〃Manager　of　the　Nouveautes；〃　and；　since　the　Nabob's　millions　had　been　at　the　back　of　the　undertaking；　had　made　a　point　of　preparing　for　the　boulevardiers　the　most　dazzling　surprises。　That　of　this　evening　surpassed　them　all；　the　piece　was　in　verseand　moral。

A　moral　play！

The　old　rogue　had　realized　that　the　moment　had　arrived　to　try　that　effect；　and　he　was　trying　it。　After　the　astonishment　of　the　first　minutes；　a　few　disappointed　exclamations　here　and　there　in　the　boxes；　〃Why；　it　is　in　verse！〃　the　house　began　to　feel　the　charm　of　this　invigorating　and　healthy　piece；　as　if　there　had　been　sprinkled　on　it；　in　its　rarefied　atmosphere；　some　fresh　and　pungent　essence；　an　elixir　of　life　perfumed　with　thyme　from　the　hillside。

〃Ah！　this　is　niceit　is　restful。〃

Such　was　the　general　sense；　a　thrill　of　ease；　a　spasm　of　pleasure　accompanying　each　line。　That　fat　old　Hemerlingue　found　it　restful；　puffing　in　his　stage…box　on　the　ground　floor　as　in　a　trough　of　cerise　satin。　It　was　restful　also　to　that　tall　Suzanne　Bloch；　her　hair　dressed　in　the　antique　way；　ringlets　flowing　over　a　diadem　of　gold；　and　near　her；　Amy　Ferat；　all　in　white　like　a　bride　and　with　sprigs　of　orange…blossom　in　her　fluffy　hair；　it　was　restful　to　her　also；　you　may　be　sure。

A　crowd　of　demi…mondaines　were　present；　some　very　fat；　with　a　dirty　greasiness　acquired　in　a　hundred　seraglios；　three　chins；　and　an　air　of　stupidity；　others　absolutely　green　in　spite　of　their　paint；　as　if　they　had　been　dipped　in　a　bath　of　that　arsenate　of　copper　which　is　called　in　the　shops　〃Paris　green。〃　These　were　wrinkled；　faded　to　such　a　degree　that　they　hid　in　the　back　of　their　boxes；　only　allowing　a　portion　of　a　white　arm　to　be　seen；　a　rounded　shoulder　protruding。　Then　there　were　young　men　about　town；　flabby　and　without　backbone；　those　who　at　that　time　used　to　be　called　/petits　creves/；　creatures　worn　out　by　dissipation；　with　stooping　necks　and　drooping　lids；　incapable　of　standing　erect　or　of　articulating　a　single　word　perfectly。　And　all　these　people　exclaimed　with　one　accord：　〃This　is　niceit　is　restful。〃　The　handsome　Moessard　murmured　it　like　a　refrain　beneath　his　little　fair　mustache；　while　his　queen　in　the　stage…box　translated　it　into　the　barbarism　of　her　foreign　tongue。　Positively　they　found　it　restful。　They　did　not　say　after　whatafter　what　heart…breaking　labour；　after　what　forced；　idle　and　useless　task。

All　these　friendly　murmurs；　united　and　mingled；　began　to　give　to　the　house　an　eventful　appearance。　Success　was　felt　in　the　air；　faces　became　serene　again；　the　women　seemed　the　more　beautiful　for　reflecting　enthusiasm；　for　being　moved　to　glances　that　were　as　exciting　as　applause。　Andre；　at　his　mother's　side；　thrilled　with　such　an　unknown　pleasure；　with　that　proud　delight　which　a　man　feels　when　he　stirs　the　multitude；　be　he　only　a　singer　in　a　suburban　back…yard；　with　a　patriotic　refrain　and　two　pathetic　notes　in　his　voice。　Suddenly　the　whisperings　redoubled；　were　transformed　into　a　tumult。　People　were　chuckling　and　fidgeting　with　excitement。　What　had　happened？　Some　accident　on　the　stage？　Andre；　leaning　terrified　towards　the　actors　as　astonished　as　himself；　saw　every　opera…glass　turned　towards　the　big　stage…box　which　had　remained　empty　until　then；　and　which　some　one　had　just　entered；　who　sat　down　immediately　with　both　his　elbows　on　the　velvet　ledge；　and　with　his　opera…glass　drawn　from　its　case；　taking　his　place　in　gloomy　solitude。

In　ten　days　the　Nabob　had　aged　twenty　years。　Violent　southern　natures　like　his；　if　they　are　rich　in　enthusiasms；　become　also　more　utterly　prostrate　than　others。　Since　his　unseating　the　unfortunate　man　had　shut　himself　up　in　his　bedroom；　with　drawn　curtains；　no　longer　wishing　even　to　see　the　light　of　day　nor　to　cross　over　the　threshold　beyond　which　life　was　waiting　for　him；　with　the　engagements　he　had　undertaken；　the　promises　he　had　made；　a　mass　of　protested　bills　and　writs。　The　Levantine；　gone　off　to　some　spa　accompanied　by　her　/masseur/　and　her　negress；　was　totally　indifferent　to　the　ruin　of　the　establishment；　Bompainthe　man　in　the　fezin　frightened　bewilderment　amid　the　demands　for　money；　not　knowing　how　to　approach　his　ill…　starred　master；　who　persistently　kept　his　bed　and　turned　his　face　to　the　wall　as　soon　as　business　matters　were　mentioned。　His　old　mother　alone　remained　behind　to　face　the　disaster；　with　the　knowledge　born　of　her　narrow　and　straitened　experience　as　a　village　woman；　who　knows　what　a　stamped　documenta　signatureis；　and　thinks　honour　is　the　greatest　and　best　thing　in　the　world。　Her　peasant's　cap　made　its　appearance　on　every　floor　of　the　mansion；　examining　bills；　reforming　the　domestic　arrangements；　and　fearing　neither　outcries　or　humiliation。　At　all　hours　the　good　woman　might　be　seen　striding　about　the　Place　Vendome；　gesticulating；　talking　to　herself；　and　saying　aloud：　〃/Te/；　I　will　go　and　see　the　bailiff。〃　And　never　did　she　consult　her　son　about　anything　save　when　it　was　indispensable；　and　then　only　in　a　few　discreet　words；　while　avoiding　even　a　glance　at　him。　To　rouse　Jansoulet　from　his　torpor　it　had　required　de　Gery's　telegram；　dated　from　Marseilles；　announcing　that　he　was　on　his　way　back；　bringing　ten　million　francs。　Ten　millions！that　is　to　say；　bankruptcy　averted；　the　possibility　of　recovering　his　positionof　starting　life　afresh。　And　behold　our　southerner　rebounding　from　the　depth　of　his　fall；　intoxicated　with　joy；　and　full　of　hope。　He　ordered　the　windows　to　be　opened　and　newspapers　to　be　brought　to　him。　What　a　magnificent　opportunity　was　this　first　night　of　/Revolt/　to　show　himself　to　the　Parisians；　who　were　believing　him　to　have　gone　under；　to　enter　the　great　whirlpool　once　more　through　the　swing　door　of　his　box　at　the　Nouveautes！　His　mother；　warned　by　some　instinct；　did　indeed　try　to　hold　him　back。　Paris　now　terrified　her。　She　would　have　liked　to　carry　off　her　child　to　some　unknown　corner　of　the　Midi；　to　nurse　him　along　with　his　elder　brotherstricken　down　both　of　them　by　the　great　city。　But　he　was　the　master。　Resistance　was　impossible　to　that　will　of　a　man　spoiled　by　wealth。　She　helped　him　to　dress　for　the　occasion；　〃made　him　look　nice；〃　as　she　said　laughing；　and　watched　him　not　without　a　certain　pride　as　he　departed；　dignified；　full　of　new　life；　having　almost　got　over　the　prostration　of　the　preceding　days。

After　his　arrival　at　the　theatre；　Jansoulet　quickly　perceived　the　commotion　which　his　presence　caused　in　the　house。　Accustomed　to　similar　curious　ovations；　he　acknowledged　them　ordinarily　without　the　least　embarrassment；　with　a　frank　display　of　his　wide　and　good…natured　smile；　but　this　time　the　manifestation　was　hostile；　almost　indignant。

〃What！　It　is　he？〃

〃There　he　is。〃

〃What　impudence！〃

Such　exclamations　from　the　stalls　confusedly　rose　among　many　others。　The　retirement　in　which　he　had　taken　refuge　for　some　days　past　had　left　him　in　ignorance　of　the　public　exasperation；　of　the　homilies；　the　statements　broadcast　in　the　newspapers；　with　the　corrupting　influence　of　his　wealth　as　their　textarticles　written　for　effect；　hypocritical　phraseology　by　the　aid　of　which　opinion　avenges　itself　from　time　to　time　on　the　innocent　for　all　its　own　concessions　to　the　guilty。　It　was　a　terribly　embarrassing　exhibition；　which　gave　him　at　first　more　sorrow　than　anger。　Deeply　moved；　he　hid　his　emotion　behind　his　opera…　glass；　fixing　his　attention　on　the　least　details　of　the　stage　arrangements；　giving　a　three…quarters　view　of　his　back　to　the　house；　but　unable　to　escape　the　scandalous　observation　of　which　he　was　the　victim　and　which　made　his　ears　buzz；　his　temples　beat；　the　dulled　lenses　of　his　opera…glass　become　full　of　those　whirling　multi…coloured　circles　which　are　the　first　symptom　of　brain　disorder。

When　the　curtain　fell　at　the　end　of　the　first　act　he　remained　motionless；　in　the　same　attitude　of　embarrassment；　the　whisperings；　now　more　distinct　when　they　were　no　longer　held　in　check　by　the　dialogue　on　the　stage；　the　pertinacity　of　certain　inquisitive　people　changing　t