the nabob-第39部分

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ith　mosaics　and　furnished　with　a　flowery　lightness　in　the　old…fashioned　style；　with　Louis　XIV　sofas　in　cane　and　silk；　the　immense　dining…room　decorated　with　palms　and　flowers；　the　billiard…room　with　its　rows　of　brilliant　ivory　balls；　its　crystal　chandeliers　and　its　suits　of　armourall　the　length　of　the　castle；　through　its　tall　windows；　wide　open　to　the　stately　terrace；　lay　displayed　for　the　admiration　of　the　visitors。　The　marvellous　beauty　of　the　horizon　and　the　setting　sun；　its　own　serene　and　peaceful　richness；　were　reflected　in　the　panes　of　glass　and　in　the　waxed　and　polished　wood　with　the　same　clearness　as　in　the　mirror…like　ornamental　lakes；　the　pictures　of　the　poplars　and　the　swans。　The　setting　was　so　lovely；　the　whole　effect　so　grand；　that　the　clamorous　and　tasteless　luxury　melted　away；　disappeared；　even　to　the　most　hypercritical　eyes。

〃There　is　something　to　work　on；〃　said　Cardailhac；　the　manager；　his　glass　in　his　eye；　his　hat　on　one　side；　combining　already　his　stage…　effect。　And　the　haughty　air　of　Monpavon；　whom　the　head…dress　of　the　old　woman　receiving　them　on　the　terrace　had　shocked；　gave　way　to　a　condescending　smile。　Here　was　something　to　work　on；　certainly；　and；　guided　by　persons　of　taste；　their　friend　Jansoulet　could　really　give　his　Moorish　Highness　an　exceedingly　suitable　reception。　All　the　evening　they　talked　of　nothing　else。　In　the　sumptuous　dining…room；　their　elbows　on　the　table；　full　of　meat　and　drink；　they　planned　and　discussed。　Cardailhac；　who　had　great　ideas；　had　already　his　plan　complete。

〃First　of　all；　you　give　me　/carte…blanche/；　don't　you；　Nabob？　/Carte…　blanche/；　old　fellow；　and　make　that　fat　Hemerlingue　burst　with　envy。〃

Then　the　manager　explained　his　scheme。　The　festivities　were　to　be　divided　into　days；　as　at　Vaux；　when　Fouquet　entertained　Louis　XIV。　One　day　a　play；　another　day　Provencal　games；　dances；　bull…fights；　local　bands；　the　third　day　And　already　the　manager's　hand　sketched　programmes；　announcements；　while　Bois　l'Hery　slept；　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　his　chair　tilted　back；　his　cigar　sunk　in　the　corner　of　his　sneering　mouth；　and　the　Marquis　de　Monpavon；　always　on　his　best　behaviour；　straightened　his　shirt…front　to　keep　himself　awake。

De　Gery　had　left　them　early。　He　had　sought　refuge　beside　the　old　motherwho　had　known　him　as　a　boy；　him　and　his　brothersin　the　humble　parlour　of　the　brightly　decorated；　white…curtained　house；　where　the　Nabob's　mother　tried　to　perpetuate　her　humble　past　with　the　help　of　a　few　relics　saved　from　its　wreck。

Paul　chatted　quietly　with　the　fine　old　woman；　admiring　her　severe　and　regular　features；　her　white　hair　massed　together　like　the　hemp　of　her　distaff；　as　she　sat　holding　herself　straight　in　her　seatnever　in　her　life　having　leaned　back　or　sat　in　an　arm…chaira　little　green　shawl　folded　tightly　across　her　flat　breast。　He　called　her　Francoise；　and　she　called　him　M。　Paul。　They　were　old　friends。　And　guess　what　they　talked　about？　Of　her　grandchildren；　of　Bernard's　three　sons；　whom　she　did　not　know　and　so　much　longed　to　know。

〃Ah；　M。　Paul；　if　you　knew　how　I　long　to　see　them！　I　should　have　been　so　happy　if　he　had　brought　them；　my　three　little　ones；　instead　of　these　fine　gentlemen。　Think；　I　have　never　seen　them；　only　their　portraits　which　are　over　there。　I　am　a　little　afraid　of　their　mother；　she　is　quite　a　great　lady；　a　Miss　Afchin。　But　them；　the　children；　I　am　sure　they　are　not　proud；　and　they　would　love　their　old　granny。　It　would　be　like　having　their　father　a　little　boy　again；　and　I　would　give　to　them　what　I　did　not　give　to　him。　You　see；　M。　Paul；　parents　are　not　always　just。　They　have　their　favourites。　But　God　is　just；　he　is。　The　ones　that　are　most　petted　and　spoiled　at　the　expense　of　the　others；　you　should　see　what　he　does　to　them　for　you！　And　the　favour　of　the　old　often　brings　misfortune　to　the　young！〃

She　sighed；　looking　towards　the　large　recess　from　behind　the　curtains　of　which　there　came；　at　intervals；　a　long　sobbing　breath　like　the　sleeping　wail　of　a　beaten　child　who　has　cried　bitterly。

A　heavy　step　on　the　staircase；　a　loud；　sweet　voice　saying；　very　softly；　〃It　is　I；　don't　move；〃　and　Jansoulet　appeared。　He　knew　his　mother's　habits；　how　her　lamp　was　the　last　to　go　out；　so　when　every　one　in　the　castle　was　in　bed；　he　came　to　see　her；　to　chat　with　her　for　a　little；　to　rejoice　her　heart　with　an　affection　he　could　not　show　before　the　others。　〃Oh；　stay；　my　dear　Paul；　we　don't　mind　you；〃　and　once　more　a　child　in　his　mother's　presence；　with　loving　gestures　and　words　that　were　really　touching；　the　huge　man　threw　himself　on　the　ground　at　her　feet。　She　was　very　happy　to　have　him　there；　so　dearly　near；　but　she　was　just　a　little　shy。　She　looked　upon　him　as　an　all…　powerful　being；　extraordinary；　raising　him；　in　her　simplicity；　to　the　greatness　of　an　Olympian　commanding　the　thunder　and　lightning。　She　spoke　to　him；　asking　about　his　friends；　his　business；　but　not　daring　to　put　the　question　she　had　asked　de　Gery：　〃Why　haven't　my　grandchildren　come？〃　But　he　spoke　of　them　himself。　〃They　are　at　school；　mother。　Whenever　the　holidays　begin　they　shall　be　sent　with　Bompain。　You　remember　Jean…Baptiste　Bompain？　And　you　shall　keep　them　for　two　long　months。　They　will　come　to　you　and　make　you　tell　them　stories；　and　they　will　go　to　sleep　with　their　heads　on　your　lap　there；　like　that。〃

And　he　himself；　putting　his　heavy；　woolly　head　on　her　knee；　remembered　the　happy　evenings　of　his　childhood　when　he　would　go　to　sleep　so；　if　she　would　let　him；　and　his　brother　had　not　taken　up　all　the　room。　He　tasted　for　the　first　time　since　his　return　to　France　a　few　minutes　of　delicious　peace　away　from　his　restless　and　artificial　life；　as　he　lay　pressed　to　his　old　mother's　heart；　in　the　deep　silence　of　night　and　of　the　country　which　one　feels　hovering　over　him　in　limitless　space；　the　only　sounds　the　beating　of　that　old　faithful　heart　and　the　swing　of　the　pendulum　of　the　ancient　clock　in　the　corner。　Suddenly　came　the　same　long　sigh；　as　of　a　child　fallen　asleep　sobbing。　Jansoulet　lifted　his　head　and　looked　at　his　mother；　and　softly　asked：　〃Is　it？〃　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　make　him　sleep　there。　He　might　need　me　in　the　night。〃

〃I　would　like　to　see　him；　to　embrace　him。〃

〃Come；　then。〃　She　rose　very　gravely；　took　the　lamp　and　went　to　the　alcove；　of　which　she　softly　drew　the　large　curtain；　making　a　sign　to　her　son　to　draw　near　quietly。

He　was　sleeping。　And　no　doubt　something　lived　in　him　while　he　slept　that　was　not　there　when　he　waked；　for　instead　of　the　flaccid　immobility　in　which　he　was　congealed　all　day；　he　was　now　shaken　by　sudden　starts；　and　on　the　inexpressive　and　death…like　face　there　were　lines　of　pain　and　the　contractions　of　suffering　life。　Jansoulet；　much　affected；　looked　long　at　those　wasted　features；　faded　and　sickly；　where　the　beard　grew　with　a　surprising　vigour。　Then　he　bent　down；　put　his　lips　to　the　damp　brow；　and　feeling　him　move；　said　very　gravely　and　respectfully；　as　one　speaks　to　the　head　of　the　family；　〃Good…night；　my　brother。〃　Perhaps　the　captive　soul　had　heard　it　from　the　depths　of　its　dark　and　abject　limbo。　For　the　lips　moved　and　a　long　moan　answered　him；　a　far…away　wail；　a　despairing　cry；　which　filled　with　helpless　tears　the　glance　exchanged　between　Francoise　and　her　son；　and　tore　from　them　both　the　same　cry　in　which　their　sorrow　met；　〃Pecaire；〃　the　local　word　which　expressed　all　pity　and　all　tenderness。

The　next　day；　from　early　morning；　the　commotion　began　with　the　arrival　of　the　actors；　an　avalanche　of　hats　and　wigs　and　big　boots；　of　short　skirts　and　affected　cries；　of　floating　veils　and　fresh　make…ups。　The　women　were　in　a　great　majority；　as　Cardailhac　thought　that　for　a　Bey　the　play　was　of　little　consequence；　and　that　all　that　was　needful　was　to　have　catchy　tunes　in　pretty　mouths；　to　show　fine　arms　and　shapely　legs　in　the　easy　costume　of　light　opera。　All　the　well…made　celebrities　of　his　theatre　were　there；　Amy　Ferat　at　the　head　of　them；　a　bold　young　woman　who　had　already　had　her　teeth　in　the　gold　of　several　crowns。　There　were　two　or　three　well…known　men　whose　pale　faces　made　the　same　kind　of　chalky　and　spectral　spots　amid　the　green　of　the　trees　as　the　plaster　of　the　statues。　All　these　people；　enlivened　by　the　journey；　the　surprise　of　the　country；　the　overflowing　hospitality；　as　well　as　the　hope　of　making　something　out　of　this　sojourn　of　Beys　and　Nabobs　and　other　gilded　fools；　wanted　only　to　play；　to　jest　and　sing　with　the　vulgar　boisterousness　of　a　crew　of　freshly　discharged　Seine　boatmen。　But　Cardailhac　meant　otherwise。　No　sooner　were　they　unpacked；　freshened　up；　and　luncheon　over　than；　quick；　the　parts；　the　rehearsals！　There　was　no　time　to　lose。　They　worked　in　the　small　drawing…room　next　the　summer　gallery；　where　the　theatre　was　already　being　fitted　up；　and　the　noise　of　hammers；　the　songs　from　the　burlesque；　the　shrill　voices；　the　conductor's　fiddle；　mingled　with　the　loud　trumpet…like　calls　of　the　peacocks；　and　rose　upon　the　hot　southern　wind；　which；　not　recognising　it　as　only　the　mad　rattle　of　its　own　grasshoppers；　shook　it　all　disdainfully　on　the　trailing　tip　of　its　wings。

Seated　in　the　centre　of　the　terrace；　as　in　the　stage…box　of　his　theatre；　Cardailhac　watched　the　rehearsals；　gave　orders　to　a　crowd　of　workmen　and　gardeners；　had　trees　cut　down　as　spoiling　the　view；　designed　the　triumphal　arches；　sent　off　telegrams；　express　messengers　to　mayors；　to　sub…prefects；　to　Arlesto　arrange　for　a　deputation　of　girls　in　national　costume；　to　Barbantane；　where　the　best　dancers　are；　to　Faraman；　famous　for　its　wild　bulls　and　Camargue　horses。　And　as　the　name　of　Jansoulet；　joined　to　that　of　the　Bey　of　Tunis；　flared　at　the　end　of　all　these　messages；　on　all　sides　they　hastened　to　obey；　the　telegraph　wires　were　never　still；　messengers　wore　out　horses　on　the　roads。　And　this　little　Sardanapalus　of　the　stage　called　Cardailhac　repeated　ever；　〃There's　something　to　work　on　here；〃　happy　to　scatter　gold　at　random　like　handfuls　of　seed；　to　have　a　stage　of　forty　leagues　to　stir　aboutthe　whole　of　Provence；　of　which　this　rabid　Parisian　was　a　native　and　whose　picturesque　resources　he　knew　to　the　core。

Dispossessed　of　her　office；　the　old　mother　never　appeared。　She　occupied　herself　with　the　farm；　and　her　invalid。　She　was　terrified　by　this　crowd　of　visitors；　these　insolent　servants　whom　it　was　difficult　to　kno