murad the unlucky and other tales-第25部分

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them；　when　every　hour　they　missed　some　accustomed　kindness　from
her；when　presently　they　saw　the　preparations　for　her　funeral；
when　they　heard　that　she　was　to　be　buried　in　the　earth；　and　that
they　should　never　see　her　more；they　could　neither　play　nor　eat；
but　sat　in　a　corner　holding　each　other's　hands；　and　watching
everything　that　was　done　for　the　dead　by　Victoire。

In　those　times；　the　funeral　of　a　nun；　with　a　priest　attending；
would　not　have　been　permitted　by　the　populace。　　It　was　therefore
performed　as　secretly　as　possible：　　in　the　middle　of　the　night　the
coffin　was　carried　to　the　burial…place　of　the　Fleury　family；　the
old　steward；　his　son　Basile；　Victoire；　and　the　good　father
confessor；　were　the　only　persons　present。　　It　is　necessary　to
mention　this；　because　the　facts　were　afterwards　misrepresented。



CHAPTER　XIV



〃The　character　is　lost！
Her　head　adorned　with　lappets；　pinned　aloft；
And　ribands　streaming　gay；　superbly　raised；
Indebted　to　some　smart　wig…weaver's　hand
For　more　than　half　the　tresses　it　sustains。〃COWPER。

Upon　her　return　to　Paris；　Victoire　felt　melancholy；　but　she　exerted
herself　as　much　as　possible　in　her　usual　occupation；　finding　that
employment　and　the　consciousness　of　doing　her　duty　were　the　best
remedies　for　sorrow。

One　day　as　she　was　busy　settling　Madame　Feuillot's　accounts　a
servant　came　into　the　shop　and　inquired　for　Mademoiselle　Victoire：
he　presented　her　a　note；　which　she　found　rather　difficult　to
decipher。　　It　was　signed　by　her　cousin　Manon；　who　desired　to　see
Victoire　at　her　hotel。　　〃HER　HOTEL！〃　repeated　Victoire　with
astonishment。　　The　servant　assured　her　that　one　of　the　finest
hotels　in　Paris　belonged　to　his　lady；　and　that　he　was　commissioned
to　show　her　the　way　to　it。　　Victoire　found　her　cousin　in　a
magnificent　house；　which　had　formerly　belonged　to　the　Prince　de
Salms。　　Manon；　dressed　in　the　disgusting；　indecent　extreme　of　the
mode；　was　seated　under　a　richly…fringed　canopy。　　She　burst　into　a
loud　laugh　as　Victoire　entered。

〃You　look　just　as　much　astonished　as　I　expected；〃　cried　she。
〃Great　changes　have　happened　since　I　saw　you　lastI　always　told
you；　Victoire；　I　knew　the　world　better　than　you　did。　　What　has　come
of　all　your　schooling；　and　your　mighty　goodness；　and　your　gratitude
truly？　　Your　patroness　is　banished　and　a　beggar；　and　you　a　drudge
in　the　shop　of　a　brodeuse；　who　makes　you　work　your　fingers　to　the
bone；　no　doubt。　　Now　you　shall　see　the　difference。　　Let　me　show　you
my　house；　you　know　it　was　formerly　the　hotel　of　the　Prince　de
Salms；　he　that　was　guillotined　the　other　day；　but　you　know　nothing；
for　you　have　been　out　of　Paris　this　month；　I　understand。　　Then　I
must　tell　you　that　my　friend　Villeneuf　has　acquired　an　immense
fortune！　by　assignats　made　in　the　course　of　a　fortnight。　　I　say　an
immense　fortune！　and　has　bought　this　fine　house。　　Now　do　you　begin
to　understand？〃

〃I　do　not　clearly　know　whom　you　mean　by　'your　friend　Villeneuf；'〃
said　Victoire。

〃The　hairdresser　who　lived　in　our　street；〃　said　Manon；　〃he　became　a
great　patriot；　you　know；　and　orator；　and；　what　with　his　eloquence
and　his　luck　in　dealing　in　assignats；　he　has　made　his　fortune　and
mine。〃

〃And　yours！　then　he　is　your　husband？〃

〃That　does　not　followthat　is　not　necessarybut　do　not　look　so
shockedeverybody　goes　on　the　sane　way　now；　besides；　I　had　no
other　resourceI　must　have　starvedI　could　not　earn　my　bread　as
you　do。　　Besides；　I　was　too　delicate　for　hard　work　of　any　sortand
besidesbut　come；　let　me　show　you　my　houseyou　have　no　idea　how
fine　it　is。〃

With　anxious　ostentation　Manon　displayed　all　her　riches　to　excite
Victoire's　envy。

〃Confess；　Victoire；〃　said　she　at　last；　〃that　you　think　me　the
happiest　person　you　have　ever　known。You　do　not　answer；　whom　did
you　ever　know　that　was　happier？〃

〃Sister　Frances；　who　died　last　week；　appeared　to　be　much　happier；〃
said　Victoire。

〃The　poor　nun！〃　said　Manon；　disdainfully。　　〃Well；　and　whom　do　you
think　the　next　happiest？〃

〃Madame　de　Fleury。〃

〃An　exile　and　a　beggar！Oh；　you　are　jesting　now；　Victoireor
envious。　　With　that　sanctified　face；　citoyenneperhaps　I　should
say　MademoiselleVictoire　you　would　be　delighted　to　change　places
with　me　this　instant。　　Come；　you　shall　stay　with　me　a　week　to　try
how　you　like　it。〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Victoire；　firmly；　〃I　cannot　stay　with　you；　Manon；
you　have　chosen　one　way　of　life　and　I　anotherquite　another。　　I　do
not　repent　my　choicemay　you　never　repent　yours！Farewell！〃

〃Bless　me！　what　airs！　and　with　what　dignity　she　looks！　　Repent　of
my　choice！a　likely　thing；　truly。　　Am　not　I　at　the　top　of　the
wheel？〃

〃And　may　not　the　wheel　turn？〃　said　Victoire。

〃Perhaps　it　may；〃　said　Manon；　〃but　till　it　does　I　will　enjoy
myself。　　Since　you　are　of　a　different　humour；　return　to　Madame
Feuillot；　and　figure　upon　cambric　and　muslin；　and　make　out　bills；
and　nurse　old　nuns　all　the　days　of　your　life。　　You　will　never
persuade　me；　however；　that　you　would　not　change　places　with　me　if
you　could。　　Stay　till　you　are　tried；　Mademoiselle　Victoire。　　Who
was　ever　in　love　with　you　or　your　virtues？Stay　till　you　are
tried。〃



CHAPTER　XV



〃But　beauty；　like　the　fair　Hesperian　tree；
Laden　with　blooming　gold；　had　need　the　guard
Of　dragon　watch　with　unenchanted　eye
To　save　her　blossoms；　or　defend　her　fruit。〃MILTON。

The　trial　was　nearer　than　either　Manon　or　Victoire　expected。　　Manon
had　scarcely　pronounced　the　last　words　when　the　ci…devant
hairdresser　burst　into　the　room；　accompanied　by　several　of　his
political　associates；　who　met　to　consult　measures　for　the　good　of
the　nation。　　Among　these　patriots　was　the　Abbe　Tracassier。

〃Who　is　that　pretty　girl　who　is　with　you；　Manon？〃　whispered　he；　〃a
friend　of　yours；　I　hope？〃

Victoire　left　the　room　immediately；　but　not　before　the　profligate
abbe　had　seen　enough　to　make　him　wish　to　see　more。　　The　next　day　he
went　to　Madame　Feuillot's　under　pretence　of　buying　some　embroidered
handkerchiefs；　he　paid　Victoire　a　profusion　of　extravagant
compliments；　which　made　no　impression　upon　her　innocent　heart；　and
which　appeared　ridiculous　to　her　plain　good　sense。　　She　did　not
know　who　he　was；　nor　did　Madame　Feuillot；　for　though　she　had　often
heard　of　the　abbe；　yet　she　had　never　seen　him。　　Several　succeeding
days　he　returned；　and　addressed　himself　to　Victoire；　each　time　with
increasing　freedom。　　Madame　Feuillot；　who　had　the　greatest
confidence　in　her；　left　her　entirely　to　her　own　discretion。
Victoire　begged　her　friend　Annette　to　do　the　business　of　the　shop；
and　stayed　at　work　in　the　back　parlour。　　Tracassier　was　much
disappointed　by　her　absence；　but　as　he　thought　no　great　ceremony
necessary　in　his　proceedings；　he　made　his　name　known　in　a　haughty
manner　to　Madame　de　Feuillot；　and　desired　that　he　might　be　admitted
into　the　back　parlour；　as　he　had　something　of　consequence　to　say　to
Mademoiselle　Victoire　in　private。　　Our　readers　will　not　require　to
have　a　detailed　account　of　this　tete…a…tete；　it　is　sufficient　to
say　that　the　disappointed　and　exasperated　abbe　left　the　house
muttering　imprecations。　　The　next　morning　a　note　came　to　Victoire
apparently　from　Manon：　　it　was　directed　by　her；　but　the　inside　was
written　by　an　unknown　hand；　and　continued　these　words：…

〃You　are　a　charming；　but　incomprehensible　girlsince　you　do　not
like　compliments；　you　shall　not　be　addressed　with　empty　flattery。
It　is　in　the　power　of　the　person　who　dictates　this；　not　only　to
make　you　as　rich　and　great　as　your　cousin　Manon；　but　also　to
restore　to　fortune　and　to　their　country　the　friends　for　whom；　you
are　most　interested。　　Their　fate　as　well　as　your　own　is　in　your
power：　　if　you　send　a　favourable　answer　to　this　note；　the　persons
alluded　to　will；　to…morrow；　be　struck　from　the　list　of　emigrants；
and　reinstated　in　their　former　possessions。　　If　your　answer　is
decidedly　unfavourable；　the　return　of　your　friends　to　France　will
be　thenceforward　impracticable；　and　their　chateau；　as　well　as　their
house　in　Paris；　will　be　declared　national　property；　and　sold
without　delay　to　the　highest　bidder。　　To　you；　who　have　as　much
understanding　as　beauty；　it　is　unnecessary　to　say　more。　　Consult
your　heart；　charming　Victoire！　be　happy；　and　make　others　happy。
This　moment　is　decisive　of　your　fate　and　of　theirs；　for　you　have　to
answer　a　man　of　a　most　decided　character。〃

Victoire's　answer　was　as　follows：…

〃My　friends　would　not；　I　am　sure；　accept　of　their　fortune；　or
consent　to　return　to　their　country；　upon　the　conditions　proposed；
therefore　I　have　no　merit　in　rejecting　them。〃

Victoire　had　early　acquired　good　principles；　and　that　plain　steady
good　sense；　which　goes　straight　to　its　object；　without　being
dazzled　or　imposed　upon　by　sophistry。　　She　was　unacquainted　with
the　refinements　of　sentiment；　but　she　distinctly　knew　right　from
wrong；　and　had　sufficient　resolution　to　abide　by　the　right。
Perhaps　many　romantic　heroines　might　have　thought　it　a　generous
self…devotion　to　have　become　in　similar　circumstances　the　mistress
of　Tracassier；　and　those　who　are　skilled　〃to　make　the　worst　appear
the　better　cause〃　might　have　made　such　an　act　of　heroism　the
foundation　of　an　interesting；　or　at　least　a　fashionable　novel。
Poor　Victoire　had　not　received　an　education　sufficiently　refined　to
enable　her　to　understand　these　mysteries　of　sentiment。　　She　was
even　simple　enough　to　flatter　herself　that　this　libertine　patriot
would　not　fulfil　his　threats；　and　that　these　had　been　made　only
with　a　view　to　terrify　her　into　compliance。　　In　this　opinion；
however；　she　found　herself　mistaken。　　M。　Tracassier　was　indeed　a
man　of　the　most　decided　character；　if　this　form　may　properly　be
applied　to　those　who　act　uniformly　in　consequence　of　their　ruling
passion。　　The　Chateau　de　Fleury　was　seized　as　national　property。
Victoire　heard　this　bad　news　from　the　old　steward；　who　was　turned
out　of　the　castle；　along　with　his　son；　the　very　day　after　her
rejection　of　the　proposed　conditions。

〃I　could　not　have　believed　that　any　human　creature　could　be　so
wicked！〃　exclaimed　Victoire；　glowing　with　indignation：　　but
indignation　gave　way　to　sorrow。

〃And　the　Chateau　de　Fleury　is　really　seized？and　you；　good　old
man；　are　turned　out　of　the　place　where　you　were　born？and　you　too；
Basile？and　Ma