第2章
Mme。deMarvillewishedtomakematterseven。Herrequest,madealoud,indefianceofallrulesofgoodtaste,soundedsomuchlikeanattempttorepayatoncethebalanceduetothepoorcousin,thatPonsflushedred,likeagirlfoundoutinfault。Thegrainofsandwasalittletoolarge;forsomemomentshecouldonlyletitworkinhisheart。Cecile,ared-hairedyoungwoman,withatouchofpedanticaffectation,combinedherfather"sponderousmannerwithatraceofhermother"shardness。ShewentandleftpoorPonsfacetofacewiththeterriblePresidente。
“Hownicesheis,mylittleLili！”saidthemother。ShestillcalledherCecilebythisbabyname。
“Charming！”saidPons,twirlinghisthumbs。
“I/cannot/understandthesetimesinwhichwelive,“brokeoutthePresidente。“WhatisthegoodofhavingaPresidentoftheCourtofAppealinParisandaCommanderoftheLegionofHonorforyourfather,andforagrandfathertherichestwholesalesilkmerchantinParis,adeputy,andamillionairethatwillbeapeerofFrancesomeofthesedays？”
ThePresident"szealforthenewGovernmenthad,infact,recentlybeenrewardedwithacommander"sribbon——thankstohisfriendshipwithPopinot,saidtheenvious。Popinothimself,modestthoughhewas,had,ashasbeenseen,acceptedthetitleofcount,“forhisson"ssake,“
hetoldhisnumerousfriends。
“Menlookfornothingbutmoneynowadays,“saidCousinPons。“Noonethinksanythingofyouunlessyouarerich,and——“
“WhatwouldithavebeenifHeavenhadsparedmypoorlittleCharles!——“criedthelady。
“Oh,withtwochildrenyouwouldbepoor,“returnedthecousin。“Itpracticallymeansthedivisionoftheproperty。Butyouneednottroubleyourself,cousin;Cecileissuretomarrysoonerorlater。SheisthemostaccomplishedgirlIknow。“
TosuchdepthshadPonsfallenbyadaptinghimselftothecompanyofhisentertainers!Intheirhousesheechoedtheirideas,andsaidtheobviousthing,afterthemannerofachorusinaGreekplay。Hedidnotdaretogivefreeplaytotheartist"soriginality,whichhadoverflowedinbrightreparteewhenhewasyoung;hehadeffacedhimself,tillhehadalmostlosthisindividuality;andiftherealPonsappeared,ashehaddoneamomentago,hewasimmediatelyrepressed。
“ButImyselfwasmarriedwithonlytwentythousandfrancsformyportion——“
“In1819,cousin。Anditwas/you/,awomanwithaheadonyourshoulders,andtheroyalprotectionofLouisXVIII。“
“Bestill,mychildisaperfectangel。Sheisclever,shehasawarmheart,shewillhaveahundredthousandfrancsonherweddingday,tosaynothingofthemostbrilliantexpectations;andyetshestaysonourhands,“andsoonandsoon。Fortwentyminutes,Mme。deMarvilletalkedonaboutherselfandherCecile,pityingherselfafterthemannerofmothersinbondagetomarriageabledaughters。
Ponshaddinedatthehouseeveryweekfortwentyyears,andCamusotdeMarvillewastheonlycousinhehadintheworld;buthehadyettohearthefirstwordspokenastohisownaffairs——nobodycaredtoknowhowhelived。Hereandelsewherethepoorcousinwasakindofsinkdownwhichhisrelativespoureddomesticconfidences。Hisdiscretionwaswellknown;indeed,washenotboundovertosilencewhenasingleimprudentwordwouldhaveshutthedooroftenhousesuponhim?Andhemustcombinehisroleoflistenerwithasecondpart;hemustapplaudcontinually,smileoneveryone,accusenobody,defendnobody;fromhispointofview,everyonemustbeintheright。Andso,inthehouseofhiskinsman,Ponsnolongercountedasaman;hewasadigestiveapparatus。
Inthecourseofalongtirade,Mme。CamusotdeMarvilleavowedwithduecircumspectionthatshewaspreparedtotakealmostanyson-in-lawwithhereyesshut。Shewasevendisposedtothinkthatateight-and-
fortyorsoamanwithtwentythousandfrancsayearwasagoodmatch。
“Cecileisinhertwenty-thirdyear。Ifitshouldfalloutsounfortunatelythatsheisnotmarriedbeforesheisfiveorsix-and-
twenty,itwillbeextremelyhardtomarryheratall。Whenagirlreachesthatage,peoplewanttoknowwhyshehasbeensolongonhand。Weareagooddealtalkedaboutinourset。Wehavecometotheendofalltheordinaryexcuses——"Sheissoyoung——Sheissofondofherfatherandmotherthatshedoesn"tliketoleavethem——Sheissohappyathome——Sheishardtoplease,shewouldlikeagoodname——"
Wearebeginningtolooksilly;Ifeelthatdistinctly。Andbesides,Cecileistiredofwaiting,poorchild,shesuffers——“
“Inwhatway？”Ponswasnoodleenoughtoask。
“Why,becauseitishumiliatingtohertoseeallhergirlfriendsmarriedbeforeher,“repliedthemother,withaduenna"sair。
“But,cousin,hasanythinghappenedsincethelasttimethatIhadthepleasureofdininghere?Whydoyouthinkofmenofeight-and-forty？”
Ponsinquiredhumbly。
“Thishashappened,“returnedthePresidente。“WeweretohavehadaninterviewwithaCourtCouncillor;hissonisthirtyyearsoldandverywell-to-do,andM。deMarvillewouldhaveobtainedapostintheaudit-officeforhimandpaidthemoney。Theyoungmanisasupernumerarythereatpresent。AndnowtheytellusthathehastakenitintohisheadtorushofftoItalyinthetrainofaduchessfromtheBalMabille……Itisnothingbutarefusalindisguise。Thefactis,theyoungman"smotherisdead;hehasanincomeofthirtythousandfrancs,andmoretocomeathisfather"sdeath,andtheydon"tcareaboutthematchforhim。Youhavejustcomeininthemiddleofallthis,dearcousin,soyoumustexcuseourbadtemper。“
WhilePonswascastingaboutforthecomplimentaryanswerwhichinvariablyoccurredtohimtoolatewhenhewasafraidofhishost,Madeleinecamein,handedafoldednotetothePresidente,andwaitedforananswer。Thenoteranasfollows：
“DEARMAMMA,——IfwepretendthatthisnotecomestoyoufrompapaatthePalais,andthathewantsusbothtodinewithhisfriendbecauseproposalshavebeenrenewed——thenthecousinwillgo,andwecancarryoutourplanofgoingtothePopinots。“
“Whobroughtthemaster"snote？”thePresidenteaskedquickly。
“AladfromtheSalleduPalais,“thewitheredwaitingwomanunblushinglyanswered,andhermistressknewatoncethatMadeleinehadwoventheplotwithCecile,nowattheendofherpatience。
“Tellhimthatwewillbothbethereathalf-pastfive。“
MadeleinehadnosoonerlefttheroomthanthePresidenteturnedtoCousinPonswiththatinsincerefriendlinesswhichisaboutasgratefultoasensitivesoulasamixtureofmilkandvinegartothepalateofanepicure。
“Dinnerisordered,dearcousin;youmustdinewithoutus;myhusbandhasjustsentwordfromthecourtthatthequestionofthemarriagehasbeenreopened,andwearetodinewiththeCouncillor。Weneednotstandonceremonyatall。Dojustasifyouwereathome。Ihavenosecretsfromyou;Iamperfectlyopenwithyou,asyousee。Iamsureyouwouldnotwishtobreakoffthelittledarling"smarriage。“
“/I/,cousin?Onthecontrary,Ishouldliketofindsomeoneforher;
butinmycircle——“
“Oh,thatisnotatalllikely,“saidthePresidente,cuttinghimshortinsolently。“Thenyouwillstay,willyounot?CecilewillkeepyoucompanywhileIdress。
“Oh!Icandinesomewhereelse,cousin。“
Cruellyhurtthoughhewasbyherwayofcastinguphispovertytohim,theprospectofbeingleftalonewiththeservantswasevenmorealarming。
“Butwhyshouldyou?Dinnerisready;youmayjustaswellhaveit;ifyoudonot,theservantswilleatit。“
AtthatatrociousspeechPonsstartedupasifhehadreceivedashockfromagalvanicbattery,bowedstifflytothelady,andwenttofindhisspencer。Now,itsohappenedthatthedoorofCecile"sbedroom,beyondthelittledrawing-room,stoodopen,andlookingintothemirror,hecaughtsightofthegirlshakingwithlaughterasshegesticulatedandmadesignstohermother。Theoldartistunderstoodbeyondadoubtthathehadbeenthevictimofsomecowardlyhoax。Ponswentslowlydownthestairs;hecouldnotkeepbackthetears。Heunderstoodthathehadbeenturnedoutofthehouse,butwhyandwhereforehedidnotknow。
“Iamgrowingtooold,“hetoldhimself。“Theworldhasahorrorofoldageandpoverty——twouglythings。AfterthisIwillnotgoanywhereunlessIamasked。“
Heroicresolve!
Downstairsthegreatgatewasshut,asitusuallyisinhousesoccupiedbytheproprietor;thekitchenstoodexactlyoppositetheporter"slodge,andthedoorwasopen。PonswasobligedtolistenwhileMadeleinetoldtheservantsthewholestoryamidthelaughteroftheservants。Shehadnotexpectedhimtoleavesosoon。Thefootmanloudlyapplaudedajokeattheexpenseofavisitorwhowasalwayscomingtothehouseandnevergaveyoumorethanthreefrancsattheyear"send。
“Yes,“putinthecook;“butifhecutsuproughanddoesnotcomeback,therewillbethreefrancsthelessforsomeofusonNewYear"sday。“
“Eh!Howishetoknow？”retortedthefootman。
“Pooh！”saidMadeleine,“alittlesooneroralittlelater——whatdifferencedoesitmake?Thepeopleattheotherhouseswherehedinesaresotiredofhimthattheyaregoingtoturnhimout。“
“Thegate,ifyouplease！”
Madeleinehadscarcelyutteredthewordswhentheyheardtheoldmusician"scalltotheporter。Itsoundedlikeacryofpain。Therewasasuddensilenceinthekitchen。
“Heheard！”thefootmansaid。
“Well,andifhedid,somuchtheworser,orrathersomuchthebetter,“retortedMadeleine。“Heisanarrantskinflint。“
PoorPonshadlostnoneofthetalkinthekitchen;hehearditall,eventothelastword。Hemadehiswayhomealongtheboulevards,inthesamestate,physicalandmental,asanoldwomanafteradesperatestrugglewithburglars。Ashewenthetalkedtohimselfinquickspasmodicjerks;hishonorhadbeenwounded,andthepainofitdrovehimonasagustofwindwhirlsawayastraw。HefoundhimselfatlastintheBoulevardduTemple;howhehadcomethitherhecouldnottell。
Itwasfiveo"clock,and,strangetosay,hehadcompletelylosthisappetite。
ButifthereaderistounderstandtherevolutionwhichPons"
unexpectedreturnatthathourwastoworkintheRuedeNormandie,thepromisedbiographyofMme。Cibotmustbegiveninthisplace。
AnyonepassingalongtheRuedeNormandiemightbepardonedforthinkingthathewasinsomesmallprovincialtown。Grassrunstoseedinthestreet,everybodyknowseverybodyelse,andthesightofastrangerisanevent。ThehousesdatebacktothereignofHenryIV。,whentherewasaschemeafootforaquarterinwhicheverystreetwastobenamedafteraFrenchprovince,andallshouldconvergeinahandsomesquaretowhichLaFranceshouldstandgodmother。TheQuartierdel"Europewasarevivalofthesameidea;historyrepeatsitselfeverywhereintheworld,andevenintheworldofspeculation。
Thehouseinwhichthetwomusiciansusedtoliveisanoldmansionwithacourtyardinfrontandagardenattheback;butthefrontpartofthehousewhichgivesuponthestreetiscomparativelymodern,builtduringtheeighteenthcenturywhentheMaraiswasafashionablequarter。Thefriendslivedattheback,onthesecondflooroftheoldpartofthehouse。ThewholebuildingbelongstoM。Pillerault,anoldmanofeighty,wholeftmattersverymuchinthehandsofM。andMme。
Cibot,hisportersforthepasttwenty-sixyears。
Now,asaportercannotlivebyhislodgealone,theaforesaidCibothadothermeansofgainingalivelihood;andsupplementedhisfivepercentontherentalandhisfaggotfromeverycartloadofwoodbyhisownearningsasatailor。IntimeCibotceasedtoworkforthemastertailors;hemadeaconnectionamongthelittletrades-peopleofthequarter,andenjoyedamonopolyoftherepairs,renovations,andfinedrawingofallthecoatsandtrousersinthreeadjacentstreets。Thelodgewasspaciousandwholesome,andboastedasecondroom;whereforetheCibotcouplewerelookeduponasamongtheluckiestportersinthearrondissement。
Cibot,smallandstunted,withacomplexionalmostolive-coloredbyreasonofsittingdayindayoutinTurk-fashiononatablelevelwiththebarredwindow,madeabouttwelveorfourteenfrancsaweek。Heworkedstill,thoughhewasfifty-eightyearsold,butfifty-eightistheporter"sgoldenage;heisusedtohislodge,heandhisroomfiteachotherliketheshellandtheoyster,and“heisknownintheneighborhood。“
Mme。Cibot,sometimeopenerofoystersatthe/CadranBleu/,afteralltheadventureswhichcomeunsoughttothebelleofanoyster-bar,leftherpostforloveofCibotattheageoftwenty-eight。Thebeautyofawomanofthepeopleisshort-lived,especiallyifsheisplantedespalierfashionatarestaurantdoor。Herfeaturesarehardenedbypuffsofhotairfromthekitchen;thecoloroftheheeltapsofcustomers"bottles,finishedinthecompanyofthewaiters,graduallyfiltersintohercomplexion——nobeautyisfullblownsosoonasthebeautyofanoyster-opener。LuckilyforMme。Cibot,lawfulwedlockandaportress"lifewereofferedtoherjustintime;whileshestillpreservedacomelinessofamasculineorderslanderedbyrivalsoftheRuedeNormandie,whocalledher“agreatblowsything,“Mme。CibotmighthavesatasamodeltoRubens。ThosefleshtintsremindedyouoftheappetizingsheenonapatofIsignybutter;butplumpasshewas,nowomanwentaboutherworkwithmoreagility。Mme。Cibothadattainedthetimeoflifewhenwomenofherstampareobligedtoshave——whichisasmuchastosaythatshehadreachedtheageofforty-
eight。Aporter"swifewithamoustacheisoneofthebestpossibleguaranteesofrespectabilityandsecuritythatalandlordcanhave。IfDelacroixcouldhaveseenMme。Cibotleaningproudlyonherbroomhandle,hewouldassuredlyhavepaintedherasBellona。
Strangeasitmayseem,thecircumstancesoftheCibots,manandwife(inthestyleofanindictment),wereonedaytoaffectthelivesofthetwofriends;whereforethechronicler,asindutybound,mustgivesomeparticularsastotheCibots"lodge。
Thehousebroughtinabouteightthousandfrancsfortherewerethreecompletesetsofapartments——backandfront,onthesidenearesttheRuedeNormandie,aswellasthethreefloorsintheoldermansionbetweenthecourtyardandthegarden,andashopkeptbyamarinestore-dealernamedRemonencq,whichfrontedonthestreet。DuringthepastfewmonthsthisRemonencqhadbeguntodealinoldcuriosities,andknewthevalueofPons"collectionsowellthathetookoffhishatwheneverthemusiciancameinorwentout。
AsouinthelivreoneightthousandfrancsthereforebroughtinaboutfourhundredfrancstotheCibots。Theyhadnorenttopayandnoexpensesforfiring;Cibot"searningsamountedonanaveragetosevenoreighthundredfrancs,addtipsatNewYear,andthepairhadaltogetherinincomeofsixteenhundredfrancs,everypennyofwhichtheyspent,fortheCibotslivedandfaredbetterthanworkingpeopleusuallydo。“Onecanonlyliveonce,“LaCibotusedtosay。ShewasbornduringtheRevolution,yousee,andhadneverlearnedherCatechism。
Thehusbandofthisportresswiththeunblenchingtawnyeyeswasanobjectofenvytothewholefraternity,forLaCibothadnotforgottentheknowledgeofcookerypickedupatthe/CadranBleu/。SoithadcometopassthattheCibotshadpassedtheprimeoflife,andsawthemselvesonthethresholdofoldagewithoutahundredfrancsputbyforthefuture。Wellcladandwellfed,theyenjoyedamongtheneighbors,itistrue,therespectduetotwenty-sixyearsofstricthonesty;foriftheyhadnothingoftheirown,they“hadn"tnothingbelongingtonobodyelse,“accordingtoLaCibot,whowasaprodigalofnegatives。“Therewasn"tneversuchaloveofaman,“shewouldsaytoherhusband。Doyouaskwhy?Youmightaswellaskthereasonofherindifferenceinmattersofreligion。
Bothofthemwereproudofalifelivedinopenday,oftheesteeminwhichtheywereheldforsixorsevenstreetsroundabout,andoftheautocraticrulepermittedtothembytheproprietor(“perprietor,“
theycalledhim);butinprivatetheygroanedbecausetheyhadnomoneylyingatinterest。Cibotcomplainedofpainsinhishandsandlegs,andhiswifewouldlamentthatherpoor,dearCibotshouldbeforcedtoworkathisage;and,indeed,thedayisnotfardistantwhenaporterafterthirtyyearsofsuchalifewillcryshameupontheinjusticeoftheGovernmentandclamorfortheribbonoftheLegionofHonor。Everytimethatthegossipofthequarterbroughtnewsofsuchandsuchaservant-maid,leftanannuityofthreeorfourhundredfrancsaftereightortenyearsofservice,theporters"
lodgeswouldresoundwithcomplaints,whichmaygivesomeideaoftheconsumingjealousiesinthelowestwalksoflifeinParis。
“Oh,indeed!Itwillneverhappentothelikeofustohaveournamesmentionedinawill!Wehavenoluck,butwedomorethanservants,forallthat。Wefillaplaceoftrust;wegivereceipts,weareonthelookoutforsqualls,andyetwearetreatedlikedogs,neithermorenorless,andthat"sthetruth！”
“Somefindfortuneandsomemissfortune,“saidCibot,cominginwithacoat。
“IfIhadleftCibothereinhislodgeandtakenaplaceascook,weshouldhaveourthirtythousandfrancsoutatinterest,“criedMme。
Cibot,standingchattingwithaneighbor,herhandsonherprominenthips。“ButIdidn"tunderstandhowtogetoninlife;housedinsideofasnuglodgeandfiringfoundandwantfornothing,butthatisall。“
In1836,whenthefriendstookuptheirabodeonthesecondfloor,theybroughtaboutasortofrevolutionintheCibothousehold。Itbefellonthiswise。Schmucke,likehisfriendPons,usuallyarrangedthattheporterortheporter"swifeshouldundertakethecaresofhousekeeping;andbeingbothofonemindonthispointwhentheycametoliveintheRuedeNormandie,Mme。Cibotbecametheirhousekeeperattherateoftwenty-fivefrancspermonth——twelvefrancsfiftycentimesforeachofthem。Beforetheyearwasout,theemeritusportressreignedintheestablishmentofthetwooldbachelors,asshereignedeverywhereinthehousebelongingtoM。Pillerault,greatuncleofMme。leComtessePopinot。Theirbusinesswasherbusiness;
shecalledthem“mygentlemen。“Andatlast,findingthepairofnutcrackersasmildaslambs,easytolivewith,andbynomeanssuspicious——perfectchildren,infact——herheart,theheartofawomanofthepeople,promptedhertoprotect,adore,andservethemwithsuchthoroughdevotion,thatshereadthemalecturenowandagain,andsavedthemfromtheimpositionswhichswellthecostoflivinginParis。Fortwenty-fivefrancsamonth,thetwooldbachelorsinadvertentlyacquiredamother。
AstheybecameawareofMme。Cibot"sfullvalue,theygaveheroutspokenpraises,andthanks,andlittlepresentswhichstrengthenedthebondsofthedomesticalliance。Mme。Cibotathousandtimespreferredappreciationtomoneypayments;itisawell-knownfactthatthesensethatoneisappreciatedmakesupforadeficiencyinwages。
AndCibotdidallthathecouldforhiswife"stwogentlemen,andranerrandsanddidrepairsathalf-priceforthem。
Thesecondyearbroughtanewelementintothefriendshipbetweenthelodgeandthesecondfloor,andSchmuckeconcludedabargainwhichsatisfiedhisindolenceanddesireforalifewithoutcares。Forthirtysousperday,orforty-fivefrancspermonth,Mme。CibotundertooktoprovideSchmuckewithbreakfastanddinner;andPons,findinghisfriend"sbreakfastverymuchtohismind,concludedaseparatetreatyforthatmealonlyattherateofeighteenfrancs。
Thisarrangement,whichaddednearlyninetyfrancseverymonthtothetakingsoftheporterandhiswife,madetwoinviolablebeingsofthelodgers;theybecameangels,cherubs,divinities。ItisverydoubtfulwhethertheKingoftheFrench,whoissupposedtounderstandeconomy,isaswellservedasthepairofnutcrackersusedtobeinthosedays。
Forthemthemilkissuedpurefromthecan;theyenjoyedafreeperusalofallthemorningpaperstakenbyotherlodgers,laterrisers,whoweretold,ifneedbe,thatthenewspapershadnotcomeyet。Mme。Cibot,moreover,kepttheirclothes,theirrooms,andthelandingascleanasaFlemishinterior。AsforSchmucke,heenjoyedunhoped-forhappiness;Mme。Cibothadmadelifeeasyforhim;hepaidheraboutsixfrancsamonth,andshetookchargeofhislinen,washing,andmending。Altogether,hisexpensesamountedtosixty-sixfrancspermonth(forhespentfifteenfrancsontobacco),andsixty-
sixfrancsmultipliedbytwelveproducesthesumtotalofsevenhundredandninety-twofrancs。Addtwohundredandtwentyfrancsforrent,rates,andtaxes,andyouhaveathousandandtwelvefrancs。
CibotwasSchmucke"stailor;hisclothescosthimonaverageahundredandfiftyfrancs,whichfurtherswellsthetotaltothesumoftwelvehundred。Ontwelvehundredfrancsperannumthisprofoundphilosopherlived。HowmanypeopleinEurope,whoseonethoughtitistocometoParisandlivethere,willbeagreeablysurprisedtolearnthatyoumayexistincomfortuponanincomeoftwelvehundredfrancsintheRuedeNormandieintheMarais,underthewingofaMme。Cibot。
Mme。Cibot,toresumethestory,wasamazedbeyondexpressiontoseePons,goodman,returnatfiveo"clockintheevening。Suchathinghadneverhappenedbefore;andnotonlyso,but“hergentleman“hadgivenhernogreeting——hadnotsomuchasseenher!
“Well,well,Cibot,“saidshetoherspouse,“M。Ponshascomeinforamillion,orgoneoutofhismind！”
“Thatishowitlookstome,“saidCibot,droppingthecoat-sleeveinwhichhewasmakinga“dart,“intailor"slanguage。
Thesavoryodorofastewpervadedthewholecourtyard,asPonsreturnedmechanicallyhome。Mme。CibotwasdishingupSchmucke"sdinner,whichconsistedofscrapsofboiledbeeffromalittlecook-
shopnotabovedoingalittletradeofthiskind。Thesemorselswerefricasseedinbrownbutter,withthinslicesofonion,untilthemeatandvegetableshadabsorbedthegravyandthistrueporter"sdishwasbrownedtotherightdegree。Withthatfricassee,preparedwithlovingcareforCibotandSchmucke,andaccompaniedbyabottleofbeerandapieceofcheese,theoldGermanmusic-masterwasquitecontent。NotKingSolomoninallhisglory,besure,coulddinebetterthanSchmucke。Adishofboiledbeeffricasseedwithonions,scrapsof/saute/chicken,orbeefandparsley,orvenison,orfishservedwithasauceofLaCibot"sowninvention(asaucewithwhichamothermightunsuspectinglyeatherchild),——suchwasSchmucke"sordinary,varyingwiththequantityandqualityoftheremnantsoffoodsuppliedbyboulevardrestaurantstothecook-shopintheRueBoucherat。Schmucketookeverythingthat“gootMontameZipod“gavehim,andwascontent,andsofromdaytoday“gootMontameZipod“cutdownthecostofhisdinner,untilitcouldbeservedfortwentysous。
“Itwon"tbelongaforeIfindoutwhatisthematterwithhim,poordear,“saidMme。Cibottoherhusband,“forhereisM。Schmucke"sdinnerallreadyforhim。“
Asshespokeshecoveredthedeepearthenwaredishwithaplate;and,notwithstandingherage,sheclimbedthestairandreachedthedoorbeforeSchmuckeopenedittoPons。
“Vatisdemattermityou,meingootfriend？”askedtheGerman,scaredbytheexpressionofPons"face。
“Iwilltellyouallaboutit;butIhavecomehometohavedinnerwithyou——“
“Tinner!tinner！”criedSchmuckeinecstasy;“butitisimpossible！”
theoldGermanadded,ashethoughtofhisfriend"sgastronomicaltastes;andatthatverymomenthecaughtsightofMme。Cibotlisteningtotheconversation,asshehadarighttodoashislawfulhousewife。Struckwithoneofthosehappyinspirationswhichonlyenlightenafriend"sheart,hemarcheduptotheportressanddrewherouttothestairhead。
“MontameZipod,“hesaid,“dergootPonsisfondofgootdings;shoostgorounttoder/CatranPleu/undorderadaintyliddletinner,mitanjoviesundmaggaroni。EintinnerforLugullus,invact。“
“Whatisthat？”inquiredLaCibot。
“Oh!ah！”returnedSchmucke,“itisveal/alapourcheoise/“
(/bourgeoise/,hemeant),“anicefisch,einpottleoffPorteaux,undnicedings,derferybestdeyhaf,likegroquettesofriceundshmokedpacon!Bayforit,undsaynodings;Ivillgifyoubackdemonnyto-morrowmorning。“
BackwentSchmucke,radiantandrubbinghishands;buthisexpressionslowlychangedtoalookofbewilderedastonishmentasheheardPons"
storyofthetroublesthathadbutjustnowoverwhelmedhiminamoment。HetriedtocomfortPonsbygivinghimasketchoftheworldfromhisownpointofview。Paris,inhisopinion,wasaperpetualhurly-burly,themenandwomeninitwerewhirledawaybyatempestuouswaltz;itwasnouseexpectinganythingoftheworld,whichonlylookedattheoutsidesofthings,“undnotatderinderior。“Forthehundredthtimeherelatedhowthattheonlythreepupilsforwhomhehadreallycared,forwhomhewasreadytodie,thethreewhohadbeenfondofhim,andevenallowedhimalittlepensionofninehundredfrancs,eachcontributingthreehundredtotheamount——hisfavoritepupilshadquiteforgottentocometoseehim;andsoswiftwasthecurrentofParisianlifewhichsweptthemaway,thatifhecalledattheirhouses,hehadnotsucceededinseeingthemonceinthreeyears——(itisafact,however,thatSchmuckehadalwaysthoughtfittocallonthesegreatladiesatteno"clockinthemorning!)——
still,hispensionwaspaidquarterlythroughthemediumofsolicitors。
“Undyet,deyareheartsofgold,“heconcluded。“DeyaremyliddleSaintCecilias,sharmingvimmen,MontamedeBordentuere,MontamedeFantenesse,undMontameduDilet。GifIseedematall,itisatdieJambsElusees,unddeydonotseeme……yetdeyarever"fondofme,undImightgotodinemitdem,unddeyvouldbever"bleasedtoseeme;undImightgotodeircountry-houses,butIvouldmuchraderbemitminefriendBons,becauseIkannseehimveneferIlike,undeferytay。“
PonstookSchmucke"shandandgraspeditbetweenhisown。Allthatwaspassinginhisinmostsoulwascommunicatedinthattightpressure。
Andsoforawhilethefriendssatliketwolovers,meetingatlastafteralongabsence。
“Tinehere,eferytay！”brokeoutSchmucke,inwardlyblessingMme。deMarvilleforherhardnessofheart。“Lookhere!Veshallgoaprick-a-
prackingtogeders,undderteufelshallnefershowhistailhere。“
“Veshallgoprick-a-prackingtogeders！”forthefullcomprehensionofthosetrulyheroicwords,itmustbeconfessedthatSchmucke"signoranceofbric-a-bracwassomethingofthedensest。Itrequiredallthestrengthofhisfriendshiptokeephimfromdoingheedlessdamageinthesitting-roomandstudywhichdiddutyasamuseumforPons。
Schmucke,whollyabsorbedinmusic,acomposerforloveofhisart,tookaboutasmuchinterestinhisfriend"slittletriflesasafishmighttakeinaflower-showattheLuxembourg,supposingthatithadreceivedaticketofadmission。AcertainawewhichhecertainlyfeltforthemarvelswassimplyareflectionoftherespectwhichPonsshowedhistreasureswhenhedustedthem。ToPons"exclamationsofadmiration,hewaswonttoreplywitha“Yes,itisver"bretty,“asamotheranswersbaby-gestureswithmeaninglessbaby-talk。Seventimessincethefriendshadlivedtogether,Ponshadexchangedagoodclockforabetterone,tillatlasthepossessedatimepieceinBoule"sfirstandbestmanner,forBoulehadtwomanners,asRaphaelhadthree。Inthefirsthecombinedebonyandcopper;inthesecond——
contrarytohisconvictions——hesacrificedtotortoise-shellinlaidwork。InspiteofPons"learneddissertations,SchmuckenevercouldseetheslightestdifferencebetweenthemagnificentclockinBoule"sfirstmanneranditssixpredecessors;but,forPons"sake,Schmuckewasevenmorecarefulamongthe“chimcracks“thanPonshimself。SoitshouldnotbesurprisingthatSchmucke"ssublimewordscomfortedPonsinhisdespair;for“Veshallgoprick-a-prackingtogeders,“meant,beinginterpreted,“Iwillputmoneyintobric-a-brac,ifyouwillonlydinehere。“
“Dinnerisready,“Mme。Cibotannounced,withastonishingself-
possession。
ItisnotdifficulttoimaginePons"surprisewhenhesawandrelishedthedinnerduetoSchmucke"sfriendship。Sensationsofthiskind,thatcamesorarelyinalifetime,arenevertheoutcomeoftheconstant,closerelationshipbywhichfrienddailysaystofriend,“Youareasecondselftome“;forthis,too,becomesamatterofuseandwont。
Itisonlybycontactwiththebarbarismoftheworldwithoutthatthehappinessofthatintimatelifeisrevealedtousasasuddengladsurprise。Itistheouterworldwhichrenewsthebondbetweenfriendandfriend,loverandlover,alltheirliveslong,wherevertwogreatsoulsareknittogetherbyfriendshiporbylove。
Ponsbrushedawaytwobigtears,Schmuckehimselfwipedhiseyes;andthoughnothingwassaid,thetwowerecloserfriendsthanbefore。
LittlefriendlynodsandglancesexchangedacrossthetablewerelikebalmtoPons,soothingthepaincausedbythesanddroppedinhisheartbythePresident"swife。AsforSchmucke,herubbedhishandstilltheyweresore;foranewideahadoccurredtohim,oneofthosegreatdiscoverieswhichcauseaGermannosurprise,unlesstheysproutupsuddenlyinaTeutonbrainfrost-boundbytheaweandreverenceduetosovereignprinces。
“MinegootBons？”beganSchmucke。
“Icanguesswhatyoumean;youwouldlikeusbothtodinetogetherhere,everyday——“
“GifonlyIvasrichenoftoliflikediseferytay——“beganthegoodGermaninamelancholyvoice。ButhereMme。Cibotappeareduponthescene。Ponshadgivenheranorderforthetheatrefromtimetotime,andstoodinconsequencealmostashighinheresteemandaffectionasherboarderSchmucke。
“Lordloveyou,“saidshe,“forthreefrancsandwineextraIcangiveyoubothsuchadinnereverydaythatyouwillbereadytolicktheplatesascleanasiftheywerewashed。“
“Itisafact,“Schmuckeremarked,“datdiedinnersdatMontameZipodcooksformearebetterasdemessesdeyeatatderroyaldable！”Inhiseagerness,Schmucke,usuallysofullofrespectforthepowersthatbe,sofarforgothimselfastoimitatetheirreverentnewspaperswhichscoffedatthe“fixed-price“dinnersofRoyalty。
“Really？”saidPons。“Verywell,Iwilltryto-morrow。“
AndatthatpromiseSchmuckesprangfromoneendofthetabletotheother,sweepingofftablecloth,bottles,anddishesashewent,andhuggedPonstohisheart。Somightgasrushtocombinewithgas。
“Vathappiness！”criedhe。
Mme。Cibotwasquitetouched。“Monsieurisgoingtodinehereeveryday！”shecriedproudly。
Thatexcellentwomandeparteddownstairsagaininignoranceoftheeventwhichhadbroughtaboutthisresult,enteredherroomlikeJosephain/WilliamTell/,setdowntheplatesanddishesonthetablewithabang,andcalledaloudtoherhusband：
“Cibot!runtothe/CafeTurc/fortwosmallcupsofcoffee,andtellthemanatthestovethatitisforme。“
Thenshesatdownandrestedherhandsonhermassiveknees,andgazedoutofthewindowattheoppositewall。
“Iwillgoto-nightandseewhatMa"amFontainesays,“shethought。
(MadameFontainetoldfortunesonthecardsforalltheservantsinthequarteroftheMarais。)“Sincethesetwogentlemencamehere,wehaveputtwothousandfrancsinthesavingsbank。Twothousandfrancsineightyears!Whatluck!WoulditbebettertomakenoprofitoutofM。Pons"dinnerandkeephimhereathome?Ma"amFontaine"shenwilltellmethat。“
ThreeyearsagoMme。Cibothadbeguntocherishahopethathernamemightbementionedin“hergentlemen"s“wills;shehadredoubledherzealsincethatcovetousthoughttardilysproutedupinthemidstofthatsohonestmoustache。Ponshithertohaddinedabroad,eludingherdesiretohavebothof“hergentlemen“entirelyunderhermanagement;
his“troubadour“collector"slifehadscaredawaycertainvagueideaswhichhoveredinLaCibot"sbrain;butnowhershadowyprojectsassumedtheformidableshapeofadefiniteplan,datingfromthatmemorabledinner。Fifteenminuteslatershereappearedinthedining-
roomwithtwocupsofexcellentcoffee,flankedbyacoupleoftinyglassesof/kirschwasser/。
“LonglifMontameZipod！”criedSchmucke;“shehafguessedright！”
Thediner-outbemoanedhimselfalittle,whileSchmuckemethislamentationswithcoaxingfondness,likeahomepigeonwelcomingbackawanderingbird。Thenthepairsetoutforthetheatre。
SchmuckecouldnotleavehisfriendintheconditiontowhichhehadbeenbroughtbytheCamusots——mistressesandservants。HeknewPonssowell;hefearedlestsomecruel,sadthoughtshouldseizeonhimathisconductor"sdesk,andundoallthegooddonebyhiswelcomehometothenest。
AndSchmuckebroughthisfriendbackonhisarmthroughthestreetsatmidnight。Alovercouldnotbemorecarefulofhislady。Hepointedouttheedgesofthecurbstones,hewasonthelookoutwhenevertheysteppedonoroffthepavement,readywithawarningiftherewasaguttertocross。Schmuckecouldhavewishedthatthestreetswerepavedwithcotton-down;hewouldhavehadablueskyoverhead,andPonsshouldhearthemusicwhichalltheangelsinheavenweremakingforhim。Hehadwonthelostprovinceinhisfriend"sheart!
FornearlythreemonthsPonsandSchmuckedinedtogethereveryday。
Ponswasobligedtoretrenchatonce;fordinneratforty-fivefrancsamonthandwineatthirty-fivemeantpreciselyeightyfrancslesstospendonbric-a-brac。Andverysoon,inspiteofallthatSchmuckecoulddo,inspiteofhislittleGermanjokes,Ponsfelltoregrettingthedelicatedishes,theliqueurs,thegoodcoffee,thetabletalk,theinsincerepoliteness,theguests,andthegossip,andthehouseswhereheusedtodine。Onthewrongsideofsixtyamancannotbreakhimselfofahabitofthirty-sixyears"growth。Wineatahundredandthirtyfrancsperhogsheadisscarcelyagenerousliquidina/gourmet"s/glass;everytimethatPonsraisedittohislipshethought,withinfiniteregret,oftheexquisitewinesinhisentertainers"cellars。
Inshort,attheendofthreemonths,thecruelpangswhichhadgoneneartobreakPons"sensitivehearthaddiedaway;heforgoteverythingbutthecharmsofsociety;andlanguishedforthemlikesomeelderlyslaveofapetticoatcompelledtoleavethemistresswhotoorepeatedlydeceiveshim。Invainhetriedtohidehisprofoundandconsumingmelancholy;itwastooplainthathewassufferingfromoneofthemysteriouscomplaintswhichthemindbringsuponthebody。
Asinglesymptomwillthrowlightuponthiscaseofnostalgia(asitwere)producedbybreakingawayfromanoldhabit;initselfitistrifling,oneofthemyriadnothingswhichareasringsinacoatofchain-mailenvelopingthesoulinanetworkofiron。OneofthekeenestpleasuresofPons"oldlife,oneofthejoysofthedinner-
tableparasiteatalltimes,wasthe“surprise,“thethrillproducedbytheextradaintydishaddedtriumphantlytothebilloffarebythemistressofabourgeoishouse,togiveafestalairtothedinner。
Pons"stomachhankeredafterthatgastronomicalsatisfaction。Mme。
Cibot,intheprideofherheart,enumeratedeverydishbeforehand;asaltandsavoronceperiodicallyrecurrent,hadvanishedutterlyfromdailylife。Dinnerproceededwithout/leplatcouvert/,asourgrandsirescalledit。ThislaybeyondtheboundsofSchmucke"spowersofcomprehension。
Ponshadtoomuchdelicacytogrumble;butifthecaseofunappreciatedgeniusishard,itgoesharderstillwiththestomachwhoseclaimsareignored。Slightedaffection,asubjectofwhichtoomuchhasbeenmade,isfoundeduponanillusorylonging;forifthecreaturefails,lovecanturntotheCreatorwhohastreasurestobestow。Butthestomach!……Nothingcanbecomparedtoitssufferings;for,inthefirstplace,onemustlive。
Ponsthoughtwistfullyofcertaincreams——surelythepoetryofcookery!——ofcertainwhitesauces,masterpiecesoftheart;oftruffledchickens,fittomeltyourheart;andabovethese,andmorethanallthese,ofthefamousRhinecarp,onlyknownatParis,servedwithwhatcondiments!ThereweredayswhenPons,thinkinguponCountPopinot"scook,wouldsighaloud,“Ah,Sophie！”Anypasser-byhearingtheexclamationmighthavethoughtthattheoldmanreferredtoalostmistress;buthisfancydweltuponsomethingrarer,onafatRhinecarpwithasauce,thininthesauce-boat,creamyuponthepalate,asaucethatdeservedtheMontyonprize!Theconductoroftheorchestra,livingonmemoriesofpastdinners,grewvisiblyleaner;hewaspiningaway,avictimtogastricnostalgia。
Bythebeginningofthefourthmonth(towardstheendofJanuary,1845),Pons"conditionattractedattentionatthetheatre。Theflute,ayoungmannamedWilhelm,likealmostallGermans;andSchwab,todistinguishhimfromallotherWilhelms,ifnotfromallotherSchwabs,judgeditexpedienttoopenSchmucke"seyestohisfriend"sstateofhealth。ItwasafirstperformanceofapieceinwhichSchmucke"sinstrumentswereallrequired。
“Theoldgentlemanisfailing,“saidtheflute;“thereissomethingwrongsomewhere;hiseyesareheavy,andhedoesn"tbeattimeasheusedtodo,“addedWilhelmSchwab,indicatingPonsashegloomilytookhisplace。
“Datisalvaysdevay,gifamanissixtyyearsold,“answeredSchmucke。
TheHighlandwidow,in/TheChroniclesoftheCanongate/,senthersontohisdeathtohavehimbesideherfortwenty-fourhours;andSchmuckecouldhavesacrificedPonsforthesakeofseeinghisfaceeverydayacrossthedinner-table。
“Everybodyinthetheatreisanxiousabouthim,“continuedtheflute;
“and,asthe/premieredanseuse/,Mlle。Brisetout,says,"hemakeshardlyanynoisenowwhenheblowshisnose。"“
And,indeed,apeallikeablastofahornusedtoresoundthroughtheoldmusician"sbandanahandkerchiefwheneverheraisedittothatlengthyandcavernousfeature。ThePresident"swifehadmorefrequentlyfoundfaultwithhimonthatscorethanonanyother。
“Ivouldgifagoottealtoamusehim,“saidSchmucke,“hegetssodull。“
“M。Ponsalwaysseemssomuchabovethelikeofuspoordevils,that,uponmyword,Ididn"tdaretoaskhimtomywedding,“saidWilhelmSchwab。“Iamgoingtobemarried——“
“How？”demandedSchmucke。
“Oh!quiteproperly,“returnedWilhelmSchwab,takingSchmucke"squaintinquiryforagibe,ofwhichthatperfectChristianwasquiteincapable。
“Come,gentlemen,takeyourplaces！”calledPons,lookingroundathislittlearmy,asthestagemanager"sbellrangfortheoverture。
Thepiecewasadramatizedfairytale,apantomimecalled/TheDevil"sBetrothed/,whichranfortwohundrednights。Intheinterval,afterthefirstact,WilhelmSchwabandSchmuckewereleftaloneintheorchestra,withahouseatatemperatureofthirty-twodegreesReaumur。
“Tellmeyourhishdory,“saidSchmucke。
“Lookthere!Doyouseethatyoungmanintheboxyonder?……Doyourecognizehim？”
“Neferapit——“
“Ah!Thatisbecauseheiswearingyellowglovesandshineswithalltheradianceofriches,butthatismyfriendFritzBrunneroutofFrankfort-on-the-Main。“
“Datusedtokommtoseedublavundsitpesideyouinderorghestra？”
“Thesame。Youwouldnotbelievehecouldlooksodifferent,wouldyou？”
TheheroofthepromisedstorywasaGermanofthatparticulartypeinwhichthesombreironyofGoethe"sMephistophelesisblendedwithahomelycheerfulnessfoundintheromancesofAugustLafontaineofpacificmemory;butthepredominatingelementinthecompoundofartlessnessandguile,ofshopkeeper"sshrewdness,andthestudiedcarelessnessofamemberoftheJockeyClub,wasthatformofdisgustwhichsetapistolinthehandsofayoungWerther,boredtodeathlessbyCharlottethanbyGermanprinces。ItwasathoroughlyGermanface,fullofcunning,fullofsimplicity,stupidity,andcourage;theknowledgewhichbringsweariness,theworldlywisdomwhichtheveriestchild"strickleavesatfault,theabuseofbeerandtobacco,——alltheseweretheretobeseeninit,andtoheightenthecontrastofopposedqualities,therewasawilddiabolicalgleaminthefineblueeyeswiththejadedexpression。
Dressedwithalltheeleganceofacityman,FritzBrunnersatinfullviewofthehousedisplayingabaldcrownofthetintbelovedbyTitian,andafewstrayfieryredhairsoneithersideofit;aremnantsparedbydebaucheryandwant,thattheprodigalmighthavearighttospendmoneywiththehairdresserwhenheshouldcomeintohisfortune。Aface,oncefairandfreshasthetraditionalportraitofJesusChrist,hadgrownhardersincetheadventofaredmoustache;atawnybeardlentitanalmostsinisterlook。Thebrightblueeyeshadlostsomethingoftheirclearnessinthestrugglewithdistress。ThecountlesscoursesbywhichamansellshimselfandhishonorinParishadlefttheirtracesuponhiseyelidsandcarvedlinesabouttheeyes,intowhichamotheroncelookedwithamother"srapturetofindacopyofherownfashionedbyGod"shand。
Thisprecociousphilosopher,thiswizenedyouthwastheworkofastepmother。
HerewithbeginsthecurioushistoryofaprodigalsonofFrankfort-on-
the-Main——themostextraordinaryandastoundingportenteverbeheldbythatwell-conducted,ifcentral,city。
GideonBrunner,fatheroftheaforesaidFritz,wasoneofthefamousinnkeepersofFrankfort,atribewhomakelaw-authorizedincisionsintravelers"purseswiththeconnivanceofthelocalbankers。AninnkeeperandanhonestCalvinisttoboot,hehadmarriedaconvertedJewessandlaidthefoundationsofhisprosperitywiththemoneyshebroughthim。
WhentheJewessdied,leavingasonFritz,twelveyearsofage,underthejointguardianshipofhisfatherandmaternaluncle,afurrieratLeipsic,headofthefirmofVirlazandCompany,Brunnerseniorwascompelledbyhisbrother-in-law(whowasbynomeansassoftashispeltry)toinvestlittleFritz"smoney,agoodlyquantityofcurrentcoinoftherealm,withthehouseofAl-Sartchild。Notapennyofitwasheallowedtotouch。So,bywayofrevengefortheIsraelite"spertinacity,Brunnerseniormarriedagain。Itwasimpossible,hesaid,tokeephishugehotelsingle-handed;itneededawoman"seyeandhand。GideonBrunner"ssecondwifewasaninnkeeper"sdaughter,averypearl,ashethought;buthehadhadnoexperienceofonlydaughtersspoiledbyfatherandmother。
ThesecondMme。BrunnerbehavedasGermangirlsmaybeexpectedtobehavewhentheyarefrivolousandwayward。Shesquanderedherfortune,sheavengedthefirstMme。BrunnerbymakingherhusbandasmiserableamanasyoucouldfindinthecompassofthefreecityofFrankfort-on-the-Main,wherethemillionaires,itissaid,areabouttopassalawcompellingwomankindtocherishandobeythemalone。ShewaspartialtoallthevarietiesofvinegarcommonlycalledRhinewineinGermany;shewasfondof/articlesParis/,ofhorsesanddress;
indeed,theoneexpensivetastewhichshehadnotwasalikingforwomen。ShetookadisliketolittleFritz,andwouldperhapshavedrivenhimmadifthatyoungoffspringofCalvinismandJudaismhadnothadFrankfortforhiscradleandthefirmofVirlazatLeipsicforhisguardian。UncleVirlaz,however,deepinhisfurs,confinedhisguardianshiptothesafe-keepingofFritz"ssilvermarks,andlefttheboytothetendermerciesofthisstepmother。
Thathyenainwoman"sformwasthemoreexasperatedagainsttheprettychild,thelovelyJewess"son,becausesheherselfcouldhavenochildreninspiteofeffortsworthyofalocomotiveengine。A
diabolicalimpulsepromptedhertoplungeheryoungstepson,attwenty-oneyearsofage,intodissipationscontrarytoallGermanhabits。ThewickedGermanhopedthatEnglishhorses,Rhinevinegar,andGoethe"sMargueriteswouldruintheJewess"childandshortenhisdays;forwhenFritzcameofage,UncleVirlazhadhandedoveraveryprettyfortunetohisnephew。ButwhilerouletteatBadenandelsewhere,andbooncompanions(WilhelmSchwabamongthem)devouredthesubstanceaccumulatedbyUncleVirlaz,theprodigalsonhimselfremainedbythewillofProvidencetopointamoraltoyoungerbrothersinthefreecityofFrankfort;parentsheldhimupasawarningandanawfulexampletotheiroffspringtoscarethemintosteadyattendanceintheircast-ironcountinghouses,linedwithsilvermarks。
Butsofarfromperishingintheflowerofhisage,FritzBrunnerhadthepleasureoflayinghisstepmotherinoneofthosecharminglittleGermancemeteries,inwhichtheTeutonindulgeshisunbridledpassionforhorticultureunderthespeciouspretextofhonoringhisdead。AndasthesecondMme。Brunnerexpiredwhiletheauthorsofherbeingwereyetalive,Brunnerseniorwasobligedtobearthelossofthesumsofwhichhiswifehaddrainedhiscoffers,tosaynothingofotherills,whichhadtolduponaHerculeanconstitution,tillattheageofsixty-seventheinnkeeperhadwizenedandshrunkasifthefamousBorgia"spoisonhadunderminedhissystem。Fortenwholeyearshehadsupportedhiswife,andnowheinheritednothing!TheinnkeeperwasasecondruinofHeidelberg,repairedcontinually,itistrue,bytravelers"hotelbills,muchastheremainsofthecastleofHeidelbergitselfarerepairedtosustaintheenthusiasmofthetouristswhoflocktoseesofineandwell-preservedarelicofantiquity。
AtFrankfortthedisappointmentcausedasmuchtalkasafailure。
PeoplepointedoutBrunner,saying,“SeewhatamanmaycometowithabadwifethatleaveshimnothingandasonbroughtupintheFrenchfashion。“
InItalyandGermanytheFrenchnationistherootofallevil,thetargetforallbullets。“Butthegodpursuinghisway——“(Fortherest,seeLefrancdePompignan"sOde。)
ThewrathoftheproprietoroftheGrandHoteldeHollandefellonothersbesidesthetravelers,whosebillswereswelledwithhisresentment。Whenhissonwasutterlyruined,Gideon,regardinghimastheindirectcauseofallhismisfortunes,refusedhimbreadandsalt,fire,lodging,andtobacco——theforceofthepaternalmaledictioninaGermanandaninnkeepercouldnofarthergo。Whereuponthelocalauthorities,makingnoallowanceforthefather"smisdeeds,regardedhimasoneofthemostill-usedpersonsinFrankfort-on-the-Main,cametohisassistance,fastenedaquarrelonFritz(/unequerelled"Allemand/),andexpelledhimfromtheterritoryofthefreecity。
JusticeinFrankfortisnowhitwisernormorehumanethanelsewhere,albeitthecityistheseatoftheGermanDiet。Itisnotoftenthatamagistratetracesbackthestreamofwrongdoingandmisfortunetotheholderoftheurnfromwhichthefirstbeginningstrickledforth。IfBrunnerforgothisson,hisson"sfriendsspeedilyfollowedtheoldinnkeeper"sexample。
Ah!ifthejournalists,thedandies,andsomefewfairParisiansamongtheaudiencewonderedhowthatGermanwiththetragicalcountenancehadcroppeduponafirstnighttooccupyasideboxalltohimselfwhenfashionableParisfilledthehouse,——ifthesecouldhaveseenthehistoryplayedoutuponthestagebeforetheprompter"sbox,theywouldhavefounditfarmoreinterestingthanthetransformationscenesof/TheDevil"sBetrothed/,thoughindeeditwasthetwohundredthousandthrepresentationofasublimeallegoryperformedaforetimeinMesopotamiathreethousandyearsbeforeChristwasborn。
FritzbetookhimselfonfoottoStrasbourg,andtherefoundwhattheprodigalsonoftheBiblefailedtofind——towit,afriend。AndhereinisrevealedthesuperiorityofAlsace,wheresomanygenerousheartsbeattoshowGermanythebeautyofacombinationofGallicwitandTeutonicsolidity。WilhelmSchwab,butlatelyleftinpossessionofahundredthousandfrancsbythedeathofbothparents,openedhisarms,hisheart,hishouse,hispursetoFritz。AsfordescribingFritz"sfeelings,whendusty,downonhisluck,andalmostlikealeper,hecrossedtheRhineandfoundarealtwenty-francpieceheldoutbythehandofarealfriend,——thatmomenttranscendsthepowersoftheprosewriter;PindaralonecouldgiveitforthtohumanityinGreekthatshouldrekindlethedyingwarmthoffriendshipintheworld。
PutthenamesofFritzandWilheimbesidethoseofDamonandPythias,CastorandPollux,OrestesandPylades,DubreuilandPmejah,SchmuckeandPons,andallthenamesthatweimagineforthetwofriendsofMonomotapa,forLaFontaine(manofgeniusthoughhewas)hasmadeofthemtwodisembodiedspirits——theylackreality。Thetwonewnamesmayjointheillustriouscompany,andwithsomuchthemorereason,sincethatWilhelmwhohadhelpedtodrinkFritz"sinheritancenowproceeded,withFritz"sassistance,todevourhisownsubstance;
smoking,needlesstosay,everyknownvarietyoftobacco。
Thepair,strangetorelate,squanderedthepropertyinthedullest,stupidest,mostcommonplacefashion,inStrasbourg/brasseries/,inthecompanyofballet-girlsoftheStrasbourgtheatres,andlittleAlsacienneswhohadnotaragofatatteredreputationleft。
Everymorningtheywouldsay,“Wereallymuststopthis,andmakeupourmindsanddosomethingorotherwiththemoneythatisleft。“
“Pooh！”Fritzwouldretort,“justonemoreday,andto-morrow“……
ah!to-morrow。
InthelivesofProdigalSons,/To-day/isaprodigiouscoxcomb,but/To-morrow/isaverypoltroon,takingfrightatthebigwordsofhispredecessor。/To-day/isthetruculentcaptainofoldworldcomedy,/To-morrow/theclownofmodernpantomime。
Whenthetwofriendshadreachedtheirlastthousand-francnote,theytookplacesinthemail-coach,styledRoyal,anddepartedforParis,wheretheyinstalledthemselvesintheatticsoftheHotelduRhin,intheRueduMail,thepropertyofoneGraff,formerlyGideonBrunner"shead-waiter。FritzfoundasituationasclerkintheKellers"bank(onGraff"srecommendation),withasalaryofsixhundredfrancs。Andaplaceasbook-keeperwaslikewisefoundforWilhelm,inthebusinessofGraffthefashionabletailor,brotherofGraffoftheHotelduRhin,whofoundthescantily-paidemploymentforthepairofprodigals,forthesakeofoldtimes,andhisapprenticeshipattheHoteldeHollande。Thesetwoincidents——therecognitionofaruinedmanbyawell-to-dofriend,andaGermaninnkeeperinterestinghimselfintwopennilessfellow-countrymen——give,nodoubt,anairofimprobabilitytothestory,buttruthissomuchthemorelikefiction,sincemodernwritersoffictionhavebeenatsuchuntoldpainstoimitatetruth。
ItwasnotlongbeforeFritz,aclerkwithsixhundredfrancs,andWilhelm,abook-keeperwithpreciselythesamesalary,discoveredthedifficultiesofexistenceinacitysofulloftemptations。In1837,thesecondyearoftheirabode,Wilhelm,whopossessedaprettytalentfortheflute,enteredPons"orchestra,toearnalittleoccasionalbuttertoputonhisdrybread。AstoFritz,hisonlywaytoanincreaseofincomelaythroughthedisplayofthecapacityforbusinessinheritedbyadescendantoftheVirlazfamily。Yet,inspiteofhisassiduity,inspiteofabilitieswhichpossiblymayhavestoodinhisway,hissalaryonlyreachedthesumoftwothousandfrancsin1843。Penury,thatdivinestepmother,didforthetwomenallthattheirmothershadnotbeenabletodoforthem;Povertytaughtthemthriftandworldlywisdom;Povertygavethemhergrandrougheducation,thelessonswhichshedriveswithhardknocksintotheheadsofgreatmen,whoseldomknowahappychildhood。FritzandWilhelm,beingbutordinarymen,learnedaslittleastheypossiblycouldinherschool;theydodgedtheblows,shrankfromherhardbreastandbonyarms,andneverdiscoveredthegoodfairylurkingwithin,readytoyieldtothecaressesofgenius。Onething,however,theylearnedthoroughly——theydiscoveredthevalueofmoney,andvowedtoclipthewingsofrichesifeverasecondfortuneshouldcometotheirdoor。
ThiswasthehistorywhichWilhelmSchwabrelatedinGerman,atmuchgreaterlength,tohisfriendthepianist,endingwith;
“Well,PapaSchmucke,therestissoonexplained。OldBrunnerisdead。
Heleftfourmillions!HemadeanimmenseamountofmoneyoutofBadenrailways,thoughneitherhissonnorM。Graff,withwhomwelodge,hadanyideathattheoldmanwasoneoftheoriginalshareholders。Iamplayingtheflutehereforthelasttimethisevening;Iwouldhaveleftsomedaysago,butthiswasafirstperformance,andIdidnotwanttospoilmypart。“
“Goot,minefriend,“saidSchmucke。“Butwhoisdieprite？”
“SheisMlle。Graff,thedaughterofourhost,thelandlordoftheHotelduRhin。IhavelovedMlle。Emiliethesesevenyears;shehasreadsomanyimmoralnovels,thatsherefusedalloffersforme,withoutknowingwhatmightcomeofit。Shewillbeaverywealthyyounglady;heruncles,thetailorsintheRuedeRichelieu,willleaveheralltheirmoney。FritzisgivingmethemoneywesquanderedatStrasbourgfivetimesover!Heisputtingamillionfrancsinabankinghouse,M。Graffthetailorisaddinganotherfivehundredthousandfrancs,andMlle。Emilie"sfathernotonlyallowsmetoincorporateherportion——twohundredandfiftythousandfrancs——withthecapital,buthehimselfwillbeashareholderwithasmuchagain。
SothefirmofBrunner,SchwabandCompanywillstartwithtwomillionsfivehundredthousandfrancs。Fritzhasjustboughtfifteenhundredthousandfrancs"worthofsharesintheBankofFrancetoguaranteeouraccountwiththem。ThatisnotallFritz"sfortune。Hehashisfather"shouseproperty,supposedtobeworthanothermillion,andhehaslettheGrandHoteldeHollandealreadytoacousinoftheGraffs。“
“Youlooksadvenyoulookatyourfriend,“remarkedSchmucke,whohadlistenedwithgreatinterest。“Kannyoupechealousofhim？”
“IamjealousforFritz"shappiness,“saidWilhelm。“Doesthatfacelookasifitbelongedtoahappyman?IamafraidofParis;IshouldliketoseehimdoasIamdoing。Theoldtemptermayawakeagain。Ofourtwoheads,hiscarriesthelessballast。Hisdress,andtheopera-
glassandtherestofitmakemeanxious。Hekeepslookingatthelorettesinthehouse。Oh!ifyouonlyknewhowharditistomarryFritz。Hehasahorrorof"goinga-courting,"asyousay;youwouldhavetogivehimadropintoafamily,justasinEnglandtheygiveamanadropintothenextworld。“
Duringtheuproarthatusuallymarkstheendofafirstnight,theflutedeliveredhisinvitationtotheconductor。Ponsacceptedgleefully;and,forthefirsttimeinthreemonths,Schmuckesawasmileonhisfriend"sface。TheywentbacktotheRuedeNormandieinperfectsilence;thatsuddenflashofjoyhadthrownalightontheextentofthediseasewhichwasconsumingPons。Oh,thatamansotrulynoble,sodisinterested,sogreatinfeeling,shouldhavesuchaweakness!……ThiswasthethoughtthatstruckthestoicSchmuckedumbwithamazement。Hegrewwoefullysad,forhebegantoseethattherewasnohelpforit;hemustevenrenouncethepleasureofseeing“hisgootBons“oppositehimatthedinner-table,forthesakeofPons"welfare;andhedidnotknowwhetherhecouldgivehimup;themerethoughtofitdrovehimdistracted。
Meantime,Pons"proudsilenceandwithdrawaltotheMonsAventinusoftheRuedeNormandiehad,asmightbeexpected,impressedthePresidente,notthatshetroubledherselfmuchaboutherparasite,nowthatshewasfreedfromhim。Shethought,withhercharmingdaughter,thatCousinPonshadseenthroughherlittle“Lili"s“joke。ButitwasotherwisewithherhusbandthePresident。
CamusotdeMarville,ashortandstoutman,grownsolemnsincehispromotionattheCourt,admiredCicero,preferredtheOpera-ComiquetotheItaliens,comparedtheactorsonewithanother,andfollowedthemultitudestepbystep。HeusedtoreciteallthearticlesintheMinisterialistjournals,asifheweresayingsomethingoriginal,andingivinghisopinionattheCouncilBoardheparaphrasedtheremarksofthepreviousspeaker。Hisleadingcharacteristicsweresufficientlywellknown;hispositioncompelledhimtotakeeverythingseriously;
andhewasparticularlytenaciousoffamilyties。
Likemostmenwhoareruledbytheirwives,thePresidentassertedhisindependenceintrifles,inwhichhiswifewasverycarefulnottothwarthim。ForamonthhewassatisfiedwiththePresidente"scommonplaceexplanationsofPons"disappearance;butatlastitstruckhimassingularthattheoldmusician,afriendoffortyyears"
standing,shouldfirstmakethemsovaluableapresentasafanthatbelongedtoMme。dePompadour,andthenimmediatelydiscontinuehisvisits。CountPopinothadpronouncedthetrinketamasterpiece;whenitsownerwenttoCourt,thefanhadbeenpassedfromhandtohand,andhervanitywasnotalittlegratifiedbythecomplimentsitreceived;othershaddweltonthebeautiesofthetenivorysticks,eachonecoveredwithdelicatecarving,thelikeofwhichhadneverbeenseen。ARussianlady(RussianladiesareapttoforgetthattheyarenotinRussia)hadofferedhersixthousandfrancsforthemarvelonedayatCountPopinot"shouse,andsmiledtoseeitinsuchhands。
Truthtotell,itwasafanforaDuchess。
“ItcannotbedeniedthatpoorCousinPonsunderstandsrubbishofthatsort——“saidCecile,thedayafterthebid。
“Rubbish！”criedherparent。“Why,GovernmentisjustabouttobuythelateM。leConseillerDusommerard"scollectionforthreehundredthousandfrancs;andtheStateandtheMunicipalityofParisbetweenthemarespendingnearlyamillionfrancsoverthepurchaseandrepairoftheHoteldeClunytohousethe"rubbish,"asyoucallit——Such"rubbish,"dearchild,“heresumed,“isfrequentlyallthatremainsofvanishedcivilizations。AnEtruscanjar,andanecklace,whichsometimesfetchfortyandfiftythousandfrancs,is"rubbish"whichrevealstheperfectionofartatthetimeofthesiegeofTroy,provingthattheEtruscanswereTrojanrefugeesinItaly。“
ThiswasthePresident"scumbrouswayofjoking;theshort,fatmanwasheavilyironicalwithhiswifeanddaughter。
“Thecombinationofvariouskindsofknowledgerequiredtounderstandsuch"rubbish,"Cecile,“heresumed,“isascienceinitself,calledarchaeology。Archaeologycomprehendsarchitecture,sculpture,painting,goldsmiths"work,ceramics,cabinetmaking(apurelymodernart),lace,tapestry——inshort,humanhandiworkofeverysortanddescription。“
“ThenCousinPonsislearned？”saidCecile。
“Ah!bytheby,whyishenevertobeseennowadays？”askedthePresident。Hespokewiththeairofamaninwhomthousandsofforgottenanddormantimpressionshavesuddenlybeguntostir,andshapingthemselvesintooneidea,reachconsciousnesswitharicochet,assportsmensay。
“Hemusthavetakenoffenceatnothingatall,“answeredhiswife。“I
daresayIwasnotasfullysensibleasImighthavebeenofthevalueofthefanthathegaveme。Iamignorantenough,asyouknow,of——“
“/You!/OneofServin"sbestpupils,andyoudon"tknowWatteau？”
criedthePresident。
“IknowGerardandDavidandGrosandGriodet,andM。deForbinandM。
TurpindeCrisse——“
“Youought——“
“Oughtwhat,sir？”demandedthelady,gazingatherhusbandwiththeairofaQueenofSheba。
“ToknowaWatteauwhenyouseeit,mydear。Watteauisverymuchinfashion,“answeredthePresidentwithmeekness,thattoldplainlyhowmuchheowedtohiswife。
Thisconversationtookplaceafewdaysbeforethatnightoffirstperformanceof/TheDevil"sBetrothed/,whenthewholeorchestranoticedhowillPonswaslooking。Butbythattimeallthecircleofdinner-giverswhowereusedtoseeingPons"faceattheirtables,andtosendhimonerrands,hadbeguntoaskeachotherfornewsofhim,anduneasinessincreasedwhenitwasreportedbysomewhohadseenhimthathewasalwaysinhisplaceatthetheatre。Ponshadbeenverycarefultoavoidhisoldacquaintanceswheneverhemettheminthestreets;butonedayitsofelloutthathemetCountPopinot,theex-cabinetminister,facetofaceinthebric-a-bracdealer"sshopinthenewBoulevardBeaumarchais。ThedealerwasnoneotherthanthatMonistrolofwhomPonshadspokentothePresidente,oneofthefamousandaudaciousvendorswhosecunningenthusiasmleadsthemtosetmoreandmorevaluedailyontheirwares;forcuriosities,theytellyou,aregrowingsoscarcethattheyarehardlytobefoundatallnowadays。
“Ah,mydearPons,howcomesitthatweneverseeyounow?Wemissyouverymuch,andMme。Popinotdoesnotknowwhattothinkofyourdesertion。“
“M。leComte,“saidthegoodman,“Iwasmadetofeelinthehouseofarelativethatatmyageoneisnotwantedintheworld。Ihaveneverhadmuchconsiderationshownme,butatanyrateIhadnotbeeninsulted。Ihaveneveraskedanythingofanyman,“hebrokeoutwithanartist"spride。“Ihaveoftenmademyselfusefulinreturnforhospitality。ButIhavemadeamistake,itseems;Iamindefinitelybeholdentothosewhohonormebyallowingmetositattablewiththem;myfriends,andmyrelatives……Wellandgood;Ihavesentinmyresignationassmellfeast。AthomeIfinddailysomethingwhichnootherhousehasofferedme——arealfriend。“
Theoldartist"spowerhadnotfailedhim;withtoneandgestureheputsuchbitternessintothewords,thatthepeerofFrancewasstruckbythem。HedrewPonsaside。
“Come,now,myoldfriend,whatisit?Whathashurtyou?Couldyounottellmeinconfidence?Youwillpermitmetosaythatatmyhousesurelyyouhavealwaysmetwithconsideration——“
“Youaretheoneexception,“saidtheartist。“Andbesides,youareagreatlordandastatesman,youhavesomanythingstothinkabout。
Thatwouldexcuseanything,iftherewereneedforit。“
ThediplomaticskillthatPopinothadacquiredinthemanagementofmenandaffairswasbroughttobearuponPons,tillatlengththestoryofhismisfortunesinthePresident"shousewasdrawnfromhim。
Popinottookupthevictim"scausesowarmlythathetoldthestorytoMme。Popinotassoonashewenthome,andthatexcellentandnoble-
naturedwomanspoketothePresidenteonthesubjectatthefirstopportunity。AsPopinothimselflikewisesaidawordortwotothePresident,therewasageneralexplanationinthefamilyofCamusotdeMarville。
Camusotwasnotexactlymasterinhisownhouse;butthistimehisremonstrancewassowellfoundedinlawandinfact,thathiswifeanddaughterwereforcedtoacknowledgethetruth。Theybothhumbledthemselvesandthrewtheblameontheservants。Theservants,firstbidden,andthenchidden,onlyobtainedpardonbyafullconfession,whichmadeitcleartothePresident"smindthatPonshaddonerightlytostopaway。ThePresidentdisplayedhimselfbeforetheservantsinallhismasculineandmagisterialdignity,afterthemannerofmenwhoareruledbytheirwives。Heinformedhishouseholdthattheyshouldbedismissedforthwith,andforfeitanyadvantageswhichtheirlongtermofserviceinhishousemighthavebroughtthem,unlessfromthattimeforwardhiscousinandallthosewhodidhimthehonorofcomingtohishouseweretreatedashehimselfwas。AtwhichspeechMadeleinewasmovedtosmile。
“Youhaveonlyonechanceofsalvationasitis,“continuedthePresident。“Gotomycousin,makeyourexcusestohim,andtellhimthatyouwillloseyoursituationsunlessheforgivesyou,forIshallturnyouallawayifhedoesnot。“
NextmorningthePresidentwentoutfairlyearlytopayacallonhiscousinbeforegoingdowntothecourt。TheapparitionofM。lePresidentdeMarville,announcedbyMme。Cibot,wasaneventinthehouse。Pons,thushonoredforthefirsttimeinhislifesawreparationahead。
“Atlast,mydearcousin,“saidthePresidentaftertheordinarygreetings;“atlastIhavediscoveredthecauseofyourretreat。Yourbehaviorincreases,ifthatwerepossible,myesteemforyou。Ihavebutonewordtosayinthatconnection。Myservantshaveallbeendismissed。Mywifeanddaughterareindespair;theywanttoseeyoutohaveanexplanation。Inallthis,mycousin,thereisoneinnocentperson,andheisanoldjudge;youwillnotpunishme,willyou,fortheescapadeofathoughtlesschildwhowishedtodinewiththePopinots?especiallywhenIcometobegforpeace,admittingthatallthewronghasbeenonourside?……Anoldfriendshipofthirty-sixyears,evensupposethattherehadbeenamisunderstanding,hasstillsomeclaims。Come,signatreatyofpeacebydiningwithusto-night——“
Ponsinvolvedhimselfinadiffusereply,andendedbyinforminghiscousinthathewastosignamarriagecontractthatevening;howthatoneoftheorchestrawasnotonlygoingtobemarried,butalsoabouttoflinghisflutetothewindstobecomeabanker。
“Verywell。To-morrow。“
“Mme。laComtessePopinothasdonemethehonorofaskingme,cousin。
Shewassokindastowrite——“
“Thedayafterto-morrowthen。“
“M。Brunner,aGerman,myfirstflute"sfuturepartner,returnsthecomplimentpaidhimto-daybytheyoungcouple——“
“Youaresuchpleasantcompanythatitisnotsurprisingthatpeopledisputeforthehonorofseeingyou。Verywell,nextSunday?Withinaweek,aswesayatthecourts？”
“OnSundaywearetodinewithM。Graff,theflute"sfather-in-law。“
“Verywell,onSaturday。Betweennowandthenyouwillhavetimetoreassurealittlegirlwhohasshedtearsalreadyoverherfault。Godasksnomorethanrepentance;youwillnotbemoreseverethantheEternalfatherwithpoorlittleCecile?——“
Pons,thusreachedonhisweakside,againplungedintoformulasmorethanpolite,andwentasfarasthestairheadwiththePresident。
AnhourlaterthePresident"sservantsarrivedinatrooponpoorPons"secondfloor。Theybehavedafterthemanneroftheirkind;theycringedandfawned;theywept。MadeleinetookM。Ponsasideandflungherselfresolutelyathisfeet。
“Itisallmyfault;andmonsieurknowsquitewellthatIlovehim,“
heresheburstintotears。“Itwasvengeanceboilinginmyveins;
monsieuroughttothrowalltheblameoftheunhappyaffaironthat。
Wearealltoloseourpensions……Monsieur,Iwasmad,andI
wouldnothavetherestsufferformyfault……Icanseenowwellenoughthatfatedidnotmakemeformonsieur。Ihavecometomysenses,Iaimedtoohigh,butIloveyoustill,monsieur。ThesetenyearsIhavethoughtofnothingbutthehappinessofmakingyouhappyandlookingafterthingshere。Whatalot!……Oh!ifmonsieurbutknewhowmuchIlovehim!Butmonsieurmusthaveseenitthroughallmymischief-making。IfIweretodieto-morrow,whatwouldtheyfind?——
Awillinyourfavor,monsieur……Yes,monsieur,inmytrunkundermybestthings。“
Madeleinehadsetaresponsivechordvibrating;thepassioninspiredinanothermaybeunwelcome,butitwillalwaysbegratifyingtoself-
love;thiswasthecasewiththeoldbachelor。AftergenerouslypardoningMadeleine,heextendedhisforgivenesstotheotherservants,promisingtousehisinfluencewithhiscousinthePresidenteontheirbehalf。
ItwasunspeakablypleasanttoPonstofindallhisoldenjoymentsrestoredtohimwithoutanylossofself-respect。TheworldhadcometoPons,hehadrisenintheesteemofhiscircle;butSchmuckelookedsodowncastanddubiouswhenheheardthestoryofthetriumph,thatPonsfelthurt。When,however,thekind-heartedGermansawthesuddenchangewroughtinPons"face,heendedbyrejoicingwithhisfriend,andmadeasacrificeofthehappinessthathehadknownduringthosefourmonthsthathehadhadPonsalltohimself。Mentalsufferinghasthisimmenseadvantageoverphysicalills——whenthecauseisremoveditceasesatonce。Ponswasnotlikethesamemanthatmorning。Theoldman,depressedandvisiblyfailing,hadgivenplacetotheserenelycontentedPons,whoenteredthePresidente"shousethatOctoberafternoonwiththeMarquisedePompadour"sfaninhispocket。
Schmucke,ontheotherhand,pondereddeeplyoverthisphenomenon,andcouldnotunderstandit;yourtruestoicnevercanunderstandthecourtierthatdwellsinaFrenchman。PonswasabornFrenchmanoftheEmpire;amixtureofeighteenthcenturygallantryandthatdevotiontowomankindsooftencelebratedinsongsofthetypeof/PartantpourlaSyrie/。
SoSchmuckewasfaintoburyhischagrinbeneaththeflowersofhisGermanphilosophy;butaweeklaterhegrewsoyellowthatMme。Cibotexertedheringenuitytocallintheparishdoctor。Theleechhadfearsoficterus,andleftMme。CibotfrightenedhalfoutofherwitsbytheLatinwordforanattackofthejaundice。
Meantimethetwofriendswentouttodinnertogether,perhapsforthefirsttimeintheirlives。ForSchmuckeitwasareturntotheFatherland;forJohannGraffoftheHotelduRhinandhisdaughterEmilie,WolfgangGraffthetailorandhiswife,FritzBrunnerandWilhelmSchwab,wereGermans,andPonsandthenotaryweretheonlyFrenchmenpresentatthebanquet。TheGraffsofthetailor"sbusinessownedasplendidhouseintheRuedeRichelieu,betweentheRueNeuve-
des-Petits-ChampsandtheRueVilledo;theyhadbroughtuptheirniece,forEmilie"sfather,notwithoutreason,hadfearedcontactwiththeverymixedsocietyofaninnforhisdaughter。ThegoodtailorGraffs,wholovedEmilieasifshehadbeentheirowndaughter,weregivingupthegroundflooroftheirgreathousetotheyoungcouple,andherethebankofBrunner,SchwabandCompanywastobeestablished。Thearrangementsforthemarriagehadbeenmadeaboutamonthago;sometimemustelapsebeforeFritzBrunner,authorofallthisfelicity,couldsettlehisdeceasedfather"saffairs,andthefamousfirmoftailorshadtakenadvantageofthedelaytoredecoratethefirstfloorandtofurnishitveryhandsomelyforthebrideandbridegroom。Theofficesofthebankhadbeenfittedintothewingwhichunitedahandsomebusinesshousewiththehotelattheback,betweencourtyardandgarden。
OnthewayfromtheRuedeNormandietotheRuedeRichelieu,PonsdrewfromtheabstractedSchmuckethedetailsofthestoryofthemodernprodigalson,forwhomDeathhadkilledthefattedinnkeeper。
Pons,butnewlyreconciledwithhisnearestrelatives,wasimmediatelysmittenwithadesiretomakeamatchbetweenFritzBrunnerandCeciledeMarville。ChanceordainedthatthenotarywasnoneotherthanBerthier,oldCardot"sson-in-lawandsuccessor,thesometimesecondclerkwithwhomPonshadbeenwonttodine。
“Ah!M。Berthier,youhere！”hesaid,holdingoutahandtohishostofformerdays。
“Wehavenothadthepleasureofseeingyouatdinnerlately;howisit？”returnedthenotary。“Mywifehasbeenanxiousaboutyou。Wesawyouatthefirstperformanceof/TheDevil"sBetrothed/,andouranxietybecamecuriosity？”
“Oldfolkaresensitive,“repliedtheworthymusician;“theymakethemistakeofbeingacenturybehindthetimes,buthowcanitbehelped?
Itisquiteenoughtorepresentonecentury——theycannotentirelybelongtothecenturywhichseesthemdie。“
“Ah！”saidthenotary,withashrewdlook,“onecannotruntwocenturiesatonce。“
“Bytheby,“continuedPons,drawingtheyounglawyerintoacorner,“whydoyounotfindsomeoneformycousinCeciledeMarville——“
“Ah!why——？”answeredBerthier。“Inthiscentury,whenluxuryhasfiltereddowntoourveryporters"lodges,ayoungfellowhesitatesbeforeunitinghislotwiththedaughterofaPresidentoftheCourtofAppealinParisifshebringshimonlyahundredthousandfrancs。
IntherankoflifeinwhichMlle。deMarville"shusbandwouldtake,thewifewasneveryetknownthatdidnotcostherhusbandthreethousandfrancsayear;theinterestonahundredthousandfrancswouldscarcelyfindherinpin-money。Abachelorwithanincomeoffifteenortwentythousandfrancscanliveonanentre-sol;heisnotexpectedtocutanyfigure;heneednotkeepmorethanoneservant,andallhissurplusincomehecanspendonhisamusements;heputshimselfinthehandsofagoodtailor,andneednottroubleanyfurtheraboutkeepingupappearances。Far-sightedmothersmakemuchofhim;heisoneofthekingsoffashioninParis。