第4章
Afterfourteenyearsofbusiness,hehadsixtythousandfrancsinhandandawell-stockedshop。HelivedintheRuedeNormandiebecausetherentwaslow,butcasualcustomerswerescarce,mostofhisgoodsweresoldtootherdealers,andhewascontentwithmoderategains。AllhisbusinesstransactionswerecarriedonintheAuverguedialector/charabia/,aspeoplecallit。
Remonencqcherishedadream!Hewishedtoestablishhimselfonaboulevard,tobearichdealerincuriosities,anddoadirecttradewithamateurssomeday。And,indeed,withinhimtherewasaformidablemanofbusiness。Hiscountenancewasthemoreinscrutablebecauseitwasglazedoverbyadepositofdustandparticlesofmetalgluedtogetherbythesweatofhisbrow;forhedideverythinghimself,andtheuseandwontofbodilylaborhadgivenhimsomethingofthestoicalimpassibilityoftheoldsoldiersof1799。
InpersonalappearanceRemonencqwasshortandthin;hislittleeyesweresetinhisheadinporcinefashion;aJew"sslynessandconcentratedgreedlookedoutofthosedullbluecircles,thoughinhiscasethefalsehumilitythatmaskstheHebrew"sunfathomedcontemptfortheGentilewaslacking。
TherelationsbetweentheCibotsandtheRemonencqswerethoseofbenefactorsandrecipients。Mme。Cibot,convincedthattheAuvergnatswerewretchedlypoor,usedtoletthemhavetheremainderof“hergentlemen"s“dinnersatridiculousprices。TheRemonencqswouldbuyapoundofbrokenbread,crustsandcrumbs,forafarthing,aporringer-
fullofcoldpotatoesforsomethingless,andotherscrapsinproportion。Remonencqshrewdlyallowedthemtobelievethathewasnotinbusinessonhisownaccount,heworkedforMonistrol,therichshopkeeperspreyeduponhim,hesaid,andtheCibotsfeltsincerelysorryforRemonencq。Thevelveteenjacket,waistcoat,andtrousers,particularlyaffectedbyAuvergnats,werecoveredwithpatchesofCibot"smaking,andnotapennyhadthelittletailorchargedforrepairswhichkeptthethreegarmentstogetherafterelevenyearsofwear。
ThusweseethatallJewsarenotinIsrael。
“Youarenotlaughingatme,Remonencq,areyou？”askedtheportress。
“IsitpossiblethatM。Ponshassuchafortune,livingashedoes?
Thereisnotahundredfrancsintheplace——“
“Amateursharealllikethat,“Remonencqremarkedsententiously。
“Thendoyouthinkthatmygentlemanhasworthofsevenhundredthousandfrancs,eh?——“
“Inpicturesalone,“continuedRemonencq(itisneedless,forthesakeofclearnessinthestory,togiveanyfurtherspecimensofhisfrightfuldialect)。“IfhewouldtakefiftythousandfrancsforoneuptherethatIknowof,IwouldfindthemoneyifIhadtohangmyself。
Doyourememberthoselittleframesfullofenameledcopperoncrimsonvelvet,hangingamongtheportraits?……Well,thosearePetitot"senamels;andthereisacabinetministerasusedtobeadruggistthatwillgivethreethousandfrancsapieceforthem。“
LaCibot"seyesopenedwide。“Therearethirtyoftheminthepairofframes！”shesaid。
“Verywell,youcanjudgeforyourselfhowmuchheisworth。“
Mme。Cibot"sheadwasswimming;shewheeledround。Inamomentcamethethoughtthatshewouldhavealegacy,/she/wouldsleepsoundonoldPons"will,liketheotherservant-mistresseswhoseannuitieshadarousedsuchenvyintheMarais。HerthoughtsflewtosomecommuneintheneighborhoodofParis;shesawherselfstruttingproudlyaboutherhouseinthecountry,lookingafterhergardenandpoultryyard,endingherdays,servedlikeaqueen,alongwithherpoordearCibot,whodeservedsuchgoodfortune,likeallangeliccreatureswhomnobodyknowsnorappreciates。
Herabrupt,unthinkingmovementtoldRemonencqthatsuccesswassure。
Inthe/chineur"s/wayofbusiness——the/chineur/,beitexplained,goesaboutthecountrypickingupbargainsattheexpenseoftheignorant——inthe/chineur"s/wayofbusiness,theonerealdifficultyistheproblemofgaininganentrancetoahouse。NoonecanimaginetheScapin"sroguery,thetricksofaSganarelle,thewilesofaDorinebywhichthe/chineur/contrivestomakeafootingforhimself。
Thesecomediesareasgoodasaplay,andfoundedindeedontheoldstockthemeofthedishonestyofservants。Forthirtyfrancsinmoneyorgoods,servants,andespeciallycountryservants,willsometimesconcludeabargainonwhichthe/chineur/makesaprofitofathousandortwothousandfrancs。IfwecouldbutknowthehistoryofsuchandsuchaserviceofSevresporcelain,/patetendre/,weshouldfindthatalltheintellect,allthediplomaticsubtletydisplayedatMunster,Nimeguen,Utrecht,Ryswick,andViennawassurpassedbythe/chineur/。
Hisisthemorefrankcomedy;hismethodsofactionfathomdepthsofpersonalinterestquiteasprofoundasanythatplenipotentiariescanexploreintheirdifficultsearchforanymeansofbreakingupthebestcementedalliances。
“IhavesetLaCibotnicelyonfire,“Remonencqtoldhissister,whenshecametotakeupherpositionagainontheramshacklechair。“Andnow,“hecontinued,“Ishallgotoconsulttheonlymanthatknows,ourJew,agoodsortofJewthatdidnotaskmorethanfifteenpercentofusforhismoney。“
RemonencqhadreadLaCibot"sheart。Towillistoactwithwomenofherstamp。Letthemseetheendinview;theywillstickatnothingtogainit,andpassfromscrupuloushonestytothelastdegreeofscoundrelisminthetwinklingofaneye。Honesty,likemostdispositionsofmind,isdividedintotwoclasses——negativeandpositive。LaCibot"shonestywasofthenegativeorder;sheandherlikearehonestuntiltheyseetheirwaycleartogainmoneybelongingtosomebodyelse。Positivehonesty,thehonestyofthebankcollector,canwadeknee-deepthroughtemptations。
AtorrentofevilthoughtsinvadedLaCibot"sheartandbrainsosoonasRemonencq"sdiabolicalsuggestionopenedtheflood-gatesofself-
interest。LaCibotclimbed,or,tobemoreaccurate,fledupthestairs,openedthedooronthelanding,andshowedafacedisguisedinfalsesolicitudeinthedoorwayoftheroomwherePonsandSchmuckewerebemoaningthemselves。Assoonasshecamein,Schmuckemadeherawarningsign;for,truefriendandsublimeGermanthathewas,hetoohadreadthedoctor"seyes,andhewasafraidthatMme。Cibotmightrepeattheverdict。Mme。Cibotansweredbyashakeoftheheadindicativeofdeepwoe。
“Well,mydearmonsieur,“askedshe,“howareyoufeeling？”Shesatdownonthefootofthebed,handsonhips,andfixedhereyeslovinglyuponthepatient;butwhataglitterofmetaltherewasinthem,aterrible,tiger-likegleamifanyonehadwatchedher。
“Ifeelveryill,“answeredpoorPons。“Ihavenottheslightestappetiteleft——Oh!theworld,theworld！”hegroaned,squeezingSchmucke"shand。Schmuckewassittingbyhisbedside,anddoubtlessthesickmanwastalkingofthecausesofhisillness——“Ishouldhavedonefarbettertofollowyouradvice,mygoodSchmucke,anddinedhereeveryday,andgivenupgoingintothissociety,thathasfallenonmewithallitsweight,likeatumbrilcartcrushinganegg!Andwhy？”
“Come,come,don"tcomplain,M。Pons,“saidLaCibot;“thedoctortoldmejusthowitis——“
Schmucketuggedathergown——“Andyouwillpullthrough,“shecontinued,“onlywemusttakegreatcareofyou。Beeasy,youhaveagoodfriendbesideyou,andwithoutboasting,awomanaswillnurseyoulikeamothernursesherfirstchild。InursedCibotroundoncewhenDr。Poulainhadgivenhimover;hehadtheshrouduptohiseyes,asthesayingis,andtheygavehimupfordead。Well,well,youhavenotcometothatyet,Godbethanked,illthoughyoumaybe。Countonme;Iwouldpullyouthroughallbymyself,Iwould!Keepstill,don"tyoufidgetlikethat。“
Shepulledthecoverletoverthepatient"shandsasshespoke。
“There,sonny!M。SchmuckeandIwillsitupwithyouofnights。A
princewon"tbenobetternursed……andbesides,youneedn"trefuseyourselfnothingthat"snecessary,youcanaffordit——IhavejustbeentalkingthingsoverwithCibot,forwhatwouldhedowithoutme,poordear?——Well,andItalkedhimround;wearebothsofondofyou,thathewillletmestopupwithyouofanight。Andthatisagooddealtoaskofamanlikehim,forheisasfondofmeaseverhewasthedayweweremarried。Idon"tknowhowitis。Itisthelodge,yousee;wearealwaystheretogether!Don"tyouthrowoffthethingslikethat！”shecried,makingadashforthebedheadtodrawthecoverletoverPons"chest。“Ifyouarenotgood,anddon"tdojustasDr。
Poulainsays——andDr。PoulainistheimageofProvidenceonearth——I
willhavenomoretodowithyou。YoumustdoasItellyou——“
“Yes,MontameZipod,hevilldovatyoudellhim,“putinSchmucke;
“hevantstolifforhisboorfriendSchmucke"ssake,I"llpepound。“
“Andofallthings,don"tfidgetyourself,“continuedLaCibot,“foryourillnessmakesyouquitebadenoughwithoutyourmakingitworseforwantofpatience。Godsendsusourtroubles,mydeargoodgentlemen;Hepunishesusforoursins。Haven"tyounothingtoreproachyourselfwith?somepoorlittlebitofafaultorother？”
Theinvalidshookhishead。
“Oh!goon!Youwereyoungonce,youhadyourfling,thereissomelove-childofyourssomewhere——cold,andstarving,andhomeless……
Whatmonstersmenare!Theirlovedoesn"tlastonlyforaday,andtheninajiffytheyforget,theydon"tsomuchasthinkofthechildatthebreastformonths……Poorwomen！”
“ButnoonehaseverlovedmeexceptSchmuckeandmymother,“poorPonsbrokeinsadly。
“Oh!come,youaren"tnosaint!Youwereyounginyourtime,andafine-lookingyoungfellowyoumusthavebeenattwenty。Ishouldhavefalleninlovewithyoumyself,soniceasyouare——“
“Ialwayswasasuglyasatoad,“Ponsputindesperately。
“Yousaythatbecauseyouaremodest;nobodycan"tsaythatyouaren"tmodest。“
“MydearMme。Cibot,/no/,Itellyou。Ialwayswasugly,andIneverwaslovedinmylife。“
“You,indeed！”criedtheportress。“Youwanttomakemebelieveatthistimeofdaythatyouareasinnocentasayoungmaidatyourtimeoflife。Tellthattoyourgranny!Amusicianatatheatretoo!Why,ifawomantoldmethat,Iwouldn"tbelieveher。“
“MontameZipod,youirritatehim！”criedSchmucke,seeingthatPonswaswrithingunderthebedclothes。
“Youholdyourtonguetoo!Youareapairofoldlibertines。Ifyouwereugly,itdon"tmakenodifference;therewasneversouglyasaucepan-lidbutitfoundapottomatch,asthesayingis。ThereisCibot,hegotoneofthehandsomestoyster-womeninParistofallinlovewithhim,andyouareinfinitelybetterlookingthanhim!Youareanicepair,youare!Come,now,youhavesownyourwildoats,andGodwillpunishyoufordesertingyourchildren,likeAbraham——“
Exhaustedthoughhewas,theinvalidgatheredupallhisstrengthtomakeavehementgestureofdenial。
“Doliequiet;ifyouhave,itwon"tpreventyoufromlivingaslongasMethuselah。“
“Then,prayletmebequiet！”groanedPons。“Ihaveneverknownwhatitistobeloved。Ihavehadnochild;Iamaloneintheworld。“
“Really,eh？”returnedtheportress。“Youaresokind,andthatiswhatwomenlike,yousee——itdrawsthem——anditlookedtomeimpossiblethatwhenyouwereinyourprime——“
“Takeheraway,“PonswhisperedtoSchmucke;“shesetsmynervesonedge。“
“Thenthere"sM。Schmucke,hehaschildren。Youoldbachelorsarenotalllikethat——“
“/I!/“criedSchmucke,springingtohisfeet,“vy!——“
“Come,then,youhavenonetocomeafteryoueither,eh?Youbothsprungupoutoftheearthlikemushrooms——“
“Lookhere,kommmitme,“saidSchmucke。ThegoodGermanmanfullytookMme。Cibotbythewaistandcarriedheroffintothenextroom,inspiteofherexclamations。
“Atyourage,youwouldnottakeadvantageofadefencelesswoman！”
criedLaCibot,strugglinginhisarms。
“Don"tmakeanoise！”
“Youtoo,thebetteroneofthetwo！”returnedLaCibot。“Ah!itismyfaultfortalkingaboutlovetotwooldmenwhohaveneverhadnothingtodowithwomen。Ihaverousedyourpassions,“criedshe,asSchmucke"seyesglitteredwithwrath。“Help!help!police！”
“Youareastoopid！”saidtheGerman。“Lookhere,vattiddetoctorsay？”
“Youarearuffiantotreatmeso,“weptLaCibot,nowreleased,——“methatwouldgothroughfireandwaterforyouboth!Ah!well,well,theysaythatthatisthewaywithmen——andtrueitis!ThereismypoorCibot,/he/wouldnotberoughwithmelikethis……AndI
treatedyoulikemychildren,forIhavenoneofmyown;andyesterday,yes,onlyyesterdayIsaidtoCibot,"GodknewwellwhatHewasdoing,dear,"Isaid,"whenHerefuseduschildren,forIhavetwochildrenthereupstairs。"Bytheholycrucifixandthesoulofmymother,thatwaswhatIsaidtohim——“
“Eh!butvatdidderdoctorsay？”Schmuckedemandedfuriously,stampingonthefloorforthefirsttimeinhislife。
“Well,“saidMme。Cibot,drawingSchmuckeintothedining-room,“hejustsaidthis——thatourdear,darlinglovelyingilltherewoulddieifhewasn"tcarefullynursed;butIamhere,inspiteofallyourbrutality,forbrutalyouwere,youthatIthoughtsogentle。Andyouareoneofthatsort!Ah!now,youwouldnotabuseawomanatyourage,greatblackguard——“
“Placard?I?VillyounotoonderstandthatIlofnopodybutBons？”
“Wellandgood,youwillletmealone,won"tyou？”saidshe,smilingatSchmucke。“Youhadbetter;forifCibotknewthatanybodyhadattemptedhishonor,hewouldbreakeveryboneinhisskin。“
“Takecratecareofhim,dearMontameZipod,“answeredSchmucke,andhetriedtotaketheportress"hand。
“Oh!lookherenow,/again/。“
“Chustlistentome。YoushallhafalldotIhaf,gifvesafehim。“
“Verywell;Iwillgoroundtothechemist"stogetthethingsthatarewanted;thisillnessisgoingtocostalot,yousee,sir,andwhatwillyoudo？”
“Ishallvork;Bonsshallbenursedlikeeinbrince。“
“Soheshall,M。Schmucke;andlookhere,don"tyoutroubleaboutnothing。CibotandI,betweenus,havesavedacoupleofthousandfrancs;theyareyours;Ihavebeenspendingmoneyonyouthislongtime,Ihave。“
“Gootvoman！”criedSchmucke,brushingthetearsfromhiseyes。“Vateinheart！”
“Wipeyourtears;theydomehonor;thisismyreward,“saidLaCibot,melodramatically。“Thereisn"tnomoredisinterestedcreatureonearththanme;butdon"tyougointotheroomwithtearsinyoureyes,orM。
Ponswillbethinkinghimselfworsethanheis。“
Schmuckewastouchedbythisdelicatefeeling。HetookLaCibot"shandandgaveitafinalsqueeze。
“Spareme！”criedtheex-oysterseller,leeringatSchmucke。
“Bons,“thegoodGermansaidwhenhereturned“MontameZipodisananchel;"tisanancheldatbrattles,butananchelalldersame。“
“Doyouthinkso?Ihavegrownsuspiciousinthepastmonth,“saidtheinvalid,shakinghishead。“AfterallIhavebeenthrough,onecomestobelieveinnothingbutGodandmyfriend——“
“Getbedder,andvevillliflikekings,alltreeofus,“exclaimedSchmucke。
“Cibot！”pantedtheportressassheenteredthelodge。“Oh,mydear,ourfortuneismade。Mytwogentlemenhaven"tnobodytocomeafterthem,nonaturalchildren,nonothing,inshort!Oh,IshallgoroundtoMa"amFontaine"sandgethertotellmyfortuneonthecards,thenweshallknowhowmuchwearegoingtohave——“
“Wife,“saidthelittletailor,“it"sillcountingondeadmen"sshoes。“
“Oh,Isay,are/you/goingtoworryme？”askedshe,givingherspouseaplayfultap。“IknowwhatIknow!Dr。PoulainhasgivenupM。Pons。
Andwearegoingtoberich!Mynamewillbedowninthewill……
I"llseetothat。Drawyourneedleinandout,andlookafterthelodge;youwillnotdoitforlongnow。Wewillretire,andgointothecountry,outatBatignolles。Anicehouseandafinegarden;youwillamuseyourselfwithgardening,andIshallkeepaservant！”
“Well,neighbor,andhowarethingsgoingonupstairs？”ThewordswerespokenwiththethickAuvergnataccent,andRemonencqputhisheadinatthedoor。“Doyouknowwhatthecollectionisworth？”
“No,no,notyet。Onecan"tgoatthatrate,mygoodman。Ihavebegun,myself,byfindingoutmoreimportantthings——“
“Moreimportant！”exclaimedRemonencq;“why,whatthingscanbemoreimportant？”
“Come,letmedothesteering,ragamuffin,“saidLaCibotauthoritatively。
“Butthirtypercentonsevenhundredthousandfrancs,“persistedthedealerinoldiron;“youcouldbeyourownmistressfortherestofyourdaysonthat。“
“Beeasy,DaddyRemonencq;whenwewanttoknowthevalueofthethingsthattheoldmanhasgottogether,thenwewillsee。“
LaCibotwentforthemedicineorderedbyDr。Poulain,andputoffherconsultationwithMme。Fontaineuntilthemorrow;theoracle"sfacultieswouldbefresherandclearerinthemorning,shethought;
andshewouldgoearly,beforeeverybodyelsecame,fortherewasoftenacrowdatMme。Fontaine"s。
Mme。FontainewasatthistimetheoracleoftheMarais;shehadsurvivedtherivaloffortyyears,thecelebratedMlle。Lenormand。Nooneimaginesthepartthatfortune-tellersplayamongParisiansofthelowerclasses,northeimmenseinfluencewhichtheyexertovertheuneducated;generalservants,portresses,keptwomen,workmen,allthemanyinPariswholiveonhope,consulttheprivilegedbeingswhopossessthemysteriouspowerofreadingthefuture。
Thebeliefoftheoccultscienceisfarmorewidelyspreadthanscholars,lawyers,doctors,magistrates,andphilosophersimagine。Theinstinctsofthepeopleareineradicable。Oneamongthoseinstincts,sofoolishlystyled“superstition,“runsinthebloodofthepopulace,andtingesnolesstheintellectsofbettereducatedfolk。MorethanoneFrenchstatesmanhasbeenknowntoconsultthefortune-teller"scards。Forscepticalminds,astrology,inFrench,sooddlytermed/astrologiejudiciare/,isnothingmorethanacunningdeviceformakingaprofitoutofoneofthestrongestofalltheinstinctsofhumannature——towit,curiosity。Thescepticalmindconsequentlydeniesthatthereisanyconnectionbetweenhumandestinyandtheprognosticationsobtainedbythesevenoreightprincipalmethodsknowntoastrology;andtheoccultsciences,likemanynaturalphenomena,arepassedoverbythefreethinkerorthematerialistphilosopher,/idest/,bythosewhobelieveinnothingbutvisibleandtangiblefacts,intheresultsgivenbythechemist"sretortandthescalesofmodernphysicalscience。Theoccultsciencesstillexist;
theyareatwork,buttheymakenoprogress,forthegreatestintellectsoftwocenturieshaveabandonedthefield。
Ifyouonlylookatthepracticalsideofdivination,itseemsabsurdtoimaginethateventsinaman"spastlifeandsecretsknownonlytohimselfcanberepresentedonthespurofthemomentbyapackofcardswhichheshufflesandcutsforthefortune-tellertolayoutinpilesaccordingtocertainmysteriousrules;butthenthesteam-enginewascondemnedasabsurd,aerialnavigationisstillsaidtobeabsurd,sointheirtimeweretheinventionsofgunpowder,printing,spectacles,engraving,andthatlatestdiscoveryofall——thedaguerreotype。IfanymanhadcometoNapoleontotellhimthatabuildingorafigureisatalltimesandinallplacesrepresentedbyanimageintheatmosphere,thateveryexistingobjecthasaspectralintangibledoublewhichmaybecomevisible,theEmperorwouldhavesenthisinformanttoCharentonforalunatic,justasRichelieubeforehisdaysentthatNormanmartyr,SalomondeCaux,totheBicetreforannouncinghisimmensetriumph,theideaofnavigationbysteam。YetDaguerre"sdiscoveryamountstonothingmorenorlessthanthis。
AndifforsomeclairvoyanteyesGodhaswritteneachman"sdestinyoverhiswholeoutwardandvisibleform,ifaman"sbodyistherecordofhisfate,whyshouldnotthehandinamannerepitomizethebody?——
sincethehandrepresentsthedeedofman,andbyhisdeedsheisknown。
Hereinliesthetheoryofpalmistry。DoesnotSocietyimitateGod?Atthesightofasoldierwecanpredictthathewillfight;ofalawyer,thathewilltalk;ofashoemaker,thatheshallmakeshoesorboots;
ofaworkerofthesoil,thatheshalldigthegroundanddungit;andisitamorewonderfulthingthatsuchanonewiththe“seer"s“giftshouldforetelltheeventsofaman"slifefromhishand?
Totakeastrikingexample。GeniusissovisibleinamanthatagreatartistcannotwalkaboutthestreetsofParisbutthemostignorantpeopleareconsciousofhispassing。Heisasun,asitwere,inthementalworld,sheddinglightthatcolorseverythinginitspath。Andwhodoesnotknowanidiotatoncebyanimpressiontheexactoppositeofthesensationofthepresenceofgenius?Mostobserversofhumannatureingeneral,andParisiannatureinparticular,canguesstheprofessionorcallingofthemaninthestreet。
Themysteriesofthewitches"Sabbath,sowonderfullypaintedinthesixteenthcentury,arenomysteriesforus。TheEgyptianancestorsofthatmysteriouspeopleofIndianorigin,thegypsiesofthepresentday,simplyusedtodrugtheirclientswithhashish,apracticethatfullyaccountsforbroomstickridesandflightsupthechimney,thereal-seemingvisions,sotospeak,ofoldcronestransformedintoyoungdamsels,thefranticdances,theexquisitemusic,andallthefantastictalesofdevil-worship。
Somanyprovenfactshavebeenfirstdiscoveredbyoccultscience,thatsomedayweshallhaveprofessorsofoccultscience,aswealreadyhaveprofessorsofchemistryandastronomy。ItisevensingularthathereinParis,wherewearefoundingchairsofMantchuandSlaveandliteraturessolittleprofessable(tocoinaword)astheliteraturesoftheNorth(which,sofarfromprovidinglessons,standverybadlyinneedofthem);whenthecurriculumisfulloftheeverlastinglecturesonShakespeareandthesixteenthcentury,——itisstrangethatsomeonehasnotrestoredtheteachingoftheoccultphilosophies,oncethegloryoftheUniversityofParis,underthetitleofanthropology。Germany,sochildlikeandsogreat,hasoutstrippedFranceinthisparticular;inGermanytheyhaveprofessorsofascienceoffarmoreusethanaknowledgeoftheheterogeneousphilosophies,whichallcometothesamethingatbottom。
Onceadmitthatcertainbeingshavethepowerofdiscerningthefutureinitsgerm-formoftheCause,asthegreatinventorseesaglimpseoftheindustrylatentinhisinvention,orascienceinsomethingthathappenseverydayunnoticedbyordinaryeyes——onceallowthis,andthereisnothingtocauseanoutcryinsuchphenomena,noviolentexceptiontonature"slaws,buttheoperationofarecognizedfaculty;
possiblyakindofmentalsomnambulism,asitwere。If,therefore,thehypothesisuponwhichthevariouswaysofdiviningthefuturearebasedseemabsurd,thefactsremain。Remarkthatitisnotreallymorewonderfulthattheseershouldforetellthechiefeventsofthefuturethanthatheshouldreadthepast。Pastandfuture,onthesceptic"ssystem,equallyliebeyondthelimitsofknowledge。Ifthepasthaslefttracesbehindit,itisnotimprobablethatfutureeventshave,asitwere,theirrootsinthepresent。
Ifafortune-tellergivesyouminutedetailsofpastfactsknownonlytoyourself,whyshouldhenotforeseetheeventstobeproducedbyexistingcauses?Theworldofideasiscutout,sotospeak,onthepatternofthephysicalworld;thesamephenomenashouldbediscernibleinboth,allowingforthedifferenceofthemedium。As,forinstance,acorporealbodyactuallyprojectsanimageupontheatmosphere——aspectraldoubledetectedandrecordedbythedaguerreotype;soalsoideas,havingarealandeffectiveexistence,leaveanimpression,asitwere,upontheatmosphereofthespiritualworld;theylikewiseproduceeffects,andexistspectrally(tocoinawordtoexpressphenomenaforwhichnowordsexist),andcertainhumanbeingsareendowedwiththefacultyofdiscerningthese“forms“ortracesofideas。
Asforthematerialmeansemployedtoassisttheseer——theobjectsarrangedbythehandsoftheconsultantthattheaccidentsofhislifemayberevealedtohim,——thisistheleastinexplicablepartoftheprocess。Everythinginthematerialworldispartofaseriesofcausesandeffects。Nothinghappenswithoutacause,everycauseisapartofawhole,andconsequentlythewholeleavesitsimpressionontheslightestaccident。Rabelais,thegreatestmindamongmoderns,resumingPythagoras,Hippocrates,Aristophanes,andDante,pronouncedthreecenturiesagothat“manisamicrocosm“——alittleworld。Threehundredyearslater,thegreatseerSwedenborgdeclaredthat“theworldwasaman。“Theprophetandtheprecursorofincredulitymeetthusinthegreatestofallformulas。
Everythinginhumanlifeispredestined,soitisalsowiththeexistenceoftheplanet。Theleastevent,themostfutilephenomena,areallsubordinatepartsofascheme。Greatthings,therefore,greatdesigns,andgreatthoughtsareofnecessityreflectedinthesmallestactions,andthatsofaithfully,thatshouldaconspiratorshuffleandcutapackofplaying-cards,hewillwritethehistoryofhisplotfortheeyesoftheseerstyledgypsy,fortune-teller,charlatan,orwhatnot。Ifyouonceadmitfate,whichistosay,thechainoflinksofcauseandeffect,astrologyhasa/locusstandi/,andbecomeswhatitwasofyore,aboundlessscience,requiringthesamefacultyofdeductionbywhichCuvierbecamesogreat,afacultytobeexercisedspontaneously,however,andnotmerelyinnightsofstudyinthecloset。
Forsevencenturiesastrologyanddivinationhaveexercisedaninfluencenotonly(asatpresent)overtheuneducated,butoverthegreatestminds,overkingsandqueensandwealthypeople。Animalmagnetism,oneofthegreatsciencesofantiquity,haditsorigininoccultphilosophy;chemistryistheoutcomeofalchemy;phrenologyandneurologyarenolessthefruitofsimilarstudies。Thefirstillustriousworkersinthese,toallappearance,untouchedfields,madeonemistake,themistakeofallinventors;thatistosay,theyerectedanabsolutesystemonabasisofisolatedfactsforwhichmodernanalysisasyetcannotaccount。TheCatholicChurch,thelawoftheland,andmodernphilosophy,inagreementforonce,combinedtoprescribe,persecute,andridiculethemysteriesoftheCabalaaswellastheadepts;theresultisalamentableinterregnumofacenturyinoccultphilosophy。Buttheuneducatedclasses,andnotafewcultivatedpeople(womenespecially),continuetopayatributetothemysteriouspowerofthosewhocanraisetheveilofthefuture;theygotobuyhope,strength,andcourageofthefortune-teller;inotherwords,toaskofhimallthatreligionalonecangive。Sotheartisstillpractisedinspiteofacertainamountofrisk。Theeighteenthcenturyencyclopaedistsprocuredtoleranceforthesorcerer;heisnolongeramenabletoacourtoflaw,unless,indeed,helendshimselftofraudulentpractices,andfrightenshis“clients“toextortmoneyfromthem,inwhichcasehemaybeprosecutedonachargeofobtainingmoneyunderfalsepretences。Unluckily,theexerciseofthesublimeartisonlytoooftenusedasamethodofobtainingmoneyunderfalsepretences,andforthefollowingreasons。
Theseer"swonderfulgiftsareusuallybestoweduponthosewhoaredescribedbytheepithetsroughanduneducated。TheroughanduneducatedarethechosenvesselsintowhichGodpourstheelixirsatwhichwemarvel。Fromamongtheroughanduneducated,prophetsarise——
anApostlePeter,orSt。PetertheHermit。Wherevermentalpowerisimprisoned,andremainsintactandentireforwantofanoutletinconversation,inpolitics,inliterature,intheimaginingsofthescholar,intheeffortsofthestatesman,intheconceptionsoftheinventor,orthesoldier"stoilsofwar;thefirewithinisapttoflashoutingleamsofmarvelouslyvividlight,likethesparkshiddeninanunpolisheddiamond。Lettheoccasioncome,andthespiritwithinkindlesandglows,findswingstotraversespace,andthegod-likepowerofbeholdingallthings。Thecoalofyesterdayundertheplayofsomemysteriousinfluencebecomesaradiantdiamond。Bettereducatedpeople,many-sidedandhighlypolished,continuallygivingoutallthatisinthem,canneverexhibitthissupremepower,savebyoneofthemiracleswhichGodsometimesvouchsafestowork。Forthisreasonthesoothsayerisalmostalwaysabeggar,whosemindisvirginsoil,acreaturecoarsetoallappearance,apebblebornealongthetorrentofmiseryandleftintherutsoflife,whereitspendsnothingofitselfsaveinmerephysicalsuffering。
Theprophet,theseer,inshort,issome/MartinleLaboureur/makingaLouisXVIII。tremblebytellinghimasecretknownonlytothekinghimself;oritisaMlle。Lenormand,oradomesticservantlikeMme。
Fontaine,oragain,perhapsitissomehalf-idioticnegress,someherdsmanlivingamonghiscattle,whoreceivesthegiftofvision;
someHindoofakir,seatedbyapagoda,mortifyingthefleshtillthespiritgainsthemysteriouspowerofthesomnambulist。
Asia,indeed,throughalltime,hasbeenthehomeoftheheroesofoccultscience。Personsofthiskind,recoveringtheirnormalstate,areusuallyjustastheywerebefore。Theyfulfil,insomesort,thechemicalandphysicalfunctionsofbodieswhichconductelectricity;
attimesinertmetal,atothertimesachannelfilledwithamysteriouscurrent。Intheirnormalconditiontheyaregiventopracticeswhichbringthembeforethemagistrate,yea,verily,likethenotoriousBalthazar,evenuntothecriminalcourt,andsotothehulks。Youcouldhardlyfindabetterproofoftheimmenseinfluenceoffortune-tellingupontheworkingclassesthanthefactthatpoorPons"lifeanddeathhunguponthepredictionthatMme。Fontainewastomakefromthecards。
AlthoughacertainamountofrepetitionisinevitableinacanvassoconsiderableandsofullofdetailasacompletepictureofFrenchsocietyinthenineteenthcentury,itisneedlesstorepeatthedescriptionofMme。Fontaine"sden,alreadygivenin/LesComedienssanslesavoir/;sufficeittosaythatMme。CibotusedtogotoMme。
Fontaine"shouseintheRueVieille-du-TempleasregularlyasfrequentersoftheCafeAnglaisdropinatthatrestaurantforlunch。
Mme。Cibot,beingaveryoldcustomer,oftenintroducedyoungpersonsandoldgossipsconsumedwithcuriositytothewisewoman。
Theoldservantwhoactedasprovostmarshalflungopenthedoorofthesanctuarywithnofurtherceremonythantheremark,“It"sMme。
Cibot——Comein,there"snobodyhere。“
“Well,child,whatcanbringyouheresoearlyofamorning？”askedthesorceress,asMme。Fontainemightwellbecalled,forshewasseventy-eightyearsold,andlookedlikeoneoftheParcae。
“Somethinghasgivenmeaturn,“saidLaCibot;“Iwantthe/grandjeu/;itisaquestionofmyfortune。“Therewithsheexplainedherposition,andwishedtoknowifhersordidhopeswerelikelytoberealized。
“Doyouknowwhatthe/grandjeu/means？”askedMme。Fontaine,withmuchsolemnity。
“No,Ihaven"tneverseenthetrick,Iamnotrichenough——Ahundredfrancs!It"snotasifitcostsomuch!Wherewasthemoneytocomefrom?ButnowIcan"thelpmyself,Imusthaveit。“
“Idon"tdoitoften,child,“returnedMme。Fontaine;“Ionlydoitforrichpeopleongreatoccasions,andtheypaymetwenty-fivelouisfordoingit;ittiresme,yousee,itwearsmeout。The"Spirit"
rivesmyinside,here。Itislikegoingtothe"Sabbath,"astheyusedtosay。“
“ButwhenItellyouthatitmeansmywholefuture,mydeargoodMa"amFontaine——“
“Well,asitisyouthathavecometoconsultmesooften,IwillsubmitmyselftotheSpirit！”repliedMme。Fontaine,withalookofgenuineterroronherface。
Sherosefromherfilthyoldchairbythefireside,andwenttoatablecoveredwithagreenclothsowornthatyoucouldcountthethreads。Ahugetoadsatdozingtherebesideacageinhabitedbyablackdisheveled-lookingfowl。
“Astaroth!here,myson！”shesaid,andthecreaturelookedupintelligentlyatherassherappedhimonthebackwithalongknitting-needle——“Andyou,MademoiselleCleopatre!——attention！”shecontinued,tappingtheancientfowlonthebeak。
ThenMme。Fontainebegantothink;forseveralsecondsshedidnotmove;shelookedlikeacorpse,hereyesrolledintheirsocketsandgrewwhite;thensherosestiffanderect,andacavernousvoicecried：
“HereIam！”
AutomaticallyshescatteredmilletforCleopatre,tookupthepackofcards,shuffledthemconvulsively,andheldthemouttoMme。Cibottocut,sighingheavilyallthetime。AtthesightofthatimageofDeathinthefilthyturbananduncanny-lookingbed-jacket,watchingtheblackfowlasitpeckedatthemillet-grains,callingtothetoadAstarothtowalkoverthecardsthatlayoutonthetable,acoldthrillranthroughMme。Cibot;sheshuddered。Nothingbutstrongbeliefcangivestrongemotions。Anassuredincome,tobeornottobe,thatwasthequestion。
Thesorceressopenedamagicalworkandmutteredsomeunintelligiblewordsinasepulchralvoice,lookedattheremainingmillet-seeds,andwatchedthewayinwhichthetoadretired。Thenaftersevenoreightminutes,sheturnedherwhiteeyesonthecardsandexpoundedthem。
“Youwillsucceed,althoughnothingintheaffairwillfalloutasyouexpect。Youwillhavemanystepstotake,butyouwillreapthefruitsofyourlabors。Youwillbehaveverybadly;itwillbewithyouasitiswithallthosewhositbyasick-bedandcovetpartoftheinheritance。Greatpeoplewillhelpyouinthisworkofwrongdoing。
Afterwardsinthedeathagonyyouwillrepent。Twoescapedconvicts,ashortmanwithredhairandanoldmanwithabaldhead,willmurderyouforthesakeofthemoneyyouwillbesupposedtohaveinthevillagewhitheryouwillretirewithyoursecondhusband。Now,mydaughter,itisstillopentoyoutochooseyourcourse。“
Theexcitementwhichseemedtoglowwithin,lightingupthebonyhollowsabouttheeyes,wassuddenlyextinguished。Assoonasthehoroscopewaspronounced,Mme。Fontaine"sfaceworeadazedexpression;shelookedexactlylikeasleep-walkerarousedfromsleep,gazedaboutherwithanastonishedair,recognizedMme。Cibot,andseemedsurprisedbyherterrifiedface。
“Well,child,“shesaid,inatotallydifferentvoice,“areyousatisfied？”
Mme。Cibotstaredstupidlyatthesorceress,andcouldnotanswer。
“Ah!youwouldhavethe/grandjeu/;Ihavetreatedyouasanoldacquaintance。Ionlywantahundredfrancs——“
“Cibot,——goingtodie？”gaspedtheportress。
“SoIhavebeentellingyouverydreadfulthings,haveI？”askedMme。
Fontaine,withanextremelyingenuousair。
“Why,yes！”saidLaCibot,takingahundredfrancsfromherpocketandlayingthemdownontheedgeofthetable。“Goingtobemurdered,thinkofit——“
“Ah!thereitis!Youwouldhavethe/grandjeu/;butdon"ttakeonso,allthefolkthataremurderedonthecardsdon"tdie。“
“Butisitpossible,Ma"amFontaine？”
“Oh,/I/knownothingaboutit,myprettydear!Youwouldrapatthedoorofthefuture;Ipullthecord,anditcame。“
“/It/,what？”askedMme。Cibot。
“Well,then,theSpirit！”criedthesorceressimpatiently。
“Good-bye,Ma"amFontaine,“exclaimedtheportress。“Ididnotknowwhatthe/grandjeu/waslike。Youhavegivenmeagoodfright,thatyouhave。“
“Themistresswillnotputherselfinthatstatetwiceinamonth,“
saidtheservant,asshewentwithLaCibottothelanding。“Shewoulddoherselftodeathifshedid,ittiresherso。Shewilleatcutletsnowandsleepforthreehoursafterwards。“
OutinthestreetLaCibottookcounselofherselfasshewentalong,and,afterthemannerofallwhoaskforadviceofanysortordescription,shetookthefavorablepartofthepredictionandrejectedtherest。Thenextdayfoundherconfirmedinherresolutions——shewouldsetallintraintobecomerichbysecuringapartofPons"collection。Norforsometimehadsheanyotherthoughtthanthecombinationofvariousplanstothisend。Thefacultyofself-
concentrationseeninrough,uneducatedpersons,explainedonapreviouspage,thereservepoweraccumulatedinthosewhosementalenergiesareunwornbythedailywearandtearofsociallife,andbroughtintoactionsosoonasthatterribleweaponthe“fixedidea“
isbroughtintoplay,——allthiswaspre-eminentlymanifestedinLaCibot。Evenasthe“fixedidea“worksmiraclesofevasion,andbringsforthprodigiesofsentiment,sogreedtransformedtheportresstillshebecameasformidableasaNucingenatbay,assubtlebeneathherseemingstupidityastheirresistibleLaPalferine。
Aboutseveno"clockonemorning,afewdaysafterwards,shesawRemonencqtakingdownhisshutters。Shewentacrosstohim。
“Howcouldonefindouthowmuchthethingsyonderinmygentlemen"sroomsareworth？”sheaskedinawheedlingtone。
“Oh!thatisquiteeasy,“repliedtheowneroftheoldcuriosityshop。
“Ifyouwillplayfairandaboveboardwithme,Iwilltellyouofsomebody,averyhonestman,whowillknowthevalueofthepicturestoafarthing——“
“Who？”
“M。Magus,aJew。Heonlydoesbusinesstoamusehimselfnow。“
ElieMagushasappearedsoofteninthe/ComedieHumaine/,thatitisneedlesstosaymoreofhimhere。Sufficeittoaddthathehadretiredfrombusiness,andasadealerwasfollowingtheexamplesetbyPonstheamateur。Well-knownvaluerslikeHenry,Messrs。PigeotandMoret,Theret,Georges,andRoehn,theexpertsoftheMusee,infact,werebutchildrencomparedwithElieMagus。Hecouldseeamasterpiecebeneaththeaccumulatedgrimeofacentury;heknewallschools,andthehandwritingofallpainters。
HehadcometoParisfromBordeaux,andsolongagoas1835hehadretiredfrombusinesswithoutmakinganychangeforthebetterinhisdress,sofaithfulistheracetooldtradition。ThepersecutionsoftheMiddleAgescompelledthemtowearrags,tosnuffleandwhineandgroanovertheirpovertyinself-defence,tillthehabitsinducedbythenecessitiesofothertimeshavecometobe,asusual,instinctive,aracialdefect。
ElieMagushadamassedavastfortunebybuyingandsellingdiamonds,pictures,lace,enamels,delicatecarvings,oldjewelry,andraritiesofallkinds,akindofcommercewhichhasdevelopedenormouslyoflate,somuchsoindeedthatthenumberofdealershasincreasedtenfoldduringthelasttwentyyearsinthiscityofParis,whitherallthecuriositiesintheworldcometorubagainstoneanother。Andforpicturestherearebutthreemartsintheworld——Rome,London,andParis。
ElieMaguslivedintheChauseedesMinimes,ashort,broadstreetleadingtothePlaceRoyale。Hehadboughtthehouse,anold-fashionedmansion,forasong,asthesayingis,in1831。Yetthereweresumptuousapartmentswithinit,decoratedinthetimeofLouisXV。;
forithadoncebeentheHotelMaulaincourt,builtbythegreatPresidentoftheCourdesAides,anditsremotepositionhadsaveditatthetimeoftheRevolution。
YoumaybequitesurethattheoldJewhadsoundreasonsforbuyinghouseproperty,contrarytotheHebrewlawandcustom。Hehadended,asmostofusend,withahobbythatborderedonacraze。Hewasasmiserlyashisfriend,thelatelamentedGobseck;buthehadbeencaughtbythesnareoftheeyes,bythebeautyofthepicturesinwhichhedealt。Ashistastegrewmoreandmorefastidious,itbecameoneofthepassionswhichprincesalonecanindulgewhentheyarewealthyandart-lovers。AsthesecondKingofPrussiafoundnothingthatsokindledenthusiasmasthespectacleofagrenadieroversixfeethigh,andgaveextravagantsumsforanewspecimentoaddtohislivingmuseumofaregiment,sotheretiredpicture-dealerwasrousedtopassion-pitchonlybysomecanvasinperfectpreservation,untouchedsincethemasterlaiddownthebrush;andwhatwasmore,itmustbeapictureofthepainter"sbesttime。Nogreatsales,therefore,tookplacebutElieMaguswasthere;everymartknewhim;
hetraveledalloverEurope。Theice-cold,money-worshipingsoulinhimkindledatthesightofaperfectworkofart,preciselyasalibertine,wearyoffairwomen,isrousedfromapathybythesightofabeautifulgirl,andsetsoutafreshuponthequestofflawlessloveliness。ADonJuanamongfairworksofart,aworshiperoftheIdeal,ElieMagushaddiscoveredjoysthattranscendthepleasureofamisergloatingoverhisgold——helivedinaseraglioofgreatpaintings。
Hismasterpieceswerehousedasbecamethechildrenofprinces;thewholefirstfloorofthegreatoldmansionwasgivenuptothem。TheroomshadbeenrestoredunderElieMagus"orders,andwithwhatmagnificence!
ThewindowswerehungwiththerichestVenetianbrocade;themostsplendidcarpetsfromtheSavonneriecoveredtheparquetryflooring。
Theframesofthepictures,nearlyahundredinnumber,weremagnificentspecimens,regildedcunninglybyServais,theonegilderinPariswhomElieMagusthoughtsufficientlypainstaking;theoldJewhimselfhadtaughthimtousetheEnglishleaf,whichisinfinitelysuperiortothatproducedbyFrenchgold-beaters。ServaisisamonggildersasThouveninamongbookbinders——anartistamongcraftsmen,makinghisworkalaboroflove。Everywindowinthatgallerywasprotectedbyiron-barredshutters。ElieMagushimselflivedinacoupleofatticsonthefloorabove;thefurniturewaswretched,theroomswerefullofrags,andthewholeplacesmackedoftheGhetto;
ElieMaguswasfinishinghisdayswithoutanychangeinhislife。
Thewholeofthegroundfloorwasgivenuptothepicturetrade(fortheJewstilldealtinworksofart)。Herehestoredhiscanvases,herealsopacking-caseswerestowedontheirarrivalfromothercountries;andstilltherewasroomforavaststudio,whereMoret,mostskilfulofrestorersofpictures,acraftsmanwhomtheMuseeoughttoemploy,wasalmostalwaysatworkforMagus。TherestoftheroomsonthegroundfloorweregivenuptoMagus"daughter,thechildofhisoldage,aJewessasbeautifulasaJewesscanbewhentheSemitictypereappearsinitspurityandnobilityinadaughterofIsrael。Noemiwasguardedbytwoservants,fanaticalJewesses,tosaynothingofanadvanced-guard,aPolishJew,Abramkobyname,onceinvolvedinafabulousmannerinpoliticaltroubles,fromwhichElieMagussavedhimasabusinessspeculation。Abramko,porterofthesilent,grim,desertedmansion,dividedhisofficeandhislodgewiththreeremarkablyferociousanimals——anEnglishbull-dog,aNewfoundlanddog,andanotherofthePyreneanbreed。
BeholdtheprofoundobservationsofhumannatureuponwhichElieMagusbasedhisfeelingofsecurity,forsecurehefelt;helefthomewithoutmisgivings,sleptwithbothearsshut,andfearednoattemptuponhisdaughter(hischieftreasure),hispictures,orhismoney。Inthefirstplace,Abramko"ssalarywasincreasedeveryyearbytwohundredfrancssolongashismastershouldlive;andMagus,moreover,wastrainingAbramkoasamoney-lenderinasmallway。Abramkoneveradmittedanybodyuntilhehadsurveyedthemthroughaformidablegratedopening。HewasaHerculesforstrength,heworshipedElieMagus,asSanchoPanzaworshipedDonQuixote。Alldaylongthedogswereshutupwithoutfood;atnightfallAbramkoletthemloose;andbyacunningdevicetheoldJewkepteachanimalathispostinthecourtyardorthegardenbyhangingapieceofmeatjustoutofreachonthetopofapole。Theanimalsguardedthehouse,andsheerhungerguardedthedogs。Noodorthatreachedtheirnostrilscouldtemptthemfromtheneighborhoodofthatpieceofmeat;theywouldnothavelefttheirplacesatthefootofthepolesforthemostengagingfemaleofthecaninespecies。Ifastrangerbyanychanceintruded,thedogssuspectedhimofulteriordesignsupontheirrations,whichwereonlytakendowninthemorningbyAbramkohimselfwhenheawoke。Theadvantagesofthisfiendishschemearepatent。Theanimalsneverbarked,Magus"ingenuityhadmadesavagesofthem;theyweretreacherousasMohicans。Andnowfortheresult。
Onenightburglars,emboldenedbythesilence,decidedtoohastilythatitwouldbeeasyenoughto“cleanout“theoldJew"sstrongbox。
Oneoftheirnumbertoldofftoadvancetotheassaultscrambledupthegardenwallandpreparedtodescend。Thisthebull-dogallowedhimtodo。Theanimal,knowingperfectlywellwhatwascoming,waitedfortheburglartoreachtheground;butwhenthatgentlemandirectedakickathim,thebull-dogflewatthevisitor"sshins,and,makingbutonebiteofit,snappedtheankle-bonecleanintwo。Thethiefhadthecouragetotearhimaway,andreturned,walkinguponthebareboneofthemutilatedstumptillhereachedtherestofthegang,whenhefellfainting,andtheycarriedhimoff。The/PoliceNews/,ofcourse,didnotfailtoreportthisdelightfulnightincident,butnoonebelievedinit。
Magusatthistimewasseventy-fiveyearsold,andtherewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnotlivetoahundred。Richmanthoughhewas,helivedliketheRemonencqs。Hisnecessaryexpenses,includingthemoneyhelavishedonhisdaughter,didnotexceedthreethousandfrancs。Nolifecouldbemoreregular;theoldmanroseassoonasitwaslight,breakfastedonbreadrubbedwithacloveofgarlic,andatenomorefooduntildinner-time。Dinner,amealfrugalenoughforaconvent,hetookathome。Alltheforenoonshespentamonghistreasures,walkingupanddownthegallerywheretheyhungintheirglory。Hewoulddusteverythinghimself,furnitureandpictures;heneverweariedofadmiring。Thenhewouldgodownstairstohisdaughter,drinkdeepofafather"shappiness,andstartoutuponhiswalksthroughParis,toattendsalesorvisitexhibitionsandthelike。
IfElieMagusfoundagreatworkofartundertherightconditions,thediscoveryputnewlifeintotheman;herewasabitofsharppractice,abargaintomake,abattleofMarengotowin。Hewouldpileruseonrusetobuythenewsultanaascheaplyaspossible。MagushadamapofEuropeonwhichallgreatpicturesweremarked;hisco-religionistsineverycityspiedoutbusinessforhim,andreceivedacommissiononthepurchase。Andthen,whatrewardsforallhispains!ThetwolostRaphaelssoearnestlysoughtafterbyRaphaelloversarebothinhiscollection。ElieMagusownstheoriginalportraitof/Giorgione"sMistress/,thewomanforwhomthepainterdied;theso-calledoriginalsaremerelycopiesofthefamouspicture,whichisworthfivehundredthousandfrancs,accordingtoitsowner"sestimation。ThisJewpossessesTitian"smasterpiece,an/Entombment/
paintedforCharlesV。,sentbythegreatmantothegreatEmperorwithaholographletter,nowfasteneddownuponthelowerpartofthecanvas。AndMagushasyetanotherTitian,theoriginalsketchfromwhichalltheportraitsofPhilipII。werepainted。Hisremainingninety-sevenpicturesareallofthesamerankanddistinction。
WhereforeMaguslaughsatournationalcollection,rakedbythesunlightwhichdestroysthefairestpaintings,pouringinthroughpanesofglassthatactaslenses。Picturegalleriescanonlybelightedfromabove;Magusopensandcloseshisshuttershimself;heisascarefulofhispicturesasofhisdaughter,hissecondidol。Andwelltheoldpicture-fancierknowsthelawsofthelivesofpictures。
Tohearhimtalk,agreatpicturehasalifeofitsown;itischangeable,ittakesitsbeautyfromthecolorofthelight。MagustalksofhispaintingsasDutchfanciersusedtotalkoftheirtulips;
hewillcomehomeonpurposetoseesomeonepictureinthehourofitsglory,whenthelightisbrightandclean。
AndMagushimselfwasalivingpictureamongthemotionlessfiguresonthewall——alittleoldman,dressedinashabbyovercoat,asilkwaistcoat,renewedtwiceinascoreofyears,andaverydirtypairoftrousers,withabaldhead,afacefullofdeephollows,awrinkled,callousskin,abeardthathadatrickoftwitchingitslongwhitebristles,amenacingpointedchin,atoothlessmouth,eyesbrightastheeyesofhisdogsintheyard,andanoselikeanobelisk——therehestoodinhisgallerysmilingatthebeautycalledintobeingbygenius。AJewsurroundedbyhismillionswillalwaysbeoneofthefinestspectacleswhichhumanitycangive。RobertMedal,ourgreatactor,cannotrisetothisheightofpoetry,sublimethoughheis。
ParisofallthecitiesoftheworldholdsmostofsuchmenasMagus,strangebeingswithastrangereligionintheirheartofhearts。TheLondon“eccentric“alwaysfindsthatworship,likelife,bringswearinessandsatietyintheend;theParisianmonomaniaclivescheerfullyinconcubinagewithhiscrotchettothelast。
OftenshallyoumeetinParissomePons,someElieMagus,dressedbadlyenough,withhisfaceturnedfromtherisingsun(likethecountenanceoftheperpetualsecretaryoftheAcademie),apparentlyheedingnothing,consciousofnothing,payingnoattentiontoshop-
windowsnortofairpassers-by,walkingatrandom,sotospeak,withnothinginhispockets,andtoallappearanceanequallyemptyhead。
DoyouasktowhatParisiantribethismannerofmanbelongs?Heisacollector,amillionaire,oneofthemostimpassionedsoulsuponearth;heandhislikearecapableoftreadingthemirywaysthatleadtothepolice-courtifsotheymaygainpossessionofacup,apicture,orsomesuchrareunpublishedpieceasElieMagusoncepickeduponememorabledayinGermany。
ThiswastheexperttowhomRemonencqwithmuchmysteryconductedLaCibot。RemonencqalwaysaskedadviceofElieMaguswhenhemethiminthestreets;andmorethanonceMagushadlenthimmoneythroughAbramko,knowingRemonencq"shonesty。TheChausseedesMinimesisclosetotheRuedeNormandie,andthetwofellow-conspiratorsreachedthehouseintenminutes。
“Youwillseetherichestdealerincuriosities,thegreatestconnoisseurinParis,“Remonencqhadsaid。AndMme。Cibot,therefore,wasstruckdumbwithamazementtobeconfrontedwithalittleoldmaninagreat-coattooshabbyforCibottomend,standingwatchingapainteratworkuponanoldpictureinthechillyroomonthevastgroundfloor。Theoldman"seyes,fullofcoldfelinemalignance,wereturneduponher,andLaCibotshivered。
“Whatdoyouwant,Remonencq？”askedthisperson。
“Itisaquestionofvaluingsomepictures;thereisnobodybutyouinPariswhocantellapoortinker-fellowlikemehowmuchhemaygivewhenhehasnotthousandstospend,likeyou。“
“Whereisit？”
“Hereistheportressofthehousewherethegentlemanlives;shedoesforhim,andIhavearrangedwithher——“
“Whoistheowner？”
“M。Pons！”putinLaCibot。
“Don"tknowthename,“saidMagus,withaninnocentair,bringingdownhisfootverygentlyuponhisartist"stoes。
Moretthepainter,knowingthevalueofPons"collection,hadlookedupsuddenlyatthename。ItwasamovetoohazardoustotrywithanyonebutRemonencqandLaCibot,buttheJewhadtakenthewoman"smeasureatsight,andhiseyewasasaccurateasajeweler"sscales。
ItwasimpossiblethateitherofthecoupleshouldknowhowoftenMagusandoldPonshadmatchedtheirclaws。And,intruth,bothrabidamateurswerejealousofeachother。TheoldJewhadneverhopedforasightofaseragliosocarefullyguarded;itseemedtohimthathisheadwasswimming。Pons"collectionwastheoneprivatecollectioninPariswhichcouldviewithhisown。Pons"ideahadoccurredtoMagustwentyyearslater;butasadealer-amateurthedoorofPons"museumhadbeenclosedtohim,asforDusommerard。PonsandMagushadatheartthesamejealousy。Neitherofthemcaredaboutthekindofcelebritydeartotheordinarycollector。AndnowforElieMaguscamehischancetoseethepoormusician"streasures!AnamateurofbeautyhidinginaboudoirorastolenglanceatamistressconcealedfromhimbyhisfriendmightfeelasElieMagusfeltatthatmoment。
LaCibotwasimpressedbyRemonencq"srespectforthissingularperson;realpower,moreover,evenwhenitcannotbeexplained,isalwaysfelt;theportresswassuppleandobedient,shedroppedtheautocratictonewhichshewaswonttouseinherlodgeandwiththetenants,acceptedMagus"conditions,andagreedtoadmithimintoPons"museumthatveryday。
Sotheenemywastobebroughtintothecitadel,andastabdealttoPons"veryheart。FortenyearsPonshadcarriedhiskeysaboutwithhim;hehadforbiddenLaCibottoallowanyone,nomatterwhom,tocrosshisthreshold;andLaCibothadsofarsharedSchmucke"sopinionsof/bric-a-brac/,thatshehadobeyedhim。ThegoodSchmucke,byspeakingofthesplendorsas“chimcracks,“anddeploringhisfriend"smania,hadtaughtLaCibottodespisetheoldrubbish,andsosecuredPons"museumfrominvasionformanyalongyear。
WhenPonstooktohisbed,Schmuckefilledhisplaceatthetheatreandgavelessonsforhimathisboarding-schools。Hedidhisutmosttodotheworkoftwo;butPons"sorrowsweighingheavilyuponhismind,thetasktookallhisstrength。Heonlysawhisfriendinthemorning,andagainatdinnertime。Hispupilsandthepeopleatthetheatre,seeingthepoorGermanlooksounhappy,usedtoaskfornewsofPons;
andsogreatwashisgrief,thattheindifferentwouldmakethegrimacesofsensibilitywhichParisiansarewonttoreserveforthegreatestcalamities。Theveryspringsoflifehadbeenattacked,thegoodGermanwassufferingfromPons"painaswellasfromhisown。
Whenhegaveamusiclesson,hespenthalfthetimeintalkingofPons,interruptinghimselftowonderwhetherhisfriendfeltbetterto-day,andthelittleschool-girlslisteningheardlengthyexplanationsofPons"symptoms。HewouldrushovertotheRuedeNormandieintheintervalbetweentwolessonsforthesakeofaquarterofanhourwithPons。
Whenatlasthesawthattheircommonstockwasalmostexhausted,whenMme。Cibot(whohaddoneherbesttoswelltheexpensesoftheillness)cametohimandfrightenedhim;thentheoldmusic-masterfeltthathehadcourageofwhichheneverthoughthimselfcapable——
couragethatroseabovehisanguish。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehesethimselftoearnmoney;moneywasneededathome。Oneoftheschool-girlpupils,reallytouchedbytheirtroubles,askedSchmuckehowhecouldleavehisfriendalone。“Montemoiselle,“heanswered,withthesublimesmileofthosewhothinknoevil,“vehafMontameZipod,eindreasure,montemoiselle,einbearl!Bonsisnursedlikeeinbrince。“
SowhileSchmucketrottedaboutthestreets,LaCibotwasmistressofthehouseandruledtheinvalid。HowshouldPonssuperintendhisself-
appointedguardianangel,whenhehadtakennosolidfoodforafortnight,andlaytheresoweakandhelplessthatLaCibotwasobligedtolifthimupandcarryhimtothesofawhileshemadethebed?
LaCibot"svisittoElieMaguswaspaid(asmightbeexpected)whileSchmuckebreakfasted。ShecameinagainjustastheGermanwasbiddinghisfriendgood-bye;forsinceshelearnedthatPonspossessedafortune,sheneverlefttheoldbachelor;shebroodedoverhimandhistreasureslikeahen。Fromthedepthsofacomfortableeasy-chairatthefootofthebedshepouredforthforPons"delectationthegossipinwhichwomenofherclassexcel。WithMachiavelianskill,shehadcontrivedtomakePonsthinkthatshewasindispensabletohim;shecoaxedandshewheedled,alwaysuneasy,alwaysonthealert。Mme。
Fontaine"sprophecyhadfrightenedLaCibot;shevowedtoherselfthatshewouldgainherendsbykindness。ShewouldsleepsecureonM。
Pons"legacy,butherrascalityshouldkeepwithinthelimitsofthelaw。FortenyearsshehadnotsuspectedthevalueofPons"
collection;shehadaclearrecordbehindheroftenyearsofdevotion,honesty,anddisinterestedness;itwasamagnificentinvestment,andnowsheproposedtorealize。Inoneday,Remonencq"shintofmoneyhadhatchedtheserpent"segg,thecravingforrichesthathadlaindormantwithinherfortwentyyears。Sinceshehadcherishedthatcraving,ithadgrowninforcewiththefermentofalltheevilthatlurksinthecornersoftheheart。Howsheacteduponthecounselswhisperedbytheserpentwillpresentlybeseen。
“Well？”sheaskedofSchmucke,“hasthischerubofourshadplentytodrink?Ishebetter？”
“Heisnotdoingferyvell,tearMontameZipod,notferyvell,“saidpoorSchmucke,brushingawaythetearsfromhiseyes。
“Pooh!youmaketoomuchofit,mydearM。Schmucke;wemusttakethingsaswefindthem;Cibotmightbeatdeath"sdoor,andIshouldnottakeittoheartasyoudo。Come!thecherubhasagoodconstitution。Andhehasbeensteady,itseems,yousee;youhavenoideawhatanagesoberpeoplelive。Heisveryill,itistrue,butwithallthecareItakeofhim,Ishallbringhimround。Beeasy,lookafteryouraffairs,Iwillkeephimcompanyandseethathedrinkshispintsofbarleywater。“
“Gifyouverenothere,Ishoulddieofanxiety——“saidSchmucke,squeezinghiskindhousekeeper"shandinbothhisowntoexpresshisconfidenceinher。
LaCibotwipedhereyesasshewentbacktotheinvalid"sroom。
“Whatisthematter,Mme。Cibot？”askedPons。
“ItisM。Schmuckethathasupsetme;heiscryingasifyouweredead,“saidshe。“Ifyouarenotwell,youarenotsobadyetthatnobodyneedcryoveryou;butithasgivenmesuchaturn!Ohdear!ohdear!howsillyitisofmetogetsofondofpeople,andtothinkmoreofyouthanofCibot!For,afterall,youaren"tnothingtome,youareonlymybrotherbyAdam"sside;andyet,wheneveryouareinthequestion,itputsmeinsuchataking,uponmyworditdoes!I
wouldcutoffmyhand——mylefthand,ofcourse——toseeyoucomingandgoing,eatingyourmeals,andscrewingbargainsoutofdealersasusual。IfIhadhadachildofmyown,IthinkIshouldhaveloveditasIloveyou,eh!There,takeadrink,dearie;comenow,emptytheglass。Drinkitoff,monsieur,Itellyou!ThefirstthingDr。Poulainsaidwas,"IfM。PonshasnomindtogotoPereLachaise,heoughttodrinkasmanybucketsfullofwaterinadayasanAuvergnatwillsell。"So,comenow,drink——“
“ButIdodrink,Cibot,mygoodwoman;IdrinkanddrinktillIamdeluged——“
“Thatisright,“saidtheportress,asshetookawaytheemptyglass。
“Thatisthewaytogetbetter。Dr。Poulainhadanotherpatientillofyourcomplaint;buthehadnobodytolookafterhim,hischildrenlefthimtohimself,andhediedbecausehedidn"tdrinkenough——soyoumustdrink,honey,yousee——hediedandtheyburiedhimtwomonthsago。Andifyouweretodie,youknow,youwoulddragdownoldM。
Schmuckewithyou,sir。Heislikeachild。Ah!helovesyou,hedoes,thedearlambofaman;nowomanneverlovedamanlikethat!Hedoesn"tcareformeatnordrink;hehasgrownasthinasyouareinthelastfortnight,andyouarenothingbutskinandbones——Itmakesmejealoustoseeit,forIamveryfondofyou;butnottothatdegree;Ihaven"tlostmyappetite,quitetheotherway;alwaysgoingupanddownstairs,tillmylegsaresotiredthatIdropdownofaneveninglikealumpoflead。HereamIneglectingmypoorCibotforyou;Mlle。Remonencqcookshisvictualsforhim,andhegoesonaboutitandsaysthatnothingisright!AtthatItellhimthatoneoughttoputupwithsomethingforthesakeofotherpeople,andthatyouaresoillthatIcannotleaveyou。Inthefirstplace,youcan"taffordanurse。AndbeforeIwouldhaveanursehere!——Ihavedoneforyouthesetenyears;theywantwineandsugar,andfoot-warmers,andallsortsofcomforts。Andtheyrobtheirpatientsunlessthepatientsleavethemsomethingintheirwills。Haveanurseinhereto-day,andto-morrowweshouldfindapictureorsomethingorothergone——“
“Oh!Mme。Cibot！”criedPons,quitebesidehimself,“donotleaveme!
Noonemusttouchanything——“
“Iamhere,“saidLaCibot;“solongasIhavethestrengthIshallbehere——Beeasy。TherewasDr。Poulainwantingtogetanurseforyou;
perhapshehashiseyeonyourtreasures。Ijustsnubbedhim,Idid。
"Thegentlemanwon"thaveanyonebutme,"Itoldhim。"Heisusedtome,andIamusedtohim。"Sohesaidnomore。Anurse,indeed!Theyareallthieves;Ihatethatsortofwoman,Ido。Hereisatalethatwillshowyouhowslytheyare。Therewasonceanoldgentleman——itwasDr。Poulainhimself,mindyou,whotoldmethis——well,aMme。
Sabatier,awomanofthirty-sixthatusedtosellslippersatthePalaisRoyal——youremembertheGalerieatthePalaisthattheypulleddown？”
Ponsnodded。
“Well,atthattimeshehadnotdoneverywell;herhusbandusedtodrink,anddiedofspontaneousimbustion;butshehadbeenafinewomaninhertime,truthtotell,notthatitdidheranygood,thoughshehadfriendsamongthelawyers。So,beinghardup,shebecameamonthlynurse,andlivedintheRueBarre-du-Bec。Well,shewentouttonurseanoldgentlemanthathadadiseaseofthelurinaryguts(savingyourpresence);theyusedtotaphimlikeanartesianwell,andheneededsuchcarethatsheusedtosleeponatruckle-bedinthesameroomwithhim。Youwouldhardlybelievesuchathing!——"Menrespectnothing,"you"lltellme,"soselfishastheyare。"Well,sheusedtotalkwithhim,youunderstand;sheneverlefthim,sheamusedhim,shetoldhimstories,shedrewhimontotalk(justaswearechattingawaytogethernow,youandI,eh?),andshefoundoutthathisnephews——theoldgentlemanhadnephews——thathisnephewswerewretches;theyhadworriedhim,andfinalendofit,theyhadbroughtonthisillness。Well,mydearsir,shesavedhislife,hemarriedher,andtheyhaveafinechild;Ma"amBordevin,thebutcher"swifeintheRueCharlot,arelativeofhers,stoodgodmother。Thereisluckforyou!
“Asforme,Iammarried;andifIhavenochildren,Idon"tmindsayingthatitisCibot"sfault;heistoofondofme,butifIcared——nevermind。WhatwouldhavebecomeofmeandmyCibotifwehadhadafamily,whenwehavenotapennytoblessourselveswithafterthirtyyears"offaithfulservice?Ihavenotafarthingbelongingtonobodyelse,thatiswhatcomfortsme。Ihaveneverwrongednobody——
Lookhere,supposenow(thereisnoharminsupposingwhenyouwillbeoutandaboutagaininsixweeks"time,andsaunteringalongtheboulevard);well,supposethatyouhadputmedowninyourwill;verygood,Ishouldn"tneverresttillIhadfoundyourheirsandgiventhemoneyback。Suchismyhorrorofanythingthatisnotearnedbythesweatofmybrow。
“Youwillsaytome,"Why,Mme。Cibot,whyshouldyouworryyourselflikethat?Youhavefairlyearnedthemoney;youlookedafteryourtwogentlemenasiftheyhadbeenyourchildren;yousavedthemathousandfrancsayear——"(forthereareplenty,sir,youknow,thatwouldhavehadtheirtenthousandfrancsputouttointerestbynowiftheyhadbeeninmyplace)——"soiftheworthygentlemanleavesyouatrifleofanannuity,itisonlyright。"——Supposetheytoldmethat。Well,now;
Iamnotthinkingofmyself——Icannotthinkhowsomewomencandoakindnessthinkingofthemselvesallthetime。Itisnotdoinggood,sir,isit?Idonotgotochurchmyself,Ihaven"tthetime;butmyconsciencetellsmewhatisright……Don"tyoufidgetlikethat,mylamb!——Don"tscratchyourself!……Dearme,howyellowyougrow!
Soyellowyouare——quitebrown。Howfunnyitisthatonecancometolooklikealemoninthreeweeks!……Honestyisallthatpoorfolkhave,andonemustsurelyhavesomething!Supposethatyouwerejustatdeath"sdoor,IshouldbethefirsttotellyouthatyououghttoleaveallthatyouhavetoM。Schmucke。Itisyourduty,forheisallthefamilyyouhave。Helovesyou,hedoes,asadogloveshismaster。“
“Ah!yes,“saidPons;“nobodyelsehaseverlovedmeallmylifelong——“
“Ah!thatisnotkindofyou,sir,“saidMme。Cibot;“thenIdonotloveyou,Isuppose？”
“Idonotsayso,mydearMme。Cibot。“
“Good。Youtakemeforaservant,doyou,acommonservant,asifI
hadn"tnoheart!Goodnessme!forelevenyearsyoudofortwooldbachelors,youthinkofnothingbuttheircomfort。Ihaveturnedhalfascoreofgreengrocers"shopsupsidedownforyou,IhavetalkedpeopleroundtogetyougoodBriecheese;Ihavegonedownasfarasthemarketforfreshbutterforyou;Ihavetakensuchcareofthingsthatnothingofyourshasn"tbeenchippednorbrokeninallthesetenyears;Ihavejusttreatedyoulikemyownchildren;andthentoheara"MydearMme。Cibot,"thatshowsthatthereisnotabitoffeelingforyouintheheartofanoldgentlemanthatyouhavecaredforlikeaking"sson!forthelittleKingofRomewasnotsowelllookedafter。Hediedinhisprime;thereisproofforyou……Come,sir,youareunjust!Youareungrateful!ItisbecauseIamonlyapoorportress。Goodnessme!are/you/oneofthosethatthinkwearedogs?——“
“But,mydearMme。Cibot——“
“Indeed,youthatknowsomuch,tellmewhyweportersaretreatedlikethis,andaresupposedtohavenofeelings;peoplelookdownonusinthesedayswhentheytalkofEquality!——Asforme,amInotasgoodasanotherwoman,IthatwasoneofthefinestwomeninParis,andwascalled/LabelleEcaillere/,andreceiveddeclarationssevenoreighttimesaday?AndevennowifIliked——Lookhere,sir,youknowthatlittlescrubbymarinestore-dealerdownstairs?Verywell,hewouldmarrymeanyday,ifIwereawidowthatis,withhiseyesshut;
hehashadthemlookingwideopeninmydirectionsooften;heisalwayssaying,"Oh!whatfinearmsyouhave,Ma"amCibot!——IdreamedlastnightthatitwasbreadandIwasbutter,andIwasspreadonthetop。"Look,sir,thereisanarm！”
Sherolleduphersleeveanddisplayedtheshapeliestarmimaginable,aswhiteandfreshasherhandwasredandrough;aplump,round,dimpledarm,drawnfromitsmerinosheathlikeabladefromthescabbardtodazzlePons,wholookedaway。
“Foreveryoystertheknifeopened,thearmhasopenedaheart!Well,itbelongstoCibot,andIdidwrongwhenIneglectedhim,poordear,HEwouldthrowhimselfoveraprecipiceatawordfromme;whileyou,sir,thatcallme"MydearMme。Cibot"whenIdoimpossiblethingsforyou——“
“Dojustlistentome,“brokeinthepatient;“Icannotcallyoumymother,normywife——“
“No,neverinallmyborndayswillItakeagaintoanybody——“
“Doletmespeak！”continuedPons。“Letmesee;IputM。Schmuckefirst——“
“M。Schmucke!thereisaheartforyou,“criedLaCibot。“Ah!helovesme,butthenheispoor。Itismoneythatdeadenstheheart;andyouarerich!Oh,well,takeanurse,youwillseewhatalifeshewillleadyou;shewilltormentyou,youwillbelikeacockchaferonastring。Thedoctorwillsaythatyoumusthaveplentytodrink,andshewilldonothingbutfeedyou。Shewillbringyoutoyourgraveandrobyou。YoudonotdeservetohaveaMme。Cibot!——there!WhenDr。
Poulaincomes,askhimforanurse。“
“Ohfiddlestickend！”thepatientcriedangrily。“/Will/youlistentome?WhenIspokeofmyfriendSchmucke,Iwasnotthinkingofwomen。I
knowquitewellthatnoonecaresformesosincerelyasyoudo,youandSchmucke——“
“Havethegoodnessnottoirritateyourselfinthisway！”exclaimedLaCibot,plungingdownuponPonsandcoveringhimbyforcewiththebedclothes。
“HowshouldInotloveyou？”saidpoorPons。
“Youloveme,really?……There,there,forgiveme,sir！”shesaid,cryingandwipinghereyes。“Ah,yes,ofcourse,youloveme,asyouloveaservant,thatistheway!——aservanttowhomyouthrowanannuityofsixhundredfrancslikeacrustyouflingintoadog"skennel——“
“Oh!Mme。Cibot,“criedPons,“forwhatdoyoutakeme?Youdonotknowme。“
“Ah!youwillcareevenmorethanthatforme,“shesaid,meetingPons"eyes。“YouwillloveyourkindoldCibotlikeamother,willyounot?Amother,thatisit!Iamyourmother;youarebothofyoumychildren……Ah,ifIonlyknewthemthatcausedyouthissorrow,I
woulddothatwhichwouldbringmeintothepolice-courts,andeventoprison;Iwouldteartheireyesout!SuchpeopledeservetodieattheBarriereSaint-Jacques,andthatistoogoodforsuchscoundrels。
Sokind,sogoodasyouare(foryouhaveaheartofgold),youweresentintotheworldtomakesomewomanhappy!……
Yes,youwouldhaveherhappy,asanybodycansee;youwerecutoutforthat。Intheverybeginning,whenIsawhowyouwerewithM。
Schmucke,Isaidtomyself,"M。Ponshasmissedthelifehewasmeantfor;hewasmadetobeagoodhusband。"Come,now,youlikewomen。“