第5章
“Ah,yes,“saidPons,“andnowomanhasbeenmine。“
“Really？”exclaimedLaCibot,withaprovocativeairasshecamenearerandtookPons"handinhers。“Doyounotknowwhatitistoloveawomanthatwilldoanythingforherlover?Isitpossible?IfI
wereinyourplace,IshouldnotwishtoleavethisworldforanotheruntilIhadknownthegreatesthappinessonearth!……Poordear!IfIwasnowwhatIwasonce,IwouldleaveCibotforyou!uponmyword,Iwould!Why,withanoseshapedlikethat——foryouhaveafinenose——
howdidyoumanageit,poorcherub?……Youwilltellmethat"noteverywomanknowsamanwhensheseeshim";andapityitisthattheymarrysoatrandomastheydo,itmakesyousorrytoseeit——Now,formyownpart,Ishouldhavethoughtthatyouhadhadmistressesbythedozen——dancers,actresses,andduchesses,foryouwentoutsomuch……Whenyouwentout,IusedtosaytoCibot,"Look!thereisM。
Ponsgoinga-gallivanting,"onmyword,Idid,Iwassosurethatwomenranafteryou。Heavenmadeyouforlove……Why,mydearsir,Ifoundthatoutthefirstdaythatyoudinedathome,andyouweresotouchedwithM。Schmucke"spleasure。AndnextdayM。Schmuckekeptsayingtome,"MontameZipod,hehaftinedhier,"withthetearsinhiseyes,tillIcriedalongwithhimlikeafool,asIam。Andhowsadhelookedwhenyoutooktogaddingabroadagainanddiningout!
Poorman,youneversawanyonesodisconsolate!Ah!youarequiterighttoleaveeverythingtohim。Dearworthyman,whyheisasgoodasafamilytoyou,heis!Donotforgethim;forifyoudo,GodwillnotreceiveyouintohisParadise,forthosethathavebeenungratefultotheirfriendsandleftthemno/rentes/willnotgotoheaven。“
InvainPonstriedtoputinaword;LaCibottalkedasthewindblows。Meansofarrestingsteam-engineshavebeeninvented,butitwouldtaxamechanician"sgeniustodiscoveranyplanforstoppingaportress"tongue。
“Iknowwhatyoumean,“continuedshe。“Butitdoesnotkillyou,mydeargentleman,tomakeawillwhenyouareoutofhealth;andinyourplaceImightnotleavethatpoordearalone,forfearthatsomethingmighthappen;heislikeGodAlmighty"slamb,heknowsnothingaboutnothing,andIshouldnotlikehimtobeatthemercyofthosesharksoflawyersandawretchedpackofrelations。Letusseenow,hasoneofthemcomeheretoseeyouintwentyyears?Andwouldyouleaveyourpropertyto/them/?Doyouknow,theysaythatallthesethingshereareworthsomething。“
“Why,yes,“saidPons。
“Remonencq,whodealsinpictures,andknowsthatyouareanamateur,saysthathewouldbequitereadytopayyouanannuityofthirtythousandfrancssolongasyoulive,tohavethepicturesafterwards……Thereisachange!IfIwereyou,Ishouldtakeit。Why,I
thoughthesaiditforajokewhenhetoldmethat。YououghttoletM。Schmuckeknowthevalueofallthosethings,forheisamanthatcouldbecheatedlikeachild。Hehasnottheslightestideaofthevalueofthesefinethingsthatyouhave!Hesolittlesuspectsit,thathewouldgivethemawayforamorselofbreadifhedidnotkeepthemallhislifeforloveofyou,alwayssupposingthathelivesafteryou,forhewilldieofyourdeath。But/I/amhere;Iwilltakehispartagainstanybodyandeverybody!……IandCibotwilldefendhim。“
“DearMme。Cibot！”saidPons,“whatwouldhavebecomeofmeifithadnotbeenforyouandSchmucke？”Hefelttouchedbythishorribleprattle;thefeelinginitseemedtobeingenuous,asitusuallyisinthespeechofthepeople。
“Ah!wereallyareyouronlyfriendsonearth,thatisverytrue,thatis。Buttwogoodheartsareworthallthefamiliesintheworld——
Don"ttalkoffamiliestome!Afamily,astheoldactorsaidofthetongue,isthebestandtheworstofallthings……Wherearethoserelationsofyoursnow?Haveyouany?Ihaveneverseenthem——“
“Theyhavebroughtmetoliehere,“saidPons,withintensebitterness。
“Soyouhaverelations!……“criedLaCibot,springingupasifhereasy-chairhadbeenheatedred-hot。“Oh,well,theyareanicelot,areyourrelations!What!thesethreeweeks——forthisisthetwentiethday,to-day,thatyouhavebeenillandliketodie——inthesethreeweekstheyhavenotcomeoncetoaskfornewsofyou?That"satrifletoostrong,thatis!……Why,inyourplace,IwouldleaveallIhadtotheFoundlingHospitalsoonerthangivethemonefarthing！”
“Well,mydearMme。Cibot,ImeanttoleaveallthatIhadtoacousinonceremoved,thedaughterofmyfirstcousin,PresidentCamusot,youknow,whocamehereonemorningnearlytwomonthsago。“
“Oh!alittlestoutmanwhosenthisservantstobegyourpardon——forhiswife"sblunder?——Thehousemaidcameaskingmequestionsaboutyou,anaffectedoldcreaturesheis,myfingersitchedtogivehervelvettippetadustingwithmybroomhandle!Aservantwearingavelvettippet!didanybodyeverseethelike?No,uponmyword,theworldisturnedupsidedown;whatistheuseofmakingaRevolution?Dinetwiceadayifyoucanaffordit,youscampsofrichfolk!Butlawsarenogood,Itellyou,andnothingwillbesafeifLouis-Philippedoesnotkeeppeopleintheirplaces;for,afterall,ifweareallequal,eh,sir?ahousemaiddidn"toughttohaveavelvettippet,whileI,Mme。
Cibot,haven"tone,afterthirtyyearsofhonestwork——Thereisaprettythingforyou!Peopleoughttobeabletotellwhoyouare。A
housemaidisahousemaid,justasImyselfamaportress。Whydotheyhavesilkepaulettesinthearmy?Leteverybodykeeptheirplace。Lookhere,doyouwantmetotellyouwhatallthiscomesto?Verywell,Franceisgoingtothedogs……IftheEmperorhadbeenhere,thingswouldhavebeenverydifferent,wouldn"tthey,sir?……SoI
saidtoCibot,Isaid,"Seehere,Cibot,ahousewheretheservantswearvelvettippetsbelongstopeoplethathavenoheartinthem——"“
“Noheartinthem,thatisjustit,“repeatedPons。AndwiththathebegantotellMme。Cibotabouthistroublesandmortifications,shepouringoutabuseoftherelationsthewhileandshowingexceedingtendernessoneveryfreshsentenceinthesadhistory。Shefairlyweptatlast。
TounderstandthesuddenintimacybetweentheoldmusicianandMme。
Cibot,youhaveonlytoimaginethepositionofanoldbachelorlyingonhisbedofpain,seriouslyillforthefirsttimeinhislife。Ponsfeltthathewasaloneintheworld;thedaysthathespentbyhimselfwereallthelongerbecausehewasstrugglingwiththeindefinablenauseaofalivercomplaintwhichblackensthebrightestlife。Cutofffromallhismanyinterests,thesuffererfallsavictimtoakindofnostalgia;heregretsthemanysightstobeseenfornothinginParis。
Theisolation,thedarkeneddays,thesufferingthataffectsthemindandspiritsevenmorethanthebody,theemptinessofthelife,——allthesethingstendtoinducehimtoclingtothehumanbeingwhowaitsonhimasadrownedmanclingstoaplank;andthisespeciallyifthebachelorpatient"scharacterisasweakashisnatureissensitiveandincredulous。
PonswascharmedtohearLaCibot"stittle-tattle。Schmucke,Mme。
Cibot,andDr。Poulainmeantallhumanitytohimnow,whenhissickroombecametheuniverse。Ifinvalid"sthoughts,asarule,nevertravelbeyondinthelittlespaceoverwhichhiseyescanwander;iftheirselfishness,initsnarrowsphere,subordinatesallcreaturesandallthingstoitself,youcanimaginethelengthstowhichanoldbachelormaygo。Beforethreeweekswereouthehadevengonesofarastoregret,onceandagain,thathehadnotmarriedMadeleineVivet!
Mme。Cibot,too,hadmadeimmenseprogressinhisesteeminthosethreeweeks;withoutherhefeltthatheshouldhavebeenutterlylost;forasforSchmucke,thepoorinvalidlookeduponhimasasecondPons。LaCibot"sprodigiousartconsistedinexpressingPons"
ownideas,andthisshedidquiteunconsciously。
“Ah!herecomesthedoctor！”sheexclaimed,asthebellrang,andawayshewent,knowingverywellthatRemonencqhadcomewiththeJew。
“Makenonoise,gentlemen,“saidshe,“hemustnotknowanything。Heisallonthefidgetwhenhisprecioustreasuresareconcerned。“
“Awalkroundwillbeenough,“saidtheHebrew,armedwithamagnifying-glassandalorgnette。
ThegreaterpartofPons"collectionwasinstalledinagreatold-
fashionedsalonsuchasFrencharchitectsusedtobuildfortheold/noblesse/;aroomtwenty-fivefeetbroad,somethirtyfeetinlength,andthirteeninheight。Pons"picturestothenumberofsixty-sevenhunguponthewhite-and-goldpaneledwalls;time,however,hadreddenedthegoldandsoftenedthewhitetoanivorytint,sothatthewholewastoneddown,andthegeneraleffectsubordinatedtotheeffectofthepictures。Fourteenstatuesstoodonpedestalssetinthecornersoftheroom,oramongthepictures,oronbracketsinlaidbyBoule;sideboardsofcarvedebony,royallyrich,surroundedthewallstoelbowheight,alltheshelvesfilledwithcuriosities;inthemiddleoftheroomstoodarowofcarvedcredence-tables,coveredwithraremiraclesofhandicraft——withivoriesandbronzes,wood-carvingsandenamels,jewelryandporcelain。
AssoonasElieMagusenteredthesanctuary,hewentstraighttothefourmasterpieces;hesawataglancethatthesewerethegemsofPons"collection,andmasterslackinginhisown。ForElieMagusthesewerethenaturalist"s/desiderata/forwhichmenundertakelongvoyagesfromeasttowest,throughdesertsandtropicalcountries,acrosssouthernsavannahs,throughvirginforests。
ThefirstwasapaintingbySebastiandelPiombo,thesecondaFraBartolommeodellaPorta,thethirdaHobbemalandscape,andthefourthandlastaDurer——aportraitofawoman。Fourdiamondsindeed!Inthehistoryofart,SebastiandelPiomboislikeashiningpointinwhichthreeschoolsmeet,eachbringingitspre-eminentqualities。A
Venetianpainter,hecametoRometolearnthemannerofRaphaelunderthedirectionofMichaelAngelo,whowouldfainopposeRaphaelonhisowngroundbypittingoneofhisownlieutenantsagainstthereigningkingofart。AndsoitcametopassthatinDelPiombo"sindolentgeniusVenetiancolorwasblendedwithFlorentinecompositionandasomethingofRaphael"smannerinthefewpictureswhichhedeignedtopaint,andthesketchesweremadeforhim,itissaid,byMichaelAngelohimself。
Ifyouwouldseetheperfectiontowhichthepainterattained(armedashewaswithtriplepower),gototheLouvreandlookattheBaccioBandinelliportrait;youmightplaceitbesideTitian"s/ManwithaGlove/,orbythatother/PortraitofanOldMan/inwhichRaphael"sconsummateskillblendswithCorreggio"sart;or,again,compareitwithLeonardodaVinci"s/CharlesVIII。/,andthepicturewouldscarcelylose。Thefourpearlsareequal;thereisthesamelustreandsheen,thesameroundedcompleteness,thesamebrilliancy。Artcangonofurtherthanthis。ArthasrisenaboveNature,sinceNatureonlygiveshercreaturesafewbriefyearsoflife。
Ponspossessedoneexampleofthisimmortalgreatgeniusandincurablyindolentpainter;itwasa/KnightofMalta/,aTemplarkneelinginprayer。Thepicturewaspaintedonslate,andinitsunfadedcoloranditsfinishwasimmeasurablyfinerthanthe/BaccioBandinelli/。
FraBartolommeowasrepresentedbya/HolyFamily/,whichmanyconnoisseursmighthavetakenforaRaphael。TheHobbemawouldhavefetchedsixtythousandfrancsatapublicsale;andasfortheDurer,itwasequaltothefamous/Holzschuer/portraitatNurembergforwhichthekingsofBavaria,Holland,andPrussiahavevainlyofferedtwohundredthousandfrancsagainandagain。WasittheportraitofthewifeorthedaughterofHolzschuer,AlbrechtDurer"spersonalfriend?——Thehypothesisseemstobeacertainty,fortheattitudeofthefigureinPons"picturesuggeststhatitismeantforapendant,thepositionofthecoat-of-armsisthesameasintheNurembergportrait;and,finally,the/oetatissuoeXLI。/accordsperfectlywiththeageinscribedonthepicturereligiouslykeptbytheHolzschuersofNuremberg,andbutrecentlyengraved。
ThetearsstoodinElieMagus"eyesashelookedfromonemasterpiecetoanother。HeturnedroundtoLaCibot,“IwillgiveyouacommissionoftwothousandfrancsoneachofthepicturesifyoucanarrangethatIshallhavethemforfortythousandfrancs,“hesaid。LaCibotwasamazedatthisgoodfortunedroppedfromthesky。Admiration,or,tobemoreaccurate,deliriousjoy,hadwroughtsuchhavocintheJew"sbrain,thatithadactuallyunsettledhishabitualgreed,andhefellheadlongintoenthusiasm,asyousee。
“AndI?——“putinRemonencq,whoknewnothingaboutpictures。
“Everythinghereisequallygood,“theJewsaidcunningly,loweringhisvoiceforRemonencq"sears;“taketenpicturesjustastheycomeandonthesameconditions。Yourfortunewillbemade。“
Againthethreethieveslookedeachotherintheface,eachoneofthemovercomewiththekeenestofalljoys——satedgreed。Allofasuddenthesickman"svoicerangthroughtheroom;thetonesvibratedlikethestrokesofabell：
“Whoisthere？”calledPons。
“Monsieur!justgobacktobed！”exclaimedLaCibot,springinguponPonsanddragginghimbymainforce。“Whatnext!Haveyouamindtokillyourself?——Verywell,then,itisnotDr。Poulain,itisRemonencq,goodsoul,soanxiousthathehascometoaskafteryou!——
Everybodyissofondofyouthatthewholehouseisinaflutter。Sowhatistheretofear？”
“Itseemstomethatthereareseveralofyou,“saidPons。
“Several?thatisgood!Whatnext!Areyoudreaming!——Youwillgooffyourheadbeforeyouhavedone,uponmyword!——Here,look！”——andLaCibotflungopenthedoor,signedtoMagustogo,andbeckonedtoRemonencq。
“Well,mydearsir,“saidtheAuvergnat,nowsuppliedwithsomethingtosay,“Ijustcametoaskafteryou,forthewholehouseisalarmedaboutyou——NobodylikesDeathtosetfootinahouse!——Andlastly,DaddyMonistrol,whomyouknowverywell,toldmetotellyouthatifyouwantedmoneyhewasatyourservice——“
“Hesentyouheretotakealookroundatmyknick-knacks！”returnedtheoldcollectorfromhisbed;andthesourtonesofhisvoicewerefullofsuspicion。
Asuffererfromlivercomplaintnearlyalwaystakesmomentaryandspecialdislikestosomepersonorthing,andconcentratesallhisill-humorupontheobject。Ponsimaginedthatsomeonehaddesignsuponhispreciouscollection;thethoughtofguardingitbecameafixedideawithhim;Schmuckewascontinuallysenttoseeifanyonehadstolenintothesanctuary。
“Yourcollectionisfineenoughtoattracttheattentionof/chineurs/,“Remonencqansweredastutely。“Iamnotmuchintheartlinemyself;butyouaresupposedtobesuchagreatconnoisseur,sir,thatwithmyeyesshut——supposing,forinstance,thatyoushouldneedmoneysometimeorother,fornothingcostssomuchastheseconfoundedillnesses;therewasmysisternow,whenshewouldhavegotbetteragainjustaswellwithout。Doctorsarerascalsthattakeadvantageofyourconditionto——“
“Thankyou,good-day,good-day,“brokeinPons,eyingthemarinestore-dealeruneasily。
“Iwillgotothedoorwithhim,forfearheshouldtouchsomething,“
LaCibotwhisperedtoherpatient。
“Yes,yes,“answeredtheinvalid,thankingherbyaglance。
LaCibotshutthebedroomdoorbehindher,andPons"suspicionsawokeagainatonce。
ShefoundMagusstandingmotionlessbeforethefourpictures。Hisimmobility,hisadmiration,canonlybeunderstoodbyothersoulsopentoidealbeauty,totheineffablejoyofbeholdingartmadeperfect;
suchasthesecanstandforwholehoursbeforethe/Antiope/——
Correggio"smasterpiece——beforeLeonardo"s/Gioconda/,Titian"s/Mistress/,AndreadelSarto"s/HolyFamily/,Domenichino"s/ChildrenAmongtheFlowers/,Raphael"slittlecameo,orhis/PortraitofanOldMan/——Art"sgreatestmasterpieces。
“Bequickandgo,andmakenonoise,“saidLaCibot。
TheJewwalkedslowlybackwards,givingthepicturessuchafarewellgazeasalovergiveshislove。Outsideonthelanding,LaCibottappedhisbonyarm。Hisraptcontemplationshadputanideaintoherhead。
“Makeit/four/thousandfrancsforeachpicture,“saidshe,“orIdonothing。“
“Iamsopoor!……“beganMagus。“Iwantthepicturessimplyfortheirownsake,simplyandsolelyfortheloveofart,mydearlady。“
“Icanunderstandthatlove,sonny,youaresodriedup。Butifyoudonotpromisemesixteenthousandfrancsnow,beforeRemonencqhere,I
shallwanttwentyto-morrow。“
“Sixteen;Ipromise,“returnedtheJew,frightenedbythewoman"srapacity。
LaCibotturnedtoRemonencq。
“WhatoathcanaJewswear？”sheinquired。
“Youmaytrusthim,“repliedthemarinestore-dealer。“HeisashonestasIam。“
“Verywell;andyou？”askedshe,“ifIgethimtosellthemtoyou,whatwillyougiveme？”
“Half-shareofprofits,“Remonencqansweredbriskly。
“Iwouldratherhavealumpsum,“returnedLaCibot;“Iamnotinbusinessmyself。“
“Youunderstandbusinessuncommonlywell！”putinElieMagus,smiling;
“afamoussaleswomanyouwouldmake！”
“Iwanthertotakemeintopartnership,meandmygoods,“saidtheAuvergnat,ashetookLaCibot"splumparmandgaveitplayfultapslikehammer-strokes。“Idon"taskhertobringanythingintothefirmbuthergoodlooks!YouaremakingamistakewhenyoursticktoyourTurkofaCibotandhisneedle。Isalittlebitofaporterthemantomakeawomanrich——afinewomanlikeyou?Ah,whatafigureyouwouldmakeinashopontheboulevard,allamongthecuriosities,gossipingwithamateursandtwistingthemroundyourfingers!Justyouleaveyourlodgeassoonasyouhavelinedyourpursehere,andyoushallseewhatwillbecomeofusboth。“
“Linedmypurse！”criedCibot。“Iamincapableoftakingtheworthofasinglepin;youmindthat,Remonencq!Iamknownintheneighborhoodforanhonestwoman,Iam。“
LaCibot"seyesflashedfire。
“There,nevermind,“saidElieMagus;“thisAuvergnatseemstobetoofondofyoutomeantoinsultyou。“
“Howshewoulddrawonthecustomers！”criedtheAuvergnat。
Mme。Cibotsoftenedatthis。
“Befair,sonnies,“quothshe,“andjudgeforyourselveshowIamplaced。ThesetenyearspastIhavebeenwearingmylifeoutforthesetwooldbachelorsyonder,andneitherorthemhasgivenmeanythingbutwords。RemonencqwilltellyouthatIfeedthembycontract,andlosetwentyorthirtysousaday;allmysavingshavegonethatway,bythesoulofmymother(theonlyauthorofmydaysthatIeverknew),thisisastrueasthatIlive,andthatthisisthelightofday,andmaymycoffeepoisonmeifIlieaboutafarthing。Well,thereisoneuptherethatwilldiesoon,eh?andhethericherofthetwothatIhavetreatedlikemyownchildren。Wouldyoubelieveit,mydearsir,Ihavetoldhimoverandoveragainfordayspastthatheisatdeath"sdoor(forDr。Poulainhasgivenhimup),hecouldnotsaylessaboutputtingmynamedowninhiswill。Weshallonlygetourduebytakingit,uponmyword,asanhonestwoman,forasfortrustingtothenext-of-kin!——Nofear!There!lookyouhere,wordsdon"tstink;itisabadworld！”
“Thatistrue,“ElieMagusansweredcunningly,“thatistrue;anditisjustthelikeofusthatareamongthebest,“headded,lookingatRemonencq。
“Justletmebe,“returnedLaCibot;“Iamnotspeakingofyou。
"Pressingcompanyisalwaysaccepted,"astheoldactorsaid。Isweartoyouthatthetwogentlemenalreadyowemenearlythreethousandfrancs;thelittleIhaveisgonebynowinmedicineandthingsontheiraccount;andnowsupposetheyrefusetorecognizemyadvances?I
amsostupidlyhonestthatIdidnotdaretosaynothingtothemaboutit。Now,youthatareinbusiness,mydearsir,doyouadvisemetogottoalawyer？”
“Alawyer？”criedRemonencq;“youknowmoreaboutitthanallthelawyersputtogether——“
Justatthatmomentasoundechoedinthegreatstaircase,asoundasifsomeheavybodyhadfalleninthedining-room。
“Oh,goodnessme！”exclaimedLaCibot;“itseemstomethatmonsieurhasjusttakenaticketforthegroundfloor。“
Shepushedherfellow-conspiratorsoutatthedoor,andwhilethepairdescendedthestairswithremarkableagility,sherantothedining-
room,andtherebeheldPons,inhisshirt,stretchedoutuponthetiles。Hehadfainted。Sheliftedhimasifhehadbeenafeather,carriedhimbacktohisroom,laidhiminbed,burnedfeathersunderhisnose,bathedhistempleswitheau-de-cologne,andatlastbroughthimtoconsciousness。Whenshesawhiseyesuncloseandlifereturn,shestoodoverhim,handsonhips。
“Noslippers!Inyourshirt!Thatisthewaytokillyourself!Whydoyoususpectme?——Ifthisistobethewayofit,Iwishyougood-day,sir。HerehaveIservedyouthesetenyears,Ihavespentmoneyonyoutillmysavingsareallgone,tosparetroubletothatpoorM。
Schmucke,cryinglikeachildonthestairs——and/this/ismyreward!
Youhavebeenspyingonme。Godhaspunishedyou!Itservesyouright!
HereIamstrainingmyselftocarryyou,runningtheriskofdoingmyselfamischiefthatIshallfeelallmydays。Ohdear,ohdear!andthedoorleftopentoo——“
“Youweretalkingwithsomeone。Whowasit？”
“Herearenotions！”criedLaCibot。“Whatnext!AmIyourbond-slave?
AmItogiveaccountofmyselftoyou?Doyouknowthatifyoubothermelikethis,Ishallclearout!Youshalltakeanurse。“
Frightenedbythisthreat,PonsunwittinglyallowedLaCibottoseetheextentofthepowerofherswordofDamocles。
“Itismyillness！”hepleadedpiteously。
“Itisasyouplease,“LaCibotansweredroughly。
Shewent。Pons,confused,remorseful,admiringhisnurse"sscaldingdevotion,reproachedhimselfforhisbehavior。Thefallonthepavedfloorofthedining-roomhadshakenandbruisedhim,andaggravatedhisillness,butPonswasscarcelyconsciousofhisphysicalsufferings。
LaCibotmetSchmuckeonthestaircase。
“Comehere,sir,“shesaid。“Thereisbadnews,thatthereis!M。Ponsisgoingoffhishead!Justthinkofit!hegotupwithnothingon,hecameafterme——anddownhecamefull-length。Askhimwhy——heknowsnothingaboutit。Heisinabadway。Ididnothingtoprovokesuchviolence,unless,perhaps,Iwakedupideasbytalkingtohimofhisearlyamours。Whoknowsmen?Oldlibertinesthattheyare。Ioughtnottohaveshownhimmyarmswhenhiseyeswereglitteringlike/carbuckles/。“
Schmuckelistened。Mme。CibotmighthavebeentalkingHebrewforanythingthatheunderstood。
“IhavegivenmyselfawrenchthatIshallfeelallmydays,“addedshe,makingasthoughshewereingreatpain。(Herarmsdid,asamatteroffact,achealittle,andthemuscularfatiguesuggestedanidea,whichsheproceededtoturntoprofit。)“SostupidIam。WhenI
sawhimlyingthereonthefloor,Ijusttookhimupinmyarmsasifhehadbeenachild,andcarriedhimbacktobed,Idid。AndI
strainedmyself,Icanfeelitnow。Ah!howithurts!——Iamgoingdownstairs。Lookafterourpatient。IwillsendCibotforDr。Poulain。
Ihadratherdieoutrightthanbecrippled。“
LaCibotcrawleddownstairs,clingingtothebanisters,andwrithingandgroaningsopiteouslythatthetenants,inalarm,cameoutupontheirlandings。Schmuckesupportedthesufferingcreature,andtoldthestoryofLaCibot"sdevotion,thetearsrunningdownhischeeksashespoke。Beforeverylongthewholehouse,thewholeneighborhoodindeed,hadheardofMme。Cibot"sheroism;shehadgivenherselfadangerousstrain,itwassaid,withliftingoneofthe“nutcrackers。“
SchmuckemeanwhilewenttoPons"bedsidewiththetale。Theirfactotumwasinafrightfulstate。“Whatshallwedowithouther？”theysaid,astheylookedateachother;butPonswassoplainlytheworseforhisescapade,thatSchmuckedidnotdaretoscoldhim。
“Gonfoundedpric-a-prac!Iwouldsoonerpurndemdanloosemeinfriend！”hecried,whenPonstoldhimofthecauseoftheaccident。
“TosuspectMontameZipod,dotlendushersafings!Itisnotgoot;
butitisderillness——“
“Ah!whatanillness!Iamnotthesameman,Icanfeelit,“saidPons。“MydearSchmucke,ifonlyyoudidnotsufferthroughme！”
“Scoldme,“Schmuckeanswered,“undleafMontameZipodinbeace。“
AsforMme。Cibot,shesoonrecoveredinDr。Poulain"shands;andherrestoration,borderingonthemiraculous,shedadditionallustreonhernameandfameintheMarais。Ponsattributedthesuccesstotheexcellentconstitutionofthepatient,whoresumedherministrationssevendayslatertothegreatsatisfactionofhertwogentlemen。Herinfluenceintheirhouseholdandhertyrannywasincreasedahundred-
foldbytheaccident。Inthecourseofaweek,thetwonutcrackersranintodebt;Mme。Cibotpaidtheoutstandingamounts,andtooktheopportunitytoobtainfromSchmucke(howeasily!)areceiptfortwothousandfrancs,whichshehadlent,shesaid,tothefriends。
“Oh,whatadoctorM。Poulainis！”criedLaCibot,forPons"benefit。
“Hewillbringyouthrough,mydearsir,forhepulledmeoutofmycoffin!Cibot,poorman,thoughtIwasdead……Well,Dr。PoulainwillhavetoldyouthatwhileIwasinbedIthoughtofnothingbutyou。"Godabove,"saidI,"takeme,andletmydearMr。Ponslive——"“
“PoordearMme。Cibot,youallbutcrippledyourselfforme。“
“Ah!butforDr。PoulainIshouldhavebeenputtobedwithashovelbynow,asweshallallbeoneday。Well,whatmustbe,must,astheoldactorsaid。Onemusttakethingsphilosophically。Howdidyougetonwithoutme？”
“Schmuckenursedme,“saidtheinvalid;“butourpoormoney-boxandourlessonshavesuffered。Idonotknowhowhemanaged。“
“Calmyourself,Bons,“exclaimedSchmucke;“vehafinZipodeinpanker——“
“Donotspeakofit,mylamb。Youareourchildren,bothofyou,“
criedLaCibot。“Oursavingswillbewellinvested;youaresaferthantheBank。Solongaswehaveamorselofbread,halfofitisyours。
Itisnotworthmentioning——“
“BoorMontameZipod！”saidSchmucke,andhewent。
Ponssaidnothing。
“Wouldyoubelieveit,mycherub？”saidLaCibot,asthesickmantosseduneasily,“inmyagony——foritwasanearsqueakforme——thethingthatworriedmemostwasthethoughtthatImustleaveyoualone,withnoonetolookafteryou,andmypoorCibotwithoutafarthing……Mysavingsaresuchatrifle,thatIonlymentiontheminconnectionwithmydeathandCibot,anangelthatheis!No。HenursedmeasifIhadbeenaqueen,hedid,andcriedlikeacalfoverme!……ButIcountedonyou,uponmyword。Isaidtohim,"There,Cibot!mygentlemenwillnotletyoustarve——"“
Ponsmadenoreplytothisthrust/adtestamentum/;butastheportresswaitedforhimtosaysomething——“IshallrecommendyoutoM。
Schmucke,“hesaidatlast。
“Ah！”criedLaCibot,“whateveryoudowillberight;Itrustinyouandyourheart。Letusnevertalkofthisagain;youmakemefeelashamed,mycherub。Thinkofgettingbetter,youwilloutliveusallyet。“
ProfounduneasinessfilledMme。Cibot"smind。Shecastaboutforsomewayofmakingthesickmanunderstandthatsheexpectedalegacy。Thatevening,whenSchmuckewaseatinghisdinnerasusualbyPons"
bedside,shewentout,hopingtofindDr。Poulainathome。
Dr。PoulainlivedintheRued"Orleansinasmallgroundfloorestablishment,consistingofalobby,asitting-room,andtwobedrooms。Acloset,openingintothelobbyandthebedroom,hadbeenturnedintoastudyforthedoctor。Thekitchen,theservant"sbedroom,andasmallcellarweresituatedinawingofthehouse,ahugepilebuiltinthetimeoftheEmpire,onthesiteofanoldmansionofwhichthegardenstillremained,thoughithadbeendividedamongthethreegroundfloortenants。
Nothinghadbeenchangedinthedoctor"shousesinceitwasbuilt。
PaintandpaperandceilingswereallredolentoftheEmpire。Thegrimydepositsoffortyyearslaythickonwallsandceilings,onpaperandpaintandmirrorsandgilding。Andyet,thislittleestablishment,inthedepthsoftheMarais,paidarentofathousandfrancs。
Mme。Poulain,thedoctor"smother,agedsixty-seven,wasendingherdaysinthesecondbedroom。Sheworkedforabreeches-maker,stitchingmen"sleggings,breeches,belts,andbraces,anything,infact,thatismadeinawayofbusinesswhichhassomewhatfallenoffoflateyears。Herwholetimewasspentinkeepingherson"shouseandsuperintendingtheoneservant;sheneverwentabroad,andtooktheairinthelittlegardenenteredthroughtheglassdoorofthesitting-room。Twentyyearspreviously,whenherhusbanddied,shesoldhisbusinesstohisbestworkman,whogavehismaster"swidowworkenoughtoearnadailywageofthirtysous。Shehadmadeeverysacrificetoeducateherson。Atallcosts,heshouldoccupyahigherstationthanhisfatherbeforehim;andnowshewasproudofherAesculapius,shebelievedinhim,andsacrificedeverythingtohimasbefore。Shewashappytotakecareofhim,toworkandputbyalittlemoney,anddreamofnothingbuthiswelfare,andlovehimwithanintelligentloveofwhicheverymotherisnotcapable。Forinstance,Mme。Poulainrememberedthatshehadbeenaworkinggirl。Shewouldnotinjureherson"sprospects;heshouldnotbeashamedbyhismother(forthegoodwoman"sgrammarwassomethingofthesamekindasMme。
Cibot"s);andforthisreasonshekeptinthebackground,andwenttoherroomofherownaccordifanydistinguishedpatientcametoconsultthedoctor,orifsomeoldschoolfelloworfellow-studentchancedtocall。Dr。Poulainhadneverhadoccasiontoblushforthemotherwhomherevered;andthissublimeloveofhersmorethanatonedforadefectiveeducation。
Thebreeches-maker"sbusinesssoldforabouttwentythousandfrancs,andthewidowinvestedthemoneyintheFundsin1820。Theincomeofelevenhundredfrancsperannumderivedfromthissourcewas,atonetime,herwholefortune。Formanyayeartheneighborsusedtoseethedoctor"slinenhangingouttodryuponaclothes-lineinthegarden,andtheservantandMme。Poulainthriftilywashedeverythingathome;
apieceofdomesticeconomywhichdidnotalittletoinjurethedoctor"spractice,foritwasthoughtthatifhewassopoor,itmustbethroughhisownfault。Herelevenhundredfrancsscarcelydidmorethanpaytherent。Duringthoseearlydays,Mme。Poulain,good,stout,littleoldwoman,wasthebreadwinner,andthepoorhouseholdliveduponherearnings。Aftertwelveyearsofperseveranceuponaroughandstonyroad,Dr。Poulainatlastwasmakinganincomeofthreethousandfrancs,andMme。Poulainhadanincomeofaboutfivethousandfrancsatherdisposal。FivethousandfrancsforthosewhoknowParismeansabaresubsistence。
Thesitting-room,wherepatientswaitedforaninterview,wasshabbilyfurnished。Therewastheinevitablemahoganysofacoveredwithyellow-
floweredUtrechtvelvet,foureasy-chairs,atea-table,aconsole,andhalf-a-dozenchairs,allthepropertyofthedeceasedbreeches-maker,andchosenbyhim。Alyre-shapedclockbetweentwoEgyptiancandlesticksstillpreserveditsglassshadeintact。Youaskedyourselfhowtheyellowchintzwindow-curtains,coveredwithredflowers,hadcontrivedtohangtogetherforsolong;forevidentlytheyhadcomefromtheJouyfactory,andOberkampfreceivedtheEmperor"scongratulationsuponsimilarhideousproductionsofthecottonindustryin1809。
Thedoctor"sconsulting-roomwasfittedupinthesamestyle,withhouseholdstufffromthepaternalchamber。Itlookedstiff,poverty-
stricken,andbare。Whatpatientcouldputfaithintheskillofanyunknowndoctorwhocouldnotevenfurnishhishouse?Andthisinatimewhenadvertisingisall-powerful;whenwegildthegas-lampsinthePlacedelaConcordetoconsolethepoormanforhispovertybyremindinghimthatheisrichasacitizen。
Theante-chamberdiddutyasadining-room。Theservantsatathersewingtherewhenevershewasnotbusyinthekitchenorkeepingthedoctor"smothercompany。Fromthedingyshortcurtainsinthewindowsyouwouldhaveguessedattheshabbythriftbehindthemwithoutsettingfootinthedrearyplace。Whatcouldthosewall-cupboardscontainbutstalescrapsoffood,chippedearthenware,corksusedoverandoveragainindefinitely,soiledtable-linen,oddsandendsthatcoulddescendbutonesteplowerintothedust-heap,andallthesqualidnecessitiesofapinchedhouseholdinParis?
Inthesedays,whenthefive-francpieceisalwayslurkinginourthoughtsandintrudingitselfintoourspeech,Dr。Poulain,agedthirty-three,wasstillabachelor。Heavenhadbestowedonhimamotherwithnoconnections。Intenyearshehadnotmetwiththefaintestpretextforaromanceinhisprofessionalcareer;hispracticelayamongclerksandsmallmanufacturers,peopleinhisownsphereoflife,withhomesverymuchlikehisown。Hisricherpatientswerebutchers,bakers,andthemoresubstantialtradespeopleoftheneighborhood。These,forthemostpart,attributedtheirrecoverytoNature,asanexcuseforpayingfortheservicesofamedicalman,whocameonfoot,attherateoftwofrancspervisit。Inhisprofession,acarriageismorenecessarythanmedicalskill。
Ahumdrummonotonouslifetellsintheenduponthemostadventurousspirit。Amanfashionshimselftohislot,heacceptsacommonplaceexistence;andDr。Poulain,aftertenyearsofhispractice,continuedhislaborsofSisyphuswithoutthedespairthatmadeearlydayssobitter。Andyet——likeeverysoulinParis——hecherishedadream。
Remonencqwashappyinhisdream;LaCibothadadreamofherown;andDr。Poulain,too,dreamed。Somedayhewouldbecalledintoattendarichandinfluentialpatient,wouldeffectapositivecure,andthepatientwouldprocureapostforhim;hewouldbeheadsurgeontoahospital,medicalofficerofaprisonorpolice-court,ordoctortotheboulevardtheatres。HehadcomebyhispresentappointmentasdoctortotheMairieinthisveryway。LaCibothadcalledhiminwhenthelandlordofthehouseintheRuedeNormandiefellill;hehadtreatedthecasewithcompletesuccess;M。Pillerault,thepatient,tookaninterestintheyoungdoctor,calledtothankhim,andsawhiscarefully-hiddenpoverty。CountPopinot,thecabinetminister,hadmarriedM。Pillerault"sgrand-niece,andgreatlyrespectedheruncle;
ofhim,therefore,M。Pilleraulthadaskedforthepost,whichPoulainhadnowheldfortwoyears。Thatappointmentanditsmeagresalarycamejustintimetopreventadesperatestep;Poulainwasthinkingofemigration;andforaFrenchman,itisakindofdeathtoleaveFrance。
Dr。Poulainwent,youmaybesure,tothankCountPopinot;butasCountPopinot"sfamilyphysicianwasthecelebratedHoraceBianchon,itwasprettyclearthathischancesofgainingafootinginthathouseweresomethingoftheslenderest。Thepoordoctorhadfondlyhopedforthepatronageofapowerfulcabinetminister,oneofthetwelveorfifteencardswhichacunninghandhasbeenshufflingforsixteenyearsonthegreenbaizeofthecounciltable,andnowhedroppedbackagainintohisMarais,hisoldgropinglifeamongthepoorandthesmalltradespeople,withtheprivilegeofissuingcertificatesofdeathforayearlystipendoftwelvehundredfrancs。
Dr。Poulainhaddistinguishedhimselftosomeextentasahouse-
student;hewasaprudentpractitioner,andnotwithoutexperience。
Hisdeathscausednoscandal;hehadplentyofopportunitiesofstudyingallkindsofcomplaints/inanimavili/。Judge,therefore,ofthespleenthathenourished!Theexpressionofhiscountenance,lengthyandnottoocheerfultobeginwith,attimeswaspositivelyappalling。SetaTartuffe"sall-devouringeyes,andthesourhumorofanAlcesteinasallow-parchmentvisage,andtrytoimagineforyourselfthegait,bearing,andexpressionofamanwhothoughthimselfasgoodadoctorastheillustriousBianchon,andfeltthathewashelddowninhisnarrowlotbyanironhand。Hecouldnothelpcomparinghisreceipts(tenfrancsadayifhewasfortunate)withBianchon"sfiveorsixhundred。
Arethehatredsandjealousiesofdemocracyincomprehensibleafterthis?Ambitiousandcontinuallythwarted,hecouldnotreproachhimself。Hehadoncealreadytriedhisfortunebyinventingapurgativepill,somethinglikeMorrison"s,andintrustedthebusinessoperationstoanoldhospitalchum,ahouse-studentwhoafterwardstookaretaildrugbusiness;but,unluckily,thedruggist,smittenwiththecharmsofaballet-danceroftheAmbigu-Comique,foundhimselfatlengthinthebankruptcycourt;andasthepatenthadbeentakenoutinhisname,hispartnerwasliterallywithoutaremedy,andtheimportantdiscoveryenrichedthepurchaserofthebusiness。Thesometimehouse-studentsetsailforMexico,thatlandofgold,takingpoorPoulain"slittlesavingswithhim;and,toaddinsulttoinjury,theopera-dancertreatedhimasanextortionerwhenheappliedtoherforhismoney。
NotasinglerichpatienthadcometohimsincehehadthelucktocureoldM。Pillerault。Poulainmadehisroundsonfoot,scouringtheMaraislikealeancat,andobtainedfromtwotofortysousoutofascoreofvisits。Thepayingpatientwasaphenomenonaboutasrareasthatanomalousfowlknownasa“whiteblackbird“inallsublunaryregions。
Thebrieflessbarrister,thedoctorwithoutapatient,arepre-
eminentlythetwotypesofadecorousdespairpeculiartothiscityofParis;itismute,dulldespairinhumanform,dressedinablackcoatandtrouserswithshiningseamsthatrecallthezinconanatticroof,aglisteningsatinwaistcoat,ahatpreservedlikearelic,apairofoldgloves,andacottonshirt。Themanistheincarnationofamelancholypoem,sombreasthesecretsoftheConciergerie。Otherkindsofpoverty,thepovertyoftheartist——actor,painter,musician,orpoet——arerelievedandlightenedbytheartist"sjoviality,therecklessgaietyoftheBohemianbordercountry——thefirststageofthejourneytotheThebaidofgenius。Butthesetwoblack-coatedprofessionsthatgoafootthroughthestreetarebroughtcontinuallyincontactwithdiseaseanddishonor;theyseenothingofhumannaturebutitssores;intheforlornfirststagesandbeginningsoftheircareertheyeyecompetitorssuspiciouslyanddefiantly;concentrateddislikeandambitionflashesoutinglanceslikethebreakingforthofhiddenflames。Lettwoschoolfellowsmeetaftertwentyyears,therichmanwillavoidthepoor;hedoesnotrecognizehim,heisafraideventoglanceintothegulfwhichFatehassetbetweenhimandthefriendofotheryears。TheonehasbeenbornethroughlifeonthemettlesomesteedcalledFortune,orwaftedonthegoldencloudsofsuccess;theotherhasbeenmakinghiswayinundergroundParisthroughthesewers,andbearsthemarksofhiscareeruponhim。Howmanyachumofolddaysturnedasideatthesightofthedoctor"sgreatcoatandwaistcoat!
Withthisexplanation,itshouldbeeasytounderstandhowDr。PoulaincametolendhimselfsoreadilytothefarceofLaCibot"sillnessandrecovery。Greedofeverykind,ambitionofeverynature,isnoteasytohide。Thedoctorexaminedhispatient,foundthateveryorganwassoundandhealthy,admiredtheregularityofherpulseandtheperfecteaseofhermovements;andasshecontinuedtomoanaloud,hesawthatforsomereasonshefounditconvenienttolieatDeath"sdoor。Thespeedycureofaseriousimaginarydiseasewassuretocauseasensationintheneighborhood;thedoctorwouldbetalkedabout。Hemadeuphismindatonce。Hetalkedofrupture,andoftakingitintime,andthoughtevenworseofthecasethanLaCibotherself。Theportresswaspliedwithvariousremedies,andfinallyunderwentashamoperation,crownedwithcompletesuccess。PoulainrepairedtotheArsenalLibrary,lookedoutagrotesquecaseinsomeofDesplein"srecordsofextraordinarycures,andfittedthedetailstoMme。Cibot,modestlyattributingthesuccessofthetreatmenttothegreatsurgeon,inwhosesteps(hesaid)hewalked。SuchistheimpudenceofbeginnersinParis。Everythingismadetoserveasaladderbywhichtoclimbuponthescene;andaseverything,eventherungsofaladder,willwearoutintime,thenewmembersofeveryprofessionareatalosstofindtherightsortofwoodofwhichtomakestepsforthemselves。
TherearemomentswhentheParisianisnotpropitious。Hegrowstiredofraisingpedestals,poutslikeaspoiledchild,andwillhavenomoreidols;or,tostateitmoreaccurately,Pariscannotalwaysfindaproperobjectforinfatuation。Nowandthentheveinofgeniusgivesout,andatsuchtimestheParisianmayturnsupercilious;heisnotalwayswillingtobowdownandgildmediocrity。
Mme。Cibot,enteringinherusualunceremoniousfashion,foundthedoctorandhismotherattable,beforeabowloflamb"slettuce,thecheapestofallsalad-stuffs。ThedessertconsistedofathinwedgeofBriecheeseflankedbyaplateofspeckedforeignapplesandadishofmixeddryfruits,knownas/quatre-mendiants/,inwhichtheraisinstalkswereabundantlyconspicuous。
“Youcanstay,mother,“saidthedoctor,layingahandonMme。
Poulain"sarm;“thisisMme。Cibot,ofwhomIhavetoldyou。“
“Myrespectstoyou,madame,andmydutytoyou,sir,“saidLaCibot,takingthechairwhichthedoctoroffered。“Ah!isthisyourmother,sir?Sheisveryhappytohaveasonwhohassuchtalent;hesavedmylife,madame,broughtmebackfromthedepths。“
Thewidow,hearingMme。Cibotpraisehersoninthisway,thoughtheradelightfulwoman。
“Ihavejustcometotellyou,that,betweenourselves,poorM。Ponsisdoingverybadly,sir,andIhavesomethingtosaytoyouabouthim——“
“Letusgointothesitting-room,“interruptedthedoctor,andwithasignificantgestureheindicatedtheservant。
Inthesitting-roomLaCibotexplainedherpositionwithregardtothepairofnutcrackersatveryconsiderablelength。Sherepeatedthehistoryofherloanwithaddedembellishments,andgaveafullaccountoftheimmenseservicesrenderedduringthepasttenyearstoMM。PonsandSchmucke。Thetwooldmen,toallappearance,couldnotexistwithouthermotherlycare。Sheposedasanangel;shetoldsomanylies,oneafteranother,wateringthemwithhertears,thatoldMme。
Poulainwasquitetouched。
“Youunderstand,mydearsir,“sheconcluded,“thatIreallyoughttoknowhowfarIcandependonM。Pons"intentions,supposingthatheshouldnotdie;notthatIwanthimtodie,forlookingafterthosetwoinnocentsismylife,madame,yousee;still,whenoneofthemisgoneIshalllookaftertheother。Formyownpart,IwasbuiltbyNaturetorivalmothers。Withoutnobodytocarefor,nobodytotakeforachild,Idon"tknowwhatIshoulddo……SoifM。Poulainonlywould,hemightdomeaserviceforwhichIshouldbeverygrateful;andthatis,tosayawordtoM。Ponsforme。Goodnessme!
anannuityofathousandfrancs,isthattoomuch,Iaskyou?……
To。M。Schmuckeitwouldbesomuchgained——OurdearpatientsaidthatheshouldrecommendmetotheGerman,poorman;itishisidea,nodoubt,thatM。Schmuckeshouldbehisheir。ButwhatisamanthatcannotputtwoideastogetherinFrench?Andbesides,hewouldbequitecapableofgoingbacktoGermany,hewillbeinsuchdespairoverhisfriend"sdeath——“
Thedoctorgrewgrave。“MydearMme。Cibot,“hesaid,“thissortofthingdoesnotintheleastconcernadoctor。IshouldnotbeallowedtoexercisemyprofessionifitwasknownthatIinterferedinthematterofmypatients"testamentarydispositions。Thelawforbidsadoctortoreceivealegacyfromapatient——“
“Astupidlaw!Whatistohindermefromdividingmylegacywithyou？”
LaCibotsaidimmediately。
“Iwillgofurther,“saidthedoctor;“myprofessionalconsciencewillnotpermitmetospeaktoM。Ponsofhisdeath。Inthefirstplace,heisnotsodangerouslyillthatthereisanyneedtospeakofit,andinthesecond,suchtalkcomingfrommemightgiveashocktothesystemthatwoulddohimrealharm,andthenhisillnessmightterminatefatally——“
“/I/don"tputonglovestotellhimtogethisaffairsinorder,“
criedMme。Cibot,“andheisnonetheworseforthat。Heisusedtoit。Thereisnothingtofear。“
“Notawordmoreaboutit,mydearMme。Cibot!Thesethingsarenotwithinadoctor"sprovince;itisanotary"sbusiness——“
“But,mydearM。Poulain,supposethatM。Ponsofhisownaccordshouldaskyouhowheis,andwhetherhehadbettermakehisarrangements;then,wouldyourefusetotellhimthatifyouwanttogetbetteritisanexcellentplantoseteverythinginorder?Thenyoumightjustslipinalittlewordforme——“
“Oh,if/he/talksofmakinghiswill,Icertainlyshallnotdissuadehim,“saidthedoctor。
“Verywell,thatissettled。Icametothankyouforyourcareofme,“
sheadded,assheslippedafoldedpapercontainingthreegoldcoinsintothedoctor"shands。“ItisallIcandoatthemoment。Ah!mydearM。Poulain,ifIwererich,youshouldberich,youthataretheimageofProvidenceonearth——Madame,youhaveanangelforason。“
LaCibotrosetoherfeet,Mme。Poulainbowedamiably,andthedoctorwenttothedoorwiththevisitor。Justthenasudden,luridgleamoflightflashedacrossthemindofthisLadyMacbethofthestreets。Shesawclearlythatthedoctorwasheraccomplice——hehadtakenthefeefortheshamillness。
“M。Poulain,“shebegan,“howcanyourefusetosayawordortwotosavemefromwant,whenyouhelpedmeintheaffairofmyaccident？”
Thedoctorfeltthatthedevilhadhimbythehair,asthesayingis;
hefelt,too,thatthehairwasbeingtwistedroundthepitilessredclaw。Startledandafraidlestheshouldsellhishonestyforsuchatrifle,heansweredthediabolicalsuggestionbyanothernolessdiabolical。
“Listen,mydearMme。Cibot,“hesaid,ashedrewherintohisconsulting-room。“IwillnowpayadebtofgratitudethatIoweyouformyappointmenttothemairie——“
“Wegoshares？”sheaskedbriskly。
“Inwhat？”
“Inthelegacy。“
“Youdonotknowme,“saidDr。Poulain,drawinghimselfuplikeValeriusPublicola。“Letushavenomoreofthat。Ihaveafriend,anoldschoolfellowofmine,averyintelligentyoungfellow;andwearesomuchthemoreintimate,because,ourliveshavefallenoutverymuchinthesameway。HewasstudyinglawwhileIwasahouse-student,hewasengrossingdeedsinMaitreCouture"soffice。Hisfatherwasashoemaker,andminewasabreeches-maker;hehasnotfoundanyonetotakemuchinterestinhiscareer,norhasheanycapital;for,afterall,capitalisonlytobehadfromsympathizers。Hecouldonlyaffordtobuyaprovincialconnection——atMantes——andsolittledoprovincialsunderstandtheParisianintellect,thattheysetallsortsofintriguesonfootagainsthim。“
“Thewretches！”criedLaCibot。
“Yes,saidthedoctor。“Theycombinedagainsthimtosuchpurpose,thattheyforcedhimtosellhisconnectionbymisrepresentingsomethingthathehaddone;theattorneyforthecrowninterfered,hebelongedtotheplace,andsidedwithhisfellow-townsmen。Myfriend"snameisFraisier。HeislodgedasIam,andheisevenleanerandmorethreadbare。Hetookrefugeinourarrondissement,andisreducedtoappearforclientsinthepolice-courtorbeforethemagistrate。HelivesintheRuedelaPerlecloseby。GotoNo。9,thirdfloor,andyouwillseehisnameonthedooronthelanding,paintedingiltlettersonasmallsquareofredleather。Fraisiermakesaspecialpointofdisputesamongtheporters,workmen,andpoorfolkinthearrondissement,andhischargesarelow。Heisanhonestman;forI
neednottellyouthatifhehadbeenascamp,hewouldbekeepinghiscarriagebynow。IwillcallandseemyfriendFraisierthisevening。
Gotohimearlyto-morrow;heknowsM。Louchard,thebailiff;M。
Tabareau,theclerkofthecourt;andthejusticeofthepeace,M。
Vitel;andM。Trognon,thenotary。HeisevennowlookeduponasoneofthebestmenofbusinessintheQuarter。Ifhetakeschargeofyourinterests,ifyoucansecurehimasM。Pons"adviser,youwillhaveasecondselfinhim,yousee。Butdonotmakedishonorableproposalstohim,asyoudidjustnowtome;hehasaheadonhisshoulders,youwillunderstandeachother。Andasforacknowledginghisservices,I
willbeyourintermediary——“
Mme。Cibotlookedaskanceatthedoctor。
“IsthatthelawyerwhohelpedMme。FlorimondthehaberdasherintheRueVieille-du-Templeoutofafixinthatmatterofherfriend"slegacy？”
“Theverysame。“
“Wasn"titashamethatshedidnotmarryhimafterhehadgainedtwothousandfrancsayearforher？”exclaimedLaCibot。“Andshethoughttoclearoffscoresbymakinghimapresentofadozenshirtsandacoupleofdozenpocket-handkerchiefs;anoutfit,inshort。“
“MydearMme。Cibot,thatoutfitcostathousandfrancs,andFraisierwasjustsettingupforhimselfintheQuarter,andwantedthethingsverybadly。Andwhatwasmore,shepaidthebillwithoutaskinganyquestions。Thataffairbroughthimclients,andnowheisverybusy;
butinmylineapracticebrings——“
“Itisonlytherighteousthatsufferherebelow,“saidLaCibot。
“Well,M。Poulain,good-dayandthankyou。“
Andherewithbeginsthetragedy,or,ifyouliketohaveitso,aterriblecomedy——thedeathofanoldbachelordeliveredoverbycircumstancestoostrongforhimtotherapacityandgreedthatgatheredabouthisbed。Andotherforcescametothesupportofrapacityandgreed;therewasthepicturecollector"smania,thatmostintenseofallpassions;therewasthecupidityoftheSieurFraisier,whomyoushallpresentlybeholdinhisden,asighttomakeyoushudder;andlastly,therewastheAuvergnatthirstingformoney,readyforanything——evenforacrime——thatshouldbringhimthecapitalhewanted。Thefirstpartofthestoryservesinsomesortasapreludetothiscomedyinwhichalltheactorswhohavehithertooccupiedthestagewillreappear。
Thedegradationofawordisoneofthosecuriousfreaksofmannersuponwhichwholevolumesofexplanationmightbewritten。Writetoanattorneyandaddresshimas“LawyerSo-and-so,“andyouinsulthimassurelyasyouwouldinsultawholesalecolonialproducemerchantbyaddressingyourletterto“Mr。So-and-so,Grocer。“Thereareplentyofmenoftheworldwhooughttobeaware,sincetheknowledgeofsuchsubtledistinctionsistheirprovince,thatyoucannotinsultaFrenchwritermorecruellythanbycallinghim/unhommedelettres/——aliteraryman。Theword/monsieur/isacapitalexampleofthelifeanddeathofwords。Abbreviatedfrommonseigneur,oncesoconsiderableatitle,andevennow,intheformof/sire/,reservedforemperorsandkings,itisbestowedindifferentlyuponallandsundry;whilethetwin-word/messire/,whichisnothingbutitsdoubleandequivalent,ifbyanychanceitslipsintoacertificateofburial,producesanoutcryintheRepublicanpapers。
Magistrates,councillors,jurisconsults,judges,barristers,officersforthecrown,bailiffs,attorneys,clerksofthecourt,procurators,solicitors,andagentsofvariouskinds,representormisrepresentJustice。The“lawyer“andthebailiff"smen(commonlycalled“thebrokers“)arethetwolowestrungsoftheladder。Now,thebailiff"smanisanoutsider,anadventitiousministerofjustice,appearingtoseethatjudgmentisexecuted;heis,infact,akindofinferiorexecutioneremployedbythecountycourt。Buttheword“lawyer“(hommedeloi)isadepreciatorytermappliedtothelegalprofession。
Consumingprofessionaljealousyfindssimilardisparagingepithetsforfellow-travelersineverywalkoflife,andeverycallinghasitsspecialinsult。Thescornflungintothewords/hommedeloi,hommedelettres/,iswantinginthepluralform,whichmaybeusedwithoutoffence;butinPariseveryprofession,learnedorunlearned,hasits/omega/,theindividualwhobringsitdowntothelevelofthelowestclass;andthewrittenlawhasitsconnectinglinkwiththecustomrightofthestreets。Therearedistrictswherethepettifoggingmanofbusiness,knownasLawyerSo-and-So,isstilltobefound。M。
FraisierwastothememberoftheIncorporatedLawSocietyasthemoney-lenderoftheHalles,offeringsmallloansforashortperiodatanexorbitantinterest,istothegreatcapitalist。
Workingpeople,strangetosayareasshyofofficialsasoffashionablerestaurants,theytakeadvicefromirregularsourcesastheyturnintoalittlewineshoptodrink。Eachrankinlifefindsitsownlevel,andthereabides。Nonebutachosenfewcaretoclimbtheheights,fewcanfeelateaseinthepresenceoftheirbetters,ortaketheirplaceamongthem,likeaBeaumarchaislettingfallthewatchofthegreatlordwhotriedtohumiliatehim。Andiftherearefewwhocanevenrisetoahighersociallevel,thoseamongthemwhocanthrowofftheirswaddling-clothesarerareandgreatexceptions。
Atsixo"clockthenextmorningMme。CibotstoodintheRuedelaPerle;shewasmakingasurveyoftheabodeofherfutureadviser,LawyerFraisier。Thehousewasoneoftheold-fashionedkindformerlyinhabitedbysmalltradespeopleandcitizenswithsmallmeans。A
cabinetmaker"sshopoccupiedalmostthewholeofthegroundfloor,aswellasthelittleyardbehind,whichwascoveredwithhisworkshopsandwarehouses;thesmallremainingspacebeingtakenupbytheporter"slodgeandthepassageentryinthemiddle。Thestaircasewallswerehalfrottenwithdampandcoveredwithsaltpetretosuchadegreethatthehouseseemedtobestrickenwithleprosy。
Mme。Cibotwentstraighttotheporter"slodge,andthereencounteredoneofthefraternity,ashoemaker,hiswife,andtwosmallchildren,allhousedinaroomtenfeetsquare,lightedfromtheyardattheback。LaCibotmentionedherprofession,namedherself,andspokeofherhouseintheRuedeNormandie,andthetwowomenwereoncordialtermsatonce。Afteraquarterofanhourspentingossipwhiletheshoemaker"swifemadebreakfastreadyforherhusbandandthechildren,Mme。Cibotturnedtheconversationtothesubjectofthelodgers,andspokeofthelawyer。
“Ihavecometoseehimonbusiness,“shesaid。“Oneofhisfriends,Dr。Poulain,recommendedmetohim。DoyouknowDr。Poulain？”
“IshouldthinkIdo,“saidtheladyoftheRuedelaPerle。“Hesavedmylittlegirl"slifewhenshehadthecroup。“
“Hesavedmylife,too,madame。WhatsortofamanisthisM。
Fraisier？”
“Heisthesortofman,mydearlady,outofwhomitisverydifficulttogetthepostage-moneyattheendofthemonth。“
ToapersonofLaCibot"sintelligencethiswasenough。
“Onemaybepoorandhonest,“observedshe。
“IamsureIhopeso,“returnedFraisier"sportress。“Wearenotrollingincoppers,letalonegoldorsilver;butwehavenotafarthingbelongingtoanybodyelse。“
ThissortoftalksoundedfamiliartoLaCibot。
“Inshort,onecantrusthim,child,eh？”
“Lord!whenM。Fraisiermeanswellbyanyone,thereisnothislike,soIhaveheardMme。Florimondsay。“
“Andwhydidn"tshemarryhimwhensheowedherfortunetohim？”LaCibotaskedquickly。“Itissomethingforalittlehaberdasher,keptbyanoldman,tobeabarrister"swife——“
“Why?——“askedtheportress,bringingMme。Cibotoutintothepassage。
“Why?——Youaregoingtoseehim,areyounot,madame?——Verywell,whenyouareinhisofficeyouwillknowwhy。“
Fromthestateofthestaircase,lightedbysash-windowsonthesideoftheyard,itwasprettyevidentthattheinmatesofthehouse,withtheexceptionofthelandlordandM。Fraisierhimself,wereallworkmen。Thereweretracesofvariouscraftsinthedepositofmuduponthesteps——brass-filings,brokenbuttons,scrapsofgauze,andespartograsslayscatteredabout。Thewallsoftheupperstorieswerecoveredwithapprentices"ribaldscrawlsandcaricatures。Theportress"lastremarkhadrousedLaCibot"scuriosity;shedecided,notunnaturally,thatshewouldconsultDr。Poulain"sfriend;butasforemployinghim,thatmustdependuponherimpressions。
“IsometimeswonderhowMme。Sauvagecanstopinhisservice,“saidtheportress,bywayofcomment;shewasfollowinginMme。Cibot"swake。“Iwillcomeupwithyou,madame“sheadded;“Iamtakingthemilkandthenewspaperuptomylandlord。“
Arrivedonthesecondfloorabovetheentresol,LaCibotbeheldadoorofthemostvillainousdescription。Thedoubtfulredpaintwascoatedforsevenoreightinchesroundthekeyholewithafilthyglaze,agrimydepositfromwhichthemodernhouse-decoratorendeavorstoprotectthedoorsofmoreelegantapartmentsbyglass“finger-plates。“
Agrating,almoststoppedupwithsomecompoundsimilartothedepositwithwhicharestaurant-keepergivesanairofcellar-boundantiquitytoamerelymiddle-agedbottle,onlyservedtoheightenthegeneralresemblancetoaprisondoor;aresemblancefurtherheightenedbythetrefoil-shapediron-work,theformidablehinges,theclumsynail-
heads。Amiser,orapamphleteeratstrifewiththeworldatlarge,mustsurelyhaveinventedthesefortifications。Aleadensink,whichreceivedthewastewaterofthehousehold,contributeditsquotatothefetidatmosphereofthestaircase,andtheceilingwascoveredwithfantasticarabesquestracedbycandle-smoke——sucharabesques!Onpullingagreasyacorntasselattachedtothebell-rope,alittlebelljangledfeeblysomewherewithin,complainingofthefissureinitsmetalsides。
Everydetailwasinkeepingwiththegeneraldismaleffect。LaCibotheardaheavyfootstep,andtheasthmaticwheezingofaviragowithin,andMme。Sauvagepresentlyshowedherself。AdrienBrauwermighthavepaintedjustsuchahagforhispictureof/WitchesstartingfortheSabbath/;astout,unwholesomeslattern,fivefeetsixinchesinheight,withagrenadiercountenanceandabeardwhichfarsurpassedLaCibot"sown;sheworeacheap,hideouslyuglycottongown,abandanahandkerchiefknottedoverhairwhichshestillcontinuedtoputincurlpapers(usingforthatpurposetheprintedcircularswhichhermasterreceived),andahugepairofgoldearringslikecart-
wheelsinherears。ThisfemaleCerberuscarriedabatteredskilletinonehand,andopeningthedoor,setfreeanimprisonedodorofscorchedmilk——anauseousandpenetratingsmell,thatlostitselfatonce,however,amongthefumesoutside。
“WhatcanIdoforyou,missus？”demandedMme。Sauvage,andwithatruculentairshelookedLaCibotover;evidentlyshewasoftheopinionthatthevisitorwastoowelldressed,andhereyeslookedthemoremurderousbecausetheywerenaturallybloodshot。
“IhavecometoseeM。Fraisier;hisfriend,Dr。Poulain,sentme。“
“Oh!comein,missus,“saidLaSauvage,grownveryamiableofasudden,whichprovesthatshewaspreparedforthismorningvisit。
Withasweepingcourtesy,thestalwartwomanflungopenthedoorofaprivateoffice,whichlookeduponthestreet,anddiscoveredtheex-
attorneyofMantes。
Theroomwasacompletepictureofathird-ratesolicitor"soffice;
withthestainedwoodencases,theletter-filessooldthattheyhadgrownbeards(inecclesiasticallanguage),theredtapedanglinglimpanddejected,thepasteboardboxescoveredwithtracesofthegambolsofmice,thedirtyfloor,theceilingtawnywithsmoke。Afrugalallowanceofwoodwassmoulderingonacoupleoffire-dogsonthehearth。Andonthechimney-pieceabovestoodafoggymirrorandamodernclockwithaninlaidwoodencase;Fraisierhadpickeditupatanexecutionsale,togetherwiththetawdryimitationrocococandlesticks,withthezincbeneathshowingthroughthelacquerinseveralplaces。
M。Fraisierwassmall,thin,andunwholesomelooking;hisredface,coveredwithaneruption,toldoftaintedblood;andhehad,moreover,atrickofcontinuallyscratchinghisrightarm。Awigpushedtothebackofhisheaddisplayedabrick-coloredcraniumofominousconformation。Thispersonrosefromacane-seatedarmchair,inwhichhesatonagreenleathercushion,assumedanagreeableexpression,andbroughtforwardachair。
“Mme。Cibot,Ibelieve？”queriedhe,indulcettones。
“Yes,sir,“answeredtheportress。Shehadlostherhabitualassurance。
Somethinginthetonesofavoicewhichstronglyresembledthesoundsofthelittledoor-bell,somethinginaglanceevensharperthanthesharpgreeneyesofherfuturelegaladviser,scaredMme。Cibot。
Fraisier"spresencesopervadedtheroom,thatanyonemighthavethoughttherewaspestilenceintheair;andinaflashMme。CibotunderstoodwhyMme。FlorimondhadnotbecomeMme。Fraisier。
“Poulaintoldmeaboutyou,mydearmadame,“saidthelawyer,intheunnaturalfashioncommonlydescribedbythewords“mincingtones“;
tonessharp,thin,andgratingasverjuice,inspiteofallhisefforts。
Arrivedatthispoint,hetriedtodrawtheskirtsofhisdressing-
gownoverapairofangularkneesencasedinthreadbarefelt。Therobewasanancientprintedcottongarment,linedwithwaddingwhichtookthelibertyofprotrudingitselfthroughvariousslitsinithereandthere;theweightofthislininghadpulledtheskirtsaside,disclosingadingy-huedflannelwaistcoatbeneath。Withsomethingofacoxcomb"smanner,Fraisierfastenedthisrefractoryarticleofdress,tighteningthegirdletodefinehisreedyfigure;thenwithablowofthetongs,heeffectedareconciliationbetweentwoburningbrandsthathadlongavoidedoneanother,likebrothersafterafamilyquarrel。Asuddenbrightideastruckhim,andherosefromhischair。
“Mme。Sauvage！”calledhe。
“Well？”
“Iamnotathometoanybody！”
“Eh!blessyourlife,there"snoneedtosaythat！”
“Sheismyoldnurse,“thelawyersaidinsomeconfusion。
“Andshehasnotrecoveredherfigureyet,“remarkedtheheroineoftheHalles。
Fraisierlaughed,anddrewtheboltlesthishousekeepershouldinterruptMme。Cibot"sconfidences。
“Well,madame,explainyourbusiness,“saidhe,makinganotherefforttodrapehimselfinthedressing-gown。“AnyonerecommendedtomebytheonlyfriendIhaveintheworldmaycountuponme——Imaysay——
absolutely。“
ForhalfanhourMme。Cibottalked,andthemanoflawmadenointerruptionofanysort;hisfaceworetheexpressionofcuriousinterestwithwhichayoungsoldierlistenstoapensionerof“TheOldGuard。“Fraisier"ssilenceandacquiescence,theraptattentionwithwhichheappearedtolistentoatorrentofgossipsimilartothesamplespreviouslygiven,dispelledsomeoftheprejudicesinspiredinLaCibot"smindbyhissqualidsurroundings。Thelittlelawyerwiththeblack-speckledgreeneyeswasinrealitymakingastudyofhisclient。Whenatlengthshecametoastandandlookedtohimtospeak,hewasseizedwithafitofthecomplaintknownasa“churchyardcough,“andhadrecoursetoanearthenwarebasinhalffullofherbtea,whichhedrained。
“ButforPoulain,mydearmadame,Ishouldhavebeendeadbeforethis,“saidFraisier,bywayofanswertotheportress"lookofmotherlycompassion;“buthewillbringmeround,hesays——“
Asalltheclient"sconfidencesappearedtohaveslippedfromthememoryofherlegaladviser,shebegantocastaboutforawayoftakingleaveofamansoapparentlyneardeath。
“Inanaffairofthiskind,madame,“continuedtheattorneyfromMantes,suddenlyreturningtobusiness,“therearetwothingswhichitismostimportanttoknow。Inthefirstplace,whetherthepropertyissufficienttobeworthtroublingabout;andinthesecond,whothenext-of-kinmaybe;forifthepropertyisthebooty,thenext-of-kinistheenemy。“
LaCibotimmediatelybegantotalkofRemonencqandElieMagus,andsaidthattheshrewdcouplevaluedthepicturesatsixhundredthousandfrancs。
“Wouldtheytakethemthemselvesatthatprice？”inquiredthelawyer。
“Yousee,madame,thatmenofbusinessareshyofpictures。Apicturemaymeanapieceofcanvasworthacoupleoffrancsorapaintingworthtwohundredthousand。Now,paintingsworthtwohundredthousandfrancsareusuallywellknown;andwhaterrorsinjudgmentpeoplemakeinestimatingeventhemostfamouspicturesofall!Therewasonceagreatcapitalistwhosecollectionwasadmired,visited,andengraved——
actuallyengraved!Hewassupposedtohavespentmillionsoffrancsonit。Hedied,asmenmust,and——well,his/genuine/picturesdidnotfetchmorethantwohundredthousandfrancs!Youmustletmeseethesegentlemen——Nowforthenext-of-kin,“andFraisieragainrelapsedintohisattitudeoflistener。
WhenPresidentCamusot"snamecameup,henoddedwithagrimacewhichrivetedMme。Cibot"sattention。Shetriedtoreadtheforeheadandthevillainousface,andfoundwhatiscalledinbusinessa“woodenhead。“
“Yes,mydearsir,“repeatedLaCibot。“Yes,myM。PonsisowncousintoPresidentCamusotdeMarville;hetellsmethattentimesaday。M。
Camusotthesilkmercerwasmarriedtwice——“
“HethathasjustbeennominatedforapeerofFrance?——“
“AndhisfirstwifewasaMlle。Pons,M。Pons"firstcousin。“
“Thentheyarefirstcousinsonceremoved——“
“Theyare"notcousins。"Theyhavequarreled。“
ItmayberememberedthatbeforeM。CamusotdeMarvillecametoParis,hewasPresidentoftheTribunalofMantesforfiveyears;andnotonlywashisnamestillrememberedthere,buthehadkeptupacorrespondencewithMantes。Camusot"simmediatesuccessor,thejudgewithwhomhehadbeenmostintimateduringhistermofoffice,wasstillPresidentoftheTribunal,andconsequentlyknewallaboutFraisier。
“Doyouknow,madame,“Fraisiersaid,whenatlasttheredsluicesofLaCibot"storrenttonguewereclosed,“doyouknowthatyourprincipalenemywillbeamanwhocansendyoutothescaffold？”
Theportressstartedonherchair,makingasuddenspringlikeajack-
in-the-box。
“Calmyourself,dearmadame,“continuedFraisier。“YoumaynothaveknownthenameofthePresidentoftheChamberofIndictmentsattheCourtofAppealinParis;butyououghttohaveknownthatM。Ponsmusthaveanheir-at-law。M。lePresidentdeMarvilleisyourinvalid"ssoleheir;butasheisacollateralinthethirddegree,M。
Ponsisentitledbylawtoleavehisfortuneashepleases。Youarenotawareeitherthat,sixweeksagoatleast,M。lePresident"sdaughtermarriedtheeldestsonofM。leComtePopinot,peerofFrance,onceMinisterofAgriculture,andPresidentoftheBoardofTrade,oneofthemostinfluentialpoliticiansoftheday。PresidentdeMarvilleisevenmoreformidablethroughthismarriagethaninhisownqualityofheadoftheCourtofAssize。“
AtthatwordLaCibotshuddered。
“Yes,anditishewhosendsyouthere,“continuedFraisier。“Ah!mydearmadame,youlittleknowwhataredrobemeans!Itisbadenoughtohaveaplainblackgownagainstyou!Youseemehere,ruined,bald,brokeninhealth——allbecause,unwittingly,Icrossedamereattorneyforthecrownintheprovinces。Iwasforcedtosellmyconnectionataloss,andveryluckyIwastocomeoffwiththelossofmymoney。IfIhadtriedtostandout,myprofessionalpositionwouldhavegoneaswell。
“Onethingmoreyoudonotknow,“hecontinued,“andthisitis。IfyouhadonlytodowithPresidentCamusothimself,itwouldbenothing;buthehasawife,mindyou!——andifyoueverfindyourselffacetofacewiththatwife,youwillshakeinyourshoesasifyouwereonthefirststepofthescaffold,yourhairwillstandonend。
ThePresidenteissovindictivethatshewouldspendtenyearsoversettingatraptokillyou。Shesetsthathusbandofhersspinninglikeatop。ThroughheracharmingyoungfellowcommittedsuicideattheConciergerie。Acountwasaccusedofforgery——shemadehischaracteraswhiteassnow。SheallbutdroveapersonofthehighestqualityfromtheCourtofCharlesX。Finally,shedisplacedtheAttorney-General,M。deGranville——“
“ThatlivedintheRueVieille-du-Temple,atthecorneroftheRueSaint-Francois？”
“Theverysame。TheysaythatshemeanstomakeherhusbandHomeSecretary,andIdonotknowthatshewillnotgainherend——IfsheweretotakeitintoherheadtosendusbothtotheCriminalCourtfirstandthehulksafterwards——IshouldapplyforapassportandsetsailforAmerica,thoughIamasinnocentasanew-bornbabe。SowellIknowwhatjusticemeans。Now,seehere,mydearMme。Cibot;tomarryheronlydaughtertoyoungVicomtePopinot(heirtoM。Pillerault,yourlandlord,itissaid)——tomakethatmatch,shestrippedherselfofherwholefortune,somuchsothatthePresidentandhiswifehavenothingatthismomentexcepthisofficialsalary。Canyousuppose,mydearmadame,thatunderthecircumstancesMme。laPresidentewillletM。Pons"propertygooutofthefamilywithoutaword?——Why,Iwouldsoonerfacegunsloadedwithgrape-shotthanhavesuchawomanformyenemy——“
“Buttheyhavequarreled,“putinLaCibot。
“Whathasthatgottodowithit？”askedFraisier。“Itisonereasonthemoreforfearingher。Tokillarelativeofwhomyouaretired,issomething;buttoinherithispropertyafterwards——thatisarealpleasure！”
“Buttheoldgentlemanhasahorrorofhisrelatives。Hesaysoverandoveragainthatthesepeople——M。Cardot,M。Berthier,andtherestofthem(Ican"tremembertheirnames)——havecrushedhimasatumbrilcartcrushesanegg——“
“Haveyouamindtobecrushedtoo？”
“Ohdear!ohdear！”criedLaCibot。“Ah!Ma"amFontainewasrightwhenshesaidthatIshouldmeetwithdifficulties：still,shesaidthatI
shouldsucceed——“
“Listen,mydearMme。Cibot——Asformakingsomethirtythousandfrancsoutofthisbusiness——thatispossible;butforthewholeoftheproperty,itisuselesstothinkofit。Wetalkedoveryourcaseyesterdayevening,Dr。PoulainandI——“
LaCibotstartedagain。
“Well,whatisthematter？”
“Butifyouknewabouttheaffair,whydidyouletmechatterawaylikeamagpie？”
“Mme。Cibot,Iknewallaboutyourbusiness,butIknewnothingofMme。Cibot。Somanyclients,somanycharacters——“
Mme。Cibotgaveherlegaladviseraqueerlookatthis;allhersuspicionsgleamedinhereyes。Fraisiersawthis。
“Iresume,“hecontinued。“So,ourfriendPoulainwasoncecalledinbyyoutoattendoldM。Pillerault,theCountessPopinot"sgreat-
uncle;thatisoneofyourclaimstomydevotion。Poulaingoestoseeyourlandlord(markthis!)onceafortnight;helearnedalltheseparticularsfromhim。M。Pilleraultwaspresentathisgrand-nephew"swedding——forheisanunclewithmoneytoleave;hehasanincomeoffifteenthousandfrancs,thoughhehaslivedlikeahermitforthelastfive-and-twentyyears,andscarcelyspendsathousandcrowns——
well,/he/toldPoulainallaboutthismarriage。Itseemsthatyouroldmusicianwaspreciselythecauseoftherow;hetriedtodisgracehisownfamilybywayofrevenge——Ifyouonlyhearonebell,youonlyhearonesound——Yourinvalidsaysthathemeantnoharm,buteverybodythinkshimamonsterof——“
“Anditwouldnotastonishmeifhewas！”criedLaCibot。“Justimagineit!——ForthesetenyearspastIhavebeenmoneyoutofpocketforhim,spendingmysavingsonhim,andheknowsit,andyethewillnotletmeliedowntosleeponalegacy!——No,sir!hewill/not/。Heisobstinate,aregularmuleheis——Ihavetalkedtohimthesetendays,andthecross-grainedcurwon"tstirnomorethanasign-post。
Heshutshisteethandlooksatmelike——ThemostthathewouldsaywasthathewouldrecommendmetoM。Schmucke。“
“ThenhemeanstomakehiswillinfavorofthisSchmucke？”
“Everythingwillgotohim——“
“Listen,mydearMme。Cibot,ifIamtoarriveatanydefiniteconclusionsandthinkofaplan,ImustknowM。Schmucke。ImustseethepropertyandhavesometalkwiththisJewofwhomyouspeak;andthen,letmedirectyou——“
“Weshallsee,M。Fraisier。“
“Whatisthis?"Weshallsee?"“repeatedFraisier,speakinginthevoicenaturaltohim,ashegaveLaCibotaviperousglance。“AmI
yourlegaladviseroramInot,Isay?Letusknowexactlywherewestand。“
LaCibotfeltthathereadherthoughts。Acoldchillrandownherback。
“IhavetoldyouallIknow,“shesaid。Shesawthatshewasatthetiger"smercy。
“Weattorneysareaccustomedtotreachery。Justthinkcarefullyoveryourposition;itissuperb——Ifyoufollowmyadvicepointbypoint,youwillhavethirtyorfortythousandfrancs。Butthereisareversesidetothisbeautifulmedal。HowifthePresidentecomestohearthatM。Pons"propertyisworthamillionoffrancs,andthatyoumeantohaveabitoutofit?——forthereisalwayssomebodyreadytotakethatkindoferrand——“headdedparenthetically。
Thisremark,andthelittlepausethatcamebeforeandafterit,sentanothershudderthroughLaCibot。ShethoughtatoncethatFraisierhimselfwouldprobablyundertakethatoffice。
“Andthen,mydearclient,intenminutesoldPilleraultisaskedtodismissyou,andthenonacoupleofhours"notice——“
“Whatdoesthatmattertome？”saidLaCibot,risingtoherfeetlikeaBellona;“Ishallstaywiththegentlemenastheirhousekeeper。“
“Andthen,atrapwillbesetforyou,andsomefinemorningyouandyourhusbandwillwakeupinaprisoncell,tobetriedforyourlives——“
“/I?/“criedLaCibot,“Ithathavenotafarthingthatdoesn"tbelongtome?……/I!/……/I!/“
Forfiveminutessheheldforth,andFraisierwatchedthegreatartistbeforehimassheexecutedaconcertoofself-praise。Hewasquiteuntouched,andevenamusedbytheperformance。HiskeenglancesprickedLaCibotlikestilettos;hechuckledinwardly,tillhisshrunkenwigwasshakingwithlaughter。HewasaRobespierreatanagewhentheSyllaofFrancewasmakecouplets。
“Andhow?andwhy?Andonwhatpretext？”demandedshe,whenshehadcometoanend。
“Youwishtoknowhowyoumaycometotheguillotine？”
LaCibotturnedpaleasdeathatthewords;thewordsfelllikeaknifeuponherneck。ShestaredwildlyatFraisier。
“Listentome,mydearchild,“beganFraisier,suppressinghisinwardsatisfactionathisclient"sdiscomfiture。
“Iwouldsoonerleavethingsastheyare——“murmuredLaCibot,andsherosetogo。
“Stay,“Fraisiersaidimperiously。“Yououghttoknowtherisksthatyouarerunning;Iamboundtogiveyouthebenefitofmylights——YouaredismissedbyM。Pillerault,wewillsay;thereisnodoubtaboutthat,isthere?Youentertheserviceofthesetwogentlemen。Verygood!ThatisadeclarationofwaragainstthePresidente。Youmeantodoeverythingyoucantogainpossessionoftheproperty,andtogetasliceofitatanyrate——
“Oh,Iamnotblamingyou,“Fraisiercontinued,inanswertoagesturefromhisclient。“Itisnotmyplacetodoso。Thisisabattle,andyouwillbeledonfurtherthanyouthinkfor。Onegrowsfullofone"sideas,onehitshard——“
Anothergestureofdenial。ThistimeLaCibottossedherhead。
“There,there,oldlady,“saidFraisier,withodiousfamiliarity,“youwillgoaverylongway!——“
“Youtakemeforathief,Isuppose？”
“Come,now,mamma,youholdareceiptinM。Schmucke"shandwhichdidnotcostyoumuch——Ah!youareintheconfessional,mylady!Don"tdeceiveyourconfessor,especiallywhentheconfessorhasthepowerofreadingyourthoughts。“
LaCibotwasdismayedbytheman"sperspicacity;nowsheknewwhyhehadlistenedtohersointently。
“Verygood,“continuedhe,“youcanadmitatoncethatthePresidentewillnotallowyoutopassherintheracefortheproperty——Youwillbewatchedandspiedupon——YougetyournameintoM。Pons"will;
nothingcouldbebetter。Butsomefinedaythelawstepsin,arsenicisfoundinaglass,andyouandyourhusbandarearrested,tried,andcondemnedforattemptingthelifeoftheSieurPons,soastocomebyyourlegacy。IoncedefendedapoorwomanatVersailles;shewasinrealityasinnocentasyouwouldbeinsuchacase。ThingswereasI
havetoldyou,andallthatIcoulddowastosaveherlife。Theunhappycreaturewassentencedtotwentyyears"penalservitude。SheisworkingouthertimenowatSt。Lazare。“
Mme。Cibot"sterrorgrewtothehighestpitch。Shegrewpalerandpaler,staringatthelittle,thinmanwiththegreeneyes,assomewretchedMoor,accusedofadheringtoherownreligion,mightgazeattheinquisitorwhodoomedhertothestake。
“Then,doyoutellme,thatifIleaveyoutoact,andputmyinterestsinyourhands,Ishallgetsomethingwithoutfear？”
“Iguaranteeyouthirtythousandfrancs,“saidFraisier,speakinglikeamansureofthefact。
“Afterall,youknowhowfondIamofdearDr。Poulain,“shebeganagaininhermostcoaxingtones;“hetoldmetocometoyou,worthyman,andhedidnotsendmeheretobetoldthatIshallbeguillotinedforpoisoningsomeone。“
Thethoughtoftheguillotinesomovedherthatsheburstintotears,hernerveswereshaken,terrorclutchedatherheart,shelostherhead。Fraisiergloatedoverhistriumph。Whenhesawhisclienthesitate,hethoughtthathehadlosthischance;hehadsethimselftofrightenandquellLaCibottillshewascompletelyinhispower,boundhandandfoot。Shehadwalkedintohisstudyasaflywalksintoaspider"sweb;thereshewasdoomedtoremain,entangledinthetoilsofthelittlelawyerwhomeanttofeeduponher。Outofthisbitofbusiness,indeed,Fraisiermeanttogainthelivingofolddays;
comfort,competence,andconsideration。HeandhisfriendDr。Poulainhadspentthewholepreviouseveninginamicroscopicexaminationofthecase;theyhadmadematuredeliberations。ThedoctordescribedSchmuckeforhisfriend"sbenefit,andthealertpairhadplumbedallhypothesesandscrutinizedallrisksandresources,tillFraisier,exultant,criedaloud,“Bothourfortuneslieinthis！”HehadgonesofarastopromisePoulainahospital,andasforhimself,hemeanttobejusticeofthepeaceofanarrondissement。
Tobeajusticeofthepeace!Forthismanwithhisabundantcapacity,forthisdoctoroflawwithoutapairofsockstohisname,thedreamwasahippogriffsorestive,thathethoughtofitasadeputy-
advocatethinksofthesilkgown,asanItalianpriestthinksofthetiara。Itwasindeedawilddream!
M。Vitel,thejusticeofthepeacebeforewhomFraisierpleaded,wasamanofsixty-nine,infailinghealth;hetalkedofretiringonapension;andFraisierusedtotalkwithPoulainofsucceedinghim,muchasPoulaintalkedofsavingthelifeofsomerichheiressandmarryingherafterwards。NooneknowshowgreedilyeverypostinthegiftofauthorityissoughtafterinParis。EveryonewantstoliveinParis。Ifastamportobaccolicensefallsin,ahundredwomenriseupasoneandstiralltheirfriendstoobtainit。Anyvacancyintheranksofthetwenty-fourcollectorsoftaxessendsafloodofambitiousfolksurginginupontheChamberofDeputies。Decisionsaremadeincommittee,allappointmentsaremadebytheGovernment。Nowthesalaryofajusticeofthepeace,theloweststipendiarymagistrateinParis,isaboutsixthousandfrancs。Thepostofregistrartothecourtisworthahundredthousandfrancs。Fewplacesaremorecovetedintheadministration。Fraisier,asajusticeofthepeace,withtheheadphysicianofahospitalforhisfriend,wouldmakearichmarriagehimselfandagoodmatchforDr。Poulain。Eachwouldlendahandtoeach。