第 3 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2022-11-28 19:13      字数:9322
  diplomacy; that the financial managers of two newspapers (celebrated
  at that time but since defunct) were seized with the idea of employing
  him to get subscribers。 The proprietors of the 〃Globe;〃 an organ of
  Saint…Simonism; and the 〃Movement;〃 a republican journal; each invited
  the illustrious Gaudissart to a conference; and proposed to give him
  ten francs a head for every subscriber; provided he brought in a
  thousand; but only five francs if he got no more than five hundred。
  The cause of political journalism not interfering with the pre…
  accepted cause of life insurance; the bargain was struck; although
  Gaudissart demanded an indemnity from the Saint…Simonians for the
  eight days he was forced to spend in studying the doctrines of their
  apostle; asserting that a prodigious effort of memory and intellect
  was necessary to get to the bottom of that 〃article〃 and to reason
  upon it suitably。 He asked nothing; however; from the republicans。 In
  the first place; he inclined in republican ideas;the only ones;
  according to guadissardian philosophy; which could bring about a
  rational equality。 Besides which he had already dipped into the
  conspiracies of the French 〃carbonari〃; he had been arrested; and
  released for want of proof; and finally; as he called the newspaper
  proprietors to observe; he had lately grown a mustache; and needed
  only a hat of certain shape and a pair of spurs to represent; with due
  propriety; the Republic。
  CHAPTER II
  For one whole week this commanding genius went every morning to be
  Saint…Simonized at the office of the 〃Globe;〃 and every afternoon he
  betook himself to the life…insurance company; where he learned the
  intricacies of financial diplomacy。 His aptitude and his memory were
  prodigious; so that he was able to start on his peregrinations by the
  15th of April; the date at which he usually opened the spring
  campaign。 Two large commercial houses; alarmed at the decline of
  business; implored the ambitious Gaudissart not to desert the article
  Paris; and seduced him; it was said; with large offers; to take their
  commissions once more。 The king of travellers was amenable to the
  claims of his old friends; enforced as they were by the enormous
  premiums offered to him。
  *       *       *       *       *
  〃Listen; my little Jenny;〃 he said in a hackney…coach to a pretty
  florist。
  All truly great men delight in allowing themselves to be tyrannized
  over by a feeble being; and Gaudissart had found his tyrant in Jenny。
  He was bringing her home at eleven o'clock from the Gymnase; whither
  he had taken her; in full dress; to a proscenium box on the first
  tier。
  〃On my return; Jenny; I shall refurnish your room in superior style。
  That big Matilda; who pesters you with comparisons and her real India
  shawls imported by the suite of the Russian ambassador; and her silver
  plate and her Russian prince;who to my mind is nothing but a humbug;
  won't have a word to say THEN。 I consecrate to the adornment of your
  room all the 'Children' I shall get in the provinces。〃
  〃Well; that's a pretty thing to say!〃 cried the florist。 〃Monster of a
  man! Do you dare to talk to me of your children? Do you suppose I am
  going to stand that sort of thing?〃
  〃Oh; what a goose you are; my Jenny! That's only a figure of speech in
  our business。〃
  〃A fine business; then!〃
  〃Well; but listen; if you talk all the time you'll always be in the
  right。〃
  〃I mean to be。 Upon my word; you take things easy!〃
  〃You don't let me finish。 I have taken under my protection a
  superlative idea;a journal; a newspaper; written for children。 In
  our profession; when travellers have caught; let us suppose; ten
  subscribers to the 'Children's Journal;' they say; 'I've got ten
  Children;' just as I say when I get ten subscriptions to a newspaper
  called the 'Movement;' 'I've got ten Movements。' Now don't you see?〃
  〃That's all right。 Are you going into politics? If you do you'll get
  into Saint…Pelagie; and I shall have to trot down there after you。 Oh!
  if one only knew what one puts one's foot into when we love a man; on
  my word of honor we would let you alone to take care of yourselves;
  you men! However; if you are going away to…morrow we won't talk of
  disagreeable things;that would be silly。〃
  The coach stopped before a pretty house; newly built in the Rue
  d'Artois; where Gaudissart and Jenny climbed to the fourth story。 This
  was the abode of Mademoiselle Jenny Courand; commonly reported to be
  privately married to the illustrious Gaudissart; a rumor which that
  individual did not deny。 To maintain her supremacy; Jenny kept him to
  the performance of innumerable small attentions; and threatened
  continually to turn him off if he omitted the least of them。 She now
  ordered him to write to her from every town; and render a minute
  account of all his proceedings。
  〃How many 'Children' will it take to furnish my chamber?〃 she asked;
  throwing off her shawl and sitting down by a good fire。
  〃I get five sous for each subscriber。〃
  〃Delightful! And is it with five sous that you expect to make me rich?
  Perhaps you are like the Wandering Jew with your pockets full of
  money。〃
  〃But; Jenny; I shall get a thousand 'Children。' Just reflect that
  children have never had a newspaper to themselves before。 But what a
  fool I am to try to explain matters to you;you can't understand such
  things。〃
  〃Can't I? Then tell me;tell me; Gaudissart; if I'm such a goose why
  do you love me?〃
  〃Just because you are a goose;a sublime goose! Listen; Jenny。 See
  here; I am going to undertake the 'Globe;' the 'Movement;' the
  'Children;' the insurance business; and some of my old articles Paris;
  instead of earning a miserable eight thousand a year; I'll bring back
  twenty thousand at least from each trip。〃
  〃Unlace me; Gaudissart; and do it right; don't tighten me。〃
  〃Yes; truly;〃 said the traveller; complacently; 〃I shall become a
  shareholder in the newspapers; like Finot; one of my friends; the son
  of a hatter; who now has thirty thousand francs income; and is going
  to make himself a peer of France。 When one thinks of that little
  Popinot;ah; mon Dieu! I forgot to tell you that Monsieur Popinot was
  named minister of commerce yesterday。 Why shouldn't I be ambitious
  too? Ha! ha! I could easily pick up the jargon of those fellows who
  talk in the chamber; and bluster with the rest of them。 Now; listen to
  me:
  〃Gentlemen;〃 he said; standing behind a chair; 〃the Press is neither a
  tool nor an article of barter: it is; viewed under its political
  aspects; an institution。 We are bound; in virtue of our position as
  legislators; to consider all things politically; and therefore〃 (here
  he stopped to get breath)〃and therefore we must examine the Press
  and ask ourselves if it is useful or noxious; if it should be
  encouraged or put down; taxed or free。 These are serious questions。 I
  feel that I do not waste the time; always precious; of this Chamber by
  examining this articlethe Pressand explaining to you its
  qualities。 We are on the verge of an abyss。 Undoubtedly the laws have
  not the nap which they ought to haveHein?〃 he said; looking at
  Jenny。 〃All orators put France on the verge of an abyss。 They either
  say that or they talk about the chariot of state; or convulsions; or
  political horizons。 Don't I know their dodges? I'm up to all the
  tricks of all the trades。 Do you know why? Because I was born with a
  caul; my mother has got it; but I'll give it to you。 You'll see! I
  shall soon be in the government。〃
  〃You!〃
  〃Why shouldn't I be the Baron Gaudissart; peer of France? Haven't they
  twice elected Monsieur Popinot as deputy from the fourth
  arrondissement? He dines with Louis Phillippe。 There's Finot; he is
  going to be; they say; a member of the Council。 Suppose they send me
  as ambassador to London? I tell you I'd nonplus those English! No man
  ever got the better of Gaudissart; the illustrious Gaudissart; and
  nobody ever will。 Yes; I say it! no one ever outwitted me; and no one
  canin any walk of life; politics or impolitics; here or elsewhere。
  But; for the time being; I must give myself wholly to the capitalists;
  to the 'Globe;' the 'Movement;' the 'Children;' and my article Paris。〃
  〃You will be brought up with a round turn; you and your newspapers。
  I'll bet you won't get further than Poitiers before the police will
  nab you。〃
  〃What will you bet?〃
  〃A shawl。〃
  〃Done! If I lose that shawl I'll go back to the article Paris and the
  hat business。 But as for getting the better of Gaudissartnever!
  never!〃
  And the illustrious traveller threw himself into position before
  Jenny; looked at her proudly; one hand in his waistcoat; his head at
  three…quarter profile;an attitude truly Napoleonic。
  〃Oh; how funny you are! what have you been eating to…night?〃
  Gaudissart was thirty…eight years of age; of medium height; stout and
  f