第 31 节
作者:
沸点123 更新:2021-02-17 22:58 字数:9322
France cast upon the new throne raised in August; 1830; a glance of
more intoxicated; joyous vengeance。 The accession of the Younger
Branch was the triumph of the Revolution。 To him the victory of the
tricolor meant the resurrection of Montagne; which this time should
surely bring the nobility down to the dust by means more certain than
that of the guillotine; because less violent。 The peerage without
heredity; the National Guard; which puts on the same camp…bed the
corner grocer and the marquis; the abolition of the entails demanded
by a bourgeois lawyer; the Catholic Church deprived of its supremacy;
and all the other legislative inventions of August; 1830;were to du
Bousquier the wisest possible application of the principles of 1793。
Since 1830 this man has been a receiver…general。 He relied for his
advancement on his relations with the Duc d'Orleans; father of Louis
Philippe; and with Monsieur de Folmon; formerly steward to the
Duchess…dowager of Orleans。 He receives about eighty thousand francs a
year。 In the eyes of the people about him Monsieur du Bousquier is a
man of means;a respectable man; steady in his principles; upright;
and obliging。 Alencon owes to him its connection with the industrial
movement by which Brittany may possibly some day be joined to what is
popularly called modern civilization。 Alencon; which up to 1816 could
boast of only two private carriages; saw; without amazement; in the
course of ten years; coupes; landaus; tilburies; and cabriolets
rolling through her streets。 The burghers and the land…owners; alarmed
at first lest the price of everything should increase; recognized
later that this increase in the style of living had a contrary effect
upon their revenues。 The prophetic remark of du Ronceret; 〃Du
Bousquier is a very strong man;〃 was adopted by the whole country…
side。
But; unhappily for the wife; that saying has a double meaning。 The
husband does not in any way resemble the public politician。 This great
citizen; so liberal to the world about him; so kindly inspired with
love for his native place; is a despot in his own house; and utterly
devoid of conjugal affection。 This man; so profoundly astute;
hypocritical; and sly; this Cromwell of the Val…Noble;behaves in his
home as he behaves to the aristocracy; whom he caresses in hopes to
throttle them。 Like his friend Bernadotte; he wears a velvet glove
upon his iron hand。 His wife has given him no children。 Suzanne's
remark and the chevalier's insinuations were therefore justified。 But
the liberal bourgeoisie; the constitutional…royalist…bourgeoisie; the
country…squires; the magistracy; and the 〃church party〃 laid the blame
on Madame du Bousquier。 〃She was too old;〃 they said; 〃Monsieur du
Bousquier had married her too late。 Besides; it was very lucky for the
poor woman; it was dangerous at her age to bear children!〃 When Madame
du Bousquier confided; weeping; her periodic despair to Mesdames du
Coudrai and du Ronceret; those ladies would reply;
〃But you are crazy; my dear; you don't know what you are wishing for;
a child would be your death。〃
Many men; whose hopes were fastened on du Bousquier's triumph; sang
his praises to their wives; who in turn repeated them to the poor wife
in some such speech as this:
〃You are very lucky; dear; to have married such an able man; you'll
escape the misery of women whose husbands are men without energy;
incapable of managing their property; or bringing up their children。〃
〃Your husband is making you queen of the department; my love。 He'll
never leave you embarrassed; not he! Why; he leads all Alencon。〃
〃But I wish;〃 said the poor wife; 〃that he gave less time to the
public and〃
〃You are hard to please; my dear Madame du Bousquier。 I assure you
that all the women in town envy you your husband。〃
Misjudged by society; which began by blaming her; the pious woman
found ample opportunity in her home to display her virtues。 She lived
in tears; but she never ceased to present to others a placid face。 To
so Christian a soul a certain thought which pecked forever at her
heart was a crime: 〃I loved the Chevalier de Valois;〃 it said; 〃but I
have married du Bousquier。〃 The love of poor Athanase Granson also
rose like a phantom of remorse; and pursued her even in her dreams。
The death of her uncle; whose griefs at the last burst forth; made her
life still more sorrowful; for she now felt the suffering her uncle
must have endured in witnessing the change of political and religious
opinion in the old house。 Sorrow often falls like a thunderbolt; as it
did on Madame Granson; but in this old maid it slowly spread like a
drop of oil; which never leaves the stuff that slowly imbibes it。
The Chevalier de Valois was the malicious manipulator who brought
about the crowning misfortune of Madame du Bousquier's life。 His heart
was set on undeceiving her pious simplicity; for the chevalier; expert
in love; divined du Bousquier; the married man; as he had divined du
Bousquier; the bachelor。 But the wary republican was difficult of
attack。 His salon was; of course; closed to the Chevalier de Valois;
as to all those who; in the early days of his marriage; had slighted
the Cormon mansion。 He was; moreover; impervious to ridicule; he
possessed a vast fortune; he reigned in Alencon; he cared as little
for his wife as Richard III。 cared for the dead horse which had helped
him win a battle。 To please her husband; Madame du Bousquier had
broken off relations with the d'Esgrignon household; where she went no
longer; except that sometimes when her husband left her during his
trips to Paris; she would pay a brief visit to Mademoiselle Armande。
About three years after her marriage; at the time of the Abbe de
Sponde's death; Mademoiselle Armande joined Madame du Bousquier as
they were leaving Saint…Leonard's; where they had gone to hear a
requiem said for him。 The generous demoiselle thought that on this
occasion she owed her sympathy to the niece in trouble。 They walked
together; talking of the dear deceased; until they reached the
forbidden house; into which Mademoiselle Armande enticed Madame du
Bousquier by the charm of her manner and conversation。 The poor
desolate woman was glad to talk of her uncle with one whom he truly
loved。 Moreover; she wanted to receive the condolences of the old
marquis; whom she had not seen for nearly three years。 It was half…
past one o'clock; and she found at the hotel d'Esgrignon the Chevalier
de Valois; who had come to dinner。 As he bowed to her; he took her by
the hands。
〃Well; dear; virtuous; and beloved lady;〃 he said; in a tone of
emotion; 〃we have lost our sainted friend; we share your grief。 Yes;
your loss is as keenly felt here as in your own home;more so;〃 he
added; alluding to du Bousquier。
After a few more words of funeral oration; in which all present spoke
from the heart; the chevalier took Madame du Bousquier's arm; and;
gallantly placing it within his own; pressed it adoringly as he led
her to the recess of a window。
〃Are you happy?〃 he said in a fatherly voice。
〃Yes;〃 she said; dropping her eyes。
Hearing that 〃Yes;〃 Madame de Troisville; the daughter of the Princess
Scherbellof; and the old Marquise de Casteran came up and joined the
chevalier; together with Mademoiselle Armande。 They all went to walk
in the garden until dinner was served; without any perception on the
part of Madame du Bousquier that a little conspiracy was afoot。 〃We
have her! now let us find out the secret of the case;〃 were the words
written in the eyes of all present。
〃To make your happiness complete;〃 said Mademoiselle Armande; 〃you
ought to have children;a fine lad like my nephew〃
Tears seemed to start in Madame du Bousquier's eyes。
〃I have heard it said that you were the one to blame in the matter;
and that you feared the dangers of a pregnancy;〃 said the chevalier。
〃I!〃 she said artlessly。 〃I would buy a child with a hundred years of
purgatory if I could。〃
On the question thus started a discussion arose; conducted by Madame
de Troisville and the old Marquise de Casteran with such delicacy and
adroitness that the poor victim revealed; without being aware of it;
the secrets of her house。 Mademoiselle Armande had taken the
chevalier's arm; and walked away so as to leave the three women free
to discuss wedlock。 Madame du Bousquier was then enlightened on the
various deceptions of her marriage; and as she was still the same
simpleton she had always been; she amused her advisers by delightful
naivetes。
Although at first the deceptive marriage of Mademoiselle Cormon made a
laugh throughout the town; which was soon initiated into the story of
the case; before long Madame du Bousquier won the esteem and sympathy
of all the women。 The fact that Mademoiselle Cormon had flung herself
headlong into marriage without succeeding in being married; made
eve