the nabob- 第27部分

They　were　three　big；　dull　and　apathetic　boys　of　eleven；　nine；　and　seven　years；　having；　with　the　sallow　complexion　and　the　precocious　bloatedness　of　the　Levantine；　the　kind；　black；　velvety　eyes　of　their　father。　They　were　ignorant　as　young　lords　of　the　middle　ages。　At　Tunis；　M。　Bompain　had　directed　their　studies；　but　at　Paris；　the　Nabob；　anxious　to　give　them　the　benefit　of　a　Parisian　education；　had　sent　them　to　that　smartest　and　most　expensive　of　boarding…schools；　the　College　Bourdaloue；　managed　by　good　priests　who　sought　less　to　instruct　their　pupils　than　to　make　of　them　good…mannered　and　right…　thinking　men　of　the　world；　and　succeeded　in　turning　them　out　affectedly　grave　and　ridiculous　little　prigs；　disdainful　of　games；　absolutely　ignorant；　without　anything　spontaneous　or　boyish　about　them；　and　of　a　desperate　precocity。　The　little　Jansoulets　were　not　very　happy　in　this　forcing…house；　notwithstanding　the　immunities　which　they　enjoyed　by　reason　of　their　immense　wealth；　they　were；　indeed；　utterly　left　to　themselves。　Even　the　creoles　in　the　charge　of　the　institution　had　some　friend　whom　they　visited　and　people　who　came　to　see　them；　but　the　Jansoulets　were　never　summoned　to　the　parlour；　no　one　knew　any　of　their　relatives；　from　time　to　time　they　received　basketfuls　of　sweetmeats；　piles　of　confectionery；　and　that　was　all。　The　Nabob；　doing　some　shopping　in　Paris；　would　strip　for　them　the　whole　of　a　pastry…cook's　window　and　send　the　spoils　to　the　college；　with　that　generous　impulse　of　the　heart　mingled　with　negro　ostentation　which　characterized　all　his　actions。　It　was　the　same　in　the　matter　of　playthings。　They　were　always　too　pretty；　tricked　out　too　finely；　uselessthose　toys　that　are　for　show　but　which　the　Parisian　does　not　buy。　But　that　which　above　all　attracted　to　the　little　Jansoulets　the　respect　both　of　pupils　and　masters；　were　their　purses　heavy　with　gold；　ever　ready　for　school　subscriptions；　for　the　professors'　birthdays；　and　the　charity　visits；　those　famous　visits　organized　by　the　College　Bourdaloue；　one　of　the　tempting　things　in　the　prospectus；　the　marvel　of　sensitive　souls。

Twice　a　month；　turn　and　turn　about；　the　pupils　who　were　members　of　the　miniature　Society　of　St。　Vincent　de　Paul　founded　in　the　college　upon　the　model　of　the　great　one；　went　in　little　squads；　alone；　as　though　they　had　been　grown…up；　to　bear　succour　and　consolation　into　the　deepest　recesses　of　the　more　densely　populated　quarters　of　the　town。　This　was　designed　to　teach　them　a　practical　charity；　the　art　of　knowing　the　needs；　the　miseries　of　the　lower　classes；　and　to　heal　these　heart…rending　evils　by　a　nostrum　of　kind　words　and　ecclesiastical　maxims。　To　console；　to　evangelize　the　masses　by　the　help　of　childhood；　to　disarm　religious　incredulity　by　the　youth　and　/naivete/　of　the　apostles；　such　was　the　aim　of　this　little　society；　an　aim　entirely　missed；　moreover。　The　children；　healthy；　well…dressed；　well…fed；　calling　only　at　addresses　previously　selected；　found　poor　persons　of　good　appearance；　sometimes　rather　unwell；　but　very　clean；　already　on　the　parish　register　and　in　receipt　of　aid　from　the　wealthy　organization　of　the　Church。　Never　did　they　chance　to　enter　one　of　those　nauseous　dwellings　wherein　hunger；　grief；　humiliation；　all　physical　and　moral　ills　are　written　in　leprous　mould　on　the　walls；　in　indelible　lines　on　the　brows。　Their　visits　were　prepared　for；　like　that　of　the　sovereign　who　enters　a　guard…room　to　taste　the　soldiers'　soup：　the　guard…room　is　warmed　and　the　soup　seasoned　for　the　royal　palate。　Have　you　seen　those　pictures　in　pious　books；　where　a　little　communicant；　with　candle　in　hand；　and　perfectly　groomed；　comes　to　minister　to　a　poor　old　man　lying　sick　on　his　straw　pallet　and　turning　the　whites　of　his　eyes　to　heaven？　These　visits　of　charity　had　the　same　conventionality　of　setting　and　of　accent。　To　the　measured　gestures　of　the　little　preachers　were　corresponding　words　learned　by　heart　and　false　enough　to　make　one　squint。　To　the　comic　encouragement；　to　the　〃consolations　lavished〃　in　prize…book　phrases　by　the　voices　of　young　urchins　with　colds；　were　the　affecting　benedictions；　the　whining　and　piteous　mummeries　of　a　church…porch　after　vespers。　And　the　moment　the　young　visitors　departed；　what　an　explosion　of　laughter　and　shouting　in　the　garret；　what　a　dance　in　a　circle　round　the　present　brought；　what　an　upsetting　of　the　arm…chair　in　which　one　had　pretended　to　be　lying　ill；　of　the　medicine　spilt　in　the　fire；　a　fire　of　cinders　very　artistically　prepared！

When　the　little　Jansoulets　went　out　to　visit　their　parents　at　home；　they　were　intrusted　to　the　care　of　the　man　with　the　red　fez；　the　indispensable　Bompain。　It　was　Bompain　who　conducted　them　to　the　Champs…Elysees；　clad　in　English　jackets；　bowler　hats　of　the　latest　fashionat　seven　years　old！and　carrying　little　canes　in　their　dog…　skin…gloved　hands。　It　was　Bompain　who　stuffed　the　race…wagonette　with　provisions。　Here　he　mounted　with　the　children；　who；　with　their　entrance…cards　stuck　in　their　hats　round　which　green　veils　were　twisted；　looked　very　like　those　personages　in　Liliputian　pantomimes　whose　entire　funniness　lies　in　the　enormous　size　of　their　heads　compared　with　their　small　legs　and　dwarf…like　gestures。　They　smoked　and　drank；　it　was　a　painful　sight。　Sometimes　the　man　in　the　fez；　hardly　able　to　hold　himself　upright；　would　bring　them　home　frightfully　sick。　And　yet　Jansoulet　was　fond　of　them；　the　youngest　especially；　who；　with　his　long　hair；　his　doll…like　manner；　recalled　to　him　the　little　Afchin　passing　in　her　carriage。　But　they　were　still　of　the　age　when　children　belong　to　the　mother；　when　neither　the　fashionable　tailor；　nor　the　most　accomplished　masters；　nor　the　smart　boarding…　school；　nor　the　ponies　girthed　specially　for　the　little　men　in　the　stable；　nor　anything　else　can　replace　the　attentive　and　caressing　hand；　the　warmth　and　the　gaiety　of　the　home…nest。　The　father　could　not　give　them　that；　and　then；　too；　he　was　so　busy！

A　thousand　irons　in　the　fire：　the　Territorial　Bank；　the　installation　of　the　picture　gallery；　drives　to　Tattersall's　with　Bois　l'Hery；　some　/bibelot/　to　inspect；　here　or　there；　at　the　houses　of　collectors　indicated　by　Schwalbach；　hours　passed　with　trainers；　jockeys；　dealers　in　curiosities；　the　encumbered　and　multiple　existence　of　a　/bourgeois　gentilhomme/　in　modern　Paris。　This　rubbing　of　shoulders　with　all　sorts　and　conditions　of　people　brought　him　improvement；　in　that　each　day　he　was　becoming　a　little　more　Parisianized；　he　was　received　at　Monpavon's　club；　in　the　green…room　of　the　ballet；　behind　the　scenes　at　the　theatres；　and　presided　regularly　at　his　famous　bachelor　luncheons；　the　only　receptions　possible　in　his　household。　His　existence　was　really　a　very　busy　one；　and　de　Gery　relieved　him　of　the　heaviest　part　of　it；　the　complicated　department　of　appeals　and　of　charities。

The　young　man　now　became　acquainted　with　all　the　audacious　and　burlesque　inventions；　all　the　serio…comic　combinations　of　that　mendicancy　of　great　cities；　organized　like　a　department　of　state；　innumerable　as　an　army；　which　subscribes　to　the　newspapers　and　knows　its　/Bottin/　by　heart。　He　received　the　blonde　lady；　bold；　young；　and　already　faded；　who　only　asks　for　a　hundred　napoleons；　with　the　threat　that　she　will　throw　herself　into　the　river　when　she　leaves　if　they　are　not　given　to　her；　and　the　stout　matron　of　prepossessing　and　unceremonious　manner；　who　says；　as　she　enters：　〃Sir；　you　do　not　know　me。　Neither　have　I　the　honour　of　knowing　you。　But　we　shall　soon　make　each　other's　acquaintance。　Be　kind　enough　to　sit　down　and　let　us　have　a　chat。〃　The　merchant　at　bay；　on　the　verge　of　bankruptcysometimes　it　is　truewho　comes　to　entreat　you　to　save　his　honour；　with　a　pistol　ready　to　shoot　himself；　bulging　out　the　pocket　of　his　overcoat　sometimes　it　is　only　his　pipe…case。　And　often　genuine　distresses；　wearisome　and　prolix；　of　people　who　are　unable　even　to　tell　how　little　competent　they　are　to　earn　a　livelihood。　Side　by　side　with　this　open　begging；　there　was　that　which　wears　various　kinds　of　disguise：　charity；　philanthropy；　good　works；　the　encouragement　of　projects　of　art；　the　house…to…house　begging　for　infant　asylums；　parish　churches；　rescued　women；　charitable　societies；　local　libraries。　Finally；　those　who　wear　a　society　mask；　with　tickets　for　concerts；　benefit　performances；　entrance…cards　of　all　colours；　〃platform；　front　seats；　reserved　seats。〃　The　Nabob　insisted　that　no　refusals　should　be　given；　and　it　was　a　concession　that　he　no　longer　burdened　his　own　shoulders　with　such　matters。　For　quite　a　long　time；　in　generous　indifference；　he　had　gone　on　covering　with　gold　all　that　hypocritical　exploitation；　paying　five　hundred　francs　for　a　ticket　for　the　concert　of　some　Wurtemberg　cithara…player　or　Languedocian　flutist；　which　at　the　Tuileries　or　at　the　Duc　de　Mora's　might　have　fetched　ten　francs。　There　were　days　when　the　young　de　Gery　issued　from　these　audiences　nauseated。　All　the　honesty　of　his　youth　revolted；　he　approached　the　Nabob　with　schemes　of　reform。　But　the　Nabob's　face；　at　the　first　word；　would　assume　the　bored　expression　of　weak　natures　when　they　have　to　make　a　decision；　or　he　would　perhaps　reply：　〃But　that　is　Paris；　my　dear　boy。　Don't　get　frightened　or　interfere　with　my　plans。　I　know　what　I　am　doing　and　what　I　want。〃

At　that　time　he　wanted　two　things：　a　deputyship　and　the　cross　of　the　Legion　of　Honour。　These　were　for　him　the　first　two　stages　of　the　great　ascent　to　which　his　ambition　pushed　him。　Deputy　he　would　certainly　be　through　the　influence　of　the　Territorial　Bank；　at　the　head　of　which　he　stood。　Paganetti　of　Porto…Vecchio　was　often　saying　it　to　him：　〃When　the　day　arrives；　the　island　will　rise　and　vote　for　you　as　one　man。〃

It　is　not　enough；　however；　to　control　electors；　it　is　necessary　also　that　there　be　a　seat　vacant　in　the　Chamber；　and　the　representation　of　Corsica　was　complete。　One　of　its　members；　however；　the　old　Popolusca；　infirm　and　in　no　condition　to　do　his　work；　might　perhaps；　upon　certain　conditions；　be　willing　to　resign　his　seat。　It　was　a　difficult　matter　to　negotiate；　but　quite　feasible；　the　old　fellow　having　a　numerous　family；　estates　which　produced　little　or　nothing；　a　palace　in　ruins　at　Bastia；　where　his　children　lived　on　/polenta/；　and　a　furnished　apartment　at　Paris　in　an　eighteenth…rate　lodging…house。　If