the collection of antiquities-第33章
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imself on the side of the d'Esgrignons； would find favor with Mme。 la Duchesse de Maufrigneuse； and with two powerful families on whose influence with the King the Sieur Thirion could depend at an opportune moment。 Camusot might get an appointment at the first opportunity within the jurisdiction of Paris； and afterwards at Paris itself。 That promotion； dreamed of and longed for at every moment； was certain to have a salary of six thousand francs attached to it； as well as the alleviation of living in her own father's house； or under the Camusots' roof； and all the advantages of a father's fortune on either side。 If the adage； 〃Out of sight is out of mind；〃 holds good of most women； it is particularly true where family feeling or royal or ministerial patronage is concerned。 The personal attendants of kings prosper at all times； you take an interest in a man； be it only a man in livery； if you see him every day。
Mme。 Camusot； regarding herself as a bird of passage； had taken a little house in the Rue du Cygne。 Furnished lodgings there were none； the town was not enough of a thoroughfare； and the Camusots could not afford to live at an inn like M。 Michu。 So the fair Parisian had no choice for it but to take such furniture as she could find； and as she paid a very moderate rent； the house was remarkably ugly； albeit a certain quaintness of detail was not wanting。 It was built against a neighboring house in such a fashion that the side with only one window in each story； gave upon the street； and the front looked out upon a yard where rose…bushes and buckhorn were growing along the wall on either side。 On the farther side； opposite the house； stood a shed； a roof over two brick arches。 A little wicket…gate gave entrance into the gloomy place （made gloomier still by the great walnut…tree which grew in the yard）； but a double flight of steps； with an elaborately… wrought but rust…eaten handrail； led to the house door。 Inside the house there were two rooms on each floor。 The dining…room occupied that part of the ground floor nearest the street； and the kitchen lay on the other side of a narrow passage almost wholly taken up by the wooden staircase。 Of the two first…floor rooms； one did duty as the magistrate's study； the other as a bedroom； while the nursery and the servants' bedroom stood above in the attics。 There were no ceilings in the house； the cross…beams were simply white…washed and the spaces plastered over。 Both rooms on the first floor and the dining…room below were wainscoted and adorned with the labyrinthine designs which taxed the patience of the eighteenth century joiner； but the carving had been painted a dingy gray most depressing to behold。
The magistrate's study looked as though it belonged to a provincial lawyer； it contained a big bureau； a mahogany armchair； a law student's books； and shabby belongings transported from Paris。 Mme。 Camusot's room was more of a native product； it boasted a blue…and… white scheme of decoration； a carpet； and that anomalous kind of furniture which appears to be in the fashion； while it is simply some style that has failed in Paris。 As to the dining…room； it was nothing but an ordinary provincial dining…room； bare and chilly； with a damp； faded paper on the walls。
In this shabby room； with nothing to see but the walnut…tree； the dark leaves growing against the walls； and the almost deserted road beyond them； a somewhat lively and frivolous woman； accustomed to the amusements and stir of Paris； used to sit all day long； day after day； and for the most part of the time alone； though she received tiresome and inane visits which led her to think her loneliness preferable to empty tittle…tattle。 If she permitted herself the slightest gleam of intelligence； it gave rise to interminable comment and embittered her condition。 She occupied herself a great deal with her children； not so much from taste as for the sake of an interest in her almost solitary life； and exercised her mind on the only subjects which she could find to wit； the intrigues which went on around her； the ways of provincials； and the ambitions shut in by their narrow horizons。 So she very soon fathomed mysteries of which her husband had no idea。 As she sat at her window with a piece of intermittent embroidery work in her fingers； she did not see her woodshed full of faggots nor the servant busy at the wash tub； she was looking out upon Paris； Paris where everything is pleasure； everything is full of life。 She dreamed of Paris gaieties； and shed tears because she must abide in this dull prison of a country town。 She was disconsolate because she lived in a peaceful district； where no conspiracy； no great affair would ever occur。 She saw herself doomed to sit under the shadow of the walnut… tree for some time to come。
Mme。 Camusot was a little； plump； fresh； fair…haired woman； with a very prominent forehead； a mouth which receded； and a turned…up chin； a type of countenance which is passable in youth； but looks old before the time。 Her bright； quick eyes expressed her innocent desire to get on in the world； and the envy born of her present inferior position； with rather too much candor； but still they lighted up her commonplace face and set it off with a certain energy of feeling； which success was certain to extinguish in later life。 At that time she used to give a good deal of time and thought to her dresses； inventing trimmings and embroidering them； she planned out her costumes with the maid whom she had brought with her from Paris； and so maintained the reputation of Parisiennes in the provinces。 Her caustic tongue was dreaded； she was not loved。 In that keen； investigating spirit peculiar to unoccupied women who are driven to find some occupation for empty days； she had pondered the President's private opinions； until at length she discovered what he meant to do； and for some time past she had advised Camusot to declare war。 The young Count's affair was an excellent opportunity。 Was it not obviously Camusot's part to make a stepping…stone of this criminal case by favoring the d'Esgrignons； a family with power of a very different kind from the power of the du Croisier party？
〃Sauvager will never marry Mlle。 Duval。 They are dangling her before him； but he will be the dupe of those Machiavels in the Val…Noble to whom he is going to sacrifice his position。 Camusot； this affair； so unfortunate as it is for the d'Esgrignons； so insidiously brought on by the President for du Croisier's benefit； will turn out well for nobody but YOU；〃 she had said； as they went in。
The shrewd Parisienne had likewise guessed the President's underhand manoeuvres with the Blandureaus； and his object in baffling old Blondet's efforts； but she saw nothing to be gained by opening the eyes of father or son to the perils of the situation； she was enjoying the beginning of the comedy； she knew about the proposals made by Chesnel's successor on behalf of Fabien du Ronceret； but she did not suspect how important that secret might be to her。 If she or her husband were threatened by the President； Mme。 Camusot could threaten too； in her turn； to call the amateur gardener's attention to a scheme for carrying off the flower which he meant to transplant into his house。
Chesnel had not penetrated； like Mme。 Camusot； into the means by which Sauvager had been won over； but by dint of looking into the various lives and interests of the men grouped about the Lilies of the Tribunal； he knew that he could count upon the public prosecutor； upon Camusot； and M。 Michu。 Two judges for the d'Esgrignons would paralyze the rest。 And； finally； Chesnel knew old Blondet well enough to feel sure that if he ever swerved from impartiality； it would be for the sake of the work of his whole lifetime；to secure his son's appointment。 So Chesnel slept； full of confidence； on the resolve to go to M。 Blondet and offer to realize his so long cherished hopes； while he opened his eyes to President du Ronceret's treachery。 Blondet won over； he would take a peremptory tone with the examining magistrate； to whom he hoped to prove that if Victurnien was not blameless； he had been merely imprudent； the whole thing should be shown in the light of a boy's thoughtless escapade。
But C
