the nabob-第13章
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as wandering about the quays of Marseilles with a comrade as poverty…stricken as myself； who is become rich； he also； in the service of the Bey； and； after having been my chum； my partner； is now my most cruel enemy。 I may mention his name； /pardi/！ It is sufficiently well knownHemerlingue。 Yes； gentlemen； the head of the great banking house。 'Hemerlingue & Co。' had not in those days even the wherewithal to buy a pennyworth of /clauvisses/ on the quay。 Intoxicated by the atmosphere of travel that one breathes down there； the idea came into our minds of starting out； of going to seek our livelihood in some country where the sun shines； since the lands of mist were so inhospitable to us。 But where to go？ We did what sailors sometimes do in order to decide in what low hole they will squander their pay。 You fix a scrap of paper on the brim of your hat。 You make the hat spin on a walking…stick； when it stops spinning you follow the pointer。 In our case the paper needle pointed towards Tunis。 A week later I landed at Tunis with half a louis in my pocket； and I came back to…day with twenty…five millions！〃
An electric shock passed round the table； there was a gleam in every eye； even in those of the servants。 Cardailhac said； 〃Phew！〃 Monpavon's nose descended to common humanity。
〃Yes； my boys； twenty…five millions in liquidated cash； without speaking of all that I have left in Tunis； of my two palaces at the Bardo； of my vessels in the harbour of La Goulette； of my diamonds； of my precious stones； which are worth certainly more than the double。 And you know；〃 he added； with his kindly smile and in his hoarse； plebeian voice； 〃when that is done there will still be more。〃
The whole company rose to its feet； galvanized。
〃Bravo！ Ah； bravo！〃
〃Splendid！〃
〃Deuced cleverdeuced clever！〃
〃Now； that is something worth talking about。〃
〃A man like him ought to be in the Chamber。〃
〃He will be； /per Bacco/！ I answer for it；〃 said the governor in a piercing voice； and in the transport of admiration； not knowing how to express his enthusiasm； he seized the fat； hairy hand of the Nabob and on an unreflective impulse raised it to his lips。 They are demonstrative in his country。 Everybody was standing up； no one sat down again。
Jansoulet； beaming； had risen in his turn； and； throwing down his serviette： 〃Let us go and have some coffee；〃 he said。
A glad tumult immediately spread through the salons； vast apartments in which light； decoration； sumptuousness； were represented by gold alone。 It seemed to fall from the ceiling in blinding rays； it oozed from the walls in mouldings； sashes； framings of every kind。 A little of it remained on your hands if you moved a piece of furniture or opened a window； and the very hangings； dipped in this Pactolus； kept on their straight folds the rigidity； the sparkle of a metal。 But nothing bearing the least personal stamp； nothing intimate； nothing thought out。 The monotonous luxury of the furnished flat。 And there was a re…enforcement of this impression of a moving camp； of a merely provisory home； in the suggestion of travel which hovered like an uncertainty or a menace over this fortune derived from far…off sources。
Coffee having been served； in the Eastern manner； with all its grounds； in little cups filigreed with silver； the guests grouped themselves round； making haste to drink； scalding themselves； keeping watchful eyes on each other and especially on the Nabob as they looked out for the favourable moment to spring upon him； draw him into some corner of those immense rooms； and at length negotiate their loan。 For this it was that they had been awaiting for two hours； this was the object of their visit and the fixed idea which gave them during the meal that absent； falsely attentive manner。 But here no more constraint； no more pretence。 In that peculiar social world of theirs it is of common knowledge that in the Nabob's busy life the hour of coffee remains the only time free for private audiences； and each desiring to profit by it； all having come there in order to snatch a handful of wool from the golden fleece offered them with so much good nature； people no longer talk； they no longer listen； every man is absorbed in his own errand of business。
It is the good Jenkins who begins。 Having drawn his friend Jansoulet aside into a recess； he submits to him the estimates for the house at Nanterre。 A big purchase； indeed！ A cash price of a hundred and fifty thousand francs； then considerable expenses in connection with getting the place into proper order； the personal staff； the bedding； the nanny…goats for milking purposes； the manager's carriage； the omnibuses going to meet the children coming by every train。 A great deal of money。 But how well off and comfortable they will be there； those dear little things！ what a service rendered to Paris； to humanity！ The Government cannot fail to reward with a bit of red ribbon so disinterested； so philanthropic a devotion。 〃The Cross； on the 15th of August。〃 With these magic words Jenkins will obtain everything he desires。 In his merry； guttural voice； which seems always as though it were hailing a boat in a fog； the Nabob calls； 〃Bompain！〃
The man in the fez； quickly leaving the liqueur…stand； walks majestically across the room； whispers； moves away； and returns with an inkstand and a counterfoil check…book from which the slips detach themselves and fly away of their own accord。 A fine thing； wealth！ To sign a check on his knee for two hundred thousand francs troubles Jansoulet no more than to draw a louis from his pocket。
Furious； with noses in their cups； the others watch this little scene from a distance。 Then； as Jenkins takes his departure； bright； smiling； with a nod to the various groups； Monpavon seizes the governor： 〃Now is our chance。〃 And both； springing on the Nabob； drag him off towards a couch； oblige him almost forcibly to sit down； press upon each side of him with a ferocious little laugh that seems to signify； 〃What shall we do with him now？〃 Get the money out of him； the largest amount possible。 It is needed； to set afloat once more the Territorial Bank； for years lain aground on a sand…bank； buried to the very top of its masts。 A superb operation； this re…flotation； if these two gentlemen are to be believed； for the submerged bank is full of ingots； of precious things； of the thousand various forms of wealth of a new country discussed by everybody and known by none。
In founding this unique establishment； Paganetti of Porto…Vecchio had as his aim to monopolize the commercial development of the whole of Corsica： iron mines； sulphur mines； copper mines； marble quarries； coral fisheries； oyster beds； water ferruginous and sulphurous； immense forests of thuya； of cork…oak； and to establish for the facilitation of this development a network of railways over the island； with a service of packet…boats in addition。 Such is the gigantic undertaking to which he has devoted himself。 He has sunk considerable capital in it； and it is the new…comer； the workman of the last hour； who will gain the whole profit。
While with his Italian accent and violent gestures the Corsican enumerates the 〃splendours〃 of the affair； Monpavon； haughty； and with an air calculated to command confidence； nods his head approvingly with conviction； and from time to time； when he judges the moment propitious； throws into the conversation the name of the Duc de Mora； which never fails in its effect on the Nabob。
〃Well； in short； how much would be required？〃
〃Millions；〃 says Monpavon boldly； in the tone of a man who would have no difficulty in addressing himself elsewhere。 〃Yes； millions； but the enterprise is magnificent。 And； as his excellency was saying； it would provide even a political position。 Just think！ In that district without a metallic currency； you might become counsellor…general； deputy。〃 The Nabob gives a start。 And the little Paganetti； who feels the bait quiver on his hook： 〃Yes； deputy。 You will be that whenever I choose。 At a sign from me all Corsica is at your disposal。〃 Then he launches out into an astonishing improvisation； counting the votes which he controls； the cantons which will obey his call。 〃You bring me your capital。 II
