the nabob-第37章
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hat are they suffering？ What diseases can they have？ They have everything； everything that one can have： diseases of children and diseases of men。 The fruit of vice and poverty； they bring into the world hideous phenomena of heredity at their very birth。 This one has a perforated palate； and this great copper… coloured patches on the forehead； all of them rickety。 Then they are dying of hunger。 Notwithstanding the spoonfuls of milk； of sweetened water； which are forced down their throats； notwithstanding the feeding…bottle employed now and then； though against orders； they perish of inanition。 These little creatures； worn out before birth； require the most tender and the most strengthening food； the goats might perhaps be able to give it； but apparently they have sworn not to suck the goats。 And this is what makes the dormitory mournful and silent； not one of those little clinched…fisted tempers； one of those cries showing the pink and firm gums in which the child makes trial of his lungs and strength； only a plaintive moaning； as it were the disquiet of a soul that turns over and over in a little sick body； without being able to find a comfortable place to rest there。
Jenkins and the director； who have seen the bad impression produced on their guests by this inspection of the dormitory； try to put a little life into the situation； talk very loudly in a good…natured； complacent； satisfied way。 Jenkins shakes hands warmly with the superintendent。
〃Well； Mme。 Polge； and how are our little nurslings getting on？〃
〃As you see； M。 le Docteur；〃 she replies； pointing to the beds。
This tall Mme。 Polge is funereal in her green dress； the ideal of dry… nurses。 She completes the picture。
But where has Monsieur the Departmental Secretary gone？ He has stopped before a cot which he examines sadly； as he stands nodding his head。
〃/Bigre de bigre！/〃 says Pompon in a low voice to Mme。 Polge。 〃It is the Wallachian。〃
The little blue placard hung over the cot； as in the foundling hospitals； states the child's nationality： 〃Moldo； Wallachian。〃 What a piece of ill…luck that Monsieur the Secretary's attention should have been attracted to that particular child！ Oh； that poor little head lying on the pillow； its linen cap askew； with pinched nostrils； and mouth half opened by a quick； panting respiration； the breathing of the newly born； of those also who are about to die。
〃Is he ill？〃 asked Monsieur the Secretary softly of the director； who has come up to him。
〃Not the least in the world；〃 the shameless Pompon replies； and； advancing to the side of the cot； he tries to make the little one laugh by tickling him with his finger； straightens the pillow； and says in a hearty voice； somewhat overcharged with tenderness： 〃Well； old fellow？〃 Shaken out of his torpor； escaping for a moment from the shades which already are closing on him； the child opens his eyes on those faces leaning over him； glances at them with a gloomy indifference； then； returning to his dream which he finds more interesting； clinches his little wrinkled hands and heaves an elusive sigh。 Mystery！ Who shall say for what end that baby had been born into life？ To suffer for two months and to depart without having seen anything； understood anything； without any one even knowing the sound of his voice。
〃How pale he is！〃 murmurs M。 de la Perriere； very pale himself。 The Nabob is livid also。 A cold breath seems to have passed over the place。 The director assumes an air of unconcern。
〃It is the reflection。 We are all of us green here。〃
〃Yes； yes； that is so；〃 remarks Jenkins； 〃it is the reflection of the lake。 Come and look； Monsieur the Secretary。〃 And he draws him to the window to point out to him the large sheet of water with its dipping willows； while Mme。 Polge makes haste to draw over the eternal dream of the little Wallachian the parted curtains of his cradle。
The inspection of the establishment must be continued very quickly in order to destroy this unfortunate impression。
To begin with； M。 de la Perriere is shown a splendid laundry； with stoves； drying…rooms； thermometers； immense presses of polished walnut； full of babies' caps and frocks； labelled and tied up in dozens。 When the linen has been warmed； the linen…room maid passes it out through a little door in exchange for the number left by the nurse。 A perfect order reigns； one can see； and everything； down to its healthy smell of soap…suds； gives to this apartment a wholesome and rural aspect。 There is clothing here for five hundred children。 That is the number which Bethlehem can accommodate； and everything has been arranged upon a corresponding scale； the vast pharmacy； glittering with bottles and Latin inscriptions； pestles and mortars of marble in every corner； the hydropathic installation； its large rooms built of stone； with gleaming baths possessing a huge apparatus including pipes of all dimensions for douches； upward and downward； spray； jet； or whip…lash； and the kitchens adorned with superb kettles of copper； and with economical coal and gas ovens。 Jenkins wished to institute a model establishment； and he found the thing easy； for the work was done on a large scale； as it can be when funds are not lacking。 You feel also over it all the experience and the iron hand of 〃our intelligent superintendent；〃 to whom the director cannot refrain from paying a public tribute。 This is the signal for general congratulations。 M。 de la Perriere； delighted with the manner in which the establishment is equipped； congratulates Dr。 Jenkins upon his fine creations； Jenkins compliments his friend Pondevez； who； in his turn； thanks the Departmental secretary for having consented to honour Bethlehem with a visit。 The good Nabob makes his voice heard in this chorus of eulogy； finds a kind word for each one； but is a little surprised all the same that he has not been congratulated himself； since they were about it。 It is true that the best of congratulations awaits him on the 16th March on the front page of the /Official Journal/ in a decree which flames in advance before his eyes and makes him glance every now and then at his buttonhole。
These pleasant words are exchanged as the party passes along a big corridor in which the voices ring out in all their honest accents； but suddenly a frightful noise interrupts the conversation and the advance of the visitors。 It seems to be made up of the mewing of cats in delirium； of bellowings； of the howlings of savages performing a war… dance； an appalling tempest of human cries； reverberated； swelled； and prolonged by the echoing vaults。 It rises and falls； ceases suddenly； then goes on again with an extraordinary effect of unanimity。
Monsieur the Director begins to be uneasy； makes an inquiry。 Jenkins rolls furious eyes。
〃Let us go on；〃 says the director； rather anxious this time。 〃I know what it is。〃
He knows what it is； but M。 de la Perriere wishes to know also what it is； and； before Pondevez has had the time to unfasten it； he pushes open the massive door whence this horrible concert proceeds。
In a sordid kennel which the great cleansing has passed over； for； in fact； it was not intended to be exhibited； on mattresses ranged on the floor； a dozen little wretches are laid； watched over by an empty chair on which the beginning of a knitted vest lies with an air of dignity； and by a little broken saucepan； full of hot wine； boiling on a smoky wood fire。 These are the children with ringworm； with rashes； the disfavoured of Bethlehem； who had been hidden in this retired corner with recommendation to their dry…nurse to rock them； to soothe them； to sit on them； if need were； in order to keep them from crying； but whom this country…woman； stupid and inquisitive； had left alone there in order to see the fine carriage standing in the court…yard。 Her back turned； the infants had very quickly grown weary of their horizontal position； and then all these little scrofulous patients raised their lusty concert； for they； by a miracle； are strong； their malady saves and nourishes them。 Bewildered and kicking like beetles when they are turned on their backs； helping themselves with their hips and their elbows； some fallen on one side and unable to regain their balance
