the nabob-第47章
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In the regions of the Midi； of bygone civilization； historical castles still standing are rare。 Only at long intervals on the hillsides some old abbey lifts its tottering and dismembered front； perforated by holes that once were windows； whose empty spaces look now only to the sky。 A monument of dust； burnt up by the sun； dating from the time of the Crusades or of the Courts of Love； without a trace of man among its stones； where even the ivy no longer clings nor the acanthus； but which the dried lavenders and the ferns embalm。 In the midst of all those ruins the castle of Saint…Romans is an illustrious exception。 If you have travelled in the Midi you have seen it； and you are to see it again now。 It is between Valence and Montelimart； on a site just where the railway runs alongside the Rhone； at the foot of the rich slopes of Baume； Raucoule； and Mercurol； where the far…famed vineyards of l'Ermitage； spreading out for five miles in close…planted rows of vines； which seem to grow as one looks； roll down almost into the river； which is there as green and full of islands as the Rhine at Basle； but under a sun the Rhine has never known。 Saint…Romans is opposite on the other side of the river； and； in spite of the brevity of the vision； the headlong rush of the train； which seems trying to throw itself madly into the Rhone at each turning； the castle is so large； so well situated on the neighbouring hill； that it seems to follow the crazy race of the train； and stamps on your mind forever the memory of its terraces； its balustrades； its Italian architecture； two low stories surmounted by a colonnaded gallery and flanked by two slate…roofed pavilions dominating the great slopes where the water of the cascades rebounds； the network of gravel walks； the perspective of long hedges； terminated by some white statue which stands out against the blue sky as on the luminous ground of a stained…glass window。 Quite at the top； in the middle of the vast lawns whose green turf shines ironically under the scorching sun； a gigantic cedar uplifts its crested foliage； enveloped in black and floating shadowsan exotic silhouette； upright before this former dwelling of some Louis XIV farmer of revenue； which makes one think of a great negro carrying the sunshade of a gentleman of the court。
From Valence to Marseilles； throughout all the Valley of the Rhone； Saint…Romans of Bellaignes is famous as an enchanted palace； and； indeed； in that country burnt up by the fiery wind； this oasis of greenness and beautiful rushing water is a true fairy…land。
〃When I am rich； mamma；〃 Jansoulet used to say； as quite a small boy； to his mother whom he adored； 〃I shall give you Saint…Romans of Bellaignes。〃 And as the life of the man seemed the fulfilment of a story from the Arabian Nights； as all his wishes came true； even the most disproportionate； as his maddest chimeras came to lie down before him； to lick his hands like familiar and obedient spaniels； he had bought Saint…Romans to offer it； newly furnished and grandiosely restored； to his mother。 Although it was ten years since then； the dear old woman was not yet used to her splendid establishment。 〃It is the palace of Queen Jeanne that you have given me； my dear Bernard；〃 she wrote to her son。 〃I shall never live there。〃 She never did live there； as a matter of fact； having stayed at the steward's house； an isolated building of modern construction； situated quite at the other end of the grounds； so as to overlook the outbuildings and the farm； the sheepfolds and the oil…mills； with their rural horizon of stacks； olive…trees and vines； extending over the plain as far as one could see。 In the great castle she would have imagined herself a prisoner in one of those enchanted dwellings where sleep seizes you in the midst of your happiness and does not let you go for a hundred years。 Here； at least； the peasant…womanwho had never been able to accustom herself to this colossal fortune； come too late； from too far； and like a thunder…clapfelt herself linked to reality by the coming and going of the work…people； the letting…out and taking…in of the cattle； their slow movement to the drinking pond； all that pastoral life which woke her by the familiar call of the cocks and the sharp cries of the peacocks； and brought her down the corkscrew staircase of the pavilion before dawn。 She looked upon herself only as the trustee of this magnificent estate； which she was taking care of for her son； and wished to give back to him in perfect condition on the day when； rich enough and tired of living with the Turks； he would come； according to his promise； to live with her beneath the shade of Saint…Romans。
Then； too； what universal and indefatigable supervision！ Through the mists of early morning the farm…servants heard her rough and husky voice： 〃Olivier； Peyrol； Audibert。 Come on！ It is four o'clock。〃 Then she would hasten to the immense kitchen； where the maids； heavy with sleep； were heating the porridge over the crackling； new…lit fire。 They gave her a little dish of red Marseilles…ware full of boiled chestnutsfrugal breakfast of bygone times； which nothing would have induced her to change。 At once she was off； hurrying with great strides； her large silver keyring at her belt； whence jingled all her keys； her plate in her hand； balanced by the distaff which she held； in working order； under her arm； for she spun all day long； and did not stop even to eat her chestnuts。 On the way； a glance at the stables； still dark； where the animals were moving duly； at the stifling pens with their rows of impatient and outstretched muzzles； and the first glimmers of light creeping over the layers of stones that supported the embankment of the park； lit up the figure of the old woman； running in the dew； with the lightness of a girl； despite her seventy yearsverifying exactly each morning all the wealth of the domain； anxious to make sure that the night had not taken away the statues and the vases； uprooted the hundred…year…old quincunx； dried up the springs which filtered into their resounding basins。 Then the full sunlight of midday； humming and vibrating； showed still； on the sand of an alley； against the white wall of a terrace； the long figure of the old woman； elegant and straight as her spindle； picking up bits of dead wood； breaking off some uneven branch of a shrub； careless of the shock it caused her and the sweat which broke out over her skin。 Towards this hour another figure was to be seen in the park alsoless active； less noisy； dragging rather than walking； leaning against the walls and railingsa poor round…shouldered being； shaky and stiff； a figure from which life seemed to have gone out； never speaking； when he was tired giving a little plaintive cry towards the servant； who was always near； who helped him to sit down； to crouch upon some step； where he would stay for hours； motionless； mute； his mouth hanging； his eyes blinking； hushed by the strident monotony of the grasshopper's crya blotch of humanity in the splendid horizon。
This； this was the first…born； Bernard's brother； the darling child of his father and mother； the glorious hope of the nail…maker's family。 Slaves； like so many others in the Midi； to the superstition of the rights of primogeniture； they had made every possible sacrifice to send to Paris their fine； ambitious lad； who set out assured of success； the admiration of all the young women of the town； and Paris； after having for six years； beaten； twisted； and squeezed in its great vat the brilliant southern stripling； after having burnt him with all its vitriol； rolled him in all its mud； finished by sending him back in this state of wreckage； stupefied and paralyzedkilling his father with sorrow； and forcing his mother to sell her all； and live as a sort of char…woman in the better…class houses of her own country…side。 Lucky it was that just then； when this broken piece of humanity； discharged from all the hospitals of Paris； was sent back by public charity to Bourg…Saint…Andeol； Bernardhe whom they called Cadet； as in these southern families； half Arab as they are； the eldest always takes the family name； and the last…comer that of CadetBernard was at Tunis making his fortune； and sending home mo
