the nabob-第71章
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f those plebeian rages which in women of her kind shatter all the veneer of their luxury； she dealt the Nabob two stinging lashes with her whip； which left little trace on his tanned and hardened face； but which brought there a ferocious expression； accentuated by the short nose which had turned white and was slit at the end like that of a sporting terrier。
〃Come down； or； by God； I will upset the whole thing！〃
Amid an eddy of carriages arrested by the block in the traffic； or that passed slowly round the obstacle； with thousands of curious eyes； amid cries of coachmen and clinking of bits； two wrists of iron shook the entire vehicle。
〃Jumpbut jump； I tell you！ Don't you see he will have us over？ What a grip！〃
And the woman looked at the Hercules with interest。
Hardly had Moessard set foot to the ground； and before he could take refuge on the pavement； whither the black military caps of policemen could be seen hastening； Jansoulet threw himself upon him； lifted him by the back of the neck like a rabbit； and； careless of his protestations and his terrified stammerings：
〃Yes； yes； I will give you satisfaction； you blackguard！ But； first； I intend to do to you what is done to dirty beasts to prevent them from repeating the same offence。〃
And roughly he set to work rubbing his nose and face all over with his newspaper； which he had rolled into a ball； stifling him； blinding him with it； and making scratches from which the blood trickled over his skin。 The man was dragged from his hands； crimson； suffocated。 A little more and he would have killed him。
The struggle over； pulling down his sleeves； adjusting his crumpled linen； picking up his portfolio out of which the papers of the Sarigue election were flying scattered even to the gutter； the Nabob answered the policemen who were asking him for his name in order to draw up a summons：
〃Bernard Jansoulet； Deputy for Corsica。〃
A public man！
Only then did he remember that he was one。 Who would have suspected it； seeing him breathless and bare…headed； like a porter after a street fight； under the eager； coldly mocking glances of the crowd？
THE APPARITION
If you want simple and sincere feeling； if you would see overflowing affection； tenderness； laughterthe laughter born of great happiness which； at a tiny movement of the lips； is brought to the verge of tearsand the beautiful wild joy of youth illumined by bright eyes transparent to the very depths of the souls behind themall these things you may find this Sunday morning in a house that you know of； a new house； down yonder； right at the end of the old faubourg。 The glass door on the ground floor shines more brightly than usual。 More gaily than ever dance the letters over the door； and from the open windows comes the sound of glad cries； flowing from a stream of happiness。
〃Accepted！ it is accepted！ Oh； what good luck！ Henriette； Elise； do come here！ M。 Maranne's play is accepted！〃
Andre heard the news yesterday。 Cardailhac； the manager of the /Nouveautes/； sent for him to inform him that his play was to be produced immediatelythat it would be put on next month。 They passed the evening discussing scenic arrangements and the distribution of parts； and； as it was too late to knock at his neighbour's door when he got home from the theatre； the happy author waited for the morning in feverish impatience； and then； as soon as he heard people stirring below and the shutters open with a click against the house…front； he made haste to go down to announce the good news to his friends。 Just now they are all assembled together； the young ladies in pretty /deshabille/； their hair hastily twisted up； and M。 Joyeuse； whom the announcement had surprised in the midst of shaving； presenting under his embroidered night…cap a strange face divided into two parts； one side shaved； the other not。 But Andre Maranne is the most excited； for you know what the acceptance of /Revolt/ means for him； what was agreed between them and Bonne Maman。 The poor fellow looks at her as if to find an encouragement in her eyes； and the rather mischievous； kind eyes seem to say； 〃Make the experiment； in any case。 What is the risk？〃 To give himself courage he looks also at Mlle。 Elise； pretty as a flower； with her long eyelashes drooped。 At last； making up his mind：
〃M。 Joyeuse；〃 said he thickly； 〃I have a very serious communication to make to you。〃
M。 Joyeuse expresses astonishment。
〃A communication？ Ah； /mon Dieu/； you alarm me！〃
And lowering his voice：
〃Are the girls in the way？〃
〃No。 Bonne Maman knows what I mean。 Mlle。 Elise also must have some suspicion of it。 It is only the children。〃
Mlle。 Henriette and her sister are asked to retire； which they immediately do； the one with a dignified and annoyed air； like a true daughter of the Saint…Amands； the other； the young Chinese Yaia； hardly hiding a wild desire to laugh。
Thereupon a great silence； after which； the lover begins his little story。
I quite believe that Mlle。 Elise has some suspicion in her mind； for as soon as their young neighbour spoke of a communication； she drew her /Ansart et Rendu/ from her pocket and plunged precipitately into the adventures of somebody surnamed the Hutin； thrilling reading which makes the book tremble in her hands。 There is reason for trembling； certainly； before the bewilderment； the indignant stupefaction into which M。 Joyeuse receives this request for his daughter's hand。
〃Is it possible？ How has it happened？ What an extraordinary event！ Who could ever have suspected such a thing？〃
And suddenly the good old man burst into a great roar of laughter。 Well； no； it is not true。 He had heard of the affair； knew about it； a long time ago。
Her father knew all about it！ Bonne Maman had betrayed them then！ And before the reproachful glances cast in her direction； the culprit comes forward smiling：
〃Yes； my dears； it is I。 The secret was too much for me。 I found I could not keep it to myself alone。 And then； father is so kindone cannot hide anything from him。〃
As she says this she throws her arms round the little man's neck； but there is room enough for two； and when Mlle。 Elise in her turn takes refuge there； there is still an affectionate； fatherly hand stretched out towards him whom M。 Joyeuse considers thenceforward as his son。 Silent embraces； long looks meeting each other full of emotion； blessed moments that one would like to hold forever by the fragile tips of their wings。 There is chat； and gentle laughter when certain details are recalled。 M。 Joyeuse tells how the secret was revealed to him in the first instance by tapping spirits； one day when he was alone in Andre's apartment。 〃How is business going； M。 Maranne？〃 the spirits had inquired； and he himself had replied in Maranne's absence： 〃Fairly well； for the season； Sir Spirit。〃 The little man repeats； 〃Fairly well for the season；〃 in a mischievous way； while Mlle。 Elise； quite confused at the thought that it was with her father that she talked that day； disappears under her fair curls。
After the first stress of emotion they talk more seriously。 It is certain that Mme。 Joyeuse； /nee/ de Saint…Amand； would never have consented to this marriage。 Andre Maranne is not rich； still less noble； but the old accountant； luckily； has not the same ideas of grandeur that his wife possessed。 They love each other； they are young； healthy； and good…lookingqualities that in themselves constitute fine dowries； without involving any heavy registration fees at the notary's。 The new household will be installed on the floor above。 The photography will be continued； unless /Revolt/ should produce enormous receipts。 （The Visionary may be trusted to see to that。） In any case； the father will still remain near them； he has a good place at his stockbroker's office； some expert business in the courts； provided that the little ship continue to sail in deep enough water； all will go well； with the aid of wave； wind； and star。
Only one question preoccupies M。 Joyeuse： 〃Will Andre's parents consent to this marriage？ How will Dr。 Jenkins； so rich； so celebrated； take it？〃
〃Let us not speak of that man；〃 said Andre； turning pale； 〃he is a wretch to whom I owe nothingwho is nothi
