the nabob-第82章
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thing but 〃/chose/；〃 and whom he treated really like 〃things。〃 Indifferent was M。 Louis； for whom it was the last day of servitude； a slave become emancipated； rich enough to enjoy his ransom。 Even among the intimate friends of the dead man this glacial cold had penetrated。 Yet some of them had been deeply attached to him。 But Cardailhac was too busy superintending the order and the progress of the procession to give way to the least emotion； which would； besides； have been foreign to his nature。 Old Monpavon； stricken to the heart； would have considered the least bending of his linen cuirass and of his tall figure a piece of deplorably bad taste； totally unworthy of his illustrious friend。 His eyes remained as dry and glittering as ever； since the undertakers provide the tears for great mournings； embroidered in silver on black cloth。 Some one was weeping； however； away yonder among the members of the committee； but he was expending his compassion very naively upon himself。 Poor Nabob！ softened by that music and splendour； it seemed to him that he was burying all his ambitions of glory and dignity。 And his was but one more variety of indifference。
Among the public； the enjoyment of a fine spectacle； the pleasure of turning a week…day into a Sunday； dominated every other sentiment。 Along the line of the boulevards； the spectators on the balconies almost seemed disposed to applaud； here； in the populous districts； irreverence was still more frankly manifest。 Jests； blackguardly wit at the expense of the dead man and his doings； known to all Paris； laughter raised by the tall hats of the rabbis； the pass…word of the council experts； all were heard in the air between two rolls of the drum。 Poverty； forced labour； with its feet in the wet； wearing its blouse； its apron； its cap raised from habit； with sneering chuckle watched this inhabitant of another sphere pass by； this brilliant duke； severed now from all his honours； who perhaps while living had never paid a visit to that end of the town。 But there it is。 To arrive up yonder； where everybody has to go； the common route must be taken； the Faubourg Saint…Antoine； the Rue de la Roquette as far as that great gate where the /octroi/ is collected and the infinite begins。 And well！ it does one good to see that lordly persons like Mora； dukes； ministers； follow the same road towards the same destination。 This equality in death consoles for many of the injustices of life。 To…morrow bread will seem less dear； wine better； the workman's tool less heavy； when he will be able to say to himself as he rises in the morning； 〃That old Mora； he has come to it like the rest！〃
The procession still went on； more fatiguing even than lugubrious。 Now it consisted of choral societies； deputations from the army and the navy； officers of all descriptions； pressing on in a troop in advance of a long file of empty vehiclesmourning…coaches； private carriages present for reasons of etiquette。 Then the troops followed in their turn； and into the sordid suburb； that long Rue de la Roquette； already swarming with people as far as eye could reach； there plunged a whole army； foot…soldiers； dragoons； lancers； carabineers； heavy guns with their great mouths in the air； ready to bark； making pavement and windows tremble； but not able to drown the rolling of the drumsa sinister and savage rolling which suggested to Felicia's imagination some funeral of an African chief； at which thousands of sacrificed victims accompany the soul of a prince so that it shall not pass alone into the kingdom of spirits； and made her fancy that perhaps this pompous and interminable retinue was about to descend and disappear in the superhuman grave large enough to receive the whole of it。
〃/Now and in the hour of our death。 Amen/；〃 Crenmitz murmured； while the cab swayed from side to side in the lighted square； and high in space the golden statue of Liberty seemed to be taking a magic flight； and the old dancer's prayer was perhaps the one note of sincere feeling called forth on the immense line of the funeral procession。
All the speeches are over； three long speeches as icy as the vault into which the dead man has just descended； three official declamations which； above all； have provided the orators with an opportunity of giving loud voice to their own devotion to the interests of the dynasty。 Fifteen times the guns have roused the many echoes of the cemetery； shaken the wreaths of jet and everlasting flowersthe light /ex…voto/ offerings suspended at the corners of the monumentsand while a reddish mist floats and rolls with a smell of gunpowder across the city of the dead； ascends and mingles slowly with the smoke of factories in the plebeian district； the innumerable assembly disperses also； scattered through the steep streets； down the lofty steps all white among the foliage； with a confused murmur； a rippling as of waves over rocks。 Purple robes； black robes； blue and green coats； shoulder…knots of gold； slender swords； of whose safety the wearers assure themselves with their hands as they walk； all hasten to regain their carriages。 People exchange low bows； discreet smiles； while the mourning…coaches tear down the carriage…ways at a gallop； revealing long lines of black coachmen； with backs bent； hats tilted forward； the box…coats flying in the wind made by their rapid motion。
The general impression is one of thankfulness to have reached the end of a long and fatiguing performance； a legitimate eagerness to quit the administrative harness and ceremonial costumes； to unbuckle sashes； to loosen stand…up collars and neckbands； to slacken the tension of facial muscles； which had been subject to long restraint。
Heavy and short； dragging along his swollen legs with difficulty； Hemerlingue was hastening towards the exit； declining the offers which were made to him of a seat in this or that carriage； since he knew well that his own alone was of size adequate to cope with his proportions。
〃Baron； Baron； this way。 There is room for you。〃
〃No； thank you。 I want to walk to straighten my legs。〃
And to avoid these invitations； which were beginning to embarrass him； he took an almost deserted pathway； one that proved too deserted indeed； for hardly had he taken a step along it before he regretted it。 Ever since entering the cemetery he had had but one preoccupation the fear of finding himself face to face with Jansoulet； whose violence of temper he knew； and who might well forget the sacredness of the place； and even in Pere Lachaise renew the scandal of the Rue Royale。 Two or three times during the ceremony he had seen the great head of his old chum emerge from among the crowd of insignificant types which largely composed the company and move in his direction； as though seeking him and desiring a meeting。 Down there； in the main road； there would； at any rate； have been people about in case of trouble； while hereBrr It was this anxiety that made him quicken his short step； his panting breaths； but in vain。 As he looked round； in his fear of being followed； the strong； erect shoulders of the Nabob appeared at the entrance to the path。 Impossible for the big man to slip away through one of the narrow passages left between the tombs； which are placed so close together that there is not even space to kneel。 The damp； rich soil slipped and gave way beneath his feet。 He decided to walk on with an air of indifference； hoping that perhaps the other might not recognise him。 But a hoarse and powerful voice cried behind him：
〃Lazarus！〃
His namethe name of this rich manwas Lazarus。 He made no reply； but tried to catch up a group of officers who were moving on； very far in front of him。
〃Lazarus！ Oh； Lazarus！〃
Just as in old times on the quay of Marseilles。 Under the influence of old habit he was tempted to stop； then the remembrance of his infamies； of all the ill he had done the Nabob； that he was still occupied in doing him； came back to him suddenly with a horrible fear so strong that it amounted to a paroxysm； when an iron hand laid hold of him unceremoniously。 A sweat of terror broke out over all his flabby limbs； his face became still more yellow； his eyes blinked in anticipation of the formidable blow which he expecte
