the nabob-第83章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e became still more yellow； his eyes blinked in anticipation of the formidable blow which he expected to come； while his fat arms were instinctively raised to ward it off。
〃Oh； don't be afraid。 I wish you no harm；〃 said Jansoulet sadly。 〃Only I have come to beg you to do no more to me。〃
He stooped to breathe。 The banker； bewildered and frightened； opened wide his round owl's eyes in presence of this suffocating emotion。
〃Listen； Lazarus； it is you who are the stronger in this war we have been waging on each other for so long。 I am down； yes； down。 My shoulders have touched the ground。 Now； be generous； spare your old chum。 Give me quarter； come； give me quarter。
This southerner was trembling； defeated and softened by the emotional display of the funeral ceremony。 Hemerlingue； as he stood facing him； was hardly more courageous。 The gloomy music； the open grave； the speeches； the cannonade of that lofty philosophy of inevitable death； all these things had worked on the feelings of this fat baron。 The voice of his old comrade completed the awakening of whatever there remained of human in that packet of gelatine。
His old chum！ It was the first time for ten yearssince their quarrel that he had seen him so near。 How many things were recalled to him by those sun…tanned features； those broad shoulders； so ill adapted for the wearing of embroidered coats！ The thin woollen rug full of holes； in which they used to wrap themselves both to sleep on the bridge of the /Sinai/； the food shared in brotherly fashion； the wanderings through the burned…up country round Marseilles； where they used to steal big onions and eat them raw by the side of some ditch； the dreams； the schemings； the pence put into a common fund； and； when fortune had begun to smile on them； the fun they had had together； those excellent quiet little suppers over which they would tell each other everything； with their elbows on the table。
How can one ever reach the point of seriously quarrelling when one knows the other so well； when they have lived together like two twins at the breast of the lean and strong nurse； Poverty； sharing her sour milk and her rough caresses！ These thoughts passed through Hemerlingue's mind like a flash of lightning。 Almost instinctively he let his heavy hand fall into the one which the Nabob was holding out to him。 Something of the primitive animal was roused in them； something stronger than their enmity； and these two men； each of whom for ten years had been trying to bring the other to ruin and disgrace； fell to talking without any reserve。
Generally； between friends newly met； after the first effusions are over； a silence comes as if they had no more to tell each other； while it is in reality the abundance of things； their precipitate rush； that prevents them from finding utterance。 The two chums had touched that condition； but Jansoulet kept a tight grasp on the banker's arm； fearing to see him escape and resist the kindly impulse he had just roused。
〃You are not in a hurry； are you？ We can take a little walk； if you like。 It has stopped raining； the air is pleasant； one feels twenty years younger。〃
〃Yes； it is pleasant；〃 said Hemerlingue； 〃only I cannot walk for long； my legs are heavy。〃
〃True； your poor legs。 See； there is a bench over there。 Let us go and sit down。 Lean on me； old friend。〃
And the Nabob； with brotherly aid； led him to one of those benches dotted here and there among the tombs； on which those inconsolable mourners rest who make the cemetery their usual walk and abode。 He settled him in his seat； gazed upon him tenderly； pitied him for his infirmity； and； following what was quite a natural channel in such a spot； they came to talking of their health； of the old age that was approaching。 This one was dropsical； the other subject to apoplectic fits。 Both were in the habit of dosing themselves with the Jenkins pearls； a dangerous remedywitness Mora； so quickly carried off。
〃My poor duke！〃 said Jansoulet。
〃A great loss to the country；〃 remarked the banker with an air of conviction。
And the Nabob added naively：
〃For me above all； for me； for； if he had lived Ah！ what luck you have； what luck you have！〃
Fearing to have wounded him； he went on quickly：
〃And then； too； you are clever； so very clever。〃
The baron looked at him with a wink so droll； that his little black eyelashes disappeared amid his yellow fat。
〃No；〃 said he； 〃it is not I who am clever。 It is Marie。〃
〃Marie？〃
〃Yes； the baroness。 Since her baptism she has given up her name of Yamina for that of Marie。 She is a real sort of woman。 She knows more than I do myself about banking and Paris and business。 It is she who manages everything at home。〃
〃You are very fortunate；〃 sighed Jansoulet。 His air of gloom told a long story of qualities missing in Mlle。 Afchin。 Then； after a silence； the baron resumed：
〃She has a great grudge against you； Marie； you know。 She will not be pleased when she hears that we have been talking together。〃
A frown passed over his heavy brow； as though he were regretting their reconciliation； at the thought of the scene which he would have with his wife。 Jansoulet stammered：
〃I have done her no harm； however。〃
〃Come； come； neither of you has been very nice to her。 Think of the affront put upon her when we called after our marriage。 Your wife sending word to us that she was not in the habit of receiving quondam slaves。 As though our friendship ought not to have been stronger than a prejudice。 Women don't forget things of that kind。〃
〃But no responsibility lay with me for that； old friend。 You know how proud those Afchins are。〃
He was not proud himself； poor man。 His mien was so woebegone； so supplicating under his friend's frown； that he moved him to pity。 Decidedly； the cemetery had softened the baron。
〃Listen； Bernard； there is only one thing that counts。 If you want us to be friends； as formerly； and this reconciliation not to be wasted； you will have to get my wife to consent。 Without her nothing can be done。 When Mlle。 Afchin shut her door in our faces you let her have her way； did you not？ In the same way； on my side； if Marie said to me when I go home； 'I will not let you be friends；' all my protestations now would not prevent me from throwing you overboard。 For there is no such thing as friendship in face of such difficulties。 Peace at one's fireside is better than everything else。〃
〃But in that case； what is to be done？〃 asked the Nabob； frightened。
〃I am going to tell you。 The baroness is at home every Saturday。 Come with your wife and pay her a visit the day after to…morrow。 You will find the best society in Paris at the house。 The past shall not be mentioned。 The ladies will gossip together of chiffons and frocks； talk of the things women do talk about。 And then the whole matter will be settled。 We shall become friends as we used to be； and since you are in difficulties； well； we will find some way of getting you out of them。〃
〃Do you think so？ The fact is I am in terrible straits；〃 said the other； shaking his head。
Hemerlingue's cunning eyes disappeared again beneath the folds of his cheeks like two flies in butter。
〃Well； yes； I have played a strong game。 But you don't lack shrewdness； all the same。 The loan of the fifteen millions to the Bey it was a good stroke； that。 Ah！ you are bold enough； only you hold your cards badly。 One can see your game。〃
Till now they had been talking in low tones； impressed by the silence of the great necropolis； but little by little human interests asserted themselves in a louder key even there where their nothingness lay exposed on all those flat stones covered with dates and figures； as if death was only an affair of time and calculationthe desired solution of a problem。
Hemerlingue enjoyed the sight of his friend reduced to such humility； and gave him advice on his affairs； with which he seemed to be fully acquainted。 According to him the Nabob could still get out of his difficulties very well。 Everything depended on the validation； on the turning up of a card。 The question was to make sure that it should be a good one。 But Jansoulet had no more confidence。 In losing Mora； he had lost everything。
〃You l
