the nabob-第92章
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tter and movement of thoughtless schoolboys。
One thing struck herthe way in which all looks turned to one side； to the same point of attraction； and as she followed this current of curiosity which carried away the entire assembly； hall as well as galleries； she saw that what they were all looking atwas her son。
In the Jansoulet's country there is still； in some old churches； at the end of the choir； half…way up the crypt； a stone cell where lepers were admitted to hear mass； showing their dark profiles to the curious and fearful crowd； like wild beasts crouched against the loopholes in the wall。 Francoise well remembered having seen in the village where she had been brought up the leper； the bugbear of her infancy； hearing mass from his stone cage； lost in the shade and in isolation。 Now； seeing her son seated； his head in his hands； alone； up there away from the others； this memory came to her mind。 〃One might think it was a leper；〃 murmured the peasant。 And； in fact； this poor Nabob was a leper； his millions from the East weighing on him like some terrible and mysterious disease。 It happened that the bench on which he had chosen to sit had several recent vacancies on account of holidays or deaths； so that while the other deputies were talking to each other； laughing； making signs； he sat silent； alone； the object of attention to all the Chamber； an attention which his mother felt to be malevolent； ironic； which burned into her heart。 How was she to let him know that she was there； near him； that one faithful heart beat not far from his？ He would not turn to the gallery。 One would have said that he felt it hostile； that he feared to look there。 Suddenly； at the sound of the bell from the presidential platform； a rustle ran through the assembly； every head leaned forward with that fixed attention which makes the features unmovable； and a thin man in spectacles； whose sudden rise among so many seated figures gave him the authority of attitude at once； said； opening the paper he held in his hand：
〃Gentlemen； in the name of your third committee； I beg to move that the election of the second division of the department of Corsica be annulled。〃
In the deep silence following this phrase； which Mme。 Jansoulet did not understand； the giant seated before her began to puff vigorously； and all at once； in the front row of the gallery； a lovely face turned round to address him a rapid sign of intelligence and approval。 Forehead pale； lips thin； eyebrows too black for the white framing of her hat； it all produced in the eyes of the good old lady； without her knowing why； the effect of the first flash of lightning in a storm and the apprehension of the thunderbolt following the lightning。
Le Merquier was reading his report。 The slow； dull monotonous voice； the drawling； weak Lyonnese accent； while the long form of the lawyer balanced itself in an almost animal movement of the head and shoulders； made a singular contrast to the ferocious clearness of the brief。 First； a rapid account of the electoral irregularities。 Never had universal suffrage been treated with such primitive and barbarous contempt。 At Sarlazaccio； where Jansoulet's rival seemed to have a majority； the ballot…box was destroyed the night before it was counted。 The same thing almost happened at Levia； at Saint…Andre； at Avabessa。 And it was the mayors themselves who committed these crimes； who carried the urns home with them； broke the seals； tore up the voting papers； under cover of their municipal authority。 There had been no respect for the law。 Everywhere fraud； intrigue； even violence。 At Calcatoggio an armed man sat during the election at the window of a tavern in front of the /mairie/； holding a blunderbuss； and whenever one of Sebastiani's electors （Sebastiani was Jansoulet's opponent） showed himself； the man took aim： 〃If you come in； I will blow out your brains。〃 And when one saw the inspectors of police； justices； inspectors of weights and measures； not afraid to turn into canvassing agents； to frighten or cajole a population too submissive before all these little tyrannical local influences； was that not proof of a terrible state of things？ Even priests； saintly pastors； led astray by their zeal for the poor…box and the restoration of an impoverished building； had preached a mission in favour of Jansoulet's election。 But an influence still more powerful； though less respectable； had been called into play for the good causethe influence of the banditti。 〃Yes； banditti； gentlemen； I am not joking。〃 And then came a sketch in outline of Corsican banditti in general； and of the Piedigriggio family in particular。
The Chamber listened attentively； with a certain uneasiness。 For； after all； it was an official candidate whose doings were thus described； and these strange doings belonged to that privileged land； cradle of the imperial family； so closely attached to the fortunes of the dynasty； that an attack on Corsica seemed to strike at the sovereign。 But when people saw the new minister； successor and enemy of Mora； glad of the blow to a /protege/ of his predecessor； smile complacently from the Government bench at Le Merquier's cruel banter； all constraint disappeared at once； and the ministerial smile repeated on three hundred mouths； grew into a scarcely restrained laughthe laugh of crowds under the rod which bursts out at the least approbation of the master。 In the galleries； not usually treated to the picturesque； but amused by these stories of brigands； there was general joy； a radiant animation on all these faces； pleased to look pretty without insulting the solemnity of the spot。 Little bright bonnets shook with all their flowers and plumes； round gold…encircled arms leaned forward the better to hear。 The grave Le Merquier had imported into the sitting the distraction of a show； the little spice of humour allowed in a charity concert to bribe the uninitiated。
Impassable and cold in the midst of his success； he continued to read in his gloomy voice； penetrating like the rain of Lyons：
〃Now； gentlemen； one asks how a stranger； a Provencial returned from the East； ignorant of the interests and needs of this island where he had never been seen before the election； a true type of what the Corsican disdainfully calls a 'continental'how has this man been able to excite such an enthusiasm； such devotion carried to crime； to profanity。 His wealth will answer us； his fatal gold thrown in the face of the electors； thrust by force into their pockets with a barefaced cynicism of which we have a thousand proofs。〃 Then the interminable series of denunciations： 〃I； the undersigned； Croce （Antoine）； declare in the interests of truth； that the Commissary of Police Nardi； calling on us one evening； said： 'Listen； Croce （Antoine）； I swear by the fire of this lamp that if you vote for Jansoulet you will have fifty francs to…morrow morning。' 〃 And this other： 〃I； the undersigned； Lavezzi （Jacques…Alphonse）； declare that I refused with contempt seventeen francs offered me by the Mayor of Pozzonegro to vote against my cousin Sebastiani。〃 It is probably that for three francs more Lavezzi （Jacques…Alphonse） would have swallowed his contempt in silence。 But the Chamber did not look into things so closely。
Indignation seized on this incorruptible Chamber。 It murmured； it fidgeted on its padded seats of red velvet； it raised a positive clamour。 There were 〃Oh's〃 of amazement； eyes lifted in astonishment； brusque movements on the benches； as if in disgust at this spectacle of human degradation。 And remark that the greater part of these deputies had used the same electoral methods； that these were the heroes of those famous orgies when whole oxen were carried in triumph； ribanded and decorated as at Gargantuan feasts。 Just these men cried louder than others； turned furiously towards the solitary seat where the poor leper listened； still and downcast。 Yet in the midst of the general uproar； one voice was raised in his favour； but low； unpractised； less a voice than a sympathetic murmur； through which was distinguished vaguely： 〃Great services to the Corsican population Considerable worksTerritorial Bank。〃
He who mumbled thus was a little man in white gaiters； an albino head；
