English
AtthePlaceLouisXV.thethreeyoungpeopleseparated—thatistosay,MorrelwenttotheBoulevards,Chateau–RenaudtothePontdelaRevolution,andDebraytotheQuai.
MostprobablyMorrelandChateau–Renaudreturnedtotheir“domestichearths,”astheysayinthegalleryoftheChamberinwell–turnedspeeches,andinthetheatreoftheRueRichelieuinwell–writtenpieces;butitwasnotthecasewithDebray.
WhenhereachedthewicketoftheLouvre,heturnedtotheleft,gallopedacrosstheCarrousel,passedthroughtheRueSaint–Roch,and,issuingfromtheRuedelaMichodiere,hearrivedatM.Danglars’doorjustatthesametimethatVillefort’slandau,afterhavingdepositedhimandhiswifeattheFaubourgSt.Honore,stoppedtoleavethebaronessatherownhouse.
Debray,withtheairofamanfamiliarwiththehouse,enteredfirstintothecourt,threwhisbridleintothehandsofafootman,andreturnedtothedoortoreceiveMadameDanglars,towhomheofferedhisarm,toconducthertoherapartments.
Thegateonceclosed,andDebrayandthebaronessaloneinthecourt,heasked,—”Whatwasthematterwithyou,Hermine?
andwhywereyousoaffectedatthatstory,orratherfable,whichthecountrelated?”
“BecauseIhavebeeninsuchshockingspiritsalltheevening,myfriend,”saidthebaroness.
“No,Hermine,”repliedDebray;“youcannotmakemebelievethat;onthecontrary,youwereinexcellentspiritswhenyouarrivedatthecount’s.
M.Danglarswasdisagreeable,certainly,butIknowhowmuchyoucareforhisill–humor.
Someonehasvexedyou;Iwillallownoonetoannoyyou.”
“Youaredeceived,Lucien,Iassureyou,”repliedMadameDanglars;“andwhatIhavetoldyouisreallythecase,addedtotheill–humoryouremarked,butwhichIdidnotthinkitworthwhiletoalludeto.”
ItwasevidentthatMadameDanglarswassufferingfromthatnervousirritabilitywhichwomenfrequentlycannotaccountforeventothemselves;orthat,asDebrayhadguessed,shehadexperiencedsomesecretagitationthatshewouldnotacknowledgetoanyone.
Beingamanwhoknewthattheformerofthesesymptomswasoneoftheinherentpenaltiesofwomanhood,hedidnotthenpresshisinquiries,butwaitedforamoreappropriateopportunitywhenheshouldagaininterrogateher,orreceiveanavowalpropriomotu.
AtthedoorofherapartmentthebaronessmetMademoiselleCornelie,herconfidentialmaid.“Whatismydaughterdoing?”askedMadameDanglars.
“Shepracticedalltheevening,andthenwenttobed,”repliedMademoiselleCornelie.
“YetIthinkIhearherpiano.”
“ItisMademoiselleLouised’Armilly,whoisplayingwhileMademoiselleDanglarsisinbed.”
“Well,”saidMadameDanglars,“comeandundressme.”Theyenteredthebedroom.
Debraystretchedhimselfuponalargecouch,andMadameDanglarspassedintoherdressing–roomwithMademoiselleCornelie.
“MydearM.Lucien,”saidMadameDanglarsthroughthedoor,“youarealwayscomplainingthatEugeniewillnotaddressawordtoyou.”
“Madame,”saidLucien,playingwithalittledog,who,recognizinghimasafriendofthehouse,expectedtobecaressed,“Iamnottheonlyonewhomakessimilarcomplaints,IthinkIheardMorcerfsaythathecouldnotextractawordfromhisbetrothed.”
“True,”saidMadameDanglars;“yetIthinkthiswillallpassoff,andthatyouwillonedayseeherenteryourstudy.”
“Mystudy?”
“Atleastthatoftheminister.”
“Whyso!”
“ToaskforanengagementattheOpera.Really,Ineversawsuchaninfatuationformusic;itisquiteridiculousforayoungladyoffashion.”Debraysmiled.
“Well,”saidhe,“lethercome,withyourconsentandthatofthebaron,andwewilltryandgiveheranengagement,thoughweareverypoortopaysuchtalentashers.”
“Go,Cornelie,”saidMadameDanglars,“Idonotrequireyouanylonger.”
Cornelieobeyed,andthenextminuteMadameDanglarsleftherroominacharmingloosedress,andcameandsatdownclosetoDebray.
Thenshebeganthoughtfullytocaressthelittlespaniel.
Lucienlookedatherforamomentinsilence.
“Come,Hermine,”hesaid,afterashorttime,“answercandidly,—somethingvexesyou—isitnotso?”
“Nothing,”answeredthebaroness.
Andyet,asshecouldscarcelybreathe,sheroseandwenttowardsalooking–glass.“Iamfrightfulto–night,”shesaid.
Debrayrose,smiling,andwasabouttocontradictthebaronessuponthislatterpoint,whenthedooropenedsuddenly.
M.Danglarsappeared;Debrayreseatedhimself.
AtthenoiseofthedoorMadameDanglarsturnedround,andlookeduponherhusbandwithanastonishmentshetooknotroubletoconceal.
“Good–evening,madame,”saidthebanker;“good–evening,M.Debray.”
Probablythebaronessthoughtthisunexpectedvisitsignifiedadesiretomakeupforthesharpwordshehadutteredduringtheday.
Assumingadignifiedair,sheturnedroundtoDebray,withoutansweringherhusband.
“Readmesomething,M.Debray,”shesaid.
Debray,whowasslightlydisturbedatthisvisit,recoveredhimselfwhenhesawthecalmnessofthebaroness,andtookupabookmarkedbyamother–of–pearlknifeinlaidwithgold.
“Excuseme,”saidthebanker,“butyouwilltireyourself,baroness,bysuchlatehours,andM.Debraylivessomedistancefromhere.”
Debraywaspetrified,notonlytohearDanglarsspeaksocalmlyandpolitely,butbecauseitwasapparentthatbeneathoutwardpolitenesstherereallylurkedadeterminedspiritofoppositiontoanythinghiswifemightwishtodo.
Thebaronesswasalsosurprised,andshowedherastonishmentbyalookwhichwoulddoubtlesshavehadsomeeffectuponherhusbandifhehadnotbeenintentlyoccupiedwiththepaper,wherehewaslookingtoseetheclosingstockquotations.
Theresultwas,thattheproudlookentirelyfailedofitspurpose.
“M.Lucien,”saidthebaroness,“IassureyouIhavenodesiretosleep,andthatIhaveathousandthingstotellyouthisevening,whichyoumustlistento,eventhoughyousleptwhilehearingme.”
“Iamatyourservice,madame,”repliedLuciencoldly.
“MydearM.Debray,”saidthebanker,“donotkillyourselfto–nightlisteningtothefolliesofMadameDanglars,foryoucanhearthemaswellto–morrow;butIclaimto–nightandwilldevoteit,ifyouwillallowme,totalkoversomeseriousmatterswithmywife.”
Thistimetheblowwassowellaimed,andhitsodirectly,thatLucienandthebaronesswerestaggered,andtheyinterrogatedeachotherwiththeireyes,asiftoseekhelpagainstthisaggression,buttheirresistiblewillofthemasterofthehouseprevailed,andthehusbandwasvictorious.
“DonotthinkIwishtoturnyouout,mydearDebray,”continuedDanglars;“oh,no,notatall.
Anunexpectedoccurrenceforcesmetoaskmywifetohavealittleconversationwithme;itissorarelyImakesucharequest,Iamsureyoucannotgrudgeittome.”
Debraymutteredsomething,bowedandwentout,knockinghimselfagainsttheedgeofthedoor,likeNathanin“Athalie.”
“Itisextraordinary,”hesaid,whenthedoorwasclosedbehindhim,“howeasilythesehusbands,whomweridicule,gainanadvantageoverus.”
Lucienhavingleft,Danglarstookhisplaceonthesofa,closedtheopenbook,andplacinghimselfinadreadfullydictatorialattitude,hebeganplayingwiththedog;buttheanimal,notlikinghimaswellasDebray,andattemptingtobitehim,Danglarsseizedhimbytheskinofhisneckandthrewhimuponacouchontheothersideoftheroom.
Theanimalutteredacryduringthetransit,but,arrivedatitsdestination,itcrouchedbehindthecushions,andstupefiedatsuchunusualtreatmentremainedsilentandmotionless.
“Doyouknow,sir,”askedthebaroness,“thatyouareimproving?
Generallyyouareonlyrude,butto–nightyouarebrutal.”
“ItisbecauseIaminaworsehumorthanusual,”repliedDanglars.
Herminelookedatthebankerwithsupremedisdain.
TheseglancesfrequentlyexasperatedtheprideofDanglars,butthiseveninghetooknonoticeofthem.
“AndwhathaveItodowithyourill–humor?”
saidthebaroness,irritatedattheimpassibilityofherhusband;“dothesethingsconcernme?
Keepyourill–humorathomeinyourmoneyboxes,or,sinceyouhaveclerkswhomyoupay,ventituponthem.”
“Notso,”repliedDanglars;“youradviceiswrong,soIshallnotfollowit.
MymoneyboxesaremyPactolus,as,Ithink,M.Demoustiersays,andIwillnotretarditscourse,ordisturbitscalm.
Myclerksarehonestmen,whoearnmyfortune,whomIpaymuchbelowtheirdeserts,ifImayvaluethemaccordingtowhattheybringin;thereforeIshallnotgetintoapassionwiththem;thosewithwhomIwillbeinapassionarethosewhoeatmydinners,mountmyhorses,andexhaustmyfortune.”
“Andpraywhoarethepersonswhoexhaustyourfortune?Explainyourselfmoreclearly,Ibeg,sir.”
“Oh,makeyourselfeasy!—Iamnotspeakingriddles,andyouwillsoonknowwhatImean.Thepeoplewhoexhaustmyfortunearethosewhodrawout700,000francsinthecourseofanhour.”
“Idonotunderstandyou,sir,”saidthebaroness,tryingtodisguisetheagitationofhervoiceandtheflushofherface.
“Youunderstandmeperfectly,onthecontrary,”saidDanglars:“but,ifyouwillpersist,IwilltellyouthatIhavejustlost700,000francsupontheSpanishloan.”
“Andpray,”askedthebaroness,“amIresponsibleforthisloss?”
“Whynot?”
“Isitmyfaultyouhavelost700,000francs?”
“Certainlyitisnotmine.”
“Onceforall,sir,”repliedthebaronesssharply,“ItellyouIwillnothearcashnamed;itisastyleoflanguageIneverheardinthehouseofmyparentsorinthatofmyfirsthusband.”
“Oh,Icanwellbelievethat,forneitherofthemwasworthapenny.”
“Thebetterreasonformynotbeingconversantwiththeslangofthebank,whichisheredinninginmyearsfrommorningtonight;thatnoiseofjinglingcrowns,whichareconstantlybeingcountedandre–counted,isodioustome.
IonlyknowonethingIdislikemore,whichisthesoundofyourvoice.”
“Really?”saidDanglars.“Well,thissurprisesme,forIthoughtyoutooktheliveliestinterestinallmyaffairs!”
“I?Whatcouldputsuchanideaintoyourhead?”
“Yourself.”
“Ah?—whatnext?”
“Mostassuredly.”
“Ishouldliketoknowuponwhatoccasion?”
“Oh,monDieu,thatisveryeasilydone.
LastFebruaryyouwerethefirstwhotoldmeoftheHaitianfunds.
YouhaddreamedthatashiphadenteredtheharboratHavre,thatthisshipbroughtnewsthatapaymentwehadlookeduponaslostwasgoingtobemade.
Iknowhowclear–sightedyourdreamsare;IthereforepurchasedimmediatelyasmanysharesasIcouldoftheHaitiandebt,andIgained400,000francsbyit,ofwhich100,000havebeenhonestlypaidtoyou.
Youspentitasyoupleased;thatwasyourbusiness.
InMarchtherewasaquestionaboutagranttoarailway.
Threecompaniespresentedthemselves,eachofferingequalsecurities.
Youtoldmethatyourinstinct,—andalthoughyoupretendtoknownothingaboutspeculations,Ithinkonthecontrary,thatyourcomprehensionisveryclearuponcertainaffairs,—well,youtoldmethatyourinstinctledyoutobelievethegrantwouldbegiventothecompanycalledtheSouthern.
Iboughttwothirdsofthesharesofthatcompany;asyouhadforeseen,thesharestrebledinvalue,andIpickedupamillion,fromwhich250,000francswerepaidtoyouforpin–money.Howhaveyouspentthis250,000francs?—itisnobusinessofmine.”
“Whenareyoucomingtothepoint?”criedthebaroness,shiveringwithangerandimpatience.
“Patience,madame,Iamcomingtoit.”
“That’sfortunate.”
“InAprilyouwenttodineattheminister’s.
YouheardaprivateconversationrespectingSpanishaffairs—ontheexpulsionofDonCarlos.IboughtsomeSpanishshares.
TheexpulsiontookplaceandIpocketed600,000francsthedayCharlesV.repassedtheBidassoa.
Ofthese600,000francsyoutook50,000crowns.
Theywereyours,youdisposedofthemaccordingtoyourfancy,andIaskednoquestions;butitisnotthelesstruethatyouhavethisyearreceived500,000livres.”
“Well,sir,andwhatthen?”
“Ah,yes,itwasjustafterthisthatyouspoiledeverything.”
“Really,yourmannerofspeaking”—
“Itexpressesmymeaning,andthatisallIwant.
Well,threedaysafterthatyoutalkedpoliticswithM.Debray,andyoufanciedfromhiswordsthatDonCarloshadreturnedtoSpain.
Well,Isoldmyshares,thenewsgotout,andInolongersold—Igavethemaway,nextdayIfindthenewswasfalse,andbythisfalsereportIhavelost700,000.francs.”
“Well?”
“Well,sinceIgaveyouafourthofmygains,Ithinkyouowemeafourthofmylosses;thefourthof700,000francsis175,000francs.”
“Whatyousayisabsurd,andIcannotseewhyM.Debray’snameismixedupinthisaffair.”
“Becauseifyoudonotpossessthe175,000francsIreclaim,youmusthavelentthemtoyourfriends,andM.Debrayisoneofyourfriends.”
“Forshame!”exclaimedthebaroness.
“Oh,letushavenogestures,noscreams,nomoderndrama,oryouwillobligemetotellyouthatIseeDebrayleavehere,pocketingthewholeofthe500,000livresyouhavehandedovertohimthisyear,whilehesmilestohimself,sayingthathehasfoundwhatthemostskilfulplayershaveneverdiscovered—thatis,aroulettewherehewinswithoutplaying,andisnoloserwhenheloses.”Thebaronessbecameenraged.
“Wretch!”
shecried,“willyoudaretotellmeyoudidnotknowwhatyounowreproachmewith?”
“IdonotsaythatIdidknowit,andIdonotsaythatIdidnotknowit.
Imerelytellyoutolookintomyconductduringthelastfouryearsthatwehaveceasedtobehusbandandwife,andseewhetherithasnotalwaysbeenconsistent.
Sometimeafterourrupture,youwishedtostudymusic,underthecelebratedbaritonewhomadesuchasuccessfulappearanceattheTheatreItalien;atthesametimeIfeltinclinedtolearndancingofthedanseusewhoacquiredsuchareputationinLondon.
Thiscostme,onyouraccountandmine,100,000francs.
Isaidnothing,forwemusthavepeaceinthehouse;and100,000francsforaladyandgentlemantobeproperlyinstructedinmusicanddancingarenottoomuch.
Well,yousoonbecometiredofsinging,andyoutakeafancytostudydiplomacywiththeminister’ssecretary.
Youunderstand,itsignifiesnothingtomesolongasyoupayforyourlessonsoutofyourowncashbox.
Butto–dayIfindyouaredrawingonmine,andthatyourapprenticeshipmaycostme700,000francspermonth.
Stopthere,madame,forthiscannotlast.
Eitherthediplomatistmustgivehislessonsgratis,andIwilltoleratehim,orhemustneversethisfootagaininmyhouse;—doyouunderstand,madame?”
“Oh,thisistoomuch,”criedHermine,choking,“youareworsethandespicable.”
“But,”continuedDanglars,“Ifindyoudidnotevenpausethere”—
“Insults!”
“Youareright;letusleavethesefactsalone,andreasoncoolly.
Ihaveneverinterferedinyouraffairsexceptingforyourgood;treatmeinthesameway.
Yousayyouhavenothingtodowithmycash–box.Beitso.
Doasyoulikewithyourown,butdonotfilloremptymine.
Besides,howdoIknowthatthiswasnotapoliticaltrick,thattheministerenragedatseeingmeintheopposition,andjealousofthepopularsympathyIexcite,hasnotconcertedwithM.Debraytoruinme?”
“Aprobablething!”
“Whynot?Whoeverheardofsuchanoccurrenceasthis?
—afalsetelegraphicdespatch—itisalmostimpossibleforwrongsignalstobemadeastheywereinthelasttwotelegrams.
Itwasdoneonpurposeforme—Iamsureofit.”
“Sir,”saidthebaronesshumbly,“areyounotawarethatthemanemployedtherewasdismissed,thattheytalkedofgoingtolawwithhim,thatorderswereissuedtoarresthimandthatthisorderwouldhavebeenputintoexecutionifhehadnotescapedbyflight,whichprovesthathewaseithermadorguilty?Itwasamistake.”
“Yes,whichmadefoolslaugh,whichcausedtheministertohaveasleeplessnight,whichhascausedtheminister’ssecretariestoblackenseveralsheetsofpaper,butwhichhascostme700,000francs.”
“But,sir,”saidHerminesuddenly,“ifallthisis,asyousay,causedbyM.Debray,why,insteadofgoingdirecttohim,doyoucomeandtellmeofit?
Why,toaccusetheman,doyouaddressthewoman?”
“DoIknowM.Debray?—doIwishtoknowhim?—doIwishtoknowthathegivesadvice?—doIwishtofollowit?—doIspeculate?No;youdoallthis,notI.”
“Stillitseemstome,thatasyouprofitbyit—”
Danglarsshruggedhisshoulders.“Foolishcreature,”heexclaimed.
“WomenfancytheyhavetalentbecausetheyhavemanagedtwoorthreeintrigueswithoutbeingthetalkofParis!
Butknowthatifyouhadevenhiddenyourirregularitiesfromyourhusband,whohasbutthecommencementoftheart—forgenerallyhusbandswillnotsee—youwouldthenhavebeenbutafaintimitationofmostofyourfriendsamongthewomenoftheworld.
Butithasnotbeensowithme,—Isee,andalwayshaveseen,duringthelastsixteenyears.
Youmay,perhaps,havehiddenathought;butnotastep,notanaction,notafault,hasescapedme,whileyouflatteredyourselfuponyouraddress,andfirmlybelievedyouhaddeceivedme.Whathasbeentheresult?
—that,thankstomypretendedignorance,thereisnoneofyourfriends,fromM.deVilleforttoM.Debray,whohasnottrembledbeforeme.
Thereisnotonewhohasnottreatedmeasthemasterofthehouse,—theonlytitleIdesirewithrespecttoyou;thereisnotone,infact,whowouldhavedaredtospeakofmeasIhavespokenofthemthisday.
Iwillallowyoutomakemehateful,butIwillpreventyourrenderingmeridiculous,and,aboveall,Iforbidyoutoruinme.”
ThebaronesshadbeentolerablycomposeduntilthenameofVilleforthadbeenpronounced;butthenshebecamepale,and,rising,asiftouchedbyaspring,shestretchedoutherhandsasthoughconjuringanapparition;shethentooktwoorthreestepstowardsherhusband,asthoughtotearthesecretfromhim,ofwhichhewasignorant,orwhichhewithheldfromsomeodiouscalculation,—odious,asallhiscalculationswere.
“M.deVillefort!—Whatdoyoumean?”
“ImeanthatM.deNargonne,yourfirsthusband,beingneitheraphilosophernorabanker,orperhapsbeingboth,andseeingtherewasnothingtobegotoutofaking’sattorney,diedofgrieforangeratfinding,afteranabsenceofninemonths,thatyouhadbeenenceintesix.
Iambrutal,—Inotonlyallowit,butboastofit;itisoneofthereasonsofmysuccessincommercialbusiness.Whydidhekillhimselfinsteadofyou?Becausehehadnocashtosave.Mylifebelongstomycash.
M.Debrayhasmademelose700,000francs;lethimbearhisshareoftheloss,andwewillgoonasbefore;ifnot,lethimbecomebankruptforthe250,000livres,anddoasallbankruptsdo—disappear.
Heisacharmingfellow,Iallow,whenhisnewsiscorrect;butwhenitisnot,therearefiftyothersintheworldwhowoulddobetterthanhe.”
MadameDanglarswasrootedtothespot;shemadeaviolentefforttoreplytothislastattack,butshefelluponachairthinkingofVillefort,ofthedinnerscene,ofthestrangeseriesofmisfortuneswhichhadtakenplaceinherhouseduringthelastfewdays,andchangedtheusualcalmofherestablishmenttoasceneofscandalousdebate.
Danglarsdidnotevenlookather,thoughshedidherbesttofaint.
Heshutthebedroomdoorafterhim,withoutaddinganotherword,andreturnedtohisapartments;andwhenMadameDanglarsrecoveredfromherhalf–faintingcondition,shecouldalmostbelievethatshehadhadadisagreeabledream.
Share this article to
FINISH