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contempt of life to express itself in the most audacious bravadoes。
Caring little for the praise or blame it might deserve； the masquerade
arrived before the eating…house； and made its entry in the midst of
universal acclamations。 Everything seemed to combine to give full effect
to this strange scene； by the opposition of the most singular contrasts。
Thus the tavern； in which was to be held this extraordinary feast； being
situated at no great distance from the antique cathedral； and the gloomy
hospital； the religious anthems of the ancient temple； the cries of the
dying； and the bacchanalian songs of the banqueteers； must needs mingle；
and by turns drown one another。 The maskers now got down from their
chariot； and from their horses； and went to take their places at the
repast； which was waiting for them。 The actors in the masquerade are at
table in the great room of the tavern。 They are joyous； noisy； even
riotous。 Yet their gayety has a strange tone； peculiar to itself。
Sometimes； the most resolute involuntarily remember that their life is at
stake in this mad and audacious game with destiny。 That fatal thought is
rapid as the icy fever…shudder； which chills you in an instant；
therefore； from time to time； an abrupt silence； lasting indeed only for
a second； betrays these passing emotions which are almost immediately
effaced by new bursts of joyful acclamation； for each one says to
himself： 〃No weakness！ my chum and my girl are looking at me！〃
And all laugh； and knock glasses together； and challenge the next man；
and drink out of the glass of the nearest woman。 Jacques had taken off
the mask and peruke of Goodman Cholera。 His thin； leaden features； his
deadly paleness； the lurid brilliancy of his hollow eyes； showed the
incessant progress of the slow malady which was consuming this
unfortunate man； brought by excesses to the last extremity of weakness。
Though he felt the slow fire devouring his entrails； he concealed his
pain beneath a forced and nervous smile。
To the left of Jacques was Morok； whose fatal influence was ever on the
increase； and to his right the girl disguised as PLEASURE。 She was named
Mariette。 By her side sat Ninny Moulin； in all his majestic bulk； who
often pretended to be looking for his napkin under the table； in order to
have the opportunity of pressing the knees of his other neighbor；
Modeste； the representative of LOVE。 Most of the guests were grouped
according to their several tastes； each tender pair together； and the
bachelors where they could。 They had reached the second course； and the
excellence of the wine； the good cheer； the gay speeches； and even the
singularity of the occasion； had raised their spirits to a high degree of
excitement； as may be gathered from the extraordinary incidents of the
following scene。
＇39＇ We read in the Constitutionnel； Saturday March 31st； 1832： 〃The
Parisians readily conform to that part of the official instructions with
regard to the cholera； which prescribes； as a preservation from the
disease； not to be afraid； to amuse one's self； etc。 The pleasures of
Mid…Lent have been as brilliant and as mad as those of the carnival
itself。 For a long time past there had not been so many balls at this
period of the year。 Even the cholera has been made the subject of an
itinerant caricature。〃
CHAPTER XX。
THE DEFIANCE。
Two or three times； without being remarked by the guests； one of the
waiters had come to whisper to his fellows； and point with expressive
gesture to the ceiling。 But his comrades had taken small account of his
observations or fears； not wishing； doubtless； to disturb the guests；
whose mad gayety seemed ever on the increase。
〃Who can doubt now of the superiority of our manner of treating this
impertinent Cholera？ Has he dared even to touch our sacred battalion？〃
said a magnificent mountebank…Turk； one of the standard…bearers of the
masquerade。
〃Here is all the mystery；〃 answered another。 〃It is very simple。 Only
laugh in the face of the plague； and it will run away from you。〃
〃And right enough too； for very stupid work it does；〃 added a pretty
little Columbine； emptying her glass。
〃You are right； my darling； it is intolerably stupid work；〃 answered the
Clown belonging to the Columbine； 〃here you are very quiet； enjoying
life； and all on a sudden you die with an atrocious grimace。 Well！ what
then？ Clever； isn't it？ I ask you； what does it prove？〃
〃It proves；〃 replied an illustrious painter of the romantic school；
disguised like a Roman out of one of David's pictures； 〃it proves that
the Cholera is a wretched colorist； for he has nothing but a dirty green
on his pallet。 Evidently he is a pupil of Jacobus； that king of
classical painters； who are another species of plagues。〃
〃And yet； master；〃 added respectfully a pupil of the great painter； 〃I
have seen some cholera patients whose convulsions were rather fine； and
their dying looks first…rate！〃
〃Gentlemen；〃 cried a sculptor of no less celebrity； 〃the question lies in
a nutshell。 The Cholera is a detestable colorist； but a good
draughtsman。 He shows you the skeleton in no time。 By heaven！ how he
strips off the flesh！Michael Angelo would be nothing to him。〃
〃True；〃 cried they all； with one voice； 〃the Cholera is a bad colorist；
but a good draughtsman。〃
〃Moreover； gentlemen；〃 added Ninny Moulin； with comic gravity； 〃this
plague brings with it a providential lesson； as the great Bossuet would
have said。〃
〃The lesson！ the lesson！〃
〃Yes； gentlemen； I seem to hear a voice from above； proclaiming： ‘Drink
of the best； empty your purse； and kiss your neighbor's wife； for your
hours are perhaps numbered； unhappy wretch！'〃
So saying； the orthodox Silenus took advantage of a momentary absence of
mind on the part of Modeste； his neighbor； to imprint on the blooming
cheek of LOVE a long； loud kiss。 The example was contagious； and a storm
of kisses was mingled with bursts of laughter。
〃Ha！ blood and thunder！〃 cried the great painter as he gayly threatened
Ninny Moulin； 〃you are very lucky that to…morrow will perhaps be the end
of the world； or else I should pick a quarrel with you for having kissed
my lovely LOVE。〃
〃Which proves to you； O Rubens！ O Raphael！ the thousand advantages of the
Cholera； whom I declare to be essentially sociable and caressing。〃
〃And philanthropic；〃 said one of the guests； 〃thanks to him； creditors
take care of the health of their debtors。 This morning a usurer； who
feels a particular interest in my existence； brought me all sorts of
anti…choleraic drugs； and begged me to make use of them。〃
〃And I！〃 said the pupil of the great painter。 〃My tailor wished to force
me to wear a flannel band next to the skin； because I owe him a thousand
crowns。 But I answered ‘Oh； tailor； give me a receipt in full； and I
will wrap myself up in flannel； to preserve you my custom！'〃
〃O Cholera； I drink to thee！〃 said Ninny Moulin； by way of grotesque
invocation。 〃You are not Despair； on the contrary； you are the emblem of
Hopeyes； of hope。 How many husbands； how many wives； longed for a
number （alas！ too uncertain chance） in the lotte