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！
In our day nine hundred and ninety…nine young men out of a thousand in
Godefroid's position would have had the thought of marrying that
woman。
A furniture dealer； who also had apartments to let； paid about three
thousand francs for the articles Godefroid was willing to sell； and
agreed to let him keep them during the few days that were needed to
prepare the shabby apartment in the rue Chanoinesse for this lodger
with a sick mind。 Godefroid went there at once； and obtained from
Madame de la Chanterie the address of a painter who； for a moderate
sum； agreed to whiten the ceilings； clean the windows； paint the
woodwork； and stain the floors； within a week。 Godefroid took the
measure of the rooms； intending to put the same carpet in all of them；
a green carpet of the cheapest kind。 He wished for the plainest
uniformity in this retreat； and Madame de la Chanterie approved of the
idea。 She calculated； with Manon's assistance； the number of yards of
white calico required for the window curtains； and also for those of
the modest iron bed； and she undertook to buy and have them made for a
price so moderate as to surprise Godefroid。 Having brought with him a
certain amount of furniture； the whole cost of fitting up the rooms
proved to be not over six hundred francs。
〃We lead here；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie； 〃a Christian life； which
does not； as you know； accord with many superfluities； I think you
have too many as it is。〃
In giving this hint to her future lodger； she looked at a diamond
which gleamed in the ring through which Godefroid's blue cravat was
slipped。
〃I only speak of this；〃 she added； 〃because of the intention you
expressed to abandon the frivolous life you complained of to Monsieur
Mongenod。〃
Godefroid looked at Madame de la Chanterie as he listened to the
harmonies of her limpid voice； he examined that face so purely white；
resembling those of the cold； grave women of Holland whom the Flemish
painters have so wonderfully reproduced with their smooth skins； in
which a wrinkle is impossible。
〃White and plump！〃 he said to himself； as he walked away； 〃but her
hair is white； too。〃
Godefroid； like all weak natures； took readily to a new life；
believing it satisfactory； and he was now quite eager to take up his
abode in the rue Chanoinesse。 Nevertheless； a prudent thought； or； if
you prefer to say so； a distrustful thought； occurred to him。 Two days
before his installation； he went again to see Monsieur Mongenod to
obtain some more definite information about the house he was to enter。
During the few moments he had spent in his future lodgings overlooking
the changes that were being made in them； he had noticed the coming
and going of several persons whose appearance and behavior； without
being exactly mysterious； excited a belief that some secret occupation
or profession was being carried on in that house。 At that particular
period there was much talk of attempts by the elder branch of the
Bourbons to recover the throne； and Godefroid suspected some
conspiracy。 When he found himself in the banker's counting…room held
by the scrutinizing eye of Frederic Mongenod while he made his
inquiry； he felt ashamed as he saw a derisive smile on the lips of the
listener。
〃Madame la Baronne de la Chanterie；〃 replied the banker； 〃is one of
the most obscure persons in Paris； but she is also one of the most
honorable。 Have you any object in asking for information？〃
Godefroid retreated into generalities： he was going to live among
strangers； he naturally wished to know something of those with whom he
should be intimately thrown。 But the banker's smile became more and
more sarcastic； and Godefroid； more and more embarrassed； was ashamed
of the step he had taken； and which bore no fruit； for he dared not
continue his questions about Madame de la Chanterie and her inmates。
IV
FAREWELL TO THE LIFE OF THE WORLD
Two days later； of a Monday evening； having dined for the last time at
the Cafe Anglais； and seen the two first pieces at the Varietes； he
went； at ten o'clock； to sleep for the first time in the rue
Chanoinesse； where Manon conducted him to his room。
Solitude has charms comparable only to those of savage life； which no
European has ever really abandoned after once tasting them。 This may
seem strange at an epoch when every one lives so much to be seen of
others that all the world concern themselves in their neighbors'
affairs； and when private life will soon be a thing of the past； so
bold and so intrusive are the eyes of the press；that modern Argus。
Nevertheless； it is a truth which rests on the authority of the first
six Christian centuries； during which no recluse ever returned to
social life。 Few are the moral wounds that solitude will not heal。
So； at first； Godefroid was soothed by the deep peace and absolute
stillness of his new abode； as a weary traveller is relaxed by a bath。
The very day after his arrival at Madame de la Chanterie's he was
forced to examine himself； under the sense that he was separated from
all； even from Paris； though he still lived in the shadow of its
cathedral。 Stripped of his social vanities； he was about to have no
other witnesses of his acts than his own conscience and the inmates of
that house。 He had quitted the great high…road of the world to enter
an unknown path。 Where was that path to lead him to？ to what
occupation should he now be drawn？
He had been for two hours absorbed in such reflections when Manon； the
only servant of the house； knocked at his door to tell him that the
second breakfast was served and the family were waiting for him。
Twelve o'clock was striking。 The new lodger went down at once； stirred
by a wish to see and judge the five persons among whom his life was in
future to be spent。
When he entered the room he found all the inmates of the house
standing； they were dressed precisely as they were on the day when he
came to make his first inquiries。
〃Did you sleep well？〃 asked Madame de la Chanterie。
〃So well that I did not wake up till ten o'clock；〃 replied Godefroid；
bowing to the four men； who returned the bow with gravity。
〃We thought so；〃 said an old man named Alain； smiling。
〃Manon spoke of a second breakfast；〃 said Godefroid； 〃but I fear that
I have already broken some rule。 At what hour do you rise？〃
〃Not quite so early as the old monks；〃 said Madame de la Chanterie；
courteously； 〃but as early as the working…men；six in winter； half…
past three in summer。 Our bed…time is ruled by that of the sun。 We are
always asleep by nine in winter and eleven in summer。 On rising； we
all take a little milk； which comes from our farm； after saying our
prayers； except the Abbe de Veze； who says the first mass； at six
o'clock in summer and seven o'clock in winter； at Notre…Dame； where
these gentlemen are present daily； as well as your humble servant。〃
Madame de la Chanterie ended her explanation as the five lodgers took
their seats at table。
The dining…room； painted throughout in gray； the design of the
woodwork being in the style of Louis XIV。； adjoined the sort of
antechamber in which Manon was usually stationed； and it seemed to be