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！
formula would be； 〃Lentils number one for dessert number one。〃 The
tables were very long； our incessant barter kept everything moving； we
transacted it with amazing eagerness； and the chatter of three hundred
lads； the bustling to and fro of the servants employed in changing the
plates； setting down the dishes； handing the bread； with the tours of
inspection of the masters； made this refectory at Vendome a scene
unique in its way； and the amazement of visitors。
To make our life more tolerable； deprived as we were of all
communication with the outer world and of family affection； we were
allowed to keep pigeons and to have gardens。 Our two or three hundred
pigeon…houses； with a thousand birds nesting all round the outer wall；
and above thirty garden plots； were a sight even stranger than our
meals。 But a full account of the peculiarities which made the college
at Vendome a place unique in itself and fertile in reminiscences to
those who spent their boyhood there； would be weariness to the reader。
Which of us all but remembers with delight； notwithstanding the
bitterness of learning； the eccentric pleasures of that cloistered
life？ The sweetmeats purchased by stealth in the course of our walks；
permission obtained to play cards and devise theatrical performances
during the holidays； such tricks and freedom as were necessitated by
our seclusion； then； again； our military band； a relic of the cadets；
our academy； our chaplain； our Father professors； and all our games
permitted or prohibited； as the case might be； the cavalry charges on
stilts； the long slides made in winter； the clatter of our clogs； and；
above all； the trading transactions with 〃the shop〃 set up in the
courtyard itself。
This shop was kept by a sort of cheap…jack； of whom big and little
boys could procureaccording to his prospectusboxes； stilts； tools；
Jacobin pigeons； and Nuns； Mass…booksan article in small demand
penknives； paper； pens； pencils； ink of all colors； balls and marbles；
in short； the whole catalogue of the most treasured possessions of
boys； including everything from sauce for the pigeons we were obliged
to kill off； to the earthenware pots in which we set aside the rice
from supper to be eaten at next morning's breakfast。 Which of us was
so unhappy as to have forgotten how his heart beat at the sight of
this booth； open periodically during play…hours on Sundays； to which
we went； each in his turn； to spend his little pocket…money； while the
smallness of the sum allowed by our parents for these minor pleasures
required us to make a choice among all the objects that appealed so
strongly to our desires？ Did ever a young wife； to whom her husband；
during the first days of happiness； hands； twelve times a year； a
purse of gold； the budget of her personal fancies； dream of so many
different purchases； each of which would absorb the whole sum； as we
imagined possible on the eve of the first Sunday in each month？ For
six francs during one night we owned every delight of that
inexhaustible shop！ and during Mass every response we chanted was
mixed up in our minds with our secret calculations。 Which of us all
can recollect ever having had a sou left to spend on the Sunday
following？ And which of us but obeyed the instinctive law of social
existence by pitying； helping； and despising those pariahs who； by the
avarice or poverty of their parents； found themselves penniless？
Any one who forms a clear idea of this huge college； with its monastic
buildings in the heart of a little town； and the four plots in which
we were distributed as by a monastic rule； will easily conceive of the
excitement that we felt at the arrival of a new boy； a passenger
suddenly embarked on the ship。 No young duchess； on her first
appearance at Court； was ever more spitefully criticised than the new
boy by the youths in his division。 Usually during the evening play…
hour before prayers； those sycophants who were accustomed to
ingratiate themselves with the Fathers who took it in turns two and
two for a week to keep an eye on us； would be the first to hear on
trustworthy authority： 〃There will be a new boy to…morrow！〃 and then
suddenly the shout； 〃A New Boy！A New Boy！〃 rang through the courts。
We hurried up to crowd round the superintendent and pester him with
questions：
〃Where was he coming from？ What was his name？ Which class would he be
in？〃 and so forth。
Louis Lambert's advent was the subject of a romance worthy of the
/Arabian Nights/。 I was in the fourth class at the timeamong the
little boys。 Our housemasters were two men whom we called Fathers from
habit and tradition； though they were not priests。 In my time there
were indeed but three genuine Oratorians to whom this title
legitimately belonged； in 1814 they all left the college； which had
gradually become secularized； to find occupation about the altar in
various country parishes； like the cure of Mer。
Father Haugoult； the master for the week； was not a bad man； but of
very moderate attainments； and he lacked the tact which is
indispensable for discerning the different characters of children； and
graduating their punishment to their powers of resistance。 Father
Haugoult； then； began very obligingly to communicate to his pupils the
wonderful events which were to end on the morrow in the advent of the
most singular of 〃new boys。〃 Games were at an end。 All the children
came round in silence to hear the story of Louis Lambert； discovered；
like an aerolite； by Madame de Stael； in a corner of the wood。
Monsieur Haugoult had to tell us all about Madame de Stael； that
evening she seemed to me ten feet high； I saw at a later time the
picture of Corinne； in which Gerard represents her as so tall and
handsome； and； alas！ the woman painted by my imagination so far
transcended this； that the real Madame de Stael fell at once in my
estimation； even after I read her book of really masculine power； /De
l'Allemagne/。
But Lambert at that time was an even greater wonder。 Monsieur
Mareschal； the headmaster； after examining him； had thought of placing
him among the senior boys。 It was Louis' ignorance of Latin that
placed him so low as the fourth class； but he would certainly leap up
a class every year； and； as a remarkable exception； he was to be one
of the 〃Academy。〃 /Proh pudor/！ we were to have the honor of counting
among the 〃little boys〃 one whose coat was adorned with the red ribbon
displayed by the 〃Academicians〃 of Vendome。 These Academicians enjoyed
distinguished privileges； they often dined at the director's table；
and held two literary meetings annually； at which we were all present
to hear their elucubrations。 An Academician was a great man in embryo。
And if every Vendome scholar would speak the truth； he would confess
that； in later life； an Academician of the great French Academy seemed
to him far less remarkable than the stupendous boy who wore the cross
and the imposing red ribbon which were the insignia of our 〃Academy。〃
It was very unusual to be one of that illustrious body before
attaining to the second class； for the Academicians were expected to
hold public meetings every Thursday during the holidays； and to