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！
sixteen persons to Anzy that evening； some in family coaches； some in
wagonettes； and a few bachelors on hired saddle horses。 By about seven
o'clock this provincial company had made a more or less graceful entry
into the huge Anzy drawing…room； which Dinah； warned of the invasion；
had lighted up； giving it all the lustre it was capable of by taking
the holland covers off the handsome furniture； for she regarded this
assembly as one of her great triumphs。 Lousteau； Bianchon； and Dinah
exchanged meaning looks as they studied the attitudes and listened to
the speeches of these visitors； attracted by curiosity。
What invalided ribbons； what ancestral laces； what ancient flowers；
more imaginative than imitative； were boldly displayed on some
perennial caps！ The Presidente Boirouge； Bianchon's cousin； exchanged
a few words with the doctor； from whom she extracted some 〃advice
gratis〃 by expatiating on certain pains in the chest； which she
declared were nervous； but which he ascribed to chronic indigestion。
〃Simply drink a cup of tea every day an hour after dinner； as the
English do； and you will get over it； for what you suffer from is an
English malady；〃 Bianchon replied very gravely。
〃He is certainly a great physician；〃 said the Presidente； coming back
to Madame de Clagny； Madame Popinot…Chandier； and Madame Gorju； the
Mayor's wife。
〃They say；〃 replied Madame de Clagny behind her fan； 〃that Dinah sent
for him； not so much with a view to the elections as to ascertain why
she has no children。〃
In the first excitement of this success； Lousteau introduced the great
doctor as the only possible candidate at the ensuing elections。 But
Bianchon； to the great satisfaction of the new Sous…prefet； remarked
that it seemed to him almost impossible to give up science in favor of
politics。
〃Only a physician without a practice；〃 said he； 〃could care to be
returned as a deputy。 Nominate statesmen； thinkers； men whose
knowledge is universal； and who are capable of placing themselves on
the high level which a legislator should occupy。 That is what is
lacking in our Chambers； and what our country needs。〃
Two or three young ladies； some of the younger men； and the elder
women stared at Lousteau as if he were a mountebank。
〃Monsieur Gatien Boirouge declares that Monsieur Lousteau makes twenty
thousand francs a year by his writings；〃 observed the Mayor's wife to
Madame de Clagny。 〃Can you believe it？〃
〃Is it possible？ Why； a Public Prosecutor gets but a thousand crowns！〃
〃Monsieur Gatien；〃 said Madame Chandier； 〃get Monsieur Lousteau to
talk a little louder。 I have not heard him yet。〃
〃What pretty boots he wears；〃 said Mademoiselle Chandier to her
brother； 〃and how they shine！〃
〃Yespatent leather。〃
〃Why haven't you the same？〃
Lousteau began to feel that he was too much on show； and saw in the
manners of the good townsfolk indications of the desires that had
brought them there。
〃What trick can I play them？〃 thought he。
At this moment the footman； so calleda farm…servant put into livery
brought in the letters and papers； and among them a packet of proof；
which the journalist left for Bianchon； for Madame de la Baudraye； on
seeing the parcel； of which the form and string were obviously from
the printers； exclaimed：
〃What； does literature pursue you even here？〃
〃Not literature；〃 replied he； 〃but a review in which I am now
finishing a story to come out ten days hence。 I have reached the stage
of '/To be concluded in our next/；' so I was obliged to give my
address to the printer。 Oh； we eat very hard…earned bread at the hands
of these speculators in black and white！ I will give you a description
of these editors of magazines。〃
〃When will the conversation begin？〃 Madame de Clagny asked of Dinah；
as one might ask； 〃When do the fireworks go off？〃
〃I fancied we should hear some amusing stories；〃 said Madame Popinot
to her cousin； the Presidente Boirouge。
At this moment； when the good folks of Sancerre were beginning to
murmur like an impatient pit； Lousteau observed that Bianchon was lost
in meditation inspired by the wrapper round the proofs。
〃What is it？〃 asked Etienne。
〃Why； here is the most fascinating romance possible on some spoiled
proof used to wrap yours in。 Here； read it。 /Olympia； or Roman
Revenge/。〃
〃Let us see；〃 said Lousteau； taking the sheet the doctor held out to
him； and he read aloud as follows：
240 OLYMPIA
cavern。 Rinaldo； indignant at his
companions' cowardice； for they had
no courage but in the open field； and
dared not venture into Rome； looked
at them with scorn。
〃Then I go alone？〃 said he。 He
seemed to reflect； and then he went
on： 〃You are poor wretches。 I shall
proceed alone； and have the rich
booty to myself。You hear me！
Farewell。〃
〃My Captain；〃 said Lamberti； 〃if
you should be captured without
having succeeded？〃
〃God protects me！〃 said Rinaldo；
pointing to the sky。
With these words he went out；
and on his way he met the steward
〃That is the end of the page；〃 said Lousteau； to whom every one had
listened devoutly。
〃He is reading his work to us；〃 said Gatien to Madame Popinot…
Chandier's son。
〃From the first word； ladies；〃 said the journalist； jumping at an
opportunity of mystifying the natives； 〃it is evident that the
brigands are in a cave。 But how careless romancers of that date were
as to details which are nowadays so closely； so elaborately studied
under the name of 'local color。' If the robbers were in a cavern；
instead of pointing to the sky he ought to have pointed to the vault
above him。In spite of this inaccuracy； Rinaldo strikes me as a man
of spirit； and his appeal to God is quite Italian。 There must have
been a touch of local color in this romance。 Why； what with brigands；
and a cavern； and one Lamberti who could foresee future possibilities
there is a whole melodrama in that page。 Add to these elements a
little intrigue； a peasant maiden with her hair dressed high； short
skirts； and a hundred or so of bad couplets。Oh！ the public will
crowd to see it！ And then Rinaldohow well the name suits Lafont！ By
giving him black whiskers； tightly…fitting trousers； a cloak； a
moustache； a pistol； and a peaked hatif the manager of the
Vaudeville Theatre were but bold enough to pay for a few newspaper
articles； that would secure fifty performances； and six thousand
francs for the author's rights； if only I were to cry it up in my
columns。
〃To proceed：
OR ROMAN REVENGE 219
The Duchess of Bracciano found
her glove。 Adolphe； who had brought
her back to the orange grove； might
certainly have supposed that there
was some purpose in her forgetful…
ness； for at this moment the arbor
was deserted。 The sound of the fes…
tivities was audible in the distance。
The puppet show that had been
promised had attracted all the
guests to the ballroom。 Never had
Olympia looked more beautiful。
Her lover's eyes met hers with an
answering glow； and they under…
stood each other。 There was a mo…
ment of silence； delicious to their
souls； and impossible to describe。
They