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！
whose cleverness they possess； we watch them climbing； we admire their
agility； but once at the summit we see only their absurd and
contemptible parts。 The reverse side of my host's character was made
up of pettiness with the addition of envy。 The peerage and he were on
diverging lines。 To have an ambition and gratify it shows merely the
insolence of strength； but to live below one's avowed ambition is a
constant source of ridicule to petty minds。 Monsieur de Chessel did
not advance with the straightforward step of a strong man。 Twice
elected deputy； twice defeated； yesterday director…general； to…day
nothing at all； not even prefect； his successes and his defeats had
injured his nature； and given him the sourness of invalided ambition。
Though a brave man and a witty one and capable of great things； envy；
which is the root of existence in Touraine； the inhabitants of which
employ their native genius in jealousy of all things； injured him in
upper social circles； where a dissatisfied man； frowning at the
success of others； slow at compliments and ready at epigram； seldom
succeeds。 Had he sought less he might perhaps have obtained more； but
unhappily he had enough genuine superiority to make him wish to
advance in his own way。
At this particular time Monsieur de Chessel's ambition had a second
dawn。 Royalty smiled upon him； and he was now affecting the grand
manner。 Still he was； I must say； most kind to me； and he pleased me
for the very simple reason that with him I had found peace and rest
for the first time。 The interest； possibly very slight； which he
showed in my affairs； seemed to me； lonely and rejected as I was； an
image of paternal love。 His hospitable care contrasted so strongly
with the neglect to which I was accustomed； that I felt a childlike
gratitude to the home where no fetters bound me and where I was
welcomed and even courted。
The owners of Frapesle are so associated with the dawn of my life's
happiness that I mingle them in all those memories I love to revive。
Later； and more especially in connection with his letters…patent； I
had the pleasure of doing my host some service。 Monsieur de Chessel
enjoyed his wealth with an ostentation that gave umbrage to certain of
his neighbors。 He was able to vary and renew his fine horses and
elegant equipages； his wife dressed exquisitely； he received on a
grand scale； his servants were more numerous than his neighbors
approved； for all of which he was said to be aping princes。 The
Frapesle estate is immense。 Before such luxury as this the Comte de
Mortsauf； with one family cariole；which in Touraine is something
between a coach without springs and a post…chaise；forced by limited
means to let or farm Clochegourde； was Tourangean up to the time when
royal favor restored the family to a distinction possibly unlooked
for。 His greeting to me； the younger son of a ruined family whose
escutcheon dated back to the Crusades； was intended to show contempt
for the large fortune and to belittle the possessions； the woods； the
arable lands； the meadows； of a neighbor who was not of noble birth。
Monsieur de Chessel fully understood this。 They always met politely；
but there was none of that daily intercourse or that agreeable
intimacy which ought to have existed between Clochegourde and
Frapesle； two estates separated only by the Indre； and whose
mistresses could have beckoned to each other from their windows。
Jealousy； however； was not the sole reason for the solitude in which
the Count de Mortsauf lived。 His early education was that of the
children of great families；an incomplete and superficial instruction
as to knowledge； but supplemented by the training of society； the
habits of a court life； and the exercise of important duties under the
crown or in eminent offices。 Monsieur de Mortsauf had emigrated at the
very moment when the second stage of his education was about to begin；
and accordingly that training was lacking to him。 He was one of those
who believed in the immediate restoration of the monarchy； with that
conviction in his mind； his exile was a long and miserable period of
idleness。 When the army of Conde； which his courage led him to join
with the utmost devotion； was disbanded； he expected to find some
other post under the white flag； and never sought； like other
emigrants； to take up an industry。 Perhaps he had not the sort of
courage that could lay aside his name and earn his living in the sweat
of a toil he despised。 His hopes； daily postponed to the morrow； and
possibly a scruple of honor； kept him from offering his services to
foreign powers。 Trials undermined his courage。 Long tramps afoot on
insufficient nourishment； and above all； on hopes betrayed； injured
his health and discouraged his mind。 By degrees he became utterly
destitute。 If to some men misery is a tonic； on others it acts as a
dissolvent； and the count was of the latter。
Reflecting on the life of this poor Touraine gentleman； tramping and
sleeping along the highroads of Hungary； sharing the mutton of Prince
Esterhazy's shepherds； from whom the foot…worn traveller begged the
food he would not； as a gentleman； have accepted at the table of the
master； and refusing again and again to do service to the enemies of
France； I never found it in my heart to feel bitterness against him；
even when I saw him at his worst in after days。 The natural gaiety of
a Frenchman and a Tourangean soon deserted him； he became morose； fell
ill； and was charitably cared for in some German hospital。 His disease
was an inflammation of the mesenteric membrane； which is often fatal；
and is liable； even if cured； to change the constitution and produce
hypochondria。 His love affairs； carefully buried out of sight and
which I alone discovered； were low…lived； and not only destroyed his
health but ruined his future。
After twelve years of great misery he made his way to France； under
the decree of the Emperor which permitted the return of the emigrants。
As the wretched wayfarer crossed the Rhine and saw the tower of
Strasburg against the evening sky； his strength gave way。 〃'France！
France！' I cried。 'I see France！'〃 （he said to me） 〃as a child cries
'Mother！' when it is hurt。〃 Born to wealth； he was now poor； made to
command a regiment or govern a province； he was now without authority
and without a future； constitutionally healthy and robust； he returned
infirm and utterly worn out。 Without enough education to take part
among men and affairs； now broadened and enlarged by the march of
events； necessarily without influence of any kind； he lived despoiled
of everything； of his moral strength as well as his physical。 Want of
money made his name a burden。 His unalterable opinions； his
antecedents with the army of Conde； his trials； his recollections； his
wasted health； gave him susceptibilities which are but little spared
in France； that land of jest and sarcasm。 Half dead he reached Maine；
where； by some accident of the civil war； the revolutionary government
had forgotten to sell one of his farms of considerable extent； which
his farmer had held for him by giving out that he himself was the
owner of it。
When the Lenoncourt f