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cousin betty-第121部分

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she had better take another line of action and speak to the old man。

〃Go home; then; my child; and I will go to see Monsieur Vyder。 Is he a
Frenchman?〃

〃He is an Alsatian; madame。 But he will be quite rich soon。 If you
would pay what he owes to that vile Samanon; he would give you back
your money; for in a few months he will be getting six thousand francs
a year; he says; and we are to go to live in the country a long way
off; in the Vosges。〃

At the word /Vosges/ the Baroness sat lost in reverie。 It called up
the vision of her native village。 She was roused from her melancholy
meditation by the entrance of the stove…fitter; who came to assure her
of his prosperity。

〃In a year's time; madame; I can repay the money you lent us; for it
is God's money; the money of the poor and wretched。 If ever I make a
fortune; come to me for what you want; and I will render through you
the help to others which you first brought us。〃

〃Just now;〃 said Madame Hulot; 〃I do not need your money; but I ask
your assistance in a good work。 I have just seen that little Judici;
who is living with an old man; and I mean to see them regularly and
legally married。〃

〃Ah! old Vyder; he is a very worthy old fellow; with plenty of good
sense。 The poor old man has already made friends in the neighborhood;
though he has been here but two months。 He keeps my accounts for me。
He is; I believe; a brave Colonel who served the Emperor well。 And how
he adores Napoleon!He has some orders; but he never wears them。 He
is waiting till he is straight again; for he is in debt; poor old boy!
In fact; I believe he is hiding; threatened by the law〃

〃Tell him that I will pay his debts if he will marry the child。〃

〃Oh; that will soon be settled。Suppose you were to see him; madame;
it is not two steps away; in the Passage du Soleil。〃

So the lady and the stove…fitter went out。

〃This way; madame;〃 said the man; turning down the Rue de la
Pepiniere。

The alley runs; in fact; from the bottom of this street through to the
Rue du Rocher。 Halfway down this passage; recently opened through;
where the shops let at a very low rent; the Baroness saw on a window;
screened up to a height with a green; gauze curtain; which excluded
the prying eyes of the passer…by; the words:


〃ECRIVAIN PUBLIC〃;

and on the door the announcement:

BUSINESS TRANSACTED。

/Petitions Drawn Up; Accounts Audited; Etc。/

/With Secrecy and Dispatch。/


The shop was like one of those little offices where travelers by
omnibus wait the vehicles to take them on to their destination。 A
private staircase led up; no doubt; to the living…rooms on the
entresol which were let with the shop。 Madame Hulot saw a dirty
writing…table of some light wood; some letter…boxes; and a wretched
second…hand chair。 A cap with a peak and a greasy green shade for the
eyes suggested either precautions for disguise; or weak eyes; which
was not unlikely in an old man。

〃He is upstairs;〃 said the stove…fitter。 〃I will go up and tell him to
come down。〃

Adeline lowered her veil and took a seat。 A heavy step made the narrow
stairs creak; and Adeline could not restrain a piercing cry when she
saw her husband; Baron Hulot; in a gray knitted jersey; old gray
flannel trousers; and slippers。

〃What is your business; madame?〃 said Hulot; with a flourish。

She rose; seized Hulot by the arm; and said in a voice hoarse with
emotion:

〃At lastI have found you!〃

〃Adeline!〃 exclaimed the Baron in bewilderment; and he locked the shop
door。 〃Joseph; go out the back way;〃 he added to the stove…fitter。

〃My dear!〃 she said; forgetting everything in her excessive joy; 〃you
can come home to us all; we are rich。 Your son draws a hundred and
sixty thousand francs a year! Your pension is released; there are
fifteen thousand francs of arrears you can get on showing that you are
alive。 Valerie is dead; and left you three hundred thousand francs。

〃Your name is quite forgotten by this time; you may reappear in the
world; and you will find a fortune awaiting you at your son's house。
Come; our happiness will be complete。 For nearly three years I have
been seeking you; and I felt so sure of finding you that a room is
ready waiting for you。 Oh! come away from this; come away from the
dreadful state I see you in!〃

〃I am very willing;〃 said the bewildered Baron; 〃but can I take the
girl?〃

〃Hector; give her up! Do that much for your Adeline; who has never
before asked you to make the smallest sacrifice。 I promise you I will
give the child a marriage portion; I will see that she marries well;
and has some education。 Let it be said of one of the women who have
given you happiness that she too is happy; and do not relapse into
vice; into the mire。〃

〃So it was you;〃 said the Baron; with a smile; 〃who wanted to see me
married?Wait a few minutes;〃 he added; 〃I will go upstairs and
dress; I have some decent clothes in a trunk。〃

Adeline; left alone; and looking round the squalid shop; melted into
tears。

〃He has been living here; and we rolling in wealth!〃 said she to
herself。 〃Poor man; he has indeed been punishedhe who was elegance
itself。〃

The stove…fitter returned to make his bow to his benefactress; and she
desired him to fetch a coach。 When he came back; she begged him to
give little Atala Judici a home; and to take her away at once。

〃And tell her that if she will place herself under the guidance of
Monsieur the Cure of the Madeleine; on the day when she attends her
first Communion I will give her thirty thousand francs and find her a
good husband; some worthy young man。〃

〃My eldest son; then madame! He is two…and…twenty; and he worships the
child。〃

The Baron now came down; there were tears in his eyes。

〃You are forcing me to desert the only creature who had ever begun to
love me at all as you do!〃 said he in a whisper to his wife。 〃She is
crying bitterly; and I cannot abandon her so〃

〃Be quite easy; Hector。 She will find a home with honest people; and I
will answer for her conduct。〃

〃Well; then; I can go with you;〃 said the Baron; escorting his wife to
the cab。

Hector; the Baron d'Ervy once more; had put on a blue coat and
trousers; a white waistcoat; a black stock; and gloves。 When the
Baroness had taken her seat in the vehicle; Atala slipped in like an
eel。

〃Oh; madame;〃 she said; 〃let me go with you。 I will be so good; so
obedient; I will do whatever you wish; but do not part me from my
Daddy Vyder; my kind Daddy who gives me such nice things。 I shall be
beaten〃

〃Come; come; Atala;〃 said the Baron; 〃this lady is my wifewe must
part〃

〃She! As old as that! and shaking like a leaf!〃 said the child。 〃Look
at her head!〃 and she laughingly mimicked the Baroness' palsy。

The stove…fitter; who had run after the girl; came to the carriage
door。

〃Take her away!〃 said Adeline。 The man put his arms round Atala and
fairly carried her off。

〃Thanks for such a sacrifice; my dearest;〃 said Adeline; taking the
Baron's hand and clutching it with delirious joy。 〃How much you are
altered! you must have suffered so much! What a surprise for Hortense
and for your son!〃

Adeline talked as lovers talk who meet
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