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cousin betty-第61部分

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Wenceslas; she loved her dear poet too much to become his torturer;
and she could foresee the hour when beggary awaited her; her child;
and her husband。

〃Come; come; my child;〃 said Lisbeth; seeing the tears in her cousin's
lovely eyes; 〃you must not despair。 A glassful of tears will not buy a
plate of soup。 How much do you want?〃

〃Well; five or six thousand francs。〃

〃I have but three thousand at the most;〃 said Lisbeth。 〃And what is
Wenceslas doing now?〃

〃He has had an offer to work in partnership with Stidmann at a table
service for the Duc d'Herouville for six thousand francs。 Then
Monsieur Chanor will advance four thousand to repay Monsieur de Lora
and Bridaua debt of honor。〃

〃What; you have had the money for the statue and the bas…reliefs for
Marshal Montcornet's monument; and you have not paid them yet?〃

〃For the last three years;〃 said Hortense; 〃we have spent twelve
thousand francs a year; and I have but a hundred louis a year of my
own。 The Marshal's monument; when all the expenses were paid; brought
us no more than sixteen thousand francs。 Really and truly; if
Wenceslas gets no work; I do not know what is to become of us。 Oh; if
only I could learn to make statues; I would handle the clay!〃 she
cried; holding up her fine arms。

The woman; it was plain; fulfilled the promise of the girl; there was
a flash in her eye; impetuous blood; strong with iron; flowed in her
veins; she felt that she was wasting her energy in carrying her
infant。

〃Ah; my poor little thing! a sensible girl should not marry an artist
till his fortune is madenot while it is still to make。〃

At this moment they heard voices; Stidmann and Wenceslas were seeing
Chanor to the door; then Wenceslas and Stidmann came in again。

Stidmann; an artist in vogue in the world of journalists; famous
actresses; and courtesans of the better class; was a young man of
fashion whom Valerie much wished to see in her rooms; indeed; he had
already been introduced to her by Claude Vignon。 Stidmann had lately
broken off an intimacy with Madame Schontz; who had married some
months since and gone to live in the country。 Valerie and Lisbeth;
hearing of this upheaval from Claude Vignon; thought it well to get
Steinbock's friend to visit in the Rue Vanneau。

Stidmann; out of good feeling; went rarely to the Steinbocks'; and as
it happened that Lisbeth was not present when he was introduced by
Claude Vignon; she now saw him for the first time。 As she watched this
noted artist; she caught certain glances from his eyes at Hortense;
which suggested to her the possibility of offering him to the Countess
Steinbock as a consolation if Wenceslas should be false to her。 In
point of fact; Stidmann was reflecting that if Steinbock were not his
friend; Hortense; the young and superbly beautiful countess; would be
an adorable mistress; it was this very notion; controlled by honor;
that kept him away from the house。 Lisbeth was quick to mark the
significant awkwardness that troubles a man in the presence of a woman
with whom he will not allow himself to flirt。

〃Very good…lookingthat young man;〃 said she in a whisper to
Hortense。

〃Oh; do you think so?〃 she replied。 〃I never noticed him。〃

〃Stidmann; my good fellow;〃 said Wenceslas; in an undertone to his
friend; 〃we are on no ceremony; you and Iwe have some business to
settle with this old girl。〃

Stidmann bowed to the ladies and went away。

〃It is settled;〃 said Wenceslas; when he came in from taking leave of
Stidmann。 〃But there are six months' work to be done; and we must live
meanwhile。〃

〃There are my diamonds;〃 cried the young Countess; with the impetuous
heroism of a loving woman。

A tear rose in Wenceslas' eye。

〃Oh; I am going to work;〃 said he; sitting down by his wife and
drawing her on to his knee。 〃I will do odd jobsa wedding chest;
bronze groups〃

〃But; my children;〃 said Lisbeth; 〃for; as you know; you will be my
heirs; and I shall leave you a very comfortable sum; believe me;
especially if you help me to marry the Marshal; nay; if we succeed in
that quickly; I will take you all to board with meyou and Adeline。
We should live very happily together。But for the moment; listen to
the voice of my long experience。 Do not fly to the Mont…de…Piete; it
is the ruin of the borrower。 I have always found that when the
interest was due; those who had pledged their things had nothing
wherewith to pay up; and then all is lost。 I can get you a loan at
five per cent on your note of hand。〃

〃Oh; we are saved!〃 said Hortense。

〃Well; then; child; Wenceslas had better come with me to see the
lender; who will oblige him at my request。 It is Madame Marneffe。 If
you flatter her a littlefor she is as vain as a /parvenue/she will
get you out of the scrape in the most obliging way。 Come yourself and
see her; my dear Hortense。〃

Hortense looked at her husband with the expression a man condemned to
death must wear on his way to the scaffold。

〃Claude Vignon took Stidmann there;〃 said Wenceslas。 〃He says it is a
very pleasant house。〃

Hortense's head fell。 What she felt can only be expressed in one word;
it was not pain; it was illness。

〃But; my dear Hortense; you must learn something of life!〃 exclaimed
Lisbeth; understanding the eloquence of her cousin's looks。
〃Otherwise; like your mother; you will find yourself abandoned in a
deserted room; where you will weep like Calypso on the departure of
Ulysses; and at an age when there is no hope of Telemachus〃 she
added; repeating a jest of Madame Marneffe's。 〃We have to regard the
people in the world as tools which we can make use of or let alone;
according as they can serve our turn。 Make use of Madame Marneffe now;
my dears; and let her alone by and by。 Are you afraid lest Wenceslas;
who worships you; should fall in love with a woman four or five years
older than himself; as yellow as a bundle of field peas; and?〃

〃I would far rather pawn my diamonds;〃 said Hortense。 〃Oh; never go
there; Wenceslas!It is hell!〃

〃Hortense is right;〃 said Steinbock; kissing his wife。

〃Thank you; my dearest;〃 said Hortense; delighted。 〃My husband is an
angel; you see; Lisbeth。 He does not gamble; he goes nowhere without
me; if he only could stick to workoh; I should be too happy。 Why
take us on show to my father's mistress; a woman who is ruining him
and is the cause of troubles that are killing my heroic mother?〃

〃My child; that is not where the cause of your father's ruin lies。 It
was his singer who ruined him; and then your marriage!〃 replied her
cousin。 〃Bless me! why; Madame Marneffe is of the greatest use to him。
However; I must tell no tales。〃

〃You have a good word for everybody; dear Betty〃

Hortense was called into the garden by hearing the child cry; Lisbeth
was left alone with Wenceslas。

〃You have an angel for your wife; Wenceslas!〃 said she。 〃Love her as
you ought; never give her cause for grief。〃

〃Yes; indeed; I love her so well that I do not tell her all;〃 replied
Wenceslas; 〃but to you; Lisbeth; I may confess the truth。If I took
my wife's diamonds to the Monte…de…Piete; we should be no further
forward。〃

〃Then borrow of Madame Marneffe;〃 said Lisbeth
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