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cousin betty-第80部分
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The Baroness was alarmed at the change in her Hector; when she saw him
so unhappy; ailing; crushed under his weight of woes; she was all
heart; all pity; all love; she would have shed her blood to make Hulot
happy。
〃Stay with us; my dear Hector。 Tell me what is it that such women do
to attract you so powerfully。 I too will try。 Why have you not taught
me to be what you want? Am I deficient in intelligence? Men still
think me handsome enough to court my favor。〃
Many a married woman; attached to her duty and to her husband; may
here pause to ask herself why strong and affectionate men; so tender…
hearted to the Madame Marneffes; do not take their wives for the
object of their fancies and passions; especially wives like the
Baronne Adeline Hulot。
This is; indeed; one of the most recondite mysteries of human nature。
Love; which is debauch of reason; the strong and austere joy of a
lofty soul; and pleasure; the vulgar counterfeit sold in the market…
place; are two aspects of the same thing。 The woman who can satisfy
both these devouring appetites is as rare in her sex as a great
general; a great writer; a great artist; a great inventor in a nation。
A man of superior intellect or an idiota Hulot or a Crevelequally
crave for the ideal and for enjoyment; all alike go in search of the
mysterious compound; so rare that at last it is usually found to be a
work in two volumes。 This craving is a depraved impulse due to
society。
Marriage; no doubt; must be accepted as a tie; it is life; with its
duties and its stern sacrifices on both parts equally。 Libertines; who
seek for hidden treasure; are as guilty as other evil…doers who are
more hardly dealt with than they。 These reflections are not a mere
veneer of moralizing; they show the reason of many unexplained
misfortunes。 But; indeed; this drama points its own moralor morals;
for they are of many kinds。
The Baron presently went to call on the Marshal Prince de Wissembourg;
whose powerful patronage was now his only chance。 Having dwelt under
his protection for five…and…thirty years; he was a visitor at all
hours; and would be admitted to his rooms as soon as he was up。
〃Ah! How are you; my dear Hector?〃 said the great and worthy leader。
〃What is the matter? You look anxious。 And yet the session is ended。
One more over! I speak of that now as I used to speak of a campaign。
And indeed I believe the newspapers nowadays speak of the sessions as
parliamentary campaigns。〃
〃We have been in difficulties; I must confess; Marshal; but the times
are hard!〃 said Hulot。 〃It cannot be helped; the world was made so。
Every phase has its own drawbacks。 The worst misfortunes in the year
1841 is that neither the King nor the ministers are free to act as
Napoleon was。〃
The Marshal gave Hulot one of those eagle flashes which in its pride;
clearness; and perspicacity showed that; in spite of years; that lofty
soul was still upright and vigorous。
〃You want me to so something for you?〃 said he; in a hearty tone。
〃I find myself under the necessity of applying to you for the
promotion of one of my second clerks to the head of a roomas a
personal favor to myselfand his advancement to be officer of the
Legion of Honor。〃
〃What is his name?〃 said the Marshal; with a look like a lightning
flash。
〃Marneffe。〃
〃He has a pretty wife; I saw her on the occasion of your daughter's
marriage。If Rogerbut Roger is away!Hector; my boy; this is
concerned with your pleasures。 What; you still indulge? Well; you
are a credit to the old Guard。 That is what comes of having been in
the Commissariat; you have reserves!But have nothing to do with this
little job; my dear boy; it is too strong of the petticoat to be good
business。〃
〃No; Marshal; it is bad business; for the police courts have a finger
in it。 Would you like to see me go there?〃
〃The devil!〃 said the Prince uneasily。 〃Go on!〃
〃Well; I am in the predicament of a trapped fox。 You have always been
so kind to me; that you will; I am sure; condescend to help me out of
the shameful position in which I am placed。〃
Hulot related his misadventures; as wittily and as lightly as he
could。
〃And you; Prince; will you allow my brother to die of grief; a man you
love so well; or leave one of your staff in the War Office; a
Councillor of State; to live in disgrace。 This Marneffe is a wretched
creature; he can be shelved in two or three years。〃
〃How you talk of two or three years; my dear fellow!〃 said the
Marshal。
〃But; Prince; the Imperial Guard is immortal。〃
〃I am the last of the first batch of Marshals;〃 said the Prince。
〃Listen; Hector。 You do not know the extent of my attachment to you;
you shall see。 On the day when I retire from office; we will go
together。 But you are not a Deputy; my friend。 Many men want your
place; but for me; you would be out of it by this time。 Yes; I have
fought many a pitched battle to keep you in it。Well; I grant you
your two requests; it would be too bad to see you riding the bar at
your age and in the position you hold。 But you stretch your credit a
little too far。 If this appointment gives rise to discussion; we shall
not be held blameless。 I can laugh at such things; but you will find
it a thorn under your feet。 And the next session will see your
dismissal。 Your place is held out as a bait to five or six influential
men; and you have been enabled to keep it solely by the force of my
arguments。 I tell you; on the day when you retire; there will be five
malcontents to one happy man; whereas; by keeping you hanging on by a
thread for two or three years; we shall secure all six votes。 There
was a great laugh at the Council meeting; the Veteran of the Old
Guard; as they say; was becoming desperately wide awake in
parliamentary tactics! I am frank with you。And you are growing gray;
you are a happy man to be able to get into such difficulties as these!
How long is it since ILieutenant Cottinhad a mistress?〃
He rang the bell。
〃That police report must be destroyed;〃 he added。
〃Monseigneur; you are as a father to me! I dared not mention my
anxiety on that point。〃
〃I still wish I had Roger here;〃 cried the Prince; as Mitouflet; his
groom of the chambers; came in。 〃I was just going to send for him!
You may go; Mitouflet。Go you; my dear old fellow; go and have the
nomination made out; I will sign it。 At the same time; that low
schemer will not long enjoy the fruit of his crimes。 He will be
sharply watched; and drummed out of the regiment for the smallest
fault。You are saved this time; my dear Hector; take care for the
future。 Do not exhaust your friends' patience。 You shall have the
nomination this morning; and your man shall get his promotion in the
Legion of Honor。How old are you now?〃
〃Within three months of seventy。〃
〃What a scapegrace!〃 said the Prince; laughing。 〃It is you who deserve
a promotion; but; by thunder! we are not under Louis XV。!〃
Such is the sense of comradeship that binds the glorious survivors of
the Napoleonic phalanx; that they always feel as if they were in camp
together; and bound to stand together through thick and thin。
〃One more favor such as this;〃 Hulot reflected as he c
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