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the lesser bourgeoisie-第39部分
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Theodose; agreed entirely to this secret clause; understanding
perfectly the necessity of paying the culprits guilty of the
treachery。 The money was to pass through la Peyrade's hands。 Claparon
met his accomplice; the notary; on the Place de l'Observatoire by
midnight。 This young man; the successor of Leopold Hannequin; was one
of those who run after fortune instead of following it leisurely。 He
now saw another future before him; and he managed his present affairs
in order to be free to take hold of it。 In this midnight interview; he
offered Claparon ten thousand francs to secure himself in this dirty
business;a sum which was only to be paid on receipt; through
Claparon; of a counter…deed from the nominal purchaser of the
property。 The notary was aware that that sum was all…important to
Claparon to extricate him from present difficulties; and he felt
secure of him。
〃Who but you; in all Paris; would give me such a fee for such an
affair?〃 Claparon said to him; with a false show of naivete。 〃You can
sleep in peace; my ostensible purchaser is one of those men of honor
who are too stupid to have ideas of your kind; he is a retired
government employee; give him the money to make the purchase and he'll
sign the counter…deed at once。〃
When the notary had made Claparon clearly understand that he could not
get more than the ten thousand francs from him; Cerizet offered the
latter twelve thousand down; and asked Theodose for fifteen thousand;
intending to keep the balance for himself。 All these scenes between
the four men were seasoned with the finest speeches about feelings;
integrity; and the honor that men owed to one another in doing
business。 While these submarine performances were going on; apparently
in the interests of Thuillier; to whom Theodose related them with the
deepest manifestations of disgust at being implicated therein; the
pair were meditating the great political work which 〃my dear good
friend〃 was to publish。 Thus the new municipal councillor naturally
acquired a conviction that he could never do or be anything without
the help of this man of genius; whose mind so amazed him; and whose
ability was now so important to him; that every day he became more and
more convinced of the necessity of marrying him to Celeste; and of
taking the young couple to live with him。 In fact; after May the 1st;
Theodose had already dined four times a week with 〃my dear; good
friend。〃
This was the period when Theodose reigned without a dissenting voice
in the bosom of that household; and all the friends of the family
approved of himfor the following reason: The Phellions; hearing his
praises sung by Brigitte and Thuillier; feared to displease the two
powers and chorussed their words; even when such perpetual laudation
seemed to them exaggerated。 The same may be said of the Minards。
Moreover la Peyrade's behavior; as 〃friend of the family〃 was perfect。
He disarmed distrust by the manner in which he effaced himself; he was
there like a new piece of furniture; and he contrived to make both the
Phellions and Minards believe that Brigitte and Thuillier had weighed
him; and found him too light in the scales to be anything more in the
family than a young man whose services were useful to them。
〃He may think;〃 said Thuillier one day to Minard; 〃that my sister will
put him in her will; he doesn't know her。〃
This speech; inspired by Theodose himself; calmed the uneasiness of
Minard 〃pere。〃
〃He is devoted to us;〃 said Brigitte to Madame Phellion; 〃but he
certainly owes us a great deal of gratitude。 We have given him his
lodging rent…free; and he dines with us almost every day。〃
This speech of the old maid; also instigated by Theodose; went from
ear to ear among the families who frequented the Thuillier salon; and
dissipated all fears。 The young man called attention to the remarks of
Thuillier and his sister with the servility of a parasite; when he
played whist he justified the blunders of his dear; good friend; and
he kept upon his countenance a smile; fixed and benign; like that of
Madame Thuillier; ready to bestow upon all the bourgeois sillinesses
of the brother and sister。
He obtained; what he wanted above all; the contempt of his true
antagonists; and he used it as a cloak to hide his real power。 For
four consecutive months his face wore a torpid expression; like that
of a snake as it gulps and digests its prey。 But at times he would
rush into the garden with Colleville or Flavie; to laugh and lay off
his mask; and rest himself; or get fresh strength by giving way before
his future mother…in…law to fits of nervous passion which either
terrified or deeply touched her。
〃Don't you pity me?〃 he cried to her the evening before the
preparatory sale of the house; when Thuillier was to make the purchase
at seventy…five thousand francs。 〃Think of a man like me; forced to
creep like a cat; to choke down every pointed word; to swallow my own
gall; and submit to your rebuffs!〃
〃My friend! my child!〃 Flavie replied; undecided in mind how to take
him。
These words are a thermometer which will show the temperature at which
this clever manipulator maintained his intrigue with Flavie。 He kept
her floating between her heart and her moral sense; between religious
sentiments and this mysterious passion。
During this time Felix Phellion was giving; with a devotion and
constancy worthy of all praise; regular lessons to young Colleville。
He spent much of his time upon these lessons; feeling that he was thus
working for his future family。 To acknowledge this service; he was
invited; by advice of Theodose to Flavie; to dine at the Collevilles'
every Thursday; where la Peyrade always met him。 Flavie was usually
making either a purse or slippers or a cigar…case for the happy young
man; who would say; deprecatingly:
〃I am only too well rewarded; madame; by the happiness I feel in being
useful to you。〃
〃We are not rich; monsieur;〃 replied Colleville; 〃but; God bless me!
we are not ungrateful。〃
Old Phellion would rub his hands as he listened to his son's account
of these evenings; beholding his dear and noble Felix already wedded
to Celeste。
But Celeste; the more she loved Felix; the more grave and serious she
became with him; partly because her mother sharply lectured her;
saying to her one evening:
〃Don't give any hope whatever to that young Phellion。 Neither your
father nor I can arrange your marriage。 You have expectations to be
consulted。 It is much less important to please a professor without a
penny than to make sure of the affection and good…will of Mademoiselle
Brigitte and your godfather。 If you don't want to kill your mother
yes; my dear; kill heryou must obey me in this affair blindly; and
remember that what we want to secure; above all; is your good。〃
As the date of the final sale was set for the last of July; Theodose
advised Brigitte by the end of June to arrange her affairs in time to
be ready for the payment。 Accordingly; she now sold out her own and
her sister…in…law's property in the Funds。 The catastrophe of the
treaty of the four powers; an insult to France; is now an established
historical fact; but it is nece
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