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第104节

the lesser bourgeoisie-第104节

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to myself to have no more to do with newspapers。 It was about another
matter altogether than I came to speak to you。〃

〃Ah!〃 said Thuillier。

〃Yes;〃 continued Cerizet; 〃remembering the business…like manner in
which you managed the affair of this house in which you do me the
honor to receive me; I thought I could not do better than to call your
attention to a matter of the same kind which I have just now in hand。
But I shall not do as la Peyrade did;make a bargain for the hand of
your goddaughter; and profess great friendship and devotion to you
personally。 This is purely business; and I expect to make my profit
out of it。 Now; as I still desire to become the principal tenant of
this house;the letting of which must be a care and a disappointment
to mademoiselle; for I saw as I came along that the shops were still
unrented;I think that this lease to me; if you will make it; might
be reckoned in to my share of the profits。 You see; monsieur; that the
object of my visit has nothing to do with the newspaper。〃

〃What is this new affair?〃 said Brigitte; 〃that's the first thing to
know。〃

〃It relates to a farm in Beauce; which has just been sold for a song;
and it is placed in my hands to resell; at an advance; but a small
one; you could really buy it; as the saying is; for a bit of bread。〃

And Cerizet went on to explain the whole mechanism of the affair;
which we need not relate here; as no one but Brigitte would take any
interest in it。 The statement was clear and precise; and it took close
hold on the old maid's mind。 Even Thuillier himself; in spite of his
inward distrust; was obliged to own that the affair had all the
appearance of a good speculation。

〃Only;〃 said Brigitte; 〃we must first see the farm ourselves。〃

This; the reader will remember; was her answer to la Peyrade when he
first proposed the purchase of the house at the Madeleine。

〃Nothing is easier than that;〃 said Cerizet。 〃I myself want to see it;
and I have been intending to make a little excursion there。 If you
like; I'll be at your door this afternoon with a post…chaise; and
to…morrow morning; very early; we can examine the farm; breakfast at
some inn near by; and be back in time for dinner。〃

〃A post…chaise!〃 said Brigitte; 〃that's very lordly; why not take the
diligence?〃

〃Diligences are so uncertain;〃 replied Cerizet; 〃you never know at
what time they will get to a place。 But you need not think about the
expense; for I should otherwise go alone; and I am only too happy to
offer you two seats in my carriage。〃

To misers; small gains are often determining causes in great matters;
after a little resistance 〃pro forma;〃 Brigitte ended by accepting the
proposal; and three hours later the trio were on the road to Chartres;
Cerizet having advised Thuillier not to let la Peyrade know of his
absence; lest he might take some unfair advantage of it。

The next day; by five o'clock; the party had returned; and the brother
and sister; who kept their opinions to themselves in presence of
Cerizet; were both agreed that the purchase was a good one。 They had
found the soil of the best quality; the buildings in perfect repair;
the cattle looked sound and healthy; in short; this idea of becoming
the mistress of rural property seemed to Brigitte the final
consecration of opulence。

〃Minard;〃 she remarked; 〃has only a town…house and invested capital;
whereas we shall have all that and a country…place besides; one can't
be really rich without it。〃

Thuillier was not sufficiently under the charm of that dreamthe
realization of which was; in any case; quite distantto forget; even
for a moment; the 〃Echo de la Bievre〃 and his candidacy。 No sooner had
he reached home than he asked for the morning's paper。

〃It has not come;〃 said the 〃male domestic。〃

〃That's a fine distribution; when even the owner of the paper is not
served!〃 cried Thuillier; discontentedly。

Although it was nearly dinner…time; and after his journey he would
much rather have taken a bath than rush to the rue Saint…Dominique;
Thuillier ordered a cab and drove at once to the office of the 〃Echo。〃

There a fresh disappointment met him。 The paper 〃was made;〃 as they
say; and all the employees had departed; even la Peyrade。 As for
Coffinet; who was not to be found at his post of office…boy; nor yet
at his other post of porter; he had gone 〃of an errand;〃 his wife
said; taking the key of the closet in which the remaining copies of
the paper were locked up。 Impossible; therefore; to procure the number
which the unfortunate proprietor had come so far to fetch。

To describe Thuillier's indignation would be impossible。 He marched up
and down the room; talking aloud to himself; as people do in moments
of excitement。

〃I'll turn them all out!〃 he cried。 And we are forced to omit the rest
of the furious objurgation。

As he ended his anathema a rap was heard on the door。

〃Come in!〃 said Thuillier; in a tone that depicted his wrath and his
frantic impatience。

The door opened; and Minard rushed precipitately into his arms。

〃My good; my excellent friend!〃 cried the mayor of the eleventh
arrondissement; concluding his embrace with a hearty shake of the
hand。

〃Why! what is it?〃 said Thuillier; unable to comprehend the warmth of
this demonstration。

〃Ah! my dear friend;〃 continued Minard; 〃such an admirable proceeding!
really chivalrous! most disinterested! The effect; I assure you; is
quite stupendous in the arrondissement。〃

〃But what; I say?〃 cried Thuillier; impatiently。

〃The article; the whole action;〃 continued Minard; 〃so noble; so
elevated!〃

〃But what article? what action?〃 said the proprietor of the 〃Echo;〃
getting quite beside himself。

〃The article of this morning;〃 said Minard。

〃The article of this morning?〃

〃Ah ca! did you write it when you were asleep; or; like Monsieur
Jourdain doing prose; do you do heroism without knowing it?〃

〃I! I haven't written any article!〃 cried Thuillier。 〃I have been away
from Paris for a day; and I don't even know what is in this morning's
paper; and the office…boy is not here to give me a copy。〃

〃I have one;〃 said Minard; pulling the much desired paper from his
pocket。 〃If the article is not years you have certainly inspired it;
in any case; the deed is done。〃

Thuillier hurriedly unfolded the sheet Minard had given him; and
devoured rather than read the following article:

  Long enough has the proprietor of this regenerated journal
  submitted without complaint and without reply to the cowardly
  insinuations with which a venal press insults all citizens who;
  strong in their convictions; refuse to pass beneath the Caudine
  Forks of power。 Long enough has a man; who has already given
  proofs of devotion and abnegation in the important functions of
  the aedility of Paris; allowed these sheets to call him ambitious
  and self…seeking。 Monsieur Jerome Thuillier; strong in his
  dignity; has suffered such coarse attacks to pass him with
  contempt。 Encouraged by this disdainful silence; the stipendiaries
  of the press have dared to write that this journal; a work of
  conviction and of the most disinterested patriotism; was but the
  stepping…stone of a man; the speculation of a seeker for election。
  Monsieur Jerome Thuillier has held himself impassible before these
  shameful imputations because justice and truth are patient; and he
  bided his time to scotch the reptile。 That time has come。

〃That deuce of a Peyrade!〃 said Thuillier; stopping short; 〃how he
does touch it off!〃

〃It is magnificent!〃 cried Minard。

Reading aloud; Thuillier continued:

  Every one; friends and enemies alike; can bear witness that
  Monsieur Jerome Thuillier has done nothing to seek a candidacy
  which was offered to him spontaneously。

〃That's evident;〃 said Thuillier; interrupting himself。 Then he
resumed:

  But; since his sentiments are so odiously misrepresented; and his
  intentions so falsely travestied; Monsieur Jerome Thuillier owes
  it to himself; and above all to the great national party of which
  he is the humblest soldier; to give an example which shall
  confound the vile sycophants of power。

〃It is fine; the way la Peyrade poses me!〃 said Thuillier; pausing
once more in his reading。 〃I see now why he didn't send me the paper;
he wanted to enjoy my surprise'confound the vile sycophants of
power!' how fine that is!〃

After which reflection; he continued:

  Monsieur Thuillier was so far from founding this journal of
  dynastic opposition to support and promote his election that; at
  the very moment when the prospects of that election seem most
  favorable to himself and most disastrous to his rivals; he here
  declares publicly; and in the most formal; absolute; and
  irrevocable manner that he RENOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY。

〃What?〃 cried Thuillier; thinking he had read wrong; or had
misunderstood what he read。

〃Go on! go on!〃 said the mayor of the eleventh。

Then; as Thuillier; with a bewildered air; seemed not disposed to
continue his reading; Minard took the paper from his hands and read
the rest of the article himself; beginning where the other had left
off:

  Renounces his candidacy; and he

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