太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the lesser bourgeoisie >

第74节

the lesser bourgeoisie-第74节

小说: the lesser bourgeoisie 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




〃Oh! how good monsieur is! I pray God to bless him;〃 said the pious
woman; clasping her hands。

〃Bless me! do you have business with Madame Lambert?〃 said Cerizet;
〃you never told me that。 Are you Pere Picot's counsel?〃

〃No; unfortunately;〃 said Madame Lambert; 〃my master won't take any
counsel; he is so self…willed; so obstinate! But; my good monsieur;
what I came to ask is whether the family council is to meet。〃

〃Of course;〃 said Cerizet; 〃and not later than to…morrow。〃

〃But monsieur; I hear those gentlemen of the Royal court said the
family had no rights〃

〃Yes; that's so;〃 said the clerk; 〃the lower court and the Royal court
have both; on the petition of the relatives; rejected their demand for
a commission。〃

〃I should hope so!〃 said the woman; 〃to think of making him out a
lunatic! him so full of wisdom and learning!〃

〃But the relations don't mean to give up; they are going to try the
matter again under a new form; and ask for the appointment of a
judicial counsel。 That's what the family council meets for to…morrow;
and I think; this time; my dear Madame Lambert; your old Picot will
find himself restrained。 There are serious allegations; I can tell
you。 It was all very well to take the eggs; but to pluck the hen was
another thing。〃

〃Is it possible that monsieur can suppose〃 began the devote;
clasping her hands under her chin。

〃I suppose nothing;〃 said Cerizet; 〃I am not the judge of this affair。
But the relations declare that you have pocketed considerable sums;
and made investments about which they demand inquiry。〃

〃Oh! heavens!〃 said the woman; casting up her eyes; 〃they can inquire;
I am poor; I have not a deed; nor a note; nor a share; not the
slightest security of any kind in my possession。〃

〃I dare say not;〃 said Cerizet; glancing at la Peyrade out of the
corner of his eye; 〃but there are always friends to take care of such
things。 However; that is none of my business; every one must settle
his own affairs in his own way。 Now; then; say what you have to say;
distinctly。〃

〃I came; monsieur;〃 she replied; 〃to implore you; monsieur; to implore
Monsieur the judge's clerk; to speak in our favor to Monsieur the
justice…of…peace。 Monsieur the vicar of Saint…Jacques is also to speak
to him。 That poor Monsieur Picot!〃 she went on; weeping; 〃they'll kill
him if they continue to worry him in this way。〃

〃I sha'n't conceal from you;〃 said Cerizet; 〃that the justice…of…peace
is very ill…disposed to your cause。 You must have seen that the other
day; when he refused to receive you。 As for Monsieur Dutocq and
myself; our assistance won't help you much; and besides; my good
woman; you are too close…mouthed。〃

〃Monsieur asked me if I had laid by a few little savings; and I
couldn't tell him that I had; bebecause they have gone to keep the
hhouse of that poor Monsieur Piicot; and now they accuse me of
rrobbing him!〃

Madame Lambert sobbed。

〃My opinion is;〃 said Cerizet; 〃that you are making yourself out much
poorer than you are; and if friend Peyrade here; who seems to be more
in your confidence; hadn't his tongue tied by the rules of his
profession〃

〃I!〃 said la Peyrade; hastily; 〃I don't know anything of madame's
affairs。 She asked me to draw up a petition on a matter in which there
was nothing judicial or financial。〃

〃Ah! that's it; is it?〃 said Cerizet。 〃Madame had doubtless gone to
see you about this petition the day Dutocq met her at your office; the
morning after our dinner at the Rocher de Cancalewhen you were such
a Roman; you know。〃

Then; without seeming to attach any importance to the reminiscence; he
added:

〃Well; my good Madame Lambert; I'll ask my patron to speak to the
justice…of…peace; and; if I get a chance; I'll speak to him myself;
but; I repeat it; he is very much prejudiced against you。〃

Madame Lambert retired with many curtseys and protestations of
gratitude。 When she was fairly gone la Peyrade remarked:

〃You don't seem to believe that that woman came to me about a
petition; and yet nothing was ever truer。 She is thought a saint in
the street she lives in; and that old man they accuse her of robbing
is actually kept alive by her devotion; so I'm told。 Consequently; the
neighbors have put it into the good woman's head to apply for the
Montyon prize; and it was for the purpose of putting her claims in
legal shape that she applied to me。〃

〃Dear! dear! the Montyon prize!〃 cried Cerizet; 〃well; that's an idea!
My good fellow; we ought to have cultivated it before;I; especially;
as banker of the poor; and you; their advocate。 As for this client of
yours; it is lucky for her Monsieur Picot's relatives are not members
of the French academy; it is in the correctional police…court; sixth
chamber; where they mean to give her the reward of virtue。 However; to
come back to what we were talking about。 I tell you that after all
your tergiversations you had better settle down peaceably; and I
advise you; as your countess did; to go and see du Portail。〃

〃Who and what is he?〃 asked la Peyrade。

〃He is a little old man;〃 replied Cerizet; 〃as shrewd as a weasel。 He
gives me the idea of having dealings with the devil。 Go and see him!
Sight; as they say; costs nothing。〃

〃Yes;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃perhaps I will; but; first of all; I want you
to find out for me about this Comtesse de Godollo。〃

〃What do you care about her? She is nothing but a supernumerary; that
countess。〃

〃I have my reasons;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃you can certainly get some
information about her in three days; I'll come and see you then。〃

〃My good fellow;〃 said Cerizet; 〃you seem to me to be amusing yourself
with things that don't pay; you haven't fallen in love with that go…
between; have you?〃

〃Plague take him!〃 thought la Peyrade; 〃he spies everything; there's
no hiding anything from him! No;〃 he said; aloud; 〃I am not in love;
on the contrary; I am very cautious。 I must admit that this marriage
with a crazy girl doesn't attract me; and before I go a step into it I
want to know where I put my feet。 These crooked proceedings are not
reassuring; and as so many influences are being brought to bear; I
choose to control one by another。 Therefore don't play sly; but give
me all the information you get into your pouch about Madame la
Comtesse Torna de Godollo。 I warn you I know enough to test the
veracity of your report; and if I see you are trying to overreach me
I'll break off short with your du Portail。〃

〃Trying to overreach you; monseigneur!〃 replied Cerizet; in the tone
and manner of Frederic Lemaitre。 〃Who would dare attempt it?〃

As he pronounced those words in a slightly mocking tone; Dutocq
appeared; accompanied by his little clerk。

〃Bless me!〃 he exclaimed; seeing la Peyrade and Cerizet together;
〃here's the trinity reconstituted! but the object of the alliance; the
'casus foederis;' has floated off。 What have you done to that good
Brigitte; la Peyrade? She is after your blood。〃

〃What about Thuillier?〃 asked la Peyrade。

Moliere was reversed; here was Tartuffe inquiring for Orgon。

〃Thuillier began by not being very hostile to you; but it now seems
that the seizure business has taken a good turn; and having less need
of you he is getting drawn into his sister's waters; and if the
tendency continues; I haven't a doubt that he'll soon come to think
you deserving of hanging。〃

〃Well; I'm out of it all;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃and if anybody ever
catches me in such a mess again!Well; adieu; my friends;〃 he added。
〃And you; Cerizet; as to what we were speaking about; activity;
safety; and discretion!〃

When la Peyrade reached the courtyard of the municipal building; he
was accosted by Madame Lambert; who was lying in wait for him。

〃Monsieur wouldn't believe; I am sure;〃 she said; in a deprecating
tone; 〃the villainous things that Monsieur Cerizet said about me;
monsieur knows it was the little property I received from my uncle in
England that I placed in his hands。〃

〃Yes; yes;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃but you must understand that with all
these rumors set about by your master's relatives the prize of virtue
is desperately endangered。〃

〃If it is God's will that I am not to have it〃

〃You ought also to understand how important it is for your interests
to keep secret the other service which I did for you。 At the first
appearance of any indiscretion on your part that money; as I told you;
will be peremptorily returned to you。〃

〃Oh! monsieur may be easy about that。〃

〃Very well; then good…bye to you; my dear;〃 said la Peyrade; in a
friendly tone。

As he turned to leave her; a nasal voice was heard from a window on
the staircase。

〃Madame Lambert!〃 cried Cerizet; who; suspecting the colloquy; had
gone to the staircase window to make sure of it。 〃Madame Lambert!
Monsieur Dutocq has returned; you may come up and see him; if you
like。〃

Impossible for la Peyrade to prevent the conference; although he knew
the secret of that twenty…five thousand francs ran the greatest
danger。

〃Certainly;〃 he said to himself as he walked away; 〃I'm in a run of
ill…luck; and I don't know where it will end。〃

In Brigitte's nature there was such an all…devouring instinct of
domination; that

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 1

你可能喜欢的