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！
an Easter pippin； looked after the house； and they lived according to the established customs of the strictest parsimony。 Mlle。 Cadot always carried the keys of her cupboards and fruit…loft about with her。 She was indefatigable。 She went to market herself； she cooked and dusted and swept； and never missed mass of a morning。 To give some idea of the domestic life of the household； it will be enough to remark that the father and son never ate fruit till it was beginning to spoil； because Mlle。 Cadot always brought out anything that would not keep。 No one in the house ever tasted the luxury of new bread； and all the fast days in the calendar were punctually observed。 The gardener was put on rations like a soldier； the elderly Valideh always kept an eye upon him。 And she； for her part； was so deferentially treated； that she took her meals with the family； and in consequence was continually trotting to and fro between the kitchen and the parlor at breakfast and dinner time。
Mlle。 Blandureau's parents had consented to her marriage with Joseph Blondet upon one conditionthe penniless and briefless barrister must be an assistant judge。 So； with the desire of fitting his son to fill the position； old M。 Blondet racked his brains to hammer the law into his son's head by dint of lessons； so as to make a cut…and…dried lawyer of him。 As for Blondet junior； he spent almost every evening at the Blandureaus' house； to which also young Fabien du Ronceret had been admitted since his return； without raising the slightest suspicion in the minds of father or son。
Everything in this life of theirs was measured with an accuracy worthy of Gerard Dow's Money Changer； not a grain of salt too much； not a single profit foregone； but the economical principles by which it was regulated were relaxed in favor of the greenhouse and garden。 〃The garden was the master's craze；〃 Mlle。 Cadot used to say。 The master's blind fondness for Joseph was not a craze in her eyes； she shared the father's predilection； she pampered Joseph； she darned his stockings； and would have been better pleased if the money spent on the garden had been put by for Joseph's benefit。
That garden was kept in marvelous order by a single man； the paths； covered with river…sand； continually turned over with the rake； meandered among the borders full of the rarest flowers。 Here were all kinds of color and scent； here were lizards on the walls； legions of little flower…pots standing out in the sun； regiments of forks and hoes； and a host of innocent things； a combination of pleasant results to justify the gardener's charming hobby。
At the end of the greenhouse the judge had set up a grandstand； an amphitheatre of benches to hold some five or six thousand pelargoniums in potsa splendid and famous show。 People came to see his geraniums in flower； not only from the neighborhood； but even from the departments round about。 The Empress Marie Louise； passing through the town； had honored the curiously kept greenhouse with a visit； so much was she impressed with the sight； that she spoke of it to Napoleon； and the old judge received the Cross of the Legion of Honor。 But as the learned gardener never mingled in society at all； and went nowhere except to the Blandureaus； he had no suspicion of the President's underhand manoeuvres； and others who could see the President's intentions were far too much afraid of him to interfere or to warn the inoffensive Blondets。
As for Michu； that young man with his powerful connections gave much more thought to making himself agreeable to the women in the upper social circles to which he was introduced by the Cinq…Cygnes； than to the extremely simple business of a provincial Tribunal。 With his independent means （he had an income of twelve thousand livres）； he was courted by mothers of daughters； and led a frivolous life。 He did just enough at the Tribunal to satisfy his conscience； much as a schoolboy does his exercises； saying ditto on all occasions； with a 〃Yes； dear President。〃 But underneath the appearance of indifference lurked the unusual powers of the Paris law student who had distinguished himself as one of the staff of prosecuting counsel before he came to the provinces。 He was accustomed to taking broad views of things； he could do rapidly what the President and Blondet could only do after much thinking； and very often solved knotty points for them。 In delicate conjunctures the President and Vice…President took counsel with their junior； confided thorny questions to him； and never failed to wonder at the readiness with which he brought back a task in which old Blondet found nothing to criticise。 Michu was sure of the influence of the most crabbed aristocrats； and he was young and rich； he lived； therefore； above the level of departmental intrigues and pettinesses。 He was an indispensable man at picnics； he frisked with young ladies and paid court to their mothers； he danced at balls； he gambled like a capitalist。 In short； he played his part of young lawyer of fashion to admiration； without； at the same time； compromising his dignity； which he knew how to assert at the right moment like a man of spirit。 He won golden opinions by the manner in which he threw himself into provincial ways； without criticising them； and for these reasons； every one endeavored to make his time of exile endurable。
The public prosecutor was a lawyer of the highest ability； he had taken the plunge into political life； and was one of the most distinguished speakers on the ministerialist benches。 The President stood in awe of him； if he had not been away in Paris at the time； no steps would have been taken against Victurnien； his dexterity； his experience of business； would have prevented the whole affair。 At that moment； however； he was in the Chamber of Deputies； and the President and du Croisier had taken advantage of his absence to weave their plot； calculating； with a certain ingenuity； that if once the law stepped in； and the matter was noised abroad； things would have gone too far to be remedied。
As a matter of fact； no staff of prosecuting counsel in any Tribunal； at that particular time； would have taken up a charge of forgery against the eldest son of one of the noblest houses in France without going into the case at great length； and a special reference； in all probability； to the Attorney…General。 In such a case as this； the authorities and the Government would have tried endless ways of compromising and hushing up an affair which might send an imprudent young man to the hulks。 They would very likely have done the same for a Liberal family in a prominent position； so long as the Liberals were not too openly hostile to the throne and the altar。 So du Croisier's charge and the young Count's arrest had not been very easy to manage。 The President and du Croisier had compassed their ends in the following manner。
M。 Sauvager； a young Royalist barrister； had reached the position of deputy public prosecutor by dint of subservience to the Ministry。 In the absence of his chief he was head of the staff of counsel for prosecution； and； consequently； it fell to him to take up the charge made by du Croisier。 Sauvager was a self…made man； he had nothing but his stipend； and for that reason the authorities reckoned upon some one who had everything to gain by devotion。 The President now exploited the position。 No sooner was the document with the alleged forgery in du Croisier's hands； than Mme。 la Presidente du Ronceret； prompted by her spouse； had a long conversation with M。 Sauvager。 In the course of it she pointed out the uncertainties of a career in the magistrature debout compared with the magistrature assise； and the advantages of the bench over the bar； she showed how a freak on the part of some official； or a single false step； might ruin a man's career。
〃If you are conscientious and give your conclusions against the powers that be； you are lost；〃 continued she。 〃Now； at this moment； you might turn your position to account to make a fine match that would put you above unlucky chances for the rest of your life； you may marry a wife with fortune sufficient to land you on the bench； in the magistrature assise。 There is a fine chance for you。 M。 du Croisier will never have any children； everybody knows why。 His money； and his wife's as well； will go to his niece； Mlle。 Duval。 M。 Duval is an ironmaster； his purse is tolerably filled； to begin with； and his father is still alive； and has a little property besides。 The father and son have a million of francs between them； they will double it with du Croisier's help； for du Croisier has business connections among great capitalists and manufacturers in Paris。 M。 and Mme。 Duval the younger would be certain to give their daughter to a suitor brought forward by du Croisier； for he is sure to leave two fortunes to his niece； and； in all probability； he will settle the reversion of his wife's property upon Mlle。 Duval in the marriage contract； for Mme。 du Croisier has no kin。 You know how du Croisier hates the d'Esgrignons。 Do him a service； be his man； take up this charge of forgery which he is going to make against young d'Esgrignon； and follow up the proceedings at once without consulting the public prosecutor at Paris。 And； then；