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！
like you to govern us。〃
〃Resign yourself； my chief！〃 cried Dutocq； and； 〃Long live the future
municipal councillor！ but we haven't anything to drink〃
〃Well； the thing is settled；〃 said Minard； 〃you are to be our
candidate。〃
〃You think too much of me；〃 replied Thuillier。
〃Come； come！〃 cried Colleville。 〃A man who has done thirty years in
the galleys of the ministry of finance is a treasure to the town。〃
〃You are much too modest；〃 said the younger Minard； 〃your capacity is
well known to us； it remains a tradition at the ministry of finance。〃
〃As you all insist〃 began Thuillier。
〃The King will be pleased with our choice； I can assure you of that；〃
said Minard； pompously。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃will you permit a recent dweller in the
faubourg Saint…Jacques to make one little remark； which is not without
importance？〃
The consciousness that everybody had of the sterling merits of the
advocate of the poor produced the deepest silence。
〃The influence of Monsieur le maire of an adjoining arrondissement；
which is immense in ours where he has left such excellent memories；
that of Monsieur Phellion； the oracleyes； let the truth be spoken；〃
he exclaimed； noticing a gesture made by Phellion〃the ORACLE of his
battalion； the influence； no less powerful； which Monsieur Colleville
owes to the frank heartiness of his manner； and to his urbanity； that
of Monsieur Dutocq； the clerk of the justice court； which will not be
less efficacious； I am sure； and the poor efforts which I can offer in
my humble sphere of activity；are pledges of success； but they are
not success itself。 To obtain a rapid triumph we should pledge
ourselves； now and here； to keep the deepest secrecy on the
manifestation of sentiments which has just taken place。 Otherwise； we
should excite； without knowing or willing it； envy and all the other
secondary passions； which would create for us later various obstacles
to overcome。 The political meaning of the new social organization； its
very basis； its token； and the guarantee for its continuance； are in a
certain sharing of the governing power with the middle classes；
classes who are the true strength of modern societies； the centre of
morality； of all good sentiments and intelligent work。 But we cannot
conceal from ourselves that the principle of election； extended now to
almost every function； has brought the interests of ambition； and the
passion for being SOMETHING； excuse the word； into social depths where
they ought never to have penetrated。 Some see good in this； others see
evil； it is not my place to judge between them in presence of minds
before whose eminence I bow。 I content myself by simply suggesting
this question in order to show the dangers which the banner of our
friend must meet。 See for yourselves！ the decease of our late
honorable representative in the municipal council dates back scarcely
one week； and already the arrondissement is being canvassed by
inferior ambitions。 Such men put themselves forward to be seen at any
price。 The writ of convocation will； probably； not take effect for a
month to come。 Between now and then； imagine the intrigues！ I entreat
you not to expose our friend Thuillier to the blows of his
competitors； let us not deliver him over to public discussion； that
modern harpy which is but the trumpet of envy and calumny； the pretext
seized by malevolence to belittle all that is great； soil all that is
immaculate and dishonor whatever is sacred。 Let us； rather； do as the
Third Party is now doing in the Chamber；keep silence and vote！〃
〃He speaks well；〃 said Phellion to his neighbor Dutocq。
〃And how strong the statement is！〃
Envy had turned Minard and his son green and yellow。
〃That is well said and very true；〃 remarked Minard。
〃Unanimously adopted！〃 cried Colleville。 〃Messieurs； we are men of
honor； it suffices to understand each other on this point。〃
〃Whoso desires the end accepts the means；〃 said Phellion；
emphatically。
At this moment； Mademoiselle Thuillier reappeared； followed by her two
servants； the key of the cellar was hanging from her belt； and three
bottles of champagne； three of hermitage； and one bottle of malaga
were placed upon the table。 She herself was carrying； with almost
respectful care； a smaller bottle； like a fairy Carabosse； which she
placed before her。 In the midst of the hilarity caused by this
abundance of excellent thingsa fruit of gratitude； which the poor
spinster in the delirium of her joy poured out with a profusion which
put to shame the sparing hospitality of her usual fortnightly dinners
numerous dessert dishes made their appearance： mounds of almonds；
raisins； figs； and nuts （popularly known as the 〃four beggars〃）；
pyramids of oranges； confections； crystallized fruits； brought from
the hidden depths of her cupboards； which would never have figured on
the table…cloth had it not been for the 〃candidacy。〃
〃Celeste； they will bring you a bottle of brandy which my father
obtained in 1802； make an orange…salad！〃 cried Brigitte to her sister…
in…law。 〃Monsieur Phellion； open the champagne； that bottle is for you
three。 Monsieur Dutocq； take this one。 Monsieur Colleville； you know
how to pop corks！〃
The two maids distributed champagne glasses； also claret glasses； and
wine glasses。 Josephine also brought three more bottles of Bordeaux。
〃The year of the comet！〃 cried Thuillier； laughing； 〃Messieurs； you
have turned my sister's head。〃
〃And this evening you shall have punch and cakes；〃 she said。 〃I have
sent to the chemists for some tea。 Heavens！ if I had only known the
affair concerned an election；〃 she cried； looking at her sister…in…
law； 〃I'd have served the turkey。〃
A general laugh welcomed this speech。
〃We have a goose！〃 said Minard junior。
〃The carts are unloading！〃 cried Madame Thuillier； as 〃marrons glaces〃
and 〃meringues〃 were placed upon the table。
Mademoiselle Thuillier's face was blazing。 She was really superb to
behold。 Never did sisterly love assume such a frenzied expression。
〃To those who know her； it is really touching；〃 remarked Madame
Colleville。
The glasses were filled。 The guests all looked at one another；
evidently expecting a toast； whereupon la Peyrade said：
〃Messieurs； let us drink to something sublime。〃
Everybody looked curious。
〃To Mademoiselle Brigitte！〃
They all rose； clinked glasses； and cried with one voice；
〃Mademoiselle Brigitte！〃 so much enthusiasm did the exhibition of a
true feeling excite。
〃Messieurs；〃 said Phellion； reading from a paper written in pencil；
〃To work and its splendors； in the person of our former comrade； now
become one of the mayors of Paris；to Monsieur Minard and his wife！〃
After five minutes' general conversation Thuillier rose and said：
〃Messieurs； To the King and the royal family！ I add nothing； the toast
says all。〃
〃To the election of my brother！〃 said Mademoiselle Thuillier a moment
later。
〃Now I'll make you laugh；〃 whispered la Peyrade in Flavie's ear。
And he rose。
〃To Woman！〃 he said； 〃that enchanting sex to whom we owe our
happiness；not to speak of our mothers； our sisters； and our wives！〃
This toast excited general hilarity； and Colleville； already somewhat
gay； exclaimed：
〃Rascal！ you have stolen my speech！〃
The mayor then rose； profound silence reigned。
〃Messieurs； our institutions！ from which come the strength and
grandeur of dynastic France！〃
The bottles disappeared amid a chorus of admiration as to the
marvellous goodness and delicacy of their contents。
Celeste Colleville here said timidly：
〃Mamma； will you permit me to give a toast？〃
The good girl had noticed the dull； bewildered look of her godmother；
neglected and forgotten；she； the mistress of that house； wearing
almost the expression of a dog that is doubtful which master to obey；
looking from the face of her terrible sister…in…law to that of
Thuillier； consulting each countenance； and oblivious of herself； but
joy on the face of that poor helot； accustomed to be nothing； to
repress her ideas； her feelings； had the effect of a pale wintry sun
behind a mist； it barely lighted her faded； flabby flesh。 The gauze
cap trimmed with dingy flowers； the hair ill…dressed； the gloomy brown
gown； with no ornament but a thick gold chainall； combined with the
expression of her countenance； stimulated the affection of the young
Celeste； whoalone in the worldknew the value of that woman
condemned to silence but aware of all about her； suffering from all
yet consoling herself in God and in the girl who now was watching her。
〃Yes； let the dear child give us her little toast；〃 said la Peyrade to
Madame Colleville。
〃Go on； my daughter；〃 cried Colleville； 〃here's the hermitage still to
be drunkand it's hoary with age；〃 he added。
〃To my kind godmother！〃 said the girl； lowering her glass respectfully
before Madame Thuillier； and holding it towards her。
The poor woman； startled； looked through a veil of tears first at her
husband； and then at Brigitte； but her position in the family was so
well known； and the homage paid by innocence to weakness had something
so beautiful about it； that the emotion was general； the men all rose
and