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！
reflected； mademoiselle； on the great event which has just taken place
in his life？〃
〃Undoubtedly； and that is not a reason to think less of him。〃
〃No； but it is a reason why he should think more of himself。 For the
modesty which was once the chief charm of his nature； he is likely to
substitute great assumption； and you must remember； mademoiselle； that
he who has discovered one world will want to discover two； you will
have the whole firmament for rival； in short； could you ever be happy
with a man so entirely devoted to science？〃
〃You plead your cause with such adroitness；〃 said Celeste； smiling；
〃that I think you might be as a lawyer more disquieting than an
astronomer。〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃let us speak seriously； there is
another and far more serious aspect to the situation。 Do you know
that； at this moment； in this house； and without； I am sure； desiring
it； you are the cause of most distressing and regrettable scenes？〃
〃I； monsieur！〃 said Celeste； in a tone of surprise that was mingled
with fear。
〃Yes； concerning your godmother。 Through the extreme affection that
she has for you she seems to have become another woman； for the first
time in her life she has shown a mind of her own。 With an energy of
will which comes at times to those who have never expended any； she
declares that she will not make her proposed liberal gift to you in
the contract； and I need not tell you who is the person aimed at in
this unexpected refusal。〃
〃But； monsieur； I entreat you to believe that I knew nothing of this
idea of my godmother。〃
〃I know that；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃and the matter itself would be of
small importance if Mademoiselle Brigitte had not taken this attitude
of your godmother； whom she has always found supple to her will； as a
personal insult to herself。 Very painful explanations； approaching at
last to violence； have taken place。 Thuillier； placed between the
hammer and the anvil； has been unable to stop the affair； on the
contrary； he has； without intending it； made matters worse； till they
have now arrived at such a point that Mademoiselle Brigitte is packing
her trunks to leave the house。〃
〃Monsieur！ what are you telling me？〃 cried Celeste； horrified。
〃The truth； and the servants will confirm it to youfor I feel that
my revelations are scarcely believable。〃
〃But it is impossible！ impossible！〃 said the poor child； whose
agitation increased with every word of the adroit Provencal。 〃I cannot
be the cause of such dreadful harm。〃
〃That is； you did not intend to be； for the harm is done； and I pray
Heaven it may not be irremediable。〃
〃But what am I to do； good God！〃 cried Celeste； wringing her hands。
〃I should answer； without hesitation； sacrifice yourself；
mademoiselle； if it were not that I should then be forced to play the
painful part of victimizer。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said Celeste； 〃you interpret ill the resistance that I
have made； though； in fact； I have scarcely expressed it。 I have
certainly had a preference； but I have never considered myself in the
light of a victim； and whatever it is necessary to do to restore peace
in this house to which I have brought trouble； I shall do it without
repugnance； and even willingly。〃
〃That would be for me；〃 said la Peyrade； humbly； 〃more than I could
dare ask for myself； but； for the result which we both seek； I must
tell you frankly that something more is needed。 Madame Thuillier has
not changed her nature to instantly change back again on the mere
assurance by others of your compliance。 It is necessary that she
should hear from your own lips that you accede to my suit； and that
you do so with eagerness；assumed； indeed； but sufficiently well
assumed to induce her to believe in it。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Celeste。 〃I shall know how to seem smiling and happy。
My godmother； monsieur； has been a mother to me； and for such a
mother； what is there that I would not endure？〃
The position was such； and Celeste betrayed so artlessly the depth
and； at the same time； the absolute determination of her sacrifice；
that with any heart at all la Peyrade would have loathed the part he
was playing； but Celeste； to him； was a means of ascent； and provided
the ladder can hold you and hoist you； who would ever ask if it cared
to or not？ It was therefore decided that Celeste should go to her
godmother and convince her of the mistake she had made in supposing an
objection to la Peyrade which Celeste had never intended to make。
Madame Thuillier's opposition overcome； all was once more easy。 La
Peyrade took upon himself the duty of making peace between the two
sisters…in…law； and we can well imagine that he was not at a loss for
fine phrases with which to assure the artless girl of the devotion and
love which would take from her all regret for the moral compulsion she
had now undergone。
When Celeste went to her godmother she found her by no means as
difficult to convince as she had expected。 To go to the point of
rebellion which Madame Thuillier had actually reached； the poor woman；
who was acting against her instincts and against her nature； had
needed a tension of will that； in her； was almost superhuman。 No
sooner had she received the false confidences of her goddaughter than
the reaction set in； the strength failed her to continue in the path
she had taken。 She was therefore easily the dupe of the comedy which
Celeste's tender heart was made to play for la Peyrade's benefit。
The tempest calmed on this side； the barrister found no difficulty in
making Brigitte understand that in quelling the rebellion against her
authority she had gone a little farther than was proper。 This
authority being no longer in danger； Brigitte ceased to be incensed
with the sister…in…law she had been on the point of beating； and the
quarrel was settled with a few kind words and a kiss； poor Celeste
paying the costs of war。
After dinner； which was only a family meal； the notary； to whose
office they were to go on the following day to sign the contract （it
being impossible to give a second edition of the abortive party）； made
his appearance。 He came； he said； to submit the contract to the
parties interested before engrossing it。 This attention was not
surprising in a man who was just entering into business relations with
so important a person as the municipal councillor； whom it was his
interest to firmly secure for a client。
La Peyrade was far too shrewd to make any objections to the terms of
the contract； which was now read。 A few changes requested by Brigitte；
which gave the new notary a high idea of the old maid's business
capacity； showed la Peyrade plainly that more precautions were being
taken against him than were altogether becoming； but he was anxious
not to raise difficulties； and he knew that the meshes of a contract
are never so close that a determined and clever man cannot get through
them。 The appointment was then made for the signing of the contract
the next day； at two o'clock； in the notary's office； the family only
being present。
During the rest of the evening； taking advantage of Celeste's pledge
to seem smiling and happy； la Peyrade played； as it were； upon the
poor child； forced her； by a specious exhibition of gratitude and
love； to respond to him on a key that was far； indeed； from the true
state of a heart now wholly filled by Felix。 Flavie； seeing the manner
in which la Peyrade put forth his seductions； was reminded of the
pains he had formerly taken to fascinate herself。 〃The monster！〃 she
said； beneath her breath。 But she was forced to bear the torture with
a good grace； la Peyrade was evidently approved by all； and in the
course of the evening a circumstance came to light； showing a past
service done by him to the house of Thuillier； which brought his
influence and his credit to the highest point。
Minard was announced。
〃My dear friends；〃 he said； 〃I have come to make a little revelation
which will greatly surprise you； and will； I think； prove a lesson to
all of us when a question arises as to receiving foreigners in our
homes。〃
〃What is it？〃 cried Brigitte； with curiosity。
〃That Hungarian woman you were so delighted with； that Madame Torna；
Comtesse de Godollo〃
〃Well？〃 exclaimed the old maid。
〃Well；〃 continued Minard； 〃she was no better than she should be； you
were petting in your house for two months the most impudent of kept
women。〃
〃Who told you that tale？〃 asked Brigitte； not willing to admit that
she had fallen into such a snare。
〃Oh； it isn't a tale；〃 said the mayor； eagerly。 〃I know the thing
myself； 'de visu。'〃
〃Dear me！ do you frequent such women？〃 said Brigitte； resuming the
offensive。 〃That's a pretty thing！ what would Zelie say if she knew
it？〃
〃In the discharge of my duties；〃 said Minard； stiffly； provoked at
this reception of his news； 〃I have seen YOUR FRIEND； Madame de
Godollo； in company with others of her class。〃
〃How do you know it was she if you only saw her？〃 demanded Brigitte。
The wily Provencal was not the man to lose an occasion that fell to
him ready…made。
〃Monsieur le maire is not mistaken；〃 he said； with decision。
〃Tiens！ so you know her； too；〃 said Brigitte； 〃and you