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！
Savinien。 You'd pay too high a price for his name； and for that little
moustache curled up at the points like two hooks； and his black hair。
How do you expect to manage on seven thousand francs a year； with a
man who made two hundred thousand francs of debt in two years？ Besides
though this is a thing you don't know yetall men are alike； and
without flattering myself too much； I may say that my Desire is the
equal of a king's son。〃
〃You forget； madame； the danger your son is in at this moment； which
can； perhaps； be averted only by Monsieur de Portenduere's desire to
please me。 If he knew that you had made me these unworthy proposals
that danger might not be escaped。 Besides； let me tell you； madame；
that I shall be far happier in the moderate circumstances to which you
allude than I should be in the opulence with which you are trying to
dazzle me。 For reasons hitherto unknown； but which will yet be made
known； Monsieur Minoret； by persecuting me in an odious manner；
strengthened the affection that exists between Monsieur de Portenduere
and myselfwhich I can now admit because his mother has blessed it。 I
will also tell you that this affection； sanctioned and legitimate； is
life itself to me。 No destiny； however brilliant； however lofty； could
make me change。 I love without the possibility of changing。 It would
therefore be a crime if I married a man to whom I could take nothing
but a soul that is Savinien's。 But； madame； since you force me to be
explicit； I must tell you that even if I did not love Monsieur de
Portenduere I could not bring myself to bear the troubles and joys of
life in the company of your son。 If Monsieur Savinien made debts； you
have often paid those of your son。 Our characters have neither the
similarities nor the differences which enable two persons to live
together without bitterness。 Perhaps I should not have towards him the
forbearance a wife owes to her husband； I should then be a trial to
him。 Pray cease to think of an alliance of which I count myself quite
unworthy； and which I fell I can decline without pain to you； for with
the great advantages you name to me； you cannot fail to find some girl
of better station； more wealth； and more beauty than mine。〃
〃Will you swear to me；〃 said Zelie； 〃to prevent these young men from
taking that journey and fighting that duel？〃
〃It will be； I foresee； the greatest sacrifice that Monsieur de
Portenduere can make to me； but I shall tell him that my bridal crown
must have no blood upon it。〃
〃Well； I thank you； cousin； and I can only hope you will be happy。〃
〃And I； madame； sincerely wish that you may realize all your
expectations for the future of your son。〃
These words struck a chill to the heart of the mother； who suddenly
remembered the predictions of Ursula's last dream； she stood still；
her small eyes fixed on Ursula's face； so white； so pure； so beautiful
in her mourning dress； for Ursula had risen too to hasten her so…
called cousin's departure。
〃Do you believe in dreams？〃 said Zelie。
〃I suffer from them too much not to do so。〃
〃But if you do〃 began Zelie。
〃Adieu； madame；〃 exclaimed Ursula； bowing to Madame Minoret as she
heard the abbe's entering step。
The priest was surprised to find Madame Minoret with Ursula。 The
uneasiness depicted on the thin and wrinkled face of the former post
mistress induced him to take note of the two women。
〃Do you believe in spirits？〃 Zelie asked him。
〃What do you believe in？〃 he answered； smiling。
〃They are all sly；〃 thought Zelie；〃every one of them！ They want to
deceive us。 That old priest and the old justice and that young scamp
Savinien have got some plan in their heads。 Dreams！ no more dreams
than there are hairs on the palm of my hand。〃
With two stiff； curt bows she left the room。
〃I know why Savinien went to Fontainebleau；〃 said Ursula to the abbe；
telling him about the duel and begging him to use his influence to
prevent it。
〃Did Madame Minoret offer you her son's hand？〃 asked the abbe。
〃Yes。〃
〃Minoret has no doubt confessed his crime to her；〃 added the priest。
Monsieur Bongrand； who came in at this moment； was told of the step
taken by Zelie； whose hatred to Ursula was well known to him。 He
looked at the abbe as if to say： 〃Come out； I want to speak to you of
Ursula without her hearing me。〃
〃Savinien must be told that you refused eighty thousand francs a year
and the dandy of Nemours；〃 he said aloud。
〃Is it； then； a sacrifice？〃 she answered； laughing。 〃Are there
sacrifices when one truly loves？ Is it any merit to refuse the son of
a man we all despise？ Others may make virtues of their dislikes； but
that ought not to be the morality of a girl brought up by a de Jordy；
and the abbe； and my dear godfather；〃 she said； looking up at his
portrait。
Bongrand took Ursula's hand and kissed it。
〃Do you know what Madame Minoret came about？〃 said the justice as soon
as they were in the street。
〃What？〃 asked the priest； looking at Bongrand with an air that seemed
merely curious。
〃She had some plan for restitution。〃
〃Then you think〃 began the abbe。
〃I don't think； I know； I have the certaintyand see there！〃
So saying； Bongrand pointed to Minoret； who was coming towards them on
his way home。
〃When I was a lawyer in the criminal courts；〃 continued Bongrand； 〃I
naturally had many opportunities to study remorse； but I have never
seen any to equal that of this man。 What gives him that flaccidity；
that pallor of the cheeks where the skin was once as tight as a drum
and bursting with the good sound health of a man without a care？ What
has put those black circles round his eyes and dulled their rustic
vivacity？ Did you ever expect to see lines of care on that forehead？
Who would have supposed that the brain of that colossus could be
excited？ The man has felt his heart！ I am a judge of remorse； just as
you are a judge of repentance； my dear abbe。 That which I have
hitherto observed has developed in men who were awaiting punishment；
or enduring it to get quits with the world； they were either resigned；
or breathing vengeance； but here is remorse without expiation； remorse
pure and simple； fastening on its prey and rending him。〃
The judge stopped Minoret and said： 〃Do you know that Mademoiselle
Mirouet has refused your son's hand？〃
〃But；〃 interposed the abbe； 〃do not be uneasy； she will prevent the
duel。〃
〃Ah； then my wife succeeded？〃 said Minoret。 〃I am very glad； for it
nearly killed me。〃
〃You are； indeed； so changed that you are no longer like yourself；〃
remarked Bongrand。
Minoret looked alternately at the two men to see if the priest had
betrayed the dreams； but the abbe's face was unmoved； expressing only
a calm sadness which reassured the guilty man。
〃And it is the more surprising；〃 went on Monsieur Bongrand； 〃because
you ought to be filled with satisfaction。 You are lord of Rouvre and
all those farms and mills and meadows andwith your investments in
the Funds； you have an income of one hundred thousand francs〃
〃I haven't anything in the Funds；〃 cried Minoret； hastily。
〃Pooh；〃 said Bongrand； 〃this is just as it was about your son's love
for Ursula；first he denied it； and now he asks her in marriage。
After trying to kill Ursula with sorrow you now want her for a
daughter…in…law。 My good friend； you have got some secret in your
pouch。〃
Minoret tried to answer； he searched for words and could find nothing
better than：
〃You're very queer； monsieur。 Good…day； gentlemen〃； and he turned with
a slow step into the Rue des Bourgeois。
〃He has stolen the fortune of our poor Ursula；〃 said Bongrand； 〃but
how can we ever find the proof？〃
〃God may〃
〃God has put into us the sentiment that is now appealing to that man；
but all that is merely what is called 'presumptive；' and human justice
requires something more。〃
The abbe maintained the silence of a priest。 As often happens in
similar circumstances； he thought much oftener than he wished to think
of the robbery； now almost admitted by Minoret； and of Savinien's
happiness； delayed only by Ursula's loss of fortunefor the old lady
had privately owned to him that she knew she had done wrong in not
consenting to the marriage in the doctor's lifetime。
CHAPTER XXI
SHOWING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO STEAL THAT
WHICH SEEMS VERY EASILY STOLEN
The following day； as the abbe was leaving the altar after saying
mass； a thought struck him with such force that it seemed to him the
utterance of a voice。 He made a sign to Ursula to wait for him； and
accompanied her home without having breakfasted。
〃My child；〃 he said； 〃I want to see the two volumes your godfather
showed you in your dreamswhere he said that he placed those
certificates and banknotes。〃
Ursula and the abbe went up to the library and