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！
he had been appointed； much to his regret； a member of the Council…
general of the department〃a waste of time；〃 he remarked。 Sometimes
his brother bankers with whom he had dealings kept him to breakfast or
dinner； and he was forced also to visit his former partners； who spent
their winters in Limoges。 He cared so little to keep up his relations
to society that in twenty…five years Graslin had not offered so much
as a glass of water to any one。 When he passed along the street
persons would nudge each other and say： 〃That's Monsieur Graslin〃；
meaning； 〃There's a man who came to Limoges without a penny and has
now acquired an enormous fortune。〃 The Auvergnat banker was a model
which more than one father pointed out to his son； and wives had been
known to fling him in the faces of their husbands。
We can now understand the reasons that led a man who had become the
pivot of the financial machine of Limoges to repulse the various
propositions of marriage which parents never ceased to make to him。
The daughters of his partners； Messrs。 Perret and Grossetete； were
married before Graslin was in a position to take a wife； but as each
of these ladies had young daughters； the wiseheads of the community
finally concluded that old Perret or old Grossetete had made an
arrangement with Graslin to wait for one of his granddaughters； and
thenceforth they left him alone。
Sauviat had watched the ascending career of his compatriot more
attentively and seriously than any one else。 He had known him from the
time he first came to Limoges； but their respective positions had
changed so much； at least apparently； that their friendship； now
become merely superficial； was seldom freshened。 Still； in his
relation as compatriot； Graslin never disdained to talk with Sauviat
when they chanced to meet。 Both continued to keep up their early
/tutoiement/； but only in their native dialect。 When the receiver…
general of Bourges； the youngest of the brothers Grossetete； married
his daughter in 1823 to the youngest son of Comte Fontaine； Sauviat
felt sure that the Grossetetes would never allow Graslin to enter
their family。
After his conference with the banker； Pere Sauviat returned home
joyously。 He dined that night in his daughter's room； and after dinner
he said to his womenkind：
〃Veronique will be Madame Graslin。〃
〃Madame Graslin！〃 exclaimed Mere Sauviat； astounded。
〃Is it possible？〃 said Veronique； to whom Graslin was personally
unknown； and whose imagination regarded him very much as a Parisian
grisette would regard a Rothschild。
〃Yes； it is settled；〃 said old Sauviat solemnly。 〃Graslin will furnish
his house magnificently； he is to give our daughter a fine Parisian
carriage and the best horses to be found in the Limousin； he will buy
an estate worth five hundred thousand francs； and settle that and his
town…house upon her。 Veronique will be the first lady in Limoges； the
richest in the department； and she can do what she pleases with
Graslin。〃
Veronique's education； her religious ideas； and her boundless
affection for her parents； prevented her from making a single
objection； it did not even cross her mind to think that she had been
disposed of without reference to her own will。 On the morrow Sauviat
went to Paris； and was absent for nearly a week。
Pierre Graslin was； as can readily be imagined； not much of a talker；
he went straight and rapidly to deeds。 A thing decided on was a thing
done。 In February； 1822； a strange piece of news burst like a
thunderbolt on the town of Limoges。 The hotel Graslin was being
handsomely furnished； carriers' carts came day after day from Paris；
and their contents were unpacked in the courtyard。 Rumors flew about
the town as to the beauty and good taste of the modern or the antique
furniture as it was seen to arrive。 The great firm of Odiot and
Company sent down a magnificent service of plate by the mail…coach。
Three carriages； a caleche； a coupe； and a cabriolet arrived； wrapped
in straw with as much care as if they were jewels。
〃Monsieur Graslin is going to be married！〃
These words were said by every pair of lips in Limoges in the course
of a single evening；in the salons of the upper classes； in the
kitchens； in the shops； in the streets； in the suburbs； and before
long throughout the whole surrounding country。 But to whom？ No one
could answer。 Limoges had a mystery。
III
MARRIAGE
On the return of old Sauviat Graslin paid his first evening visit at
half…past nine o'clock。 Veronique was expecting him； dressed in her
blue silk gown and muslin guimpe； over which fell a collaret made of
lawn with a deep hem。 Her hair was simply worn in two smooth bandeaus；
gathered into a Grecian knot at the back of her head。 She was seated
on a tapestried chair beside her mother； who occupied a fine armchair
with a carved back； covered with red velvet （evidently the relic of
some old chateau）； which stood beside the fireplace。 A bright fire
blazed on the hearth。 On the chimney…piece； at either side of an
antique clock； the value of which was wholly unknown to the Sauviats；
six wax candles in two brass sconces twisted like vine…shoots； lighted
the dark room and Veronique in all her budding prime。 The old mother
was wearing her best gown。
From the silent street； at that tranquil hour； through the soft
shadows of the ancient stairway； Graslin appeared to the modest；
artless Veronique； her mind still dwelling on the sweet ideas which
Bernadin de Saint…Pierre had given her of love。
Graslin； who was short and thin； had thick black hair like the
bristles of a brush； which brought into vigorous relief a face as red
as that of a drunkard emeritus； and covered with suppurating pimples；
either bleeding or about to burst。 Without being caused by eczema or
scrofula； these signs of a blood overheated by continual toil；
anxiety； and the lust of business； by wakeful nights； poor food； and a
sober life； seemed to partake of both these diseases。 In spite of the
advice of his partners； his clerks； and his physician； the banker
would never compel himself to take the healthful precautions which
might have prevented； or would at least modify； this malady； which was
slight at first； but had greatly increased from year to year。 He
wanted to cure it； and would sometimes take baths or drink some
prescribed potion； but； hurried along on the current of his business；
he soon neglected the care of his person。 Sometimes he thought of
suspending work for a time； travelling about； and visiting the noted
baths for such diseases； but where is the hunter after millions who is
willing to stop short？
In that blazing furnace shone two gray eyes rayed with green lines
starting from the pupils； and speckled with brown spots；two
implacable eyes； full of resolution； rectitude； and shrewd
calculation。 Graslin's nose was short and turned up； he had a mouth
with thick lips； a prominent forehead； and high cheek…bones； coarse
ears with large edges discolored by the condition of his blood；in
short； he was an ancient satyr in a black satin waistcoat； brown
frock…coat； and white cravat。 His strong and vigorous shoulders； which
began life by bearing hea