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！
La Bougival secretly learned to cook； became neat and handy； and
discovered the old man's ways。 She took the utmost care of the house
and furniture； in short she was indefatigable。 Not only did the doctor
wish to keep his private life within four walls； as the saying is； but
he also had certain reasons for hiding a knowledge of his business
affairs from his relatives。 At the end of the second year after his
arrival La Bougival was the only servant in the house； on her
discretion he knew he could count； and he disguised his real purposes
by the all…powerful open reason of a necessary economy。 To the great
satisfaction of his heirs he became a miser。 Without fawning or
wheedling； solely by the influence of her devotion and solicitude； La
Bougival； who was forty…three years old at the time this tale begins；
was the housekeeper of the doctor and his protegee； the pivot on which
the whole house turned； in short； the confidential servant。 She was
called La Bougival from the admitted impossibility of applying to her
person the name that actually belonged to her； Antoinettefor names
and forms do obey the laws of harmony。
The doctor's miserliness was not mere talk； it was real； and it had an
object。 From the year 1817 he cut off two of his newspapers and ceased
subscribing to periodicals。 His annual expenses； which all Nemours
could estimate； did not exceed eighteen hundred francs a year。 Like
most old men his wants in linen； boots； and clothing； were very few。
Every six months he went to Paris； no doubt to draw and reinvest his
income。 In fifteen years he never said a single word to any one in
relation to his affairs。 His confidence in Bongrand was of slow
growth； it was not until after the revolution of 1830 that he told him
of his projects。 Nothing further was known of the doctor's life either
by the bourgeoisie at large or by his heirs。 As for his political
opinions； he did not meddle in public matters seeing that he paid less
than a hundred francs a year in taxes； and refused； impartially； to
subscribe to either royalist or liberal demands。 His known horror for
the priesthood； and his deism were so little obtrusive that he turned
out of his house a commercial runner sent by his great…nephew Desire
to ask a subscription to the 〃Cure Meslier〃 and the 〃Discours du
General Foy。〃 Such tolerance seemed inexplicable to the liberals of
Nemours。
The doctor's three collateral heirs； Minoret…Levrault and his wife；
Monsieur and Madame Massin…Levrault； junior； Monsieur and Madame
Cremiere…Cremierewhom we shall in future call simply Cremiere；
Massin； and Minoret； because these distinctions among homonyms is
quite unnecessary out of the Gatinaismet together as people do in
little towns。 The post master gave a grand dinner on his son's
birthday； a ball during the carnival； another on the anniversary of
his marriage； to all of which he invited the whole bourgeoisie of
Nemours。 The collector received his relations and friends twice a
year。 The clerk of the court； too poor； he said； to fling himself into
such extravagance； lived in a small way in a house standing half…way
down the Grand'Rue； the ground…floor of which was let to his sister；
the letter…postmistress of Nemours； a situation she owed to the
doctor's kind offices。 Nevertheless； in the course of the year these
three families did meet together frequently； in the houses of friends；
in the public promenades； at the market； on their doorsteps； or； of a
Sunday in the square； as on this occasion； so that one way and another
they met nearly every day。 For the last three years the doctor's age；
his economies； and his probable wealth had led to allusions； or frank
remarks； among the townspeople as to the disposition of his property；
a topic which made the doctor and his heirs of deep interest to the
little town。 For the last six months not a day passed that friends and
neighbours did not speak to the heirs； with secret envy； of the day
the good man's eyes would shut and the coffers open。
〃Doctor Minoret may be an able physician； on good terms with death；
but none but God is eternal；〃 said one。
〃Pooh； he'll bury us all； his health is better than ours；〃 replied an
heir； hypocritically。
〃Well； if you don't get the money yourselves； your children will；
unless that little Ursula〃
〃He won't leave it all to her。〃
Ursula； as Madame Massin had predicted； was the bete noire of the
relations； their sword of Damocles； and Madame Cremiere's favorite
saying； 〃Well； whoever lives will know；〃 shows that they wished at any
rate more harm to her than good。
The collector and the clerk of the court； poor in comparison with the
post master； had often estimated； by way of conversation； the doctor's
property。 If they met their uncle walking on the banks of the canal or
along the road they would look at each other piteously。
〃He must have got hold of some elixir of life；〃 said one。
〃He has made a bargain with the devil；〃 replied the other。
〃He ought to give us the bulk of it； that fat Minoret doesn't need
anything；〃 said Massin。
〃Ah！ but Minoret has a son who'll waste his substance；〃 answered
Cremiere。
〃How much do you really think the doctor has？〃
〃At the end of twelve years； say twelve thousand francs saved each
year； that would give one hundred and forty…four thousand francs； and
the interest brings in at least one hundred thousand more。 But as he
must； if he consults a notary in Paris； have made some good strokes of
business； and we know that up to 1822 he could get seven or eight per
cent from the State； he must now have at least four hundred thousand
francs； without counting the capital of his fourteen thousand a year
from the five per cents。 If he were to die to…morrow without leaving
anything to Ursula we should get at least seven or eight hundred
thousand francs； besides the house and furniture。〃
〃Well； a hundred thousand to Minoret； and three hundred thousand
apiece to you and me； that would be fair。〃
〃Ha； that would make us comfortable！〃
〃If he did that；〃 said Massin； 〃I should sell my situation in court
and buy an estate； I'd try to be judge at Fontainebleau； and get
myself elected deputy。〃
〃As for me I should buy a brokerage business；〃 said the collector。
〃Unluckily； that girl he has on his arm and the abbe have got round
him。 I don't believe we can do anything with him。〃
〃Still； we know very well he will never leave anything to the Church。〃
CHAPTER IV
ZELIE
The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass
will now be understood。 The dullest persons have mind enough to
foresee a danger to self…interests。 Self…interest constitutes the mind
of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist； and on that ground
the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful。 So the fatal
reasoning； 〃If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her
godfather into the pale of the Ch