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！
appearance was weakened by his manner； fierce and yet winning as it
was； he evidently laid himself out to please Lucien； and the winning
manner became almost coaxing。 Yet Lucien noticed the smallest trifles
uneasily。 He felt that the moment of decision had come； they had
reached the second stage beyond Ruffec； and the decision meant life or
death。
The Spaniard's last words vibrated through many chords in his heart；
and； to the shame of both； it must be said that all that was worst in
Lucien responded to an appeal deliberately made to his evil impulses；
and the eyes that studied the poet's beautiful face had read him very
clearly。 Lucien beheld Paris once more； in imagination he caught again
at the reins of power let fall from his unskilled hands； and he
avenged himself！ The comparisons which he himself had drawn so lately
between the life of Paris and life in the provinces faded from his
mind with the more painful motives for suicide； he was about to return
to his natural sphere； and this time with a protector； a political
intriguer unscrupulous as Cromwell。
〃I was alone； now there will be two of us；〃 he told himself。 And then
this priest had been more and more interested as he told of his sins
one after another。 The man's charity had grown with the extent of his
misdoings； nothing had astonished this confessor。 And yet； what could
be the motive of a mover in the intrigues of kings？ Lucien at first
was fain to be content with the banal answerthe Spanish are a
generous race。 The Spaniard is generous！ even so the Italian is
jealous and a poisoner； the Frenchman fickle； the German frank； the
Jew ignoble； and the Englishman noble。 Reverse these verdicts and you
shall arrive within a reasonable distance of the truth！ The Jews have
monopolized the gold of the world； they compose Robert the Devil； act
Phedre； sing William Tell； give commissions for pictures and build
palaces； write Reisebilder and wonderful verse； they are more powerful
than ever； their religion is accepted； they have lent money to the
Holy Father himself！ As for Germany； a foreigner is often asked
whether he has a contract in writing； and this is in the smallest
matters； so tricky are they in their dealings。 In France the spectacle
of national blunders has never lacked national applause for the past
fifty years； we continue to wear hats which no mortal can explain； and
every change of government is made on the express condition that
things shall remain exactly as they were before。 England flaunts her
perfidy in the face of the world； and her abominable treachery is only
equaled by her greed。 All the gold of two Indies passed through the
hands of Spain； and now she has nothing left。 There is no country in
the world where poison is so little in request as in Italy； no country
where manners are easier or more gentle。 As for the Spaniard； he has
traded largely on the reputation of the Moor。
As the Canon of Toledo returned to the caleche； he had spoken a word
to the post…boy。 〃Drive post…haste；〃 he said； 〃and there will be three
francs for drink…money for you。〃 Then； seeing that Lucien hesitated；
〃Come！ come！〃 he exclaimed； and Lucien took his place again； telling
himself that he meant to try the effect of the argumentum ad hominem。
〃Father；〃 he began； 〃after pouring out； with all the coolness in the
world； a series of maxims which the vulgar would consider profoundly
immoral〃
〃And so they are；〃 said the priest； 〃that is why Jesus Christ said
that it must needs be that offences come； my son； and that is why the
world displays such horror of offences。〃
〃A man of your stamp will not be surprised by the question which I am
about to ask？〃
〃Indeed； my son； you do not know me；〃 said Carlos Herrera。 〃Do you
suppose that I should engage a secretary unless I knew that I could
depend upon his principles sufficiently to be sure that he would not
rob me？ I like you。 You are as innocent in every way as a twenty…year…
old suicide。 Your question？〃
〃Why do you take an interest in me？ What price do you set on my
obedience？ Why should you give me everything？ What is your share？〃
The Spaniard looked at Lucien； and a smile came over his face。
〃Let us wait till we come to the next hill； we can walk up and talk
out in the open。 The back seat of a traveling carriage is not the
place for confidences。〃
They traveled in silence for sometime； the rapidity of the movement
seemed to increase Lucien's moral intoxication。
〃Here is a hill； father；〃 he said at last awakening from a kind of
dream。
〃Very well； we will walk。〃 The Abbe called to the postilion to stop；
and the two sprang out upon the road。
〃You child；〃 said the Spaniard； taking Lucien by the arm； 〃have you
ever thought over Otway's Venice Preserved？ Did you understand the
profound friendship between man and man which binds Pierre and Jaffier
each to each so closely that a woman is as nothing in comparison； and
all social conditions are changed？Well； so much for the poet。〃
〃So the canon knows something of the drama；〃 thought Lucien。 〃Have you
read Voltaire？〃 he asked。
〃I have done better；〃 said the other； 〃I put his doctrine in
practice。〃
〃You do not believe in God？〃
〃Come！ it is I who am the atheist； is it？〃 the Abbe said； smiling。
〃Let us come to practical matters； my child；〃 he added； putting an arm
round Lucien's waist。 〃I am forty…six years old； I am the natural son
of a great lord； consequently； I have no family； and I have a heart。
But； learn this； carve it on that still so soft brain of yoursman
dreads to be alone。 And of all kinds of isolation； inward isolation is
the most appalling。 The early anchorite lived with God； he dwelt in
the spirit world； the most populous world of all。 The miser lives in a
world of imagination and fruition； his whole life and all that he is；
even his sex； lies in his brain。 A man's first thought； be he leper or
convict； hopelessly sick or degraded； is to find another with a like
fate to share it with him。 He will exert the utmost that is in him；
every power； all his vital energy； to satisfy that craving； it is his
very life。 But for that tyrannous longing； would Satan have found
companions？ There is a whole poem yet to be written； a first part of
Paradise Lost； Milton's poem is only the apology for the revolt。〃
〃It would be the Iliad of Corruption；〃 said Lucien。
〃Well； I am alone； I live alone。 If I wear the priest's habit； I have
not a priest's heart。 I like to devote myself to some one； that is my
weakness。 That is my life； that is how I came to be a priest。 I am not
afraid of ingratitude； and I am grateful。 The Church is nothing to me；
it is an idea。 I am devoted to the King of Spain； but you cannot give
affection to a King of Spain； he is my protector； he towers above me。
I want to love my creature； to mould him； fashion him to my use； and
love him as a father loves his child。 I shall drive in your tilbury；
my boy； enjoy your success with women； and say to myself； 'This fine
young fellow； this Marquis de Rubempre； my creation whom I have
brought into this great world； is my very Self； his greatness is my
doing； he speaks or is silent with my voice； he consu