Monsieur Godeau, among financiers, was one of the most classical to be found,—that is to say, one of the fattest. At the present time he had the gout, which was nearly as fashionable in his day as the nervous headache is in ours. Stretched upon a lounge, his eyes half-closed, he was coddling himself in the coziest corner of a dainty boudoir. The panel-mirrors which surrounded him, majestically3 duplicated on every side his enormous person; bags filled with gold covered the table; around him, the furniture, the wainscot, the doors, the locks, the mantel-piece, the ceiling were gilded4; so was his coat. I do not know but that his brain was gilded too. He was calculating the issue of a little business affair which could not fail to bring him a few thousand louis; and was even deigning5 to smile over it to himself when Croisilles was announced. The young man entered with an humble6, but resolute7 air, and with every outward manifestation8 of that inward tumult9 with which we find no difficulty in crediting a man who is longing10 to drown himself. Monsieur Godeau was a little surprised at this unexpected visit; then he thought his daughter had been buying some trifle, and was confirmed in that thought by seeing her appear almost at the same time with the young man. He made a sign to Croisilles not to sit down but to speak. The young lady seated herself on a sofa, and Croisilles, remaining standing11, expressed himself in these terms:
“Sir, my father has failed. The bankruptcy12 of a partner has forced him to suspend his payments and unable to witness his own shame he has fled to America, after having paid his last sou to his creditors13. I was absent when all this happened; I have just come back and have known of these events only two hours. I am absolutely without resources, and determined14 to die. It is very probable that, on leaving your house, I shall throw myself into the water. In all probability, I would already have done so, if I had not chanced to meet, at the very moment, this young lady, your daughter. I love her, from the very depths of my heart; for two years I have been in love with her, and my silence, until now, proves better than anything else the respect I feel for her; but to-day, in declaring my passion to you, I fulfill15 an imperative16 duty, and I would think I was offending God, if, before giving myself over to death, I did not come to ask you Mademoiselle Julie in marriage. I have not the slightest hope that you will grant this request; but I have to make it, nevertheless, for I am a good Christian17, sir, and when a good Christian sees himself come to such a point of misery18 that he can no longer suffer life, he must at least, to extenuate19 his crime, exhaust all the chances which remain to him before taking the final and fatal step.”
At the beginning of this speech, Monsieur Godeau had supposed that the young man came to borrow money, and so he prudently20 threw his handkerchief over the bags that were lying around him, preparing in advance a refusal, and a polite one, for he always felt some good-will toward the father of Croisilles. But when he had heard the young man to the end, and understood the purport21 of his visit, he never doubted one moment that the poor fellow had gone completely mad. He was at first tempted22 to ring the bell and have him put out; but, noticing his firm demeanor23, his determined look, the fermier-général took pity on so inoffensive a case of insanity24. He merely told his daughter to retire, so that she might be no longer exposed to hearing such improprieties.
While Croisilles was speaking, Mademoiselle Godeau had blushed as a peach in the month of August. At her father’s bidding, she retired25, the young man making her a profound bow, which she did not seem to notice. Left alone with Croisilles, Monsieur Godeau coughed, rose, then dropped again upon the cushions, and, trying to assume a paternal26 air, delivered himself to the following effect:
“My boy,” said he, “I am willing to believe that you are not poking27 fun at me, but you have really lost your head. I not only excuse this proceeding28, but I consent not to punish you for it. I am sorry that your poor devil of a father has become bankrupt and has skipped. It is indeed very sad, and I quite understand that such a misfortune should affect your brain. Besides, I wish to do something for you; so take this stool and sit down there.”
“It is useless, sir,” answered Croisilles. “If you refuse me, as I see you do, I have nothing left but to take my leave. I wish you every good fortune.”
“And where are you going?”
“To write to my father and say good-bye to him.”
“Eh! the devil! Any one would swear you were speaking the truth. I’ll be damned if I don’t think you are going to drown yourself.”
“That’s a bright idea! Fie on you! How can you be such a fool? Sit down, sir, I tell you, and listen to me.”
Monsieur Godeau had just made a very wise reflection, which was that it is never agreeable to have it said that a man, whoever he may be, threw himself into the water on leaving your house. He therefore coughed once more, took his snuff-box, cast a careless glance upon his shirt-frill, and continued:
“It is evident that you are nothing but a simpleton, a fool, a regular baby. You do not know what you are saying. You are ruined, that’s what has happened to you. But, my dear friend, all that is not enough; one must reflect upon the things of this world. If you came to ask me—well, good advice, for instance,—I might give it to you; but what is it you are after? You are in love with my daughter?”
“Yes, sir, and I repeat to you, that I am far from supposing that you can give her to me in marriage; but as there is nothing in the world but that, which could prevent me from dying, if you believe in God, as I do not doubt you do, you will understand the reason that brings me here.”
“Whether I believe in God or not, is no business of yours. I do not intend to be questioned. Answer me first: where have you seen my daughter?”
“Who told you her name was Julie? What are we coming to, great heavens! But be her name Julie or Javotte, do you know what is wanted in any one who aspires31 to the hand of the daughter of a fermier-général?”
“No, I am completely ignorant of it, unless it is to be as rich as she.”
“Something more is necessary, my boy; you must have a name.”
“Well! my name is Croisilles.”
“Upon my soul and conscience, sir, it seems to me to be as good a name as Godeau.”
“Indeed, sir, do not be angry; I had not the least idea of offending you. If you see in what I said anything to wound you, and wish to punish me for it, there is no need to get angry. Have I not told you that on leaving here I am going straight to drown myself?”
Although M. Godeau had promised himself to send Croisilles away as gently as possible, in order to avoid all scandal, his prudence34 could not resist the vexation of his wounded pride. The interview to which he had to resign himself was monstrous35 enough in itself; it may be imagined, then, what he felt at hearing himself spoken to in such terms.
“Listen,” he said, almost beside himself, and determined to close the matter at any cost. “You are not such a fool that you cannot understand a word of common sense. Are you rich? No. Are you noble? Still less so. What is this frenzy36 that brings you here? You come to worry me; you think you are doing something clever; you know perfectly37 well that it is useless; you wish to make me responsible for your death. Have you any right to complain of me? Do I owe a son to your father? Is it my fault that you have come to this? Mon Dieu! When a man is going to drown himself, he keeps quiet about it—”
“That is what I am going to do now. I am your very humble servant.”
“One moment! It shall not be said that you had recourse to me in vain. There, my boy, here are three louis d’or: go and have dinner in the kitchen, and let me hear no more about you.”
“Much obliged; I am not hungry, and I have no use for your money.”
So Croisilles left the room, and the financier, having set his conscience at rest by the offer he had just made, settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and resumed his meditations38.
Mademoiselle Godeau, during this time, was not so far away as one might suppose; she had, it is true, withdrawn39 in obedience40 to her father; but, instead of going to her room, she had remained listening behind the door. If the extravagance of Croisilles seemed incredible to her, still she found nothing to offend her in it; for love, since the world has existed, has never passed as an insult. On the other hand, as it was not possible to doubt the despair of the young man, Mademoiselle Godeau found herself a victim, at one and the same time, to the two sentiments most dangerous to women—compassion and curiosity. When she saw the interview at an end, and Croisilles ready to come out, she rapidly crossed the drawing-room where she stood, not wishing to be surprised eavesdropping41, and hurried towards her apartment; but she almost immediately retraced42 her steps. The idea that perhaps Croisilles was really going to put an end to his life troubled her in spite of herself. Scarcely aware of what she was doing, she walked to meet him; the drawing-room was large, and the two young people came slowly towards each other. Croisilles was as pale as death, and Mademoiselle Godeau vainly sought words to express her feelings. In passing beside him, she let fall on the floor a bunch of violets which she held in her hand. He at once bent43 down and picked up the bouquet44 in order to give it back to her, but instead of taking it, she passed on without uttering a word, and entered her father’s room. Croisilles, alone again, put the flowers in his breast, and left the house with a troubled heart, not knowing what to think of his adventure.
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1
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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deigning
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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7
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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8
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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9
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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12
bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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13
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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14
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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15
fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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18
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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19
extenuate
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| v.减轻，使人原谅 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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21
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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22
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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23
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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25
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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27
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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28
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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aspires
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 ) | |
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32
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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33
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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34
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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35
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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38
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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39
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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40
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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41
eavesdropping
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| n. 偷听 | |
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42
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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43
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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44
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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