'Haven't you got another cassock?' he asked.
'No,' quietly replied Abbé Faujas. 'This one is still very decent, I think.'
'Oh, certainly! certainly!' stammered4 the old priest; 'but it's very cold outside. Hadn't you better put something round your shoulders? Well! well! come along then!'
The nights had just commenced to be frosty. Abbé Bourrette, who was warmly wrapped in a padded silk overcoat, got quite out of breath as he panted along after Abbé Faujas, who wore nothing over his shoulders but his thin, threadbare cassock. They stopped at the corner of the Rue6 de la Banne and the Place of the Sub-Prefecture, in front of a house built entirely7 of white stone, one of the handsome mansions8 of the new part of the town. A servant in blue livery received them at the door and ushered9 them into the hall. He smiled at Abbé Bourrette as he helped him to take off his overcoat, and seemed greatly surprised at the appearance of the other priest, that tall, rough-hewn man, who had ventured out on such a bitter night without a cloak.
The drawing-room was on the first floor, and Abbé Faujas entered it with head erect10, and grave, though perfectly11 easy,[Pg 54] demeanour, while Abbé Bourrette, who was always very nervous when he went to the Rougons' house, although he never missed a single one of their receptions, made his escape into an adjoining apartment, thus cowardly leaving his companion in the lurch12. Faujas, however, slowly traversed the whole drawing-room in order to pay his respects to the mistress of the house, whom he felt sure he could recognise among a group of five or six ladies. He was obliged to introduce himself, and he did so in two or three words. Félicité had immediately risen from her seat, and she closely if quickly scanned him from head to foot. Then her eyes sought his own, as she smilingly said:
'I am delighted, Monsieur l'Abbé; I am delighted indeed.'
The priest's passage through the drawing-room had created considerable sensation. One young lady who had suddenly raised her head, had quite trembled with alarm at the sight of that great black mass in front of her. The impression created by the Abbé was, indeed, an unfavourable one. He was too tall, too square-shouldered, his face was too hard and his hands were too big. His cassock, moreover, looked so frightfully shabby beneath the bright light of the chandelier that the ladies felt a kind of shame at seeing a priest so shockingly dressed. They spread out their fans, and began to giggle13 behind them, while pretending to be quite unconscious of the Abbé's presence. The men, meantime, exchanged very significant glances.
Félicité saw what a very churlish welcome the priest was receiving; she seemed annoyed at it, and remained standing, raising her voice in order to force her guests to hear the compliments which she addressed to Faujas.
'That dear Bourrette,' said she, in her most winning tone, 'has told me what difficulty he had in persuading you to come. I am really quite cross with you, sir. You have no right to deprive society of the pleasure of your company.'
The priest bowed without making any reply, and the old lady laughed as she began to speak again, laying a meaning emphasis on certain of her words.
'I know more about you than you imagine, in spite of all the care you have taken to hide your light under a bushel. I have been told about you; you are a very holy man, and I want to be your friend. We shall have an opportunity to talk about this, for I hope that you will now consider yourself as one of our circle.'
[Pg 55]
Abbé Faujas looked at her fixedly14, as though he had recognised some masonic sign in the movements of her fan. He lowered his voice as he replied:
'Madame, I am entirely at your service.'
'I am delighted to hear you say so,' said Madame Rougon with another laugh. 'You will find that we do our best here to make everyone happy. But come with me and let me present you to my husband.'
She crossed the room, disturbing several of her guests in her progress to make way for Abbé Faujas, thus giving him an importance which put the finishing touch to the prejudice against him. In the adjoining room some card-tables were set out. She went straight up to her husband, who was gravely playing whist. He seemed rather impatient as she stooped down to whisper in his ear, but the few words she said to him made him spring briskly from his seat.
'Very good! very good!' he murmured.
Then, having first apologised to those with whom he was playing, he went and shook hands with Abbé Faujas.
At that time Rougon was a stout15, pale man of seventy, and had acquired all a millionaire's gravity of expression. He was generally considered by the Plassans people to have a fine head, the white, uncommunicative head of a man of political importance. After he had exchanged a few courtesies with the priest he resumed his seat at the card-table. Félicité had just gone back into the drawing-room, her face still wreathed with smiles.
When Abbé Faujas at last found himself alone he did not manifest the slightest sign of embarrassment16. He remained for a moment watching the whist-players, or appearing to do so, for he was, in reality, examining the curtains, and carpet, and furniture. It was a small wainscotted room, and book-cases of dark pear-tree wood, ornamented17 with brass18 beadings, occupied three of its sides. It looked like a magistrate's private sanctum. At last the priest, who was apparently19 desirous of making a complete inspection20, returned to the drawing-room and crossed it. It was hung with green, and was in keeping with the smaller salon21, but there was more gilding22 about it, so that it suggested the soberness of a minister's private room combined with the brightness of a great restaurant. On the other side of it was a sort of boudoir where Félicité received her friends during the day. This was hung in straw colour, and was so full of easy-chairs and ottomans and couches, covered[Pg 56] with brocade with a pattern of violet scroll-work, that there was scarcely room to move about in it.
Abbé Faujas took a seat near the fireplace and pretended to be warming his feet. He had placed himself in such a position that through the open doorway23 he could command a view of the greater part of the large drawing-room. He reflected upon Madame Rougon's gracious reception, and half closed his eyes, as though he were thinking out some problem which it was rather difficult to solve. A moment or two afterwards, while he was still absorbed in his reverie, he heard someone speaking behind him. His large-backed easy-chair concealed24 him from sight, and he kept his eyes still more tightly closed than before, as he remained there listening, looking for all the world as though the warmth of the fire had sent him to sleep.
'I went to their house just once at that time,' an unctuous25 voice was saying. 'They were then living opposite this place, on the other side of the Rue de la Banne. You were at Paris then; but all Plassans at that period knew of the Rougons' yellow drawing-room. A wretched room it was, hung with lemon-coloured paper at fifteen sous the piece, and containing some rickety furniture covered with cheap velvet26. But look at black Félicité now, dressed in plum-coloured satin and seated on yonder couch! Do you see how she gives her hand to little Delangre? Upon my word, she is giving it to him to kiss!'
Then a younger voice said with something of a sneer27: 'They must have managed to lay their hands on a pretty big share of plunder28 to be able to have such a beautiful drawing-room; it is the handsomest, you know, in the whole town.'
'The lady,' the other voice resumed, 'has always had a passion for receptions. When she was hard up she drank water herself so that she might be able to provide lemonade for her guests. Oh! I know all about the Rougons. I have watched their whole career. They are very clever people, and the Coup29 d'état has enabled them to satisfy the dreams of luxury and pleasure which had been tormenting30 them for forty years. Now you see what a magnificent style they keep up, how lavishly31 they live! This house which they now occupy formerly32 belonged to a Monsieur Peirotte, one of the receivers of taxes, who was killed in the affair at Sainte-Roure in the insurrection of '51. Upon my word, they've had the most[Pg 57] extraordinary luck: a stray bullet removed the man who was standing in their way, and they stepped into his place and house. If it had been a choice between the receivership and the house, Félicité would certainly have chosen the house. She had been hankering after it for half a score years nearly, making herself quite ill by her covetous33 glances at the magnificent curtains that hung at the windows. It was her Tuileries, as the Plassans people used to say, after the 2nd of December.'
'But where did they get the money to buy this house?'
'Ah! no one knows that, my dear fellow. Their son Eugène, who has had such amazing political success in Paris, and has become a deputy, a minister and a confidential34 adviser35 at the Tuileries, had no difficulty in obtaining the receivership and the cross of the Legion of Honour for his father, who had played his cards very cleverly here. As for the house, they probably paid for it by borrowing the money from some banker. Anyhow, they are wealthy people to-day, and are fast making up for lost time. I fancy their son keeps up a constant correspondence with them, for they have not made a single false step as yet.'
The person who was speaking paused for a moment, then resumed with a low laugh:
'Ah! I really can't help laughing when I see that precious grasshopper36 of a Félicité putting on all her fine duchess's airs! I always think of the old yellow drawing-room with its threadbare carpet and shabby furniture and little fly-specked chandelier. And now, to-day, she receives the Rastoil young ladies. Just look how she is man?uvring the train of her dress! Some day, my dear fellow, that old woman will burst of sheer triumph in the middle of her green drawing-room!'
Abbé Faujas had gently let his head turn so that he might peep at what was going on in the drawing-room. There he observed Madame Rougon standing in all her majesty37 in the centre of a group of guests. She seemed to have increased in stature38, and every back around bent39 before her glance, which was like that of some victorious40 queen.
'Ah! here's your father!' said the person with the unctuous voice; 'the good doctor is just arriving. I'm quite surprised that he has never told you of all these matters. He knows far more about them than I do.'
'Oh! my father is always afraid lest I should compromise[Pg 58] him,' replied the other gaily41. 'You know how he rails at me and swears that I shall make him lose all his patients. Ah! excuse me, please; I see the young Maffres over there, I must go and shake hands with them.'
There was a sound of chairs being moved, and Abbé Faujas saw a tall young man, whose face already bore signs of physical weariness, cross the small room. The other person, the one who had given such a lively account of the Rougons, also rose from his seat. A lady who happened to pass near him allowed him to pay her some pretty compliments; and she smiled at him and called him 'dear Monsieur de Condamin.' Thereupon the priest recognised him as the fine man of sixty whom Mouret had pointed42 out to him in the garden of the Sub-Prefecture. Monsieur de Condamin came and sat down on the other side of the fireplace. He was startled to see Abbé Faujas, who had been quite concealed by the back of his chair, but he appeared in no way disconcerted. He smiled and, with amicable43 self-possession, exclaimed:
'I think, Monsieur l'Abbé, that we have just been unintentionally confessing ourselves. It's a great sin, isn't it, to backbite44 one's neighbour? Fortunately you were there to give us absolution.'
The Abbé, in spite of the control which he usually had over his features, could not restrain a slight blush. He perfectly understood that Monsieur de Condamin was reproaching him for having kept so quiet in order to listen to what was being said. Monsieur de Condamin, however, was not a man to preserve a grudge45 against anyone for their curiosity, but quite the contrary. He was delighted at the complicity which the matter seemed to have established between himself and the Abbé. It put him at liberty to talk freely and to while away the evening in relating scandalous stories about the persons present. There was nothing that he enjoyed so much, and this Abbé, who had only recently arrived at Plassans, seemed likely to prove a good listener, the more especially as he had an ugly face, the face of a man who would listen to anything, and wore such a shabby cassock that it would be preposterous46 to think that any confidence to which he might be treated would lead to unpleasantness.
By the end of a quarter of an hour Monsieur de Condamin became quite at his ease, and gave Abbé Faujas a detailed47 account of Plassans with all the suave48 politeness of a man of the world.
[Pg 59]
'You are a stranger amongst us, Monsieur l'Abbé,' said he, 'and I shall be delighted if I can be of any assistance to you. Plassans is a little hole of a place, but one gets reconciled to it in time. I myself come from the neighbourhood of Dijon, and when I was appointed conservator of woods and rivers in this district, I found the place detestable, and thought I should be bored to death here. That was just before the Empire. After '51, the provinces were by no means cheerful places to live in, I assure you. In this department the folks were alarmed if they heard a dog bark, and they were ready to sink into the ground at the sight of a gendarme49. But they calmed down by degrees, and resumed their old, monotonous50, uneventful existences, and in the end I grew quite resigned to my life here. I live chiefly in the open air, I take long rides on horseback, and I have made a few pleasant friendships.'
He lowered his voice, and continued confidentially51:
'If you will take my advice, Monsieur l'Abbé, you will be careful what you do. You can't imagine what a scrape I once nearly fell into. Plassans, you know, is divided into three absolutely distinct divisions: the old district, where your duties will be confined to administering consolation53 and alms; the district of Saint-Marc, where our aristocrats55 live, a district that is full of boredom56 and ill-feeling, and where you can't be too much upon your guard; and, lastly, the new town, the district which is now springing up round the Sub-Prefecture, and which is the only one where it is possible to live with any degree of comfort. At first I was foolish enough to take up my quarters in the Saint-Marc district, where I thought that my position required me to reside. There, alack! I found myself surrounded by a lot of withered57 old dowagers and mummified marquises. There wasn't an atom of sociability58, not a scrap52 of gaiety, nothing but sulky mutiny against the prosperous peace that the country was enjoying. I only just missed compromising myself, upon my word I did. Péqueur used to chaff59 me, Monsieur Péqueur des Saulaies, our sub-prefect; you know him, don't you? Well, then I crossed the Cours Sauvaire, and took rooms on the Place. At Plassans, you must know, the people have no existence, and the aristocracy are a dreadful lot that it's quite impossible to get on with; the only tolerable folks are a few parvenus60, some delightful61 persons who are ready to incur62 any expense in entertaining their official acquaintances. Our little circle of functionaries63 is a very delightful one. We live[Pg 60] amongst ourselves after our own inclinations64, without caring a rap about the townspeople, just as if we had pitched our camp in some conquered country.'
He laughed complacently65, stretched himself further back in his chair, and turned up his feet to the fire; then he took a glass of punch from a tray which one of the servants handed to him, and sipped66 it slowly while still watching Abbé Faujas out of the corner of his eye. The latter felt that politeness required him to say something.
'This house seems a very pleasant one,' he remarked, turning slightly towards the green drawing-room, whence the sound of animated68 conversation was proceeding69.
'Yes, yes,' resumed Monsieur de Condamin, who checked his remarks every now and then to take a little sip67 of punch. 'The Rougons almost make us forget Paris. You would scarcely fancy here that you were in Plassans. It is the only pleasant and amusing drawing-room in the whole place, because it is the only one where all shades of opinion elbow one another. Péqueur, too, has very pleasant assemblies. It must cost the Rougons a lot of money, and they haven't the public purse behind them like Péqueur has; though they have something better still, the pockets of the taxpayers70.'
He seemed quite pleased with this witticism71 of his. He set his empty glass, which he had been holding in his hand, upon the mantelpiece, and then, drawing his chair near to Abbé Faujas and leaning towards him, he began to speak again:
'The most amusing comedies are continually being played here. But you ought to know the actors to appreciate them. You see Madame Rastoil over yonder between her two daughters—that lady of about forty-five with a head like a sheep's? Well, have you noticed how her eyelids72 trembled and blinked when Delangre came and sat down in front of her? Delangre is the man there on the left, with a likeness73 to Punch. They were acquainted intimately some ten years ago, and he is said to be the father of one of the girls, but it isn't known which. The funniest part of the business is that Delangre himself didn't get on very well with his wife about the same time; and people say that the father of his daughter is an artist very well known in Plassans.'
Abbé Faujas had considered it his duty to assume a very serious expression on being made the recipient74 of such confidences as these, and he even closed his eyes and seemed to[Pg 61] hear nothing; while Monsieur de Condamin went on, as though in justification75 of himself:
'I allow myself to speak in this way of Delangre, as I know him so well. He is a wonderfully clever, pushing fellow. His father was a bricklayer, I believe. Fifteen years ago he used to take up the petty suits that other lawyers wouldn't be bothered with. Madame Rastoil extricated76 him from a condition of absolute penury77; she supplied him even with wood in the winter-time to enable him to keep himself warm. It was through her influence that he won his first cases. It's worth mentioning that at that time Delangre had been shrewd enough to manifest no particular political proclivities78; and so, in 1852, when people were looking out for a mayor, his name was at once thought of. He was the only man who could have been chosen without alarming one or other of the three divisions of the town. From that time everything has prospered79 with him, and he has a fine future before him. The only unfortunate part of the matter is that he doesn't get on very well with Péqueur; they are always wrangling80 about some silly trifles or other.'
He broke off as he saw the tall young man, with whom he had been chatting previously81, come up to him again.
'Monsieur Guillaume Porquier,' he said, introducing him to the Abbé, 'the son of Doctor Porquier.'
Then, as Guillaume seated himself, he asked him with a touch of irony82:
'Well! what did you see to admire over yonder?'
'Nothing at all, indeed!' replied the young man with a smile. 'I saw the Paloques. Madame Rougon always tries to hide them behind a curtain to prevent anything unpleasant happening. Paloque never takes his eyes off Monsieur Rastoil, hoping, no doubt, to kill him with suppressed terror. You know, of course, that the hideous83 fellow hopes to die presiding judge.'
They both laughed. The ugliness of the Paloques was a perpetual source of amusement amongst the little circle of officials. Porquier's son lowered his voice as he continued:
'I saw Monsieur Bourdeu, too. Doesn't it strike you that he's ever so much thinner since the Marquis de Lagrifoul's election? Bourdeu will never get over the loss of his prefecture; he had put all his Orleanist rancour at the service of the Legitimists in the hope that that course would lead him straight to the Chamber84, where he would be able to win back[Pg 62] that deeply-deplored prefecture. So he was horribly disgusted and hurt to find that instead of himself they chose the marquis, who is a perfect ass3 and hasn't the faintest notion of politics, whereas he, Bourdeu, is a very shrewd fellow.'
'That Bourdeu, with his tightly-buttoned frock-coat and broad-brimmed hat, is a most overbearing person,' said Monsieur de Condamin, shrugging his shoulders. 'If such people as he were allowed to have their own way they would turn France into a mere5 Sorbonne of lawyers and diplomatists, and would bore us all to death——Oh! by the way, Guillaume, I have been hearing about you. You seem to be leading a merry sort of life.'
'I?' exclaimed the young man with a smile.
'Yes, you, my fine fellow! and observe that I get my information from your father. He is much distressed85 about it: he accuses you of gambling87 and of staying out all night at the club and other places. Is it true that you have discovered a low café behind the gaol88 where you go with a company of scamps and play the devil's own game? I have even been told——'
Here Monsieur de Condamin, observing two ladies enter the room, began to whisper in Guillaume's ear, while the young man replied with affirmative signs and shook with suppressed laughter. Then he bent forward in turn and whispered to Monsieur de Condamin, and the pair of them, drawing close together with brightly glistening89 eyes, seemed to derive90 a prolonged enjoyment91 from this private story, which could not be told in the presence of ladies.
Abbé Faujas had remained where he was. He no longer listened to what was being said, but watched the many movements of Monsieur Delangre, who bustled92 about the green drawing-room trying to make himself extremely agreeable. The priest was so absorbed in his observations that he did not see Abbé Bourrette beckoning93 to him, so that the other had to come and touch his shoulder and ask him to follow. He then led him into the card-room with all the precaution of a man who has some very delicate communication to make.
'My dear friend,' he whispered, when they were alone in a quiet corner, 'it is excusable in you, as this is the first time you have been here, but I must warn you that you have compromised yourself very considerably94 by talking so long with the persons you have just left.'
[Pg 63]
Then, as Abbé Faujas looked at him with great surprise, he added:
'Those persons are not looked upon favourably95. I myself am not passing any judgment96 upon them, and I don't want to repeat any scandal. I am simply warning you out of pure friendship, that's all.'
He was going away, but Abbé Faujas detained him, exclaiming hastily:
'You disquiet97 me, my dear Monsieur Bourrette; I beg of you to explain yourself. Without speaking any ill of anyone, you can surely be a little clearer.'
'Well then,' replied the old priest, after a momentary98 hesitation99, 'Doctor Porquier's son causes his worthy100 father the greatest distress86, and sets the worst example to all the studious youth of Plassans. He left nothing but debts behind him in Paris, and here he is turning the whole town upside down. As for Monsieur de Condamin——'
Here he hesitated again, feeling embarrassed by the enormity of what he had to relate; then, lowering his eyes, he resumed:
'Monsieur de Condamin is very free in his conversation, and I fear that he is deficient101 in a sense of morality. He spares no one, and he scandalises every honourable102 person. Then—I really hardly know how to tell you—but he has contracted, it is said, a scarcely creditable marriage. You see that young woman there, who is not thirty years old, and who has such a crowd around her? Well, he brought her to Plassans one day from no one knows where. From the time of her arrival she has been all-powerful here. It is she who has got her husband and Doctor Porquier decorated. She has influential103 friends in Paris. But I beg of you not to repeat any of this. Madame de Condamin is very amiable104 and charitable. I go to her house sometimes, and I should be extremely distressed if I thought that she considered me an enemy of hers. If she has committed faults, it is our duty—is it not?—to help her to return to a better way of life. As for her husband, he is, between ourselves, a perfect scamp. Have as little as possible to do with him.'
Abbé Faujas gazed into the worthy Bourrette's eyes. He had just noticed that Madame Rougon was following their conversation from the distance with a thoughtful air.
'Wasn't it Madame Rougon who told you to come and give me this good advice?' he suddenly asked the old priest.
[Pg 64]
'How did you know that?' the latter exclaimed in great astonishment105. 'She asked me not to mention her name, but since you have guessed it—Ah! she is a good, kind-hearted lady who would be much distressed to see a priest compromising himself in her house. She is unfortunately compelled to receive all sorts of persons.'
Abbé Faujas expressed his thanks, and promised to be more prudent106 in the future. The card-players had not taken any notice of the two priests, who returned into the big drawing-room, where Faujas was again conscious of hostile surroundings. He even experienced greater coldness and more silent contempt than before. The ladies pulled their dresses out of his way as though his touch would have soiled them, and the men turned away from him with sneering107 titters. He himself maintained haughty108 calmness and indifference109. Fancying that he heard the word Besan?on meaningly pronounced in a corner of the room where Madame de Condamin was holding her court, he walked straight up to the folks by whom she was surrounded; but, at his approach, there was a dead silence amongst them, and they all stared him in the face with eyes that gleamed with uncharitable curiosity. He felt quite sure that they had been talking about him, and repeating some disgraceful story. While he was still standing there, behind the Rastoil young ladies, who had not observed him, he heard the younger one ask her sister:
'What was it that this priest, of whom everyone is talking, did at Besan?on?'
'I don't quite know,' the elder sister replied. 'I believe he nearly murdered his vicar in a quarrel they had. Papa also said that he had been mixed up in some great business speculation110 which turned out badly.'
'He's in the small room over there, isn't he? Somebody saw him just now laughing with Monsieur de Condamin.'
'Oh! then people do quite right to distrust him if he laughs with Monsieur de Condamin.'
This gossip of the two girls made perspiration111 start from Abbé Faujas's brows. He did not frown, but his lips tightened112 one upon the other, and his cheeks took an ashy tint113. He seemed to hear the whole room talking of the priest whom he had tried to murder, and of the shady transactions in which he had been concerned.
Opposite him were Monsieur Delangre and Doctor Porquier, still looking very severe; Monsieur de Bourdeu's[Pg 65] mouth pouted114 scornfully as he said something in a low voice to a lady; Monsieur Maffre, the justice of the peace, was casting furtive115 glances at him, as if he had piously116 resolved to examine him from a distance before condemning117 him; and at the other end of the room the two hideous Paloques craned out their malice-warped faces, in which shone a wicked joy at all the cruel stories that were being whispered about. Abbé Faujas slowly retired118 as he saw Madame Rastoil, who had been standing a few paces away, come up and seat herself between her two daughters, as though to keep them under the protection of her wing and shield them from his touch. He rested his elbow on the piano which he saw behind him, and there he stood with his head erect and his face as hard and silent as a face of stone. He felt that they were all in a plot to treat him as an outcast.
As he stood thus gazing at the company from under his partially119 lowered eyelids he suddenly gave a slight start, which he quickly suppressed. He had just caught sight of Abbé Fenil, leaning back in an easy-chair and smiling quietly behind a perfect wall of petticoats. The eyes of the two men met, and they gazed at each other for some moments with the fierce expression of duellists about to engage in mortal combat. Then there was a rustling120 of silk, and Abbé Fenil was hidden from sight by the ladies' gowns.
However, Félicité had contrived121 to reach the neighbourhood of the piano, and when she had succeeded in installing at it the elder of the Rastoil girls, who had a pleasant voice, and was able to speak to Abbé Faujas without being heard, she drew him towards one of the windows and asked:
'What have you done to Abbé Fenil?'
They talked together in very low tones. The priest at first feigned122 surprise, but when Madame Rougon had murmured a few words, accompanied by sundry123 shruggings of her shoulders, he seemed to become more open with her. They both smiled, and made a pretence124 of merely exchanging ordinary courtesies, but the glistening of their eyes spoke125 of something much more serious. The piano was silent for a moment, and then the elder Mademoiselle Rastoil began to sing 'La Colombe du Soldat,' which was a favourite song at that time.
'Your début has been most unfortunate,' Félicité continued. 'You have quite set people against you, and I should advise you not to come here again for a considerable time.[Pg 66] You must make yourself popular and a favourite, you understand. Any rash act would be fatal.'
Abbé Faujas seemed absorbed in thought.
'You say that it was Abbé Fenil who circulated these abominable126 stories?' he asked.
'Oh, he is much too wily to commit himself in such a way. He must just have faintly suggested them to his penitents127. I don't know whether he has found you out, but he is certainly afraid of you. I am sure of that. And he will attack you in every possible way. The most unfortunate part of the matter is that he confesses the most important people in the town. It was he who secured the election of the Marquis de Lagrifoul.'
'I did wrong to come this evening,' the priest murmured.
Félicité bit her lips, then continued with animation128:
'You did wrong to compromise yourself with such a man as that Condamin. I did what I thought was best. When the person whom you know of wrote to me from Paris I thought that I should be doing you a service by inviting129 you here. I imagined that you would be able to make it an opportunity for gaining friends. But, instead of doing what you could to make yourself popular, you have set everyone against you. Please excuse my freedom, but you really seem to be doing all you can to ensure your failure. You have committed nothing but mistakes: in going to lodge130 with my son-in-law, in persistently131 keeping yourself aloof132 from others, and in walking about in a cassock which makes the street-lads jeer133 at you.'
Abbé Faujas could not repress a movement of impatience134. However, he merely replied:
'I will profit by your kind advice. Only, don't try to assist me; that would mar54 everything.'
'Yes, what you say is prudent,' replied the old lady. 'Only return here in triumph. One last word, my dear sir. The person in Paris is most anxious for your success, and it is for that reason that I am interesting myself in you. Well, then, don't make people frightened of you—shun you; be pleasant, and make yourself agreeable to the ladies. Remember that particularly. You must make yourself agreeable to the ladies if you want to get Plassans on your side.'
The elder Mademoiselle Rastoil had just finished her song with a final flourish, and the guests were softly applauding her. Madame Rougon left the Abbé to go and congratulate[Pg 67] the singer. Then she took up a position in the middle of the room, and shook hands with the visitors who were beginning to retire. It was eleven o'clock. The Abbé was much vexed135 to find that the worthy Bourrette had taken advantage of the music to effect his escape. He had thought of leaving with him—a course which would have enabled him to make a respectable exit. Now, however, he would have to go away alone, which would be extremely prejudicial to him. It would be reported through the town in the morning that he had been turned out of the house. So he retired into a window-recess, whence he watched for an opportunity to effect an honourable retreat.
The room was emptying fast, however, and there were only a few ladies left. At last he noticed one who was very simply dressed; it was Madame Mouret, whose slightly waved hair made her look younger than usual. He looked with surprise at her tranquil136 face and her large, peaceful black eyes. He had not noticed her during the evening; she had quietly remained in the same corner without moving, vexed at wasting her time in this way, with her hands in her lap, doing nothing. While he was looking at her she rose to take leave of her mother.
It was one of Félicité's greatest delights to see the high society of Plassans leave her with profuse137 bows and thanks for her punch, her green drawing-room, and the pleasant evening they had spent there; and she thought how, formerly, these same fine folks had trampled138 her underfoot, whereas now the richest amongst them could not find sweet enough smiles for 'dear Madame Rougon.'
'Ah, madame!' murmured Maffre, the justice of the peace, 'one quite forgets the passage of time here.'
'You are the only pleasant hostess in all this uncivilised place,' whispered pretty Madame de Condamin.
'We shall expect you to dinner to-morrow,' said Monsieur Delangre; 'but you must take pot-luck, for we don't pretend to do as you do.'
Marthe was obliged to make her way through all this incense-offering crowd in order to reach her mother. She kissed her, and was about to retire, when Félicité detained her and looked around as if to trying to find someone. Then on catching139 sight of Abbé Faujas, she inquired, with a smile:
'Is your reverence140 a gallant141 man?'
The Abbé bowed.
[Pg 68]
'Well, then, I should be much obliged to you if you would escort my daughter home. You both live in the same house, and so it will not put you to any inconvenience. On the road there is a little bit of dark lane which is not very pleasant for a lady by herself.'
Marthe assured her mother, in her quiet way, that she was not a little girl, and in no wise felt afraid; but as Félicité insisted, saying that she should feel easier if her daughter had someone with her, she at last accepted the Abbé's escort. As the latter retired with her, Félicité, who accompanied them to the landing, whispered in the priest's ear, with a smile:
'Don't forget what I told you. You must make yourself agreeable to the ladies if you want Plassans to belong to you.'
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1
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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2
grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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3
ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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4
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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6
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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7
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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8
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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9
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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11
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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12
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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13
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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14
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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16
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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17
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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19
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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20
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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21
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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22
gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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23
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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24
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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25
unctuous
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| adj.油腔滑调的，大胆的 | |
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26
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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27
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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28
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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29
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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30
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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31
lavishly
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| adv.慷慨地，大方地 | |
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32
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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33
covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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34
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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35
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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36
grasshopper
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| n.蚱蜢，蝗虫，蚂蚱 | |
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37
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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38
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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39
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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40
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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41
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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42
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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43
amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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44
backbite
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| v.背后诽谤 | |
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45
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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46
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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47
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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48
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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49
gendarme
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| n.宪兵 | |
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50
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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51
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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52
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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53
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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54
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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55
aristocrats
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| n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 ) | |
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56
boredom
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| n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊 | |
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57
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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58
sociability
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| n.好交际，社交性，善于交际 | |
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59
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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60
parvenus
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| n.暴富者( parvenu的名词复数 )；暴发户；新贵；傲慢自负的人 | |
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61
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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62
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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63
functionaries
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| n.公职人员，官员( functionary的名词复数 ) | |
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64
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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65
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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66
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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68
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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69
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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70
taxpayers
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| 纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 ) | |
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71
witticism
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| n.谐语，妙语 | |
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72
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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73
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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74
recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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75
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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76
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
penury
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| n.贫穷，拮据 | |
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78
proclivities
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| n.倾向，癖性( proclivity的名词复数 ) | |
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79
prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
wrangling
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| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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81
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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82
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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83
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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84
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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85
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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86
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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87
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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88
gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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89
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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90
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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91
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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92
bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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93
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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94
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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95
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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96
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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97
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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98
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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99
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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100
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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101
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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102
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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103
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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104
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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105
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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106
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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107
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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108
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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109
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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110
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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111
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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112
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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113
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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114
pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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115
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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116
piously
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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117
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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118
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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119
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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120
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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121
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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122
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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123
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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124
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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125
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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126
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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127
penitents
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| n.后悔者( penitent的名词复数 )；忏悔者 | |
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128
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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129
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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130
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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131
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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132
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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133
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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134
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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135
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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136
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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137
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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138
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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139
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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140
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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141
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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