ursula-第40部分
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！
himself disturbed by the sight of that wronged innocence。 Being； in a
sense； imbecile； he never thought of the consequences； he went from
danger to danger； driven by a selfish instinct； like a wild animal
which does not foresee the huntsman's skill； and relies on its own
rapidity or strength。 Before long the rich bourgeois； who still met in
Dionis's salon； noticed a great change in the manners and behavior of
the man who had hitherto been so free of care。
〃I don't know what has come to Minoret； he is all NO HOW；〃 said his
wife； from whom he was resolved to hide his daring deed。
Everybody explained his condition as being； neither more nor less；
ennui （in fact the thought now expressed on his face did resemble
ennui）； caused； they said； by the sudden cessation of business and the
change from an active life to one of well…to…do leisure。
While Minoret was thinking only of destroying Ursula's life in
Nemours； La Bougival never let a day go by without torturing her
foster child with some allusion to the fortune she ought to have had；
or without comparing her miserable lot with the prospects the doctor
had promised； and of which he had often spoken to her； La Bougival。
〃It is not for myself I speak；〃 she said； 〃but is it likely that
monsieur； good and kind as he was； would have died without leaving me
the merest trifle？〃
〃Am I not here？〃 replied Ursula； forbidding La Bougival to say another
word on the subject。
She could not endure to soil the dear and tender memories that
surrounded that noble heada sketch of which in black and white hung
in her little salonwith thoughts of selfish interest。 To her fresh
and beautiful imagination that sketch sufficed to make her SEE her
godfather； on whom her thoughts continually dwelt； all the more
because surrounded with the things he loved and used；his large
duchess…sofa； the furniture from his study； his backgammon…table； and
the piano he had chosen for her。 The two old friends who still
remained to her； the Abbe Chaperon and Monsieur Bongrand； the only
visitors whom she received； were； in the midst of these inanimate
objects representative of the past； like two living memories of her
former life to which she attached her present by the love her
godfather had blessed。
After a while the sadness of her thoughts； softening gradually； gave
tone to the general tenor of her life and united all its parts in an
indefinable harmony； expressed by the exquisite neatness； the exact
symmetry of her room； the few flowers sent by Savinien； the dainty
nothings of a young girl's life； the tranquillity which her quiet
habits diffused about her； giving peace and composure to the little
home。 After breakfast and after mass she continued her studies and
practiced； then she took her embroidery and sat at the window looking
on the street。 At four o'clock Savinien； returning from a walk （which
he took in all weathers）； finding the window open； would sit upon the
outer casing and talk with her for half an hour。 In the evening the
abbe and Monsieur Bongrand came to see her； but she never allowed
Savinien to accompany them。 Neither did she accept Madame de
Portenduere's proposition； which Savinien had induced his mother to
make； that she should visit there。
Ursula and La Bougival lived； moreover； with the strictest economy；
they did not spend； counting everything； more than sixty francs a
month。 The old nurse was indefatigable； she washed and ironed； cooked
only twice a week；mistress and maid eating their food cold on other
days； for Ursula was determined to save the seven hundred francs still
due on the purchase of the house。 This rigid conduct； together with
her modesty and her resignation to a life of poverty after the
enjoyment of luxury and the fond indulgence of all her wishes； deeply
impressed certain persons。 Ursula won the respect of others； and no
voice was raised against her。 Even the heirs； once satisfied； did her
justice。 Savinien admired the strength of character of so young a
girl。 From time to time Madame de Portenduere； when they met in
church； would address a few kind words to her； and twice she insisted
on her coming to dinner and fetched her herself。 If all this was not
happiness it was at least tranquillity。 But a benefit which came to
Ursula through the legal care and ability of Bongrand started the
smouldering persecution which up to this time had laid in Minoret's
breast as a dumb desire。
As soon as the legal settlement of the doctor's estate was finished；
the justice of peace； urged by Ursula； took the cause of the
Portendueres in hand and promised her to get them out of their
trouble。 In dealing with the old lady； whose opposition to Ursula's
happiness made him furious； he did not allow her to be ignorant of the
fact that his devotion to her service was solely to give pleasure to
Mademoiselle Mirouet。 He chose one of his former clerks to act for the
Portendueres at Fontainebleau； and himself put in a motion for a stay
of proceedings。 He intended to profit by the interval which must
elapse between the stoppage of the present suit and some new step on
the part of Massin to renew the lease at six thousand francs； get a
premium from the present tenants and the payment in full of the rent
of the current year。
At this time； when these matters had to be discussed； the former
whist…parties were again organized in Madame de Portenduere's salon；
between himself； the abbe； Savinien； and Ursula； whom the abbe and he
escorted there and back every evening。 In June； Bongrand succeeded in
quashing the proceedings； whereupon the new lease was signed； he
obtained a premium of thirty…two thousand francs from the farmer and a
rent of six thousand a year for eighteen years。 The evening of the day
on which this was finally settled he went to see Zelie； whom he knew
to be puzzled as to how to invest her money； and proposed to sell her
the farm at Bordieres for two hundred and twenty thousand francs。
〃I'd buy it at once；〃 said Minoret； 〃if I were sure the Portendueres
would go and live somewhere else。〃
〃Why？〃 said the justice of peace。
〃We want to get rid of the nobles in Nemours。〃
〃I did hear the old lady say that if she could settle her affairs she
should go and live in Brittany； as she would not have means enough
left to live her。 She is thinking of selling her house。〃
〃Well； sell it to me；〃 said Minoret。
〃To you？〃 said Zelie。 〃You talk as if you were master of everything。
What do you want with two houses in Nemours？〃
〃If I don't settle this matter of the farm with you to…night；〃 said
Bongrand； 〃our lease will get known； Massin will put in a fresh claim；
and I shall lose this chance of liquidation which I am anxious to
make。 So if you don't take my offer I shall go at once to Melun； where
some farmers I know are ready to buy the farm with their eyes shut。〃
〃Why did you come to us； then？〃 said Zelie。
〃Because you can pay me in cash； and my other clients would make me
wait some time for the money。 I don't want difficulties。〃
〃Get HER out of Nemours and I'll pay it；〃 exclaimed Minoret。
〃You understand that I cannot answer for Madame de Portenduere's
actions；〃 said Bongrand。 〃I can only repeat what I heard her say； but
I feel certain they will not remain in Nemours。〃
On this assurance； enforced by a nudge from Zelie； Minoret agreed to
the purchase； and furnished the funds to pay off the mortgage due to
the doctor's estate。 The deed of sale was immediately drawn up by
Dionis。 Towards the end of June Bongrand brought the balance of the
purchase money to Madame de Portenduere； advising her to invest it in
the Funds； where； joined to Savinien's ten thousand； it would give
her； at five per cent； an income of six thousand francs。 Thus； so far
from losing her resources； the old lady actually gained by the
transaction。 But she did not leave Nemours。 Minoret thought he had
been tricked；as though Bongrand had had an idea that Ursula's
presence was intolerable to him； and he felt a keen resentment which
embittered his hatred to his victim。 Then began a secret drama which
was terrible in its effects；the struggle of two determinations； one
which impelled Minoret to drive his victim from Nemours； the other
which gave Ursula the strength to bear persecution； the cause of which
was for a certain length of time undiscoverable。 The situation was a
strange and even unnatural one； and yet it was led up to by all the
preceding events； which served as a preface to what was now to occur。
Madame Minoret； to whom her husband had given a handsome silver
service costing twenty thousand francs； gave a magnificent dinner
every Sunday； the day on which her son； the deputy procureur； came
from Fontainebleau； bringing with him certain of his friends。 On these
occasions Zelie sent to Paris for delicaciesobliging Dionis the
notary to emulate her display。 Goupil； whom the
