original short stories-6-第1部分

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Original　Short　Stories；　Vol。　6。

By　Guy　de　Maupassant





　　　　　VOLUME　VI。

THAT　COSTLY　RIDE
USELESS　BEAUTY
THE　FATHER
MY　UNCLE　SOSTHENES
THE　BARONESS
MOTHER　AND　SON
THE　HAND
A　TRESS　OF　HAIR
ON　THE　RIVER
THE　CRIPPLE
A　STROLL
ALEXANDRE
THE　LOG
JULIE　ROMAINE
THE　RONDOLI　SISTERS




THAT　COSTLY　RIDE

The　household　lived　frugally　on　the　meager　income　derived　from　the
husband's　insignificant　appointments。　　Two　children　had　been　born　of　the
marriage；　and　the　earlier　condition　of　the　strictest　economy　had　become
one　of　quiet；　concealed；　shamefaced　misery；　the　poverty　of　a　noble
familywhich　in　spite　of　misfortune　never　forgets　its　rank。

Hector　de　Gribelin　had　been　educated　in　the　provinces；　under　the　paternal
roof；　by　an　aged　priest。　　His　people　were　not　rich；　but　they　managed　to
live　and　to　keep　up　appearances。

At　twenty　years　of　age　they　tried　to　find　him　a　position；　and　he　entered
the　Ministry　of　Marine　as　a　clerk　at　sixty　pounds　a　year。　　He　foundered
on　the　rock　of　life　like　all　those　who　have　not　been　early　prepared　for
its　rude　struggles；　who　look　at　life　through　a　mist；　who　do　not　know　how
to　protect　themselves；　whose　special　aptitudes　and　faculties　have　not
been　developed　from　childhood；　whose　early　training　has　not　developed　the
rough　energy　needed　for　the　battle　of　life　or　furnished　them　with　tool　or
weapon。

His　first　three　years　of　office　work　were　a　martyrdom。

He　had；　however；　renewed　the　acquaintance　of　a　few　friends　of　his　family
elderly　people；　far　behind　the　times；　and　poor　like　himself；　who　lived
in　aristocratic　streets；　the　gloomy　thoroughfares　of　the　Faubourg　Saint…
Germain　；　and　he　had　created　a　social　circle　for　himself。

Strangers　to　modern　life；　humble　yet　proud；　these　needy　aristocrats　lived
in　the　upper　stories　of　sleepy；　old…world　houses。　　From　top　to　bottom　of
their　dwellings　the　tenants　were　titled；　but　money　seemed　just　as　scarce
on　the　ground　floor　as　in　the　attics。

Their　eternal　prejudices；　absorption　in　their　rank；　anxiety　lest　they
should　lose　caste；　filled　the　minds　and　thoughts　of　these　families　once
so　brilliant；　now　ruined　by　the　idleness　of　the　men　of　the　family。
Hector　de　Gribelin　met　in　this　circle　a　young　girl　as　well　born　and　as
poor　as　himself　and　married　her。

They　had　two　children　in　four　years。

For　four　years　more　the　husband　and　wife；　harassed　by　poverty；　knew　no
other　distraction　than　the　Sunday　walk　in　the　Champs…Elysees　and　a　few
evenings　at　the　theatre　（amounting　in　all　to　one　or　two　in　the　course　of
the　winter）　which　they　owed　to　free　passes　presented　by　some　comrade　or
other。

But　in　the　spring　of　the　following　year　some　overtime　work　was　entrusted
to　Hector　de　Gribelin　by　his　chief；　for　which　he　received　the　large　sum
of　three　hundred　francs。

The　day　he　brought　the　money　home　he　said　to　his　wife：

〃My　dear　Henrietta；　we　must　indulge　in　some　sort　of　festivitysay　an
outing　for　the　children。〃

And　after　a　long　discussion　it　was　decided　that　they　should　go　and　lunch
one　day　in　the　country。

〃Well；〃　cried　Hector；　〃once　will　not　break　us；　so　we'll　hire　a　wagonette
for　you；　the　children　and　the　maid。　　And　I'll　have　a　saddle　horse；　the
exercise　will　do　me　good。〃

The　whole　week　long　they　talked　of　nothing　but　the　projected　excursion。

Every　evening；　on　his　return　from　the　office；　Hector　caught　up　his　elder
son；　put　him　astride　his　leg；　and；　making　him　bounce　up　and　down　as　hard
as　he　could；　said：

〃That's　how　daddy　will　gallop　next　Sunday。〃

And　the　youngster　amused　himself　all　day　long　by　bestriding　chairs；
dragging　them　round　the　room　and　shouting：

〃This　is　daddy　on　horseback！〃

The　servant　herself　gazed　at　her　master　with　awestruck　eyes　as　she
thought　of　him　riding　alongside　the　carriage；　and　at　meal…times　she
listened　with　all　her　ears　while　he　spoke　of　riding　and　recounted　the
exploits　of　his　youth；　when　he　lived　at　home　with　his　father。　　Oh；　he　had
learned　in　a　good　school；　and　once　he　felt　his　steed　between　his　legs　he
feared　nothingnothing　whatever！

Rubbing　his　hands；　he　repeated　gaily　to　his　wife：

〃If　only　they　would　give　me　a　restive　animal　I　should　be　all　the　better
pleased。　　You'll　see　how　well　I　can　ride；　and　if　you　like　we'll　come　back
by　the　Champs…Elysees　just　as　all　the　people　are　returning　from　the　Bois。
As　we　shall　make　a　good　appearance；　I　shouldn't　at　all　object　to　meeting
some　one　from　the　ministry。　　That　is　all　that　is　necessary　to　insure　the
respect　of　one's　chiefs。〃

On　the　day　appointed　the　carriage　and　the　riding　horse　arrived　at　the
same　moment　before　the　door。　　Hector　went　down　immediately　to　examine　his
mount。　　He　had　had　straps　sewn　to　his　trousers　and　flourished　in　his　hand
a　whip　he　had　bought　the　evening　before。

He　raised　the　horse's　legs　and　felt　them　one　after　another；　passed　his
hand　over　the　animal's　neck；　flank　and　hocks；　opened　his　mouth；　examined
his　teeth；　declared　his　age；　and　then；　the　whole　household　having
collected　round　him；　he　delivered　a　discourse　on　the　horse　in　general　and
the　specimen　before　him　in　particular；　pronouncing　the　latter　excellent
in　every　respect。

When　the　rest　of　the　party　had　taken　their　seats　in　the　carriage　he
examined　the　saddle…girth；　then；　putting　his　foot　in　the　stirrup；　he
sprang　to　the　saddle。　　The　animal　began　to　curvet　and　nearly　threw　his
rider。

Hector；　not　altogether　at　his　ease；　tried　to　soothe　him：

〃Come；　come；　good　horse；　gently　now！〃

Then；　when　the　horse　had　recovered　his　equanimity　and　the　rider　his
nerve；　the　latter　asked：

〃Are　you　ready？〃

The　occupants　of　the　carriage　replied　with　one　voice：

〃Yes。〃

〃Forward！〃　he　commanded。

And　the　cavalcade　set　out。

All　looks　were　centered　on　him。　　He　trotted　in　the　English　style；　rising
unnecessarily　high　in　the　saddle；　looking　at　times　as　if　he　were　mounting
into　space。　　Sometimes　he　seemed　on　the　point　of　falling　forward　on　the
horse's　mane；　his　eyes　were　fixed；　his　face　drawn；　his　cheeks　pale。

His　wife；　holding　one　of　the　children　on　her　knees；　and　the　servant；　who
was　carrying　the　other；　continually　cried　out：

〃Look　at　papa！　　look　at　papa！〃

And　the　two　boys；　intoxicated　by　the　motion　of　the　carriage；　by　their
delight　and　by　the　keen　air；　uttered　shrill　cries。　　The　horse；　frightened
by　the　noise　they　made；　started　off　at　a　gallop；　and　while　Hector　was
trying　to　control　his　steed　his　hat　fell　off；　and　the　driver　had　to　get
down　and　pick　it　up。　　When　the　equestrian　had　recovered　it　he　called　to
his　wife　from　a　distance：

〃Don't　let　the　children　shout　like　that！　　They'll　make　the　horse　bolt！〃

They　lunched　on　the　grass　in　the　Vesinet　woods；　having　brought　provisions
with　them　in　the　carriage。

Although　the　driver　was　looking　after　the　three　horses；　Hector　rose　every
minute　to　see　if　his　own　lacked　anything；　he　patted　him　on　the　neck　and
fed　him　with　bread；　cakes　and　sugar。

〃He's　an　unequal　trotter；〃　he　declared。　　〃He　certainly　shook　me　up　a
little　at　first；　but；　as　you　saw；　I　soon　got　used　to　it。　　He　knows　his
master　now　and　won't　give　any　more　trouble。〃

As　had　been　decided；　they　returned　by　the　Champs…Elysees。

That　spacious　thoroughfare　literally　swarmed　with　vehicles　of　every　kind；
and　on　the　sidewalks　the　pedestrians　were　so　numerous　that　they　looked
like　two　indeterminate　black　ribbons　unfurling　their　length　from　the　Arc
de　Triomphe　to　the　Place　de　la　Concorde。　　A　flood　of　sunlight　played　on
this　gay　scene；　making　the　varnish　of　the　carriages；　the　steel　of　the
harness　and　the　handles　of　the　carriage　doors　shine　with　dazzling
brilliancy。

An　intoxication　of　life　and　motion　seemed　to　have　invaded　this　assemblage
of　human　beings；　carriages　and　horses。　　In　the　distance　the　outlines　of
the　Obelisk　could　be　discerned　in　a　cloud　of　golden　vapor。

As　soon　as　Hector's　horse　had　passed　the　Arc　de　Triomphe　he　became
suddenly　imbued　with　fresh　energy；　and；　realizing　that　his　stable　was　not
far　off；　began　to　trot　rapidly　through　the　maze　of　wheels；　despite　all
his　rider's　efforts　to　restrain　him。

The　carriage　was　now　far　behind。　　When　the　horse　arrived　opposite　the
Palais　de　l'Industrie　he　saw　a　clear　field　before　him；　and；　turning　to
the　right；　set　off　at　a　gallop。

An　old　woman　wearing　an　apron　was　crossing　the　road　in　leisurely　fashion。
She　happened　to　be　just　in　Hector's　way　as　he　arrived　on　the　scene　riding
at　full　speed。　　Powerless　to　control　his　mount；　he　shouted　at　the　top　of
his　voice：

〃Hi！　　Look　out　there！　　Hi！〃

She　must　have　been　deaf；　for　she　continued　peacefully　on　her　way　until
the　awful　moment　when；　struck　by　the　horse's　chest　as　by　a　locomotive
under　full　steam；　she　rolled　ten　paces　off；　turning　three　somersaults　on
the　way。

Voices　yelled：

〃Stop　him！〃

Hector；　frantic　with　terror；　clung　to　the　horse's　mane　and　shouted：

〃Help！　　help！〃

A　terrible　jolt　hurled　him；　as　if　shot　from　a　gun；　over　his　horse's　ears
and　cast　him　into　the　arms　of　a　policeman　who　was　running　up　to　stop　him。

In　the　space　of　a　second　a　furious；　gesticulating；　vociferating　group　had
gathered　round　him。　　An　old　gentleman　with　a　white　mustache；　wearing　a
large　round　decoration；　seemed　particularly　exasperated。　　He　repeated：

〃Confound　it！　　When　a　man　is　as　awkward　as　all　that　he　should　remain　at
home　and　not　come　killing　people　in　the　streets；　if　he　doesn't　know　how
to　handle　a　horse。〃

Four　men　arrived　on　the　scene；　carrying　the　old　woman。　　She　appeared　to
be　dead。　　Her　skin　was　like　parchment；　her　cap　on　one　side　and　she　was
covered　with　dust。

〃Take　her　to　a　druggist's；〃　ordered　the　old　gentleman；　〃and　let　us　go　to
the　commissary　of　police。〃

Hector　started　on　his　way　with　a　policeman　on　either　side　of　him；　a　third
was　leading　his　horse。　　A　crowd　followed　themand　suddenly　the　wagonette
appeared　in　sight。　　His　wife　alighted　in　consternation；　the　servant　lost
her　head；　the　children　whimpered。　　He　explained　that　he　would　soon　be　at
home；　that　he　had　knocked　a　woman　down　and　that　there　was　not　much　the
matter。　　And　his　family；　distracted　with　anxiety；　went　on　their　way。

When　they　arrived　before　the　commissary　the　explanation　took　place　in　few
words。　　He　gave　his　nameHector　de　Gribelin；　employed　at　the　Ministry　of
Marine；