original short stories-6-第16部分

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desire；　in　the　anticipation　of　the　approaching　embrace。　　The　warm　shadows
seemed　to　be　full　of　floating　kisses。　　A　sensation　of　tenderness　filled
the　air。　　All　these　carriages　full　of　tender　couples；　all　these　people
intoxicated　with　the　same　idea；　with　the　same　thought；　seemed　to　give　out
a　disturbing；　subtle　emanation。

At　last　Monsieur　Leras　grew　a　little　tired　of　walking；　and　he　sat　down　on
a　bench　to　watch　these　carriages　pass　by　with　their　burdens　of　love。
Almost　immediately　a　woman　walked　up　to　him　and　sat　down　beside　him。
〃Good…evening；　papa；〃　she　said。

He　answered：　〃Madame；　you　are　mistaken。〃

She　slipped　her　arm　through　his；　saying：　〃Come　along；　now；　don't　be
foolish。　　Listen〃

He　arose　and　walked　away；　with　sadness　in　his　heart。　　A　few　yards　away
another　woman　walked　up　to　him　and　asked：　〃Won't　you　sit　down　beside　me？〃
He　said：　〃What　makes　you　take　up　this　life？〃

She　stood　before　him　and　in　an　altered；　hoarse；　angry　voice　exclaimed：

〃Well；　it　isn't　for　the　fun　of　it；　anyhow！〃

He　insisted　in　a　gentle　voice：　〃Then　what　makes　you？〃

She　grumbled：　〃I've　got　to　live！　　Foolish　question！〃　And　she　walked　away；
humming。

Monsieur　Leras　stood　there　bewildered。　　Other　women　were　passing　near
him；　speaking　to　him　and　calling　to　him。　　He　felt　as　though　he　were
enveloped　in　darkness　by　something　disagreeable。

He　sat　down　again　on　a　bench。　　The　carriages　were　still　rolling　by。　　He
thought：　〃I　should　have　done　better　not　to　come　here；　I　feel　all　upset。〃
He　began　to　think　of　all　this　venal　or　passionate　love；　of　all　these
kisses；　sold　or　given；　which　were　passing　by　it　front　of　him。　　Love！　　He
scarcely　knew　it。　　In　his　lifetime　he　had　only　known　two　or　three　women；
his　means　forcing　him　to　live　a　quiet　life；　and　he　looked　back　at　the
life　which　he　had　led；　so　different　from　everybody　else；　so　dreary；　so
mournful；　so　empty。

Some　people　are　really　unfortunate。　　And　suddenly；　as　though　a　veil　had
been　torn　from　his　eyes；　he　perceived　the　infinite　misery；　the　monotony
of　his　existence：　the　past；　present　and　future　misery；　his　last　day
similar　to　his　first　one；　with　nothing　before　him；　behind　him　or　about
him；　nothing　in　his　heart　or　any　place。

The　stream　of　carriages　was　still　going　by。　　In　the　rapid　passage　of　the
open　carriage　he　still　saw　the　two　silent；　loving　creatures。　　It　seemed
to　him　that　the　whole　of　humanity　was　flowing　on　before　him；　intoxicated
with　joy；　pleasure　and　happiness。　　He　alone　was　looking　on。　　To…morrow　he
would　again　be　alone；　always　alone；　more　so　than　any　one　else。　　He　stood
up；　took　a　few　steps；　and　suddenly　he　felt　as　tired　as　though　he　had
taken　a　long　journey　on　foot；　and　he　sat　down　on　the　next　bench。

What　was　he　waiting　for？　　What　was　he　hoping　for？　　Nothing。　　He　was
thinking　of　how　pleasant　it　must　be　in　old　age　to　return　home　and　find
the　little　children。　　It　is　pleasant　to　grow　old　when　one　is　surrounded
by　those　beings　who　owe　their　life　to　you；　who　love　you；　who　caress　you；
who　tell　you　charming　and　foolish　little　things　which　warm　your　heart　and
console　you　for　everything。

And；　thinking　of　his　empty　room；　clean　and　sad；　where　no　one　but　himself
ever　entered；　a　feeling　of　distress　filled　his　soul；　and　the　place　seemed
to　him　more　mournful　even　than　his　little　office。　　Nobody　ever　came
there；　no　one　ever　spoke　in　it。　　It　was　dead；　silent；　without　the　echo　of
a　human　voice。　　It　seems　as　though　walls　retain　something　of　the　people
who　live　within　them；　something　of　their　manner；　face　and　voice。　　The
very　houses　inhabited　by　happy　families　are　gayer　than　the　dwellings　of
the　unhappy。　　His　room　was　as　barren　of　memories　as　his　life。　　And　the
thought　of　returning　to　this　place；　all　alone；　of　getting　into　his　bed；
of　again　repeating　all　the　duties　and　actions　of　every　evening；　this
thought　terrified　him。　　As　though　to　escape　farther　from　this　sinister
home；　and　from　the　time　when　he　would　have　to　return　to　it；　he　arose　and
walked　along　a　path　to　a　wooded　corner；　where　he　sat　down　on　the　grass。

About　him；　above　him；　everywhere；　he　heard　a　continuous；　tremendous；
confused　rumble；　composed　of　countless　and　different　noises；　a　vague　and
throbbing　pulsation　of　life：　the　life　breath　of　Paris；　breathing　like　a
giant。

The　sun　was　already　high　and　shed　a　flood　of　light　on　the　Bois　de
Boulogne。　　A　few　carriages　were　beginning　to　drive　about　and　people　were
appearing　on　horseback。

A　couple　was　walking　through　a　deserted　alley。

Suddenly　the　young　woman　raised　her　eyes　and　saw　something　brown　in　the
branches。　　Surprised　and　anxious；　she　raised　her　hand；　exclaiming：　〃Look！
what　is　that？〃

Then　she　shrieked　and　fell　into　the　arms　of　her　companion；　who　was　forced
to　lay　her　on　the　ground。

The　policeman　who　had　been　called　cut　down　an　old　man　who　had　hung
himself　with　his　suspenders。

Examination　showed　that　he　had　died　the　evening　before。　　Papers　found　on
him　showed　that　he　was　a　bookkeeper　for　Messieurs　Labuze　and　Company　and
that　his　name　was　Leras。

His　death　was　attributed　to　suicide；　the　cause　of　which　could　not　be
suspected。　　Perhaps　a　sudden　access　of　madness！






ALEXANDRE

At　four　o'clock　that　day；　as　on　every　other　day；　Alexandre　rolled　the
three…wheeled　chair　for　cripples　up　to　the　door　of　the　little　house；
then；　in　obedience　to　the　doctor's　orders；　he　would　push　his　old　and
infirm　mistress　about　until　six　o'clock。

When　he　had　placed　the　light　vehicle　against　the　step；　just　at　the　place
where　the　old　lady　could　most　easily　enter　it；　he　went　into　the　house；
and　soon　a　furious；　hoarse　old　soldier's　voice　was　heard　cursing　inside
the　house：　it　issued　from　the　master；　the　retired　ex…captain　of　infantry；
Joseph　Maramballe。

Then　could　be　heard　the　noise　of　doors　being　slammed；　chairs　being　pushed
about；　and　hasty　footsteps；　then　nothing　more。　　After　a　few　seconds；
Alexandre　reappeared　on　the　threshold；　supporting　with　all　his　strength
Madame　Maramballe；　who　was　exhausted　from　the　exertion　of　descending　the
stairs。　　When　she　was　at　last　settled　in　the　rolling　chair；　Alexandre
passed　behind　it；　grasped　the　handle；　and　set　out　toward　the　river。

Thus　they　crossed　the　little　town　every　day　amid　the　respectful　greeting；
of　all。　　These　bows　were　perhaps　meant　as　much　for　the　servant　as　for　the
mistress；　for　if　she　was　loved　and　esteemed　by　all；　this　old　trooper；
with　his　long；　white；　patriarchal　beard；　was　considered　a　model　domestic。

The　July　sun　was　beating　down　unmercifully　on　the　street；　bathing　the　low
houses　in　its　crude　and　burning　light。　　Dogs　were　sleeping　on　the
sidewalk　in　the　shade　of　the　houses；　and　Alexandre；　a　little　out　of
breath；　hastened　his　footsteps　in　order　sooner　to　arrive　at　the　avenue
which　leads　to　the　water。

Madame　Maramballe　was　already　slumbering　under　her　white　parasol；　the
point　of　which　sometimes　grazed　along　the　man's　impassive　face。　　As　soon
as　they　had　reached　the　Allee　des　Tilleuls；　she　awoke　in　the　shade　of　the
trees；　and　she　said　in　a　kindly　voice：　〃Go　more　slowly；　my　poor　boy；　you
will　kill　yourself　in　this　heat。〃

Along　this　path；　completely　covered　by　arched　linden　trees；　the　Mavettek
flowed　in　its　winding　bed　bordered　by　willows。

The　gurgling　of　the　eddies　and　the　splashing　of　the　little　waves　against
the　rocks　lent　to　the　walk　the　charming　music　of　babbling　water　and　the
freshness　of　damp　air。　　Madame　Maramballe　inhaled　with　deep　delight　the
humid　charm　of　this　spot　and　then　murmured：　〃Ah！　I　feel　better　now！　　But
he　wasn't　in　a　good　humor　to…day。〃

Alexandre　answered：　〃No；　madame。〃

For　thirty…five　years　he　had　been　in　the　service　of　this　couple；　first　as
officer's　orderly；　then　as　simple　valet　who　did　not　wish　to　leave　his
masters；　and　for　the　last　six　years；　every　afternoon；　he　had　been
wheeling　his　mistress　about　through　the　narrow　streets　of　the　town。　　From
this　long　and　devoted　service；　and　then　from　this　daily　tete…a…tete；　a
kind　of　familiarity　arose　between　the　old　lady　and　the　devoted　servant；
affectionate　on　her　part；　deferential　on　his。

They　talked　over　the　affairs　of　the　house　exactly　as　if　they　were　equals。
Their　principal　subject　of　conversation　and　of　worry　was　the　bad
disposition　of　the　captain；　soured　by　a　long　career　which　had　begun　with
promise；　run　along　without　promotion；　end　ended　without　glory。

Madame　Maramballe　continued：　〃He　certainly　was　not　in　a　good　humor　today。
This　happens　too　often　since　he　has　left　the　service。〃

And　Alexandre；　with　a　sigh；　completed　his　mistress's　thoughts；　〃Oh；
madame　might　say　that　it　happens　every　day　and　that　it　also　happened
before　leaving　the　army。〃

〃That　is　true。　　But　the　poor　man　has　been　so　unfortunate。　　He　began　with
a　brave　deed；　which　obtained　for　him　the　Legion　of　Honor　at　the　age　of
twenty；　and　then　from　twenty　to　fifty　he　was　not　able　to　rise　higher　than
captain；　whereas　at　the　beginning　he　expected　to　retire　with　at　least　the
rank　of　colonel。〃

〃Madame　might　also　admit　that　it　was　his　fault。　　If　he　had　not　always
been　as　cutting　as　a　whip；　his　superiors　would　have　loved　and　protected
him　better。　　Harshness　is　of　no　use；　one　should　try　to　please　if　one
wishes　to　advance。　　As　far　as　his　treatment　of　us　is　concerned；　it　is
also　our　fault；　since　we　are　willing　to　remain　with　him；　but　with　others
it's　different。〃

Madame　Maramballe　was　thinking。　　Oh；　for　how　many　years　had　she　thus　been
thinking　of　the　brutality　of　her　husband；　whom　she　had　married　long　ago
because　he　was　a　handsome　officer；　decorated　quite　young；　and　full　of
promise；　so　they　said！　　What　mistakes　one　makes　in　life！

She　murmured：　〃Let　us　stop　a　while；　my　poor　Alexandre；　and　you　rest　on
that　bench：

It　was　a　little　worm…eaten　bench；　placed　at　a　turn　in　the　alley。　　Every
time　they　came　in　this　direction　Alexandre　was　accustomed　to　making　a
short　pause　on　this　seat。

He　sat　down　and　with　a　proud　and　familiar　gesture　he　took　his　beautiful
white　beard　in　his　hand；　and；　closing　his；　fingers　over　it；　ran　them　down
to　the　point；　which　he　held　for　a　minute　at　the　pit　of　his　stomach；　as　if
once　more　to　verify　the　length　of　this　growth。

Madame　Maramballe　continued：　〃I　married　him；　it　is　only　just　and　natural
that　I　should　bear　his　injustice；　but　what　I