Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert

by Gustave Flaubert

  I must be perfectly calm and collected. The electors will arrive soon. Everything is ready; the committee was organized last night. [Points to various places on the stage] Here the committee will sit. There is the place for the President. [Points to table in the middle of the platform] His two secretaries will sit one on each side of him. [Steps up on the lower platform] I shall stand here, facing the company. But what shall I lean upon? I must have something to lean upon — to represent a tribune. Wait! I have it! [Steps down and takes a chair from the stage, remounts lower platform and places chair before him] Good! And I must have a glass of water, because I begin to feel very thirsty already. [Takes a glass of water which he finds on the president's table, and puts it on his own chair] Let it stand there! Shall I have enough sugar! [Peeps into the sugar-bowl on the president's table] Oh, yes!

  Now! — everyone is seated. The president opens the meeting, and some one begins to speak. He appeals to me, to ask me, for instance — But first, who is it that calls on me? Where is the person? I will suppose him to be on my right. I turn my head quickly. He must not be too far away. [Steps down to arrange a chair R.; remounts platform] I preserve my calm and dignified air, with one hand thrust in the front of my waistcoat. I wonder whether I should not have looked better in my frock-coat. This coat is easier for the arms. But I rather think the frock-coat would be the proper thing, for they say the common people like to have a speaker pay them the compliment of wearing good clothes.

  Let me see, how is my cravat? [Takes small mirror from pocket and examines his appearance; then puts it back in pocket] I think my collar should be a little lower. [Settles collar] Not too low, however. I don't want to look like a romantic tenor! I feel sure all will go well, with a word from Murel now and then, to encourage me. Oh, it will be all right! Only — I do feel a bit. nervous, and a slight indigestion — [Drinks from glass of water] There! It is nothing serious. All great orators have had to begin some time. Come, come, Rousselin! no more weakness! One man is as good as another, and I am better than a great many! This excitement is going to my head like a hot drink. I must put on a bold face! [Strikes attitude]

  And do you address yourself to me, Monsieur? — This speaker must be in front of me. [Steps down and places chair C. of stage; remounts platform] — Do you address yourself to me? — I must put both hands on my breast and bow slightly. [Does so] — To me, who, during forty years — to me, whose patriotism — to me, who — to me, for whom — then, suddenly: Ah, you cannot really believe it, Monsieur! — Then he will sit staring at me, and not moving. [Holds his head very high, his right forefinger pointing upward] He says: "Your proofs, then! Give us your proofs! Ah, take care! You cannot juggle with the public faith!" I say nothing. "You are silent!" he cries; "Your silence condemns you! I will take action upon it!" Now I give him a little irony. I must say something cutting and assume a laugh of superiority. — Ha! ha! ha! I acknowledge myself completely vanquished, Monsieur! — But two other men, over there — [places two chairs] — I recognize them — they cry out that I have urged the people to Insurrection against our institutions — no matter what! Then I say in a furious tone, — What! You would obstruct the march of progress? — Development of the word ' progress " — from the astronomer, with his telescope, who, to aid the hardy mariner — and so on, and so on, — To the humble village workman, gaining his living by the sweat of his brow; the proletarian of our cities; the artist, whose inspiration — and so on. I'll keep talking until I find just the right phrase to introduce the word bourgeoisie. Then follows praise of the bourgeoisie; the third estate; the instructions of the electors to the deputies; 'eighty-nine; our commerce; the wealth of the nation; the development of the public welfare by the rise and progress of the middle classes. Then a workman calls out: "And the people, — what will you do for them?" I reply: — Ah! the people — the great people! And I give him a great deal of palaver on that subject. I exalt the character of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was once a servant; Jacquard, the weaver; Marceau, the tailor, — and all the servants and all the tailors will feel flattered! Then I will thunder against the corruption and heartlessness of the rich. — For what reason do they reproach you, — the people? For being poor! — Bravos! — Ah! to the man who knows all your virtues, how sweet is the duty of becoming your defender! 1 always feel a noble pride when I press the calloused hand of an honest working-man, because his grasp, though perhaps a little rough, betokens genuineness and sincerity; because all differences of rank, title, and fortune are now — thank God! — things of the past; and nothing can compare with the sterling merit and true heart of a man of the people! — I tap myself on the breast. "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" [Claps his hands, turning a little, L.]

  WAITER [Enters, L.]: Monsieur Rousselin, the gentlemen have arrived.

  ROUSSELIN: Let us retire, so that I shall not appear to have been — Shall I have time to get my other coat? I think so — if I run!

  [Exit Rousselin and Waiter.

  SCENE II.

  (Enter all the Electors; the President, Voinchet, Marchais, Hombourg, Heurtelot, Onésime, the Village Policeman, Beaumesnil, Ledru, and others )

  VOINCHET: Quite a crowd of us! I have an idea that this is going to be rather amusing.

  LEDRU: For a political meeting, I should think a more suitable place could have been chosen than the Salon de Flore.

  BEAUMESNIL: Since there is no other public hall in the neighbourhood, I don't see how we could do any better. Which man are you going to nominate, Monsieur Marchais?

  MARCHAIS: Oh, Lord! Rousselin, of course. It seems we must settle on him, after all.

  LEDRU: I don't see why! I'm going to stir up some kind of row at this meeting!

  VOINCHET: Look! There is the son of Bouvigny!

  BEAUMESNIL: The father will not come here — he is too shrewd.

  THE PRESIDENT: Order!

  POLICEMAN: Order!

  PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, it has been decided that meetings shall be held in order to discuss the merits of the candidates for the impending election. Tonight we shall speak of the honourable Monsieur Rousselin; to-morrow night of the honourable Monsieur Gruchet. The meeting is open.

  (Enter Rousselin, in a frock-coat, from a small door behind the president's chair. Salutes the company, and takes his place behind the chair on the lower platform)

  VOINCHET: I demand that the candidate shall speak to us first about the railways.

  ROUSSELIN [coughs, and takes a sip of water]: If any person had said, in the days of Charlemagne, or even in the time of Louis the Fourteenth, that a day would come when, in three hours, it would be possible to go —

  VOINCHET: Oh, I don't mean that! Are you of the opinion that we should approve of a grant to a railway that shall run through Saint-Mathieu, or to one that will take in Bonneval? — which would be a hundred times better.

  AN ELECTOR: Saint-Mathieu is more convenient for the larger part of the public. Declare yourself in favour of that, Monsieur Rousselin!

  ROUSSELIN: Why should I not speak in favour of the general development of these gigantic enterprises, that change the situation of capitals, prove the genius of man, and carry prosperity into the midst of all communities?

  HOMBOURO: That is not true; they often ruin them!

  ROUSSELIN: What, Monsieur! Would you oppose the march of progress? Progress, which, from the astronomer —

  HOMBOURG: But the railway passengers —

  ROUSSEUN: With his telescope —

  HOMBOURG: Ah, if you try to shut me up —

  PRESIDENT: Monsieur Hombourg has the floor!

  HOMBOURG: Travellers will never stop in our part of the country.

  VOINCHET: He is an inn-keeper — that is the reason why he complains!

  HOMBOURG: And a very good inn it is, too!

  ELECTORS: Enough! enough! Sit down! [Hombourg is forced to sit down] PRESIDENT: NO violence, gentlemen!

  POLICEMAN: Silence!

  HOMBOURG [to Rousselin]: That's the way you defend our interest
s!

  ROUSSELIN: I declare —

  AN ELECTOR: He must uphold free trade!

  ROUSSELIN: Certainly! By means of the untaxed transmission of merchandise, a day of universal brotherhood among all mankind will dawn —

  AN ELECTOR: We must admit English woollens, and proclaim the freedom of the hosiery trade!

  ROUSSELIN: And the exemption of everything!

  SEVERAL ELECTORS: Yes! yes!

  OTHER ELECTORS: NO! no!

  ROUSSELIN: May heaven grant us abundance of grain and cattle!

  A FARMER [wearing a peasants blouse]: You are a pretty chap to talk about agriculture.

  ROUSSELIN: I will speak to you immediately on that subject. [Drinks. A pause]

  HEURTELOT [speaks from the balcony, to which he has mounted unobserved]: What is your opinion on the subject of blind beetles, Monsieur?

  ALL [laugh loudly]: Ha! ha! ha!

  PRESIDENT: A little less levity, gentlemen!

  POLICEMAN: NO disorder! In the name of the law, sit down! [Electors that have sprung up re-seat themselves, and quiet is gradually restored]

  MARCHAIS [pushed forward by his neighbors]: Monsieur Rousselin, we should like to know your ideas about taxes.

  ROUSSELIN: Taxes! [Aside] Great heavens! [Aloud] Oh, certainly! Taxes are disagreeable but — necessary! They may be compared to a pump, which sucks up from the earth a fertilizing element that expands under the sun's rays. It remains to be seen whether the means justify the end; — and if — as an illustration — one should happen to exhaust it —

  PRESIDENT [leans toward Rousselin]: Charming comparison!

  VOINCHET: All land-owners are over-taxed.

  HEURTELOT: And we have to pay more than thirty sous' tax on a litre of cognac.

  LEDRU: The navy devours our earnings!

  BEAUMESNIL: Does the country really need the Botanical Gardens, I ask?

  ROUSSELIN: There is no doubt that we should begin at once to practise great economy!

  ALL: Good! Good!

  ROUSSELIN: And the parsimonious government, whereas it ought to —

  BEAUMESNIL: Bring up all our children at its own expense!

  MARCHAIS: Protect commerce!

  FARMER: Encourage agriculture!

  ROUSSELIN: Certainly, certainly! You are all quite right!

  BEAUMESNIL: Furnish water and gas free in every house!

  ROUSSELIN: UM! Possibly — yes!

  HOMBOURG: YOU are forgetting all about the livery business.

  ROUSSELIN: Oh, not at all, not at all! But permit me to resume the thread of my discourse, and to group —

  LEDRU: We know your way of getting around everybody! But if you had Gruchet before you —

  ROUSSELIN: And do you compare me to Gruchet? — me, who have seen during the past forty years, — me, whose patriotism — ah! how little you know me, Monsieur!

  LEDRU: Yes, I do compare him to you, I tell you!

  ROUSSELIN: That village Catiline!

  HEURTELOT [From the balcony]: Who the deuce was Catiline, eh?

  ROUSSELIN: He was a celebrated conspirator, who, in Rome —

  LEDRU: But Gruchet is not a conspirator.

  HEURTELOT: And do you belong to the police, Monsieur?

  ALL [speaking confusedly]: He is! He is! No, he is not! [Great disorder]

  ROUSSELIN: Citizens! For heaven's sake! I beg of you, listen to me!

  MARCHAIS: Well, we are listening. [All become suddenly quiet. Rousselin tries to speak, but remains silent. Roars of laughter from the crowd]

  POLICEMAN: Silence!

  HEURTELOT: He must explain his views as to the right to work.

  ALL: Yes! yes! what about a man's right to work?

  ROUSSELIN: Masses of books have been written on that subject. [Murmurs] Ah, you know that, do you? Well, have you read them?

  HEURTELOT: No!

  ROUSSELIN: I know them by heart! And if, like me, you had passed many nights in the solitude of your apartment, studying —

  HEURTELOT: There! that's enough about you! What about the right to work?

  ROUSSELIN: Oh! Ah! Without doubt, everyone ought to work.

  HEURTELOT: And to demand work!

  MARCHAIS: But suppose one has no need to work?

  ROUSSELIN: Oh, never mind that point!

  MARCHAIS: What! Would you attack property-owners?

  ROUSSELIN: Absurd! When did I do that?

  MARCHAIS [jumps up on the stage]: Ah, you force me to put myself forward!

  ELECTORS [from the right]: Come down!

  ELECTORS [from the left]: No; let him stay!

  ROUSSELIN: Yes, let him remain. I admit the contradiction. I am in favour of liberty before all!

  [Applause from the right, murmurs from the left. Marchais turns towards Rousselin]

  Does the word "liberty" choke you, Monsieur? It is because you do not in the least understand the meaning of economy — the value of humanitarianism. The press has elucidated the matter somewhat; and the press — mark it well, fellow-citizens — is a torch, a sentinel that —

  BEAUMESNIL: Get back to the question!

  MARCHAIS: Yes, the question of property.

  ROUSSELIN: Well, like you, I love it! I am a property-owner myself! You see, therefore, that we are agreed upon that point.

  MARCHAIS [embarrassed]: Well! — hum! — well!

  LEDRU [mockingly]: Ah, the poor grocer! [Laughter]

  ROUSSELIN: One word more! [To Marchais] I am about to convince you. Isn't it true that we ought, as much as possible, to democratize silver and republicanize the circulating medium? The more it circulates, the more of it falls into the pockets of the people, and consequently into yours. Now let us consider the matter of credit.

  MARCHAIS: There should not be any credit!

  ROUSSELIN: Oh, really —

  LECRU: What! No credit?

  ROUSSELIN: YOU are right to protest, Monsieur Ledru, because if credit is withdrawn there is no more money; and, on the other hand, it is money that forms the basis of credit. The two terms are correlative. [Shakes Marchais gently by the arm] Do you understand that the terms are correlative? You do not answer. Your silençe çondemns you, I shall take action upon it!

  ALL: NO! No! Enough! Enough! [Marchais returns to his place]

  ROUSSELIN: Thus, my fellow-citizens, is the great question of labour settled! To sum up, — no property, no work! A man creates labour because he is rich, and without work there will be no riches. You work, not to become property-owners, because you are that already. Your trade is your capital, and you are all capitalists!

  FARMER: Queer kind of capitalists!

  MARCHAIS: YOU mix everything up very strangely, Monsieur!

  LEDRU: He makes fun of everyone!

  ALL: Yes! Yes! He laughs at us! Let us adjourn! Open the doors! Adjourn!

  PRESIDENT: This is intolerable! One cannot —

  POLICEMAN: I shall clear the way. [Enter Murel]

  ROUSSELIN [aside]: Murel! At last!

  LEDRU: Let the candidate explain the eulogies of the opinions of the Count de Bouvigny, which he made in your presence. [To the Workmen] You were there, some of you.

  ROUSSELIN: But — I — I —

  LEDRU: He is lost!

  HEURTELOT: Catch him with a boat-hook! [Laughter]

  VOINCHET: Call a doctor! [Louder laughter]

  MUREL: I, too, was present, gentlemen! The honourable Monsieur Rousselin appeared to condescend to agree with the sentiments of the Count de Bouvigny. He does not seek to hide the fact; he even boasts of it!

  ROUSSELIN [proudly]: Ah!

  MUREL: And it was precisely because of the electors who surrounded him that, in order to strengthen their convictions and to make them see how far certain persons would go in —

  ROUSSELIN: Obscurantism!

  MUREL: Exactly! It was, I say, a bit of parliamentary tactics, a ruse, quite legitimate, to — pardon the expression! — catch them in a net!

  HEURTELOT: That's all too deep for u
s!

  LEDRU: YOU are right! it was the conduct of a mountebank MUREL: But I —

  HEURTELOT: Do not defend him!

  LEDRU: And this is the man that promised to box the prefect's ears! ROUSSELIN: And why not?

  POLICEMAN [taps Rousselin lightly on the shoulder] Gently, Monsieur Rousselin, gently!