by Eugène Sue
CHAPTER XXXVIII. ADRIENNE'S ENEMIES.
The Princess de Saint-Dizier's valet soon returned, showing in a little,pale man, dressed in black, and wearing spectacles. He carried under hisleft arm a long black morocco writing-case.
The princess said to this man: "M. l'Abbe, I suppose, has alreadyinformed you of what is to be done?"
"Yes, your highness," said the man in a faint, shrill, piping voice,making at the same time a low bow.
"Shall you be conveniently placed in this room?" asked the princess,conducting him to the adjoining apartment, which was only separated fromthe other by a curtain hung before a doorway.
"I shall do nicely here, your highness," answered the man in spectacles,with a second and still lower bow.
"In that case, sir, please to step in here; I will let you know when itis time."
"I shall wait your highness's order."
"And pray remember my instructions," added the marquis, as he unfastenedthe loops of the curtain.
"You may be perfectly tranquil, M. l'Abbe." The heavy drapery, as itfell, completely concealed the man in spectacles.
The princess touched the bell; some moments after, the door opened, andthe servant announced a very important personage in this work.
Dr. Baleinier was about fifty years of age, middling size, rather plump,with a full shining, ruddy countenance. His gray hair, very smooth andrather long, parted by a straight line in the middle, fell flat overhis temples. He had retained the fashion of wearing short, black silkbreeches, perhaps because he had a well-formed leg; his garters werefastened with small, golden buckles, as were his shoes of polishedmorocco leather; his coat, waistcoat, and cravat were black, which gavehim rather a clerical appearance; his sleek, white hand was half hiddenbeneath a cambric ruffle, very closely plaited; on the whole, thegravity of his costume did not seem to exclude a shade of foppery.
His face was acute and smiling; his small gray eye announced rarepenetration and sagacity. A man of the world and a man of pleasure,a delicate epicure, witty in conversation, polite to obsequiousness,supple, adroit, insinuating, Baleinier was one of the oldest favoritesof the congregational set of the Princess de Saint-Dizier. Thanks tothis powerful support, its cause unknown, the doctor, who had beenlong neglected, in spite of real skill and incontestable merit, foundhimself, under the Restoration, suddenly provided with two medicalsinecures most valuable, and soon after with numerous patients. We mustadd, that, once under the patronage of the princess, the doctor beganscrupulously to observe his religious duties; he communicated once aweek, with great publicity, at the high mass in Saint Thomas AquinasChurch.
At the year's end, a certain class of patients, led by the example andenthusiasm of Madame de Saint-Dizier's followers, would have no otherphysician than Doctor Baleinier, and his practice was now increased toan extraordinary degree. It may be conceived how important it was forthe order, to have amongst its "plain clothes members" one of the mostpopular practitioners of Paris.
A doctor has in some sort a priesthood of his own. Admitted at all hoursto the most secret intimacy of families, he knows, guesses, and is ableto effect much. Like the priest, in short, he has the ear of the sickand the dying. Now, when he who cares for the health of the body, and hewho takes charge of the health of the soul, understands each other, andrender mutual aid for the advancement of a common interest, there isnothing (with certain exceptions), which they may not extract from theweakness and fears of a sick man at the last gasp--not for themselves(the laws forbid it)--but for third parties belonging more or lessto the very convenient class of men of straw. Doctor Baleinier wastherefore one of the most active and valuable assistant members of theParis Jesuits.
When he entered the room, he hastened to kiss the princess's hand withthe most finished gallantry.
"Always punctual, my dear M. Baleinier."
"Always eager and happy to attend to your highness's orders." Thenturning towards the marquis, whose hand he pressed cordially, he added:"Here we have you then at last. Do you know, that three months' absenceappears very long to your friends?"
"The time is as long to the absent as to those who remain, my deardoctor. Well! here is the great day, Mdlle. de Cardoville is coming."
"I am not quite easy," said the princess; "suppose she had anysuspicion?"
"That's impossible," said M. Baleinier; "we are the best friends in theworld. You know, that Mdlle. Adrienne has always had great confidence inme. The day before yesterday, we laughed a good deal, and as I made someobservations to her, as usual, on her eccentric mode of life, and on thesingular state of excitement in which I sometimes found her--"
"M. Baleinier never fails to insist on these circumstances, inappearance so insignificant," said Madame de Saint-Dizier to the marquiswith a meaning look.
"They are indeed very essential," replied the other.
"Mdlle. Adrienne answered my observations," resumed the doctor, "bylaughing at me in the gayest and most witty manner; for I must confess,that this young lady has one of the aptest and most accomplished minds Iknow."
"Doctor, doctor!" said Madame de Saint-Dizier, "no weakness!"
Instead of answering immediately, M. Baleinier drew his gold snuff-boxfrom his waistcoat pocket, opened it, and took slowly a pinch of snuff,looking all the time at the princess with so significant an air, thatshe appeared quite reassured. "Weakness, madame?" observed he at last,brushing some grains of snuff from his shirt-front with his plump whitehand; "did I not have the honor of volunteering to extricate you fromthis embarrassment?"
"And you are the only person in the world that could render us thisimportant service," said D'Aigrigny.
"Your highness sees, therefore," resumed the doctor, "that I am notlikely to show any weakness. I perfectly understand the responsibilityof what I undertake; but such immense interests, you told me, were atstake--"
"Yes," said D'Aigrigny, "interests of the first consequence."
"Therefore I did not hesitate," proceeded M. Baleinier; "and you neednot be at all uneasy. As a man of taste, accustomed to good society,allow me to render homage to the charming qualities of Mdlle. Adrienne;when the time for action comes, you will find me quite as willing to domy work."
"Perhaps, that moment may be nearer than we thought," said Madame deSaint-Dizier, exchanging a glance with D'Aigrigny.
"I am, and will be, always ready," said the doctor. "I answer foreverything that concerns myself. I wish I could be as tranquil on everyother point."
"Is not your asylum still as fashionable--as an asylum can well be?"asked Madame de Saint-Dizier, with a half smile.
"On the contrary. I might almost complain of having too many boarders.It is not that. But, whilst we are waiting for Mdlle. Adrienne, I willmention another subject, which only relates to her indirectly, forit concerns the person who, bought Cardoville Manor, one Madame de laSainte-Colombe, who has taken me for a doctor, thanks to Rodin's ablemanagement."
"True," said D'Aigrigny; "Rodin wrote to me on the subject--but withoutentering into details."
"These are the facts," resumed the doctor. "This Madame de la SainteColombe, who was at first considered easy enough to lead, has shownherself very refractory on the head of her conversion. Two spiritualdirectors have already renounced the task of saving her soul. Indespair, Rodin unslipped little Philippon on her. He is adroit,tenacious, and above all patient in the extreme--the very man that waswanted. When I got Madame de la Sainte-Colombe for a patient, Philipponasked my aid, which he was naturally entitled to. We agreed upon ourplan. I was not to appear to know him the least in the world; and hewas to keep me informed of the variations in the moral state of hispenitent, so that I might be able, by the use of very inoffensivemedicines--for there was nothing dangerous in the illness--to keep mypatient in alternate states of improvement or the reverse, according asher director had reason to be satisfied or displeased--so that he mightsay to her: 'You see, madame, you are in the good way! Spiritual graceacts upon your bodily health, and you are already bett
er. If, on thecontrary, you fall back into evil courses, you feel immediately somephysical ail, which is a certain proof of the powerful influence offaith, not only on the soul, but on the body also?'"
"It is doubtless painful," said D'Aigrigny, with perfect coolness, "tobe obliged to have recourse to such means, to rescue perverse soulsfrom perdition--but we must needs proportion our modes of action to theintelligence and the character of the individual."
"By-the-bye, the princess knows," resumed the doctor, "that I have oftenpursued this plan at St. Mary's Convent, to the great advantage ofthe soul's peace and health of some of our patients, being extremelyinnocent. These alternations never exceed the difference between 'prettywell,' and 'not quite so well.' Yet small as are the variations, theyact most efficaciously on certain minds. It was thus with Madame de laSainte-Colombe. She was in such a fair way of recovery, both moraland physical, that Rodin thought he might get Philippon to advisethe country for his penitent, fearing that Paris air might occasion arelapse. This advice, added to the desire the woman had to play 'lady ofthe parish,' induced her to buy Cardoville Manor, a good investment inany respect. But yesterday, unfortunate Philippon came to tell me, thatMadame de la Sainte-Colombe was about to have an awful relapse--moral,of course--for her physical health is now desperately good. The saidrelapse appears to have been occasioned by an interview she has had withone Jacques Dumoulin, whom they tell me you know, my dear abbe; he hasintroduced himself to her, nobody can guess how."
"This Jacques Dumoulin," said the marquis, with disgust, "is one ofthose men, that we employ while we despise. He is a writer full of gall,envy, and hate, qualities that give him a certain unmercifully cuttingeloquence. We pay him largely to attack our enemies, though it is oftenpainful to see principles we respect defended by such a pen. For thiswretch lives like a vagabond--is constantly in taverns--almost alwaysintoxicated--but, I must own, his power of abuse is inexhaustible, andhe is well versed in the most abstruse theological controversies, sothat he is sometimes very useful to us."
"Well! though Madame de la Sainte-Colombe is hard upon sixty, it appearsthat Dumoulin has matrimonial views on her large fortune. You will dowell to inform Rodin, so that he may be on his guard against the darkdesigns of this rascal. I really beg a thousand pardons for having solong occupied you with such a paltry affair--but, talking of St. Mary'sConvent," added the doctor, addressing the princess, "may I take theliberty of asking if your highness has been there lately?"
The princess exchanged a rapid glance with D'Aigrigny, and answered:"Oh, let me see! Yes, I was there about a week ago."
"You will find great changes then. The wall that was next to my asylumhas been taken down, for they are going to build anew wing and a chapel,the old one being too small. I must say in praise of Mdlle. Adrienne"continued the doctor with a singular smile aside, "that she promised mea copy of one of Raphael's Madonnas for this chapel."
"Really? very appropriate!" said the princess. "But here it is almostnoon, and M. Tripeaud has not come."
"He is the deputy-guardian of Mdlle. de Cardoville, whose property hehas managed, as former agent of the count-duke," said the marquis, withevident anxiety, "and his presence here is absolutely indispensable. Itis greatly to be desired that his coming should precede that of Mdlle.de Cardoville, who may be here at any moment."
"It is unlucky that his portrait will not do as well," said the doctor,smiling maliciously, and drawing a small pamphlet from his pocket.
"What is that, doctor?" asked the princess.
"One of those anonymous sheets, which are published from time to time.It is called the 'Scourge,' and Baron Tripeaud's portrait is drawn withsuch faithfulness, that it ceases to be satire. It is really quite lifelike; you have only to listen. The sketch is entitled: 'TYPE OF THE LYNXSPECIES.'
"'The Baron Tripeaud.--This man, who is as basely humble towards hissocial superiors, as he is insolent and coarse to those who depend uponhim--is the living, frightful incarnation of the worst pardon ofthe moneyed and commercial aristocracy--one of the rich and cynicalspeculators, without heart, faith or conscience, who would speculate fora rise or fall on the death of his mother, if the death of his mothercould influence the price of stocks.
"'Such persons have all the odious vices of men suddenly elevated, notlike those whom honest and patient labor has nobly enriched, but likethose who owe their wealth to some blind caprice of fortune, or somelucky cast of the net in the miry waters of stock-jobbing.
"'Once up in the world, they hate the people--because the people remindthem of a mushroom origin of which they are ashamed. Without pity forthe dreadful misery of the masses, they ascribe it wholly to idlenessor debauchery because this calumny forms an excuse for their barbarousselfishness.
"'And this is not all. On the strength of his well-filled safe, mountedon his right of the candidate, Baron Tripeaud insults the poverty andpolitical disfranchisement--of the officer, who, after forty years ofwars and hard service, is just able to live on a scanty pension--Of themagistrate, who has consumed his strength in the discharge of stern andsad duties, and who is not better remunerated in his litter days--Of thelearned man who has made his country illustrious by useful labors;or the professor who has initiated entire generations in the variousbranches of human knowledge--Of the modest and virtuous country curate,the pure representative of the gospel, in its charitable, fraternal, anddemocratic tendencies, etc.
"'In such a state of things, how should our shoddy baron of in-dust-rynot feel the most sovereign contempt for all that stupid mob of honestfolk, who, having given to their country their youth, their mature age,their blood, their intelligence, their learning, see themselves deprivedof the rights which he enjoys, because he has gained a million by unfairand illegal transactions?
"'It is true, that your optimists say to these pariahs of civilization,whose proud and noble poverty cannot be too much revered and honored:"Buy an estate and you too may be electors and candidates!"'
"'But to come to the biography of our worthy baron--Andrew Tripeaud, theson of an ostler, at a roadside inn.'"
At this instant the folding-doors were thrown open, and the valetannounced: "The Baron Tripeaud!"
Dr. Baleinier put his pamphlet into his pocket, made the most cordialbow to the financier, and even rose to give him his hand. The baronentered the room, overwhelming every one with salutations. "I have thehonor to attend the orders of your highness the princess. She knows thatshe may always count upon me."
"I do indeed rely upon you, M. Tripeaud, and particularly under presentcircumstances."
"If the intentions of your highness the princess are still the same withregard to Mdlle. de Cardoville--"
"They are still the same, M. Tripeaud, and we meet to-day on thatsubject."
"Your highness may be assured of my concurrence, as, indeed, I havealready promised. I think that the greatest severity must at length beemployed, and that even if it were necessary."
"That is also our opinion," said the marquis, hastily making a sign tothe princess, and glancing at the place where the man in spectacles washidden; "we are all perfectly in harmony. Still, we must not leave anypoint doubtful, for the sake of the young lady herself, whose interestsalone guides us in this affair. We must draw out her sincerity by everypossible means."
"Mademoiselle has just arrived from the summer-house and wishes to seeyour highness," said the valet, again entering, after having knocked atthe door.
"Say that I wait for her," answered the princess; "and now I am at hometo no one--without exception. You understand me; absolutely to no one."
Thereupon, approaching the curtain behind which the man was concealed,Mme. de Saint-Dizier gave him the cue--after which she returned to herseat.
It is singular, but during the short space which preceded Adrienne'sarrival, the different actors in this scene appeared uneasy andembarrassed, as if they had a vague fear of her coming. In about aminute, Mdlle. de Cardoville entered the presence of her aunt.