登陆注册
5189100000059

第59章

Several of them had been already paid, but their receipts could not be found, and they were clamorous.Others, whose demands had been refused as exorbitant, threatened to go to law, hoping to frighten Sauvresy into paying.Sauvresy wearied his friend by his incessant activity.Every two or three days he went to Paris, and he attended the sales of the property in Burgundy and Orleans.The count at last detested and hated him; Sauvresy's happy, cheerful air annoyed him; jealousy stung him.One thought - that a wretched one -consoled him a little." Sauvresy's happiness," said he to himself, "is owing to his imbecility.He thinks his wife dead in love with him, whereas she can't bear him."Bertha had, indeed, permitted Hector to perceive her aversion to her husband.She no longer studied the emotions of her heart; she loved Tremorel, and confessed it to herself.In her eyes he realized the ideal of her dreams.At the same time she was exasperated to see in him no signs of love for her.Her beauty was not, then, irresistible, as she had often been told.He was gallant and courteous to her - nothing more.

"If he loved me," thought she, "he would tell me so, for he is bold with women and fears no one."Then she began to hate the girl, her rival, whom Hector went to meet at Corbeil every week.She wished to see her, to know her.

Who could she be? Was she handsome? Hector had been very reticent about Jenny.He evaded all questions about her, not sorry to let Bertha's imagination work on his mysterious visits.

The day at last came when she could no longer resist the intensity of her curiosity.She put on the simplest of her toilets, in black, threw a thick veil over her head, and hastened to the Corbeil station at the hour that she thought the unknown girl would present herself there.She took a seat on a bench in the rear of the waiting-room.

She had not long to wait.She soon perceived the count and a young girl coming along the avenue, which she could see from where she sat.

They were arm in arm, and seemed to be in a very happy mood.They passed within a few steps of her, and as they walked very slowly, she was able to scrutinize Jenny at her ease.She saw that she was pretty, but that was all.Having seen that which she wished, and become satisfied that Jenny was not to be feared (which showed her inexperience) Bertha directed her steps homeward.But she chose her time of departure awkwardly; for as she was passing along behind the cabs, which concealed her, Hector came out of the station.They crossed each other's paths at the gate, and their eyes met.Did he recognize her? His face expressed great surprise, yet he did not bow to her."Yes, be recognized me," thought Bertha, as she returned home by the river-road; and surprised, almost terrified by her boldness, she asked herself whether she ought to rejoice or mourn over this meeting.What would be its result? Hector cautiously followed her at a little distance.He was greatly astonished.His vanity, always on the watch, had already apprised him of what was passing in Bertha's heart, but, though modesty was no fault of his, he was far from guessing that she was so much enamoured of him as to take such a step.

"She loves me'!" he repeated to himself, as he went along."She loves me!"He did not yet know what to do.Should he fly? Should he still appear the same in his conduct toward her, pretending not to have seen her? He ought to fly that very evening, without hesitation, without turning his head; to fly as if the house were about to tumble about his head.This was his first thought.It was quickly stifled under the explosion of the base passions which fermented in him.Ah, Sauvresy had saved him when he was dying! Sauvresy, after saving him, had welcomed him, opened to him his heart, purse, house;at this very moment he was making untiring efforts to restore his fortunes.Men like Tremorel can only receive such services as outrages.Had not his sojourn at Valfeuillu been a continual suffering? Was not his self-conceit tortured from morning till night? He might count the days by their humiliations.What! Must he always submit to - if he was not grateful for - the superiority of a man whom he had always been wont to treat as his inferior?

"Besides," thought he, judging his friend by himself, "he only acts thus from pride and ostentation.What am I at his house, but a living witness of his generosity and devotion? He seems to live for me - it's Tremorel here and Tremorel there! He triumphs over my misfortunes, and makes his conduct a glory and title to the public admiration."He could not forgive his friend for being so rich, so happy, so highly respected, for having known how to regulate his life, while he had exhausted his own fortune at thirty.And should he not seize so good an opportunity to avenge himself for the favors which overwhelmed him?

同类推荐
  • 沙弥威仪

    沙弥威仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说业报差别经

    佛说业报差别经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Helen of Troy

    Helen of Troy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 温莎的风流娘儿们

    温莎的风流娘儿们

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE COMMUNIST LEAGUE

    THE COMMUNIST LEAGUE

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 南京!南京!!

    南京!南京!!

    明妮·魏特琳(MinnieVautrin,中文名华群,1886年9月27日—1941年5月14日),美国人,金陵女子文理学院教授。在南京大屠杀期间,她积极营救中国难民,利用金陵女子文理学院(今南京师范大学随园校区)保护了上万名中国难民。一个外国女人的金陵泪从一个中国女人的眼里流出战争的味道就是心烧焦的味道战争的味道一天比一天浓烈。
  • 乾隆皇帝:天步艰难

    乾隆皇帝:天步艰难

    进入壮年的乾隆皇帝文治武功,为营造与挽救清王朝的辉煌盛世而宵衣旰食。乾隆南下江南,傅恒成都点兵,进军大小金川;钦差大臣福康安与刘墉微服私访,擒拿女教主“一枝花”余党,却无意中查出纪昀的一大命案;而此时,和珅、弘昼、阿桂等人与甘肃总督勒尔谨、王亶望之间又铺展开一连串殊死争斗。正值乾隆南巡回京之途,贤惠的富皇后命悬德州,而爱妃昧娘以六甲之身避祸,襁褓中的阿哥又横遭天花之疫……
  • 英雄联盟之尘封的ID

    英雄联盟之尘封的ID

    S3赛季,大魔王一战封神,但众人却不知道,有一个神秘的玩家,曾经无数次斩杀过大魔王,他成为了大魔王一辈子的恶魔,却不知晓,这人是哪个国家,却只记得一个名字GodFZ……
  • 大明略

    大明略

    大明嘉靖年间,奸佞当道、北虏南寇虎视眈眈,天下百姓翘首以盼:贤臣、良将。名不见经传,他一身英气、豪气、霸气,还有那么一点点的‘书生气’……当他站在数百年后的这片土地上时,突然发现:这里也是我的家园,而外来之敌从未消停过。大明略,一个关于家、国、天下的故事……
  • 第五人格之无尽的混沌

    第五人格之无尽的混沌

    在无尽的混沌中,任何人都如同蝼蚁般脆弱,若不能学会反抗命运,就会被时代所抛弃,因为命运,威尔逊穿越到第五人格中,结识了好心的系统,开始了刺激的冒险(坑系统)之旅(系统加无敌流,不喜误喷,萌新作家心理承受能力差)本书又名《穿越第五人格之坑个系统来变强》
  • 人生的超越

    人生的超越

    本套书系故事精彩,内容纵横,伴随整个人生成功发展历程,思想蕴含丰富,表达深入浅出,闪耀着智慧的光芒和精神的力量,具有成功心理暗示和潜在智慧力量开发的功能,具有很强的理念性、系统性和实用性,能够起到启迪思想,智慧的源泉,生命的明灯,是当代青年树立现代观念、实现财智人生的精神奠基之作,也是各级图书馆珍藏的最佳精品。
  • 喜欢就表白 不爱就拉黑

    喜欢就表白 不爱就拉黑

    人生不可假设。在我们的生命里,不存在“如果”这个问题,只有结果和后果,将“如果”改成“现在”,这才是最坚强的,也是最为聪慧的。本书是身、心、灵三位一体之作,送给在犹豫纠结时光里的你——治疗恐惧的办法就是行动,毫不犹豫地去做。再聪明的人,也要有积极的行动——比如,喜欢,就表白,不爱,就拉黑。
  • 甜心攻略:教授不好惹

    甜心攻略:教授不好惹

    第一次见他,他的仇家乱枪扫射打烂了她的房。第二次见他,莫名其妙自己就成了他的房客。到了第三次……小希彻底不但定了,张不凡,你给我说清楚!为什么外头都说我上了你的床?!腹黑男黑线三条,只觉得自己也栽在了这嫩草手上。又当保姆又当保镖,还捞不到一句好话,这年头,你是少东又怎样?这年头,少东真心不好当!
  • 我欲成佛

    我欲成佛

    女娲娘娘的一颗五彩补天石一分为二,真假美猴王应运而生!自由天地,畅游六界!因果循环,佛道相争!猪八戒为什么会成为天蓬元帅,沙悟净怎么打碎的琉璃盏,猪八戒真是在调戏嫦娥吗?据西游记原著所讲,猪八戒的神通并不在孙悟空之下,你知道猪八戒为什么会在西天取经的路上出工不出力吗?猪八戒要是和牛魔王联手,一起对付孙悟空又会有怎样的结局?
  • 动物世界1

    动物世界1

    大千世界,精彩纷呈。面对五彩缤纷的动物世界,孩子们睁大了惊奇的双眼。鸟儿为什么会飞?大象的鼻子为什么那么厉害?鱼怎么会放电?数亿年前,动植物的出现叩响了沉默。也许,它们有的只是一个细胞,渺小得似乎可以忽视,但它们却宣告了一个不平凡的开始——地球上从此有了生命。经过几亿年的进化繁衍,地球上变得日益充盈。从浩瀚的海洋到广阔的天空,从葱翠的平原到荒芜的沙漠,从赤日炎炎的非洲内陆到冰雪覆盖的南极大陆……到处都有动物的踪迹。它们或披着鳞带着甲,或裹着厚厚的皮毛,共同演绎着这个世界的五光十色和盎然生机。