登陆注册
5216200000002

第2章

His past life might, in some degree, offer an explanation of this conduct.Born in 1780, the Duke de Champdoce had joined the band of emigrants which swelled the ranks of Conde's army.An implacable opposer of the Revolution, he resided, during the glorious days of the Empire, in London, where dire poverty compelled him to gain a livelihood as a fencing master at the Restoration.He came back with the Bourbons to his native land, and, by an almost miraculous chance, was put again in possession of his ancestral domains.But in his opinion he was living in a state of utter destitution as compared to the enormous revenues enjoyed by the dead-and-gone members of the Champdoce family; and what pained him more was to see rise up by the side of the old aristocracy a new race which had attached itself to commerce and entered into business transactions.As he gazed upon the new order of things, the man whose pride of birth and position almost amounted to insanity, conceived the project to which he determined to devote the remainder of his life.He imagined that he had discovered a means by which he could restore the ancient house of Champdoce to all its former splendor and position."I can," said he, "by living like a peasant and resorting to no unnecessary expense, treble my capital in twenty years; and if my son and my grandson will only follow my example, the race of Champdoce will again recover the proud position that it formerly held.Faithful to this idea, he wedded, in 1820, although his heart was entirely untouched, a young girl of noble birth but utterly devoid of beauty, though possessed of a magnificent dowry.

Their union was an extremely unhappy one, and many persons did not hesitate to accuse the Duke of treating with harshness and severity a young girl, who, having brought her husband five hundred thousand francs, could not understand why she should be refused a new dress when she urgently needed it.After twelve months of inconceivable unhappiness, she gave birth to a son who was baptized Louis Norbert, and six months afterwards she sank into an untimely grave.

The Duke did not seem to regret his loss very deeply.The boy appeared to be of a strong and robust constitution, and his mother's dowry would go to swell the revenues of the Champdoce family.He made his recent loss, too, the pretext for further retrenchments and economies.

Norbert was brought up exactly as a farmer's son would have been.

Every morning he started off to work, carrying his day's provisions in a basket slung upon his back.As he grew older, he was taught to sow and reap, to estimate the value of a standing crop at a glance, and, last but not least, to drive a hard bargain.For a long time the Duke debated the expediency of permitting his son to be taught to read or write; and if he did so at last, it was owing to some severe remarks by the parish priest upon the day on which Norbert took the sacrament for the first time.

All went on well and smoothly until the day when Norbert, on his sixteenth birthday, accompanied his father to Poitiers for the first time.

At sixteen years of age, Louis Norbert de Champdoce looked fully twenty, and was as handsome a youth as could be seen for miles round.

The sun had given a bronzed tint to his features which was exceedingly becoming.He had black hair, with a slight curl running through it, and large melancholy blue eyes, which he inherited from his mother.

Poor girl! it was the sole beauty that she had possessed.He was utterly uncultured, and had been ruled with such a rod of iron by his father that he had never been a league from the Chateau.His ideas were barred by the little town of Bevron, with its sixty houses, its town hall, its small chapel, and principal river; and to him it seemed a spot full of noise and confusion.In the whole course of his life he had never spoken to three persons who did not belong to the district.

Bred up in this secluded manner, it was almost impossible for him to understand that any one could lead a different existence to that of his own.His only pleasure was in procuring an abundant harvest, and his sole idea of excitement was High Mass on Sunday.

For more than a year the village girls had cast sly glances at him, but he was far too simple and innocent to notice this.When Mass was over, he generally walked over the farm with his father to inspect the work of the past week, or to set snares for the birds.His father at last determined to give him a wider experience, and one day said that he was to accompany him to Poitiers.

At a very early hour in the morning they started in one of the low country carts of the district, and under the seat were small sacks, containing over forty thousand francs in silver money.Norbert had long wished to visit Poitiers, but had never done so, though it was but fifteen miles off.Poitiers is a quaint old town, with dilapidated pavements and tall, gloomy houses, the architecture of which dates from the tenth century; but Norbert thought that it must be one of the most magnificent cities in the world.It was market day when they drove in, and he was absolutely stupefied with surprise and excitement.He had never believed there could be so many people in one place, and hardly noticed that the cart had pulled up opposite a lawyer's office.His father shook him roughly by the shoulder.

"Come, Norbert, lad, we are there," said he.

The young man jumped to the ground, and assisted mechanically to remove the sacks.The servile manner of the lawyer did not strike him, nor did he listen to the conversation between him and his father.

同类推荐
  • The Danish History

    The Danish History

    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。
  • 襄阳记

    襄阳记

    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。
  • 五言排律

    五言排律

    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。
  • 密庵和尚语录

    密庵和尚语录

    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。
  • 洗丹沙词

    洗丹沙词

    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
  • 阳间阴差

    阳间阴差

    三死金,听者死、见者死、得者死,又名阎王鬼玺,但凡听过、见过、得过的人,无一例外,全部丧命。永生之人为求死亡,毅然踏上寻找三死金的旅程。噬骨魔窟、死僵荒村、水晶血棺、幽灵鬼船、幻境之城……一路艰险不断,却只为求得一死。
  • 火影之鼬闻铃

    火影之鼬闻铃

    他是大义灭亲,忍辱负重,被迫叛逃出村的木叶天才忍者,她是全家被害,众叛亲离,背负着血海深仇的土之国大名公主。同样家破人亡的两人在晓组织里得以相见,当两颗伤痕累累,支离破碎的心渐渐靠近,他们之间会发生怎样令人感动亦或令人心碎的故事?两人相遇相知相爱,却不得相守,她为他出生入死,他为她放下戒备,舍弃一切,但为了弟弟,他终究选择了死亡,也选择了辜负她,独留她一人在世上生不如死。再次获得新生,在忍者世界和她之间,他又该如何选择?而这个世界,又何时才肯温柔对待这对最温柔却最脆弱的有情人?一场平淡单纯又波澜起伏的感情,就此展开,敬请期待……欢迎加入火影之鼬闻铃交流群,群号码:655945366
  • 最新排球训练理论与实践

    最新排球训练理论与实践

    本书内容包括有关高水平排球运动员训练的理论与实用方法、排球运动员营养恢复、全国第九届全运会男女排球比赛的调研报告等。
  • 人家闺女有花戴(中篇小说)

    人家闺女有花戴(中篇小说)

    李林包里放着县文化局那张录用通知书到乡政府报到,接待他的是乡办公室文书。文书是一个白胖的老头子,样子像个老太太。文书说,我叫老尤,今天乡里人都下村去了,书记乡长叫我给你安排房间。李林说,那通知书交给你。老尤一摆手,你自己先放着吧,反正早听说你要来,又没有人冒充你。老尤把李林带到楼上,经过吱呀作响的漆黑的过道,然后打开一个房间。里面已有了一副铺盖,一床醒目的大红缎被堆在床上。老尤说,你去仓库间搬张床吧,乡里暂时安排你与计划生育员住在一起。
  • 废柴神偷:绝世三生花

    废柴神偷:绝世三生花

    她,是二十四世纪的神偷;一朝穿越,成了万千宠爱集于一身的朱雀世家大小姐。原主十分骄傲自大,天赋极佳却无法修炼。他,是苍澜国的三皇子,是幻凝大陆的第一天才,邪魅俊美,冷酷霸道,却偏偏对她,情有独钟。三皇子殿下邪魅一笑,宁负天下,不负她!且看他们携手,走遍天下。
  • 爱妃不要跑

    爱妃不要跑

    老天,整人不带这么整的吧,她不就是抢了抢了老弟的MP4吗,居然让她被车撞死。OHMyGod!一定是她早上出门忘了上香,撞就撞吧,还被撞到古代来。虾米?她刚刚叫我什么来着王妃?咦?听起来的感觉还不错,王妃不就意味着可以吃香的,喝辣的,顺便抄点走看在老天爷你让我现在的身份还不错的份上,本小姐就不与你一般见识了.人家都说穿越后有多多的美男,果然不是说假的瞧,眼前这位那叫一个俊挖!什么?他是我相公,哇卡卡,这下可赚了只是这位相公怎么看着这么冷捏…好吧好吧,冷就冷点,耐看就行她不就是在宴会上不小心回答了三个脑筋急转弯外加出了一道题目小小的为难了一下邻国太子,他用得着又是绑她,又是想把自己给给掳到他的国家去。她喜欢美男是没错,可没让你们都死死追着我不放啊首富之子扬言娶她为妻,我说哥们,没看到我怀了宝宝,嫁人啦!什么?你不管,愿意当孩子的后爹,诶诶,你乐意我可不乐意。她的四王妃当的好好的,偏偏有死缠着她家相公的恶毒女人把她赶出了府,好吧,为了大局找想,她忍……好死不死,连人带种又给穿回来了,啊啊啊!老天,你玩我呢吧!再回来时,一左一右牵着两小鬼——文中美男多多~~~亲们,走过路过,不要错过,喜欢的多多收藏,多多投票,多多留言——小大声的欢呼:给小最大的码字动力吧!★强推追妻系列文★【娘子不要跑】窗透初晓云自摇小小的文:【冷心王爷下堂妃】已完结【亲亲我的古代夫君】已完结◆〓◆〓◆注:此文走轻松路线,美男多多,有腹黑的,冷酷的,温柔的,可爱的,强大的等等,小就不一一说明啦。◆〓◆谢谢晓晓帮偶制做的可爱封面,哇,耐死了~~~~小小的圈子【四方格】http://m.wkkk.net◆〓◆推荐亲亲师父滴精品文◆〓◆《百变花魁》《相公不嫌多》《师父师父我爱你》喔呵呵呵呵呵~~~~决对粉好看滴文,错过素乃们的损失咯~~~◆〓◆推荐《舒悠园》精彩好文◆〓◆小小的群:《舒悠园》76189275,欢迎亲们加入~~~【惑情】小小九尾狐【倾国奴后】深海幽梦【王爷的妾】蓝樱银【幻爱三国】上苍娇【魔君的宠妃】尕兔子【桃花朵朵为谁开】窗透初晓云自摇【恶魔千金冷相公】瑾蝶【恶魔小子的无良老婆】转身乱【穿越时空之姐妹花寻爱】恋小小晓晓
  • 丹道吕洞宾

    丹道吕洞宾

    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。
  • 快穿之你的不二臣

    快穿之你的不二臣

    【双撩1v1】【甜宠】莫名其妙进入一款恋爱游戏的苏末,撩着男神!!“女扮男装”的苏末:给你两个选择!一做我女朋友,二我做你男朋友!总之,要不要做我盘里的菜?!但是……男神修长苍白的指划过少女的脸庞,喃喃:苏苏,最喜欢你了,不要离开我哦……要不然,我会忍不住对你做很坏很坏的事情……苏末:……妈妈!!我好像遇到变态了!!萌萌哒系统:撩完就跑,末末是渣女哦~苏末无奈:好吧,自家的,还能咋办?宠宠宠!!!男主自始至终同一个人~这是一个女主强势撩却总是反被撩到双腿颤抖的苦逼故事……
  • 盛华桃花盛开时

    盛华桃花盛开时

    永梁昌平二年的那一场反常的天象结束了一个时代,但永梁的德昭大公主允清在那场血腥的屠杀中重新开始了她十四岁那年被改掉的命运,在改回来的命运中,她是否还会重复那一世相同的命运?那些再次在她生命之中出现的人又会以怎样的形式出现?一生的爱恨,至亲与好友的生死别离,终于迎来了最后的结局。
  • 钢铁是怎样炼成的(语文新课标课外必读第二辑)

    钢铁是怎样炼成的(语文新课标课外必读第二辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。