A Start in Life [72]
gave me five hundred francs to get
that cursed judgment of Vandernesse versus Vandernesse, and I don't
want to leave that sum of money in my room."
"But, surely, you are not going to carry it with you!" exclaimed his
mother, in alarm. "Suppose you should lose a sum like that! Hadn't you
better give it to Monsieur Godeschal for safe keeping?"
"Godeschal!" cried Oscar, who thought his mother's suggestion
excellent.
But Godeschal, who, like all clerks, has his time to himself on
Sundays, from ten to two o'clock, had already departed.
When his mother left him, Oscar went to lounge upon the boulevards
until it was time to go to Georges Marest's breakfast. Why not display
those beautiful clothes which he wore with a pride and joy which all
young fellows who have been pinched for means in their youth will
remember. A pretty waistcoat with a blue ground and a palm-leaf
pattern, a pair of black cashmere trousers pleated, a black coat very
well fitting, and a cane with a gilt top, the cost of which he had
saved himself, caused a natural joy to the poor lad, who thought of
his manner of dress on the day of that journey to Presles, as the
effect that Georges had then produced upon him came back to his mind.
Oscar had before him the perspective of a day of happiness; he was to
see the gay world at last! Let us admit that a clerk deprived of
enjoyments, though longing for dissipation, was likely to let his
unchained senses drive the wise counsels of his mother and Godeschal
completely out of his mind. To the shame of youth let it be added that
good advice is never lacking to it. In the matter of Georges, Oscar
himself had a feeling of aversion for him; he felt humiliated before a
witness of that scene in the salon at Presles when Moreau had flung
him at the count's feet. The moral senses have their laws, which are
implacable, and we are always punished for disregarding them. There is
one in particular, which the animals themselves obey without
discussion, and invariably; it is that which tells us to avoid those
who have once injured us, with or without intention, voluntarily or
involuntarily. The creature from whom we receive either damage or
annoyance will always be displeasing to us. Whatever may be his rank
or the degree of affection in which he stands to us, it is best to
break away from him; for our evil genius has sent him to us. Though
the Christian sentiment is opposed to it, obedience to this terrible
law is essentially social and conservative. The daughter of James II.,
who seated herself upon her father's throne, must have caused him many
a wound before that usurpation. Judas had certainly given some
murderous blow to Jesus before he betrayed him. We have within us an
inward power of sight, an eye of the soul which foresees catastrophes;
and the repugnance that comes over us against the fateful being is the
result of that foresight. Though religion orders us to conquer it,
distrust remains, and its voice is forever heard. Would Oscar, at
twenty years of age, have the wisdom to listen to it?
Alas! when, at half-past two o'clock, Oscar entered the salon of the
Rocher de Cancale,--where were three invited persons besides the
clerks, to wit: an old captain of dragoons, named Giroudeau; Finot, a
journalist who might procure an engagement for Florentine at the
Opera, and du Bruel, an author, the friend of Tullia, one of
Mariette's rivals,--the second clerk felt his secret hostility vanish
at the first handshaking, the first dashes of conversation as they sat
around a table luxuriously served. Georges, moreover, made himself
charming to Oscar.
"You've taken to private diplomacy," he said; "for what difference is
there between a lawyer and an ambassador? only that between a nation
and an individual. Ambassadors are the attorneys of Peoples. If I can
ever be useful to you, let me know."
"Well," said Oscar, "I'll admit to you
that cursed judgment of Vandernesse versus Vandernesse, and I don't
want to leave that sum of money in my room."
"But, surely, you are not going to carry it with you!" exclaimed his
mother, in alarm. "Suppose you should lose a sum like that! Hadn't you
better give it to Monsieur Godeschal for safe keeping?"
"Godeschal!" cried Oscar, who thought his mother's suggestion
excellent.
But Godeschal, who, like all clerks, has his time to himself on
Sundays, from ten to two o'clock, had already departed.
When his mother left him, Oscar went to lounge upon the boulevards
until it was time to go to Georges Marest's breakfast. Why not display
those beautiful clothes which he wore with a pride and joy which all
young fellows who have been pinched for means in their youth will
remember. A pretty waistcoat with a blue ground and a palm-leaf
pattern, a pair of black cashmere trousers pleated, a black coat very
well fitting, and a cane with a gilt top, the cost of which he had
saved himself, caused a natural joy to the poor lad, who thought of
his manner of dress on the day of that journey to Presles, as the
effect that Georges had then produced upon him came back to his mind.
Oscar had before him the perspective of a day of happiness; he was to
see the gay world at last! Let us admit that a clerk deprived of
enjoyments, though longing for dissipation, was likely to let his
unchained senses drive the wise counsels of his mother and Godeschal
completely out of his mind. To the shame of youth let it be added that
good advice is never lacking to it. In the matter of Georges, Oscar
himself had a feeling of aversion for him; he felt humiliated before a
witness of that scene in the salon at Presles when Moreau had flung
him at the count's feet. The moral senses have their laws, which are
implacable, and we are always punished for disregarding them. There is
one in particular, which the animals themselves obey without
discussion, and invariably; it is that which tells us to avoid those
who have once injured us, with or without intention, voluntarily or
involuntarily. The creature from whom we receive either damage or
annoyance will always be displeasing to us. Whatever may be his rank
or the degree of affection in which he stands to us, it is best to
break away from him; for our evil genius has sent him to us. Though
the Christian sentiment is opposed to it, obedience to this terrible
law is essentially social and conservative. The daughter of James II.,
who seated herself upon her father's throne, must have caused him many
a wound before that usurpation. Judas had certainly given some
murderous blow to Jesus before he betrayed him. We have within us an
inward power of sight, an eye of the soul which foresees catastrophes;
and the repugnance that comes over us against the fateful being is the
result of that foresight. Though religion orders us to conquer it,
distrust remains, and its voice is forever heard. Would Oscar, at
twenty years of age, have the wisdom to listen to it?
Alas! when, at half-past two o'clock, Oscar entered the salon of the
Rocher de Cancale,--where were three invited persons besides the
clerks, to wit: an old captain of dragoons, named Giroudeau; Finot, a
journalist who might procure an engagement for Florentine at the
Opera, and du Bruel, an author, the friend of Tullia, one of
Mariette's rivals,--the second clerk felt his secret hostility vanish
at the first handshaking, the first dashes of conversation as they sat
around a table luxuriously served. Georges, moreover, made himself
charming to Oscar.
"You've taken to private diplomacy," he said; "for what difference is
there between a lawyer and an ambassador? only that between a nation
and an individual. Ambassadors are the attorneys of Peoples. If I can
ever be useful to you, let me know."
"Well," said Oscar, "I'll admit to you