Doctor Pascal

notary Grandguillot, to get from him what she called their "income." The doctor seemed surprised that the payment should have fallen du

the ceaseless song of the fountain, when the servant returned with a frightened face, and in a state o

she cried at last. "M. G

not at firs

no hurry," he said; "you

ay; don't you hear? He

e bursting of a dam, her emotion v

some misfortune had happened. The door closed, and not a blind open, as if there was somebody dead in the house. They t

receipt on th

oing to die of starvation!" And she sobbed aloud in the anguish of her miserly heart,

his way. If all she knew of the affair was what she had heard from the people in the street, it might be only gossip, after all, which always exaggerates everything. M. Grandguillot a fugitive; M. Grandgui

hunderclap; there would have been some rumors of it beforehand. The de

made a gestu

responsibility on me. For weeks past I have been hearing stories on all sides. As for

was indeed true that their love lifted them so far above the

ly that I didn't like to worry you

accused M. Grandguillot of having speculated on the Bourse, there were oth

g to become of us? We are all

y had given him a receipt for the sum deposited. This would no doubt enable him to establish his position as a personal creditor. Then a vague recollection awoke in his memory; he remembered, without being able to fix the date, that at the request of the notary, and in consequence of certain representations made by him, which Pascal had forgotten, he had given the lawyer a power

on one's money? For my part, I know almost to a sou how my account stands

four hundred francs wages, saved almost intact, put out at interest for thirty years, at last amounted to the enormous sum of twenty thousan

t our money is lo

suppose. They will look into the affair; they will make an investigation. I cannot make up my mi

only care his happiness; her most ardent desire to live here always, as she had lived in the past, to love him always in this beloved solitude. And he,

does Martine mean by saying that we have not a sou

and made them bot

y. And I will give some of it to Martine that

ver known the exact amount of his little treasure, of the gold and bank bills mingled together in confusion, from which he took the sums he required for his pocket money, his experiments, his presents, and his alms. During the last few months he had made

augh, then, as he ope

l see! Now yo

in collecting only a sum of 615 francs-two notes of 100 francs each, 400 francs in gold, an

ey here a few days ago. It must have been all those old bills that misled me.

hat a wretched business man he was! Then, as she observed Martine's look of anguish, her utter despair at sight of this insignificant sum, whic

everything; if we have nothing now, if we

y that was where it had gone. The explanation tranquilized him. And as she beg

give a piece of my heart with it, then! No

seeing a future of unlimited possibi

ger to-night, are we, Martine? There is

e, but not longer. Formerly the drawer was replenished; there was always some money coming in; but now that monsieur had give

for a month. Then we shall see. But be very prudent; don't touch the

, "you may make your mind easy. I

e would save the centimes. As for Clotilde, who had never had a private purse, she would not even feel the want of money. Pascal only would

as happy as if he had just settled some important affair

amiable woman, smiled, certain of victory. In an insinuating voice she began to tell him a long story of how a lady, whom she was not at liberty to name, one of the most distinguished ladies in Plassans, who had suddenly met with a reverse of fortune, had been obliged to part with one of her jewels; and she then enlarged on the splendid chance-a piece of jewelry that had cost twelve hundred francs, and she was willing to let it go for five hundred. She opened her bag slowly, in spite of the terrified and ever-louder protestations of the doctor, and took from it a slender gold necklace set simply with seven pearls in front; but the pearls were of wonderful brilliancy-flawless, and perfect in shape. The ornament was simple, chaste, and of exquisite delicacy. And instantly he saw in fancy the necklace on Clotilde's beautiful neck,

for Clotilde's return. The moment she made her appearance his heart began to beat violently. She was very warm, for an August sun was blazing in the sky, and she laid aside her things qui

you on your ne

nd her neck, while feigning to pass his fingers over it, to assure h

Here, what are you doing? What have y

ain showed like a thread of gold, and the seven pearls, like seven milky stars, shone with soft luster against her satin skin.

are! Do you think of nothing but

e woman and the lover, happy to be beautiful and t

t, and held up her mouth to hi

you h

Pearls are so sweet, so pure!

ir flower-like skin, under the nacre drops of the pearls. Then, yielding to a des

t master has just given me

jealous pang which her brilliant youth caused this poor creature, worn out in the dumb resignation of her servitude, in adoration of her master. This, however, was only a momentary fe

seized with a

as rummaged his desk again. Pea

endid opportunity presented by the dealer's visit. An incredibly goo

the young girl w

hundred

lips, but who looked terrible in h

ve upon for six weeks,

klace from her neck if Pascal had not prevented her. She wished to g

o, to keep this for an instant, in the situation in which we a

rying that he was incorrigible, that they ought to have taken all the money away from him. And runn

ne; you are the only one of us who has any sense. You will make the money last, I am v

imple, pretty ornament. Sometimes, when they were alone, she would smile at Pascal and draw the pearls from her dress quickly, and show them to him without a word; and as quickly she would replace

ormer sweets, creams, and pastry, and reducing the food to the quantity barely necessary to sustain life. She resumed all her former authority, treating them like children who were not to be consulted, even with regard to their wishes or their tastes. It was she who arranged the menus, who knew better than themselves what they wanted; but all this like a mother, surrounding them with unceasing care, performing the miracle of enabling them to live still with comfort on their scanty resources; occasionally severe with them, for their own good, as one is severe with a child when it refuses to eat its food. And it seemed as if this maternal care, this

over again. They said that she counted the grains of pepper, so many grains for each dish, in her passion for economy. When the potatoes had too little oil, when the cutlets were reduced to a mouthfu

Martine's wages. Usually she took her forty fran

ing, "what are you going to do for your

eyes fixed on the ground, with an a

ieur, I mus

nd, that she had thought of some arrangement which she

d consent to it, I should lik

a pa

eur should say, every month,

bject of wondering amusement to the doctor and his companion. In what did the extraordinary power consist which money has on certain natures? This old maid, who would serve him on bended knees, w

table; and they walked through the empty house as through a palace hung with silk and filled with riches. This was undoubtedly the happiest period of their love. The workroom had pleasant memories of the past, and they spent whole days there, wrapped luxuriously in the joy of having lived so long in it together. Then, out of doors, in every corner of La Souleiade, royal summer had set up his blue tent, dazzling with gold. In the morning, in the embalsame

was beyond a doubt insolvent, so that not even the personal creditors would receive anything. In the beginning they had relied on the house and the two farms which the fugitive notary had left perforce behind him, but it was now certain that this property was in his wife's name and, while he was enjoying in Switzerland, as it was said, the beauty of the mountains, she lived on one of the farms, which she cultivated quietly, away from the annoyances of the liquidation. In short, it was

o work and earn money, a great deal of money, with her pastels. People had so often praised her extraordinary and original talent that, taking Martine into her confidence, she sent her one fine morning to offer some of her fantastic bouquets to the color dealer of the Cours Sauvaire, who was a relation, it was said, of a Parisian artist. It was with the express condition that nothing was to be exhibited in Plassans, that everything was to be sent to a distance. But the result was disastrous; the merchant was frighten

t him, the name which they had given him of a crack-brained genius. He would not find a single patient now, it would be a useless cruelty to force him to make an attempt which would assuredly result only in a lacerated heart and empty hands. Clotilde, on the contrary, had used all her influence to turn him from the idea. Martine comprehended the reasonableness of these objections, and she too declared that he must be prevented from running the risk of so great a chagrin. But while she was speaking a new idea occurred to her, as she suddenly remembered an old register, which she had met with in a press, and in which she had in former times entered the doctor's visits. For a long time it was she who had kept the accounts. There were so many patients who

the whole town was talking-had brought her to him; she still continued stern and indignant. But she waited in trembling excitement, she maintained her attitude as an offended mother only in the certainty that she would at last have Pascal at her feet, shrewdly calculating that he would sooner or later be compelled to appeal to her for assistance. When he had not a sou left, when he knocked at her door, then s

ended the servant. And indeed, why should he not a

. "Master would be angry, and with reason. I truly believe he w

r, as Martine was putting on the table a piece of boiled

potatoes, without oil or butter. It is three weeks now that you ha

cheerful, they c

salt, my g

nsieur, there is s

salt are very good

asked everywhere in vain. In other circumstances he would have been greatly annoyed and very angry at this confession; offended that they should have acted without his knowledge, and contrary to the attitude he had maintained during his whole professional life. He remained for a long tine silent, strongly agitated, and this would have sufficed to prove how great must be his secret anguish at times, under his apparent indifference to poverty. Then he forgave Clotilde, clasping her wildly to his breast, and finally he

or was very silent during the morning, a prey to a visible strugg

panion. "I do not wish you to fast this evening ag

im, waiting for

fused to give it to you, I will see whethe

ntly made him suffer terribly; but he forced a smile, he affected to be very brave. And she,

if it makes you suffer so

present, approved highl

ed to one, is there? Every one should have his own; for my part, I thi

n gown with red spots, but doubtless the consciousness of their poverty lowered them in their own estimation, making them feel that they were now only two poor people who occupied a very insignificant place in the world, for they walked along b

gh a servant who had been impolite; so that he hastened to offer her his excuses, giving her all the time she desired. Then he climbed up three flights of stairs to the apartment of a clerk in the tax collector's office, whom he found still ill, and so poor that he did not even venture to make his demand. Then followed a mercer, a lawyer's wife, an oil merchant, a baker-all well-to-do people; and all turned him away, some with excuses, others by denying him admittance; a few even pretended not

, at the end of a full half hour, s

the matter? Had

successful; she complained th

little girl is ill. I am afraid that it is the beginning of a gast

uld not suppress cam

prescribe

could I do

r's door, and nothing now remained for them to do but to return home with empty hands. But this Pascal refused to do, determined that Clotilde should have something more

speak to Ramond he would willingly lend us a thousand francs,

able physician of the place, and to make a fortune! She knew, indeed, that he had a magnanimous soul and a kind heart. If he had not visited them again it

nuously. For his part, he would have thrown open to th

ection and frankness. I think I gave him a great deal of pain, but he has forgive

her junior, who received them. She seemed a little embarrassed, but she was very amiable, notwithstanding. But the doctor, naturally, did not prefer his request, and contented himself with saying, in explanation of his visit,

Martine met grandmother the other day. Yes, grandmother has been uneasy about us. She

hey could see the corner of the Place de la

poverty. My heart, too, is heavy, to think that you also are in want, that you also suffer. But it i

Rue de la Banne, and e

a stranger. Perhaps we still have friend

seemed of a nobler beauty than before, he all white, she all blond, pressing close to each other in their misfortune. They seemed more united, more one with each other than ever; holding their heads erect, proud of their glorious love, though touched by misfortune; he shaken, while she, with a courageous heart, sustained him. And in spite of the poverty that had so suddenly overtaken them they walked without shame, very poor and very great, with the sorrowful smile under which they concealed the d

orning, looked after them smiling. In the new town, too, the servants came and stood at the doors of the wealthy houses; they met with less sympathy here than in the deserted streets of the Quartier St. Marc, whose antique houses maintained a friendly silence. They returned to the heart of the old quarter where they were most liked; they went as far as St. Saturnin, the cathedral, whose apse was shaded by the garden of the chapter, a sweet and peaceful solitude, from which a beggar drove them by himself asking an alms from them. They were building rapidly in the neighborhood of the railway station; a new quarter was growing up there, and they bent their steps in that direction. Then they returned a l

ded that she would have no cooking to do this evening. She pretended t

"As the potatoes are on the fire we c

indistinct words-when people had eaten up everything what was the use of si

e. I thought he was looking badly a little

tand why the doctor kept the old beast. Even Martine had at last said that he ought to be slaughtered, if only through pity. But Pascal and Clotilde cried out at this, as much excited as if it had been proposed to them to put an end to some aged relative who was not dying fast enough. No, no, he had served them fo

st. "It is simply old age. Ah, my poor old fellow, I thin

about, needed so little. She stooped down and took a few handfuls of grass from a heap which the servant had left there, and b

ite! You cannot be very sick, then; you must not try

r having each given him, as usual, a h

t was a wonderful feast, which reminded them of the delicious breakfast they had made on the morning on which Martine had obstinately shut herself up in her room, and refused to answer them. They experienced the same delight as then at being alone, at waiting upon themselves, at eating from the same plate, sitting close beside each other. This evening, which they had anticipated with so much dread, had in store for them the most delightful hours of their existence. As soon as they found themselves at home in the large friendly room, as far removed from the town

felt a su

ly! Is it wise to be happy in this way? Who k

outh; she desired that he should have

her as we love each other to-day. Love m

deep draughts of pure water. Then the grapes for dessert filled them with admiration; these grapes so fresh, this blood of the earth which the sun had touched with gold. They ate to excess; they became drunk on water and fruit, and more than all on gaiety. They did not remember ever before to have enjoyed such a fe

night breeze entered, still warm and laden with a faint odor of lavender. The moon had just risen above the horizon, large a