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The Illustrious Gaudissart-Part2_Honore de Balzac(1799-1850)_Translated Works(翻译文学)-第2页

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Children,' just as I say when I get ten subscriptions to a newspaper

called the 'Movement,' 'I've got ten Movements.' Now don't you see?"



"That's all right. Are you going into politics? If you do you'll get

into Saint-Pelagie, and I shall have to trot down there after you. Oh!



if one only knew what one puts one's foot into when we love a man, on

my word of honor we would let you alone to take care of yourselves,



you men! However, if you are going away to-morrow we won't talk of

disagreeable things,--that would be silly."



The coach stopped before a pretty house, newly built in the Rue

d'Artois, where Gaudissart and Jenny climbed to the fourth story. This



was the abode of Mademoiselle Jenny Courand, commonly reported to be

privately married to the illustrious Gaudissart, a rumor which that



individual did not deny. To maintain her supremacy, Jenny kept him to

the performance of innumerable small attentions, and threatened



continually to turn him off if he omitted the least of them. She now

ordered him to write to her from every town, and render a minute



account of all his proceedings.

"How many 'Children' will it take to furnish my chamber?" she asked,



throwing off her shawl and sitting down by a good fire.

"I get five sous for each subscriber."



"Delightful! And is it with five sous that you expect to make me rich?

Perhaps you are like the Wandering Jew with your pockets full of



money."

"But, Jenny, I shall get a thousand 'Children.' Just reflect that



children have never had a newspaper to themselves before. But what a

fool I am to try to explain matters to you,--you can't understand such



things."

"Can't I? Then tell me,--tell me, Gaudissart, if I'm such a goose why



do you love me?"

"Just because you are a goose,--a sublime goose! Listen, Jenny. See



here, I am going to undertake the 'Globe,' the 'Movement,' the

'Children,' the insurance business, and some of my old articles Paris;



instead of earning a miserable eight thousand a year, I'll bring back

twenty thousand at least from each trip."



"Unlace me, Gaudissart, and do it right; don't tighten me."

"Yes, truly," said the traveller, complacently; "I shall become a



shareholder in the newspapers, like Finot, one of my friends, the son

of a hatter, who now has thirty thousand francs income, and is going



to make himself a peer of France. When one thinks of that little

Popinot,--ah, mon Dieu! I forgot to tell you that Monsieur Popinot was



named minister of commerceyesterday. Why shouldn't I be ambitious

too? Ha! ha! I could easily pick up the jargon of those fellows who



talk in the chamber, and bluster with the rest of them. Now, listen to

me:--



"Gentlemen," he said, standing behind a chair, "the Press is neither a

tool nor an article of barter: it is, viewed under its political



aspects, an institution. We are bound, in virtue of our position as

legislators, to consider all things politically, and therefore" (here



he stopped to get breath)--"and therefore we must examine the Press

and ask ourselves if it is useful or noxious, if it should be



encouraged or put down, taxed or free. These are serious questions. I

feel that I do not waste the time, always precious, of this Chamber by



examining this article--the Press--and explaining to you its

qualities. We are on the verge of an abyss. Undoubtedly the laws have



not the nap which they ought to have--Hein?" he said, looking at

Jenny. "All orators put France on the verge of an abyss. They either



say that or they talk about the chariot of state, or convulsions, or

political horizons. Don't I know their dodges? I'm up to all the



tricks of all the trades. Do you know why? Because I was born with a

caul; my mother has got it, but I'll give it to you. You'll see! I



shall soon be in the government."

"You!"



"Why shouldn't I be the Baron Gaudissart, peer of France? Haven't they

twice elected Monsieur Popinot as deputy from the fourth



arrondissement? He dines with Louis Phillippe. There's Finot; he is

going to be, they say, a member of the Council. Suppose they send me



as ambassador to London? I tell you I'd nonplus those English! No man




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