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Vendetta-Part1_Honore de Balzac(1799-1850)_Translated Works(翻译文学)-第2页

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These words roused no expression of hatred on the part of the two



brothers.

"Ha! you are no longer Corsicans!" cried Piombo, with a sort of



despair. "Farewell. In other days I protected you," he added, in a

reproachful tone. "Without me, your mother would never have reached



Marseille," he said, addressing himself to Bonaparte, who was silent

and thoughtful, his elbow resting on a mantel-shelf.



"As a matter of duty, Piombo," said Napoleon at last, "I cannot take

you under my wing. I have become the leader of a great nation; I



command the Republic; I am bound to execute the laws."

"Ha! ha!" said Bartolomeo, scornfully.



"But I can shut my eyes," continued Bonaparte. "The tradition of the

Vendetta will long prevent the reign of law in Corsica," he added, as



if speaking to himself. "But it MUST be destroyed, at any cost."

Bonaparte was silent for a few moments, and Lucien made a sign to



Piombo not to speak. The Corsican was swaying his head from right to

left in deep disapproval.



"Live here, in Paris," resumed the First Consul, addressing

Bartolomeo; "we will know nothing of this affair. I will cause your



property in Corsica to be bought, to give you enough to live on for

the present. Later, before long, we will think of you. But, remember,



no more vendetta! There are no woods here to fly to. If you play with

daggers, you must expect no mercy. Here, the law protects all



citizens; and no one is allowed to do justice for himself."

"He has made himself the head of a singular nation," said Bartolomeo,



taking Lucien's hand and pressing it. "But you have both recognized me

in misfortune, and I am yours, henceforth, for life or death. You may



dispose as you will of the Piombos."

With these words his Corsican brow unbent, and he looked about him in



satisfaction.

"You are not badly off here," he said, smiling, as if he meant to



lodge there himself. "You are all in red, like a cardinal."

"Your success depends upon yourself; you can have a palace, also,"



said Bonaparte, watching his compatriot with a keen eye. "It will

often happen that I shall need some faithful friend in whom I can



confide."

A sigh of joy heaved the vast chest of the Corsican, who held out his



hand to the First Consul, saying:--

"The Corsican is in you still."



Bonaparte smiled. He looked in silence at the man who brought, as it

were, a waft of air from his own land,--from that isle where he had



been so miraculously saved from the hatred of the "English party"; the

land he was never to see again. He made a sign to his brother, who



then took Piombo away. Lucien inquired with interest as to the

financial condition of the former protector of their family. Piombo



took him to a window and showed him his wife and Ginevra, seated on a

heap of stones.



"We came from Fontainebleau on foot; we have not a single penny," he

said.



Lucien gave his purse to his compatriot, telling him to come to him

the next day, that arrangements might be made to secure the comfort of



the family. The value of Piombo's property in Corsica, if sold, would

scarcely maintain him honorably in Paris.



Fifteen years elapsed between the time of Piombo's arrival with his

family in Paris and the following event, which would be scarcely



intelligible to the reader without this narrative of the foregoing

circumstances.



CHAPTER II

THE STUDIO



Servin, one of our most distinguished artists, was the first to

conceive of the idea of opening a studio for young girls who wished to



take lessons in painting.

About forty years of age, a man of the purest morals, entirely given



up to his art, he had married from inclination the dowerless daughter

of a general. At first the mothers of his pupils bought their



daughters themselves to the studio; then they were satisfied to send

them alone, after knowing the master's principles and the pains he



took to deserve their confidence.

It was the artist's intention to take no pupils but young ladies



belonging to rich families of good position, in order to meet with no

complaints as to the composition of his classes. He even refused to






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