Part 34 (1/2)
He turned respectfully toward Adrienne and added, with the correct bearing of a gentleman:
”Madame, all this is only to make him comprehend that nothing in the world, not even a rag of morocco,--is his portfolio a morocco one?--is worth the happiness of having such a wife as you. And the miserable fellow doesn't suspect it. You see, I speak of you as the Opposition journals do.”
Sulpice tried to smile but he divined under Guy's jesting, a serious and truthful purpose. Perhaps Adrienne had just been allowing herself to complain of the sadness and dreariness of her life. He was hurt by it.
After all, he did all that he could to gratify his wife. But a man like him was not, in fact, born to remain forever tied down. The wife of a minister must bear her part of the burden, since there must be a burden.
As if Adrienne had divined Sulpice's very thoughts, she quickly added, interrupting the jester who had somewhat confused the minister:
”Don't pay any attention to Monsieur de Lissac. I am very happy just as I am.”
Vaudrey had taken her hand to clasp it between his fingers with a slightly nervous grasp. The trustful, good-natured, pure smile that Adrienne gave him, recalled the anxious, distracted expression on Marianne's lip.
”Dear wife!”
He sought to find a word, a cry, some consolation, a sort of caress, proceeding from one heart and penetrating the other. He could find none.
”Come!” said Guy. ”I am going to leave you, and if you will allow me, madame, I will occasionally come here and tell you all the outside t.i.ttle-tattle.”
”You will always be welcome, Monsieur de Lissac,” Adrienne said, as she extended her hand to him.
Guy bowed to Madame Vaudrey in a most profoundly respectful way.
Sulpice accompanied him through the salons as far as the hall.
”Do you want me to tell you?” said Lissac. ”Your wife is very weary, take care! This big mansion is not very cheerful. One must inevitably catch colds in it, and then a woman to be all alone here! A form of imprisonment! Do not neglect to wheedle the majority, my dear minister, but don't forget your wife. Come! I will not act traitorously toward you, but I warn you that if I often find your wife melancholy, as she is to-day, I will tell her that I adore her. Yes! yes! your wife is charming. I would give all the orders in the world for a lock of her hair. Adieu, Monsieur le Ministre.”
”Great idiot,” said Vaudrey, giving him a little friendly, gentle tap on the neck.
”Be it so, but if you do not love her well enough, I shall fall in love with her, and I forewarn you that it is much better that I should than any other. Au revoir.”
”Au revoir!” Sulpice repeated.
He tried now to force a smile and went down to his cabinet, where he found heaped-up reports awaiting his attention and he turned the pages over nervously and read them in a very bad humor.
_She was quite pale as she looked over Sulpice's shoulder and saw him rapidly write several lines on the paper, then she spelled:
”Adolphe Gochard--Go-go-ch-a-r-d.”_
[Ill.u.s.tration: SULPICE BECOMES SURETY FOR MARIANNE]
II
Madame Vaudrey drew no real pleasure from the commonplace receptions at the ministry, or at her Wednesday _at homes_, except when by chance, Denis Ramel permitted himself to abandon the Batignolles to call at Place Beauvau, or when Guy enlivened this dull spot by recounting the happenings of the outside world.
Adrienne felt herself terribly isolated; she knew hardly any one in Paris. Since Vaudrey had installed himself in Rue de la Chaussee-d'Antin, she had not had time to form acquaintances among the wives of the deputies to the a.s.sembly, the majority of whom lived in the provinces or dwelt at Versailles for economical reasons.
Evidently the residence at the ministry had only brought her ready-made relations, depressingly inevitable visitors who resembled office-seekers or clients. These official receptions filled her with sadness. The conversation always took the same hackneyed tone, disgusting in its flattery or disquieting by reason of its allusions. People discussed coming interpellations of ministers; government majorities, projected legislation; the same phrases, as dreary as showers, fell with all the regularity of drops of rain. Even young girls, brought up in this centre of infuriated politicians, spoke of the breaking up of the majority, reports or ballots, in the same manner as shopkeepers talk of their trade.