第43章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(26)

第43章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(26)

'iwouldnotsayhappily，myfriend，'returnedtheuncle，withrefinedpoliteness；'iwouldnotbesureofthat.agoodopportunityforconsideration，surroundedbytheadvantagesofsolitude，mightinfluenceyourdestinytofargreateradvantagethanyouinfluenceitforyourself.butitisuselesstodiscussthequestion.iam，asyousay，atadisadvantage.theselittleinstrumentsofcorrection，thesegentleaidstothepowerandhonouroffamilies，theseslightfavoursthatmightsoincommodeyou，areonlytobeobtainednowbyinterestandimportunity.theyaresoughtbysomany，andtheyaregranted（comparatively）tosofew！itusednottobeso，butfranceinallsuchthingsischangedfortheworse.ournotremoteancestorsheldtherightoflifeanddeathoverthesurroundingvulgar.fromthisroom，manysuchdogshavebeentakenouttobehanged；inthenextroom（mybedroom），onefellow，toourknowledge，wasponiardedonthespotforprofessingsomeinsolentdelicacyrespectinghisdaughter—hisdaughter？wehavelostmanyprivileges；anewphilosophyhasbecomethemode；andtheassertionofourstation，inthesedays，might（idonotgoasfarastosaywould，butmight）causeusrealinconvenience.allverybad，verybad！'

themarquistookagentlelittlepinchofsnuff，andshookhishead；aselegantlydespondentashecouldbecominglybeofacountrystillcontaininghimself，thatgreatmeansofregeneration.

'wehavesoassertedourstation，bothintheoldtimeandinthemoderntimealso，'saidthenephew，gloomily，'thatibelieveournametobemoredetestedthananynameinfrance.'

'letushopeso，'saidtheuncle.'detestationofthehighistheinvoluntaryhomageofthelow.'

'thereisnot，'pursuedthenephew，inhisformertone，'afaceicanlookat，inallthiscountryroundaboutus，whichlooksatmewithanydeferenceonitbutthedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery.'

'acompliment，'saidthemarquis，'tothegrandeurofthefamily，meritedbythemannerinwhichthefamilyhassustaineditsgrandeur.hah！'andhetookanothergentlelittlepinchofsnuff，andlightlycrossedhislegs.

but，whenhisnephew，leaninganelbowonthetable，coveredhiseyesthoughtfullyanddejectedlywithhishand，thefinemasklookedathimsidewayswithastrongerconcentrationofkeenness，closeness，anddislike，thanwascomportablewithitswearer'sassumptionofindifference.

'repressionistheonlylastingphilosophy.thedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery，myfriend，'observedthemarquis，'willkeepthedogsobedienttothewhip，aslongasthisroof，'lookinguptoit，'shutsoutthesky.'

thatmightnotbesolongasthemarquissupposed.ifapictureofthechateauasitwastobeaveryfewyearshence，andoffiftylikeitastheytooweretobeaveryfewyearshence，couldhavebeenshowntohimthatnight，hemighthavebeenatalosstoclaimhisownfromtheghastly，fire-charred，plunder-wreckedruins.asfortheroofhevaunted，hemighthavefoundthatshuttingouttheskyinanewway—towit，forever，fromtheeyesofthebodiesintowhichitsleadwasfired，outofthebarrelsofahundredthousandmuskets.

'meanwhile，'saidthemarquis，'iwillpreservethehonourandreposeofthefamilyifyouwillnot.butyoumustbefatigued.shallweterminateourconferenceforthenight？'

'amomentmore.'

'anhour，ifyouplease.'

'sir，'saidthenephew，'wehavedonewrong，andarereapingthefruitsofwrong.'

'wehavedonewrong？'repeatedthemarquis，withaninquiringsmile，anddelicatelypointing，firsttohisnephew，thentohimself.

'ourfamily；ourhonourablefamily，whosehonourisofsomuchaccounttobothofus，insuchdifferentways.eveninmyfather'stime，wedidaworldofwrong，injuringeveryhumancreaturewhocamebetweenusandourpleasure，whateveritwas.whyneedispeakofmyfather'stime，whenitisequallyyours？caniseparatemyfather'stwin-brother，jointinheritor，andnextessor，fromhimself？'

'deathhasdonethat！'saidthemarquis.

'andhasleftme，'answeredthenephew，'boundtoasystemthatisfrightfultome，responsibleforit，butpowerlessinit；seekingtoexecutethelastrequestofmydearmother'slips，andobeythelastlookofmydearmother'seyes，whichimploredmetohavemercyandtoredress；andtorturedbyseekingassistanceandpowerinvain.'

'seekingthemfromme，mynephew，'saidthemarquis，touchinghimonthebreastwithhisforefinger—theywerenowstandingbythehearth—'youwillforeverseektheminvain，beassured.'

everyfinestraightlineintheclearwhitenessofhisface，wascruelly，craftily，andcloselycompressed，whilehestoodlookingquietlyathisnephew，withhissnuff-boxinhishand.onceagainhetouchedhimonthebreast，asthoughhisfingerwerethefinepointofasmallsword，withwhich，indelicatefinesse，heranhimthroughthebody，andsaid，'myfriend，iwilldie，perpetuatingthesystemunderwhichihavelived.'

whenhehadsaidit，hetookaculminatingpinchofsnuff，andputhisboxinhispocket.

'bettertobearationalcreature，'headdedthen，afterringingasmallbellonthetable，'andacceptyournaturaldestiny.butyouarelost，monsieurcharles，isee.'

'thispropertyandfrancearelosttome，'saidthenephew，sadly；'irenouncethem.'

'aretheybothyourstorenounce？francemaybe，butistheproperty？itisscarcelyworthmentioning；but，isityet？'

'ihadnointention，inthewordsiused，toclaimityet.ifitpassedtomefromyou，tomorrow—'

'whichihavethevanitytohopeisnotprobable.'

'—ortwentyyearshence—'

'youdometoomuchhonour，'saidthemarquis；'still，ipreferthatsupposition.'

'—iwouldabandonit，andliveotherwiseandelsewhere.itislittletorelinquish.whatisitbutawildernessofmiseryandruin！'

'hah！'saidthemarquis，glancingroundtheluxuriousroom.