THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ÉMILE ZOLA. Эмиль Золя

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СКАЧАТЬ grass had sprung up between the bright paving stones, and a dog, that was giving an airing to its lean spine in the narrow streak of shade which fell from the houses, was the only other living thing about. When the young man heard the words that fell from Abbé Chastanier, he rushed forward and grasped his hands effusively.

      “Ah! my father,” he exclaimed in a trembling voice, “you have brought me back hope and faith. Since yesterday I had been doubting Providence. How can I thank you, how can I prove to you my gratitude? Now I feel possessed of invincible courage, I am certain of saving my brother.”

      Blanche, at the sight of Marius, had hung her head. A warm blush had suffused her cheeks. She stood there confused and embarrassed, suffering horridly at the presence of this youth, who was aware of her perjury, and whom her uncle and she had plunged into despair. When the young man’s joy had somewhat subsided, he regretted he had approached. The despairing attitude of Mademoiselle de Cazalis aroused his pity.

      “My brother has been very guilty,” he said to her at last. “Pardon him as I pardon you.”

      These few words were all he could find. He would have liked to have spoken to her of her child, to have questioned her as to the lot reserved to this poor little creature, to have claimed it in the name of Philippe; but he saw her so bowed down, that he dared not torture her further.

      Fine doubtless understood what was passing within him. While he walked a few steps with Abbé Chastanier, she said rapidly to Blanche:

      “Remember that I offered you to be a mother to your child. Now, I love you, for I see you have a good heart. Make a sign and I’ll hasten to your assistance. But apart from that, I shall be on the watch, for the little creature must not suffer from the folly of its parents.”

      Blanche’s only answer was to silently squeeze the flower-girl’s hand. Big tears were trickling down her cheeks.

      Mademoiselle de Cazalis and Abbé Chastanier returned at once to Marseille. Fine and Marius hastened to the gaol. They told Revertégat that they had four months to prepare the escape, and the gaoler swore he would abide by his word, on whatever day and hour they might remind him of it.

      The two young people desired to see Philippe before leaving Aix, so as to let him know what had taken place and tell him to have hope. At eleven o’clock in the evening Revertégat conducted them again to the cell.

      Philippe, who was becoming accustomed to the prison regulations, did not seem particularly depressed.

      “Provided I am spared the disgrace of the public exhibition,” he said to them, “I will consent to everything. I would rather break my head open against a wall, than be fastened to the post of infamy.”

      And the following day the diligence brought Marius and Fine back to Marseille. They were about to continue the struggle to which their hearts urged them, on a much larger scale than before; they were about to dive to the bottom of human misery and behold the bare wounds of a great city abandoned to all the passions of modern industry.

      PART II

       Table of Contents

       CHAPTER I

       CHAPTER II

       CHAPTER III

       CHAPTER IV

       CHAPTER V

       CHAPTER VI

       CHAPTER VII

       CHAPTER VIII

       CHAPTER IX

       CHAPTER X

       CHAPTER XI

       CHAPTER XII

       CHAPTER XIII

       CHAPTER XIV

       CHAPTER XV

       CHAPTER XVI

       CHAPTER XVII

       CHAPTER XVIII

       CHAPTER XIX

       CHAPTER XX

      CHAPTER I

      M. SAUVAIRE, THE MASTER-STEVEDORE

      CADET COUGOURDAN’S employer, the master-stevedore Sauvaire, was a short, lively, dark man with thickset powerful limbs. His great hooked nose, thin lips and elongated visage, were expressive of that vainglorious confidence and artful bragging which are the distinctive features of certain types in the south of France.

      Brought up in the port, a simple labourer in his youth, he had saved up his earnings for ten years. He raised enormous weights and was possessed of vigorous strength that did wonders. He was in the habit of saying he did not fear big men.

      The truth was that this dwarf could have thrashed a giant. But he displayed prudence and wisdom in the use he made of his power, avoiding quarrels, knowing that the tension of his muscles was worth money, and that a blow with the fist only brings trouble. He lived soberly, given up entirely to work and avarice, impatient to attain the end he dreamed of.

      At last he had before him the few thousand francs he required to accomplish his object. He became a master from one day to another, took men into his employ, and with folded arms watched them toiling and perspiring. From time to time he gave them a little help with a grumble.

      Sauvaire, at the bottom, was a downright lazy fellow; he had worked out of obstinacy, preferring to perform his indolence of a wealthy man. Now that he had poor wretches to win him a fortune, he walked about with his СКАЧАТЬ