THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ÉMILE ZOLA. Эмиль Золя

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      CHAPTER VII

      M. DE CAZALIS YEARNS FOR JOSEPH

      DURING the three years that had elapsed since the birth of the son of Blanche and Philippe, important changes had taken place in the existence of M. de Cazalis. He had not been reelected deputy at the last elections and had come to reside at Marseille. His defeat, due to the unpopularity he had earned among the people, owing to his quarrels with the Cayols, did not seem to affect him a great deal. The truth was that he preferred attending to his own affairs rather than to those of his country; he had enough cares at home, enough work to do to parry the blows with which he was threatened, without troubling himself with a mandate that would rivet him to Paris for several months in the year.

      He took up his abode at his mansion on the Cours Bonaparte and acted in such a manner as to make himself forgotten by the whole city. He gave up going out in his carriage and splashing the peaceful tradesmen; he did his best to pass unperceived, and succeeded so well that in a short time he was quite unknown to most people. His dream was to secure his peace of mind as soon as possible, and then proceed to Paris and devour his niece’s fortune in grand style.

      If he led the sad and retired life that he did, it was because his instinct of prudence urged him to study the position and secure immunity, before laying a finger on what did not belong to him. He had a mad desire to satisfy himself at once, but was afraid. He was willing enough to despoil Blanche, on condition he would never be branded as a thief.

      When he had succeeded in being forgotten, when he was shut up in his mansion like a simple bourgeois, fond of retirement and silence, he planted his batteries. He found himself in the centre of the intrigue he meant to direct, and was in hopes that by his nonchalant attitude he had dispelled the distrust of his adversaries. At the bottom of his heart, his most ardent desire was to discover the whereabouts of his niece’s boy and obtain possession of him. Then only would he be able to grasp the fortune that was lying idle in his hands. But, by an effort of hypocrisy, he was able to restrain himself for nearly three years; he remained quiet, without appearing to take any steps to find out where his great nephew was hidden; and, in reality, he did not risk a single attempt, being faithful to his plan of feigned indifference.

      The result of this comedy was to tranquillize Marius. The young man had imagined that the day after the babe had been carried off, M. de Cazalis would have flown into a rage, scoured Marseille and searched everywhere else to find him. He was first of all very much surprised at the indifference of Blanche’s uncle and suspected that it served to hide some trap. Then, little by little, his suspicions were dispelled and he dozed away in happy confidence, until at length he thought no more of this man who was hiding in obscurity, in order to watch his prey the better.

      If M. de Cazalis was patient and made no researches, it was because he knew the Cayols could not make use of the child against him for some time. He permitted them to bring it up, counting on stealing it when it became dangerous to leave it in their hands. So long as Philippe did not return to France, so long as his son had not attained a certain age, Marius had his hands tied; it was impossible for him to create a scandal that might turn against his own brother.

      To tell the truth M. de Cazalis placed great reliance on the upright and just mind of Marius, in order to bring his own affairs to a happy issue: he said to himself that the young man would never venture to compromise Blanche, and that he would sooner abandon the fortune than do so. In any case, he had at least five years tranquillity before him.

      But if he relied on the virtues of Marius, he was in absolute terror when he thought of Philippe. He felt that if he ever fell into the latter’s hands he would meet with no mercy. He knew the violence, the energetic nature of the fugitive, and considered him a man who would stop at nothing when it was a question of satisfying a hatred or a vengeance. So he took certain precautions to shelter himself from that hatred in case Philippe returned to France. He earnestly desired to see him commit that imprudence; and, rather for the pleasure of having him arrested, than to escape his vindictiveness, he employed a certain Mathéus, a rascal who was devoted to him, to go to Italy and keep at the young man’s heels so as to return with him in case he took it into his head to embark.

      The spy acquitted himself faithfully of his mandate. He found Philippe at Genoa and from that moment never left him. When the latter returned to Marseille, Mathéus was on the same steamer, but by chance lost sight of him during the confusion of landing, and he had to inform his employer of the presence of his enemy in the city, without being able to tell him where he was in hiding.

      When M. de Cazalis learned that Philippe was at Marseille he felt extremely uneasy, not that he feared immediate and direct vengeance, but because he imagined the young man would obstinately pursue him and make him disgorge. He desired his return to France, but on condition that he might know his hiding-place, and hand him over to the police the day after his arrival. But as he had escaped his vigilance, he imagined he was hovering round him and preparing pitfalls beneath his feet.

      He lived for a year in perpetual anxiety. He watched Marius to no purpose, ordered Mathéus to follow him everywhere, but failed to find Philippe, for the two brothers had agreed that they would not meet until the pardon had been granted and they could shake hands without fear. Besides, Philippe appeared so different in his coarse garments of a stevedore, with his sunburnt hands and face that Mathéus passed several times close to him without recognising him.

      M. de Cazalis, who did not wish to take the police into his confidence, without having prepared a certain capture, was in despair at his spy’s want of success. He sent him throughout Marseille daily, making him promises that were each time more tempting, spurred on by the dread of seeing the steps he knew Marius was taking to obtain his brother’s pardon, successful.

      One day M. de Cazalis, who had gone down to the port, mingled with a crowd that had assembled round a wounded man. He ascertained that it was a stevedore whose foot had been crushed under an enormous case of goods. As he went nearer to him he caught sight of another stevedore who was beside the poor fellow, giving orders. This man’s quick movements and loud voice made him start. He had only heard Philippe’s voice once, at the time of the trial, and it had ever since been ringing in his ears.

      He returned home in all haste and calling Mathéus, gave him detailed instructions. He was to make sure of this man’s identity, to follow him for two or three days so as to ascertain what his habits were and the places he frequented. The pursuit commenced next morning.

      The plan M. de Cazalis had formed, was as simple as it was clever. He meant to bring down two birds at one shot. He wished to kiss his little great-nephew, he thought he had left him long enough with the Carols, and desired in his turn to have him. To find the child and steal him, he determined СКАЧАТЬ