Красное и черное

Manners and Customs in 1830

           

           Thecollectoroftaxes,thesuperintendentofindirecttaxes,theofficerofgendarmerie,andtwoorthreeotherpublicofficialsarrivedwiththeirwives.TheywerefollowedbysomerichLiberals.Dinnerwasannounced.ItoccurredtoJulien,whowasalreadyfeelingupset,thatthereweresomepoorprisonersontheothersideofthedining-roomwall,andthatanillicitprofithadperhapsbeenmadeovertheirrationsofmeatinordertopurchaseallthatgarishluxurywithwhichtheyweretryingtooverwhelmhim.

           "Perhapstheyarehungryatthisveryminute,"hesaidtohimself.Hefeltachokinginhisthroat.Hefounditimpossibletoeatandalmostimpossibletospeak.Mattersbecamemuchworseaquarterofanhourafterwards;theyheardinthedistancesomerefrainsofapopularsongthatwas,itmustbeconfessed,alittlevulgar,whichwasbeingsungbyoneoftheinmates.M.Valenodgavealooktooneofhisliveriedservantswhodisappearedandsoontherewasnomoresingingtobeheard.AtthatmomentavaletofferedJuliensomeRhinewineinagreenglassandMadameValenodmadeapointofaskinghimtonotethatthiswinecostninefrancsabottleinthemarket.JulienhelduphisgreenglassandsaidtoM.Valenod,

           "Theyarenotsingingthatwretchedsonganymore."

           "Zounds,Ishouldthinknot,"answeredthetriumphantgovernor."Ihavemadetherascalskeepquiet."

           ThesewordsweretoomuchforJulien.Hehadthemannersofhisnewposition,buthehadnotyetassimilateditsspirit.Inspiteofallhishypocrisyanditsfrequentpractice,hefeltabigteardripdownhischeek.

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