Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert

Author:Gustave Flaubert
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Fiction, Fiction - General, Fiction : General, Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), General, Literary, Fiction : Literary, General & Literary Fiction, Classics, Classic fiction (pre c 1945)
ISBN: 9781151109767
Publisher: General Books LLC
Published: 2009-08-15T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER V

Deslauriers had carried away from Frédéric’s house the copy of the deed of subrogation, with a power of attorney in proper form, giving him full authority to act; but, when he had reascended his own five flights of stairs and found himself alone in the midst of his dismal room, in his armchair upholstered in sheep-leather, the sight of the stamped documents disgusted him.

He was tired of these things, and of restaurants at thirty-two sous, of travelling on omnibuses, of enduring want and many struggles. He picked up the documents again; there were others with them. They were prospectuses of the coal-mining company, with a list of the mines and the particulars as to their contents, Frédéric having left all these matters in his hands in order to have his opinion about them.

An idea occurred to him—that of presenting himself at M. Dambreuse’s house and applying for the post of secretary. This post, it was perfectly certain, could not be obtained without purchasing a certain number of shares. He recognised the folly of his plan, and said to himself:

“Oh! no, that would be a wrong step.”

Then he racked his brains to think of the best way in which he could set about recovering the fifteen thousand francs. Such a sum was a mere trifle to Frédéric. But, if he had it, what a lever it would be in his hands! And the ex-law-clerk was indignant at the other being so well off.

“He makes pitiful use of it. He is a selfish fellow. Ah! what do I care for his fifteen thousand francs!”

Why had he lent the money? For the sake of Madame Arnoux’s bright eyes. She was his mistress! Deslauriers had no doubt about it. “There was another way in which money was useful!”

And he was assailed by hateful thoughts.

Then he allowed his thoughts to dwell even on Frédéric’s personal appearance. It had always exercised over him an almost feminine charm; and he soon came to admire him for a success which he realised that he was himself incapable of achieving.

“Nevertheless, was not one’s will the main element in every enterprise ? and, since by its means we may triumph over everything—”

“Ah! that would be funny!”

But he felt ashamed of such treachery, and the next moment:

“Bah! Am I afraid?”

Madame Arnoux—from having heard her spoken about so often—had come to be depicted in his imagination as something extraordinary. The persistency of this passion had irritated him like a problem. Her austerity, which seemed a little theatrical, now annoyed him. Besides, the woman of the world—or, rather, his own conception of her—dazzled the lawyer as the symbol and the epitome of a thousand pleasures unknown to him. Poor though he was, he hankered after luxury in its most glittering form.

“After all, even if he should get angry, it would serve him right! He has behaved too badly for me to care! I have no assurance that she is his mistress! He has denied it. So then I am free to act as I please!”

He could no longer abandon the desire of taking this step.

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