and when Fauchery had left her he said to her in a low Labordette had brought the whole collection in a single voice and with the good-natured cynicism of a comrade in fly, and they were stlll laughing at the way they had been arms who wishes his friends to be happy: squeezed with Maria Blond on her knees. But on entering
“He’s dying of it, you know, only he’s afraid of my wife.
the room they pursed up their lips, and all grew very con-Won’t you protect him?”
ventional as they shook hands and exchanged salutations.
Nana did not appear to understand. She smiled and looked Gaga even affected the infantile and lisped through excess at Rose, the husband and the banker and finally said to the of genteel deportment. Tatan Nene alone transgressed. They latter:
had been telling her as they came along that six absolutely
“Monsieur Steiner, you will sit next to me.” naked Negroes would serve up Nana’s supper, and she now With that there came from the anteroom a sound of laugh-grew anxious about them and asked to see them. Labordette ter and whispering and a burst of merry, chattering voices, called her a goose and besought her to be silent.
which sounded as if a runaway convent were on the pre-
“And Bordenave?” asked Fauchery.
mises. And Labordette appeared, towing five women in
“Oh, you may imagine how miserable I am,” cried Nana; his rear, his boarding school, as Lucy Stewart cruelly
“he won’t be able to join us.”
76
Nana
“Yes,” said Rose Mignon, “his foot caught in a trap door,
‘Here goes.’”
and he’s got a fearful sprain. If only you could hear him But he interrupted himself with an oath.
swearing, with his leg tied up and laid out on a chair!”
“Oh, damn!”
Thereupon everybody mourned over Bordenave’s ab-Simonne had taken a step too quickly forward, and his sence. No one ever gave a good supper without Bordenave.
foot had just felt his full weight. He gave her a rough push, Ah well, they would try and do without him, and they were but she, still smiling away and ducking her pretty head as already talking about other matters when a burly voice was some animal might that is afraid of a beating, held him up heard:
with all the strength a little plump blonde can command.
“What, eh, what? Is that the way they’re going to write Amid all these exclamations there was a rush to his assis-my obituary notice?”
tance. Nana and Rose Mignon rolled up an armchair, into There was a shout, and all heads were turned round, for which Bordenave let himself sink, while the other women it was indeed Bordenave. Huge and fiery-faced, he was slid a second one under his leg. And with that all the ac-standing with his stiff leg in the doorway, leaning for sup-tresses present kissed him as a matter of course. He kept port on Simonne Cabiroche’s shoulder. Simonne was for grumbling and gasping.
the time being his mistress. This little creature had had a
“Oh, damn! Oh, damn! Ah well, the stomach’s unhurt, certain amount of education and could play the piano and you’ll see.”
talk English. She was a blonde on a tiny, pretty scale and Other guests had arrived by this time, and motion be-so delicately formed that she seemed to bend under came impossible in the room. The noise of clinking plates Bordenave’s rude weight. Yet she was smilingly submis-and silver had ceased, and now a dispute was heard going sive withal. He postured there for some moments, for he on in the big drawing room, where the voice of the man-felt that together they formed a tableau.
ager grumbled angrily. Nana was growing impatient, for
“One can’t help liking ye, eh?” he continued. “Zounds, she expected no more invited guests and wondered why I was afraid I should get bored, and I said to myself, they did not bring in supper. She had just sent Georges to 77
Zola
find out what was going on when, to her great surprise, our sitting down at table as if nothing had happened? We she noticed the arrival of more guests, both male and feare all here, don’t you think?”
male. She did not know them in the least. Whereupon with
“Oh yes, we’re all here, I promise you!” she answered some embarrassment she questioned Bordenave, Mignon laughingly.
and Labordette about them. They did not know them any She looked round her but grew suddenly serious, as more than she did, but when she turned to the Count de though she were surprised at not finding someone. Doubt-Vandeuvres he seemed suddenly to recollect himself. They less there was a guest missing whom she did not mention.
were the young men he had pressed into her service at It was a case of waiting. But a minute or two later the Count Muffat’s. Nana thanked him. That was capital, capi-company noticed in their midst a tall gentleman with a fine tal! Only they would all be terribly crowded, and she begged face and a beautiful white beard. The most astonishing thing Labordette to go and have seven more covers set. Scarcely about it was that nobody had seen him come in; indeed, he had he left the room than the footman ushered in three must have slipped into the little drawing room through the newcomers. Nay, this time the thing was becoming ridicu-bedroom door, which had remained ajar. Silence reigned, lous; one certainly could never take them all in. Nana was broken only by a sound of whispering. The Count de beginning to grow angry and in her haughtiest manner an-Vandeuvres certainly knew who the gentleman was, for nounced that such conduct was scarcely in good taste. But they both exchanged a discreet handgrip, but to the ques-seeing two more arrive, she began laughing; it was really tions which the women asked him he replied by a smile too funny. So much the worse. People would have to fit in only. Thereupon Caroline Hequet wagered in a low voice anyhow! The company were all on their feet save Gaga that it was an English lord who was on the eve of returning and Rose and Bordenave, who alone took up two arm-to London to be married. She knew him quite well—she chairs. There was a buzz of voices, people talking in low had had him. And this account of the matter went the round tones and stifling slight yawns the while.
of the ladies present, Maria Blond alone asserting that, for
“Now what d’you say, my lass,” asked Bordenave, “to her part, she recognized a German ambassador. She could 78
Nana
prove it, because he often passed the night with one of her had become worn and tarnished through dint of continual friends. Among the men his measure was taken in a few washings; the glass was of the kind that you can complete rapid phrases. A real swell, to judge by his looks! Perhaps an odd set of in any cheap emporium.
he would pay for the supper! Most likely. It looked like it.
The scene suggested a premature housewarming in an Bah! Provided only the supper was a good one! In the end establishment newly smiled on by fortune and as yet lack-the company remained undecided. Nay, they were already ing the necessary conveniences. There was no central lus-beginning to forget the old white-bearded gentleman when ter, and the candelabra, whose tall tapers had scarcely the manager opened the door of the large drawing room.
burned up properly, cast a pale yellow light among the
“Supper is on the table, madame.” dishes and stands on which fruit, cakes and preserves al-Nana had already accepted Steiner’s proffered arm with-ternated symmetrically.
out noticing a movement on the part of the old gentleman,
“You sit where you like, you know,” said Nana. “It’s who started to walk behind her in solitary state. Thus the more amusing that way.”
march past could not be organized, and men and women She remained standing midway down the side of the table.
entered anyhow, joking with homely good humor over this The old gentleman whom nobody knew had placed him-absence of ceremony. A long table stretched from one end self on her right, while she kept Steiner on her left hand.
to the other of the great room, which had been entirely Some guests were already sitting down when the sound of cleared of furniture, and this same table was not long oaths came from the little drawing room. It was Bordenave.
enough, for the plates thereon were touching one another.
The company had forgotten him, and he was having all the Four candelabra, with ten candles apiece, lit up the supper, trouble in the world to raise himself out of his two arm-and of these one was gorgeous in silver plate with sheaves chairs, for he was howling amain and calling for that cat of of flowers to right and left of it. Everything was luxurious a Simonne, who had slipped off with the rest. The women after the restaurant fashion; the china was ornamented with ran in to him, full of pity for his woes, and Bordenave ap-a gold line and lacked the customary monogram; the silver peared, supported, nay, almost carried, by Caroline, 79
Zola
Clarisse, Tatan Nene and Maria Blond. And there was much It was in this region that Daguenet and Georges forgath-to-do over his installation at the table.
ered more warmly than ever while smilingly gazing at Nana.
“In the middle, facing Nana!” was the cry. “Bordenave Nevertheless, two people remained standing, and there in the middle! He’ll be our president!” was much joking about it. The men offered seats on their Thereupon the ladies seated him in the middle. But he knees. Clarisse, who could not move her elbows, told needed a second chair for his leg, and two girls lifted it up Vandeuvres that she counted on him to feed her. And then and stretched it carefully out. It wouldn’t matter; he would that Bordenave did just take up space with his chairs! There eat sideways.
was a final effort, and at last everybody was seated, but, as
“God blast it all!” he grumbled. “We’re squashed all the Mignon loudly remarked, they were confoundedly like her-same! Ah, my kittens, Papa recommends himself to your rings in a barrel.
tender care!”
“Thick asparagus soup a la comtesse, clear soup a la He had Rose Mignon on his right and Lucy Stewart on Deslignac,” murmured the waiters, carrying about plate-his left hand, and they promised to take good care of him.
fuls in rear of the guests.
Everybody was now getting settled. Count de Vandeuvres Bordenave was loudly recommending the thick soup placed himself between Lucy and Clarisse; Fauchery be-when a shout arose, followed by protests and indignant tween Rose Mignon and Caroline Hequet. On the other exclamations. The door had just opened, and three late side of the table Hector de la Faloise had rushed to get arrivals, a woman and two men, had just come in. Oh dear, next Gaga, and that despite the calls of Clarisse opposite, no! There was no space for them! Nana, however, without while Mignon, who never deserted Steiner, was only sepa-leaving her chair, began screwing up her eyes in the effort rated from him by Blanche and had Tatan Nene on his left.
to find out whether she knew them. The woman was Louise Then came Labordette and, finally, at the two ends of the Violaine, but she had never seen the men before.
table were irregular crowding groups of young men and of
“This gentleman, my dear,” said Vandeuvres, “is a friend women, such as Simonne, Lea de Horn and Maria Blond.
of mine, a naval officer, Monsieur de Foucarmont by name.
80
Nana
I invited him.”
self unbearable in society with his loud voice and his stupid Foucarmont bowed and seemed very much at ease, for doings. Then, you know, third-rate play actors were al-he added:
ways out of place when they found themselves in the soci-
“And I took leave to bring one of my friends with me.” ety of gentlemen such as those around her.
“Oh, it’s quite right, quite right!” said Nana. “Sit down,
“Yes, yes, it’s true,” Mignon declared.
pray. Let’s see, you—Clarisse—push up a little. You’re a All round the table the gentlemen in question looked un-good deal spread out down there. That’s it—where there’s impeachable in the extreme, what with their evening dress a will—”
and their pale features, the natural distinction of which was They crowded more tightly than ever, and Foucarmont still further refined by fatigue. The old gentleman was as and Louise were given a little stretch of table, but the friend deliberate in his movements and wore as subtle a smile as had to sit at some distance from his plate and ate his sup-though he were presiding over a diplomatic congress, and per through dint of making a long arm between his neigh-Vandeuvres, with his exquisite politeness toward the labors’ shoulders. The waiters took away the soup plates dies next to him, seemed to be at one of the Countess and circulated rissoles of young rabbit with truffles and Muffat’s receptions. That very morning Nana had been
“niokys” and powdered cheese. Bordenave agitated the remarking to her aunt that in the matter of men one could whole table with the announcement that at one moment he not have done better—they were all either wellborn or had had the idea of bringing with him Prulliere, Fontan and wealthy, in fact, quite the thing. And as to the ladies, they old Bosc. At this Nana looked sedate and remarked dryly were behaving admirably. Some of them, such as Blanche, that she would have given them a pretty reception. Had Lea and Louise, had come in low dresses, but Gaga’s only she wanted colleagues, she would certainly have under-was perhaps a little too low, the more so because at her taken to ask them herself. No, no, she wouldn’t have third-age she would have done well not to show her neck at all.
rate play actors. Old Bosc was always drunk; Prulliere was Now that the company were finally settled the laughter fond of spitting too much, and as to Fontan, he made him-and the light jests began to fail. Georges was under the 81
Zola
impression that he had assisted at merrier dinner parties enough to make one die of laughing to see them both bury-among the good folks of Orleans. There was scarcely any ing themselves under the clothes at the bottom of the bed.
conversation. The men, not being mutually acquainted, The company had no idea how cunning Louiset had al-stared at one another, while the women sat quite quiet, and ready become.
it was this which especially surprised Georges. He thought
“Oh, yesterday I did just pass a day!” said Rose Mignon them all smugs—he had been under the impression that in her turn. “Just imagine, I went to fetch Charles and Henry everybody would begin kissing at once.
at their boarding school, and I had positively to take them The third course, consisting of a Rhine carp a la Chambord to the theater at night. They jumped; they clapped their and a saddle of venison a l’anglaise, was being served when little hands: ‘We shall see Mamma act! We shall see Mamma Blanche remarked aloud:
act!’ Oh, it was a to-do!”
“Lucy, my dear, I met your Ollivier on Sunday. How he’s Mignon smiled complaisantly, his eyes moist with pater-grown!”
nal tenderness.
“Dear me, yes! He’s eighteen,” replied Lucy. “It doesn’t
“And at the play itself,” he continued, “they were so make me feel any younger. He went back to his school funny! They behaved as seriously as grown men, devoured yesterday.”
Rose with their eyes and asked me why Mamma had her Her son Ollivier, whom she was wont to speak of with legs bare like that.”
pride, was a pupil at the Ecole de Marine. Then ensued a The whole table began laughing, and Mignon looked ra-conversation about the young people, during which all the diant, for his pride as a father was flattered. He adored his ladies waxed very tender. Nana described her own great children and had but one object in life, which was to in-happiness. Her baby, the little Louis, she said, was now at crease their fortunes by administering the money gained the house of her aunt, who brought him round to her every by Rose at the theater and elsewhere with the businesslike morning at eleven o’clock, when she would take him into severity of a faithful steward. When as first fiddle in the her bed, where he played with her griffon dog Lulu. It was music hall where she used to sing he had married her, they 82
Nana
had been passionately fond of one another. Now they were of Gaga, asked news of her daughter, whom he had had good friends. There was an understanding between them: the pleasure of noticing in her company at the Varietes.
she labored hard to the full extent of her talent and of her Lili was quite well, but she was still such a tomboy! He beauty; he had given up his violin in order the better to was astonished to learn that Lili was entering on her nine-watch over her successes as an actress and as a woman.
teenth year. Gaga became even more imposing in his eyes, One could not have found a more homely and united house-and when he endeavored to find out why she had not hold anywhere!
brought Lili with her:
“What age is your eldest?” asked Vandeuvres.
“Oh no, no, never!” she said stiffly. “Not three months
“Henry’s nine,” replied Mignon, “but such a big chap for ago she positively insisted on leaving her boarding school.
his years!”
I was thinking of marrying her off at once, but she loves Then he chaffed Steiner, who was not fond of children, me so that I had to take her home—oh, so much against and with quiet audacity informed him that were he a fa-my will!”
ther, he would make a less stupid hash of his fortune. While Her blue eyelids with their blackened lashes blinked and talking he watched the banker over Blanche’s shoulders to wavered while she spoke of the business of settling her see if it was coming off with Nana. But for some minutes young lady. If at her time of life she hadn’t laid by a sou but Rose and Fauchery, who were talking very near him, had was still always working to minister to men’s pleasures, been getting on his nerves. Was Rose going to waste time especially those very young men, whose grandmother she over such a folly as that? In that sort of case, by Jove, he might well be, it was truly because she considered a good blocked the way. And diamond on finger and with his fine match of far greater importance than mere savings. And hands in great evidence, he finished discussing a fillet of with that she leaned over La Faloise, who reddened under venison.
the huge, naked, plastered shoulder with which she well-Elsewhere the conversation about children continued. La nigh crushed him.
Faloise, rendered very restless by the immediate proximity
“You know,” she murmured, “if she fails it won’t be my 83
Zola
fault. But they’re so strange when they’re young!” latter was twenty-five years old and very passionless and There was a considerable bustle round the table, and the was held to be one of the finest women it is possible to waiters became very active. After the third course the en-enjoy. Her price never varied. The mother, a model of ortrees had made their appearance; they consisted of pullets derliness, kept the accounts and noted down receipts and a la marechale, fillets of sole with shallot sauce and expenditures with severe precision. She managed the whole escalopes of Strasbourg pate. The manager, who till then household from some small lodging two stories above her had been having Meursault served, now offered Chambertin daughter’s, where, moreover, she had established a work-and Leoville. Amid the slight hubbub which the change of room for dressmaking and plain sewing. As to Blanche de plates involved Georges, who was growing momentarily Sivry, whose real name was Jacqueline Bandu, she hailed more astonished, asked Daguenet if all the ladies present from a village near Amiens. Magnificent in person, stupid were similarly provided with children, and the other, who and untruthful in character, she gave herself out as the was amused by this question, gave him some further de-granddaughter of a general and never owned to her thirty-tails. Lucy Stewart was the daughter of a man of English two summers. The Russians had a great taste for her, ow-origin who greased the wheels of the trains at the Gare du ing to her embonpoint. Then Daguenet added a rapid word Nord; she was thirty-nine years old and had the face of a or two about the rest. There was Clarisse Besnus, whom a horse but was adorable withal and, though consumptive, lady had brought up from Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer in the ca-never died. In fact, she was the smartest woman there and pacity of maid while the lady’s husband had started her in represented three princes and a duke. Caroline Hequet, born quite another line. There was Simonne Cabiroche, the at Bordeaux, daughter of a little clerk long since dead of daughter of a furniture dealer in the Faubourg Saint-shame, was lucky enough to be possessed of a mother with Antoine, who had been educated in a large boarding school a head on her shoulders, who, after having cursed her, had with a view to becoming a governess. Finally there were made it up again at the end of a year of reflection, being Maria Blond and Louise Violaine and Lea de Horn, who minded, at any rate, to save a fortune for her daughter. The had all shot up to woman’s estate on the pavements of 84
Nana
Paris, not to mention Tatan Nene, who had herded cows in fered him; he had only taken a spoonful of soup, and he Champagne till she was twenty.
now sat in front of his empty plate, gazing silently about.
Georges listened and looked at these ladies, feeling dizzy There was some subdued yawning, and occasionally eye-and excited by the coarse recital thus crudely whispered in lids closed and faces became haggard and white. It was his ear, while behind his chair the waiters kept repeating in unutterably slow, as it always was, according to respectful tones:
Vandeuvres’s dictum. This sort of supper should be served
“Pullets a la marechale; fillets of sole with ravigote sauce.” anyhow if it was to be funny, he opined. Otherwise when
“My dear fellow,” said Daguenet, giving him the benefit elegantly and conventionally done you might as well feed of his experience, “don’t take any fish; it’ll do you no good in good society, where you were not more bored than here.
at this time of night. And be content with Leoville: it’s less Had it not been for Bordenave, who was still bawling away, treacherous.”
everybody would have fallen asleep. That rum old buffer A heavy warmth floated upward from the candelabras, Bordenave, with his leg duly stretched on its chair, was from the dishes which were being handed round, from letting his neighbors, Lucy and Rose, wait on him as though the whole table where thirty-eight human beings were suf-he were a sultan. They were entirely taken up with him, focating. And the waiters forgot themselves and ran when and they helped him and pampered him and watched over crossing the carpet, so that it was spotted with grease.
his glass and his plate, and yet that did not prevent his Nevertheless, the supper grew scarce any merrier. The complaining.
ladies trifled with their meat, left half of it uneaten. Tatan
“Who’s going to cut up my meat for me? I can’t; the Nene alone partook gluttonously of every dish. At that table’s a league away.”
advanced hour of the night hunger was of the nervous Every few seconds Simonne rose and took up a position order only, a mere whimsical craving born of an exasper-behind his back in order to cut his meat and his bread. All ated stomach.
the women took a great interest in the things he ate. The At Nana’s side the old gentleman refused every dish of-waiters were recalled, and he was stuffed to suffocation.
85
Zola
Simonne having wiped his mouth for him while Rose and expected. All of them were dreaming of some royal ca-Lucy were changing his plate, her act struck him as very price, some night to be paid for by a fortune.
pretty and, deigning at length to show contentment:
“Now tell me, dear boy,” Caroline Hequet asked
“There, there, my daughter,” he said, “that’s as it should Vandeuvres, leaning forward as she did so, “how old’s the be. Women are made for that!”
emperor of Russia?”
There was a slight reawakening, and conversation be-
“Oh, he’s ‘present time,’” replied the count, laughing.
came general as they finished discussing some orange sher-
“Nothing to be done in that quarter, I warn you.” bet. The hot roast was a fillet with truffles, and the cold Nana made pretense of being hurt. The witticism appeared roast a galantine of guinea fowl in jelly. Nana, annoyed by somewhat too stinging, and there was a murmur of pro-the want of go displayed by her guests, had begun talking test. But Blanche gave a description of the king of Italy, with the greatest distinctness.
whom she had once seen at Milan. He was scarcely good
“You know the Prince of Scots has already had a stage looking, and yet that did not prevent him enjoying all the box reserved so as to see the Blonde Venus when he comes women. She was put out somewhat when Fauchery as-to visit the exhibition.”
sured her that Victor Emmanuel could not come to the
“I very much hope that all the princes will come and see exhibition. Louise Violaine and Lea favored the emperor it,” declared Bordenave with his mouth full.
of Austria, and all of a sudden little Maria Blond was heard
“They are expecting the shah of Persia next Sunday,” saying:
said Lucy Stewart. Whereupon Rose Mignon spoke of the
“What an old stick the king of Prussia is! I was at Baden shah’s diamonds. He wore a tunic entirely covered with last year, and one was always meeting him about with Count gems; it was a marvel, a flaming star; it represented mil-Bismarck.”
lions. And the ladies, with pale faces and eyes glittering
“Dear me, Bismarck!” Simonne interrupted. “I knew him with covetousness, craned forward and ran over the names once, I did. A charming man.”
of the other kings, the other emperors, who were shortly
“That’s what I was saying yesterday,” cried Vandeuvres, 86
Nana
“but nobody would believe me.”
as thirty-two children that way.
And just as at Countess Sabine’s, there ensued a long
“Thirty-two children at forty!” cried Tatan Nene, stupe-discussion about Bismarck. Vandeuvres repeated the same fied and yet convinced. “He must be jolly well worn out phrases, and for a moment or two one was again in the for his age.”
Muffats’ drawing room, the only difference being that the There was a burst of merriment, and it dawned on her ladies were changed. Then, just as last night, they passed that she was being made game of.
on to a discussion on music, after which, Foucarmont hav-
“You sillies! How am I to know if you’re joking?” ing let slip some mention of the assumption of the veil of Gaga, meanwhile, had stopped at the exhibition. Like all which Paris was still talking, Nana grew quite interested these ladies, she was delightedly preparing for the fray. A and insisted on details about Mlle de Fougeray. Oh, the good season, provincials and foreigners rushing into Paris!
poor child, fancy her burying herself alive like that! Ah In the long run, perhaps, after the close of the exhibition she well, when it was a question of vocation! All round the would, if her business had flourished, be able to retire to a table the women expressed themselves much touched, and little house at Jouvisy, which she had long had her eye on.
Georges, wearied at hearing these things a second time
“What’s to be done?” she said to La Faloise. “One never discussed, was beginning to ask Daguenet about Nana’s gets what one wants! Oh, if only one were still really loved!” ways in private life, when the conversation veered fate-Gaga behaved meltingly because she had felt the young fully back to Count Bismarck. Tatan Nene bent toward man’s knee gently placed against her own. He was blush-Labordette to ask him privily who this Bismarck might be, ing hotly and lisping as elegantly as ever. She weighed him for she did not know him. Whereupon Labordette, in cold at a glance. Not a very heavy little gentleman, to be sure, blood, told her some portentous anecdotes. This Bismarck, but then she wasn’t hard to please. La Faloise obtained her he said, was in the habit of eating raw meat and when he address.
met a woman near his den would carry her off thither on
“Just look there,” murmured Vandeuvres to Clarisse. “I his back; at forty years of age he had already had as many think Gaga’s doing you out of your Hector.” 87
Zola
“A good riddance, so far a