第119章

Then do your best to keep our name free from dishonor.Go to work, labor, young man, struggle ardently and courageously;live, yourself, your mother and sister, with the most rigid economy, so that from day to day the property of those whom I leave in your hands may augment and fructify.Reflect how glorious a day it will be, how grand, how solemn, that day of complete restoration, on which you will say in this very office, `My father died because he could not do what I have this day done; but he died calmly and peaceably, because in dying he knew what I should do.'""My father, my father!" cried the young man, "why should you not live?""If I live, all would be changed; if I live, interest would be converted into doubt, pity into hostility; if I live I am only a man who his broken his word, failed in his engagements -- in fact, only a bankrupt.If, on the contrary, I die, remember, Maximilian, my corpse is that of an honest but unfortunate man.Living, my best friends would avoid my house; dead, all Marseilles will follow me in tears to my last home.Living, you would feel shame at my name;dead, you may raise your head and say, `I am the son of him you killed, because, for the first time, he has been compelled to break his word.'"The young man uttered a groan, but appeared resigned.

"And now," said Morrel, "leave me alone, and endeavor to keep your mother and sister away.""Will you not see my sister once more?" asked Maximilian.Alast but final hope was concealed by the young man in the effect of this interview, and therefore he had suggested it.

Morrel shook his head."I saw her this morning, and bade her adieu.""Have you no particular commands to leave with me, my father?" inquired Maximilian in a faltering voice.

"Yes; my son, and a sacred command."

"Say it, my father."

"The house of Thomson & French is the only one who, from humanity, or, it may be, selfishness -- it is not for me to read men's hearts -- has had any pity for me.Its agent, who will in ten minutes present himself to receive the amount of a bill of 287,500 francs, I will not say granted, but offered me three months.Let this house be the first repaid, my son, and respect this man.""Father, I will," said Maximilian.

"And now, once more, adieu," said Morrel."Go, leave me; Iwould be alone.You will find my will in the secretary in my bedroom."The young man remained standing and motionless, having but the force of will and not the power of execution.

"Hear me, Maximilian," said his father."Suppose I was a soldier like you, and ordered to carry a certain redoubt, and you knew I must be killed in the assault, would you not say to me, as you said just now, `Go, father; for you are dishonored by delay, and death is preferable to shame!'""Yes, yes," said the young man, "yes;" and once again embracing his father with convulsive pressure, he said, "Be it so, my father."And he rushed out of the study.When his son had left him, Morrel remained an instant standing with his eyes fixed on the door; then putting forth his arm, he pulled the bell.

After a moment's interval, Cocles appeared.

It was no longer the same man -- the fearful revelations of the three last days had crushed him.This thought -- the house of Morrel is about to stop payment -- bent him to the earth more than twenty years would otherwise have done.

"My worthy Cocles," said Morrel in a tone impossible to describe, "do you remain in the ante-chamber.When the gentleman who came three months ago -- the agent of Thomson & French -- arrives, announce his arrival to me." Cocles made no reply; he made a sign with his head, went into the anteroom, and seated himself.Morrel fell back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the clock; there were seven minutes left, that was all.The hand moved on with incredible rapidity, he seemed to see its motion.