the chouans-第44章

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　conduct　was　that　of　treachery　or　love。　Thanks　to　the　darkness；　the　marquis　did　not　observe　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　agitation　as　they　neared　Fougeres。　The　first　flush　of　dawn　showed　the　towers　of　Saint…　Leonard　in　the　distance。　At　that　moment　Marie　was　saying　to　herself：　〃I　am　going　to　my　death。〃

As　they　ascended　the　first　hill　the　lovers　had　the　same　thought；　they　left　the　carriage　and　mounted　the　rise　on　foot；　in　memory　of　their　first　meeting。　When　Marie　took　the　young　man's　arm　she　thanked　him　by　a　smile　for　respecting　her　silence；　then；　as　they　reached　the　summit　of　the　plateau　and　looked　at　Fougeres；　she　threw　off　her　reverie。

〃Don't　come　any　farther；〃　she　said；　〃my　authority　cannot　save　you　from　the　Blues　to…day。〃

Montauran　showed　some　surprise。　She　smiled　sadly　and　pointed　to　a　block　of　granite；　as　if　to　tell　him　to　sit　down；　while　she　herself　stood　before　him　in　a　melancholy　attitude。　The　rending　emotions　of　her　soul　no　longer　permitted　her　to　play　a　part。　At　that　moment　she　would　have　knelt　on　red…hot　coals　without　feeling　them　any　more　than　the　marquis　had　felt　the　fire…brand　he　had　taken　in　his　hand　to　prove　the　strength　of　his　passion。　It　was　not　until　she　had　contemplated　her　lover　with　a　look　of　the　deepest　anguish　that　she　said　to　him；　at　last：

〃All　that　you　have　suspected　of　me　is　true。〃

The　marquis　started。

〃Ah！　I　pray　you；〃　she　said；　clasping　her　hands；　〃listen　to　me　without　interruption。　I　am　indeed　the　daughter　of　the　Duc　de　Verneuil；but　his　natural　daughter。　My　mother；　a　Demoiselle　de　Casteran；　who　became　a　nun　to　escape　the　reproaches　of　her　family；　expiated　her　fault　by　fifteen　years　of　sorrow；　and　died　at　Seez；　where　she　was　abbess。　On　her　death…bed　she　implored；　for　the　first　time　and　only　for　me；　the　help　of　the　man　who　had　betrayed　her；　for　she　knew　she　was　leaving　me　without　friends；　without　fortune；　without　a　future。　The　duke　accepted　the　charge；　and　took　me　from　the　roof　of　Francine's　mother；　who　had　hitherto　taken　care　of　me；　perhaps　he　liked　me　because　I　was　beautiful；　possibly　I　reminded　him　of　his　youth。　He　was　one　of　those　great　lords　of　the　old　regime；　who　took　pride　in　showing　how　they　could　get　their　crimes　forgiven　by　committing　them　with　grace。　I　will　say　no　more；　he　was　my　father。　But　let　me　explain　to　you　how　my　life　in　Paris　injured　my　soul。　The　society　of　the　Duc　de　Verneuil；　to　which　he　introduced　me；　was　bitten　by　that　scoffing　philosophy　about　which　all　France　was　then　enthusiastic　because　it　was　wittily　professed。　The　brilliant　conversations　which　charmed　my　ear　were　marked　by　subtlety　of　perception　and　by　witty　contempt　for　all　that　was　true　and　spiritual。　Men　laughed　at　sentiments；　and　pictured　them　all　the　better　because　they　did　not　feel　them；　their　satirical　epigrams　were　as　fascinating　as　the　light…hearted　humor　with　which　they　could　put　a　whole　adventure　into　a　word；　and　yet　they　had　sometimes　too　much　wit；　and　wearied　women　by　making　love　an　art；　and　not　a　matter　of　feeling。　I　could　not　resist　the　tide。　And　yet　my　soul　was　too　ardentforgive　this　pridenot　to　feel　that　their　minds　had　withered　their　hearts；　and　the　life　I　led　resulted　in　a　perpetual　struggle　between　my　natural　feelings　and　beliefs　and　the　vicious　habits　of　mind　which　I　there　contracted。　Several　superior　men　took　pleasure　in　developing　in　me　that　liberty　of　thought　and　contempt　for　public　opinion　which　do　tear　from　a　woman　her　modesty　of　soul；　robbed　of　which　she　loses　her　charm。　Alas！　my　subsequent　misfortunes　have　failed　to　lessen　the　faults　I　learned　through　opulence。　My　father；〃　she　continued；　with　a　sigh；　〃the　Duc　de　Verneuil；　died；　after　duly　recognizing　me　as　his　daughter　and　making　provisions　for　me　by　his　will；　which　considerably　reduced　the　fortune　of　my　brother；　his　legitimate　son。　I　found　myself　one　day　without　a　home　and　without　a　protector。　My　brother　contested　the　will　which　made　me　rich。　Three　years　of　my　late　life　had　developed　my　vanity。　By　satisfying　all　my　fancies　my　father　had　created　in　my　nature　a　need　of　luxury；　and　given　me　habits　of　self…indulgence　of　which　my　own　mind；　young　and　artless　as　it　then　was；　could　not　perceive　either　the　danger　or　the　tyranny。　A　friend　of　my　father；　the　Marechal　Duc　de　Lenoncourt；　then　seventy　years　old；　offered　to　become　my　guardian；　and　I　found　myself；　soon　after　the　termination　of　the　odious　suit；　in　a　brilliant　home；　where　I　enjoyed　all　the　advantages　of　which　my　brother's　cruelty　had　deprived　me。　Every　evening　the　old　marechal　came　to　sit　with　me　and　comfort　me　with　kind　and　consoling　words。　His　white　hair　and　the　many　proofs　he　gave　me　of　paternal　tenderness　led　me　to　turn　all　the　feelings　of　my　heart　upon　him；　and　I　felt　myself　his　daughter。　I　accepted　his　presents；　hiding　none　of　my　caprices　from　him；　for　I　saw　how　he　loved　to　gratify　them。　I　heard　one　fatal　evening　that　all　Paris　believed　me　the　mistress　of　the　poor　old　man。　I　was　told　that　it　was　then　beyond　my　power　to　recover　an　innocence　thus　gratuitously　denied　me。　They　said　that　the　man　who　had　abused　my　inexperience　could　not　be　lover；　and　would　not　be　my　husband。　The　week　in　which　I　made　this　horrible　discovery　the　duke　left　Paris。　I　was　shamefully　ejected　from　the　house　where　he　had　placed　me；　and　which　did　not　belong　to　him。　Up　to　this　point　I　have　told　you　the　truth　as　though　I　stood　before　God；　but　now；　do　not　ask　a　wretched　woman　to　give　account　of　sufferings　which　are　buried　in　her　heart。　The　time　came　when　I　found　myself　married　to　Danton。　A　few　days　later　the　storm　uprooted　the　mighty　oak　around　which　I　had　thrown　my　arms。　Again　I　was　plunged　into　the　worst　distress；　and　I　resolved　to　kill　myself。　I　don't　know　whether　love　of　life；　or　the　hope　of　wearying　ill…fortune　and　of　finding　at　the　bottom　of　the　abyss　the　happiness　which　had　always　escaped　me　were；　unconsciously　to　myself；　my　advisers；　or　whether　I　was　fascinated　by　the　arguments　of　a　young　man　from　Vendome；　who；　for　the　last　two　years；　has　wound　himself　about　me　like　a　serpent　round　a　tree；in　short；　I　know　not　how　it　is　that　I　accepted；　for　a　payment　of　three　hundred　thousand　francs；　the　odious　mission　of　making　an　unknown　man　fall　in　love　with　me　and　then　betraying　him。　I　met　you；　I　knew　you　at　once　by　one　of　those　presentiments　which　never　mislead　us；　yet　I　tried　to　doubt　my　recognition；　for　the　more　I　came　to　love　you；　the　more　the　certainty　appalled　me。　When　I　saved　you　from　the　hands　of　Hulot；　I　abjured　the　part　I　had　taken；　I　resolved　to　betray　the　slaughterers；　and　not　their　victim。　I　did　wrong　to　play　with　men；　with　their　lives；　their　principles；　with　myself；　like　a　thoughtless　girl　who　sees　only　sentiments　in　this　life。　I　believed　you　loved　me；　I　let　myself　cling　to　the　hope　that　my　life　might　begin　anew；　but　all　things　have　revealed　my　past；even　I　myself；　perhaps；　for　you　must　have　distrusted　a　woman　so　passionate　as　you　have　found　me。　Alas！　is　there　no　excuse　for　my　love　and　my　deception？　My　life　was　like　a　troubled　sleep；　I　woke　and　thought　myself　a　girl；　I　was　in　Alencon；　where　all　my　memories　were　pure　and　chaste。　I　had　the　mad　simplicity　to　think　that　love　would　baptize　me　into　innocence。　For　a　moment　I　thought　myself　pure；　for　I　had　never　loved。　But　last　night　your　passion　seemed　to　me　true；　and　a　voice　cried　to　me；　'Do　not　deceive　him。'　Monsieur　le　marquis；〃　she　said；　in　a　guttural　voice　which　haughtily　challenged　condemnation；　〃know　this；　I　am　a　dishonored　creature；　unworthy　of　you。　From　this　hour　I　accept　my　fate　as　a　lost　woman。　I　am　weary　of　playing　a　part；the　part　of　a　woman　to　whom　you　had　brought　back　the　sanctities　of　her　soul。　Virtue　is　a　burden　to　me。　I　should　despise　you　if　you　were　weak　enough　to　marry　me。　The　Comte　de　Bauvan　might　commit　that　folly；　but　youyou　must　be　worthy　of　your　future　and　leave　me　without　regret。　A　courtesan　is　too　exacting；　I　should　not　love　you　like　the　simple；　artless　girl　who　felt　for　a　moment　the　delightful　hope　of　being　your　companion；　of　making　you　happy；　of　doing　you　honor；　of　becoming　a　noble　wife。　But　I　gather　from　that　futile　hope　the　courage　to　return　to　a　life　of　vice　and　infamy；　that　I　may　put　an　eternal　barrier　between　us。　I　sacrifice　both　honor　and　fortune　to　you。　The　pride　I　take　in　that　sacrifice　will　support　me　in　my　wretchedness；　fate　may　dispose　of　me　as　it　will。　I　will　never　betray　you。　I　shall　return　to　Paris。　There　your　name　will　be　to　me　a　part　of　myself；　and　the　glory　you　win　will　console　my　grief。　As　for　you；　you　are　a　man；　and　you　will　forget　me。　Farewell。〃

She　darted　away　in　the　direction　of　the　gorges　of　Saint…Sulpice；　and　disappeared　before　the　marquis　could　rise　to　detain　her。　But　she　came　back　unseen；　hid　herself　in　a　cavity　of　the　rocks；　and　examined　the　young　man　with　a　curiosity　mingled　with　doubt。　Presently　she　saw　him　walking　like　a　man　overwhelmed；　without　seeming　to　know　where　he　went。

〃Can　he　be　weak？〃　she　thought；　when　he　had　disappeared；　and　she　felt　she　was　parted　from　him。　〃Will　he　understand　me？〃　She　quivered。　Then　she　turned　and　went　rapidly　towards　Fougeres；　as　though　she　feared　the　marquis　might　follow　her　into　the　town；　where　certain　death　awaited　him。

〃Francine；　what　did　he　say　to　you？〃　she　asked；　when　the　faithful　girl　rejoined　her。

〃Ah！　Marie；　how　I　pitied　him。　You　great　ladies　stab　a　man　with　your　tongues。〃

〃How　did　he　seem　when　he　came　up　to　you？〃

〃As　if　he　saw　me　not　at　all！　Oh；　Marie；　he　loves　you！〃

〃Yes；　he　loves　me；　or　he　does　not　love　methere　is　heaven　or　hell　for　me　in　that；〃　she　answered。　〃Between　the　two　extremes　there　is　no　spot　where　I　can　set　my　foot。〃

After　thus　carrying　out　her　resolution；　Marie　gave　way　to　grief；　and　her　face；　beautified　till　then　by　these　conflicting　sentiments；　changed　for　the　worse　so　rapidly　that　in　a　single　day；　during　which　she　floated　incessantly　between　hope　and　despair；　she　lost　the　glow　of　beauty；　and　the　freshness　which　has　its　source　in　the　absence　of　passion　or　the　ardor　of　joy。　Anxious　to　ascertain　the　result　of　her　mad　enterprise；　Hulot　and　Corentin　came　to　see　her　soon　after　her　return。　She　received　them　smiling。

〃Well；〃　she　said　to　the　commandant；　whose　care…worn　face　had　a　questioning　expression；　〃the　fox　is　coming　within　range　of　your　guns；　you　will　soon　have　a　glorious　triumph　over　him。〃

〃What　happened？〃　asked　Corentin；　carelessly；　giving　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　one　of　those　oblique　glances　with　which　diplomatists　of　his　class　spy　on　thought。

〃Ah！〃　she　said；　〃the　Gars　is　more　in　love　than　ever；　I　made　him　come　with　me　to　the　gates　of　Fougeres。〃

〃Your　power　seems　to　have　stopped　there；〃　remarked　Corentin；　〃the　fears　of　your　/ci…devant/　are　greater　than　the　love　you　inspire。〃

〃You　judge　him　by　yourself；〃　she　replied；　with　a　contemptuous　look。

〃Well；　then；〃　said　he；　unmoved；　〃why　did　you　not　bring　him　here　to　your　own　house？〃

〃Commandant；〃　she　said　to　Hulot；　with　a　coaxing　smile；　〃if　he　really　loves　me；　would　you　blame　me　for　saving　his　life　and　getting　him　to　leave　France？〃

The　old　soldier　came　quickly　up　to　her；　took　her　hand；　and　kissed　it　with　a　sort　of　enthusiasm。　Then　he　looked　at　her　fixedly　and　said　in　a　gloomy　tone：　〃You　forget　my　two　friends　and　my　sixty…three　men。〃

〃Ah；　commandant；〃　she　cried；　with　all　the　naivete　of　passion；　〃he　was　not　accountable　for　that；　he　was　deceived　by　a　bad　woman；　Charette's　mistr