the nabob-第42章

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〃Yes；　he　is　staying　to　dine　with　us。　Oh！　I　beg　it　of　you；〃　she　added；　with　a　particular　insistence　as　she　saw　he　was　going　to　refuse；　〃I　beg　you　to　stay。　Don't　say　no。　You　will　be　rendering　me　a　real　service　by　staying　to…night。　ComeI　didn't　hesitate　a　few　minutes　ago。〃

She　had　taken　his　hand；　and　in　truth　might　have　been　struck　by　a　strange　disproportion　between　her　request　and　the　supplicating；　anxious　tone　in　which　it　was　made。　Paul　still　attempted　to　excuse　himself。　He　was　not　dressed。　How　could　she　propose　it！a　dinner　at　which　she　would　have　other　guests。

〃My　dinner？　But　I　will　countermand　it！　That　is　the　kind　of　person　I　am。　We　shall　be　alone；　just　the　three　of　us；　with　Constance。〃

〃But；　Felicia；　my　child；　you　can't　really　think　of　such　a　thing。　Ah；　well！　And　thethe　other　who　will　be　coming　directly。

〃I　am　going　to　write　to　him　to　stay　at　home；　/parbleu/！〃

〃You　unlucky　being；　it　is　too　late。〃

〃Not　at　all。　It　is　striking　six　o'clock。　The　dinner　was　for　half　past　seven。　You　must　have　this　sent　to　him　quickly。

She　was　writing　hastily　at　a　corner　of　the　table。

〃What　a　strange　girl；　/mon　Dieu！　mon　Dieu！/〃　murmured　the　dancer　in　bewilderment；　while　Felicia；　delighted；　transfigured；　was　joyously　sealing　her　letter。

〃There！　my　excuse　is　made。　Headaches　have　not　been　invented　for　Kadour。〃

Then；　the　letter　having　been　despatched：

〃Oh；　how　pleased　I　am！　What　a　jolly　evening　we　shall　have！　Do　kiss　me；　Constance！　It　will　not　prevent　us　from　doing　honour　to　your　/kuchen/；　and　we　shall　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　in　a　pretty　toilette　which　makes　you　look　younger　than　I　do。〃

This　was　more　than　was　required　to　cause　the　dancer　to　forgive　this　new　caprice　of　her　dear　demon；　and　the　crime　of　/lese…majeste/　in　which　she　had　just　been　involved　against　her　will。　To　treat　so　great　a　personage　so　cavalierly！　There　was　no　one　like　her　in　the　worldthere　was　no　one　like　her。　As　for　Paul　de　Gery；　he　no　longer　tried　to　resist；　under　the　spell　once　more　of　that　attraction　from　which　he　had　been　able　to　fancy　himself　released　by　absence；　but　which；　from　the　moment　he　crossed　the　threshold　of　the　studio；　had　put　chains　on　his　will；　delivered　him　over；　bound　and　vanquished；　to　the　sentiment　which　he　was　quite　resolved　to　combat。

Evidently　the　dinnera　repast　for　a　veritable　/gourmet/；　superintended　by　the　Austrian　lady　in　its　least　detailshad　been　prepared　for　a　guest　of　great　mark。　From　the　lofty　Kabyle　chandelier　with　its　seven　branches　of　carved　wood；　which　cast　its　light　over　the　table…cloth　covered　with　embroidery；　to　the　long…necked　decanters　holding　the　wines　within　their　strange　and　exquisite　form；　the　sumptuous　magnificence　of　the　service；　the　delicacy　of　the　meats；　to　which　edge　was　given　by　a　certain　unusualness　in　their　selection；　revealed　the　importance　of　the　expected　visitor；　the　anxiety　which　there　had　been　to　please　him。　The　table　was　certainly　that　of　an　artist。　Little　silver；　but　superb　china；　much　unity　of　effect；　without　the　least　attempt　at　matching。　The　old　Rouen；　the　pink　Sevres；　the　Dutch　glass　mounted　in　old　filigree　pewter　met　on　this　table　as　on　a　sideboard　devoted　to　the　display　of　rare　curios　collected　by　a　connoisseur　exclusively　for　the　satisfaction　of　his　taste。　A　little　disorder　naturally；　in　this　household　equipped　at　hazard；　as　choice　things　could　be　picked　up。　The　wonderful　cruet…stand　had　lost　its　stoppers。　The　chipped　salt…cellar　allowed　its　contents　to　escape　on　the　table…cloth；　and　at　every　moment　you　would　hear；　〃Why！　what　is　become　of　the　mustard…pot？〃　〃What　has　happened　to　this　fork？〃　This　embarrassed　de　Gery　a　little　on　account　of　the　young　mistress　of　the　house；　who　for　her　part　took　no　notice　of　it。

But　something　made　Paul　feel　still　more　ill　at　easehis　anxiety；　namely；　to　know　who　the　privileged　guest　might　be　whom　he　was　replacing　at　this　table；　who　could　be　treated　at　once　with　so　much　magnificence　and　so　complete　an　informality。　In　spite　of　everything；　he　felt　him　present；　an　offence　to　his　personal　dignity；　that　visitor　whose　invitation　had　been　cancelled。　It　was　in　vain　that　he　tried　to　forget　him；　everything　brought　him　back　to　his　mind；　even　the　fine　dress　of　the　good　fairy　sitting　opposite　him；　who　still　maintained　some　of　the　grand　airs　with　which　she　had　equipped　herself　in　advance　for　the　solemn　occasion。　This　thought　troubled　him；　spoiled　for　him　the　pleasure　of　being　there。

On　the　other　hand；　by　contrast；　as　it　happens　in　all　friendships　between　two　people　who　meet　very　rarely；　never　had　he　seen　Felicia　so　affectionate；　in　such　happy　temper。　It　was　an　overflowing　gaiety　that　was　almost　childish；　one　of　those　warm　expansions　of　feeling　that　are　experienced　when　a　danger　has　been　passed；　the　reaction　of　a　bright　roaring　fire　after　the　emotion　of　a　shipwreck。　She　laughed　heartily；　teased　Paul　about　his　accent　and　what　she　called　his　/bourgeois/　ideas。　〃For　you　are　a　terrible　/bourgeois/；　you　know。　But　it　is　that　that　I　like　in　you。　It　is　an　effect　of　contraries；　doubtless；　it　is　because　I　myself　was　born　under　a　bridge；　in　a　gust　of　wind；　that　I　have　always　liked　sedate；　reasonable　natures。〃

〃Oh；　my　child；　what　are　you　going　to　have　M。　Paul　think；　that　you　were　born　under　a　bridge？〃　said　the　good　Crenmitz；　who　could　not　accustom　herself　to　the　exaggeration　of　certain　metaphors；　and　always　took　everything　literally。

〃Let　him　think　what　he　likes；　my　fairy。　We　are　not　trying　to　catch　him　for　a　husband。　I　am　sure　he　would　not　want　one　of　those　monsters　who　are　known　as　female　artists。　He　would　think　he　was　marrying　the　devil。　You　are　quite　right；　Minerva。　Art　is　a　despot。　One　has　to　give　one's　self　entirely　up　to　him。　To　toil　in　his　service；　one　devotes　all　the　ideal；　all　the　energy；　honesty；　conscience；　that　one　possesses；　so　that　you　have　none　of　these　things　left　for　real　life；　and　the　completed　labour　throws　you　down；　strengthless　and　without　a　compass；　like　a　dismantled　hulk　at　the　mercy　of　every　wave。　A　sorry　acquisition；　such　a　wife！〃

〃And　yet；〃　the　young　man　hazarded　timidly；　〃it　seems　to　me　that　art；　however　exigent　it　be；　cannot　for　all　that　entirely　absorb　a　woman。　What　would　she　do　with　her　affections；　of　that　need　to　love；　to　devote　herself；　which　in　her；　much　more　than　in　us；　is　the　spring　of　all　her　actions？〃

She　mused　a　moment　before　replying。

〃Perhaps　you　are　right；　wise　Minerva。　It　is　true　that　there　are　days　when　my　life　rings　terribly　hollow。　I　am　conscious　of　abysses；　profound　chasms　in　it。　Everything　that　I　throw　in　to　fill　it　up　disappears。　My　finest　enthusiasms　of　the　artist　are　engulfed　there　and　die　each　time　in　a　sigh。　And　then　I　think　of　marriage。　A　husband；　childrena　swarm　of　children；　who　would　roll　about　the　studio；　a　nest　to　look　after　for　them　all；　the　satisfaction　of　that　physical　activity　which　is　lacking　in　our　existences　of　artists；　regular　occupations；　high　spirits；　songs；　innocent　gaieties；　which　would　oblige　you　to　play　instead　of　thinking　in　the　air；　in　the　darkto　laugh　at　a　wound　to　one's　self…love；　to　be　only　a　contented　mother　on　the　day　when　the　public　should　see　you　as　a　worn…out；　exhausted　artist。〃

And　before　this　tender　vision　the　girl's　beauty　took　on　an　expression　which　Paul　had　never　seen　in　it　before；　an　expression　which　gripped　his　whole　being；　and　gave　him　a　mad　longing　to　carry　off　in　his　arms　that　beautiful　wild　bird；　dreaming　of　the　home…cote；　to　protect　and　shelter　it　in　the　sure　love　of　an　honest　man。

She；　without　looking　at　him；　continued：

〃I　am　not　so　erratic　as　I　appear；　don't　think　it。　Ask　my　good　godmother　if；　when　she　sent　me　to　boarding…school；　I　did　not　observe　the　rules。　But　what　a　muddle　in　my　life　afterward。　If　you　knew　what　sort　of　an　early　youth　I　had；　how　precocious　an　experience　tarnished　my　mind；　in　the　head　of　the　little　girl　I　was；　what　a　confusion　of　the　permitted　and　the　forbidden；　of　reason　and　folly！　Art　alone；　extolled　and　discussed；　stood　out　boldly　from　among　it　all；　and　I　took　refuge　in　it。　That　is　perhaps　why　I　shall　never　be　anything　but　an　artist；　a　woman　apart　from　others；　a　poor　Amazon　with　heart　imprisoned　in　her　iron　cuirass；　launched　into　the　conflict　like　a　man；　and　as　a　man　condemned　to　live　and　die。〃

Why　did　he　not　say　to　her；　at　this：

〃Beauteous　lady…warrior；　lay　down　your　arms；　resume　the　flowing　robe　and　the　graces　of　the　woman's　sphere。　I　love　you！　Marry　me；　I　implore　you；　and　win　happiness　both　for　yourself　and　for　me。〃

Ah；　there　it　is！　He　was　afraid　lest　the　otheryou　know　him；　the　man　who　was　to　have　come　to　dinner　that　evening　and　who　remained　between　them　despite　his　absenceshould　hear　him　speak　thus　and　be　in　a　position　to　jest　at　or　to　pity　him　for　that　fine　outburst。

〃In　any　case；　I　firmly　swear　one　thing；〃　she　resumed；　〃and　it　is　that　if　ever　I　have　a　daughter；　I　will　try　to　make　a　true　woman　of　her；　and　not　a　poor　lonely　creature　like　myself。　Oh！　you　know；　my　fairy；　it　is　not　for　you　that　I　say　that。　You　have　always　been　kind　to　your　demon；　full　of　attentions　and　tenderness。　But　just　see　how　pretty　she　is；　how　young　she　looks　this　evening。〃

Animated　by　the　meal；　the　bright　lights；　one　of　those　white　dresses　the　reflection　from　which　effaces　wrinkles；　the　Crenmitz；　leaning　back　in　her　chair；　held　up　on　a　level　with　her　half…closed　eyes　a　glass　of　Chateau…Yquem；　come　from　the　cellar　of　the　neighbouring　Moulin…Rouge；　and　her　dainty　little　rosy　face；　her　flowing　garments；　like　those　you　might　see　in　some　pastel；　reflected　in　the　golden　wine；　which　lent　to　them　its　own　piquant　fervour；　recalled　to　mind　the　quondam　heroine　of　gay　little　suppers　after　the　theatre；　the　Crenmitz　of　the　brave　old　daysnot　an　audacious　creature　after　the　manner　of　the　stars　of　our　modern　opera；　but　unconscious；　and　wrapped　in　her　luxury　like　a　fine　pearl　in　the　delicate　whiteness　of　its　shell。　Felicia；　who　decidedly　that　evening　was　anxious　to　please　everybody；　turned　her　mind　gently　to　the　chapter　of　recollections；　got　her　to　recount　once　more　her　great　triumphs　in　/Gisella/；　in　the　/Peri/；　and　the　ovations　of　the　public；　the　visit　of　the　princes　to　her　dressing…room；　the　present　of　Queen　Amelia；　accompanied　by　such　a　charming　little　speech。　The　recalling　of　these　glories　intoxicated　the　poor　fairy；　her　eyes　shone；　they　heard　her　little　feet　moving　impatiently　under　the　table　as　though　seized　by　a　dancing　frenzy。　And　in　effect；　dinner　over；　when　they　had　returned　to　the　studio；　Constance　began　to　walk　backward　and　forward；　now　and　then　half　executing　a　step；　a　pirouette；　while　continuing　to　talk；　interrupting　herself　to　hum　some　ballad　air　of　which　she　would　keep　the　rhythm　with　a　movement　of　the　head；　then　suddenly　she　bent　herself　double；　and　with　a　bound　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　studio。

〃Now　she　is　off！〃　said　Felicia　in　a　low　voice　to　de　Gery。　〃Watch！　It　is　worth　your　while；　you　are　going　to　see　the　Crenmitz　dance。〃

It　was　charming　and　fairy…like。　Against　the　background　of　the　immense　room　lost　in　shadow　and　receiving　almost　no　light　save　through　the　arched　glass　roof　over　which　the　moon　was　climbing　in　a　pale　sky　of　night　blue；　a　veritable　sky　of　the　opera；　the　silhouette　of　the　famous　dancer　stood　out　all　white；　like　a　droll　little　shadow；　light　and　imponderable；　which　seemed　rather　to　be　flying　in　the　air　than　springing　over　the　floor；　th