la constantin-第5章

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shall　be　man　and　wife。〃

〃You　are　not　in　earnest！〃

〃May　I　expire　at　your　feet　if　I　am　not！　　Do　you　want　me　to　sign　the　oath　with　my　blood？〃

〃Rise；〃　she　said　in　a　broken　voice。　　〃Have　I　at　last　found　a　man　to　love　me　and　compensate　me　for　all　the　abuse　that　has　been　showered　on　my　head？　　A　thousand　times　I　thank　you；　not　for　what　you　are　doing　for　me；　but　for　the　balm　you　pour　on　my　wounded　spirit。　　Even　if　you　were　to　say　to　me　now；　'After　all；　I　am　obliged　to　give　you　up'　the　pleasure　of　knowing　you　esteem　me　would　make　up　for　all　the　rest。　　It　would　be　another　happy　memory　to　treasure　along　with　my　memory　of　our　love；　which　was　ineffaceable；　although　you　so　ungratefully　suspected　me　of　having　deceived　you。〃

The　treasurer　appeared　fairly　intoxicated　with　joy。　　He　indulged　in　a　thousand　ridiculous　extravagances　and　exaggerations；　and　declared　himself　the　happiest　of　men。　　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi；　who　was　desirous　of　being　prepared　for　every　peril；　asked　him　in　a　coaxing　tone

〃Who　can　have　put　it　into　your　head　to　be　jealous　of　the　commander？　Has　he　been　base　enough　to　boast　that　I　ever　gave　him　my　love？〃

〃No；　he　never　said　anything　about　you；　but　someway　I　was　afraid。〃

She　renewed　her　assurances。　　The　conversation　continued　some　time　in　a　sentimental　tone。　　A　thousand　oaths；　a　thousand　protestations　of　love　were；　exchanged。　　Jeannin　feared　that　the　suddenness　of　their　journey　would　inconvenience　his　mistress；　and　offered　to　put　it　off　for　some　days；　but　to　this　she　would　not　consent；　and　it　was　arranged　that　the　next　day　at　noon　a　carriage　should　call　at　the　house　and　take　Angelique　out　of　town　to…　an　appointed　place　at　which　the　treasurer　was　to　join　her。

Maitre　Quennebert；　eye　and　ear　on　the　alert；　had　not　lost　a　word　of　this　conversation；　and　the　last　proposition　of　the　treasurer　changed　his　ideas。

〃Pardieu！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃it　looks　as　if　this　good　man　were　really　going　to　let　himself　be　taken　in　and　done　for。　　It　is　singular　how　very　clear…sighted　we　can　be　about　things　that　don't　touch　us。　This　poor　fly　is　going　to　let　himself　be　caught　by　a　very　clever　spider；　or　I'm　much　mistaken。　　Very　likely　my　widow　is　quite　of　my　opinion；　and　yet　in　what　concerns　herself　she　will　remain　stone…blind。　　Well；　such　is　life！　　We　have　only　two　parts　to　choose　between：　we　must　be　either　knave　or　fool。　　What's　Madame　Rapally　doing；　I　wonder？〃

At　this　moment　he　heard　a　stifled　whisper　from　the　opposite　corner　of　the　room；　but；　protected　by　the　distance　and　the　darkness；　he　let　the　widow　murmur　on；　and　applied　his　eye　once　more　to　his　peephole。　　What　he　saw　confirmed　his　opinion。　　The　damsel　was　springing　up　and　down；　laughing；　gesticulating；　and　congratulating　herself　on　her　unexpected　good　fortune。

〃Just　imagine！　　He　loves　me　like　that！〃　she　was　saying　to　herself。　〃Poor　Jeannin！　　When　I　remember　how　I　used　to　hesitate。　　How　fortunate　that　Commander　de　Jars；　one　of　the　most　vain　and　indiscreet　of　men；　never　babbled　about　me！　　Yes；　we　must　leave　town　to…morrow　without　fail。　　I　must　not　give　him　time　to　be　enlightened　by　a　chance　word。　　But　the　Duc　de　Vitry？　　I　am　really　sorry　for　him。　　However；　why　did　he　go　away；　and　send　no　word？　　And　then；　he's　a　married　man。　Ah！　if　I　could　only　get　back　again　to　court　some　day！。。。　　Who　would　ever　have　expected　such　a　thing？　　Good　God！　　I　must　keep　talking　to　myself；　to　be　sure　I'm　not　dreaming。　　Yes；　he　was　there；　just　now；　at　my　feet；　saying　to　me；　'Angelique；　you　are　going　to　become　my　wife。'　One　thing　is　sure；　he　may　safely　entrust　his　honour　to　my　care。　　It　would　be　infamous　to　betray　a　man　who　loves　me　as　he　does；　who　will　give　me　his　name。　　Never；　no；　never　will　I　give　him　cause　to　reproach　me！　　I　would　rather　

A　loud　and　confused　noise　on　the　stairs　interrupted　this　soliloquy。　At　one　moment　bursts　of　laughter　were　heard；　and　the　next　angry　voices。　　Then　a　loud　exclamation；　followed　by　a　short　silence。　　Being　alarmed　at　this　disturbance　in　a　house　which　was　usually　so　quiet；　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi　approached　the　door　of　her　room；　intending　either　to　call　for　protection　or　to　lock　herself　in；　when　suddenly　it　was　violently　pushed　open。　　She　recoiled　with　fright；　exclaiming

〃Commander　de　Jars！〃

〃On　my　word！〃　said　Quennebert　behind　the　arras；　〃'tis　as　amusing　as　a　play！　　Is　the　commander　also　going　to　offer　to　make　an　honest　woman　of　her？　　But　what　do　I　see？〃

He　had　just　caught　sight　of　the　young　man　on　whom　de　Jars　had　bestowed　the　title　and　name　of　Chevalier　de　Moranges；　and　whose　acquaintance　the　reader　has　already　made　at　the　tavern　in　the　rue　Saint…Andre…des…Arts。　　His　appearance　had　as　great　an　effect　on　the　notary　as　a　thunderbolt。　　He　stood　motionless；　trembling；　breathless；　his　knees　ready　to　give　way　beneath　him；　everything　black　before　his　eyes。　　However；　he　soon　pulled　himself　together；　and　succeeded　in　overcoming　the　effects　of　his　surprise　and　terror。　　He　looked　once　more　through　the　hole　in　the　partition；　and　became　so　absorbed　that　no　one　in　the　whole　world　could　have　got　a　word　from　him　just　then；　the　devil　himself　might　have　shrieked　into　his　ears　unheeded；　and　a　naked　sword　suspended　over　his　head　would　not　have　induced　him　to　change　his　place。




CHAPTER　IV

Before　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi　had　recovered　from　her　fright　the　commander　spoke。

〃As　I　am　a　gentleman；　my　beauty；　if　you　were　the　Abbess　of　Montmartre；　you　could　not　be　more　difficult　of　access。　　I　met　a　blackguard　on　the　stairs　who　tried　to　stop　me；　and　whom　I　was　obliged　to　thrash　soundly。　　Is　what　they　told　me　on　my　return　true？　　Are　you　really　doing　penance；　and　do　you　intend　to　take　the　veil？〃

〃Sir；〃　answered　Angelique；　with　great　dignity；　〃whatever　may　be　my　plans；　I　have　a　right　to　be　surprised　at　your　violence　and　at　your　intrusion　at　such　an　hour。〃

〃Before　we　go　any　farther；〃　said　de　Jars；　twirling　round　on　his　heels；　〃allow　me　to　present　to　you　my　nephew；　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges。〃

〃Chevalier　de　Moranges！〃　muttered　Quennebert；　on　whose　memory　in　that　instant　the　name　became　indelibly　engraven。

〃A　young　man；〃　continued　the　commander；　〃who　has　come　back　with　me　from　abroad。　　Good　style；　as　you　see；　charming　appearance。　　Now；　you　young　innocent；　lift　up　your　great　black　eyes　and　kiss　madame's　hand；　I　allow　it。〃

〃Monsieur　le　commandeur；　leave　my　room；　begone；　or　I　shall　call〃

〃Whom；　then？　　Your　lackeys？　　But　I　have　beaten　the　only　one　you　keep；　as　I　told　you；　and　it　will　be　some　time　before　he'll　be　in　a　condition　to　light　me　downstairs：　'Begone；'　indeed！　　Is　that　the　way　you　receive　an　old　friend？　　Pray　be　seated；　chevalier。〃

He　approached　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi；　and；　despite　her　resistance；　seized　hold　of　one　of　her　hands；　and　forcing　her　to　sit　down；　seated　himself　beside　her。

〃That's　right；　my　girl；〃　said　he；　〃now　let　us　talk　sense。　　I　understand　that　before　a　stranger　you　consider　　yourself　obliged　to　appear　astonished　at　my　ways　of　going　on。　　But　he　knows　all　about　us；　and　nothing　he　may　see　or　hear　will　surprise　him。　　So　a　truce　to　prudery！　　I　came　back　yesterday；　but　I　could　not　make　out　your　hiding…place　till　to…day。　　Now　I'm　not　going　to　ask　you　to　tell　me　how　you　have　gone　on　in　my　absence。　　God　and　you　alone　know；　and　while　He　will　tell　me　nothing；　you　would　only　tell　me　fibs；　and　I　want　to　save　you　from　that　venial　sin　at　least。　　But　here　I　am；　in　as　good　spirits　as　ever；　more　in　love　than　ever；　and　quite　ready　to　resume　my　old　habits。〃

Meantime　the　lady；　quite　subdued　by　his　noisy　entrance　and　ruffianly　conduct；　and　seeing　that　an　assumption　of　dignity　would　only　draw　down　on　her　some　fresh　impertinence；　appeared　to　resign　herself　to　her　position。　　All　this　time　Quennebert　never　took　his　eyes　from　the　chevalier；　who　sat　with　his　face　towards　the　partition。　　His　elegantly　cut　costume　accentuated　his　personal　advantages。　　His　jet　black　hair　brought　into　relief　the　whiteness　of　his　forehead；　his　large　dark　eyes　with　their　veined　lids　and　silky　lashes　had　a　penetrating　and　peculiar　expressiona　mixture　of　audacity　and　weakness；　his　thin　and　somewhat　pale　lips　were　apt　to　curl　in　an　ironical　smile；　his　hands　were　of　perfect　beauty；　his　feet　of　dainty　smallness；　and　he　showed　with　an　affectation　of　complaisance　a　well…turned　leg　above　his　ample　boots；　the　turned　down　tops　of　which；　garnished　with　lace；　fell　in　irregular　folds　aver　his　ankles　in　the　latest　fashion。　　He　did　not　appear　to　be　more　than　eighteen　years　of　age；　and　nature　had　denied　his　charming　face　the　distinctive　sign　of　his　sex　for　not　the　slightest　down　was　visible　on　his　chin；　though　a　little　delicate　pencilling　darkened　his　upper　lip：　His　slightly　effeminate　style　of　beauty；　the　graceful　curves　of　his　figure；　his　expression；　sometimes　coaxing；　sometimes　saucy；　reminding　one　of　a　page；　gave　him　the　appearance　of　a　charming　young　scapegrace　destined　to　inspire　sudden　passions　and　wayward　fancies。　　While　his　pretended　uncle　was　making　himself　at　home　most　unceremoniously；　Quennebert　remarked　that　the　chevalier　at　once　began　to　lay　siege　to　his　fair　hostess；　bestowing　tender　and　love…laden　glances　on　her　behind　that　uncle's　back。　　This　redoubled　his　curiosity。

〃My　dear　girl；〃　said　the　commander；　〃since　I　saw　you　last　I　have　come　into　a　fortune　of　one　hundred　thousand　livres；　neither　more　nor　less。　One　of　my　dear　aunts　took　it　into　her　head　to　depart　this　life；　and　her　temper　being　crotchety　and　spiteful　she　made　me　her　sole　heir；　in　order　to　enrage　those　of　her　relatives　who　had　nursed　her　in　her　illness。　　One　hundred　thousand　livres！　　It's　a　round　sumenough　to　cut　a　great　figure　with　for　two　years。　　If　you　like；　we　shall　squander　it　together；　capital　and　interest。　　Why　do　you　not　speak？　Has　anyone　else　robbed　me　by　any　chance　of　your　heart？　　If　that　were　so；　I　should　be　in　despair；　upon　my　word…for　the　sake　of　the　fortunate　individual　who　had　won　your　favour；　for　I　will　brook　no　rivals；　I　give　you　fair　warning。〃

〃Monsieur　le　commandeur；〃　answered　Angelique；　〃you　forget；　in　speaking　to　me　in　that　manner；　I　have　never　given　you　any　right　to　control　my　actions。〃

〃Have　we　severed　our　connection？〃

At　this　singular　question　Angelique　started；　but　de　Jars　continued

〃When　last　we　parted　we　were　on　the　best　of　terms；　were　we　not？　　I　know　that　some　months　have　elapsed　since　then；　but　I　have　explained　to　you　the　reason　of　my　absence。　　Before　filling　up　the　blank　left　by　the　departed　we　must　give　ourselves　space　to　mourn。　　Well；　was　I　right　in　my　guess？　　Have　you　given　me　a　successor？〃

Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi　had　hitherto　succeeded　in　controlling　her　indignation；　and　had　tried　to　force　herself　to　drink　the　bitter　cup　of　humiliation　to　the　dregs；　but　now　she　could　bear　it　no　longer。　Having　thrown　a　look　expressive　of　her　suffering　at　the　young　chevalier；　who　continued　to　ogle　her　with　great　pertinacity；　she　decided　on　bursting　into　tears；　and　in　a　voice　broken　by　sobs　she　exclaimed　that　she　was　miserable　at　being　treated　in　this　manner；　that　she　did　not　deserve　it；　and　that　Heaven　was　punishing　her　for　her　error　in　yielding　to　the　entreaties　of　the　commander。　　One　would　have　sworn　she　was　sincere　and　that　the　words　came　from　her　heart。　If　Maitre　Quennebert　had　not　witnessed　the　scene　with　Jeannin；　if　he　had　not　known　how　frail　was　the　virtue　of　the　weeping　damsel；　he　might　hav