the duchesse de langeais-第17章

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〃What　is　this；　my　dear　fellow？〃　Armand　broke　in。　　〃The　Duchess　is　an　angel　of　innocence。〃

Ronquerolles　began　to　laugh。

〃Things　being　thus；　dear　boy；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　my　duty　to　enlighten　you。　　Just　a　word；　there　is　no　harm　in　it　between　ourselves。　　Has　the　Duchess　surrendered？　　If　so；　I　have　nothing　more　to　say。　　Come；　give　me　your　confidence。　　There　is　no　occasion　to　waste　your　time　in　grafting　your　great　nature　on　that　unthankful　stock；　when　all　your　hopes　and　cultivation　will　come　to　nothing。〃

Armand　ingenuously　made　a　kind　of　general　report　of　his　position；　enumerating　with　much　minuteness　the　slender　rights　so　hardly　won。　　Ronquerolles　burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter　so　heartless；　that　it　would　have　cost　any　other　man　his　life。　　But　from　their　manner　of　speaking　and　looking　at　each　other　during　that　colloquy　beneath　the　wall；　in　a　corner　almost　as　remote　from　intrusion　as　the　desert　itself；　it　was　easy　to　imagine　the　friendship　between　the　two　men　knew　no　bounds；　and　that　no　power　on　earth　could　estrange　them。

〃My　dear　Armand；　why　did　you　not　tell　me　that　the　Duchess　was　a　puzzle　to　you？　　I　would　have　given　you　a　little　advice　which　might　have　brought　your　flirtation　properly　through。　　You　must　know；　to　begin　with；　that　the　women　of　our　Faubourg；　like　any　other　women；　love　to　steep　themselves　in　love；　but　they　have　a　mind　to　possess　and　not　to　be　possessed。　　They　have　made　a　sort　of　compromise　with　human　nature。　　The　code　of　their　parish　gives　them　a　pretty　wide　latitude　short　of　the　last　transgression。　　The　sweets　enjoyed　by　this　fair　Duchess　of　yours　are　so　many　venial　sins　to　be　washed　away　in　the　waters　of　penitence。　　But　if　you　had　the　impertinence　to　ask　in　earnest　for　the　moral　sin　to　which　naturally　you　are　sure　to　attach　the　highest　importance；　you　would　see　the　deep　disdain　with　which　the　door　of　the　boudoir　and　the　house　would　be　incontinently　shut　upon　you。　　The　tender　Antoinette　would　dismiss　everything　from　her　memory；　you　would　be　less　than　a　cipher　for　her。　　She　would　wipe　away　your　kisses；　my　dear　friend；　as　indifferently　as　she　would　perform　her　ablutions。

She　would　sponge　love　from　her　cheeks　as　she　washes　off　rouge。　　We　know　women　of　that　sortthe　thorough…bred　Parisienne。　　Have　you　ever　noticed　a　grisette　tripping　along　the　street？　　Her　face　is　as　good　as　a　picture。　　A　pretty　cap；　fresh　cheeks；　trim　hair；　a　guileful　smile；　and　the　rest　of　her　almost　neglected。　　Is　not　this　true　to　the　life？　　Well；　that　is　the　Parisienne。　　She　knows　that　her　face　is　all　that　will　be　seen；　so　she　devotes　all　her　care；　finery；　and　vanity　to　her　head。　　The　Duchess　is　the　same；　the　head　is　everything　with　her。　　She　can　only　feel　through　her　intellect；　her　heart　lies　in　her　brain；　she　is　a　sort　of　intellectual　epicure；　she　has　a　head…voice。　　We　call　that　kind　of　poor　creature　a　Lais　of　the　intellect。　　You　have　been　taken　in　like　a　boy。　　If　you　doubt　it；　you　can　have　proof　of　it　tonight；　this　morning；　this　instant。　　Go　up　to　her；　try　the　demand　as　an　experiment；　insist　peremptorily　if　it　is　refused。　　You　might　set　about　it　like　the　late　Marechal　de　Richelieu；　and　get　nothing　for　your　pains。〃

Armand　was　dumb　with　amazement。

〃Has　your　desire　reached　the　point　of　infatuation？〃

〃I　want　her　at　any　cost！〃　Montriveau　cried　out　despairingly。

〃Very　well。　　Now；　look　here。　　Be　as　inexorable　as　she　is　herself。　　Try　to　humiliate　her；　to　sting　her　vanity。　　Do　NOT　try　to　move　her　heart；　nor　her　soul；　but　the　woman's　nerves　and　temperament；　for　she　is　both　nervous　and　lymphatic。　　If　you　can　once　awaken　desire　in　her；　you　are　safe。　　But　you　must　drop　these　romantic　boyish　notions　of　yours。　　If　when　once　you　have　her　in　your　eagle's　talons　you　yield　a　point　or　draw　back；　if　you　so　much　as　stir　an　eyelid；　if　she　thinks　that　she　can　regain　her　ascendancy　over　you；　she　will　slip　out　of　your　clutches　like　a　fish；　and　you　will　never　catch　her　again。　　Be　as　inflexible　as　law。　　Show　no　more　charity　than　the　headsman。　　Hit　hard；　and　then　hit　again。　　Strike　and　keep　on　striking　as　if　you　were　giving　her　the　knout。　　Duchesses　are　made　of　hard　stuff；　my　dear　Armand；　there　is　a　sort　of　feminine　nature　that　is　only　softened　by　repeated　blows；　and　as　suffering　develops　a　heart　in　women　of　that　sort；　so　it　is　a　work　of　charity　not　to　spare　the　rod。　　Do　you　persevere。　　Ah！　when　pain　has　thoroughly　relaxed　those　nerves　and　softened　the　fibres　that　you　take　to　be　so　pliant　and　yielding；　when　a　shrivelled　heart　has　learned　to　expand　and　contract　and　to　beat　under　this　discipline；　when　the　brain　has　capitulatedthen；　perhaps；　passion　may　enter　among　the　steel　springs　of　this　machinery　that　turns　out　tears　and　affectations　and　languors　and　melting　phrases；　then　you　shall　see　a　most　magnificent　conflagration　（always　supposing　that　the　chimney　takes　fire）。　　The　steel　feminine　system　will　glow　red…hot　like　iron　in　the　forge；　that　kind　of　heat　lasts　longer　than　any　other；　and　the　glow　of　it　may　possibly　turn　to　love。

〃Still；〃　he　continued；　〃I　have　my　doubts。　　And；　after　all；　is　it　worth　while　to　take　so　much　trouble　with　the　Duchess？　　Between　ourselves　a　man　of　my　stamp　ought　first　to　take　her　in　hand　and　break　her　in；　I　would　make　a　charming　woman　of　her；　she　is　a　thoroughbred；　whereas；　you　two　left　to　yourselves　will　never　get　beyond　the　A　B　C。　　But　you　are　in　love　with　her；　and　just　now　you　might　not　perhaps　share　my　views　on　this　subject。　　A　pleasant　time　to　you；　my　children；〃　added　Ronquerolles；　after　a　pause。　　Then　with　a　laugh：　　〃I　have　decided　myself　for　facile　beauties；　they　are　tender；　at　any　rate；　the　natural　woman　appears　in　their　love　without　any　of　your　social　seasonings。　　A　woman　that　haggles　over　herself；　my　poor　boy；　and　only　means　to　inspire　love！　　Well；　have　her　like　an　extra　horsefor　show。　　The　match　between　the　sofa　and　confessional；　black　and　white；　queen　and　knight；　conscientious　scruples　and　pleasure；　is　an　uncommonly　amusing　game　of　chess。　　And　if　a　man　knows　the　game；　let　him　be　never　so　little　of　a　rake；　he　wins　in　three　moves。　　Now；　if　I　undertook　a　woman　of　that　sort；　I　should　start　with　the　deliberate　purpose　of〃　　His　voice　sank　to　a　whisper　over　the　last　words　in　Armand's　ear；　and　he　went　before　there　was　time　to　reply。

As　for　Montriveau；　he　sprang　at　a　bound　across　the　courtyard　of　the　Hotel　de　Langeais；　went　unannounced　up　the　stairs　straight　to　the　Duchess's　bedroom。

〃This　is　an　unheard…of　thing；〃　she　said；　hastily　wrapping　her　dressing…gown　about　her。　　〃Armand！　this　is　abominable　of　you！　　Come；　leave　the　room；　I　beg。　　Just　go　out　of　the　room；　and　go　at　once。　　Wait　for　me　in　the　drawing…room。Come　now！〃

〃Dear　angel；　has　a　plighted　lover　no　privilege　whatsoever？〃

〃But；　monsieur；　it　is　in　the　worst　possible　taste　of　a　plighted　lover　or　a　wedded　husband　to　break　in　like　this　upon　his　wife。〃

He　came　up　to　the　Duchess；　took　her　in　his　arms；　and　held　her

tightly　to　him。

〃Forgive；　dear　Antoinette；　but　a　host　of　horrid　doubts　are　fermenting　in　my　heart。〃

〃DOUBTS？　　Fie！Oh；　fie　on　you！〃

〃Doubts　all　but　justified。　　If　you　loved　me；　would　you　make　this　quarrel？　　Would　you　not　be　glad　to　see　me？　　Would　you　not　have　felt　a　something　stir　in　your　heart？　　For　I；　that　am　not　a　woman；　feel　a　thrill　in　my　inmost　self　at　the　mere　sound　of　your　voice。　　Often　in　a　ballroom　a　longing　has　come　upon　me　to　spring　to　your　side　and　put　my　arms　about　your　neck。〃

〃Oh！　if　you　have　doubts　of　me　so　long　as　I　am　not　ready　to　spring　to　your　arms　before　all　the　world；　I　shall　be　doubted　all　my　life　long；　I　suppose。　　Why；　Othello　was　a　mere　child　compared　with　you！〃

〃Ah！〃　he　cried　despairingly；　〃you　have　no　love　for　me〃

〃Admit；　at　any　rate；　that　at　this　moment　you　are　not　lovable。〃　　Then　I　have　still　to　find　favour　in　your　sight？〃

〃Oh；　I　should　think　so。　　Come；〃　added　she；　〃with　a　little　imperious　air；　go　out　of　the　room；　leave　me。　　I　am　not　like　you；　I　wish　always　to　find　favour　in　your　eyes。〃

Never　woman　better　understood　the　art　of　putting　charm　into　insolence；　and　does　not　the　charm　double　the　effect？　is　it　not　enough　to　infuriate　the　coolest　of　men？　　There　was　a　sort　of　untrammelled　freedom　about　Mme　de　Langeais；　a　something　in　her　eyes；　her　voice；　her　attitude；　which　is　never　seen　in　a　woman　who　loves　when　she　stands　face　to　face　with　him　at　the　mere　sight　of　whom　her　heart　must　needs　begin　to　beat。　　The　Marquis　de　Ronquerolles's　counsels　had　cured　Armand　of　sheepishness；　and　further；　there　came　to　his　aid　that　rapid　power　of　intuition　which　passion　will　develop　at　moments　in　the　least　wise　among　mortals；　while　a　great　man　at　such　a　time　possesses　it　to　the　full。　　He　guessed　the　terrible　truth　revealed　by　the　Duchess's　nonchalance；　and　his　heart　swelled　with　the　storm　like　a　lake　rising　in　flood。

〃If　you　told　me　the　truth　yesterday；　be　mine；　dear　Antoinette；〃　he　cried；　〃you　shall〃

〃In　the　first　place；〃　said　she　composedly；　thrusting　him　back　as　he　came　nearer〃in　the　first　place；　you　are　not　to　compromise　me。　　My　woman　might　overhear　you。　　Respect　me；　I　beg　of　you。　　Your　familiarity　is　all　very　well　in　my　boudoir　in　an　evening；　here　it　is　quite　different。　　Besides；　what　may　your　‘you　shall'　mean？　　‘You　shall。'　　No　one　as　yet　has　ever　used　that　word　to　me。　　It　is　quite　ridiculous；　it　seems　to　me；　absolutely　ridiculous。

〃Will　you　surrender　nothing　to　me　on　this　point？〃

〃Oh！　do　you　call　a　woman's　right　to　dispose　of　herself　a　‘point？'　　A　capital　point　indeed；　you　will　permit　me　to　be　entirely　my　own　mistress　on　that　‘point。'　〃

〃And　how　if；　believing　in　your　promises　to　me；　I　should　absolutely　require　it？〃

〃Oh！　then　you　would　prove　that　I　made　the　greatest　possible　mistake　when　I　made　you　a　promise　of　any　kind；　and　I　should　beg　you　to　leave　me　in　peace。〃　

The　General's　face　grew　white；　he　was　about　to　spring　to　her　side；　when　Mme　de　Langeais　rang　the　bell；　the　maid　appeared；　and；　smiling　with　a　mocking　grace；　the　Duchess　added；　〃Be　so　good　as　to　return　when　I　am　visible。〃

Then　Montriveau　felt　the　hardness　of　a　woman　as　cold　and　keen　as　a　steel　blade；　she　was　crushing　in　her　scorn。　　In　one　moment　she　had　snapped　the　bonds　which　held　firm　only　for　her　lover。　　She　had　read　Armand's　intention　in　his　face；　and　held　that　the　moment　had　come　for　teaching　the　Imperial　soldier　his　lesson。　　He　was　to　be　made　to　feel　that　though　duchesses　may　lend　themselves　to　love；　they　do　not　give　themselves；　and　that　the　conquest　of　one　of　them　would　prove　a　harder　matter　than　the　conquest　of　Europe。

〃Madame；〃　returned　Armand；　〃I　have　not　time　to　wait。　　I　am　a　spoilt　child；　as　you　told　me　yourself。　　When　I　seriously　resolve　to　have　that　of　which　we　have　been　speaking；　I　shall　have　it。〃

〃You　will　have　it？〃　queried　she；　and　there　was　a　trace　of　surprise　in　her　loftiness。

〃I　shall　have　it。〃

〃Oh！　you　would　do　me　a　great　pleasure　by　‘resolving'　to　have　it。

For　curiosity's　sake；　I　should　be　delighted　to　know　how　you　would　set　about　it〃

〃I　am　delighted　to　put　a　new　interest　into　your　life；〃　interrupted　Montriveau；　breaking　into　a　laugh　which　dismayed　the　Duchess。　　〃Will　you　permit　me　to　take　you　to　the　ball　tonight？〃

〃A　thousand　thanks。　　M。　de　Marsay　has　been　beforehand　with　you。　　I　gave　him　my　promise。〃

Montriveau　bowed　gravely　and　went。

〃So　Ronquerolles　was　right；〃　thought　he；　〃and　now　for　a　game　of