the duchesse de langeais-第20章

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The　Duchess　burst　out　sobbing。

〃Pray　spare　your　tears；　madame。　　If　I　believed　in　them　at　all；　it　would　merely　set　me　on　my　guard。　　Is　this　another　of　your　artifices？　or　is　it　not？　　You　have　used　so　many　with　me；　how　can　one　think　that　there　is　any　truth　in　you？　　Nothing　that　you　do　or　say　has　any　power　now　to　move　me。　　That　is　all　I　have　to　say。〃

Mme　de　Langeais　rose　to　her　feet；　with　a　great　dignity　and　humility　in　her　bearing。

〃You　are　right　to　treat　me　very　hardly；〃　she　said；　holding　out　a　hand　to　the　man　who　did　not　take　it；　〃you　have　not　spoken　hardly　enough；　and　I　deserve　this　punishment。〃

〃_I_　punish　you；　madame！　　A　man　must　love　still；　to　punish；　must　he　not？　　From　me　you　must　expect　no　feeling；　nothing　resembling　it。　　If　I　chose；　I　might　be　accuser　and　judge　in　my　cause；　and　pronounce　and　carry　out　the　sentence。　　But　I　am　about　to　fulfil　a　duty；　not　a　desire　of　vengeance　of　any　kind。　　The　cruellest　revenge　of　all；　I　think；　is　scorn　of　revenge　when　it　is　in　our　power　to　take　it。　　Perhaps　I　shall　be　the　minister　of　your　pleasures；　who　knows？　　Perhaps　from　this　time　forth；　as　you　gracefully　wear　the　tokens　of　disgrace　by　which　society　marks　out　the　criminal；　you　may　perforce　learn　something　of　the　convict's　sense　of　honour。　　And　then；　you　will　love！〃

The　Duchess　sat　listening；　her　meekness　was　unfeigned；　it　was　no　coquettish　device。　　When　she　spoke　at　last；　it　was　after　a　silence。

〃Armand；〃　she　began；　〃it　seems　to　me　that　when　I　resisted　love；　I　was　obeying　all　the　instincts　of　woman's　modesty；　I　should　not　have　looked　for　such　reproaches　from　YOU。　　I　was　weak；　you　have　turned　all　my　weaknesses　against　me；　and　made　so　many　crimes　of　them。　　How　could　you　fail　to　understand　that　the　curiosity　of　love　might　have　carried　me　further　than　I　ought　to　go；　and　that　next　morning　I　might　be　angry　with　myself；　and　wretched　because　I　had　gone　too　far？　　Alas！　　I　sinned　in　ignorance。　　I　was　as　sincere　in　my　wrongdoing；　I　swear　to　you；　as　in　my　remorse。　　There　was　far　more　love　for　you　in　my　severity　than　in　my　concessions。　　And　besides；　of　what　do　you　complain？　　I　gave　you　my　heart；　that　was　not　enough；　you　demanded；　brutally；　that　I　should　give　my　person〃

〃Brutally？〃　repeated　Montriveau。　　But　to　himself　he　said；　〃If　I　once　allow　her　to　dispute　over　words；　I　am　lost。〃

〃Yes。　　You　came　to　me　as　if　I　were　one　of　those　women。　　You　showed　none　of　the　respect；　none　of　the　attentions　of　love。　　Had　I　not　reason　to　reflect？　　Very　well；　I　reflected。　　The　unseemliness　of　your　conduct　is　not　inexcusable；　love　lay　at　the　source　of　it；　let　me　think　so；　and　justify　you　to　myself。Well；　Armand；　this　evening；　even　while　you　were　prophesying　evil；　I　felt　convinced　that　there　was　happiness　in　store　for　us　both。　　Yes；　I　put　my　faith　in　the　noble；　proud　nature　so　often　tested　and　proved。〃　　She　bent　lower。　　〃And　I　was　yours　wholly；〃　she　murmured　in　his　ear。　　〃I　felt　a　longing　that　I　cannot　express　to　give　happiness　to　a　man　so　violently　tried　by　adversity。　　If　I　must　have　a　master；　my　master　should　be　a　great　man。　　As　I　felt　conscious　of　my　height；　the　less　I　cared　to　descend。　　I　felt　I　could　trust　you；　I　saw　a　whole　lifetime　of　love；　while　you　were　pointing　to　death。　。　。　。　　Strength　and　kindness　always　go　together。　　My　friend；　you　are　so　strong；　you　will　not　be　unkind　to　a　helpless　woman　who　loves　you。　　If　I　was　wrong；　is　there　no　way　of　obtaining　forgiveness？　　No　way　of　making　reparation？　　Repentance　is　the　charm　of　love；　I　should　like　to　be　very　charming　for　you。　　How　could　I；　alone　among　women；　fail　to　know　a　woman's　doubts　and　fears；　the　timidity　that　it　is　so　natural　to　feel　when　you　bind　yourself　for　life；　and　know　how　easily　a　man　snaps　such　ties？　　The　bourgeoises；　with　whom　you　compared　me　just　now；　give　themselves；　but　they　struggle　first。　　Very　wellI　struggled；　but　here　I　am！Ah！　　God；　he　does　not　hear　me！〃　she　broke　off；　and　wringing　her　hands；　she　cried　out　〃But　I　love　you！　　I　am　yours！〃　and　fell　at　Armand's　feet。

〃Yours！　yours！　my　one　and　only　master！〃

Armand　tried　to　raise　her。

〃Madame；　it　is　too　late！　　Antoinette　cannot　save　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais。　　I　cannot　believe　in　either。　　Today　you　may　give　yourself；　tomorrow；　you　may　refuse。　　No　power　in　earth　or　heaven　can　insure　me　the　sweet　constancy　of　love。　　All　love's　pledges　lay　in　the　past；　and　now　nothing　of　that　past　exists。〃

The　light　behind　the　curtain　blazed　up　so　brightly；　that　the　Duchess　could　not　help　turning　her　head；　this　time　she　distinctly　saw　the　three　masked　figures。

〃Armand；〃　she　said；　〃I　would　not　wish　to　think　ill　of　you。　　Why　are　those　men　there？　　What　are　you　going　to　do　to　me？〃

〃Those　men　will　be　as　silent　as　I　myself　with　regard　to　the　thing　which　is　about　to　be　done。　　Think　of　them　simply　as　my　hands　and　my　heart。　　One　of　them　is　a　surgeon〃

〃A　surgeon！　　Armand；　my　friend；　of　all　things；　suspense　is　the　hardest　to　bear。　　Just　speak；　tell　me　if　you　wish　for　my　life；　I　will　give　it　to　you；　you　shall　not　take　it〃

〃Then　you　did　not　understand　me？　　Did　I　not　speak　just　now　of　justice？　　To　put　an　end　to　your　misapprehensions；〃　continued　he；　taking　up　a　small　steel　object　from　the　table；　〃I　will　now　explain　what　I　have　decided　with　regard　to　you。〃

He　held　out　a　Lorraine　cross；　fastened　to　the　tip　of　a　steel　rod。

〃Two　of　my　friends　at　this　very　moment　are　heating　another　cross；　made　on　this　pattern；　red…hot。　　We　are　going　to　stamp　it　upon　your　forehead；　here　between　the　eyes；　so　that　there　will　be　no　possibility　of　hiding　the　mark　with　diamonds；　and　so　avoiding　people's　questions。　　In　short；　you　shall　bear　on　your　forehead　the　brand　of　infamy　which　your　brothers　the　convicts　wear　on　their　shoulders。　　The　pain　is　a　mere　trifle；　but　I　feared　a　nervous　crisis　of　some　kind；　of　resistance〃

〃Resistance？〃　she　cried；　clapping　her　hands　for　joy。　　〃Oh　no；　no！　　I　would　have　the　whole　world　here　to　see。　　Ah；　my　Armand；　brand　her　quickly；　this　creature　of　yours；　brand　her　with　your　mark　as　a　poor　little　trifle　belonging　to　you。　　You　asked　for　pledges　of　my　love；　here　they　are　all　in　one。　　Ah！　for　me　there　is　nothing　but　mercy　and　forgiveness　and　eternal　happiness　in　this　revenge　of　yours。　　When　you　have　marked　this　woman　with　your　mark；　when　you　set　your　crimson　brand　on　her；　your　slave　in　soul；　you　can　never　afterwards　abandon　her；　you　will　be　mine　for　evermore？　　When　you　cut　me　off　from　my　kind；　you　make　yourself　responsible　for　my　happiness；　or　you　prove　yourself　base；　and　I　know　that　you　are　noble　and　great！　　Why；　when　a　woman　loves；　the　brand　of　love　is　burnt　into　her　soul　by　her　own　will。Come　in；　gentlemen！　come　in　and　brand　her；　this　Duchesse　de　Langeais。　　She　is　M。　de　Montriveau's　forever！　　Ah！　come　quickly；　all　of　you；　my　forehead　burns　hotter　than　your　fire！〃

Armand　turned　his　head　sharply　away　lest　he　should　see　the　Duchess　kneeling；　quivering　with　the　throbbings　of　her　heart。　　He　said　some　word；　and　his　three　friends　vanished。

The　women　of　Paris　salons　know　how　one　mirror　reflects　another。　　The　Duchess；　with　every　motive　for　reading　the　depths　of　Armand's　heart；　was　all　eyes；　and　Armand；　all　unsuspicious　of　the　mirror；　brushed　away　two　tears　as　they　fell。　　Her　whole　future　lay　in　those　two　tears。　　When　he　turned　round　again　to　help　her　to　rise；　she　was　standing　before　him；　sure　of　love。　　Her　pulses　must　have　throbbed　fast　when　he　spoke　with　the　firmness　she　had　known　so　well　how　to　use　of　old　while　she　played　with　him。

〃I　spare　you；　madame。　　All　that　has　taken　place　shall　be　as　if　it　had　never　been；　you　may　believe　me。　　But　now；　let　us　bid　each　other　goodbye。　　I　like　to　think　that　you　were　sincere　in　your　coquetries　on　your　sofa；　sincere　again　in　this　outpouring　of　your　heart。　　Good…bye。　　I　feel　that　there　is　no　faith　in　you　left　in　me。　　You　would　torment　me　again；　you　would　always　be　the　Duchess；　and　But　there；　good…bye；　we　shall　never　understand　each　other。

〃Now；　what　do　you　wish？〃　he　continued；　taking　the　tone　of　a　master　of　the　ceremonies〃to　return　home；　or　to　go　back　to　Mme　de　Serizy's　ball？　　I　have　done　all　in　my　power　to　prevent　any　scandal。　　Neither　your　servants　nor　anyone　else　can　possibly　know　what　has　passed　between　us　in　the　last　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Your　servants　have　no　idea　that　you　have　left　the　ballroom；　your　carriage　never　left　Mme　de　Serizy's　courtyard；　your　brougham　may　likewise　be　found　in　the　court　of　your　own　hotel。　　Where　do　you　wish　to　be？〃

〃What　do　you　counsel；　Armand？〃

〃There　is　no　Armand　now；　Mme　la　Duchesse。　　We　are　strangers　to　each　other。〃

〃Then　take　me　to　the　ball；〃　she　said；　still　curious　to　put　Armand's　power　to　the　test。　　〃Thrust　a　soul　that　suffered　in　the　world；　and　must　always　suffer　there；　if　there　is　no　happiness　for　her　now；　down　into　hell　again。　　And　yet；　oh　my　friend；　I　love　you　as　your　bourgeoises　love；　I　love　you　so　that　I　could　come　to　you　and　fling　my　arms　about　your　neck　before　all　the　world　if　you　asked　it　off　me。　　The　hateful　world　has　not　corrupted　me。　　I　am　young　at　least；　and　I　have　grown　younger　still。　　I　am　a　child；　yes；　your　child；　your　new　creature。　　Ah！　do　not　drive　me　forth　out　of　my　Eden！〃

Armand　shook　his　head。

〃Ah！　let　me　take　something　with　me；　if　I　go；　some　little　thing　to　wear　tonight　on　my　heart；〃　she　said；　taking　possession　of　Armand's　glove；　which　she　twisted　into　her　handkerchief。

〃No；　I　am　NOT　like　all　those　depraved　women。　　You　do　not　know　the　world；　and　so　you　cannot　know　my　worth。　　You　shall　know　it　now！　　There　are　women　who　sell　themselves　for　money；　there　are　others　to　be　gained　by　gifts；　it　is　a　vile　world！　　Oh；　I　wish　I　were　a　simple　bourgeoise；　a　working　girl；　if　you　would　rather　have　a　woman　beneath　you　than　a　woman　whose　devotion　is　accompanied　by　high　rank；　as　men　count　it。　　Oh；　my　Armand；　there　are　noble；　high；　and　chaste　and　pure　natures　among　us；　and　then　they　are　lovely　indeed。　　I　would　have　all　nobleness　that　I　might　offer　it　all　up　to　you。　　Misfortune　willed　that　I　should　be　a　duchess；　I　would　I　were　a　royal　princess；　that　my　offering　might　be　complete。　　I　would　be　a　grisette　for　you；　and　a　queen　for　everyone　besides。〃

He　listened；　damping　his　cigars　with　his　lips。

〃You　will　let　me　know　when　you　wish　to　go；〃　he　said。

〃But　I　should　like　to　stay〃

〃That　is　another　matter！〃

〃Stay；　that　was　badly　rolled；〃　she　cried；　seizing　on　a　cigar　and　devouring　all　that　Armand's　lips　had　touched。

〃Do　you　smoke？〃

〃Oh；　what　would　I　not　do　to　please　you？〃

〃Very　well。　　Go；　madame。〃

〃I　will　obey　you；〃　she　answered；　with　tears　in　her　eyes。

〃You　must　be　blindfolded；　you　must　not　see　a　glimpse　of　the　way。〃

〃I　am　ready；　Armand；〃　she　said；　bandaging　her　eyes。

〃Can　you　see？〃

〃No。〃

Noiselessly　he　knelt　before　her。

〃Ah！　　I　can　hear　you！〃　she　cried；　with　a　little　fond　gesture；　thinking　that　the　pretence　of　harshness　was　over。

He　made　as　if　he　would　kiss　her　lips；　she　held　up　her　face。

〃You　can　see；　madame。〃

〃I　am　just　a　little　bit　curious。〃

〃So　you　always　deceive　me？〃

〃Ah！　take　off　this　handkerchief；　sir；〃　she　cried　out；　with　the　passion　of　a　great　generosity　repelled　with　scorn；　〃lead　me；　I　will　not　open　my　eyes。〃

Armand　felt　sure　of　her　after　that　cry。　　He　led　the　way；　the　Duchess　nobly　true　to　her　word；　was　blind。　　But　while　Montriveau　held　her　hand　as　a　father　might；　and　led　her　up　and　down　f