the duchesse de langeais-µÚ21ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡a¡¡father¡¡might£»¡¡and¡¡led¡¡her¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡flights¡¡of¡¡stairs£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡studying¡¡the¡¡throbbing¡¡pulses¡¡of¡¡this¡¡woman's¡¡heart¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡invaded¡¡by¡¡Love¡£¡¡¡¡Mme¡¡de¡¡Langeais£»¡¡rejoicing¡¡in¡¡this¡¡power¡¡of¡¡speech£»¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡let¡¡him¡¡know¡¡all£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡inflexible£»¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡passive¡¡in¡¡reply¡¡to¡¡the¡¡questionings¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hand¡£
At¡¡length£»¡¡after¡¡some¡¡journey¡¡made¡¡together£»¡¡Armand¡¡bade¡¡her¡¡go¡¡forward£»¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡was¡¡doubtless¡¡narrow£»¡¡for¡¡as¡¡she¡¡went¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡protected¡¡her¡¡dress¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡care¡¡touched¡¡her£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡revelation¡¡surely¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡love¡¡still¡¡left£»¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡some¡¡sort¡¡a¡¡farewell£»¡¡for¡¡Montriveau¡¡left¡¡her¡¡without¡¡a¡¡word¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡warm£»¡¡the¡¡Duchess£»¡¡feeling¡¡the¡¡heat£»¡¡opened¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡herself¡¡standing¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Comtesse¡¡de¡¡Serizy's¡¡boudoir¡£
She¡¡was¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡first¡¡thought¡¡was¡¡for¡¡her¡¡disordered¡¡toilette£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡had¡¡adjusted¡¡her¡¡dress¡¡and¡¡restored¡¡her¡¡picturesque¡¡coiffure¡£
¡¨Well£»¡¡dear¡¡Antoinette£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡been¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡you¡¡everywhere¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Comtesse¡¡de¡¡Serizy¡¡who¡¡spoke¡¡as¡¡she¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¨I¡¡came¡¡here¡¡to¡¡breathe£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Duchess£»¡¡¡¨it¡¡is¡¡unbearably¡¡hot¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rooms¡£¡¨
¡¨People¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡you¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡Ronquerolles¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡your¡¡servants¡¡were¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡tired¡¡out£»¡¡dear£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡stay¡¡and¡¡rest¡¡here¡¡for¡¡a¡¡minute£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sofa¡£
¡¨Why£»¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡you£¿¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡shaking¡¡from¡¡head¡¡to¡¡foot£¡¡¨
The¡¡Marquis¡¡de¡¡Ronquerolles¡¡came¡¡in¡£
¡¨Mme¡¡la¡¡Duchesse£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡that¡¡something¡¡might¡¡have¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡just¡¡come¡¡across¡¡your¡¡coachman£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡is¡¡as¡¡tipsy¡¡as¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Swiss¡¡in¡¡Switzerland¡£¡¨
The¡¡Duchess¡¡made¡¡no¡¡answer£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡round¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡chimney¡piece¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tall¡¡mirrors£»¡¡seeking¡¡the¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡an¡¡opening¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡with¡¡an¡¡extraordinary¡¡sensation¡¡she¡¡recollected¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡again¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gaiety¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ballroom¡¡after¡¡that¡¡terrific¡¡scene¡¡which¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡course¡¡of¡¡her¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡began¡¡to¡¡shiver¡¡violently¡£
¡¨M¡£¡¡de¡¡Montriveau's¡¡prophecy¡¡has¡¡shaken¡¡my¡¡nerves£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡joke£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡I¡¡will¡¡see¡¡whether¡¡his¡¡axe¡¡from¡¡London¡¡will¡¡haunt¡¡me¡¡even¡¡in¡¡my¡¡sleep¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡good¡bye£»¡¡dear¡£Good¡bye£»¡¡M¡£¡¡le¡¡Marquis¡£¡¨
As¡¡she¡¡went¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡she¡¡was¡¡beset¡¡with¡¡enquiries¡¡and¡¡regrets¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡world¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡dwindled¡¡now¡¡that¡¡she£»¡¡its¡¡queen£»¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡so¡¡low£»¡¡was¡¡so¡¡diminished¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡what£»¡¡moreover£»¡¡were¡¡these¡¡men¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡him¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡with¡¡all¡¡her¡¡heart£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡man¡¡grown¡¡great¡¡by¡¡all¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡stature£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡giant¡¡had¡¡regained¡¡the¡¡height¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡exaggerated¡¡it¡¡perhaps¡¡beyond¡¡measure¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡herself£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡servant¡¡who¡¡had¡¡attended¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ball¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡fast¡¡asleep¡£
¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡been¡¡here¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡£
¡¨Yes£»¡¡madame¡£¡¨
As¡¡she¡¡took¡¡her¡¡seat¡¡in¡¡her¡¡carriage¡¡she¡¡saw£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡that¡¡her¡¡coachman¡¡was¡¡drunkso¡¡drunk£»¡¡that¡¡at¡¡any¡¡other¡¡time¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡afraid£»¡¡but¡¡after¡¡a¡¡great¡¡crisis¡¡in¡¡life£»¡¡fear¡¡loses¡¡its¡¡appetite¡¡for¡¡common¡¡food¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡reached¡¡home£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡without¡¡accident£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡there¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡change¡¡in¡¡herself£»¡¡a¡¡new¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡shake¡¡off¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡her£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡now¡¡but¡¡one¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡henceforth¡¡she¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡shine¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sake¡¡alone¡£
While¡¡the¡¡physiologist¡¡can¡¡define¡¡love¡¡promptly¡¡by¡¡following¡¡out¡¡natural¡¡laws£»¡¡the¡¡moralist¡¡finds¡¡a¡¡far¡¡more¡¡perplexing¡¡problem¡¡before¡¡him¡¡if¡¡he¡¡attempts¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡love¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡developments¡¡due¡¡to¡¡social¡¡conditions¡£¡¡¡¡Still£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heresies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡sects¡¡that¡¡divide¡¡the¡¡church¡¡of¡¡Love£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡one¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡trenchant¡¡line¡¡of¡¡difference¡¡in¡¡doctrine£»¡¡a¡¡line¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡discussion¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡can¡¡never¡¡deflect¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡rigid¡¡application¡¡of¡¡this¡¡line¡¡explains¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crisis¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Duchess£»¡¡like¡¡most¡¡women£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡pass¡£¡¡¡¡Passion¡¡she¡¡knew£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡love¡¡as¡¡yet¡£
Love¡¡and¡¡passion¡¡are¡¡two¡¡different¡¡conditions¡¡which¡¡poets¡¡and¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡philosophers¡¡and¡¡fools£»¡¡alike¡¡continually¡¡confound¡£
Love¡¡implies¡¡a¡¡give¡¡and¡¡take£»¡¡a¡¡certainty¡¡of¡¡bliss¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡can¡¡change£»¡¡it¡¡means¡¡so¡¡close¡¡a¡¡clinging¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡exchange¡¡of¡¡happiness¡¡so¡¡constant£»¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡room¡¡left¡¡for¡¡jealousy¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡possession¡¡is¡¡a¡¡means¡¡and¡¡not¡¡an¡¡end£»¡¡unfaithfulness¡¡may¡¡give¡¡pain£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡bond¡¡is¡¡not¡¡less¡¡close£»¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡is¡¡neither¡¡more¡¡nor¡¡less¡¡ardent¡¡or¡¡troubled£»¡¡but¡¡happy¡¡at¡¡every¡¡moment£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡desire¡¡spreading¡¡from¡¡end¡¡to¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡immensity¡¡of¡¡Time¡¡steeps¡¡it¡¡all¡¡for¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡selfsame¡¡hue£»¡¡life¡¡takes¡¡the¡¡tint¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unclouded¡¡heaven¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Passion¡¡is¡¡the¡¡foreshadowing¡¡of¡¡Love£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡that¡¡Infinite¡¡to¡¡which¡¡all¡¡suffering¡¡souls¡¡aspire¡£¡¡¡¡Passion¡¡is¡¡a¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡may¡¡be¡¡cheated¡£¡¡¡¡Passion¡¡means¡¡both¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡transition¡£¡¡¡¡Passion¡¡dies¡¡out¡¡when¡¡hope¡¡is¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡and¡¡women¡¡may¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡this¡¡experience¡¡many¡¡times¡¡without¡¡dishonour£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡so¡¡natural¡¡to¡¡spring¡¡towards¡¡happiness£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡is¡¡only¡¡one¡¡love¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lifetime¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡discussions¡¡of¡¡sentiment¡¡ever¡¡conducted¡¡on¡¡paper¡¡or¡¡by¡¡word¡¡of¡¡mouth¡¡may¡¡therefore¡¡be¡¡resumed¡¡by¡¡two¡¡questions¡¨Is¡¡it¡¡passion£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡love£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡So£»¡¡since¡¡love¡¡comes¡¡into¡¡existence¡¡only¡¡through¡¡the¡¡intimate¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bliss¡¡which¡¡gives¡¡it¡¡lasting¡¡life£»¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡was¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡yoke¡¡of¡¡passion¡¡as¡¡yet£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡fierce¡¡tumult£»¡¡the¡¡unconscious¡¡calculations£»¡¡the¡¡fevered¡¡cravings£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡is¡¡meant¡¡by¡¡that¡¡word¡¡PASSIONshe¡¡suffered¡£¡¡¡¡Through¡¡all¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡of¡¡her¡¡soul¡¡there¡¡rose¡¡eddying¡¡gusts¡¡of¡¡tempest£»¡¡raised¡¡by¡¡vanity¡¡or¡¡self¡love£»¡¡or¡¡pride¡¡or¡¡a¡¡high¡¡spirit£»¡¡for¡¡all¡¡these¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡egoism¡¡make¡¡common¡¡cause¡¡together¡£
She¡¡had¡¡said¡¡to¡¡this¡¡man£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡love¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡yours£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Duchesse¡¡de¡¡Langeais¡¡should¡¡have¡¡uttered¡¡those¡¡wordsin¡¡vain£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡must¡¡either¡¡be¡¡loved¡¡now¡¡or¡¡play¡¡her¡¡part¡¡of¡¡queen¡¡no¡¡longer¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡loneliness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡luxurious¡¡couch¡¡where¡¡pleasure¡¡had¡¡never¡¡yet¡¡set¡¡his¡¡glowing¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡again£»¡¡while¡¡she¡¡tossed¡¡and¡¡writhed¡¡there£»¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡loved¡£¡¨
But¡¡the¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡she¡¡still¡¡had¡¡in¡¡herself¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡success¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Duchess¡¡might¡¡be¡¡piqued£»¡¡the¡¡vain¡¡Parisienne¡¡might¡¡be¡¡humiliated£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡saw¡¡glimpses¡¡of¡¡wedded¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡imagination£»¡¡avenging¡¡the¡¡time¡¡lost¡¡for¡¡nature£»¡¡took¡¡a¡¡delight¡¡in¡¡kindling¡¡the¡¡inextinguishable¡¡fire¡¡in¡¡her¡¡veins¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡all¡¡but¡¡attained¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sensations¡¡of¡¡love£»¡¡for¡¡amid¡¡her¡¡poignant¡¡doubt¡¡whether¡¡she¡¡was¡¡loved¡¡in¡¡return£»¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡glad¡¡at¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡herself£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡love¡¡him£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡her¡¡scruples£»¡¡religion£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡world¡¡she¡¡could¡¡trample¡¡them¡¡under¡¡foot£¡¡¡¡¡Montriveau¡¡was¡¡her¡¡religion¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡in¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of¡¡moral¡¡torpor£»¡¡troubled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡physical¡¡unrest£»¡¡which¡¡no¡¡words¡¡could¡¡express¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡wrote¡¡letters¡¡and¡¡tore¡¡them¡¡all¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡invented¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡impossible¡¡fancies¡£
When¡¡M¡£¡¡de¡¡Montriveau's¡¡usual¡¡hour¡¡arrived£»¡¡she¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡come£»¡¡and¡¡enjoyed¡¡the¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡expectation¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡whole¡¡life¡¡was¡¡concentrated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡single¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡hearing¡£¡¡¡¡Sometimes¡¡she¡¡shut¡¡her¡¡eyes£»¡¡straining¡¡her¡¡ears¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡through¡¡space£»¡¡wishing¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡annihilate¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡between¡¡her¡¡and¡¡her¡¡lover£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡establish¡¡that¡¡perfect¡¡silence¡¡which¡¡sounds¡¡may¡¡traverse¡¡from¡¡afar¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡her¡¡tense¡¡self¡concentration£»¡¡the¡¡ticking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡grew¡¡hateful¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡she¡¡stopped¡¡its¡¡ill¡omened¡¡garrulity¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡twelve¡¡strokes¡¡of¡¡midnight¡¡sounded¡¡from¡¡the¡¡drawing¡room¡£
¡¨Ah£»¡¡God£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨to¡¡see¡¡him¡¡here¡¡would¡¡be¡¡happiness¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡yet£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡so¡¡very¡¡long¡¡since¡¡he¡¡came¡¡here£»¡¡brought¡¡by¡¡desire£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡filled¡¡this¡¡boudoir¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡now¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡£¡¨
She¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡times¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡played¡¡the¡¡coquette¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡that¡¡her¡¡coquetry¡¡had¡¡cost¡¡her¡¡her¡¡lover£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡despairing¡¡tears¡¡flowed¡¡for¡¡long¡£
Her¡¡woman¡¡came¡¡at¡¡length¡¡with£»¡¡¡¨Mme¡¡la¡¡Duchesse¡¡does¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡two¡¡o'clock¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡madame¡¡was¡¡not¡¡feeling¡¡well¡£¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bed£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Duchess£»¡¡drying¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡remember£»¡¡Suzanne£»¡¡never¡¡to¡¡come¡¡in¡¡again¡¡without¡¡orders£»¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡this¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡£¡¨
For¡¡a¡¡week£»¡¡Mme¡¡de¡¡Langeais¡¡went¡¡to¡¡every¡¡house¡¡where¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡meeting¡¡M¡£¡¡de¡¡Montriveau¡£¡¡¡¡Contrary¡¡to¡¡her¡¡usual¡¡habits£»¡¡she¡¡came¡¡early¡¡and¡¡went¡¡late£»¡¡gave¡¡up¡¡dancing£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡card¡tables¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡experiments¡¡were¡¡fruitless¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡succeed¡¡in¡¡getting¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡Armand¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡utter¡¡his¡¡name¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡evening£»¡¡however£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fit¡¡of¡¡despair£»¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡Mme¡¡de¡¡Serizy£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡as¡¡carelessly¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡have¡¡quarrelled¡¡with¡¡M¡£¡¡de¡¡Montriveau£¿¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡your¡¡house¡¡now¡£¡¨
The¡¡Countess¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡come¡¡here¡¡either£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡returned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡anywhere£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡some¡¡woman£»¡¡no¡¡doubt¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Marquis¡¡de¡¡Ronquerolles¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friends¡¨¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡began¡¡sweetly¡£
¡¨I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡say¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¨
Mme¡¡de¡¡Langeais¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply¡£¡¡¡¡Mme¡¡de¡¡Serizy¡¡concluded¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Duchess's¡¡silence¡¡that¡¡she¡¡might¡¡apply¡¡the¡¡scourge¡¡with¡¡impunity¡¡to¡¡a¡¡discreet¡¡friendship¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡seen£»¡¡with¡¡bitterness¡¡of¡¡soul£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡past¡£
¡¨So¡¡you¡¡miss¡¡that¡¡melancholy¡¡personage£»¡¡do¡¡you£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡most¡¡extraordinary¡¡things¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Wound¡¡his¡¡feelings£»¡¡he¡¡never¡¡comes¡¡back£»¡¡he¡¡forgives¡¡nothing£»¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡love¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡keeps¡¡you¡¡in¡¡chains¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡I¡¡said¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡that¡¡praise¡¡him¡¡sky¡high¡¡would¡¡always¡¡answer£»¡¡¡®He¡¡knows¡¡how¡¡to¡¡love£¡'¡¡¡¡People¡¡are¡¡always¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Montriveau¡¡would¡¡give¡¡up¡¡all¡¡for¡¡his¡¡friend£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡is¡¡a¡¡great¡¡nature¡£¡¡¡¡Pooh£¡¡¡society¡¡does¡¡not¡¡want¡¡such¡¡tremendous¡¡natures¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡that¡¡stamp¡¡are¡¡all¡¡very¡¡well¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡let¡¡them¡¡stay¡¡there¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡us¡¡to¡¡our¡¡pleasant¡¡littlenesses¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡Antoinette£¿¡¨
Woman¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡though¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡the¡¡Duchess¡¡seemed¡¡agitated£»¡¡yet¡¡she¡¡replied¡¡in¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡deceived¡¡her¡¡fair¡¡friend
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡sorry¡¡to¡¡miss¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡great¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡promised¡¡to¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡his¡¡sincere¡¡friend¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡like¡¡great¡¡natures£»¡¡dear¡¡friend£»¡¡ridiculous¡¡though¡¡you¡¡may¡¡think¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡give¡¡oneself¡¡to¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡is¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡confession£»¡¡is¡¡it¡¡not£»¡¡that¡¡one¡¡is¡¡governed¡¡wholly¡¡by¡¡one's¡¡senses£¿
Mme¡¡de¡¡Serizy's¡¡¡¨preferences¡¨¡¡had¡¡always¡¡been¡¡for¡¡commonplace¡¡men£»¡¡her¡¡lover¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡the¡¡Marquis¡¡d'Aiglemont£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fine£»¡¡tall¡¡man¡£
After¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡Countess¡¡soon¡¡took¡¡her¡¡departure£»¡¡you¡¡may¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡Mme¡¡de¡¡Langeais¡¡saw¡¡hope¡¡in¡¡Armand's¡¡withdrawal¡¡from¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡she¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡him¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡humble£»¡¡gentle¡¡letter£»¡¡surely¡¡it¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡if¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡her¡¡still¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡sent¡¡her¡¡footman¡¡with¡¡it¡¡next¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡servant's¡¡return£»¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡had¡¡given¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡M¡£¡¡de¡¡Montriveau¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡restrain¡¡the¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡joy¡¡at¡¡the¡¡affirmative¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¡Armand¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Paris£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡stayed¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡his¡¡house£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡go¡¡out¡¡into¡¡society£¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡she¡¡was¡¡loved£¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡day¡¡long¡¡she¡¡waited¡¡for¡¡an¡¡answer¡¡that¡¡never¡¡came¡£¡¡¡¡Again¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡when¡¡impatience¡¡grew¡¡unbearable£»¡¡Antoinette¡¡found¡¡reasons¡¡for¡¡his¡¡delay¡£¡¡¡¡Armand¡¡felt¡¡embarrassed£»¡¡the¡¡reply¡¡would¡¡come¡¡by¡¡post£»¡¡but¡¡night¡¡came£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡deceive¡¡herself¡¡any¡¡longer¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡day£»¡¡a¡¡day¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡grown¡¡sweet£»¡¡of¡¡intolerable¡¡heart¡throb