the duchesse de langeais-第25章

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〃My　pearl；〃　said　she；　〃in　this　world　below；　I　know　nothing　worse　calumniated　than　God　and　the　eighteenth　century；　for　as　I　look　back　over　my　own　young　days；　I　do　not　recollect　that　a　single　duchess　trampled　the　proprieties　underfoot　as　you　have　just　done。　　Novelists　and　scribblers　brought　the　reign　of　Louis　XV　into　disrepute。　　Do　not　believe　them。　　The　du　Barry；　my　dear；　was　quite　as　good　as　the　Widow　Scarron；　and　the　more　agreeable　woman　of　the　two。　　In　my　time　a　woman　could　keep　her　dignity　among　her　gallantries。　　Indiscretion　was　the　ruin　of　us；　and　the　beginning　of　all　the　mischief。　　The　philosophiststhe　nobodies　whom　we　admitted　into　our　salonshad　no　more　gratitude　or　sense　of　decency　than　to　make　an　inventory　of　our　hearts；　to　traduce　us　one　and　all；　and　to　rail　against　the　age　by　way　of　a　return　for　our　kindness。　　The　people　are　not　in　a　position　to　judge　of　anything　whatsoever；　they　looked　at　the　facts；　not　at　the　form。　　But　the　men　and　women　of　those　times；　my　heart；　were　quite　as　remarkable　as　at　any　other　period　of　the　Monarchy。　　Not　one　of　your　Werthers；　none　of　your　notabilities；　as　they　are　called；　never　a　one　of　your　men　in　yellow　kid　gloves　and　trousers　that　disguise　the　poverty　of　their　legs；　would　cross　Europe　in　the　dress　of　a　travelling　hawker　to　brave　the　daggers　of　a　Duke　of　Modena；　and　to　shut　himself　up　in　the　dressing…room　of　the　Regent's　daughter　at　the　risk　of　his　life。　　Not　one　of　your　little　consumptive　patients　with　their　tortoiseshell　eyeglasses　would　hide　himself　in　a　closet　for　six　weeks；　like　Lauzun；　to　keep　up　his　mistress's　courage　while　she　was　lying　in　of　her　child。　　There　was　more　passion　in　M。　de　Jaucourt's　little　finger　than　in　your　whole　race　of　higglers　that　leave　a　woman　to　better　themselves　elsewhere！　　Just　tell　me　where　to　find　the　page　that　would　be　cut　in　pieces　and　buried　under　the　floorboards　for　one　kiss　on　the　Konigsmark's　gloved　finger！

〃Really；　it　would　seem　today　that　the　roles　are　exchanged；　and　women　are　expected　to　show　their　devotion　for　men。　　These　modern　gentlemen　are　worth　less；　and　think　more　of　themselves。　　Believe　me；　my　dear；　all　these　adventures　that　have　been　made　public；　and　now　are　turned　against　our　good　Louis　XV；　were　kept　quite　secret　at　first。　　If　it　had　not　been　for　a　pack　of　poetasters；　scribblers；　and　moralists；　who　hung　about　our　waiting…women；　and　took　down　their　slanders；　our　epoch　would　have　appeared　in　literature　as　a　well…conducted　age。　　I　am　justifying　the　century　and　not　its　fringe。　　Perhaps　a　hundred　women　of　quality　were　lost；　but　for　every　one；　the　rogues　set　down　ten；　like　the　gazettes　after　a　battle　when　they　count　up　the　losses　of　the　beaten　side。　　And　in　any　case　I　do　not　know　that　the　Revolution　and　the　Empire　can　reproach　us；　they　were　coarse；　dull；　licentious　times。　　Faugh！　it　is　revolting。　　Those　are　the　brothels　of　French　history。

〃This　preamble；　my　dear　child；〃　she　continued　after　a　pause；　〃brings　me　to　the　thing　that　I　have　to　say。　　If　you　care　for　Montriveau；　you　are　quite　at　liberty　to　love　him　at　your　ease；　and　as　much　as　you　can。　　I　know　by　experience　that；　unless　you　are　locked　up　（but　locking　people　up　is　out　of　fashion　now）；　you　will　do　as　you　please；　I　should　have　done　the　same　at　your　age。　　Only；　sweetheart；　I　should　not　have　given　up　my　right　to　be　the　mother　of　future　Ducs　de　Langeais。　　So　mind　appearances。　　The　Vidame　is　right。　　No　man　is　worth　a　single　one　of　the　sacrifices　which　we　are　foolish　enough　to　make　for　their　love。　　Put　yourself　in　such　a　position　that　you　may　still　be　M。　de　Langeais's　wife；　in　case　you　should　have　the　misfortune　to　repent。　　When　you　are　an　old　woman；　you　will　be　very　glad　to　hear　mass　said　at　Court；　and　not　in　some　provincial　convent。　　Therein　lies　the　whole　question。　　A　single　imprudence　means　an　allowance　and　a　wandering　life；　it　means　that　you　are　at　the　mercy　of　your　lover；　it　means　that　you　must　put　up　with　insolence　from　women　that　are　not　so　honest；　precisely　because　they　have　been　very　vulgarly　sharp…witted。　　It　would　be　a　hundred　times　better　to　go　to　Montriveau's　at　night　in　a　cab；　and　disguised；　instead　of　sending　your　carriage　in　broad　daylight。　　You　are　a　little　fool；　my　dear　child！　　Your　carriage　flattered　his　vanity；　your　person　would　have　ensnared　his　heart。　　All　this　that　I　have　said　is　just　and　true；　but；　for　my　own　part；　I　do　not　blame　you。　　You　are　two　centuries　behind　the　times　with　your　false　ideas　of　greatness。　　There；　leave　us　to　arrange　your　affairs；　and　say　that　Montriveau　made　your　servants　drunk　to　gratify　his　vanity　and　to　compromise　you〃

The　Duchess　rose　to　her　feet　with　a　spring。　　〃In　Heaven's　name；　aunt；　do　not　slander　him！〃

The　old　Princess's　eyes　flashed。

〃Dear　child；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　have　liked　to　spare　such　of　your　illusions　as　were　not　fatal。　　But　there　must　be　an　end　of　all　illusions　now。　　You　would　soften　me　if　I　were　not　so　old。　　Come；　now；　do　not　vex　him；　or　us；　or　anyone　else。　　I　will　undertake　to　satisfy　everybody；　but　promise　me　not　to　permit　yourself　a　single　step　henceforth　until　you　have　consulted　me。　　Tell　me　all；　and　perhaps　I　may　bring　it　all　right　again。〃

〃Aunt；　I　promise〃

〃To　tell　me　everything？〃

〃Yes；　everything。　　Everything　that　can　be　told。〃

〃But；　my　sweetheart；　it　is　precisely　what　cannot　be　told　that　I　want　to　know。　　Let　us　understand　each　other　thoroughly。　　Come；　let　me　put　my　withered　old　lips　on　your　beautiful　forehead。　　No；　let　me　do　as　I　wish。　　I　forbid　you　to　kiss　my　bones。　　Old　people　have　a　courtesy　of　their　own。　。　。　。　　There；　take　me　down　to　my　carriage；〃　she　added；　when　she　had　kissed　her　niece。

〃Then　may　I　go　to　him　in　disguise；　dear　aunt？〃

〃Whyyes。　　The　story　can　always　be　denied；〃　said　the　old　Princess。

This　was　the　one　idea　which　the　Duchess　had　clearly　grasped　in　the　sermon。　　When　Mme　de　Chauvry　was　seated　in　the　corner　of　her　carriage；　Mme　de　Langeais　bade　her　a　graceful　adieu　and　went　up　to　her　room。　　She　was　quite　happy　again。　

〃My　person　would　have　snared　his　heart；　my　aunt　is　right；　a　man　cannot　surely　refuse　a　pretty　woman　when　she　understands　how　to　offer　herself。〃

That　evening；　at　the　Elysee…Bourbon；　the　Duc　de　Navarreins；　M。　de　Pamiers；　M。　de　Marsay；　M。　de　Grandlieu；　and　the　Duc　de　Maufrigneuse　triumphantly　refuted　the　scandals　that　were　circulating　with　regard　to　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais。　　So　many　officers　and　other　persons　had　seen　Montriveau　walking　in　the　Tuileries　that　morning；　that　the　silly　story　was　set　down　to　chance；　which　takes　all　that　is　offered。　　And　so；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　the　Duchess's　carriage　had　waited　before　Montriveau's　door；　her　character　became　as　clear　and　as　spotless　as　Mambrino's　sword　after　Sancho　had　polished　it　up。

But；　at　two　o'clock；　M。　de　Ronquerolles　passed　Montriveau　in　a　deserted　alley；　and　said　with　a　smile；　〃She　is　coming　on；　is　your　Duchess。　　Go　on；　keep　it　up！〃　he　added；　and　gave　a　significant　cut　of　the　riding　whip　to　his　mare；　who　sped　off　like　a　bullet　down　the　avenue。

Two　days　after　the　fruitless　scandal；　Mme　de　Langeais　wrote　to　M。　de　Montriveau。　　That　letter；　like　the　preceding　ones；　remained　unanswered。　　This　time　she　took　her　own　measures；　and　bribed　M。　de　Montriveau's　man；　Auguste。　　And　so　at　eight　o'clock　that　evening　she　was　introduced　into　Armand's　apartment。　　It　was　not　the　room　in　which　that　secret　scene　had　passed；　it　was　entirely　different。　　The　Duchess　was　told　that　the　General　would　not　be　at　home　that　night。　　Had　he　two　houses？　　The　man　would　give　no　answer。　　Mme　de　Langeais　had　bought　the　key　of　the　room；　but　not　the　man's　whole　loyalty。

When　she　was　left　alone　she　saw　her　fourteen　letters　lying　on　an　old…fashioned　stand；　all　of　them　uncreased　and　unopened。　　He　had　not　read　them。　　She　sank　into　an　easy…chair；　and　for　a　while　she　lost　consciousness。　　When　she　came　to　herself；　Auguste　was　holding　vinegar　for　her　to　inhale。

〃A　carriage；　quick！〃　she　ordered。

The　carriage　came。　　She　hastened　downstairs　with　convulsive　speed；　and　left　orders　that　no　one　was　to　be　admitted。　　For　twenty…four　hours　she　lay　in　bed；　and　would　have　no　one　near　her　but　her　woman；　who　brought　her　a　cup　of　orange…flower　water　from　time　to　time。　　Suzette　heard　her　mistress　moan　once　or　twice；　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　tears　in　the　brilliant　eyes；　now　circled　with　dark　shadows。

The　next　day；　amid　despairing　tears；　Mme　de　Langeais　took　her　resolution。　　Her　man　of　business　came　for　an　interview；　and　no　doubt　received　instructions　of　some　kind。　　Afterwards　she　sent　for　the　Vidame　de　Pamiers；　and　while　she　waited；　she　wrote　a　letter　to　M。　de　Montriveau。　　The　Vidame　punctually　came　towards　two　o'clock　that　afternoon；　to　find　his　young　cousin　looking　white　and　worn；　but　resigned；　never　had　her　divine　loveliness　been　more　poetic　than　now　in　the　languor　of　her　agony。

〃You　owe　this　assignation　to　your　eighty…four　years；　dear　cousin；〃　she　said。　　〃Ah！　do　not　smile；　I　beg　of　you；　when　an　unhappy　woman　has　reached　the　lowest　depths　of　wretchedness。　　You　are　a　gentleman；　and　after　the　adventures　of　your　youth　you　must　feel　some　indulgence　for　women。〃

〃None　whatever；〃　said　he。

〃Indeed！〃

〃Everything　is　in　their　favour。〃

〃Ah！　　Well；　you　are　one　of　the　inner　family　circle；　possibly　you　will　be　the　last　relative；　the　last　friend　whose　hand　I　shall　press；　so　I　can　ask　your　good　offices。　　Will　you；　dear　Vidame；　do　me　a　service　which　I　could　not　ask　of　my　own　father；　nor　of　my　uncle　Grandlieu；　nor　of　any　woman？　　You　cannot　fail　to　understand。　　I　beg　of　you　to　do　my　bidding；　and　then　to　forget　what　you　have　done；　whatever　may　come　of　it。　　It　is　this：　　Will　you　take　this　letter　and　go　to　M。　de　Montriveau？　will　you　see　him　yourself；　give　it　into　his　hands；　and　ask　him；　as　you　men　can　ask　things　between　yourselvesfor　you　have　a　code　of　honour　between　man　and　man　which　you　do　not　use　with　us；　and　a　different　way　of　regarding　things　between　yourselvesask　him　if　he　will　read　this　letter？　　Not　in　your　presence。　　Certain　feelings　men　hide　from　each　other。　　I　give　you　authority　to　say；　if　you　think　it　necessary　to　bring　him；　that　it　is　a　question　of　life　or　death　for　me。　　If　he　deigns〃

〃DEIGNS！〃　repeated　the　Vidame。

〃If　he　deigns　to　read　it；〃　the　Duchess　continued　with　dignity；　〃say　one　thing　more。　　You　will　go　to　see　him　about　five　o'clock；　for　I　know　that　he　will　dine　at　home　today　at　that　time。　　Very　good。　　By　way　of　answer　he　must　come　to　see　me。　　If；　three　hours　afterwards；　by　eight　o'clock；　he　does　not　leave　his　house；　all　will　be　over。　　The　Duchesse　de　Langeais　will　have　vanished　from　the　world。　　I　shall　not　be　dead；　dear　friend；　no；　but　no　human　power　will　ever　find　me　again　on　this　earth。　　Come　and　dine　with　me；　I　shall　at　least　have　one　friend　with　me　in　the　last　agony。　　Yes；　dear　cousin；　tonight　will　decide　my　fate；　and　whatever　happens　to　me；　I　pass　through　an　ordeal　by　fire。　　There！　not　a　word。　　I　will　hear　nothing　of　the　nature　of　comment　or　adviceLet　us　chat　and　laugh　together；〃　she　added；　holding　out　a　hand；　which　he　kissed。　　〃We　will　be　like　two　grey…headed　philosophers　who　have　learned　how　to　enjoy　life　to　the　last　moment。　　I　will　look　my　best；　I　will　be　very　enchanting　for　you。　　You　perhaps　will　be　the　last　man　to　set　eyes　on　the　Duchesse　de　Langeais。〃

The　Vicomte　bowed；　took　the　letter；　and　went　without　a　word。　　At　five　o'cl