letters of two brides-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


to　you　in　Spanish　on　the　harmony　of　the　twofold　beauty　in　which　nature
has　clothed　you。　These　sonnets　you　will　never　see；　for　my　poetry　is
too　unworthy　of　its　theme；　I　dare　not　send　it　to　you。　Not　a　moment
passes　without　thoughts　of　you；　for　my　whole　being　is　bound　up　in　you；
and　if　you　ceased　to　be　its　animating　principle；　every　part　would
ache。

Now；　Louise；　can　you　realize　the　torture　to　me　of　knowing　that　I　had
displeased　you；　while　entirely　ignorant　of　the　cause？　The　ideal　double
life　which　seemed　so　fair　was　cut　short。　My　heart　turned　to　ice　within
me　as；　hopeless　of　any　other　explanation；　I　concluded　that　you　had
ceased　to　love　me。　With　heavy　heart；　and　yet　not　wholly　without
comfort；　I　was　falling　back　upon　my　old　post　as　servant；　then　your
letter　came　and　turned　all　to　joy。　Oh！　might　I　but　listen　for　ever　to
such　chiding！

Once　a　child；　picking　himself　up　from　a　tumble；　turned　to　his　mother
with　the　words　〃Forgive　me。〃　Hiding　his　own　hurt；　he　sought　pardon　for
the　pain　he　had　caused　her。　Louise；　I　was　that　child；　and　such　as　I
was　then；　I　am　now。　Here　is　the　key　to　my　character；　which　your　slave
in　all　humility　places　in　your　hands。

But　do　not　fear；　there　will　be　no　more　stumbling。　Keep　tight　the　chain
which　binds　me　to　you；　so　that　a　touch　may　communicate　your　lightest
wish　to　him　who　will　ever　remain　your　slave；
FELIPE。



XXIV

LOUISE　DE　CHAULIEU　TO　RENEE　DE　L'ESTORADE
October。

My　dear　friend；How　is　it　possible　that　you；　who　brought　yourself　in
two　months　to　marry　a　broken…down　invalid　in　order　to　mother　him；
should　know　anything　of　that　terrible　shifting　drama；　enacted　in　the
recesses　of　the　heart；　which　we　call　lovea　drama　where　death　lies　in
a　glance　or　a　light　reply？

I　had　reserved　for　Felipe　one　last　supreme　test　which　was　to　be
decisive。　I　wanted　to　know　whether　his　love　was　the　love　of　a　Royalist
for　his　King；　who　can　do　no　wrong。　Why　should　the　loyalty　of　a
Catholic　be　less　supreme？

He　walked　with　me　a　whole　night　under　the　limes　at　the　bottom　of　the
garden；　and　not　a　shadow　of　suspicion　crossed　his　soul。　Next　day　he
loved　me　better；　but　the　feeling　was　as　reverent；　as　humble；　as
regretful　as　ever；　he　had　not　presumed　an　iota。　Oh！　he　is　a　very
Spaniard；　a　very　Abencerrage。　He　scaled　my　wall　to　come　and　kiss　the
hand　which　in　the　darkness　I　reached　down　to　him　from　my　balcony。　He
might　have　broken　his　neck；　how　many　of　our　young　men　would　do　the
like？

But　all　this　is　nothing；　Christians　suffer　the　horrible　pangs　of
martyrdom　in　the　hope　of　heaven。　The　day　before　yesterday　I　took　aside
the　royal　ambassador…to…be　at　the　court　of　Spain；　my　much　respected
father；　and　said　to　him　with　a　smile：

〃Sir；　some　of　your　friends　will　have　it　that　you　are　marrying　your
dear　Armande　to　the　nephew　of　an　ambassador　who　has　been　very　anxious
for　this　connection；　and　has　long　begged　for　it。　Also；　that　the
marriage…contract　arranges　for　his　nephew　to　succeed　on　his　death　to
his　enormous　fortune　and　his　title；　and　bestows　on　the　young　couple　in
the　meantime　an　income　of　a　hundred　thousand　livres；　on　the　bride　a
dowry　of　eight　hundred　thousand　francs。　Your　daughter　weeps；　but　bows
to　the　unquestioned　authority　of　her　honored　parent。　Some　people　are
unkind　enough　to　say　that；　behind　her　tears；　she　conceals　a　worldly
and　ambitious　soul。

〃Now；　we　are　going　to　the　gentleman's　box　at　the　Opera　to…night；　and
M。　le　Baron　de　Macumer　will　visit　us　there。〃

〃Macumer　needs　a　touch　of　the　spur　then；〃　said　my　father；　smiling　at
me；　as　though　I　were　a　female　ambassador。

〃You　mistake　Clarissa　Harlowe　for　Figaro！〃　I　cried；　with　a　glance　of
scorn　and　mockery。　〃When　you　see　me　with　my　right　hand　ungloved；　you
will　give　the　lie　to　this　impertinent　gossip；　and　will　mark　your
displeasure　at　it。〃

〃I　may　make　my　mind　easy　about　your　future。　You　have　no　more　got　a
girl's　headpiece　than　Jeanne　d'Arc　had　a　woman's　heart。　You　will　be
happy；　you　will　love　nobody；　and　will　allow　yourself　to　be　loved。〃

This　was　too　much。　I　burst　into　laughter。

〃What　is　it；　little　flirt？〃　he　said。

〃I　tremble　for　my　country's　interests　。　。　。〃

And　seeing　him　look　quite　blank；　I　added：

〃At　Madrid！〃

〃You　have　no　idea　how　this　little　nun　has　learned；　in　a　year's　time；
to　make　fun　of　her　father；〃　he　said　to　the　Duchess。

〃Armande　makes　light　of　everything；〃　my　mother　replied；　looking　me　in
the　face。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked。

〃Why；　you　are　not　even　afraid　of　rheumatism　on　these　damp　nights；〃　she
said；　with　another　meaning　glance　at　me。

〃Oh！〃　I　answered；　〃the　mornings　are　so　hot！〃

The　Duchess　looked　down。

〃It's　high　time　she　were　married；〃　said　my　father；　〃and　it　had　better
be　before　I　go。〃

〃If　you　wish　it；〃　I　replied　demurely。

Two　hours　later；　my　mother　and　I；　the　Duchesse　de　Maufrigneuse　and
Mme。　d'Espard；　were　all　four　blooming　like　roses　in　the　front　of　the
box。　I　had　seated　myself　sideways；　giving　only　a　shoulder　to　the
house；　so　that　I　could　see　everything；　myself　unseen；　in　that　spacious
box　which　fills　one　of　the　two　angles　at　the　back　of　the　hall；　between
the　columns。

Macumer　came；　stood　up；　and　put　his　opera…glasses　before　his　eyes　so
that　he　might　be　able　to　look　at　me　comfortably。

In　the　first　interval　entered　the　young　man　whom　I　call　〃king　of　the
profligates。〃　The　Comte　Henri　de　Marsay；　who　has　great　beauty　of　an
effeminate　kind；　entered　the　box　with　an　epigram　in　his　eyes；　a　smile
upon　his　lips；　and　an　air　of　satisfaction　over　his　whole　countenance。
He　first　greeted　my　mother；　Mme。　d'Espard；　and　the　Duchesse　de
Maufrigneuse；　the　Comte　d'Esgrignon；　and　M。　de　Canalis；　then　turning
to　me；　he　said：

〃I　do　not　know　whether　I　shall　be　the　first　to　congratulate　you　on　an
event　which　will　make　you　the　object　of　envy　to　many。〃

〃Ah！　a　marriage！〃　I　cried。　〃Is　it　left　for　me；　a　girl　fresh　from　the
convent；　to　tell　you　that　predicted　marriages　never　come　off。〃

M。　de　Marsay　bent　down；　whispering　to　Macumer；　and　I　was　convinced；
from　the　movement　of　his　lips；　that　what　he　said　was　this：

〃Baron；　you　are　perhaps　in　love　with　that　little　coquette；　who　has
used　you　for　her　own　ends；　but　as　the　question　is　one　not　of　love；　but
of　marriage；　it　is　as　well　for　you　to　know　what　is　going　on。〃

Macumer　treated　this　officious　scandal…monger　to　one　of　those　glances
of　his　which　seem　to　me　so　eloquent　of　noble　scorn；　and　replied　to　the
effect　that　he　was　〃not　in　love　with　any　little　coquette。〃　His　whole
bearing　so　delighted　me；　that　directly　I　caught　sight　of　my　father；
the　glove　was　off。

Felipe　had　not　a　shadow　of　fear　or　doubt。　How　well　did　he　bear　out　my
expectations！　His　faith　is　only　in　me；　society　cannot　hurt　him　with
its　lies。　Not　a　muscle　of　the　Arab's　face　stirred；　not　a　drop　of　the
blue　blood　flushed　his　olive　cheek。

The　two　young　counts　went　out；　and　I　said；　laughing；　to　Macumer：

〃M。　de　Marsay　has　been　treating　you　to　an　epigram　on　me。〃

〃He　did　more；〃　he　replied。　〃It　was　an　epithalamium。〃

〃You　speak　Greek　to　me；〃　I　said；　rewarding　him　with　a　smile　and　a
certain　look　which　always　embarrasses　him。

My　father　meantime　was　talking　to　Mme。　de　Maufrigneuse。

〃I　should　think　so！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃The　gossip　which　gets　about　is
scandalous。　No　sooner　has　a　girl　come　out　than　everyone　is　keen　to
marry　her；　and　the　ridiculous　stories　that　are　invented！　I　shall　never
force　Armande　to　marry　against　her　will。　I　am　going　to　take　a　turn　in
the　promenade；　otherwise　people　will　be　saying　that　I　allowed　the
rumor　to　spread　in　order　to　suggest　the　marriage　to　the　ambassador；
and　Caesar's　daughter　ought　to　be　above　suspicion；　even　more　than　his
wifeif　that　were　possible。〃

The　Duchesse　de　Maufrigneuse　and　Mme。　d'Espard　shot　glances　first　at
my　mother；　then　at　the　Baron；　brimming　over　with　sly　intelligence　and
repressed　curiosity。　With　their　serpent's　cunning　they　had　at　last　got
an　inkling　of　something　going　on。　Of　all　mysteries　in　life；　love　is
the　least　mysterious！　It　exhales　from　women；　I　believe；　like　a
perfume；　and　she　who　can　conceal　it　is　a　very　monster！　Our　eyes
prattle　even　more　than　our　tongues。

Having　enjoyed　the　delightful　sensation　of　finding　Felipe　rise　to　the
occasion；　as　I　had　wished；　it　was　only　in　nature　I　should　hunger　for
more。　So　I　made　the　signal　agreed　on　for　telling　him　that　he　might
come　to　my　window　by　the　dangerous　road　you　know　of。　A　few　hours　later
I　found　him；　upright　as　a　statue；　glued　to　the　wall；　his　hand　resting
on　the　balcony　of　my　window；　studying　the　reflections　of　the　light　in
my　room。

〃My　dear　Felipe；〃　I　said；　〃You　have　acquitted　yourself　well　to…night；
you　behaved　exactly　as　I　should　have　done　had　I　been　told　that　you
were　on　the　point　of　marrying。〃

〃I　thought；〃　he　replied；　〃that　you　would　hardly　have　told　others
before　me。〃

〃And　what　right　have　you　to　this　privilege？〃

〃The　right　of　one　who　is　your　devoted　slave。〃

〃In　very　truth？〃

〃I　am；　and　shall　ever　remain　so。〃

〃But　suppose　this　marriage　was　inevitable；　suppose　that　I　had
agreed　。　。　。〃

Two　flashing　glances　lit　up　the　moonlightone　directed　to　me；　the
other　to　the　precipice　which　the　wall　made　for　us。　He　seemed　to
calculate　whether　a　fall　together　would　mean　death；　but　the　thought
merely　passed　like　lightning　over　his　face　and　sparkled　in　his　eyes。　A
power；　stronger　than　passion；　checked　the　impulse。

〃An　Arab　cannot　take　back　his　word；〃　he　said　in　a　husky　voice。　〃I　am
your　slave　to　do　with　as　you　will；　my　life　is　not　mine　to　destroy。〃

The　hand　on　the　balcony　seemed　as　though　its　hold　were　relaxing。　I
placed　mine　on　it　as　I　said：

〃Felipe；　my　beloved；　from　this　moment　I　am　your　wife　in　thought　and
will。　Go　in　the　morning　to　ask　my　father　for　my　hand。　He　wishes　to
retain　my　fortune；　but　if　you　promise　to　acknowledge　receipt　of　it　in
the　contract；　his　consent　will　no　doubt　be　given。　I　am　no　longer
Armande　de　Chaulieu。　Leave　me　at　once；　no　breath　of　scandal　must　touch
Louise　de　Macumer。〃

He　listened　with　blanched　face　and　trembling　limbs；　then；　like　a
flash；　had　cleared　the　ten　feet　to　the　ground　in　safety。　It　was　a
moment　of　agony；　but　he　waved　his　hand　to　me　and　disappeared。

〃I　am　loved　then；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃as　never　woman　was　before。〃　And
I　fell　asleep　in　the　calm　content　of　a　child；　my　destiny　for　ever
fixed。

About　two　o'clock　next　day　my　father　summoned　me　to　his　private　room；
where　I　found　the　Duchess　and　Macumer。　There　was　an　interchange　of
civilities。　I　replied　quite　simply　that　if　my　father　and　M。　Henarez
were　of　one　mind；　I　had　no　reason　to　oppose　their　wishes。　Thereupon　my
mother　invited　the　Baron　to　dinner；　and　after　dinner；　we　all　four　went
for　a　drive　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　where　I　had　the　pleasure　of
smiling　ironically　to　M。　de　Marsay　as　he　passed　on　horseback　and
caught　sight　of　Macumer　sitting　opposite　to　us　beside　my　father。

My　bewitching　Felipe　has　had　his　cards　reprinted　as　follows：

HENAREZ

（Baron　de　Macumer；　formerly　Duc　de　Soria。）

Every　morning　he　brings　me　with　his　own　hands　a　splendid　bouquet；
hidden　in　which　I　never　fail　to　find　a　letter；　containing　a　Spanish
sonnet　in　my　honor；　which　he　has　composed　during　the　night。

Not　to　make　this　letter　inordinately　large；　I　send　you　as　specimens
only　the　first　and　last