letters of two brides-第34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！



The　compact　I　have　thus　made　with　myself　adds　a　vague　terror　to　the
solemnity　of　my　marriage　ceremony。　For　this　reason　I　wish　to　have　no
one　whom　I　know　present；　and　it　will　be　performed　in　secret。　Let　my
heart　fail　me　if　it　will；　at　least　I　shall　not　read　anxiety　in　your
dear　eyes；　and　I　alone　shall　know　that　this　new　marriage…contract
which　I　sign　may　be　my　death　warrant。

I　shall　not　refer　again　to　this　agreement　entered　into　between　my
present　self　and　the　self　I　am　to　be。　I　have　confided　it　to　you　in
order　that　you　might　know　the　full　extent　of　your　responsibilities。　In
marrying　I　retain　full　control　of　my　property；　and　Gaston；　while　aware
that　I　have　enough　to　secure　a　comfortable　life　for　both　of　us；　is
ignorant　of　its　amount。　Within　twenty…four　hours　I　shall　dispose　of　it
as　I　please；　and　in　order　to　save　him　from　a　humiliating　position；　I
shall　have　stock；　bringing　in　twelve　thousand　francs　a　year；　assigned
to　him。　He　will　find　this　in　his　desk　on　the　eve　of　our　wedding。　If　he
declined　to　accept；　I　should　break　off　the　whole　thing。　I　had　to
threaten　a　rupture　to　get　his　permission　to　pay　his　debts。

This　long　confession　has　tired　me。　I　shall　finish　it　the　day　after
to…morrow；　I　have　to　spend　to…morrow　in　the　country。

October　20th。

I　will　tell　you　now　the　steps　I　have　taken　to　insure　secrecy。　My
object　has　been　to　ward　off　every　possible　incitement　to　my　ever…
wakeful　jealousy；　in　imitation　of　the　Italian　princess；　who；　like　a
lioness　rushing　on　her　prey；　carried　it　off　to　some　Swiss　town　to
devour　in　peace。　And　I　confide　my　plans　to　you　because　I　have　another
favor　to　beg；　namely；　that　you　will　respect　our　solitude　and　never
come　to　see　us　uninvited。

Two　years　ago　I　purchased　a　small　property　overlooking　the　ponds　of
Ville　d'Avray；　on　the　road　to　Versailles。　It　consists　of　twenty　acres
of　meadow　land；　the　skirts　of　a　wood；　and　a　fine　fruit　garden。　Below
the　meadows　the　land　has　been　excavated　so　as　to　make　a　lakelet　of
about　three　acres　in　extent；　with　a　charming　little　island　in　the
middle。　The　small　valley　is　shut　in　by　two　graceful；　thickly…wooded
slopes；　where　rise　delicious　springs　that　water　my　park　by　means　of
channels　cleverly　disposed　by　my　architect。　Finally；　they　fall　into
the　royal　ponds；　glimpses　of　which　can　be　seen　here　and　there；
gleaming　in　the　distance。　My　little　park　has　been　admirably　laid　out
by　the　architect；　who　has　surrounded　it　by　hedges；　walls；　or　ha…has；
according　to　the　lie　of　the　land；　so　that　no　possible　point　of　view
may　be　lost。

A　chalet　has　been　built　for　me　half…way　up　the　hillside；　with　a
charming　exposure；　having　the　woods　of　the　Ronce　on　either　side；　and
in　front　a　grassy　slope　running　down　to　the　lake。　Externally　the
chalet　is　an　exact　copy　of　those　which　are　so　much　admired　by
travelers　on　the　road　from　Sion　to　Brieg；　and　which　fascinated　me　when
I　was　returning　from　Italy。　The　internal　decorations　will　bear
comparison　with　those　of　the　most　celebrated　buildings　of　the　kind。

A　hundred　paces　from　this　rustic　dwelling　stands　a　charming　and
ornamental　house；　communicating　with　it　by　a　subterranean　passage。
This　contains　the　kitchen；　and　other　servants'　rooms；　stables；　and
coach…houses。　Of　all　this　series　of　brick　buildings；　the　facade　alone
is　seen；　graceful　in　its　simplicity；　against　a　background　of
shrubbery。　Another　building　serves　to　lodge　the　gardeners　and　masks
the　entrance　to　the　orchards　and　kitchen…gardens。

The　entrance　gate　to　the　property　is　so　hidden　in　the　wall　dividing
the　park　from　the　wood　as　almost　to　defy　detection。　The　plantations；
already　well　grown；　will；　in　two　or　three　years；　completely　hide　the
buildings；　so　that；　except　in　winter；　when　the　trees　are　bare；　no
trace　of　habitation　will　appear　to　the　outside　world；　save　only　the
smoke　visible　from　the　neighboring　hills。

The　surroundings　of　my　chalet　have　been　modeled　on　what　is　called　the
King's　Garden　at　Versailles；　but　it　has　an　outlook　on　my　lakelet　and
island。　The　hills　on　every　side　display　their　abundant　foliagethose
splendid　trees　for　which　your　new　civil　list　has　so　well　cared。　My
gardeners　have　orders　to　cultivate　new　sweet…scented　flowers　to　any
extent；　and　no　others；　so　that　our　home　will　be　a　fragrant　emerald。
The　chalet；　adorned　with　a　wild　vine　which　covers　the　roof；　is
literally　embedded　in　climbing　plants　of　all　kindshops；　clematis；
jasmine；　azalea；　copaea。　It　will　be　a　sharp　eye　which　can　descry　our
windows！

The　chalet；　my　dear；　is　a　good；　solid　house；　with　its　heating　system
and　all　the　conveniences　of　modern　architecture；　which　can　raise　a
palace　in　the　compass　of　a　hundred　square　feet。　It　contains　a　suite　of
rooms　for　Gaston　and　another　for　me。　The　ground…floor　is　occupied　by
an　ante…room；　a　parlor；　and　a　dining　room。　Above　our　floor　again　are
three　rooms　destined　for　the　nurseries。　I　have　five　first…rate　horses；
a　small　light　coupe；　and　a　two…horse　cabriolet。　We　are　only　forty…
minutes'　drive　from　Paris；　so　that；　when　the　spirit　moves　us　to　hear
an　opera　or　see　a　new　play；　we　can　start　after　dinner　and　return　the
same　night　to　our　bower。　The　road　is　a　good　one；　and　passes　under　the
shade　of　our　green　dividing　wall。

My　servantscook；　coachman；　groom；　and　gardeners；　in　addition　to　my
maidare　all　very　respectable　people；　whom　I　have　spent　the　last　six
months　in　picking　up；　and　they　will　be　superintended　by　my　old
Philippe。　Although　confident　of　their　loyalty　and　good　faith；　I　have
not　neglected　to　cultivate　self…interest；　their　wages　are　small；　but
will　receive　an　annual　addition　in　the　shape　of　a　New　Year's　Day
present。　They　are　all　aware　that　the　slightest　fault；　or　a　mere
suspicion　of　gossiping；　might　lose　them　a　capital　place。　Lovers　are
never　troublesome　to　their　servants；　they　are　indulgent　by
disposition；　and　therefore　I　feel　that　I　can　reckon　on　my　household。

All　that　is　choice；　pretty；　or　decorative　in　my　house　in　the　Rue　du
Bac　has　been　transported　to　the　chalet。　The　Rembrandt　hangs　on　the
staircase；　as　though　it　were　a　mere　daub；　the　Hobbema　faces　the　Rubens
in　/his/　study；　the　Titian；　which　my　sister…in…law　Mary　sent　me　from
Madrid；　adorns　the　boudoir。　The　beautiful　furniture　picked　up　by
Felipe　looks　very　well　in　the　parlor；　which　the　architect　has
decorated　most　tastefully。　Everything　at　the　chalet　is　charmingly
simple；　with　the　simplicity　which　can't　be　got　under　a　hundred
thousand　francs。　Our　ground…floor　rests　on　cellars；　which　are　built　of
millstone　and　embedded　in　concrete；　it　is　almost　completely　buried　in
flowers　and　shrubs；　and　is　deliciously　cool　without　a　vestige　of　damp。
To　complete　the　picture；　a　fleet　of　white　swans　sail　over　my　lake！

Oh！　Renee；　the　silence　which　reigns　in　this　valley　would　bring　joy　to
the　dead！　One　is　awakened　by　the　birds　singing　or　the　breeze　rustling
in　the　poplars。　A　little　spring；　discovered　by　the　architect　in
digging　the　foundations　of　the　wall；　trickles　down　the　hillside　over
silvery　sand　to　the　lake；　between　two　banks　of　water…cress；　hugging
the　edge　of　the　woods。　I　know　nothing　that　money　can　buy　to　equal　it。

May　not　Gaston　come　to　loathe　this　too　perfect　bliss？　I　shudder　to
think　how　complete　it　is；　for　the　ripest　fruits　harbor　the　worms；　the
most　gorgeous　flowers　attract　the　insects。　Is　it　not　ever　the　monarch
of　the　forest　which　is　eaten　away　by　the　fatal　brown　grub；　greedy　as
death？　I　have　learned　before　now　that　an　unseen　and　jealous　power
attacks　happiness　which　has　reached　perfection。　Besides；　this　is　the
moral　of　all　your　preaching；　and　you　have　been　proved　a　prophet。

When　I　went；　the　day　before　yesterday；　to　see　whether　my　last　whim　had
been　carried　out；　tears　rose　to　my　eyes；　and；　to　the　great　surprise　of
my　architect；　I　at　once　passed　his　account　for　payment。

〃But；　madame；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃your　man　of　business　will　refuse　to　pay
this；　it　is　a　matter　of　three　hundred　thousand　francs。〃　My　only　reply
was　to　add　the　words；　〃To　be　paid　without　question；〃　with　the　bearing
of　a　seventeenth…century　Chaulieu。

〃But；〃　I　said；　〃there　is　one　condition　to　my　gratitude。　No　human　being
must　hear　from　you　of　the　park　and　buildings。　Promise　me；　on　your
honor；　to　observe　this　article　in　our　contractnot　to　breathe　to　a
soul　the　proprietor's　name。〃

Now；　can　you　understand　the　meaning　of　my　sudden　journeys；　my
mysterious　comings　and　goings？　Now；　do　you　know　whither　those
beautiful　things；　which　the　world　supposes　to　be　sold；　have　flown？　Do
you　perceive　the　ultimate　motive　of　my　change　of　investment？　Love；　my
dear；　is　a　vast　business；　and　they　who　would　succeed　in　it　should　have
no　other。　Henceforth　I　shall　have　no　more　trouble　from　money　matters；
I　have　taken　all　the　thorns　out　of　my　life；　and　done　my　housekeeping
work　once　for　all　with　a　vengeance；　so　as　never　to　be　troubled　with　it
again；　except　during　the　daily　ten　minutes　which　I　shall　devote　to　my
old　major…domo　Philippe。　I　have　made　a　study　of　life　and　its　sharp
curves；　there　came　a　day　when　death　also　gave　me　harsh　lessons。　Now　I
want　to　turn　all　this　to　account。　My　one　occupation　will　be　to　please
/him/　and　love　/him/；　to　brighten　with　variety　what　to　common　mortals
is　monotonously　dull。

Gaston　is　still　in　complete　ignorance。　At　my　request　he　has；　like
myself；　taken　up　his　quarters　at　Ville　d'Avray；　to…morrow　we　start　for
the　chalet。　Our　life　there　will　cost　but　little；　but　if　I　told　you　the
sum　I　am　setting　aside　for　my　toilet；　you　would　exclaim　at　my　madness；
and　with　reason。　I　intend　to　take　as　much　trouble　to　make　myself
beautiful　for　him　every　day　as　other　women　do　for　society。　My　dress　in
the　country；　year　in；　year　out；　will　cost　twenty…four　thousand　francs；
and　the　larger　portion　of　this　will　not　go　in　day　costumes。　As　for
him；　he　can　wear　a　blouse　if　he　pleases！　Don't　suppose　that　I　am　going
to　turn　our　life　into　an　amorous　duel　and　wear　myself　out　in　devices
for　feeding　passion；　all　that　I　want　is　to　have　a　conscience　free　from
reproach。　Thirteen　years　still　lie　before　me　as　a　pretty　woman；　and　I
am　determined　to　be　loved　on　the　last　day　of　the　thirteenth　even　more
fondly　than　on　the　morrow　of　our　mysterious　nuptials。　This　time　no
cutting　words　shall　mar　my　lowly；　grateful　content。　I　will　take　the
part　of　servant；　since　that　of　mistress　throve　so　ill　with　me　before。

Ah！　Renee；　if　Gaston　has　sounded；　as　I　have；　the　heights　and　depths　of
love；　my　happiness　is　assured！　Nature　at　the　chalet　wears　her　fairest
face。　The　woods　are　charming；　each　step　opens　up　to　you　some　fresh
vista　of　cool　greenery；　which　delights　the　soul　by　the　sweet　thoughts
it　wakens。　They　breathe　of　love。　If　only　this　be　not　the　gorgeous
theatre　dressed　by　my　hand　for　my　own　martyrdom！

In　two　days　from　now　I　shall　be　Mme。　Gaston。　My　God！　is　it　fitting　a
Christian　so　to　love　mortal　man？

〃Well；　at　least　you　have　the　law　with　you；〃　was　the　comment　of　my　man
of　business；　who　is　to　be　one　of　my　witnesses；　and　who　exclaimed；　on
discovering　why　my　property　was　to　be　realized；　〃I　am　losing　a
client！〃

And　you；　my　sweetheart　（whom　I　dare　no　longer　call　my　loved　one）；　may
you　not　cry；　〃I　am　losing　a　sister？〃

My　sweet；　address　when　you　write　in　future　to　Mme。　Gaston；　Poste
Restante；　Versailles。　We　shall　send　there　every　day　for　letters