a woman of thirty-第24章

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y　paralyzed。

〃Do　be　quiet；　Gustave！〃　cried　the　General。　〃I　told　you　that　you　were　not　to　talk　about　anything　that　happened　at　the　play；　and　you　have　forgotten　what　I　said　already。〃

〃Oh；　my　lord　Marquis；　your　lordship　must　excuse　him；〃　cried　the　notary。　〃I　ought　not　to　have　asked　questions；　but　I　had　no　idea〃

〃He　ought　not　to　have　answered　them；〃　said　the　General；　looking　sternly　at　the　child。

It　seemed　that　the　Marquise　and　the　master　of　the　house　both　perfectly　understood　why　the　children　had　come　back　so　suddenly。　Mme。　d'Aiglemont　looked　at　her　daughter；　and　rose　as　if　to　go　to　her；　but　a　terrible　convulsion　passed　over　her　face；　and　all　that　could　be　read　in　it　was　relentless　severity。

〃That　will　do；　Helene；〃　she　said。　〃Go　into　the　other　room；　and　leave　off　crying。〃

〃What　can　she　have　done；　poor　child！〃　asked　the　notary；　thinking　to　appease　the　mother's　anger　and　to　stop　Helene's　tears　at　one　stroke。　〃So　pretty　as　she　his；　she　must　be　as　good　as　can　be；　never　anything　but　a　joy　to　her　mother；　I　will　be　bound。　Isn't　that　so；　my　little　girl？〃

Helene　cowered；　looked　at　her　mother；　dried　her　eyes；　struggled　for　composure；　and　took　refuge　in　the　next　room。

〃And　you；　madame；　are　too　good　a　mother　not　to　love　all　your　children　alike。　You　are　too　good　a　woman；　besides；　to　have　any　of　those　lamentable　preferences　which　have　such　fatal　effects；　as　we　lawyers　have　only　too　much　reason　to　know。　Society　goes　through　our　hands；　we　see　its　passions　in　that　most　revolting　form；　greed。　Here　it　is　the　mother　of　a　family　trying　to　disinherit　her　husband's　children　to　enrich　the　others　whom　she　loves　better；　or　it　is　the　husband　who　tries　to　leave　all　his　property　to　the　child　who　has　done　his　best　to　earn　his　mother's　hatred。　And　then　begin　quarrels；　and　fears；　and　deeds；　and　defeasances；　and　sham　sales；　and　trusts；　and　all　the　rest　of　it；　a　pretty　mess；　in　fact；　it　is　pitiable；　upon　my　honor；　pitiable！　There　are　fathers　that　will　spend　their　whole　lives　in　cheating　their　children　and　robbing　their　wives。　Yes；　robbing　is　the　only　word　for　it。　We　were　talking　of　tragedy；　oh！　I　can　assure　you　of　this　that　if　we　were　at　liberty　to　tell　the　real　reasons　of　some　donations　that　I　know　of；　our　modern　dramatists　would　have　the　material　for　some　sensational　/bourgeois/　dramas。　How　the　wife　manages　to　get　her　way；　as　she　invariably　does；　I　cannot　think；　for　in　spite　of　appearances；　and　in　spite　of　their　weakness；　it　is　always　the　women　who　carry　the　day。　Ah！　by　the　way；　they　don't　take　/me/　in。　I　always　know　the　reason　at　the　bottom　of　those　predilections　which　the　world　politely　styles　'unaccountable。'　But　in　justice　to　the　husbands；　I　must　say　that　/they/　never　discover　anything。　You　will　tell　me　that　this　is　a　merciful　dispens〃

Helene　had　come　back　to　the　drawing…room　with　her　father；　and　was　listening　attentively。　So　well　did　she　understand　all　that　was　said；　that　she　gave　her　mother　a　frightened　glance；　feeling；　with　a　child's　quick　instinct；　that　these　remarks　would　aggravate　the　punishment　hanging　over　her。　The　Marquise　turned　her　white　face　to　Vandenesse；　and；　with　terror　in　her　eyes；　indicated　her　husband；　who　stood　with　his　eyes　fixed　absently　on　the　flower　pattern　of　the　carpet。　The　diplomatist；　accomplished　man　of　the　world　though　he　was；　could　no　longer　contain　his　wrath；　he　gave　the　man　of　law　a　withering　glance。

〃Step　this　way；　sir；〃　he　said；　and　he　went　hurriedly　to　the　door　of　the　ante…chamber；　the　notary　left　his　sentence　half　finished；　and　followed；　quaking；　and　the　husband　and　wife　were　left　together。

〃Now；　sir〃　said　the　Marquise　de　Vandenessehe　banged　the　drawing…room　door；　and　spoke　with　concentrated　rage〃ever　since　dinner　you　have　done　nothing　but　make　blunders　and　talk　folly。　For　heaven's　sake；　go。　You　will　make　the　most　frightful　mischief　before　you　have　done。　If　you　are　a　clever　man　in　your　profession；　keep　to　your　profession；　and　if　by　any　chance　you　should　go　into　society；　endeavor　to　be　more　circumspect。〃

With　that　he　went　back　to　the　drawing…room；　and　did　not　even　wish　the　notary　good…evening。　For　a　moment　that　worthy　stood　dumfounded；　bewildered；　utterly　at　a　loss。　Then；　when　the　buzzing　in　his　ears　subsided；　he　thought　he　heard　someone　moaning　in　the　next　room。　Footsteps　came　and　went；　and　bells　were　violently　rung。　He　was　by　no　means　anxious　to　meet　the　Marquis　again；　and　found　the　use　of　his　legs　to　make　good　his　escape；　only　to　run　against　a　hurrying　crowd　of　servants　at　the　door。

〃Just　the　way　of　all　these　grand　folk；〃　said　he　to　himself　outside　in　the　street　as　he　looked　about　for　a　cab。　〃They　lead　you　on　to　talk　with　compliments；　and　you　think　you　are　amusing　them。　Not　a　bit　of　it。　They　treat　you　insolently；　put　you　at　a　distance；　even　put　you　out　at　the　door　without　scruple。　After　all；　I　talked　very　cleverly；　I　said　nothing　but　what　was　sensible；　well　turned；　and　discreet；　and；　upon　my　word；　he　advises　me　to　be　more　circumspect　in　future。　I　will　take　good　care　of　that！　Eh！　the　mischief　take　it！　I　am　a　notary　and　a　member　of　my　chamber！Pshaw！　it　was　an　ambassador's　fit　of　temper；　nothing　is　sacred　for　people　of　that　kind。　To…morrow　he　shall　explain　what　he　meant　by　saying　that　I　had　done　nothing　but　blunder　and　talk　nonsense　in　his　house。　I　will　ask　him　for　an　explanationthat　is；　I　will　ask　him　to　explain　my　mistake。　After　all　is　done　and　said；　I　am　in　the　wrong　perhaps　Upon　my　word；　it　is　very　good　of　me　to　cudgel　my　brains　like　this。　What　business　is　it　of　mine？〃

So　the　notary　went　home　and　laid　the　enigma　before　his　spouse；　with　a　complete　account　of　the　evening's　events　related　in　sequence。

And　she　replied；　〃My　dear　Crottat；　His　Excellency　was　perfectly　right　when　he　said　that　you　had　done　nothing　but　blunder　and　talk　folly。〃

〃Why？〃

〃My　dear；　if　I　told　you　why；　it　would　not　prevent　you　from　doing　the　same　thing　somewhere　else　to…morrow。　I　tell　you　againtalk　of　nothing　but　business　when　you　go　out；　that　is　my　advice　to　you。〃

〃If　you　will　not　tell　me；　I　shall　ask　him　to…morrow〃

〃Why；　dear　me！　the　veriest　noodle　is　careful　to　hide　a　thing　of　that　kind；　and　do　you　suppose　that　an　ambassador　will　tell　you　about　it？　Really；　Crottat；　I　have　never　known　you　so　utterly　devoid　of　common…　sense。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　dear。〃



V。

TWO　MEETINGS

One　of　Napoleon's　orderly　staff…officers；　who　shall　be　known　in　this　history　only　as　the　General　or　the　Marquis；　had　come　to　spend　the　spring　at　Versailles。　He　made　a　large　fortune　under　the　Restoration；　and　as　his　place　at　Court　would　not　allow　him　to　go　very　far　from　Paris；　he　had　taken　a　country　house　between　the　church　and　the　barrier　of　Montreuil；　on　the　road　that　leads　to　the　Avenue　de　Saint…Cloud。

The　house　had　been　built　originally　as　a　retreat　for　the　short…lived　loves　of　some　/grand　seigneur/。　The　grounds　were　very　large；　the　gardens　on　either　side　extending　from　the　first　houses　of　Montreuil　to　the　thatched　cottages　near　the　barrier；　so　that　the　owner　could　enjoy　all　the　pleasures　of　solitude　with　the　city　almost　at　his　gates。　By　an　odd　piece　of　contradiction；　the　whole　front　of　the　house　itself；　with　the　principal　entrance；　gave　directly　upon　the　street。　Perhaps　in　time　past　it　was　a　tolerably　lonely　road；　and　indeed　this　theory　looks　all　the　more　probable　when　one　comes　to　think　of　it；　for　not　so　very　far　away；　on　this　same　road；　Louis　Quinze　built　a　delicious　summer　villa　for　Mlle。　de　Romans；　and　the　curious　in　such　things　will　discover　that　the　wayside　/casinos/　are　adorned　in　a　style　that　recalls　traditions　of　the　ingenious　taste　displayed　in　debauchery　by　our　ancestors　who；　with　all　the　license　paid　to　their　charge；　sought　to　invest　it　with　secrecy　and　mystery。

One　winter　evening　the　family　were　by　themselves　in　the　lonely　house。　The　servants　had　received　permission　to　go　to　Versailles　to　celebrate　the　wedding　of　one　of　their　number。　It　was　Christmas　time；　and　the　holiday　makers；　presuming　upon　the　double　festival；　did　not　scruple　to　outstay　their　leave　of　absence；　yet；　as　the　General　was　well　known　to　be　a　man　of　his　word；　the　culprits　felt　some　twinges　of　conscience　as　they　danced　on　after　the　hour　of　return。　The　clocks　struck　eleven；　and　still　there　was　no　sign　of　the　servants。

A　deep　silence　prevailed　over　the　country…side；　broken　only　by　the　sound　of　the　northeast　wind　whistling　through　the　black　branches；　wailing　about　the　house；　dying　in　gusts　along　the　corridors。　The　hard　frost　had　purified　the　air；　and　held　the　earth　in　its　grip；　the　roads　gave　back　every　sound　with　the　hard　metallic　ring　which　always　strikes　us　with　a　new　surprise；　the　heavy　footsteps　of　some　belated　reveler；　or　a　cab　returning　to　Paris；　could　be　heard　for　a　long　distance　with　unwonted　distinctness。　Out　in　the　courtyard　a　few　dead　leaves　set　a…　dancing　by　some　eddying　gust　found　a　voice　for　the　night　which　fain　had　been　silent。　It　was；　in　fact；　one　of　those　sharp；　frosty　evenings　that　wring　barren　expressions　of　pity　from　our　selfish　ease　for　wayfarers　and　the　poor；　and　fills　us　with　a　luxurious　sense　of　the　comfort　of　the　fireside。

But　the　family　party　in　the　salon　at　that　hour　gave　not　a　thought　to　absent　servants　nor　houseless　folk；　nor　to　the　gracious　charm　with　which　a　winter　evening　sparkles。　No　one　played　the　philosopher　out　of　season。　Secure　in　the　protection　of　an　old　soldier；　women　and　children　gave　themselves　up　to　the　joys　of　home　life；　so　delicious　when　there　is　no　restraint　upon　feeling；　and　talk　and　play　and　glances　are　bright　with　frankness　and　affection。

The　General　sat；　or　more　properly　speaking；　lay　buried；　in　the　depths　of　a　huge；　high…back　armchair　by　the　hearth。　The　heaped…up　fire　burned　scorching　clear　with　the　excessive　cold　of　the　night。　The　good　father　leaned　his　head　slightly　to　one　side　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　in　the　indolence　of　perfect　serenity　and　a　glow　of　happiness。　The　languid；　half…sleepy　droop　of　his　outstretched　arms　seemed　to　complete　his　expression　of　placid　content。　He　was　watching　his　youngest；　a　boy　of　five　or　thereabouts；　who；　half　clad　as　he　was；　declined　to　allow　his　mother　to　undress　him。　The　little　one　fled　from　the　night…gown　and　cap　with　which　he　was　threatened　now　and　again；　and　stoutly　declined　to　part　with　his　embroidered　collar；　laughing　when　his　mother　called　to　him；　for　he　saw　that　she　too　was　laughing　at　this　declaration　of　infant　independence。　The　next　step　was　to　go　back　to　a　game　of　romps　with　his　sister。　She　was　as　much　a　child　as　he；　but　more　mischievous；　and　she　was　older　by　two　years；　and　could　speak　distinctly　already；　whereas　his　inarticulate　words　and　confused　ideas　were　a　puzzle　even　to　his　parents。　Little　Moina's　playfulness；　somewhat　coquettish　already；　provoked　inextinguishable　laughter；　explosions　of　merriment　which　went　off　like　fireworks　for　no　apparent　cause。　As　they　tumbled　about　before　the　fire；　unconcernedly　displaying　little　plump　bodies　and　delicate　white　contours；　as　the　dark　and　golden　curls　mingled　in　a　collision　of　rosy　cheeks　dimpled　with　childish　glee；　a　father　surely；　a　mother　most　certainly；　must　have　understood　those　little　souls；　and　seen　the　character　and　power　of　passion　already　developed　for　their　eyes。　As　the　cherubs　frolicked　about；　struggling；　rolling；　and　tumbling　without　fear　of　hurt　on　the　soft　carpet；　its　flowers　looked　pale　bes