ferragus-第11章

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that　took　place。　Now；　I　should　be　less　than　a　woman　if　I　had　not
perceived　that　for　over　a　year　I　have　become；　as　they　call　it；　the
passion　of　Monsieur　de　Maulincour。　He　has　never　seen　me　except　at　a
ball；　and　our　intercourse　has　been　most　insignificant；merely　that
which　every　one　shares　at　a　ball。　Perhaps　he　wants　to　disunite　us；　so
that　he　may　find　me　at　some　future　time　alone　and　unprotected。　There；
see！　already　you　are　frowning！　Oh；　how　cordially　I　hate　society！　We
were　so　happy　without　him；　why　take　any　notice　of　him？　Jules；　I
entreat　you；　forget　all　this！　To…morrow　we　shall；　no　doubt；　hear　that
Monsieur　de　Maulincour　has　gone　mad。〃

〃What　a　singular　affair！〃　thought　Jules；　as　the　carriage　stopped　under
the　peristyle　of　their　house。　He　gave　his　arm　to　his　wife　and　together
they　went　up　to　their　apartments。

To　develop　this　history　in　all　its　truth　of　detail；　and　to　follow　its
course　through　many　windings；　it　is　necessary　here　to　divulge　some　of
love's　secrets；　to　glide　beneath　the　ceilings　of　a　marriage　chamber；
not　shamelessly；　but　like　Trilby；　frightening　neither　Dougal　nor
Jeannie；　alarming　no　one；being　as　chaste　as　our　noble　French
language　requires；　and　as　bold　as　the　pencil　of　Gerard　in　his　picture
of　Daphnis　and　Chloe。

The　bedroom　of　Madame　Jules　was　a　sacred　plot。　Herself；　her　husband；
and　her　maid　alone　entered　it。　Opulence　has　glorious　privileges；　and
the　most　enviable　are　those　which　enable　the　development　of　sentiments
to　their　fullest　extent；fertilizing　them　by　the　accomplishment　of
even　their　caprices；　and　surrounding　them　with　a　brilliancy　that
enlarges　them；　with　refinements　that　purify　them；　with　a　thousand
delicacies　that　make　them　still　more　alluring。　If　you　hate　dinners　on
the　grass；　and　meals　ill…served；　if　you　feel　a　pleasure　in　seeing　a
damask　cloth　that　is　dazzlingly　white；　a　silver…gilt　dinner　service；
and　porcelain　of　exquisite　purity；　lighted　by　transparent　candles；
where　miracles　of　cookery　are　served　under　silver　covers　bearing　coats
of　arms；　you　must；　to　be　consistent；　leave　the　garrets　at　the　tops　of
the　houses；　and　the　grisettes　in　the　streets；　abandon　garrets；
grisettes；　umbrellas；　and　overshoes　to　men　who　pay　for　their　dinners
with　tickets；　and　you　must　also　comprehend　Love　to　be　a　principle
which　develops　in　all　its　grace　only　on　Savonnerie　carpets；　beneath
the　opal　gleams　of　an　alabaster　lamp；　between　guarded　walls　silk…hung；
before　gilded　hearths　in　chambers　deadened　to　all　outward　sounds　by
shutters　and　billowy　curtains。　Mirrors　must　be　there　to　show　the　play
of　form　and　repeat　the　woman　we　would　multiply　as　love　itself
multiplies　and　magnifies　her；　next　low　divans；　and　a　bed　which；　like　a
secret；　is　divined；　not　shown。　In　this　coquettish　chamber　are　fur…
lined　slippers　for　pretty　feet；　wax…candles　under　glass　with　muslin
draperies；　by　which　to　read　at　all　hours　of　the　night；　and　flowers；
not　those　oppressive　to　the　head；　and　linen；　the　fineness　of　which
might　have　satisfied　Anne　of　Austria。

Madame　Jules　had　realized　this　charming　programme；　but　that　was
nothing。　All　women　of　taste　can　do　as　much；　though　there　is　always　in
the　arrangement　of　these　details　a　stamp　of　personality　which　gives　to
this　decoration　or　that　detail　a　character　that　cannot　be　imitated。
To…day；　more　than　ever；　reigns　the　fanaticism　of　individuality。　The
more　our　laws　tend　to　an　impossible　equality；　the　more　we　shall　get
away　from　it　in　our　manners　and　customs。　Thus；　rich　people　are
beginning；　in　France；　to　become　more　exclusive　in　their　tastes　and
their　belongings；　than　they　have　been　for　the　last　thirty　years。
Madame　Jules　knew　very　well　how　to　carry　out　this　programme；　and
everything　about　her　was　arranged　in　harmony　with　a　luxury　that　suits
so　well　with　love。　Love　in　a　cottage；　or　〃Fifteen　hundred　francs　and
my　Sophy；〃　is　the　dream　of　starvelings　to　whom　black　bread　suffices　in
their　present　state；　but　when　love　really　comes；　they　grow　fastidious
and　end　by　craving　the　luxuries　of　gastronomy。　Love　holds　toil　and
poverty　in　horror。　It　would　rather　die　than　merely　live　on　from　hand
to　mouth。

Many　women；　returning　from　a　ball；　impatient　for　their　beds；　throw　off
their　gowns；　their　faded　flowers；　their　bouquets；　the　fragrance　of
which　has　now　departed。　They　leave　their　little　shoes　beneath　a　chair；
the　white　strings　trailing；　they　take　out　their　combs　and　let　their
hair　roll　down　as　it　will。　Little　they　care　if　their　husbands　see　the
puffs；　the　hairpins；　the　artful　props　which　supported　the　elegant
edifices　of　the　hair；　and　the　garlands　or　the　jewels　that　adorned　it。
No　more　mysteries！　all　is　over　for　the　husband；　no　more　painting　or
decoration　for　him。　The　corsethalf　the　time　it　is　a　corset　of　a
reparative　kindlies　where　it　is　thrown；　if　the　maid　is　too　sleepy　to
take　it　away　with　her。　The　whalebone　bustle；　the　oiled…silk
protections　round　the　sleeves；　the　pads；　the　hair　bought　from　a
coiffeur；　all　the　false　woman　is　there；　scattered　about　in　open　sight。
/Disjecta　membra　poetae/；　the　artificial　poesy；　so　much　admired　by
those　for　whom　it　is　conceived　and　elaborated；　the　fragments　of　a
pretty　woman；　litter　every　corner　of　the　room。　To　the　love　of　a
yawning　husband；　the　actual　presents　herself；　also　yawning；　in　a
dishabille　without　elegance；　and　a　tumbled　night…cap；　that　of　last
night　and　that　of　to…morrow　night　also；〃For　really；　monsieur；　if　you
want　a　pretty　cap　to　rumple　every　night；　increase　my　pin…money。〃

There's　life　as　it　is！　A　woman　makes　herself　old　and　unpleasing　to　her
husband；　but　dainty　and　elegant　and　adorned　for　others；　for　the　rival
of　all　husbands；for　that　world　which　calumniates　and　tears　to　shreds
her　sex。

Inspired　by　true　love；　for　Love　has；　like　other　creations；　its
instinct　of　preservation；　Madame　Jules　did　very　differently；　she　found
in　the　constant　blessing　of　her　love　the　necessary　impulse　to　fulfil
all　those　minute　personal　cares　which　ought　never　to　be　relaxed；
because　they　perpetuate　love。　Besides；　such　personal　cares　and　duties
proceed　from　a　personal　dignity　which　becomes　all　women；　and　are　among
the　sweetest　of　flatteries；　for　is　it　not　respecting　in　themselves　the
man　they　love？

So　Madame　Jules　denied　to　her　husband　all　access　to　her　dressing…room；
where　she　left　the　accessories　of　her　toilet；　and　whence　she　issued
mysteriously　adorned　for　the　mysterious　fetes　of　her　heart。　Entering
their　chamber；　which　was　always　graceful　and　elegant；　Jules　found　a
woman　coquettishly　wrapped　in　a　charming　/peignoir/；　her　hair　simply
wound　in　heavy　coils　around　her　head；　a　woman　always　more　simple；　more
beautiful　there　than　she　was　before　the　world；　a　woman　just　refreshed
in　water；　whose　only　artifice　consisted　in　being　whiter　than　her
muslins；　sweeter　than　all　perfumes；　more　seductive　than　any　siren；
always　loving　and　therefore　always　loved。　This　admirable　understanding
of　a　wife's　business　was　the　secret　of　Josephine's　charm　for　Napoleon；
as　in　former　times　it　was　that　of　Caesonia　for　Caius　Caligula；　of
Diane　de　Poitiers　for　Henri　II。　If　it　was　largely　productive　to　women
of　seven　or　eight　lustres　what　a　weapon　is　it　in　the　hands　of　young
women！　A　husband　gathers　with　delight　the　rewards　of　his　fidelity。

Returning　home　after　the　conversation　which　had　chilled　her　with　fear；
and　still　gave　her　the　keenest　anxiety；　Madame　Jules　took　particular
pains　with　her　toilet　for　the　night。　She　wanted　to　make　herself；　and
she　did　make　herself　enchanting。　She　belted　the　cambric　of　her
dressing…gown　round　her　waist；　defining　the　lines　of　her　bust；　she
allowed　her　hair　to　fall　upon　her　beautifully　modelled　shoulders。　A
perfumed　bath　had　given　her　a　delightful　fragrance；　and　her　little
bare　feet　were　in　velvet　slippers。　Strong　in　a　sense　of　her　advantages
she　came　in　stepping　softly；　and　put　her　hands　over　her　husband's
eyes。　She　thought　him　pensive；　he　was　standing　in　his　dressing…gown
before　the　fire；　his　elbow　on　the　mantel　and　one　foot　on　the　fender。
She　said　in　his　ear；　warming　it　with　her　breath；　and　nibbling　the　tip
of　it　with　her　teeth：

〃What　are　you　thinking　about；　monsieur？〃

Then　she　pressed　him　in　her　arms　as　if　to　tear　him　away　from　all　evil
thoughts。　The　woman　who　loves　has　a　full　knowledge　of　her　power；　the
more　virtuous　she　is；　the　more　effectual　her　coquetry。

〃About　you；〃　he　answered。

〃Only　about　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Ah！　that's　a　very　doubtful　'yes。'〃

They　went　to　bed。　As　she　fell　asleep；　Madame　Jules　said　to　herself：

〃Monsieur　de　Maulincour　will　certainly　cause　some　evil。　Jules'　mind　is
preoccupied；　disturbed；　he　is　nursing　thoughts　he　does　not　tell　me。〃

It　was　three　in　the　morning　when　Madame　Jules　was　awakened　by　a
presentiment　which　struck　her　heart　as　she　slept。　She　had　a　sense　both
physical　and　moral　of　her　husband's　absence。　She　did　not　feel　the　arm
Jules　passed　beneath　her　head；that　arm　in　which　she　had　slept；
peacefully　and　happy；　for　five　years；　an　arm　she　had　never　wearied。　A
voice　said　to　her；　〃Jules　suffers；　Jules　is　weeping。〃　She　raised　her
head；　and　then　sat　up；　felt　that　her　husband's　place　was　cold；　and　saw
him　sitting　before　the　fire；　his　feet　on　the　fender；　his　head　resting
against　the　back　of　an　arm…chair。　Tears　were　on　his　cheeks。　The　poor
woman　threw　herself　hastily　from　her　bed　and　sprang　at　a　bound　to　her
husband's　knees。

〃Jules！　what　is　it？　Are　you　ill？　Speak；　tell　me！　Speak　to　me；　if　you
love　me！〃　and　she　poured　out　a　hundred　words　expressing　the　deepest
tenderness。

Jules　knelt　at　her　feet；　kissed　her　hands　and　knees；　and　answered　with
fresh　tears：

〃Dear　Clemence；　I　am　most　unhappy！　It　is　not　loving　to　distrust　the
one　we　love。　I　adore　you　and　suspect　you。　The　words　that　man　said　to
me　to…night　have　struck　to　my　heart；　they　stay　there　in　spite　of
myself；　and　confound　me。　There　is　some　mystery　here。　In　short；　and　I
blush　to　say　it；　your　explanations　do　not　satisfy　me。　My　reason　casts
gleams　into　my　soul　which　my　love　rejects。　It　is　an　awful　combat。
Could　I　stay　there；　holding　your　head；　and　suspecting　thoughts　within
it　to　me　unknown？　Oh！　I　believe　in　you；　I　believe　in　you！〃　he　cried；
seeing　her　smile　sadly　and　open　her　mouth　as　if　to　speak。　〃Say
nothing；　do　not　reproach　me。　Besides；　could　you　say　anything　I　have
not　said　myself　for　the　last　three　hours？　Yes；　for　three　hours；　I　have
been　here；　watching　you　as　you　slept；　so　beautiful！　admiring　that
pure；　peaceful　brow。　Yes；　yes！　you　have　always　told　me　your　thoughts；
have　you　not？　I　alone　am　in　that　soul。　While　I　look　at　you；　while　my
eyes　can　plunge　into　yours　I　see　all　plainly。　Your　life　is　as　pure　as
your　glance　is　clear。　No；　there　is　no　secret　behind　those　transparent
eyes。〃　He　rose　and　kissed　their　lids。　〃Let　me　avow　to　you；　dearest
soul；〃　he　said；　〃that　for　the　last　five　years　each　day　has　increased
my　happiness；　through　the　knowledge　that　you　are　all　mine；　and　that　no
natural　affection　even　can　take　any　of　your　love。　Having　no　sister；　no
father；　no　mother；　no　companion；　I　am　neither　above　nor　below　any
living　being　in　your　heart；　I　am　alone　there。　Clemence；　repeat　to　me
those　sweet　things　of　the　spirit　you　have　so　often　said　to　me；　do　not
blame　me；　comfort　me；　I　am　so　unhappy。　I　have　an　odious　suspicion　on
my　conscience；　and　you　have　n