ferragus-第13章

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He　left　the　room；　went　down　to　the　porter's　lodge；　and　said　to　the
porter；　after　making　sure　that　they　were　alone：

〃Fouguereau；　a　hundred　crowns　if　you　tell　me　the　truth；　dismissal　if
you　deceive　me；　and　nothing　at　all　if　you　ever　speak　of　my　question
and　your　answer。〃

He　stopped　to　examine　the　man's　face；　leading　him　under　the　window。
Then　he　continued：

〃Did　madame　go　out　this　morning？〃

〃Madame　went　out　at　a　quarter　to　three；　and　I　think　I　saw　her　come　in
about　half　an　hour　ago。〃

〃That　is　true；　upon　your　honor？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur。〃

〃You　will　have　the　money；　but　if　you　speak　of　this；　remember；　you　will
lose　all。〃

Jules　returned　to　his　wife。

〃Clemence；〃　he　said；　〃I　find　I　must　put　my　accounts　in　order。　Do　not
be　offended　at　the　inquiry　I　am　going　to　make。　Have　I　not　given　you
forty　thousand　francs　since　the　beginning　of　the　year？〃

〃More；〃　she　said；〃forty…seven。〃

〃Have　you　spent　them？〃

〃Nearly；〃　she　replied。　〃In　the　first　place；　I　had　to　pay　several　of
our　last　year's　bills〃

〃I　shall　never　find　out　anything　in　this　way；〃　thought　Jules。　〃I　am
not　taking　the　best　course。〃

At　this　moment　Jules'　own　valet　entered　the　room　with　a　letter　for　his
master；　who　opened　it　indifferently；　but　as　soon　as　his　eyes　had
lighted　on　the　signature　he　read　it　eagerly。　The　letter　was　as
follows：

　　Monsieur；For　the　sake　of　your　peace　of　mind　as　well　as　ours；　I
　　take　the　course　of　writing　you　this　letter　without　possessing　the
　　advantage　of　being　known　to　you；　but　my　position；　my　age；　and　the
　　fear　of　some　misfortune　compel　me　to　entreat　you　to　show
　　indulgence　in　the　trying　circumstances　under　which　our　afflicted
　　family　is　placed。　Monsieur　Auguste　de　Maulincour　has　for　the　last
　　few　days　shown　signs　of　mental　derangement；　and　we　fear　that　he
　　may　trouble　your　happiness　by　fancies　which　he　confided　to
　　Monsieur　le　Vidame　de　Pamiers　and　myself　during　his　first　attack
　　of　frenzy。　We　think　it　right；　therefore；　to　warn　you　of　his
　　malady；　which　is；　we　hope；　curable；　but　it　will　have　such　serious
　　and　important　effects　on　the　honor　of　our　family　and　the　career　of
　　my　grandson　that　we　must　rely；　monsieur；　on　your　entire
　　discretion。

　　If　Monsieur　le　Vidame　or　I　could　have　gone　to　see　you　we　would　not
　　have　written。　But　I　make　no　doubt　that　you　will　regard　this　prayer
　　of　a　mother；　who　begs　you　to　destroy　this　letter。

　　Accept　the　assurance　of　my　perfect　consideration。

Baronne　de　Maulincour；　/nee/　de　Rieux。


〃Oh！　what　torture！〃　cried　Jules。

〃What　is　it？　what　is　in　your　mind？〃　asked　his　wife；　exhibiting　the
deepest　anxiety。

〃I　have　come；〃　he　answered；　slowly；　as　he　threw　her　the　letter；　〃to
ask　myself　whether　it　can　be　you　who　have　sent　me　that　to　avert　my
suspicions。　Judge；　therefore；　what　I　suffer。〃

〃Unhappy　man！〃　said　Madame　Jules；　letting　fall　the　paper。　〃I　pity　him；
though　he　has　done　me　great　harm。〃

〃Are　you　aware　that　he　has　spoken　to　me？〃

〃Oh！　have　you　been　to　see　him；　in　spite　of　your　promise？〃　she　cried　in
terror。

〃Clemence；　our　love　is　in　danger　of　perishing；　we　stand　outside　of　the
ordinary　rules　of　life；　let　us　lay　aside　all　petty　considerations　in
presence　of　this　great　peril。　Explain　to　me　why　you　went　out　this
morning。　Women　think　they　have　the　right　to　tell　us　little　falsehoods。
Sometimes　they　like　to　hide　a　pleasure　they　are　preparing　for　us。　Just
now　you　said　a　word　to　me；　by　mistake；　no　doubt；　a　no　for　a　yes。〃

He　went　into　the　dressing…room　and　brought　out　the　bonnet。

〃See；〃　he　said；　〃your　bonnet　has　betrayed　you；　these　spots　are
raindrops。　You　must；　therefore；　have　gone　out　in　a　street　cab；　and
these　drops　fell　upon　it　as　you　went　to　find　one；　or　as　you　entered　or
left　the　house　where　you　went。　But　a　woman　can　leave　her　own　home　for
many　innocent　purposes；　even　after　she　has　told　her　husband　that　she
did　not　mean　to　go　out。　There　are　so　many　reasons　for　changing　our
plans！　Caprices；　whims；　are　they　not　your　right？　Women　are　not
required　to　be　consistent　with　themselves。　You　had　forgotten
something；a　service　to　render；　a　visit；　some　kind　action。　But
nothing　hinders　a　woman　from　telling　her　husband　what　she　does。　Can　we
ever　blush　on　the　breast　of　a　friend？　It　is　not　a　jealous　husband　who
speaks　to　you；　my　Clemence；　it　is　your　lover；　your　friend；　your
brother。〃　He　flung　himself　passionately　at　her　feet。　〃Speak；　not　to
justify　yourself；　but　to　calm　my　horrible　sufferings。　I　know　that　you
went　out。　Wellwhat　did　you　do？　where　did　you　go？〃

〃Yes；　I　went　out；　Jules；〃　she　answered　in　a　strained　voice；　though　her
face　was　calm。　〃But　ask　me　nothing　more。　Wait；　have　confidence；
without　which　you　will　lay　up　for　yourself　terrible　remorse。　Jules；　my
Jules；　trust　is　the　virtue　of　love。　I　owe　to　you　that　I　am　at　this
moment　too　troubled　to　answer　you：　but　I　am　not　a　false　woman；　I　love
you；　and　you　know　it。〃

〃In　the　midst　of　all　that　can　shake　the　faith　of　man　and　rouse　his
jealousy；　for　I　see　I　am　not　first　in　your　heart；　I　am　no　longer　thine
own　selfwell；　Clemence；　even　so；　I　prefer　to　believe　you；　to　believe
that　voice；　to　believe　those　eyes。　If　you　deceive　me；　you　deserve〃

〃Ten　thousand　deaths！〃　she　cried；　interrupting　him。

〃I　have　never　hidden　a　thought　from　you；　but　you〃

〃Hush！〃　she　said；　〃our　happiness　depends　upon　our　mutual　silence。〃

〃Ha！　I　/will/　know　all！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　sudden　violence。

At　that　moment　the　cries　of　a　woman　were　heard；the　yelping　of　a
shrill　little　voice　came　from　the　antechamber。

〃I　tell　you　I　will　go　in！〃　it　cried。　〃Yes；　I　shall　go　in；　I　will　see
her！　I　shall　see　her！〃

Jules　and　Clemence　both　ran　to　the　salon　as　the　door　from　the
antechamber　was　violently　burst　open。　A　young　woman　entered　hastily；
followed　by　two　servants；　who　said　to　their　master：

〃Monsieur；　this　person　would　come　in　in　spite　of　us。　We　told　her　that
madame　was　not　at　home。　She　answered　that　she　knew　very　well　madame
had　been　out；　but　she　saw　her　come　in。　She　threatened　to　stay　at　the
door　of　the　house　till　she　could　speak　to　madame。〃

〃You　can　go；〃　said　Monsieur　Desmarets　to　the　two　men。　〃What　do　you
want；　mademoiselle？〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　strange　woman。

This　〃demoiselle〃　was　the　type　of　a　woman　who　is　never　to　be　met　with
except　in　Paris。　She　is　made　in　Paris；　like　the　mud；　like　the
pavement；　like　the　water　of　the　Seine；　such　as　it　becomes　in　Paris
before　human　industry　filters　it　ten　times　ere　it　enters　the　cut…glass
decanters　and　sparkles　pure　and　bright　from　the　filth　it　has　been。　She
is　therefore　a　being　who　is　truly　original。　Depicted　scores　of　times
by　the　painter's　brush；　the　pencil　of　the　caricaturist；　the　charcoal
of　the　etcher；　she　still　escapes　analysis；　because　she　cannot　be
caught　and　rendered　in　all　her　moods；　like　Nature；　like　this　fantastic
Paris　itself。　She　holds　to　vice　by　one　thread　only；　and　she　breaks
away　from　it　at　a　thousand　other　points　of　the　social　circumference。
Besides；　she　lets　only　one　trait　of　her　character　be　known；　and　that
the　only　one　which　renders　her　blamable；　her　noble　virtues　are　hidden；
she　prefers　to　glory　in　her　naive　libertinism。　Most　incompletely
rendered　in　dramas　and　tales　where　she　is　put　upon　the　scene　with　all
her　poesy；　she　is　nowhere　really　true　but　in　her　garret；　elsewhere　she
is　invariably　calumniated　or　over…praised。　Rich；　she　deteriorates；
poor；　she　is　misunderstood。　She　has　too　many　vices；　and　too　many　good
qualities；　she　is　too　near　to　pathetic　asphyxiation　or　to　a　dissolute
laugh；　too　beautiful　and　too　hideous。　She　personifies　Paris；　to　which；
in　the　long　run；　she　supplies　the　toothless　portresses；　washerwomen；
street…sweepers；　beggars；　occasionally　insolent　countesses；　admired
actresses；　applauded　singers；　she　has　even　given；　in　the　olden　time；
two　quasi…queens　to　the　monarchy。　Who　can　grasp　such　a　Proteus？　She　is
all　woman；　less　than　woman；　more　than　woman。　From　this　vast　portrait
the　painter　of　manners　and　morals　can　take　but　a　feature　here　and
there；　the　/ensemble/　is　infinite。

She　was　a　grisette　of　Paris；　a　grisette　in　all　her　glory；　a　grisette
in　a　hackney…coach；happy；　young；　handsome；　fresh；　but　a　grisette；　a
grisette　with　claws；　scissors；　impudent　as　a　Spanish　woman；　snarling
as　a　prudish　English　woman　proclaiming　her　conjugal　rights；　coquettish
as　a　great　lady；　though　more　frank；　and　ready　for　everything；　a
perfect　/lionne/　in　her　way；　issuing　from　the　little　apartment　of
which　she　had　dreamed　so　often；　with　its　red…calico　curtains；　its
Utrecht　velvet　furniture；　its　tea…table；　the　cabinet　of　china　with
painted　designs；　the　sofa；　the　little　moquette　carpet；　the　alabaster
clock　and　candlesticks　（under　glass　cases）；　the　yellow　bedroom；　the
eider…down　quilt；in　short；　all　the　domestic　joys　of　a　grisette's
life；　and　in　addition；　the　woman…of…all…work　（a　former　grisette
herself；　now　the　owner　of　a　moustache）；　theatre…parties；　unlimited
bonbons；　silk　dresses；　bonnets　to　spoil；in　fact；　all　the　felicities
coveted　by　the　grisette　heart　except　a　carriage；　which　only　enters　her
imagination　as　a　marshal's　baton　into　the　dreams　of　a　soldier。　Yes；
this　grisette　had　all　these　things　in　return　for　a　true　affection；　or
in　spite　of　a　true　affection；　as　some　others　obtain　it　for　an　hour　a
day；a　sort　of　tax　carelessly　paid　under　the　claws　of　an　old　man。

The　young　woman　who　now　entered　the　presence　of　Monsieur　and　Madame
Jules　had　a　pair　of　feet　so　little　covered　by　her　shoes　that　only　a
slim　black　line　was　visible　between　the　carpet　and　her　white
stockings。　This　peculiar　foot…gear；　which　Parisian　caricaturists　have
well…rendered；　is　a　special　attribute　of　the　grisette　of　Paris；　but
she　is　even　more　distinctive　to　the　eyes　of　an　observer　by　the　care
with　which　her　garments　are　made　to　adhere　to　her　form；　which　they
clearly　define。　On　this　occasion　she　was　trigly　dressed　in　a　green
gown；　with　a　white　chemisette；　which　allowed　the　beauty　of　her　bust　to
be　seen；　her　shawl；　of　Ternaux　cashmere；　had　fallen　from　her
shoulders；　and　was　held　by　its　two　corners；　which　were　twisted　round
her　wrists。　She　had　a　delicate　face；　rosy　cheeks；　a　white　skin；
sparkling　gray　eyes；　a　round；　very　promising　forehead；　hair　carefully
smoothed　beneath　her　little　bonnet；　and　heavy　curls　upon　her　neck。

〃My　name　is　Ida；〃　she　said；　〃and　if　that's　Madame　Jules　to　whom　I　have
the　advantage　of　speaking；　I've　come　to　tell　her　all　I　have　in　my
heart　against　her。　It　is　very　wrong；　when　a　woman　is　set　up　and　in　her
furniture；　as　you　are　here；　to　come　and　take　from　a　poor　girl　a　man
with　whom　I'm　as　good　as　married；　morally；　and　who　did　talk　of　making
it　right　by　marrying　me　before　the　municipality。　There's　plenty　of
handsome　young　men　in　the　worldain't　there；　monsieur？to　take　your
fancy；　without　going　after　a　man　of　middle　age；　who　makes　my
happiness。　Yah！　I　haven't　got　a　fine　hotel　like　this；　but　I've　got　my
love；　I　have。　I　hate　handsome　men　and　money；　I'm　all　heart；　and〃

Madame　Jules　turned　to　her　husband。

〃You　will　allow　me；　monsieur；　to　hear　no　more　of　all　this；〃　she　said；
retreating　to　her　bedroom。

〃If　the　lady　lives　with　you；　I've　made　a　mess　of　it；　but　I　can't　help
that；〃　resumed　Ida。　〃Why　does　she　come　after　Monsieur　Ferragus　every
day？〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　mademoisell