original short stories-13-第15章

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guide　said：

〃Come；　I　will　show　you　an　interesting　case。〃

And　he　opened　the　door　of　a　cell　where　a　woman　of　about　forty；　still
handsome；　was　seated　in　a　large　armchair；　looking　persistently　at　her
face　in　a　little　hand　mirror。

As　soon　as　she　saw　us　she　rose　to　her　feet；　ran　to　the　other　end　of　the
room；　picked　up　a　veil　that　lay　on　a　chair；　wrapped　it　carefully　round
her　face；　then　came　back；　nodding　her　head　in　reply　to　our　greeting。

〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃how　are　you　this　morning？〃

She　gave　a　deep　sigh。

〃Oh；　ill；　monsieur；　very　ill。　　The　marks　are　increasing　every　day。〃

He　replied　in　a　tone　of　conviction：

〃Oh；　no；　oh；　no；　I　assure　you　that　you　are　mistaken。〃

She　drew　near　to　him　and　murmured：

〃No。　　I　am　certain　of　it。　　I　counted　ten　pittings　more　this　morning；
three　on　the　right　cheek；　four　on　the　left　cheek；　and　three　on　the
forehead。　　It　is　frightful；　frightful！　　I　shall　never　dare　to　let　any　one
see　me；　not　even　my　son；　no；　not　even　him！　　I　am　lost；　I　am　disfigured
forever。〃

She　fell　back　in　her　armchair　and　began　to　sob。

The　doctor　took　a　chair；　sat　down　beside　her；　and　said　soothingly　in　a
gentle　tone：

〃Come；　let　me　see；　I　assure　you　it　is　nothing。　　With　a　slight
cauterization　I　will　make　it　all　disappear。〃

She　shook　her　head　in　denial；　without　speaking。　　He　tried　to　touch　her
veil；　but　she　seized　it　with　both　hands　so　violently　that　her　fingers
went　through　it。

He　continued　to　reason　with　her　and　reassure　her。

〃Come；　you　know　very　well　that　I　remove　those　horrid　pits　every　time　and
that　there　is　no　trace　of　them　after　I　have　treated　them。　　If　you　do　not
let　me　see　them　I　cannot　cure　you。〃

〃I　do　not　mind　your　seeing　them；〃　she　murmured；　〃but　I　do　not　know　that
gentleman　who　is　with　you。〃

〃He　is　a　doctor　also；　who　can　give　you　better　care　than　I　can。〃

She　then　allowed　her　face　to　be　uncovered；　but　her　dread；　her　emotion；
her　shame　at　being　seen　brought　a　rosy　flush　to　her　face　and　her　neck；
down　to　the　collar　of　her　dress。　　She　cast　down　her　eyes；　turned　her　face
aside；　first　to　the　right；　then　to　the　left；　to　avoid　our　gaze　and
stammered　out：

〃Oh；　it　is　torture　to　me　to　let　myself　be　seen　like　this！　　It　is
horrible；　is　it　not？　　Is　it　not　horrible？〃

I　looked　at　her　in　much　surprise；　for　there　was　nothing　on　her　face；　not
a　mark；　not　a　spot；　not　a　sign　of　one；　nor　a　scar。

She　turned　towards　me；　her　eyes　still　lowered；　and　said：

〃It　was　while　taking　care　of　my　son　that　I　caught　this　fearful　disease；
monsieur。　　I　saved　him；　but　I　am　disfigured。　　I　sacrificed　my　beauty　to
him；　to　my　poor　child。　　However；　I　did　my　duty；　my　conscience　is　at　rest。
If　I　suffer　it　is　known　only　to　God。〃

The　doctor　had　drawn　from　his　coat　pocket　a　fine　water…color　paint　brush。

〃Let　me　attend　to　it；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　put　it　all　right。〃

She　held　out　her　right　cheek；　and　he　began　by　touching　it　lightly　with
the　brush　here　and　there；　as　though　he　were　putting　little　points　of
paint　on　it。　　He　did　the　same　with　the　left　cheek；　then　with　the　chin；
and　the　forehead；　and　then　exclaimed：

〃See；　there　is　nothing　there　now；　nothing　at　all！〃

She　took　up　the　mirror；　gazed　at　her　reflection　with　profound；　eager
attention；　with　a　strong　mental　effort　to　discover　something；　then　she
sighed：

〃No。　　It　hardly　shows　at　all。　　I　am　infinitely　obliged　to　you。〃

The　doctor　had　risen。　　He　bowed　to　her；　ushered　me　out　and　followed　me；
and；　as　soon　as　he　had　locked　the　door；　said：

〃Here　is　the　history　of　this　unhappy　woman。〃

Her　name　is　Mme。　Hermet。　　She　was　once　very　beautiful；　a　great　coquette；
very　much　beloved　and　very　much　in…love　with　life。

She　was　one　of　those　women　who　have　nothing　but　their　beauty　and　their
love　of　admiration　to　sustain；　guide　or　comfort　them　in　this　life。　　The
constant　anxiety　to　retain　her　freshness；　the　care　of　her　complexion；　of
her　hands；　her　teeth；　of　every　portion　of　body　that　was　visible；　occupied
all　her　time　and　all　her　attention。

She　became　a　widow；　with　one　son。　　The　boy　was　brought　up　as　are　all
children　of　society　beauties。　　She　was；　however；　very　fond　of　him。

He　grew　up；　and　she　grew　older。　　Whether　she　saw　the　fatal　crisis
approaching；　I　cannot　say。　　Did　she；　like　so　many　others；　gaze　for　hours
and　hours　at　her　skin；　once　so　fine；　so　transparent　and　free　from
blemish；　now　beginning　to　shrivel　slightly；　to　be　crossed　with　a　thousand
little　lines；　as　yet　imperceptible；　that　will　grow　deeper　day　by　day；
month　by　month？　　Did　she　also　see　slowly；　but　surely；　increasing　traces
of　those　long　wrinkles　on　the　forehead；　those　slender　serpents　that
nothing　can　check？　　Did　she　suffer　the　torture；　the　abominable　torture　of
the　mirror；　the　little　mirror　with　the　silver　handle　which　one　cannot
make　up　one's　mind　to　lay　down　on　the　table；　but　then　throws　down　in
disgust　only　to　take　it　up　again　in　order　to　look　more　closely；　and　still
more　closely　at　the　hateful　and　insidious　approaches　of　old　age？　　Did　she
shut　herself　up　ten　times；　twenty　times　a　day；　leaving　her　friends
chatting　in　the　drawing…room；　and　go　up　to　her　room　where；　under　the
protection　of　bolts　and　bars；　she　would　again　contemplate　the　work　of
time　on　her　ripe　beauty；　now　beginning　to　wither；　and　recognize　with
despair　the　gradual　progress　of　the　process　which　no　one　else　had　as　yet
seemed　to　perceive；　but　of　which　she；　herself；　was　well　aware。　　She　knows
where　to　seek　the　most　serious；　the　gravest　traces　of　age。　　And　the
mirror；　the　little　round　hand…glass　in　its　carved　silver　frame；　tells　her
horrible　things；　for　it　speaks；　it　seems　to　laugh；　it　jeers　and　tells　her
all　that　is　going　to　occur；　all　the　physical　discomforts　and　the
atrocious　mental　anguish　she　will　suffer　until　the　day　of　her　death；
which　will　be　the　day　of　her　deliverance。

Did　she　weep；　distractedly；　on　her　knees；　her　forehead　to　the　ground；　and
pray；　pray；　pray　to　Him　who　thus　slays　his　creatures　and　gives　them　youth
only　that　he　may　render　old　age　more　unendurable；　and　lends　them　beauty
only　that　he　may　withdraw　it　almost　immediately？　　Did　she　pray　to　Him；
imploring　Him　to　do　for　her　what　He　has　never　yet　done　for　any　one；　to
let　her　retain　until　her　last　day　her　charm；　her　freshness　and　her
gracefulness？　　Then；　finding　that　she　was　imploring　in　vain　an　inflexible
Unknown　who　drives　on　the　years；　one　after　another；　did　she　roll　on　the
carpet　in　her　room；　knocking　her　head　against　the　furniture　and　stifling
in　her　throat　shrieks　of　despair？

Doubtless　she　suffered　these　tortures；　for　this　is　what　occurred：

One　day　（she　was　then　thirty…five）　her　son　aged　fifteen；　fell　ill。

He　took　to　his　bed　without　any　one　being　able　to　determine　the　cause　or
nature　of　his　illness。

His　tutor；　a　priest；　watched　beside　him　and　hardly　ever　left　him；　while
Mme。　Hermet　came　morning　and　evening　to　inquire　how　he　was。

She　would　come　into　the　room　in　the　morning　in　her　night　wrapper；
smiling；　all　powdered　and　perfumed；　and　would　ask　as　she　entered　the
door：

〃Well；　George；　are　you　better？〃

The　big　boy；　his　face　red；　swollen　and　showing　the　ravages　of　fever；
would　reply：

〃Yes；　little　mother；　a　little　better。〃

She　would　stay　in　the　room　a　few　seconds；　look　at　the　bottles　of
medicine；　and　purse　her　lips　as　if　she　were　saying　〃phew；〃　and　then　would
suddenly　exclaim：　〃Oh；　I　forgot　something　very　important；〃　and　would　run
out　of　the　room　leaving　behind　her　a　fragrance　of　choice　toilet　perfumes。

In　the　evening　she　would　appear　in　a　decollete　dress；　in　a　still　greater
hurry；　for　she　was　always　late；　and　she　had　just　time　to　inquire：

〃Well；　what　does　the　doctor　say？〃

The　priest　would　reply：

〃He　has　not　yet　given　an　opinion；　madame。〃

But　one　evening　the　abbe　replied：　〃Madame；　your　son　has　got　the　small…
pox。〃

She　uttered　a　scream　of　terror　and　fled　from　the　room。

When　her　maid　came　to　her　room　the　following　morning　she　noticed　at　once
a　strong　odor　of　burnt　sugar；　and　she　found　her　mistress；　with　wide…open
eyes；　her　face　pale　from　lack　of　sleep；　and　shivering　with　terror　in　her
bed。

As　soon　as　the　shutters　were　opened　Mme。　Herrnet　asked：

〃How　is　George？〃

〃Oh；　not　at　all　well　to…day；　madame。〃

She　did　not　rise　until　noon；　when　she　ate　two　eggs　with　a　cup　of　tea；　as
if　she　herself　had　been　ill；　and　then　she　went　out　to　a　druggist's　to
inquire　about　prophylactic　measures　against　the　contagion　of　small…pox。

She　did　not　come　home　until　dinner　time；　laden　with　medicine　bottles；　and
shut　herself　up　at　once　in　her　room；　where　she　saturated　herself　with
disinfectants。

The　priest　was　waiting　for　her　in　the　dining…room。　　As　soon　as　she　saw
him　she　exclaimed　in　a　voice　full　of　emotion：

〃Well？〃

〃No　improvement。　　The　doctor　is　very　anxious：〃

She　began　to　cry　and　could　eat　nothing；　she　was　so　worried。

The　next　day；　as　soon　as　it　was　light；　she　sent　to　inquire　for　her　son；
but　there　was　no　improvement　and　she　spent　the　whole　day　in　her　room；
where　little　braziers　were　giving　out　pungent　odors。　　Her　maid　said　also
that　you　could　hear　her　sighing　all　the　evening。

She　spent　a　whole　week　in　this　manner；　only　going　out　for　an　hour　or　two
during　the　afternoon　to　breathe　the　air。

She　now　sent　to　make　inquiries　every　hour；　and　would　sob　when　the　reports
were　unfavorable。

On　the　morning　of　the　eleventh　day　the　priest；　having　been　announced；
entered　her　room；　his　face　grave　and　pale；　and　said；　without　taking　the
chair　she　offered　him：

〃Madame；　your　son　is　very　ill　and　wishes　to　see　you。〃

She　fell　on　her　knees；　exclaiming：

〃Oh；　my　God！　　Oh；　my　God！　　I　would　never　dare！　　My　God！　　My　God！　　Help
me！〃

The　priest　continued：

〃The　doctor　holds　out　little　hope；　madame；　and　George　is　expecting　you！〃

And　he　left　the　room。

Two　hours　later　as　the　young　lad；　feeling　himself　dying；　again　asked　for
his　mother；　the　abbe　went　to　her　again　and　found　her　still　on　her　knees；
still　weeping　and　repeating：

〃I　will　not　。　　。　　。　　。　　I　will　not。　　。　　。　　。　　I　am　too　much　afraid　。　　。
。　　。　　I　will　not。　　。　　。　　。〃

He　tried　to　persuade　her；　to　strengthen　her；　to　lead　her。　　He　only
succeeded　in　bringing　on　an　attack　of　〃nerves〃　that　lasted　some　time　and
caused　her　to　shriek。

The　doctor　when　he　came　in　the　evening　was　told　of　this　cowardice　and
declared　that　he　would　bring　her　in　himself；　of　her　own　volition；　or　by
force。　　But　after　trying　all　manner　of　argument　and　just　as　he　seized　her
round　the　waist　to　carry　her　into　her　son's　room；　she　caught　hold　of　the
door　and　clung　to　it　so　firmly　that　they　could　not　drag　her　away。　　Then
when　they　let　go　of　her　she　fell　at　the　feet　of　the　doctor；　begging　his
forgiveness　and　acknowledging　that　she　was　a　wretched　creature。　　And　then
she　exclaimed：　〃Oh；　he　is　not　going　to　die；　tell　me　that　he　is　not　going
to　die；　I　beg　of　you；　tell　him　that　I　love　him；　that　I　worship　him。　。　。〃

The　young　lad　was　dying。　　Feeling　that　he　had　only　a　few　moments　more　to
live；　he　entreated　that　his　mother　be　persuaded　to　come　and　bid　him　a
last　farewell。　　With　that　sort　of　presentiment　that　the　dying　sometimes
have；　he　had　understood；　had　guessed　all；　and　he　said：　〃If　she　is　afraid
to　come　into　the　room；　beg　her　just　to　come　on　the　balcony　as　far　as　my
window　so　that　I　may　see　her；　a