two poets-第25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！


。　So；　to　give　himself　a　countenance；　he　had　attached　himself　to　the　jealous　Amelie；　the　better　to　lull　suspicion　in　Lucien　and　in　Mme。　de　Bargeton；　who　was　not　without　perspicacity。　In　order　to　spy　upon　the　pair；　he　had　contrived　of　late　to　open　up　a　stock　controversy　on　the　point　with　M。　de　Chandour。　Chatelet　said　that　Mme。　de　Bargeton　was　simply　amusing　herself　with　Lucien；　she　was　too　proud；　too　high…born；　to　stoop　to　the　apothecary's　son。　The　role　of　incredulity　was　in　accordance　with　the　plan　which　he　had　laid　down；　for　he　wished　to　appear　as　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　champion。　Stanislas　de　Chandour　held　that　Mme。　de　Bargeton　had　not　been　cruel　to　her　lover；　and　Amelie　goaded　them　to　argument；　for　she　longed　to　know　the　truth。　Each　stated　his　case；　and　（as　not　unfrequently　happens　in　small　country　towns）　some　intimate　friends　of　the　house　dropped　in　in　the　middle　of　the　argument。　Stanislas　and　Chatelet　vied　with　each　other　in　backing　up　their　opinions　by　observations　extremely　pertinent。　It　was　hardly　to　be　expected　that　the　champions　should　not　seek　to　enlist　partisans。　〃What　do　you　yourself　think？〃　they　asked；　each　of　his　neighbor。　These　polemics　kept　Mme。　de　Bargeton　and　Lucien　well　in　sight。

At　length　one　day　Chatelet　called　attention　to　the　fact　that　whenever　he　went　with　M。　de　Chandour　to　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　and　found　Lucien　there；　there　was　not　a　sign　nor　a　trace　of　anything　suspicious；　the　boudoir　door　stood　open；　the　servants　came　and　went；　there　was　nothing　mysterious　to　betray　the　sweet　crime　of　love；　and　so　forth　and　so　forth。　Stanislas；　who　did　not　lack　a　certain　spice　of　stupidity　in　his　composition；　vowed　that　he　would　cross　the　room　on　tiptoe　the　next　day；　and　the　perfidious　Amelie　held　him　to　his　bargain。

For　Lucien　that　morrow　was　the　day　on　which　a　young　man　tugs　out　some　of　the　hairs　of　his　head；　and　inwardly　vows　that　he　will　give　up　the　foolish　business　of　sighing。　He　was　accustomed　to　his　situation。　The　poet；　who　had　seated　himself　so　bashfully　in　the　boudoir…sanctuary　of　the　queen　of　Angouleme；　had　been　transformed　into　an　urgent　lover。　Six　months　had　been　enough　to　bring　him　on　a　level　with　Louise；　and　now　he　would　fain　be　her　lord　and　master。　He　left　home　with　a　settled　determination　to　be　extravagant　in　his　behavior；　he　would　say　that　it　was　a　matter　of　life　or　death　to　him；　he　would　bring　all　the　resources　of　torrid　eloquence　into　play；　he　would　cry　that　he　had　lost　his　head；　that　he　could　not　think；　could　not　write　a　line。　The　horror　that　some　women　feel　for　premeditation　does　honor　to　their　delicacy；　they　would　rather　surrender　upon　the　impulse　of　passion；　than　in　fulfilment　of　a　contract。　In　general；　prescribed　happiness　is　not　the　kind　that　any　of　us　desire。

Mme。　de　Bargeton　read　fixed　purpose　in　Lucien's　eyes　and　forehead；　and　in　the　agitation　in　his　face　and　manner；　and　proposed　to　herself　to　baffle　him；　urged　thereto　partly　by　a　spirit　of　contradiction；　partly　also　by　an　exalted　conception　of　love。　Being　given　to　exaggeration；　she　set　an　exaggerated　value　upon　her　person。　She　looked　upon　herself　as　a　sovereign　lady；　a　Beatrice；　a　Laura。　She　enthroned　herself；　like　some　dame　of　the　Middle　Ages；　upon　a　dais；　looking　down　upon　the　tourney　of　literature；　and　meant　that　Lucien；　as　in　duty　bound；　should　win　her　by　his　prowess　in　the　field；　he　must　eclipse　〃the　sublime　child；〃　and　Lamartine；　and　Sir　Walter　Scott；　and　Byron。　The　noble　creature　regarded　her　love　as　a　stimulating　power；　the　desire　which　she　had　kindled　in　Lucien　should　give　him　the　energy　to　win　glory　for　himself。　This　feminine　Quixotry　is　a　sentiment　which　hallows　love　and　turns　it　to　worthy　uses；　it　exalts　and　reverences　love。　Mme。　de　Bargeton　having　made　up　her　mind　to　play　the　part　of　Dulcinea　in　Lucien's　life　for　seven　or　eight　years　to　come；　desired；　like　many　other　provincials；　to　give　herself　as　the　reward　of　prolonged　service；　a　trial　of　constancy　which　should　give　her　time　to　judge　her　lover。

Lucien　began　the　strife　by　a　piece　of　vehement　petulence；　at　which　a　woman　laughs　so　long　as　she　is　heart…free；　and　saddens　only　when　she　loves；　whereupon　Louise　took　a　lofty　tone；　and　began　one　of　her　long　orations；　interlarded　with　high…sounding　words。

〃Was　that　your　promise　to　me；　Lucien？〃　she　said；　as　she　made　an　end。　〃Do　not　sow　regrets　in　the　present　time；　so　sweet　as　it　is；　to　poison　my　after　life。　Do　not　spoil　the　future；　and；　I　say　it　with　pride；　do　not　spoil　the　present！　Is　not　my　whole　heart　yours？　What　more　must　you　have？　Can　it　be　that　your　love　is　influenced　by　the　clamor　of　the　senses；　when　it　is　the　noblest　privilege　of　the　beloved　to　silence　them？　For　whom　do　you　take　me？　Am　I　not　your　Beatrice？　If　I　am　not　something　more　than　a　woman　for　you；　I　am　less　than　a　woman。〃

〃That　is　just　what　you　might　say　to　a　man　if　you　cared　nothing　at　all　for　him；〃　cried　Lucien；　frantic　with　passion。

〃If　you　cannot　feel　all　the　sincere　love　underlying　my　ideas；　you　will　never　be　worthy　of　me。〃

〃You　are　throwing　doubts　on　my　love　to　dispense　yourself　from　responding　to　it；〃　cried　Lucien；　and　he　flung　himself　weeping　at　her　feet。

The　poor　boy　cried　in　earnest　at　the　prospect　of　remaining　so　long　at　the　gate　of　paradise。　The　tears　of　the　poet；　who　feels　that　he　is　humbled　through　his　strength；　were　mingled　with　childish　crying　for　a　plaything。

〃You　have　never　loved　me！〃　he　cried。

〃You　do　not　believe　what　you　say；〃　she　answered；　flattered　by　his　violence。

〃Then　give　me　proof　that　you　are　mine；〃　said　the　disheveled　poet。

Just　at　that　moment　Stanislas　came　up　unheard　by　either　of　the　pair。　He　beheld　Lucien　in　tears；　half　reclining　on　the　floor；　with　his　head　on　Louise's　knee。　The　attitude　was　suspicious　enough　to　satisfy　Stanislas；　he　turned　sharply　round　upon　Chatelet；　who　stood　at　the　door　of　the　salon。　Mme。　de　Bargeton　sprang　up　in　a　moment；　but　the　spies　beat　a　precipate　retreat　like　intruders；　and　she　was　not　quick　enough　for　them。

〃Who　came　just　now？〃　she　asked　the　servants。

〃M。　de　Chandour　and　M。　du　Chatelet；〃　said　Gentil；　her　old　footman。

Mme。　de　Bargeton　went　back；　pale　and　trembling；　to　her　boudoir。

〃If　they　saw　you　just　now；　I　am　lost；〃　she　told　Lucien。

〃So　much　the　better！〃　exclaimed　the　poet；　and　she　smiled　to　hear　the　cry；　so　full　of　selfish　love。

A　story　of　this　kind　is　aggravated　in　the　provinces　by　the　way　in　which　it　is　told。　Everybody　knew　in　a　moment　that　Lucien　had　been　detected　at　Nais　feet。　M。　de　Chandour；　elated　by　the　important　part　he　played　in　the　affair；　went　first　to　tell　the　great　news　at　the　club；　and　thence　from　house　to　house；　Chatelet　hastening　to　say　that　HE　had　seen　nothing；　but　by　putting　himself　out　of　court；　he　egged　Stanislas　on　to　talk；　he　drew　him　on　to　add　fresh　details；　and　Stanislas；　thinking　himself　very　witty；　added　a　little　to　the　tale　every　time　that　he　told　it。　Every　one　flocked　to　Amelie's　house　that　evening；　for　by　that　time　the　most　exaggerated　versions　of　the　story　were　in　circulation　among　the　Angouleme　nobility；　every　narrator　having　followed　Stanislas'　example。　Women　and　men　were　alike　impatient　to　know　the　truth；　and　the　women　who　put　their　hands　before　their　faces　and　shrieked　the　loudest　were　none　other　than　Mesdames　Amelie；　Zephirine；　Fifine；　and　Lolotte；　all　with　more　or　less　heavy　indictments　of　illicit　love　laid　to　their　charge。　There　were　variations　in　every　key　upon　the　painful　theme。

〃Well；　well；〃　said　one　of　the　ladies；　〃poor　Nais！　have　you　heard　about　it？　I　do　not　believe　it　myself；　she　has　a　whole　blameless　record　behind　her；　she　is　far　too　proud　to　be　anything　but　a　patroness　to　M。　Chardon。　Still；　if　it　is　true；　I　pity　her　with　all　my　heart。〃

〃She　is　all　the　more　to　be　pitied　because　she　is　making　herself　frightfully　ridiculous；　she　is　old　enough　to　be　M。　Lulu's　mother；　as　Jacques　called　him。　The　little　poet　it　twenty…two　at　most；　and　Nais；　between　ourselves；　is　quite　forty。〃

〃For　my　own　part；〃　said　M。　du　Chatelet；　〃I　think　that　M。　de　Rubempre's　position　in　itself　proves　Nais'　innocence。　A　man　does　not　go　down　on　his　knees　to　ask　for　what　he　has　had　already。〃

〃That　is　as　may　be！〃　said　Francis；　with　levity　that　brought　Zephirine's　disapproving　glance　down　on　him。

〃Do　just　tell　us　how　it　really　was；〃　they　besought　Stanislas；　and　formed　a　small；　secret　committee　in　a　corner　of　the　salon。

Stanislas；　in　the　long　length；　had　put　together　a　little　story　full　of　facetious　suggestions；　and　accompanied　it　with　pantomime；　which　made　the　thing　prodigiously　worse。

〃It　is　incredible！〃

〃At　midday？〃

〃Nais　was　the　last　person　whom　I　should　have　suspected！〃

〃What　will　she　do　now？〃

Then　followed　more　comments；　and　suppositions　without　end。　Chatelet　took　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　part；　but　he　defended　her　so　ill；　that　he　stirred　the　fire　of　gossip　instead　of　putting　it　out。

Lili；　disconsolate　over　the　fall　of　the　fairest　angel　in　the　Angoumoisin　hierarchy；　went；　dissolved　in　tears；　to　carry　the　news　to　the　palace。　When　the　delighted　Chatelet　was　convinced　that　the　whole　town　was　agog；　he　went　off　to　Mme。　de　Bargeton's；　where；　alas！　there　was　but　one　game　of　whist　that　night；　and　diplomatically　asked　Nais　for　a　little　talk　in　the　boudoir。　They　sat　down　on　the　sofa；　and　Chatelet　began　in　an　undertone

〃You　know　what　Angouleme　is　talking　about；　of　course？〃

〃No。〃

〃Very　well；　I　am　too　much　your　friend　to　leave　you　in　ignorance。　I　am　bound　to　put　you　in　a　position　to　silence　slanders；　invented；　no　doubt；　by　Amelie；　who　has　the　overweening　audacity　to　regard　herself　as　your　rival。　I　came　to　call　on　you　this　morning　with　that　monkey　of　a　Stanislas；　he　was　a　few　paces　ahead　of　me；　and　he　came　so　far〃　（pointing　to　the　door　of　the　boudoir）；　〃he　says　that　he　SAW　you　and　M。　de　Rubempre　in　such　a　position　that　he　could　not　enter；　he　turned　round　upon　me；　quite　bewildered　as　I　was；　and　hurried　me　away　before　I　had　time　to　think；　we　were　out　in　Beaulieu　before　he　told　me　why　he　had　beaten　a　retreat。　If　I　had　known；　I　would　not　have　stirred　out　of　the　house　till　I　had　cleared　up　the　matter　and　exonerated　you；　but　it　would　have　proved　nothing　to　go　back　again　then。

〃Now；　whether　Stanislas'　eyes　deceived　him；　or　whether　he　is　right；　HE　MUST　HAVE　MADE　A　MISTAKE。　Dear　Nais；　do　not　let　that　dolt　trifle　with　your　life；　your　honor；　your　future；　stop　his　mouth　at　once。　You　know　my　position　here。　I　have　need　of　all　these　people；　but　still　I　am　entirely　yours。　Dispose　of　a　life　that　belongs　to　you。　You　have　rejected　my　prayers；　but　my　heart　is　always　yours；　I　am　ready　to　prove　my　love　for　you　at　any　time　and　in　any　way。　Yes；　I　will　watch　over　you　like　a　faithful　servant；　for　no　reward；　but　simply　for　the　sake　of　the　pleasure　that　it　is　to　me　to　do　anything　for　you；　even　if　you　do　not　know　of　it。　This　morning　I　have　said　everywhere　that　I　was　at　the　door　of　the　salon；　and　had　seen　nothing。　If　you　are　asked　to　give　the　name　of　the　person　who　told　you　about　this　gossip；　pray　make　use　of　me。　I　should　be　very　proud　to　be　your　acknowledged　champion；　but；　between　ourselves；　M。　de　Bargeton　is　the　proper　person　to　ask　Stanislas　for　an　explanation。　。　。　。　Suppose　that　young　Rubempre　had　behaved　foolishly；　a　woman's　character　ought　not　to　be　at　the　mercy　of　the　first　hare…　brained　boy　who　flings　himself　at　her　feet。　That　is　what　I　have　been　saying。〃

Nais　bow