two poets-第26章

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irst　hare…　brained　boy　who　flings　himself　at　her　feet。　That　is　what　I　have　been　saying。〃

Nais　bowed　in　acknowledgment；　and　looked　thoughtful。　She　was　weary　to　disgust　of　provincial　life。　Chatelet　had　scarcely　begun　before　her　mind　turned　to　Paris。　Meanwhile　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　adorer　found　the　silence　somewhat　awkward。

〃Dispose　of　me；　I　repeat；〃　he　added。

〃Thank　you；〃　answered　the　lady。

〃What　do　you　think　of　doing？〃

〃I　shall　see。〃

A　prolonged　pause。

〃Are　you　so　fond　of　that　young　Rubempre？〃

A　proud　smile　stole　over　her　lips；　she　folded　her　arms；　and　fixed　her　gaze　on　the　curtains。　Chatelet　went　out；　he　could　not　read　that　high　heart。

Later　in　the　evening；　when　Lucien　had　taken　his　leave；　and　likewise　the　four　old　gentlemen　who　came　for　their　whist；　without　troubling　themselves　about　ill…founded　tittle…tattle；　M。　de　Bargeton　was　preparing　to　go　to　bed；　and　had　opened　his　mouth　to　bid　his　wife　good…night；　when　she　stopped　him。

〃Come　here；　dear；　I　have　something　to　say　to　you；〃　she　said；　with　a　certain　solemnity。

M。　de　Bargeton　followed　her　into　the　boudoir。

〃Perhaps　I　have　done　wrongly；〃　she　said；　〃to　show　a　warm　interest　in　M。　de　Rubempre；　which　he；　as　well　as　the　stupid　people　here　in　the　town；　has　misinterpreted。　This　morning　Lucien　threw　himself　here　at　my　feet　with　a　declaration；　and　Stanislas　happened　to　come　in　just　as　I　told　the　boy　to　get　up　again。　A　woman；　under　any　circumstances；　has　claims　which　courtesy　prescribes　to　a　gentleman；　but　in　contempt　of　these；　Stanislas　has　been　saying　that　he　came　unexpectedly　and　found　us　in　an　equivocal　position。　I　was　treating　the　boy　as　he　deserved。　If　the　young　scatterbrain　knew　of　the　scandal　caused　by　his　folly；　he　would　go；　I　am　convinced；　to　insult　Stanislas；　and　compel　him　to　fight。　That　would　simply　be　a　public　proclamation　of　his　love。　I　need　not　tell　you　that　your　wife　is　pure；　but　if　you　think；　you　will　see　that　it　is　something　dishonoring　for　both　you　and　me　if　M。　de　Rubempre　defends　her。　Go　at　once　to　Stanislas　and　ask　him　to　give　you　satisfaction　for　his　insulting　language；　and　mind；　you　must　not　accept　any　explanation　short　of　a　full　and　public　retraction　in　the　presence　of　witnesses　of　credit。　In　this　way　you　will　win　back　the　respect　of　all　right…minded　people；　you　will　behave　like　a　man　of　spirit　and　a　gentleman；　and　you　will　have　a　right　to　my　esteem。　I　shall　send　Gentil　on　horseback　to　the　Escarbas；　my　father　must　be　your　second；　old　as　he　is；　I　know　that　he　is　the　man　to　trample　this　puppet　under　foot　that　has　smirched　the　reputation　of　a　Negrepelisse。　You　have　the　choice　of　weapons；　choose　pistols；　you　are　an　admirable　shot。〃

〃I　am　going；〃　said　M。　de　Bargeton；　and　he　took　his　hat　and　his　walking　cane。

〃Good；　that　is　how　I　like　a　man　to　behave；　dear；　you　are　a　gentleman；〃　said　his　wife。　She　felt　touched　by　his　conduct；　and　made　the　old　man　very　happy　and　proud　by　putting　up　her　forehead　for　a　kiss。　She　felt　something　like　a　maternal　affection　for　the　great　child；　and　when　the　carriage　gateway　had　shut　with　a　clang　behind　him；　the　tears　came　into　her　eyes　in　spite　of　herself。

〃How　he　loves　me！〃　she　thought。　〃He　clings　to　life；　poor；　dear　man；　and　yet　he　would　give　his　life　for　me。〃

It　did　not　trouble　M。　de　Bargeton　that　he　must　stand　up　and　face　his　man　on　the　morrow；　and　look　coolly　into　the　muzzle　of　a　pistol　pointed　straight　at　him；　no；　only　one　thing　in　the　business　made　him　feel　uncomfortable；　and　on　the　way　to　M。　de　Chandour's　house　he　quaked　inwardly。

〃What　shall　I　say？〃　he　thought　within　himself；　〃Nais　really　ought　to　have　told　me　what　to　say；〃　and　the　good　gentleman　racked　his　brains　to　compose　a　speech　that　should　not　be　ridiculous。

But　people　of　M。　de　Bargeton's　stamp；　who　live　perforce　in　silence　because　their　capacity　is　limited　and　their　outlook　circumscribed；　often　behave　at　great　crises　with　a　ready…made　solemnity。　If　they　say　little；　it　naturally　follows　that　they　say　little　that　is　foolish；　their　extreme　lack　of　confidence　leads　them　to　think　a　good　deal　over　the　remarks　that　they　are　obliged　to　make；　and；　like　Balaam's　ass；　they　speak　marvelously　to　the　point　if　a　miracle　loosens　their　tongues。　So　M。　de　Bargeton　bore　himself　like　a　man　of　uncommon　sense　and　spirit；　and　justified　the　opinion　of　those　who　held　that　he　was　a　philosopher　of　the　school　of　Pythagoras。

He　reached　Stanislas'　house　at　nine　o'clock；　bowed　silently　to　Amelie　before　a　whole　room　full　of　people；　and　greeted　others　in　turn　with　that　simple　smile　of　his；　which　under　the　present　circumstances　seemed　profoundly　ironical。　There　followed　a　great　silence；　like　the　pause　before　a　storm。　Chatelet　had　made　his　way　back　again；　and　now　looked　in　a　very　significant　fashion　from　M。　de　Bargeton　to　Stanislas；　whom　the　injured　gentleman　accosted　politely。

Chatelet　knew　what　a　visit　meant　at　this　time　of　night；　when　old　M。　de　Bargeton　was　invariably　in　his　bed。　It　was　evidently　Nais　who　had　set　the　feeble　arm　in　motion。　Chatelet　was　on　such　a　footing　in　that　house　that　he　had　some　right　to　interfere　in　family　concerns。　He　rose　to　his　feet　and　took　M。　de　Bargeton　aside；　saying；　〃Do　you　wish　to　speak　to　Stanislas？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　well　pleased　to　find　a　go…between　who　perhaps　might　say　his　say　for　him。

〃Very　well；　go　into　Amelie's　bedroom；〃　said　the　controller　of　excise；　likewise　well　pleased　at　the　prospect　of　a　duel　which　possibly　might　make　Mme。　de　Bargeton　a　widow；　while　it　put　a　bar　between　her　and　Lucien；　the　cause　of　the　quarrel。　Then　Chatelet　went　to　M。　de　Chandour。

〃Stanislas；〃　he　said；　〃here　comes　Bargeton　to　call　you　to　account；　no　doubt；　for　the　things　you　have　been　saying　about　Nais。　Go　into　your　wife's　room；　and　behave；　both　of　you；　like　gentlemen。　Keep　the　thing　quiet；　and　make　a　great　show　of　politeness；　behave　with　phlegmatic　British　dignity；　in　short。〃

In　another　minute　Stanislas　and　Chatelet　went　to　Bargeton。

〃Sir；〃　said　the　injured　husband；　〃do　you　say　that　you　discovered　Mme。　de　Bargeton　and　M。　de　Rubempre　in　an　equivocal　position？〃

〃M。　Chardon；〃　corrected　Stanislas；　with　ironical　stress；　he　did　not　take　Bargeton　seriously。

〃So　be　it；〃　answered　the　other。　〃If　you　do　not　withdraw　your　assertions　at　once　before　the　company　now　in　your　house；　I　must　ask　you　to　look　for　a　second。　My　father…in…law；　M。　de　Negrepelisse；　will　wait　upon　you　at　four　o'clock　to…morrow　morning。　Both　of　us　may　as　well　make　our　final　arrangements；　for　the　only　way　out　of　the　affair　is　the　one　that　I　have　indicated。　I　choose　pistols；　as　the　insulted　party。〃

This　was　the　speech　that　M。　de　Bargeton　had　ruminated　on　the　way；　it　was　the　longest　that　he　had　ever　made　in　life。　He　brought　it　out　without　excitement　or　vehemence；　in　the　simplest　way　in　the　world。　Stanislas　turned　pale。　〃After　all；　what　did　I　see？〃　said　he　to　himself。

Put　between　the　shame　of　eating　his　words　before　the　whole　town；　and　fear；　that　caught　him　by　the　throat　with　burning　fingers；　confronted　by　this　mute　personage；　who　seemed　in　no　humor　to　stand　nonsense；　Stanislas　chose　the　more　remote　peril。

〃All　right。　To…morrow　morning；〃　he　said；　thinking　that　the　matter　might　be　arranged　somehow　or　other。

The　three　went　back　to　the　room。　Everybody　scanned　their　faces　as　they　came　in；　Chatelet　was　smiling；　M。　de　Bargeton　looked　exactly　as　if　he　were　in　his　own　house；　but　Stanislas　looked　ghastly　pale。　At　the　sight　of　his　face；　some　of　the　women　here　and　there　guessed　the　nature　of　the　conference；　and　the　whisper；　〃They　are　going　to　fight！〃　circulated　from　ear　to　ear。　One…half　of　the　room　was　of　the　opinion　that　Stanislas　was　in　the　wrong；　his　white　face　and　his　demeanor　convicted　him　of　a　lie；　the　other　half　admired　M。　de　Bargeton's　attitude。　Chatelet　was　solemn　and　mysterious。　M。　de　Bargeton　stayed　a　few　minutes；　scrutinized　people's　faces；　and　retired。

〃Have　you　pistols？〃　Chatelet　asked　in　a　whisper　of　Stanislas；　who　shook　from　head　to　foot。

Amelie　knew　what　it　all　meant。　She　felt　ill；　and　the　women　flocked　about　her　to　take　her　into　her　bedroom。　There　was　a　terrific　sensation；　everybody　talked　at　once。　The　men　stopped　in　the　drawing…　room；　and　declared；　with　one　voice；　that　M。　de　Bargeton　was　within　his　right。

〃Would　you　have　thought　the　old　fogy　capable　of　acting　like　this？〃　asked　M。　de　Saintot。

〃But　he　was　a　crack　shot　when　he　was　young；〃　said　the　pitiless　Jacques。　〃My　father　often　used　to　tell　me　of　Bargeton's　exploits。〃

〃Pooh！　Put　them　at　twenty　paces；　and　they　will　miss　each　other　if　you　give　them　cavalry　pistols；〃　said　Francis；　addressing　Chatelet。

Chatelet　stayed　after　the　rest　had　gone　to　reassure　Stanislas　and　his　wife；　and　to　explain　that　all　would　go　off　well。　In　a　duel　between　a　man　of　sixty　and　a　man　of　thirty…five；　all　the　advantage　lay　with　the　latter。

Early　next　morning；　as　Lucien　sat　at　breakfast　with　David；　who　had　come　back　alone　from　Marsac；　in　came　Mme。　Chardon　with　a　scared　face。

〃Well；　Lucien；〃　she　said；　〃have　you　heard　the　news？　Everyone　is　talking　of　it；　even　the　people　in　the　market。　M。　de　Bargeton　all　but　killed　M。　de　Chandour　this　morning　in　M。　Tulloy's　meadow；　people　are　making　puns　on　the　name。　（Tue　Poie。）　It　seems　that　M。　de　Chandour　said　that　he　found　you　with　Mme。　de　Bargeton　yesterday。〃

〃It　is　a　lie！　Mme。　de　Bargeton　is　innocent；〃　cried　Lucien。

〃I　heard　about　the　duel　from　a　countryman；　who　saw　it　all　from　his　cart。　M。　de　Negrepelisse　came　over　at　three　o'clock　in　the　morning　to　be　M。　de　Bargeton's　second；　he　told　M。　de　Chandour　that　if　anything　happened　to　his　son…in…law；　he　should　avenge　him。　A　cavalry　officer　lent　the　pistols。　M。　de　Negrepelisse　tried　them　over　and　over　again。　M。　du　Chatelet　tried　to　prevent　them　from　practising　with　the　pistols；　but　they　referred　the　question　to　the　officer；　and　he　said　that；　unless　they　meant　to　behave　like　children；　they　ought　to　have　pistols　in　working　order。　The　seconds　put　them　at　twenty…five　paces。　M。　de　Bargeton　looked　as　if　he　had　just　come　out　for　a　walk。　He　was　the　first　to　fire；　the　ball　lodged　in　M。　de　Chandour's　neck；　and　he　dropped　before　he　could　return　the　shot。　The　house…surgeon　at　the　hospital　has　just　said　that　M。　de　Chandour　will　have　a　wry　neck　for　the　rest　of　his　days。　I　came　to　tell　you　how　it　ended；　lest　you　should　go　to　Mme。　de　Bargeton's　or　show　yourself　in　Angouleme；　for　some　of　M。　de　Chandour's　friends　might　call　you　out。〃

As　she　spoke；　the　apprentice　brought　in　Gentil；　M。　de　Bargeton's　footman。　The　man　had　come　with　a　note　for　Lucien；　it　was　from　Louise。

〃You　have　doubtless　heard　the　news；〃　she　wrote；　〃of　the　duel　between　Chandour　and　my　husband。　We　shall　not　be　at　home　to　any　one　to…day。　Be　careful；　do　not　show　yourself。　I　ask　this　in　the　name　of　the　affection　you　bear　me。　Do　you　not　think　that　it　would　be　best　to　spend　this　melancholy　day　in　listening　to　your　Beatrice；　whose　whole　life　has　been　changed　by　this　event；　who　has　a　thousand　things　to　say　to　you？〃

〃Luckily；　my　marriage　is　fixed　for　the　day　after　to…morrow；〃　said　David；　〃and　you　will　have　an　excuse　for　not　going　to　see　Mme。　de　Bargeton　quite　so　often。〃

〃Dear　David；〃　returned　Lucien；　〃she　asks　me　to　go　to　her　to…day；　and　I　ought　to　do　as　she　wishes；　I　think；　she　knows　better　than　we　do　how　I　should　act　in　the　present　state　of　things。〃

〃Then　is　everything　r