white lies-第43章

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ly：　she　listened　tenderly：　this　happy　evening　her　piquancy　and　archness　seemed　to　dissolve　into　tenderness　as　she　and　Edouard　walked　hand　in　hand　under　the　moon：　a　tenderness　all　the　more　heavenly　to　her　devoted　lover；　that　she　was　not　one　of　those　angels　who　cloy　a　man　by　invariable　sweetness。

For　a　little　while　she　forgot　everything　but　her　companion。　　In　that　soft　hour　he　won　her　to　name　the　day；　after　her　fashion。

〃Josephine　goes　to　Paris　with　the　doctor　in　about　three　weeks；〃　murmured　she。

〃And　you　will　stay　behind；　all　alone？〃

〃Alone？　that　shall　depend　on　you；　monsieur。〃

On　this　Edouard　caught　her　for　the　first　time　in　his　arms。

She　made　a　faint　resistance。

〃Seal　me　that　promise；　sweet　one！〃

〃No！　no！there！〃

He　pressed　a　delicious　first　kiss　upon　two　velvet　lips　that　in　their　innocence　scarcely　shunned　the　sweet　attack。

For　all　that；　the　bond　was　no　sooner　sealed　after　this　fashion；　than　the　lady's　cheek　began　to　burn。

〃Suppose　we　go　in　NOW？〃　said　she；　dryly。

〃Ah；　not　yet。〃

〃It　is　late；　dear　Edouard。〃

And　with　these　words　something　returned　to　her　mind　with　its　full　force：　something　that　Edouard　had　actually　made　her　forget。　　She　wanted　to　get　rid　of　him　now。

〃Edouard；〃　said　she；　〃can　you　get　up　early　in　the　morning？　　If　you　can；　meet　me　here　to…morrow　before　any　of　them　are　up；　then　we　can　talk　without　interruption。〃

Edouard　was　delighted。

〃Eight　o'clock？〃

〃Sooner　if　you　like。　　Mamma　bade　me　come　and　read　to　her　in　her　room　to…night。　　She　will　be　waiting　for　me。　　Is　it　not　tiresome？〃

〃Yes；　it　is。〃

〃Well；　we　must　not　mind　that；　dear；　in　three　weeks'　time　we　are　to　have　too　much　of　one　another；　you　know；　instead　of　too　little。〃

〃Too　much！　I　shall　never　have　enough　of　you。　　I　shall　hate　the　night　which　will　rob　me　of　the　sight　of　you　for　so　many　hours　in　the　twenty…four。〃

〃If　you　can't　see　me；　perhaps　you　may　hear　me；　my　tongue　runs　by　night　as　well　as　by　day。〃

〃Well；　that　is　a　comfort；〃　said　Edouard；　gravely。　　〃Yes；　little　quizzer；　I　would　rather　hear　you　scold　than　an　angel　sing。　　Judge；　then；　what　music　it　is　when　you　say　you　love　me！〃

〃I　love　you；　Edouard。〃

Edouard　kissed　her　hand　warmly；　and　then　looked　irresolutely　at　her　face。

〃No；　no！〃　said　she；　laughing　and　blushing。　　〃How　rude　you　are。　　Next　time　we　meet。〃

〃That　is　a　bargain。　　But　I　won't　go　till　you　say　you　love　me　again。

〃Edouard；　don't　be　silly。　　I　am　ashamed　of　saying　the　same　thing　so　oftenI　won't　say　it　any　more。　　What　is　the　use？　　You　know　I　love　you。　　There；　I　HAVE　said　it：　how　stupid！〃

〃Adieu；　then；　my　wife　that　is　to　be。〃

〃Adieu！　dear　Edouard。〃

〃My　husgo　onmy　hus〃

〃My　huswife　that　shall　be。〃

Then　they　walked　very　slowly　towards　the　house；　and　once　more　Rose　left　quizzing；　and　was　all　tenderness。

〃Will　you　not　come　in；　and　bid　them　'good…night'？〃

〃No；　my　own；　I　am　in　heaven。　　Common　facescommon　voices　would　bring　me　down　to　earth。　　Let　me　be　alone；your　sweet　words　ringing　in　my　ear。　　I　will　dilute　you　with　nothing　meaner　than　the　stars。　See　how　bright　they　shine　in　heaven；　but　not　so　bright　as　you　shine　in　my　heart。〃

〃Dear　Edouard；　you　flatter　me；　you　spoil　me。　　Alas！　why　am　I　not　more　worthy　of　your　love？〃

〃More　worthy！　　How　can　that　be？〃

Rose　sighed。

〃But　I　will　atone　for　all。　　I　will　make　you　a　better（here　she　substituted　a　full　stop　for　a　substantive）than　you　expect。　　You　will　see　else。〃

She　lingered　at　the　door：　a　proof　that　if　Edouard；　at　that　particular　moment；　had　seized　another　kiss；　there　would　have　been　no　very　violent　opposition　or　offence。

But　he　was　not　so　impudent　as　some。　　He　had　been　told　to　wait　till　the　next　meeting　for　that。　　He　prayed　Heaven　to　bless　her；　and　so　the　affianced　lovers　parted　for　the　night。

It　was　about　nine　o'clock。　　Edouard；　instead　of　returning　to　his　lodgings；　started　down　towards　the　town；　to　conclude　a　bargain　with　the　innkeeper　for　an　English　mare　he　was　in　treaty　for。　　He　wanted　her　for　to…morrow's　work；　so　that　decided　him　to　make　the　purchase。　In　purchases；　as　in　other　matters；　a　feather　turns　the　balanced　scale。　　He　sauntered　leisurely　down。　　It　was　a　very　clear　night；　the　full　moon　and　the　stars　shining　silvery　and　vivid。　　Edouard's　heart　swelled　with　joy。　　He　was　loved　after　all；　deeply　loved；　and　in　three　short　weeks　he　was　actually　to　be　Rose's　husband：　her　lord　and　master。　　How　like　a　heavenly　dream　it　all　seemedthe　first　hopeless　courtship；　and　now　the　wedding　fixed！　　But　it　was　no　dream；　he　felt　her　soft　words　still　murmur　music　at　his　heart；　and　the　shadow　of　her　velvet　lips　slept　upon　his　own。

He　had　strolled　about　a　league　when　he　heard　the　ring　of　a　horse's　hoofs　coming　towards　him；　accompanied　by　a　clanking　noise；　it　came　nearer　and　nearer；　till　it　reached　a　hill　that　lay　a　little　ahead　of　Edouard；　then　the　sounds　ceased；　the　cavalier　was　walking　his　horse　up　the　hill。

Presently；　as　if　they　had　started　from　the　earth；　up　popped　between　Edouard　and　the　sky；　first　a　cocked　hat　that　seemed　in　that　light　to　be　cut　with　a　razor　out　of　flint；　then　the　wearer；　phosphorescent　here　and　there；　so　brightly　the　keen　moonlight　played　on　his　epaulets　and　steel　scabbard。　　A　step　or　two　nearer；　and　Edouard　gave　a　great　shout；　it　was　Colonel　Raynal。

After　the　first　warm　greeting；　and　questions　and　answers；　Raynal　told　him　he　was　on　his　way　to　the　Rhine　with　despatches。

〃To　the　Rhine？〃

I　am　allowed　six　days　to　get　there。　　I　made　a　calculation；　and　found　I　could　give　Beaurepaire　half　a　day。　　I　shall　have　to　make　up　for　it　by　hard　riding。　　You　know　me；　always　in　a　hurry。　　It　is　Bonaparte's　fault　this　time。　　He　is　always　in　a　hurry　too。〃

〃Why；　colonel；〃　said　Edouard；　〃let　us　make　haste　then。　　Mind　they　go　early　to　rest　at　the　chateau。〃

〃But　you　are　not　coming　my　way；　youngster？〃

〃Not　coming　your　way？　　Yes；　but　I　am。　　Yours　is　a　face　I　don't　see　every　day；　colonel；　besides　I　would　not　miss　THEIR　faces；　especially　the　baroness's　and　Madame　Raynal's；　at　sight　of　you；　and；　besides；〃　and　the　young　gentleman　chuckled　to　himself；　and　thought　of　Rose's　words；　〃the　next　time　we　meet；〃　well；　this　will　be　the　next　time。　〃May　I　jump　up　behind？〃

Colonel　Raynal　nodded　assent。　　Edouard　took　a　run；　and　lighted　like　a　monkey　on　the　horse's　crupper。　　He　pranced　and　kicked　at　this　unexpected　addition；　but　the　spur　being　promptly　applied　to　his　flanks；　he　bounded　off　with　a　snort　that　betrayed　more　astonishment　than　satisfaction；　and　away　they　cantered　to　Beaurepaire；　without　drawing　rein。

〃There；〃　said　Edouard；　〃I　was　afraid　they　would　be　gone　to　bed；　and　they　are。　　The　very　house　seems　asleepfancyat　half…past　ten。〃

〃That　is　a　pity；〃　said　Raynal；　〃for　this　chateau　is　the　stronghold　of　etiquette。　　They　will　be　two　hours　dressing　before　they　will　come　out　and　shake　hands。　　I　must　put　my　horse　into　the　stable。　　Go　you　and　give　the　alarm。〃

〃I　will；　colonel。　　Stop；　first　let　me　see　whether　none　of　them　are　up；　after　all。〃

And　Edouard　walked　round　the　chateau；　and　soon　discovered　a　light　at　one　window；　the　window　of　the　tapestried　room。　　Running　round　the　other　way　he　came　slap　upon　another　light：　this　one　was　nearer　the　ground。　　A　narrow　but　massive　door；　which　he　had　always　seen　not　only　locked　but　screwed　up；　was　wide　open；　and　through　the　aperture　the　light　of　a　candle　streamed　out　and　met　the　moonlight　streaming　in。

〃Hallo！〃　cried　Edouard。

He　stopped；　turned；　and　looked　in。

〃Hallo！〃　he　cried　again　much　louder。

A　young　woman　was　sleeping　with　her　feet　in　the　silvery　moonlight；　and　her　head　in　the　orange…colored　blaze　of　a　flat　candle；　which　rested　on　the　next　step　above　of　a　fine　stone　staircase；　whose　existence　was　now　first　revealed　to　the　inquisitive　Edouard。

Coming　plump　upon　all　this　so　unexpectedly；　he　quite　started。

〃Why；　Jacintha！〃

He　touched　her　on　the　shoulder　to　wake　her。　　No。　　Jacintha　was　sleeping　as　only　tired　domestics　can　sleep。　　He　might　have　taken　the　candle　and　burnt　her　gown　off　her　back。　　She　had　found　a　step　that　fitted　into　the　small　of　her　back；　and　another　that　supported　her　head；　and　there　she　was　fast　as　a　door。

At　this　moment　Raynal's　voice　was　heard　calling　him。

〃There　is　a　light　in　that　bedroom。〃

〃It　is　not　a　bedroom；　colonel；　it　is　our　sitting…room　now。　　We　shall　find　them　all　there；　or　at　least　the　young　ladies；　and　perhaps　the　doctor。　　The　baroness　goes　to　bed　early。　　Meantime　I　can　show　you　one　of　our　dramatis　personae；　and　an　important　one　too。　　She　rules　the　roost。〃

He　took　him　mysteriously　and　showed　him　Jacintha。

Moonlight　by　itself　seems　white；　and　candlelight　by　itself　seems　yellow；　but　when　the　two　come　into　close　contrast　at　night；　candle　turns　a　reddish　flame；　and　moonlight　a　bluish　gleam。

So　Jacintha；　with　her　shoes　in　this　celestial　sheen；　and　her　face　in　that　demoniacal　glare；　was　enough　to　knock　the　gazer's　eye　out。

〃Make　a　good　sentinelthis　one；〃　said　Raynal〃an　outlying　picket　for　instance；　on　rough　ground；　in　front　of　the　enemy's　riflemen。〃

〃Ha！　ha！　colonel！　　Let　us　see　where　this　staircase　leads。　　I　have　an　idea　it　will　prove　a　short　cut。〃

〃Where　to？〃

〃To　the　saloon；　or　somewhere；　or　else　to　some　of　Jacintha's　haunts。　Serve　her　right　for　going　to　sleep　at　the　mouth　of　her　den。〃

〃Forward　thenno；　halt！　　Suppose　it　leads　to　the　bedrooms？　　Mind　this　is　a　thundering　place　for　ceremony。　　We　shall　get　drummed　out　of　the　barracks　if　we　don't　mind　our　etiquette。〃

At　this　they　hesitated；　and　Edouard　himself　thought；　on　the　whole；　it　would　be　better　to　go　and　hammer　at　the　front　door。

Now　while　they　hesitated；　a　soft　delicious　harmony　of　female　voices　suddenly　rose；　and　seemed　to　come　and　run　round　the　walls。　　The　men　looked　at　one　another　in　astonishment；　for　the　effect　was　magical。　The　staircase　being　enclosed　on　all　sides　with　stone　walls　and　floored　with　stone；　they　were　like　flies　inside　a　violoncello；　the　voices　rang　above；　below；　and　on　every　side　of　the　vibrating　walls。　In　some　epochs　spirits　as　hardy　as　Raynal's；　and　wits　as　quick　as　Riviere's；　would　have　fled　then　and　there　to　the　nearest　public；　and　told　over　cups　how　they　had　heard　the　dames　of　Beaurepaire；　long　since　dead；　holding　their　revel；　and　the　conscious　old　devil's　nest　of　a　chateau　quivering　to　the　ghostly　strains。

But　this　was　an　incredulous　age。　　They　listened；　and　listened；　and　decided　the　sounds　came　from　up…stairs。

〃Let　us　mount；　and　surprise　these　singing　witches；〃　said　Edouard。

〃Surprise　them！　what　for？　　It　is　not　the　enemyfor　once。　　What　is　the　good　of　surprising　our　friends？〃

Storming　parties　and　surprises　were　no　novelty　and　therefore　no　treat　to　Raynal。

〃It　will　be　so　delightful　to　see　their　faces　at　first　sight　of　you。　O　colonel；　for　my　sake！　　Don't　spoil　it　by　going　tamely　in　at　the　front　door；　after　coming　at　night　from　Egypt　for　half　an　hour。〃

Raynal　grumbled　something　about　its　being　a　childish　trick；　but　to　please　Edouard　consented　at　last；　only　stipulated　for　a　light：　〃or　else；〃　said　he；　〃we　shall　surprise　ourselves　instead　with　a　broken　neck；　going　over　ground　we　don't　know　to　surprise　the　nativesour　skirmishers　got　nicked　that　way　now　and　then　in　Egypt。〃

〃Yes；　colonel；　I　will　go　first　with　Jacintha's　candle。〃　　Edouard　mounted　the　stairs　on　tiptoe。　　Raynal　followed。　　The　solid　stone　steps