cousin betty-第34章

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and　twenty　days。

〃Good。　Now　be　quite　easy。　And　in　Madame　Marneffe　respect　the　future
Baroness　de　Montejanos。　You　are　not　to　spend　a　sou　upon　me；　I　forbid
it。Stay　here　in　the　outer　room；　sleep　on　the　sofa。　I　myself　will
come　and　tell　you　when　you　may　move。We　will　breakfast　to…morrow
morning；　and　you　can　be　leaving　at　about　one　o'clock　as　if　you　had
come　to　call　at　noon。　There　is　nothing　to　fear；　the　gate…keepers　love
me　as　much　as　if　they　were　my　father　and　mother。Now　I　must　go　down
and　make　tea。〃

She　beckoned　to　Lisbeth；　who　followed　her　out　on　to　the　landing。　There
Valerie　whispered　in　the　old　maid's　ear：

〃My　darkie　has　come　back　too　soon。　I　shall　die　if　I　cannot　avenge　you
on　Hortense！〃

〃Make　your　mind　easy；　my　pretty　little　devil！〃　said　Lisbeth；　kissing
her　forehead。　〃Love　and　Revenge　on　the　same　track　will　never　lose　the
game。　Hortense　expects　me　to…morrow；　she　is　in　beggary。　For　a　thousand
francs　you　may　have　a　thousand　kisses　from　Wenceslas。〃

On　leaving　Valerie；　Hulot　had　gone　down　to　the　porter's　lodge　and　made
a　sudden　invasion　there。

〃Madame　Olivier？〃

On　hearing　the　imperious　tone　of　this　address；　and　seeing　the　action
by　which　the　Baron　emphasized　it；　Madame　Olivier　came　out　into　the
courtyard　as　far　as　the　Baron　led　her。

〃You　know　that　if　any　one　can　help　your　son　to　a　connection　by　and　by；
it　is　I；　it　is　owing　to　me　that　he　is　already　third　clerk　in　a
notary's　office；　and　is　finishing　his　studies。〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur　le　Baron；　and　indeed；　sir；　you　may　depend　on　our
gratitude。　Not　a　day　passes　that　I　do　not　pray　to　God　for　Monsieur　le
Baron's　happiness。〃

〃Not　so　many　words；　my　good　woman；〃　said　Hulot；　〃but　deeds〃

〃What　can　I　do；　sir？〃　asked　Madame　Olivier。

〃A　man　came　here　to…night　in　a　carriage。　Do　you　know　him？〃

Madame　Olivier　had　recognized　Montes　well　enough。　How　could　she　have
forgotten　him？　In　the　Rue　du　Doyenne　the　Brazilian　had　always　slipped
a　five…franc　piece　into　her　hand　as　he　went　out　in　the　morning；　rather
too　early。　If　the　Baron　had　applied　to　Monsieur　Olivier；　he　would
perhaps　have　learned　all　he　wanted　to　know。　But　Olivier　was　in　bed。　In
the　lower　orders　the　woman　is　not　merely　the　superior　of　the　manshe
almost　always　has　the　upper　hand。　Madame　Olivier　had　long　since　made
up　her　mind　as　to　which　side　to　take　in　case　of　a　collision　between
her　two　benefactors；　she　regarded　Madame　Marneffe　as　the　stronger
power。

〃Do　I　know　him？〃　she　repeated。　〃No；　indeed；　no。　I　never　saw　him
before！〃

〃What！　Did　Madame　Marneffe's　cousin　never　go　to　see　her　when　she　was
living　in　the　Rue　du　Doyenne？〃

〃Oh！　Was　it　her　cousin？〃　cried　Madame　Olivier。　〃I　dare　say　he　did
come；　but　I　did　not　know　him　again。　Next　time；　sir；　I　will　look　at
him〃

〃He　will　be　coming　out；〃　said　Hulot；　hastily　interrupting　Madame
Olivier。

〃He　has　left；〃　said　Madame　Olivier；　understanding　the　situation。　〃The
carriage　is　gone。〃

〃Did　you　see　him　go？〃

〃As　plainly　as　I　see　you。　He　told　his　servant　to　drive　to　the
Embassy。〃

This　audacious　statement　wrung　a　sigh　of　relief　from　the　Baron；　he
took　Madame　Olivier's　hand　and　squeezed　it。

〃Thank　you；　my　good　Madame　Olivier。　But　that　is　not　all。Monsieur
Crevel？〃

〃Monsieur　Crevel？　What　can　you　mean；　sir？　I　do　not　understand；〃　said
Madame　Olivier。

〃Listen　to　me。　He　is　Madame　Marneffe's　lover〃

〃Impossible；　Monsieur　le　Baron；　impossible；〃　said　she；　clasping　her
hands。

〃He　is　Madame　Marneffe's　lover；〃　the　Baron　repeated　very　positively。
〃How　do　they　manage　it？　I　don't　know；　but　I　mean　to　know；　and　you　are
to　find　out。　If　you　can　put　me　on　the　tracks　of　this　intrigue；　your
son　is　a　notary。〃

〃Don't　you　fret　yourself　so；　Monsieur　le　Baron；〃　said　Madame　Olivier。
〃Madame　cares　for　you；　and　for　no　one　but　you；　her　maid　knows　that　for
true；　and　we　say；　between　her　and　me；　that　you　are　the　luckiest　man　in
this　worldfor　you　know　what　madame　is。Just　perfection！

〃She　gets　up　at　ten　every　morning；　then　she　breakfasts。　Well　and　good。
After　that　she　takes　an　hour　or　so　to　dress；　that　carries　her　on　till
two；　then　she　goes　for　a　walk　in　the　Tuileries　in　the　sight　of　all
men；　and　she　is　always　in　by　four　to　be　ready　for　you。　She　lives　like
clockwork。　She　keeps　no　secrets　from　her　maid；　and　Reine　keeps　nothing
from　me；　you　may　be　sure。　Reine　can't　if　she　wouldalong　of　my　son；
for　she　is　very　sweet　upon　him。　So；　you　see；　if　madame　had　any
intimacy　with　Monsieur　Crevel；　we　should　be　bound　to　know　it。〃

The　Baron　went　upstairs　again　with　a　beaming　countenance；　convinced
that　he　was　the　only　man　in　the　world　to　that　shameless　slut；　as
treacherous；　but　as　lovely　and　as　engaging　as　a　siren。

Crevel　and　Marneffe　had　begun　a　second　rubber　at　piquet。　Crevel　was
losing；　as　a　man　must　who　is　not　giving　his　thoughts　to　his　game。
Marneffe；　who　knew　the　cause　of　the　Mayor's　absence　of　mind；　took
unscrupulous　advantage　of　it；　he　looked　at　the　cards　in　reverse；　and
discarded　accordingly；　thus；　knowing　his　adversary's　hand；　he　played
to　beat　him。　The　stake　being　a　franc　a　point；　he　had　already　robbed
the　Mayor　of　thirty　francs　when　Hulot　came　in。

〃Hey　day！〃　said　he；　amazed　to　find　no　company。　〃Are　you　alone？　Where
is　everybody　gone？〃

〃Your　pleasant　temper　put　them　all　to　flight；〃　said　Crevel。

〃No；　it　was　my　wife's　cousin；〃　replied　Marneffe。　〃The　ladies　and
gentlemen　supposed　that　Valerie　and　Henri　might　have　something　to　say
to　each　other　after　three　years'　separation；　and　they　very　discreetly
retired。If　I　had　been　in　the　room；　I　would　have　kept　them；　but　then；
as　it　happens；　it　would　have　been　a　mistake；　for　Lisbeth；　who　always
comes　down　to　make　tea　at　half…past　ten；　was　taken　ill；　and　that　upset
everything〃

〃Then　is　Lisbeth　really　unwell？〃　asked　Crevel　in　a　fury。

〃So　I　was　told；〃　replied　Marneffe；　with　the　heartless　indifference　of
a　man　to　whom　women　have　ceased　to　exist。

The　Mayor　looked　at　the　clock；　and；　calculating　the　time；　the　Baron
seemed　to　have　spent　forty　minutes　in　Lisbeth's　rooms。　Hector's
jubilant　expression　seriously　incriminated　Valerie；　Lisbeth；　and
himself。

〃I　have　just　seen　her；　she　is　in　great　pain；　poor　soul！〃　said　the
Baron。

〃Then　the　sufferings　of　others　must　afford　you　much　joy；　my　friend；〃
retorted　Crevel　with　acrimony；　〃for　you　have　come　down　with　a　face
that　is　positively　beaming。　Is　Lisbeth　likely　to　die？　For　your
daughter；　they　say；　is　her　heiress。　You　are　not　like　the　same　man。　You
left　this　room　looking　like　the　Moor　of　Venice；　and　you　come　back　with
the　air　of　Saint…Preux！I　wish　I　could　see　Madame　Marneffe's　face　at
this　minute〃

〃And　pray；　what　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　said　Marneffe　to　Crevel；　packing
his　cards　and　laying　them　down　in　front　of　him。

A　light　kindled　in　the　eyes　of　this　man；　decrepit　at　the　age　of　forty…
seven；　a　faint　color　flushed　his　flaccid　cold　cheeks；　his　ill…
furnished　mouth　was　half　open；　and　on　his　blackened　lips　a　sort　of
foam　gathered；　thick；　and　as　white　as　chalk。　This　fury　in　such　a
helpless　wretch；　whose　life　hung　on　a　thread；　and　who　in　a　duel　would
risk　nothing　while　Crevel　had　everything　to　lose；　frightened　the
Mayor。

〃I　said；〃　repeated　Crevel；　〃that　I　should　like　to　see　Madame
Marneffe's　face。　And　with　all　the　more　reason　since　yours；　at　this
moment；　is　most　unpleasant。　On　my　honor；　you　are　horribly　ugly；　my
dear　Marneffe〃

〃Do　you　know　that　you　are　very　uncivil？〃

〃A　man　who　has　won　thirty　francs　of　me　in　forty…five　minutes　cannot
look　handsome　in　my　eyes。〃

〃Ah；　if　you　had　but　seen　me　seventeen　years　ago！〃　replied　the　clerk。

〃You　were　so　good…looking？〃　asked　Crevel。

〃That　was　my　ruin；　now；　if　I　had　been　like　youI　might　be　a　mayor　and
a　peer。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Crevel；　with　a　smile；　〃you　have　been　too　much　in　the　wars；
and　of　the　two　forms　of　metal　that　may　be　earned　by　worshiping　the　god
of　trade；　you　have　taken　the　worsethe　dross！〃　＇This　dialogue　is
garnished　with　puns　for　which　it　is　difficult　to　find　any　English
equivalent。＇　And　Crevel　roared　with　laughter。　Though　Marneffe　could
take　offence　if　his　honor　were　in　peril；　he　always　took　these　rough
pleasantries　in　good　part；　they　were　the　small　coin　of　conversation
between　him　and　Crevel。

〃The　daughters　of　Eve　cost　me　dear；　no　doubt；　but；　by　the　powers！
'Short　and　sweet'　is　my　motto。〃

〃　'Long　and　happy'　is　more　to　my　mind；〃　returned　Crevel。

Madame　Marneffe　now　came　in；　she　saw　that　her　husband　was　at　cards
with　Crevel；　and　only　the　Baron　in　the　room　besides；　a　mere　glance　at
the　municipal　dignitary　showed　her　the　frame　of　mind　he　was　in；　and
her　line　of　conduct　was　at　once　decided　on。

〃Marneffe；　my　dear　boy；〃　said　she；　leaning　on　her　husband's　shoulder；
and　passing　her　pretty　fingers　through　his　dingy　gray　hair；　but
without　succeeding　in　covering　his　bald　head　with　it；　〃it　is　very　late
for　you；　you　ought　to　be　in　bed。　To…morrow；　you　know；　you　must　dose
yourself　by　the　doctor's　orders。　Reine　will　give　you　your　herb　tea　at
seven。　If　you　wish　to　live；　give　up　your　game。〃

〃We　will　pay　it　out　up　to　five　points；〃　said　Marneffe　to　Crevel。

〃Very　goodI　have　scored　two；〃　replied　the　Mayor。

〃How　long　will　it　take　you？〃

〃Ten　minutes；〃　said　Marneffe。

〃It　is　eleven　o'clock；〃　replied　Valerie。　〃Really；　Monsieur　Crevel；　one
might　fancy　you　meant　to　kill　my　husband。　Make　haste；　at　any　rate。〃

This　double…barreled　speech　made　Crevel　and　Hulot　smile；　and　even
Marneffe　himself。　Valerie　sat　down　to　talk　to　Hector。

〃You　must　leave；　my　dearest；〃　said　she　in　Hulot's　ear。　〃Walk　up　and
down　the　Rue　Vanneau；　and　come　in　again　when　you　see　Crevel　go　out。〃

〃I　would　rather　leave　this　room　and　go　into　your　room　through　the
dressing…room　door。　You　could　tell　Reine　to　let　me　in。〃

〃Reine　is　upstairs　attending　to　Lisbeth。〃

〃Well；　suppose　then　I　go　up　to　Lisbeth's　rooms？〃

Danger　hemmed　in　Valerie　on　every　side；　she　foresaw　a　discussion　with
Crevel；　and　could　not　allow　Hulot　to　be　in　her　room；　where　he　could
hear　all　that　went　on。And　the　Brazilian　was　upstairs　with　Lisbeth。

〃Really；　you　men；　when　you　have　a　notion　in　your　head；　you　would　burn
a　house　down　to　get　into　it！〃　exclaimed　she。　〃Lisbeth　is　not　in　a　fit
state　to　admit　you。Are　you　afraid　of　catching　cold　in　the　street？　Be
off　thereor　good…night。〃

〃Good　evening；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　Baron　to　the　other　two。

Hulot；　when　piqued　in　his　old　man's　vanity；　was　bent　on　proving　that
he　could　play　the　young　man　by　waiting　for　the　happy　hour　in　the　open
air；　and　he　went　away。

Marneffe　bid　his　wife　good…night；　taking　her　hands　with　a　semblance　of
devotion。　Valerie　pressed　her　husband's　hand　with　a　significant
glance；　conveying：

〃Get　rid　of　Crevel。〃

〃Good…night；　Crevel；〃　said　Marneffe。　〃I　hope　you　will　not　stay　long
with　Valerie。　Yes！　I　am　jealousa　little　late　in　the　day；　but　it　has
me　hard　and　fast。　I　shall　come　back　to　see　if　you　are　gone。〃

〃We　have　a　little　business　to　discuss；　but　I　shall　not　stay　long；〃
said　Crevel。

〃Speak　low。What　is　it？〃　said　Valerie；　raising　her　voice；　and　looking
at　him　with　a　mingled　expression　of　haughtiness　and　scorn。

Crevel；　as　he　met　this　arrogant　stare；　though　he　was　doing　Valerie
important　services；　and　had　hoped　to　plume　himself　on　the　fact；　was　at
once　reduced　to　submission。

〃That　Brazilian〃　he　be