cousin betty-第53章

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sleeves；　but　horrified　at　so　much　bareness；　she　covered　her　fine　arms
with　clear　gauze　sleeves　and　hid　her　shoulders　under　an　embroidered
cape。　Her　curls；　/a　l'Anglaise/；　struck　her　as　too　fly…away；　she
subdued　their　airy　lightness　by　putting　on　a　very　pretty　cap；　but；
with　or　without　the　cap；　would　she　have　known　how　to　twist　the　golden
ringlets　so　as　to　show　off　her　taper　fingers　to　admiration？

As　to　rougethe　consciousness　of　guilt；　the　preparations　for　a
deliberate　fall；　threw　this　saintly　woman　into　a　state　of　high　fever；
which；　for　the　time；　revived　the　brilliant　coloring　of　youth。　Her　eyes
were　bright；　her　cheeks　glowed。　Instead　of　assuming　a　seductive　air；
she　saw　in　herself　a　look　of　barefaced　audacity　which　shocked　her。

Lisbeth；　at　Adeline's　request；　had　told　her　all　the　circumstances　of
Wenceslas'　infidelity；　and　the　Baroness　had　learned　to　her　utter
amazement；　that　in　one　evening　in　one　moment；　Madame　Marneffe　had　made
herself　the　mistress　of　the　bewitched　artist。

〃How　do　these　women　do　it？〃　the　Baroness　had　asked　Lisbeth。

There　is　no　curiosity　so　great　as　that　of　virtuous　women　on　such
subjects；　they　would　like　to　know　the　arts　of　vice　and　remain
immaculate。

〃Why；　they　are　seductive；　it　is　their　business；〃　said　Cousin　Betty。
〃Valerie　that　evening；　my　dear；　was；　I　declare；　enough　to　bring　an
angel　to　perdition。〃

〃But　tell　me　how　she　set　to　work。〃

〃There　is　no　principle；　only　practice　in　that　walk　of　life；〃　said
Lisbeth　ironically。

The　Baroness；　recalling　this　conversation；　would　have　liked　to　consult
Cousin　Betty；　but　there　was　no　time　for　that。　Poor　Adeline；　incapable
of　imagining　a　patch；　of　pinning　a　rosebud　in　the　very　middle　of　her
bosom；　of　devising　the　tricks　of　the　toilet　intended　to　resuscitate
the　ardors　of　exhausted　nature；　was　merely　well　dressed。　A　woman　is
not　a　courtesan　for　the　wishing！

〃Woman　is　soup　for　man；〃　as　Moliere　says　by　the　mouth　of　the　judicious
Gros…Rene。　This　comparison　suggests　a　sort　of　culinary　art　in　love。
Then　the　virtuous　wife　would　be　a　Homeric　meal；　flesh　laid　on　hot
cinders。　The　courtesan；　on　the　contrary；　is　a　dish　by　Careme；　with　its
condiments；　spices；　and　elegant　arrangement。　The　Baroness　could　not
did　not　know　how　to　serve　up　her　fair　bosom　in　a　lordly　dish　of　lace；
after　the　manner　of　Madame　Marneffe。　She　knew　nothing　of　the　secrets
of　certain　attitudes。　This　high…souled　woman　might　have　turned　round
and　round　a　hundred　times；　and　she　would　have　betrayed　nothing　to　the
keen　glance　of　a　profligate。

To　be　a　good　woman　and　a　prude　to　all　the　world；　and　a　courtesan　to
her　husband；　is　the　gift　of　a　woman　of　genius；　and　they　are　few。　This
is　the　secret　of　long　fidelity；　inexplicable　to　the　women　who　are　not
blessed　with　the　double　and　splendid　faculty。　Imagine　Madame　Marneffe
virtuous；　and　you　have　the　Marchesa　di　Pescara。　But　such　lofty　and
illustrious　women；　beautiful　as　Diane　de　Poitiers；　but　virtuous；　may
be　easily　counted。

So　the　scene　with　which　this　serious　and　terrible　drama　of　Paris
manners　opened　was　about　to　be　repeated；　with　this　singular　difference
that　the　calamities　prophesied　then　by　the　captain　of　the　municipal
Militia　had　reversed　the　parts。　Madame　Hulot　was　awaiting　Crevel　with
the　same　intentions　as　had　brought　him　to　her；　smiling　down　at　the
Paris　crowd　from　his　/milord/；　three　years　ago。　And；　strangest　thing
of　all；　the　Baroness　was　true　to　herself　and　to　her　love；　while
preparing　to　yield　to　the　grossest　infidelity；　such　as　the　storm　of
passion　even　does　not　justify　in　the　eyes　of　some　judges。

〃What　can　I　do　to　become　a　Madame　Marneffe？〃　she　asked　herself　as　she
heard　the　door…bell。

She　restrained　her　tears；　fever　gave　brilliancy　to　her　face；　and　she
meant　to　be　quite　the　courtesan；　poor；　noble　soul。



〃What　the　devil　can　that　worthy　Baronne　Hulot　want　of　me？〃　Crevel
wondered　as　he　mounted　the　stairs。　〃She　is　going　to　discuss　my　quarrel
with　Celestine　and　Victorin；　no　doubt；　but　I　will　not　give　way！〃

As　he　went　into　the　drawing…room；　shown　in　by　Louise；　he　said　to
himself　as　he　noted　the　bareness　of　the　place　（Crevel's　word）：

〃Poor　woman！　She　lives　here　like　some　fine　picture　stowed　in　a　loft　by
a　man　who　knows　nothing　of　painting。〃

Crevel；　seeing　Comte　Popinot；　the　Minister　of　Commerce；　buy　pictures
and　statues；　wanted　also　to　figure　as　a　Maecenas　of　Paris；　whose　love
of　Art　consists　in　making　good　investments。

Adeline　smiled　graciously　at　Crevel；　pointing　to　a　chair　facing　her。

〃Here　I　am；　fair　lady；　at　your　command；〃　said　Crevel。

Monsieur　the　Mayor；　a　political　personage；　now　wore　black　broadcloth。
His　face；　at　the　top　of　this　solemn　suit；　shone　like　a　full　moon
rising　above　a　mass　of　dark　clouds。　His　shirt；　buttoned　with　three
large　pearls　worth　five　hundred　francs　apiece；　gave　a　great　idea　of
his　thoracic　capacity；　and　he　was　apt　to　say；　〃In　me　you　see　the
coming　athlete　of　the　tribune！〃　His　enormous　vulgar　hands　were　encased
in　yellow　gloves　even　in　the　morning；　his　patent　leather　boots　spoke
of　the　chocolate…colored　coupe　with　one　horse　in　which　he　drove。

In　the　course　of　three　years　ambition　had　altered　Crevel's
pretensions。　Like　all　great　artists；　he　had　come　to　his　second　manner。
In　the　great　world；　when　he　went　to　the　Prince　de　Wissembourg's；　to
the　Prefecture；　to　Comte　Popinot's；　and　the　like；　he　held　his　hat　in
his　hand　in　an　airy　manner　taught　him　by　Valerie；　and　he　inserted　the
thumb　of　the　other　hand　in　the　armhole　of　his　waistcoat　with　a　knowing
air；　and　a　simpering　face　and　expression。　This　new　grace　of　attitude
was　due　to　the　satirical　inventiveness　of　Valerie；　who；　under　pretence
of　rejuvenating　her　mayor；　had　given　him　an　added　touch　of　the
ridiculous。

〃I　begged　you　to　come；　my　dear　kind　Monsieur　Crevel；〃　said　the
Baroness　in　a　husky　voice；　〃on　a　matter　of　the　greatest　importance〃

〃I　can　guess　what　it　is；　madame；〃　said　Crevel；　with　a　knowing　air；
〃but　what　you　would　ask　is　impossible。Oh；　I　am　not　a　brutal　father；
a　manto　use　Napoleon's　wordsset　hard　and　fast　on　sheer　avarice。
Listen　to　me；　fair　lady。　If　my　children　were　ruining　themselves　for
their　own　benefit；　I　would　help　them　out　of　the　scrape；　but　as　for
backing　your　husband；　madame？　It　is　like　trying　to　fill　the　vat　of　the
Danaides！　Their　house　is　mortgaged　for　three　hundred　thousand　francs
for　an　incorrigible　father！　Why；　they　have　nothing　left；　poor
wretches！　And　they　have　no　fun　for　their　money。　All　they　have　to　live
upon　is　what　Victorin　may　make　in　Court。　He　must　wag　his　tongue　more；
must　monsieur　your　son！　And　he　was　to　have　been　a　Minister；　that
learned　youth！　Our　hope　and　pride。　A　pretty　pilot；　who　runs　aground
like　a　land…lubber；　for　if　he　had　borrowed　to　enable　him　to　get　on；　if
he　had　run　into　debt　for　feasting　Deputies；　winning　votes；　and
increasing　his　influence；　I　should　be　the　first　to　say；　'Here　is　my
pursedip　your　hand　in；　my　friend！'　But　when　it　comes　of　paying　for
papa's　follyfolly　I　warned　you　of！Ah！　his　father　has　deprived　him
of　every　chance　of　power。It　is　I　who　shall　be　Minister！〃

〃Alas；　my　dear　Crevel；　it　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　children；　poor
devoted　souls！If　your　heart　is　closed　to　Victorin　and　Celestine；　I
shall　love　them　so　much　that　perhaps　I　may　soften　the　bitterness　of
their　souls　caused　by　your　anger。　You　are　punishing　your　children　for
a　good　action！〃

〃Yes；　for　a　good　action　badly　done！　That　is　half　a　crime；〃　said
Crevel；　much　pleased　with　his　epigram。

〃Doing　good；　my　dear　Crevel；　does　not　mean　sparing　money　out　of　a
purse　that　is　bursting　with　it；　it　means　enduring　privations　to　be
generous；　suffering　for　liberality！　It　is　being　prepared　for
ingratitude！　Heaven　does　not　see　the　charity　that　costs　us　nothing〃

〃Saints；　madame；　may　if　they　please　go　to　the　workhouse；　they　know
that　it　is　for　them　the　door　of　heaven。　For　my　part；　I　am　worldly…
minded；　I　fear　God；　but　yet　more　I　fear　the　hell　of　poverty。　To　be
destitute　is　the　last　depth　of　misfortune　in　society　as　now
constituted。　I　am　a　man　of　my　time；　I　respect　money。〃

〃And　you　are　right；〃　said　Adeline；　〃from　the　worldly　point　of　view。〃

She　was　a　thousand　miles　from　her　point；　and　she　felt　herself　on　a
gridiron；　like　Saint　Laurence；　as　she　thought　of　her　uncle；　for　she
could　see　him　blowing　his　brains　out。

She　looked　down；　then　she　raised　her　eyes　to　gaze　at　Crevel　with
angelic　sweetnessnot　with　the　inviting　suggestiveness　which　was　part
of　Valerie's　wit。　Three　years　ago　she　could　have　bewitched　Crevel　by
that　beautiful　look。

〃I　have　known　the　time；〃　said　she；　〃when　you　were　more　generousyou
used　to　talk　of　three　hundred　thousand　francs　like　a　grand
gentleman〃

Crevel　looked　at　Madame　Hulot；　he　beheld　her　like　a　lily　in　the　last
of　its　bloom；　vague　sensations　rose　within　him；　but　he　felt　such
respect　for　this　saintly　creature　that　he　spurned　all　suspicions　and
buried　them　in　the　most　profligate　corner　of　his　heart。

〃I；　madame；　am　still　the　same；　but　a　retired　merchant；　if　he　is　a
grand　gentleman；　plays；　and　must　play；　the　part　with　method　and
economy；　he　carries　his　ideas　of　order　into　everything。　He　opens　an
account　for　his　little　amusements；　and　devotes　certain　profits　to　that
head　of　expenditure；　but　as　to　touching　his　capital！　it　would　be
folly。　My　children　will　have　their　fortune　intact；　mine　and　my　wife's；
but　I　do　not　suppose　that　they　wish　their　father　to　be　dull；　a　monk
and　a　mummy！　My　life　is　a　very　jolly　one；　I　float　gaily　down　the
stream。　I　fulfil　all　the　duties　imposed　on　me　by　law；　by　my
affections；　and　by　family　ties；　just　as　I　always　used　to　be　punctual
in　paying　my　bills　when　they　fell　due。　If　only　my　children　conduct
themselves　in　their　domestic　life　as　I　do；　I　shall　be　satisfied；　and
for　the　present；　so　long　as　my　folliesfor　I　have　committed　follies
are　no　loss　to　any　one　but　the　gullsexcuse　me；　you　do　not　perhaps
understand　the　slang　wordthey　will　have　nothing　to　blame　me　for；　and
will　find　a　tidy　little　sum　still　left　when　I　die。　Your　children
cannot　say　as　much　of　their　father；　who　is　ruining　his　son　and　my
daughter　by　his　pranks〃

The　Baroness　was　getting　further　from　her　object　as　he　went　on。

〃You　are　very　unkind　about　my　husband；　my　dear　Creveland　yet；　if　you
had　found　his　wife　obliging；　you　would　have　been　his　best　friend〃

She　shot　a　burning　glance　at　Crevel；　but；　like　Dubois；　who　gave　the
Regent　three　kicks；　she　affected　too　much；　and　the　rakish　perfumer's
thoughts　jumped　at　such　profligate　suggestions；　that　he　said　to
himself；　〃Does　she　want　to　turn　the　tables　on　Hulot？Does　she　think
me　more　attractive　as　a　Mayor　than　as　a　National　Guardsman？　Women　are
strange　creatures！〃

And　he　assumed　the　position　of　his　second　manner；　looking　at　the
Baroness　with　his　/Regency/　leer。

〃I　could　almost　fancy；〃　she　went　on；　〃that　you　want　to　visit　on　him
your　resentment　against　the　virtue　that　resisted　youin　a　woman　whom
you　loved　well　enoughtoto　buy　her；〃　she　added　in　a　low　voice。

〃In　a　divine　woman；〃　Crevel　replied；　with　a　meaning　smile　at　the
Baroness；　who　looked　down　while　tears　rose　to　her　eyes。　〃For　you　have
swallowed　not　a　few　bitter　pills！in　these　three　yearshey；　my
beauty？〃

〃Do　not　talk　of　my　troubles；　dear　Crevel；　they　are　too　much　for　the
end