the duchesse de langeais-第11章

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A　score　of　times　he　asked　himself；　like　a　boy；　〃Shall　I　go；　or　shall　I　not？〃　and　then　at　last　he　dressed；　came　to　the　Hotel　de　Langeais　towards　eight　o'clock　that　evening；　and　was　admitted。　　He　was　to　see　the　womanah！　not　the　womanthe　idol　that　he　had　seen　yesterday；　among　lights；　a　fresh　innocent　girl　in　gauze　and　silken　lace　and　veiling。　　He　burst　in　upon　her　to　declare　his　love；　as　if　it　were　a　question　of　firing　the　first　shot　on　a　field　of　battle。

Poor　novice！　　He　found　his　ethereal　sylphide　shrouded　in　a　brown　cashmere　dressing…gown　ingeniously　befrilled；　lying　languidly　stretched　out　upon　a　sofa　in　a　dimly　lighted　boudoir。　　Mme　de　Langeais　did　not　so　much　as　rise；　nothing　was　visible　of　her　but　her　face；　her　hair　was　loose　but　confined　by　a　scarf。　　A　hand　indicated　a　seat；　a　hand　that　seemed　white　as　marble　to　Montriveau　by　the　flickering　light　of　a　single　candle　at　the　further　side　of　the　room；　and　a　voice　as　soft　as　the　light　said

〃If　it　had　been　anyone　else；　M。　le　Marquis；　a　friend　with　whom　I　could　dispense　with　ceremony；　or　a　mere　acquaintance　in　whom　I　felt　but　slight　interest；　I　should　have　closed　my　door。　　I　am　exceedingly　unwell。〃

〃I　will　go；〃　Armand　said　to　himself。

〃But　I　do　not　know　how　it　is；〃　she　continued　（and　the　simple　warrior　attributed　the　shining　of　her　eyes　to　fever）；　〃perhaps　it　was　a　presentiment　of　your　kind　visit　（and　no　one　can　be　more　sensible　of　the　prompt　attention　than　I）；　but　the　vapours　have　left　my　head。〃

〃Then　may　I　stay？〃

〃Oh；　I　should　be　very　sorry　to　allow　you　to　go。　　I　told　myself　this　morning　that　it　was　impossible　that　I　should　have　made　the　slightest　impression　on　your　mind；　and　that　in　all　probability　you　took　my　request　for　one　of　the　commonplaces　of　which　Parisians　are　lavish　on　every　occasion。　　And　I　forgave　your　ingratitude　in　advance。　　An　explorer　from　the　deserts　is　not　supposed　to　know　how　exclusive　we　are　in　our　friendships　in　the　Faubourg。〃

The　gracious；　half…murmured　words　dropped　one　by　one；　as　if　they　had　been　weighted　with　the　gladness　that　apparently　brought　them　to　her　lips。　　The　Duchess　meant　to　have　the　full　benefit　of　her　headache；　and　her　speculation　was　fully　successful。　　The　General；　poor　man；　was　really　distressed　by　the　lady's　simulated　distress。

Like　Crillon　listening　to　the　story　of　the　Crucifixion；　he　was　ready　to　draw　his　sword　against　the　vapours。　　How　could　a　man　dare　to　speak　just　then　to　this　suffering　woman　of　the　love　that　she　inspired？　　Armand　had　already　felt　that　it　would　be　absurd　to　fire　off　a　declaration　of　love　point…blank　at　one　so　far　above　other　women。　　With　a　single　thought　came　understanding　of　the　delicacies　of　feeling；　of　the　soul's　requirements。　　To　love：　what　was　that　but　to　know　how　to　plead；　to　beg　for　alms；　to　wait？　　And　as　for　the　love　that　he　felt；　must　he　not　prove　it？　　His　tongue　was　mute；　it　was　frozen　by　the　conventions　of　the　noble　Faubourg；　the　majesty　of　a　sick　headache；　the　bashfulness　of　love。　　But　no　power　on　earth　could　veil　his　glances；　the　heat　and　the　Infinite　of　the　desert　blazed　in　eyes　calm　as　a　panther's；　beneath　the　lids　that　fell　so　seldom。　　The　Duchess　enjoyed　the　steady　gaze　that　enveloped　her　in　light　and　warmth。

〃Mme　la　Duchesse；〃　he　answered；　〃I　am　afraid　I　express　my　gratitude　for　your　goodness　very　badly。　　At　this　moment　I　have　but　one　desireI　wish　it　were　in　my　power　to　cure　the　pain。〃

〃Permit　me　to　throw　this　off；　I　feel　too　warm　now；〃　she　said；　gracefully　tossing　aside　a　cushion　that　covered　her　feet。

〃Madame；　in　Asia　your　feet　would　be　worth　some　ten　thousand　sequins。

〃A　traveller's　compliment！〃　smiled　she。

It　pleased　the　sprightly　lady　to　involve　a　rough　soldier　in　a　labyrinth　of　nonsense；　commonplaces；　and　meaningless　talk；　in　which　he　manoeuvred；　in　military　language；　as　Prince　Charles　might　have　done　at　close　quarters　with　Napoleon。　　She　took　a　mischievous　amusement　in　reconnoitring　the　extent　of　his　infatuation　by　the　number　of　foolish　speeches　extracted　from　a　novice　whom　she　led　step　by　step　into　a　hopeless　maze；　meaning　to　leave　him　there　in　confusion。　　She　began　by　laughing　at　him；　but　nevertheless　it　pleased　her　to　make　him　forget　how　time　went。

The　length　of　a　first　visit　is　frequently　a　compliment；　but　Armand　was　innocent　of　any　such　intent。　　The　famous　explorer　spent　an　hour　in　chat　on　all　sorts　of　subjects；　said　nothing　that　he　meant　to　say；　and　was　feeling　that　he　was　only　an　instrument　on　whom　this　woman　played；　when　she　rose；　sat　upright；　drew　the　scarf　from　her　hair；　and　wrapped　it　about　her　throat；　leant　her　elbow　on　the　cushions；　did　him　the　honour　of　a　complete　cure；　and　rang　for　lights。　　The　most　graceful　movement　succeeded　to　complete　repose。　　She　turned　to　M。　de　Montriveau；　from　whom　she　had　just　extracted　a　confidence　which　seemed　to　interest　her　deeply；　and　said

〃You　wish　to　make　game　of　me　by　trying　to　make　me　believe　that　you　have　never　loved。　　It　is　a　man's　great　pretension　with　us。　　And　we　always　believe　it！　　Out　of　pure　politeness。　　Do　we　not　know　what　to　expect　from　it　for　ourselves？　　Where　is　the　man　that　has　found　but　a　single　opportunity　of　losing　his　heart？　　But　you　love　to　deceive　us；　and　we　submit　to　be　deceived；　poor　foolish　creatures　that　we　are；　for　your　hypocrisy　is；　after　all；　a　homage　paid　to　the　superiority　of　our　sentiments；　which　are　all　purity。〃

The　last　words　were　spoken　with　a　disdainful　pride　that　made　the　novice　in　love　feel　like　a　worthless　bale　flung　into　the　deep；　while　the　Duchess　was　an　angel　soaring　back　to　her　particular　heaven。

〃Confound　it！〃　thought　Armand　de　Montriveau；　〃how　am　I　to　tell　this　wild　thing　that　I　love　her？〃

He　had　told　her　already　a　score　of　times；　or　rather；　the　Duchess　had　a　score　of　times　read　his　secret　in　his　eyes；　and　the　passion　in　this　unmistakably　great　man　promised　her　amusement；　and　an　interest　in　her　empty　life。　　So　she　prepared　with　no　little　dexterity　to　raise　a　certain　number　of　redoubts　for　him　to　carry　by　storm　before　he　should　gain　an　entrance　into　her　heart。　　Montriveau　should　overleap　one　difficulty　after　another；　he　should　be　a　plaything　for　her　caprice；　just　as　an　insect　teased　by　children　is　made　to　jump　from　one　finger　to　another；　and　in　spite　of　all　its　pains　is　kept　in　the　same　place　by　its　mischievous　tormentor。　　And　yet　it　gave　the　Duchess　inexpressible　happiness　to　see　that　this　strong　man　had　told　her　the　truth。　　Armand　had　never　loved；　as　he　had　said。　　He　was　about　to　go；　in　a　bad　humour　with　himself；　and　still　more　out　of　humour　with　her；　but　it　delighted　her　to　see　a　sullenness　that　she　could　conjure　away　with　a　word；　a　glance；　or　a　gesture。

〃Will　you　come　tomorrow　evening？〃　she　asked。　　〃I　am　going　to　a　ball；　but　I　shall　stay　at　home　for　you　until　ten　o'clock。〃

Montriveau　spent　most　of　the　next　day　in　smoking　an　indeterminate　quantity　of　cigars　in　his　study　window；　and　so　got　through　the　hours　till　he　could　dress　and　go　to　the　Hotel　de　Langeais。　　To　anyone　who　had　known　the　magnificent　worth　of　the　man；　it　would　have　been　grievous　to　see　him　grown　so　small；　so　distrustful　of　himself；　the　mind　that　might　have　shed　light　over　undiscovered　worlds　shrunk　to　the　proportions　of　a　she…coxcomb's　boudoir。　　Even　he　himself　felt　that　he　had　fallen　so　low　already　in　his　happiness　that　to　save　his　life　he　could　not　have　told　his　love　to　one　of　his　closest　friends。　　Is　there　not　always　a　trace　of　shame　in　the　lover's　bashfulness；　and　perhaps　in　woman　a　certain　exultation　over　diminished　masculine　stature？　　Indeed；　but　for　a　host　of　motives　of　this　kind；　how　explain　why　women　are　nearly　always　the　first　to　betray　the　secret？a　secret　of　which；　perhaps；　they　soon　weary。

〃Mme　la　Duchesse　cannot　see　visitors；　monsieur；〃　said　the　man；　〃she　is　dressing；　she　begs　you　to　wait　for　her　here。〃

Armand　walked　up　and　down　the　drawing…room；　studying　her　taste　in　the　least　details。　　He　admired　Mme　de　Langeais　herself　in　the　objects　of　her　choosing；　they　revealed　her　life　before　he　could　grasp　her　personality　and　ideas。　　About　an　hour　later　the　Duchess　came　noiselessly　out　of　her　chamber。　　Montriveau　turned；　saw　her　flit　like　a　shadow　across　the　room；　and　trembled。　　She　came　up　to　him；　not　with　a　bourgeoise's　enquiry；　〃How　do　I　look？〃　　She　was　sure　of　herself；　her　steady　eyes　said　plainly；　〃I　am　adorned　to　please　you。〃

No　one　surely；　save　the　old　fairy　godmother　of　some　princess　in　disguise；　could　have　wound　a　cloud　of　gauze　about　the　dainty　throat；　so　that　the　dazzling　satin　skin　beneath　should　gleam　through　the　gleaming　folds。　　The　Duchess　was　dazzling。　　The　pale　blue　colour　of　her　gown；　repeated　in　the　flowers　in　her　hair；　appeared　by　the　richness　of　its　hue　to　lend　substance　to　a　fragile　form　grown　too　wholly　ethereal；　for　as　she　glided　towards　Armand；　the　loose　ends　of　her　scarf　floated　about　her；　putting　that　valiant　warrior　in　mind　of　the　bright　damosel　flies　that　hover　now　over　water；　now　over　the　flowers　with　which　they　seem　to　mingle　and　blend。

〃I　have　kept　you　waiting；〃　she　said；　with　the　tone　that　a　woman　can　always　bring　into　her　voice　for　the　man　whom　she　wishes　to　please。

〃I　would　wait　patiently　through　an　eternity；〃　said　he；　〃if　I　were　sure　of　finding　a　divinity　so　fair；　but　it　is　no　compliment　to　speak　of　your　beauty　to　you；　nothing　save　worship　could　touch　you。　　Suffer　me　only　to　kiss　your　scarf。〃

〃Oh；　fie！〃　she　said；　with　a　commanding　gesture；　〃I　esteem　you　enough　to　give　you　my　hand。〃

She　held　it　out　for　his　kiss。　　A　woman's　hand；　still　moist　from　the　scented　bath；　has　a　soft　freshness；　a　velvet　smoothness　that　sends　a　tingling　thrill　from　the　lips　to　the　soul。　　And　if　a　man　is　attracted　to　a　woman；　and　his　senses　are　as　quick　to　feel　pleasure　as　his　heart　is　full　of　love；　such　a　kiss；　though　chaste　in　appearance；　may　conjure　up　a　terrific　storm。

〃Will　you　always　give　it　me　like　this？〃　the　General　asked　humbly　when　he　had　pressed　that　dangerous　hand　respectfully　to　his　lips。

〃Yes；　but　there　we　must　stop；〃　she　said；　smiling。　　She　sat　down；　and　seemed　very　slow　over　putting　on　her　gloves；　trying　to　slip　the　unstretched　kid　over　all　her　fingers　at　once；　while　she　watched　M。　de　Montriveau；　and　he　was　lost　in　admiration　of　the　Duchess　and　those　repeated　graceful　movements　of　hers。

〃Ah！　you　were　punctual；〃　she　said；　〃that　is　right。　　I　like　punctuality。　　It　is　the　courtesy　of　kings；　His　Majesty　says；　but　to　my　thinking；　from　you　men　it　is　the　most　respectful　flattery　of　all。　　Now；　is　it　not？　　Just　tell　me。〃

Again　she　gave　him　a　side　glance　to　express　her　insidious　friendship；　for　he　was　dumb　with　happiness　sheer　happiness　through　such　nothings　as　these！　　Oh；　the　Duchess　understood　son　metier　de　femmethe　art　and　mystery　of　being　a　womanmost　marvellously　well；　she　knew；　to　admiration；　how　to　raise　a　man　in　his　own　esteem　as　he　humbled　himself　to　her；　how　to　reward　every　step　of　the　descent　to　sentimental　folly　with　hollow　flatteries。

〃You　will　never　forget　to　come　at　nine　o'clock。〃

〃No；　but　are　you　going　to　a　ball　every　night？〃

〃Do　I　know？〃　she　answered；　with　a　little　childlike　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　the　gesture　was　meant　to　say　that　she　was　nothing　if　not　capricious；　and　that　a　lover　must　take　her　as　she　was。〃Besides；〃　she　added；　〃what　is　that　to　you？　　You　shall　be　my　escort。〃

〃That　would　be　difficult　tonight；〃　he　objecte