the girl with the golden eyes-第14章

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each　other。〃

Henri　maintained　the　phlegmatic　attitude　of　a　strong　man　who　feels
himself　vanquished；　his　countenance；　cold；　silent；　entirely　English；
revealed　the　consciousness　of　his　dignity　in　a　momentary　resignation。
Moreover；　he　had　already　thought；　in　spite　of　the　vehemence　of　his
anger；　that　it　was　scarcely　prudent　to　compromise　himself　with　the　law
by　killing　this　girl　on　the　spur　of　the　moment；　before　he　had　arranged
the　murder　in　such　a　manner　as　should　insure　his　impunity。

〃My　beloved；〃　went　on　Paquita；　〃speak　to　me；　do　not　leave　me　without
one　loving　farewell！　I　would　not　keep　in　my　heart　the　terror　which　you
have　just　inspired　in　it。　。　。　。　Will　you　speak？〃　she　said；　stamping
her　foot　with　anger。

De　Marsay；　for　all　reply；　gave　her　a　glance；　which　signified　so
plainly；　〃/You　must　die！/〃　that　Paquita　threw　herself　upon　him。

〃Ah；　well；　you　want　to　kill　me！　。　。　。　If　my　death　can　give　you　any
pleasurekill　me！〃

She　made　a　sign　to　Cristemio；　who　withdrew　his　foot　from　the　body　of
the　young　man；　and　retired　without　letting　his　face　show　that　he　had
formed　any　opinion；　good　or　bad；　with　regard　to　Paquita。

〃That　is　a　man；〃　said　De　Marsay；　pointing　to　the　mulatto；　with　a
sombre　gesture。　〃There　is　no　devotion　like　the　devotion　which　obeys　in
friendship；　and　does　not　stop　to　weigh　motives。　In　that　man　you
possess　a　true　friend。〃

〃I　will　give　him　you；　if　you　like；〃　she　answered；　〃he　will　serve　you
with　the　same　devotion　that　he　has　for　me；　if　I　so　instruct　him。〃

She　waited　for　a　word　of　recognition；　and　went　on　with　an　accent
replete　with　tenderness：

〃Adolphe；　give　me　then　one　kind　word！　。　。　。　It　is　nearly　day。〃

Henri　did　not　answer。　The　young　man　had　one　sorry　quality；　for　one
considers　as　something　great　everything　which　resembles　strength；　and
often　men　invent　extravagances。　Henri　knew　not　how　to　pardon。　That
/returning　upon　itself/　which　is　one　of　the　soul's　graces；　was　a　non…
existent　sense　for　him。　The　ferocity　of　the　Northern　man；　with　which
the　English　blood　is　deeply　tainted；　had　been　transmitted　to　him　by
his　father。　He　was　inexorable　both　in　his　good　and　evil　impulses。
Paquita's　exclamation　had　been　all　the　more　horrible　to　him；　in　that
it　had　dethroned　him　from　the　sweetest　triumph　which　had　ever
flattered　his　man's　vanity。　Hope；　love；　and　every　emotion　had　been
exalted　with　him；　all　had　lit　up　within　his　heart　and　his
intelligence；　then　these　torches　illuminating　his　life　had　been
extinguished　by　a　cold　wind。　Paquita；　in　her　stupefaction　of　grief；
had　only　strength　enough　to　give　the　signal　for　departure。

〃What　is　the　use　of　that！〃　she　said；　throwing　away　the　bandage。　〃If　he
does　not　love　me；　if　he　hates　me；　it　is　all　over。〃

She　waited　for　one　look；　did　not　obtain　it；　and　fell；　half　dead。　The
mulatto　cast　a　glance　at　Henri；　so　horribly　significant；　that；　for　the
first　time　in　his　life；　the　young　man；　to　whom　no　one　denied　the　gift
of　rare　courage；　trembled。　〃/If　you　do　not　love　her　well；　if　you　give
her　the　least　pain；　I　will　kill　you/。〃　such　was　the　sense　of　that
brief　gaze。　De　Marsay　was　escorted；　with　a　care　almost　obsequious；
along　the　dimly　lit　corridor；　at　the　end　of　which　he　issued　by　a
secret　door　into　the　garden　of　the　Hotel　San…Real。　The　mulatto　made
him　walk　cautiously　through　an　avenue　of　lime　trees；　which　led　to　a
little　gate　opening　upon　a　street　which　was　at　that　hour　deserted。　De
Marsay　took　a　keen　notice　of　everything。　The　carriage　awaited　him。
This　time　the　mulatto　did　not　accompany　him；　and　at　the　moment　when
Henri　put　his　head　out　of　the　window　to　look　once　more　at　the　gardens
of　the　hotel；　he　encountered　the　white　eyes　of　Cristemio；　with　whom　he
exchanged　a　glance。　On　either　side　there　was　a　provocation；　a
challenge；　the　declaration　of　a　savage　war；　of　a　duel　in　which
ordinary　laws　were　invalid；　where　treason　and　treachery　were　admitted
means。　Cristemio　knew　that　Henri　had　sworn　Paquita's　death。　Henri　knew
that　Cristemio　would　like　to　kill　him　before　he　killed　Paquita。　Both
understood　each　other　to　perfection。

〃The　adventure　is　growing　complicated　in　a　most　interesting　way；〃　said
Henri。

〃Where　is　the　gentleman　going　to？〃　asked　the　coachman。

De　Marsay　was　driven　to　the　house　of　Paul　de　Manerville。　For　more　than
a　week　Henri　was　away　from　home；　and　no　one　could　discover　either　what
he　did　during　this　period；　nor　where　he　stayed。　This　retreat　saved　him
from　the　fury　of　the　mulatto　and　caused　the　ruin　of　the　charming
creature　who　had　placed　all　her　hope　in　him　whom　she　loved　as　never
human　heart　had　loved　on　this　earth　before。　On　the　last　day　of　the
week；　about　eleven　o'clock　at　night；　Henri　drove　up　in　a　carriage　to
the　little　gate　in　the　garden　of　the　Hotel　San…Real。　Four　men
accompanied　him。　The　driver　was　evidently　one　of　his　friends；　for　he
stood　up　on　his　box；　like　a　man　who　was　to　listen；　an　attentive
sentinel；　for　the　least　sound。　One　of　the　other　three　took　his　stand
outside　the　gate　in　the　street；　the　second　waited　in　the　garden；
leaning　against　the　wall；　the　last；　who　carried　in　his　hand　a　bunch　of
keys；　accompanied　De　Marsay。

〃Henri；〃　said　his　companion　to　him；　〃we　are　betrayed。〃

〃By　whom；　my　good　Ferragus？〃

〃They　are　not　all　asleep；〃　replied　the　chief　of　the　Devourers；　〃it　is
absolutely　certain　that　some　one　in　the　house　has　neither　eaten　nor
drunk。　。　。　。　Look！　see　that　light！〃

〃We　have　a　plan　of　the　house；　from　where　does　it　come？〃

〃I　need　no　plan　to　know；〃　replied　Ferragus；　〃it　comes　from　the　room　of
the　Marquise。〃

〃Ah；〃　cried　De　Marsay；　〃no　doubt　she　arrived　from　London　to…day。　The
woman　has　robbed　me　even　of　my　revenge！　But　if　she　has　anticipated　me；
my　good　Gratien；　we　will　give　her　up　to　the　law。〃

〃Listen；　listen！　。　。　。　The　thing　is　settled；〃　said　Ferragus　to　Henri。

The　two　friends　listened　intently；　and　heard　some　feeble　cries　which
might　have　aroused　pity　in　the　breast　of　a　tiger。

〃Your　marquise　did　not　think　the　sound　would　escape　by　the　chimney；〃
said　the　chief　of　the　Devourers；　with　the　laugh　of　a　critic；　enchanted
to　detect　a　fault　in　a　work　of　merit。

〃We　alone；　we　know　how　to　provide　for　every　contingency；〃　said　Henri。
〃Wait　for　me。　I　want　to　see　what　is　going　on　upstairsI　want　to　know
how　their　domestic　quarrels　are　managed。　By　God！　I　believe　she　is
roasting　her　at　a　slow　fire。〃

De　Marsay　lightly　scaled　the　stairs；　with　which　he　was　familiar；　and
recognized　the　passage　leading　to　the　boudoir。　When　he　opened　the　door
he　experienced　the　involuntary　shudder　which　the　sight　of　bloodshed
gives　to　the　most　determined　of　men。　The　spectacle　which　was　offered
to　his　view　was；　moreover；　in　more　than　one　respect　astonishing　to
him。　The　Marquise　was　a　woman；　she　had　calculated　her　vengeance　with
that　perfection　of　perfidy　which　distinguishes　the　weaker　animals。　She
had　dissimulated　her　anger　in　order　to　assure　herself　of　the　crime
before　she　punished　it。

〃Too　late；　my　beloved！〃　said　Paquita；　in　her　death　agony；　casting　her
pale　eyes　upon　De　Marsay。

The　girl　of　the　golden　eyes　expired　in　a　bath　of　blood。　The　great
illumination　of　candles；　a　delicate　perfume　which　was　perceptible；　a
certain　disorder；　in　which　the　eye　of　a　man　accustomed　to　amorous
adventures　could　not　but　discern　the　madness　which　is　common　to　all
the　passions；　revealed　how　cunningly　the　Marquise　had　interrogated　the
guilty　one。　The　white　room；　where　the　blood　showed　so　well；　betrayed　a
long　struggle。　The　prints　of　Paquita's　hands　were　on　the　cushions。
Here　she　had　clung　to　her　life；　here　she　had　defended　herself；　here
she　had　been　struck。　Long　strips　of　the　tapestry　had　been　torn　down　by
her　bleeding　hands；　which；　without　a　doubt；　had　struggled　long。
Paquita　must　have　tried　to　reach　the　window；　her　bare　feet　had　left
their　imprints　on　the　edge　of　the　divan；　along　which　she　must　have
run。　Her　body；　mutilated　by　the　dagger…thrusts　of　her　executioner；
told　of　the　fury　with　which　she　had　disputed　a　life　which　Henri　had
made　precious　to　her。　She　lay　stretched　on　the　floor；　and　in　her
death…throes　had　bitten　the　ankles　of　Madame　de　San…Real；　who　still
held　in　her　hand　her　dagger；　dripping　blood。　The　hair　of　the　Marquise
had　been　torn　out；　she　was　covered　with　bites；　many　of　which　were
bleeding；　and　her　torn　dress　revealed　her　in　a　state　of　semi…nudity；
with　the　scratches　on　her　breasts。　She　was　sublime　so。　Her　head；　eager
and　maddened；　exhaled　the　odor　of　blood。　Her　panting　mouth　was　open；
and　her　nostrils　were　not　sufficient　for　her　breath。　There　are　certain
animals　who　fall　upon　their　enemy　in　their　rage；　do　it　to　death；　and
seem　in　the　tranquillity　of　victory　to　have　forgotten　it。　There　are
others　who　prowl　around　their　victim；　who　guard　it　in　fear　lest　it
should　be　taken　away　from　them；　and　who；　like　the　Achilles　of　Homer；
drag　their　enemy　by　the　feet　nine　times　round　the　walls　of　Troy。　The
Marquise　was　like　that。　She　did　not　see　Henri。　In　the　first　place；　she
was　too　secure　of　her　solitude　to　be　afraid　of　witnesses；　and；
secondly；　she　was　too　intoxicated　with　warm　blood；　too　excited　with
the　fray；　too　exalted；　to　take　notice　of　the　whole　of　Paris；　if　Paris
had　formed　a　circle　round　her。　A　thunderbolt　would　not　have　disturbed
her。　She　had　not　even　heard　Paquita's　last　sigh；　and　believed　that　the
dead　girl　could　still　hear　her。

〃Die　without　confessing！〃　she　said。　〃Go　down　to　hell；　monster　of
ingratitude；　belong　to　no　one　but　the　fiend。　For　the　blood　you　gave
him　you　owe　me　all　your　own！　Die；　die；　suffer　a　thousand　deaths！　I
have　been　too　kindI　was　only　a　moment　killing　you。　I　should　have
made　you　experience　all　the　tortures　that　you　have　bequeathed　to　me。　I
I　shall　live！　I　shall　live　in　misery。　I　have　no　one　left　to　love　but
God！〃

She　gazed　at　her。

〃She　is　dead！〃　she　said　to　herself；　after　a　pause；　in　a　violent
reaction。　〃Dead！　Oh；　I　shall　die　of　grief！〃

The　Marquise　was　throwing　herself　upon　the　divan；　stricken　with　a
despair　which　deprived　her　of　speech；　when　this　movement　brought　her
in　view　of　Henri　de　Marsay。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked；　rushing　at　him　with　her　dagger　raised。

Henri　caught　her　arm；　and　thus　they　could　contemplate　each　other　face
to　face。　A　horrible　surprise　froze　the　blood　in　their　veins；　and　their
limbs　quivered　like　those　of　frightened　horses。　In　effect；　the　two
Menoechmi　had　not　been　more　alike。　With　one　accord　they　uttered　the
same　phrase：

〃Lord　Dudley　must　have　been　your　father！〃

The　head　of　each　was　drooped　in　affirmation。

〃She　was　true　to　the　blood；〃　said　Henri；　pointing　to　Paquita。

〃She　was　as　little　guilty　as　it　is　possible　to　be；〃　replied　Margarita
Euphemia　Porraberil；　and　she　threw　herself　upon　the　body　of　Paquita；
giving　vent　to　a　cry　of　despair。　〃Poor　child！　Oh；　if　I　could　bring
thee　to　life　again！　I　was　wrongforgive　me；　Paquita！　Dead！　and　I
live！　II　am　the　most　unhappy。〃

At　that　moment　the　horrible　face　of　the　mother　of　Paquita　appeared。

〃You　are　come　to　tell　me　that　you　never　sold　her　to　me　to　kill；〃　cried
the　Marquise。　〃I　know　why　you　have　left　your　lair。　I　will　pay　you
twice　over。　Hold　your　peace。〃

She　took　a　bag　of　gold　from　the　ebony　cabinet；　and　threw　it
contemptuously　at　the　old　woman's　feet。　The　chink　of　the　gold　was
potent　enough　to　excite　a　smil