the girl with the golden eyes-第8章

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akin　to　those　which　the　sun　emits；　and　whose　ardor　set　the　seal　upon
that　of　her　perfect　body；　in　which　all　was　delight。　De　Marsay　was　on
fire　to　brush　the　dress　of　this　enchanting　girl　as　they　passed　one
another　in　their　walk；　but　his　attempts　were　always　vain。　But　at　one
moment；　when　he　had　repassed　Paquita　and　the　duenna；　in　order　to　find
himself　on　the　same　side　as　the　girl　of　the　golden　eyes；　when　he
returned；　Paquita；　no　less　impatient；　came　forward　hurriedly；　and　De
Marsay　felt　his　hand　pressed　by　her　in　a　fashion　at　once　so　swift　and
so　passionately　significant　that　it　was　as　though　he　had　received　the
emotions　surged　up　in　his　heart。　When　the　two　lovers　glanced　at　one
another；　Paquita　seemed　ashamed；　she　dropped　her　eyes　lest　she　should
meet　the　eyes　of　Henri；　but　her　gaze　sank　lower　to　fasten　on　the　feet
and　form　of　him　whom　women；　before　the　Revolution；　called　/their
conqueror/。

〃I　am　determined　to　make　this　girl　my　mistress；〃　said　Henri　to
himself。

As　he　followed　her　along　the　terrace；　in　the　direction　of　the　Place
Louis　XV。；　he　caught　sight　of　the　aged　Marquis　de　San…Real；　who　was
walking　on　the　arm　of　his　valet；　stepping　with　all　the　precautions　due
to　gout　and　decrepitude。　Dona　Concha；　who　distrusted　Henri；　made
Paquita　pass　between　herself　and　the　old　man。

〃Oh；　for　you；〃　said　De　Marsay　to　himself；　casting　a　glance　of　disdain
upon　the　duenna；　〃if　one　cannot　make　you　capitulate；　with　a　little
opium　one　can　make　you　sleep。　We　know　mythology　and　the　fable　of
Argus。〃

Before　entering　the　carriage；　the　golden…eyed　girl　exchanged　certain
glances　with　her　lover；　of　which　the　meaning　was　unmistakable　and
which　enchanted　Henri；　but　one　of　them　was　surprised　by　the　duenna；
she　said　a　few　rapid　words　to　Paquita；　who　threw　herself　into　the
/coupe/　with　an　air　of　desperation。　For　some　days　Paquita　did　not
appear　in　the　Tuileries。　Laurent；　who　by　his　master's　orders　was　on
watch　by　the　hotel；　learned　from　the　neighbors　that　neither　the　two
women　nor　the　aged　marquis　had　been　abroad　since　the　day　upon　which
the　duenna　had　surprised　a　glance　between　the　young　girl　in　her　charge
and　Henri。　The　bond；　so　flimsy　withal；　which　united　the　two　lovers　was
already　severed。

Some　days　later；　none　knew　by　what　means；　De　Marsay　had　attained　his
end；　he　had　a　seal　and　wax；　exactly　resembling　the　seal　and　wax
affixed　to　the　letters　sent　to　Mademoiselle　Valdes　from　London；　paper
similar　to　that　which　her　correspondent　used；　moreover；　all　the
implements　and　stamps　necessary　to　affix　the　French　and　English
postmarks。

He　wrote　the　following　letter；　to　which　he　gave　all　the　appearances　of
a　letter　sent　from　London：

　　〃MY　DEAR　PAQUITA；I　shall　not　try　to　paint　to　you　in　words　the
　　passion　with　which　you　have　inspired　me。　If；　to　my　happiness；　you
　　reciprocate　it；　understand　that　I　have　found　a　means　of
　　corresponding　with　you。　My　name　is　Adolphe　de　Gouges；　and　I　live
　　at　No。　54　Rue　de　l'Universite。　If　you　are　too　closely　watched　to
　　be　able　to　write　to　me；　if　you　have　neither　pen　nor　paper；　I　shall
　　understand　it　by　your　silence。　If　then；　to…morrow；　you　have　not；
　　between　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　ten　o'clock　in　the
　　evening；　thrown　a　letter　over　the　wall　of　your　garden　into　that　of
　　the　Baron　de　Nucingen；　where　it　will　be　waited　for　during　the
　　whole　of　the　day；　a　man；　who　is　entirely　devoted　to　me；　will　let
　　down　two　flasks　by　a　string　over　your　wall　at　ten　o'clock　the　next
　　morning。　Be　walking　there　at　that　hour。　One　of　the　two　flasks　will
　　contain　opium　to　send　your　Argus　to　sleep；　it　will　be　sufficient
　　to　employ　six　drops；　the　other　will　contain　ink。　The　flask　of　ink
　　is　of　cut　glass；　the　other　is　plain。　Both　are　of　such　a　size　as
　　can　easily　be　concealed　within　your　bosom。　All　that　I　have　already
　　done；　in　order　to　be　able　to　correspond　with　you；　should　tell　you
　　how　greatly　I　love　you。　Should　you　have　any　doubt　of　it；　I　will
　　confess　to　you；　that　to　obtain　an　interview　of　one　hour　with　you　I
　　would　give　my　life。〃

〃At　least　they　believe　that；　poor　creatures！〃　said　De　Marsay；　〃but
they　are　right。　What　should　we　think　of　a　woman　who　refused　to　be
beguiled　by　a　love…letter　accompanied　by　such　convincing　accessories？〃

This　letter　was　delivered　by　Master　Moinot；　postman；　on　the　following
day；　about　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning；　to　the　porter　of　the　Hotel
San…Real。

In　order　to　be　nearer　to　the　field　of　action；　De　Marsay　went　and
breakfasted　with　Paul；　who　lived　in　the　Rue　de　la　Pepiniere。　At　two
o'clock；　just　as　the　two　friends　were　laughingly　discussing　the
discomfiture　of　a　young　man　who　had　attempted　to　lead　the　life　of
fashion　without　a　settled　income；　and　were　devising　an　end　for　him；
Henri's　coachman　came　to　seek　his　master　at　Paul's　house；　and
presented　to　him　a　mysterious　personage　who　insisted　on　speaking
himself　with　his　master。

This　individual　was　a　mulatto；　who　would　assuredly　have　given　Talma　a
model　for　the　part　of　Othello；　if　he　had　come　across　him。　Never　did
any　African　face　better　express　the　grand　vengefulness；　the　ready
suspicion；　the　promptitude　in　the　execution　of　a　thought；　the　strength
of　the　Moor；　and　his　childish　lack　of　reflection。　His　black　eyes　had
the　fixity　of　the　eyes　of　a　bird　of　prey；　and　they　were　framed；　like　a
vulture's；　by　a　bluish　membrane　devoid　of　lashes。　His　forehead；　low
and　narrow；　had　something　menacing。　Evidently；　this　man　was　under　the
yoke　of　some　single　and　unique　thought。　His　sinewy　arm　did　not　belong
to　him。

He　was　followed　by　a　man　whom　the　imaginations　of　all　folk；　from　those
who　shiver　in　Greenland　to　those　who　sweat　in　the　tropics；　would　paint
in　the　single　phrase：　/He　was　an　unfortunate　man/。　From　this　phrase；
everybody　will　conceive　him　according　to　the　special　ideas　of　each
country。　But　who　can　best　imagine　his　facewhite　and　wrinkled；　red　at
the　extremities；　and　his　long　beard。　Who　will　see　his　lean　and　yellow
scarf；　his　greasy　shirt…collar；　his　battered　hat；　his　green　frock
coat；　his　deplorable　trousers；　his　dilapidated　waistcoat；　his
imitation　gold　pin；　and　battered　shoes；　the　strings　of　which　were
plastered　in　mud？　Who　will　see　all　that　but　the　Parisian？　The
unfortunate　man　of　Paris　is　the　unfortunate　man　/in　toto/；　for　he　has
still　enough　mirth　to　know　the　extent　of　his　misfortune。　The　mulatto
was　like　an　executioner　of　Louis　XI。　leading　a　man　to　the　gallows。

〃Who　has　hunted　us　out　these　two　extraordinary　creatures？〃　said　Henri。

〃Faith！　there　is　one　of　them　who　makes　me　shudder；〃　replied　Paul。

〃Who　are　youyou　fellow　who　look　the　most　like　a　Christian　of　the
two？〃　said　Henri；　looking　at　the　unfortunate　man。

The　mulatto　stood　with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　two　young　men；　like　a
man　who　understood　nothing；　and　who　sought　no　less　to　divine　something
from　the　gestures　and　movements　of　the　lips。

〃I　am　a　public　scribe　and　interpreter；　I　live　at　the　Palais　de
Justice；　and　am　named　Poincet。〃

〃Good！　。　。　。　and　this　one？〃　said　Henri　to　Poincet；　looking　towards　the
mulatto。

〃I　do　not　know；　he　only　speaks　a　sort　of　Spanish　/patois/；　and　he　has
brought　me　here　to　make　himself　understood　by　you。〃

The　mulatto　drew　from　his　pocket　the　letter　which　Henri　had　written　to
Paquita　and　handed　it　to　him。　Henri　threw　it　in　the　fire。

〃Ahsothe　game　is　beginning；〃　said　Henri　to　himself。　〃Paul；　leave
us　alone　for　a　moment。〃

〃I　translated　this　letter　for　him；〃　went　on　the　interpreter；　when　they
were　alone。　〃When　it　was　translated；　he　was　in　some　place　which　I
don't　remember。　Then　he　came　back　to　look　for　me；　and　promised　me　two
/louis/　to　fetch　him　here。〃

〃What　have　you　to　say　to　me；　nigger？〃　asked　Henri。

〃I　did　not　translate　/nigger/；〃　said　the　interpreter；　waiting　for　the
mulatto's　reply。　。　。　。

〃He　said；　sir；〃　went　on　the　interpreter；　after　having　listened　to　the
unknown；　〃that　you　must　be　at　half…past　ten　to…morrow　night　on　the
boulevard　Montmartre；　near　the　cafe。　You　will　see　a　carriage　there；　in
which　you　must　take　your　place；　saying　to　the　man；　who　will　wait　to
open　the　door　for　you；　the　word　/cortejo/a　Spanish　word；　which　means
/lover/；〃　added　Poincet；　casting　a　glance　of　congratulation　upon
Henri。

〃Good。〃

The　mulatto　was　about　to　bestow　the　two　/louis/；　but　De　Marsay　would
not　permit　it；　and　himself　rewarded　the　interpreter。　As　he　was　paying
him；　the　mulatto　began　to　speak。

〃What　is　he　saying？〃

〃He　is　warning　me；〃　replied　the　unfortunate；　〃that　if　I　commit　a
single　indiscretion　he　will　strangle　me。　He　speaks　fair　and　he　looks
remarkably　as　if　he　were　capable　of　carrying　out　his　threat。〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　answered　Henri；　〃he　would　keep　his　word。〃

〃He　says；　as　well；〃　replied　the　interpreter；　〃that　the　person　from
whom　he　is　sent　implores　you；　for　your　sake　and　for　hers；　to　act　with
the　greatest　prudence；　because　the　daggers　which　are　raised　above　your
head　would　strike　your　heart　before　any　human　power　could　save　you
from　them。〃

〃He　said　that？　So　much　the　better；　it　will　be　more　amusing。　You　can
come　in　now；　Paul；〃　he　cried　to　his　friend。

The　mulatto；　who　had　not　ceased　to　gaze　at　the　lover　of　Paquita　Valdes
with　magnetic　attention；　went　away；　followed　by　the　interpreter。

〃Well；　at　last　I　have　an　adventure　which　is　entirely　romantic；〃　said
Henri；　when　Paul　returned。　〃After　having　shared　in　a　certain　number　I
have　finished　by　finding　in　Paris　an　intrigue　accompanied　by　serious
accidents；　by　grave　perils。　The　deuce！　what　courage　danger　gives　a
woman！　To　torment　a　woman；　to　try　and　contradict　herdoesn't　it　give
her　the　right　and　the　courage　to　scale　in　one　moment　obstacles　which
it　would　take　her　years　to　surmount　of　herself？　Pretty　creature；　jump
then！　To　die？　Poor　child！　Daggers？　Oh；　imagination　of　women！　They
cannot　help　trying　to　find　authority　for　their　little　jests。　Besides；
can　one　think　of　it；　Paquita？　Can　one　think　of　it；　my　child？　The　devil
take　me；　now　that　I　know　this　beautiful　girl；　this　masterpiece　of
nature；　is　mine；　the　adventure　has　lost　its　charm。〃

For　all　his　light　words；　the　youth　in　Henri　had　reappeared。　In　order
to　live　until　the　morrow　without　too　much　pain；　he　had　recourse　to
exorbitant　pleasure；　he　played；　dined；　supped　with　his　friends；　he
drank　like　a　fish；　ate　like　a　German；　and　won　ten　or　twelve　thousand
francs。　He　left　the　Rocher　de　Cancale　at　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；
slept　like　a　child；　awoke　the　next　morning　fresh　and　rosy；　and　dressed
to　go　to　the　Tuileries；　with　the　intention　of　taking　a　ride；　after
having　seen　Paquita；　in　order　to　get　himself　an　appetite　and　dine　the
better；　and　so　kill　the　time。

At　the　hour　mentioned　Henri　was　on　the　boulevard；　saw　the　carriage；
and　gave　the　counter…word　to　a　man　who　looked　to　him　like　the　mulatto。
Hearing　the　word；　the　man　opened　the　door　and　quickly　let　down　the
step。　Henri　was　so　rapidly　carried　through　Paris；　and　his　thoughts
left　him　so　little　capacity　to　pay　attention　to　the　streets　through
which　he　passed；　that　he　did　not　know　where　the　carriage　stopped。　The
mulatto　let　him　into　a　house；　the　staircase　of　which　was　quite　close
to　the　entrance。　This　staircase　was　dark；　as　was　also　the　landing　upon
which　Henri　was　obliged　to　wait　while　the　mulatto　was　opening　the　door
of　a　damp　apartment；