camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第24章
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done well； nothing affords so fine a frame for the woman whom one loves
as the blue sky； the odours； the flowers； the breeze； the shining solitude of
fields； or woods。 However much one loves a woman； whatever confidence
one may have in her； whatever certainty her past may offer us as to her
future； one is always more or less jealous。 If you have been in love； you
must have felt the need of isolating from this world the being in whom you
would live wholly。 It seems as if； however indifferent she may be to her
surroundings； the woman whom one loves loses something of her perfume
and of her unity at the contact of men and things。 As for me； I experienced
that more than most。 Mine was not an ordinary love； I was as much in love
as an ordinary creature could be； but with Marguerite Gautier； that is to
say； that at Paris； at every step； I might elbow the man who had already
been her lover or who was about to； while in the country； surrounded by
people whom we had never seen and who had no concern with us； alone
with nature in the spring…time of the year； that annual pardon； and shut off
from the noise of the city； I could hide my love； and love without shame or
fear。
The courtesan disappeared little by little。 I had by me a young and
beautiful woman； whom I loved； and who loved me； and who was called
Marguerite； the past had no more reality and the future no more clouds。
The sun shone upon my mistress as it might have shone upon the purest
bride。 We walked together in those charming spots which seemed to have
been made on purpose to recall the verses of Lamartine or to sing the
melodies of Scudo。 Marguerite was dressed in white； she leaned on my
arm； saying over to me again under the starry sky the words she had said
to me the day before； and far off the world went on its way； without
darkening with its shadow the radiant picture of our youth and love。
That was the dream that the hot sun brought to me that day through the
leaves of the trees； as； lying on the grass of the island on which we had
landed； I let my thought wander； free from the human links that had bound
it； gathering to itself every hope that came in its way。
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Add to this that from the place where I was I could see on the shore a
charming little house of two stories； with a semicircular railing； through
the railing； in front of the house； a green lawn； smooth as velvet； and
behind the house a little wood full of mysterious retreats； where the moss
must efface each morning the pathway that had been made the day before。
Climbing flowers clung about the doorway of this uninhabited house；
mounting as high as the first story。
I looked at the house so long that I began by thinking of it as mine； so
perfectly did it embody the dream that I was dreaming； I saw Marguerite
and myself there； by day in the little wood that covered the hillside； in the
evening seated on the grass； and I asked myself if earthly creatures had
ever been so happy as we should be。
〃What a pretty house！〃 Marguerite said to me； as she followed the
direction of my gaze and perhaps of my thought。
〃Where？〃 asked Prudence。
〃Yonder；〃 and Marguerite pointed to the house in question。
〃Ah； delicious！〃 replied Prudence。 〃Do you like it？〃
〃Very much。〃
〃Well； tell the duke to take it for you； he would do so； I am sure。 I'll
see about it if you like。〃
Marguerite looked at me； as if to ask me what I thought。 My dream
vanished at the last words of Prudence； and brought me back to reality so
brutally that I was still stunned with the fall。
〃Yes； yes； an excellent idea；〃 I stammered； not knowing what I was
saying。
〃Well； I will arrange that；〃 said Marguerite； freeing my hand； and
interpreting my words according to her own desire。 〃Let us go and see if it
is to let。〃
The house was empty； and to let for two thousand francs。
〃Would you be happy here？〃 she said to me。
〃Am I sure of coming here？〃
〃And for whom else should I bury myself here； if not for you？〃
〃Well； then； Marguerite； let me take it myself。〃
〃You are mad； not only is it unnecessary； but it would be dangerous。
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You know perfectly well that I have no right to accept it save from one
man。 Let me alone； big baby； and say nothing。〃
〃That means；〃 said Prudence； 〃that when I have two days free I will
come and spend them with you。〃
We left the house； and started on our return to Paris； talking over the
new plan。 I held Marguerite in my arms； and as I got down from the
carriage； I had already begun to look upon her arrangement with less
critical eyes。
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CHAPTER 17
Next day Marguerite sent me away very early； saying that the duke
was coming at an early hour； and promising to write to me the moment he
went； and to make an appointment for the evening。 In the course of the day
I received this note：
〃I am going to Bougival with the duke； be at Prudence's to…night at
eight。〃
At the appointed hour Marguerite came to me at Mme。 Duvernoy's。
〃Well； it is all settled；〃 she said； as she entered。 〃The house is taken？〃
asked Prudence。 〃Yes； he agreed at once。〃
I did not know the duke； but I felt ashamed of deceiving him。
〃But that is not all；〃 continued Marguerite。
〃What else is there？〃
〃I have been seeing about a place for Armand to stay。〃
〃In the same house？〃 asked Prudence； laughing。
〃No； at Point du Jour； where we had dinner； the duke and I。 While he
was admiring the view； I asked Mme。 Arnould （she is called Mme。
Arnould； isn't she？） if there were any suitable rooms； and she showed me
just the very thing： salon； anteroom； and bed…room； at sixty francs a month；
the whole place furnished in a way to divert a hypochondriac。 I took it。
Was I right？〃 I flung my arms around her neck and kissed her。
〃It will be charming；〃 she continued。 〃You have the key of the little
door； and I have promised the duke the key of the front door； which he will
not take； because he will come during the day when he comes。 I think；
between ourselves； that he is enchanted with a caprice which will keep me
out of Paris for a time； and so silence the objections of his family。
However； he has asked me how I； loving Paris as I do； could make up my
mind to bury myself in the country。 I told him that I was ill； and that I
wanted rest。 He seemed to have some difficulty in believing me。 The poor
old man is always on the watch。 We must take every precaution； my dear
Armand； for he will have me watched while I am there； and it isn't only
the question of his taking a house for me； but he has my debts to pay； and
unluckily I have plenty。 Does all that suit you？〃
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〃Yes；〃 I answered； trying to quiet the scruples which this way of living
awoke in me from time to time。
〃We went all over the house； and we shall have everything perfect。 The
duke is going to look after every single thing。 Ah； my dear；〃 she added；
kissing me； 〃you're in luck； it's a millionaire who makes your bed for
you。〃
〃And when shall you move into the house？〃 inquired Prudence。
〃As soon as possible。〃
〃Will you take your horses and carriage？〃
〃I shall take the whole house； and you can look after my place while I
am away。〃
A week later Marguerite was settled in her country house； and I was
installed at Point du Jour。
Then began an existence which I shall have some difficulty in
describing to you。 At first Marguerite could not break entirely with her
former habits； and； as the house was always en fete； all the women whom
she knew came to see her。 For a whole month there was not a day when
Marguerite had not eight or ten people to meals。 Prudence； on her side；
brought down all the people she knew； and did the honours of the house as
if the house belonged to her。
The duke's money paid for all that； as you may imagine； but from time
to time Prudence came to me； asking for a note for a thousand francs；
professedly on behalf of Marguerite。 You know I had won some money at
gambling； I therefore immediately handed over to Prudence what she
asked for Marguerite； and fearing lest she should require more than I
possessed； I borrowed at Paris a sum equal to that which I had already
borrowed and paid back。 I was then once more in possession of some ten
thousand francs； without reckoning my allowance。 However； Marguerite's
pleasure in seeing her friends was a little moderated when she saw the
expense which that pleasure entailed； and especially the necessity she was
sometimes in of asking me for money。 The duke； who had taken the house
in order that Marguerite might rest there； no longer visited it； fearing to
find himself in the midst of a large and merry company； by whom he did
not wish to be seen。 This came about through his having once arrived to
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dine tete…a…tete with Marguerite； and having fallen upon a party of fifteen；
who were still at lunch at an hour when he was prepared to sit down to
dinner。 He had unsuspectingly opened the dining…room door； and had been
greeted by a burst of laughter； and had had to retire precipitately before the
impertinent mirth of the women who were assembled there。
Marguerite rose from table； and joined the duke in the next room；
where she tried； as far as possible； to induce him to forget the incident； but
