scaramouche-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


respect。　　To…night　she　was　recklessly　gay；　impudent；　almost　wanton。

He　spoke　of　it　gently　to　her　as　they　walked　home　together；
counselling　more　prudence　in　the　future。

〃We　are　not　married　yet；〃　she　told　him；　tartly。　　〃Wait　until　then
before　you　criticize　my　conduct。〃

〃I　trust　that　there　will　be　no　occasion　then；〃　said　he。

〃You　trust？　　Ah；　yes。　　You　are　very　trusting。〃

〃Climene；　I　have　offended　you。　　I　am　sorry。〃

〃It　is　nothing；〃　said　she。　　〃You　are　what　you　are。　　Still　was　he　not
concerned。　　He　perceived　the　source　of　her　ill…humour；　understood；
whilst　deploring　it；　and；　because　he　understood；　forgave。　　He
perceived　also　that　her　ill…humour　was　shared　by　her　father；　and　by
this　he　was　frankly　amused。　　Towards　M。　Binet　a　tolerant　contempt
was　the　only　feeling　that　complete　acquaintance　could　beget。　　As　for
the　rest　of　the　company；　they　were　disposed　to　be　very　kindly　towards
Scaramouche。　　It　was　almost　as　if　in　reality　he　had　fallen　from　the
high　estate　to　which　their　own　imaginations　had　raised　him；　or
possibly　it　was　because　they　saw　the　effect　which　that　fall　from　his
temporary　and　fictitious　elevation　had　produced　upon　Climene。

Leandre　alone　made　himself　an　exception。　　His　habitual　melancholy
seemed　to　be　dispelled　at　last；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　now　with
malicious　satisfaction　when　they　rested　upon　Scaramouche；　whom
occasionally　he　continued　to　address　with　sly　mockery　as　〃mon
prince。〃

On　the　morrow　Andre…Louis　saw　but　little　of　Climene。　　This　was　not
in　itself　extraordinary；　for　he　was　very　hard　at　work　again；　with
preparations　now　for　〃Figaro…Scaramouche〃　which　was　to　be　played
on　Saturday。　　Also；　in　addition　to　his　manifold　theatrical
occupations；　he　now　devoted　an　hour　every　morning　to　the　study　of
fencing　in　an　academy　of　arms。　　This　was　done　not　only　to　repair
an　omission　in　his　education；　but　also；　and　chiefly；　to　give　him
added　grace　and　poise　upon　the　stage。　　He　found　his　mind　that
morning　distracted　by　thoughts　of　both　Climene　and　Aline。　　And
oddly　enough　it　was　Aline　who　provided　the　deeper　perturbation。
Climene's　attitude　he　regarded　as　a　passing　phase　which　need　not
seriously　engage　him。　　But　the　thought　of　Aline's　conduct　towards
him　kept　rankling；　and　still　more　deeply　rankled　the　thought　of
her　possible　betrothal　to　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。

This　it　was　that　brought　forcibly　to　his　mind　the　self…imposed　but
by　now　half…forgotten　mission　that　he　had　made　his　own。　　He　had
boasted　that　he　would　make　the　voice　which　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　had
sought　to　silence　ring　through　the　length　and　breadth　of　the　land。
And　what　had　he　done　of　all　this　that　he　had　boasted？　　He　had
incited　the　mob　of　Rennes　and　the　mob　of　Nantes　in　such　terms　as
poor　Philippe　might　have　employed；　and　then　because　of　a　hue　and
cry　he　had　fled　like　a　cur　and　taken　shelter　in　the　first　kennel
that　offered；　there　to　lie　quiet　and　devote　himself　to　other
things　…　self…seeking　things。　　What　a　fine　contrast　between　the
promise　and　the　fulfilment！

Thus　Andre…Louis　to　himself　in　his　self…contempt。　　And　whilst　he
trifled　away　his　time　and　played　Scaramouche；　and　centred　all　his
hopes　in　presently　becoming　the　rival　of　such　men　as　Chenier　and
Mercier；　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　went　his　proud　ways　unchallenged
and　wrought　his　will。　　It　was　idle　to　tell　himself　that　the　seed
he　had　sown　was　bearing　fruit。　　That　the　demands　he　had　voiced　in
Nantes　for　the　Third　Estate　had　been　granted　by　M。　Necker；　thanks
largely　to　the　commotion　which　his　anonymous　speech　had　made。　　That
was　not　his　concern　or　his　mission。　　It　was　no　part　of　his　concern
to　set　about　the　regeneration　of　mankind；　or　even　the　regeneration
of　the　social　structure　of　France。　　His　concern　was　to　see　that　M。
de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　paid　to　the　uttermost　liard　for　the　brutal　wrong
he　had　done　Philippe　de　Vilmorin。　　And　it　did　not　increase　his
self…respect　to　find　that　the　danger　in　which　Aline　stood　of　being
married　to　the　Marquis　was　the　real　spur　to　his　rancour　and　to
remembrance　of　his　vow。　　He　was　…　too　unjustly；　perhaps　…　disposed
to　dismiss　as　mere　sophistries　his　own　arguments　that　there　was
nothing　he　could　do；　that；　in　fact；　he　had　but　to　show　his　head　to
find　himself　going　to　Rennes　under　arrest　and　making　his　final　exit
from　the　world's　stage　by　way　of　the　gallows。

It　is　impossible　to　read　that　part　of　his　〃Confessions〃　without
feeling　a　certain　pity　for　him。　　You　realize　what　must　have　been
his　state　of　mind。　　You　realize　what　a　prey　he　was　to　emotions　so
conflicting；　and　if　you　have　the　imagination　that　will　enable　you
to　put　yourself　in　his　place；　you　will　also　realize　how　impossible
was　any　decision　save　the　one　to　which　he　says　he　came；　that　he
would　move；　at　the　first　moment　that　he　perceived　in　what　direction
it　would　serve　his　real　aims　to　move。

It　happened　that　the　first　person　he　saw　when　he　took　the　stage　on
that　Thursday　evening　was　Aline；　the　second　was　the　Marquis　de　La
Tour　d'Azyr。　　They　occupied　a　box　on　the　right　of；　and　immediately
above；　the　stage。　　There　were　others　with　them　…　notably　a　thin；
elderly；　resplendent　lady　whom　Andre…Louis　supposed　to　be　Madame
la　Comtesse　de　Sautron。　　But　at　the　time　he　had　no　eyes　for　any　but
those　two；　who　of　late　had　so　haunted　his　thoughts。　　The　sight　of
either　of　them　would　have　been　sufficiently　disconcerting。　　The
sight　of　both　together　very　nearly　made　him　forget　the　purpose　for
which　he　had　come　upon　the　stage。　　Then　he　pulled　himself　together；
and　played。　　He　played；　he　says；　with　an　unusual　nerve；　and　never
in　all　that　brief　but　eventful　career　of　his　was　he　more　applauded。

That　was　the　evening's　first　shock。　　The　next　came　after　the　second
act。　　Entering　the　green…room　he　found　it　more　thronged　than　usual；
and　at　the　far　end　with　Climene；　over　whom　he　was　bending　from　his
fine　height；　his　eyes　intent　upon　her　face；　what　time　his　smiling
lips　moved　in　talk；　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。　　He　had　her　entirely　to
himself；　a　privilege　none　of　the　men　of　fashion　who　were　in　the
habit　of　visiting　the　coulisse　had　yet　enjoyed。　　Those　lesser
gentlemen　had　all　withdrawn　before　the　Marquis；　as　jackals　withdraw
before　the　lion。

Andre…Louis　stared　a　moment；　stricken。　　Then　recovering　from　his
surprise　he　became　critical　in　his　study　of　the　Marquis。　　He
considered　the　beauty　and　grace　and　splendour　of　him；　his　courtly
air；　his　complete　and　unshakable　self…possession。　　But　more　than
all　he　considered　the　expression　of　the　dark　eyes　that　were　devouring
Climene's　lovely　face；　and　his　own　lips　tightened。

M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　never　heeded　him　or　his　stare；　nor；　had　he　done
so；　would　he　have　known　who　it　was　that　looked　at　him　from　behind
the　make…up　of　Scaramouche；　nor；　again；　had　he　known；　would　he　have
been　in　the　least　troubled　or　concerned。

Andre…Louis　sat　down　apart；　his　mind　in　turmoil。　　Presently　he　found
a　mincing　young　gentleman　addressing　him；　and　made　shift　to　answer
as　was　expected。　　Climene　having　been　thus　sequestered；　and　Columbine
being　already　thickly　besieged　by　gallants；　the　lesser　visitors　had
to　content　themselves　with　Madame　and　the　male　members　of　the　troupe。
M。　Binet；　indeed；　was　the　centre　of　a　gay　cluster　that　shook　with
laughter　at　his　sallies。　　He　seemed　of　a　sudden　to　have　emerged　from
the　gloom　of　the　last　two　days　into　high　good…humour；　and　Scaramouche
observed　how　persistently　his　eyes　kept　flickering　upon　his　daughter
and　her　splendid　courtier。

That　night　there；　were　high　words　between　Andre…Louis　and　Climene；
the　high　words　proceeding　from　Climene。　　When　Andre…Louis　again；
and　more　insistently；　enjoined　prudence　upon　his　betrothed；　and
begged　her　to　beware　how　far　she　encouraged　the　advances　of　such
a　man　as　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　she　became　roundly　abusive。　　She
shocked　and　stunned　him　by　her　virulently　shrewish　tone；　and　her
still　more　unexpected　force　of　invective。

He　sought　to　reason　with　her；　and　finally　she　came　to　certain
terms　with　him。

〃If　you　have　become　betrothed　to　me　simply　to　stand　as　an　obstacle
in　my　path；　the　sooner　we　make　an　end　the　better。〃

〃You　do　not　love　me　then；　Climene？〃

〃Love　has　nothing　to　do　with　it。　　I'll　not　tolerate　your　insensate
jealousy。　　A　girl　in　the　theatre　must　make　it　her　business　to　accept
homage　from　all。〃

〃Agreed；　and　there　is　no　harm；　provided　she　gives　nothing　in
exchange。〃

White…faced；　with　flaming　eyes　she　turned　on　him　at　that。

〃Now；　what　exactly　do　you　mean？〃

〃My　meaning　is　clear。　　A　girl　in　your　position　may　receive　all　the
homage　that　is　offered；　provided　she　receives　it　with　a　dignified
aloofness　implying　clearly　that　she　has　no　favours　to　bestow　in
return　beyond　the　favour　of　her　smile。　　If　she　is　wise　she　will
see　to　it　that　the　homage　is　always　offered　collectively　by　her
admirers；　and　that　no　single　one　amongst　them　shall　ever　have　the
privilege　of　approaching　her　alone。　　If　she　is　wise　she　will　give
no　encouragement；　nourish　no　hopes　that　it　may　afterwards　be　beyond
her　power　to　deny　realization。〃

〃How？　　You　dare？〃

〃I　know　my　world。　　And　I　know　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；〃　he　answered　her。
〃He　is　a　man　without　charity；　without　humanity　almost；　a　man　who
takes　what　he　wants　wherever　he　finds　it　and　whether　it　is　given
willingly　or　not；　a　man　who　reckons　nothing　of　the　misery　he
scatters　on　his　self…indulgent　way；　a　man　whose　only　law　is　force。
Ponder　it；　Climene；　and　ask　yourself　if　I　do　you　less　than　honour　in
warning　you。〃

He　went　out　on　that；　feeling　a　degradation　in　continuing　the　subject。

The　days　that　followed　were　unhappy　days　for　him；　and　for　at　least
one　other。　　That　other　was　Leandre；　who　was　cast　into　the　profoundest
dejection　by　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr's　assiduous　attendance　upon　Climene。
The　Marquis　was　to　be　seen　at　every　performance；　a　box　was　perpetually
reserved　for　him；　and　invariably　he　came　either　alone　or　else　with　his
cousin　M。　de　Chabrillane。

On　Tuesday　of　the　following　week；　Andre…Louis　went　out　alone　early
in　the　morning。　　He　was　out　of　temper；　fretted　by　an　overwhelming
sense　of　humiliation；　and　he　hoped　to　clear　his　mind　by　walking。
In　turning　the　corner　of　the　Place　du　Bouffay　he　ran　into　a　slightly
built；　sallow…complexioned　gentleman　very　neatly　dressed　in　black；
wearing　a　tie…wig　under　a　round　hat。　　The　man　fell　back　at　sight　of
him；　levelling　a　spy…glass；　then　hailed　him　in　a　voice　that　rang
with　amazement。

〃Moreau！　　Where　the　devil　have　you　been　hiding　your…self　these　months？〃

It　was　Le　Chapelier；　the　lawyer；　the　leader　of　the　Literary　Chamber
of　Rennes。

〃Behind　the　skirts　of　Thespis；〃　said　Scaramouche。

〃I　don't　understand。〃

〃I　didn't　intend　that　you　should。　　What　of　yourself；　Isaac？　　And
what　of　the　world　which　seems　to　have　been　standing　still　of　late？〃

〃Standing　still！〃　Le　Chapelier　laughed。　　〃But　where　have　you　been；
then？　　Standing　still！〃　　He　pointed　across　the　square　to　a　caf？
under　the　shadow　of　the　gloomy　prison。　　〃Let　us　go　and　drink　a
bavaroise。　　You　are　of　all　men　the　man　we　want；　the　man　we　have
been　seeking　everywhere；　and　…　behold！　　…　you　drop　from　the　skies
into　my　path。〃

They　crossed　the　square　and　entered　the　caf？

〃So　you　think　the　world　has　been　standing　still！　　Dieu　de　Dieu！　　I
suppose　you　haven't　hear