scaramouche-第33章

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be　ignorant　of　them；　and　I　can't　think　who　is　so。。。　so　unfeeling　as
to　inform　you。　　But　since　you　are　informed；　at　least　you　should　be
modestly　blind　to　things　that　take　place　outside　the。。。　orbit　of　a
properly　conducted　demoiselle。〃

〃Will　they　still　be　outside　my　orbit　when　I　am　married？〃

〃If　you　are　wise。　　You　should　remain　without　knowledge　of　them。
It。。。　it　deflowers　your　innocence。　　I　would　not　for　the　world　that
M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　should　know　you　so　extraordinarily　instructed。
Had　you　been　properly　reared　in　a　convent　this　would　never　have
happened　to　you。〃

〃But　you　do　not　answer　me；　madame！〃　cried　Aline　in　despair。　　〃It　is
not　my　chastity　that　is　in　question；　but　that　of　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。〃

〃Chastity！〃　　Madame's　lips　trembled　with　horror。　　Horror　overspread
her　face。　　〃Wherever　did　you　learn　that　dreadful；　that　so　improper
word？〃

And　then　Mme。　de　Sautron　did　violence　to　her　feelings。　　She　realized
that　here　great　calm　and　prudence　were　required。　　〃My　child；　since
you　know　so　much　that　you　ought　not　to　know；　there　can　be　no　harm　in
my　adding　that　a　gentleman　must　have　these　little　distractions。〃

〃But　why；　madame？　　Why　is　it　so？〃

〃Ah；　mon　Dieu；　you　are　asking　me　riddles　of　nature。　　It　is　so
because　it　is　so。　　Because　men　are　like　that。〃

〃Because　men　are　beasts；　you　mean　…　which　is　what　I　began　by　asking
you。〃

〃You　are　incorrigibly　stupid；　Aline。〃

〃You　mean　that　I　do　not　see　things　as　you　do；　madame。　　I　am　not
over…expectant　as　you　appear　to　think；　yet　surely　I　have　the　right
to　expect　that　whilst　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　is　wooing　me；　he　shall
not　be　wooing　at　the　same　time　a　drab　of　the　theatre。　　I　feel　that
in　this　there　is　a　subtle　association　of　myself　with　that
unspeakable　creature　which　soils　and　insults　me。　　The　Marquis　is　a
dullard　whose　wooing　takes　the　form　at　best　of　stilted　compliments；
stupid　and　unoriginal。　　They　gain　nothing　when　they　fall　from　lips
still　warm　from　the　contamination　of　that　woman's　kisses。〃

So　utterly　scandalized　was　madame　that　for　a　moment　she　remained
speechless。　　Then　…

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　should　never　have　suspected　you　of
so　indelicate　an　imagination。〃

〃I　cannot　help　it；　madame。　　Each　time　his　lips　touch　my　fingers　I
find　myself　thinking　of　the　last　object　that　they　touched。　　I　at
once　retire　to　wash　my　hands。　　Next　time；　madame；　unless　you　are
good　enough　to　convey　my　message　to　him；　I　shall　call　for　water　and
wash　them　in　his　presence。〃

〃But　what　am　I　to　tell　him？　　How。。。　in　what　words　can　I　convey　such
a　message？〃　　Madame　was　aghast。

〃Be　frank　with　him；　madame。　　It　is　easiest　in　the　end。　　Tell　him
that　however　impure　may　have　been　his　life　in　the　past；　however
impure　he　intend　that　it　shall　be　in　the　future；　he　must　at　least
study　purity　whilst　approaching　with　a　view　to　marriage　a　virgin
who　is　herself　pure　and　without　stain。〃

Madame　recoiled；　and　put　her　hands　to　her　ears；　horror　stamped　on
her　handsome　face。　　Her　massive　bosom　heaved。

〃Oh；　how　can　you？〃　she　panted。　　〃How　can　you　make　use　of　such
terrible　expressions？　　Wherever　have　you　learnt　them？〃

〃In　church；〃　said　Aline。

〃Ah；　but　in　church　many　things　are　said　that。。。　that　one　would　not
dream　of　saying　in　the　world。　　My　dear　child；　how　could　I　possibly
say　such　a　thing　to　M。　le　Marquis？　　How　could　I　possibly？〃

〃Shall　I　say　it？〃

〃Aline！〃

〃Well；　there　it　is；〃　said　Aline。　　〃Something　must　be　done　to
shelter　me　from　insult。　　I　am　utterly　disgusted　with　M。　le　Marquis
　…　a　disgusting　man。　　And　however　fine　a　thing　it　may　be　to　become
Marquise　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；　why；　frankly；　I'd　sooner　marry　a
cobbler　who　practised　decency。〃

Such　was　her　vehemence　and　obvious　determination　that　Mme。　de　Sautron
fetched　herself　out　of　her　despair　to　attempt　persuasion。　　Aline　was
her　niece；　and　such　a　marriage　in　the　family　would　be　to　the　credit
of　the　whole　of　it。　　At　all　costs　nothing　must　frustrate　it。

〃Listen；　my　dear；〃　she　said。　　〃Let　us　reason。　　M。　le　Marquis　is　away
and　will　not　be　back　until　to…morrow。〃

〃True。　　And　I　know　where　he　has　gone　…　or　at　least　whom　he　has　gone
with。　　Mon　Dieu；　and　the　drab　has　a　father　and　a　lout　of　a　fellow
who　intends　to　make　her　his　wife；　and　neither　of　them　chooses　to　do
anything。　　I　suppose　they　agree　with　you；　madame；　that　a　great
gentleman　must　have　his　little　distractions。〃　　Her　contempt　was　as
scorching　as　a　thing　of　fire。　　〃However；　madame；　you　were　about　to
say？〃

〃That　on　the　day　after　to…morrow　you　are　returning　to　Gavrillac。
M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　will　most　likely　follow　at　his　leisure。〃

〃You　mean　when　this　dirty　candle　is　burnt　out？〃

〃Call　it　what　you　will。〃　　Madame；　you　see；　despaired　by　now　of
controlling　the　impropriety　of　her　niece's　expressions。　　〃At
Gavrillac　there　will　be　no　Mlle。　Binet。　　This　thing　will　be　in　the
past。　　It　is　unfortunate　that　he　should　have　met　her　at　such　a
moment。　　The　chit　is　very　attractive；　after　all。　　You　cannot　deny
that。　　And　you　must　make　allowances。〃

〃M。　le　Marquis　formally　proposed　to　me　a　week　ago。　　Partly　to
satisfy　the　wishes　of　the　family；　and　partly。。。　〃　　She　broke　off；
hesitating　a　moment；　to　resume　on　a　note　of　dull　pain；　〃Partly
because　it　does　not　seem　greatly　to　matter　whom　I　marry；　I　gave
him　my　consent。　　That　consent；　for　the　reasons　I　have　given　you；
madame；　I　desire　now　definitely　to　withdraw。〃

Madame　fell　into　agitation　of　the　wildest。　　〃Aline；　I　should　never
forgive　you！　　Your　uncle　Quintin　would　be　in　despair。　　You　do　not
know　what　you　are　saying；　what　a　wonderful　thing　you　are　refusing。
Have　you　no　sense　of　your　position；　of　the　station　into　which　you
were　born？〃

〃If　I　had　not；　madame；　I　should　have　made　an　end　long　since。　　If　I
have　tolerated　this　suit　for　a　single　moment；　it　is　because　I
realize　the　importance　of　a　suitable　marriage　in　the　worldly　sense。
But　I　ask　of　marriage　something　more；　and　Uncle　Quintin　has　placed
the　decision　in　my　hands。〃

〃God　forgive　him！〃　said　madame。　　And　then　she　hurried　on：　〃Leave
this　to　me　now；　Aline。　　Be　guided　by　me　…　oh；　be　guided　by　me！〃
Her　tone　was　beseeching。　　〃I　will　take　counsel　with　your　uncle
Charles。　　But　do　not　definitely　decide　until　this　unfortunate　affair
has　blown　over。　　Charles　will　know　how　to　arrange　it。　　M。　le　Marquis
shall　do　penance；　child；　since　your　tyranny　demands　it；　but　not　in
sackcloth　and　ashes。　　you'll　not　ask　so　much？〃

Aline　shrugged。　　〃I　ask　nothing　at　all；〃　she　said；　which　was　neither
assent　nor　dissent。

So　Mme。　de　Sautron　interviewed　her　husband；　a　slight；　middle…aged
man；　very　aristocratic　in　appearance　and　gifted　with　a　certain
shrewd　sense。　　She　took　with　him　precisely　the　tone　that　Aline
had　taken　with　herself　and　which　in　Aline　she　had　found　so
disconcertingly　indelicate。　　She　even　borrowed　several　of　Aline's
phrases。

The　result　was　that　on　the　Monday　afternoon　when　at　last　M。　de　La
Tour　d'Azyr's　returning　berline　drove　up　to　the　chateau；　he　was　met
by　M。　le　Comte　de　Sautron　who　desired　a　word　with　him　even　before
he　changed。

〃Gervais；　you're　a　fool；〃　was　the　excellent　opening　made　by　M。　le
Comte。

〃Charles；　you　give　me　no　news；〃　answered　M。　le　Marquis。　　〃Of　what
particular　folly　do　you　take　the　trouble　to　complain？〃

He　flung　himself　wearily　upon　a　sofa；　and　his　long　graceful　body
sprawling　there　he　looked　up　at　his　friend　with　a　tired　smile　on
that　nobly　handsome　pale　face　that　seemed　to　defy　the　onslaught　of
age。

〃Of　your　last。　　This　Binet　girl。〃

〃That！　　Pooh！　　An　incident；　hardly　a　folly。〃

〃A　folly　…　at　such　a　time；〃　Sautron　insisted。　　The　Marquis　looked
a　question。　　The　Count　answered　it。　　〃Aline；〃　said　he；　pregnantly。
〃She　knows。　　How　she　knows　I　can't　tell　you；　but　she　knows；　and　she
is　deeply　offended。〃

The　smile　perished　on　the　Marquis'　face。　　He　gathered　himself　up。

〃Offended？〃　said　he；　and　his　voice　was　anxious。

〃But　yes。　　You　know　what　she　is。　　You　know　the　ideals　she　has
formed。　　It　wounds　her　that　at　such　a　time　…　whilst　you　are　here
for　the　purpose　of　wooing　her　…　you　should　at　the　same　time　be
pursuing　this　affair　with　that　chit　of　a　Binet　girl。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　asked　La　Tour　d'Azyr。

〃She　has　confided　in　her　aunt。　　And　the　poor　child　seems　to　have
some　reason。　　She　says　she　will　not　tolerate　that　you　should　come
to　kiss　her　hand　with　lips　that　are　still　contaminated　from。。。　Oh；
you　understand。　　You　appreciate　the　impression　of　such　a　thing
upon　a　pure；　sensitive　girl　such　as　Aline。　　She　said　…　I　had　better
tell　you　…　that　the　next　time　you　kiss　her　hand；　she　will　call　for
water　and　wash　it　in　your　presence。〃

The　Marquis'　face　flamed　scarlet。　　He　rose。　　Knowing　his　violent；
intolerant　spirit；　M。　de　Sautron　was　prepared　for　an　outburst。　　But
no　outburst　came。　　The　Marquis　turned　away　from　him；　and　paced
slowly　to　the　window；　his　head　bowed；　his　hands　behind　his　back。
Halted　there　he　spoke；　without　turning；　his　voice　was　at　once
scornful　and　wistful。

〃You　are　right；　Charles；　I　am　a　fool　…　a　wicked　fool！　　I　have　just
enough　sense　left　to　perceive　it。　　It　is　the　way　I　have　lived；　I
suppose。　　I　have　never　known　the　need　to　deny　myself　anything　I
wanted。〃　　Then　suddenly　he　swung　round；　and　the　outburst　came。
〃But；　my　God；　I　want　Aline　as　I　have　never　wanted　anything　yet！　　I
think　I　should　kill　myself　in　rage　if　through　my　folly　I　should
have　lost　her。〃　　He　struck　his　brow　with　his　hand。　　〃I　am　a　beast！〃
he　said。　　〃I　should　have　known　that　if　that　sweet　saint　got　word　of
these　petty　devilries　of　mine　she　would　despise　me；　and　I　tell　you；
Charles；　I'd　go　through　fire　to　regain　her　respect。〃

〃I　hope　it　is　to　be　regained　on　easier　terms；〃　said　Charles；　and
then　to　ease　the　situation　which　began　to　irk　him　by　its　solemnity；
he　made　a　feeble　joke。　　〃It　is　merely　asked　of　you　that　you　refrain
from　going　through　certain　fires　that　are　not　accounted　by
mademoiselle　of　too　purifying　a　nature。〃

〃As　to　that　Binet　girl；　it　is　finished　…　finished；〃　said　the　Marquis。
　
〃I　congratulate　you。　　When　did　you　make　that　decision？〃
　
〃This　moment。　　I　would　to　God　I　had　made　it　twenty…four　hours　ago。
As　it　is…〃　he　shrugged　…　〃why；　twenty…four　hours　of　her　have　been
enough　for　me　as　they　would　have　been　for　any　man　…　a　mercenary；
self…seeking　little　baggage　with　the　soul　of　a　trull。　　Bah！〃　　He
shuddered　in　disgust　of　himself　and　her。
　
〃Ah！　　That　makes　it　easier　for　you；〃　said　M。　de　Sautron；　cynically。

Don't　say　it；　Charles。　　It　is　not　so。　　Had　you　been　less　of　a　fool；
you　would　have　warned　me　sooner。〃

〃I　may　prove　to　have　warned　you　soon　enough　if　you'll　profit　by
the　warning。〃

〃There　is　no　penance　I　will　not　do。　　I　will　prostrate　myself　at　her
feet。　　I　will　abase　myself　before　her。　　I　will　make　confession　in
the　proper　spirit　of　contrition；　and　Heaven　helping　me；　I'll　keep
to　my　purpose　of　amendment　for　her　sweet　sake。〃　　He　was　tragically
in　earnest。

To　M。　de　Sautron；　who　had　never　seen　him　other　than　self…contained；
supercilious；　and　mocking；　this　was　an　amazing　revelation。　　He
shrank　from　it　almost；　it　gave　him　the　feeling　of　prying；　of　peeping
through　a　keyhole。　　He　slapped　his　friend's　shoulder。

〃My　dear　Gervais；　here　is　a　magnificently　romantic　mood。　　Enough
said。　　Keep　to　it；　and　I　promise　yo