scaramouche-第34章

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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　you　that　all　will　presently　be　well。
I　will　be　your　ambassador；　and　you　shall　have　no　cause　to　complain。〃

〃But　may　I　not　go　to　her　myself？〃

〃If　you　are　wise　you　will　at　once　efface　yourself。　　Write　to　her　if
you　will　…　make　your　act　of　contrition　by　letter。　　I　will　explain
why　you　have　gone　without　seeing　her。　　I　will　tell　her　that　you　did
so　upon　my　advice；　and　I　will　do　it　tactfully。　　I　am　a　good　diplomat；
Gervais。　　Trust　me。〃

M。　le　Marquis　raised　his　head；　and　showed　a　face　that　pain　was
searing。　　He　held　out　his　hand。　　〃Very　well；　Charles。　　Serve　me　in
this；　and　count　me　your　friend　in　all　things。〃



CHAPTER　XI

THE　FRACAS　AT　THE　THEATRE　FEYDAU


Leaving　his　host　to　act　as　his　plenipotentiary　with　Mademoiselle　de
Kercadiou；　and　to　explain　to　her　that　it　was　his　profound　contrition
that　compelled　him　to　depart　without　taking　formal　leave　of　her；　the
Marquis　rolled　away　from　Sautron　in　a　cloud　of　gloom。　　Twenty…four
hours　with　La　Binet　had　been　more　than　enough　for　a　man　of　his
fastidious　and　discerning　taste。　　He　looked　back　upon　the　episode
with　nausea　…　the　inevitable　psychological　reaction　…　marvelling
at　himself　that　until　yesterday　he　should　have　found　her　so
desirable；　and　cursing　himself　that　for　the　sake　of　that　ephemeral
and　worthless　gratification　he　should　seriously　have　imperilled　his
chances　of　winning　Mademoiselle　de　Kercadiou　to　wife。　　There　is；
after　all；　nothing　very　extraordinary　in　his　frame　of　mind；　so　that
I　need　not　elaborate　it　further。　　It　resulted　from　the　conflict
between　the　beast　and　the　angel　that　go　to　make　up　the　composition
of　every　man。

The　Chevalier　de　Chabrillane　…　who　in　reality　occupied　towards　the
Marquis　a　position　akin　to　that　of　gentleman…in…waiting　…　sat
opposite　to　him　in　the　enormous　travelling　berline。　　A　small　folding
table　had　been　erected　between　them；　and　the　Chevalier　suggested
piquet。　　But　M。　le　Marquis　was　in　no　humour　for　cards。　　His　thoughts
absorbed　him。　As　they　were　rattling　over　the　cobbles　of　Nantes'
streets；　he　remembered　a　promise　to　La　Binet　to　witness　her
performance　that　night　in　〃The　Faithless　Lover。〃　　And　now　he　was
running　away　from　her。　　The　thought　was　repugnant　to　him　on　two
scores。　　He　was　breaking　his　pledged　word；　and　he　was　acting　like　a
coward。　　And　there　was　more　than　that。　　He　had　led　the　mercenary
little　strumpet　…　it　was　thus　he　thought　of　her　at　present；　and
with　some　justice　…　to　expect　favours　from　him　in　addition　to　the
lavish　awards　which　already　he　had　made　her。　　The　baggage　had　almost
sought　to　drive　a　bargain　with　him　as　to　her　future。　　He　was　to　take
her　to　Paris；　put　her　into　her　own　furniture　…　as　the　expression
ran；　and　still　runs　…　and　under　the　shadow　of　his　powerful
protection　see　that　the　doors　of　the　great　theatres　of　the　capital
should　be　opened　to　her　talents。　　He　had　not　…　he　was　thankful　to
reflect　…　exactly　committed　himself。　　But　neither　had　he　definitely
refused　her。　　It　became　necessary　now　to　come　to　an　understanding；
since　he　was　compelled　to　choose　between　his　trivial　passion　for
her　…　a　passion　quenched　already　…　and　his　deep；　almost　spiritual
devotion　to　Mademoiselle　de　Kercadiou。

His　honour；　he　considered；　demanded　of　him　that　he　should　at　once
deliver　himself　from　a　false　position。　　La　Binet　would　make　a　scene；
of　course；　but　he　knew　the　proper　specific　to　apply　to　hysteria　of
that　nature。　　Money；　after　all；　has　its　uses。

He　pulled　the　cord。　　The　carriage　rolled　to　a　standstill；　a　footman
appeared　at　the　door。

〃To　the　Theatre　Feydau；〃　said　he。

The　footman　vanished　and　the　berline　rolled　on。　　M。　de　Chabrillane
laughed　cynically。

〃I'll　trouble　you　not　to　be　amused；〃　snapped　the　Marquis。　　〃You
don't　understand。〃　　Thereafter　he　explained　himself。　　It　was　a　rare
condescension　in　him。　　But；　then；　he　could　not　bear　to　be
misunderstood　in　such　a　matter。　　Chabrillane　grew　serious　in
reflection　of　the　Marquis'　extreme　seriousness。

〃Why　not　write？〃　he　suggested。　　〃Myself；　I　confess　that　I　should
find　it　easier。

Nothing　could　better　have　revealed　M。　le　Marquis'　state　of　mind
than　his　answer。

〃Letters　are　liable　both　to　miscarriage　and　to　misconstruction。
Two　risks　I　will　not　run。　　If　she　did　not　answer；　I　should　never
know　which　had　been　incurred。　　And　I　shall　have　no　peace　of　mind
until　I　know　that　I　have　set　a　term　to　this　affair。　　The　berline
can　wait　while　we　are　at　the　theatre。　　We　will　go　on　afterwards。
We　will　travel　all　night　if　necessary。〃

〃Peste！〃　said　M。　de　Chabrillane　with　a　grimace。　　But　that　was　all。

The　great　travelling　carriage　drew　up　at　the　lighted　portals　of　the
Feydau；　and　M。　le　Marquis　stepped　out。　　He　entered　the　theatre　with
Chabrillane；　all　unconsciously　to　deliver　himself　into　the　hands　of
Andre…Louis。

Andre…Louis　was　in　a　state　of　exasperation　produced　by　Climene's
long　absence　from　Nantes　in　the　company　of　M。　le　Marquis；　and　fed
by　the　unspeakable　complacency　with　which　M。　Binet　regarded　that
event　of　quite　unmistakable　import。

However　much　he　might　affect　the　frame　of　mind　of　the　stoics；　and
seek　to　judge　with　a　complete　detachment；　in　the　heart　and　soul　of
him　Andre…Louis　was　tormented　and　revolted。　　It　was　not　Climene　he
blamed。　　He　had　been　mistaken　in　her。　　She　was　just　a　poor　weak
vessel　driven　helplessly　by　the　first　breath；　however　foul；　that
promised　her　advancement。　　She　suffered　from　the　plague　of　greed；
and　he　congratulated　himself　upon　having　discovered　it　before
making　her　his　wife。　　He　felt　for　her　now　nothing　but　a　deal　of
pity　and　some　contempt。　　The　pity　was　begotten　of　the　love　she　had
lately　inspired　in　him。　　It　might　be　likened　to　the　dregs　of　love；
all　that　remained　after　the　potent　wine　of　it　had　been　drained　off。
His　anger　he　reserved　for　her　father　and　her　seducer。

The　thoughts　that　were　stirring　in　him　on　that　Monday　morning；　when
it　was　discovered　that　Climene　had　not　yet　returned　from　her
excursion　of　the　previous　day　in　the　coach　of　M。　le　Marquis；　were
already　wicked　enough　without　the　spurring　they　received　from　the
distraught　Leandre。

Hitherto　the　attitude　of　each　of　these　men　towards　the　other　had
been　one　of　mutual　contempt。　　The　phenomenon　has　frequently　been
observed　in　like　cases。　　Now；　what　appeared　to　be　a　common
misfortune　brought　them　into　a　sort　of　alliance。　　So；　at　least；　it
seemed　to　Leandre　when　he　went　in　quest　of　Andre…Louis；　who　with
apparent　unconcern　was　smoking　a　pipe　upon　the　quay　immediately
facing　the　inn。

〃Name　of　a　pig！〃　said　Leandre。　　〃How　can　you　take　your　ease　and
smoke　at　such　a　time？〃

Scaramouche　surveyed　the　sky。　　〃I　do　not　find　it　too　cold；〃　said
he。　　〃The　sun　is　shining。　　I　am　very　well　here。〃

〃Do　I　talk　of　the　weather？〃　Leandre　was　very　excited。

〃Of　what；　then？〃

〃Of　Climene；　of　course。〃

〃Oh！　　The　lady　has　ceased　to　interest　me；〃　he　lied。

Leandre　stood　squarely　in　front　of　him；　a　handsome　figure　handsomely
dressed　in　these　days；　his　hair　well　powdered；　his　stockings　of　silk。
His　face　was　pale；　his　large　eyes　looked　larger　than　usual。

〃Ceased　to　interest　you？　　Are　you　not　to　marry　her？〃　　Andre…Louis
expelled　a　cloud　of　smoke。　　〃You　cannot　wish　to　be　offensive。　　Yet
you　almost　suggest　that　I　live　on　other　men's　leavings。〃

〃My　God！〃　said　Leandre；　overcome；　and　he　stared　awhile。　　Then　he
burst　out　afresh。　　〃Are　you　quite　heartless？　　Are　you　always
Scaramouche？〃

〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do？〃　asked　Andre…Louis；　evincing　surprise
in　his　own　turn；　but　faintly。

〃I　do　not　expect　you　to　let　her　go　without　a　struggle。〃

〃But　she　has　gone　already。〃　　Andre…Louis　pulled　at　his　pipe　a
moment；　what　time　Leandre　clenched　and　unclenched　his　hands　in
impotent　rage。　　〃And　to　what　purpose　struggle　against　the
inevitable？　　Did　you　struggle　when　I　took　her　from　you？〃

〃She　was　not　mine　to　be　taken　from　me。　　I　but　aspired；　and　you　won
the　race。　　But　even　had　it　been　otherwise　where　is　the　comparison？
That　was　a　thing　in　honour；　this　…　this　is　hell。〃

His　emotion　moved　Andre…Louis。　　He　took　Leandre's　arm。　　〃You're　a
good　fellow；　Leandre。　　I　am　glad　I　intervened　to　save　you　from
your　fate。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　love　her！〃　cried　the　other；　passionately。　　〃You　never
did。　　You　don't　know　what　it　means　to　love；　or　you'd　not　talk　like
this。　　My　God！　　if　she　had　been　my　affianced　wife　and　this　had
happened；　I　should　have　killed　the　man　…　killed　him！　　Do　you　hear
me？　　But　you。。。　　Oh；　you；　you　come　out　here　and　smoke；　and　take　the
air；　and　talk　of　her　as　another　man's　leavings。　　I　wonder　I　didn't
strike　you　for　the　word。〃

He　tore　his　arm　from　the　other's　grip；　and　looked　almost　as　if　he
would　strike　him　now。

〃You　should　have　done　it；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃It's　in　your　part。〃

With　an　imprecation　Leandre　turned　on　his　heel　to　go。　　Andre…Louis
arrested　his　departure。

〃A　moment；　my　friend。　　Test　me　by　yourself。　　Would　you　marry　her
now？〃

〃Would　I？〃　　The　young　man's　eyes　blazed　with　passion。　　〃Would　I？
Let　her　say　that　she　will　marry　me；　and　I　am　her　slave。〃

〃Slave　is　the　right　word　…　a　slave　in　hell。〃

〃It　would　never　be　hell　to　me　where　she　was；　whatever　she　had　done。
I　love　her；　man；　I　am　not　like　you。　　I　love　her；　do　you　hear　me？〃

〃I　have　known；　it　for　some　time；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃Though　I
didn't　suspect　your　attack　of　the　disease　to　be　quite　so　violent。
Well；　God　knows　I　loved　her；　too；　quite　enough　to　share　your　thirst
for　killing。　　For　myself；　the　blue　blood　of　La　Tour　d'Azyr　would
hardly　quench　this　thirst。　　I　should　like　to　add　to　it　the　dirty
fluid　that　flows　in　the　veins　of　the　unspeakable　Binet。〃

For　a　second　his　emotion　had　been　out　of　hand；　and　he　revealed　to
Leandre　in　the　mordant　tone　of　those　last　words　something　of　the
fires　that　burned　under　his　icy　exterior。　　The　young　man　caught
him　by　the　hand。

〃I　knew　you　were　acting；〃　said　he。　　〃You　feel　…　you　feel　as　I　do。〃

〃Behold　us；　fellows　in　viciousness。　　I　have　betrayed　myself；　it
seems。　　Well；　and　what　now？　　Do　you　want　to　see　this　pretty　Marquis
torn　limb　from　limb？　　I　might　afford　you　the　spectacle。〃

〃What？〃　　Leandre　stared；　wondering　was　this　another　of　Scaramouche's
cynicisms。

〃It　isn't　really　difficult　provided　I　have　aid。　　I　require　only　a
little。　　Will　you　lend　it　me？〃

〃Anything　you　ask；〃　Leandre　exploded。　　〃My　life　if　you　require　it。〃

Andre…Louis　took　his　arm　again。　　〃Let　us　walk；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will
instruct　you。〃

When　they　came　back　the　company　was　already　at　dinner。　　Mademoiselle
had　not　yet　returned。　　Sullenness　presided　at　the　table。　　Columbine
and　Madame　wore　anxious　expressions。　　The　fact　was　that　relations
between　Binet　and　his　troupe　were　daily　growing　more　strained。

Andre…Louis　and　Leandre　went　each　to　his　accustomed　place。　　Binet's
little　eyes　followed　them　with　a　malicious　gleam；　his　thick　lips
pouted　into　a　crooked　smile。

〃You　two　are　grown　very　friendly　of　a　sudden；〃　he　mocked。

〃You　are　a　man　of　discernment；　Binet；〃　said　Scaramouche；　the　cold
loathing　of　his　voice　itself　an　insult。　　〃Perhaps　you　discern　the
reason？〃

〃It　is　readily　discerned。〃

〃Regale　the　company　with