scaramouche-第45章

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receive　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　again！　　And　then　they　pressed　this
explanation　upon　me。　　For　a　long　time　I　would　not　believe　it。〃

〃So　that　you　believe　it　now；〃　said　Andre　quickly。　　〃Why？〃

〃I　have　not　said　that　I　believe　it　now。　　But。。。　but。。。　neither　can
I　disbelieve。　　Since　we　came　to　Meudon　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　has　been
here；　and　himself　he　has　sworn　to　me　that　it　was　so。〃

〃Oh；　if　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　has　sworn。。。　〃　　Andre…Louis　was
laughing　on　a　bitter　note　of　sarcasm。

〃Have　you　ever　known　him　lie？〃　she　cut　in　sharply。　　That　checked
him。　　〃M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　is；　after　all；　a　man　of　honour；　and　men
of　honour　never　deal　in　falsehood。　　Have　you　ever　known　him　do　so；
that　you　should　sneer　as　you　have　done？〃

〃No；〃　he　confessed。　　Common　justice　demanded　that　he　should　admit
that　virtue　at　least　in　his　enemy。　　〃I　have　not　known　him　lie；　it
is　true。　　His　kind　is　too　arrogant；　too　self…confident　to　have
recourse　to　untruth。　　But　I　have　known　him　do　things　as　vile。。。　〃

〃Nothing　is　as　vile；〃　she　interrupted；　speaking　from　the　code　by
which　she　had　been　reared。　　〃It　is　for　liars　only　…　who　are　first
cousin　to　thieves　…　that　there　is　no　hope。　　It　is　in　falsehood　only
that　there　is　real　loss　of　honour。〃

〃You　are　defending　that　satyr；　I　think；〃　he　said　frostily。

〃I　desire　to　be　just。〃

〃Justice　may　seem　to　you　a　different　matter　when　at　last　you　shall
have　resolved　yourself　to　become　Marquise　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr。〃　　He
spoke　bitterly。

〃I　don't　think　that　I　shall　ever　take　that　resolve。〃

〃But　you　are　still　not　sure　…　in　spite　of　everything。〃

〃Can　one　ever　be　sure　of　anything　in　this　world？〃

〃Yes。　　One　can　be　sure　of　being　foolish。〃

Either　she　did　not　hear　or　did　not　heed　him。

〃You　do　not　of　your　own　knowledge　know　that　it　was　not　as　M。　de　La
Tour　d'Azyr　asserts　…　that　he　went　to　the　Feydau　that　night？〃

〃I　don't；〃　he　admitted。　　〃It　is　of　course　possible。　　But　does　it
matter？〃

〃It　might　matter。　　Tell　me；　what　became　of　La　Binet　after　all？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃You　don't　know？〃　She　turned　to　consider　him。　　〃And　you　can　say
it　with　that　indifference！　　I　thought。。。　I　thought　you　loved　her；
Andre〃

〃So　did　I；　for　a　little　while。　　I　was　mistaken。　　It　required　a　La
Tour　d'Azyr　to　disclose　the　truth　to　me。　　They　have　their　uses；
these　gentlemen。　　They　help　stupid　fellows　like　myself　to　perceive
important　truths。　　I　was　fortunate　that　revelation　in　my　case
preceded　marriage。　　I　can　now　look　back　upon　the　episode　with
equanimity　and　thankfulness　for　my　near　escape　from　the　consequences
of　what　was　no　more　than　an　aberration　of　the　senses。　　It　is　a
thing　commonly　confused　with　love。　　The　experience；　as　you　see；　was
very　instructive。〃

She　looked　at　him　in　frank　surprise。

〃Do　you　know；　Andre；　I　sometimes　think　that　you　have　no　heart。〃

〃Presumably　because　I　sometimes　betray　intelligence。　　And　what　of
yourself；　Aline？　　What　of　your　own　attitude　from　the　outset　where
M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　is　concerned？　　Does　that　show　heart？　　If　I
were　to　tell　you　what　it　really　shows；　we　should　end　by
quarrelling　again；　and　God　knows　I　can't　afford　to　quarrel　with
you　now。　　I。。。　I　shall　take　another　way。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　nothing　at　the　moment；　for　you　are　not　in　any　danger　of
marrying　that　animal。〃

〃And　if　I　were？〃

〃Ah！　　In　that　case　affection　for　you　would　discover　to　me　some
means　of　preventing　it　…　unless。。　　。〃　　　He　paused。

〃Unless？〃　she　demanded；　challengingly；　drawn　to　the　full　of　her
sort　height；　her　eyes　imperious。

〃Unless　you　could　also　tell　me　that　you　loved　him；〃　said　he　simply；
whereat　she　was　as　suddenly　and　most　oddly　softened。　　And　then　he
added；　shaking　his　head：　〃But　that　of　course　is　impossible。〃

〃Why？〃　she　asked　him；　quite　gently　now。

〃Because　you　are　what　you　are；　Aline　…　utterly　good　and　pure　and
adorable。　　Angels　do　not　mate　with　devils。　　His　wife　you　might
become；　but　never　his　mate；　Aline　…　never。〃

They　had　reached　the　wrought…iron　gates　at　the　end　of　the　avenue。
Through　these　they　beheld　the　waiting　yellow　chaise　which　had
brought　Andre…Louis。　　From　near　at　hand　came　the　creak　of　other
wheels；　the　beat　of　other　hooves；　and　now　another　vehicle　came　in
sight；　and　drew　to　a　stand…still　beside　the　yellow　chaise　…　a
handsome　equipage　with　polished　mahogany　panels　on　which　the　gold
and　azure　of　armorial　bearings　flashed　brilliantly　in　the　sunlight。
A　footman　swung　to　earth　to　throw　wide　the　gates；　but　in　that　moment
the　lady　who　occupied　the　carriage；　perceiving　Aline；　waved　to　her
and　issued　a　command。



CHAPTER　V

MADAME　DE　PLOUGASTEL


The　postilion　drew　rein；　and　the　footman　opened　the　door；　letting
down　the　steps　and　proffering　his　arm　to　his　mistress　to　assist　her
to　alight；　since　that　was　the　wish　she　had　expressed。　　Then　he
opened　one　wing　of　the　iron　gates；　and　held　it　for　her。　　She　was　a
woman　of　something　more　than　forty；　who　once　must　have　been　very
lovely；　who　was　very　lovely　still　with　the　refining　quality　that
age　brings　to　some　women。　　Her　dress　and　carriage　alike　advertised
great　rank。

〃I　take　my　leave　here；　since　you　have　a　visitor；〃　said　Andre…Louis。

〃But　it　is　an　old　acquaintance　of　your　own；　Andre。　　You　remember
Mme。　la　Comtesse　de　Plougastel？〃

He　looked　at　the　approaching　lady；　whom　Aline　was　now　hastening
forward　to　meet；　and　because　she　was　named　to　him　he　recognized　her。
He　must；　he　thought；　had　he　but　looked；　have　recognized　her　without
prompting　anywhere　at　any　time；　and　this　although　it　was　some
sixteen　years　since　last　he　had　seen　her。　　The　sight　of　her　now
brought　it　all　back　to　him　…　a　treasured　memory　that　had　never
permitted　itself　to　be　entirely　overlaid　by　subsequent　events。

When　he　was　a　boy　of　ten；　on　the　eve　of　being　sent　to　school　at
Rennes；　she　had　come　on　a　visit　to　his　godfather；　who　was　her
cousin。　　It　happened　that　at　the　time　he　was　taken　by　Rabouillet
to　the　Manor　of　Gavrillac；　and　there　he　had　been　presented　to　Mme。
de　Plougastel。　　The　great　lady；　in　all　the　glory　then　of　her
youthful　beauty；　with　her　gentle；　cultured　voice　…　so　cultured
that　she　had　seemed　to　speak　a　language　almost　unknown　to　the
little　Breton　lad　…　and　her　majestic　air　of　the　great　world；　had
scared　him　a　little　at　first。　　Very　gently　had　she　allayed　those
fears　of　his；　and　by　some　mysterious　enchantment　she　had　completely
enslaved　his　regard。　　He　recalled　now　the　terror　in　which　he　had
gone　to　the　embrace　to　which　he　was　bidden；　and　the　subsequent
reluctance　with　which　he　had　left　those　soft　round　arms。　　He
remembered；　too；　how　sweetly　she　had　smelled　and　the　very　perfume
she　had　used；　a　perfume　as　of　lilac　…　for　memory　is　singularly
tenacious　in　these　matters。

For　three　days　whilst　she　had　been　at　Gavrillac；　he　had　gone　daily
to　the　manor；　and　so　had　spent　hours　in　her　company。　　A　childless
woman　with　the　maternal　instinct　strong　within　her；　she　had　taken
this　precociously　intelligent；　wide…eyed　lad　to　her　heart。

〃Give　him　to　me；　Cousin　Quintin；〃　he　remembered　her　saying　on　the
last　of　those　days　to　his　godfather。　　〃Let　me　take　him　back　with
me　to　Versailles　as　my　adopted　child。〃

But　the　Seigneur　had　gravely　shaken　his　head　in　silent　refusal；　and
there　had　been　no　further　question　of　such　a　thing。　　And　then；　when
she　said　good…bye　to　him　…　the　thing　came　flooding　back　to　him　now
　…　there　had　been　tears　in　her　eyes。

〃Think　of　me　sometimes；　Andre…Louis；〃　had　been　her　last　words。

He　remembered　how　flattered　he　had　been　to　have　won　within　so　short
a　time　the　affection　of　this　great　lady。　　The　thing　had　given　him　a
sense　of　importance　that　had　endured　for　months　thereafter；　finally
to　fade　into　oblivion。

But　all　was　vividly　remembered　now　upon　beholding　her　again；　after
sixteen　years；　profoundly　changed　and　matured；　the　girl　…　for　she
had　been　no　more　in　those　old　days　…　sunk　in　this　worldly　woman
with　the　air　of　calm　dignity　and　complete　self…possession。　　Yet；　he
insisted；　he　must　have　known　her　anywhere　again。

Aline　embraced　her　affectionately；　and　then　answering　the　questioning
glance　with　faintly　raised　eyebrows　that　madame　was　directing　towards
Aline's　companion　…

〃This　is　Andre…Louis；〃　she　said。　　〃You　remember　Andre…Louis；　madame？〃

Madame　checked。　　Andre…Louis　saw　the　surprise　ripple　over　her　face；
taking　with　it　some　of　her　colour；　leaving　her　for　a　moment
breathless。

And　then　the　voice　…　the　well…remembered　rich；　musical　voice　…　richer
and　deeper　now　than　of　yore；　repeated　his　name：

〃Andre…Louis！〃

Her　manner　of　uttering　it　suggested　that　it　awakened　memories；
memories　perhaps　of　the　departed　youth　with　which　it　was　associated。
And　she　paused　a　long　moment；　considering　him；　a　little　wide…eyed；
what　time　he　bowed　before　her。

〃But　of　course　I　remember　him；〃　she　said　at　last；　and　came　towards
him；　putting　out　her　hand。　　He　kissed　it　dutifully；　submissively；
instinctively。　　〃And　this　is　what　you　have　grown　into？〃　　She
appraised　him；　and　he　flushed　with　pride　at　the　satisfaction　in
her　tone。　　He　seemed　to　have　gone　back　sixteen　years；　and　to　be
again　the　little　Breton　lad　at　Gavrillac。　　She　turned　to　Aline。
〃How　mistaken　Quintin　was　in　his　assumptions。　　He　was　pleased　to
see　him　again；　was　he　not？〃

〃So　pleased；　madame；　that　he　has　shown　me　the　door；〃　said
Andre…Louis。

〃Ah！〃　　She　frowned；　conning　him　still　with　those　dark；　wistful　eyes
of　hers。　　〃We　must　change　that；　Aline。　　He　is　of　course　very　angry
with　you。　　But　it　is　not　the　way　to　make　converts。　　I　will　plead
for　you；　Andre…Louis。　　I　am　a　good　advocate。〃

He　thanked　her　and　took　his　leave。

〃I　leave　my　case　in　your　hands　with　gratitude。　　My　homage；　madame。〃

And　so　it　happened　that　in　spite　of　his　godfather's　forbidding
reception　of　him；　the　fragment　of　a　song　was　on　his　lips　as　his
yellow　chaise　whirled　him　back　to　Paris　and　the　Rue　du　Hasard。
That　meeting　with　Mme。　de　Plougastel　had　enheartened　him；　her
promise　to　plead　his　case　in　alliance　with　Aline　gave　him　assurance
that　all　would　be　well。

That　he　was　justified　of　this　was　proved　when　on　the　following
Thursday　towards　noon　his　academy　was　invaded　by　M。　de　Kercadiou。
Gilles；　the　boy；　brought　him　word　of　it；　and　breaking　off　at　once
the　lesson　upon　which　he　was　engaged；　he　pulled　off　his　mask；　and
went　as　he　was　…　in　a　chamois　Waistcoat　buttoned　to　the　chin　and
with　his　foil　under　his　arm　to　the　modest　salon　below；　where　his
godfather　awaited　him。

The　florid　little　Lord　of　Gavrillac　stood　almost　defiantly　to
receive　him。

〃I　have　been　over…persuaded　to　forgive　you；〃　he　announced
aggressively；　seeming　thereby　to　imply　that　he　consented　to　this
merely　so　as　to　put　an　end　to　tiresome　importunities。

Andre…Louis　was　not　misled。　　He　detected　a　pretence　adopted　by　the
Seigneur　so　as　to　enable　him　to　retreat　in　good　order。

〃My　blessings　on　the　persuaders；　whoever　they　may　have　been。　　You
restore　me　my　happiness；　monsieur　my　godfather。〃

He　took　the　hand　that　was　proffered　and　kissed　it；　yielding　to　the
impulse　of　the　unfailing　habit　of　his　boyish　days。　　It　was　an　act
symbolical　of　his　complete　submission；　reestablishing　between
himself　and　his　godfather　the　bond　of　protected　and　protector；　with
all　the　mutual　claims　and　duties　that　it　carries。　　No　me