the deputy of arcis-第47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！



〃If　that　were　so；　all　the　men　we　disdain　and　never　think　of　would　sigh　for　us。〃

〃Oh！　my　dear；　don't　make　me　talk　such　nonsense。　To　take　fire；　a　man　must　have　some　degree　of　combustibility；　and　if　that　/other/　person　is　lost　to　him　forever；　why　shouldn't　he；　as　you　said　yourself；　ricochet　upon　you？〃

〃That　other　person　is　not　lost　to　him；　he　expects；　more　than　ever；　to　find　her　by　the　help　of　a　very　clever　seeker；　the　mother…superior　of　a　convent　at　Arcis。〃

〃Very　good；　then　why　employ　the　delay　in　holding　him　at　arm's…　length；a　proceeding　which　will　only　draw　him　towards　you？〃

〃My　dear　moralist；　I　don't　admit　your　theory　in　the　least。　As　for　Monsieur　de　Sallenauve；　he　will　be　much　too　busy　with　his　duties　in　the　Chamber　to　think　of　me。　Besides；　he　is　a　man　who　is　full　of　self…　respect；　he　will　be　mortified　by　my　manner；　which　will　seem　to　him　both　ungrateful　and　unjust。　If　I　try　to　put　two　feet　of　distance　between　us；　he　will　put　four；　you　may　rely　on　that。〃

〃And　/you/；　my　dear？〃　asked　Madame　de　Camps。

〃How　do　you　mean？I？〃

〃You　who　are　not　busy；　who　have　no　Chamber　to　occupy　your　mind；　you　who　have；　I　will　agree；　a　great　deal　of　self…respect；　but　who　know　as　little　about　the　things　of　the　heart　as　the　veriest　school…girl；what　will　become　of　you　under　the　dangerous　system　you　are　imposing　upon　yourself？〃

〃If　I　don't　love　him　when　near；　I　shall　certainly　love　him　still　less　at　a　distance。〃

〃So　that　when　you　see　him　take　his　ostracism　coolly；　your　self…love　as　a　woman　will　not　be　piqued。〃

〃Certainly　not；　that　is　precisely　the　result　I　desire。〃

〃And　if　you　find；　on　the　contrary；　that　he　complains　of　you；　or　if　he　does　not　complain；　that　he　suffers　from　your　treatment；　will　your　conscience　tell　you　absolutely　nothing？〃

〃It　will　tell　me　that　I　am　doing　right；　and　that　I　could　not　do　otherwise。〃

〃And　if　success　attends　him　and　fame　with　its　hundred　voices　talks　of　him；　how　will　you　think　of　him？〃

〃As　I　think　of　Monsieur　Thiers　and　Monsieur　Berryer。〃

〃And　Nais；　who　adores　him　and　will　probably　say；　the　first　time　he　dines　with　you；　'Ah！　mamma；　how　well　he　talks！'〃

〃If　you　are　going　to　argue　on　the　chatter　of　a　child〃

〃And　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　who　already　irritates　you？　He　is　beginning　to…day　to　sacrifice　him　to　the　spirit　of　party；　shall　you　silence　him　every　time　he　makes　some　malevolent　insinuation　about　Monsieur　de　Sallenauve；　and　denies　his　honor　and　his　talent？you　know　the　judgment　people　make　on　those　who　do　not　think　as　we　do。〃

〃In　short；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　〃you　are　trying　to　make　me　admit　that　the　surest　way　to　think　of　a　person　is　to　put　him　out　of　sight。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　my　dear；〃　said　Madame　de　Camps；　with　a　slight　touch　of　gravity。　〃I　have　read　and　re…read　your　letters。　You　were　there　your　own　self；　more　natural　and　less　quibbling　than　you　are　now；　and　an　impression　has　remained　upon　my　mind：　it　is　that　Monsieur　de　Sallenauve　has　touched　your　heart；　though　he　may　not　have　entered　it。〃

Madame　de　l'Estorade　made　a　gesture　of　denial；　but　the　confessor　went　on：

〃I　know　that　idea　provokes　you；　you　can't　very　well　admit　to　me　what　you　have　studiously　denied　to　yourself。　But　what　is；　is。　We　don't　say　of　a　man；　'A　sort　of　magnetism　issues　from　him；　one　feels　his　eye　without　meeting　it'；　we　don't　cry　out；　'I　am　invulnerable　on　the　side　of　love；'　without　having　had　some　prickings　of　it。〃

〃But　so　many　things　have　happened　since　I　wrote　that　nonsense。〃

〃True；　he　was　only　a　sculptor　then；　and　before　long　he　may　be　a　minister；not　like　Monsieur　de　Rastignac；　but　like　our　great　poet；　Canalis。〃

〃I　like　sermons　with　definite　deductions；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　with　a　touch　of　impatience。

〃That　is　what　Vergniaud　said　to　Robespierre　on　the　31st　of　May；　and　I　reply；　with　Robespierre；　Yes；　I'll　draw　my　conclusion；　and　it　is　against　your　self…confidence　as　a　woman；　who；　having　reached　the　age　of　thirty…two　without　a　suspicion　of　what　love　is；　cannot　admit　that　at　this　late　date　she　may　be　subjected　to　the　common　law。〃

〃But　what　I　want　is　a　practical　conclusion；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　tapping　her　foot。

〃My　practical　conclusion；here　it　is；〃　replied　Madame　Octave。　〃If　you　will　not　persist　in　the　folly　of　swimming　against　the　current；　I　see　no　danger　whatever　in　your　being　submerged。　You　are　strong；　you　have　principles　and　religion；　you　adore　your　children；　you　love　Monsieur　de　l'Estorade；　their　father；　in　them。　With　all　that　ballast　you　cannot　sink。〃

〃Well？〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　interrogatively。

〃Well；　there　is　no　need　to　have　recourse　to　violent　measures；　the　success　of　which　is　very　problematical。　Remain　as　you　are；　build　no　barricades　when　no　one　attacks　you。　Don't　excite　tempests　of　heart　and　conscience　merely　to　pacify　your　conscience　and　quiet　your　heart；　now　ruffled　only　by　a　tiny　breeze。　No　doubt　between　a　man　and　a　woman　the　sentiment　of　friendship　does　take　something　of　the　character　ordinarily　given　to　love；　but　such　friendship　is　neither　an　impossible　illusion　nor　is　it　a　yawning　gulf。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　with　a　thoughtful　air；　〃do　you　wish　me　to　make　a　friend　of　Monsieur　de　Sallenauve？〃

〃Yes；　dear；　in　order　not　to　make　him　a　fixed　idea；　a　regret；　a　struggle；three　things　which　poison　life。〃

〃But　my　husband；　who　has　already　had　a　touch　of　jealousy？〃

〃As　for　your　husband；　I　find　him　somewhat　changed；　and　not　for　the　better。　I　miss　that　deference　he　always　showed　to　you　personally；　to　your　ideas　and　impressions；a　deference　which　honored　him　more　than　he　thought；　because　there　is　true　greatness　in　the　power　to　admire。　I　may　be　mistaken；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　public　life　is　spoiling　him　a　little。　As　you　cannot　be　with　him　in　the　Chamber　of　peers；　he　is　beginning　to　suspect　that　he　can　have　a　life　without　you。　If　I　were　you；　I　should　watch　these　symptoms　of　independence；　and　not　let　the　work　of　your　lifetime　come　to　nought。〃

〃Do　you　know；　my　dear；〃　said　Madame　de　l'Estorade；　laughing；　〃that　you　are　giving　me　advice　that　may　end　in　fire　and　slaughter？〃

〃Not　at　all。　I　am　a　woman　forty…five　years　of　age；　who　has　always　seen　things　on　their　practical　side。　I　did　not　marry　my　husband；　whom　I　loved；　until　I　had　convinced　myself；　by　putting　him　to　the　test；　that　he　was　worthy　of　my　esteem。　I　don't　make　life；　I　take　it　as　it　comes；　trying　to　put　order　and　/possibility/　into　all　the　occurrences　it　brings　to　me。　I　an　neither　the　frenzied　passion　of　Louise　de　Chaulieu；　nor　the　insensible　reason　of　Renee　de　Maucombe。　I　am　a　Jesuit　in　petticoats；　persuaded　that　rather　wide　sleeves　are　better　than　sleeves　that　are　tight　to　the　wrist；　and　I　have　never　gone　in　search　of　the　philosopher's　stone〃

At　this　instant　Lucas　opened　the　door　of　the　salon　and　announced；

〃Monsieur　le　Comte　de　Sallenauve。〃

His　mistress　gave　him　a　look　inquiring　why　he　had　disobeyed　her　orders；　to　which　Lucas　replied　by　a　sign　implying　that　he　did　not　suppose　the　prohibition　applied　in　this　instance。

Madame　de　Camps；　who　had　never　yet　seen　the　new　deputy；　now　gave　her　closest　attention　to　a　study　of　him。

Sallenauve　explained　his　visit　by　his　great　desire　to　know　how　matters　had　gone　at　Ville　d'Avray；　and　whether　Marie…Gaston　had　been　deeply　affected　by　his　return　there。　As　for　the　business　which　detained　him　in　Paris；　he　said　he　had　so　far　met　with　no　success。　He　had　seen　the　prefect　of　police；　who　had　given　him　a　letter　to　Monsieur　de　Saint…　Esteve；　the　chief　of　the　detective　police。　Aware　of　the　antecedents　of　that　man；　Monsieur　de　Sallenauve　expressed　himself　as　much　surprised　to　find　a　functionary　with　extremely　good　manners　and　bearing；　but　he　held　out　faint　hope　of　success。　〃A　woman　hiding　in　Paris；〃　he　said；　〃is　an　eel　in　its　safest　hole。〃　He　（Sallenauve）　should　continue　the　search　the　next　day　with　the　help　of　Jacques　Bricheteau；　but　if　nothing　came　of　it；　he　should　go　in　the　evening　to　Ville　d'Avray；　for　he　did　not；　he　said；　share　Madame　de　l'Estorade's　security　as　to　Gaston's　state　of　mind。

As　he　was　taking　leave；　Madame　de　l'Estorade　said　to　him；

〃Do　not　forget　Nais'　ball　which　takes　place　the　day　after　to…morrow。　You　will　affront　her　mortally　if　you　fail　to　be　present。　Try　to　bring　Monsieur　Gaston　with　you。　It　might　divert　his　mind　a　little。〃



V

CHILDREN

On　his　return　from　the　theatre　Monsieur　Octave　de　Camps　declared　that　it　would　be　long　before　they　caught　him　at　a　/fairy/　piece　again。　But　Nais；　on　the　contrary；　still　under　the　spell　of　its　marvels　gave　a　lively　recital　of　the　scene；　which　showed　how　much　her　imagination　was　capable　of　being　stirred。

As　Madame　de　Camps　and　her　husband　walked　away　together；　the　former　remarked；

〃That　child　is　really　very　disquieting。　Madame　de　l'Estorade　develops　her　too　much；　I　should　not　be　surprised　if　she　gave　her　a　great　deal　of　trouble　in　future　years。〃

It　would　be　difficult　to　mark　the　precise　moment　in　our　contemporary　habits　and　customs　when　a　new　species　of　religion；　which　might　be　called　child…idolatry；　appeared。　Nor　shall　we　find　it　easier　to　discover　by　what　species　of　influence　this　worship　has　reached　its　present　enormous　development　among　us。　But；　although　unexplained；　the　fact　exists　and　ought　to　be　recorded　by　every　faithful　historian　of　the　great　and　the　little　movements　of　society。　In　the　family　of　to…day　children　have　taken　the　place　of　the　household　gods　of　the　ancients；　and　whoever　does　not　share　this　worship　is　not　a　morose　and　sour　spirit；　nor　a　captious　and　annoying　reasoner；he　is　simply　an　atheist。

Try　to　amuse　one　of　these　beloved　adored　ones；　all　puffed　up；　as　they　naturally　are；　by　a　sense　of　their　importance；　with　dolls　and　toys　and　Punch…and…Judys；　as　in　the　days　of　our　unsophisticated　innocence！　Nonsense！　Boys　must　have　ponies　and　cigarettes；　and　the　reading　of　novelettes；　and　girls；　the　delight　of　playing　hostess；　giving　afternoon　dances；　and　evening　parties　at　which　the　real　Guignol　of　the　Champs　Elysees　and　Robert　Houdin　appear；the　entertainment　being　announced　on　the　invitation　cards。　Sometimes；　as　now　in　the　case　of　Nais　de　l'Estorade；　these　little　sovereigns　obtain　permission　to　give　a　ball　in　/grown…up/　style；so　much　so；　that　policemen　are　stationed　about　the　doors；　and　Delisle；　Nattier；　and　Prevost　provide　the　toilets　and　the　decorations。

With　the　character　we　have　already　seen　in　Nais；　it　may　be　said　that　no　one　was　better　fitted　than　she　for　the　duties　that　devolved　upon　her　by　the　abdication　of　her　mother。　This　abdication　took　place　before　the　evening　of　the　ball　itself；　for　it　was　Mademoiselle　Nais　de　l'Estorade　who；　in　her　own　name；　invited　her　guests　to　do　her　the　honor　to　pass　the　evening　/chez　elle/；　and　as　Madame　de　l'Estorade　would　not　allow　the　parody　to　go　as　far　as　printed　cards；　Nais　spent　several　days　writing　her　notes　of　invitation；　taking　care　to　put　in　the　corner；　in　conspicuous　letters；　the　sacramental　word；　〃Dancing。〃

Nothing　could　be　more　curious；　or；　as　Madame　de　Camps　might　have　said；　more　alarming；　than　the　self…possession　of　this　little　girl　of　fourteen；　behaving　precisely　as　she　had　seen　her　mother　do　on　like　occasions；　stationed；　to　receive　her　company；　at　the　door　of　the　salon；　and　marking　by　her　manner　the　proper　grades　of　welcome；　from　eager　cordiality　to　a　coldness　that　verged　on　disdain。　To　her