an old maid-第16章
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corruptions do not enter your mind。〃
The Abbe de Sponde looked graciously at the Chevalier de Valois； and
nodded his head in sign of his laudatory approbation。
〃Doesn't mademoiselle know history？〃 asked the recorder of mortgages。
〃If you mix up Louis XV。 and this girl Suzanne； how am I to know
history？〃 replied Mademoiselle Cormon； angelically； glad to see that
the dish of ducks was empty at last； and the conversation so ready to
revive that all present laughed with their mouths full at her last
remark。
〃Poor girl！〃 said the Abbe de Sponde。 〃When a great misfortune
happens； charity； which is divine love； and as blind as pagan love；
ought not to look into the causes of it。 Niece； you are president of
the Maternity Society； you must succor that poor girl； who will now
find it difficult to marry。〃
〃Poor child！〃 ejaculated Mademoiselle Cormon。
〃Do you suppose du Bousquier would marry her？〃 asked the judge。
〃If he is an honorable man he ought to do so；〃 said Madame Granson；
〃but really； to tell the truth； my dog has better morals than he〃
〃Azor is； however； a good purveyor；〃 said the recorder of mortgages；
with the air of saying a witty thing。
At dessert du Bousquier was still the topic of conversation； having
given rise to various little jokes which the wine rendered sparkling。
Following the example of the recorder； each guest capped his
neighbor's joke with another： Du Bousquier was a father； but not a
confessor； he was father less； he was father LY； he was not a reverend
father； nor yet a conscript…father
〃Nor can he be a foster…father；〃 said the Abbe de Sponde； with a
gravity which stopped the laughter。
〃Nor a noble father；〃 added the chevalier。
The Church and the nobility descended thus into the arena of puns；
without； however； losing their dignity。
〃Hush！〃 exclaimed the recorder of mortgages。 〃I hear the creaking of
du Bousquier's boots。〃
It usually happens that a man is ignorant of rumors that are afloat
about him。 A whole town may be talking of his affairs； may calumniate
and decry him； but if he has no good friends； he will know nothing
about it。 Now the innocent du Bousquier was superb in his ignorance。
No one had told him as yet of Suzanne's revelations； he therefore
appeared very jaunty and slightly conceited when the company； leaving
the dining…room； returned to the salon for their coffee； several other
guests had meantime assembled for the evening。 Mademoiselle Cormon；
from a sense of shamefacedness； dared not look at the terrible
seducer。 She seized upon Athanase； and began to lecture him with the
queerest platitudes about royalist politics and religious morality。
Not possessing； like the Chevalier de Valois； a snuff…box adorned with
a princess； by the help of which he could stand this torrent of
silliness； the poor poet listened to the words of her whom he loved
with a stupid air； gazing； meanwhile； at her enormous bust； which held
itself before him in that still repose which is the attribute of all
great masses。 His love produced in him a sort of intoxication which
changed the shrill voice of the old maid into a soft murmur； and her
flat remarks into witty speeches。 Love is a maker of false coin；
continually changing copper pennies into gold…pieces； and sometimes
turning its real gold into copper。
〃Well； Athanase； will you promise me？〃
This final sentence struck the ear of the absorbed young man like one
of those noises which wake us with a bound。
〃What； mademoiselle？〃
Mademoiselle Cormon rose hastily； and looked at du Bousquier； who at
that moment resembled the stout god of Fable which the Republic
stamped upon her coins。 She walked up to Madame Granson； and said in
her ear：
〃My dear friend； you son is an idiot。 That lyceum has ruined him；〃 she
added； remembering the insistence with which the chevalier had spoken
of the evils of education in such schools。
What a catastrophe！ Unknown to himself； the luckless Athanase had had
an occasion to fling an ember of his own fire upon the pile of brush
gathered in the heart of the old maid。 Had he listened to her； he
might have made her； then and there； perceive his passion； for； in the
agitated state of Mademoiselle Cormon's mind； a single word would have
sufficed。 But that stupid absorption in his own sentiments； which
characterizes young and true love； had ruined him； as a child full of
life sometimes kills itself out of ignorance。
〃What have you been saying to Mademoiselle Cormon？〃 demanded his
mother。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Nothing； well； I can explain that；〃 she thought to herself； putting
off till the next day all further reflection on the matter； and
attaching but little importance to Mademoiselle Cormon's words； for
she fully believed that du Bousquier was forever lost in the old
maid's esteem after the revelation of that evening。
Soon the four tables were filled with their sixteen players。 Four
persons were playing piquet；an expensive game； at which the most
money was lost。 Monsieur Choisnel； the procureur…du…roi； and two
ladies went into the boudoir for a game at backgammon。 The glass
lustres were lighted； and then the flower of Mademoiselle Cormon's
company gathered before the fireplace； on sofas； and around the
tables； and each couple said to her as they arrived；
〃So you are going to…morrow to Prebaudet？〃
〃Yes； I really must；〃 she replied。
On this occasion the mistress of the house appeared preoccupied。
Madame Granson was the first to perceive the quite unnatural state of
the old maid's mind；Mademoiselle Cormon was thinking！
〃What are you thinking of； cousin？〃 she said at last； finding her
seated in the boudoir。
〃I am thinking；〃 she replied； 〃of that poor girl。 As the president of
the Maternity Society； I will give you fifty francs for her。〃
〃Fifty francs！〃 cried Madame Granson。 〃But you have never given as
much as that。〃
〃But； my dear cousin； it is so natural to have children。〃
That immoral speech coming from the heart of the old maid staggered
the treasurer of the Maternity Society。 Du Bousquier had evidently
advanced in the estimation of Mademoiselle Cormon。
〃Upon my word；〃 said Madame Granson； 〃du Bousquier is not only a
monster； he is a villain。 When a man has done a wrong like that； he
ought to pay the indemnity。 Isn't it his place rather than ours to
look after the girl？who； to tell you the truth； seems to me rather
questionable； there are plenty of better men in Alencon than that
cynic du Bousquier。 A girl must be depraved； indeed； to go after him。〃
〃Cynic！ Your son teaches you to talk Latin； my dear； which is wholly
incomprehensible。 Certainly I don't wish to excuse Monsieur du
Bousquier； but pray explain to me why a woman is depraved because she
prefers one man to another。〃
〃My dear cousin； suppose you married my son Athanase； nothing could be
more natural。 He is young and handsome； full of promise； and he will
be the glory of Alencon； and yet everybody will exclaim against you：
evil tongues will say all sorts of things； jealous women will accuse
you of depravity；but what will that matter？ you will be loved； and
loved truly。 If Athanase seemed to you an idiot； my dear； it is that
he has too many ideas； extremes meet。 He lives the life of a girl of
fifteen； he has never wallowed in the impurities of Paris； not he！
Well； change the terms； as my poor husband used to say； it is the same
thing with du Bousquier in connection with Suzanne。 YOU would be
calumniated； but in the case of du Bousquier； the charge would be
true。 Don't you understand me？〃
〃No more than if you were talking Greek；〃 replied Mademoiselle Cormon；
who opened her eyes wide； and strained all the forces of her
intellect。
〃Well； cousin； if I must dot all the i's； it is impossible for Suzanne
to love du Bousquier。 And if the heart counts for nothing in this
affair〃
〃But； cousin； what do people love with if not their hearts？〃
Here Madame Granson said to herself； as the chevalier had previously
thought： 〃My poor cousin is altogether too innocent； such stupidity
passes all bounds！Dear child；〃 she continued aloud； 〃it seems to me
that children are not conceived by the spirit only。〃
〃Why； yes； my dear； the Holy Virgin herself〃
〃But； my love； du Bousquier isn't the Holy Ghost！〃
〃True；〃 said the old maid； 〃he is a man！a man whose personal
appearance makes him dangerous enough for his friends to advise him to
marry。〃
〃You could yourself bring about that result； cousin。〃
〃How so？〃 said the old maid； with the meekness of Christian charity。
〃By not receiving him in your house until he marries。 You owe it to
good morals and to religion to manifest under such circumstances an
exemplary displeasure。〃
〃On my return from Prebaudet we will talk further of this； my dear
Madame Granson。 I will consult my uncle and the Abbe Couturier；〃 said
Mademoiselle Cormon； returning to the salon； where the animation was
now at its height。
The lights； the group of women in their best clothes； the solemn tone；
the dignified air of the assembly； made Mademoiselle Cormon not a
little proud of her company。 To many persons nothing better could be
seen in Paris in the highest society。
At this moment du Bousquier； who was playing whist with the chevalier
and two old ladies；Madame du Coudrai and Madame du Ronceret；was
the object of deep but silent curiosity。 A few young women arrived；
who； under pretext of watching the game； gazed fixedly at him in so
singular a manner； though slyly； that the old bachelor began to think
that there must be some deficiency in his toilet。
〃Can my false front be crooked？〃 he asked himself； seized by one of
those anxieties which beset old bachelors。
He took advantage of a lost trick； which ended a seventh rubber； to
rise and leave the table。
〃I can't touch a card without losing；〃 he said。 〃I am decidedly too
unlucky。〃
〃But you are lucky in other ways；〃 said the chevalier； giving him a
sly look。
That speech naturally made the rounds of the salon； where every one
exclaimed on the exquisite taste of the chevalier； the Prince de
Talleyrand of the province。
〃There's no one like Monsieur de Valois for such wit。〃
Du Bousquier went to look at himself in a little oblong mirror； placed
above the 〃Deserter；〃 but he saw nothing strange in his appearance。
After innumerable repetitions of the same text； varied in all keys；
the departure of the company took place about ten o'clock； through the
long antechamber； Mademoiselle Cormon conducting certain of her
favorite guests to the portico。 There the groups parted； some followed
the Bretagne road towards the chateau； the others went in the
direction of the river Sarthe。 Then began the usual conversation；
which for twenty years had echoed at that hour
