el dorado-第5章

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a　rich　reward　waiting　for　him　in　Vienna　the　day　that　he　brought
Louis　XVII　safely　into　Austrian　territory；　that　reward　he　would
miss　if　a　meddlesome　Englishman　interfered　in　this　affair。　Whether
in　this　wrangle　he　risked　the　life　of　the　child…King　or　not
mattered　to　him　not　at　all。　　It　was　de　Batz　who　was　to　get　the
reward；　and　whose　welfare　and　prosperity　mattered　more　than　the
most　precious　life　in　Europe。



CHAPTER　III
THE　DEMON　CHANCE

St。　Just　would　have　given　much　to　be　back　in　his　lonely　squalid
lodgings　now。　　Too　late　did　he　realise　how　wise　had　been　the
dictum　which　had　warned　him　against　making　or　renewing　friendships
in　France。

Men　had　changed　with　the　times。　　How　terribly　they　had　changed！
Personal　safety　had　become　a　fetish　with　mosta　goal　so　difficult
to　attain　that　it　had　to　be　fought　for　and　striven　for；　even　at
the　expense　of　humanity　and　of　self…respect。

Selfishnessthe　mere；　cold…blooded　insistence　for　self…advancement
ruled　supreme。　　De　Batz；　surfeited　with　foreign　money；　used　it
firstly　to　ensure　his　own　immunity；　scattering　it　to　right　and　left
to　still　the　ambition　of　the　Public　Prosecutor　or　to　satisfy　the
greed　of　innumerable　spies。

What　was　left　over　he　used　for　the　purpose　of　pitting　the
bloodthirsty　demagogues　one　against　the　other；　making　of　the
National　Assembly　a　gigantic　bear…den；　wherein　wild　beasts　could
rend　one　another　limb　from　limb。

In　the　meanwhile；　what　cared　hehe　said　it　himselfwhether
hundreds　of　innocent　martyrs　perished　miserably　and　uselessly？
They　were　the　necessary　food　whereby　the　Revolution　was　to　be
satiated　and　de　Batz'　schemes　enabled　to　mature。　　The　most
precious　life　in　Europe　even　was　only　to　be　saved　if　its　price
went　to　swell　the　pockets　of　de　Batz；　or　to　further　his　future
ambitions。

Times　had　indeed　changed　an　entire　nation。　　St。　Just　felt　as
sickened　with　this　self…seeking　Royalist　as　he　did　with　the　savage
brutes　who　struck　to　right　or　left　for　their　own　delectation。　　He
was　meditating　immediate　flight　back　to　his　lodgings；　with　a　hope
of　finding　there　a　word　for　him　from　the　chiefa　word　to　remind
him　that　men　did　live　nowadays　who　had　other　aims　besides　their
own　advancementother　ideals　besides　the　deification　of　self。

The　curtain　had　descended　on　the　first　act；　and　traditionally；　as
the　works　of　M。　de　Moliere　demanded　it；　the　three　knocks　were
heard　again　without　any　interval。　　St。　Just　rose　ready　with　a
pretext　for　parting　with　his　friend。　The　curtain　was　being　slowly
drawn　up　on　the　second　act；　and　disclosed　Alceste　in　wrathful
conversation　with　Celimene。

Alceste's　opening　speech　is　short。　　Whilst　the　actor　spoke　it
Armand　had　his　back　to　the　stage；　with　hand　outstretched；　he　was
murmuring　what　he　hoped　would　prove　a　polite　excuse　for　thus
leaving　his　amiable　host　while　the　entertainment　had　only　just
begun。

De　Batzvexed　and　impatienthad　not　by　any　means　finished　with
his　friend　yet。　　He　thought　that　his　specious　argumentsdelivered
with　boundless　convictionhad　made　some　impression　on　the　mind　of
the　young　man。　That　impression；　however；　he　desired　to　deepen；　and
whilst　Armand　was　worrying　his　brain　to　find　a　plausible　excuse
for　going　away；　de　Batz　was　racking　his　to　find　one　for　keeping
him　here。

Then　it　was　that　the　wayward　demon　Chance　intervened。　Had　St。　Just
risen　but　two　minutes　earlier；　had　his　active　mind　suggested　the
desired　excuse　more　readily；　who　knows　what　unspeakable　sorrow；
what　heartrending　misery；　what　terrible　shame　might　have　been
spared　both　him　and　those　for　whom　he　cared？　　Those　two　minutes
did　he　but　know　itdecided　the　whole　course　of　his　future　life。
The　excuse　hovered　on　his　lips；　de　Batz　reluctantly　was　preparing
to　bid　him　good…bye；　when　Celimene；　speaking　common…place　words
enough　in　answer　to　her　quarrelsome　lover；　caused　him　to　drop　the
hand　which　he　was　holding　out　to　his　friend　and　to　turn　back　towards
the　stage。

It　was　an　exquisite　voice　that　had　spokena　voice　mellow　and
tender；　with　deep　tones　in　it　that　betrayed　latent　power。　　The
voice　had　caused　Armand　to　look；　the　lips　that　spoke　forged　the
first　tiny　link　of　that　chain　which　riveted　him　forever　after　to
the　speaker。

It　is　difficult　to　say　if　such　a　thing　really　exists　as　love　at
first　sight。　　Poets　and　romancists　will　have　us　believe　that　it
does；　idealists　swear　by　it　as　being　the　only　true　love　worthy　of
the　name。

I　do　not　know　if　I　am　prepared　to　admit　their　theory　with　regard
to　Armand　St。　Just。　　Mlle。　Lange's　exquisite　voice　certainly　had
charmed　him　to　the　extent　of　making　him　forget　his　mistrust　of　de
Batz　and　his　desire　to　get　away。　　Mechanically　almost　he　sat　down
again；　and　leaning　both　elbows　on　the　edge　of　the　box；　he　rested
his　chin　in　his　hand；　and　listened。　　The　words　which　the　late　M。
de　Moliere　puts　into　the　mouth　of　Celimene　are　trite　and　flippant
enough；　yet　every　time　that　Mlle。　Lange's　lips　moved　Armand
watched　her；　entranced。

There；　no　doubt；　the　matter　would　have　ended：　a　young　man
fascinated　by　a　pretty　woman　on　the　stage'tis　a　small　matter；
and　one　from　which　there　doth　not　often　spring　a　weary　trail　of
tragic　circumstances。　　Armand；　who　had　a　passion　for　music；　would
have　worshipped　at　the　shrine　of　Mlle。　Lange's　perfect　voice　until
the　curtain　came　down　on　the　last　act；　had　not　his　friend　de　Batz
seen　the　keen　enchantment　which　the　actress　had　produced　on　the
young　enthusiast。

Now　de　Batz　was　a　man　who　never　allowed　an　opportunity　to　slip　by；
if　that　opportunity　led　towards　the　furtherance　of　his　own　desires。
He　did　not　want　to　lose　sight　of　Armand　just　yet；　and　here　the　good
demon　Chance　had　given　him　an　opportunity　for　obtaining　what　he　wanted。

He　waited　quietly　until　the　fall　of　the　curtain　at　the　end　of　Act
II。；　then；　as　Armand；　with　a　sigh　of　delight；　leaned　back　in　his
chair；　and　closing　his　eyes　appeared　to　be　living　the　last
half…hour　all　over　again；　de　Batz　remarked　with　well…assumed
indifference：

〃Mlle。　Lange　is　a　promising　young　actress。　　Do　you　not　think　so；
my　friend？〃

〃She　has　a　perfect　voiceit　was　exquisite　melody　to　the　ear；〃
replied　Armand。　　〃I　was　conscious　of　little　else。〃

〃She　is　a　beautiful　woman；　nevertheless；〃　continued　de　Batz　with　a
smile。　　〃During　the　next　act；　my　good　St。　Just；　I　would　suggest
that　you　opened　your　eyes　as　well　as　your　ears。

Armand　did　as　he　was　bidden。　　The　whole　appearance　of　Mlle。　Lange
seemed　in　harmony　with　her　voice。　　She　was　not　very　tall；　but
eminently　graceful；　with　a　small；　oval　face　and　slender；　almost
childlike　figure；　which　appeared　still　more　so　above　the　wide
hoops　and　draped　panniers　of　the　fashions　of　Moliere's　time。

Whether　she　was　beautiful　or　not　the　young　man　hardly　knew。
Measured　by　certain　standards；　she　certainly　was　not　so；　for　her
mouth　was　not　small；　and　her　nose　anything　but　classical　in
outline。　　But　the　eyes　were　brown；　and　they　had　that　half…veiled
look　in　themshaded　with　long　lashes　　that　seemed　to　make　a
perpetual　tender　appeal　to　the　masculine　heart：　the　lips；　too；
were　full　and　moist；　and　the　teeth　dazzling　white。　　Yes！on　the
whole　we　might　easily　say　that　she　was　exquisite；　even　though　we
did　not　admit　that　she　was　beautiful。

Painter　David　has　made　a　sketch　of　her；　we　have　all　seen　it　at　the
Musee　Carnavalet；　and　all　wondered　why　that　charming；　if
irregular；　little　face　made　such　an　impression　of　sadness。

There　are　five　acts　in　〃Le　Misanthrope；〃　during　which　Celimene　is
almost　constantly　on　the　stage。　　At　the　end　of　the　fourth　act　de
Batz　said　casually　to　his　friend：

〃I　have　the　honour　of　personal　acquaintanceship　with　Mlle。　Lange。
An　you　care　for　an　introduction　to　her；　we　can　go　round　to　the
green　room　after　the　play。〃

Did　prudence　then　whisper；　〃Desist〃？　　Did　loyalty　to　the　leader
murmur；　〃Obey〃？　　It　were　indeed　difficult　to　say。　　Armand　St。　Just
was　not　five…and…twenty；　and　Mlle。　Lange's　melodious　voice　spoke
louder　than　the　whisperings　of　prudence　or　even　than　the　call　of
duty。

He　thanked　de　Batz　warmly；　and　during　the　last　half…hour；　while
the　misanthropical　lover　spurned　repentant　Celimene；　he　was
conscious　of　a　curious　sensation　of　impatience；　a　tingling　of　his
nerves；　a　wild；　mad　longing　to　hear　those　full　moist　lips
pronounce　his　name；　and　have　those　large　brown　eyes　throw　their
half…veiled　look　into　his　own。



CHAPTER　IV
MADEMOISELLE　LANGE

The　green…room　was　crowded　when　de　Batz　and　St。　Just　arrived　there
after　the　performance。　　The　older　man　cast　a　hasty　glance　through
the　open　door。　　The　crowd　did　not　suit　his　purpose；　and　he　dragged
his　companion　hurriedly　away　from　the　contemplation　of　Mlle。
Lange；　sitting　in　a　far　corner　of　the　room；　surrounded　by　an
admiring　throng；　and　by　innumerable　floral　tributes　offered　to　her
beauty　and　to　her　success。

De　Batz　without　a　word　led　the　way　back　towards　the　stage。　　Here；
by　the　dim　light　of　tallow　candles　fixed　in　sconces　against　the
surrounding　walls；　the　scene…shifters　were　busy　moving
drop…scenes；　back　cloths　and　wings；　and　paid　no　heed　to　the　two
men　who　strolled　slowly　up　and　down　silently；　each　wrapped　in　his
own　thoughts。

Armand　walked　with　his　hands　buried　in　his　breeches　pockets；　his
head　bent　forward　on　his　chest；　but　every　now　and　again　he　threw
quick；　apprehensive　glances　round　him　whenever　a　firm　step　echoed
along　the　empty　stage　or　a　voice　rang　clearly　through　the　now
deserted　theatre。

〃Are　we　wise　to　wait　here？〃　he　asked；　speaking　to　himself　rather
than　to　his　companion。

He　was　not　anxious　about　his　own　safety；　but　the　words　of　de　Batz
had　impressed　themselves　upon　his　mind：　　〃Heron　and　his　spies　we
have　always　with　us。〃

From　the　green…room　a　separate　foyer　and　exit　led　directly　out
into　the　street。　　Gradually　the　sound　of　many　voices；　the　loud
laughter　and　occasional　snatches　of　song　which　for　the　past
half…hour　had　proceeded　from　that　part　of　the　house；　became　more
subdued　and　more　rare。　　One　by　one　the　friends　of　the　artists　were
leaving　the　theatre；　after　having　paid　the　usual　banal　compliments
to　those　whom　they　favoured；　or　presented　the　accustomed　offering
of　flowers　to　the　brightest　star　of　the　night。

The　actors　were　the　first　to　retire；　then　the　older　actresses；　the
ones　who　could　no　longer　command　a　court　of　admirers　round　them。
They　all　filed　out　of　the　greenroom　and　crossed　the　stage　to
where；　at　the　back；　a　narrow；　rickety　wooden　stairs　led　to　their
so…called　dressing…roomstiny；　dark　cubicles；　ill…lighted；
unventilated；　where　some　half…dozen　of　the　lesser　stars　tumbled
over　one　another　while　removing　wigs　and　grease…paint。

Armand　and　de　Batz　watched　this　exodus；　both　with　equal
impatience。　　Mlle。　Lange　was　the　last　to　leave　the　green…room。
For　some　time；　since　the　crowd　had　become　thinner　round　her；
Armand　had　contrived　to　catch　glimpses　of　her　slight；　elegant
figure。　　A　short　passage　led　from　the　stage　to　the　green…room
door；　which　was　wide　open；　and　at　the　corner　of　this　passage　the
young　man　had　paused　from　time　to　time　in　his　walk；　gazing　with
earnest　admiration　at　the　dainty　outline　of　the　young　girl's　head；
with　its　wig　of　powdered　curls　that　seemed　scarcely　whiter　than
the　creamy　brilliance　of　her　skin。

De　Batz　did　not　watch　Mlle。　Lange　b