the muse of the department-第20章

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This　indifference　was　the　secret　of　his　audacity。　He　took　Madame　de　la
Baudraye's　hand　as　he　spoke　these　decisive　words；　and　pressed　it　in
both　his；　but　Dinah　gently　released　it。

〃Yes；　I　am　as　good　as　an　actress　or　a　/grisette/；〃　she　said　in　a　voice
that　trembled；　though　she　spoke　lightly。　〃But　can　you　suppose　that　a
woman　who；　in　spite　of　her　absurdities；　has　some　intelligence；　will
have　reserved　the　best　treasures　of　her　heart　for　a　man　who　will
regard　her　merely　as　a　transient　pleasure？I　am　not　surprised　to　hear
from　your　lips　the　words　which　so　many　men　have　said　to　mebut〃

The　coachman　turned　round。

〃Here　comes　Monsieur　Gatien；〃　said　he。

〃I　love　you；　I　will　have　you；　you　shall　be　mine；　for　I　have　never　felt
for　any　woman　the　passion　I　have　for　you！〃　said　Lousteau　in　her　ear。

〃In　spite　of　my　will；　perhaps？〃　said　she；　with　a　smile。

〃At　least　you　must　seem　to　have　been　assaulted　to　save　my　honor；〃　said
the　Parisian；　to　whom　the　fatal　immaculateness　of　clean　muslin
suggested　a　ridiculous　notion。

Before　Gatien　had　reached　the　end　of　the　bridge；　the　outrageous
journalist　had　crumpled　up　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　muslin　dress　to
such　an　effect　that　she　was　absolutely　not　presentable。

〃Oh；　monsieur！〃　she　exclaimed　in　dignified　reproof。

〃You　defied　me；〃　said　the　Parisian。

But　Gatien　now　rode　up　with　the　vehemence　of　a　duped　lover。　To　regain
a　little　of　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　esteem；　Lousteau　did　his　best　to
hide　the　tumbled　dress　from　Gatien's　eyes　by　leaning　out　of　the　chaise
to　speak　to　him　from　Dinah's　side。

〃Go　back　to　our　inn；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　still　time；　the　diligence
does　not　start　for　half　an　hour。　The　papers　are　on　the　table　of　the
room　Bianchon　was　in；　he　wants　them　particularly；　for　he　will　be　lost
without　his　notes　for　the　lecture。〃

〃Pray　go；　Gatien；〃　said　Dinah　to　her　young　adorer；　with　an　imperious
glance。　And　the　boy　thus　commanded　turned　his　horse　and　was　off　with　a
loose　rein。

〃Go　quickly　to　La　Baudraye；〃　cried　Lousteau　to　the　coachman。　〃Madame
is　not　wellYour　mother　only　will　know　the　secret　of　my　trick；〃　added
he；　taking　his　seat　by　Dinah。

〃You　call　such　infamous　conduct　a　trick？〃　cried　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；
swallowing　down　a　few　tears　that　dried　up　with　the　fire　of　outraged
pride。

She　leaned　back　in　the　corner　of　the　chaise；　crossed　her　arms；　and
gazed　out　at　the　Loire　and　the　landscape；　at　anything　rather　than　at
Lousteau。　The　journalist　put　on　his　most　ingratiating　tone；　and　talked
till　they　reached　La　Baudraye；　where　Dinah　fled　indoors；　trying　not　to
be　seen　by　any　one。　In　her　agitation　she　threw　herself　on　a　sofa　and
burst　into　tears。

〃If　I　am　an　object　of　horror　to　you；　of　aversion　or　scorn；　I　will　go；〃
said　Lousteau；　who　had　followed　her。　And　he　threw　himself　at　her　feet。

It　was　at　this　crisis　that　Madame　Piedefer　came　in；　saying　to　her
daughter：

〃What　is　the　matter？　What　has　happened？〃

〃Give　your　daughter　another　dress　at　once；〃　said　the　audacious
Parisian　in　the　prim　old　lady's　ear。

Hearing　the　mad　gallop　of　Gatien's　horse；　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　fled
to　her　bedroom；　followed　by　her　mother。

〃There　are　no　papers　at　the　inn；〃　said　Gatien　to　Lousteau；　who　went
out　to　meet　him。

〃And　you　found　none　at　the　Chateau　d'Anzy　either？〃　replied　Lousteau。

〃You　have　been　making　a　fool　of　me；〃　said　Gatien；　in　a　cold；　set
voice。

〃Quite　so；〃　replied　Lousteau。　〃Madame　de　la　Baudraye　was　greatly
annoyed　by　your　choosing　to　follow　her　without　being　invited。　Believe
me；　to　bore　a　woman　is　a　bad　way　of　courting　her。　Dinah　has　played　you
a　trick；　and　you　have　given　her　a　laugh；　it　is　more　than　any　of　you
has　done　in　these　thirteen　years　past。　You　owe　that　success　to
Bianchon；　for　your　cousin　was　the　author　of　the　Farce　of　the
'Manuscript。'Will　the　horse　get　over　it？〃　asked　Lousteau　with　a
laugh；　while　Gatien　was　wondering　whether　to　be　angry　or　not。

〃The　horse！〃　said　Gatien。

At　this　moment　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　came　in；　dressed　in　a　velvet
gown；　and　accompanied　by　her　mother；　who　shot　angry　flashes　at
Lousteau。　It　would　have　been　too　rash　for　Dinah　to　seem　cold　or　severe
to　Lousteau　in　Gatien's　presence；　and　Etienne；　taking　advantage　of
this；　offered　his　arm　to　the　supposed　Lucretia；　however；　she　declined
it。

〃Do　you　mean　to　cast　off　a　man　who　has　vowed　to　live　for　you？〃　said
he；　walking　close　beside　her。　〃I　shall　stop　at　Sancerre　and　go　home
to…morrow。〃

〃Are　you　coming；　mamma？〃　said　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　to　Madame
Piedefer；　thus　avoiding　a　reply　to　the　direct　challenge　by　which
Lousteau　was　forcing　her　to　a　decision。

Lousteau　handed　the　mother　into　the　chaise；　he　helped　Madame　de　la
Baudraye　by　gently　taking　her　arm；　and　he　and　Gatien　took　the　front
seat；　leaving　the　saddle　horse　at　La　Baudraye。

〃You　have　changed　your　gown；〃　said　Gatien；　blunderingly；　to　Dinah。

〃Madame　la　Baronne　was　chilled　by　the　cool　air　off　the　river；〃　replied
Lousteau。　〃Bianchon　advised　her　to　put　on　a　warm　dress。〃

Dinah　turned　as　red　as　a　poppy；　and　Madame　Piedefer　assumed　a　stern
expression。

〃Poor　Bianchon！　he　is　on　the　road　to　Paris。　A　noble　soul！〃　said
Lousteau。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　cried　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；　〃he　is　high…minded；　full　of
delicate　feeling〃

〃We　were　in　such　good　spirits　when　we　set　out；〃　said　Lousteau；　〃now
you　are　overdone；　and　you　speak　to　me　so　bitterlywhy？　Are　you　not
accustomed　to　being　told　how　handsome　and　how　clever　you　are？　For　my
part；　I　say　boldly；　before　Gatien；　I　give　up　Paris；　I　mean　to　stay　at
Sancerre　and　swell　the　number　of　your　/cavalieri　serventi/。　I　feel　so
young　again　in　my　native　district；　I　have　quite　forgotten　Paris　and
all　its　wickedness；　and　its　bores；　and　its　wearisome　pleasures。Yes；
my　life　seems　in　a　way　purified。〃

Dinah　allowed　Lousteau　to　talk　without　even　looking　at　him；　but　at
last　there　was　a　moment　when　this　serpent's　rhodomontade　was　really　so
inspired　by　the　effort　he　made　to　affect　passion　in　phrases　and　ideas
of　which　the　meaning；　though　hidden　from　Gatien；　found　a　loud　response
in　Dinah's　heart；　that　she　raised　her　eyes　to　his。　This　look　seemed　to
crown　Lousteau's　joy；　his　wit　flowed　more　freely；　and　at　last　he　made
Madame　de　la　Baudraye　laugh。　When；　under　circumstances　which　so
seriously　compromise　her　pride；　a　woman　has　been　made　to　laugh；　she　is
finally　committed。

As　they　drove　in　by　the　spacious　graveled　forecourt；　with　its　lawn　in
the　middle；　and　the　large　vases　filled　with　flowers　which　so　well　set
off　the　facade　of　Anzy；　the　journalist　was　saying：

〃When　women　love；　they　forgive　everything；　even　our　crimes；　when　they
do　not　love；　they　cannot　forgive　anythingnot　even　our　virtues。Do
you　forgive　me；〃　he　added　in　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　ear；　and　pressing
her　arm　to　his　heart　with　tender　emphasis。　And　Dinah　could　not　help
smiling。

All　through　dinner；　and　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　Etienne　was　in
the　most　delightful　spirits；　inexhaustibly　cheerful；　but　while　thus
giving　vent　to　his　intoxication；　he　now　and　then　fell　into　the　dreamy
abstraction　of　a　man　who　seems　rapt　in　his　own　happiness。

After　coffee　had　been　served；　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　and　her　mother
left　the　men　to　wander　about　the　gardens。　Monsieur　Gravier　then
remarked　to　Monsieur　de　Clagny：

〃Did　you　observe　that　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；　after　going　out　in　a
muslin　gown　came　home　in　a　velvet？〃

〃As　she　got　into　the　carriage　at　Cosne；　the　muslin　dress　caught　on　a
brass　nail　and　was　torn　all　the　way　down；〃　replied　Lousteau。

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Gatien；　stricken　to　the　heart　by　hearing　two　such
different　explanations。

The　journalist；　who　understood；　took　Gatien　by　the　arm　and　pressed　it
as　a　hint　to　him　to　be　silent。　A　few　minutes　later　Etienne　left
Dinah's　three　adorers　and　took　possession　of　little　La　Baudraye。　Then
Gatien　was　cross…questioned　as　to　the　events　of　the　day。　Monsieur
Gravier　and　Monsieur　de　Clagny　were　dismayed　to　hear　that　on　the
return　from　Cosne　Lousteau　had　been　alone　with　Dinah；　and　even　more　so
on　hearing　the　two　versions　explaining　the　lady's　change　of　dress。　And
the　three　discomfited　gentlemen　were　in　a　very　awkward　position　for
the　rest　of　the　evening。

Next　day　each；　on　various　business；　was　obliged　to　leave　Anzy；　Dinah
remained　with　her　mother；　Lousteau；　and　her　husband。　The　annoyance
vented　by　the　three　victims　gave　rise　to　an　organized　rebellion　in
Sancerre。　The　surrender　of　the　Muse　of　Le　Berry；　of　the　Nivernais；　and
of　Morvan　was　the　cause　of　a　perfect　hue　and　cry　of　slander；　evil
report；　and　various　guesses　in　which　the　story　of　the　muslin　gown　held
a　prominent　place。　No　dress　Dinah　had　ever　worn　had　been　so　much
commented　on；　or　was　half　as　interesting　to　the　girls；　who　could　not
conceive　what　the　connection　might　be；　that　made　the　married　women
laugh；　between　love　and　a　muslin　gown。

The　Presidente　Boirouge；　furious　at　her　son's　discomfiture；　forgot　the
praise　she　had　lavished　on　the　poem　of　/Paquita/；　and　fulminated
terrific　condemnation　on　the　woman　who　could　publish　such　a
disgraceful　work。

〃The　wretched　woman　commits　every　crime　she　writes　about；〃　said　she。
〃Perhaps　she　will　come　to　the　same　end　as　her　heroine！〃

Dinah's　fate　among　the　good　folks　of　Sancerre　was　like　that　of
Marechal　Soult　in　the　opposition　newspapers；　as　long　as　he　is　minister
he　lost　the　battle　of　Toulouse；　whenever　he　is　out　of　the　Government
he　won　it！　While　she　was　virtuous；　Dinah　was　a　match　for　Camille　de
Maupin；　a　rival　of　the　most　famous　women；　but　as　soon　as　she　was
happy；　she　was　an　/unhappy　creature/。

Monsieur　de　Clagny　was　her　valiant　champion；　he　went　several　times　to
the　Chateau　d'Anzy　to　acquire　the　right　to　contradict　the　rumors
current　as　to　the　woman　he　still　faithfully　adored；　even　in　her　fall；
and　he　maintained　that　she　and　Lousteau　were　engaged　together　on　some
great　work。　But　the　lawyer　was　laughed　to　scorn。

The　month　of　October　was　lovely；　autumn　is　the　finest　season　in　the
valley　of　the　Loire；　but　in　1836　it　was　unusually　glorious。　Nature
seemed　to　aid　and　abet　Dinah；　who；　as　Bianchon　had　predicted；
gradually　developed　a　heart…felt　passion。　In　one　month　she　was　an
altered　woman。　She　was　surprised　to　find　in　herself　so　many　inert　and
dormant　qualities；　hitherto　in　abeyance。　To　her　Lousteau　seemed　an
angel；　for　heart…love；　the　crowning　need　of　a　great　nature；　had　made　a
new　woman　of　her。　Dinah　was　alive！　She　had　found　an　outlet　for　her
powers；　she　saw　undreamed…of　vistas　in　the　futurein　short；　she　was
happy；　happy　without　alarms　or　hindrances。　The　vast　castle；　the
gardens；　the　park；　the　forest；　favored　love。

Lousteau　found　in　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　an　artlessness；　nay；　if　you
will；　an　innocence　of　mind　which　made　her　very　original；　there　was
much　more　of　the　unexpected　and　winning　in　her　than　in　a　girl。
Lousteau　was　quite　alive　to　a　form　of　flattery　which　in　most　women　is
assumed；　but　which　in　Dinah　was　genuine；　she　really　learned　from　him
the　ways　of　love；　he　really　was　the　first　to　reign　in　her　heart。　And；
indeed；　he　took　the　trouble　to　be　exceedingly　amiable。

Men；　like　women；　have　a　stock　in　hand　of　recitatives；　of　/cantabile/；
of　/nocturnes/；　airs　and　refrainsshall　we　say　of　recipes；　although
we　speak　of　lovewhich　each　one　believes　to　be　exclusively　his　own。
Men　w