the muse of the department-第28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！


the　want　of　dailyor；　if　you　will；　of　nightlyintercourse　between
her　and　Adolphe。　Each　of　the　lovers　has　a　separate　home；　they　have
both　submitted　to　the　world　and　saved　appearances。　Ellenore；
repeatedly　left　to　herself；　is　compelled　to　vast　labors　of　affection
to　expel　the　thoughts　of　release　which　captivate　Adolphe　when　absent。
The　constant　exchange　of　glances　and　thoughts　in　domestic　life　gives　a
woman　such　power　that　a　man　needs　stronger　reasons　for　desertion　than
she　will　ever　give　him　so　long　as　she　loves　him。

This　was　an　entirely　new　phase　both　to　Etienne　and　to　Dinah。　Dinah
intended　to　be　indispensable；　she　wanted　to　infuse　fresh　energy　into
this　man；　whose　weakness　smiled　upon　her；　for　she　thought　it　a
security。　She　found　him　subjects；　sketched　the　treatment；　and　at　a
pinch；　would　write　whole　chapters。　She　revived　the　vitality　of　this
dying　talent　by　transfusing　fresh　blood　into　his　veins；　she　supplied
him　with　ideas　and　opinions。　In　short；　she　produced　two　books　which
were　a　success。　More　than　once　she　saved　Lousteau's　self…esteem　by
dictating；　correcting；　or　finishing　his　articles　when　he　was　in
despair　at　his　own　lack　of　ideas。　The　secret　of　this　collaboration　was
strictly　preserved；　Madame　Piedefer　knew　nothing　of　it。

This　mental　galvanism　was　rewarded　by　improved　pay；　enabling　them　to
live　comfortably　till　the　end　of　1838。　Lousteau　became　used　to　seeing
Dinah　do　his　work；　and　he　paid　heras　the　French　people　say　in　their
vigorous　lingoin　〃monkey　money；〃　nothing　for　her　pains。　This
expenditure　in　self…sacrifice　becomes　a　treasure　which　generous　souls
prize；　and　the　more　she　gave　the　more　she　loved　Lousteau；　the　time
soon　came　when　Dinah　felt　that　it　would　be　too　bitter　a　grief　ever　to
give　him　up。

But　then　another　child　was　coming；　and　this　year　was　a　terrible　trial。
In　spite　of　the　precautions　of　the　two　women；　Etienne　contracted
debts；　he　worked　himself　to　death　to　pay　them　off　while　Dinah　was　laid
up；　and；　knowing　him　as　she　did；　she　thought　him　heroic。　But　after
this　effort；　appalled　at　having　two　women；　two　children；　and　two　maids
on　his　hands；　he　was　incapable　of　the　struggle　to　maintain　a　family　by
his　pen　when　he　had　failed　to　maintain　even　himself。　So　he　let　things
take　their　chance。　Then　the　ruthless　speculator　exaggerated　the　farce
of　love…making　at　home　to　secure　greater　liberty　abroad。

Dinah　proudly　endured　the　burden　of　life　without　support。　The　one
idea；　〃He　loves　me！〃　gave　her　superhuman　strength。　She　worked　as　hard
as　the　most　energetic　spirits　of　our　time。　At　the　risk　of　her　beauty
and　health；　Didine　was　to　Lousteau　what　Mademoiselle　Delachaux　was　to
Gardane　in　Diderot's　noble　and　true　tale。　But　while　sacrificing
herself；　she　committed　the　magnanimous　blunder　of　sacrificing　dress。
She　had　her　gowns　dyed；　and　wore　nothing　but　black。　She　stank　of
black；　as　Malaga　said；　making　fun　mercilessly　of　Lousteau。

By　the　end　of　1839；　Etienne；　following　the　example　of　Louis　XV。；　had；
by　dint　of　gradual　capitulations　of　conscience；　come　to　the　point　of
establishing　a　distinction　between　his　own　money　and　the　housekeeping
money；　just　as　Louis　XV。　drew　the　line　between　his　privy　purse　and　the
public　moneys。　He　deceived　Dinah　as　to　his　earnings。　On　discovering
this　baseness；　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　went　through　fearful　tortures　of
jealousy。　She　wanted　to　live　two　livesthe　life　of　the　world　and　the
life　of　a　literary　woman；　she　accompanied　Lousteau　to　every　first…
night　performance；　and　could　detect　in　him　many　impulses　of　wounded
vanity；　for　her　black　attire　rubbed　off；　as　it　were；　on　him；　clouding
his　brow；　and　sometimes　leading　him　to　be　quite　brutal。　He　was　really
the　woman　of　the　two；　and　he　had　all　a　woman's　exacting　perversity；　he
would　reproach　Dinah　for　the　dowdiness　of　her　appearance；　even　while
benefiting　by　the　sacrifice；　which　to　a　mistress　is　so　cruelexactly
like　a　woman　who；　after　sending　a　man　through　a　gutter　to　save　her
honor；　tells　him　she　〃cannot　bear　dirt！〃　when　he　comes　out。

Dinah　then　found　herself　obliged　to　gather　up　the　rather　loose　reins
of　power　by　which　a　clever　woman　drives　a　man　devoid　of　will。　But　in
so　doing　she　could　not　fail　to　lose　much　of　her　moral　lustre。　Such
suspicions　as　she　betrayed　drag　a　woman　into　quarrels　which　lead　to
disrespect；　because　she　herself　comes　down　from　the　high　level　on
which　she　had　at　first　placed　herself。　Next　she　made　some　concession；
Lousteau　was　allowed　to　entertain　several　of　his　friendsNathan；
Bixiou；　Blondet；　Finot；　whose　manners；　language；　and　intercourse　were
depraving。　They　tried　to　convince　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　that　her
principles　and　aversions　were　a　survival　of　provincial　prudishness；
and　they　preached　the　creed　of　woman's　superiority。

Before　long；　her　jealousy　put　weapons　into　Lousteau's　hands。　During
the　carnival　of　1840；　she　disguised　herself　to　go　to　the　balls　at　the
Opera…house；　and　to　suppers　where　she　met　courtesans；　in　order　to　keep
an　eye　on　all　Etienne's　amusements。

On　the　day　of　Mid…Lentor　rather；　at　eight　on　the　morning　after
Dinah　came　home　from　the　ball　in　her　fancy　dress　to　go　to　bed。　She　had
gone　to　spy　on　Lousteau；　who；　believing　her　to　be　ill；　had　engaged
himself　for　that　evening　to　Fanny　Beaupre。　The　journalist；　warned　by　a
friend；　had　behaved　so　as　to　deceive　the　poor　woman；　only　too　ready　to
be　deceived。

As　she　stepped　out　of　the　hired　cab；　Dinah　met　Monsieur　de　la
Baudraye；　to　whom　the　porter　pointed　her　out。　The　little　old　man　took
his　wife　by　the　arm；　saying；　in　an　icy　tone：

〃So　this　is　you；　madame！〃

This　sudden　advent　of　conjugal　authority；　before　which　she　felt
herself　so　small；　and；　above　all；　these　words；　almost　froze　the　heart
of　the　unhappy　woman　caught　in　the　costume　of　a　/debardeur/。　To　escape
Etienne's　eye　the　more　effectually；　she　had　chosen　a　dress　he　was　not
likely　to　detect　her　in。　She　took　advantage　of　the　mask　she　still　had
on　to　escape　without　replying；　changed　her　dress；　and　went　up　to　her
mother's　rooms；　where　she　found　her　husband　waiting　for　her。　In　spite
of　her　assumed　dignity；　she　blushed　in　the　old　man's　presence。

〃What　do　you　want　of　me；　monsieur？〃　she　asked。　〃Are　we　not　separated
forever？〃

〃Actually；　yes；〃　said　Monsieur　de　la　Baudraye。　〃Legally；　no。〃

Madame　Piedefer　was　telegraphing　signals　to　her　daughter；　which　Dinah
presently　observed　and　understood。

〃Nothing　could　have　brought　you　here　but　your　own　interests；〃　she
said；　in　a　bitter　tone。

〃/Our/　interests；〃　said　the　little　man　coldly；　〃for　we　have　two　
children。Your　Uncle　Silas　Piedefer　is　dead；　at　New　York；　where；
after　having　made　and　lost　several　fortunes　in　various　parts　of　the
world；　he　has　finally　left　some　seven　or　eight　hundred　thousand　francs
they　say　twelvebut　there　is　stock…in…trade　to　be　sold。　I　am　the
chief　in　our　common　interests；　and　act　for　you。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Dinah；　〃in　everything　that　relates　to　business；　I　trust　no
one　but　Monsieur　de　Clagny。　He　knows　the　law；　come　to　terms　with　him；
what　he　does；　will　be　done　right。〃

〃I　have　no　occasion　for　Monsieur　de　Clagny；〃　answered　Monsieur　de　la
Baudraye；　〃to　take　my　children　from　you〃

〃Your　children！〃　exclaimed　Dinah。　〃Your　children；　to　whom　you　have　not
sent　a　sou！　/Your/　children！〃　She　burst　into　a　loud　shout　of　laughter；
but　Monsieur　de　la　Baudraye's　unmoved　coolness　threw　ice　on　the
explosion。

〃Your　mother　has　just　brought　them　to　show　me；〃　he　went　on。　〃They　are
charming　boys。　I　do　not　intend　to　part　from　them。　I　shall　take　them　to
our　house　at　Anzy；　if　it　were　only　to　save　them　from　seeing　their
mother　disguised　like　a〃

〃Silence！〃　said　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　imperatively。　〃What　do　you　want
of　me　that　brought　you　here？〃

〃A　power　of　attorney　to　receive　our　Uncle　Silas'　property。〃

Dinah　took　a　pen；　wrote　two　lines　to　Monsieur　de　Clagny；　and　desired
her　husband　to　call　again　in　the　afternoon。

At　five　o'clock；　Monsieur　de　Clagnywho　had　been　promoted　to　the　post
of　Attorney…Generalenlightened　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　as　to　her
position；　still；　he　undertook　to　arrange　everything　by　a　bargain　with
the　old　fellow；　whose　visit　had　been　prompted　by　avarice　alone。
Monsieur　de　la　Baudraye；　to　whom　his　wife's　power　of　attorney　was
indispensable　to　enable　him　to　deal　with　the　business　as　he　wished；
purchased　it　by　certain　concessions。　In　the　first　place；　he　undertook
to　allow　her　ten　thousand　francs　a　year　so　long　as　she　found　it
convenientso　the　document　was　wordedto　reside　in　Paris；　the
children；　each　on　attaining　the　age　of　six；　were　to　be　placed　in
Monsieur　de　la　Baudraye's　keeping。　Finally；　the　lawyer　extracted　the
payment　of　the　allowance　in　advance。

Little　La　Baudraye；　who　came　jauntily　enough　to　say　good…bye　to　his
wife　and　/his/　children；　appeared　in　a　white　india…rubber　overcoat。　He
was　so　firm　on　his　feet；　and　so　exactly　like　the　La　Baudraye　of　1836；
that　Dinah　despaired　of　ever　burying　the　dreadful　little　dwarf。　From
the　garden；　where　he　was　smoking　a　cigar；　the　journalist　could　watch
Monsieur　de　la　Baudraye　for　so　long　as　it　took　the　little　reptile　to
cross　the　forecourt；　but　that　was　enough　for　Lousteau；　it　was　plain　to
him　that　the　little　man　had　intended　to　wreck　every　hope　of　his　dying
that　his　wife　might　have　conceived。

This　short　scene　made　a　considerable　change　in　the　writer's　secret
scheming。　As　he　smoked　a　second　cigar；　he　seriously　reviewed　the
position。

His　life　with　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　had　hitherto　cost　him　quite　as
much　as　it　had　cost　her。　To　use　the　language　of　business；　the　two
sides　of　the　account　balanced；　and　they　could；　if　necessary；　cry
quits。　Considering　how　small　his　income　was；　and　how　hardly　he　earned
it；　Lousteau　regarded　himself；　morally　speaking；　as　the　creditor。　It
was；　no　doubt；　a　favorable　moment　for　throwing　the　woman　over。　Tired
at　the　end　of　three　years　of　playing　a　comedy　which　never　can　become　a
habit；　he　was　perpetually　concealing　his　weariness；　and　this　fellow；
who　was　accustomed　to　disguise　none　of　his　feelings；　compelled　himself
to　wear　a　smile　at　home　like　that　of　a　debtor　in　the　presence　of　his
creditor。　This　compulsion　was　every　day　more　intolerable。

Hitherto　the　immense　advantages　he　foresaw　in　the　future　had　given　him
strength；　but　when　he　saw　Monsieur　de　la　Baudraye　embark　for　the
United　States；　as　briskly　as　if　it　were　to　go　down　to　Rouen　in　a
steamboat；　he　ceased　to　believe　in　the　future。

He　went　in　from　the　garden　to　the　pretty　drawing…room；　where　Dinah　had
just　taken　leave　of　her　husband。

〃Etienne；〃　said　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；　〃do　you　know　what　my　lord　and
master　has　proposed　to　me？　In　the　event　of　my　wishing　to　return　to
live　at　Anzy　during　his　absence；　he　has　left　his　orders；　and　he　hopes
that　my　mother's　good　advice　will　weigh　with　me；　and　that　I　shall　go
back　there　with　my　children。〃

〃It　is　very　good　advice；〃　replied　Lousteau　drily；　knowing　the
passionate　disclaimer　that　Dinah　expected；　and　indeed　begged　for　with
her　eyes。

The　tone；　the　words；　the　cold　look；　all　hit　the　hapless　woman　so　hard；
who　lived　only　in　her　love；　that　two　large　tears　trickled　slowly　down
her　cheeks；　while　she　did　not　speak　a　word；　and　Lousteau　only　saw　them
when　she　took　out　her　handkerchief　to　wipe　away　these　two　beads　of
anguish。

〃What