scaramouche-第31部分

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scornful。　　And　she　explained。　　〃It　is　simply　that　I　was　at　the　play
last　night。　　I　thought　I　recognized　her。〃

〃You　were　at　the　Feydau　last　night？　　And　I　never　saw　you！〃

〃Were　you　there；　too？〃

〃Was　I　there！〃　he　cried。　　Then　he　checked；　and　abruptly　changed　his
tone。　　〃Oh；　yes；　I　was　there；〃　he　said；　as　commonplace　as　he　could；
beset　by　a　sudden　reluctance　to　avow　that　he　had　so　willingly
descended　to　depths　that　she　must　account　unworthy；　and　grateful
that　his　disguise　of　face　and　voice　should　have　proved　impenetrable
even　to　one　who　knew　him　so　very　well。

〃I　understand；〃　said　she；　and　compressed　her　lips　a　little　more
tightly。

〃But　what　do　you　understand？〃

〃The　rare　attractions　of　Mlle。　Binet。　　Naturally　you　would　be　at
the　theatre。　　Your　tone　conveyed　it　very　clearly。　　Do　you　know　that
you　disappoint　me；　Andre？　　It　is　stupid　of　me；　perhaps；　it　betrays；
I　suppose；　my　imperfect　knowledge　of　your　sex。　　I　am　aware　that
most　young　men　of　fashion　find　an　irresistible　attraction　for
creatures　who　parade　themselves　upon　the　stage。　　But　I　did　not
expect　you　to　ape　the　ways　of　a　man　of　fashion。　　I　was　foolish
enough　to　imagine　you　to　be　different；　rather　above　such　trivial
pursuits。　　I　conceived　you　something　of　an　idealist。〃

〃Sheer　flattery。〃

〃So　I　perceive。　　But　you　misled　me。　　You　talked　so　much　morality　of
a　kind；　you　made　philosophy　so　readily；　that　I　came　to　be　deceived。
In　fact；　your　hypocrisy　was　so　consummate　that　I　never　suspected　it。
With　your　gift　of　acting　I　wonder　that　you　haven't　joined　Mlle。
Binet's　troupe。〃

〃I　have；〃　said　he。

It　had　really　become　necessary　to　tell　her；　making　choice　of　the
lesser　of　the　two　evils　with　which　she　confronted　him。

He　saw　first　incredulity；　then　consternation；　and　lastly　disgust
overspread　her　face。

〃Of　course；〃　said　she；　after　a　long　pause；　〃that　would　have　the
advantage　of　bringing　you　closer　to　your　charmer。〃

〃That　was　only　one　of　the　inducements。　　There　was　another。　　Finding
myself　forced　to　choose　between　the　stage　and　the　gallows；　I　had　the
incredible　weakness　to　prefer　the　former。　　It　was　utterly　unworthy
of　a　man　of　my　lofty　ideals；　but　…　what　would　you？　　Like　other
ideologists；　I　find　it　easier　to　preach　than　to　practise。　　Shall　I
stop　the　carriage　and　remove　the　contamination　of　my　disgusting
person？　　Or　shall　I　tell　you　how　it　happened？〃

〃Tell　me　how　it　happened　first。　　Then　we　will　decide。〃

He　told　her　how　he　met　the　Binet　Troupe；　and　how　the　men　of　the
marechaussee　forced　upon　him　the　discovery　that　in　its　bosom　he　could
lie　safely　lost　until　the　hue　and　cry　had　died　down。　　The　explanation
dissolved　her　iciness。

〃My　poor　Andre；　why　didn't　you　tell　me　this　at　first？〃

〃For　one　thing；　you　didn't　give　me　time；　for　another；　I　feared　to
shock　you　with　the　spectacle　of　my　degradation。〃

She　took　him　seriously。　　〃But　where　was　the　need　of　it？　　And　why　did
you　not　send　us　word　as　I　required　you　of　your　whereabouts？〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　it　only　yesterday。　　I　have　hesitated　for　several
reasons。〃

〃You　thought　it　would　offend　us　to　know　what　you　were　doing？〃

〃I　think　that　I　preferred　to　surprise　you　by　the　magnitude　of　my
ultimate　achievements。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　to　become　a　great　actor？〃　　She　was　frankly　scornful。

〃That　is　not　impossible。　　But　I　am　more　concerned　to　become　a　great
author。　　There　is　no　reason　why　you　should　sniff。　　The　calling　is　an
honourable　one。　　All　the　world　is　proud　to　know　such　men　as
Beaumarchais　and　Chenier。〃

〃And　you　hope　to　equal　them？〃

〃I　hope　to　surpass　them；　whilst　acknowledging　that　it　was　they　who
taught　me　how　to　walk。　　What　did　you　think　of　the　play　last　night？〃

〃It　was　amusing　and　well　conceived。〃

〃Let　me　present　you　to　the　author。〃

〃You？　　But　the　company　is　one　of　the　improvisers。〃

〃Even　improvisers　require　an　author　to　write　their　scenarios。　　That
is　all　I　write　at　present。　　Soon　I　shall　be　writing　plays　in　the
modern　manner。〃

〃You　deceive　yourself；　my　poor　Andre。　　The　piece　last　night　would
have　been　nothing　without　the　players。　　You　are　fortunate　in　your
Scaramouche。〃

〃In　confidence　…　I　present　you　to　him。〃

〃You　…　Scaramouche？　　You？〃　　She　turned　to　regard　him　fully。　　He
smiled　his　close…lipped　smile　that　made　wrinkles　like　gashes　in
his　cheeks。　　He　nodded。　　〃And　I　didn't　recognize　you！〃


〃I　thank　you　for　the　tribute。　　You　imagined；　of　course；　that　I　was
a　scene…shifter。　　And　now　that　you　know　all　about　me；　what　of
Gavrillac？　　What　of　my　godfather？〃

He　was　well；　she　told　him；　and　still　profoundly　indignant　with
Andre…Louis　for　his　defection；　whilst　secretly　concerned　on　his
behalf。

〃I　shall　write　to　him　to…day　that　I　have　seen　you。〃

〃Do　so。　　Tell　him　that　I　am　well　and　prospering。　　But　say　no　more。
Do　not　tell　him　what　I　am　doing。　　He　has　his　prejudices　too。
Besides；　it　might　not　be　prudent。　　And　now　the　question　I　have　been
burning　to　ask　ever　since　I　entered　your　carriage。　　Why　are　you　in
Nantes；　Aline？〃

〃I　am　on　a　visit　to　my　aunt；　Mme。　de　Sautron。　　It　was　with　her　that
I　came　to　the　play　yesterday。　　We　have　been　dull　at　the　chateau；　but
it　will　be　different　now。　　Madame　my　aunt　is　receiving　several　guests
to…day。　　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　is　to　be　one　of　them。〃

Andre…Louis　frowned　and　sighed。　　〃Did　you　ever　hear；　Aline；　how　poor
Philippe　de　Vilmorin　came　by　his　end？〃

〃Yes；　I　was　told；　first　by　my　uncle；　then　by　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr；
himself。〃

〃Did　not　that　help　you　to　decide　this　marriage　question？〃

〃How　could　it？　　You　forget　that　I　am　but　a　woman。　　You　don't　expect
me　to　judge　between　men　in　matters　such　as　these？〃

〃Why　not？　　You　are　well　able　to　do　so。　　The　more　since　you　have
heard　two　sides。　　For　my　godfather　would　tell　you　the　truth。　　If
you　cannot　judge；　it　is　that　you　do　not　wish　to　judge。〃　　His　tone
became　harsh。　　〃Wilfully　you　close　your　eyes　to　justice　that　might
check　the　course　of　your　unhealthy；　unnatural　ambition。〃

〃Excellent！〃　she　exclaimed；　and　considered　him　with　amusement　and
something　else。　　〃Do　you　know　that　you　are　almost　droll？　　You　rise
unblushing　from　the　dregs　of　life　in　which　I　find　you；　and　shake
off　the　arm　of　that　theatre　girl；　to　come　and　preach　to　me。〃

〃If　these　were　the　dregs　of　life　I　might　still　speak　from　them　to
counsel　you　out　of　my　respect　and　devotion　；Aline。〃　　He　was　very
stiff　and　stern。　　〃But　they　are　not　the　dregs　of　life。　　Honour　and
virtue　are　possible　to　a　theatre　girl；　they　are　impossible　to　a
lady　who　sells　herself　to　gratify　ambition；　who　for　position；　riches；
and　a　great　title　barters　herself　in　marriage。〃

She　looked　at　him　breathlessly。　　Anger　turned　her　pale。　　She　reached
for　the　cord。

〃I　think　I　had　better　let　you　alight　so　that　you　may　go　back　to
practise　virtue　and　honour　with　your　theatre　wench。〃

〃You　shall　not　speak　so　of　her；　Aline。〃

〃Faith；　now　we　are　to　have　heat　on　her　behalf。　　You　think　I　am　too
delicate？　　You　think　I　should　speak　of　her　as　a。。。　〃

〃If　you　must　speak　of　her　at　all；〃　he　interrupted；　hotly；　〃you'll
speak　of　her　as　my　wife。〃

Amazement　smothered　her　anger。　　Her　pallor　deepened。　　〃My　God！〃　she
said；　and　looked　at　him　in　horror。　　And　in　horror　she　asked　him
presently：　〃You　are　married　…　married　to　that　…？〃

〃Not　yet。　　But　I　shall　be；　soon。　　And　let　me　tell　you　that　this
girl　whom　you　visit　with　your　ignorant　contempt　is　as　good　and　pure
as　you　are；　Aline。　　She　has　wit　and　talent　which　have　placed　her
where　she　is　and　shall　carry　her　a　deal　farther。　　And　she　has　the
womanliness　to　be　guided　by　natural　instincts　in　the　selection　of
her　mate。〃

She　was　trembling　with　passion。　　She　tugged　the　cord。

〃You　will　descend　this　instant！〃　she　told　him　fiercely。　　〃That　you
should　dare　to　make　a　comparison　between　me　and　that。。。　〃

〃And　my　wife…to…be；〃　he　interrupted；　before　she　could　speak　the
infamous　word。　　He　opened　the　door　for　himself　without　waiting　for
the　footman；　and　leapt　down。　　〃My　compliments；〃　said　he；　furiously；
〃to　the　assassin　you　are　to　marry。〃　　He　slammed　the　door。　　〃Drive
on；〃　he　bade　the　coachman。

The　carriage　rolled　away　up　the　Faubourg　Gigan；　leaving　him　standing
where　he　had　alighted；　quivering　with　rage。　　Gradually；　as　he　walked
back　to　the　inn；　his　anger　cooled。　　Gradually；　as　he　cooled；　he
perceived　her　point　of　view；　and　in　the　end　forgave　her。　　It　was　not
her　fault　that　she　thought　as　she　thought。　　Her　rearing　had　been　such
as　to　make　her　look　upon　every　actress　as　a　trull；　just　as　it　had
qualified　her　calmly　to　consider　the　monstrous　marriage　of　convenience
into　which　she　was　invited。

He　got　back　to　the　inn　to　find　the　company　at　table。　　Silence　fell
when　he　entered；　so　suddenly　that　of　necessity　it　must　be　supposed　he
was　himself　the　subject　of　the　conversation。　　Harlequin　and　Columbine
had　spread　the　tale　of　this　prince　in　disguise　caught　up　into　the
chariot　of　a　princess　and　carried　off　by　her；　and　it　was　a　tale　that
had　lost　nothing　in　the　telling。

Climene　had　been　silent　and　thoughtful；　pondering　what　Columbine　had
called　this　romance　of　hers。　　Clearly　her　Scaramouche　must　be　vastly
other　than　he　had　hitherto　appeared；　or　else　that　great　lady　and　he
would　never　have　used　such　familiarity　with　each　other。　　Imagining　him
no　better　than　he　was；　Climene　had　made　him　her　own。　　And　now　she　was
to　receive　the　reward　of　disinterested　affection。

Even　old　Binet's　secret　hostility　towards　Andre…Louis　melted　before
this　astounding　revelation。　　He　had　pinched　his　daughter's　ear　quite
playfully。　　〃Ah；　ah；　trust　you　to　have　penetrated　his　disguise；　my
child！〃

She　shrank　resentfully　from　that　implication。

〃But　I　did　not。　　I　took　him　for　what　he　seemed。〃

Her　father　winked　at　her　very　solemnly　and　laughed。　　〃To　be　sure；
you　did。　　But　like　your　father；　who　was　once　a　gentleman；　and　knows
the　ways　of　gentlemen；　you　detected　in　him　a　subtle　something
different　from　those　with　whom　misfortune　has　compelled　you　hitherto
to　herd。　　You　knew　as　well　as　I　did　that　he　never　caught　that　trick
of　haughtiness；　that　grand　air　of　command；　in　a　lawyer's　musty
office；　and　that　his　speech　had　hardly　the　ring　or　his　thoughts　the
complexion　of　the　bourgeois　that　he　pretended　to　be。　　And　it　was
shrewd　of　you　to　have　made　him　yours。