scaramouche-第35部分

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！


unnaturally　calm。

〃That　would　be　an　hour　ago　…　rather　more。　　And　she　has　not　yet
arrived？〃

His　eyes　sought　M。　Binet's。　　M。　Binet's　eyes　eluded　his　glance。
Again　it　was　Leandre　who　answered　him。

〃Not　yet。〃

〃Ah！〃　　Andre…Louis　sat　down；　and　poured　himself　wine。　　There　was
an　oppressive　silence　in　the　room。　　Leandre　watched　him　expectantly；
Columbine　commiseratingly。　　Even　M。　Binet　appeared　to　be　waiting
for　a　cue　from　Scaramouche。　　But　Scaramouche　disappointed　him。
〃Have　you　left　me　anything　to　eat？〃　he　asked。

Platters　were　pushed　towards　him。　　He　helped　himself　calmly　to　food；
and　ate　in　silence；　apparently　with　a　good　appetite。　　M。　Binet　sat
down；　poured　himself　wine；　and　drank。　　Presently　he　attempted　to
make　conversation　with　one　and　another。　　He　was　answered　curtly；　in
monosyllables。　　M。　Binet　did　not　appear　to　be　in　favour　with　his
troupe　that　night。

At　long　length　came　a　rumble　of　wheels　below　and　a　rattle　of　halting
hooves。　　Then　voices；　the　high；　trilling　laugh　of　Climene　floating
upwards。　　Andre…Louis　went　on　eating　unconcernedly。

〃What　an　actor！〃　said　Harlequin　under　his　breath　to　Polichinelle；
and　Polichinelle　nodded　gloomily。

She　came　in；　a　leading　lady　taking　the　stage；　head　high；　chin　thrust
forward；　eyes　dancing　with　laughter；　she　expressed　triumph　and
arrogance。　　Her　cheeks　were　flushed；　and　there　was　some　disorder　in
the　mass　of　nut…brown　hair　that　crowned　her　head。　　In　her　left　hand
she　carried　an　enormous　bouquet　of　white　camellias。　　On　its　middle
finger　a　diamond　of　great　price　drew　almost　at　once　by　its　effulgence
the　eyes　of　all。

Her　father　sprang　to　meet　her　with　an　unusual　display　of　paternal
tenderness。　　〃At　last；　my　child！〃

He　conducted　her　to　the　table。　　She　sank　into　a　chair；　a　little
wearily；　a　little　nervelessly；　but　the　smile　did　not　leave　her　face；
not　even　when　she　glanced　across　at　Scaramouche。　　It　was　only
Leandre；　observing　her　closely；　with　hungry；　scowling　stare；　who
detected　something　as　of　fear　in　the　hazel　eyes　momentarily　seen
between　the　fluttering　of　her　lids。

Andre…Louis；　however；　still　went　on　eating　stolidly；　without　so
much　as　a　look　in　her　direction。　　Gradually　the　company　came　to
realize　that　just　as　surely　as　a　scene　was　brooding；　just　so
surely　would　there　be　no　scene　as　long　as　they　remained。　　It　was
Polichinelle；　at　last；　who　gave　the　signal　by　rising　and　withdrawing；
and　within　two　minutes　none　remained　in　the　room　but　M。　Binet；　his
daughter；　and　Andre…Louis。　　And　then；　at　last；　Andre…Louis　set　down
knife　and　fork；　washed　his　throat　with　a　draught　of　Burgundy；　and
sat　back　in　his　chair　to　consider　Climene。

〃I　trust；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　had　a　pleasant　ride；　mademoiselle。〃

〃Most　pleasant；　monsieur。　　Impudently　she　strove　to　emulate　his
coolness；　but　did　not　completely　succeed。

〃And　not　unprofitable；　if　I　may　judge　that　jewel　at　this　distance。
It　should　be　worth　at　least　a　couple　of　hundred　louis；　and　that
is　a　formidable　sum　even　to　so　wealthy　a　nobleman　as　M。　de　La　Tour
d'Azyr。　　Would　it　be　impertinent　in　one　who　has　had　some　notion
of　becoming　your　husband；　to　ask　you；　mademoiselle；　what　you　have
given　him　in　return？〃

M。　Binet　uttered　a　gross　laugh；　a　queer　mixture　of　cynicism　and
contempt。

〃I　have　given　nothing；〃　said　Climene；　indignantly。

〃Ah！　　Then　the　jewel　is　in　the　nature　of　a　payment　in　advance。〃

〃My　God；　man；　you're　not　decent！〃　M。　Binet　protested。

〃Decent？〃　　Andre…Louis'　smouldering　eyes　turned　to　discharge　upon
M。　Binet　such　a　fulmination　of　contempt　that　the　old　scoundrel
shifted　uncomfortably　in　his　chair。　　〃Did　you　mention　decency；
Binet？　　Almost　you　make　me　lose　my　temper；　which　is　a　thing　that
I　detest　above　all　others！〃　　Slowly　his　glance　returned　to　Climene；
who　sat　with　elbows　on　the　table；　her　chin　cupped　in　her　palms；
regarding　him　with　something　between　scorn　and　defiance。
〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　slowly；　〃I　desire　you　purely　in　your　own
interests　to　consider　whither　you　are　going。〃

〃I　am　well　able　to　consider　it　for　myself；　and　to　decide　without
advice　from　you；　monsieur。〃

〃And　now　you've　got　your　answer；〃　chuckled　Binet。　　〃I　hope　you
like　it。〃

Andre…Louis　had　paled　a　little；　there　was　incredulity　in　his　great
sombre　eyes　as　they　continued　steadily　to　regard　her。　　Of　M。　Binet
he　took　no　notice。

〃Surely；　mademoiselle；　you　cannot　mean　that　willingly；　with　open
eyes　and　a　full　understanding　of　what　you　do；　you　would　exchange
an　honourable　wifehood　for。。。　for　the　thing　that　such　men　as　M。　de
La　Tour　d'Azyr　may　have　in　store　for　you？〃

M。　Binet　made　a　wide　gesture；　and　swung　to　his　daughter。　　〃You　hear
him；　the　mealy…mouthed　prude！　　Perhaps　you'll　believe　at　last　that
marriage　with　him　would　be　the　ruin　of　you。　　He　would　always　be
there　the　inconvenient　husband　…　to　mar　your　every　chance；　my　girl。〃

She　tossed　her　lovely　head　in　agreement　with　her　father　〃I　begin　to
find　him　tiresome　with　his　silly　jealousies；〃　she　confessed。　　〃As　a
husband　I　am　afraid　he　would　be　impossible。〃

Andre…Louis　felt　a　constriction　of　the　heart。　　But　…　always　the
actor　…　he　showed　nothing　of　it。　　He　laughed　a　little；　not　very
pleasantly；　and　rose。

〃I　bow　to　your　choice；　mademoiselle。　　I　pray　that　you　may　not
regret　it〃

〃Regret　it？〃　cried　M。　Binet。　　He　was　laughing；　relieved　to　see　his
daughter　at　last　rid　of　this　suitor　of　whom　he　had　never　approved；
if　we　except　those　few　hours　when　he　really　believed　him　to　be　an
eccentric　of　distinction。　　〃And　what　shall　she　regret？　　That　she
accepted　the　protection　of　a　nobleman　so　powerful　and　wealthy　that
as　a　mere　trinket　he　gives　her　a　jewel　worth　as　much　as　an　actress
earns　in　a　year　at　the　Comedie　Francaise？〃　　He　got　up；　and　advanced
towards　Andre…Louis。　　His　mood　became　conciliatory。　　〃Come；　come；
my　friend；　no　rancour　now。　　What　the　devil！　　You　wouldn't　stand　in
the　girl's　way？　　You　can't　really　blame　her　for　making　this　choice？
Have　you　thought　what　it　means　to　her？　　Have　you　thought　that　under
the　protection　of　such　a　gentleman　there　are　no　heights　which　she
may　not　reach？　　Don't　you　see　the　wonderful　luck　of　it？　　Surely；　if
you're　fond　of　her；　particularly　being　of　a　jealous　temperament；
you　wouldn't　　wish　it　otherwise？〃

Andre…Louis　looked　at　him　in　silence　for　a　long　moment。　　Then　he
laughed　again。　　〃Oh；　you　are　fantastic；〃　he　said。　　〃You　are　not　real。〃
He　turned　on　his　heel　and　strode　to　the　door。

The　action；　and　more　the　contempt　of　his　look；　laugh；　and　words　stung
M。　Binet　to　passion；　drove　out　the　conciliatoriness　of　his　mood。

〃Fantastic；　are　we？〃　he　cried；　turning　to　follow　the　departing
Scaramouche　with　his　little　eyes　that　now　were　inexpressibly　evil。
〃Fantastic　that　we　should　prefer　the　powerful　protection　of　this
great　nobleman　to　marriage　with　beggarly；　nameless　bastard。　　Oh；　we
are　fantastic！〃

Andre…Louis　turned；　his　hand　upon　the　door…handle。　　No；〃　he　said；
〃I　was　mistaken。　　You　are　not　fantastic。　　You　are　just　vile　…　both
of　you。〃　　And　he　went　out。



CHAPTER　X

CONTRITION


Mlle。　de　Kercadiou　walked　with　her　aunt　in　the　bright　morning
sunshine　of　a　Sunday　in　March　on　the　broad　terrace　of　the　Chateau
de　Sautron。

For　one　of　her　natural　sweetness　of　disposition　she　had　been　oddly
irritable　of　late；　manifesting　signs　of　a　cynical　worldliness；　which
convinced　Mme。　de　Sautron　more　than　ever　that　her　brother　Quintin
had　scandalously　conducted　the　child's　education。　　She　appeared　to
be　instructed　in　all　the　things　of　which　a　girl　is　better　ignorant；
and　ignorant　of　all　the　things　that　a　girl　should　know。　　That　at
least　was　the　point　of　view　of　Mme。　de　Sautron。

〃Tell　me；　madame；〃　quoth　Aline；　〃are　all　men　beasts？〃　　Unlike　her
brother；　Madame　la　Comtesse　was　tall　and　majestically　built。　　In
the　days　before　her　marriage　with　M。　de　Sautron；　ill…natured　folk
described　her　as　the　only　man　in　the　family。　　She　looked　down　now
from　her　noble　height　upon　her　little　niece　with　startled　eyes。

〃Really；　Aline；　you　have　a　trick　of　asking　the　most　disconcerting
and　improper　questions。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is　because　I　find　life　disconcerting　and　improper。

〃Life？　　A　young　girl　should　not　discuss　life。〃

〃Why　not；　since　I　am　alive？　　You　do　not　suggest　that　it　is　an
impropriety　to　be　alive？〃

〃It　is　an　impropriety　for　a　young　unmarried　girl　to　seek　to　know
too　much　about　life。　　As　for　your　absurd　question　about　men；　when
I　remind　you　that　man　is　the　noblest　work　of　God；　perhaps　you　will
consider　yourself　answered。〃

Mme。　de　Sautron　did　not　invite　a　pursuance　of　the　subject。　　But　Mlle。
de　Kercadiou's　outrageous　rearing　had　made　her　headstrong。

〃That　being　so；〃　said　she；　will　you　tell　me　why　they　find　such　an
overwhelming　attraction　in　the　immodest　of　our　sex？〃

Madame　stood　still　and　raised　shocked　hands。　　Then　she　looked　down
her　handsome；　high…bridged　nose。

〃Sometimes　…　often；　in　fact；　my　dear　Aline　…　you　pass　all
understanding。　　I　shall　write　to　Quintin　that　the　sooner　you　are
married　the　better　it　will　be　for　all。〃

〃Uncle　Quintin　has　left　that　matter　to　my　own　deciding；〃　Aline
reminded　her。

〃That；〃　said　madame　with　complete　conviction；　〃is　the　last　and　most
outrageous　of　his　errors。　　Who　ever　heard　of　a　girl　being　left　to
decide　the　matter　of　her　own　marriage？　　It　is。。。　indelicate　almost
to　expose　her　to　thoughts　of　such　things。〃　　Mme。　de　Sautron
shuddered。　　〃Quintin　is　a　boor。　　His　conduct　is　unheard　of。　　That
M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　should　parade　himself　before　you　so　that　you
may　make　up　your　mind　whether　he　is　the　proper　man　for　you！〃　　Again
she　shuddered。　　〃It　is　of　a　grossness；　of。。。　of　a　prurience　almost。。。
Mon　Dieu！　　When　I　married　your　uncle；　all　this　was　arranged　between
our　parents。　　I　first　saw　him　when　he　came　to　sign　the　contract。
I　should　have　died　of　shame　had　it　been　otherwise。　　And　that　is　how
these　affairs　should　be　conducted。〃

〃You　are　no　doubt　right；　madame。　　But　since　that　is　not　how　my　own
case　is　being　conducted；　you　will　forgive　me　if　I　deal　with　it　apart
from　others。　　M。　de　La　Tour　d'Azyr　desires　to　marry　me。　　He　has　been
permitted　to　pay　his　court。　　I　should　be　glad　to　have　him　informed
that　he　may　cease　to　do　so。〃

Mme。　de　Sautron　stood　still；　petrified　by　amazement。　　Her　long　f