scaramouche-第38部分

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His　face　was　pale；　his　large　eyes　looked　larger　than　usual。

〃Ceased　to　interest　you？　　Are　you　not　to　marry　her？〃　　Andre…Louis
expelled　a　cloud　of　smoke。　　〃You　cannot　wish　to　be　offensive。　　Yet
you　almost　suggest　that　I　live　on　other　men's　leavings。〃

〃My　God！〃　said　Leandre；　overcome；　and　he　stared　awhile。　　Then　he
burst　out　afresh。　　〃Are　you　quite　heartless？　　Are　you　always
Scaramouche？〃

〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do？〃　asked　Andre…Louis；　evincing　surprise
in　his　own　turn；　but　faintly。

〃I　do　not　expect　you　to　let　her　go　without　a　struggle。〃

〃But　she　has　gone　already。〃　　Andre…Louis　pulled　at　his　pipe　a
moment；　what　time　Leandre　clenched　and　unclenched　his　hands　in
impotent　rage。　　〃And　to　what　purpose　struggle　against　the
inevitable？　　Did　you　struggle　when　I　took　her　from　you？〃

〃She　was　not　mine　to　be　taken　from　me。　　I　but　aspired；　and　you　won
the　race。　　But　even　had　it　been　otherwise　where　is　the　comparison？
That　was　a　thing　in　honour；　this　…　this　is　hell。〃

His　emotion　moved　Andre…Louis。　　He　took　Leandre's　arm。　　〃You're　a
good　fellow；　Leandre。　　I　am　glad　I　intervened　to　save　you　from
your　fate。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　love　her！〃　cried　the　other；　passionately。　　〃You　never
did。　　You　don't　know　what　it　means　to　love；　or　you'd　not　talk　like
this。　　My　God！　　if　she　had　been　my　affianced　wife　and　this　had
happened；　I　should　have　killed　the　man　…　killed　him！　　Do　you　hear
me？　　But　you。。。　　Oh；　you；　you　come　out　here　and　smoke；　and　take　the
air；　and　talk　of　her　as　another　man's　leavings。　　I　wonder　I　didn't
strike　you　for　the　word。〃

He　tore　his　arm　from　the　other's　grip；　and　looked　almost　as　if　he
would　strike　him　now。

〃You　should　have　done　it；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃It's　in　your　part。〃

With　an　imprecation　Leandre　turned　on　his　heel　to　go。　　Andre…Louis
arrested　his　departure。

〃A　moment；　my　friend。　　Test　me　by　yourself。　　Would　you　marry　her
now？〃

〃Would　I？〃　　The　young　man's　eyes　blazed　with　passion。　　〃Would　I？
Let　her　say　that　she　will　marry　me；　and　I　am　her　slave。〃

〃Slave　is　the　right　word　…　a　slave　in　hell。〃

〃It　would　never　be　hell　to　me　where　she　was；　whatever　she　had　done。
I　love　her；　man；　I　am　not　like　you。　　I　love　her；　do　you　hear　me？〃

〃I　have　known；　it　for　some　time；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃Though　I
didn't　suspect　your　attack　of　the　disease　to　be　quite　so　violent。
Well；　God　knows　I　loved　her；　too；　quite　enough　to　share　your　thirst
for　killing。　　For　myself；　the　blue　blood　of　La　Tour　d'Azyr　would
hardly　quench　this　thirst。　　I　should　like　to　add　to　it　the　dirty
fluid　that　flows　in　the　veins　of　the　unspeakable　Binet。〃

For　a　second　his　emotion　had　been　out　of　hand；　and　he　revealed　to
Leandre　in　the　mordant　tone　of　those　last　words　something　of　the
fires　that　burned　under　his　icy　exterior。　　The　young　man　caught
him　by　the　hand。

〃I　knew　you　were　acting；〃　said　he。　　〃You　feel　…　you　feel　as　I　do。〃

〃Behold　us；　fellows　in　viciousness。　　I　have　betrayed　myself；　it
seems。　　Well；　and　what　now？　　Do　you　want　to　see　this　pretty　Marquis
torn　limb　from　limb？　　I　might　afford　you　the　spectacle。〃

〃What？〃　　Leandre　stared；　wondering　was　this　another　of　Scaramouche's
cynicisms。

〃It　isn't　really　difficult　provided　I　have　aid。　　I　require　only　a
little。　　Will　you　lend　it　me？〃

〃Anything　you　ask；〃　Leandre　exploded。　　〃My　life　if　you　require　it。〃

Andre…Louis　took　his　arm　again。　　〃Let　us　walk；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will
instruct　you。〃

When　they　came　back　the　company　was　already　at　dinner。　　Mademoiselle
had　not　yet　returned。　　Sullenness　presided　at　the　table。　　Columbine
and　Madame　wore　anxious　expressions。　　The　fact　was　that　relations
between　Binet　and　his　troupe　were　daily　growing　more　strained。

Andre…Louis　and　Leandre　went　each　to　his　accustomed　place。　　Binet's
little　eyes　followed　them　with　a　malicious　gleam；　his　thick　lips
pouted　into　a　crooked　smile。

〃You　two　are　grown　very　friendly　of　a　sudden；〃　he　mocked。

〃You　are　a　man　of　discernment；　Binet；〃　said　Scaramouche；　the　cold
loathing　of　his　voice　itself　an　insult。　　〃Perhaps　you　discern　the
reason？〃

〃It　is　readily　discerned。〃

〃Regale　the　company　with　it！〃　he　begged；　and　waited。　　〃What？　　You
hesitate？　　Is　it　possible　that　there　are　limits　to　your
shamelessness？〃

Binet　reared　his　great　head。　　〃Do　you　want　to　quarrel　with　me；
Scaramouche？〃　　Thunder　was　rumbling　in　his　deep；　voice。

〃Quarrel？　　You　want　to　laugh。　　A　man　doesn't　quarrel　with　creatures
like　you。　　We　all　know　the　place　held　in　the　public　esteem　by
complacent　husbands。　　But；　in　God's　name；　what　place　is　there　at
all　for　complacent　fathers？〃

Binet　heaved　himself　up；　a　great　towering　mass　of　manhood。　　Violently
he　shook　off　the　restraining　hand　of　Pierrot　who　sat　on　his　left。

〃A　thousand　devils！〃　he　roared；　〃if　you　take　that　tone　with　me；　I'll
break　every　bone　in　your　filthy　body。〃

〃If　you　were　to　lay　a　finger　on　me；　Binet；　you　would　give　me　the
only　provocation　I　still　need　to　kill　you。〃　　Andre…Louis　was　as
calm　as　ever；　and　therefore　the　more　menacing。　　Alarm　stirred　the
company。　　He　protruded　from　his　pocket　the　butt　of　a　pistol　…　newly
purchased。　　〃I　go　armed；　Binet。　　It　is　only　fair　to　give　you　warning。
Provoke　me　as　you　have　suggested；　and　I'll　kill　you　with　no　more
compunction　than　I　should　kill　a　slug；　which　after　all　is　the　thing
you　most　resemble　…　a　slug；　Binet；　a　fat；　slimy　body；　foulness
without　soul　and　without　intelligence。　　When　I　come　to　think　of　it
I　can't　suffer　to　sit　at　table　with　you。　　It　turns　my　stomach。〃

He　pushed　away　his　platter　and　got　up。　　〃I'll　go　and　eat　at　the
ordinary　below　stairs。〃

Thereupon　up　jumped　Columbine。

〃And　I'll　come　with　you；　Scaramouche！〃　cried　she。

It　acted　like　a　signal。　　Had　the　thing　been　concerted　it　couldn't
have　fallen　out　more　uniformly。　　Binet；　in　fact；　was　persuaded　of
a　conspiracy。　　For　in　the　wake　of　Columbine　went　Leandre；　in　the
wake　of　Leandre；　Polichinelle　and　then　all　the　rest　together；　until
Binet　found　himself　sitting　alone　at　the　head　of　an　empty　table　in
an　empty　room　…　a　badly　shaken　man　whose　rage　could　afford　him　no
support　against　the　dread　by　which　he　was　suddenly　invaded。

He　sat　down　to　think　things　out；　and　he　was　still　at　that　melancholy
occupation　when　perhaps　a　half…hour　later　his　daughter　entered　the
room；　returned　at　last　from　her　excursion。

She　looked　pale；　even　a　little　scared　…　in　reality　excessively
self…conscious　now　that　the　ordeal　of　facing　all　the　company　awaited
her。

Seeing　no　one　but　her　father　in　the　room；　she　checked　on　the
threshold。

〃Where　is　everybody？〃　she　asked；　in　a　voice　rendered　natural　by
effort。

M。　Binet　reared　his　great　head　and　turned　upon　her　eyes　that　were
blood…injected。　　He　scowled；　blew　out　his　thick　lips　and　made　harsh
noises　in　his　throat。　　Yet　he　took　stock　of　her；　so　graceful　and
comely　and　looking　so　completely　the　lady　of　fashion　in　her　long
fur…trimmed　travelling　coat　of　bottle　green；　her　muff　and　her　broad
hat　adorned　by　a　sparkling　Rhinestone　buckle　above　her　adorably
coiffed　brown　hair。　　No　need　to　fear　the　future　whilst　he　owned
such　a　daughter；　let　Scaramouche　play　what　tricks　he　would。

He　expressed；　however；　none　of　these　comforting　reflections。

〃So　you're　back　at　last；　little　fool；〃　he　growled　in　greeting。　　〃I
was　beginning　to　ask　myself　if　we　should　perform　this　evening。　　It
wouldn't　greatly　have　surprised　me　if　you　had　not　returned　in　time。
Indeed；　since　you　have　chosen　to　play　the　fine　hand　you　held　in
your　own　way　and　scorning　my　advice；　nothing　can　surprise　me。〃

She　crossed　the　room　to　the　table；　and　leaning　against　it；　looked
down　upon　him　almost　disdainfully。

〃I　have　nothing　to　regret；〃　she　said。

〃So　every　fool　says　at　first。　　Nor　would　you　admit　it　if　you　had。
You　are　like　that。　　You　go　your　own　way　in　spite　of　advice　from
older　heads。　　Death　of　my　life；　girl；　what　do　you　know　of　men？〃

〃I　am　not　complaining；〃　she　reminded　him。

〃No；　but　you　may　be　presently；　when　you　discover　that　you　would　have
done　better　to　have　been　guided　by　your　old　father。　　So　long　as　your
Marquis　languished　for　you；　there　was　nothing　you　could　not　have
done　with　the　fool。　　So　long　as　you　let　him　have　no　more　than　your
fingertips　to　kiss。。。　　ah；　name　of　a　name！　　that　was　the　time　to
build　your　future。　　If　you　live　to　be　a　thousand　you'll　never　have
such　a　chance　again；　and　you've　squandered　it；　for　what？〃

Mademoiselle　sat　down。…　〃You're　sordid；〃　she　said；　with　disgust。

〃Sordid；　am　I？〃　His　thick　lips　curled　again。　　〃I　have　had　enough　of
the　dregs　of　life；　and　so　I　should　have　thought　have　you。　　You　held
a　hand　on　which　to　have　won　a　fortune　if　you　had　played　it　as　I
bade　you。　　Well；　you've　played　it；　and　where's　the　fortune？　　We　can
whistle　for　that　as　a　sailor　whistles　for　wind。　　And；　by　Heaven；
we'll　need　to　whistle　presently　if　the　weather　in　the　troupe
continues　as　it's　set　in。　　That　scoundrel　Scaramouche　has　been　at
his　ape's　tricks　with　them。　　They've　suddenly　turned　moral。　　They
won't　sit　at　table　with　me　any　more。〃　　He　was　spluttering　between
anger　and　sardonic　mirth。　　〃It　was　your　friend　Scaramouche　set　them
the　example　of　that。　　He　threatened　my　life　actually。　　Threatened　my
life！　　Called　me。。。　Oh；　but　what　does　that　matter？　　What　matters　is
that　the　next　thing　to　happen　to　us　will　be　that　the　Binet　Troupe
will　discover　it　can　manage　without　M。　Binet　and　his　daughter。
This　scoundrelly　bastard　I've　befriended　has　little　by　little
robbed　me　of　everything。　　It's　in　his　power　to…day　to　rob　me　of　my
troupe；　and　the　knave's　ungrateful　enough　and　vile　enough　to　make
use　of　his　power。

〃Let　him；〃　said　mademoiselle　contemptuously。

〃Let　him？〃　He　was　aghast。　　〃And　what's　to　become　of　us？〃


〃In　no　case　will　the　Binet　Troupe　interest　me　much　longer；〃　said
she。　　〃I　shall　be　going　to　Paris　soon。　　There　are　better　theatres
there　than　the　Feydau。　　There's　Mlle。　Montansier's　theatre　in　the
Palais　Royal；　there's　the　Ambigu　Comique；　there's　the　Comedie
Francaise；　there's　even　a　possibility　I　may　have　a　theatre　of　my
own。〃

His　eyes　grew　big　for　once。　　He　stretched　out　a　fat　hand；　and
placed　it　on　one　of　hers。　　She　noticed　that　it　trembled。

〃Has　he　promised　that？　　Has　he　promised？〃

She　looked　at　him　with　her　head　on　one　side；　eyes