el dorado-第6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！



〃She　has　a　perfect　voiceit　was　exquisite　melody　to　the　ear；〃
replied　Armand。　　〃I　was　conscious　of　little　else。〃

〃She　is　a　beautiful　woman；　nevertheless；〃　continued　de　Batz　with　a
smile。　　〃During　the　next　act；　my　good　St。　Just；　I　would　suggest
that　you　opened　your　eyes　as　well　as　your　ears。

Armand　did　as　he　was　bidden。　　The　whole　appearance　of　Mlle。　Lange
seemed　in　harmony　with　her　voice。　　She　was　not　very　tall；　but
eminently　graceful；　with　a　small；　oval　face　and　slender；　almost
childlike　figure；　which　appeared　still　more　so　above　the　wide
hoops　and　draped　panniers　of　the　fashions　of　Moliere's　time。

Whether　she　was　beautiful　or　not　the　young　man　hardly　knew。
Measured　by　certain　standards；　she　certainly　was　not　so；　for　her
mouth　was　not　small；　and　her　nose　anything　but　classical　in
outline。　　But　the　eyes　were　brown；　and　they　had　that　half…veiled
look　in　themshaded　with　long　lashes　　that　seemed　to　make　a
perpetual　tender　appeal　to　the　masculine　heart：　the　lips；　too；
were　full　and　moist；　and　the　teeth　dazzling　white。　　Yes！on　the
whole　we　might　easily　say　that　she　was　exquisite；　even　though　we
did　not　admit　that　she　was　beautiful。

Painter　David　has　made　a　sketch　of　her；　we　have　all　seen　it　at　the
Musee　Carnavalet；　and　all　wondered　why　that　charming；　if
irregular；　little　face　made　such　an　impression　of　sadness。

There　are　five　acts　in　〃Le　Misanthrope；〃　during　which　Celimene　is
almost　constantly　on　the　stage。　　At　the　end　of　the　fourth　act　de
Batz　said　casually　to　his　friend：

〃I　have　the　honour　of　personal　acquaintanceship　with　Mlle。　Lange。
An　you　care　for　an　introduction　to　her；　we　can　go　round　to　the
green　room　after　the　play。〃

Did　prudence　then　whisper；　〃Desist〃？　　Did　loyalty　to　the　leader
murmur；　〃Obey〃？　　It　were　indeed　difficult　to　say。　　Armand　St。　Just
was　not　five…and…twenty；　and　Mlle。　Lange's　melodious　voice　spoke
louder　than　the　whisperings　of　prudence　or　even　than　the　call　of
duty。

He　thanked　de　Batz　warmly；　and　during　the　last　half…hour；　while
the　misanthropical　lover　spurned　repentant　Celimene；　he　was
conscious　of　a　curious　sensation　of　impatience；　a　tingling　of　his
nerves；　a　wild；　mad　longing　to　hear　those　full　moist　lips
pronounce　his　name；　and　have　those　large　brown　eyes　throw　their
half…veiled　look　into　his　own。



CHAPTER　IV
MADEMOISELLE　LANGE

The　green…room　was　crowded　when　de　Batz　and　St。　Just　arrived　there
after　the　performance。　　The　older　man　cast　a　hasty　glance　through
the　open　door。　　The　crowd　did　not　suit　his　purpose；　and　he　dragged
his　companion　hurriedly　away　from　the　contemplation　of　Mlle。
Lange；　sitting　in　a　far　corner　of　the　room；　surrounded　by　an
admiring　throng；　and　by　innumerable　floral　tributes　offered　to　her
beauty　and　to　her　success。

De　Batz　without　a　word　led　the　way　back　towards　the　stage。　　Here；
by　the　dim　light　of　tallow　candles　fixed　in　sconces　against　the
surrounding　walls；　the　scene…shifters　were　busy　moving
drop…scenes；　back　cloths　and　wings；　and　paid　no　heed　to　the　two
men　who　strolled　slowly　up　and　down　silently；　each　wrapped　in　his
own　thoughts。

Armand　walked　with　his　hands　buried　in　his　breeches　pockets；　his
head　bent　forward　on　his　chest；　but　every　now　and　again　he　threw
quick；　apprehensive　glances　round　him　whenever　a　firm　step　echoed
along　the　empty　stage　or　a　voice　rang　clearly　through　the　now
deserted　theatre。

〃Are　we　wise　to　wait　here？〃　he　asked；　speaking　to　himself　rather
than　to　his　companion。

He　was　not　anxious　about　his　own　safety；　but　the　words　of　de　Batz
had　impressed　themselves　upon　his　mind：　　〃Heron　and　his　spies　we
have　always　with　us。〃

From　the　green…room　a　separate　foyer　and　exit　led　directly　out
into　the　street。　　Gradually　the　sound　of　many　voices；　the　loud
laughter　and　occasional　snatches　of　song　which　for　the　past
half…hour　had　proceeded　from　that　part　of　the　house；　became　more
subdued　and　more　rare。　　One　by　one　the　friends　of　the　artists　were
leaving　the　theatre；　after　having　paid　the　usual　banal　compliments
to　those　whom　they　favoured；　or　presented　the　accustomed　offering
of　flowers　to　the　brightest　star　of　the　night。

The　actors　were　the　first　to　retire；　then　the　older　actresses；　the
ones　who　could　no　longer　command　a　court　of　admirers　round　them。
They　all　filed　out　of　the　greenroom　and　crossed　the　stage　to
where；　at　the　back；　a　narrow；　rickety　wooden　stairs　led　to　their
so…called　dressing…roomstiny；　dark　cubicles；　ill…lighted；
unventilated；　where　some　half…dozen　of　the　lesser　stars　tumbled
over　one　another　while　removing　wigs　and　grease…paint。

Armand　and　de　Batz　watched　this　exodus；　both　with　equal
impatience。　　Mlle。　Lange　was　the　last　to　leave　the　green…room。
For　some　time；　since　the　crowd　had　become　thinner　round　her；
Armand　had　contrived　to　catch　glimpses　of　her　slight；　elegant
figure。　　A　short　passage　led　from　the　stage　to　the　green…room
door；　which　was　wide　open；　and　at　the　corner　of　this　passage　the
young　man　had　paused　from　time　to　time　in　his　walk；　gazing　with
earnest　admiration　at　the　dainty　outline　of　the　young　girl's　head；
with　its　wig　of　powdered　curls　that　seemed　scarcely　whiter　than
the　creamy　brilliance　of　her　skin。

De　Batz　did　not　watch　Mlle。　Lange　beyond　casting　impatient　looks
in　the　direction　of　the　crowd　that　prevented　her　leaving　the
green…room。　　He　did　watch　Armand；　howevernoted　his　eager　look；
his　brisk　and　alert　movements；　the　obvious　glances　of　admiration
which　he　cast　in　the　direction　of　the　young　actress；　and　this
seemed　to　afford　him　a　considerable　amount　of　contentment。

The　best　part　of　an　hour　had　gone　by　since　the　fall　of　the　curtain
before　Mlle。　Lange　finally　dismissed　her　many　admirers；　and　de
Batz　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　her　running　down　the　passage；
turning　back　occasionally　in　order　to　bid　gay　〃good…nights〃　to　the
loiterers　who　were　loath　to　part　from　her。　　She　was　a　child　in　all
her　movements；　quite　unconscious　of　self　or　of　her　own　charms；　but
frankly　delighted　with　her　success。　　She　was　still　dressed　in　the
ridiculous　hoops　and　panniers　pertaining　to　her　part；　and　the
powdered　peruke　hid　the　charm　of　her　own　hair；　the　costume　gave　a
certain　stilted　air　to　her　unaffected　personality；　which；　by　this
very　sense　of　contrast；　was　essentially　fascinating。

In　her　arms　she　held　a　huge　sheaf　of　sweet…scented　narcissi；　the
spoils　of　some　favoured　spot　far　away　in　the　South。　　Armand
thought　that　never　in　his　life　had　he　seen　anything　so　winsome　or
so　charming。

Having　at　last　said　the　positively　final　adieu；　Mlle。　Lange　with
a　happy　little　sigh　turned　to　run　down　the　passage。

She　came　face　to　face　with　Armand；　and　gave　a　sudden　little　gasp
of　terror。　　It　was　not　good　these　days　to　come　on　any　loiterer
unawares。

But　already　de　Batz　had　quickly　joined　his　friend；　and　his　smooth；
pleasant　voice；　and　podgy；　beringed　hand　extended　towards　Mlle。
Lange；　were　sufficient　to　reassure　her。

〃You　were　so　surrounded　in　the　green…room；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said
courteously；　〃I　did　not　venture　to　press　in　among　the　crowd　of
your　admirers。　　Yet　I　had　the　great　wish　to　present　my　respectful
congratulations　in　person。〃

〃Ah！　c'est　ce　cher　de　Batz！〃　exclaimed　mademoiselle　gaily；　in
that　exquisitely　rippling　voice　of　hers。　　〃And　where　in　the　world
do　you　spring　from；　my　friend？

〃Hush…sh…sh！〃　he　whispered；　holding　her　small　bemittened　hand　in
his；　and　putting　one　finger　to　his　lips　with　an　urgent　entreaty
for　discretion；　〃not　my　name；　I　beg　of　you；　fair　one。〃

〃Bah！〃　she　retorted　lightly；　even　though　her　full　lips　trembled
now　as　she　spoke　and　belied　her　very　words。　You　need　have　no　fear
whilst　you　are　in　this　part　of　the　house。　　It　is　an　understood
thing　that　the　Committee　of　General　Security　does　not　send　its
spies　behind　the　curtain　of　a　theatre。　　Why；　if　all　of　us　actors
and　actresses　were　sent　to　the　guillotine　there　would　be　no　play
on　the　morrow。　Artistes　are　not　replaceable　in　a　few　hours；　those
that　are　in　existence　must　perforce　be　spared；　or　the　citizens　who
govern　us　now　would　not　know　where　to　spend　their　evenings。〃

But　though　she　spoke　so　airily　and　with　her　accustomed　gaiety；　it
was　easily　perceived　that　even　on　this　childish　mind　the　dangers
which　beset　every　one　these　days　had　already　imprinted　their　mark
of　suspicion　and　of　caution。

〃Come　into　my　dressing…room；〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　not　tarry　here
any　longer；　for　they　will　be　putting　out　the　lights。　　But　I　have
a　room　to　myself；　and　we　can　talk　there　quite　agreeably。〃

She　led　the　way　across　the　stage　towards　the　wooden　stairs。
Armand；　who　during　this　brief　colloquy　between　his　friend　and　the
young　girl　had　kept　discreetly　in　the　background；　felt　undecided
what　to　do。　　But　at　a　peremptory　sign　from　de　Batz　he；　too；　turned
in　the　wake　of　the　gay　little　lady；　who　ran　swiftly　up　the　rickety
steps；　humming　snatches　of　popular　songs　the　while；　and　not
turning　to　see　if　indeed　the　two　men　were　following　her。

She　had　the　sheaf　of　narcissi　still　in　her　arms；　and　the　door　of
her　tiny　dressing…room　being　open；　she　ran　straight　in　and　threw
the　flowers　down　in　a　confused；　sweet…scented　mass　upon　the　small
table　that　stood　at　one　end　of　the　room；　littered　with　pots　and
bottles；　letters；　mirrors；　powder…puffs；　silk　stockings；　and
cambric　handkerchiefs。

Then　she　turned　and　faced　the　two　men；　a　merry　look　of　unalterable
gaiety　dancing　in　her　eyes。

〃Shut　the　door；　mon　ami；〃　she　said　to　de　Batz；　〃and　after　that
sit　down　where　you　can；　so　long　as　it　is　not　on　my　most　precious
pot　of　unguent　or　a　box　of　costliest　powder。〃

While　de　Batz　did　as　he　was　told；　she　turned　to　Armand　and　said
with　a　pretty　tone　of　interrogation　in　her　melodious　voice：

〃Monsieur？〃

〃St。　Just；　at　your　service；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Armand；　bowing
very　low　in　the　most　approved　style　obtaining　at　the　English
Court。

〃St。　Just？〃　she　repeated；　a　look　of　puzzlement　in　her　brown　eyes。
〃Surely〃

〃A　kinsman　of　citizen　St。　Just；　whom　no　doubt　you　know；　mademoiselle；〃
he　exclaimed。

〃My　friend　Armand　St。　Just；〃　interposed　de　Batz；　〃is　practically
a　new…comer　in　Paris。　　He　lives　in　England　habitually。〃

〃In　England？〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Oh！　do　tell　me　all　about　England。
I　would　love　to　go　there。　　Perhaps　I　may　have　to　go　so