the ways of men-第31部分

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　ghastly　visitors；　　Robespierre　finds　himself　face　to　face　with　Marie　Antoinette；　　and　with　a　wild　cry；　half　of　horror；　half　of　remorse；　falls　　back　insensible。

In　spite　of　previous　good　resolutions；　I　must　have　given　the　　author　the　impression　that　Sir　Henry　spoke　too　loud　at　the　　beginning　of　this　scene　and　was　in　consequence　inadequate　at　　the　end。

〃What！〃　cried　Sardou。　　〃He　raised　his　voice　in　that　act！　　Why；　　it's　a　scene　to　be　played　with　the　soft　pedal　down！　　This　is　　the　way　it　should　be　done！〃　　Dropping　into　a　chair　in　the　　middle　of　the　room　my　host　began　miming　the　gestures　and　　expression　of　Robespierre　as　the　phantoms　（which；　after　all；　　are　but　the　figments　of　an　over…wrought　brain）　gather　around　　him。　　Gradually　he　slipped　to　the　floor；　hiding　his　face　with　　his　upraised　elbow；　whispering　and　sobbing；　but　never　raising　　his　voice　until；　staggering　toward　the　portal　to　escape；　he　　meets　the　Queen　face　to　face。　　Then　the　whole　force　of　his　　voice　came　out　in　one　awful　cry　that　fairly　froze　the　blood　in　　my　veins！

〃What　a　teacher　you　would　make！〃　instinctively　rose　to　my　lips　　as　he　ended。

With　a　careless　laugh；　Sardou　resumed　his　shabby　velvet　cap；　　which　had　fallen　to　the　floor；　and　answered：　〃Oh；　it's　　nothing！　　I　only　wanted　to　prove　to　you　that　the　scene　was　not　　a　fatiguing　one　for　the　voice　if　played　properly。　　I'm　no　　actor　and　could　not　teach；　but　any　one　ought　to　know　enough　　not　to　shout　in　that　scene！〃

This　with　some　bitterness；　as　news　had　arrived　that　Irving's　　voice　had　given　out　the　night　before；　and　he　had　been　replaced　　by　his　half…baked　son　in　the　title　role；　a　change　hardly　　calculated　to　increase　either　the　box…office　receipts　or　the　　success　of　the　new　drama。

Certain　ominous　shadows　which；　like　Robespierre's　visions；　had　　been　for　some　time　gathering　in　the　corners　of　the　room　warned　　me　that　the　hour　had　come　for　my　trip　back　to　Paris。　　　Declining　reluctantly　an　invitation　to　take　potluck　with　my　　host；　I　was　soon　in　the　Avenue　of　the　Sphinx　again。　　As　we　　strolled　along；　talking　of　the　past　and　its　charm；　a　couple　of　　men　passed　us；　carrying　a　piece　of　furniture　rolled　in　　burlaps。

〃Another　acquisition？〃　I　asked。　　〃What　epoch　has　tempted　you　　this　time？〃

〃I'm　sorry　you　won't　stop　and　inspect　it；〃　answered　Sardou　　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。　　〃It's　something　I　bought　yesterday　　for　my　bedroom。　　An　armchair！　　Pure　Loubet！〃




Chapter　28　…　Inconsistencies


THE　dinner　had　been　unusually　long　and　the　summer　evening　　warm。　　During　the　wait　before　the　dancing　began　I　must　have　　dropped　asleep　in　the　dark　corner　of　the　piazza　where　I　had　　installed　myself；　to　smoke　my　cigar；　away　from　the　other　men　　and　their　tiresome　chatter　of　golf　and　racing。　　Through　the　　open　window　groups　of　women　could　be　seen　in　the　ball…room；　　and　the　murmur　of　their　conversation　floated　out；　mingling　　with　the　laughter　of　the　men。

Suddenly；　in　that　casual　way　peculiar　to　dreams；　I　found　　myself　conversing　with　a　solemn　young　Turk；　standing　in　all　　the　splendor　of　fez　and　stambouline　beside　my　chair。

〃Pardon；　Effendi；〃　he　was　murmuring。　　〃Is　this　an　American　　ball？　　I　was　asked　at　nine　o'clock；　it　is　now　past　eleven。　　Is　　there　not　some　mistake？〃

〃None；〃　I　answered。　　〃When　a　hostess　puts　nine　o'clock　on　her　　card　of　invitation　she　expects　her　guests　at　eleven　or　half…　past；　and　would　be　much　embarrassed　to　be　taken　literally。〃

As　we　were　speaking；　our　host　rose。　　The　men；　reluctantly　　throwing　away　their　cigars；　began　to　enter　the　ball…room　　through　the　open　windows。　　On　their　approach　the　groups　of　　women　broke　up；　the　men　joining　the　girls　where　they　sat；　or　　inviting　them　out　to　the　lantern…lit　piazza；　where　the　couples　　retired　to　dim；　palm…embowered　corners。

〃Are　you　sure　I　have　not　made　a　mistake？〃　asked　my　　interlocutor；　with　a　faint　quiver　of　the　eyelids。　　〃It　is　my　　intention；　while　travelling；　to　remain　faithful　to　my　harem。〃

I　hastened　to　reassure　him　and　explain　that　he　was　in　an　　exclusive　and　reserved　society。

〃Indeed；〃　he　murmured　incredulously。　　〃When　I　was　passing　　through　New　York　last　winter　a　lady　was　pointed　out　to　me　as　　the　owner　of　marvellous　jewels　and　vast　wealth；　but　with　　absolutely　no　social　position。　　My　informant　added　that　no　　well…born　woman　would　receive　her　or　her　husband。

〃It's　foolish；　of　course；　but　the　handsome　woman　with　the　　crown　on　sitting　in　the　centre　of　that　circle；　looks　very　like　　the　woman　I　mean。　　Am　I　right？〃

〃It's　the　same　lady；〃　I　answered；　wearily。　　〃You　are　speaking　　of　last　year。　　No　one　could　be　induced　to　call　on　the　couple　　then。　　Now　we　all　go　to　their　house；　and　entertain　them　in　　return。〃

〃They　have　doubtless　done　some　noble　action；　or　the　reports　　about　the　husband　have　been　proved　false？〃

〃Nothing　of　the　kind　has　taken　place。　　She's　a　success；　and　no　　one　asks　any　questions！　　In　spite　of　that；　you　are　in　a　　society　where　the　standard　of　conduct　is　held　higher　than　in　　any　country　of　Europe；　by　a　race　of　women　more　virtuous；　in　　all　probability；　than　has　yet　been　seen。　　There　is　not　a　man　　present；〃　I　added；　〃who　would　presume　to　take；　or　a　woman　who　　would　permit；　a　liberty　so　slight　even　as　the　resting　of　a　　youth's　arm　across　the　back　of　her　chair。〃

While　I　was　speaking；　an　invisible　orchestra　began　to　sigh　out　　the　first　passionate　bars　of　a　waltz。　　A　dozen　couples　rose；　　the　men　clasping　in　their　arms　the　slender　matrons；　whose　　smiling　faces　sank　to　their　partners'　shoulders。　　A　blond　　mustache　brushed　the　forehead　of　a　girl　as　she　swept　by　us　to　　the　rhythm　of　the　music；　and　other　cheeks　seemed　about　to　　touch　as　couples　glided　on　in　unison。

The　sleepy　Oriental　eyes　of　my　new　acquaintance　opened　wide　　with　astonishment。

〃This；　you　must　understand；〃　I　continued；　hastily；　〃is　quite　　another　matter。　　Those　people　are　waltzing。　　It　is　considered　　perfectly　proper；　when　the　musicians　over　there　play　certain　　measures；　for　men　to　take　apparent　liberties。　　Our　women　are　　infinitely　self…respecting；　and　a　man　who　put　his　arm　around　a　　woman　（in　public）　while　a　different　measure　was　being　played；　　or　when　there　was　no　music；　would　be　ostracized　from　polite　　society。〃

〃I　am　beginning　to　understand；〃　replied　the　Turk。　　〃The　　husbands　and　brothers　of　these　women　guard　them　very　　carefully。　　Those　men　I　see　out　there　in　the　dark　are　　doubtless　with　their　wives　and　sisters；　protecting　them　from　　the　advances　of　other　men。　　Am　I　right？〃

〃Of　course　you're　not　right；〃　I　snapped　out；　beginning　to　lose　　my　temper　at　his　obtuseness。　　〃No　husband　would　dream　of　　talking　to　his　wife　in　public；　or　of　sitting　with　her　in　a　　corner。　　Every　one　would　be　laughing　at　them。　　Nor　could　a　　sister　be　induced　to　remain　away　from　the　ball…room　with　her　　brother。　　Those　girls　are　‘sitting　out'　with　young　men　they　　like；　indulging　in　a　little　innocent　flirtation。〃

〃What　is　that？〃　he　asked。　　〃Flirtation？〃

〃An　American　custom　rather　difficult　to　explain。　　It　may；　　however；　be　roughly　defined　as　the　art　of　leading　a　man　a　long　　way　on　the　road　to　…　nowhere！〃

〃Women　flirt　with　friends　or　acquaintances；　never　with　members　　of　their　family？〃

〃The　husbands　are　those　dejected　individuals　wandering　　aimlessly　about　over　there　like　lost　souls。　　They　are　mostly　　rich　men；　who；　having　married　beautiful　girls　for　love；　wear　　themselves　out　maintaining　elaborate　and　costly　establishments　　for　them。　　In　return　for　his　labor　a　husband；　however；　enjoys　　but　little　of　his　wife's　society；　for　a　really　fashionable　　woman　can　rarely　be　induced　to　go　home　until　she　has　collapsed　　with　fatigue。　　In　consequence；　she　contributes　little　but　　‘nerves'　and　temper　to　the　household。　　Her　sweetest　smiles；　　like　her　freshest　toilets；　are　kept　for　the　public。　　The　　husband　is　the　last　person　considered　in　an　American　　household。　　If　you　doubt　what　I　say；　look　behind　you。　　There　　is　a　newly　married　man　speaking　with　his　wife；　and　trying　to　　persuade　her　to　leave　before　the　cotillion　begins。　　Notice　his　　apologetic　air！　　He　knows　he　is　interrupting　a　tender　　conversation　and　taking　an　unwarrantable　liberty。　　Nothing　　short　of　extreme　fatigue　would　drive　him　to　such　an　extremity。　　　The　poor　millionnaire　has　hardly　left　his　desk　in　Wall　Street　　during　the　week；　and　only　arrived　this　evening　in　time　to　　dress　for　dinner。　　He　would　give　a　fair　slice　of　his　income　　for　a　night's　rest。　　See！　　He　has　failed；　and　is　lighting　　another　cigar；　preparing；　with　a　sigh；　for　a　long　wait。　　It　　will　be　three　before　my　lady　is　ready　to　leave。〃

After　a　silence　of　some　minutes；　during　which　he　appeared　to　　be　turning　these　remarks　over　in　his　mind；　the　young　Oriental　　resumed：　〃The　single　men　who　absorb　so　much　of　your　women's　　time　and　attention　are　doubtless　the　most　distinguished　of　the　　nation；　　…　writers；　poets；　and　statesmen？〃

I　was　obliged　to　confess　that　this　was　not　the　case；　that；　on　　the　contrary；　the　dancing　bachelors　were　for　the　most　part　　impecunious　youths　of　absolutely　no　importance；　asked　by　the　　hostess　to　fill　in；　and　so　lightly　considered　that　a　woman　did　　not　always　recognize　in　the　street　her　guests　of　the　evening　　before。

At　this　moment　my　neighbor's　expression　changed　from　　bewilderment　to　admiration；　as　a　young　and　very　lovely　matron　　threw　herself；　panting；　into　a　low　chair　at　his　side。　　Her　　decollete　was　so　daring　that　the　doubts　of　half　an　hour　before　　were　evidently　rising　afresh　in　his　mind。　　Hastily　resuming　my　　task　of　mentor；　I　explained　that　a　decollete　corsage　was　an　　absolute　rule　for　evening　gatherings。　　A　woman　who　appeared　in　　a　high　bodice　or　with　her　neck　veiled　would　be　considered　　lacking　in　politeness　to　her　hostess　as　much　if　she　wore　a　　bonnet。

〃With　us；　women　go　into　the　world　to　shine　and　charm。　　It　is　　only　natural　they　should　use　all　the　weapons　nature　has　given　　them。〃

〃Very　good！〃　exclaimed　the　astonished　Ottoman。　　〃But　where　　will　all　this　end？　　You　began　by　allowing　your　women　to　appear　　in　public　with　their　faces　unveiled；　then　you　suppressed　the　　fichu　and　the　collarette；　and　now　you　rob　them　of　half　their　　corsage。　　Where；　O　Allah；　will　you　stop？〃

〃Ah！〃　I　answered；　laughing；　〃the　tendency　of　civilization　is　　to　simplify；　many　things　may　yet　disappear。〃

〃I　understand　perfectly。　　You　have　no