cousin betty-第30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！


than　a　second　edition　of　Fabert。　Venal　beauty；　if　it　finds　no
amateurs；　no　celebrity；　no　cross　of　dishonor　earned　by　squandering
men's　fortunes；　is　Correggio　in　a　hay…loft；　is　genius　starving　in　a
garret。　Lais；　in　Paris；　must　first　and　foremost　find　a　rich　man　mad
enough　to　pay　her　price。　She　must　keep　up　a　very　elegant　style；　for
this　is　her　shop…sign；　she　must　be　sufficiently　well　bred　to　flatter
the　vanity　of　her　lovers；　she　must　have　the　brilliant　wit　of　a　Sophie
Arnould；　which　diverts　the　apathy　of　rich　men；　finally；　she　must
arouse　the　passions　of　libertines　by　appearing　to　be　mistress　to　one
man　only　who　is　envied　by　the　rest。

These　conditions；　which　a　woman　of　that　class　calls　being　in　luck；　are
difficult　to　combine　in　Paris；　although　it　is　a　city　of　millionaires；
of　idlers；　of　used…up　and　capricious　men。

Providence　has；　no　doubt；　vouchsafed　protection　to　clerks　and　middle…
class　citizens；　for　whom　obstacles　of　this　kind　are　at　least　double　in
the　sphere　in　which　they　move。　At　the　same　time；　there　are　enough
Madame　Marneffes　in　Paris　to　allow　of　our　taking　Valerie　to　figure　as
a　type　in　this　picture　of　manners。　Some　of　these　women　yield　to　the
double　pressure　of　a　genuine　passion　and　of　hard　necessity；　like
Madame　Colleville；　who　was　for　long　attached　to　one　of　the　famous
orators　of　the　left；　Keller　the　banker。　Others　are　spurred　by　vanity；
like　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；　who　remained　almost　respectable　in　spite
of　her　elopement　with　Lousteau。　Some；　again；　are　led　astray　by　the
love　of　fine　clothes；　and　some　by　the　impossibility　of　keeping　a　house
going　on　obviously　too　narrow　means。　The　stinginess　of　the　Stateor
of　Parliamentleads　to　many　disasters　and　to　much　corruption。

At　the　present　moment　the　laboring　classes　are　the　fashionable　object
of　compassion；　they　are　being　murderedit　is　saidby　the
manufacturing　capitalist；　but　the　Government　is　a　hundred　times　harder
than　the　meanest　tradesman；　it　carries　its　economy　in　the　article　of
salaries　to　absolute　folly。　If　you　work　harder；　the　merchant　will　pay
you　more　in　proportion；　but　what　does　the　State　do　for　its　crowd　of
obscure　and　devoted　toilers？

In　a　married　woman　it　is　an　inexcusable　crime　when　she　wanders　from
the　path　of　honor；　still；　there　are　degrees　even　in　such　a　case。　Some
women；　far　from　being　depraved；　conceal　their　fall　and　remain　to　all
appearances　quite　respectable；　like　those　two　just　referred　to；　while
others　add　to　their　fault　the　disgrace　of　speculation。　Thus　Madame
Marneffe　is；　as　it　were；　the　type　of　those　ambitious　married
courtesans　who　from　the　first　accept　depravity　with　all　its
consequences；　and　determine　to　make　a　fortune　while　taking　their
pleasure；　perfectly　unscrupulous　as　to　the　means。　But　almost　always　a
woman　like　Madame　Marneffe　has　a　husband　who　is　her　confederate　and
accomplice。　These　Machiavellis　in　petticoats　are　the　most　dangerous　of
the　sisterhood；　of　every　evil　class　of　Parisian　woman；　they　are　the
worst。

A　mere　courtesana　Josepha；　a　Malaga；　a　Madame　Schontz；　a　Jenny
Cadinecarries　in　her　frank　dishonor　a　warning　signal　as　conspicuous
as　the　red　lamp　of　a　house　of　ill…fame　or　the　flaring　lights　of　a
gambling　hell。　A　man　knows　that　they　light　him　to　his　ruin。

But　mealy…mouthed　propriety；　the　semblance　of　virtue；　the　hypocritical
ways　of　a　married　woman　who　never　allows　anything　to　be　seen　but　the
vulgar　needs　of　the　household；　and　affects　to　refuse　every　kind　of
extravagance；　leads　to　silent　ruin；　dumb　disaster；　which　is　all　the
more　startling　because；　though　condoned；　it　remains　unaccounted　for。
It　is　the　ignoble　bill　of　daily　expenses　and　not　gay　dissipation　that
devours　the　largest　fortune。　The　father　of　a　family　ruins　himself
ingloriously；　and　the　great　consolation　of　gratified　vanity　is　wanting
in　his　misery。

This　little　sermon　will　go　like　a　javelin　to　the　heart　of　many　a　home。
Madame　Marneffes　are　to　be　seen　in　every　sphere　of　social　life；　even
at　Court；　for　Valerie　is　a　melancholy　fact；　modeled　from　the　life　in
the　smallest　details。　And；　alas！　the　portrait　will　not　cure　any　man　of
the　folly　of　loving　these　sweetly…smiling　angels；　with　pensive　looks
and　candid　faces；　whose　heart　is　a　cash…box。



About　three　years　after　Hortense's　marriage；　in　1841；　Baron　Hulot
d'Ervy　was　supposed　to　have　sown　his　wild　oats；　to　have　〃put　up　his
horses；〃　to　quote　the　expression　used　by　Louis　XV。's　head　surgeon；　and
yet　Madame　Marneffe　was　costing　him　twice　as　much　as　Josepha　had　ever
cost　him。　Still；　Valerie；　though　always　nicely　dressed；　affected　the
simplicity　of　a　subordinate　official's　wife；　she　kept　her　luxury　for
her　dressing…gowns；　her　home　wear。　She　thus　sacrificed　her　Parisian
vanity　to　her　dear　Hector。　At　the　theatre；　however；　she　always
appeared　in　a　pretty　bonnet　and　a　dress　of　extreme　elegance；　and　the
Baron　took　her　in　a　carriage　to　a　private　box。

Her　rooms；　the　whole　of　the　second　floor　of　a　modern　house　in　the　Rue
Vanneau；　between　a　fore…court　and　a　garden；　was　redolent　of
respectability。　All　its　luxury　was　in　good　chintz　hangings　and
handsome　convenient　furniture。

Her　bedroom；　indeed；　was　the　exception；　and　rich　with　such　profusion
as　Jenny　Cadine　or　Madame　Schontz　might　have　displayed。　There　were
lace　curtains；　cashmere　hangings；　brocade　portieres；　a　set　of　chimney
ornaments　modeled　by　Stidmann；　a　glass　cabinet　filled　with　dainty
nicknacks。　Hulot　could　not　bear　to　see　his　Valerie　in　a　bower　of
inferior　magnificence　to　the　dunghill　of　gold　and　pearls　owned　by　a
Josepha。　The　drawing…room　was　furnished　with　red　damask；　and　the
dining…room　had　carved　oak　panels。　But　the　Baron；　carried　away　by　his
wish　to　have　everything　in　keeping；　had　at　the　end　of　six　months；
added　solid　luxury　to　mere　fashion；　and　had　given　her　handsome
portable　property；　as；　for　instance；　a　service　of　plate　that　was　to
cost　more　than　twenty…four　thousand　francs。

Madame　Marneffe's　house　had　in　a　couple　of　years　achieved　a　reputation
for　being　a　very　pleasant　one。　Gambling　went　on　there。　Valerie　herself
was　soon　spoken　of　as　an　agreeable　and　witty　woman。　To　account　for　her
change　of　style；　a　rumor　was　set　going　of　an　immense　legacy　bequeathed
to　her　by　her　〃natural　father；〃　Marshal　Montcornet；　and　left　in　trust。

With　an　eye　to　the　future；　Valerie　had　added　religious　to　social
hypocrisy。　Punctual　at　the　Sunday　services；　she　enjoyed　all　the　honors
due　to　the　pious。　She　carried　the　bag　for　the　offertory；　she　was　a
member　of　a　charitable　association；　presented　bread　for　the　sacrament；
and　did　some　good　among　the　poor；　all　at　Hector's　expense。　Thus
everything　about　the　house　was　extremely　seemly。　And　a　great　many
persons　maintained　that　her　friendship　with　the　Baron　was　entirely
innocent；　supporting　the　view　by　the　gentleman's　mature　age；　and
ascribing　to　him　a　Platonic　liking　for　Madame　Marneffe's　pleasant　wit；
charming　manners；　and　conversationsuch　a　liking　as　that　of　the　late
lamented　Louis　XVIII。　for　a　well…turned　note。

The　Baron　always　withdrew　with　the　other　company　at　about　midnight；
and　came　back　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later。

The　secret　of　this　secrecy　was　as　follows。　The　lodge…keepers　of　the
house　were　a　Monsieur　and　Madame　Olivier；　who；　under　the　Baron's
patronage；　had　been　promoted　from　their　humble　and　not　very　lucrative
post　in　the　Rue　du　Doyenne　to　the　highly…paid　and　handsome　one　in　the
Rue　Vanneau。　Now；　Madame　Olivier；　formerly　a　needlewoman　in　the
household　of　Charles　X。；　who　had　fallen　in　the　world　with　the
legitimate　branch；　had　three　children。　The　eldest；　an　under…clerk　in　a
notary's　office；　was　object　of　his　parents'　adoration。　This　Benjamin；
for　six　years　in　danger　of　being　drawn　for　the　army；　was　on　the　point
of　being　interrupted　in　his　legal　career；　when　Madame　Marneffe
contrived　to　have　him　declared　exempt　for　one　of　those　little
malformations　which　the　Examining　Board　can　always　discern　when
requested　in　a　whisper　by　some　power　in　the　ministry。　So　Olivier；
formerly　a　huntsman　to　the　King；　and　his　wife　would　have　crucified　the
Lord　again　for　the　Baron　or　for　Madame　Marneffe。

What　could　the　world　have　to　say？　It　knew　nothing　of　the　former
episode　of　the　Brazilian；　Monsieur　Montes　de　Montejanosit　could　say
nothing。　Besides；　the　world　is　very　indulgent　to　the　mistress　of　a
house　where　amusement　is　to　be　found。

And　then　to　all　her　charms　Valerie　added　the　highly…prized　advantage
of　being　an　occult　power。　Claude　Vignon；　now　secretary　to　Marshal　the
Prince　de　Wissembourg；　and　dreaming　of　promotion　to　the　Council　of
State　as　a　Master　of　Appeals；　was　constantly　seen　in　her　rooms；　to
which　came　also　some　Deputiesgood　fellows　and　gamblers。　Madame
Marneffe　had　got　her　circle　together　with　prudent　deliberation；　only
men　whose　opinions　and　habits　agreed　foregathered　there；　men　whose
interest　it　was　to　hold　together　and　to　proclaim　the　many　merits　of
the　lady　of　the　house。　Scandal　is　the　true　Holy　Alliance　in　Paris。
Take　that　as　an　axiom。　Interests　invariably　fall　asunder　in　the　end；
vicious　natures　can　always　agree。

Within　three　months　of　settling　in　the　Rue　Vanneau；　Madame　Marneffe
had　entertained　Monsieur　Crevel；　who　by　that　time　was　Mayor　of　his
/arrondissement/　and　Officer　of　the　Legion　of　Honor。　Crevel　had
hesitated；　he　would　have　to　give　up　the　famous　uniform　of　the　National
Guard　in　which　he　strutted　at　the　Tuileries；　believing　himself　quite
as　much　a　soldier　as　the　Emperor　himself；　but　ambition；　urged　by
Madame　Marneffe；　had　proved　stronger　than　vanity。　Then　Monsieur　le
Maire　had　considered　his　connection　with　Mademoiselle　Heloise
Brisetout　as　quite　incompatible　with　his　political　position。

Indeed；　long　before　his　accession　to　the　civic　chair　of　the　Mayoralty；
his　gallant　intimacies　had　been　wrapped　in　the　deepest　mystery。　But；
as　the　reader　may　have　guessed；　Crevel　had　soon　purchased　the　right　of
taking　his　revenge；　as　often　as　circumstances　allowed；　for　having　been
bereft　of　Josepha；　at　the　cost　of　a　bond　bearing　six　thousand　francs
of　interest　in　the　name　of　Valerie　Fortin；　wife　of　Sieur　Marneffe；　for
her　sole　and　separate　use。　Valerie；　inheriting　perhaps　from　her　mother
the　special　acumen　of　the　kept　woman；　read　the　character　of　her
grotesque　adorer　at　a　glance。　The　phrase