the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第20部分

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At　this　time　began　to　develop　the　most　important　event　in　Julio's　existence。　　The　Desnoyers　family　was　to　be　united　with　that　of　Senator　Lacour。　　Rene；　his　only　son；　had　succeeded　in　awakening　in　Chichi　a　certain　interest　that　was　almost　love。　　The　dignitary　enjoyed　thinking　of　his　son　allied　to　the　boundless　plains　and　immense　herds　whose　description　always　affected　him　like　a　marvellous　tale。　　He　was　a　widower；　but　he　enjoyed　giving　at　his　home　famous　banquets　and　parties。　　Every　new　celebrity　immediately　suggested　to　him　the　idea　of　giving　a　dinner。　　No　illustrious　person　passing　through　Paris；　polar　explorer　or　famous　singer；　could　escape　being　exhibited　in　the　dining　room　of　Lacour。　　The　son　of　Desnoyers…　…at　whom　he　had　scarcely　glanced　beforenow　inspired　him　with　sudden　interest。　　The　senator　was　a　thoroughly　up…to…date　man　who　did　not　classify　glory　nor　distinguish　reputations。　　It　was　enough　for　him　that　a　name　should　be　on　everybody's　lips　for　him　to　accept　it　with　enthusiasm。　　When　Julio　responded　to　his　invitation；　he　presented　him　with　pride　to　his　friends；　and　came　very　near　to　calling　him　〃dear　master。〃　　The　tango　was　monopolizing　all　conversation　nowadays。　　Even　in　the　Academy　they　were　taking　it　up　in　order　to　demonstrate　that　the　youth　of　ancient　Athens　had　diverted　itself　in　a　somewhat　similar　way。　。　。　。　　And　Lacour　had　dreamed　all　his　life　of　an　Athenian　republic。

At　these　reunions；　Desnoyers　became　acquainted　with　the　Lauriers。　He　was　an　engineer　who　owned　a　motor…factory　for　automobiles　in　the　outskirts　of　Parisa　man　about　thirty…five；　tall；　rather　heavy　and　silent；　with　a　deliberate　air　as　though　he　wished　to　see　deeply　into　men　and　things。　　She　was　of　a　light；　frivolous　character；　loving　life　for　the　satisfactions　and　pleasures　which　it　brought　her；　appearing　to　accept　with　smiling　conformity　the　silent　and　grave　adoration　of　her　husband。　　She　could　not　well　do　less　with　a　man　of　his　merits。　　Besides；　she　had　brought　to　the　marriage　a　dowry　of　three　hundred　thousand　francs；　a　capital　which　had　enabled　the　engineer　to　enlarge　his　business。　　The　senator　had　been　instrumental　in　arranging　this　marriage。　　He　was　interested　in　Laurier　because　he　was　the　son　of　an　old　friend。

Upon　Marguerite　Laurier　the　presence　of　Julio　flashed　like　a　ray　of　sunlight　in　the　tiresome　salon　of　Lacour。　　She　was　dancing　the　fad　of　the　hour　and　frequenting　the　tango　teas　where　reigned　the　adored　Desnoyers。　　And　to　think　that　she　was　being　entertained　with　this　celebrated　and　interesting　man　that　the　other　women　were　raving　about！　。　。　。　　In　order　that　he　might　not　take　her　for　a　mere　middle…　class　woman　like　the　other　guests　at　the　senator's　party；　she　spoke　of　her　modistes；　all　from　the　rue　de　la　Paix；　declaring　gravely　that　no　woman　who　had　any　self…respect　could　possibly　walk　through　the　streets　wearing　a　gown　costing　less　than　eight　hundred　francs；　and　that　the　hat　of　a　thousand　francsbut　a　few　years　ago；　an　astonishing　noveltywas　nowadays　a　very　ordinary　affair。

This　acquaintanceship　made　the　〃little　Laurier；〃　as　her　friends　called　her　notwithstanding　her　tallness；　much　sought　by　the　master　of　the　dance；　in　spite　of　the　looks　of　wrath　and　envy　hurled　at　her　by　the　others。　　What　a　triumph　for　the　wife　of　a　simple　engineer　who　was　used　to　going　everywhere　in　her　mother's　automobile！　。　。　。　Julio　at　first　had　supposed　her　like　all　the　others　who　were　languishing　in　his　arms；　following　the　rhythmic　complications　of　the　dance；　but　he　soon　found　that　she　was　very　different。　　Her　coquetry　after　the　first　confidential　words；　but　increased　his　admiration。　He　really　had　never　before　been　thrown　with　a　woman　of　her　class。　Those　of　his　first　social　period　were　the　habituees　of　the　night　restaurants　paid　for　their　witchery。　　Now　Glory　was　tossing　into　his　arms　ladies　of　high　position　but　with　an　unconfessable　past；　anxious　for　novelties　although　exceedingly　mature。　　This　middle　class　woman　who　would　advance　so　confidently　toward　him　and　then　retreat　with　such　capricious　outbursts　of　modesty；　was　a　new　type　for　him。

The　tango　salons　soon　began　to　suffer　a　great　loss。　　Desnoyers　was　permitting　himself　to　be　seen　there　with　less　frequency；　handing　Glory　over　to　the　professionals。　　Sometimes　entire　weeks　slipped　by　without　the　five…to…seven　devotees　being　able　to　admire　his　black　locks　and　his　tiny　patent　leathers　twinkling　under　the　lights　in　time　with　his　graceful　movements。

Marguerite　was　also　avoiding　these　places。　　The　meetings　of　the　two　were　taking　place　in　accordance　with　what　she　had　read　in　the　love　stories　of　Paris。　　She　was　going　in　search　of　Julio；　fearing　to　be　recognized；　tremulous　with　emotion；　selecting　her　most　inconspicuous　suit；　and　covering　her　face　with　a　close　veil〃the　veil　of　adultery；〃　as　her　friends　called　it。　　They　had　their　trysts　in　the　least…frequented　squares　of　the　district；　frequently　changing　the　places；　like　timid　birds　that　at　the　slightest　disturbance　fly　to　perch　a　little　further　away。　　Sometimes　they　would　meet　in　the　Buttes　Chaumont；　at　others　they　preferred　the　gardens　on　the　left　bank　of　the　Seine；　the　Luxembourg；　and　even　the　distant　Parc　de　Montsouris。　　She　was　always　in　tremors　of　terror　lest　her　husband　might　surprise　them；　although　she　well　knew　that　the　industrious　engineer　was　in　his　factory　a　great　distance　away。　　Her　agitated　aspect；　her　excessive　precautions　in　order　to　slip　by　unseen；　only　served　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　passers…by。　　Although　Julio　was　waxing　impatient　with　the　annoyance　of　this　wandering　love　affair　which　only　amounted　to　a　few　fugitive　kisses；　he　finally　held　his　peace；　dominated　by　Marguerite's　pleadings。

She　did　not　wish　merely　to　be　one　in　the　procession　of　his　sweethearts；　it　was　necessary　to　convince　herself　first　that　this　love　was　going　to　last　forever。　　It　was　her　first　slip　and　she　wanted　it　to　be　the　last。　　Ay；　her　former　spotless　reputation！　。　。　。　What　would　people　say！　。　。　。　　The　two　returned　to　their　adolescent　period；　loving　each　other　as　they　had　never　loved　before；　with　the　confident　and　childish　passion　of　fifteen…year…olds。

Julio　had　leaped　from　childhood　to　libertinism；　taking　his　initiation　into　life　at　a　single　bound。　　She　had　desired　marriage　in　order　to　acquire　the　respect　and　liberty　of　a　married　woman；　but　feeling　towards　her　husband　only　a　vague　gratitude。　　〃We　end　where　others　begin；〃　she　had　said　to　Desnoyers。

Their　passion　took　the　form　of　an　intense；　reciprocal　and　vulgar　love。　　They　felt　a　romantic　sentimentality　in　clasping　hands　or　exchanging　kisses　on　a　garden　bench　in　the　twilight。　　He　was　treasuring　a　ringlet　of　Marguerite'salthough　he　doubted　its　genuineness；　with　a　vague　suspicion　that　it　might　be　one　of　the　latest　wisps　of　fashion。　　She　would　cuddle　down　with　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　as　though　imploring　his　protection；　although　always　in　the　open　air。　　If　Julio　ever　attempted　greater　intimacy　in　a　carriage；　madame　would　repel　him　most　vigorously。　　A　contradictory　duality　appeared　to　inspire　her　actions。　　Every　morning；　on　awaking；　she　would　decide　to　yield；　but　then　when　near　him；　her　middle…class　respectability；　jealous　of　its　reputation；　kept　her　faithful　to　her　mother's　teachings。

One　day　she　agreed　to　visit　his　studio　with　the　interest　that　the　haunts　of　the　loved　one　always　inspires。　　〃Promise　that　you　will　not　take　advantage　of　me。〃　　He　readily　promised；　swearing　that　everything　should　be　as　Marguerite　wished。　。　。　。　　But　from　that　day　they　were　no　longer　seen　in　the　gardens；　nor　wandering　around　persecuted　by　the　winter　winds。　　They　preferred　the　studio；　and　Argensola　had　to　rearrange　his　existence；　seeking　the　stove　of　another　artist　friend；　in　order　to　continue　his　reading。

This　state　of　things　lasted　two　months。　　They　never　knew　what　secret　force　suddenly　disturbed　their　tranquility。　　Perhaps　one　of　her　friends；　guessing　at　the　truth；　had　told　the　husband　anonymously。　Perhaps　it　was　she　herself　unconsciously；　with　her　inexpressible　happiness；　her　tardy　returns　home　when　dinner　was　already　served；　and　the　sudden　aversion　which　she　showed　toward　the　engineer　in　their　hours　alone；　trying　to　keep　her　heart　faithful　to　her　lover。　To　divide　her　interest　between　her　legal　companion　and　the　man　she　loved　was　a　torment　that　her　simple　and　vehement　enthusiasm　could　not　tolerate。

While　she　was　hurrying　one　night　through　the　rue　de　la　Pompe；　looking　at　her　watch　and　trembling　with　impatience　at　not　finding　an　automobile　or　even　a　cab；　a　man　stood　in　front　of　her。　。　。　。　Etienne　Laurier！　　She　always　shuddered　with　fear　on　recalling　that　hour。　　For　a　moment　she　believed　that　he　was　going　to　kill　her。　Serious　men；　quiet　and　diffident；　are　most　terrible　in　their　explosions　of　wrath。　　Her　husband　knew　everything。　　With　the　same　patience　that　he　employed　in　solving　his　industrial　problems；　he　had　been　studying　her　day　by　day；　without　her　ever　suspecting　the　watchfulness　behind　that　impassive　countenance。　　Then　he　had　followed　her　in　order　to　complete　the　evidence　of　his　misfortune。

Marguerite　had　never　supposed　that　he　could　be　so　common　and　noisy　in　his　anger。　　She　had　expected　that　he　would　accept　the　facts　coldly　with　that　slight　tinge　of　philosophical　irony　usually　shown　by　distinguished　men；　as　the　husbands　of　her　friends　had　done。　　But　the　poor　engineer　who；　outside　of　his　work；　saw　only　his　wife；　loving　her　as　a　woman；　and　adoring　her　as　a　dainty　and　superior　being；　a　model　of　grace　and　elegance；　could　not　endure　the　thought　of　her　downfall；　and　cried　and　threatened　without　reserve；　so　that　the　scandal　became　known　throughout　their　entire　circle　of　friends。　The　senator　felt　greatly　annoyed　in　remembering　that　it　was　in　his　exclusive　home　that　the　guilty　ones　had　become　acquainted；　but　his　displeasure　was　visited　upon　the　husband。　　What　lack　of　good　taste！　。　。　。　　Women　will　be　women；　and　everything　is　capable　of　adjustment。　　But　before　the　imprudent　outbursts　of　this　frantic　devil　no　elegant　solution　was　possible；　and　there　was　now　nothing　to　do　but　to　begin　divorce　proceedings。

Desnoyers；　senior；　was　very　indignant　upon　learning　of　this　last　escapade　of　his　son。　　He　had　always　had　a　great　liking　for　Laurier。　That　instinctive　bond　which　exists　between　men　of　industry；　patient　and　silent；　had　made　them　very