the nabob-第15部分

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after　having　wandered　through　the　doctor's　library；　the　conservatory；　the　billiard…room；　where　men　were　smoking；　weary　of　serious　and　dry　conversation　which　seemed　to　him　out　of　place　amid　surroundings　so　decorated　and　in　the　brief　hour　of　pleasuresome　one　had　asked　him　carelessly；　without　looking　at　him；　what　the　Bourse　was　doing　that　daymade　his　way　again　towards　the　door　of　the　large　drawing…room；　which　was　barricaded　by　a　wedged　crowd　of　dress…coats；　a　sea　of　heads　bent　sideways　and　peering　past　each　other；　watching。

This　salon　was　a　spacious　apartment　richly　furnished　with　the　artistic　taste　which　distinguished　the　host　and　hostess。　There　were　a　few　old　pictures　on　the　light　background　of　the　hangings。　A　monumental　chimneypiece；　adorned　by　a　handsome　group　in　marble〃The　Seasons；〃　by　Sebastien　Ruysaround　which　long　green　stems　cut　in　lacework　or　of　a　goffered　bronze…like　rigidity　curved　back　towards　the　mirror　as　towards　the　limpidity　of　a　clear　lake。　On　the　low　seats；　women　in　close　groups；　so　close　as　almost　to　blend　the　delicate　colours　of　their　toilettes；　forming　an　immense　basket　of　living　flowers；　above　which　there　floated　the　gleam　of　bare　shoulders；　of　hair　sown　with　diamonds　that　looked　like　drops　of　water　on　the　dark　women；　glittering　reflections　on　the　fair；　and　the　same　heady　perfume；　the　same　confused　and　gentle　hum；　compact　of　vibrant　warmth　and　intangible　wings；　which；　in　summer；　caresses　a　garden…bed　through　all　its　flowering　time。　Now　and　then　a　little　laugh；　rising　into　this　luminous　atmosphere；　a　quicker　inspiration　in　the　air；　which　would　cause　aigrettes　and　curls　to　tremble；　a　handsome　profile　to　stand　out　suddenly。　Such　was　the　aspect　of　the　drawing…room。

A　few　men　were　present；　a　very　small　number；　however；　and　all　of　them　personages　of　note；　laden　with　years　and　decorations。　They　were　standing　about　near　couches；　leaning　over　the　backs　of　chairs；　with　that　air　of　condescension　which　men　assume　when　speaking　to　children。　But　in　the　peaceful　buzz　of　these　conversations；　one　voice　rang　out　piercing　and　brazen；　that　of　the　Nabob；　who　was　tranquilly　performing　his　evolutions　across　this　social　hothouse　with　the　assurance　bestowed　upon　him　by　his　immense　wealth；　and　a　certain　contempt　for　women　which　he　had　brought　back　from　the　East。

At　that　moment；　comfortably　installed　on　a　settee；　his　big　hands　in　yellow　gloves　crossed　carelessly　one　over　the　other；　he　was　talking　with　a　very　handsome　woman；　whose　original　physiognomymuch　vitality　coupled　with　severe　featuresstood　out　pale　among　the　pretty　faces　about　her；　just　as　her　dress；　all　white；　classic　in　its　folds　and　following　closely　the　lines　of　her　supple　figure；　contrasted　with　toilettes　that　were　richer；　but　among　which　none　had　that　air　of　daring　simplicity。　From　his　corner；　de　Gery　admired　the　low　and　smooth　forehead　beneath　its　fringe　of　downward　combed　hair；　the　well…opened　eyes；　deep　blue　in　colour；　an　abysmal　blue；　the　mouth　which　ceased　to　smile　only　to　relax　its　pure　curve　into　an　expression　that　was　weary　and　drooping。　In　sum；　the　rather　haughty　mien　of　an　exceptional　being。

Somebody　near　him　mentioned　her　nameFelicia　Ruys。　At　once　he　understood　the　rare　attraction　of　this　young　girl；　the　continuer　of　her　father's　genius；　whose　budding　celebrity　had　penetrated　even　to　the　remote　country　district　where　he　had　lived；　with　the　aureole　of　reputed　beauty。　While　he　stood　gazing　at　her；　admiring　her　least　gestures；　a　little　perplexed　by　the　enigma　of　her　handsome　countenance；　he　heard　whispers　behind　him。

〃But　see　how　pleasant　she　is　with　the　Nabob！　If　the　duke　were　to　come　in！〃

〃The　Duc　de　Mora　is　coming？〃

〃Certainly。　It　is　for　him　that　the　party　is　given；　to　bring　about　a　meeting　between　him　and　Jansoulet。〃

〃And　you　think　that　the　duke　and　Mlle。　Ruys〃

〃Where　have　you　come　from？　It　is　an　intrigue　known　to　all　Paris。　The　affair　dates　from　the　last　exhibition；　for　which　she　did　a　bust　of　him。〃

〃And　the　duchess？〃

〃Bah！　it　is　not　her　first　experience　of　that　sort。　Ah！　there　is　Mme。　Jenkins　going　to　sing。〃

There　was　a　movement　in　the　drawing…room；　a　more　violent　swaying　of　the　crowd　near　the　door；　and　conversation　ceased　for　a　moment。　Paul　de　Gery　breathed。　What　he　had　just　heard　had　oppressed　his　heart。　He　felt　himself　reached；　soiled；　by　this　mud　flung　in　handfuls　over　the　ideal　which　in　his　own　mind　he　had　formed　of　that　splendid　adolescence；　matured　by　the　sun　of　Art　to　so　penetrating　a　charm。　He　moved　away　a　little；　changed　his　place。　He　feared　to　hear　again　some　whispered　infamy。　Mme。　Jenkins's　voice　did　him　good；　a　voice　that　was　famous　in　the　drawing…rooms　of　Paris　and　that　in　spite　of　all　its　magnificence　had　nothing　theatrical　about　it；　but　seemed　an　emotional　utterance　vibrating　over　unstudied　sonorities。　The　singer；　a　woman　of　forty　or　forty…five；　had　splendid　ash…blond　hair；　delicate；　rather　nerveless　features；　a　striking　expression　of　kindness。　Still　good…looking；　she　was　dressed　in　the　costly　taste　of　a　woman　who　has　not　given　up　the　thought　of　pleasing。　Indeed；　she　was　far　from　having　given　it　up。　Married　a　dozen　years　ago；　for　a　second　time；　to　the　doctor；　they　seemed　still　to　be　at　the　first　months　of　their　dual　happiness。　While　she　sang　a　popular　Russian　melody；　savage　and　sweet　like　the　smile　of　a　Slav；　Jenkins　was　ingenuously　proud；　without　seeking　to　dissimulate　the　fact；　his　broad　face　all　beaming；　and　she；　each　time　that　she　bent　her　head　as　she　regained　her　breath；　glanced　in　his　direction　a　timid；　affectionate　smile　that　flew　to　seek　him　over　the　unfolded　music。　And　then；　when　she　had　finished　amid　an　admiring　and　delighted　murmur；　it　was　touching　to　notice　how　discreetly　she　gave　her　husband's　hand　a　secret　squeeze；　as　though　to　secure　to　themselves　a　corner　of　private　bliss　in　the　midst　of　her　great　triumph。　Young　de　Gery　was　feeling　cheered　by　the　spectacle　of　this　happy　couple；　when　quite　close　to　him　a　voice　murmuredit　was　not；　however；　the　same　voice　that　he　had　heard　just　before：

〃You　know　what　they　saythat　the　Jenkinses　are　not　married。〃

〃How　absurd！〃

〃I　assure　you。　It　would　seem　that　there　is　a　veritable　Mme。　Jenkins　somewhere；　but　not　the　lady　we　know。　Besides；　have　you　noticed〃

The　dialogue　continued　in　an　undertone。　Mme。　Jenkins　advanced；　bowing；　smiling；　while　the　doctor；　stopping　a　tray　that　was　being　borne　round；　brought　her　a　glass　of　claret　with　the　alacrity　of　a　mother；　an　impresario；　a　lover。　Calumny；　calumny；　ineffaceable　defilement！　To　the　provincial　young　man；　Jenkins's　attentions　now　seemed　exaggerated。　He　fancied　that　there　was　something　affected　about　them；　something　deliberate；　and；　too；　in　the　words　of　thanks　which　she　addressed　in　a　low　voice　to　her　husband　he　thought　he　could　detect　a　timidity；　a　submissiveness；　not　consonant　with　the　dignity　of　the　legitimate　spouse；　glad　and　proud　in　an　assured　happiness。　〃But　Society　is　a　hideous　affair！〃　said　de　Gery　to　himself；　dismayed　and　with　cold　hands。　The　smiles　around　him　had　upon　him　the　effect　of　hypocritical　grimaces。　He　felt　shame　and　disgust。　Then　suddenly　revolting：　〃Come；　it　is　not　possible。〃　And；　as　though　in　reply　to　this　exclamation；　behind　him　the　scandalous　tongue　resumed　in　an　easy　tone：　〃After　all；　you　know；　I　cannot　vouch　for　its　truth。　I　am　only　repeating　what　I　have　heard。　But　look！　Baroness　Hemerlingue。　He　gets　all　Paris；　this　Jenkins。〃

The　baroness　moved　forward　on　the　arm　of　the　doctor；　who　had　rushed　to　meet　her；　and　appeared；　despite　all　his　control　of　his　facial　muscles；　a　little　ill　at　ease　and　discomfited。　He　had　thought；　the　good　Jenkins；　to　profit　by　the　opportunity　afforded　by　this　evening　party　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation　between　his　friend　Hemerlingue　and　his　friend　Jansoulet；　who　were　his　two　most　wealthy　clients　and　embarrassed　him　greatly　with　their　intestine　feud。　The　Nabob　was　perfectly　willing。　He　bore　his　old　chum　no　grudge。　Their　quarrel　had　arisen　out　of　Hemerlingue's　marriage　with　one　of　the　favourites　of　the　last　Bey。　〃A　story　with　a　woman　at　the　bottom　of　it；　in　short；〃　said　Jansoulet；　and　a　story　which　he　would　have　been　glad　to　see　come　to　an　end；　since　his　exuberant　nature　found　every　antipathy　oppressive。　But　it　seemed　that　the　baron　was　not　anxious　for　any　settlement　of　their　differences；　for；　notwithstanding　his　word　passed　to　Jenkins；　his　wife　arrived　alone；　to　the　Irishman's　great　chagrin。

She　was　a　tall；　slender；　frail　person；　with　eyebrows　that　suggested　a　bird's　plumes；　and　a　youthful　intimidated　manner。　She　was　aged　about　thirty　but　looked　twenty；　and　wore　a　head…dress　of　grasses　and　ears　of　corn　drooping　over　very　black　hair　peppered　with　diamonds。　With　her　long　lashes　against　cheeks　white　with　that　transparency　of　complexion　which　characterizes　women　who　have　long　led　a　cloistered　existence；　and　a　little　ill　at　ease　in　her　Parisian　clothes；　she　resembled　less　one　who　had　formerly　been　a　woman　of　the　harem　than　a　nun　who；　having　renounced　her　vows；　was　returning　into　the　world。

An　air　of　piety；　of　extreme　devoutness；　in　her　bearing；　a　certain　ecclesiastical　trick　of　walking　with　downcast　eyes；　elbows　close　to　the　body；　hands　crossed；　mannerisms　which　she　had　acquired　in　the　very　religious　atmosphere　in　which　she　had　lived　since　her　conversion　and　her　recent　baptism；　completed　this　resemblance。　And　you　can　imagine　with　what　ardent　curiosity　that　worldly　assembly　regarded　this　quondam　odalisk　turned　fervent　Catholic；　as　she　advanced　escorted　by　a　man　with　a　livid　countenance　like　that　of　some　spectacled　sacristan；　Maitre　le　Merquier；　deputy　of　Lyons；　Hemerlingue's　man　of　business；　who　accompanied　the　baroness　whenever　the　baron　〃was　somewhat　indisposed；〃　as　on　this　evening。

At　their　entry　into　the　second　drawing…room；　the　Nabob　came　straight　up　to　her；　expecting　to　see　appear　in　her　wake　the　puffy　face　of　his　old　comrade　to　whom　it　was　agreed　that　he　should　go　and　offer　his　hand。　The　baroness　perceived　him　and　became　still　whiter。　A　flash　as　of　steel　shot　from　beneath　her　long　lashes。　Her　nostrils　dilated；　quivered；　and；　as　Jansoulet　bowed；　she　quickened　her　step；　carrying　her　head　high　and　erect；　and　letting　fall　from　her　thin　lips　an　Arab　word　which　no　one　else　could　understand　but　of　which　the　Nabob　himself　well　appreciated　the　insult；　for；　as　he　raised