beatrix-第22部分

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than　he；　and　it　is　he　who　appears　to　be　the　girl〃

〃A　girl；　monsieur；〃　said　Calyste；　waking　from　his　reverie；　〃who　has
been　twice　under　fire　in　La　Vendee！　If　the　Cause　had　had　twenty
thousand　more　such　girls〃

〃I　was　giving　you　some　well…deserved　praise；　and　that　is　easier　than
to　give　you　a　beard；〃　remarked　Vignon。

〃I　have　a　sword　for　those　who　wear　their　beards　too　long；〃　cried
Calyste。

〃And　I　am　very　good　at　an　epigram；〃　said　the　other；　smiling。　〃We　are
Frenchmen；　the　affair　can　easily　be　arranged。〃

Mademoiselle　des　Touches　cast　a　supplicating　look　on　Calyste；　which
calmed　him　instantly。

〃Why；〃　said　Felicite；　as　if　to　break　up　the　discussion；　〃do　young　men
like　my　Calyste；　begin　by　loving　women　of　a　certain　age？〃

〃I　don't　know　any　sentiment　more　artless　or　more　generous；〃　replied
Vignon。　〃It　is　the　natural　consequence　of　the　adorable　qualities　of
youth。　Besides；　how　would　old　women　end　if　it　were　not　for　such　love？
You　are　young　and　beautiful；　and　will　be　for　twenty　years　to　come；　so
I　can　speak　of　this　matter　before　you；〃　he　added；　with　a　keen　look　at
Mademoiselle　des　Touches。　〃In　the　first　place　the　semi…dowagers；　to
whom　young　men　pay　their　first　court；　know　much　better　how　to　make
love　than　younger　women。　An　adolescent　youth　is　too　like　a　young　woman
himself　for　a　young　woman　to　please　him。　Such　a　passion　trenches　on
the　fable　of　Narcissus。　Besides　that　feeling　of　repugnance；　there　is；
as　I　think；　a　mutual　sense　of　inexperience　which　separates　them。　The
reason　why　the　hearts　of　young　women　are　only　understood　by　mature
men；　who　conceal　their　cleverness　under　a　passion　real　or　feigned；　is
precisely　the　same　（allowing　for　the　difference　of　minds）　as　that
which　renders　a　woman　of　a　certain　age　more　adroit　in　attracting
youth。　A　young　man　feels　that　he　is　sure　to　succeed　with　her；　and　the
vanities　of　the　woman　are　flattered　by　his　suit。　Besides；　isn't　it
natural　for　youth　to　fling　itself　on　fruits？　The　autumn　of　a　woman's
life　offers　many　that　are　very　toothsome；those　looks；　for　instance；
bold；　and　yet　reserved；　bathed　with　the　last　rays　of　love；　so　warm；　so
sweet；　that　all…wise　elegance　of　speech；　those　magnificent　shoulders；
so　nobly　developed；　the　full　and　undulating　outline；　the　dimpled
hands；　the　hair　so　well　arranged；　so　cared　for；　that　charming　nape　of
the　neck；　where　all　the　resources　of　art　are　displayed　to　exhibit　the
contrast　between　the　hair　and　the　flesh…tones；　and　to　set　in　full
relief　the　exuberance　of　life　and　love。　Brunettes　themselves　are　fair
at　such　times；　with　the　amber　colors　of　maturity。　Besides；　such　women
reveal　in　their　smiles　and　display　in　their　words　a　knowledge　of　the
world；　they　know　how　to　converse；　they　can　call　up　the　whole　of　social
life　to　make　a　lover　laugh；　their　dignity　and　their　pride　are
stupendous；　or；　in　other　moods；　they　can　utter　despairing　cries　which
touch　his　soul；　farewells　of　love　which　they　take　care　to　render
useless；　and　only　make　to　intensify　his　passion。　Their　devotions　are
absolute；　they　listen　to　us；　they　love　us；　they　catch；　they　cling　to
love　as　a　man　condemned　to　death　clings　to　the　veriest　trifles　of
existence；in　short；　love；　absolute　love；　is　known　only　through　them。
I　think　such　women　can　never　be　forgotten　by　a　man；　any　more　than　he
can　forget　what　is　grand　and　sublime。　A　young　woman　has　a　thousand
distractions；　these　women　have　none。　No　longer　have　they　self…love；
pettiness；　or　vanity；　their　loveit　is　the　Loire　at　its　mouth；　it　is
vast；　it　is　swelled　by　all　the　illusions；　all　the　affluents　of　life；
and　this　is　whybut　my　muse　is　dumb；〃　he　added；　observing　the
ecstatic　attitude　of　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　who　was　pressing
Calyste's　hand　with　all　her　strength；　perhaps　to　thank　him　for　having
been　the　occasion　of　such　a　moment；　of　such　an　eulogy；　so　lofty　that
she　did　not　see　the　trap　that　it　laid　for　her。

During　the　rest　of　the　evening　Claude　Vignon　and　Felicite　sparkled
with　wit　and　happy　sayings；　they　told　anecdotes；　and　described
Parisian　life　to　Calyste；　who　was　charmed　with　Claude；　for　mind　has
immense　seductions　for　persons　who　are　all　heart。

〃I　shouldn't　be　surprised　to　see　the　Marquise　de　Rochefide　and　Conti；
who；　of　course；　will　accompany　her；　at　the　landing…place　to…morrow；〃
said　Claude　Vignon；　as　the　evening　ended。　〃When　I　was　at　Croisic　this
afternoon；　the　fishermen　were　saying　that　they　had　seen　a　little
vessel；　Danish；　Swedish；　or　Norwegian；　in　the　offing。〃

This　speech　brought　a　flush　to　the　cheeks　of　the　impassible　Camille。

Again　Madame　du　Guenic　sat　up　till　one　o'clock　that　night；　waiting　for
her　son；　unable　to　imagine　why　he　should　stay　so　late　if　Mademoiselle
des　Touches　did　not　love　him。

〃He　must　be　in　their　way；〃　said　this　adorable　mother。　〃What　were　you
talking　about？〃　she　asked；　when　at　last　he　came　in。

〃Oh；　mother；　I　have　never　before　spent　such　a　delightful　evening。
Genius　is　a　great；　a　sublime　thing！　Why　didn't　you　give　me　genius？
With　genius　we　can　make　our　lives；　we　can　choose　among　all　women　the
woman　to　love；　and　she　must　be　ours。〃

〃How　handsome　you　are；　my　Calyste！〃

〃Claude　Vignon　is　handsome。　Men　of　genius　have　luminous　foreheads　and
eyes；　through　which　the　lightnings　flashbut　I；　alas！　I　know　nothing
only　to　love。〃

〃They　say　that　suffices；　my　angel；〃　she　said；　kissing　him　on　the
forehead。

〃Do　you　believe　it？〃

〃They　say　so；　but　I　have　never　known　it。〃

Calyste　kissed　his　mother's　hand　as　if　it　was　a　sacred　thing。

〃I　will　love　you　for　all　those　that　would　have　adored　you；〃　he　said。

〃Dear　child！　perhaps　it　is　a　little　bit　your　duty　to　do　so；　for　you
inherit　my　nature。　But；　Calyste；　do　not　be　unwise；　imprudent；　try　to
love　only　noble　women；　if　love　you　must。〃



IX

A　FIRST　MEETING

What　young　man　full　of　abounding　but　restrained　life　and　emotion　would
not　have　had　the　glorious　idea　of　going　to　Croisic　to　see　Madame　de
Rochefide　land；　and　examine　her　incognito？　Calyste　greatly　surprised
his　father　and　mother　by　going　off　in　the　morning　without　waiting　for
the　mid…day　breakfast。　Heaven　knows　with　what　agility　the　young
Breton's　feet　sped　along。　Some　unknown　vigor　seemed　lent　to　him；　he
walked　on　air；　gliding　along　by　the　walls　of　Les　Touches　that　he　might
not　be　seen　from　the　house。　The　adorable　boy　was　ashamed　of　his　ardor；
and　afraid　of　being　laughed　at；　Felicite　and　Vignon　were　so
perspicacious！　besides；　in　such　cases　young　fellows　fancy　that　their
foreheads　are　transparent。

He　reached　the　shore；　strengthened　by　a　stone　embankment；　at　the　foot
of　which　is　a　house　where　travellers　can　take　shelter　in　storms　of
wind　or　rain。　It　is　not　always　possible　to　cross　the　little　arm　of　the
sea　which　separates　the　landing…place　of　Guerande　from　Croisic；　the
weather　may　be　bad；　or　the　boats　not　ready；　and　during　this　time　of
waiting；　it　is　necessary　to　put　not　only　the　passengers　but　their
horses；　donkeys；　baggages；　and　merchandise　under　cover。

Calyste　presently　saw　two　boats　coming　over　from　Croisic；　laden　with
baggage；trunks；　packages；　bags；　and　chests；the　shape　and
appearance　of　which　proved　to　a　native　of　these　parts　that　such
extraordinary　articles　must　belong　to　travellers　of　distinction。　In
one　of　the　boats　was　a　young　woman　in　a　straw　bonnet　with　a　green
veil；　accompanied　by　a　man。　This　boat　was　the　first　to　arrive。　Calyste
trembled　until　on　closer　view　he　saw　they　were　a　maid　and　a　man…
servant。

〃Are　you　going　over　to　Croisic；　Monsieur　Calyste？〃　said　one　of　the
boatmen；　to　whom　he　replied　with　a　shake　of　the　head；　annoyed　at　being
called　by　his　name。

He　was　captivated　by　the　sight　of　a　chest　covered　with　tarred　cloth　on
which　were　painted　the　words；　MME。　LA　MARQUISE　DE　ROCHEFIDE。　The　name
shone　before　him　like　a　talisman；　he　fancied　there　was　something
fateful　in　it。　He　knew　in　some　mysterious　way；　which　he　could　not
doubt；　that　he　should　love　that　woman。　Why？　In　the　burning　desert　of
his　new　and　infinite　desires；　still　vague　and　without　an　object；　his
fancy　fastened　with　all　its　strength　on　the　first　woman　that　presented
herself。　Beatrix　necessarily　inherited　the　love　which　Camille　had
rejected。

Calyste　watched　the　landing　of　the　luggage；　casting　from　time　to　time
a　glance　at　Croisic；　from　which　he　hoped　to　see　another　boat　put　out
to　cross　to　the　little　promontory；　and　show　him　Beatrix；　already　to
his　eyes　what　Beatrice　was　to　Dante；　a　marble　statue　on　which　to　hang
his　garlands　and　his　flowers。　He　stood　with　arms　folded；　lost　in
meditation。　Here　is　a　fact　worthy　of　remark；　which；　nevertheless；　has
never　been　remarked：　we　often　subject　ourselves　to　sentiments　by　our
own　volition；deliberately　bind　ourselves；　and　create　our　own　fate；
chance　has　not　as　much　to　do　with　it　as　we　believe。

〃I　don't　see　any　horses；〃　said　the　maid；　sitting　on　a　trunk。

〃And　I　don't　see　any　road；〃　said　the　footman。

〃Horses　have　been　here；　though；〃　replied　the　woman；　pointing　to　the
proofs　of　their　presence。　〃Monsieur；〃　she　said；　addressing　Calyste；
〃is　this　really　the　way　to　Guerande？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　〃are　you　expecting　some　one　to　meet　you？〃

〃We　were　told　that　they　would　fetch　us　from　Les　Touches。　If　they　don't
come；〃　she　added　to　the　footman；　〃I　don't　know　how　Madame　la　marquise
will　manage　to　dress　for　dinner。　You　had　better　go　and　find
Mademoiselle　des　Touches。　Oh！　what　a　land　of　savages！〃

Calyste　had　a　vague　idea　of　having　blundered。

〃Is　your　mistress　going　to　Les　Touches？〃　he　inquired。

〃She　is　there；　Mademoiselle　came　for　her　this　morning　at　seven
o'clock。　Ah！　here　come　the　horses。〃

Calyste　started　toward　Guerande　with　the　lightness　and　agility　of　a
chamois；　doubling　like　a　hare　that　he　might　not　return　upon　his　tracks
or　meet　any　of　the　servants　of　Les　Touches。　He　did；　however；　meet　two
of　them　on　the　narrow　causeway　of　the　marsh　along　which　he　went。

〃Shall　I　go　in；　or　shall　I　not？〃　he　thought　when　the　pines　of　Les
Touches　came　in　sight。　He　was　afraid；　and　continued　his　way　rather
sulkily　to　Guerande；　where　he　finished　his　excursion　on　the　mall　and
continued　his　reflections。

〃She　has　no　idea　of　my　agitation；〃　he　said　to　himself。

His　capricious　thoughts　were　so　many　grapnels　which　fastened　his　heart
to　the　marquise。　He　had　known　no