beatrix-第23部分

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His　capricious　thoughts　were　so　many　grapnels　which　fastened　his　heart
to　the　marquise。　He　had　known　none　of　these　mysterious　terrors　and
joys　in　his　intercourse　with　Camille。　Such　vague　emotions　rise　like
poems　in　the　untutored　soul。　Warmed　by　the　first　fires　of　imagination；
souls　like　his　have　been　known　to　pass　through　all　phases　of
preparation　and　to　reach　in　silence　and　solitude　the　very　heights　of
love；　without　having　met　the　object　of　so　many　efforts。

Presently　Calyste　saw；　coming　toward　him；　the　Chevalier　du　Halga　and
Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel；　who　were　walking　together　on　the　mall。　He
heard　them　say　his　name；　and　he　slipped　aside　out　of　sight；　but　not
out　of　hearing。　The　chevalier　and　the　old　maid；　believing　themselves
alone；　were　talking　aloud。

〃If　Charlotte　de　Kergarouet　comes；〃　said　the　chevalier；　〃keep　her　four
or　five　months。　How　can　you　expect　her　to　coquette　with　Calyste？　She
is　never　here　long　enough　to　undertake　it。　Whereas；　if　they　see　each
other　every　day；　those　two　children　will　fall　in　love；　and　you　can
marry　them　next　winter。　If　you　say　two　words　about　it　to　Charlotte
she'll　say　four　to　Calyste；　and　a　girl　of　sixteen　can　certainly　carry
off　the　prize　from　a　woman　of　forty。〃

Here　the　old　people　turned　to　retrace　their　steps　and　Calyste　heard　no
more。　But　remembering　what　his　mother　had　told　him；　he　saw
Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel's　intention；　and；　in　the　mood　in　which　he
then　was；　nothing　could　have　been　more　fatal。　The　mere　idea　of　a　girl
thus　imposed　upon　him　sent　him　with　greater　ardor　into　his　imaginary
love。　He　had　never　had　a　fancy　for　Charlotte　de　Kergarouet；　and　he　now
felt　repugnance　at　the　very　thought　of　her。　Calyste　was　quite
unaffected　by　questions　of　fortune；　from　infancy　he　had　accustomed　his
life　to　the　poverty　and　the　restricted　means　of　his　father's　house。　A
young　man　brought　up　as　he　had　been；　and　now　partially　emancipated；
was　likely　to　consider　sentiments　only；　and　all　his　sentiments；　all
his　thought　now　belonged　to　the　marquise。　In　presence　of　the　portrait
which　Camille　had　drawn　for　him　of　her　friend；　what　was　that　little
Charlotte？　the　companion　of　his　childhood；　whom　he　thought　of　as　a
sister。

He　did　not　go　home　till　five　in　the　afternoon。　As　he　entered　the　hall
his　mother　gave　him；　with　a　rather　sad　smile；　the　following　letter
from　Mademoiselle　des　Touches：

　　My　dear　Calyste；The　beautiful　marquise　has　come；　we　count　on　you
　　to　help　us　celebrate　her　arrival。　Claude；　always　sarcastic；
　　declares　that　you　will　play　Bice　and　that　she　will　be　Dante。　It　is
　　for　our　honor　as　Bretons；　and　yours　as　a　du　Guenic　to　welcome　a
　　Casteran。　Come　soon。
Your　friend；　　　　　Camille　Maupin。


　　Come　as　you　are；　without　ceremony；　otherwise　you　will　put　us　to
　　the　blush。

Calyste　gave　the　letter　to　his　mother　and　departed。

〃Who　are　the　Casterans？〃　said　Fanny　to　the　baron。

〃An　old　Norman　family；　allied　to　William　the　Conqueror；〃　he　replied。
〃They　bear　on　a　shield　tierce　fessed　azure；　gules　and　sable；　a　horse
rearing　argent；　shod　with　gold。　That　beautiful　creature　for　whom　the
Gars　was　killed　at　Fougeres　in　1800　was　the　daughter　of　a　Casteran　who
made　herself　a　nun；　and　became　an　abbess　after　the　Duc　de　Verneuil
deserted　her。〃

〃And　the　Rochefides？〃

〃I　don't　know　that　name。　I　should　have　to　see　the　blazon；〃　he　replied。

The　baroness　was　somewhat　reassured　on　hearing　that　the　Marquise　de
Rochefide　was　born　of　a　noble　family；　but　she　felt　that　her　son　was
now　exposed　to　new　seductions。

Calyste　as　he　walked　along　felt　all　sorts　of　violent　and　yet　soft
inward　movements；　his　throat　was　tight；　his　heart　swelled；　his　brain
was　full；　a　fever　possessed　him。　He　tried　to　walk　slowly；　but　some
superior　power　hurried　him。　This　impetuosity　of　the　several　senses
excited　by　vague　expectation　is　known　to　all　young　men。　A　subtle　fire
flames　within　their　breasts　and　darts　outwardly　about　them；　like　the
rays　of　a　nimbus　around　the　heads　of　divine　personages　in　works　of
religious　art；　through　it　they　see　all　Nature　glorious；　and　woman
radiant。　Are　they　not　then　like　those　haloed　saints；　full　of　faith；
hope；　ardor；　purity？

The　young　Breton　found　the　company　assembled　in　the　little　salon　of
Camille's　suite　of　rooms。　It　was　then　about　six　o'clock；　the　sun；　in
setting；　cast　through　the　windows　its　ruddy　light　chequered　by　the
trees；　the　air　was　still；　twilight；　beloved　of　women；　was　spreading
through　the　room。

〃Here　comes　the　future　deputy　of　Brittany；〃　said　Camille　Maupin；
smiling；　as　Calyste　raised　the　tapestry　portiere；〃punctual　as　a
king。〃

〃You　recognized　his　step　just　now；〃　said　Claude　to　Felicite　in　a　low
voice。

Calyste　bowed　low　to　the　marquise；　who　returned　the　salutation　with　an
inclination　of　her　head；　he　did　not　look　at　her；　but　he　took　the　hand
Claude　Vignon　held　out　to　him　and　pressed　it。

〃This　is　the　celebrated　man　of　whom　we　have　talked　so　much；　Gennaro
Conti；〃　said　Camille；　not　replying　to　Claude　Vignon's　remark。

She　presented　to　Calyste　a　man　of　medium　height；　thin　and　slender；
with　chestnut　hair；　eyes　that　were　almost　red；　and　a　white　skin；
freckled　here　and　there；　whose　head　was　so　precisely　the　well…known
head　of　Lord　Byron　（though　rather　better　carried　on　his　shoulders）
that　description　is　superfluous。　Conti　was　rather　proud　of　this
resemblance。

〃I　am　fortunate；〃　he　said；　〃to　meet　Monsieur　du　Guenic　during　the　one
day　that　I　spend　at　Les　Touches。〃

〃It　was　for　me　to　say　that　to　you；〃　replied　Calyste；　with　a　certain
ease。

〃He　is　handsome　as　an　angel；〃　said　the　marquise　in　an　under　tone　to
Felicite。

Standing　between　the　sofa　and　the　two　ladies；　Calyste　heard　the　words
confusedly。　He　seated　himself　in　an　arm…chair　and　looked　furtively
toward　the　marquise。　In　the　soft　half…light　he　saw；　reclining　on　a
divan；　as　if　a　sculptor　had　placed　it　there；　a　white　and　serpentine
shape　which　thrilled　him。　Without　being　aware　of　it；　Felicite　had　done
her　friend　a　service；　the　marquise　was　much　superior　to　the
unflattered　portrait　Camille　had　drawn　of　her　the　night　before。　Was　it
to　do　honor　to　the　guest　that　Beatrix　had　wound　into　her　hair　those
tufts　of　blue…bells　that　gave　value　to　the　pale　tints　of　her　creped
curls；　so　arranged　as　to　fall　around　her　face　and　play　upon　the
cheeks？　The　circle　of　her　eyes；　which　showed　fatigue；　was　of　the
purest　mother…of…pearl；　her　skin　was　as　dazzling　as　the　eyes；　and
beneath　its　whiteness；　delicate　as　the　satiny　lining　of　an　egg；　life
abounded　in　the　beautiful　blue　veins。　The　delicacy　of　the　features　was
extreme；　the　forehead　seemed　diaphanous。　The　head；　so　sweet　and
fragrant；　admirably　joined　to　a　long　neck　of　exquisite　moulding；　lent
itself　to　many　and　most　diverse　expressions。　The　waist；　which　could　be
spanned　by　the　hands；　had　a　charming　willowy　ease；　the　bare　shoulders
sparkled　in　the　twilight　like　a　white　camellia。　The　throat；　visible　to
the　eye　though　covered　with　a　transparent　fichu；　allowed　the　graceful
outlines　of　the　bosom　to　be　seen　with　charming　roguishness。　A　gown　of
white　muslin；　strewn　with　blue　flowers；　made　with　very　large　sleeves；
a　pointed　body　and　no　belt；　shoes　with　strings　crossed　on　the　instep
over　Scotch　thread　stockings；　showed　a　charming　knowledge　of　the　art
of　dress。　Ear…rings　of　silver　filagree；　miracles　of　Genoese　jewelry；
destined　no　doubt　to　become　the　fashion；　were　in　perfect　harmony　with
the　delightful　flow　of　the　soft　curls　starred　with　blue…bells。

Calyste's　eager　eye　took　in　these　beauties　at　a　glance；　and　carved
them　on　his　soul。　The　fair　Beatrix　and　the　dark　Felicite　might　have
sat　for　those　contrasting　portraits　in　〃keepsakes〃　which　English
designers　and　engravers　seek　so　persistently。　Here　were　the　force　and
the　feebleness　of　womanhood　in　full　development；　a　perfect　antithesis。
These　two　women　could　never　be　rivals；　each　had　her　own　empire。　Here
was　the　delicate　campanula；　or　the　lily；　beside　the　scarlet　poppy；　a
turquoise　near　a　ruby。　In　a　moment；　as　it　were；at　first　sight；　as
the　saying　is；Calyste　was　seized　with　a　love　which　crowned　the
secret　work　of　his　hopes；　his　fears；　his　uncertainties。　Mademoiselle
des　Touches　had　awakened　his　nature；　Beatrix　inflamed　both　his　heart
and　thoughts。　The　young　Breton　suddenly　felt　within　him　a　power　to
conquer　all　things；　and　yield　to　nothing　that　stood　in　his　way。　He
looked　at　Conti　with　an　envious；　gloomy；　savage　rivalry　he　had　never
felt　for　Claude　Vignon。　He　employed　all　his　strength　to　control
himself；　but　the　inward　tempest　went　down　as　soon　as　the　eyes　of
Beatrix　turned　to　him；　and　her　soft　voice　sounded　in　his　ear。　Dinner
was　announced。

〃Calyste；　give　your　arm　to　the　marquise；〃　said　Mademoiselle　des
Touches；　taking　Conti　with　her　right　hand；　and　Claude　Vignon　with　her
left；　and　drawing　back　to　let　the　marquise　pass。

The　descent　of　that　ancient　staircase　was　to　Calyste　like　the　moment
of　going　into　battle　for　the　first　time。　His　heart　failed　him；　he　had
nothing　to　say；　a　slight　sweat　pearled　upon　his　forehead　and　wet　his
back；　his　arm　trembled　so　much　that　as　they　reached　the　lowest　step
the　marquise　said　to　him：　〃Is　anything　the　matter？〃

〃Oh！〃　he　replied；　in　a　muffled　tone；　〃I　have　never　seen　any　woman　so
beautiful　as　you；　except　my　mother；　and　I　am　not　master　of　my
emotions。〃

〃But　you　have　Camille　Maupin　before　your　eyes。〃

〃Ah！　what　a　difference！〃　said　Calyste；　ingenuously。

〃Calyste；〃　whispered　Felicite；　who　was　just　behind　him；　〃did　I　not
tell　you　that　you　would　forget　me　as　if　I　had　never　existed？　Sit
there；〃　she　said　aloud；　〃beside　the　marquise；　on　her　right；　and　you；
Claude；　on　her　left。　As　for　you；　Gennaro；　I　retain　you　by　me；　we　will
keep　a　mutual　eye　on　their　coquetries。〃

The　peculiar　accept　which　Camille　gave　to　the　last　word　struck　Claude
Vignon's　ear；　and　he　cast　that　sly　but　half…abstracted　look　upon
Camille　which　always　denoted　in　him　the　closest　observation。　He　never
ceased　to　examine　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　throughout　the　dinner。

〃Coquetries！〃　replied　the　marquis；　taking　off　her　gloves；　and　showing
her　beautiful　hands；　〃the　opportunity　is　good；　with　a　poet；〃　and　she
motioned　to　Claude；　〃on　one　side；　and　poesy　the　other。〃

At　these　words　Conti　turned　and　gave　Calyste　a　look　that　was