beatrix-第30部分

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〃Beatrix　shall　love　you；〃　made　by　Camille；　was　the　talisman　with　which
he　strove　to　restrain　the　fiery　ardor　of　his　passion。　But　he　knew　not
how　to　consume　the　time；　he　could　not　sleep；　and　spent　the　hours　of
the　night　in　reading；　every　evening　he　brought　back　with　him；　as
Mariotte　remarked；　cartloads　of　books。

His　aunt　called　down　maledictions　on　the　head　of　Mademoiselle　des
Touches；　but　his　mother；　who　had　gone　on　several　occasions　to　his　room
on　seeing　his　light　burning　far　into　the　night；　knew　by　this　time　the
secret　of　his　conduct。　Though　for　her　love　was　a　sealed　book；　and　she
was　even　unaware　of　her　own　ignorance；　Fanny　rose　through　maternal
tenderness　into　certain　ideas　of　it；　but　the　depths　of　such　sentiment
being　dark　and　obscured　by　clouds　to　her　mind；　she　was　shocked　at　the
state　in　which　she　saw　him；　the　solitary　uncomprehended　desire　of　his
soul；　which　was　evidently　consuming　him；　simply　terrified　her。　Calyste
had　but　one　thought；　Beatrix　was　always　before　him。　In　the　evenings；
while　cards　were　being　played；　his　abstraction　resembled　his　father's
somnolence。　Finding　him　so　different　from　what　he　was　when　he　loved
Camille；　the　baroness　became　aware；　with　a　sort　of　horror；　of　the
symptoms　of　real　love；a　species　of　possession　which　had　seized　upon
her　son；a　love　unknown　within　the　walls　of　that　old　mansion。

Feverish　irritability；　a　constant　absorption　in　thought；　made　Calyste
almost　doltish。　Often　he　would　sit　for　hours　with　his　eyes　fixed　on
some　figure　in　the　tapestry。　One　morning　his　mother　implored　him　to
give　up　Les　Touches；　and　leave　the　two　women　forever。

〃Not　go　to　Les　Touches！〃　he　cried。

〃Oh！　yes；　yes；　go！　do　not　look　so；　my　darling！〃　she　cried；　kissing　him
on　the　eyes　that　had　flashed　such　flames。

Under　these　circumstances　Calyste　often　came　near　losing　the　fruit　of
Camille's　plot　through　the　Breton　fury　of　his　love；　of　which　he　was
ceasing　to　be　the　master。　Finally；　he　swore　to　himself；　in　spite　of
his　promise　to　Felicite；　to　see　Beatrix；　and　speak　to　her。　He　wanted
to　read　her　eyes；　to　bathe　in　their　light；　to　examine　every　detail　of
her　dress；　breathe　its　perfume；　listen　to　the　music　of　her　voice；
watch　the　graceful　composition　of　her　movements；　embrace　at　a　glance
the　whole　figure；　and　study　her　as　a　general　studies　the　field　where
he　means　to　win　a　decisive　battle。　He　willed　as　lovers　will；　he　was
grasped　by　desires　which　closed　his　ears　and　darkened　his　intellect；
and　threw　him　into　an　unnatural　state　in　which　he　was　conscious　of
neither　obstacles；　nor　distances；　nor　the　existence　even　of　his　own
body。

One　morning　he　resolved　to　go　to　Les　Touches　at　an　earlier　hour　than
that　agreed　upon；　and　endeavor　to　meet　Beatrix　in　the　garden。　He　knew
she　walked　there　daily　before　breakfast。

Mademoiselle　des　Touches　and　the　marquise　had　gone；　as　it　happened；　to
see　the　marshes　and　the　little　bay　with　its　margin　of　fine　sand；　where
the　sea　penetrates　and　lies　like　a　lake　in　the　midst　of　the　dunes。
They　had　just　returned；　and　were　walking　up　a　garden　path　beside　the
lawn；　conversing　as　they　walked。

〃If　the　scenery　pleases　you；〃　said　Camille；　〃we　must　take　Calyste　and
make　a　trip　to　Croisic。　There　are　splendid　rocks　there；　cascades　of
granite；　little　bays　with　natural　basins；　charmingly　unexpected　and
capricious　things；　besides　the　sea　itself；　with　its　store　of　marble
fragments；a　world　of　amusement。　Also　you　will　see　women　making　fuel
with　cow…dung；　which　they　nail　against　the　walls　of　their　houses　to
dry　in　the　sun；　after　which　they　pile　it　up　as　we　do　peat　in　Paris。〃

〃What！　will　you　really　risk　Calyste？〃　cried　the　marquise；　laughing；　in
a　tone　which　proved　that　Camille's　ruse　had　answered　its　purpose。

〃Ah；　my　dear；〃　she　replied；　〃if　you　did　but　know　the　angelic　soul　of
that　dear　child；　you　would　understand　me。　In　him；　mere　beauty　is
nothing；　one　must　enter　that　pure　heart；　which　is　amazed　at　every　step
it　takes　into　the　kingdom　of　love。　What　faith！　what　grace！　what
innocence！　The　ancients　were　right　enough　in　the　worship　they　paid　to
sacred　beauty。　Some　traveller；　I　forget　who；　relates　that　when　wild
horses　lose　their　leader　they　choose　the　handsomest　horse　in　the　herd
for　his　successor。　Beauty；　my　dear；　is　the　genius　of　things；　it　is　the
ensign　which　Nature　hoists　over　her　most　precious　creations；　it　is　the
trust　of　symbols　as　it　is　the　greatest　of　accidents。　Did　any　one　ever
suppose　that　angels　could　be　deformed？　are　they　not　necessarily　a
combination　of　grace　and　strength？　What　is　it　that　makes　us　stand　for
hours　before　some　picture　in　Italy；　where　genius　has　striven　through
years　of　toil　to　realize　but　one　of　those　accidents　of　Nature？　Come；
call　up　your　sense　of　the　truth　of　things　and　answer　me；　is　it　not　the
Idea　of　Beauty　which　our　souls　associate　with　moral　grandeur？　Well；
Calyste　is　one　of　those　dreams；　those　visions；　realized。　He　has　the
regal　power　of　a　lion；　tranquilly　unsuspicious　of　its　royalty。　When　he
feels　at　his　ease；　he　is　witty；　and　I　love　his　girlish　timidity。　My
soul　rests　in　his　heart　away　from　all　corruptions；　all　ideas　of
knowledge；　literature；　the　world；　society；　politics；those　useless
accessories　under　which　we　stifle　happiness。　I　am　what　I　have　never
been；a　child！　I　am　sure　of　him；　but　I　like　to　play　at　jealousy；　he
likes　it　too。　Besides；　that　is　part　of　my　secret。〃

Beatrix　walked　on　pensively；　in　silence。　Camille　endured　unspeakable
martyrdom；　and　she　cast　a　sidelong　look　at　her　companion　which　looked
like　flame。

〃Ah；　my　dear；　but　/you/　are　happy；〃　said　Beatrix　presently；　laying　her
hand　on　Camille's　arm　like　a　woman　wearied　out　with　some　inward
struggle。

〃Yes；　happy　indeed！〃　replied　Felicite；　with　savage　bitterness。

The　two　women　dropped　upon　a　bench　from　a　sense　of　exhaustion。　No
creature　of　her　sex　was　ever　played　upon　like　an　instrument　with　more
Machiavellian　penetration　than　the　marquise　throughout　this　week。

〃Yes；　you　are　happy；　but　I！〃　she　said；〃to　know　of　Conti's
infidelities；　and　have　to　bear　them！〃

〃Why　not　leave　him？〃　said　Camille；　seeing　the　hour　had　come　to　strike
a　decisive　blow。

〃Can　I？〃

〃Oh！　poor　boy！〃

Both　were　gazing　into　a　clump　of　trees　with　a　stupefied　air。

Camille　rose。

〃I　will　go　and　hasten　breakfast；　my　walk　has　given　me　an　appetite；〃
she　said。

〃Our　conversation　has　taken　away　mine；〃　remarked　Beatrix。

The　marquise　in　her　morning　dress　was　outlined　in　white　against　the
dark　greens　of　the　foliage。　Calyste；　who　had　slipped　through　the　salon
into　the　garden；　took　a　path；　along　which　he　sauntered　as　though　he
were　meeting　her　by　accident。　Beatrix　could　not　restrain　a　quiver　as
he　approached　her。

〃Madame；　in　what　way　did　I　displease　you　yesterday？〃　he　said；　after
the　first　commonplace　sentences　had　been　exchanged。

〃But　you　have　neither　pleased　me　nor　displeased　me；〃　she　said；　in　a
gentle　voice。

The　tone；　air；　and　manner　in　which　the　marquise　said　these　words
encouraged　Calyste。

〃Am　I　so　indifferent　to　you？〃　he　said　in　a　troubled　voice；　as　the
tears　came　into　his　eyes。

〃Ought　we　not　to　be　indifferent　to　each　other？〃　replied　the　marquise。
〃Have　we　not；　each　of　us；　another；　and　a　binding　attachment？〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Calyste；　〃if　you　mean　Camille；　I　did　love　her；　but　I　love
her　no　longer。〃

〃Then　why　are　you　shut　up　together　every　morning？〃　she　said；　with　a
treacherous　smile。　〃I　don't　suppose　that　Camille；　in　spite　of　her
passion　for　tobacco；　prefers　her　cigar　to　you；　or　that　you；　in　your
admiration　for　female　authors；　spend　four　hours　a　day　in　reading　their
romances。〃

〃So　then　you　know〃　began　the　guileless　young　Breton；　his　face
glowing　with　the　happiness　of　being　face　to　face　with　his　idol。

〃Calyste！〃　cried　Camille；　angrily；　suddenly　appearing　and　interrupting
him。　She　took　his　arm　and　drew　him　away　to　some　distance。　〃Calyste；　is
this　what　you　promised　me？〃

Beatrix　heard　these　words　of　reproach　as　Mademoiselle　des　Touches
disappeared　toward　the　house；　taking　Calyste　with　her。　She　was
stupefied　by　the　young　man's　assertion；　and　could　not　comprehend　it；
she　was　not　as　strong　as　Claude　Vignon。　In　truth；　the　part　being
played　by　Camille　Maupin；　as　shocking　as　it　was　grand；　is　one　of　those
wicked　grandeurs　which　women　only　practise　when　driven　to　extremity。
By　it　their　hearts　are　broken；　in　it　the　feelings　of　their　sex　are
lost　to　them；　it　begins　an　abnegation　which　ends　by　either　plunging
them　to　hell；　or　lifting　them　to　heaven。

During　breakfast；　which　Calyste　was　invited　to　share；　the　marquise；
whose　sentiments　could　be　noble　and　generous；　made　a　sudden　return
upon　herself；　resolving　to　stifle　the　germs　of　love　which　were　rising
in　her　heart。　She　was　neither　cold　nor　hard　to　Calyste；　but　gently
indifferent；a　course　which　tortured　him。　Felicite　brought　forward　a
proposition　that　they　should　make；　on　the　next　day　but　one；　an
excursion　into　the　curious　and　interesting　country　lying　between　Les
Touches；　Croisic；　and　the　village　of　Batz。　She　begged　Calyste　to
employ　himself　on　the　morrow　in　hiring　a　boat　and　sailors　to　take　them
across　the　little　bay；　undertaking　herself　to　provide　horses　and
provisions；　and　all　else　that　was　necessary　for　a　party　of　pleasure；
in　which　there　was　to　be　no　fatigue。　Beatrix　stopped　the　matter　short；
however；　by　saying　that　she　did　not　wish　to　make　excursions　round　the
country。　Calyste's　face；　which　had　beamed　with　delight　at　the
prospect；　was　suddenly　overclouded。

〃What　are　you　afraid　of；　my　dear？〃　asked　Camille。

〃My　position　is　so　delicate　I　do　not　wish　to　compromiseI　will　not
say　my　reputation；　but　my　happiness；〃　she　said；　meaningly；　with　a
glance　at　the　young　Breton。　〃You　know　very　well　how　suspicious　Conti
can　be；　if　he　knew〃

〃Who　will　tell　him？〃

〃He　is　coming　back　here　to　fetch　me；〃　said　Beatrix。

Calyste　turned　pale。　In　spite　of　all　that　Camille　could　urge；　in　spite
of　Calyste's　entreaties；　Madame　de　Rochefide　remained　inflexible；　and
showed　what　Camille　had　called　her　obstinacy。　Calyste　left　Les　Touches
the　victim　of　one　of　those　depressions　of　love　which　threaten；　in
certain　men；　to　turn　into　madness。　He　began　to　revolve　in　his　mind
some　decided　means　of　coming　to　an　explanation　with　Beatrix。



XII

CORRESPONDENCE