beatrix-第33部分

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　　impossibility；　of　uniting　in　one　person　two　great　glories。

　　You；　Calyste；　are　one　of　the　angelic　souls　whose　mate　it　seems
　　impossible　to　find；　but　Camille　will　obtain　for　you；　even　if　she
　　dies　in　doing　so；　the　hand　of　some　young　girl　with　whom　you　can
　　make　a　happy　home。

　　For　myself；　I　hold　out　to　you　a　friendly　hand；　and　I　count；　not　on
　　your　heart；　but　on　your　mind；　to　make　you　in　future　a　brother　to
　　me；　as　I　shall　be　a　sister　to　you；　and　I　desire　that　this　letter
　　may　terminate　a　correspondence　which；　between　Les　Touches　and
　　Guerande；　is　rather　absurd。

Beatrix　de　Casteran。


The　baroness；　stirred　to　the　depths　of　her　soul　by　the　strange
exhibitions　and　the　rapid　changes　of　her　boy's　emotions；　could　no
longer　sit　quietly　at　her　work　in　the　ancient　hall。　After　looking　at
Calyste　from　time　to　time；　she　finally　rose　and　came　to　him　in　a
manner　that　was　humble；　and　yet　bold；　she　wanted　him　to　grant　a　favor
which　she　felt　she　had　a　right　to　demand。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　trembling；　and　looking　at　the　letter；　but　not
directly　asking　for　it。

Calyste　read　it　aloud　to　her。　And　these　two　noble　souls；　so　simple；　so
guileless；　saw　nothing　in　that　wily　and　treacherous　epistle　of　the
malice　or　the　snares　which　the　marquise　had　written　into　it。

〃She　is　a　noble　woman；　a　grand　woman！〃　said　the　baroness；　with
moistened　eyes。　〃I　will　pray　to　God　for　her。　I　did　not　know　that　a
woman　could　abandon　her　husband　and　child；　and　yet　preserve　a　soul　so
virtuous。　She　is　indeed　worthy　of　pardon。〃

〃Have　I　not　every　reason　to　adore　her？〃　cried　Calyste。

〃But　where　will　this　love　lead　you？〃　said　the　baroness。　〃Ah；　my　child；
how　dangerous　are　women　with　noble　sentiments！　There　is　less　to　fear
in　those　who　are　bad！　Marry　Charlotte　de　Kergarouet　and　release　two…
thirds　of　the　estate。　By　selling　a　few　farms；　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel
can　bestow　that　grand　result　upon　you　in　the　marriage　contract；　and
she　will　also　help　you；　with　her　experience；　to　make　the　most　of　your
property。　You　will　be　able　to　leave　your　children　a　great　name；　and　a
fine　estate。〃

〃Forget　Beatrix！〃　said　Calyste；　in　a　muffled　voice；　with　his　eyes　on
the　ground。

He　left　the　baroness；　and　went　up　to　his　own　room　to　write　an　answer
to　the　marquise。

Madame　du　Guenic；　whose　heart　retained　every　word　of　Madame　de
Rochefide's　letter；　felt　the　need　of　some　help　in　comprehending　it
more　clearly；　and　also　the　grounds　of　Calyste's　hope。　At　this　hour　the
Chevalier　du　Halga　was　always　to　be　seen　taking　his　dog　for　a　walk　on
the　mall。　The　baroness；　certain　of　finding　him　there；　put　on　her
bonnet　and　shawl　and　went　out。

The　sight　of　the　Baronne　du　Guenic　walking　in　Guerande　elsewhere　than
to　church；　or　on　the　two　pretty　roads　selected　as　promenades　on　/fete/
days；　accompanied　by　the　baron　and　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel；　was　an
event　so　remarkable　that　two　hours　later；　throughout　the　whole　town；
people　accosted　each　other　with　the　remark；

〃Madame　du　Guenic　went　out　to…day；　did　you　meet　her？〃

As　soon　as　this　amazing　news　reached　the　ears　of　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…
Hoel；　she　said　to　her　niece；

〃Something　very　extraordinary　is　happening　at　the　du　Guenics。〃

〃Calyste　is　madly　in　love　with　that　beautiful　Marquise　de　Rochefide；〃
said　Charlotte。　〃I　ought　to　leave　Guerande　and　return　to　Nantes。〃

The　Chevalier　du　Halga；　much　surprised　at　being　sought　by　the
baroness；　released　the　chain　of　his　little　dog；　aware　that　he　could
not　divide　himself　between　the　two　interests。

〃Chevalier；〃　began　the　baroness；　〃you　used　to　practise　gallantry？〃

Here　the　Chevalier　du　Halga　straightened　himself　up　with　an　air　that
was　not　a　little　vain。　Madame　du　Guenic；　without　naming　her　son　or　the
marquise；　repeated；　as　nearly　as　possible；　the　love…letter；　and　asked
the　chevalier　to　explain　to　her　the　meaning　of　such　an　answer。　Du
Halga　snuffed　the　air　and　stroked　his　chin；　he　listened　attentively；
he　made　grimaces；　and　finally；　he　looked　fixedly　at　the　baroness　with
a　knowing　air；　as　he　said；

〃When　thoroughbred　horses　want　to　leap　a　barrier；　they　go　up　to
reconnoitre　it；　and　smell　it　over。　Calyste　is　a　lucky　dog！〃

〃Oh；　hush！〃　she　cried。

〃I'm　mute。　Ah！　in　the　olden　time　I　knew　all　about　it；〃　said　the　old
chevalier；　striking　an　attitude。　〃The　weather　was　fine；　the　breeze
nor'east。　/Tudieu/！　how　the　'Belle…Poule'　kept　close　to　the　wind　that
day　whenOh！〃　he　cried；　interrupting　himself；　〃we　shall　have　a　change
of　weather；　my　ears　are　buzzing；　and　I　feel　the　pain　in　my　ribs！　You
know；　don't　you；　that　the　battle　of　the　'Belle…Poule'　was　so　famous
that　women　wore　head…dresses　'/a　la/　Belle…Poule。'　Madame　de
Kergarouet　was　the　first　to　come　to　the　opera　in　that　head…dress；　and
I　said　to　her：　'Madame；　you　are　dressed　for　conquest。'　The　speech　was
repeated　from　box　to　box　all　through　the　house。〃

The　baroness　listened　pleasantly　to　the　old　hero；　who；　faithful　to　the
laws　of　gallantry；　escorted　her　to　the　alley　of　her　house；　neglecting
Thisbe。　The　secret　of　Thisbe's　existence　had　once　escaped　him。　Thisbe
was　the　granddaughter　of　a　delightful　Thisbe；　the　pet　of　Madame
l'Amirale　de　Kergarouet；　first　wife　of　the　Comte　de　Kergarouet；　the
chevalier's　commanding　officer。　The　present　Thisbe　was　eighteen　years
old。

The　baroness　ran　up　to　Calyste's　room。　He　was　absent；　she　saw　a
letter；　not　sealed；　but　addressed　to　Madame　de　Rochefide；　lying　on　the
table。　An　invincible　curiosity　compelled　the　anxious　mother　to　read
it。　This　act　of　indiscretion　was　cruelly　punished。　The　letter　revealed
to　her　the　depths　of　the　gulf　into　which　his　passion　was　hurling
Calyste。

　　Calyste　to　Madame　la　Marquise　de　Rochefide。

　　What　care　I　for　the　race　of　the　du　Guenics　in　these　days；　Beatrix？
　　what　is　their　name　to　me？　My　name　is　Beatrix；　the　happiness　of
　　Beatrix　is　my　happiness；　her　life　is　my　life；　and　all　my　fortune
　　is　in　her　heart。　Our　estates　have　been　mortgaged　these　two　hundred
　　years；　and　so　they　may　remain　for　two　hundred　more；　our　farmers
　　have　charge　of　them；　no　one　can　take　them　from　us。　To　see　you；　to
　　love　you；that　is　my　property；　my　object；　my　religion！

　　You　talk　to　me　of　marrying！　the　very　thought　convulses　my　heart。
　　Is　there　another　Beatrix？　I　will　marry　no　one　but　you；　I　will　wait
　　for　you　twenty　years；　if　need　be。　I　am　young；　and　you　will　be　ever
　　beautiful。　My　mother　is　a　saint。　I　do　not　blame　her；　but　she　has
　　never　loved。　I　know　now　what　she　has　lost；　and　what　sacrifices　she
　　has　made。　You　have　taught　me；　Beatrix；　to　love　her　better；　she　is
　　in　my　heart　with　you；　and　no　other　can　ever　be　there；　she　is　your
　　only　rival；is　not　this　to　say　that　you　reign　in　that　heart
　　supreme？　Therefore　your　arguments　have　no　force　upon　my　mind。

　　As　for　Camille；　you　need　only　say　the　word；　or　give　me　a　mere
　　sign；　and　I　will　ask　her　to　tell　you　herself　that　I　do　not　love
　　her。　She　is　the　mother　of　my　intellect；　nothing　more；　nothing
　　less。　From　the　moment　that　I　first　saw　you　she　became　to　me　a
　　sister；　a　friend；　a　comrade；　what　you　will　of　that　kind；　but　we
　　have　no　rights　other　than　those　of　friendship　upon　each　other。　I
　　took　her　for　a　woman　until　I　saw　you。　You　have　proved　to　me　that
　　Camille　is　a　man；　she　swims；　hunts；　smokes；　drinks；　rides　on
　　horseback；　writes　and　analyzes　hearts　and　books；　she　has　no
　　weaknesses；　she　marches　on　in　all　her　strength；　her　motions　even
　　have　no　resemblance　to　your　graceful　movements；　to　your　step；　airy
　　as　the　flight　of　a　bird。　Neither　has　she　your　voice　of　love；　your
　　tender　eyes；　your　gracious　manner；　she　is　Camille　Maupin；　there　is
　　nothing　of　the　woman　about　her；　whereas　in　you　are　all　the　things
　　of　womanhood　that　I　love。　It　has　seemed　to　me；　from　the　first
　　moment　when　I　saw　you；　that　you　were　mine。

　　You　will　laugh　at　that　fancy；　but　it　has　grown　and　is　growing。　It
　　seems　to　me　unnatural；　anomalous　that　we　should　be　apart。　You　are
　　my　soul；　my　life；　I　cannot　live　where　you　are　not！

　　Let　me　love　you！　Let　us　fly！　let　us　go　into　some　country　where　you
　　know　no　one；　where　only　God　and　I　can　reach　your　heart！　My　mother；
　　who　loves　you；　might　some　day　follow　us。　Ireland　is　full　of
　　castles；　my　mother's　family　will　lend　us　one。　Ah；　Beatrix；　let　us
　　go！　A　boat；　a　few　sailors；　and　we　are　there；　before　any　one　can
　　know　we　have　fled　this　world　you　fear　so　much。

　　You　have　never　been　loved。　I　feel　it　as　I　re…read　your　letter；　in
　　which　I　fancy　I　can　see　that　if　the　reasons　you　bring　forward　did
　　not　exist；　you　would　let　yourself　be　loved　by　me。　Beatrix；　a　
　　sacred　love　wipes　out　the　past。　Yes；　I　love　you　so　truly　that　I
　　could　wish　you　doubly　shamed　if　so　my　love　might　prove　itself　by
　　holding　you　a　saint！

　　You　call　my　love　an　insult。　Oh；　Beatrix；　you　do　not　think　it　so！
　　The　love　of　noble　youthand　you　have　called　me　thatwould　honor
　　a　queen。　Therefore；　to…morrow　let　us　walk　as　lovers；　hand　in　hand；
　　among　the　rocks　and　beside　the　sea；　your　step　upon　the　sands　of　my
　　old　Brittany　will　bless　them　anew　to　me！　Give　me　this　day　of
　　happiness；　and　that　passing　alms；　unremembered；　alas！　by　you；　will
　　be　eternal　riches　to　your

Calyste。


The　baroness　let　fall　the　letter；　without　reading　all　of　it。　She　knelt
upon　a　chair；　and　made　a　mental　prayer　to　God　to　save　her　Calyste's
reason；　to　put　his　madness；　his　error　far　away　from　him；　to　lead　him
from　the　path　in　which　she　now　beheld　him。

〃What　are　you　doing；　mother？〃　said　Calyste；　entering　the　room。

〃I　am　praying　to　God　for　you；〃　she　answered；　simply；　turning　her
tearful　eyes　upon　him。　〃I　have　committed　the　sin　of　reading　that
letter。　My　Calyste　is　mad！〃

〃A　sweet　madness！〃　said　the　young　man；　kissing　her。

〃I　wish　I　could　see　that　woman；〃　she　sighed。

〃Mamma；〃　said　Calyste；　〃we　shall　take　a　boat　to…morrow　and　cross　to
Croisic。　If　you　are　on　the　jetty　you　can　see　her。〃

So　saying；　he　sealed　his　letter　and　departed　for　Les　Touches。

That　which；　above　all；　terrified　the　baroness　was　to　see　a　sentiment
attaining；　by　the　force　of　its　own　instinct；　to　the　clear…sightedness
of　practised　experience。　Calyste's　letter　to　Beatrix　was　such　as　the
Chevalier　du　Halga；　with　his　knowledge　of　the　world；　might　have
dictated。



XIII

DUEL