beatrix-第34部分

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Chevalier　du　Halga；　with　his　knowledge　of　the　world；　might　have
dictated。



XIII

DUEL　BETWEEN　WOMEN

Perhaps　one　of　the　greatest　enjoyments　that　small　minds　or　inferior
minds　can　obtain　is　that　of　deceiving　a　great　soul；　and　laying　snares
for　it。　Beatrix　knew　herself　far　beneath　Camille　Maupin。　This
inferiority　lay　not　only　in　the　collection　of　mental　and　moral
qualities　which　we　call　/talent/；　but　in　the　things　of　the　heart
called　/passion/。

At　the　moment　when　Calyste　was　hurrying　to　Les　Touches　with　the
impetuosity　of　a　first　love　borne　on　the　wings　of　hope；　the　marquise
was　feeling　a　keen　delight　in　knowing　herself　the　object　of　the　first
love　of　so　charming　a　young　man。　She　did　not　go　so　far　as　to　wish
herself　a　sharer　in　the　sentiment；　but　she　thought　it　heroism　on　her
part　to　repress　the　/capriccio/；　as　the　Italians　say。　She　thought　she
was　equalling　Camille's　devotion；　and　told　herself；　moreover；　that　she
was　sacrificing　herself　to　her　friend。　The　vanities　peculiar　to
Frenchwomen；　which　constitute　the　celebrated　coquetry　of　which　she　was
so　signal　an　instance；　were　flattered　and　deeply　satisfied　by
Calyste's　love。　Assailed　by　such　powerful　seduction；　she　was　resisting
it；　and　her　virtues　sang　in　her　soul　a　concert　of　praise　and　self…
approval。

The　two　women　were　half…sitting；　half　lying；　in　apparent　indolence　on
the　divan　of　the　little　salon；　so　filled　with　harmony　and　the
fragrance　of　flowers。　The　windows　were　open；　for　the　north　wind　had
ceased　to　blow。　A　soothing　southerly　breeze　was　ruffling　the　surface
of　the　salt　lake　before　them；　and　the　sun　was　glittering　on　the　sands
of　the　shore。　Their　souls　were　as　deeply　agitated　as　the　nature　before
them　was　tranquil；　and　the　heat　within　was　not　less　ardent。

Bruised　by　the　working　of　the　machinery　which　she　herself　had　set　in
motion；　Camille　was　compelled　to　keep　watch　for　her　safety；　fearing
the　amazing　cleverness　of　the　friendly　enemy；　or；　rather；　the　inimical
friend　she　had　allowed　within　her　borders。　To　guard　her　own　secrets
and　maintain　herself　aloof；　she　had　taken　of　late　to　contemplations　of
nature；　she　cheated　the　aching　of　her　own　heart　by　seeking　a　meaning
in　the　world　around　her；　finding　God　in　that　desert　of　heaven　and
earth。　When　an　unbeliever　once　perceives　the　presence　of　God；　he
flings　himself　unreservedly　into　Catholicism；　which；　viewed　as　a
system；　is　complete。

That　morning　Camille's　brow　had　worn　the　halo　of　thoughts　born　of
these　researches　during　a　night…time　of　painful　struggle。　Calyste　was
ever　before　her　like　a　celestial　image。　The　beautiful　youth；　to　whom
she　had　secretly　devoted　herself；　had　become　to　her　a　guardian　angel。
Was　it　not　he　who　led　her　into　those　loftier　regions；　where　suffering
ceased　beneath　the　weight　of　incommensurable　infinity？　and　now　a
certain　air　of　triumph　about　Beatrix　disturbed　her。　No　woman　gains　an
advantage　over　another　without　allowing　it　to　be　felt；　however　much
she　may　deny　having　taken　it。　Nothing　was　ever　more　strange　in　its
course　than　the　dumb；　moral　struggle　which　was　going　on　between　these
two　women；　each　hiding　from　the　other　a　secret；each　believing
herself　generous　through　hidden　sacrifices。

Calyste　arrived；　holding　the　letter　between　his　hand　and　his　glove；
ready　to　slip　it　at　some　convenient　moment　into　the　hand　of　Beatrix。
Camille；　whom　the　subtle　change　in　the　manner　of　her　friend　had　not
escaped；　seemed　not　to　watch　her；　but　did　watch　her　in　a　mirror　at　the
moment　when　Calyste　was　just　entering　the　room。　That　is　always　a
crucial　moment　for　women。　The　cleverest　as　well　as　the　silliest　of
them；　the　frankest　as　the　shrewdest；　are　seldom　able　to　keep　their
secret；　it　bursts　from　them；　at　any　rate；　to　the　eyes　of　another
woman。　Too　much　reserve　or　too　little；　a　free　and　luminous　look；　the
mysterious　lowering　of　eyelids；all　betray；　at　that　sudden　moment；
the　sentiment　which　is　the　most　difficult　of　all　to　hide；　for　real
indifference　has　something　so　radically　cold　about　it　that　it　can
never　be　simulated。　Women　have　a　genius　for　shades；shades　of　detail；
shades　of　character；　they　know　them　all。　There　are　times　when　their
eyes　take　in　a　rival　from　head　to　foot；　they　can　guess　the　slightest
movement　of　a　foot　beneath　a　gown；　the　almost　imperceptible　motion　of
the　waist；　they　know　the　significance　of　things　which；　to　a　man；　seem
insignificant。　Two　women　observing　each　other　play　one　of　the　choicest
scenes　of　comedy　that　the　world　can　show。

〃Calyste　has　committed　some　folly；〃　thought　Camille；　perceiving　in
each　of　her　guests　an　indefinable　air　of　persons　who　have　a　mutual
understanding。

There　was　no　longer　either　stiffness　or　pretended　indifference　on　the
part　of　Beatrix；　she　now　regarded　Calyste　as　her　own　property。　Calyste
was　even　more　transparent；　he　colored；　as　guilty　people；　or　happy
people　color。　He　announced　that　he　had　come　to　make　arrangements　for
the　excursion　on　the　following　day。

〃Then　you　really　intend　to　go；　my　dear？〃　said　Camille；
interrogatively。

〃Yes；〃　said　Beatrix。

〃How　did　you　know　it；　Calyste？〃　asked　Mademoiselle　des　Touches。

〃I　came　here　to　find　out；〃　replied　Calyste；　on　a　look　flashed　at　him
by　Madame　de　Rochefide；　who　did　not　wish　Camille　to　gain　the　slightest
inkling　of　their　correspondence。

〃They　have　an　agreement　together；〃　thought　Camille；　who　caught　the
look　in　the　powerful　sweep　of　her　eye。

Under　the　pressure　of　that　thought　a　horrible　discomposure　overspread
her　face　and　frightened　Beatrix。

〃What　is　the　matter；　my　dear？〃　she　cried。

〃Nothing。　Well；　then；　Calyste；　send　my　horses　and　yours　across　to
Croisic；　so　that　we　may　drive　home　by　way　of　Batz。　We　will　breakfast
at　Croisic；　and　get　home　in　time　for　dinner。　You　must　take　charge　of
the　boat　arrangements。　Let　us　start　by　half…past　eight。　You　will　see
some　fine　sights；　Beatrix；　and　one　very　strange　one；　you　will　see
Cambremer；　a　man　who　does　penance　on　a　rock　for　having　wilfully　killed
his　son。　Oh！　you　are　in　a　primitive　land；　among　a　primitive　race　of
people；　where　men　are　moved　by　other　sentiments　than　those　of　ordinary
mortals。　Calyste　shall　tell　you　the　tale；　it　is　a　drama　of　the
seashore。〃

She　went　into　her　bedroom；　for　she　was　stifling。　Calyste　gave　his
letter　to　Beatrix　and　followed　Camille。

〃Calyste；　you　are　loved；　I　think；　but　you　are　hiding　something　from
me；　you　have　done　some　foolish　thing。〃

〃Loved！〃　he　exclaimed；　dropping　into　a　chair。

Camille　looked　into　the　next　room；　Beatrix　had　disappeared。　The　fact
was　odd。　Women　do　not　usually　leave　a　room　which　contains　the　man　they
admire；　unless　they　have　either　the　certainty　of　seeing　him　again；　or
something　better　still。　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　said　to　herself：

〃Can　he　have　given　her　a　letter？〃

But　she　thought　the　innocent　Breton　incapable　of　such　boldness。

〃If　you　have　disobeyed　me；　all　will　be　lost；　through　your　own　fault；〃
she　said　to　him　very　gravely。　〃Go；　now；　and　make　your　preparations　for
to…morrow。〃

She　made　a　gesture　which　Calyste　did　not　venture　to　resist。

As　he　walked　toward　Croisic；　to　engage　the　boatmen；　fears　came　into
Calyste's　mind。　Camille's　speech　foreshadowed　something　fatal；　and　he
believed　in　the　second　sight　of　her　maternal　affection。　When　he
returned；　four　hours　later；　very　tired；　and　expecting　to　dine　at　Les
Touches；　he　found　Camille's　maid　keeping　watch　over　the　door；　to　tell
him　that　neither　her　mistress　nor　the　marquise　could　receive　him　that
evening。　Calyste；　much　surprised；　wished　to　question　her；　but　she　bade
him　hastily　good…night　and　closed　the　door。

Six　o'clock　was　striking　on　the　steeple　of　Guerande　as　Calyste　entered
his　own　house；　where　Mariotte　gave　him　his　belated　dinner；　after
which；　he　played　/mouche/　in　gloomy　meditation。　These　alternations　of
joy　and　gloom；　happiness　and　unhappiness；　the　extinction　of　hopes
succeeding　the　apparent　certainty　of　being　loved；　bruised　and　wounded
the　young　soul　which　had　flown　so　high　on　outstretched　wings　that　the
fall　was　dreadful。

〃Does　anything　trouble　you；　my　Calyste？〃　said　his　mother。

〃Nothing；〃　he　replied；　looking　at　her　with　eyes　from　which　the　light
of　the　soul　and　the　fire　of　love　were　withdrawn。

It　is　not　hope；　but　despair；　which　gives　the　measure　of　our　ambitions。
The　finest　poems　of　hope　are　sung　in　secret；　but　grief　appears　without
a　veil。

〃Calyste；　you　are　not　nice；〃　said　Charlotte；　after　vainly　attempting
on　him　those　little　provincial　witcheries　which　degenerate　usually
into　teasing。

〃I　am　tired；〃　he　said；　rising；　and　bidding　the　company　good…night。

〃Calyste　is　much　changed；〃　remarked　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel。

〃We　haven't　beautiful　dresses　trimmed　with　lace；　we　don't　shake　our
sleeves　like　this；　or　twist　our　bodies　like　that；　we　don't　know　how　to
give　sidelong　glances；　and　turn　our　eyes；〃　said　Charlotte；　mimicking
the　air；　and　attitude；　and　glances　of　the　marquise。　〃/We/　haven't　that
head　voice；　nor　the　interesting　little　cough；　/heu！　heu！/　which　sounds
like　the　sigh　of　a　spook；　/we/　have　the　misfortune　of　being　healthy
and　robust；　and　of　loving　our　friends　without　coquetry；　and　when　we
look　at　them；　we　don't　pretend　to　stick　a　dart　into　them；　or　to　watch
them　slyly；　/we/　can't　bend　our　heads　like　a　weeping　willow；　just　to
look　the　more　interesting　when　we　raise　themthis　way。〃

Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel　could　not　help　laughing　at　her　niece's
gesture；　but　neither　the　chevalier　nor　the　baron　paid　any　heed　to　this
truly　provincial　satire　against　Paris。

〃But　the　Marquise　de　Rochefide　is　a　very　handsome　woman；〃　said　the　old
maid。

〃My　dear；〃　said　the　baroness　to　her　husband；　〃I　happen　to　know　that
she　is　going　over　to　Croisic　to…morrow。　Let　us　walk　on　the　jetty；　I
should　like　to　see　her。〃

While　Calyste　was　racking　his　brains　to　imagine　what　could　have　closed
the　doors　of　Les　Touches　to　him；　a　scene　was　passing　between　Camille
and　Beatrix　which　was　to　have　its　influence　on　the　events　of　the
morrow。

Calyste's　last　letter　had　stirred　in　Madame　de　Rochefide's　heart
emotions　hitherto　unknown　to　it。　Women　are　not　often　the　subject　of　a
love　so　young；　guileless；　sincere；　and　unconditional　as　that　of　this
youth；　this　child。　Beatrix　had　loved　more　than　she　had　been　loved。
After　bein