beatrix-第36部分

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dregs　of　a　heart　and　the　weight　of　my　chains。　I　do　not　want　a　hampered
destiny　either　for　him　or　for　myself。〃

〃Cold　brain！〃　exclaimed　Camille；　with　a　sort　of　horror。　〃To　love　and
calculate！〃

〃Call　it　what　you　like；〃　said　Beatrix；　〃but　I　will　not　spoil　his　life；
or　hang　like　a　millstone　round　his　neck；　to　become　an　eternal　regret
to　him。　If　I　cannot　be　his　wife；　I　shall　not　be　his　mistress。　He　has
you　will　laugh　at　me？　No？　Well；　then；　he　has　purified　me。〃

Camille　cast　on　Beatrix　the　most　sullen；　savage　look　that　female
jealousy　ever　cast　upon　a　rival。

〃On　that　ground；　I　believed　I　stood　alone；〃　she　said。　〃Beatrix；　those
words　of　yours　must　separate　us　forever；　we　are　no　longer　friends。
Here　begins　a　terrible　conflict　between　us。　I　tell　you　now；　you　will
either　succumb　or　fly。〃

So　saying；　Camille　bounded　into　her　room；　after　showing　her　face；
which　was　that　of　a　maddened　lioness；　to　the　astonished　Beatrix。　Then
she　raised　the　portiere　and　looked　in　again。

〃Do　you　intend　to　go　to　Croisic　to…morrow；〃　she　asked。

〃Certainly；〃　replied　the　marquise；　proudly。　〃I　shall　not　fly；　and　I
shall　not　succumb。〃

〃I　play　above　board；〃　replied　Camille；　〃I　shall　write　to　Conti。〃

Beatrix　became　as　white　as　the　gauze　of　her　scarf。

〃We　are　staking　our　lives　on　this　game；〃　she　replied；　not　knowing　what
to　say　or　do。

The　violent　passions　roused　by　this　scene　between　the　two　women　calmed
down　during　the　night。　Both　argued　with　their　own　minds　and　returned
to　those　treacherously　temporizing　courses　which　are　so　attractive　to
the　majority　of　women；an　excellent　system　between　men　and　women；　but
fatally　unsafe　among　women　alone。　In　the　midst　of　this　tumult　of　their
souls　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　had　listened　to　that　great　Voice　whose
counsels　subdue　the　strongest　will；　Beatrix　heard　only　the　promptings
of　worldly　wisdom；　she　feared　the　contempt　of　society。

Thus　Felicite's　last　deception　succeeded；　Calyste's　blunder　was
repaired；　but　a　fresh　indiscretion　might　be　fatal　to　him。



XIV

AN　EXCURSION　TO　CROISIC

It　was　now　the　end　of　August；　and　the　sky　was　magnificently　clear。
Near　the　horizon　the　sea　had　taken；　as　it　is　wont　to　do　in　southern
climes；　a　tint　of　molten　silver；　on　the　shore　it　rippled　in　tiny
waves。　A　sort　of　glowing　vapor；　an　effect　of　the　rays　of　the　sun
falling　plumb　upon　the　sands；　produced　an　atmosphere　like　that　of　the
tropics。　The　salt　shone　up　like　bunches　of　white　violets　on　the
surface　of　the　marsh。　The　patient　/paludiers/；　dressed　in　white　to
resist　the　action　of　the　sun；　had　been　from　early　morning　at　their
posts；　armed　with　long　rakes。　Some　were　leaning　on　the　low　mud…walls
that　divided　the　different　holdings；　whence　they　watched　the　process
of　this　natural　chemistry；　known　to　them　from　childhood。　Others　were
playing　with　their　wives　and　children。　Those　green　dragons；　otherwise
called　custom…house　officers；　were　tranquilly　smoking　their　pipes。

There　was　something　foreign；　perhaps　oriental；　about　the　scene；　at　any
rate　a　Parisian　suddenly　transported　thither　would　never　have　supposed
himself　in　France。　The　baron　and　baroness；　who　had　made　a　pretext　of
coming　to　see　how　the　salt　harvest　throve；　were　on　the　jetty；　admiring
the　silent　landscape；　where　the　sea　alone　sounded　the　moan　of　her
waves　at　regular　intervals；　where　boats　and　vessels　tracked　a　vast
expanse；　and　the　girdle　of　green　earth　richly　cultivated；　produced　an
effect　that　was　all　the　more　charming　because　so　rare　on　the　desolate
shores　of　ocean。

〃Well；　my　friends；　I　wanted　to　see　the　marshes　of　Guerande　once　more
before　I　die；〃　said　the　baron　to　the　/paludiers/；　who　had　gathered
about　the　entrance　of　the　marshes　to　salute　him。

〃Can　a　Guenic　die？〃　said　one　of　them。

Just　then　the　party　from　Les　Touches　arrived　through　the　narrow
pathway。　The　marquise　walked　first　alone；　Calyste　and　Camille　followed
arm…in…arm。　Gasselin　brought　up　the　rear。

〃There　are　my　father　and　mother；〃　said　the　young　man　to　Camille。

The　marquise　stopped　short。　Madame　du　Guenic　felt　the　most　violent
repulsion　at　the　appearance　of　Beatrix；　although　the　latter　was
dressed　to　much　advantage。　A　Leghorn　hat　with　wide　brims　and　a　wreath
of　blue…bells；　her　crimped　hair　fluffy　beneath　it；　a　gown　of　some　gray
woollen　stuff；　and　a　blue　sash　with　floating　ends　gave　her　the　air　of
a　princess　disguised　as　a　milkmaid。

〃She　has　no　heart；〃　thought　the　baroness。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　said　Calyste　to　Camille；　〃this　is　Madame　du　Guenic；
and　this　is　my　father。〃　Then　he　said　turning　to　the　baron　and
baroness；　〃Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　and　Madame　la　Marquise　de
Rochefide；　/nee/　de　Casteran；　father。〃

The　baron　bowed　to　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；　who　made　a　respectful
bow；　full　of　gratitude；　to　the　baroness。

〃That　one；〃　thought　Fanny；　〃really　loves　my　boy；　she　seems　to　thank　me
for　bringing　him　into　the　world。〃

〃I　suppose　you　have　come　to　see；　as　I　have；　whether　the　harvest　is　a
good　one。　But　I　believe　you　have　better　reasons　for　doing　so　than　I；〃
said　the　baron　to　Camille。　〃You　have　property　here；　I　think；
mademoiselle。〃

〃Mademoiselle　is　the　largest　of　all　the　owners；〃　said　one　of　the
/paludiers/　who　were　grouped　about　them；　〃and　may　God　preserve　her　to
us；　for　she's　a　/good/　lady。〃

The　two　parties　bowed　and　separated。

〃No　one　would　suppose　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　to　be　more　than
thirty；〃　said　the　baron　to　his　wife。　〃She　is　very　handsome。　And
Calyste　prefers　that　haggard　Parisian　marquise　to　a　sound　Breton
girl！〃

〃I　fear　he　does；〃　replied　the　baroness。

A　boat　was　waiting　at　the　steps　of　the　jetty；　where　the　party　embarked
without　a　smile。　The　marquise　was　cold　and　dignified。　Camille　had
lectured　Calyste　on　his　disobedience；　explaining　to　him　clearly　how
matters　stood。　Calyste；　a　prey　to　black　despair；　was　casting　glances
at　Beatrix　in　which　anger　and　love　struggled　for　the　mastery。　Not　a
word　was　said　by　any　of　them　during　the　short　passage　from　the　jetty
of　Guerande　to　the　extreme　end　of　the　port　of　Croisic；　the　point　where
the　boats　discharge　the　salt；　which　the　peasant…women　then　bear　away
on　their　heads　in　huge　earthen　jars　after　the　fashion　of　caryatides。
These　women　go　barefooted　with　very　short　petticoats。　Many　of　them　let
the　kerchiefs　which　cover　their　bosoms　fly　carelessly　open。　Some　wear
only　shifts；　and　are　the　more　dignified；　for　the　less　clothing　a　woman
wears；　the　more　nobly　modest　is　her　bearing。

The　little　Danish　vessel　had　just　finished　lading；　therefore　the
landing　of　the　two　handsome　ladies　excited　much　curiosity　among　the
female　salt…carriers；　and　as　much　to　avoid　their　remarks　as　to　serve
Calyste；　Camille　sprang　forward　toward　the　rocks；　leaving　him　to
follow　with　Beatrix；　while　Gasselin　put　a　distance　of　some　two　hundred
steps　between　himself　and　his　master。

The　peninsula　of　Croisic　is　flanked　on　the　sea　side　by　granite　rocks
the　shapes　of　which　are　so　strangely　fantastic　that　they　can　only　be
appreciated　by　travellers　who　are　in　a　position　to　compare　them　with
other　great　spectacles　of　primeval　Nature。　Perhaps　the　rocks　of
Croisic　have　the　same　advantage　over　sights　of　that　kind　as　that
accorded　to　the　road　to　the　Grande　Chartreuse　over　all　other　narrow
valleys。　Neither　the　coasts　of　Croisic；　where　the　granite　bulwark　is
split　into　strange　reefs；　nor　those　of　Sardinia；　where　Nature　is
dedicated　to　grandiose　and　terrible　effects；　nor　even　the　basaltic
rocks　of　the　northern　seas　can　show　a　character　so　unique　and　so
complete。　Fancy　has　here　amused　itself　by　composing　interminable
arabesques　where　the　most　fantastic　figures　wind　and　twine。　All　forms
are　here。　The　imagination　is　at　last　fatigued　by　this　vast　gallery　of
abnormal　shapes；　where　in　stormy　weather　the　sea　makes　rough　assaults
which　have　ended　in　polishing　all　ruggedness。

You　will　find　under　a　naturally　vaulted　roof；　of　a　boldness　imitated
from　afar　by　Brunelleschi　（for　the　greatest　efforts　of　art　are　always
the　timid　copying　of　effects　of　nature）；　a　rocky　hollow　polished　like
a　marble　bath…tub　and　floored　with　fine　white　sand；　in　which　is　four
feet　of　tepid　water　where　you　can　bathe　without　danger。　You　walk　on；
admiring　the　cool　little　covers　sheltered　by　great　portals；　roughly
carved；　it　is　true；　but　majestic；　like　the　Pitti　palace；　that　other
imitation　of　the　whims　of　Nature。　Curious　features　are　innumerable；
nothing　is　lacking　that　the　wildest　imagination　could　invent　or
desire。

There　even　exists　a　thing　so　rare　on　the　rocky　shores　of　ocean　that
this　may　be　the　solitary　instance　of　it；a　large　bush　of　box。　This
bush；　the　greatest　curiosity　of　Croisic；　where　trees　have　never　grown；
is　three　miles　distant　from　the　harbor；　on　the　point　of　rocks　that
runs　farthest　into　the　sea。　On　this　granite　promontory；　which　rises　to
a　height　that　neither　the　waves　nor　the　spray　can　touch；　even　in　the
wildest　weather；　and　faces　southerly；　diluvian　caprice　has　constructed
a　hollow　basin；　which　projects　about　four　feet。　Into　this　basin；　or
cleft；　chance；　possibly　man；　has　conveyed　enough　vegetable　earth　for
the　growth　of　a　box…plant；　compact；　well…nourished；　and　sown；　no
doubt；　by　birds。　The　shape　of　the　roots　would　indicate　to　a　botanist
an　existence　of　at　least　three　hundred　years。　Above　it　the　rock　has
been　broken　off　abruptly。　The　natural　convulsion　which　did　this；　the
traces　of　which　are　ineffaceably　written　here；　must　have　carried　away
the　broken　fragments　of　the　granite　I　know　not　where。

The　sea　rushes　in；　meeting　no　reefs；　to　the　foot　of　this　cliff；　which
rises　to　a　height　of　some　four　or　five　hundred　feet；　at　its　base　lie
several　scattered　rocks；　just　reaching　the　surface　at　high　water；　and
describing　a　semi…circle。　It　requires　some　nerve　and　resolution　to
climb　to　the　summit　of　this　little　Gibraltar；　the　shape　of　which　is
nearly　round；　and　from　which　a　sudden　gust　of　wind　might　precipitate
the　rash　gazer　into　the　sea；　or；　still　more　to　be　feared；　upon　the
rocks。

This　gigantic　sentinel　resembles　the　look…out　towers　of　old　castles；
from　which　the　inhabitants　could　look　the　country　over　and　foresee
attacks。　Thence　we　see　the　clock　towers　and　the　arid　fields　of
Croisic；　with　the　sandy　dunes；　which　injure　cultivation；　and　stretch
as　far　as　Batz。　A