beatrix-第50部分

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an　aristocratic　exterior。　Therefore　the　above　explanation　does　not
fully　account　for　Calyste's　strange　passion。

Perhaps　we　ought　to　look　for　its　cause　in　a　vanity　so　deeply　buried　in
the　soul　that　moralists　have　not　yet　uncovered　that　side　of　vice。
There　are　men；　truly　noble；　like　Calyste；　handsome　as　Calyste；　rich；
distinguished；　and　well…bred；　who　tirewithout　their　knowledge；
possiblyof　marriage　with　a　nature　like　their　own；　beings　whose　own
nobleness　is　not　surprised　or　moved　by　nobleness　in　others；　whom
grandeur　and　delicacy　consonant　with　their　own　does　not　affect；　but
who　seek　from　inferior　or　fallen　natures　the　seal　of　their　own
superiorityif　indeed　they　do　not　openly　beg　for　praise。　Calyste
found　nothing　to　protect　in　Sabine；　she　was　irreproachable；　the　powers
thus　stagnant　in　his　heart　were　now　to　vibrate　for　Beatrix。　If　great
men　have　played　before　our　eyes　the　Saviour's　part　toward　the　woman
taken　in　adultery；　why　should　ordinary　men　be　wiser　in　their
generation　than　they？

Calyste　reached　the　hour　of　two　o'clock　living　on　one　sentence　only；
〃I　shall　see　her　again！〃a　poem　which　has　often　paid　the　costs　of　a
journey　of　two　thousand　miles。　He　now　went　with　a　light　step　to　the
rue　de　Chartres；　and　recognized　the　house　at　once　although　he　had
never　before　seen　it。　Once　there；　he　stoodhe；　the　son…in…law　of　the
Duc　de　Grandlieu；　he；　rich；　noble　as　the　Bourbonsat　the　foot　of　the
staircase；　stopped　short　by　the　interrogation　of　the　old　footman：
〃Monsieur's　name？〃　Calyste　felt　that　he　ought　to　leave　to　Beatrix　her
freedom　of　action　in　receiving　or　not　receiving　him；　and　he　waited；
looking　into　the　garden；　with　its　walls　furrowed　by　those　black　and
yellow　lines　produced　by　rain　upon　the　stucco　of　Paris。

Madame　de　Rochefide；　like　nearly　all　great　ladies　who　break　their
chain；　had　left　her　fortune　to　her　husband　when　she　fled　from　him；　she
could　not　beg　from　her　tyrant。　Conti　and　Mademoiselle　des　Touches　had
spared　Beatrix　all　the　petty　worries　of　material　life；　and　her　mother
had　frequently　send　her　considerable　sums　of　money。　Finding　herself
now　on　her　own　resources；　she　was　forced　to　an　economy　that　was　rather
severe　for　a　woman　accustomed　to　every　luxury。　She　had　therefore　gone
to　the　summit　of　the　hill　on　which　lies　the　Parc　de　Monceaux；　and
there　she　had　taken　refuge　in　a　〃little　house〃　formerly　belonging　to　a
great　seigneur；　standing　on　the　street；　but　possessed　of　a　charming
garden；　the　rent　of　which　did　not　exceed　eighteen　hundred　francs。
Still　served　by　an　old　footman；　a　maid；　and　a　cook　from　Alencon；　who
were　faithful　to　her　throughout　her　vicissitudes；　her　penury；　as　she
thought　it；　would　have　been　opulence　to　many　an　ambitious　bourgeoise。

Calyste　went　up　a　staircase　the　steps　of　which　were　well　pumiced　and
the　landings　filled　with　flowering　plants。　On　the　first　floor　the　old
servant　opened；　in　order　to　admit　the　baron　into　the　apartment；　a
double　door　of　red　velvet　with　lozenges　of　red　silk　studded　with　gilt
nails。　Silk　and　velvet　furnished　the　rooms　through　which　Calyste
passed。　Carpets　in　grave　colors；　curtains　crossing　each　other　before
the　windows；　portieres；　in　short　all　things　within　contrasted　with　the
mean　external　appearance　of　the　house；　which　was　ill…kept　by　the
proprietor。　Calyste　awaited　Beatrix　in　a　salon　of　sober　character；
where　all　the　luxury　was　simple　in　style。　This　room；　hung　with　garnet
velvet　heightened　here　and　there　with　dead…gold　silken　trimmings；　the
floor　covered　with　a　dark　red　carpet；　the　windows　resembling
conservatories；　with　abundant　flowers　in　the　jardinieres；　was　lighted
so　faintly　that　Calyste　could　scarcely　see　on　a　mantel…shelf　two　cases
of　old　celadon；　between　which　gleamed　a　silver　cup　attributed　to
Benvenuto　Cellini；　and　brought　from　Italy　by　Beatrix。　The　furniture　of
gilded　wood　with　velvet　coverings；　the　magnificent　consoles；　on　one　of
which　was　a　curious　clock；　the　table　with　its　Persian　cloth；　all　bore
testimony　to　former　opulence；　the　remains　of　which　had　been　well
applied。　On　a　little　table　Calyste　saw　jewelled　knick…knacks；　a　book
in　course　of　reading；　in　which　glittered　the　handle　of　a　dagger　used
as　a　paper…cuttersymbol　of　criticism！　Finally；　on　the　walls；　ten
water…colors　richly　framed；　each　representing　one　of　the　diverse
bedrooms　in　which　Madame　de　Rochefide's　wandering　life　had　led　her　to
sojourn；　gave　the　measure　of　what　was　surely　superior　impertinence。

The　rustle　of　a　silk　dress　announced　the　poor　unfortunate；　who
appeared　in　a　studied　toilet　which　would　certainly　have　told　a　/roue/
that　his　coming　was　awaited。　The　gown；　made　like　a　wrapper　to　show　the
line　of　a　white　bosom；　was　of　pearl…gray　moire　with　large　open
sleeves；　from　which　issued　the　arms　covered　with　a　second　sleeve　of
puffed　tulle；　divided　by　straps　and　trimmed　with　lace　at　the　wrists。
The　beautiful　hair；　which　the　comb　held　insecurely；　escaped　from　a　cap
of　lace　and　flowers。

〃Already！〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃A　lover　could　not　have　shown　more
eagerness。　You　must　have　secrets　to　tell　me；　have　you　not？〃

And　she　posed　herself　gracefully　on　a　sofa；　inviting　Calyste　by　a
gesture　to　sit　beside　her。　By　chance　（a　selected　chance；　possibly；　for
women　have　two　memories；　that　of　angels　and　that　of　devils）　Beatrix
was　redolent　of　the　perfume　which　she　used　at　Les　Touches　during　her
first　acquaintance　with　Calyste。　The　inhaling　of　this　scent；　contact
with　that　dress；　the　glance　of　those　eyes；　which　in　the　semi…darkness
gathered　the　light　and　returned　it；　turned　Calyste's　brain。　The
luckless　man　was　again　impelled　to　that　violence　which　had　once　before
almost　cost　Beatrix　her　life；　but　this　time　the　marquise　was　on　the
edge　of　a　sofa；　not　on　that　of　a　rock；　she　rose　to　ring　the　bell；
laying　a　finger　on　his　lips。　Calyste；　recalled　to　order；　controlled
himself；　all　the　more　because　he　saw　that　Beatrix　had　no　inimical
intention。

〃Antoine；　I　am　not　at　homefor　every　one；〃　she　said。　〃Put　some　wood
on　the　fire。　You　see；　Calyste；　that　I　treat　you　as　a　friend；〃　she
continued　with　dignity；　when　the　old　man　had　left　the　room；　〃therefore
do　not　treat　me　as　you　would　a　mistress。　I　have　two　remarks　to　make　to
you。　In　the　first　place；　I　should　not　deny　myself　foolishly　to　any　man
I　really　loved；　and　secondly；　I　am　determined　to　belong　to　no　other
man　on　earth；　for　I　believed；　Calyste；　that　I　was　loved　by　a　species
of　Rizzio；　whom　no　engagement　trammelled；　a　man　absolutely　free；　and
you　see　to　what　that　fatal　confidence　has　led　me。　As　for　you；　you　are
now　under　the　yoke　of　the　most　sacred　of　duties；　you　have　a　young；
amiable；　delightful　wife；　moreover；　you　are　a　father。　I　should　be；　as
you　are；　without　excusewe　should　be　two　fools〃

〃My　dear　Beatrix；　all　these　reasons　vanish　before　a　single　wordI
have　never　loved　but　you　on　earth；　and　I　was　married　against　my　will。〃

〃Ah！　a　trick　played　upon　us　by　Mademoiselle　des　Touches；〃　she　said；
smiling。

Three　hours　passed；　during　which　Madame　de　Rochefide　held　Calyste　to
the　consideration　of　conjugal　faith；　pointing　out　to　him　the　horrible
alternative　of　an　utter　renunciation　of　Sabine。　Nothing　else　could
reassure　her；　she　said；　in　the　dreadful　situation　to　which　Calyste's
love　would　reduce　her。　Then　she　affected　to　regard　the　sacrifice　of
Sabine　as　a　small　matter；　she　knew　her　so　well！

〃My　dear　child；〃　she　said；　〃that's　a　woman　who　fulfils　all　the
promises　of　her　girlhood。　She　is　a　Grandlieu；　to　be　sure；　but　she's　as
brown　as　her　mother　the　Portuguese；　not　to　say　yellow；　and　as　dry　and
stiff　as　her　father。　To　tell　the　truth；　your　wife　will　never　go　wrong；
she's　a　big　boy　who　can　take　care　of　herself。　Poor　Calyste！　is　that
the　sort　of　woman　you　needed？　She　has　fine　eyes；　but　such　eyes　are
very　common　in　Italy　and　in　Spain　and　Portugal。　Can　any　woman　be
tender　with　bones　like　hers。　Eve　was　fair；　brown　women　descend　from
Adam；　blondes　come　from　the　hand　of　God；　which　left　upon　Eve　his　last
thought　after　he　had　created　her。〃

About　six　o'clock　Calyste；　driven　to　desperation；　took　his　hat　to
depart。

〃Yes；　go；　my　poor　friend；〃　she　said；　〃don't　give　her　the　annoyance　of
dining　without　you。〃

Calyste　stayed。　At　his　age　it　was　so　easy　to　snare　him　on　his　worst
side。

〃What！　you　dare　to　dine　with　me？〃　said　Beatrix；　playing　a　provocative
amazement。　〃My　poor　food　does　not　alarm　you？　Have　you　enough
independence　of　soul　to　crown　me　with　joy　by　this　little　proof　of　your
affection？〃

〃Let　me　write　a　note　to　Sabine；　otherwise　she　will　wait　dinner　for　me
till　nine　o'clock。〃

〃Here；〃　said　Beatrix；　〃this　is　the　table　at　which　I　write。〃

She　lighted　the　candles　herself；　and　took　one　to　the　table　to　look
over　what　he　was　writing。

〃/My　dear　Sabine/〃

〃'My　dear'？can　you　really　say　that　your　wife　is　still　dear　to　you？〃
she　asked；　looking　at　him　with　a　cold　eye　that　froze　the　very　marrow
of　his　bones。　〃Go；you　had　better　go　and　dine　with　her。〃

〃/I　dine　at　a　restaurant　with　some　friends。/〃

〃A　lie。　Oh；　fy！　you　are　not　worthy　to　be　loved　either　by　her　or　by　me。
Men　are　all　cowards　in　their　treatment　of　women。　Go；　monsieur；　go　and
dine　with　your　dear　Sabine。〃

Calyste　flung　himself　back　in　his　arm…chair　and　became　as　pale　as
death。　Bretons　possess　a　courage　of　nature　which　makes　them　obstinate
under　difficulties。　Presently　the　young　baron　sat　up；　put　his　elbow　on
the　table；　his　chin　in　his　hand；　and　looked　at　the　implacable　Beatrix
with　a　flashing　eye。　He　was　so　superb　that　a　Northern　or　a　Southern
woman　would　have　fallen　at　his　feet　saying；　〃Take　me！〃　But　Beatrix；
born　on　the　borders　of　Normandy　and　Brittany；　belonged　to　the　race　of
Casterans；　desertion　had　developed　in　her　the　ferocity　of　the　Frank；
the　spitefulness　of　the　Norman；　she　wanted　some　terrible　notoriety　as
a　vengeance；　and　she　yielded　to　no　weakness。

〃Dictate　what　I　ought　to　write；〃　said　the　luckless　man。　〃But；　in　that
case〃

〃Well；　yes！〃　she　said；　〃you　shall　love　me　then　as　you　loved　me　at
Guerande。　Write：　/I　dine　out；　do　not　expect　me。/〃

〃What　next？〃　said　Calyste；　thinking　something　more　would　follow。

〃Nothing；　sign　it。　Good；〃　she　said；　darting　on　the　note　with
restrained　joy。　〃I　will　send　it　by　a　messenger。〃

〃And　now；〃　cried　Calyste；　rising　like　a　happy　man。

〃Ah