beatrix-第53部分

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she　had　resolved　to　make　him　think　himself　unpleasant；　ugly；　ill…made；
and　to　behave　as　if　she　hated　him。　No　system　is　more　fruitful　with　men
of　a　conquering　nature。　To　such　natures　the　presence　of　repugnance　to
be　vanquished　is　the　renewal　of　the　triumph　of　the　first　day　on　all
succeeding　days。　And　it　is　something　even　better。　It　is　flattery　in
the　guise　of　dislike。　A　man　then　says　to　himself；　〃I　am　irresistible；〃
or　〃My　love　is　all…powerful　because　it　conquers　her　repugnance。〃　If
you　deny　this　principle；　divined　by　all　coquettes　and　courtesans
throughout　all　social　zones；　you　may　as　well　reject　all　seekers　after
knowledge；　all　delvers　into　secrets；　repulsed　through　years　in　their
duel　with　hidden　causes。　Beatrix　added　to　the　use　of　contempt　as　a
moral　piston；　a　constant　comparison　of　her　own　poetic；　comfortable
home　with　the　hotel　du　Guenic。　All　deserted　wives　who　abandon
themselves　in　despair；　neglect　also　their　surroundings；　so　discouraged
are　they。　On　this；　Madame　de　Rochefide　counted；　and　presently　began　an
underhand　attack　on　the　luxury　of　the　faubourg　Saint…Germain；　which
she　characterized　as　stupid。

The　scene　of　reconciliation；　in　which　Beatrix　made　Calyste　swear　and
reswear　hatred　to　the　wife；　who；　she　said；　was　playing　comedy；　took
place　in　a　perfect　bower　where　she　played　off　her　graces　amid
ravishing　flowers；　and　rare　plants　of　the　costliest　luxury。　The
science　of　nothings；　the　trifles　of　the　day；　she　carried　to　excess。
Fallen　into　a　mortifying　position　through　Conti's　desertion；　Beatrix
was　determined　to　have；　at　any　rate；　the　fame　which　unprincipled
conduct　gives。　The　misfortune　of　the　poor　young　wife；　a　rich　and
beautiful　Grandlieu；　should　be　her　pedestal。



XX

A　SHORT　TREATISE　ON　CERTAINTY：　BUT　NOT
FROM　PASCAL'S　POINT　OF　VIEW

When　a　woman　returns　to　ordinary　life　after　the　nursing　of　her　first
child　she　reappears　in　the　world　embellished　and　charming。　This　phase
of　maternity；　while　it　rejuvenates　the　women　of　a　certain　age；　gives
to　young　women　a　splendor　of　freshness；　a　gay　activity；　a　/brio/　of
mere　existence；if　it　is　permissible　to　apply　to　the　body　a　word
which　Italy　has　discovered　for　the　mind。　In　trying　to　return　to　the
charming　habits　of　the　honeymoon；　Sabine　discovered　that　her　husband
was　not　the　former　Calyste。　Again　she　observed　him；　unhappy　girl；
instead　of　resting　securely　in　her　happiness。　She　sought　for　the　fatal
perfume；　and　smelt　it。　This　time　she　no　longer　confided　in　her　friend；
nor　in　the　mother　who　had　so　charitably　deceived　her。　She　wanted
certainty；　and　Certainty　made　no　long　tarrying。　Certainty　is　never
wanting；　it　is　like　the　sun；　and　presently　shades　are　asked　for　to
keep　it　out。　It　is；　in　matters　of　the　heart；　a　repetition　of　the　fable
of　the　woodman　calling　upon　Death；we　soon　ask　Certainty　to　leave　us
blind。

One　morning；　about　two　weeks　after　the　first　crisis；　Sabine　received
this　terrible　letter：

Guerande。

　　To　Madame　la　Baronne　du　Guenic：

　　My　dear　Daughter；Your　aunt　Zephirine　and　I　are　lost　in
　　conjectures　about　the　dressing…table　of　which　you　tell　us　in　your
　　letter。　I　have　written　to　Calyste　about　it；　and　I　beg　you　to
　　excuse　our　ignorance。　You　can　never　doubt　our　hearts；　I　am　sure。
　　We　are　piling　up　riches　for　you　here。　Thanks　to　the　advice　of
　　Mademoiselle　de　Pen…Hoel　on　the　management　of　your　property；　you
　　will　find　yourself　within　a　few　years　in　possession　of　a
　　considerable　capital　without　losing　any　of　your　income。

　　Your　letter；　dear　child　as　dearly　loved　as　if　I　had　borne　you　in
　　my　bosom　and　fed　you　with　my　milk；　surprised　me　by　its　brevity；
　　and　above　all　by　your　silence　about　my　dearest　little　Calyste。　You
　　told　me　nothing　of　the　great　Calyste　either；　but　then；　I　know　that
　　/he/　is　happy；〃　etc。　etc。

Sabine　wrote　across　this　letter　these　words；　〃Noble　Brittany　does　not
always　lie。〃　She　then　laid　the　paper　on　Calyste's　desk。

Calyste　found　the　letter　and　read　it。　Seeing　Sabine's　sentence　and
recognizing　her　handwriting　he　flung　the　letter　into　the　fire；
determined　to　pretend　that　he　had　never　received　it。　Sabine　spent　a
whole　week　in　an　agony　the　secrets　of　which　are　known　only　to　angelic
or　solitary　souls　whom　the　wing　of　the　bad　angel　has　never
overshadowed。　Calyste's　silence　terrified　her。

〃I；　who　ought　to　be　all　gentleness；　all　pleasure　to　him；　I　have
displeased　him；　wounded　him！　My　virtue　has　made　itself　hateful。　I　have
no　doubt　humiliated　my　idol；〃　she　said　to　herself。　These　thoughts
plowed　furrows　in　her　heart。　She　wanted　to　ask　pardon　for　her　fault；
but　Certainty　let　loose　upon　her　other　proofs。　Grown　bold　and
insolent；　Beatrix　wrote　to　Calyste　at　his　own　home；　Madame　du　Guenic
received　the　letter；　and　gave　it　to　her　husband　without　opening　it；
but　she　said　to　him；　in　a　changed　voice　and　with　death　in　her　soul：
〃My　friend；　that　letter　is　from　the　Jockey　Club；　I　recognize　both　the
paper　and　the　perfume。〃

Calyste　colored；　and　put　the　letter　into　his　pocket。

〃Why　don't　you　read　it？〃

〃I　know　what　it　is　about。〃

The　young　wife　sat　down。　No　longer　did　fever　burn　her；　she　wept　no
more；　but　madness　such　as；　in　feeble　beings；　gives　birth　to　miracles
of　crime；　madness　which　lays　hands　on　arsenic　for　themselves　or　for
their　rivals；　possessed　her。　At　this　moment　little　Calyste　was　brought
in；　and　she　took　him　in　her　arms　to　dance　him。　The　child；　just
awakened；　sought　the　breast　beneath　the　gown。

〃He　remembers；he；　at　any　rate；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。

Calyste　went　to　his　own　room　to　read　his　letter。　When　he　was　no　longer
present　the　poor　young　woman　burst　into　tears；　and　wept　as　women　weep
when　they　are　all　alone。

Pain；　as　well　as　pleasure；　has　its　initiation。　The　first　crisis；　like
that　in　which　poor　Sabine　nearly　succumbed；　returns　no　more　than　the
first　fruits　of　other　things　return。　It　is　the　first　wedge　struck　in
the　torture　of　the　heart；　all　others　are　expected；　the　shock　to　the
nerves　is　known；　the　capital　of　our　forces　has　been　already　drawn　upon
for　vigorous　resistance。　So　Sabine；　sure　of　her　betrayal；　spent　three
hours　with　her　son　in　her　arms　beside　the　fire　in　a　way　that　surprised
herself；　when　Gasselin；　turned　into　a　footman；　came　to　say：

〃Madame　is　served。〃

〃Let　monsieur　know。〃

〃Monsieur　does　not　dine　at　home；　Madame　la　baronne。〃

Who　knows　what　torture　there　is　for　a　young　woman　of　twenty…three　in
finding　herself　alone　in　the　great　dining…room　of　an　old　mansion；
served　by　silent　servants；　under　circumstances　like　these？

〃Order　the　carriage；〃　she　said　suddenly；　〃I　shall　go　to　the　Opera。〃

She　dressed　superbly；　she　wanted　to　exhibit　herself　alone　and　smiling
like　a　happy　woman。　In　the　midst　of　her　remorse　for　the　addition　she
had　made　to　Madame　de　Rochefide's　letter　she　had　resolved　to　conquer；
to　win　back　Calyste　by　loving　kindness；　by　the　virtues　of　a　wife；　by
the　gentleness　of　the　paschal　lamb。　She　wished；　also；　to　deceive　all
Paris。　She　loved；loved　as　courtesans　and　as　angels　love；　with　pride；
with　humility。　But　the　opera　chanced　to　be　〃Otello。〃　When　Rubini　sang
/Il　mio　cor　si　divide/；　she　rushed　away。　Music　is　sometimes　mightier
than　actor　or　poet；　the　two　most　powerful　of　all　natures；　combined。
Savinien　de　Portenduere　accompanied　Sabine　to　the　peristyle　and　put
her　in　the　carriage　without　being　able　to　understand　this　sudden
flight。

Madame　du　Guenic　now　entered　a　phase　of　suffering　which　is　peculiar　to
the　aristocracy。　Envious；　poor；　and　miserable　beings；when　you　see　on
the　arms　of　such　women　golden　serpents　with　diamond　heads；　necklaces
clasped　around　their　necks；　say　to　yourselves　that　those　vipers　sting；
those　slender　bonds　burn　to　the　quick　through　the　delicate　flesh。　All
such　luxury　is　dearly　bought。　In　situations　like　that　of　Sabine；　women
curse　the　pleasures　of　wealth；　they　look　no　longer　at　the　gilding　of
their　salons；　the　silk　of　the　divans　is　jute　in　their　eyes；　exotic
flowers　are　nettles；　perfumes　poison；　the　choicest　cookery　scrapes
their　throat　like　barley…bread；　and　life　becomes　as　bitter　as　the　Dead
Sea。

Two　or　three　examples　may　serve　to　show　this　reaction　of　luxury　upon
happiness；　so　that　all　those　women　who　have　endured　it　may　behold
their　own　experience。

Fully　aware　now　of　this　terrible　rivalry；　Sabine　studied　her　husband
when　he　left　the　house；　that　she　might　divine；　if　possible；　the　future
of　his　day。　With　what　restrained　fury　does　a　woman　fling　herself　upon
the　red…hot　spikes　of　that　savage　martyrdom！　What　delirious　joy　if　she
could　think　he　did　not　go　to　the　rue　de　Chartres！　Calyste　returned；
and　then　the　study　of　his　forehead；　his　hair；　his　eyes；　his
countenance；　his　demeanor；　gave　a　horrible　interest　to　mere　nothings；
to　observations　pursued　even　to　matters　of　toilet；　in　which　a　woman
loses　her　self…respect　and　dignity。　These　fatal　investigations；
concealed　in　the　depths　of　her　heart；　turn　sour　and　rot　the　delicate
roots　from　which　should　spring　to　bloom　the　azure　flowers　of　sacred
confidence；　the　golden　petals　of　the　One　only　love；　with　all　the
perfumes　of　memory。

One　day　Calyste　looked　about　him　discontentedly；　he　had　stayed　at
home！　Sabine　made　herself　caressing　and　humble；　gay　and　sparkling。

〃You　are　vexed　with　me；　Calyste；　am　I　not　a　good　wife？　What　is　there
here　that　displeases　you？〃　she　asked。

〃These　rooms　are　so　cold　and　bare；〃　he　replied；　〃you　don't　understand
arranging　things。〃

〃Tell　me　what　is　wanting。〃

〃Flowers。〃

〃Ah！〃　she　thought　to　herself；　〃Madame　de　Rochefide　likes　flowers。〃

Two　days　later；　the　rooms　of　the　hotel　du　Guenic　had　assumed　another
aspect。　No　one　in　Paris　could　flatter　himself　to　have　more　exquisite
flowers　than　those　that　now　adorned　them。

Some　time　later　Calyste；　one　evening　after　dinner；　complained　of　the
cold。　He　twisted　about　in　his　chair；　declaring　there　was　a　draught；
and　seemed　to　be　looking　for　something。　Sabine　could　not　at　first
imagine　what　this　new　fancy　signified；　she；　whose　house　possessed　a
calorifere　which　heated　the　staircases；　antechambers；　and　passages。　At
last；　after　three　days'　meditation；　she　came　to　the　conclusion　that
her　rival　probably　sat　surrounded　by　a　screen　to　obtain　the　half…
lights　favorable　to　faded　faces；　so　Sabine　had　a　screen；　but　hers　was