beatrix-第64部分

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Calyste；　who　stood　for　a　moment　planted　on　his　two　legs　as　if　they
were　lead。　It　was　the　sight　of　him　standing　thus；　pale　and　livid；　that
caused　Beatrix　to　make　the　sign　to　La　Palferine　to　enter　her　carriage。
Doves　can　be　Robespierres　in　spite　of　their　white　wings。　Three
carriages　reached　the　rue　de　Chartres　with　thundering　rapidity；that
of　Calyste；　that　of　the　marquise；　and　that　of　La　Palferine。

〃Oh！　you　here？〃　said　Beatrix；　entering　her　salon　on　the　arm　of　the
young　count；　and　finding　Calyste；　whose　horse　had　outstripped　those　of
the　other　carriages。

〃Then　you　know　monsieur？〃　said　Calyste；　furiously。

〃Monsieur　le　Comte　de　la　Palferine　was　presented　to　me　ten　days　ago　by
Nathan；〃　she　replied；　〃but　you；　monsieur；　/you/　have　known　me　four
years！〃

〃And　I　am　ready；　madame；〃　said　Charles…Edouard；　〃to　make　the　Marquise
d'Espard　repent　to　her　third　generation　for　being　the　first　to　turn
away　from　you。〃

〃Ah！　it　was　/she/；　was　it？〃　cried　Beatrix；　〃I　will　make　her　rue　it。〃

〃To　revenge　yourself　thoroughly；〃　said　the　young　man　in　her　ear；　〃you
ought　to　recover　your　husband；　and　I　am　capable　of　bringing　him　back
to　you。〃

The　conversation；　thus　begun；　went　on　till　two　in　the　morning；　without
allowing　Calyste；　whose　anger　was　again　and　again　repressed　by　a　look
from　Beatrix；　to　say　one　word　to　her　in　private。　La　Palferine；　though
he　did　not　like　Beatrix；　showed　a　superiority　of　grace；　good　taste；
and　cleverness　equal　to　the　evident　inferiority　of　Calyste；　who
wriggled　in　his　chair　like　a　worm　cut　in　two；　and　actually　rose　three
times　as　if　to　box　the　ears　of　La　Palferine。　The　third　time　that　he
made　a　dart　forward；　the　young　count　said　to　him；　〃Are　you　in　pain；
monsieur？〃　in　a　manner　which　sent　Calyste　back　to　his　chair；　where　he
sat　as　rigid　as　a　mile…stone。

The　marquise　conversed　with　the　ease　of　a　Celimene；　pretending　to
ignore　that　Calyste　was　there。　La　Palferine　had　the　cleverness　to
depart　after　a　brilliant　witticism；　leaving　the　two　lovers　to　a
quarrel。

Thus；　by　Maxime's　machinations；　the　fire　of　discord　flamed　in　the
separate　households　of　Monsieur　and　of　Madame　de　Rochefide。　The　next
day；　learning　the　success　of　this　last　scene　from　La　Palferine　at　the
Jockey　Club；　where　the　young　count　was　playing　whist；　Maxime　went　to
the　hotel　Schontz　to　ascertain　with　what　success　Aurelie　was　rowing
her　boat。

〃My　dear；〃　said　Madame　Schontz；　laughing　at　Maxime's　expression；　〃I　am
at　an　end　of　my　expedients。　Rochefide　is　incurable。　I　end　my　career　of
gallantry　by　perceiving　that　cleverness　is　a　misfortune。〃

〃Explain　to　me　that　remark。〃

〃In　the　first　place；　my　dear　friend；　I　have　kept　Arthur　for　the　last
week　to　a　regimen　of　kicks　on　the　shin　and　perpetual　wrangling　and
jarring；　in　short；　all　we　have　that　is　most　disagreeable　in　our
business。　'You　are　ill；'　he　says　to　me　with　paternal　sweetness；　'for　I
have　been　good　to　you　always　and　I　love　you　to　adoration。'　'You　are　to
blame　for　one　thing；　my　dear；'　I　answered；　'you　bore　me。'　'Well；　if　I
do；　haven't　you　the　wittiest　and　handsomest　young　man　in　Paris　to
amuse　you？'　said　the　poor　man。　I　was　caught。　I　actually　felt　I　loved
him。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Maxime。

〃How　could　I　help　it？　Feeling　is　stronger　than　we；　one　can't　resist
such　things。　So　I　changed　pedals。　I　began　to　entice　my　judicial　wild…
boar；　now　turned　like　Arthur　to　a　sheep；　I　gave　him　Arthur's　sofa。
Heavens！　how　he　bored　me。　But；　you　understand；　I　had　to　have　Fabien
there　to　let　Arthur　surprise　us。〃

〃Well；〃　cried　Maxime；　〃go　on；　what　happened？　Was　Arthur　furious？〃

〃You　know　nothing　about　it；　my　old　fellow。　When　Arthur　came　in　and
'surprised'　us；　Fabien　and　me；　he　retreated　on　the　tips　of　his　toes　to
the　dining…room；　where　he　began　to　clear　his　throat；　'broum；　broum！'
and　cough；　and　knock　the　chairs　about。　That　great　fool　of　a　Fabien；　to
whom；　of　course；　I　can't　explain　the　whole　matter；　was　frightened。
There；　my　dear　Maxime；　is　the　point　we　have　reached。〃

Maxime　nodded　his　head；　and　played　for　a　few　moments　with　his　cane。

〃I　have　known　such　natures；〃　he　said。　〃And　the　only　way　for　you　to　do
is　to　pitch　Arthur　out　of　the　window　and　lock　the　door　upon　him。　This
is　how　you　must　manage　it。　Play　that　scene　over　again　with　Fabien；
when　Arthur　surprises　you；　give　Fabien　a　glance　Arthur　can't　mistake；
if　he　gets　angry；　that　will　end　the　matter；　if　he　still　says；　'broum；
broum！'　it　is　just　as　good；　you　can　end　it　a　better　way。〃

〃How？〃

〃Why；　get　angry；　and　say：　'I　believed　you　loved　me；　respected　me；　but
I　see　you've　no　feeling　at　all；　not　even　jealousy；'you　know　the
tirade。　'In　a　case　like　this；　Maxime'　（bring　me　in）　'would　kill　his
man　on　the　spot'　（then　weep）。　'And　Fabien；　he'　（mortify　him　by
comparing　him　with　that　fellow）；　'Fabien　whom　I　love；　Fabien　would
have　drawn　a　dagger　and　stabbed　you　to　the　heart。　Ah；　that's　what　it
is　to　love！　Farewell；　monsieur；　take　back　your　house　and　all　your
property；　I　shall　marry　Fabien；　/he/　gives　me　his　name；　/he/　marries
me　in　spite　of　his　old　motherbut　/you/'〃

〃I　see！　I　see！〃　cried　Madame　Schontz。　〃I'll　be　superb！　Ah！　Maxime；
there　will　never　be　but　one　Maxime；　just　as　there's　only　one　de
Marsay。〃

〃La　Palferine　is　better　than　I；〃　replied　the　Comte　de　Trailles；
modestly。　〃He'll　make　his　mark。〃

〃La　Palferine　has　tongue；　but　you　have　fist　and　loins。　What　weights
you've　carried！　what　cuffs　you've　given！〃

〃La　Palferine　has　all　that；　too；　he　is　deep　and　he　is　educated；
whereas　I　am　ignorant；〃　replied　Maxime。　〃I　have　seen　Rastignac；　who
has　made　an　arrangement　with　the　Keeper　of　the　Seals。　Fabien　is　to　be
appointed　chief…justice　at　once；　and　officer　of　the　Legion　of　honor
after　one　year's　service。〃

〃I　shall　make　myself　/devote/；〃　said　Madame　Schontz；　accenting　that
speech　in　a　manner　which　obtained　a　nod　of　approbation　from　Maxime。

〃Priests　can　do　more　than　even　we；〃　he　replied　sententiously。

〃Ah！　can　they？〃　said　Madame　Schontz。　〃Then　I　may　still　find　some　one
in　the　provinces　fit　to　talk　to。　I've　already　begun　my　role。　Fabien
has　written　to　his　mother　that　grace　has　enlightened　me；　and　he　has
fascinated　the　good　woman　with　my　million　and　the　chief…justiceship。
She　consents　that　we　shall　live　with　her；　and　sends　me　her　portrait；
and　wants　mine。　If　Cupid　looked　at　hers　he　would　die　on　the　spot。
Come；　go　away；　Maxime。　I　must　put　an　end　to　my　poor　Arthur　to…night；
and　it　breaks　my　heart。〃

Two　days　later；　as　they　met　on　the　threshold　of　the　Jockey　Club；
Charles…Edouard　said　to　Maxime；　〃It　is　done。〃

The　words；　which　contained　a　drama　accomplished　in　part　by　vengeance；
made　Maxime　smile。

〃Now　come　in　and　listen　to　Rochefide　bemoaning　himself；　for　you　and
Aurelie　have　both　touched　goal　together。　Aurelie　has　just　turned
Arthur　out　of　doors；　and　now　it　is　our　business　to　get　him　a　home。　He
must　give　Madame　du　Ronceret　three　hundred　thousand　francs　and　take
back　his　wife；　you　and　I　must　prove　to　him　that　Beatrix　is　superior　to
Aurelie。〃

〃We　have　ten　days　before　us　to　do　it　in；〃　said　Charles…Edouard；　〃and
in　all　conscience　that's　not　too　much。〃

〃What　will　you　do　when　the　shell　bursts？〃

〃A　man　has　always　mind　enough；　give　him　time　to　collect　it；　I'm　superb
at　that　sort　of　preparation。〃

The　two　conspirators　entered　the　salon　together；　and　found　Rochefide
aged　by　two　years；　he　had　not　even　put　on　his　corset；　his　beard　had
sprouted；　and　all　his　elegance　was　gone。

〃Well；　my　dear　marquis？〃　said　Maxime。

〃Ah；　my　dear　fellow；　my　life　is　wrecked。〃

Arthur　talked　for　ten　minutes；　and　Maxime　listened　gravely；　thinking
all　the　while　of　his　own　marriage；　which　was　now　to　take　place　within
a　week。

〃My　dear　Arthur；〃　he　replied　at　last；　〃I　told　you　the　only　means　I
knew　to　keep　Aurelie；　but　you　wouldn't〃

〃What　was　it？〃

〃Didn't　I　advise　you　to　go　and　sup　with　Antonia？〃

〃Yes；　you　did。　But　how　could　I？　I　love；　and　you；　you　only　make　love〃

〃Listen　to　me；　Arthur；　give　Aurelie　three　hundred　thousand　francs　for
that　little　house；　and　I'll　promise　to　find　some　one　to　suit　you
better。　I'll　talk　to　you　about　it　later；　for　there's　d'Ajuda　making
signs　that　he　wants　to　speak　to　me。〃

And　Maxime　left　the　inconsolable　man　for　the　representative　of　a
family　in　need　of　consolation。

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　said　d'Ajuda　in　his　ear；　〃the　duchess　is　in　despair。
Calyste　is　having　his　trunks　packed　secretly；　and　he　has　taken　out　a
passport。　Sabine　wants　to　follow　them；　surprise　Beatrix；　and　maul　her。
She　is　pregnant；　and　it　takes　the　turn　of　murderous　ideas；　she　has
actually　and　openly　bought　pistols。〃

〃Tell　the　duchess　that　Madame　de　Rochefide　will　not　leave　Paris；　but
within　a　fortnight　she　will　have　left　Calyste。　Now；　d'Ajuda；　shake
hands。　Neither　you　nor　I　have　ever　said；　or　known；　or　done　anything
about　this；　we　admire　the　chances　of　life；　that's　all。〃

〃The　duchess　has　already　made　me　swear　on　the　holy　Gospels　to　hold　my
tongue。〃

〃Will　you　receive　my　wife　a　month　hence？〃

〃With　pleasure。〃

〃Then　every　one；　all　round；　will　be　satisfied；〃　said　Maxime。　〃Only
remind　the　duchess　that　she　must　make　that　journey　to　Italy　with　the
du　Guenics；　and　the　sooner　the　better。〃

For　ten　days　Calyste　was　made　to　bear　the　weight　of　an　anger　all　the
more　invincible　because　it　was　in　part　the　effect　of　a　real　passion。
Beatrix　now　experienced　the　love　so　brutally　but　faithfully　described
to　the　Duchesse　de　Grandlieu　by　Maxime　de　Trailles。　Perhaps　no　well…
organized　beings　exist　who　do　not　experience　that　terrible　passion
once　in　the　course　of　their　lives。　The　marquise　felt　herself　mastered
by　a　superior　force；by　a　young　man　on　whom　her　rank　and　quality　did
not　impose；　who；　as　noble　as　herself；　regarded　her　with　an　eye　both
powerful　and　calm；　and　from　whom　her　greatest　feminine　arts　and
efforts　could　with　difficulty　obtain　even　a　smile　of　approval。　In
short；　she　was　oppressed　by　a　tyrant　who　never　left　her　that　she　did
not　fall　to　weeping；　bruised　and　wounded；　yet　believing　herself　to
blame。　Charles…Edouard　played　upon　Madame　de　Rochefide　the　same　comedy
Madame　de　Rochefide　had　played　on　Calyste　for　the　last　six　months。

Since　her　public　humiliation　at　the　Opera；　Beatrix　had　never　ceased　to
treat　Monsieur　du　Guenic　on　the　basis　of　the　following　prop