beatrix-第66部分

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Nogent…sur…Marne。　They'll　recover　their　eyesight　there。　During　their
stay　in　the　country　the　hotel　de　Rochefide　is　to　be　renovated；　and　the
marquise　intends　to　display　on　her　return　a　princely　splendor。　When　a
woman　so　noble；　the　victim　of　conjugal　love；　finds　courage　to　return
to　her　duty；　the　part　of　a　man　who　adores　her　as　you　do；　and　admires
her　as　I　admire　her；　is　to　remain　her　friend　although　we　can　do
nothing　more。　You　will　excuse　me；　I　know；　for　having　made　Monsieur　le
Comte　de　Trailles　a　witness　of　this　explanation；　but　I　have　been　most
anxious　to　make　myself　perfectly　clear　throughout。　As　for　my　own
sentiments；　I　am；　above　all；　desirous　to　say　to　you；　that　although　I
admire　Madame　de　Rochefide　for　her　intellect；　she　is　supremely
displeasing　to　me　as　a　woman。〃

〃And　so　end　our　noblest　dreams；　our　celestial　loves！〃　said　Calyste；
dumfounded　by　so　many　revelations　and　disillusionments。

〃Yes；　in　the　serpent's　tail；〃　said　Maxime；　〃or；　worse　still；　in　the
vial　of　an　apothecary。　I　never　knew　a　first　love　that　did　not　end
foolishly。　Ah！　Monsieur　le　baron；　all　that　man　has　of　the　divine
within　him　finds　its　food　in　heaven　only。　That　is　what　justifies　the
lives　of　us　/roues/。　For　myself；　I　have　pondered　this　question　deeply；
and；　as　you　know；　I　was　married　yesterday。　I　shall　be　faithful　to　my
wife；　and　I　advise　you　to　return　to　Madame　du　Guenic；but　not　for
three　months。　Don't　regret　Beatrix；　she　is　the　model　of　a　vain　and
empty　nature；　without　strength；　coquettish　for　self…glorification
only；　a　Madame　d'Espard　without　her　profound　political　capacity；　a
woman　without　heart　and　without　head；　floundering　in　evil。　Madame　de
Rochefide　loves　Madame　de　Rochefide　only。　She　would　have　parted　you
from　Madame　du　Guenic　without　the　possibility　of　return；　and　then　she
would　have　left　you　in　the　lurch　without　remorse。　In　short；　that　woman
is　as　incomplete　for　vice　as　she　is　for　virtue。〃

〃I　don't　agree　with　you；　Maxime；〃　said　La　Palferine。　〃I　think　she　will
make　the　most　delightful　mistress　of　a　salon　in　all　Paris。〃

Calyste　went　away；　after　shaking　hands　with　Charles…Edouard　and　Maxime
and　thanking　them　for　having　pricked　his　illusions。

Three　days　later；　the　Duchesse　de　Grandlieu；　who　had　not　seen　her
daughter　Sabine　since　the　morning　when　this　conference　took　place；
went　to　the　hotel　du　Guenic　early　in　the　day　and　found　Calyste　in　his
bath；　with　Sabine　beside　him　working　at　some　adornment　for　the　future
/layette/。

〃What　has　happened　to　you；　my　children？〃　asked　the　excellent　duchess。

〃Nothing　but　good；　dear　mamma；〃　replied　Sabine；　raising　her　eyes；
radiant　with　happiness；　to　her　mother；　〃we　have　been　playing　the　fable
of　'The　Two　Pigeons；'　that　is　all。〃

Calyste　held　out　his　hand　to　his　wife；　and　pressed　hers　so　tenderly
with　a　look　so　eloquent；　that　she　said　in　a　whisper　to　the　duchess；

〃I　am　loved；　mother；　and　forever！〃









End