按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
selection； chairs rolling softly on Persian carpets； and a perfect
anarchy of stuffs of all kinds completed the arrangement of this
salon； which the lawyer had once before visited with Brigitte and
Thuillier before the countess moved into it。 It was so transformed
that it seemed to him unrecognizable。 With a little more knowledge of
the world la Peyrade would have been less surprised at the marvellous
care given by the countess to the decoration of the room。 A woman's
salon is her kingdom； and her absolute domain； there； in the fullest
sense of the word； she reigns； she governs； there she offers battle；
and nearly always comes off victorious。
Coquettishly lying back in a corner of the sofa； her head carelessly
supported by an arm the form and whiteness of which could be seen
nearly to the elbow through the wide； open sleeve of a black velvet
dressing…gown； her Cinderella foot in its dainty slipper of Russia
leather resting on a cushion of orange satin； the handsome Hungarian
had the look of a portrait by Laurence or Winterhalter； plus the
naivete of the pose。
〃Monsieur；〃 she said； with the slightly foreign accent which lent an
added charm to her words； 〃I cannot help thinking it rather droll that
a man of your mind and rare penetration should have thought you had an
enemy in me。〃
〃But； Madame la comtesse；〃 replied la Peyrade； allowing her to read in
his eyes an astonishment mingled with distrust； 〃all the appearances；
you must admit； were of that nature。 A suitor interposes to break off
a marriage which has been offered to me with every inducement； this
rival does me the service of showing himself so miraculously stupid
and awkward that I could easily have set him aside； when suddenly a
most unlooked…for and able auxiliary devotes herself to protecting him
on the very ground where he shows himself most vulnerable。〃
〃You must admit；〃 said the countess； laughing； 〃that the protege
showed himself a most intelligent man； and that he seconded my efforts
valiantly。〃
〃His clumsiness could not have been； I think； very unexpected to you；〃
replied la Peyrade； 〃therefore the protection you have deigned to give
him is the more cruel to me。〃
〃What a misfortune it would be；〃 said the countess； with charmingly
affected satire； 〃if your marriage with Mademoiselle Celeste were
prevented！ Do you really care so much； monsieur； for that little
school…girl？〃
In that last word； especially the intonation with which it was
uttered； there was more than contempt； there was hatred。 This
expression did not escape an observer of la Peyrade's strength； but
not being a man to advance very far on a single remark he merely
replied：
〃Madame； the vulgar expression； to 'settle down；' explains this
situation； in which a man； after many struggles and being at an end of
his efforts and his illusions； makes a compromise with the future。
When this compromise takes the form of a young girl with； I admit；
more virtue than beauty； but one who brings to a husband the fortune
which is indispensable to the comfort of married life； what is there
so astonishing in the fact that his heart yields to gratitude and that
he welcomes the prospect of a placid happiness？〃
〃I have always thought；〃 replied the countess； 〃that the power of a
man's intellect ought to be the measure of his ambition； and I
imagined that one so wise as to make himself； at first； the poor man's
lawyer； would have in his heart less humble and less pastoral
aspirations。〃
〃Ah！ madame；〃 returned la Peyrade； 〃the iron hand of necessity compels
us to strange resignations。 The question of daily bread is one of
those before which all things bend the knee。 Apollo was forced to 'get
a living；' as the shepherd of Admetus。〃
〃The sheepfold of Admetus；〃 said Madame de Godollo； 〃was at least a
royal fold； I don't think Apollo would have resigned himself to be the
shepherd of abourgeois。〃
The hesitation that preceded that last word seemed to convey in place
of it a proper name； and la Peyrade understood that Madame de Godollo；
out of pure clemency； had suppressed that of Thuillier； had turned her
remark upon the species and not the individual。
〃I agree； madame； that your distinction is a just one；〃 he replied；
〃but in this case Apollo has no choice。〃
〃I don't like persons who charge too much；〃 said the countess； 〃but
still less do I like those who sell their merchandise below the market
price； I always suspect such persons of trying to dupe me by some
clever and complicated trick。 You know very well； monsieur； your own
value； and your hypocritical humility displeases me immensely。 It
proves to me that my kindly overtures have not produced even a
beginning of confidence between us。〃
〃I assure you； madame； that up to the present time life has never
justified the belief in any dazzling superiority in me。〃
〃Well； really；〃 said the Hungarian； 〃perhaps I ought to believe in the
humility of a man who is willing to accept the pitiable finale of his
life which I threw myself into the breach to prevent。〃
〃Just as I； perhaps；〃 said la Peyrade； with a touch of sarcasm； 〃ought
to believe in the reality of a kindness which； in order to save me；
has handled me so roughly。〃
The countess cast a reproachful look upon her visitor； her fingers
crumpled the ribbons of her gown； she lowered her eyes； and gave a
sigh； so nearly imperceptible； so slight； that it might have passed
for an accident in the most regular breathing。
〃You are rancorous；〃 she said； 〃and you judge people by one aspect
only。 After all；〃 she added； as if on reflection； 〃you are perhaps
right in reminding me that I have taken the longest way round by
meddling； rather ridiculously； in interests that do not concern me。 Go
on； my dear monsieur； in the path of this glorious marriage which
offers you so many combined inducements； only； let me hope that you
may not repent a course with which I shall no longer interfere。〃
The Provencal had not been spoilt by an experience of 〃bonnes
fortunes。〃 The poverty against which he had struggled so long never
leads to affairs of gallantry； and since he had thrown off its harsh
restraint； his mind being wholly given up to the anxious work of
creating his future； the things of the heart had entered but slightly
into his life； unless we must except the comedy he had played on
Flavie。 We can therefore imagine the perplexity of this novice in the
matter of adventures when he saw himself placed between the danger of
losing what seemed to be a delightful opportunity； and the fear of
finding a serpent amid the beautiful flowers that were offered to his
grasp。 Too marked a reserve； too lukewarm an eagerness； might wound
the self…love of that beautiful foreigner； and quench the spring from
which he seemed invited to draw。 On the other hand； suppose that
appearance of interest were only a snare？ Suppose this kindness （ill…
explained； as it seemed to him）； of which he was so suddenly the
object； had no other purpose than to entice him into a step which
might be used to compromise him with the Thuilliers？ What a blow to
his reputation for shrewdness； and what a role to play！that of the
dog letting go the meat for the shadow！
We know that la Peyrade was trained in the school of Tartuffe； and the
frankness with which that great master declares to Elmire that without
receiving a few of the favors to which he aspired he could not trust
in her tender advances； seemed to the barrister a suitable method to
apply to the present case； adding； however； a trifle more softness to
the form。
〃Madame la comtesse；〃 he said； 〃you have turned me into a man who is
much to be pitied。 I was cheerfully advancing to this marriage； and
you take all faith in it away from me。 Suppose I break it off； what
use can Iwith that great capacity you see in memake of the liberty
I thus recover？〃
〃La Bruyere； if I am not mistaken； said that nothing freshens the
blood so much as to avoid committing a folly。〃
〃That may be； but it is； you must admit； a negative benefit； and I am
of an age and in a position to desire more serious results。 The
interest that you deign to show to me cannot； I think； stop short at
the idea of merely putting an end to my present prospects。 I love
Mademoiselle Colleville with a love； it is true； which has nothing
imperative about it； but I certainly love her； her hand is promised to
me； and before renouncing it〃
〃So；〃 said the countess； hastily； 〃in a given case you would not be
averse to a rupture？ And；〃 she added； in a more decided tone； 〃there
would be some chance of making you see that in taking your first
opportunity you cut yourself off from a better future； in which a more
suitable marriage may present itself？〃
〃But； at least； madame； I must be enabled to foresee it definitely。〃
This persistence in demanding pledges seemed to irritate the countess。
〃Faith；〃 she said； 〃is only a virtue when it believes without seeing。
You doubt yourself； and that is another form of stupidity。 I am not
happy； it seems； in my selection of those I desire to benefit。〃
〃But； madame； it cannot be indiscreet to ask to know in some remote
way at least； what future your kind good…will has imagined