two poets-第33章
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an elderly coquette by the door of a salon； or a stray rag in the gutter。
Eve herself had wished for the delay。 She meant to establish the little household on the most economical footing； and to buy only strict necessaries； but what could two lovers refuse to a brother who watched his sister at her work； and said in tones that came from the heart； 〃How I wish I could sew！〃 The sober； observant David had shared in the devotion； and yet； since Lucien's triumph； David had watched him with misgivings； he was afraid that Lucien would change towards them； afraid that he would look down upon their homely ways。 Once or twice； to try his brother； David had made him choose between home pleasures and the great world； and saw that Lucien gave up the delights of vanity for them； and exclaimed to himself； 〃They will not spoil him for us！〃 Now and again the three friends and Mme。 Chardon arranged picnic parties in provincial fashiona walk in the woods along the Charente； not far from Angouleme； and dinner out on the grass； David's apprentice bringing the basket of provisions to some place appointed before…hand； and at night they would come back； tired somewhat； but the whole excursion had not cost three francs。 On great occasion； when they dined at a restaurat； as it is called； a sort of a country inn； a compromise between a provincial wineshop and a Parisian guinguette； they would spend as much as five francs； divided between David and the Chardons。 David gave his brother infinite credit for forsaking Mme。 de Bargeton and grand dinners for these days in the country； and the whole party made much of the great man of Angouleme。
Matters had gone so far； that the new home was very nearly ready； and David had gone over to Marsac to persuade his father to come to the wedding； not without a hope that the old man might relent at the sight of his daughter…in…law； and give something towards the heavy expenses of the alterations； when there befell one of those events which entirely change the face of things in a small town。
Lucien and Louise had a spy in Chatelet； a spy who watched； with the persistence of a hate in which avarice and passion are blended； for an opportunity of making a scandal。 Sixte meant that Mme。 de Bargeton should compromise herself with Lucien in such a way that she should be 〃lost；〃 as the saying goes； so he posed as Mme。 de Bargeton's humble confidant； admired Lucien in the Rue du Minage； and pulled him to pieces everywhere else。 Nais had gradually given him les petites entrees； in the language of the court； for the lady no longer mistrusted her elderly admirer； but Chatelet had taken too much for grantedlove was still in the Platonic stage； to the great despair of Louise and Lucien。
There are； for that matter； love affairs which start with a good or a bad beginning； as you prefer to take it。 Two creatures launch into the tactics of sentiment； they talk when they should be acting； and skirmish in the open instead of settling down to a siege。 And so they grow tired of one another； expend their longings in empty space； and； having time for reflection； come to their own conclusions about each other。 Many a passion that has taken the field in gorgeous array； with colors flying and an ardor fit to turn the world upside down； has turned home again without a victory； inglorious and crestfallen； cutting but a foolish figure after these vain alarums and excursions。 Such mishaps are sometimes due to the diffidence of youth； sometimes to the demurs of an inexperienced woman； for old players at this game seldom end in a fiasco of this kind。
Provincial life； moreover； is singularly well calculated to keep desire unsatisfied and maintain a lover's arguments on the intellectual plane； while； at the same time； the very obstacles placed in the way of the sweet intercourse which binds lovers so closely each to each； hurry ardent souls on towards extreme measures。 A system of espionage of the most minute and intricate kind underlies provincial life； every house is transparent； the solace of close friendships which break no moral law is scarcely allowed； and such outrageously scandalous constructions are put upon the most innocent human intercourse； that many a woman's character is taken away without cause。 One here and there； weighed down by her unmerited punishment； will regret that she has never known to the full the forbidden felicity for which she is suffering。 The world； which blames and criticises with a superficial knowledge of the patent facts in which a long inward struggle ends； is in reality a prime agent in bringing such scandals about； and those whose voices are loudest in condemnation of the alleged misconduct of some slandered woman never give a thought to the immediate provocation of the overt step。 That step many a woman only takes after she has been unjustly accused and condemned； and Mme。 de Bargeton was now on the verge of this anomalous position。
The obstacles at the outset of a passion of this kind are alarming to inexperience； and those in the way of the two lovers were very like the bonds by which the population of Lilliput throttled Gulliver； a multiplicity of nothings； which made all movement impossible； and baffle the most vehement desires。 Mme。 de Bargeton； for instance； must always be visible。 If she had denied herself to visitors when Lucien was with her； it would have been all over with her； she might as well have run away with him at once。 It is true that they sat in the boudoir； now grown so familiar to Lucien that he felt as if he had a right to be there； but the doors stood scrupulously open； and everything was arranged with the utmost propriety。 M。 de Bargeton pervaded the house like a cockchafer； it never entered his head that his wife could wish to be alone with Lucien。 If he had been the only person in the way； Nais could have got rid of him； sent him out of the house； or given him something to do； but he was not the only one； visitors flocked in upon her； and so much the more as curiosity increased； for your provincial has a natural bent for teasing； and delights to thwart a growing passion。 The servants came and went about the house promiscuously and without a summons； they had formed the habits with a mistress who had nothing to conceal； any change now made in her household ways was tantamount to a confession； and Angouleme still hung in doubt。
Mme。 de Bargeton could not set foot outside her house but the whole town knew whither she was going。 To take a walk alone with Lucien out of Angouleme would have been a decided measure； indeed； it would have been less dangerous to shut herself up with him in the house。 There would have been comments the next day if Lucien had stayed on till midnight after the rooms were emptied。 Within as without her house； Mme。 de Bargeton lived in public。
These details describe life in the provinces； an intrigue is either openly avoided or impossible anywhere。
Like all women carried away for the first time by passion； Louise discovered the difficulties of her position one by one。 They frightened her； and her terror reacted upon the fond talk that fills the fairest hours which lovers spend alone together。 Mme。 de Bargeton had no country house whither she could take her beloved poet； after the manner of some women who will forge ingenious pretexts for burying themselves in the wilderness； but； weary of living in public； and pushed to extremities by a tyranny which afforded no pleasures sweet enough to compensate for the heaviness of the yoke； she even thought of Escarbas； and of going to see her aged fatherso much irritated was she by these paltry obstacles。
Chatelet did not believe in such innocence。 He lay in wait； and watched Lucien into the house； and followed a few minutes later； always taking M。 de Chandour； the most indiscreet person in the clique； along with him； and； putting that gentleman first； hoped to find a surprise by such perseverance in pursuit of the chance。 His own part was a very difficult one to play； and its success was the more doubtful because he was bound to appear neutral if he was to prompt the other actors who were to play in his drama。 So； to give himself a countenance； he had attached himself to the jealous Amelie； the better to lu
