the ways of men-第40章
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sic； and cares still less； unless some singer is performing who is paid a fabulous price； which gives his notes a peculiar charm。 With us most things are valued by the money they have cost。 Ladies attend the opera simply and solely to see their friends and be admired。
〃It grieves me to see that you are forming a poor opinion of our woman kind； for they are more charming and modest than any foreign women。 A girl or matron who exhibits more of her shoulders than you； with your Eastern ideas； think quite proper； would sooner expire than show an inch above her ankle。 We have our way of being modest as well as you； and that is one of our strongest prejudices。〃
〃Now I know you are joking；〃 he replied； with a slight show of temper； 〃or trying to mystify me； for only this morning I was on the beach watching the bathing； and I saw a number of ladies in quite short skirts … up to their knees； in fact … with the thinnest covering on their shapely extremities。 Were those women above suspicion？〃
〃Absolutely；〃 I assured him； feeling inclined to tear my hair at such stupidity。 〃Can't you see the difference？ That was in daylight。 Our customs allow a woman to show her feet； and even a little more； in the morning。 It would be considered the acme of indecency to let those beauties be seen at a ball。 The law allows a woman to uncover her neck and shoulders at a ball； but she would be arrested if she appeared decollete on the beach of a morning。〃
A long silence followed； broken only by the music and laughter from the ball…room。 I could see my dazed Mohammedan remove his fez and pass an agitated hand through his dark hair； then he turned； and saluting me gravely； murmured：
〃It is very kind of you to have taken so much trouble with me。 I do not doubt that what you have said is full of the wisdom and consistency of a new civilization； which I fail to appreciate。〃 Then； with a sigh； he added： 〃It will be better for me to return to my own country； where there are fewer exceptions to rules。〃
With a profound salaam the gentle youth disappeared into the surrounding darkness； leaving me rubbing my eyes and asking myself if； after all； the dreamland Oriental was not about right。 Custom makes many inconsistencies appear so logical that they no longer cause us either surprise or emotion。 But can we explain them？
Chapter 29 … Modern 〃Cadets de Gascogne〃
AFTER witnessing the performance given by the Comedie Francaise in the antique theatre at Orange； we determined … my companion and I … if ever another opportunity of the kind offered； to attend； be the material difficulties what they might。
The theatrical 〃stars〃 in their courses proved favorable to the accomplishment of this vow。 Before the year ended it was whispered to us that the 〃Cadets de Gascogne〃 were planning a tram through the Cevennes Mountains and their native Languedoc … a sort of lay pilgrimage to famous historic and literary shrines； a voyage to be enlivened by much crowning of busts and reciting of verses in the open air； and incidentally； by the eating of Gascony dishes and the degustation of delicate local wines； the whole to culminate with a representation in the arena at Beziers of DEJANIRE； Louis Gallet's and Saint… Saens's latest work； under the personal supervision of those two masters。
A tempting programme； was it not； in these days of cockney tours and 〃Cook〃 couriers？ At any rate； one that we； with plenty of time on our hands and a weakness for out…of…the…way corners and untrodden paths； found it impossible to resist。
Rostand； in CYRANO DE BERGERAC； has shown us the 〃Cadets〃 of Moliere's time； a fighting； rhyming； devil…may…care band； who wore their hearts on their sleeves and chips on their stalwart shoulders； much such a brotherhood； in short； as we love to imagine that Shakespeare； Kit Marlowe； Greene； and their intimates formed when they met at the 〃Ship〃 to celebrate a success or drink a health to the drama。
The men who compose the present society （which has now for many years borne a name only recently made famous by M。 Rostand's genius） come delightfully near realizing the happy conditions of other days； and … less the fighting … form as joyous and picturesque a company as their historic elders。 They are for the most part Southern…born youths； whose interests and ambitions centre around the stage； devotees at the altar of Melpomene； ardent lovers of letters and kindred arts； and proud of the debt that literary France owes to Gascony。
It is the pleasant custom of this coterie to meet on winter evenings in unfrequented CAFES； transformed by them for the time into clubs； where they recite new…made verses； discuss books and plays； enunciate paradoxes that make the very waiters shudder； and； between their 〃bocks；〃 plan vast revolutions in the world of literature。
As the pursuit of 〃letters〃 is； if anything； less lucrative in France than in other countries； the question of next day's dinner is also much discussed among these budding Molieres； who are often forced to learn early in their careers； when meals have been meagre； to satisfy themselves with rich rhymes and drink their fill of flowing verse。
From time to time older and more successful members of the corporation stray back into the circle； laying aside their laurel crowns and Olympian pose； in the society of the new… comers to Bohemia。 These honorary members enjoy nothing more when occasion offers than to escape from the toils of greatness and join the 〃Cadets〃 in their summer journeys to and fro in France； trips which are made to combine the pleasures of an outing with the aims of a literary campaign。 It was an invitation to join one of these tramps that tempted my friend and me away from Paris at the season when that city is at its best。 Being unable； on account of other engagements； to start with the cohort from the capital； we made a dash for it and caught them up at Carcassonne during the fetes that the little Languedoc city was offering to its guests。
After having seen Aigues Mortes； it was difficult to believe that any other place in Europe could suggest more vividly the
days of military feudalism。 St。 Louis's tiny city is； however； surpassed by Carcassonne！
Thanks to twenty years of studious restoration by Viollet le Duc； this antique jewel shines in its setting of slope and plain as perfect to…day （seen from the distance） as when the Crusaders started from its crenelated gates for the conquest of the Holy Sepulchre。 The acropolis of Carcassonne is crowned with Gothic battlements； the golden polygon of whose walls； rising from Roman foundations and layers of ruddy Visigoth brick to the stately marvel of its fifty towers； forms a whole that few can view unmoved。
We found the Cadets lunching on the platform of the great western keep； while a historic pageant organized in their honor was winding through the steep mediaeval streets … a cavalcade of archers； men at arms； and many…colored troubadours； who； after effecting a triumphal entrance to the town over lowered drawbridges； mounted to unfurl their banner on our tower。 As the gaudy standard unfolded on the evening air； Mounet…Sully's incomparable voice breathed the very soul of the 〃Burgraves〃 across the silent plain and down through the echoing corridors below。 While we were still under the impression of the stirring lines； he changed his key and whispered：…
LE SOIR TOMBE。 。 。 。 L'HEURE DOUCE QUI S'ELOIGNE SANS SECOUSSE； POSE A PEINE SUR LA MOUSSE SES PIEDS。 UN JOUR INDECIS PERSISTE； ET LE CREPUSCULE TRISTE OUVRE SES YEUX D'AMETHYSTE MOUILLES。
Night came on ere the singing and reciting ended； a balmy Southern evening； lit by a thousand fires from tower and battlement and moat； the old walls glowing red against the violet sky。
Picture this scene to yourself； reader mine； and you will understand the enthusiasm of the artists and writers in our clan。 It needed but little imagination then to reconstruct the past and fancy one's self back in the days when the 〃Trancavel〃 held this city against the world。
Sleep that night was filled with a strange phantasmagor
