the chouans-第51章

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〃Mademoiselle；〃　cried　the　count；　〃I　entreat　your　forgiveness；　unworthy　as　I　am　of　it。〃

〃I　have　nothing　to　forgive；〃　she　replied。　〃You　have　no　more　ground　for　repentance　than　you　had　for　the　insolent　supposition　you　proclaimed　at　La　Vivetiere。　But　this　is　a　matter　beyond　your　comprehension。　Only；　remember　this；　monsieur　le　comte；　the　daughter　of　the　Duc　de　Verneuil　has　too　generous　a　spirit　not　to　take　a　lively　interest　in　your　fate。〃

〃Even　after　I　have　insulted　you？〃　said　the　count；　with　a　sort　of　regret。

〃Some　are　placed　so　high　that　insult　cannot　touch　them。　Monsieur　le　comte；I　am　one　of　them。〃

As　she　said　the　words；　the　girl　assumed　an　air　of　pride　and　nobility　which　impressed　the　prisoner　and　made　the　whole　of　this　strange　intrigue　much　less　clear　to　Hulot　than　the　old　soldier　had　thought　it。　He　twirled　his　moustache　and　looked　uneasily　at　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　made　him　a　sign；　as　if　to　say　she　was　still　carrying　out　her　plan。

〃Now；〃　continued　Marie；　after　a　pause；　〃let　us　discuss　these　matters。　Francine；　my　dear；　bring　lights。〃

She　adroitly　led　the　conversation　to　the　times　which　had　now；　within　a　few　short　years；　become　the　〃ancien　regime。〃　She　brought　back　that　period　to　the　count's　mind　by　the　liveliness　of　her　remarks　and　sketches；　and　gave　him　so　many　opportunities　to　display　his　wit；　by　cleverly　throwing　repartees　in　his　way；　that　he　ended　by　thinking　he　had　never　been　so　charming；　and　that　idea　having　rejuvenated　him；　he　endeavored　to　inspire　this　seductive　young　woman　with　his　own　good　opinion　of　himself。　The　malicious　creature　practised；　in　return；　every　art　of　her　coquetry　upon　him；　all　the　more　adroitly　because　it　was　mere　play　to　her。　Sometimes　she　let　him　think　he　was　making　rapid　progress；　and　then；　as　if　surprised　at　the　sentiment　she　was　feeling；　she　showed　a　sudden　coolness　which　charmed　him；　and　served　to　increase　imperceptibly　his　impromptu　passion。　She　was　like　a　fisherman　who　lifts　his　line　from　time　to　time　to　see　if　the　fish　is　biting。　The　poor　count　allowed　himself　to　be　deceived　by　the　innocent　air　with　which　she　accepted　two　or　three　neatly　turned　compliments。　Emigration；　Brittany；　the　Republic；　and　the　Chouans　were　far　indeed　from　his　thoughts。　Hulot　sat　erect　and　silent　as　the　god　Thermes。　His　want　of　education　made　him　quite　incapable　of　taking　part　in　a　conversation　of　this　kind；　he　supposed　that　the　talking　pair　were　very　witty；　but　his　efforts　at　comprehension　were　limited　to　discovering　whether　they　were　plotting　against　the　Republic　in　covert　language。

〃Montauran；〃　the　count　was　saying；　〃has　birth　and　breeding；　he　is　a　charming　fellow；　but　he　doesn't　understand　gallantry。　He　is　too　young　to　have　seen　Versailles。　His　education　is　deficient。　Instead　of　diplomatically　defaming；　he　strikes　a　blow。　He　may　be　able　to　love　violently；　but　he　will　never　have　that　fine　flower　of　breeding　in　his　gallantry　which　distinguished　Lauzun；　Adhemar；　Coigny；　and　so　many　others！　He　hasn't　the　winning　art　of　saying　those　pretty　nothings　to　women　which；　after　all；　they　like　better　than　bursts　of　passion；　which　soon　weary　them。　Yes；　though　he　has　undoubtedly　had　many　love…affairs；　he　has　neither　the　grace　nor　the　ease　that　should　belong　to　them。〃

〃I　have　noticed　that　myself；〃　said　Marie。

〃Ah！〃　thought　the　count；　〃there's　an　inflection　in　her　voice；　and　a　look　in　her　eye　which　shows　me　plainly　I　shall　soon　be　/on　terms/　with　her；　and　faith！　to　get　her；　I'll　believe　all　she　wants　me　to。〃

He　offered　her　his　hand；　for　dinner　was　now　announced。　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　did　the　honors　with　a　politeness　and　tact　which　could　only　have　been　acquired　by　the　life　and　training　of　a　court。

〃Leave　us；〃　she　whispered　to　Hulot　as　they　left　the　table。　〃You　will　only　frighten　him；　whereas；　if　I　am　alone　with　him　I　shall　soon　find　out　all　I　want　to　know；　he　has　reached　the　point　where　a　man　tells　me　everything　he　thinks；　and　sees　through　my　eyes　only。〃

〃But　afterwards？〃　said　Hulot；　evidently　intending　to　claim　the　prisoner。

〃Afterwards；　he　is　to　be　freefree　as　air；〃　she　replied。

〃But　he　was　taken　with　arms　in　his　hand。〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　making　one　of　those　sophistical　jokes　with　which　women　parry　unanswerable　arguments；　〃I　had　disarmed　him。　Count；〃　she　said；　turning　back　to　him　as　Hulot　departed；　〃I　have　just　obtained　your　liberty；　butnothing　for　nothing；〃　she　added；　laughing；　with　her　head　on　one　side　as　if　to　interrogate　him。

〃Ask　all；　even　my　name　and　my　honor；〃　he　cried；　intoxicated。　〃I　lay　them　at　your　feet。〃

He　advanced　to　seize　her　hand；　trying　to　make　her　take　his　passion　for　gratitude；　but　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　was　not　a　woman　to　be　thus　misled。　So；　smiling　in　a　way　to　give　some　hope　to　this　new　lover；　she　drew　back　a　few　steps　and　said：　〃You　might　make　me　regret　my　confidence。〃

〃The　imagination　of　a　young　girl　is　more　rapid　than　that　of　a　woman；〃　he　answered；　laughing。

〃A　young　girl　has　more　to　lose　than　a　woman。〃

〃True；　those　who　carry　a　treasure　ought　to　be　distrustful。〃

〃Let　us　quit　such　conventional　language；〃　she　said；　〃and　talk　seriously。　You　are　to　give　a　ball　at　Saint…James。　I　hear　that　your　headquarters；　arsenals；　and　base　of　supplies　are　there。　When　is　the　ball　to　be？〃

〃To…morrow　evening。〃

〃You　will　not　be　surprised　if　a　slandered　woman　desires；　with　a　woman's　obstinacy；　to　obtain　a　public　reparation　for　the　insults　offered　to　her；　in　presence　of　those　who　witnessed　them。　I　shall　go　to　your　ball。　I　ask　you　to　give　me　your　protection　from　the　moment　I　enter　the　room　until　I　leave　it。　I　ask　nothing　more　than　a　promise；〃　she　added；　as　he　laid　his　hand　on　his　heart。　〃I　abhor　oaths；　they　are　too　like　precautions。　Tell　me　only　that　you　engage　to　protect　my　person　from　all　dangers；　criminal　or　shameful。　Promise　to　repair　the　wrong　you　did　me；　by　openly　acknowledging　that　I　am　the　daughter　of　the　Duc　de　Verneuil；　but　say　nothing　of　the　trials　I　have　borne　in　being　illegitimate；this　will　pay　your　debt　to　me。　Ha！　two　hours'　attendance　on　a　woman　in　a　ball…room　is　not　so　dear　a　ransom　for　your　life；　is　it？　You　are　not　worth　a　ducat　more。〃　Her　smile　took　the　insult　from　her　words。

〃What　do　you　ask　for　the　gun？〃　said　the　count；　laughing。

〃Oh！　more　than　I　do　for　you。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃Secrecy。　Believe　me；　my　dear　count；　a　woman　is　never　fathomed　except　by　a　woman。　I　am　certain　that　if　you　say　one　word　of　this；　I　shall　be　murdered　on　my　way　to　that　ball。　Yesterday　I　had　warning　enough。　Yes；　that　woman　is　quick　to　act。　Ah！　I　implore　you；〃　she　said；　〃contrive　that　no　harm　shall　come　to　me　at　the　ball。〃

〃You　will　be　there　under　my　protection；〃　said　the　count；　proudly。　〃But；〃　he　added；　with　a　doubtful　air；　〃are　you　coming　for　the　sake　of　Montauran？〃

〃You　wish　to　know　more　than　I　know　myself；〃　she　answered；　laughing。　〃Now　go；〃　she　added；　after　a　pause。　〃I　will　take　you　to　the　gate　of　the　town　myself；　for　this　seems　to　me　a　cannibal　warfare。〃

〃Then　you　do　feel　some　interest　in　me？〃　exclaimed　the　count。　〃Ah！　mademoiselle；　permit　me　to　hope　that　you　will　not　be　insensible　to　my　friendshipfor　that　sentiment　must　content　me；　must　it　not？〃　he　added　with　a　conceited　air。

〃Ah！　diviner！〃　she　said；　putting　on　the　gay　expression　a　woman　assumes　when　she　makes　an　avowal　which　compromises　neither　her　dignity　nor　her　secret　sentiments。

Then；　having　slipped　on　a　pelisse；　she　accompanied　him　as　far　as　the　Nid…aux…Crocs。　When　they　reached　the　end　of　the　path　she　said；　〃Monsieur；　be　absolutely　silent　on　all　this；　even　to　the　marquis〃；　and　she　laid　her　finger　on　both　lips。

The　count；　emboldened　by　so　much　kindness；　took　her　hand；　she　let　him　do　so　as　though　it　were　a　great　favor；　and　he　kissed　it　tenderly。

〃Oh！　mademoiselle；〃　he　cried；　on　knowing　himself　beyond　all　danger；　〃rely　on　me　for　life；　for　death。　Though　I　owe　you　a　gratitude　equal　to　that　I　owe　my　mother；　it　will　be　very　difficult　to　restrain　my　feelings　to　mere　respect。〃

He　sprang　into　the　narrow　pathway。　After　watching　him　till　he　reached　the　rocks　of　Saint…Sulpice；　Marie　nodded　her　head　in　sign　of　satisfaction；　saying　to　herself　in　a　low　voice：　〃That　fat　fellow　has　given　me　more　than　his　life　for　his　life！　I　can　make　him　my　creator　at　a　very　little　cost！　Creature　or　creator；　that's