the chouans-第58章

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t　ever　beat　the　faster　for　that　girl　who　presumes　to　call　herself　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。　You　know　who　I　mean。〃

〃That　girl！〃　echoed　the　count。　〃Madame；　the　author　of　a　wrong　is　bound　to　repair　it。　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor　that　she　is　really　the　daughter　of　the　Duc　de　Verneuil。〃

〃Monsieur　le　comte；〃　said　the　marquis；　in　a　changed　voice；　〃which　of　your　statements　am　I　to　believe；that　of　La　Vivetiere；　or　that　now　made？〃

The　loud　voice　of　a　servant　at　the　door　announced　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。　The　count　sprang　forward　instantly；　offered　his　hand　to　the　beautiful　woman　with　every　mark　of　profound　respect；　and　led　her　through　the　inquisitive　crowd　to　the　marquis　and　Madame　du　Gua。　〃Believe　the　one　now　made；〃　he　replied　to　the　astonished　young　leader。

Madame　du　Gua　turned　pale　at　the　unwelcome　sight　of　the　girl；　who　stood　for　a　moment；　glancing　proudly　over　the　assembled　company；　among　whom　she　sought　to　find　the　guests　at　La　Vivetiere。　She　awaited　the　forced　salutation　of　her　rival；　and；　without　even　looking　at　the　marquis；　she　allowed　the　count　to　lead　her　to　the　place　of　honor　beside　Madame　du　Gua；　whose　bow　she　returned　with　an　air　that　was　slightly　protecting。　But　the　latter；　with　a　woman's　instinct；　took　no　offense；　on　the　contrary；　she　immediately　assumed　a　smiling；　friendly　manner。　The　extraordinary　dress　and　beauty　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　caused　a　murmur　throughout　the　ballroom。　When　the　marquis　and　Madame　du　Gua　looked　towards　the　late　guests　at　La　Vivetiere　they　saw　them　in　an　attitude　of　respectful　admiration　which　was　not　assumed；　each　seemed　desirous　of　recovering　favor　with　the　misjudged　young　woman。　The　enemies　were　in　presence　of　each　other。

〃This　is　really　magic；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua；　〃there　is　no　one　like　you　for　surprises。　Have　you　come　all　alone？〃

〃All　alone；〃　replied　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil。　〃So　you　have　only　one　to　kill　to…night；　madame。〃

〃Be　merciful；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua。　〃I　cannot　express　to　you　the　pleasure　I　have　in　seeing　you　again。　I　have　truly　been　overwhelmed　by　the　remembrance　of　the　wrongs　I　have　done　you；　and　am　most　anxious　for　an　occasion　to　repair　them。〃

〃As　for　those　wrongs；　madame；　I　readily　pardon　those　you　did　to　me；　but　my　heart　bleeds　for　the　Blues　whom　you　murdered。　However；　I　excuse　all；　in　return　for　the　service　you　have　done　me。〃

Madame　du　Gua　lost　countenance　as　she　felt　her　hand　pressed　by　her　beautiful　rival　with　insulting　courtesy。　The　marquis　had　hitherto　stood　motionless；　but　he　now　seized　the　arm　of　the　count。

〃You　have　shamefully　misled　me；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　compromised　my　honor。　I　am　not　a　Geronte　of　comedy；　and　I　shall　have　your　life　or　you　will　have　mine。〃

〃Marquis；〃　said　the　count；　haughtily；　〃I　am　ready　to　give　you　all　the　explanations　you　desire。〃

They　passed　into　the　next　room。　The　witnesses　of　this　scene；　even　those　least　initiated　into　the　secret；　began　to　understand　its　nature；　so　that　when　the　musicians　gave　the　signal　for　the　dancing　to　begin　no　one　moved。

〃Mademoiselle；　what　service　have　I　rendered　you　that　deserves　a　return？〃　said　Madame　du　Gua；　biting　her　lips　in　a　sort　of　rage。

〃Did　you　not　enlighten　me　as　to　the　true　character　of　the　Marquis　de　Montauran；　madame？　With　what　utter　indifference　that　man　allowed　me　to　go　to　my　death！　I　give　him　up　to　you　willingly！〃

〃Then　why　are　you　here？〃　asked　Madame　du　Gua；　eagerly。

〃To　recover　the　respect　and　consideration　you　took　from　me　at　La　Vivetiere；　madame。　As　for　all　the　rest；　make　yourself　easy。　Even　if　the　marquis　returned　to　me；　you　know　very　well　that　a　return　is　never　love。〃

Madame　du　Gua　took　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　hand　with　that　affectionate　touch　and　motion　which　women　practise　to　each　other；　especially　in　the　presence　of　men。

〃Well；　my　poor　dear　child；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　glad　to　find　you　so　reasonable。　If　the　service　I　did　you　was　rather　harsh；〃　she　added；　pressing　the　hand　she　held；　and　feeling　a　desire　to　rend　it　as　her　fingers　felt　its　softness　and　delicacy；　〃it　shall　at　least　be　thorough。　Listen　to　me；　I　know　the　character　of　the　Gars；　he　meant　to　deceive　you；　he　neither　can　nor　will　marry　any　woman　except〃

〃Ah！〃

〃Yes；　mademoiselle；　he　has　accepted　his　dangerous　mission　to　win　the　hand　of　Mademoiselle　d'Uxelles；　a　marriage　to　which　his　Majesty　has　promised　his　countenance。〃

〃Ah！　ah！〃

Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　added　not　a　word　to　that　scornful　ejaculation。　The　young　and　handsome　Chevalier　du　Vissard；　eager　to　be　forgiven　for　the　joke　which　had　led　to　the　insults　at　La　Vivetiere；　now　came　up　to　her　and　respectfully　invited　her　to　dance。　She　placed　her　hand　in　his；　and　they　took　their　places　in　a　quadrille　opposite　to　Madame　du　Gua。　The　gowns　of　the　royalist　women；　which　recalled　the　fashions　of　the　exiled　court；　and　their　creped　and　powdered　hair　seemed　absurd　as　soon　as　they　were　contrasted　with　the　attire　which　republican　fashions　authorized　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　to　wear。　This　attire；　which　was　elegant；　rich；　and　yet　severe；　was　loudly　condemned　but　inwardly　envied　by　all　the　women　present。　The　men　could　not　restrain　their　admiration　for　the　beauty　of　her　natural　hair　and　the　adjustment　of　a　dress　the　charm　of　which　was　in　the　proportions　of　the　form　which　it　revealed。

At　that　moment　the　marquis　and　the　count　re…entered　the　ballroom　behind　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　who　did　not　turn　her　head。　If　a　mirror　had　not　been　there　to　inform　her　of　Montauran's　presence；　she　would　have　known　it　from　Madame　du　Gua's　face；　which　scarcely　concealed；　under　an　apparently　indifferent　air；　the　impatience　with　which　she　awaited　the　conflict　which　must；　sooner　or　later；　take　place　between　the　lovers。　Though　the　marquis　talked　with　the　count　and　other　persons；　he　heard　the　remarks　of　all　the　dancers　who　from　time　to　time　in　the　mazes　of　the　quadrille　took　the　place　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　and　her　partner。

〃Positively；　madame；　she　came　alone；〃　said　one。

〃She　must　be　a　bold　woman；〃　replied　the　lady。

〃If　I　were　dressed　like　that　I　should　feel　myself　naked；〃　said　another　woman。

〃Oh；　the　gown　is　not　decent；　certainly；〃　replied　her　partner；　〃but　it　is　so　becoming；　and　she　is　so　handsome。〃

〃I　am　ashamed　to　look　at　such　perfect　dancing；　for　her　sake；　isn't　it　exactly　that　of　an　opera　girl？〃　said　the　envious　woman。

〃Do　you　suppose　that　she　has　come　here　to　intrigue　for　the　First　Consul？〃　said　another。

〃A　joke　if　she　has；〃　replied　the　partner。

〃Well；　she　can't　offer　innocence　as　a　dowry；〃　said　the　lady；　laughing。

The　Gars　turned　abruptly　to　see　the　lady　who　uttered　this　sarcasm；　and　Madame　du　Gua　looked　at　him　as　if　to　say；　〃You　see　what　people　think　of　her。〃

〃Madame；〃　said　the　count；　laughing；　〃so　far；　it　is　only　women　who　have　taken　her　innocence　away　from　her。〃

The　marquis　privately　forgave　the　count。　When　he　ventured　to　look　at　his　mistress；　whose　beauty　was；　like　that　of　most　women；　brought　into　relief　by　the　light　of　the　wax　candles；　she　turned　her　back　upon　him　as　she　resumed　her　place；　and　went　on　talking　to　her　partner　in　a　way　to　let　the　marquis　hear　the　sweetest　and　most　caressing　tones　of　her　voice。

〃The　First　Consul　sends　dangerous　ambassadors；〃　her　partner　was　saying。

〃Monsieur；〃　she　replied；　〃you　all　said　that　at　La　Vivetiere。〃

〃You　have　the　memory　of　a　king；〃　replied　he；　disconcerted　at　his　own　awkwardness。

〃To　forgive　injuries　one　must　needs　remember　them；〃　she　said　quickly；　relieving　his　embarrassment　with　a　smile。

〃Are　we　all　included　in　that　amnesty？〃　said　the　marquis；　approaching　her。

But　she　darted　away　in　the　dance；　with　the　gaiety　of　a　child；　leaving　him　without　an　answer。　He　watched　her　coldly　and　sadly；　she　saw　it；　and　bent　her　head　with　one　of　those　coquettish　motions　which　the　graceful　lines　of　her　throat　enabled　her　to　make；　omitting　no　movement　or　attitude　which　could　prove　to　him　the　perfection　of　her　figure。　She　attracted　him　like　hope；　and　eluded　him　like　a　memory。　To　see　her　thus　was　to　desire　to　possess　her　at　any　cost。　She　knew　that；　and　the　sense　it　gave　her　of　her　own　beauty　shed　upon　her　whole　person　an　inexpressible　charm。　The　marquis　felt　the　storm　of　love；　of　rage；　of　madness；　rising　in　his　heart；　he　wrung　the　count's　hand　violently；　and　left　the　room。