the muse of the department-第34章
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where he had taken the lorette's farewell kiss； and that of the
drawing…room； where the Muse was reclining； bewildered by such a
succession of shocks； Lousteau had remembered little De la Baudraye's
precarious health； his fine fortune； and Bianchon's remark about
Dinah； 〃She will be a rich widow！〃 and he said to himself； 〃I would a
hundred times rather have Madame de la Baudraye for a wife than
Felicie！〃
His plan of action was quickly decided on； he determined to play the
farce of passion once more； and to perfection。 His mean self…
interestedness and his false vehemence of passion had disastrous
results。 Madame de la Baudraye； when she set out from Sancerre for
Paris； had intended to live in rooms of her own quite near to
Lousteau； but the proofs of devotion her lover had given her by giving
up such brilliant prospects； and yet more the perfect happiness of the
first days of their illicit union； kept her from mentioning such a
parting。 The second day was to beand indeed wasa high festival； in
which such a suggestion proposed to 〃her angel〃 would have been a
discordant note。
Lousteau； on his part； anxious to make Dinah feel herself dependent on
him； kept her in a state of constant intoxication by incessant
amusement。 These circumstances hindered two persons so clever as these
were from avoiding the slough into which they fellthat of a life in
common； a piece of folly of which； unfortunately； many instances may
be seen in Paris in literary circles。
And thus was the whole programme played out of a provincial amour； so
satirically described by Lousteau to Madame de la Baudrayea fact
which neither he nor she remembered。 Passion is born a deaf…mute。
This winter in Paris was to Madame de la Baudraye all that the month
of October had been at Sancerre。 Etienne； to initiate 〃his wife〃 into
Paris life； varied this honeymoon by evenings at the play； where Dinah
would only go to the stage box。 At first Madame de la Baudraye
preserved some remnants of her countrified modesty； she was afraid of
being seen； she hid her happiness。 She would say：
〃Monsieur de Clagny or Monsieur Gravier may have followed me to
Paris。〃 She was afraid on Sancerre even in Paris。
Lousteau； who was excessively vain； educated Dinah； took her to the
best dressmakers； and pointed out to her the most fashionable women；
advising her to take them as models for imitation。 And Madame de la
Baudraye's provincial appearance was soon a thing of the past。
Lousteau； when his friends met him； was congratulated on his conquest。
All through that season Etienne wrote little and got very much into
debt； though Dinah； who was proud； bought all her clothes out of her
savings； and fancied she had not been the smallest expense to her
beloved。 By the end of three months Dinah was acclimatized； she had
reveled in the music at the Italian opera； she knew the pieces 〃on〃 at
all theatres； and the actors and jests of the day； she had become
inured to this life of perpetual excitement； this rapid torrent in
which everything is forgotten。 She no longer craned her neck or stood
with her nose in the air； like an image of Amazement； at the constant
surprises that Paris has for a stranger。 She had learned to breathe
that witty； vitalizing； teeming atmosphere where clever people feel
themselves in their element； and which they can no longer bear to
quit。
One morning； as she read the papers； for Lousteau had them all； two
lines carried her back to Sancerre and the past； two lines that seemed
not unfamiliaras follows：
〃Monsieur le Baron de Clagny； Public Prosecutor to the Criminal Court
at Sancerre； has been appointed Deputy Public Prosecutor to the
Supreme Court in Paris。〃
〃How well that worthy lawyer loves you！〃 said the journalist； smiling。
〃Poor man！ said she。 〃What did I tell you？ He is following me。〃
Etienne and Dinah were just then at the most dazzling and fervid stage
of a passion when each is perfectly accustomed to the other； and yet
love has not lost its freshness and relish。 The lovers know each other
well； but all is not yet understood； they have not been a second time
to the same secret haunts of the soul； they have not studied each
other till they know； as they must later； the very thought； word； and
gesture that responds to every event； the greatest and the smallest。
Enchantment reigns； there are no collisions； no differences of
opinion； no cold looks。 Their two souls are always on the same side。
And Dinah would speak the magical words； emphasized by the yet more
magical expression and looks which every woman can use under such
circumstances。
〃When you cease to love me； kill me。If you should cease to love me；
I believe I could kill you first and myself after。〃
To this sweet exaggeration； Lousteau would reply：
〃All I ask of God is to see you as constant as I shall be。 It is you
who will desert me！〃
〃My love is supreme。〃
〃Supreme；〃 echoed Lousteau。 〃Come； now？ Suppose I am dragged away to a
bachelor party； and find there one of my former mistresses； and she
makes fun of me； I； out of vanity； behave as if I were free； and do
not come in here till next morningwould you still love me？〃
〃A woman is only sure of being loved when she is preferred； and if you
came back to me； ifOh！ you make me understand what the happiness
would be of forgiving the man I adore。〃
〃Well； then； I am truly loved for the first time in my life！〃 cried
Lousteau。
〃At last you understand that！〃 said she。
Lousteau proposed that they should each write a letter setting forth
the reasons which would compel them to end by suicide。 Once in
possession of such a document； each might kill the other without
danger in case of infidelity。 But in spite of mutual promises； neither
wrote the letter。
The journalist； happy for the moment； promised himself that he would
deceive Dinah when he should be tired of her； and would sacrifice
everything to the requirements of that deception。 To him Madame de la
Baudraye was a fortune in herself。 At the same time； he felt the yoke。
Dinah； by consenting to this union； showed a generous mind and the
power derived from self…respect。 In this absolute intimacy； in which
both lovers put off their masks； the young woman never abdicated her
modesty； her masculine rectitude； and the strength peculiar to
ambitious souls； which formed the basis of her character。 Lousteau
involuntarily held her in high esteem。 As a Parisian； Dinah was
superior to the most fascinating courtesan； she could be as amusing
and as witty as Malaga； but her extensive information； her habits of
mind； her vast reading enabled her to generalize her wit； while the
Florines and the Schontzes exerted theirs over a very narrow circle。
〃There is in Dinah；〃 said Etienne to Bixiou； 〃the stuff to make both a
Ninon and a De Stael。〃
〃A woman who combines an encyclopaedia and a seraglio is very
dangerous；〃 replied the mocking spirit。
When the expected infant became a visible fact； Madame de la Baudraye
would be seen no more； but before shutting herself up； never to go out
unless into the country； she was bent on being present at the first
performance of a play by Nathan。 This literary solemnity occupied the
minds of the two thousand persons who regard themselves as
constituting 〃all Paris。〃 Dinah； who had never been at a first night's
performance； was very full of natural curiosity。 She had by this time
arrived at such a pitch of affection for Lousteau that she gloried in
her misconduct； she exerted a sort of savage strength to defy the
world； she was determined to look it in the face without turning her
head aside。
She dressed herself to perfection； in a style suited to her delicate
looks and the sickly whiteness of her face。 Her pallid complexion gave
her an expression of refinement； and her black hair in smooth bands
enhanced her pallor。 Her brilliant gray eyes looked finer than ever；
set in dark rings。 But a terribly distressing incident awaited her。 By
a very simple chance； the box given to the journalist； on the first
tier； was next to that which Anna Grossetete had taken。 The two
intimate friends did not even bow； neither chose to acknowledge the
other。 At the en
