el dorado-第7章
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voice had caused Armand to look； the lips that spoke forged the
first tiny link of that chain which riveted him forever after to
the speaker。
It is difficult to say if such a thing really exists as love at
first sight。 Poets and romancists will have us believe that it
does； idealists swear by it as being the only true love worthy of
the name。
I do not know if I am prepared to admit their theory with regard
to Armand St。 Just。 Mlle。 Lange's exquisite voice certainly had
charmed him to the extent of making him forget his mistrust of de
Batz and his desire to get away。 Mechanically almost he sat down
again； and leaning both elbows on the edge of the box； he rested
his chin in his hand； and listened。 The words which the late M。
de Moliere puts into the mouth of Celimene are trite and flippant
enough； yet every time that Mlle。 Lange's lips moved Armand
watched her； entranced。
There； no doubt； the matter would have ended： a young man
fascinated by a pretty woman on the stage'tis a small matter；
and one from which there doth not often spring a weary trail of
tragic circumstances。 Armand； who had a passion for music； would
have worshipped at the shrine of Mlle。 Lange's perfect voice until
the curtain came down on the last act； had not his friend de Batz
seen the keen enchantment which the actress had produced on the
young enthusiast。
Now de Batz was a man who never allowed an opportunity to slip by；
if that opportunity led towards the furtherance of his own desires。
He did not want to lose sight of Armand just yet； and here the good
demon Chance had given him an opportunity for obtaining what he wanted。
He waited quietly until the fall of the curtain at the end of Act
II。； then； as Armand； with a sigh of delight； leaned back in his
chair； and closing his eyes appeared to be living the last
half…hour all over again； de Batz remarked with well…assumed
indifference：
〃Mlle。 Lange is a promising young actress。 Do you not think so；
my friend？〃
〃She has a perfect voiceit was exquisite melody to the ear；〃
replied Armand。 〃I was conscious of little else。〃
〃She is a beautiful woman； nevertheless；〃 continued de Batz with a
smile。 〃During the next act； my good St。 Just； I would suggest
that you opened your eyes as well as your ears。
Armand did as he was bidden。 The whole appearance of Mlle。 Lange
seemed in harmony with her voice。 She was not very tall； but
eminently graceful； with a small； oval face and slender； almost
childlike figure； which appeared still more so above the wide
hoops and draped panniers of the fashions of Moliere's time。
Whether she was beautiful or not the young man hardly knew。
Measured by certain standards； she certainly was not so； for her
mouth was not small； and her nose anything but classical in
outline。 But the eyes were brown； and they had that half…veiled
look in themshaded with long lashes that seemed to make a
perpetual tender appeal to the masculine heart： the lips； too；
were full and moist； and the teeth dazzling white。 Yes！on the
whole we might easily say that she was exquisite； even though we
did not admit that she was beautiful。
Painter David has made a sketch of her； we have all seen it at the
Musee Carnavalet； and all wondered why that charming； if
irregular； little face made such an impression of sadness。
There are five acts in 〃Le Misanthrope；〃 during which Celimene is
almost constantly on the stage。 At the end of the fourth act de
Batz said casually to his friend：
〃I have the honour of personal acquaintanceship with Mlle。 Lange。
An you care for an introduction to her； we can go round to the
green room after the play。〃
Did prudence then whisper； 〃Desist〃？ Did loyalty to the leader
murmur； 〃Obey〃？ It were indeed difficult to say。 Armand St。 Just
was not five…and…twenty； and Mlle。 Lange's melodious voice spoke
louder than the whisperings of prudence or even than the call of
duty。
He thanked de Batz warmly； and during the last half…hour； while
the misanthropical lover spurned repentant Celimene； he was
conscious of a curious sensation of impatience； a tingling of his
nerves； a wild； mad longing to hear those full moist lips
pronounce his name； and have those large brown eyes throw their
half…veiled look into his own。
CHAPTER IV
MADEMOISELLE LANGE
The green…room was crowded when de Batz and St。 Just arrived there
after the performance。 The older man cast a hasty glance through
the open door。 The crowd did not suit his purpose； and he dragged
his companion hurriedly away from the contemplation of Mlle。
Lange； sitting in a far corner of the room； surrounded by an
admiring throng； and by innumerable floral tributes offered to her
beauty and to her success。
De Batz without a word led the way back towards the stage。 Here；
by the dim light of tallow candles fixed in sconces against the
surrounding walls； the scene…shifters were busy moving
drop…scenes； back cloths and wings； and paid no heed to the two
men who strolled slowly up and down silently； each wrapped in his
own thoughts。
Armand walked with his hands buried in his breeches pockets； his
head bent forward on his chest； but every now and again he threw
quick； apprehensive glances round him whenever a firm step echoed
along the empty stage or a voice rang clearly through the now
deserted theatre。
〃Are we wise to wait here？〃 he asked； speaking to himself rather
than to his companion。
He was not anxious about his own safety； but the words of de Batz
had impressed themselves upon his mind： 〃Heron and his spies we
have always with us。〃
From the green…room a separate foyer and exit led directly out
into the street。 Gradually the sound of many voices； the loud
laughter and occasional snatches of song which for the past
half…hour had proceeded from that part of the house； became more
subdued and more rare。 One by one the friends of the artists were
leaving the theatre； after having paid the usual banal compliments
to those whom they favoured； or presented the accustomed offering
of flowers to the brightest star of the night。
The actors were the first to retire； then the older actresses； the
ones who could no longer command a court of admirers round them。
They all filed out of the greenroom and crossed the stage to
where； at the back； a narrow； rickety wooden stairs led to their
so…called dressing…roomstiny； dark cubicles； ill…lighted；
unventilated； where some half…dozen of the lesser stars tumbled
over one another while removing wigs and grease…paint。
Armand and de Batz watched this exodus； both with equal
impatience。 Mlle。 Lange was the last to leave the green…room。
For some time； since the crowd had become thinner round her；
Armand had contrived to catch glimpses of her slight； elegant
figure。 A short passage led from the stage to the green…room
door； which was wide open； and at the corner of this passage the
young man had paused from time to time in his walk； gazing with
earnest admiration at the dainty outline of the young girl's head；
with its wig of powdered curls that seemed scarcely whiter than
the creamy brilliance of her skin。
De Batz did not watch Mlle。 Lange beyond casting impatient looks
in the direction of the crowd that prevented her leaving the
green…room。 He did watch Armand； howevernoted his eager look；
his brisk and alert movements； the obvious glances of admiration
which he cast in the direction of the young actress； and this
seemed to afford him a considerable amount of contentment。
The best part of an hour had gone by since the fall of the curtain
before Mlle。 Lange finally dismissed her many admirers； and de
Batz had the satisfaction of seeing her running down the passage；
turning back occasionally in order to bid gay 〃good…nights〃 to the
loiterers who were loath to part from her。 She was a child in all
her movements； quite unconscious of self or of her own charms； but
frankly delighted with her success。 She was still dressed in the
ridiculous hoops and panniers pertaining to her part； and the
powdered peruke hid the charm of her own hair； the costume gave a
certain stilted air to her unaffected personality； which； by this
very sense
