scaramouche-第41章
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high estate to which their own imaginations had raised him； or
possibly it was because they saw the effect which that fall from his
temporary and fictitious elevation had produced upon Climene。
Leandre alone made himself an exception。 His habitual melancholy
seemed to be dispelled at last； and his eyes gleamed now with
malicious satisfaction when they rested upon Scaramouche； whom
occasionally he continued to address with sly mockery as 〃mon
prince。〃
On the morrow Andre…Louis saw but little of Climene。 This was not
in itself extraordinary； for he was very hard at work again； with
preparations now for 〃Figaro…Scaramouche〃 which was to be played
on Saturday。 Also； in addition to his manifold theatrical
occupations； he now devoted an hour every morning to the study of
fencing in an academy of arms。 This was done not only to repair
an omission in his education； but also； and chiefly； to give him
added grace and poise upon the stage。 He found his mind that
morning distracted by thoughts of both Climene and Aline。 And
oddly enough it was Aline who provided the deeper perturbation。
Climene's attitude he regarded as a passing phase which need not
seriously engage him。 But the thought of Aline's conduct towards
him kept rankling； and still more deeply rankled the thought of
her possible betrothal to M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。
This it was that brought forcibly to his mind the self…imposed but
by now half…forgotten mission that he had made his own。 He had
boasted that he would make the voice which M。 de La Tour d'Azyr had
sought to silence ring through the length and breadth of the land。
And what had he done of all this that he had boasted？ He had
incited the mob of Rennes and the mob of Nantes in such terms as
poor Philippe might have employed； and then because of a hue and
cry he had fled like a cur and taken shelter in the first kennel
that offered； there to lie quiet and devote himself to other
things … self…seeking things。 What a fine contrast between the
promise and the fulfilment！
Thus Andre…Louis to himself in his self…contempt。 And whilst he
trifled away his time and played Scaramouche； and centred all his
hopes in presently becoming the rival of such men as Chenier and
Mercier； M。 de La Tour d'Azyr went his proud ways unchallenged
and wrought his will。 It was idle to tell himself that the seed
he had sown was bearing fruit。 That the demands he had voiced in
Nantes for the Third Estate had been granted by M。 Necker； thanks
largely to the commotion which his anonymous speech had made。 That
was not his concern or his mission。 It was no part of his concern
to set about the regeneration of mankind； or even the regeneration
of the social structure of France。 His concern was to see that M。
de La Tour d'Azyr paid to the uttermost liard for the brutal wrong
he had done Philippe de Vilmorin。 And it did not increase his
self…respect to find that the danger in which Aline stood of being
married to the Marquis was the real spur to his rancour and to
remembrance of his vow。 He was … too unjustly； perhaps … disposed
to dismiss as mere sophistries his own arguments that there was
nothing he could do； that； in fact； he had but to show his head to
find himself going to Rennes under arrest and making his final exit
from the world's stage by way of the gallows。
It is impossible to read that part of his 〃Confessions〃 without
feeling a certain pity for him。 You realize what must have been
his state of mind。 You realize what a prey he was to emotions so
conflicting； and if you have the imagination that will enable you
to put yourself in his place； you will also realize how impossible
was any decision save the one to which he says he came； that he
would move； at the first moment that he perceived in what direction
it would serve his real aims to move。
It happened that the first person he saw when he took the stage on
that Thursday evening was Aline； the second was the Marquis de La
Tour d'Azyr。 They occupied a box on the right of； and immediately
above； the stage。 There were others with them … notably a thin；
elderly； resplendent lady whom Andre…Louis supposed to be Madame
la Comtesse de Sautron。 But at the time he had no eyes for any but
those two； who of late had so haunted his thoughts。 The sight of
either of them would have been sufficiently disconcerting。 The
sight of both together very nearly made him forget the purpose for
which he had come upon the stage。 Then he pulled himself together；
and played。 He played； he says； with an unusual nerve； and never
in all that brief but eventful career of his was he more applauded。
That was the evening's first shock。 The next came after the second
act。 Entering the green…room he found it more thronged than usual；
and at the far end with Climene； over whom he was bending from his
fine height； his eyes intent upon her face； what time his smiling
lips moved in talk； M。 de La Tour d'Azyr。 He had her entirely to
himself； a privilege none of the men of fashion who were in the
habit of visiting the coulisse had yet enjoyed。 Those lesser
gentlemen had all withdrawn before the Marquis； as jackals withdraw
before the lion。
Andre…Louis stared a moment； stricken。 Then recovering from his
surprise he became critical in his study of the Marquis。 He
considered the beauty and grace and splendour of him； his courtly
air； his complete and unshakable self…possession。 But more than
all he considered the expression of the dark eyes that were devouring
Climene's lovely face； and his own lips tightened。
M。 de La Tour d'Azyr never heeded him or his stare； nor； had he done
so； would he have known who it was that looked at him from behind
the make…up of Scaramouche； nor； again； had he known； would he have
been in the least troubled or concerned。
Andre…Louis sat down apart； his mind in turmoil。 Presently he found
a mincing young gentleman addressing him； and made shift to answer
as was expected。 Climene having been thus sequestered； and Columbine
being already thickly besieged by gallants； the lesser visitors had
to content themselves with Madame and the male members of the troupe。
M。 Binet； indeed； was the centre of a gay cluster that shook with
laughter at his sallies。 He seemed of a sudden to have emerged from
the gloom of the last two days into high good…humour； and Scaramouche
observed how persistently his eyes kept flickering upon his daughter
and her splendid courtier。
That night there； were high words between Andre…Louis and Climene；
the high words proceeding from Climene。 When Andre…Louis again；
and more insistently； enjoined prudence upon his betrothed； and
begged her to beware how far she encouraged the advances of such
a man as M。 de La Tour d'Azyr； she became roundly abusive。 She
shocked and stunned him by her virulently shrewish tone； and her
still more unexpected force of invective。
He sought to reason with her； and finally she came to certain
terms with him。
〃If you have become betrothed to me simply to stand as an obstacle
in my path； the sooner we make an end the better。〃
〃You do not love me then； Climene？〃
〃Love has nothing to do with it。 I'll not tolerate your insensate
jealousy。 A girl in the theatre must make it her business to accept
homage from all。〃
〃Agreed； and there is no harm； provided she gives nothing in
exchange。〃
White…faced； with flaming eyes she turned on him at that。
〃Now； what exactly do you mean？〃
〃My meaning is clear。 A girl in your position may receive all the
homage that is offered； provided she receives it with a dignified
aloofness implying clearly that she has no favours to bestow in
return beyond the favour of her smile。 If she is wise she will
see to it that the homage is always offered collectively by her
admirers； and that no single one amongst them shall ever have the
privilege of approaching her alone。 If she is wise she will give
no encouragement； nourish no hopes that it may afterwards be beyond
her power to deny realization。〃
〃How？ You dare？〃
〃I know my world。 And I know M。 de La Tour d'Azyr；〃 he answered her。
〃He is a man without charity； without humanity almost； a man who
take
