scaramouche-第46章
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pursuing this affair with that chit of a Binet girl。〃
〃How do you know？〃 asked La Tour d'Azyr。
〃She has confided in her aunt。 And the poor child seems to have
some reason。 She says she will not tolerate that you should come
to kiss her hand with lips that are still contaminated from。。。 Oh；
you understand。 You appreciate the impression of such a thing
upon a pure； sensitive girl such as Aline。 She said … I had better
tell you … that the next time you kiss her hand； she will call for
water and wash it in your presence。〃
The Marquis' face flamed scarlet。 He rose。 Knowing his violent；
intolerant spirit； M。 de Sautron was prepared for an outburst。 But
no outburst came。 The Marquis turned away from him； and paced
slowly to the window； his head bowed； his hands behind his back。
Halted there he spoke； without turning； his voice was at once
scornful and wistful。
〃You are right； Charles； I am a fool … a wicked fool！ I have just
enough sense left to perceive it。 It is the way I have lived； I
suppose。 I have never known the need to deny myself anything I
wanted。〃 Then suddenly he swung round； and the outburst came。
〃But； my God； I want Aline as I have never wanted anything yet！ I
think I should kill myself in rage if through my folly I should
have lost her。〃 He struck his brow with his hand。 〃I am a beast！〃
he said。 〃I should have known that if that sweet saint got word of
these petty devilries of mine she would despise me； and I tell you；
Charles； I'd go through fire to regain her respect。〃
〃I hope it is to be regained on easier terms；〃 said Charles； and
then to ease the situation which began to irk him by its solemnity；
he made a feeble joke。 〃It is merely asked of you that you refrain
from going through certain fires that are not accounted by
mademoiselle of too purifying a nature。〃
〃As to that Binet girl； it is finished … finished；〃 said the Marquis。
〃I congratulate you。 When did you make that decision？〃
〃This moment。 I would to God I had made it twenty…four hours ago。
As it is…〃 he shrugged … 〃why； twenty…four hours of her have been
enough for me as they would have been for any man … a mercenary；
self…seeking little baggage with the soul of a trull。 Bah！〃 He
shuddered in disgust of himself and her。
〃Ah！ That makes it easier for you；〃 said M。 de Sautron； cynically。
Don't say it； Charles。 It is not so。 Had you been less of a fool；
you would have warned me sooner。〃
〃I may prove to have warned you soon enough if you'll profit by
the warning。〃
〃There is no penance I will not do。 I will prostrate myself at her
feet。 I will abase myself before her。 I will make confession in
the proper spirit of contrition； and Heaven helping me； I'll keep
to my purpose of amendment for her sweet sake。〃 He was tragically
in earnest。
To M。 de Sautron； who had never seen him other than self…contained；
supercilious； and mocking； this was an amazing revelation。 He
shrank from it almost； it gave him the feeling of prying； of peeping
through a keyhole。 He slapped his friend's shoulder。
〃My dear Gervais； here is a magnificently romantic mood。 Enough
said。 Keep to it； and I promise you that all will presently be well。
I will be your ambassador； and you shall have no cause to complain。〃
〃But may I not go to her myself？〃
〃If you are wise you will at once efface yourself。 Write to her if
you will … make your act of contrition by letter。 I will explain
why you have gone without seeing her。 I will tell her that you did
so upon my advice； and I will do it tactfully。 I am a good diplomat；
Gervais。 Trust me。〃
M。 le Marquis raised his head； and showed a face that pain was
searing。 He held out his hand。 〃Very well； Charles。 Serve me in
this； and count me your friend in all things。〃
CHAPTER XI
THE FRACAS AT THE THEATRE FEYDAU
Leaving his host to act as his plenipotentiary with Mademoiselle de
Kercadiou； and to explain to her that it was his profound contrition
that compelled him to depart without taking formal leave of her； the
Marquis rolled away from Sautron in a cloud of gloom。 Twenty…four
hours with La Binet had been more than enough for a man of his
fastidious and discerning taste。 He looked back upon the episode
with nausea … the inevitable psychological reaction … marvelling
at himself that until yesterday he should have found her so
desirable； and cursing himself that for the sake of that ephemeral
and worthless gratification he should seriously have imperilled his
chances of winning Mademoiselle de Kercadiou to wife。 There is；
after all； nothing very extraordinary in his frame of mind； so that
I need not elaborate it further。 It resulted from the conflict
between the beast and the angel that go to make up the composition
of every man。
The Chevalier de Chabrillane … who in reality occupied towards the
Marquis a position akin to that of gentleman…in…waiting … sat
opposite to him in the enormous travelling berline。 A small folding
table had been erected between them； and the Chevalier suggested
piquet。 But M。 le Marquis was in no humour for cards。 His thoughts
absorbed him。 As they were rattling over the cobbles of Nantes'
streets； he remembered a promise to La Binet to witness her
performance that night in 〃The Faithless Lover。〃 And now he was
running away from her。 The thought was repugnant to him on two
scores。 He was breaking his pledged word； and he was acting like a
coward。 And there was more than that。 He had led the mercenary
little strumpet … it was thus he thought of her at present； and
with some justice … to expect favours from him in addition to the
lavish awards which already he had made her。 The baggage had almost
sought to drive a bargain with him as to her future。 He was to take
her to Paris； put her into her own furniture … as the expression
ran； and still runs … and under the shadow of his powerful
protection see that the doors of the great theatres of the capital
should be opened to her talents。 He had not … he was thankful to
reflect … exactly committed himself。 But neither had he definitely
refused her。 It became necessary now to come to an understanding；
since he was compelled to choose between his trivial passion for
her … a passion quenched already … and his deep； almost spiritual
devotion to Mademoiselle de Kercadiou。
His honour； he considered； demanded of him that he should at once
deliver himself from a false position。 La Binet would make a scene；
of course； but he knew the proper specific to apply to hysteria of
that nature。 Money； after all； has its uses。
He pulled the cord。 The carriage rolled to a standstill； a footman
appeared at the door。
〃To the Theatre Feydau；〃 said he。
The footman vanished and the berline rolled on。 M。 de Chabrillane
laughed cynically。
〃I'll trouble you not to be amused；〃 snapped the Marquis。 〃You
don't understand。〃 Thereafter he explained himself。 It was a rare
condescension in him。 But； then； he could not bear to be
misunderstood in such a matter。 Chabrillane grew serious in
reflection of the Marquis' extreme seriousness。
〃Why not write？〃 he suggested。 〃Myself； I confess that I should
find it easier。
Nothing could better have revealed M。 le Marquis' state of mind
than his answer。
〃Letters are liable both to miscarriage and to misconstruction。
Two risks I will not run。 If she did not answer； I should never
know which had been incurred。 And I shall have no peace of mind
until I know that I have set a term to this affair。 The berline
can wait while we are at the theatre。 We will go on afterwards。
We will travel all night if necessary。〃
〃Peste！〃 said M。 de Chabrillane with a grimace。 But that was all。
The great travelling carriage drew up at the lighted portals of the
Feydau； and M。 le Marquis stepped out。 He entered the theatre with
Chabrillane； all unconsciously to deliver himself into the hands of
Andre…Louis。
Andre…Louis was in a state of exasperation produced by Climene's
long absence from Nantes in the company of M。 le Marquis； and fed
by the unspeakable complacency with which M。 Binet regarded that
event of quite unmistakable import。
However
