scaramouche-第47章
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by the unspeakable complacency with which M。 Binet regarded that
event of quite unmistakable import。
However much he might affect the frame of mind of the stoics； and
seek to judge with a complete detachment； in the heart and soul of
him Andre…Louis was tormented and revolted。 It was not Climene he
blamed。 He had been mistaken in her。 She was just a poor weak
vessel driven helplessly by the first breath； however foul； that
promised her advancement。 She suffered from the plague of greed；
and he congratulated himself upon having discovered it before
making her his wife。 He felt for her now nothing but a deal of
pity and some contempt。 The pity was begotten of the love she had
lately inspired in him。 It might be likened to the dregs of love；
all that remained after the potent wine of it had been drained off。
His anger he reserved for her father and her seducer。
The thoughts that were stirring in him on that Monday morning； when
it was discovered that Climene had not yet returned from her
excursion of the previous day in the coach of M。 le Marquis； were
already wicked enough without the spurring they received from the
distraught Leandre。
Hitherto the attitude of each of these men towards the other had
been one of mutual contempt。 The phenomenon has frequently been
observed in like cases。 Now； what appeared to be a common
misfortune brought them into a sort of alliance。 So； at least； it
seemed to Leandre when he went in quest of Andre…Louis； who with
apparent unconcern was smoking a pipe upon the quay immediately
facing the inn。
〃Name of a pig！〃 said Leandre。 〃How can you take your ease and
smoke at such a time？〃
Scaramouche surveyed the sky。 〃I do not find it too cold；〃 said
he。 〃The sun is shining。 I am very well here。〃
〃Do I talk of the weather？〃 Leandre was very excited。
〃Of what； then？〃
〃Of Climene； of course。〃
〃Oh！ The lady has ceased to interest me；〃 he lied。
Leandre stood squarely in front of him； a handsome figure handsomely
dressed in these days； his hair well powdered； his stockings of silk。
His face was pale； his large eyes looked larger than usual。
〃Ceased to interest you？ Are you not to marry her？〃 Andre…Louis
expelled a cloud of smoke。 〃You cannot wish to be offensive。 Yet
you almost suggest that I live on other men's leavings。〃
〃My God！〃 said Leandre； overcome； and he stared awhile。 Then he
burst out afresh。 〃Are you quite heartless？ Are you always
Scaramouche？〃
〃What do you expect me to do？〃 asked Andre…Louis； evincing surprise
in his own turn； but faintly。
〃I do not expect you to let her go without a struggle。〃
〃But she has gone already。〃 Andre…Louis pulled at his pipe a
moment； what time Leandre clenched and unclenched his hands in
impotent rage。 〃And to what purpose struggle against the
inevitable？ Did you struggle when I took her from you？〃
〃She was not mine to be taken from me。 I but aspired； and you won
the race。 But even had it been otherwise where is the comparison？
That was a thing in honour； this … this is hell。〃
His emotion moved Andre…Louis。 He took Leandre's arm。 〃You're a
good fellow； Leandre。 I am glad I intervened to save you from
your fate。〃
〃Oh； you don't love her！〃 cried the other； passionately。 〃You never
did。 You don't know what it means to love； or you'd not talk like
this。 My God！ if she had been my affianced wife and this had
happened； I should have killed the man … killed him！ Do you hear
me？ But you。。。 Oh； you； you come out here and smoke； and take the
air； and talk of her as another man's leavings。 I wonder I didn't
strike you for the word。〃
He tore his arm from the other's grip； and looked almost as if he
would strike him now。
〃You should have done it；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃It's in your part。〃
With an imprecation Leandre turned on his heel to go。 Andre…Louis
arrested his departure。
〃A moment； my friend。 Test me by yourself。 Would you marry her
now？〃
〃Would I？〃 The young man's eyes blazed with passion。 〃Would I？
Let her say that she will marry me； and I am her slave。〃
〃Slave is the right word … a slave in hell。〃
〃It would never be hell to me where she was； whatever she had done。
I love her； man； I am not like you。 I love her； do you hear me？〃
〃I have known； it for some time；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃Though I
didn't suspect your attack of the disease to be quite so violent。
Well； God knows I loved her； too； quite enough to share your thirst
for killing。 For myself； the blue blood of La Tour d'Azyr would
hardly quench this thirst。 I should like to add to it the dirty
fluid that flows in the veins of the unspeakable Binet。〃
For a second his emotion had been out of hand； and he revealed to
Leandre in the mordant tone of those last words something of the
fires that burned under his icy exterior。 The young man caught
him by the hand。
〃I knew you were acting；〃 said he。 〃You feel … you feel as I do。〃
〃Behold us； fellows in viciousness。 I have betrayed myself； it
seems。 Well； and what now？ Do you want to see this pretty Marquis
torn limb from limb？ I might afford you the spectacle。〃
〃What？〃 Leandre stared； wondering was this another of Scaramouche's
cynicisms。
〃It isn't really difficult provided I have aid。 I require only a
little。 Will you lend it me？〃
〃Anything you ask；〃 Leandre exploded。 〃My life if you require it。〃
Andre…Louis took his arm again。 〃Let us walk；〃 he said。 〃I will
instruct you。〃
When they came back the company was already at dinner。 Mademoiselle
had not yet returned。 Sullenness presided at the table。 Columbine
and Madame wore anxious expressions。 The fact was that relations
between Binet and his troupe were daily growing more strained。
Andre…Louis and Leandre went each to his accustomed place。 Binet's
little eyes followed them with a malicious gleam； his thick lips
pouted into a crooked smile。
〃You two are grown very friendly of a sudden；〃 he mocked。
〃You are a man of discernment； Binet；〃 said Scaramouche； the cold
loathing of his voice itself an insult。 〃Perhaps you discern the
reason？〃
〃It is readily discerned。〃
〃Regale the company with it！〃 he begged； and waited。 〃What？ You
hesitate？ Is it possible that there are limits to your
shamelessness？〃
Binet reared his great head。 〃Do you want to quarrel with me；
Scaramouche？〃 Thunder was rumbling in his deep； voice。
〃Quarrel？ You want to laugh。 A man doesn't quarrel with creatures
like you。 We all know the place held in the public esteem by
complacent husbands。 But； in God's name； what place is there at
all for complacent fathers？〃
Binet heaved himself up； a great towering mass of manhood。 Violently
he shook off the restraining hand of Pierrot who sat on his left。
〃A thousand devils！〃 he roared； 〃if you take that tone with me； I'll
break every bone in your filthy body。〃
〃If you were to lay a finger on me； Binet； you would give me the
only provocation I still need to kill you。〃 Andre…Louis was as
calm as ever； and therefore the more menacing。 Alarm stirred the
company。 He protruded from his pocket the butt of a pistol … newly
purchased。 〃I go armed； Binet。 It is only fair to give you warning。
Provoke me as you have suggested； and I'll kill you with no more
compunction than I should kill a slug； which after all is the thing
you most resemble … a slug； Binet； a fat； slimy body； foulness
without soul and without intelligence。 When I come to think of it
I can't suffer to sit at table with you。 It turns my stomach。〃
He pushed away his platter and got up。 〃I'll go and eat at the
ordinary below stairs。〃
Thereupon up jumped Columbine。
〃And I'll come with you； Scaramouche！〃 cried she。
It acted like a signal。 Had the thing been concerted it couldn't
have fallen out more uniformly。 Binet； in fact； was persuaded of
a conspiracy。 For in the wake of Columbine went Leandre； in the
wake of Leandre； Polichinelle and then all the rest together； until
Binet found himself sitting alone at the head of an empty table in
an empty room … a badly shaken man whose rage could afford him no
support against the dread by which he was suddenly invaded。
He sat
