the lesser bourgeoisie-第75章

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had　she　left　the　room；　but　the　same　performance　took　place　at　each　of
their　encounters；　and　la　Peyrade　had　convinced　himself；　without
knowing　exactly　why；　that　in　each　case；　this　affectation　of　avoiding
him；　signified　something　that　was　not　indifference。　To　have　paid　her
another　visit　immediately　would　certainly　have　been　very　unskilful；
but　now　a　sufficient　time　had　elapsed　to　prove　him　to　be　a　man　who　was
master　of　himself。　Accordingly；　he　returned　upon　his　steps　to　the
Boulevard　de　la　Madeleine；　and　without　asking　the　porter　if　the
countess　was　at　home；　he　passed　the　lodge　as　if　returning　to　the
Thuilliers'；　and　rang　the　bell　of　the　entresol。

The　maid　who　opened　the　door　asked　him；　as　before；　to　wait　until　she
notified　her　mistress；　but；　on　this　occasion；　instead　of　showing　him
into　the　dining…room；　she　ushered　him　into　a　little　room　arranged　as　a
library。

He　waited　long；　and　knew　not　what　to　think　of　the　delay。　Still；　he
reassured　himself　with　the　thought　that　if　she　meant　to　dismiss　him　he
would　not　have　been　asked　to　wait　at　all。　Finally　the　maid　reappeared；
but　even　then　it　was　not　to　introduce　him。

〃Madame　la　comtesse；〃　said　the　woman；　〃was　engaged　on　a　matter　of
business；　but　she　begged　monsieur　be　so　kind　as　to　wait；　and　to　amuse
himself　with　the　books　in　the　library；　because　she　might　be　detained
longer　than　she　expected。〃

The　excuse；　both　in　form　and　substance；　was　certainly　not
discouraging；　and　la　Peyrade　looked　about　him　to　fulfil　the　behest　to
amuse　himself。　Without　opening　any　of　the　carved　rosewood　bookcases；
which　enclosed　a　collection　of　the　most　elegantly　bound　volumes　he　had
ever　laid　his　eyes　upon；　he　saw　on　an　oblong　table　with　claw　feet　a
pell…mell　of　books　sufficient　for　the　amusement　of　a　man　whose
attention　was　keenly　alive　elsewhere。

But；　as　he　opened　one　after　another　of　the　various　volumes；　he　began
to　fancy　that　a　feast　of　Tantalus　had　been　provided　for　him：　one　book
was　English；　another　German；　a　third　Russian；　there　was　even　one　in
cabalistic　letters　that　seemed　Turkish。　Was　this　a　polyglottic　joke
the　countess　had　arranged　for　him？

One　volume；　however；　claimed　particular　attention。　The　binding；　unlike
those　of　the　other　books；　was　less　rich　than　dainty。　Lying　by　itself
at　a　corner　of　the　table；　it　was　open；　with　the　back　turned　up；　the
edges　of　the　leaves　resting　on　the　green　table…cloth　in　the　shape　of　a
tent。　La　Peyrade　took　it　up；　being　careful　not　to　lose　the　page　which
it　seemed　to　have　been　some　one's　intention　to　mark。　It　proved　to　be　a
volume　of　the　illustrated　edition　of　Monsieur　Scribe's　works。　The
engraving　which　presented　itself　on　the　open　page　to　la　Peyrade's
eyes；　was　entitled　〃The　Hatred　of　a　Woman〃；　the　principal　personage　of
which　is　a　young　widow；　desperately　pursuing　a　poor　young　man　who
cannot　help　himself。　There　is　hatred　all　round。　Through　her　devilries
she　almost　makes　him　lose　his　reputation；　and　does　make　him　miss　a
rich　marriage；　but　the　end　is　that　she　gives　him　more　than　she　took
away　from　him；　and　makes　a　husband　of　the　man　who　was　thought　her
victim。

If　chance　had　put　this　volume　apart　from　the　rest；　and　had　left　it
open　at　the　precise　page　where　la　Peyrade　found　it　marked；　it　must　be
owned　that；　after　what　had　passed　between　himself　and　the　countess；
chance　can　sometimes　seem　clever　and　adroit。　As　he　stood　there；
thinking　over　the　significance　which　this　more　or　less　accidental
combination　might　have；　la　Peyrade　read　through　a　number　of　scenes　to
see　whether　in　the　details　as　well　as　the　general　whole　they　applied
to　the　present　situation。　While　thus　employed；　the　sound　of　an　opening
door　was　heard；　and　he　recognized　the　silvery　and　slightly　drawling
voice　of　the　countess；　who　was　evidently　accompanying　some　visitor　to
the　door。

〃Then　I　may　promise　the　ambassadress；〃　said　a　man's　voice；　〃that　you
will　honor　her　ball　with　your　presence？〃

〃Yes；　commander；　if　my　headache；　which　is　just　beginning　to　get　a
little　better；　is　kind　enough　to　go　away。〃

〃Au　revoir；　then；　fairest　lady；〃　said　the　gentleman。　After　which　the
doors　were　closed；　and　silence　reigned　once　more。

The　title　of　commander　reassured　la　Peyrade　somewhat；　for　it　was　not
the　rank　of　a　young　dandy。　He　was　nevertheless　curious　to　know　who
this　personage　was　with　whom　the　countess　had　been　shut　up　so　long。
Hearing　no　one　approach　the　room　he　was　in；　he　went　to　the　window　and
opened　the　curtain　cautiously；　prepared　to　let　it　drop　back　at　the
slightest　noise；　and　to　make　a　quick　right…about…face　to　avoid　being
caught；　〃flagrante　delicto；〃　in　curiosity。　An　elegant　coupe；　standing
at　a　little　distance；　was　now　driven　up　to　the　house；　a　footman　in
showy　livery　hastened　to　open　the　door；　and　a　little　old　man；　with　a
light　and　jaunty　movement；　though　it　was　evident　he　was　one　of　those
relics　of　the　past　who　have　not　yet　abandoned　powder；　stepped　quickly
into　the　carriage；　which　was　then　driven　rapidly　away。　La　Peyrade　had
time　to　observe　on　his　breast　a　perfect　string　of　decorations。　This；
combined　with　the　powdered　hair；　was　certain　evidence　of　a　diplomatic
individual。

La　Peyrade　had　picked　up　his　book　once　more；　when　a　bell　from　the
inner　room　sounded；　quickly　followed　by　the　appearance　of　the　maid；
who　invited　him　to　follow　her。　The　Provencal　took　care　NOT　to　replace
the　volume　where　he　found　it；　and　an　instant　later　he　entered　the
presence　of　the　countess。

A　pained　expression　was　visible　on　the　handsome　face　of　the　foreign
countess；　who；　however；　lost　nothing　of　her　charm　in　the　languor　that
seemed　to　overcome　her。　On　the　sofa　beside　her　was　a　manuscript
written　on　gilt…edged　paper；　in　that　large　and　opulent　handwriting
which　indicates　an　official　communication　from　some　ministerial　office
or　chancery。　She　held　in　her　hand　a　crystal　bottle　with　a　gold
stopper；　from　which　she　frequently　inhaled　the　contents；　and　a　strong
odor　of　English　vinegar　pervaded　the　salon。

〃I　fear　you　are　ill；　madame；〃　said　la　Peyrade；　with　interest。

〃Oh！　it　is　nothing；〃　replied　the　countess；　〃only　a　headache；　to　which
I　am　very　subject。　But　you；　monsieur；　what　has　become　of　you？　I　was
beginning　to　lose　all　hope　of　ever　seeing　you　again。　Have　you　come　to
announce　to　me　some　great　news？　The　period　of　your　marriage　with
Mademoiselle　Colleville　is　probably　so　near　that　I　think　you　can　speak
of　it。〃

This　opening　disconcerted　la　Peyrade。

〃But；　madame；〃　he　answered；　in　a　tone　that　was　almost　tart；　〃you；　it
seems　to　me；　must　know　too　well　everything　that　goes　on　in　the
Thuillier　household　not　to　be　aware　that　the　event　you　speak　of　is　not
approaching；　and；　I　may　add；　not　probable。〃

〃No；　I　assure　you；　I　know　nothing；　I　have　strictly　forbidden　myself
from　taking　any　further　interest　in　an　affair　which　I　felt　I　had
meddled　with　very　foolishly。　Mademoiselle　Brigitte　and　I　talk　of
everything　except　Celeste's　marriage。〃

〃And　it　is　no　doubt　the　desire　to　allow　me　perfect　freedom　in　the
matter　that　induces　you　to　take　flight　whenever　I　have　the　honor　to
meet　you　in　the　Thuillier　salon？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　countess；　〃that　ought　to　be　the　reason　that　makes　me
leave　the　room；　else；　why　should　I　be　so　distant？〃

〃Ah！　madame；　there　are　other　reasons　that　might　make　a　woman　avoid　a
man's　presence。　For　instance；　if　he　has　displeased　her；　if　the　advice；
given　to　him　with　rare　wisdom　and　kindness；　was　not　received　with
proper　eagerness　and　gratitude。〃

〃Oh；　my　dear　monsieur；〃　she　replied；　〃I　have　no　such　ardor　in
proselytizing　that　I　am　angry　with　those　who　are　not　docile　to　my
advice。　I　am；　like　others；　very　apt　to　make　mistakes。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　madame；　in　the　matter　of　my　marriage　your　judgment
was　perfectly　correct。〃

〃How　so？〃　said　the　countess；　eagerly。　〃Has　the　seizure　of　the
pamphlet；　coming　directly　after　the　failure　to　obtain　the　cross；　led
to　a　rupture？〃

〃No；〃　said　la　Peyrade；　〃my　influence　in　the　Thuillier　household　rests
on　a　solid　basis；　the　services　I　have　rendered　Mademoiselle　Brigitte
and　her　brother　outweigh　these　checks；　which；　after　all；　are　not
irreparable。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃　said　the　countess。

〃Certainly；〃　replied　la　Peyrade；　〃when　the　Comtesse　du　Bruel　takes