the duchesse de langeais-第19章

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〃My　friend；〃　she　said　drily；　〃I　do　not　understand　why　you　decline　to　believe　in　God；　for　it　is　impossible　to　believe　in　man。　　Hush；　do　not　talk　like　that。　　You　have　too　great　a　nature　to　take　up　their　Liberal　nonsense　with　its　pretension　to　abolish　God。〃

Theological　and　political　disputes　acted　like　a　cold　douche　on　Montriveau；　he　calmed　down；　he　could　not　return　to　love　when　the　Duchess　stirred　up　his　wrath　by　suddenly　setting　him　down　a　thousand　miles　away　from　the　boudoir；　discussing　theories　of　absolute　monarchy；　which　she　defended　to　admiration。　　Few　women　venture　to　be　democrats；　the　attitude　of　democratic　champion　is　scarcely　compatible　with　tyrannous　feminine　sway。　　But　often；　on　the　other　hand；　the　General　shook　out　his　mane；　dropped　politics　with　a　leonine　growling　and　lashing　of　the　flanks；　and　sprang　upon　his　prey；　he　was　no　longer　capable　of　carrying　a　heart　and　brain　at　such　variance　for　very　far；　he　came　back；　terrible　with　love；　to　his　mistress。　　And　she；　if　she　felt　the　prick　of　fancy　stimulated　to　a　dangerous　point；　knew　that　it　was　time　to　leave　her　boudoir；　she　came　out　of　the　atmosphere　surcharged　with　desires　that　she　drew　in　with　her　breath；　sat　down　to　the　piano；　and　sang　the　most　exquisite　songs　of　modern　music；　and　so　baffled　the　physical　attraction　which　at　times　showed　her　no　mercy；　though　she　was　strong　enough　to　fight　it　down。

At　such　times　she　was　something　sublime　in　Armand's　eyes；　she　was　not　acting；　she　was　genuine；　the　unhappy　lover　was　convinced　that　she　loved　him。　　Her　egoistic　resistance　deluded　him　into　a　belief　that　she　was　a　pure　and　sainted　woman；　he　resigned　himself；　he　talked　of　Platonic　love；　did　this　artillery　officer！

When　Mme　de　Langeais　had　played　with　religion　sufficiently　to　suit　her　own　purposes；　she　played　with　it　again　for　Armand's　benefit。　　She　wanted　to　bring　him　back　to　a　Christian　frame　of　mind；　she　brought　out　her　edition　of　Le　Genie　du　Christianisme；　adapted　for　the　use　of　military　men。　　Montriveau　chafed；　his　yoke　was　heavy。　　Oh！　at　that；　possessed　by　the　spirit　of　contradiction；　she　dinned　religion　into　his　ears；　to　see　whether　God　might　not　rid　her　of　this　suitor；　for　the　man's　persistence　was　beginning　to　frighten　her。　　And　in　any　case　she　was　glad　to　prolong　any　quarrel；　if　it　bade　fair　to　keep　the　dispute　on　moral　grounds　for　an　indefinite　period；　the　material　struggle　which　followed　it　was　more　dangerous。

But　if　the　time　of　her　opposition　on　the　ground　of　the　marriage　law　might　be　said　to　be　the　epoque　civile　of　this　sentimental　warfare；　the　ensuing　phase　which　might　be　taken　to　constitute　the　epoque　religieuse　had　also　its　crisis　and　consequent　decline　of　severity。

Armand　happening　to　come　in　very　early　one　evening；　found　M。　l'Abbe　Gondrand；　the　Duchess's　spiritual　director；　established　in　an　armchair　by　the　fireside；　looking　as　a　spiritual　director　might　be　expected　to　look　while　digesting　his　dinner　and　the　charming　sins　of　his　penitent。　　In　the　ecclesiastic's　bearing　there　was　a　stateliness　befitting　a　dignitary　of　the　Church；　and　the　episcopal　violet　hue　already　appeared　in　his　dress。　　At　sight　of　his　fresh；　well…preserved　complexion；　smooth　forehead；　and　ascetic's　mouth；　Montriveau's　countenance　grew　uncommonly　dark；　he　said　not　a　word　under　the　malicious　scrutiny　of　the　other's　gaze；　and　greeted　neither　the　lady　nor　the　priest。　　The　lover　apart；　Montriveau　was　not　wanting　in　tact；　so　a　few　glances　exchanged　with　the　bishop…designate　told　him　that　here　was　the　real　forger　of　the　Duchess's　armoury　of　scruples。　

That　an　ambitious　abbe　should　control　the　happiness　of　a　man　of　Montriveau's　temper；　and　by　underhand　ways！　　The　thought　burst　in　a　furious　tide　over　his　face；　clenched　his　fists；　and　set　him　chafing　and　pacing　to　and　fro；　but　when　he　came　back　to　his　place　intending　to　make　a　scene；　a　single　look　from　the　Duchess　was　enough。　　He　was　quiet。

Any　other　woman　would　have　been　put　out　by　her　lover's　gloomy　silence；　it　was　quite　otherwise　with　Mme　de　Langeais。　　She　continued　her　conversation　with　M。　de　Gondrand　on　the　necessity　of　re…establishing　the　Church　in　its　ancient　splendour。　　And　she　talked　brilliantly。

The　Church；　she　maintained；　ought　to　be　a　temporal　as　well　as　a　spiritual　power；　stating　her　case　better　than　the　Abbe　had　done；　and　regretting　that　the　Chamber　of　Peers；　unlike　the　English　House　of　Lords；　had　no　bench　of　bishops。　　Nevertheless；　the　Abbe　rose；　yielded　his　place　to　the　General；　and　took　his　leave；　knowing　that　in　Lent　he　could　play　a　return　game。　　As　for　the　Duchess；　Montriveau's　behaviour　had　excited　her　curiosity　to　such　a　pitch　that　she　scarcely　rose　to　return　her　director's　low　bow。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　my　friend？〃

〃Why；　I　cannot　stomach　that　Abbe　of　yours。〃

〃Why　did　you　not　take　a　book？〃　she　asked；　careless　whether　the　Abbe；　then　closing　the　door；　heard　her　or　no。

The　General　paused；　for　the　gesture　which　accompanied　the　Duchess's　speech　further　increased　the　exceeding　insolence　of　her　words。

〃My　dear　Antoinette；　thank　you　for　giving　love　precedence　of　the　Church；　but；　for　pity's　sake；　allow　me　to　ask　one　question。〃

〃Oh！　you　are　questioning　me！　　I　am　quite　willing。　　You　are　my　friend；　are　you　not？　　I　certainly　can　open　the　bottom　of　my　heart　to　you；　you　will　see　only　one　image　there。〃

〃Do　you　talk　about　our　love　to　that　man？〃

〃He　is　my　confessor。〃

〃Does　he　know　that　I　love　you？〃

〃M。　de　Montriveau；　you　cannot　claim；　I　think；　to　penetrate　the　secrets　of　the　confessional？〃

〃Does　that　man　know　all　about　our　quarrels　and　my　love　for　you？〃

〃That　man；　monsieur；　say　God！〃

〃God　again！　　_I_　ought　to　be　alone　in　your　heart。　　But　leave　God　alone　where　He　is；　for　the　love　of　God　and　me。　　Madame；　you　SHALL　NOT　go　to　confession　again；　or〃

〃Or？〃　she　repeated　sweetly。

〃Or　I　will　never　come　back　here。〃

〃Then　go；　Armand。　　Good…bye；　good…bye　forever。〃

She　rose　and　went　to　her　boudoir　without　so　much　as　a　glance　at　Armand；　as　he　stood　with　his　hand　on　the　back　of　a　chair。　　How　long　he　stood　there　motionless　he　himself　never　knew。　　The　soul　within　has　the　mysterious　power　of　expanding　as　of　contracting　space。　

He　opened　the　door　of　the　boudoir。　　It　was　dark　within。　　A　faint　voice　was　raised　to　say　sharply

〃I　did　not　ring。　　What　made　you　come　in　without　orders？　　Go　away；　Suzette。〃

〃Then　you　are　ill；〃　exclaimed　Montriveau。

〃Stand　up；　monsieur；　and　go　out　of　the　room　for　a　minute　at　any　rate；〃　she　said；　ringing　the　bell。

〃Mme　la　Duchesse　rang　for　lights？〃　said　the　footman；　coming　in　with　the　candles。　　When　the　lovers　were　alone　together；　Mme　de　Langeais　still　lay　on　her　couch；　she　was　just　as　silent　and　motionless　as　if　Montriveau　had　not　been　there。

〃Dear；　I　was　wrong；〃　he　began；　a　note　of　pain　and　a　sublime　kindness　in　his　voice。　　〃Indeed；　I　would　not　have　you　without　religion〃

〃It　is　fortunate　that　you　can　recognise　the　necessity　of　a　conscience；〃　she　said　in　a　hard　voice；　without　looking　at　him。　　〃I　thank　you　in　God's　name。〃

The　General　was　broken　down　by　her　harshness；　this　woman　seemed　as　if　she　could　be　at　will　a　sister　or　a　stranger　to　him。　　He　made　one　despairing　stride　towards　the　door。　　He　would　leave　her　forever　without　another　word。　　He　was　wretched；　and　the　Duchess　was　laughing　within　herself　over　mental　anguish　far　more　cruel　than　the　old　judicial　torture。　　But　as　for　going　away；　it　was　not　in　his　power　to　do　it。　　In　any　sort　of　crisis；　a　woman　is；　as　it　were；　bursting　with　a　certain　quantity　of　things　to　say；　so　long　as　she　has　not　delivered　herself　of　them；　she　experiences　the　sensation　which　we　are　apt　to　feel　at　the　sight　of　something　incomplete。　　Mme　de　Langeais　had　not　said　all　that　was　in　her　mind。　　She　took　up　her　parable　and　said

〃We　have　not　the　same　convictions；　General；　I　am　pained　to　think。　　It　would　be　dreadful　if　a　woman　could　not　believe　in　a　religion　which　permits　us　to　love　beyond　the　grave。　　I　set　Christian　sentiments　aside；　you　cannot　understand　them。　　Let　me　simply　speak　to　you　of　expediency。　　Would　you　forbid　a　woman　at　court　the　table　of　the　Lord　when　it　is　customary　to　take　the　sacrament　at　Easter？　　People　must　certainly　do　something　for　their　party。　　The　Liberals；　whatever　they　may　wish　to　do；　will　never　destr