the duchesse de langeais-第30章
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nt putting forth of strength and longing； called suspense； is surely； to the human soul； as fragrance to the flower that breathes it forth。 We soon leave the brilliant； unsatisfying colours of tulips and coreopsis； but we turn again and again to drink in the sweetness of orange…blossoms or volkameria…flowers compared separately； each in its own land； to a betrothed bride； full of love； made fair by the past and future。
The Duchess learned the joys of this new life of hers through the rapture with which she received the scourgings of love。 As this change wrought in her； she saw other destinies before her； and a better meaning in the things of life。 As she hurried to her dressing…room； she understood what studied adornment and the most minute attention to her toilet mean when these are undertaken for love's sake and not for vanity。 Even now this making ready helped her to bear the long time of waiting。 A relapse of intense agitation set in when she was dressed； she passed through nervous paroxysms brought on by the dreadful power which sets the whole mind in ferment。 Perhaps that power is only a disease； though the pain of it is sweet。 The Duchess was dressed and waiting at two o clock in the afternoon。 At half…past eleven that night M。 de Montriveau had not arrived。 To try to give an idea of the anguish endured by a woman who might be said to be the spoilt child of civilisation； would be to attempt to say how many imaginings the heart can condense into one thought。 As well endeavour to measure the forces expended by the soul in a sigh whenever the bell rang； to estimate the drain of life when a carriage rolled past without stopping； and left her prostrate。
〃Can he be playing with me？〃 she said； as the clocks struck midnight。
She grew white； her teeth chattered； she struck her hands together and leapt up and crossed the boudoir； recollecting as she did so how often he had come thither without a summons。 But she resigned herself。 Had she not seen him grow pale； and start up under the stinging barbs of irony？ Then Mme de Langeais felt the horror of the woman's appointed lot； a man's is the active part； a woman must wait passively when she loves。 If a woman goes beyond her beloved； she makes a mistake which few men can forgive； almost every man would feel that a woman lowers herself by this piece of angelic flattery。 But Armand's was a great nature； he surely must be one of the very few who can repay such exceeding love by love that lasts forever。
〃Well； I will make the advance；〃 she told herself； as she tossed on her bed and found no sleep there； 〃I will go to him。 I will not weary myself with holding out a hand to him； but I will hold it out。 A man of a thousand will see a promise of love and constancy in every step that a woman takes towards him。 Yes； the angels must come down from heaven to reach men； and I wish to be an angel for him。〃
Next day she wrote。 It was a billet of the kind in which the intellects of the ten thousand Sevignes that Paris now can number particularly excel。 And yet only a Duchesse de Langeais； brought up by Mme la Princesse de Blamont…Chauvry； could have written that delicious note； no other woman could complain without lowering herself； could spread wings in such a flight without draggling her pinions in humiliation； rise gracefully in revolt； scold without giving offence； and pardon without compromising her personal dignity。
Julien went with the note。 Julien； like his kind； was the victim of love's marches and countermarches。
〃What did M。 de Montriveau reply？〃 she asked； as indifferently as she could； when the man came back to report himself。
〃M。 le Marquis requested me to tell Mme la Duchesse that it was all right。
Oh the dreadful reaction of the soul upon herself！ To have her heart stretched on the rack before curious witnesses； yet not to utter a sound； to be forced to keep silence！ One of the countless miseries of the rich！
More than three weeks went by。 Mme de Langeais wrote again and again； and no answer came from Montriveau。 At last she gave out that she was ill； to gain a dispensation from attendance on the Princess and from social duties。 She was only at home to her father the Duc de Navarreins； her aunt the Princesse de Blamont…Chauvry； the old Vidame de Pamiers （her maternal great…uncle）； and to her husband's uncle； the Duc de Grandlieu。 These persons found no difficulty in believing that the Duchess was ill； seeing that she grew thinner and paler and more dejected every day。 The vague ardour of love； the smart of wounded pride； the continual prick of the only scorn that could touch her； the yearnings towards joys that she craved with a vain continual longingall these things told upon her； mind and body； all the forces of her nature were stimulated to no purpose。 She was paying the arrears of her life of make…believe。
She went out at last to a review。 M。 de Montriveau was to be there。 For the Duchess； on the balcony of the Tuileries with the Royal Family； it was one of those festival days that are long remembered。 She looked supremely beautiful in her languor； she was greeted with admiration in all eyes。 It was Montriveau's presence that made her so fair。
Once or twice they exchanged glances。 The General came almost to her feet in all the glory of that soldier's uniform； which produces an effect upon the feminine imagination to which the most prudish will confess。 When a woman is very much in love； and has not seen her lover for two months； such a swift moment must be something like the phase of a dream when the eyes embrace a world that stretches away forever。 Only women or young men can imagine the dull； frenzied hunger in the Duchess's eyes。 As for older men； if during the paroxysms of early passion in youth they had experience of such phenomena of nervous power； at a later day it is so completely forgotten that they deny the very existence of the luxuriant ecstasythe only name that can be given to these wonderful intuitions。 Religious ecstasy is the aberration of a soul that has shaken off its bonds of flesh； whereas in amorous ecstasy all the forces of soul and body are embraced and blended in one。 If a woman falls a victim to the tyrannous frenzy before which Mme de Langeais was forced to bend； she will take one decisive resolution after another so swiftly that it is impossible to give account of them。 Thought after thought rises and flits across her brain； as clouds are whirled by the wind across the grey veil of mist that shuts out the sun。 Thenceforth the facts reveal all。 And the facts are these。
The day after the review； Mme de Langeais sent her carriage and liveried servants to wait at the Marquis de Montriveau's door from eight o'clock in the morning till three in the afternoon。 Armand lived in the Rue de Tournon； a few steps away from the Chamber of Peers； and that very day the House was sitting； but long before the peers returned to their palaces； several people had recognised the Duchess's carriage and liveries。 The first of these was the Baron de Maulincour。 That young officer had met with disdain from Mme de Langeais and a better reception from Mme de Serizy； he betook himself at once therefore to his mistress； and under seal of secrecy told her of this strange freak。
In a moment the news was spread with telegraphic speed through all the coteries in the Faubourg Saint…Germain； it reached the Tuileries and the Elysee…Bourbon； it was the sensation of the day； the matter of all the talk from noon till night。 Almost everywhere the women denied the facts； but in such a manner that the report was confirmed； the men one and all believed it； and manifested a most indulgent interest in Mme de Langeais。 Some among them threw the blame on Armand。
〃That savage of a Montriveau is a man of bronze；〃 said they； 〃he insisted on making this scandal； no doubt。〃
〃Very well； then；〃 others replied； 〃Mme de Langeais has been guilty of a most generous piece of imprudence。 To renounce the world and rank； and fortune； and consideration for her lover's sake； and that in the face of all Paris； is as fine a coup d'etat for a woman as that barber's knife…thrust； which so affected Canning in a court of assize。 Not on
