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第75章

cousin betty-第75章

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I shall get my change back; I hope; when Marneffe diesI have
invested in a wife; you see; that is the secret of my extravagance。 I
have solved the problem of playing the lord on easy terms。〃

〃Would you give your daughter such a mother…in…law? cried Madame
Hulot。

〃You do not know Valerie; madame;〃 replied Crevel gravely; striking
the attitude of his first manner。 〃She is a woman with good blood in
her veins; a lady; and a woman who enjoys the highest consideration。
Why; only yesterday the vicar of the parish was dining with her。 She
is pious; and we have presented a splendid monstrance to the church。

〃Oh! she is clever; she is witty; she is delightful; well informed
she has everything in her favor。 For my part; my dear Adeline; I owe
everything to that charming woman; she has opened my mind; polished my
speech; as you may have noticed; she corrects my impetuosity; and
gives me words and ideas。 I never say anything now that I ought not。 I
have greatly improved; you must have noticed it。 And then she has
encouraged my ambition。 I shall be a Deputy; and I shall make no
blunders; for I shall consult my Egeria。 Every great politician; from
Numa to our present Prime Minister; has had his Sibyl of the fountain。
A score of deputies visit Valerie; she is acquiring considerable
influence; and now that she is about to be established in a charming
house; with a carriage; she will be one of the occult rulers of Paris。

〃A fine locomotive! That is what such a woman is。 Oh; I have blessed
you many a time for your stern virtue。〃

〃It is enough to make one doubt the goodness of God!〃 cried Adeline;
whose indignation had dried her tears。 〃But; no! Divine justice must
be hanging over her head。〃

〃You know nothing of the world; my beauty;〃 said the great politician;
deeply offended。 〃The world; my Adeline; loves success! Say; now; has
it come to seek out your sublime virtue; priced at two hundred
thousand francs?〃

The words made Madame Hulot shudder; the nervous trembling attacked
her once more。 She saw that the ex…perfumer was taking a mean revenge
on her as he had on Hulot; she felt sick with disgust; and a spasm
rose to her throat; hindering speech。

〃Money!〃 she said at last。 〃Always money!〃

〃You touched me deeply;〃 said Crevel; reminded by these words of the
woman's humiliation; 〃when I beheld you there; weeping at my feet!
You perhaps will not believe me; but if I had my pocket…book about me;
it would have been yours。Come; do you really want such a sum?〃

As she heard this question; big with two hundred thousand francs;
Adeline forgot the odious insults heaped on her by this cheap…jack
fine gentleman; before the tempting picture of success described by
Machiavelli…Crevel; who only wanted to find out her secrets and laugh
over them with Valerie。

〃Oh! I will do anything; everything;〃 cried the unhappy woman。
〃Monsieur; I will sell myselfI will be a Valerie; if I must。〃

〃You will find that difficult;〃 replied Crevel。 〃Valerie is a
masterpiece in her way。 My good mother; twenty…five years of virtue
are always repellent; like a badly treated disease。 And your virtue
has grown very mouldy; my dear child。 But you shall see how much I
love you。 I will manage to get you your two hundred thousand francs。〃

Adeline; incapable of uttering a word; seized his hand and laid it on
her heart; a tear of joy trembled in her eyes。

〃Oh! don't be in a hurry; there will be some hard pulling。 I am a
jolly good fellow; a good soul with no prejudices; and I will put
things plainly to you。 You want to do as Valerie doesvery good。 But
that is not all; you must have a gull; a stockholder; a Hulot。Well;
I know a retired tradesmanin fact; a hosier。 He is heavy; dull; has
not an idea; I am licking him into shape; but I don't know when he
will do me credit。 My man is a deputy; stupid and conceited; the
tyranny of a turbaned wife; in the depths of the country; has
preserved him in a state of utter virginity as to the luxury and
pleasures of Paris life。 But Beauvisagehis name is Beauvisageis a
millionaire; and; like me; my dear; three years ago; he will give a
hundred thousand crowns to be the lover of a real lady。Yes; you
see;〃 he went on; misunderstanding a gesture on Adeline's part; 〃he is
jealous of me; you understand; jealous of my happiness with Madame
Marneffe; and he is a fellow quite capable of selling an estate to
purchase a〃

〃Enough; Monsieur Crevel!〃 said Madame Hulot; no longer controlling
her disgust; and showing all her shame in her face。 〃I am punished
beyond my deserts。 My conscience; so sternly repressed by the iron
hand of necessity; tells me; at this final insult; that such
sacrifices are impossible。My pride is gone; I do not say now; as I
did the first time; 'Go!' after receiving this mortal thrust。 I have
lost the right to do so。 I have flung myself before you like a
prostitute。

〃Yes;〃 she went on; in reply to a negative on Crevel's part; 〃I have
fouled my life; till now so pure; by a degrading thought; and I am
inexcusable!I know it!I deserve every insult you can offer me!
God's will be done! If; indeed; He desires the death of two creatures
worthy to appear before Him; they must die! I shall mourn them; and
pray for them! If it is His will that my family should be humbled to
the dust; we must bow to His avenging sword; nay; and kiss it; since
we are Christians。I know how to expiate this disgrace; which will be
the torment of all my remaining days。

〃I who speak to you; monsieur; am not Madame Hulot; but a wretched;
humble sinner; a Christian whose heart henceforth will know but one
feeling; and that is repentance; all my time given up to prayer and
charity。 With such a sin on my soul; I am the last of women; the first
only of penitents。You have been the means of bringing me to a right
mind; I can hear the Voice of God speaking within me; and I can thank
you!〃

She was shaking with the nervous trembling which from that hour never
left her。 Her low; sweet tones were quite unlike the fevered accents
of the woman who was ready for dishonor to save her family。 The blood
faded from her cheeks; her face was colorless; and her eyes were dry。

〃And I played my part very badly; did I not?〃 she went on; looking at
Crevel with the sweetness that martyrs must have shown in their eyes
as they looked up at the Proconsul。 〃True love; the sacred love of a
devoted woman; gives other pleasures; no doubt; than those that are
bought in the open market!But why so many words?〃 said she; suddenly
bethinking herself; and advancing a step further in the way to
perfection。 〃They sound like irony; but I am not ironical! Forgive me。
Besides; monsieur; I did not want to hurt any one but myself〃

The dignity of virtue and its holy flame had expelled the transient
impurity of the woman who; splendid in her own peculiar beauty; looked
taller in Crevel's eyes。 Adeline had; at this moment; the majesty of
the figures of Religion clinging to the Cross; as painted by the old
Venetians; but she expressed; too; the immensity of her love and the
grandeur of the Catholic Church; to which she flew like a wounded
dove。

Crevel was dazzled; astounded。

〃Madame; I am your slave; without conditions;〃 said he; in an
inspiration of generosity。 〃We will look into this matterand
whatever you wantthe impossible evenI will do。 I will pledge my
securities at the Bank; and in two hours you shall have the money。〃

〃Good God! a miracle!〃 said poor Adeline; falling on her knees。

She prayed to Heaven with such fervor as touched Crevel deeply; Madame
Hulot saw that he had tears in his eyes when; having ended her prayer;
she rose to her feet。

〃Be a friend to me; monsieur;〃 said she。 〃Your heart is better than
your words and conduct。 God gave you your soul; your passions and the
world have given you your ideas。 Oh; I will love you truly;〃 she
exclaimed; with an angelic tenderness in strange contrast with her
attempts at coquettish trickery。

〃But cease to tremble so;〃 said Crevel。

〃Am I trembling?〃 said the Baroness; unconscious of the infirmity that
had so suddenly come upon her。

〃Yes; why; look;〃 said Crevel; taking Adeline by the arm and showing
he

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