modeste mignon-第52章
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〃That adaptability; however; leads a man to excuse himself in his own
eyes for actions that are diametrically opposed to each other; above
all; in politics。〃
〃Ah; mademoiselle;〃 Canalis was at this moment saying; in a caressing
voice; replying to a roguish remark of Modeste; 〃do not think that a
multiplicity of emotions can in any way lessen the strength of
feelings。 Poets; even more than other men; must needs love with
constancy and faith。 You must not be jealous of what is called the
Muse。 Happy is the wife of a man whose days are occupied。 If you heard
the complaints of women who have to endure the burden of an idle
husband; either a man without duties; or one so rich as to have
nothing to do; you would know that the highest happiness of a Parisian
wife is freedom;the right to rule in her own home。 Now we writers
and men of functions and occupations; we leave the sceptre to our
wives; we cannot descend to the tyranny of little minds; we have
something better to do。 If I ever marry;which I assure you is a
catastrophe very remote at the present moment;I should wish my wife
to enjoy the same moral freedom that a mistress enjoys; and which is
perhaps the real source of her attraction。〃
Canalis talked on; displaying the warmth of his fancy and all his
graces; for Modeste's benefit; as he spoke of love; marriage; and the
adoration of women; until Monsieur Mignon; who had rejoined them;
seized the opportunity of a slight pause to take his daughter's arm
and lead her up to Ernest de La Briere; whom he had been advising to
seek an open explanation with her。
〃Mademoiselle;〃 said Ernest; in a voice that was scarcely his own; 〃it
is impossible for me to remain any longer under the weight of your
displeasure。 I do not defend myself; I do not seek to justify my
conduct; I desire only to make you see that BEFORE reading your most
flattering letter; addressed to the individual and no longer to the
poet;the last which you sent to me;I wished; and I told you in my
note written at Havre that I wished; to correct the error under which
you were acting。 All the feelings that I have had the happiness to
express to you are sincere。 A hope dawned on me in Paris when your
father told me he was comparatively poor;but now that all is lost;
now that nothing is left for me but endless regrets; why should I stay
here where all is torture? Let me carry away with me one smile to live
forever in my heart。〃
〃Monsieur;〃 answered Modeste; who seemed cold and absent…minded; 〃I am
not the mistress of this house; but I certainly should deeply regret
to retain any one where he finds neither pleasure nor happiness。〃
She left La Briere and took Madame Dumay's arm to re…enter the house。
A few moments later all the actors in this domestic scene reassembled
in the salon; and were a good deal surprised to see Modeste sitting
beside the Duc d'Herouville and coquetting with him like an
accomplished Parisian woman。 She watched his play; gave him the advice
he wanted; and found occasion to say flattering things by ranking the
merits of noble birth with those of genius and beauty。 Canalis thought
he knew the reason of this change; he had tried to pique Modeste by
calling marriage a catastrophe; and showing that he was aloof from it;
but like others who play with fire; he had burned his fingers。
Modeste's pride and her present disdain frightened him; and he
endeavored to recover his ground; exhibiting a jealousy which was all
the more visible because it was artificial。 Modeste; implacable as an
angel; tasted the sweets of power; and; naturally enough; abused it。
The Duc d'Herouville had never known such a happy evening; a woman
smiled on him! At eleven o'clock; an unheard…of hour at the Chalet;
the three suitors took their leave;the duke thinking Modeste
charming; Canalis believing her excessively coquettish; and La Briere
heart…broken by her cruelty。
For eight days the heiress continued to be to her three lovers very
much what she had been during that evening; so that the poet appeared
to carry the day against his rivals; in spite of certain freaks and
caprices which from time to time gave the Duc d'Herouville a little
hope。 The disrespect she showed to her father; and the great liberties
she took with him; her impatience with her blind mother; to whom she
seemed to grudge the little services which had once been the delight
of her filial piety;seemed the result of a capricious nature and a
heedless gaiety indulged from childhood。 When Modeste went too far;
she turned round and openly took herself to task; ascribing her
impertinence and levity to a spirit of independence。 She acknowledged
to the duke and Canalis her distaste for obedience; and professed to
regard it as an obstacle to her marriage; thus investigating the
nature of her suitors; after the manner of those who dig into the
earth in search of metals; coal; tufa; or water。
〃I shall never;〃 she said; the evening before the day on which the
family were to move into the villa; 〃find a husband who will put up
with my caprices as my father does; his kindness never flags。 I am
sure no one will ever be as indulgent to me as my precious mother。〃
〃They know that you love them; mademoiselle;〃 said La Briere。
〃You may be very sure; mademoiselle; that your husband will know the
full value of his treasure;〃 added the duke。
〃You have spirit and resolution enough to discipline a husband;〃 cried
Canalis; laughing。
Modeste smiled as Henri IV。 must have smiled after drawing out the
characters of his three principal ministers; for the benefit of a
foreign ambassador; by means of three answers to an insidious
question。
On the day of the dinner; Modeste; led away by the preference she
bestowed on Canalis; walked alone with him up and down the gravelled
space which lay between the house and the lawn with its flower…beds。
From the gestures of the poet; and the air and manner of the young
heiress; it was easy to see that she was listening favorably to him。
The two demoiselles d'Herouville hastened to interrupt the scandalous
tete…a…tete; and with the natural cleverness of women under such
circumstances; they turned the conversation on the court; and the
distinction of an appointment under the crown;pointing out the
difference that existed between appointments in the household of the
king and those of the crown。 They tried to intoxicate Modeste's mind
by appealing to her pride; and describing one of the highest stations
to which a woman could aspire。
〃To have a duke for a son;〃 said the elder lady; 〃is an actual
advantage。 The title is a fortune that we secure to our children
without the possibility of loss。〃
〃How is it; then;〃 said Canalis; displeased at his tete…a…tete being
thus broken in upon; 〃that Monsieur le duc has had so little success
in a matter where his title would seem to be of special service to
him?〃
The two ladies cast a look at Canalis as full of venom as the tooth of
a snake; and they were so disconcerted by Modeste's amused smile that
they were actually unable to reply。
〃Monsieur le duc has never blamed you;〃 she said to Canalis; 〃for the
humility with which you bear your fame; why should you attack him for
his modesty?〃
〃Besides; we have never yet met a woman worthy of my nephew's rank;〃
said Mademoiselle d'Herouville。 〃Some had only the wealth of the
position; others; without fortune; had the wit and birth。 I must admit
that we have done well to wait till God granted us an opportunity to
meet one in whom we find the noble blood; the mind; and fortune of a
Duchesse d'Herouville。〃
〃My dear Modeste;〃 said Helene d'Herouville; leading her new friend
apart; 〃there are a thousand barons in the kingdom; just as there are
a hundred poets in Paris; who are worth as much as he; he is so little
of a great man that even I; a poor girl forced to take the veil for
want of a 'dot;' I would not take h