at the sign of the cat and racket-第14章

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velvet　and　placed　in　the　centre　of　a　sort　of　apse　outlined　by　soft
folds　of　white　muslin　over　a　yellow　lining。　Ornaments　of　gilt　bronze；
arranged　with　exquisite　taste；　enhanced　this　sort　of　dais；　under　which
the　Duchess　reclined　like　a　Greek　statue。　The　dark　hue　of　the　velvet
gave　relief　to　every　fascinating　charm。　A　subdued　light；　friendly　to
her　beauty；　fell　like　a　reflection　rather　than　a　direct　illumination。
A　few　rare　flowers　raised　their　perfumed　heads　from　costly　Sevres
vases。　At　the　moment　when　this　picture　was　presented　to　Augustine's
astonished　eyes；　she　was　approaching　so　noiselessly　that　she　caught　a
glance　from　those　of　the　enchantress。　This　look　seemed　to　say　to　some
one　whom　Augustine　did　not　at　first　perceive；　〃Stay；　you　will　see　a
pretty　woman；　and　make　her　visit　seem　less　of　a　bore。〃

On　seeing　Augustine；　the　Duchess　rose　and　made　her　sit　down　by　her。

〃And　to　what　do　I　owe　the　pleasure　of　this　visit；　madame？〃　she　said
with　a　most　gracious　smile。

〃Why　all　the　falseness？〃　thought　Augustine；　replying　only　with　a　bow。

Her　silence　was　compulsory。　The　young　woman　saw　before　her　a
superfluous　witness　of　the　scene。　This　personage　was；　of　all　the
Colonels　in　the　army；　the　youngest；　the　most　fashionable；　and　the
finest　man。　His　face；　full　of　life　and　youth；　but　already　expressive；
was　further　enhanced　by　a　small　moustache　twirled　up　into　points；　and
as　black　as　jet；　by　a　full　imperial；　by　whiskers　carefully　combed；　and
a　forest　of　black　hair　in　some　disorder。　He　was　whisking　a　riding　whip
with　an　air　of　ease　and　freedom　which　suited　his　self…satisfied
expression　and　the　elegance　of　his　dress；　the　ribbons　attached　to　his
button…hole　were　carelessly　tied；　and　he　seemed　to　pride　himself　much
more　on　his　smart　appearance　than　on　his　courage。　Augustine　looked　at
the　Duchesse　de　Carigliano；　and　indicated　the　Colonel　by　a　sidelong
glance。　All　its　mute　appeal　was　understood。

〃Good…bye；　then；　Monsieur　d'Aiglemont；　we　shall　meet　in　the　Bois　de
Boulogne。〃

These　words　were　spoken　by　the　siren　as　though　they　were　the　result　of
an　agreement　made　before　Augustine's　arrival；　and　she　winged　them　with
a　threatening　look　that　the　officer　deserved　perhaps　for　the
admiration　he　showed　in　gazing　at　the　modest　flower；　which　contrasted
so　well　with　the　haughty　Duchess。　The　young　fop　bowed　in　silence；
turned　on　the　heels　of　his　boots；　and　gracefully　quitted　the　boudoir。
At　this　instant；　Augustine；　watching　her　rival；　whose　eyes　seemed　to
follow　the　brilliant　officer；　detected　in　that　glance　a　sentiment　of
which　the　transient　expression　is　known　to　every　woman。　She　perceived
with　the　deepest　anguish　that　her　visit　would　be　useless；　this　lady；
full　of　artifice；　was　too　greedy　of　homage　not　to　have　a　ruthless
heart。

〃Madame；〃　said　Augustine　in　a　broken　voice；　〃the　step　I　am　about　to
take　will　seem　to　you　very　strange；　but　there　is　a　madness　of　despair
which　ought　to　excuse　anything。　I　understand　only　too　well　why
Theodore　prefers　your　house　to　any　other；　and　why　your　mind　has　so
much　power　over　his。　Alas！　I　have　only　to　look　into　myself　to　find
more　than　ample　reasons。　But　I　am　devoted　to　my　husband；　madame。　Two
years　of　tears　have　not　effaced　his　image　from　my　heart；　though　I　have
lost　his。　In　my　folly　I　dared　to　dream　of　a　contest　with　you；　and　I
have　come　to　you　to　ask　you　by　what　means　I　may　triumph　over　yourself。
Oh；　madame；〃　cried　the　young　wife；　ardently　seizing　the　hand　which　her
rival　allowed　her　to　hold；　〃I　will　never　pray　to　God　for　my　own
happiness　with　so　much　fervor　as　I　will　beseech　Him　for　yours；　if　you
will　help　me　to　win　back　Sommervieux's　regardI　will　not　say　his
love。　I　have　no　hope　but　in　you。　Ah！　tell　me　how　you　could　please　him；
and　make　him　forget　the　first　days〃　At　these　words　Augustine　broke
down；　suffocated　with　sobs　she　could　not　suppress。　Ashamed　of　her
weakness；　she　hid　her　face　in　her　handkerchief；　which　she　bathed　with
tears。

〃What　a　child　you　are；　my　dear　little　beauty！〃　said　the　Duchess；
carried　away　by　the　novelty　of　such　a　scene；　and　touched；　in　spite　of
herself；　at　receiving　such　homage　from　the　most　perfect　virtue　perhaps
in　Paris。　She　took　the　young　wife's　handkerchief；　and　herself　wiped
the　tears　from　her　eyes；　soothing　her　by　a　few　monosyllables　murmured
with　gracious　compassion。　After　a　moment's　silence　the　Duchess；
grasping　poor　Augustine's　hands　in　both　her　ownhands　that　had　a　rare
character　of　dignity　and　powerful　beautysaid　in　a　gentle　and
friendly　voice：　〃My　first　warning　is　to　advise　you　not　to　weep　so
bitterly；　tears　are　disfiguring。　We　must　learn　to　deal　firmly　with　the
sorrows　that　make　us　ill；　for　love　does　not　linger　long　by　a　sick…bed。
Melancholy；　at　first；　no　doubt；　lends　a　certain　attractive　grace；　but
it　ends　by　dragging　the　features　and　blighting　the　loveliest　face。　And
besides；　our　tyrants　are　so　vain　as　to　insist　that　their　slaves　should
be　always　cheerful。〃

〃But；　madame；　it　is　not　in　my　power　not　to　feel。　How　is　it　possible；
without　suffering　a　thousand　deaths；　to　see　the　face　which　once　beamed
with　love　and　gladness　turn　chill；　colorless；　and　indifferent？　I
cannot　control　my　heart！〃

〃So　much　the　worse；　sweet　child。　But　I　fancy　I　know　all　your　story。　In
the　first　place；　if　your　husband　is　unfaithful　to　you；　understand
clearly　that　I　am　not　his　accomplice。　If　I　was　anxious　to　have　him　in
my　drawing…room；　it　was；　I　own；　out　of　vanity；　he　was　famous；　and　he
went　nowhere。　I　like　you　too　much　already　to　tell　you　all　the　mad
things　he　has　done　for　my　sake。　I　will　only　reveal　one；　because　it　may
perhaps　help　us　to　bring　him　back　to　you；　and　to　punish　him　for　the
audacity　of　his　behavior　to　me。　He　will　end　by　compromising　me。　I　know
the　world　too　well；　my　dear；　to　abandon　myself　to　the　discretion　of　a
too　superior　man。　You　should　know　that　one　may　allow　them　to　court
one；　but　marry　themthat　is　a　mistake！　We　women　ought　to　admire　men
of　genius；　and　delight　in　them　as　a　spectacle；　but　as　to　living　with
them？　Never。No；　no。　It　is　like　wanting　to　find　pleasure　in
inspecting　the　machinery　of　the　opera　instead　of　sitting　in　a　box　to
enjoy　its　brilliant　illusions。　But　this　misfortune　has　fallen　on　you；
my　poor　child；　has　it　not？　Well；　then；　you　must　try　to　arm　yourself
against　tyranny。〃

〃Ah；　madame；　before　coming　in　here；　only　seeing　you　as　I　came　in；　I
already　detected　some　arts　of　which　I　had　no　suspicion。〃

〃Well；　come　and　see　me　sometimes；　and　it　will　not　be　long　before　you
have　mastered　the　knowledge　of　these　trifles；　important；　too；　in　their
way。　Outward　things　are；　to　fools；　half　of　life；　and　in　that　matter
more　than　one　clever　man　is　a　fool；　in　spite　of　all　his　talent。　But　I
dare　wager　you　never　could　refuse　your　Theodore　anything！〃

〃How　refuse　anything；　madame；　if　one　loves　a　man？〃

〃Poor　innocent；　I　could　adore　you　for　your　simplicity。　You　should　know
that　the　more　we　love　the　less　we　should　allow　a　man；　above　all；　a
husband；　to　see　the　whole　extent　of　our　passion。　The　one　who　loves
most　is　tyrannized　over；　and；　which　is　worse；　is　sooner　or　later
neglected。　The　one　who　wishes　to　rule　should〃

〃What；　madame；　must　I　then　dissimulate；　calculate；　become　false；　form
an　artificial　character；　and　live　in　it？　How　is　it　possible　to　live　in
such　a　way？　Can　you〃　she　hesitated；　the　Duchess　smiled。

〃My　dear　child；〃　the　great　lady　went　on　in　a　serious　tone；　〃conjugal
happiness　has　in　all　times　been　a　speculation；　a　business　demanding
particular　attention。　If　you　persist　in　talking　passion　while　I　am
talking　marriage；　we　shall　soon　cease　to　understand　each　other。　Listen
to　me；〃　she　went　on；　assuming　a　confidential　tone。　〃I　have　been　in　the
way　of　seeing　some　of　the　superior　men　of　our　day。　Those　who　have
married　have　for　the　most　part　chosen　quite　insignificant　wives。　Well；
those　wives　governed　them；　as　the　Emperor　governs　us；　and　if　they　were
not　loved；　they　were　at　least　respected。　I　like　secretsespecially
those　which　concern　womenwell　enough　to　have　amused　myself　by
seeking　the　clue　to　the　riddle。　Well；　my　sweet　child；　those　worthy
women　had　the　gift　of　analyzing　their　husbands'　nature；　instead　of
taking　fright；　like　you；　at　their　superiority；　they　very　acutely