a woman of thirty-第24章
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in response to his farewell greeting； but it was with lowered eyes and averted face。 She did not wish to see him again。 The village cure had judged this poor Diana of Ephesus only too well。
III。
AT THIRTY YEARS
Madame Firmiani was giving a ball。 M。 Charles de Vandenesse； a young man of great promise； the bearer of one of those historic names which； in spite of the efforts of legislation； are always associated with the glory of France； had received letters of introduction to some of the great lady's friends in Naples； and had come to thank the hostess and to take his leave。
Vandenesse had already acquitted himself creditably on several diplomatic missions； and now that he had received an appointment as attache to a plenipotentiary at the Congress of Laybach； he wished to take advantage of the opportunity to make some study of Italy on the way。 This ball was a sort of farewell to Paris and its amusements and its rapid whirl of life； to the great eddying intellectual centre and maelstrom of pleasure； and a pleasant thing it is to be borne along by the current of this sufficiently slandered great city of Paris。 Yet Charles de Vandenesse had little to regret； accustomed as he had been for the past three years to salute European capitals and turn his back upon them at the capricious bidding of a diplomatist's destiny。 Women no longer made any impression upon him； perhaps he thought that a real passion would play too large a part in a diplomatist's life； or perhaps that the paltry amusements of frivolity were too empty for a man of strong character。 We all of us have huge claims to strength of character。 There is no man in France； be he ever so ordinary a member of the rank and file of humanity； that will waive pretensions to something beyond mere cleverness。
Charles； young though he washe was scarcely turned thirtylooked at life with a philosophic mind； concerning himself with theories and means and ends； while other men of his age were thinking of pleasure； sentiments； and the like illusions。 He forced back into some inner depth the generosity and enthusiasms of youth； and by nature he was generous。 He tried hard to be cool and calculating； to coin the fund of wealth which chanced to be in his nature into gracious manners； and courtesy； and attractive arts； 'tis the proper task of an ambitious man； to play a sorry part to gain 〃a good position；〃 as we call it in modern days。
He had been dancing； and now he gave a farewell glance over the rooms； to carry away a distinct impression of the ball； moved； doubtless； to some extent by the feeling which prompts a theatre…goer to stay in his box to see the final tableau before the curtain falls。 But M。 de Vandenesse had another reason for his survey。 He gazed curiously at the scene before him； so French in character and in movement； seeking to carry away a picture of the light and laughter and the faces at this Parisian fete； to compare with the novel faces and picturesque surroundings awaiting him at Naples； where he meant to spend a few days before presenting himself at his post。 He seemed to be drawing the comparison now between this France so variable； changing even as you study her； with the manners and aspects of that other land known to him as yet only by contradictory hearsay tales or books of travel； for the most part unsatisfactory。 Thoughts of a somewhat poetical cast； albeit hackneyed and trite to our modern ideas； crossed his brain； in response to some longing of which； perhaps； he himself was hardly conscious； a desire in the depths of a heart fastidious rather than jaded； vacant rather than seared。
〃These are the wealthiest and most fashionable women and the greatest ladies in Paris；〃 he said to himself。 〃These are the great men of the day； great orators and men of letters； great names and titles； artists and men in power； and yet in it all it seems to me as if there were nothing but petty intrigues and still…born loves； meaningless smiles and causeless scorn； eyes lighted by no flame within； brain…power in abundance running aimlessly to waste。 All those pink…and…white faces are here not so much for enjoyment； as to escape from dulness。 None of the emotion is genuine。 If you ask for nothing but court feathers properly adjusted； fresh gauzes and pretty toilettes and fragile； fair women； if you desire simply to skim the surface of life； here is your world for you。 Be content with meaningless phrases and fascinating simpers； and do not ask for real feeling。 For my own part； I abhor the stale intrigues which end in sub…prefectures and receiver…generals' places and marriages； or； if love comes into the question； in stealthy compromises； so ashamed are we of the mere semblance of passion。 Not a single one of all these eloquent faces tells you of a soul； a soul wholly absorbed by one idea as by remorse。 Regrets and misfortune go about shame…facedly clad in jests。 There is not one woman here whose resistance I should care to overcome； not one who could drag you down to the pit。 Where will you find energy in Paris？ A poniard here is a curious toy to hang from a gilt nail； in a picturesque sheath to match。 The women； the brains； and hearts of Paris are all on a par。 There is no passion left； because we have no individuality。 High birth and intellect and fortune are all reduced to one level； we all have taken to the uniform black coat by way of mourning for a dead France。 There is no love between equals。 Between two lovers there should be differences to efface； wide gulfs to fill。 The charm of love fled from us in 1789。 Our dulness and our humdrum lives are the outcome of the political system。 Italy at any rate is the land of sharp contrasts。 Woman there is a malevolent animal； a dangerous unreasoning siren； guided only by her tastes and appetites； a creature no more to be trusted than a tiger〃
Mme。 Firmiani here came up to interrupt this soliloquy made up of vague； conflicting； and fragmentary thoughts which cannot be reproduced in words。 The whole charm of such musing lies in its vaguenesswhat is it but a sort of mental haze？
〃I want to introduce you to some one who has the greatest wish to make your acquaintance； after all that she has heard of you；〃 said the lady； taking his arm。
She brought him into the next room； and with such a smile and glance as a Parisienne alone can give； she indicated a woman sitting by the hearth。
〃Who is she？〃 the Comte de Vandenesse asked quickly。
〃You have heard her name more than once coupled with praise or blame。 She is a woman who lives in seclusiona perfect mystery。〃
〃Oh！ if ever you have been merciful in your life； for pity's sake tell me her name。〃
〃She is the Marquise d'Aiglemont。〃
〃I will take lessons from her； she had managed to make a peer of France of that eminently ordinary person her husband； and a dullard into a power in the land。 But； pray tell me this； did Lord Grenville die for her sake； do you think； as some women say？〃
〃Possibly。 Since that adventure； real or imaginary； she is very much changed； poor thing！ She has not gone into society since。 Four years of constancythat is something in Paris。 If she is here to…night〃 Here Mme。 Firmiani broke off； adding with a mysterious expression； 〃I am forgetting that I must say nothing。 Go and talk with her。〃
For a moment Charles stood motionless； leaning lightly against the frame of the doorway； wholly absorbed in his scrutiny of a woman who had become famous； no one exactly knew how or why。 Such curious anomalies are frequent enough in the world。 Mme。 d'Aiglemont's reputation was certainly no more extraordinary than plenty of other great reputations。 There are men who are always in travail of some great work which never sees the light； statisticians held to be profound on the score of calculations which they take very good care not to publish； politicians who live on a newspaper article； men of letters and artists whose performances are never given to the world； men of science； much as Sganarelle is a Latinist for those who know no Latin； there are the men who are allowed by general consent to possess a peculiar capacity for some one thing； be it for the direction of arts； or for the conduct of an important mission。 The admirable phrase； 〃A man wit
