a woman of thirty- 第14部分

Louisa　gazed　into　the　fire。　The　full　extent　of　her　friend's　misery　was　opening　out　before　her　for　the　first　time；　and　she　dared　not　look　into　her　face。

〃Keep　my　secret；　Louisa；〃　said　Julie；　after　a　moment's　silence。

Just　as　she　spoke　the　footman　brought　in　a　letter　for　the　Marquise。

〃Ah！〃　she　cried；　and　her　face　grew　white。

〃I　need　not　ask　from　whom　it　comes；〃　said　Mme。　de　Wimphen；　but　the　Marquise　was　reading　the　letter；　and　heeded　nothing　else。

Mme。　de　Wimphen；　watching　her　friend；　saw　strong　feeling　wrought　to　the　highest　pitch；　ecstasy　of　the　most　dangerous　kind　painted　on　Julie's　face　in　swift　changing　white　and　red。　At　length　Julie　flung　the　sheet　into　the　fire。

〃It　burns　like　fire；〃　she　said。　〃Oh！　my　heart　beats　till　I　cannot　breathe。〃

She　rose　to　her　feet　and　walked　up　and　down。　Her　eyes　were　blazing。

〃He　did　not　leave　Paris！〃　she　cried。

Mme。　de　Wimphen　did　not　dare　to　interrupt　the　words　that　followed；　jerked…out　sentences；　measured　by　dreadful　pauses　in　between。　After　every　break　the　deep　notes　of　her　voice　sank　lower　and　lower。　There　was　something　awful　about　the　last　words。

〃He　has　seen　me；　constantly；　and　I　have　not　known　it。A　look；　taken　by　stealth；　every　day；　helps　him　to　live。Louisa；　you　do　not　know！　He　is　dying。He　wants　to　say　good…bye　to　me。　He　knows　that　my　husband　has　gone　away　for　several　days。　He　will　be　here　in　a　moment。　Oh！　I　shall　die：　I　am　lost。Listen；　Louisa；　stay　with　me！/I　am　afraid！/〃

〃But　my　husband　knows　that　I　have　been　dining　with　you；　he　is　sure　to　come　for　me；〃　said　Mme。　de　Wimphen。

〃Well；　then；　before　you　go　I　will　send　/him/　away。　I　will　play　the　executioner　for　us　both。　Oh　me！　he　will　think　that　I　do　not　love　him　any　moreAnd　that　letter　of　his！　Dear；　I　can　see　those　words　in　letters　of　fire。〃

A　carriage　rolled　in　under　the　archway。

〃Ah！〃　cried　the　Marquise；　with　something　like　joy　in　her　voice；　〃he　is　coming　openly。　He　makes　no　mystery　of　it。〃

〃Lord　Grenville；〃　announced　the　servant。

The　Marquise　stood　up　rigid　and　motionless；　but　at　the　sight　of　Arthur's　white　face；　so　thin　and　haggard；　how　was　it　possible　to　keep　up　the　show　of　severity？　Lord　Grenville　saw　that　Julie　was　not　alone；　but　he　controlled　his　fierce　annoyance；　and　looked　cool　and　unperturbed。　Yet　for　the　two　women　who　knew　his　secret；　his　face；　his　tones；　the　look　in　his　eyes　had　something　of　the　power　attributed　to　the　torpedo。　Their　faculties　were　benumbed　by　the　sharp　shock　of　contact　with　his　horrible　pain。　The　sound　of　his　voice　set　Julie's　heart　beating　so　cruelly　that　she　could　not　trust　herself　to　speak；　she　was　afraid　that　he　would　see　the　full　extent　of　his　power　over　her。　Lord　Grenville　did　not　dare　to　look　at　Julie；　and　Mme。　de　Wimphen　was　left　to　sustain　a　conversation　to　which　no　one　listened。　Julie　glanced　at　her　friend　with　touching　gratefulness　in　her　eyes　to　thank　her　for　coming　to　her　aid。

By　this　time　the　lovers　had　quelled　emotion　into　silence；　and　could　preserve　the　limits　laid　down　by　duty　and　convention。　But　M。　de　Wimphen　was　announced；　and　as　he　came　in　the　two　friends　exchanged　glances。　Both　felt　the　difficulties　of　this　fresh　complication。　It　was　impossible　to　enter　into　explanations　with　M。　de　Wimphen；　and　Louisa　could　not　think　of　any　sufficient　pretext　for　asking　to　be　left。

Julie　went　to　her；　ostensibly　to　wrap　her　up　in　her　shawl。　〃I　will　be　brave；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。　〃He　came　here　in　the　face　of　all　the　world；　so　what　have　I　to　fear？　Yet　but　for　you；　in　that　first　moment；　when　I　saw　how　changed　he　looked；　I　should　have　fallen　at　his　feet。〃

〃Well；　Arthur；　you　have　broken　your　promise　to　me；〃　she　said；　in　a　faltering　voice；　when　she　returned。　Lord　Grenville　did　not　venture　to　take　the　seat　upon　the　sofa　by　her　side。

〃I　could　not　resist　the　pleasure　of　hearing　your　voice；　of　being　near　you。　The　thought　of　it　came　to　be　a　sort　of　madness；　a　delirious　frenzy。　I　am　no　longer　master　of　myself。　I　have　taken　myself　to　task；　it　is　no　use；　I　am　too　weak；　I　ought　to　die。　But　to　die　without　seeing　you；　without　having　heard　the　rustle　of　your　dress；　or　felt　your　tears。　What　a　death！〃

He　moved　further　away　from　her；　but　in　his　hasty　uprising　a　pistol　fell　out　of　his　pocket。　The　Marquise　looked　down　blankly　at　the　weapon；　all　passion；　all　expression　had　died　out　of　her　eyes。　Lord　Grenville　stooped　for　the　thing；　raging　inwardly　over　an　accident　which　seemed　like　a　piece　of　lovesick　strategy。

〃/Arthur！/〃

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　looking　down；　〃I　came　here　in　utter　desperation；　I　meant〃　he　broke　off。

〃You　meant　to　die　by　your　own　hand　here　in　my　house！〃

〃Not　alone！〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。

〃Not　alone！　My　husband；　perhaps？〃

〃No；　no；〃　he　cried　in　a　choking　voice。　〃Reassure　yourself；〃　he　continued；　〃I　have　quite　given　up　my　deadly　purpose。　As　soon　as　I　came　in；　as　soon　as　I　saw　you；　I　felt　that　I　was　strong　enough　to　suffer　in　silence；　and　to　die　alone。〃

Julie　sprang　up；　and　flung　herself　into　his　arms。　Through　her　sobbing　he　caught　a　few　passionate　words；　〃To　know　happiness；　and　then　to　die。　Yes；　let　it　be　so。〃

All　Julie's　story　was　summed　up　in　that　cry　from　the　depths；　it　was　the　summons　of　nature　and　of　love　at　which　women　without　a　religion　surrender。　With　the　fierce　energy　of　unhoped…for　joy；　Arthur　caught　her　up　and　carried　her　to　the　sofa；　but　in　a　moment　she　tore　herself　from　her　lover's　arms；　looked　at　him　with　a　fixed　despairing　gaze；　took　his　hand；　snatched　up　a　candle；　and　drew　him　into　her　room。　When　they　stood　by　the　cot　where　Helene　lay　sleeping；　she　put　the　curtains　softly　aside；　shading　the　candle　with　her　hand；　lest　the　light　should　dazzle　the　half…closed　eyes　beneath　the　transparent　lids。　Helene　lay　smiling　in　her　sleep；　with　her　arms　outstretched　on　the　coverlet。　Julie　glanced　from　her　child　to　Arthur's　face。　That　look　told　him　all。

〃We　may　leave　a　husband；　even　though　he　loves　us：　a　man　is　strong；　he　has　consolations。We　may　defy　the　world　and　its　laws。　But　a　motherless　child！〃all　these　thoughts；　and　a　thousand　others　more　moving　still；　found　language　in　that　glance。

〃We　can　take　her　with　us；〃　muttered　he；　〃I　will　love　her　dearly。〃

〃Mamma！〃　cried　little　Helene；　now　awake。　Julie　burst　into　tears。　Lord　Grenville　sat　down　and　folded　his　arms　in　gloomy　silence。

〃Mamma！〃　At　the　sweet　childish　name；　so　many　nobler　feelings；　so　many　irresistible　yearnings　awoke；　that　for　a　moment　love　was　effaced　by　the　all…powerful　instinct　of　motherhood；　the　mother　triumphed　over　the　woman　in　Julie；　and　Lord　Grenville　could　not　hold　out；　he　was　defeated　by　Julie's　tears。

Just　at　that　moment　a　door　was　flung　noisily　open。　〃Madame　d'Aiglemont；　are　you　hereabouts？〃　called　a　voice　which　rang　like　a　crack　of　thunder　through　the　hearts　of　the　two　lovers。　The　Marquis　had　come　home。

Before　Julie　could　recover　her　presence　of　mind；　her　husband　was　on　the　way　to　the　door　of　her　room　which　opened　into　his。　Luckily；　at　a　sign；　Lord　Grenville　escaped　into　the　dressing…closet；　and　she　hastily　shut　the　door　upon　him。

〃Well；　my　lady；　here　am　I；〃　said　Victor；　〃the　hunting　party　did　not　come　off。　I　am　just　going　to　bed。〃

〃Good…night；　so　am　I。　So　go　and　leave　me　to　undress。〃

〃You　are　very　cross　to…night；　Madame　la　Marquise。〃

The　General　returned　to　his　room；　Julie　went　with　him　to　the　door　and　shut　it。　Then　she　sprang　to　the　dressing…close　to　release　Arthur。　All　her　presence　of　mind　returned；　she　bethought　herself　that　it　was　quite　natural　that　her　sometime　doctor　should　pay　her　a　visit；　she　might　have　left　him　in　the　drawing…room　while　she　put　her　little　girl　to　bed。　She　was　about　to　tell　him；　under　her　breath；　to　go　back　to　the　drawing…room；　and　had　opened　the　door。　Then　she　shrieked　aloud。　Lord　Grenville's　fingers　had　been　caught　and　crushed　in　the　door。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　demanded　her　husband。

〃Oh！　nothing；　I　have　just　pricked　my　finger　with　a　pin。〃

The　General's　door　opened　at　once。　Julie　imagined　that　the　irruption　was　due　to　a　sudden　concern　for　her；　and　cursed　a　solicitude　in　which　love　had　no　part。　She　had　barely　time　to　close　the　dressing…closet；　and　Lord　Grenville　had　not　extricated　his　hand。　The　General　did；　in　fact；　appear；　but　his　wife　had　mistaken　his　motives；　his　apprehensions　were　entirely　on　his　own　account。

〃Can　you　lend　me　a　bandana　handkerchief？　The　stupid　fool　Charles　leaves　me　without　a　single　one。　In　the　early　days　you　used　to　bother　me　with　looking　after　me　so　carefully。　Ah；　well；　the　honeymoon　did　not　last　very　long　for　me；　nor　yet　for　my　cravats。　Nowadays　I　am　given　over　to　the　secular　arm；　in　the　shape　of　servants　who　do　not　care　one　jack　straw　for　what　I　say。〃

〃There！　There　is　a　bandana　for　you。　Did　you　go　into　the　drawing…room？〃

〃No。〃

〃Oh！　you　might　perhaps　have　been　in　time　to　see　Lord　Grenville。〃

〃Is　he　in　Paris？〃

〃It　seems　so。〃

〃Oh！　I　will　go　at　once。　The　good　doctor。〃

〃But　he　will　have　gone　by　now！〃　exclaimed　Julie。

The　Marquis；　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　was　tying　the　handkerchief　over　his　head。　He　looked　complacently　at　himself　in　the　glass。

〃What　has　become　of　the　servants　is　more　than　I　know；〃　he　remarked。　〃I　have　rung　the　bell　for　Charles；　and　he　has　not　answered　it。　And　your　maid　is　not　here　either。　Ring　for　her。　I　should　like　another　blanket　on　my　bed　to…night。〃

〃Pauline　is　out；〃　the　Marquise　said　drily。

〃What；　at　midnight！〃　exclaimed　the　General。

〃I　gave　her　leave　to　go　to　the　Opera。〃

〃That　is　funny！〃　returned　her　husband；　continuing　to　undress。　〃I　thought　I　saw　her　coming　upstairs。〃

〃She　has　come　in　then；　of　course；〃　said　Julie；　with　assumed　impatience；　and　to　allay　any　possible　suspicion　on　her　husband's　part　she　pretended　to　ring　the　bell。



The　whole　history　of　that　night　has　never　been　known；　but　no　doubt　it　was　as　simple　and　as　tragically　commonplace　as　the　domestic　incidents　that　preceded　it。

Next　day　the　Marquise　d'Aiglemont　took　to　her　bed；　nor　did　she　leave　it　for　some　days。

〃What　can　have　happened　in　your　family　so　extraordinary　that　every　one　is　talking　about　your　wife？〃　asked　M。　de　Ronquerolles　of　M。　d'Aiglemont　a　short　time　after　that　night　of　catastrophes。

〃Take　my　advice　and　remain　a　bachelor；〃　said　d'Aiglemont。　〃The　curtains　of　Helene's　cot　caught　fire；　and　gave　my　wife　such　a　shock　that　it　will　b