la constantin- 第6部分

〃A　young　man；〃　continued　the　commander；　〃who　has　come　back　with　me　from　abroad。　　Good　style；　as　you　see；　charming　appearance。　　Now；　you　young　innocent；　lift　up　your　great　black　eyes　and　kiss　madame's　hand；　I　allow　it。〃

〃Monsieur　le　commandeur；　leave　my　room；　begone；　or　I　shall　call〃

〃Whom；　then？　　Your　lackeys？　　But　I　have　beaten　the　only　one　you　keep；　as　I　told　you；　and　it　will　be　some　time　before　he'll　be　in　a　condition　to　light　me　downstairs：　'Begone；'　indeed！　　Is　that　the　way　you　receive　an　old　friend？　　Pray　be　seated；　chevalier。〃

He　approached　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi；　and；　despite　her　resistance；　seized　hold　of　one　of　her　hands；　and　forcing　her　to　sit　down；　seated　himself　beside　her。

〃That's　right；　my　girl；〃　said　he；　〃now　let　us　talk　sense。　　I　understand　that　before　a　stranger　you　consider　　yourself　obliged　to　appear　astonished　at　my　ways　of　going　on。　　But　he　knows　all　about　us；　and　nothing　he　may　see　or　hear　will　surprise　him。　　So　a　truce　to　prudery！　　I　came　back　yesterday；　but　I　could　not　make　out　your　hiding…place　till　to…day。　　Now　I'm　not　going　to　ask　you　to　tell　me　how　you　have　gone　on　in　my　absence。　　God　and　you　alone　know；　and　while　He　will　tell　me　nothing；　you　would　only　tell　me　fibs；　and　I　want　to　save　you　from　that　venial　sin　at　least。　　But　here　I　am；　in　as　good　spirits　as　ever；　more　in　love　than　ever；　and　quite　ready　to　resume　my　old　habits。〃

Meantime　the　lady；　quite　subdued　by　his　noisy　entrance　and　ruffianly　conduct；　and　seeing　that　an　assumption　of　dignity　would　only　draw　down　on　her　some　fresh　impertinence；　appeared　to　resign　herself　to　her　position。　　All　this　time　Quennebert　never　took　his　eyes　from　the　chevalier；　who　sat　with　his　face　towards　the　partition。　　His　elegantly　cut　costume　accentuated　his　personal　advantages。　　His　jet　black　hair　brought　into　relief　the　whiteness　of　his　forehead；　his　large　dark　eyes　with　their　veined　lids　and　silky　lashes　had　a　penetrating　and　peculiar　expressiona　mixture　of　audacity　and　weakness；　his　thin　and　somewhat　pale　lips　were　apt　to　curl　in　an　ironical　smile；　his　hands　were　of　perfect　beauty；　his　feet　of　dainty　smallness；　and　he　showed　with　an　affectation　of　complaisance　a　well…turned　leg　above　his　ample　boots；　the　turned　down　tops　of　which；　garnished　with　lace；　fell　in　irregular　folds　aver　his　ankles　in　the　latest　fashion。　　He　did　not　appear　to　be　more　than　eighteen　years　of　age；　and　nature　had　denied　his　charming　face　the　distinctive　sign　of　his　sex　for　not　the　slightest　down　was　visible　on　his　chin；　though　a　little　delicate　pencilling　darkened　his　upper　lip：　His　slightly　effeminate　style　of　beauty；　the　graceful　curves　of　his　figure；　his　expression；　sometimes　coaxing；　sometimes　saucy；　reminding　one　of　a　page；　gave　him　the　appearance　of　a　charming　young　scapegrace　destined　to　inspire　sudden　passions　and　wayward　fancies。　　While　his　pretended　uncle　was　making　himself　at　home　most　unceremoniously；　Quennebert　remarked　that　the　chevalier　at　once　began　to　lay　siege　to　his　fair　hostess；　bestowing　tender　and　love…laden　glances　on　her　behind　that　uncle's　back。　　This　redoubled　his　curiosity。

〃My　dear　girl；〃　said　the　commander；　〃since　I　saw　you　last　I　have　come　into　a　fortune　of　one　hundred　thousand　livres；　neither　more　nor　less。　One　of　my　dear　aunts　took　it　into　her　head　to　depart　this　life；　and　her　temper　being　crotchety　and　spiteful　she　made　me　her　sole　heir；　in　order　to　enrage　those　of　her　relatives　who　had　nursed　her　in　her　illness。　　One　hundred　thousand　livres！　　It's　a　round　sumenough　to　cut　a　great　figure　with　for　two　years。　　If　you　like；　we　shall　squander　it　together；　capital　and　interest。　　Why　do　you　not　speak？　Has　anyone　else　robbed　me　by　any　chance　of　your　heart？　　If　that　were　so；　I　should　be　in　despair；　upon　my　word…for　the　sake　of　the　fortunate　individual　who　had　won　your　favour；　for　I　will　brook　no　rivals；　I　give　you　fair　warning。〃

〃Monsieur　le　commandeur；〃　answered　Angelique；　〃you　forget；　in　speaking　to　me　in　that　manner；　I　have　never　given　you　any　right　to　control　my　actions。〃

〃Have　we　severed　our　connection？〃

At　this　singular　question　Angelique　started；　but　de　Jars　continued

〃When　last　we　parted　we　were　on　the　best　of　terms；　were　we　not？　　I　know　that　some　months　have　elapsed　since　then；　but　I　have　explained　to　you　the　reason　of　my　absence。　　Before　filling　up　the　blank　left　by　the　departed　we　must　give　ourselves　space　to　mourn。　　Well；　was　I　right　in　my　guess？　　Have　you　given　me　a　successor？〃

Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi　had　hitherto　succeeded　in　controlling　her　indignation；　and　had　tried　to　force　herself　to　drink　the　bitter　cup　of　humiliation　to　the　dregs；　but　now　she　could　bear　it　no　longer。　Having　thrown　a　look　expressive　of　her　suffering　at　the　young　chevalier；　who　continued　to　ogle　her　with　great　pertinacity；　she　decided　on　bursting　into　tears；　and　in　a　voice　broken　by　sobs　she　exclaimed　that　she　was　miserable　at　being　treated　in　this　manner；　that　she　did　not　deserve　it；　and　that　Heaven　was　punishing　her　for　her　error　in　yielding　to　the　entreaties　of　the　commander。　　One　would　have　sworn　she　was　sincere　and　that　the　words　came　from　her　heart。　If　Maitre　Quennebert　had　not　witnessed　the　scene　with　Jeannin；　if　he　had　not　known　how　frail　was　the　virtue　of　the　weeping　damsel；　he　might　have　been　affected　by　her　touching　plaint。　　The　chevalier　appeared　to　be　deeply　moved　by　Angelique's　grief；　and　while　his；　uncle　was　striding　up　and　down　the　room　and　swearing　like　a　trooper；　he　gradually　approached　her　and　expressed　by　signs　the　compassion　he　felt。

Meantime　the　notary　was　in　a　strange　state　of　mind。　　He　had　not　yet　made　up　his　mind　whether　the　whole　thing　was　a　joke　arranged　between　de　Jars　and　Jeannin　or　not；　but　of　one　thing　he　was　quite　convinced；　the　sympathy　which　Chevalier　de　Moranges　was　expressing　by　passionate　sighs　and　glances　was　the　merest　hypocrisy。　　Had　he　been　alone；　nothing　would　have　prevented　his　dashing　head　foremost　into　this　imbroglio；　in　scorn　of　consequence；　convinced　that　his　appearance　would　be　as　terrible　in　its　effect　as　the　head　of　Medusa。　　But　the　presence　of　the　widow　restrained　him。　　Why　ruin　his　future　and　dry　up　the　golden　spring　which　had　just　begun　to　gush　before　his　eyes；　for　the　sake　of　taking　part　in　a　melodrama？　　Prudence　and　self…interest　kept　him　in　the　side　scenes。

The　tears　of　the　fair　one　and　the　glances　of　the　chevalier　awoke　no　repentance　in　the　breast　of　the　commander；　on　the　contrary；　he　began　to　vent　his　anger　in　terms　still　more　energetic。　　He　strode　up　and　down　the　oaken　floor　till　it　shook　under　his　spurred　heels；　he　stuck　his　plumed　hat　on　the　side　of　his　head；　and　displayed　the　manners　of　a　bully　in　a　Spanish　comedy。　　Suddenly　he　seemed　to　have　come　to　a　swift　resolution：　the　expression　of　his　face　changed　from　rage　to　icy　coldness；　and　walking　up　to　Angelique；　he　said；　with　a　composure　more　terrible　than　the　wildest　fury

〃My　rival's　name？〃

〃You　shall　never　learn　it　from　me！〃

〃Madame；　his　name？〃

〃Never！　　I　have　borne　your　insults　too　long。　　I　am　not　responsible　to　you　for　my　actions。〃

〃Well；　I　shall　learn　it；　in　spite　of　you；　and　I　know　to　whom　to　apply。　　Do　you　think　you　can　play　fast　and　loose　with　me　and　my　love？　No；　no！　　I　used　to　believe　in　you；　I　turned；　a　deaf　ear　to　your　traducers。　　My　mad　passion　for　you　became　known；　I　was　the　jest　and　the　butt　of　the　town。　　But　you　have　opened　my　eyes；　and　at　last　I　see　clearly　on　whom　my　vengeance　ought　to　fall。　　He　was　formerly　my　friend；　and　I　would　believe　nothing　against　him；　although　I　was　often　warned；　I　took　no　notice。　　But　now　I　will　seek　him　out；　and　say　to　him；　'You　have　stolen　what　was　mine；　you　are　a　scoundrel！　　It　must　be　your　life；　or　mine！'　　And　if；　there　is　justice　in　heaven；　I　shall　kill　him！　　Well；　madame；　you　don't　ask　me　the　name　of　this　man！　　You　well　know　whom　I　mean！〃

This　threat　brought　home　to　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi　how　imminent　was　her　danger。　　At　first　she　had　thought　the　commander's　visit　might　be　a　snare　laid　to　test　her；　but　the　coarseness　of　his　expressions；　the　cynicism　of　his　overtures　in　the　presence　of　a　third　person；　had　convinced　her　she　was　wrong。　　No　man　could　have　imagined　that　the　revolting　method　of　seduction　employed　could　meet　with　success；　and　if　the　commander　had　desired　to　convict　her　of　perfidy　he　would　have　come　alone　and　made　use　of　more　persuasive　weapons。　　No；　he　believed　he　still　had　claims　on　her；　but　even　if　he　had；　by　his　manner　of　enforcing　them　he　had　rendered　them　void。　　However；　the　moment　he　threatened　to　seek　out　a　rival　whose　identity　he　designated　quite　clearly；　and　reveal　to　him　the　secret　it　was　so　necessary　to　her　interests　to　keep　hidden；　the　poor　girl　lost　her　head。　　She　looked　at　de　Jars　with　a　frightened　expression；　and　said　in　a　trembling　voice

〃I　don't　know　whom　you　mean。〃

〃You　don't　know？　　Well；　I　shall　commission　the　king's　treasurer；　Jeannin　de　Castille；　to　come　here　to…morrow　and　tell　you；　an　hour　before　our　duel。〃

〃Oh　no！　　no！　　Promise　me　you　will　not　do　that！〃　cried　she；　clasping　her　hands。

〃Adieu；　madame。〃

〃Do　not　leave　me　thus！　　I　cannot　let　you　go　till　you　give　me　your　promise！〃

She　threw　herself　on　her　knees　and　clung　with　both　her　hands　to　de　Jars'　cloak；　and　appealing　to　Chevalier　de　Moranges；　said

〃You　are　young；　monsieur；　I　have　never　done　you　any　harm；　protect　me；　have　pity　on　me；　help　me　to　soften　him！〃

〃Uncle；〃　said　the　chevalier　in　a　pleading　tone；　〃be　generous；　and　don't　drive　this　woman　to　despair。〃

〃Prayers　are　useless！〃　answered　the　commander。

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　said　Angelique。　　〃Shall　I　go　into　a　convent　to　atone？；　I　am　ready　to　go。　　Shall　I　promise　never　to　see　him　again？　　For　God's　sake；　give　me　a　little　time；　put　off　your　vengeance　for　one　single　day！　　To…morrow　evening；　I　swear　to　you；　you　will　have　nothing　more　to　fear　from　me。　　I　thought　myself　forgotten　by　you　and　abandoned；　and　how　should　I　think　otherwise？　　You　left　me　without　a　word　of　farewell；　you　stayed　away　and　never　sent　me　a　line！　And　how　do　you　know　that　I　did　not　weep　when　you　deserted　me；　leaving　me　to　pass　my　days　in　monotonous　solitude？　　How　do　you　know　that　I　did　not　make　every　effort　to　find　out　why　you　were　so　long　absent　from　my　side？　　You　say　you　had　left　town　but　how　was　I　to　know　that？　Oh！　　promise　me；　if　you　love　me；　to　g