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recognized in the stern the elderly lady who had spoken so harshly to
him the evening before。
No one took any notice of Raphael as the boat passed； except the
elderly lady's companion； a poor old maid of noble family； who bowed
to him； and whom it seemed to him that he saw for the first time。 A
few seconds later he had already forgotten the visitors； who had
rapidly disappeared behind the promontory； when he heard the
fluttering of a dress and the sound of light footsteps not far from
him。 He turned about and saw the companion； and； guessing from her
embarrassed manner that she wished to speak with him； he walked
towards her。
She was somewhere about thirty…six years of age； thin and tall；
reserved and prim； and； like all old maids； seemed puzzled to know
which way to look； an expression no longer in keeping with her
measured； springless； and hesitating steps。 She was both young and old
at the same time； and； by a certain dignity in her carriage； showed
the high value which she set upon her charms and perfections。 In
addition； her movements were all demure and discreet； like those of
women who are accustomed to take great care of themselves； no doubt
because they desire not to be cheated of love； their destined end。
〃Your life is in danger； sir； do not come to the Club again！〃 she
said； stepping back a pace or two from Raphael； as if her reputation
had already been compromised。
〃But； mademoiselle；〃 said Raphael； smiling； 〃please explain yourself
more clearly； since you have condescended so far〃
〃Ah；〃 she answered； 〃unless I had had a very strong motive； I should
never have run the risk of offending the countess； for if she ever
came to know that I had warned you〃
〃And who would tell her； mademoiselle？〃 cried Raphael。
〃True；〃 the old maid answered。 She looked at him； quaking like an owl
out in the sunlight。 〃But think of yourself；〃 she went on； 〃several
young men； who want to drive you away from the baths； have agreed to
pick a quarrel with you； and to force you into a duel。〃
The elderly lady's voice sounded in the distance。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 began the Marquis； 〃my gratitude〃 But his
protectress had fled already； she had heard the voice of her mistress
squeaking afresh among the rocks。
〃Poor girl！ unhappiness always understands and helps the unhappy；〃
Raphael thought； and sat himself down at the foot of a tree。
The key of every science is； beyond cavil； the mark of interrogation；
we owe most of our greatest discoveries to a WHY？ and all the wisdom
in the world； perhaps； consists in asking WHEREFORE？ in every
connection。 But； on the other hand； this acquired prescience is the
ruin of our illusions。
So Valentin； having taken the old maid's kindly action for the text of
his wandering thoughts； without the deliberate promptings of
philosophy； must find it full of gall and wormwood。
〃It is not at all extraordinary that a gentlewoman's gentlewoman
should take a fancy to me；〃 said he to himself。 〃I am twenty…seven
years old； and I have a title and an income of two hundred thousand a
year。 But that her mistress； who hates water like a rabid catfor it
would be hard to give the palm to either in that matterthat her
mistress should have brought her here in a boat！ Is not that very
strange and wonderful？ Those two women came into Savoy to sleep like
marmots； they ask if day has dawned at noon； and to think that they
could get up this morning before eight o'clock； to take their chances
in running after me！〃
Very soon the old maid and her elderly innocence became； in his eyes；
a fresh manifestation of that artificial； malicious little world。 It
was a paltry device； a clumsy artifice； a piece of priest's or woman's
craft。 Was the duel a myth； or did they merely want to frighten him？
But these petty creatures； impudent and teasing as flies； had
succeeded in wounding his vanity； in rousing his pride； and exciting
his curiosity。 Unwilling to become their dupe； or to be taken for a
coward； and even diverted perhaps by the little drama； he went to the
Club that very evening。
He stood leaning against the marble chimney…piece； and stayed there
quietly in the middle of the principal saloon； doing his best to give
no one any advantage over him； but he scrutinized the faces about him；
and gave a certain vague offence to those assembled； by his
inspection。 Like a dog aware of his strength； he awaited the contest
on his own ground； without necessary barking。 Towards the end of the
evening he strolled into the cardroom； walking between the door and
another that opened into the billiard…room； throwing a glance from
time to time over a group of young men that had gathered there。 He
heard his name mentioned after a turn or two。 Although they lowered
their voices； Raphael easily guessed that he had become the topic of
their debate； and he ended by catching a phrase or two spoken aloud。
〃You？〃
〃Yes； I。〃
〃I dare you to do it！〃
〃Let us make a bet on it！〃
〃Oh； he will do it。〃
Just as Valentin； curious to learn the matter of the wager； came up to
pay closer attention to what they were saying； a tall； strong； good…
looking young fellow； who； however； possessed the impertinent stare
peculiar to people who have material force at their back； came out of
the billiard…room。
〃I am deputed； sir；〃 he said coolly addressing the Marquis； 〃to make
you aware of something which you do not seem to know； your face and
person generally are a source of annoyance to every one here； and to
me in particular。 You have too much politeness not to sacrifice
yourself to the public good； and I beg that you will not show yourself
in the Club again。〃
〃This sort of joke has been perpetrated before； sir； in garrison towns
at the time of the Empire； but nowadays it is exceedingly bad form；〃
said Raphael drily。
〃I am not joking；〃 the young man answered； 〃and I repeat it： your
health will be considerably the worse for a stay here； the heat and
light； the air of the saloon； and the company are all bad for your
complaint。〃
〃Where did you study medicine？〃 Raphael inquired。
〃I took my bachelor's degree on Lepage's shooting…ground in Paris； and
was made a doctor at Cerizier's； the king of foils。〃
〃There is one last degree left for you to take；〃 said Valentin； 〃study
the ordinary rules of politeness； and you will be a perfect
gentlemen。〃
The young men all came out of the billiard…room just then； some
disposed to laugh； some silent。 The attention of other players was
drawn to the matter； they left their cards to watch a quarrel that
rejoiced their instincts。 Raphael； alone among this hostile crowd； did
his best to keep cool； and not to put himself in any way in the wrong；
but his adversary having ventured a sarcasm containing an insult
couched in unusually keen language； he replied gravely：
〃We cannot box men's ears； sir； in these days； but I am at a loss for
any word by which to stigmatize such cowardly behavior as yours。〃
〃That's enough； that's enough。 You can come to an explanation to…
morrow；〃 several young men exclaimed； interposing between the two
champions。
Raphael left the room in the character of aggressor； after he had
a