按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 noted
the qualities they lacked； and either