an old maid-第19节
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Mademoiselle Cormon obtained a great triumph； she brought the nose of
the Princess Goritza flat on the table。 The chevalier； who little
expected such an apt remark from his Dulcinea； was so amazed that he
could at first find no words to express his admiration； he applauded
noiselessly； as they do at the Opera； tapping his fingers together to
imitate applause。
〃She is adorably witty；〃 he said to Madame Granson。 〃I always said
that some day she would unmask her batteries。〃
〃In private she is always charming；〃 replied the widow。
〃In private； madame； all women have wit；〃 returned the chevalier。
The Homeric laugh thus raised having subsided； Mademoiselle Cormon
asked the reason of her success。 Then began the FORTE of the gossip。
Du Bousquier was depicted as a species of celibate Pere Gigogne； a
monster； who for the last fifteen years had kept the Foundling
Hospital supplied。 His immoral habits were at last revealed！ these
Parisian saturnalias were the result of them； etc。； etc。 Conducted by
the Chevalier de Valois； a most able leader of an orchestra of this
kind； the opening of the CANCAN was magnificent。
〃I really don't know；〃 he said； 〃what should hinder a du Bousquier
from marrying a Mademoiselle Suzanne What's…her…name。 What IS her
name； do you know？ Suzette！ Though I have lodgings at Madame Lardot's；
I know her girls only by sight。 If this Suzette is a tall； fine； saucy
girl； with gray eyes； a slim waist； and a pretty foot； whom I have
occasionally seen； and whose behavior always seemed to me extremely
insolent； she is far superior in manners to du Bousquier。 Besides； the
girl has the nobility of beauty； from that point of view the marriage
would be a poor one for her； she might do better。 You know how the
Emperor Joseph had the curiosity to see the du Barry at Luciennes。 He
offered her his arm to walk about； and the poor thing was so surprised
at the honor that she hesitated to accept it： 'Beauty is ever a
queen；' said the Emperor。 And he； you know； was an Austrian…German；〃
added the chevalier。 〃But I can tell you that Germany； which is
thought here very rustic； is a land of noble chivalry and fine
manners； especially in Poland and Hungary； where〃
Here the chevalier stopped； fearing to slip into some allusion to his
personal happiness； he took out his snuff…box； and confided the rest
of his remarks to the princess； who had smiled upon him for thirty…six
years and more。
〃That speech was rather a delicate one for Louis XV。；〃 said du
Ronceret。
〃But it was； I think； the Emperor Joseph who made it； and not Louis
XV。；〃 remarked Mademoiselle Cormon； in a correcting tone。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said the chevalier； observing the malicious glance
exchanged between the judge； the notary； and the recorder； 〃Madame du
Barry was the Suzanne of Louis XV。；a circumstance well known to
scamps like ourselves； but unsuitable for the knowledge of young
ladies。 Your ignorance proves you to be a flawless diamond； historical
corruptions do not enter your mind。〃
The Abbe de Sponde looked graciously at the Chevalier de Valois； and
nodded his head in sign of his laudatory approbation。
〃Doesn't mademoiselle know history？〃 asked the recorder of mortgages。
〃If you mix up Louis XV。 and this girl Suzanne； how am I to know
history？〃 replied Mademoiselle Cormon； angelically； glad to see that
the dish of ducks was empty at last； and the conversation so ready to
revive that all present laughed with their mouths full at her last
remark。
〃Poor girl！〃 said the Abbe de Sponde。 〃When a great misfortune
happens； charity； which is divine love； and as blind as pagan love；
ought not to look into the causes of it。 Niece； you are president of
the Maternity Society； you must succor that poor girl； who will now
find it difficult to marry。〃
〃Poor child！〃 ejaculated Mademoiselle Cormon。
〃Do you suppose du Bousquier would marry her？〃 asked the judge。
〃If he is an honorable man he ought to do so；〃 said Madame Granson；
〃but really； to tell the truth； my dog has better morals than he〃
〃Azor is； however； a good purveyor；〃 said the recorder of mortgages；
with the air of saying a witty thing。
At dessert du Bousquier was still the topic of conversation； having
given rise to various little jokes which the wine rendered sparkling。
Following the example of the recorder； each guest capped his
neighbor's joke with another： Du Bousquier was a father； but not a
confessor； he was father less； he was father LY； he was not a reverend
father； nor yet a conscript…father
〃Nor can he be a foster…father；〃 said the Abbe de Sponde； with a
gravity which stopped the laughter。
〃Nor a noble father；〃 added the chevalier。
The Church and the nobility descended thus into the arena of puns；
without； however； losing their dignity。
〃Hush！〃 exclaimed the recorder of mortgages。 〃I hear the creaking of
du Bousquier's boots。〃
It usually happens that a man is ignorant of rumors that are afloat
about him。 A whole town may be talking of his affairs； may calumniate
and decry him； but if he has no good friends； he will know nothing
about it。 Now the innocent du Bousquier was superb in his ignorance。
No one had told him as yet of Suzanne's revelations； he therefore
appeared very jaunty and slightly conceited when the company； leaving
the dining…room； returned to the salon for their coffee； several other
guests had meantime assembled for the evening。 Mademoiselle Cormon；
from a sense of shamefacedness； dared not look at the terrible
seducer。 She seized upon Athanase； and began to lecture him with the
queerest platitudes about royalist politics and religious morality。
Not possessing； like the Chevalier de Valois； a snuff…box adorned with
a princess； by the help of which he could stand this torrent of
silliness； the poor poet listened to the words of her whom he loved
with a stupid air； gazing； meanwhile； at her enormous bust； which held
itself before him in that still repose which is the attribute of all
great masses。 His love produced in him a sort of intoxication which
changed the shrill voice of the old maid into a soft murmur； and her
flat remarks into witty speeches。 Love is a maker of false coin；
continually changing copper pennies into gold…pieces； and sometimes
turning its real gold into copper。
〃Well； Athanase； will you promise me？〃
This final sentence struck the ear of the absorbed young man like one
of those noises which wake us with a bound。
〃What； mademoiselle？〃
Mademoiselle Cormon rose hastily； and looked at du Bousquier； who at
that moment resembled the stout god of Fable which the Republic
stamped upon her coins。 She walked up to Madame Granson； and said in
her ear：
〃My dear friend； you son is an idiot。 That lyceum has ruined him；〃 she
added； remembering the insistence with which the chevalier had spoken
of the evils of education in such schools。
What a catastrophe！ Unknown to himself； the luckless Athanase had had
an occasion to fling an ember of his own fire upon the pile of brush
gathered in the heart of the old maid。 Had he listened to her； he
might have made her； then and there； perceive his passion； for； in the
agitated state of Mademoiselle Cormon's mind； a single word would have
sufficed。 But that stupid absorption in his own sentiments； which
characterizes young and true love； had ruined him； as a child full of
life sometimes kills itself out of ignorance。
〃What have you been saying to Mademoiselle Cormon？〃 demanded his
mother。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Nothing； well； I can explain that；〃 she thought to herself； putting
off till the next day all further reflection on the matter； and
attaching but little importance to Mademoiselle Cormon's words； for
she fully believed that du Bousquier was forever lost in the old
maid's esteem after the revelation of that evening。
Soon the four tables were filled with their sixteen players。 Four
persons were playing piquet；an expensive game； at which the most
money was lost。 Monsieur Choisnel； the procureur…du…roi； and two
ladies went into the boudoir for a game at backgammon。 The glass
lustres were lighted； and then the flower of Mademoiselle Cormon's
company gathered before the fireplace； on sofas； and around the
tables； and each couple said to her as they arrived；
〃So you are going to…morrow to Prebaudet？〃
〃Yes； I really must；〃 she replied。
On this occasion the mistress of the house appeared preoccupied。
Madame Granson was the first to perceive the quite unnatural state of
the old maid's mind；Mademoiselle Cormon was thinking！
〃What are you thinking of； cousin？〃 she said at last； finding her
seated in the boudoir。
〃I am thinking；〃 she replied； 〃of that poor girl。 As the president of
the Maternity Society； I will give you fifty francs for her。〃
〃Fifty francs！〃 cried Madame Granson。 〃But you have never given as
much
