an old maid-第25节
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women came down soon after； and announced that Mademoiselle Cormon was
much better； and that the doctor had come。 She intended to stay in
bed； as it was necessary to bleed her。 The salon was now full。
Mademoiselle Cormon's absence allowed the ladies present to discuss
the tragi…comic sceneembellished； extended； historified；
embroidered； wreathed； colored； and adornedwhich had just taken
place； and which； on the morrow； was destined to occupy all Alencon。
〃That good Monsieur du Bousquier！ how well he carried you！〃 said
Josette to her mistress。 〃He was really pale at the sight of you； he
loves you still。〃
That speech served as closure to this solemn and terrible evening。
Throughout the morning of the next day every circumstance of the late
comedy was known in the household of Alencon； andlet us say it to
the shame of that town；they caused inextinguishable laughter。 But on
that day Mademoiselle Cormon （much benefited by the bleeding） would
have seemed sublime even to the boldest scoffers； had they witnessed
the noble dignity； the splendid Christian resignation which influenced
her as she gave her arm to her involuntary deceiver to go into
breakfast。 Cruel jesters！ why could you not have seen her as she said
to the viscount；
〃Madame de Troisville will have difficulty in finding a suitable
house； do me the favor； monsieur； of accepting the use of mine during
the time you are in search of yours。〃
〃But； mademoiselle； I have two sons and two daughters； we should
greatly inconvenience you。〃
〃Pray do not refuse me；〃 she said earnestly。
〃I made you the same offer in the answer I wrote to your letter；〃 said
the abbe； 〃but you did not receive it。〃
〃What； uncle！ then you knew〃
The poor woman stopped。 Josette sighed。 Neither the viscount nor the
abbe observed anything amiss。 After breakfast the Abbe de Sponde
carried off his guest； as agreed upon the previous evening； to show
him the various houses in Alencon which could be bought； and the lots
of lands on which he might build。
Left alone in the salon； Mademoiselle Cormon said to Josette； with a
deeply distressed air； 〃My child； I am now the talk of the whole
town。〃
〃Well； then； mademoiselle； you should marry。〃
〃But I am not prepared to make a choice。〃
〃Bah！ if I were in your place； I should take Monsieur du Bousquier。〃
〃Josette； Monsieur de Valois says he is so republican。〃
〃They don't know what they say； your gentlemen： sometimes they declare
that he robbed the republic； he couldn't love it if he did that；〃 said
Josette； departing。
〃That girl has an amazing amount of sense；〃 thought Mademoiselle
Cormon； who remained alone； a prey to her perplexities。
She saw plainly that a prompt marriage was the only way to silence the
town。 This last checkmate； so evidently mortifying； was of a nature to
drive her into some extreme action； for persons deficient in mind find
difficulty in getting out of any path； either good or evil； into which
they have entered。
Each of the two old bachelors had fully understood the situation in
which Mademoiselle Cormon was about to find herself； consequently；
each resolved to call in the course of that morning to ask after her
health； and take occasion； in bachelor language； to 〃press his point。〃
Monsieur de Valois considered that such an occasion demanded a
painstaking toilet； he therefore took a bath and groomed himself with
extraordinary care。 For the first and last time Cesarine observed him
putting on with incredible art a suspicion of rouge。 Du Bousquier； on
the other hand； that coarse republican； spurred by a brisk will； paid
no attention to his dress； and arrived the first。
Such little things decide the fortunes of men； as they do of empires。
Kellerman's charge at Marengo； Blucher's arrival at Waterloo； Louis
XIV。's disdain for Prince Eugene； the rector of Denain；all these
great causes of fortune or catastrophe history has recorded； but no
one ever profits by them to avoid the small neglects of their own
life。 Consequently； observe what happens： the Duchesse de Langeais
（see 〃History of the Thirteen〃） makes herself a nun for the lack of
ten minutes' patience； Judge Popinot （see 〃Commission in Lunacy〃） puts
off till the morrow the duty of examining the Marquis d'Espard；
Charles Grandet （see 〃Eugenie Grandet〃） goes to Paris from Bordeaux
instead of returning by Nantes； and such events are called chance or
fatality！ A touch of rouge carefully applied destroyed the hopes of
the Chevalier de Valois； could that nobleman perish in any other way？
He had lived by the Graces； and he was doomed to die by their hand。
While the chevalier was giving this last touch to his toilet the rough
du Bousquier was entering the salon of the desolate old maid。 This
entrance produced a thought in Mademoiselle Cormon's mind which was
favorable to the republican； although in all other respects the
Chevalier de Valois held the advantages。
〃God wills it！〃 she said piously； on seeing du Bousquier。
〃Mademoiselle； you will not； I trust； think my eagerness importunate。
I could not trust to my stupid Rene to bring news of your condition；
and therefore I have come myself。〃
〃I am perfectly recovered；〃 she replied； in a tone of emotion。 〃I
thank you； Monsieur du Bousquier；〃 she added； after a slight pause；
and in a significant tone of voice； 〃for the trouble you have taken；
and for that which I gave you yesterday〃
She remembered having been in his arms； and that again seemed to her
an order from heaven。 She had been seen for the first time by a man
with her laces cut； her treasures violently bursting from their
casket。
〃I carried you with such joy that you seemed to me light。〃
Here Mademoiselle Cormon looked at du Bousquier as she had never yet
looked at any man in the world。 Thus encouraged； the purveyor cast
upon the old maid a glance which reached her heart。
〃I would；〃 he said； 〃that that moment had given me the right to keep
you as mine forever〃 ＇she listened with a delighted air＇； 〃as you lay
fainting upon that bed； you were enchanting。 I have never in my life
seen a more beautiful person；and I have seen many handsome women。
Plump ladies have this advantage： they are superb to look upon； they
have only to show themselves and they triumph。〃
〃I fear you are making fun of me；〃 said the old maid； 〃and that is not
kind when all the town will probably misinterpret what happened to me
yesterday。〃
〃As true as my name is du Bousquier； mademoiselle； I have never
changed in my feelings toward you； and your first refusal has not
discouraged me。〃
The old maid's eyes were lowered。 There was a moment of cruel silence
for du Bousquier； and then Mademoiselle Cormon decided on her course。
She raised her eyelids； tears flowed from her eyes； and she gave du
Bousquier a tender glance。
〃If that is so； monsieur；〃 she said； in a trembling voice； 〃promise me
to live in a Christian manner； and not oppose my religious customs；
but to leave me the right to select my confessors； and I will grant
you my hand〃； as she said the words； she held it out to him。
Du Bousquier seized the good fat hand so full of money； and kissed it
solemnly。
〃But；〃 she said； allowing him to kiss it； 〃one thing more I must
require of you。〃
〃If it is a possible thing； it is granted；〃 replied the purveyor。
〃Alas！〃 returned the old maid。 〃For my sake； I must ask you to take
upon yourself a sin which I feel to be enormous；for to lie is one of
the capital sins。 But you will confess it； will you not？ We will do
penance for it together〃 ＇they looked at each other tenderly＇。
〃Besides； it may be one of those lies which the Church permits as
necessary〃
〃Can she be as Suzanne says she is？〃 thought du Bousquier。 〃What luck！
Well； mademoiselle； what is it？〃 he said aloud。
〃That you will take upon yourself to〃
〃What？〃
〃To say that this marriage has been agreed upon between us for the
last six months。〃
〃Charming woman；〃 said the purveyor； in the tone of a man willing to
devote himself； 〃such sacrifices can be made only for a creature
adored these ten years。〃
〃In spite of my harshness？〃 she said。
〃Yes； in spite of your harshness。〃
〃Monsieur du Bousquier； I have misjudged you。〃
Again she held out the fat red hand； which du Bousquier kissed again。
At this moment the door opened； the betrothed pair； looking round to
see who entered； beheld the delightful； but tardy Chevalier de Valois。
〃Ah！〃 he said； on entering； 〃I see you are about to be up； fair
queen。〃
She smiled at the chevalier； feeling a weight upon her heart。 Monsieur
de Valois； remarkably young and seductive； had the air of a Lauzun re…
entering the apartments of the Grande Mademoiselle in the Palais…
Royal。
〃Hey！ dear du Bousquier；〃 said he； in a jaunty tone； so sure was he of
success； 〃Monsie
