el dorado-第7节

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of　flowers　to　the　brightest　star　of　the　night。

The　actors　were　the　first　to　retire；　then　the　older　actresses；　the
ones　who　could　no　longer　command　a　court　of　admirers　round　them。
They　all　filed　out　of　the　greenroom　and　crossed　the　stage　to
where；　at　the　back；　a　narrow；　rickety　wooden　stairs　led　to　their
so…called　dressing…roomstiny；　dark　cubicles；　ill…lighted；
unventilated；　where　some　half…dozen　of　the　lesser　stars　tumbled
over　one　another　while　removing　wigs　and　grease…paint。

Armand　and　de　Batz　watched　this　exodus；　both　with　equal
impatience。　　Mlle。　Lange　was　the　last　to　leave　the　green…room。
For　some　time；　since　the　crowd　had　become　thinner　round　her；
Armand　had　contrived　to　catch　glimpses　of　her　slight；　elegant
figure。　　A　short　passage　led　from　the　stage　to　the　green…room
door；　which　was　wide　open；　and　at　the　corner　of　this　passage　the
young　man　had　paused　from　time　to　time　in　his　walk；　gazing　with
earnest　admiration　at　the　dainty　outline　of　the　young　girl's　head；
with　its　wig　of　powdered　curls　that　seemed　scarcely　whiter　than
the　creamy　brilliance　of　her　skin。

De　Batz　did　not　watch　Mlle。　Lange　beyond　casting　impatient　looks
in　the　direction　of　the　crowd　that　prevented　her　leaving　the
green…room。　　He　did　watch　Armand；　howevernoted　his　eager　look；
his　brisk　and　alert　movements；　the　obvious　glances　of　admiration
which　he　cast　in　the　direction　of　the　young　actress；　and　this
seemed　to　afford　him　a　considerable　amount　of　contentment。

The　best　part　of　an　hour　had　gone　by　since　the　fall　of　the　curtain
before　Mlle。　Lange　finally　dismissed　her　many　admirers；　and　de
Batz　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　her　running　down　the　passage；
turning　back　occasionally　in　order　to　bid　gay　〃good…nights〃　to　the
loiterers　who　were　loath　to　part　from　her。　　She　was　a　child　in　all
her　movements；　quite　unconscious　of　self　or　of　her　own　charms；　but
frankly　delighted　with　her　success。　　She　was　still　dressed　in　the
ridiculous　hoops　and　panniers　pertaining　to　her　part；　and　the
powdered　peruke　hid　the　charm　of　her　own　hair；　the　costume　gave　a
certain　stilted　air　to　her　unaffected　personality；　which；　by　this
very　sense　of　contrast；　was　essentially　fascinating。

In　her　arms　she　held　a　huge　sheaf　of　sweet…scented　narcissi；　the
spoils　of　some　favoured　spot　far　away　in　the　South。　　Armand
thought　that　never　in　his　life　had　he　seen　anything　so　winsome　or
so　charming。

Having　at　last　said　the　positively　final　adieu；　Mlle。　Lange　with
a　happy　little　sigh　turned　to　run　down　the　passage。

She　came　face　to　face　with　Armand；　and　gave　a　sudden　little　gasp
of　terror。　　It　was　not　good　these　days　to　come　on　any　loiterer
unawares。

But　already　de　Batz　had　quickly　joined　his　friend；　and　his　smooth；
pleasant　voice；　and　podgy；　beringed　hand　extended　towards　Mlle。
Lange；　were　sufficient　to　reassure　her。

〃You　were　so　surrounded　in　the　green…room；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said
courteously；　〃I　did　not　venture　to　press　in　among　the　crowd　of
your　admirers。　　Yet　I　had　the　great　wish　to　present　my　respectful
congratulations　in　person。〃

〃Ah！　c'est　ce　cher　de　Batz！〃　exclaimed　mademoiselle　gaily；　in
that　exquisitely　rippling　voice　of　hers。　　〃And　where　in　the　world
do　you　spring　from；　my　friend？

〃Hush…sh…sh！〃　he　whispered；　holding　her　small　bemittened　hand　in
his；　and　putting　one　finger　to　his　lips　with　an　urgent　entreaty
for　discretion；　〃not　my　name；　I　beg　of　you；　fair　one。〃

〃Bah！〃　she　retorted　lightly；　even　though　her　full　lips　trembled
now　as　she　spoke　and　belied　her　very　words。　You　need　have　no　fear
whilst　you　are　in　this　part　of　the　house。　　It　is　an　understood
thing　that　the　Committee　of　General　Security　does　not　send　its
spies　behind　the　curtain　of　a　theatre。　　Why；　if　all　of　us　actors
and　actresses　were　sent　to　the　guillotine　there　would　be　no　play
on　the　morrow。　Artistes　are　not　replaceable　in　a　few　hours；　those
that　are　in　existence　must　perforce　be　spared；　or　the　citizens　who
govern　us　now　would　not　know　where　to　spend　their　evenings。〃

But　though　she　spoke　so　airily　and　with　her　accustomed　gaiety；　it
was　easily　perceived　that　even　on　this　childish　mind　the　dangers
which　beset　every　one　these　days　had　already　imprinted　their　mark
of　suspicion　and　of　caution。

〃Come　into　my　dressing…room；〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　not　tarry　here
any　longer；　for　they　will　be　putting　out　the　lights。　　But　I　have
a　room　to　myself；　and　we　can　talk　there　quite　agreeably。〃

She　led　the　way　across　the　stage　towards　the　wooden　stairs。
Armand；　who　during　this　brief　colloquy　between　his　friend　and　the
young　girl　had　kept　discreetly　in　the　background；　felt　undecided
what　to　do。　　But　at　a　peremptory　sign　from　de　Batz　he；　too；　turned
in　the　wake　of　the　gay　little　lady；　who　ran　swiftly　up　the　rickety
steps；　humming　snatches　of　popular　songs　the　while；　and　not
turning　to　see　if　indeed　the　two　men　were　following　her。

She　had　the　sheaf　of　narcissi　still　in　her　arms；　and　the　door　of
her　tiny　dressing…room　being　open；　she　ran　straight　in　and　threw
the　flowers　down　in　a　confused；　sweet…scented　mass　upon　the　small
table　that　stood　at　one　end　of　the　room；　littered　with　pots　and
bottles；　letters；　mirrors；　powder…puffs；　silk　stockings；　and
cambric　handkerchiefs。

Then　she　turned　and　faced　the　two　men；　a　merry　look　of　unalterable
gaiety　dancing　in　her　eyes。

〃Shut　the　door；　mon　ami；〃　she　said　to　de　Batz；　〃and　after　that
sit　down　where　you　can；　so　long　as　it　is　not　on　my　most　precious
pot　of　unguent　or　a　box　of　costliest　powder。〃

While　de　Batz　did　as　he　was　told；　she　turned　to　Armand　and　said
with　a　pretty　tone　of　interrogation　in　her　melodious　voice：

〃Monsieur？〃

〃St。　Just；　at　your　service；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Armand；　bowing
very　low　in　the　most　approved　style　obtaining　at　the　English
Court。

〃St。　Just？〃　she　repeated；　a　look　of　puzzlement　in　her　brown　eyes。
〃Surely〃

〃A　kinsman　of　citizen　St。　Just；　whom　no　doubt　you　know；　mademoiselle；〃
he　exclaimed。

〃My　friend　Armand　St。　Just；〃　interposed　de　Batz；　〃is　practically
a　new…comer　in　Paris。　　He　lives　in　England　habitually。〃

〃In　England？〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Oh！　do　tell　me　all　about　England。
I　would　love　to　go　there。　　Perhaps　I　may　have　to　go　some　day。　　Oh！
do　sit　down；　de　Batz；〃　she　continued；　talking　rather　volubly；　even
as　a　delicate　blush　heightened　the　colour　in　her　cheeks　under　the
look　of　obvious　admiration　from　Armand　St。　Just's　expressive　eyes。

She　swept　a　handful　of　delicate　cambric　and　silk　from　off　a　chair；
making　room　for　de　Batz'　portly　figure。　　Then　she　sat　upon　the
sofa；　and　with　an　inviting　gesture　and　a　call　from　the　eyes　she
bade　Armand　sit　down　next　to　her。　She　leaned　back　against　the
cushions；　and　the　table　being　close　by；　she　stretched　out　a　hand
and　once　more　took　up　the　bunch　of　narcissi；　and　while　she　talked
to　Armand　she　held　the　snow…white　blooms　quite　close　to　her
faceso　close；　in　fact；　that　he　could　not　see　her　mouth　and　chin；
only　her　dark　eyes　shone　across　at　him　over　the　heads　of　the
blossoms。

〃Tell　me　all　about　England；〃　she　reiterated；　settling　herself　down
among　the　cushions　like　a　spoilt　child　who　is　about　to　listen　to
an　oft…told　favourite　story。

Armand　was　vexed　that　de　Batz　was　sitting　there。　　He　felt　he　could
have　told　this　dainty　little　lady　quite　a　good　deal　about　England
if　only　his　pompous；　fat　friend　would　have　had　the　good　sense　to
go　away。

As　it　was；　he　felt　unusually　timid　and　gauche；　not　quite　knowing
what　to　say；　a　fact　which　seemed　to　amuse　Mlle。　Lange　not　a　little。

〃I　am　very　fond　of　England；〃　he　said　lamely；　〃my　sister　is　married
to　an　Englishman；　and　I　myself　have　taken　up　my　permanent
residence　there。〃

〃Among　the　society　of　emigres？〃　she　queried。

Then；　as　Armand　made　no　reply；　de　Batz　interposed　quickly：

〃Oh！　you　need　not　fear　to　admit　it；　my　good　Armand；　Mademoiselle
Lange；　has　many　friends　among　the　emigreshave　you　not；
mademoiselle？〃

〃Yes；　of　course；〃　she　replied　lightly；　〃I　have　friends　everywhere。
Their　political　views　have　nothing　to　do　with　me。　　Artistes；　I
think；　should　have　naught　to　do　with　politics。　You　see；　citizen
St。　Just；　I　never　inquired　of　you　what　were　your　views。　Your　name
and　kinship　would　proclaim　you　a　partisan　of　citizen　Robespierre；
yet　I　find　you　in　the　company　of　M。　de　Batz；　and　you　tell　me　that
you　live　in　England。〃

〃He　is　no　partisan　of　citizen　Robespierre；〃　again　interposed　de
Batz；　〃in　fact；　mademoiselle；　I　may　safely　tell　you；　I　think；　that
my　friend　has　but　one　ideal　on　this　earth；　whom　he　has　set　up　in
a　shrine；　and　whom　he　worships　with　all　the　ardour　of　a　Christian
for　his　God。〃

〃How　romantic！〃　she　said；　and　she　looked　straight　at　Armand。
〃Tell　me；　monsieur；　is　your　ideal　a　woman　or　a　man？〃

His　look　answered　her；　even　before　he　boldly　spoke　the　two　words：

〃A　woman。〃

She　took　a　deep　draught　of　sweet；　intoxicating　scent　from　the
narcissi；　and　his　gaze　once　more　brought　blushes　to　her　cheeks。
De　Batz'　good…humoured　laugh　helped　her　to　hide　this　unwonted
access　of　confusion。

〃That　was　well　turned；　friend　Armand；〃　he　said　lightly；　〃but　I
assure　you；　mademoiselle；　that　before　I　brought　him　here　to…night
his　ideal　was　a　man。〃

〃A　man！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　a　contemptuous　little　pout。　　〃Who　was
it？〃

〃I