paz-第11节
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added hastily； 〃There is not a woman in society； with her mincing
airs； that is worth the honest nature of that young animal。〃
〃At any rate； I wish nothing of the animal about me；〃 said the
countess； with a glance like that of an angry viper。
After that evening Comte Paz showed Clementine the exact state of her
affairs； he made himself her tutor； taught her the methods and
difficulties of the management of property； the proper prices to pay
for things； and how to avoid being cheated by her servants。 He told
her she could rely on Constantin and make him her major…domo。 Thaddeus
had trained the man thoroughly。 By the end of May he thought the
countess fully competent to carry on her affairs alone； for Clementine
was one of those far…sighted women； full of instinct； who have an
innate genius as mistress of a household。
This position of affairs； which Thaddeus had led up to naturally； did
not end without further cruel trials； his sufferings were fated not to
be as sweet and tender as he was trying to make them。 The poor lover
forgot to reckon on the hazard of events。 Adam fell seriously ill； and
Thaddeus； instead of leaving the house； stayed to nurse his friend。
His devotion was unwearied。 A woman who had any interest in employing
her perspicacity might have seen in this devotion a sort of punishment
imposed by a noble soul to repress an involuntary evil thought； but
women see all； or see nothing； according to the condition of their
soulslove is their sole illuminator。
During forty…five days Paz watched and tended Adam without appearing
to think of Malaga； for the very good reason that he never did think of
her。 Clementine； feeling that Adam was at the point of death though he
did not die； sent for all the leading doctors of Paris in
consultation。
〃If he comes safely out of this；〃 said the most distinguished of them
all； 〃it will only be by an effort of nature。 It is for those who
nurse him to watch for the moment when they must second nature。 The
count's life is in the hands of his nurses。〃
Thaddeus went to find Clementine and tell her this result of the
consultation。 He found her sitting in the Chinese pavilion； as much
for a little rest as to leave the field to the doctors and not
embarrass them。 As he walked along the winding gravelled path which
led to the pavilion； Thaddeus seemed to himself in the depths of an
abyss described by Dante。 The unfortunate man had never dreamed that
the possibility might arise of becoming Clementine's husband； and now
he had drowned himself in a ditch of mud。 His face was convulsed； when
he reached the kiosk； with an agony of grief； his head； like Medusa's；
conveyed despair。
〃Is he dead？〃 said Clementine。
〃They have given him up； that is； they leave him to nature。 Do not go
in； they are still there； and Bianchon is changing the dressings。〃
〃Poor Adam！ I ask myself if I have not sometimes pained him；〃 she
said。
〃You have made him very happy；〃 said Thaddeus； 〃you ought to be easy
on that score； for you have shown every indulgence for him。〃
〃My loss would be irreparable。〃
〃But； dear； you judged him justly。〃
〃I was never blind to his faults；〃 she said； 〃but I loved him as a
wife should love her husband。〃
〃Then you ought； in case you lose him；〃 said Thaddeus； in a voice
which Clementine had never heard him use； 〃to grieve for him less than
if you lost a man who was your pride； your love； and all your life；
as some men are to you women。 Surely you can be frank at this moment
with a friend like me。 I shall grieve； too； long before your marriage
I had made him my child； I had sacrificed my life to him。 If he dies I
shall be without an interest on earth； but life is still beautiful to
a widow of twenty…four。〃
〃Ah！ but you know that I love no one；〃 she said； with the impatience
of grief。
〃You don't yet know what it is to love；〃 said Thaddeus。
〃Oh； as husbands are； I have sense enough to prefer a child like my
poor Adam to a superior man。 It is now over a month that we have been
saying to each other； 'Will he live？' and these alternations have
prepared me； as they have you； for this loss。 I can be frank with you。
Well； I would give my life to save Adam。 What is a woman's
independence in Paris？ the freedom to let herself be taken in by
ruined or dissipated men who pretend to love her。 I pray to God to
leave me this husband who is so kind； so obliging； so little fault…
finding； and who is beginning to stand in awe of me。〃
〃You are honest； and I love you the better for it；〃 said Thaddeus；
taking her hand which she yielded to him； and kissing it。 〃In solemn
moments like these there is unspeakable satisfaction in finding a
woman without hypocrisy。 It is possible to converse with you。 Let us
look to the future。 Suppose that God does not grant your prayer；and
no one cries to him more than I do； 'Leave me my friend！' Yes； these
fifty nights have not weakened me； if thirty more days and nights are
needed I can give them while you sleep；yes； I will tear him from
death if； as the doctors say； nursing can save him。 But suppose that
in spite of you and me； the count dies；well； then； if you were
loved； oh； adored； by a man of a heart and soul that are worthy of
you〃
〃I may have wished for such love； foolishly； but I have never met with
it。〃
〃Perhaps you are mistaken〃
Clementine looked fixedly at Thaddeus； imagining that there was less
of love than of cupidity in his thoughts； her eyes measured him from
head to foot and poured contempt upon him； then she crushed him with
the words； 〃Poor Malaga！〃 uttered in tones which a great lady alone
can find to give expression to her disdain。 She rose； leaving Thaddeus
half unconscious behind her； slowly re…entered her boudoir； and went
back to Adam's chamber。
An hour later Paz returned to the sick…room； and began anew； with
death in his heart； his care of the count。 From that moment he said
nothing。 He was forced to struggle with the patient； whom he managed
in a way that excited the admiration of the doctors。 At all hours his
watchful eyes were like lamps always lighted。 He showed no resentment
to Clementine； and listened to her thanks without accepting them； he
seemed both dumb and deaf。 To himself he was saying； 〃She shall owe
his life to me；〃 and he wrote the thought as it were in letters of
fire on the walls of Adam's room。 On the fifteenth day Clementine was
forced to give up the nursing； lest she should utterly break down。 Paz
was unwearied。 At last； towards the end of August； Bianchon； the
family physician； told Clementine that Adam was out of danger。
〃Ah； madame； you are under no obligation to me；〃 he said； 〃without his
friend； Comte Paz； we could not have saved him。〃
The day after the meeting of Paz and Clementine in the kiosk； the
Marquis de Ronquerolles came to see his nephew。 He was on the eve of
starting for Russia on a secret diplomatic mission。 Paz took occasion
to say a few words to him。 The first day that Adam was able to drive
out with his wife and Thaddeus； a gentleman entered the courtyard as
the carriage was about to leave it； and asked for Comte Paz。 Thaddeus；
who was sitting on the front seat of the caleche； turned to take a
letter which bore the stamp of the ministry of Foreign affairs。 Having
read it； he put it into his pocket in a manner which prevented
Clementine or Adam from speaking of it。 Nevertheless； by the time they
reached the porte Maillot； Adam； full of curiosity； used the privilege
of a sick man whose caprices are to be gratified； and said to
Thaddeus： 〃There's no indiscretion between brothers who love each
other；tell me what there is in that despatch； I'm in a fever of
curiosity。〃
Clementine glanced at Thaddeus with a vexed air； and remarked to her
husband： 〃He has been so sulky with me for the last two months that I
shall never ask him anything again。〃
〃Oh； as for that；〃 replied Paz； 〃I can't keep it out of the
newspapers； so I may as well tell you at once。 The Emperor Nicholas
has had the grace to appoint me captain in a regiment which is to take
part in the expedition to Khiva。〃
〃You are not going？〃 cried Adam。
〃Yes； I shall go； my dear fellow。 Captain I came； and captain I
return。 We shall dine together to…morrow for the last time。 If I don't
start at once for St。 Petersburg I shall have to make the journey by
land； and I am not rich； and I must leave Malaga a little
independence。 I ought to think of the only woman who has been able to
understand me； she thinks me grand； superior。 I dare say she is
faithless； but she would jump〃
〃Through the hoop； for your sake and come down safely on the back of
her horse；〃 said Clementine sharply。
〃Oh； you don't know Malaga；〃 said the captain； bitterly； with a
sarcastic look in his eyes which made Clementine thoughtful and
uneasy。
〃Good…by to the young trees of this be
