paz-第7节
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soul reached her sensibilities。 What was Adam's merit in her eyes？ It
was natural enough to have courage and generosity。 But Thaddeus
surely Thaddeus possessed； or seemed to possess； some great
superiority over Adam。 They were dangerous thoughts which took
possession of the countess's mind as she again noticed the contrast of
the fine presence that distinguished Thaddeus； and the puny frame in
which Adam showed the degenerating effects of intermarriage among the
Polish aristocratic families。 The devil alone knew the thoughts that
were in Clementine's head； for she sat still； with thoughtful； dreamy
eyes； and without saying a word until they reached home。
〃You will dine with us； I shall be angry if you disobey me；〃 she said
as the carriage turned in。 〃You are Thaddeus to me； as you are to
Adam。 I know your obligations to him； but I also know those we are
under to you。 Both generosities are naturalbut you are generous
every day and all day。 My father dines here to…day； also my uncle
Ronquerolles and my aunt Madame de Serizy。 Dress yourself therefore；〃
she said； taking the hand he offered to assist her from the carriage。
Thaddeus went to his own room to dress with a joyful heart； though
shaken by an inward dread。 He went down at the last moment and behaved
through dinner as he had done on the first occasion； that is； like a
soldier fit only for his duties as a steward。 But this time Clementine
was not his dupe； his glance had enlightened her。 The Marquis de
Ronquerolles； one of the ablest diplomates after Talleyrand； who had
served with de Marsay during his short ministry； had been informed by
his niece of the real worth and character of Comte Paz； and knew how
modestly he made himself the steward of his friend Laginski。
〃And why is this the first time I have the pleasure of seeing Comte
Paz？〃 asked the marquis。
〃Because he is so shy and retiring；〃 replied Clementine with a look at
Paz telling him to change his behavior。
Alas！ that we should have to avow it； at the risk of rendering the
captain less interesting； but Paz； though superior to his friend Adam；
was not a man of parts。 His apparent superiority was due to his
misfortunes。 In his lonely and poverty…stricken life in Warsaw he had
read and taught himself a good deal； he had compared and meditated。
But the gift of original thought which makes a great man he did not
possess； and it can never be acquired。 Paz； great in heart only；
approached in heart to the sublime； but in the sphere of sentiments；
being more a man of action than of thought； he kept his thoughts to
himself； and they only served therefore to eat his heart out。 What；
after all； is a thought unexpressed？
After Clementine's little speech； the Marquis de Ronquerolles and his
sister exchanged a singular glance； embracing their niece； Comte Adam；
and Paz。 It was one of those rapid scenes which take place only in
France and Italy；the two regions of the world （all courts excepted）
where eyes can say everything。 To communicate to the eye the full
power of the soul； to give it the value of speech； needs either the
pressure of extreme servitude； or complete liberty。 Adam； the Marquis
du Rouvre； and Clementine did not observe this luminous by…play of the
old coquette and the old diplomatist； but Paz； the faithful watchdog；
understood its meaning。 It was； we must remark； an affair of two
seconds； but to describe the tempest it roused in the captain's soul
would take far too much space in this brief history。
〃What！〃 he said to himself； 〃do the aunt and uncle think I might be
loved？ Then my happiness only depends on my own audacity！ But Adam〃
Ideal love and desire clashed with gratitude and friendship； all
equally powerful； and； for a moment； love prevailed。 The lover would
have his day。 Paz became brilliant； he tried to please； he told the
story of the Polish insurrection in noble words； being questioned
about it by the diplomatist。 By the end of dinner Paz saw Clementine
hanging upon his lips and regarding him as a hero； forgetting that
Adam too； after sacrificing a third of his vast fortune； had been an
exile。 At nine o'clock； after coffee had been served； Madame de Serizy
kissed her niece on the forehead； pressed her hand； and went away；
taking Adam with her and leaving the Marquis de Ronquerolles and the
Marquis du Rouvre； who soon followed。 Paz and Clementine were alone
together。
〃I will leave you now； madame；〃 said Thaddeus。 〃You will of course
rejoin them at the Opera？〃
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃I don't like dancing； and they give an odious
ballet to…night 'La Revolte au Serail。'〃
There was a moment's silence。
〃Two years ago Adam would not have gone to the Opera without me；〃 said
Clementine； not looking at Paz。
〃He loves you madly；〃 replied Thaddeus。
〃Yes； and because he loves me madly he is all the more likely not to
love me to…morrow；〃 said the countess。
〃How inexplicable Parisian women are！〃 exclaimed Thaddeus。 〃When they
are loved to madness they want to be loved reasonably： and when they
are loved reasonably they reproach a man for not loving them at all。〃
〃And they are quite right。 Thaddeus；〃 she went on； smiling； 〃I know
Adam well； I am not angry with him； he is volatile and above all grand
seigneur。 He will always be content to have me as his wife and he will
never oppose any of my tastes； but〃
〃Where is the marriage in which there are no 'buts'？〃 said Thaddeus；
gently； trying to give another direction to Clementine's mind。
The least presuming of men might well have had the thought which came
near rendering this poor lover beside himself； it was this： 〃If I do
not tell her now that I love her I am a fool；〃 he kept saying to
himself。
Neither spoke； and there came between the pair one of those deep
silences that are crowded with thoughts。 The countess examined Paz
covertly； and Paz observed her in a mirror。 Buried in an armchair like
a man digesting his dinner； the image of a husband or an indifferent
old man； Paz crossed his hands upon his stomach and twirled his thumbs
mechanically； looking stupidly at them。
〃Why don't you tell me something good of Adam？〃 cried Clementine
suddenly。 〃Tell me that he is not volatile； you who know him so well。〃
The cry was fine。
〃Now is the time；〃 thought poor Paz； 〃to put an insurmountable barrier
between us。 Tell you good of Adam？〃 he said aloud。 〃I love him； you
would not believe me； and I am incapable of telling you harm。 My
position is very difficult between you。〃
Clementine lowered her head and looked down at the tips of his
varnished boots。
〃You Northern men have nothing but physical courage；〃 she said
complainingly； 〃you have no constancy in your opinions。〃
〃How will you amuse yourself alone； madame？〃 said Paz； assuming a
careless air。
〃Are not you going to keep me company？〃
〃Excuse me for leaving you。〃
〃What do you mean？ Where are you going？〃
The thought of a heroic falsehood had come into his head。
〃II am going to the Circus in the Champs Elysees； it opens to…night；
and I can't miss it。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Clementine； questioning him by a look that was half…
anger。
〃Must I tell you why？〃 he said； coloring； 〃must I confide to you what
I hide from Adam； who thinks my only love is Poland。〃
〃Ah！ a secret in our noble captain？〃
〃A disgraceful onewhich you will perhaps understand； and pity。〃
〃You； disgraced？〃
〃Yes； I； Comte Paz； I am madly in love with a girl who travels all
over France with the Bouthor family；people who have the rival circus
to Franconi； but they play only at fairs。 I have made the director at
the Cirque…Olympique engage her。〃
〃Is she handsome？〃
〃To my thinking；〃 said Paz； in a melancholy tone。 〃Malaga （that's her
stage name） is strong； active； and supple。 Why do I prefer her to all
other women in the world？well； I can't tell you。 When I look at her；
with her black hair tied with a blue satin ribbon； floating on her
bare and olive…colored shoulders； and when she is dressed in a white
tunic with a gold edge； and a knitted silk bodice that makes her look
like a living Greek statue； and when I see her carrying those flags in
her hand to the sound of martial music； and jumping through the paper
hoops which tear as she goes through； and lighting so gracefully on
the galloping horse to such applause；no hired clapping；well； all
that moves me。〃
〃More than a handsome woman in a ballroom？〃 asked Clementine； with
amazement and curiosity。
〃Yes；〃 answered Paz； in a choking voice。 〃Such agility； such grace
under constant danger seems to me the height of triumph for a woman。
Yes； madame； Cinti and Malibran； Grisi and Taglioni； Pasta and
Ellsler； all who reign or have reigned on the stage； can't be
compared； to my mind； with Malaga； who can jump on or off a horse at
full gallop； or stand on the point of one
