paz-第9节
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reported them in tears to Paz。
〃When I want to injure a woman；〃 she said in conclusion； 〃I don't
calumniate her； I don't declare that some one magnetizes her to get
stones out of her； but I say plainly that she is humpbacked； and I
prove it。 Why do you compromise me in this way？〃
Paz maintained a cruel silence。 Madame Chapuzot was not long in
discovering the name and title of Comte Paz； then she heard certain
positive facts at the hotel Laginski： for instance； that Paz was a
bachelor； and had never been known to have a daughter； alive or dead；
in Poland or in France。 After that Malaga could not control a feeling
of terror。
〃My dear child；〃 Madame Chapuzot would say； 〃that monster〃 （a man
who contented himself with only looking； in a sly way；not daring to
come out and say things；and such a beautiful creature too； as
Malaga；of course such a man was a monster； according to Madame
Chapuzot's ideas） 〃that monster is trying to get a hold upon you；
and make you do something illegal and criminal。 Holy Father； if you
should get into the police…courts！ it makes me tremble from head to
foot； suppose they should put you in the newspapers！ I'll tell you
what I should do in your place； I'd warn the police。〃
One particular day； after many foolish notions had fermented for some
time in Malaga's mind； Paz having laid his money as usual on the
mantel…piece； she seized the bits of gold and flung them in his face；
crying out； 〃I don't want stolen money！〃
The captain gave the gold to Chapuzot； went away without a word； and
did not return。
Clementine was at this time at her uncle's place in Burgundy。
When the Circus troop discovered that Malaga had lost her Polish
count； much excitement was produced among them。 Malaga's display of
honor was considered folly by some； and shrewdness by others。 The
conduct of the Pole； however； even when discussed by the cleverest of
women； seemed inexplicable。 Thaddeus received in the course of the
next week thirty…seven letters from women of their kind。 Happily for
him； his astonishing reserve did not excite the curiosity of the
fashionable world； and was only discussed in the demi…mondaine
regions。
Two weeks later the handsome circus…rider； crippled by debt； wrote the
following letter to Comte Paz； which； having fallen into the hands of
Comte Adam； was read by several of the dandies of the day； who
pronounced it a masterpiece：
〃You； whom I still dare to call my friend； will you not pity me
after all that has passed；which you have so ill understood？ My
heart disavows whatever may have wounded your feelings。 If I was
fortunate enough to charm you and keep you beside me in the past；
return to me； otherwise； I shall fall into despair。 Poverty has
overtaken me； and you do not know what HORRID THINGS it brings
with it。 Yesterday I lived on a herring at two sous； and one sou
of bread。 Is that a breakfast for the woman you loved？ The
Chapuzots have left me； though they seemed so devoted。 Your
desertion has caused me to see to the bottom of all human
attachments。 The dog we feed does not leave us； but the Chapuzots
have gone。 A sheriff has seized everything on behalf of the
landlord； who has no heart； and the jeweller； who refused to wait
even ten days；for when we lose the confidence of such as you；
credit goes too。 What a position for women who have nothing to
reproach themselves with but the happiness they have given！ My
friend； I have taken all I have of any value to MY UNCLE'S； I have
nothing but the memory of you left； and here is the winter coming
on。 I shall be fireless when it turns cold； for the boulevards are
to play only melodramas； in which I have nothing but little bits
of parts which don't POSE a woman。 How could you misunderstand the
nobleness of my feelings for you？for there are two ways of
expressing gratitude。 You who seemed so happy in seeing me well…
off； how can you leave me in poverty？ Oh； my sole friend on earth；
before I go back to the country fairs with Bouthor's circus； where
I can at least make a living； forgive me if I wish to know whether
I have lost you forever。 If I were to let myself think of you when
I jump through the hoops； I should be sure to break my legs by
losing A TIME。 Whatever may be the result； I am yours for life。
〃Marguerite Turquet。〃
〃That letter；〃 thought Thaddeus； shouting with laughter； 〃is worth the
ten thousand francs I have spent upon her。〃
III
Clementine came home the next day； and the day after that Paz beheld
her again； more beautiful and graceful than ever。 After dinner； during
which the countess treated Paz with an air of perfect indifference； a
little scene took place in the salon between the count and his wife
when Thaddeus had left them。 On pretence of asking Adam's advice；
Thaddeus had left Malaga's letter with him； as if by mistake。
〃Poor Thaddeus！〃 said Adam； as Paz disappeared； 〃what a misfortune for
a man of his distinction to be the plaything of the lowest kind of
circus…rider。 He will lose everything； and get lower and lower； and
won't be recognizable before long。 Here； read that；〃 added the count；
giving Malaga's letter to his wife。
Clementine read the letter； which smelt of tobacco； and threw it from
her with a look of disgust。
〃Thick as the bandage is over his eyes；〃 continued Adam； 〃he must have
found out something； Malaga tricked him； no doubt。〃
〃But he goes back to her；〃 said Clementine； 〃and he will forgive her！
It is for such horrible women as that that you men have indulgence。〃
〃Well； they need it；〃 said Adam。
〃Thaddeus used to show some decencyin living apart from us；〃 she
remarked。 〃He had better go altogether。〃
〃Oh； my dear angel； that's going too far；〃 said the count； who did not
want the death of the sinner。
Paz； who knew Adam thoroughly； had enjoined him to secrecy； pretending
to excuse his dissipations； and had asked his friend to lend him a few
thousand francs for Malaga。
〃He is a very firm fellow；〃 said Adam。
〃How so？〃 asked Clementine。
〃Why； for having spent no more than ten thousand francs on her； and
letting her send him that letter before he would ask me for enough to
pay her debts。 For a Pole； I call that firm。〃
〃He will ruin you；〃 said Clementine； in the sharp tone of a Parisian
woman； when she shows her feline distrusts。
〃Oh； I know him；〃 said Adam； 〃he will sacrifice Malaga； if I ask him。〃
〃We shall see；〃 remarked the countess。
〃If it is best for his own happiness； I sha'n't hesitate to ask him to
leave her。 Constantin says that since Paz has been with her he； sober
as he is； has sometimes come home quite excited。 If he takes to
intoxication I shall be just as grieved as if he were my own son。〃
〃Don't tell me anything more about it；〃 cried the countess； with a
gesture of disgust。
Two days later the captain perceived in the manner； the tones of
voice； but； above all； in the eyes of the countess； the terrible
results of Adam's confidences。 Contempt had opened a gulf between the
beloved woman and himself。 He was suddenly plunged into the deepest
distress of mind； for the thought gnawed him； 〃I have myself made her
despise me！〃 His own folly stared him in the face。 Life then became a
burden to him； the very sun turned gray。 And yet； amid all these
bitter thoughts； he found again some moments of pure joy。 There were
times when he could give himself up wholly to his admiration for his
mistress； who paid not the slightest attention to him。 Hanging about
in corners at her parties and receptions； silent； all heart and eyes；
he never lost one of her attitudes； nor a tone of her voice when she
sang。 He lived in her life； he groomed the horse which SHE rode； he
studied the ways and means of that splendid establishment； to the
interests of which he was now more devoted than ever。 These silent
pleasures were buried in his heart like those of a mother； whose heart
a child never knows； for is it knowing anything unless we know it all？
His love was more perfect than the love of Petrarch for Laura； which
found its ultimate reward in the treasures of fame； the triumph of the
poem which she had inspired。 Surely the emotion that the Chevalier
d'Assas felt in dying must have been to him a lifetime of joy。 Such
emotions as these Paz enjoyed daily；without dying； but also without
the guerdon of immortality。
But what is Love； that； in spite of all these ineffable delights； Paz
should still have been unhappy？ The Catholic religion has so magnified
Love that she has wedded it indissolubly to respect and nobility of
spirit。 Love is therefore attended by those sentiments and qualities
of which mankind is proud； it is rare to find true Love existing where
contempt is felt。 Thaddeus was suffering from the wounds his own hand
had given him。 The trial of his former li
