the muse of the department-第18节
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monstrous crime。〃
〃And do you suppose； said Bianchon； 〃that we know all the tragedies
that are played out behind the curtain of private life that the public
never lifts？It seems to me that human justice is ill adapted to
judge of crimes as between husband and wife。 It has every right to
intervene as the police； but in equity it knows nothing of the heart
of the matter。〃
〃The victim has in many cases been for so long the tormentor；〃 said
Madame de la Baudraye guilelessly； 〃that the crime would sometimes
seem almost excusable if the accused could tell all。〃
This reply； led up to by Bianchon and by the story which Clagny had
told； left the two Parisians excessively puzzled as to Dinah's
position。
At bedtime council was held； one of those discussions which take place
in the passages of old country…houses where the bachelors linger；
candle in hand； for mysterious conversations。
Monsieur Gravier was now informed of the object in view during this
entertaining evening which had brought Madame de la Baudraye's
innocence to light。
〃But； after all；〃 said Lousteau； 〃our hostess' serenity may indicate
deep depravity instead of the most child…like innocence。 The Public
Prosecutor looks to me quite capable of suggesting that little La
Baudraye should be put in pickle〃
〃He is not to return till to…morrow； who knows what may happen in the
course of the night？〃 said Gatien。
〃We will know！〃 cried Monsieur Gravier。
In the life of a country house a number of practical jokes are
considered admissible； some of them odiously treacherous。 Monsieur
Gravier； who had seen so much of the world； proposed setting seals on
the door of Madame de la Baudraye and of the Public Prosecutor。 The
ducks that denounced the poet Ibycus are as nothing in comparison with
the single hair that these country spies fasten across the opening of
a door by means of two little flattened pills of wax； fixed so high
up； or so low down； that the trick is never suspected。 If the gallant
comes out of his own door and opens the other； the broken hair tells
the tale。
When everybody was supposed to be asleep； the doctor； the journalist；
the receiver of taxes； and Gatien came barefoot； like robbers； and
silently fastened up the two doors； agreeing to come again at five in
the morning to examine the state of the fastenings。 Imagine their
astonishment and Gatien's delight when all four； candle in hand； and
with hardly any clothes on； came to look at the hairs； and found them
in perfect preservation on both doors。
〃Is it the same wax？〃 asked Monsieur Gravier。
〃Are they the same hairs？〃 asked Lousteau。
〃Yes；〃 replied Gatien。
〃This quite alters the matter！〃 cried Lousteau。 〃You have been beating
the bush for a will…o'…the…wisp。〃
Monsieur Gravier and Gatien exchanged questioning glances which were
meant to convey； 〃Is there not something offensive to us in that
speech？ Ought we to laugh or to be angry？〃
〃If Dinah is virtuous；〃 said the journalist in a whisper to Bianchon；
〃she is worth an effort on my part to pluck the fruit of her first
love。〃
The idea of carrying by storm a fortress that had for nine years stood
out against the besiegers of Sancerre smiled on Lousteau。
With this notion in his head； he was the first to go down and into the
garden； hoping to meet his hostess。 And this chance fell out all the
more easily because Madame de la Baudraye on her part wished to
converse with her critic。 Half such chances are planned。
〃You were out shooting yesterday； monsieur；〃 said Madame de la
Baudraye。 〃This morning I am rather puzzled as to how to find you any
new amusement； unless you would like to come to La Baudraye； where you
may study more of our provincial life than you can see here； for you
have made but one mouthful of my absurdities。 However； the saying
about the handsomest girl in the world is not less true of the poor
provincial woman！〃
〃That little simpleton Gatien has； I suppose； related to you a speech
I made simply to make him confess that he adored you；〃 said Etienne。
〃Your silence； during dinner the day before yesterday and throughout
the evening； was enough to betray one of those indiscretions which we
never commit in Paris。What can I say？ I do not flatter myself that
you will understand me。 In fact； I laid a plot for the telling of all
those stories yesterday solely to see whether I could rouse you and
Monsieur de Clagny to a pang of remorse。Oh！ be quite easy； your
innocence is fully proved。
〃If you had the slightest fancy for that estimable magistrate； you
would have lost all your value in my eyes。I love perfection。
〃You do not； you cannot love that cold； dried…up； taciturn little
usurer on wine casks and land； who would leave any man in the lurch
for twenty…five centimes on a renewal。 Oh； I have fully recognized
Monsieur de la Baudraye's similarity to a Parisian bill…discounter；
their nature is identical。At eight…and…twenty； handsome； well
conducted； and childlessI assure you； madame； I never saw the
problem of virtue more admirably expressed。The author of /Paquita la
Sevillane/ must have dreamed many dreams！
〃I can speak of such things without the hypocritical gloss lent them
by young men； for I am old before my time。 I have no illusions left。
Can a man have any illusions in the trade I follow？〃
By opening the game in this tone； Lousteau cut out all excursions in
the /Pays de Tendre/； where genuine passion beats the bush so long； he
went straight to the point and placed himself in a position to force
the offer of what women often make a man pray for； for years； witness
the hapless Public Prosecutor； to whom the greatest favor had
consisted in clasping Dinah's hand to his heart more tenderly than
usual as they walked； happy man！
And Madame de la Baudraye； to be true to her reputation as a Superior
Woman； tried to console the Manfred of the Press by prophesying such a
future of love as he had not had in his mind。
〃You have sought pleasure；〃 said she； 〃but you have never loved。
Believe me； true love often comes late in life。 Remember Monsieur de
Gentz； who fell in love in his old age with Fanny Ellsler； and left
the Revolution of July to take its course while he attended the
dancer's rehearsals。〃
〃It seems to me unlikely；〃 replied Lousteau。 〃I can still believe in
love； but I have ceased to believe in woman。 There are in me； I
suppose； certain defects which hinder me from being loved； for I have
often been thrown over。 Perhaps I have too strong a feeling for the
ideallike all men who have looked too closely into reality〃
Madame de la Baudraye at last heard the mind of a man who； flung into
the wittiest Parisian circles； represented to her its most daring
axioms； its almost artless depravity； its advanced convictions； who；
if he were not really superior； acted superiority extremely well。
Etienne； performing before Dinah； had all the success of a first
night。 /Paquita/ of Sancerre scented the storms； the atmosphere of
Paris。 She spent one of the most delightful days of her life with
Lousteau and Bianchon； who told her strange tales about the great men
of the day； the anecdotes which will some day form the /Ana/ of our
century； sayings and doings that were the common talk of Paris； but
quite new to her。
Of course； Lousteau spoke very ill of the great female celebrity of Le
Berry； with the obvious intention of flattering Madame de la Baudraye
and leading her into literary confidences； by suggesting that she
could rival so great a writer。 This praise intoxicated Madame de la
Baudraye； and Monsieur de Clagny； Monsieur Gravier； and Gatien； all
thought her warmer in her manner to Etienne than she had been on the
previous day。 Dinah's three /attaches/ greatly regretted having all
gone to Sancerre to blow the trumpet in honor of the evening at Anzy；
nothing； to hear them； had ever been so brilliant。 The Hours had fled
on feet so light that none had marked their pace。 The two Parisians
they spoke of as perfect prodigies。
These exaggerated reports loudly proclaimed on the Mall brought
sixteen persons to Anzy that evening； some in family coaches； some in
wagonettes； and a few bachelors on hired saddle horses。 By about seven
o'clock this provincial company had made a more or less graceful entry
into the huge Anzy drawing…room； which Dinah； warned of the invasion；
had lighted up； giving it all the lustre it was capable of by taking
the holland covers off the handsome furniture； for she regarded this
assembly as one of her great triumphs。 Lousteau； Bianchon； and Dinah
exchanged meaning looks as they studied the attitudes and listened to
the speeches of these visitors； attracted by curiosity。
What invalided ribbons； what ancestral laces； what ancient flowers；
more imaginative than imitative； were boldly displayed on some
perennial caps！ The Presidente Boirouge； Bianchon's cousin； exchanged
a few words with the doctor； from whom she extracted some 〃advice
gratis〃 by expatiating on certain pains in the chest； which she
declared were nervous； but which he ascribed to chronic indigestion。
〃Simply drink a cup of tea every day an hour after dinner； as the
English do； and you will get over it； for what y
