a woman of thirty-第34节

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　surprise　in　her　face。　She　looked　as　if　she　had　been　waiting　for　thisfor　him。　Those　so　vast　thoughts　of　hers　had　found　a　meaning。　The　punishment　reserved　by　Heaven　for　her　sins　flamed　out　before　her。　In　her　own　eyes　she　was　as　great　a　criminal　as　this　murderer；　she　confronted　him　with　her　quiet　gaze；　she　was　his　fellow；　his　sister。　It　seemed　to　her　that　in　this　accident　the　command　of　God　had　been　made　manifest。　If　she　had　been　a　few　years　older；　reason　would　have　disposed　of　her　remorse；　but　at　this　moment　she　was　like　one　distraught。

The　stranger　stood　impassive　and　self…possessed；　a　scornful　smile　overspread　his　features　and　his　thick；　red　lips。

〃You　appreciate　the　magnanimity　of　my　behavior　very　badly；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　would　not　touch　with　my　fingers　the　glass　of　water　you　brought　me　to　allay　my　thirst；　I　did　not　so　much　as　think　of　washing　my　blood…stained　hands　under　your　roof；　I　am　going　away；　leaving　nothing　of　/my　crime/〃　（here　his　lips　were　compressed）　〃but　the　memory；　I　have　tried　to　leave　no　trace　of　my　presence　in　this　house。　Indeed；　I　would　not　even　allow　your　daughter　to〃

〃/My　daughter/！〃　cried　the　General；　with　a　horror…stricken　glance　at　Helene。　〃Vile　wretch；　go；　or　I　will　kill　you〃

〃The　two　hours　are　not　yet　over；〃　said　the　other；　〃if　you　kill　me　or　give　me　up；　you　must　lower　yourself　in　your　own　eyesand　in　mine。〃

At　these　last　words；　the　General　turned　to　stare　at　the　criminal　in　dumb　amazement；　but　he　could　not　endure　the　intolerable　light　in　those　eyes　which　for　the　second　time　disorganized　his　being。　He　was　afraid　of　showing　weakness　once　more；　conscious　as　he　was　that　his　will　was　weaker　already。

〃An　old　man！　You　can　never　have　seen　a　family；〃　he　said；　with　a　father's　glance　at　his　wife　and　children。

〃Yes；　an　old　man；〃　echoed　the　stranger；　frowning　slightly。

〃Fly！〃　cried　the　General；　but　he　did　not　dare　to　look　at　his　guest。　〃Our　compact　is　broken。　I　shall　not　kill　you。　No！　I　will　never　be　purveyor　to　the　scaffold。　But　go　out。　You　make　us　shudder。〃

〃I　know　that；〃　said　the　other　patiently。　〃There　is　not　a　spot　on　French　soil　where　I　can　set　foot　and　be　safe；　but　if　man's　justice；　like　God's；　took　all　into　account；　if　man's　justice　deigned　to　inquire　which　was　the　monsterthe　murderer　or　his　victimthen　I　might　hold　up　my　head　among　my　fellows。　Can　you　not　guess　that　other　crimes　preceded　that　blow　from　an　axe？　I　constituted　myself　his　judge　and　executioner；　I　stepped　in　where　man's　justice　failed。　That　was　my　crime。　Farewell；　sir。　Bitter　though　you　have　made　your　hospitality；　I　shall　not　forget　it。　I　shall　always　bear　in　my　heart　a　feeling　of　gratitude　towards　one　man　in　the　world；　and　you　are　that　man。　。　。　。　But　I　could　wish　that　you　had　showed　yourself　more　generous！〃

He　turned　towards　the　door；　but　in　the　same　instant　Helene　leaned　to　whisper　something　in　her　mother's　ear。

〃Ah！　。　。　。〃

At　the　cry　that　broke　from　his　wife；　the　General　trembled　as　if　he　had　seen　Moina　lying　dead。　There　stood　Helene　and　the　murderer　had　turned　instinctively；　with　something　like　anxiety　about　these　folk　in　his　face。

〃What　is　it；　dear？〃　asked　the　General。

〃Helene　wants　to　go　with　him。〃

The　murderer's　face　flushed。

〃If　that　is　how　my　mother　understands　an　almost　involuntary　exclamation；〃　Helene　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　will　fulfil　her　wishes。　She　glanced　about　her　with　something　like　fierce　pride；　then　the　girl's　eyes　fell；　and　she　stood；　admirable　in　her　modesty。

〃Helene；　did　you　go　up　to　the　room　where？〃

〃Yes；　father。〃

〃Helene〃　（and　his　voice　shook　with　a　convulsive　tremor）；　〃is　this　the　first　time　that　you　have　seen　this　man？〃

〃Yes；　father。〃

〃Then　it　is　not　natural　that　you　should　intend　to〃

〃If　it　is　not　natural；　father；　at　any　rate　it　is　true。〃

〃Oh！　child；〃　said　the　Marquise；　lowering　her　voice；　but　not　so　much　but　that　her　husband　could　hear　her；　〃you　are　false　to　all　the　principles　of　honor；　modesty；　and　right　which　I　have　tried　to　cultivate　in　your　heart。　If　until　this　fatal　hour　you　life　has　only　been　one　lie；　there　is　nothing　to　regret　in　your　loss。　It　can　hardly　be　the　moral　perfection　of　this　stranger　that　attracts　you　to　him？　Can　it　be　the　kind　of　power　that　commits　crime？　I　have　too　good　an　opinion　of　you　to　suppose　that〃

〃Oh；　suppose　everything；　madame；〃　Helene　said　coldly。

But　though　her　force　of　character　sustained　this　ordeal；　her　flashing　eyes　could　scarcely　hold　the　tears　that　filled　them。　The　stranger；　watching　her；　guessed　the　mother's　language　from　the　girl's　tears；　and　turned　his　eagle　glance　upon　the　Marquise。　An　irresistible　power　constrained　her　to　look　at　this　terrible　seducer；　but　as　her　eyes　met　his　bright；　glittering　gaze；　she　felt　a　shiver　run　through　her　frame；　such　a　shock　as　we　feel　at　the　sight　of　a　reptile　or　the　contact　of　a　Leyden　jar。

〃Dear！〃　she　cried；　turning　to　her　husband；　〃this　is　the　Fiend　himself。　He　can　divine　everything！〃

The　General　rose　to　his　feet　and　went　to　the　bell。

〃He　means　ruin　for　you；〃　Helene　said　to　the　murderer。

The　stranger　smiled；　took　one　forward　stride；　grasped　the　General's　arm；　and　compelled　him　to　endure　a　steady　gaze　which　benumbed　the　soldier's　brain　and　left　him　powerless。

〃I　will　repay　you　now　for　your　hospitality；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　we　shall　be　quits。　I　will　spare　you　the　shame　by　giving　myself　up。　After　all；　what　should　I　do　now　with　my　life？〃

〃You　could　repent；〃　answered　Helene；　and　her　glance　conveyed　such　hope　as　only　glows　in　a　young　girl's　eyes。

〃/I　shall　never　repent/；〃　said　the　murderer　in　a　sonorous　voice；　as　he　raised　his　head　proudly。

〃His　hands　are　stained　with　blood；〃　the　father　said。

〃I　will　wipe　it　away；〃　she　answered。

〃But　do　you　so　much　as　know　whether　he　cares　for　you？〃　said　her　father；　not　daring　now　to　look　at　the　stranger。

The　murderer　came　up　a　little　nearer。　Some　light　within　seemed　to　glow　through　Helene's　beauty；　grave　and　maidenly　though　it　was；　coloring　and　bringing　into　relief；　as　it　were；　the　least　details；　the　most　delicate　lines　in　her　face。　The　stranger；　with　that　terrible　face　still　blazing　in　his　eyes；　gave　one　tender　glance　to　her　enchanting　loveliness；　then　he　spoke；　his　tones　revealing　how　deeply　he　had　been　moved。

〃And　if　I　refuse　to　allow　this　sacrifice　of　yourself；　and　so　discharge　my　debt　of　two　hours　of　existence　to　your　father；　is　not　this　love；　love　for　yourself　alone？〃

〃Then　do　you　too　reject　me？〃　Helene's　cry　rang　painfully　through　the　hearts　of　all　who　heard　her。　〃Farewell；　then；　to　you　all；　I　will　die。〃

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　asked　the　father　and　mother。

Helene　gave　her　mother　an　eloquent　glance　and　lowered　her　eyes。

Since　the　first　attempt　made　by　the　General　and　his　wife　to　contest　by　word　or　action　the　intruder's　strange　presumption　to　the　right　of　staying　in　their　midst；　from　their　first　experience　of　the　power　of　those　glittering　eyes；　a　mysterious　torpor　had　crept　over　them；　and　their　benumbed　faculties　struggled　in　vain　with　the　preternatural　influence。　The　air　seemed　to　have　suddenly　grown　so　heavy；　that　they　could　scarcely　breathe；　yet；　while　they　could　not　find　the　reason　of　this　feeling　of　oppression；　a　voice　within　told　them　that　this　magnetic　presence　was　the　real　cause　of　their　helplessness。　In　this　moral　agony；　it　flashed　across　the　General　that　he　must　make　every　effort　to　overcome　this　influence　on　his　daughter's　reeling　brain；　he　caught　her　by　the　waist　and　drew　her　into　the　embrasure　of　a　window；　as　far　as　possible　from　the　murderer。

〃Darling；〃　he　murmured；　〃if　some　wild　love　has　been　suddenly　born　in　your　heart；　I　cannot　believe　that　you　have　not　the　strength　of　soul　to　quell　the　mad　impulse；　your　innocent　life；　your　pure　and　dutiful　soul；　has　given　me　too　many　proofs　of　your　character。　There　must　be　something　behind　all　this。　Well；　this　heart　of　mine　is　full　of　indulgence；　you　can　tell　everything　to　me；　even　if　it　breaks；　dear　child；　I　can　be　silent　about　my　grief；　and　keep　your　confession　a　secret。　What　is　it？　Are　you　jealous　of　our　love　for　your　brothers　or　your　little　sister？　Is　it　some　love　trouble？　Are　you　unhappy　here　at　home？　Tell　me　about　it；　tell　me　the　reasons　that　urge　you　to　leave　your　home；　to　rob　it　of　its　greatest　charm；　to　leave　your　mother　and　brothers　and　your　little　sister？〃

〃I　am　in　love　with　no　one；　father；　and　jealous　of　no　one；　not　even　of　your　friend　the　diplomatist；　M。　de　Vandenesse。〃

The　Marquise　turned　pale；　her　daughter　saw　this；　and　stopped　short。

〃Sooner　or　later　I　must　live　under　some　man's　protection；　must　I　not？〃

〃That　is　true。〃

〃Do　we　ever　know；〃　she　went　on；　〃the　human　being　to　whom　we　link　our　destinies？　Now；　I　believe　in　this　man。〃

〃Oh；　child；〃　said　the　General；　raising　his　voice；　〃you　have　no　idea　of　all　the　misery　that　lies　in　store　for　you。〃

〃I　am　thinking　of　/his/。〃

〃What　a　life！〃　groaned　the　father。

〃A　woman's　life；〃　the　girl　murmured。

〃You　have　a　great　knowledge　of　life！〃　exclaimed　the　Marquise；　finding　speech　at　last。

〃Madame；　my　answers　are　shaped　by　the　questions；　but　if　you　desire　it；　I　will　speak　more　clearly。〃

〃Speak　out；　my　child　。　。　。　I　am　a　mother。〃

Mother　and　daughter　looked　each　other　in　the　face；　and　the　Marquise　said　no　more。　At　last　she　said：

〃Helene；　if　you　have　any　reproach