the chouans-第23节

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death　itself。　All　things　are　hurried；　like　the　convulsions　of　the　nation。　In　the　midst　of　such　dangers　as　ours　the　ties　that　bind　should　be　stronger　than　under　the　ordinary　course　of　life。　In　Paris　during　the　Terror；　every　one　came　to　know　the　full　meaning　of　a　clasp　of　the　hand　as　men　do　on　a　battle…field。〃

〃People　felt　the　necessity　of　living　fast　and　ardently；〃　she　answered；　〃for　they　had　little　time　to　live。〃　Then；　with　a　glance　at　her　companion　which　seemed　to　tell　him　that　the　end　of　their　short　intercourse　was　approaching；　she　added；　maliciously：　〃You　are　very　well　informed　as　to　the　affairs　of　life；　for　a　young　man　who　has　just　left　the　Ecole　Polytechnique！〃

〃What　are　you　thinking　of　me？〃　he　said　after　a　moment's　silence。　〃Tell　me　frankly；　without　disguise。〃

〃You　wish　to　acquire　the　right　to　speak　to　me　of　myself；〃　she　said　laughing。

〃You　do　not　answer　me；〃　he　went　on　after　a　slight　pause。　〃Take　care；　silence　is　sometimes　significant。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　cannot　guess　all　that　you　would　like　to　say　to　me？　Good　heavens！　you　have　already　said　enough。〃

〃Oh；　if　we　understand　each　other；〃　he　replied；　smiling；　〃I　have　obtained　more　than　I　dared　hope　for。〃

She　smiled　in　return　so　graciously　that　she　seemed　to　accept　the　courteous　struggle　into　which　all　men　like　to　draw　a　woman。　They　persuaded　themselves；　half　in　jest；　half　in　earnest；　that　they　never　could　be　more　to　each　other　than　they　were　at　that　moment。　The　young　man　fancied；　therefore；　he　might　give　reins　to　a　passion　that　could　have　no　future；　the　young　woman　felt　she　might　smile　upon　it。　Marie　suddenly　struck　her　foot　against　a　stone　and　stumbled。

〃Take　my　arm；〃　said　her　companion。

〃It　seems　I　must；〃　she　replied；　〃you　would　be　too　proud　if　I　refused；　you　would　fancy　I　feared　you。〃

〃Ah；　mademoiselle；〃　he　said；　pressing　her　arm　against　his　heart　that　she　might　feel　the　beating　of　it；　〃you　flatter　my　pride　by　granting　such　a　favor。〃

〃Well；　the　readiness　with　which　I　do　so　will　cure　your　illusions。〃

〃Do　you　wish　to　save　me　from　the　danger　of　the　emotions　you　cause？〃

〃Stop；　stop！〃　she　cried；　〃do　not　try　to　entangle　me　in　such　boudoir　riddles。　I　don't　like　to　find　the　wit　of　fools　in　a　man　of　your　character。　See！　here　we　are　beneath　the　glorious　sky；　in　the　open　country；　before　us；　above　us；　all　is　grand。　You　wish　to　tell　me　that　I　am　beautiful；　do　you　not？　Well；　your　eyes　have　already　told　me　so；　besides；　I　know　it；　I　am　not　a　woman　whom　mere　compliments　can　please。　But　perhaps　you　would　like；〃　this　with　satirical　emphasis；　〃to　talk　about　your　/sentiments/？　Do　you　think　me　so　simple　as　to　believe　that　sudden　sympathies　are　powerful　enough　to　influence　a　whole　life　through　the　recollections　of　one　morning？〃

〃Not　the　recollections　of　a　morning；〃　he　said；　〃but　those　of　a　beautiful　woman　who　has　shown　herself　generous。〃

〃You　forget；〃　she　retorted；　laughing；　〃half　my　attractions；a　mysterious　woman；　with　everything　odd　about　her；　name；　rank；　situation；　freedom　of　thought　and　manners。〃

〃You　are　not　mysterious　to　me！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　have　fathomed　you；　there　is　nothing　that　could　be　added　to　your　perfections　except　a　little　more　faith　in　the　love　you　inspire。〃

〃Ah；　my　poor　child　of　eighteen；　what　can　you　know　of　love？〃　she　said　smiling。　〃Well；　well；　so　be　it！〃　she　added；　〃it　is　a　fair　subject　of　conversation；　like　the　weather　when　one　pays　a　visit。　You　shall　find　that　I　have　neither　false　modesty　nor　petty　fears。　I　can　hear　the　word　love　without　blushing；　it　has　been　so　often　said　to　me　without　one　echo　of　the　heart　that　I　think　it　quite　unmeaning。　I　have　met　with　it　everywhere；　in　books；　at　the　theatre；　in　society；yes；　everywhere；　and　never　have　I　found　in　it　even　a　semblance　of　its　magnificent　ideal。〃

〃Did　you　seek　that　ideal？〃

〃Yes。〃

The　word　was　said　with　such　perfect　ease　and　freedom　that　the　young　man　made　a　gesture　of　surprise　and　looked　at　Marie　fixedly；　as　if　he　had　suddenly　changed　his　opinion　on　her　character　and　real　position。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　he　said　with　ill…concealed　devotion；　〃are　you　maid　or　wife；　angel　or　devil？〃

〃All；〃　she　replied；　laughing。　〃Isn't　there　something　diabolic　and　also　angelic　in　a　young　girl　who　has　never　loved；　does　not　love；　and　perhaps　will　never　love？〃

〃Do　you　think　yourself　happy　thus？〃　he　asked　with　a　free　and　easy　tone　and　manner；　as　though　already　he　felt　less　respect　for　her。

〃Oh；　happy；　no；〃　she　replied。　〃When　I　think　that　I　am　alone；　hampered　by　social　conventions　that　make　me　deceitful；　I　envy　the　privileges　of　a　man。　But　when　I　also　reflect　on　the　means　which　nature　has　bestowed　on　us　women　to　catch　and　entangle　you　men　in　the　invisible　meshes　of　a　power　which　you　cannot　resist；　then　the　part　assigned　to　me　in　the　world　is　not　displeasing　to　me。　And　then　again；　suddenly；　it　does　seem　very　petty；　and　I　feel　that　I　should　despise　a　man　who　allowed　himself　to　be　duped　by　such　vulgar　seductions。　No　sooner　do　I　perceive　our　power　and　like　it；　than　I　know　it　to　be　horrible　and　I　abhor　it。　Sometimes　I　feel　within　me　that　longing　towards　devotion　which　makes　my　sex　so　nobly　beautiful；　and　then　I　feel　a　desire；　which　consumes　me；　for　dominion　and　power。　Perhaps　it　is　the　natural　struggle　of　the　good　and　the　evil　principle　in　which　all　creatures　live　here　below。　Angel　or　devil！　you　have　expressed　it。　Ah！　to…day　is　not　the　first　time　that　I　have　recognized　my　double　nature。　But　we　women　understand　better　than　you　men　can　do　our　own　shortcomings。　We　have　an　instinct　which　shows　us　a　perfection　in　all　things　to　which；　nevertheless；　we　fail　to　attain。　But；〃　she　added；　sighing　as　she　glanced　at　the　sky；　〃that　which　enhances　us　in　your　eyes　is〃

〃Is　what？〃　he　said。

〃that　we　are　all　struggling；　more　or　less；〃　she　answered；　〃against　a　thwarted　destiny。〃

〃Mademoiselle；　why　should　we　part　to…night？〃

〃Ah！〃　she　replied；　smiling　at　the　passionate　look　which　he　gave　her；　〃let　us　get　into　the　carriage；　the　open　air　does　not　agree　with　us。〃

Marie　turned　abruptly；　the　young　man　followed　her；　and　pressed　her　arm　with　little　respect；　but　in　a　manner　that　expressed　his　imperious　admiration。　She　hastened　her　steps。　Seeing　that　she　wished　to　escape　an　importune　declaration；　he　became　the　more　ardent；　being　determined　to　win　a　first　favor　from　this　woman；　he　risked　all　and　said；　looking　at　her　meaningly：

〃Shall　I　tell　you　a　secret？〃

〃Yes；　quickly；　if　it　concerns　you。〃

〃I　am　not　in　the　service　of　the　Republic。　Where　are　you　going？　I　shall　follow　you。〃

At　the　words　Marie　trembled　violently。　She　withdrew　her　arm　and　covered　her　face　with　both　hands　to　hide　either　the　flush　or　the　pallor　of　her　cheeks；　then　she　suddenly　uncovered　her　face　and　said　in　a　voice　of　deep　emotion：

〃Then　you　began　as　you　would　have　ended；　by　deceiving　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。

At　this　answer　she　turned　again　from　the　carriage；　which　was　now　overtaking　them；　and　began　to　almost　run　along　the　road。

〃I　thought；〃　he　said；　following　her；　〃that　the　open　air　did　not　agree　with　you？〃

〃Oh！　it　has　changed；〃　she　replied　in　a　grave　tone；　continuing　to　walk　on；　a　prey　to　agitating　thoughts。

〃You　do　not　answer　me；〃　said　the　young　man；　his　heart　full　of　the　soft　expectation　of　coming　pleasure。

〃Oh！〃　she　said；　in　a　strained　voice；　〃the　tragedy　begins。〃

〃What　tragedy？〃　he　asked。

She　stopped　short；　looked　at　the　young　student　from　head　to　foot　with　a　mingled　expression　of　fear　and　curiosity；　then　she　concealed　her　feelings　that　were　agitating　her　under　the　mask　of　an　impenetrable　calmness；　showing　that　for　a　girl　of　her　age　she　had　great　experience　of　life。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　said；〃but　I　know　already；　when　I　first　saw　you　I　suspected　it。　You　are　the　royalist　leader　whom　they　call　the　Gars。　The　ex…bishop　of　Autun　was　right　in　saying　we　should　always　believe　in　presentiments　which　give　warning　of　evil。〃

〃What　interest　have　you　in　knowing　the　Gars？〃

〃What　interest　has　he　in　concealing　himself　from　me　who　have　already　saved　his　life？〃　She　began　to　laugh；　but　the　merriment　was　forced。　〃I　have　wisely　prevented　you　from　saying　that　you　love　me。　Let　me　tell　you；　monsieur；　that　I　abhor　you。　I　am　republican；　you　are　royalist；　I　would　deliver　you　up　if　you　were　not　under　my　protection；　and　if　I　had　not　already　saved　your　life；　and　if〃　she　stopped。　These　violent　extremes　of　feeling　and　the　inward　struggle　which　she　no　longer　attempted　to　conceal　alarmed　the　young　man；　who　tried；　but　in　vain；　to　observe　her　calmly。　〃Let　us　part　here　at　once；I　insist　upon　it；　farewell！〃　she　said。　She　turned　hastily　back；　made　a　few　steps；　and　then　returned　to　him。　〃No；　no；〃　she　continued；　〃I　have　too　great　an　interest　in　knowing　who　you　are。　Hide　nothing　from　me；　tell　me　the　truth。　Who　are　you？　for　you　are　no　more　a　pupil　of　the　Ecole　Polytechnique　than　you　are　eighteen　years　old。〃

〃I　am　a　sailor；　ready　to　leave　the　ocean　and　follow　you　wherever　your　imagination　may　lead　you。　If　I　have　been　so　lucky　as　to　rouse　your　curiosity　in　any　particular　I　shall　be　very　careful　not　to　lessen　it。　Why　mingle　the　serious　affairs　of　real　life　with　the　life　of　the　heart　in　which　we　are　beginning　to　understand　each　other？〃

〃Our　souls　might　have　understood　each　other；〃　she　said　in　a　grave　voice。　〃But　I　have　no　right　to　exact　your　confidence。　Y