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第34节

scaramouche-第34节

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pelisse; her face of a delicate loveliness。  She was leaning forward;
her lips parted; her eyes devouring Scaramouche until they drew his
gaze。  When that happened; the shock of it brought him abruptly to a
dumfounded halt。

Climene; checking in the middle of a sentence; arrested by his own
sudden stopping; plucked at his sleeve。

〃What is it; Scaramouche?〃

But he made no attempt to answer her; and at that moment the
coachman; to whom the little lady had already signalled; brought
the carriage to a standstill beside them。  Seen in the gorgeous
setting of that coach with its escutcheoned panels; its portly
coachman and its white…stockinged footman … who swung instantly
to earth as the vehicle stopped … its dainty occupant seemed to
Climene a princess out of a fairy…tale。  And this princess leaned
forward; with eyes aglow and cheeks aflush; stretching out a
choicely gloved hand to Scaramouche。

〃Andre…Louis!〃 she called him。

And Scaramouche took the hand of that exalted being; just as he
might have taken the hand of Climene herself; and with eyes that
reflected the gladness of her own; in a voice that echoed the joyous
surprise of hers; he addressed her familiarly by name; just as she
had addressed him。

〃Aline!〃



CHAPTER VIII

THE DREAM


〃The door;〃 Aline commanded her footman; and 〃Mount here beside me;〃
she commanded Andre…Louis; in the same breath。

〃A moment; Aline。〃

He turned to his companion; who was all amazement; and to Harlequin
and Columbine; who had that moment come up to share it。  〃You permit
me; Climene?〃 said he; breathlessly。  But it was more a statement
than a question。  〃Fortunately you are not alone。  Harlequin will
take care of you。  Au revoir; at dinner。〃

With that he sprang into the cabriolet without waiting for a reply。
The footman dosed the door; the coachman cracked his whip; and the
regal equipage rolled away along the quay; leaving the three
comedians staring after it; open…mouthed。。。 Then Harlequin laughed。

〃A prince in disguise; our Scaramouche!〃 said he。

Columbine clapped her hands and flashed her strong teeth。  〃But what
a romance for you; Climene!  How wonderful!〃

The frown melted from Climene's brow。  Resentment changed to
bewilderment。

〃But who is she?〃

〃His sister; of course;〃 said Harlequin; quite definitely。

〃His sister?  How do you know?〃

〃I know what he will tell you on his return。〃

〃But why?〃

〃Because you wouldn't  believe him if he said she was his mother。〃

Following the carriage with their glance; they wandered on in the
direction it had taken。  And in the carriage Aline was considering
Andre…Louis with grave eyes; lips slightly compressed; and a tiny
frown between her finely drawn eyebrows。

〃You have taken to queer company; Andre;〃 was the first thing she
said to him。 〃Or else I am mistaken in thinking that your companion
was Mlle。 Binet of the Theatre Feydau。〃

〃You are not mistaken。  But I had not imagined Mlle。 Binet so famous
already。〃

〃Oh; as to that。。。 〃 mademoiselle shrugged; her tone quietly
scornful。  And she explained。  〃It is simply that I was at the play
last night。  I thought I recognized her。〃

〃You were at the Feydau last night?  And I never saw you!〃

〃Were you there; too?〃

〃Was I there!〃 he cried。  Then he checked; and abruptly changed his
tone。  〃Oh; yes; I was there;〃 he said; as commonplace as he could;
beset by a sudden reluctance to avow that he had so willingly
descended to depths that she must account unworthy; and grateful
that his disguise of face and voice should have proved impenetrable
even to one who knew him so very well。

〃I understand;〃 said she; and compressed her lips a little more
tightly。

〃But what do you understand?〃

〃The rare attractions of Mlle。 Binet。  Naturally you would be at
the theatre。  Your tone conveyed it very clearly。  Do you know that
you disappoint me; Andre?  It is stupid of me; perhaps; it betrays;
I suppose; my imperfect knowledge of your sex。  I am aware that
most young men of fashion find an irresistible attraction for
creatures who parade themselves upon the stage。  But I did not
expect you to ape the ways of a man of fashion。  I was foolish
enough to imagine you to be different; rather above such trivial
pursuits。  I conceived you something of an idealist。〃

〃Sheer flattery。〃

〃So I perceive。  But you misled me。  You talked so much morality of
a kind; you made philosophy so readily; that I came to be deceived。
In fact; your hypocrisy was so consummate that I never suspected it。
With your gift of acting I wonder that you haven't joined Mlle。
Binet's troupe。〃

〃I have;〃 said he。

It had really become necessary to tell her; making choice of the
lesser of the two evils with which she confronted him。

He saw first incredulity; then consternation; and lastly disgust
overspread her face。

〃Of course;〃 said she; after a long pause; 〃that would have the
advantage of bringing you closer to your charmer。〃

〃That was only one of the inducements。  There was another。  Finding
myself forced to choose between the stage and the gallows; I had the
incredible weakness to prefer the former。  It was utterly unworthy
of a man of my lofty ideals; but … what would you?  Like other
ideologists; I find it easier to preach than to practise。  Shall I
stop the carriage and remove the contamination of my disgusting
person?  Or shall I tell you how it happened?〃

〃Tell me how it happened first。  Then we will decide。〃

He told her how he met the Binet Troupe; and how the men of the
marechaussee forced upon him the discovery that in its bosom he could
lie safely lost until the hue and cry had died down。  The explanation
dissolved her iciness。

〃My poor Andre; why didn't you tell me this at first?〃

〃For one thing; you didn't give me time; for another; I feared to
shock you with the spectacle of my degradation。〃

She took him seriously。  〃But where was the need of it?  And why did
you not send us word as I required you of your whereabouts?〃

〃I was thinking of it only yesterday。  I have hesitated for several
reasons。〃

〃You thought it would offend us to know what you were doing?〃

〃I think that I preferred to surprise you by the magnitude of my
ultimate achievements。〃

〃Oh; you are to become a great actor?〃  She was frankly scornful。

〃That is not impossible。  But I am more concerned to become a great
author。  There is no reason why you should sniff。  The calling is an
honourable one。  All the world is proud to know such men as
Beaumarchais and Chenier。〃

〃And you hope to equal them?〃

〃I hope to surpass them; whilst acknowledging that it was they who
taught me how to walk。  What did you think of the play last night?〃

〃It was amusing and well conceived。〃

〃Let me present you to the author。〃

〃You?  But the company is one of the improvisers。〃

〃Even improvisers require an author to write their scenarios。  That
is all I write at present。  Soon I shall be writing plays in the
modern manner。〃

〃You deceive yourself; my poor Andre。  The piece last night would
have been nothing without the players。  You are fortunate in your
Scaramouche。〃

〃In confidence … I present you to him。〃

〃You … Scaramouche?  You?〃  She turned to regard him fully。  He
smiled his close…lipped smile that made wrinkles like gashes in
his cheeks。  He nodded。  〃And I didn't recognize you!〃


〃I thank you for the tribute。  You imagined; of course; that I was
a scene…shifter。  And now that you know all about me; what of
Gavrillac?  What of my godfather?〃

He was well; she told him; and still profoundly indignant with
Andre…Louis for his defection; whilst secretly concerned on his
behalf。

〃I shall write to him to…day that I have seen you。〃

〃Do so。  Tell him that I am well and prospering。  But say no more。
Do not tell him what I am doing。  He has his prejudices too。
Besides; it might not be prudent。  And now the question I have been
burning to ask ever since I entered your carriage。  Why are you in
Nantes; Aline?〃

〃I am on a visit to my aunt; Mme。 de Sautron。  It was with her that
I came to the play yesterday。  We have been dull at the chateau; but
it will be different now。  Madame my aunt is receiving several guests
to…day。  M。 de La Tour d'Azyr is to be one of them。〃

Andre…Louis frowned and sighed。  〃Did you ever hear; Aline; how poor
Philippe de Vilmorin came by his end?〃

〃Yes; I was told; first by my uncle; then by M。 de La Tour d'Azyr;
himself。〃

〃Did not that help you to decide this marriage question?〃

〃How could it?  You forget that I am but a woman。  You don't expect
me to judge between men in matters such as these?〃

〃Why not?  You are well able to do so。  The more since you have
heard two sides。  For my godfather would tell you the truth。  If
you cannot judge; it is that you do not wish to judge。〃  His tone
became harsh。  〃Wilfully you close your eyes to justice that might
check the course of your unhealthy; unnatural ambition。〃

〃Excellent!〃 she exclaimed; and considered him with amusement and
something else。  〃Do you know that you are almost droll?  You rise
unblushing from the dregs of life in which I find you; and shake
off the arm of t

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