scaramouche-第42节

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excursion　of　the　previous　day　in　the　coach　of　M。　le　Marquis；　were
already　wicked　enough　without　the　spurring　they　received　from　the
distraught　Leandre。

Hitherto　the　attitude　of　each　of　these　men　towards　the　other　had
been　one　of　mutual　contempt。　　The　phenomenon　has　frequently　been
observed　in　like　cases。　　Now；　what　appeared　to　be　a　common
misfortune　brought　them　into　a　sort　of　alliance。　　So；　at　least；　it
seemed　to　Leandre　when　he　went　in　quest　of　Andre…Louis；　who　with
apparent　unconcern　was　smoking　a　pipe　upon　the　quay　immediately
facing　the　inn。

〃Name　of　a　pig！〃　said　Leandre。　　〃How　can　you　take　your　ease　and
smoke　at　such　a　time？〃

Scaramouche　surveyed　the　sky。　　〃I　do　not　find　it　too　cold；〃　said
he。　　〃The　sun　is　shining。　　I　am　very　well　here。〃

〃Do　I　talk　of　the　weather？〃　Leandre　was　very　excited。

〃Of　what；　then？〃

〃Of　Climene；　of　course。〃

〃Oh！　　The　lady　has　ceased　to　interest　me；〃　he　lied。

Leandre　stood　squarely　in　front　of　him；　a　handsome　figure　handsomely
dressed　in　these　days；　his　hair　well　powdered；　his　stockings　of　silk。
His　face　was　pale；　his　large　eyes　looked　larger　than　usual。

〃Ceased　to　interest　you？　　Are　you　not　to　marry　her？〃　　Andre…Louis
expelled　a　cloud　of　smoke。　　〃You　cannot　wish　to　be　offensive。　　Yet
you　almost　suggest　that　I　live　on　other　men's　leavings。〃

〃My　God！〃　said　Leandre；　overcome；　and　he　stared　awhile。　　Then　he
burst　out　afresh。　　〃Are　you　quite　heartless？　　Are　you　always
Scaramouche？〃

〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do？〃　asked　Andre…Louis；　evincing　surprise
in　his　own　turn；　but　faintly。

〃I　do　not　expect　you　to　let　her　go　without　a　struggle。〃

〃But　she　has　gone　already。〃　　Andre…Louis　pulled　at　his　pipe　a
moment；　what　time　Leandre　clenched　and　unclenched　his　hands　in
impotent　rage。　　〃And　to　what　purpose　struggle　against　the
inevitable？　　Did　you　struggle　when　I　took　her　from　you？〃

〃She　was　not　mine　to　be　taken　from　me。　　I　but　aspired；　and　you　won
the　race。　　But　even　had　it　been　otherwise　where　is　the　comparison？
That　was　a　thing　in　honour；　this　…　this　is　hell。〃

His　emotion　moved　Andre…Louis。　　He　took　Leandre's　arm。　　〃You're　a
good　fellow；　Leandre。　　I　am　glad　I　intervened　to　save　you　from
your　fate。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　love　her！〃　cried　the　other；　passionately。　　〃You　never
did。　　You　don't　know　what　it　means　to　love；　or　you'd　not　talk　like
this。　　My　God！　　if　she　had　been　my　affianced　wife　and　this　had
happened；　I　should　have　killed　the　man　…　killed　him！　　Do　you　hear
me？　　But　you。。。　　Oh；　you；　you　come　out　here　and　smoke；　and　take　the
air；　and　talk　of　her　as　another　man's　leavings。　　I　wonder　I　didn't
strike　you　for　the　word。〃

He　tore　his　arm　from　the　other's　grip；　and　looked　almost　as　if　he
would　strike　him　now。

〃You　should　have　done　it；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃It's　in　your　part。〃

With　an　imprecation　Leandre　turned　on　his　heel　to　go。　　Andre…Louis
arrested　his　departure。

〃A　moment；　my　friend。　　Test　me　by　yourself。　　Would　you　marry　her
now？〃

〃Would　I？〃　　The　young　man's　eyes　blazed　with　passion。　　〃Would　I？
Let　her　say　that　she　will　marry　me；　and　I　am　her　slave。〃

〃Slave　is　the　right　word　…　a　slave　in　hell。〃

〃It　would　never　be　hell　to　me　where　she　was；　whatever　she　had　done。
I　love　her；　man；　I　am　not　like　you。　　I　love　her；　do　you　hear　me？〃

〃I　have　known；　it　for　some　time；〃　said　Andre…Louis。　　〃Though　I
didn't　suspect　your　attack　of　the　disease　to　be　quite　so　violent。
Well；　God　knows　I　loved　her；　too；　quite　enough　to　share　your　thirst
for　killing。　　For　myself；　the　blue　blood　of　La　Tour　d'Azyr　would
hardly　quench　this　thirst。　　I　should　like　to　add　to　it　the　dirty
fluid　that　flows　in　the　veins　of　the　unspeakable　Binet。〃

For　a　second　his　emotion　had　been　out　of　hand；　and　he　revealed　to
Leandre　in　the　mordant　tone　of　those　last　words　something　of　the
fires　that　burned　under　his　icy　exterior。　　The　young　man　caught
him　by　the　hand。

〃I　knew　you　were　acting；〃　said　he。　　〃You　feel　…　you　feel　as　I　do。〃

〃Behold　us；　fellows　in　viciousness。　　I　have　betrayed　myself；　it
seems。　　Well；　and　what　now？　　Do　you　want　to　see　this　pretty　Marquis
torn　limb　from　limb？　　I　might　afford　you　the　spectacle。〃

〃What？〃　　Leandre　stared；　wondering　was　this　another　of　Scaramouche's
cynicisms。

〃It　isn't　really　difficult　provided　I　have　aid。　　I　require　only　a
little。　　Will　you　lend　it　me？〃

〃Anything　you　ask；〃　Leandre　exploded。　　〃My　life　if　you　require　it。〃

Andre…Louis　took　his　arm　again。　　〃Let　us　walk；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will
instruct　you。〃

When　they　came　back　the　company　was　already　at　dinner。　　Mademoiselle
had　not　yet　returned。　　Sullenness　presided　at　the　table。　　Columbine
and　Madame　wore　anxious　expressions。　　The　fact　was　that　relations
between　Binet　and　his　troupe　were　daily　growing　more　strained。

Andre…Louis　and　Leandre　went　each　to　his　accustomed　place。　　Binet's
little　eyes　followed　them　with　a　malicious　gleam；　his　thick　lips
pouted　into　a　crooked　smile。

〃You　two　are　grown　very　friendly　of　a　sudden；〃　he　mocked。

〃You　are　a　man　of　discernment；　Binet；〃　said　Scaramouche；　the　cold
loathing　of　his　voice　itself　an　insult。　　〃Perhaps　you　discern　the
reason？〃

〃It　is　readily　discerned。〃

〃Regale　the　company　with　it！〃　he　begged；　and　waited。　　〃What？　　You
hesitate？　　Is　it　possible　that　there　are　limits　to　your
shamelessness？〃

Binet　reared　his　great　head。　　〃Do　you　want　to　quarrel　with　me；
Scaramouche？〃　　Thunder　was　rumbling　in　his　deep；　voice。

〃Quarrel？　　You　want　to　laugh。　　A　man　doesn't　quarrel　with　creatures
like　you。　　We　all　know　the　place　held　in　the　public　esteem　by
complacent　husbands。　　But；　in　God's　name；　what　place　is　there　at
all　for　complacent　fathers？〃

Binet　heaved　himself　up；　a　great　towering　mass　of　manhood。　　Violently
he　shook　off　the　restraining　hand　of　Pierrot　who　sat　on　his　left。

〃A　thousand　devils！〃　he　roared；　〃if　you　take　that　tone　with　me；　I'll
break　every　bone　in　your　filthy　body。〃

〃If　you　were　to　lay　a　finger　on　me；　Binet；　you　would　give　me　the
only　provocation　I　still　need　to　kill　you。〃　　Andre…Louis　was　as
calm　as　ever；　and　therefore　the　more　menacing。　　Alarm　stirred　the
company。　　He　protruded　from　his　pocket　the　butt　of　a　pistol　…　newly
purchased。　　〃I　go　armed；　Binet。　　It　is　only　fair　to　give　you　warning。
Provoke　me　as　you　have　suggested；　and　I'll　kill　you　with　no　more
compunction　than　I　should　kill　a　slug；　which　after　all　is　the　thing
you　most　resemble　…　a　slug；　Binet；　a　fat；　slimy　body；　foulness
without　soul　and　without　intelligence。　　When　I　come　to　think　of　it
I　can't　suffer　to　sit　at　table　with　you。　　It　turns　my　stomach。〃

He　pushed　away　his　platter　and　got　up。　　〃I'll　go　and　eat　at　the
ordinary　below　stairs。〃

Thereupon　up　jumped　Columbine。

〃And　I'll　come　with　you；　Scaramouche！〃　cried　she。

It　acted　like　a　signal。　　Had　the　thing　been　concerted　it　couldn't
have　fallen　out　more　uniformly。　　Binet；　in　fact；　was　persuaded　of
a　conspiracy。　　For　in　the　wake　of　Columbine　went　Leandre；　in　the
wake　of　Leandre；　Polichinelle　and　then　all　the　rest　together；　until
Binet　found　himself　sitting　alone　at　the　head　of　an　empty　table　in
an　empty　room　…　a　badly　shaken　man　whose　rage　could　afford　him　no
support　against　the　dread　by　which　he　was　suddenly　invaded。

He　sat　down　to　think　things　out；　and　he　was　still　at　that　melancholy
occupation　when　perhaps　a　half…hour　later　his　daughter　entered　the
room；　returned　at　last　from　her　excursion。

She　looked　pale；　even　a　little　scared　…　in　reality　excessively
self…conscious　now　that　the　ordeal　of　facing　all　the　company　awaited
her。

Seeing　no　one　but　her　father　in　the　room；　she　checked　on　the
threshold。

〃Where　is　everybody？〃　she　asked；　in　a　voice　rendered　natural　by
effort。

M。　Binet　reared　his　great　head　and　turned　upon　her　eyes　that　were
blood…injected。　　He　scowled；　blew　out　his　thick　lips　and　made　harsh
noises　in　his　throat。　　Yet　he　took　stock　of　her；　so　graceful　and
comely　and　looking　so　completely　the　lady　of　fashion　in　her　long
fur…trimmed　travelling　coat　of　bottle　green；　her　muff　and　her　broad
hat　adorned　by　a　sparkling　Rhinestone　buckle　above　her　adorably
coiffed　brown　hair。　　No　need　to　fear　the　future　whilst　he　owned
such　a　daughter；　let　Scaramouche　play　what　tricks　he　would。

He　expressed；　however；　none　of　these　comforting　reflections。

〃So　you're　back　at　last；　little　fool；〃　he　growled　in　greeting。　　〃I
was　beginning　to　ask　myself　if　we　should　perform　this　evening。　　It
wouldn't　greatly　have　surprised　me　if　you　had　not　returned　in　time。
Indeed；　since　you　have　chosen　to　play　the　fine　hand　you　held　in
your　own　way　and　scorning　my　advice；　nothing　can　surprise　me。〃

She　crossed　the　room　to　the　table；　and　leaning　against　it；　looked
down　upon　him　almost　disdainfully。

〃I　have　nothing　to　regret；〃　she　said。

〃So　every　fool　says　at　first。　　Nor　would　you　admit　it　if　you　had。
You　are　like　that。　　You　go　your　own　way　in　spite　of　advice　from
older　heads。　　Death　of　my　life；　girl；　what　do　you　know　of　men？〃

〃I　am　not　complaining；〃　she　reminded　him。

〃No；　but　you　may　be　presently；　when　you　discover　that　you　would　have
done　better　to　have　been　guided　by　your　old　father。　　So　long　as　your
Marquis　languished　for　you；　there　was　nothing　you　could　not　have
done　with　the　fool。　　So　long　as　you　let　him　have　no　mo