camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第13节
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turning； began to talk with the duke。
It may sound childish to tell you all these details； but everything
relating to Marguerite is so fresh in my memory that I can not help
recalling them now。
I went back to Gaston and told him of the arrangement I had made for
him and for me。 He agreed； and we left our stalls to go round to Mme。
Duvernoy's box。 We had scarcely opened the door leading into the stalls
when we had to stand aside to allow Marguerite and the duke to pass。 I
would have given ten years of my life to have been in the old man's place。
When they were on the street he handed her into a phaeton； which he
drove himself； and they were whirled away by two superb horses。
We returned to Prudence's box； and when the play was over we took a
cab and drove to 7； Rue d'Antin。 At the door； Prudence asked us to come
up and see her showrooms； which we had never seen； and of which she
seemed very proud。 You can imagine how eagerly I accepted。 It seemed to
me as if I was coming nearer and nearer to Marguerite。 I soon turned the
conversation in her direction。
〃The old duke is at your neighbours；〃 I said to Prudence。
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〃Oh； no； she is probably alone。〃
〃But she must be dreadfully bored；〃 said Gaston。
〃We spend most of our evening together； or she calls to me when she
comes in。 She never goes to bed before two in the morning。 She can't sleep
before that。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because she suffers in the chest； and is almost always feverish。〃
〃Hasn't she any lovers？〃 I asked。
〃I never see any one remain after I leave； I don't say no one ever
comes when I am gone。 Often in the evening I meet there a certain Comte
de N。； who thinks he is making some headway by calling on her at eleven
in the evening； and by sending her jewels to any extent； but she can't stand
him。 She makes a mistake； he is very rich。 It is in vain that I say to her
from time to time； 'My dear child； there's the man for you。' She； who
generally listens to me； turns her back and replies that he is too stupid。
Stupid； indeed； he is； but it would be a position for her； while this old duke
might die any day。 Old men are egoists； his family are always reproaching
him for his affection for Marguerite； there are two reasons why he is likely
to leave her nothing。 I give her good advice； and she only says it will be
plenty of time to take on the count when the duke is dead。 It isn't all fun；〃
continued Prudence； 〃to live like that。 I know very well it wouldn't suit me；
and I should soon send the old man about his business。 He is so dull； he
calls her his daughter； looks after her like a child； and is always in the way。
I am sure at this very moment one of his servants is prowling about in the
street to see who comes out； and especially who goes in。〃
〃Ah； poor Marguerite！〃 said Gaston； sitting down to the piano and
playing a waltz。 〃I hadn't a notion of it； but I did notice she hasn't been
looking so gay lately。〃
〃Hush；〃 said Prudence； listening。 Gaston stopped。
〃She is calling me； I think。〃
We listened。 A voice was calling； 〃Prudence！〃
〃Come； now； you must go；〃 said Mme。 Duvernoy。
〃Ah； that is your idea of hospitality；〃 said Gaston； laughing； 〃we won't
go till we please。〃
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〃Why should we go？〃
〃I am going over to Marguerite's。〃
〃We will wait here。〃
〃You can't。〃
〃Then we will go with you。〃
〃That still less。〃
〃I know Marguerite；〃 said Gaston； I can very well pay her a call。〃
〃But Armand doesn't know her。〃
〃I will introduce him。〃
〃Impossible。〃
We again heard Marguerite's voice calling to Prudence； who rushed to
her dressing…room window。 I followed with Gaston as she opened the
window。 We hid ourselves so as not to be seen from outside。
〃I have been calling you for ten minutes；〃 said Marguerite from her
window； in almost an imperious tone of voice。
〃What do you want？〃
〃I want you to come over at once。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because the Comte de N。 is still here； and he is boring me to death。〃
〃I can't now。〃
〃What is hindering you？〃
〃There are two young fellows here who won't go。〃
〃Tell them that you must go out。〃
〃I have told them。〃
〃Well； then； leave them in the house。 They will soon go when they see
you have gone。〃
〃They will turn everything upside down。〃
〃But what do they want？〃
〃They want to see you。〃
〃What are they called？〃
〃You know one； M。 Gaston R。〃
〃Ah； yes； I know him。 And the other？〃
〃M。 Armand Duval； and you don't know him。〃
〃No； but bring them along。 Anything is better than the count。 I expect
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you。 Come at once。〃
Marguerite closed her window and Prudence hers。 Marguerite； who
had remembered my face for a moment； did not remember my name。 I
would rather have been remembered to my disadvantage than thus
forgotten。
〃I knew；〃 said Gaston； 〃that she would be delighted to see us。〃
〃Delighted isn't the word；〃 replied Prudence； as she put on her hat and
shawl。 〃She will see you in order to get rid of the count。 Try to be more
agreeable than he is； or （I know Marguerite） she will put it all down to
me。〃
We followed Prudence downstairs。 I trembled； it seemed to me that
this visit was to have a great influence on my life。 I was still more agitated
than on the evening when I was introduced in the box at the Opera
Comique。 As we reached the door that you know； my heart beat so
violently that I was hardly able to think。
We heard the sound of a piano。 Prudence rang。 The piano was silent。 A
woman who looked more like a companion than a servant opened the door。
We went into the drawing…room； and from that to the boudoir； which was
then just as you have seen it since。 A young man was leaning against the
mantel…piece。 Marguerite； seated at the piano； let her fingers wander over
the notes； beginning scraps of music without finishing them。 The whole
scene breathed boredom； the man embarrassed by the consciousness of his
nullity； the woman tired of her dismal visitor。 At the voice of Prudence；
Marguerite rose； and coming toward us with a look of gratitude to Mme。
Duvernoy； said：
〃Come in； and welcome。〃
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CHAPTER 9
〃Good…evening； my dear Gaston；〃 said Marguerite to my companion。
〃I am very glad to see you。 Why didn't you come to see me in my box at
the Varietes？〃
〃I was afraid it would be indiscreet。〃
〃Friends；〃 and Marguerite lingered over the word； as if to intimate to
those who were present that in spite of the familiar way in which she
greeted him； Gaston was not and never had been anything more than a
friend； 〃friends are always welcome。〃
〃Then； will you permit me to introduce M。 Armand Duval？〃
〃I had already authorized Prudence to do so。〃
〃As far as that goes； madame；〃 I said； bowing； and succeeding in
getting more or less intelligible sounds out of my throat； 〃I have already
had the honour of being introduced to you。〃
Marguerite's beautiful eyes seemed to be looking back in memory； but
she could not； or seemed not to； remember。
〃Madame；〃 I continued； 〃I am grateful to you for having forgotten the
occasion of my first introduction； for I was very absurd and must have
seemed to you very tiresome。 It was at the Opera Comique； two years ago；
I was with Ernest de 。〃
〃Ah； I remember；〃 said Marguerite； with a smile。 〃It was not you who
were absurd； it was I who was mischievous； as I still am； but somewhat
less。 You have forgiven me？〃
And she held out her hand； which I kissed。
〃It is true；〃 she went on； 〃you know I have the bad habit of trying to
embarrass people the first time I meet them。 It is very stupid。 My docto
