camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第3节
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refresh my memory in regard to some points which I might not otherwise
have remembered。
Some among the details of this chapter did not reach me until later； but
I write them here so as not to be obliged to return to them when the story
itself has begun。
Marguerite was always present at every first night； and passed every
evening either at the theatre or the ball。 Whenever there was a new piece
she was certain to be seen； and she invariably had three things with her on
the ledge of her ground…floor box： her opera…glass； a bag of sweets； and a
bouquet of camellias。
For twenty…five days of the month the camellias were white； and for
five they were red； no one ever knew the reason of this change of colour；
which I mention though I can not explain it； it was noticed both by her
friends and by the habitue's of the theatres to which she most often went。
She was never seen with any flowers but camellias。 At the florist's；
Madame Barjon's； she had come to be called 〃the Lady of the Camellias；〃
and the name stuck to her。
Like all those who move in a certain set in Paris； I knew that
Marguerite had lived with some of the most fashionable young men in
society； that she spoke of it openly； and that they themselves boasted of it；
so that all seemed equally pleased with one another。 Nevertheless； for
about three years； after a visit to Bagnees； she was said to be living with
an old duke； a foreigner； enormously rich； who had tried to remove her as
far as possible from her former life； and； as it seemed； entirely to her own
satisfaction。
This is what I was told on the subject。 In the spring of 1847 Marguerite
was so ill that the doctors ordered her to take the waters； and she went to
Bagneres。 Among the invalids was the daughter of this duke； she was not
only suffering from the same complaint； but she was so like Marguerite in
appearance that they might have been taken for sisters； the young duchess
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was in the last stage of consumption； and a few days after Marguerite's
arrival she died。 One morning； the duke； who had remained at Bagneres to
be near the soil that had buried a part of his heart； caught sight of
Marguerite at a turn of the road。 He seemed to see the shadow of his child；
and going up to her； he took her hands； embraced and wept over her； and
without even asking her who she was； begged her to let him love in her the
living image of his dead child。 Marguerite； alone at Bagneres with her
maid； and not being in any fear of compromising herself； granted the
duke's request。 Some people who knew her； happening to be at Bagneres；
took upon themselves to explain Mademoiselle Gautier's true position to
the duke。 It was a blow to the old man； for the resemblance with his
daughter was ended in one direction； but it was too late。 She had become a
necessity to his heart； his only pretext； his only excuse； for living。 He
made no reproaches； he had indeed no right to do so； but he asked her if
she felt herself capable of changing her mode of life； offering her in return
for the sacrifice every compensation that she could desire。 She consented。
It must be said that Marguerite was just then very ill。 The past seemed
to her sensitive nature as if it were one of the main causes of her illness；
and a sort of superstition led her to hope that God would restore to her
both health and beauty in return for her repentance and conversion。 By the
end of the summer； the waters； sleep； the natural fatigue of long walks； had
indeed more or less restored her health。 The duke accompanied her to
Paris； where he continued to see her as he had done at Bagneres。
This liaison； whose motive and origin were quite unknown； caused a
great sensation； for the duke； already known for his immense fortune； now
became known for his prodigality。 All this was set down to the debauchery
of a rich old man； and everything was believed except the truth。 The
father's sentiment for Marguerite had； in truth； so pure a cause that
anything but a communion of hearts would have seemed to him a kind of
incest； and he had never spoken to her a word which his daughter might
not have heard。
Far be it from me to make out our heroine to be anything but what she
was。 As long as she remained at Bagneres； the promise she had made to
the duke had not been hard to keep； and she had kept it； but； once back in
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Paris； it seemed to her； accustomed to a life of dissipation； of balls； of
orgies； as if the solitude； only interrupted by the duke's stated visits； would
kill her with boredom； and the hot breath of her old life came back across
her head and heart。
We must add that Marguerite had returned more beautiful than she had
ever been； she was but twenty； and her malady； sleeping but not subdued；
continued to give her those feverish desires which are almost always the
result of diseases of the chest。
It was a great grief to the duke when his friends； always on the lookout
for some scandal on the part of the woman with whom； it seemed to them；
he was compromising himself； came to tell him； indeed to prove to him；
that at times when she was sure of not seeing him she received other visits；
and that these visits were often prolonged till the following day。 On being
questioned； Marguerite admitted everything to the duke； and advised him；
without arriere…pensee； to concern himself with her no longer； for she felt
incapable of carrying out what she had undertaken； and she did not wish to
go on accepting benefits from a man whom she was deceiving。 The duke
did not return for a week； it was all he could do； and on the eighth day he
came to beg Marguerite to let him still visit her； promising that he would
take her as she was； so long as he might see her； and swearing that he
would never utter a reproach against her； not though he were to die of it。
This； then； was the state of things three months after Marguerite's
return； that is to say； in November or December； 1842。
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CHAPTER 3
At one o'clock on the 16th I went to the Rue d'Antin。 The voice of the
auctioneer could be heard from the outer door。 The rooms were crowded
with people。 There were all the celebrities of the most elegant impropriety；
furtively examined by certain great ladies who had again seized the
opportunity of the sale in order to be able to see； close at hand； women
whom they might never have another occasion of meeting； and whom they
envied perhaps in secret for their easy pleasures。 The Duchess of F。
elbowed Mlle。 A。； one of the most melancholy examples of our modern
courtesan； the Marquis de T。 hesitated over a piece of furniture the price of
which was being run high by Mme。 D。； the most elegant and famous
adulteress of our time； the Duke of Y。； who in Madrid is supposed to be
ruining himself in Paris； and in Paris to be ruining himself in Madrid； and
who； as a matter of fact； never even reaches the limit of his income； talked
with Mme。 M。； one of our wittiest story…tellers； who from time to time
writes what she says and signs what she writes； while at the same time he
exchanged confidential glances with Mme。 de N。； a fair ornament of the
Champs…Elysees； almost always dressed in pink or blue； and driving two
big black horses which Tony had sold her for 10；000 francs； and for which
she had paid； after her fashion； finally； Mlle。 R。； who makes by her mere
talent twice what the women of the world make by their dot and three
times as much as the others make by their amours； had come； in spite of
the cold； to make some purchases； and was not the least looked at among
the crowd。
We might cite the initials of many more of those who found
themselves； not without some mutual surprise； side by side in one room。
But we fear to weary the reader。 We will only add that everyone was in the
highest spirits； and that many of those p
