camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第30节
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〃Yes；〃 I answered； trying to quiet the scruples which this way of living
awoke in me from time to time。
〃We went all over the house； and we shall have everything perfect。 The
duke is going to look after every single thing。 Ah； my dear；〃 she added；
kissing me； 〃you're in luck； it's a millionaire who makes your bed for
you。〃
〃And when shall you move into the house？〃 inquired Prudence。
〃As soon as possible。〃
〃Will you take your horses and carriage？〃
〃I shall take the whole house； and you can look after my place while I
am away。〃
A week later Marguerite was settled in her country house； and I was
installed at Point du Jour。
Then began an existence which I shall have some difficulty in
describing to you。 At first Marguerite could not break entirely with her
former habits； and； as the house was always en fete； all the women whom
she knew came to see her。 For a whole month there was not a day when
Marguerite had not eight or ten people to meals。 Prudence； on her side；
brought down all the people she knew； and did the honours of the house as
if the house belonged to her。
The duke's money paid for all that； as you may imagine； but from time
to time Prudence came to me； asking for a note for a thousand francs；
professedly on behalf of Marguerite。 You know I had won some money at
gambling； I therefore immediately handed over to Prudence what she
asked for Marguerite； and fearing lest she should require more than I
possessed； I borrowed at Paris a sum equal to that which I had already
borrowed and paid back。 I was then once more in possession of some ten
thousand francs； without reckoning my allowance。 However； Marguerite's
pleasure in seeing her friends was a little moderated when she saw the
expense which that pleasure entailed； and especially the necessity she was
sometimes in of asking me for money。 The duke； who had taken the house
in order that Marguerite might rest there； no longer visited it； fearing to
find himself in the midst of a large and merry company； by whom he did
not wish to be seen。 This came about through his having once arrived to
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dine tete…a…tete with Marguerite； and having fallen upon a party of fifteen；
who were still at lunch at an hour when he was prepared to sit down to
dinner。 He had unsuspectingly opened the dining…room door； and had been
greeted by a burst of laughter； and had had to retire precipitately before the
impertinent mirth of the women who were assembled there。
Marguerite rose from table； and joined the duke in the next room；
where she tried； as far as possible； to induce him to forget the incident； but
the old man； wounded in his dignity； bore her a grudge for it； and could
not forgive her。 He said to her； somewhat cruelly； that he was tired of
paying for the follies of a woman who could not even have him treated
with respect under his own roof； and he went away in great indignation。
Since that day he had never been heard of。
In vain Marguerite dismissed her guests； changed her way of life； the
duke was not to be heard of。 I was the gainer in so； far that my mistress
now belonged to me more completely； and my dream was at length
realized。 Marguerite could not be without me。 Not caring what the result
might be； she publicly proclaimed our liaison； and I had come to live
entirely at her house。 The servants addressed me officially as their master。
Prudence had strictly sermonized Marguerite in regard to her new
manner of life； but she had replied that she loved me； that she could not
live without me； and that； happen what might； she would not sacrifice the
pleasure of having me constantly with her； adding that those who were not
satisfied with this arrangement were free to stay away。 So much I had
heard one day when Prudence had said to Marguerite that she had
something very important to tell her； and I had listened at the door of the
room into which they had shut themselves。
Not long after； Prudence returned again。 I was at the other end of the
garden when she arrived； and she did not see me。 I had no doubt； from the
way in which Marguerite came to meet her； that another similar
conversation was going to take place； and I was anxious to hear what it
was about。 The two women shut themselves into a boudoir； and I put
myself within hearing。
〃Well？〃 said Marguerite。
〃Well； I have seen the duke。〃
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〃What did he say？〃
〃That he would gladly forgive you in regard to the scene which took
place； but that he has learned that you are publicly living with M。 Armand
Duval； and that he will never forgive that。 'Let Marguerite leave the young
man；' he said to me； 'and； as in the past； I will give her all that she requires；
if not； let her ask nothing more from me。'〃
〃And you replied？〃
〃That I would report his decision to you； and I promised him that I
would bring you into a more reasonable frame of mind。 Only think； my
dear child； of the position that you are losing； and that Armand can never
give you。 He loves you with all his soul； but he has no fortune capable of
supplying your needs； and he will be bound to leave you one day； when it
will be too late and when the duke will refuse to do any more for you。
Would you like me to speak to Armand？〃
Marguerite seemed to be thinking； for she answered nothing。 My heart
beat violently while I waited for her reply。
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃I will not leave Armand； and I will not conceal
the fact that I am living with him。 It is folly no doubt； but I love him。 What
would you have me do？ And then； now that he has got accustomed to be
always with me； he would suffer too cruelly if he had to leave me so much
as an hour a day。 Besides； I have not such a long time to live that I need
make myself miserable in order to please an old man whose very sight
makes me feel old。 Let him keep his money； I will do without it。〃
〃But what will you do？〃
〃I don't in the least know。〃
Prudence was no doubt going to make some reply； but I entered
suddenly and flung myself at Marguerite's feet； covering her hands with
tears in my joy at being thus loved。
〃My life is yours； Marguerite； you need this man no longer。 Am I not
here？ Shall I ever leave you； and can I ever repay you for the happiness
that you give me？ No more barriers； my Marguerite； we love； what matters
all the rest？〃
〃Oh yes； I love you； my Armand；〃 she murmured； putting her two arms
around my neck。 〃I love you as I never thought I should ever love。 We will
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be happy； we will live quietly； and I will say good…bye forever to the life
for which I now blush。 You won't ever reproach me for the past？ Tell me！〃
Tears choked my voice。 I could only reply by clasping Marguerite to
my heart。
〃Well；〃 said she； turning to Prudence； and speaking in a broken voice；
〃you can report this scene to the duke； and you can add that we have no
longer need of him。〃
From that day forth the duke was never referred to。 Marguerite was no
longer the same woman that I had known。 She avoided everything that
might recall to me the life which she had been leading when I first met her。
Never did wife or sister surround husband or brother with such loving care
as she had for me。 Her nature was morbidly open to all impressions and
accessible to all sentiments。 She had broken equally with her friends and
with her ways； with her words and with her extravagances。 Any one who
had seen us leaving the house to go on the river in the charming little boat
which I had bought would never have believed that the woman dressed in
white； wearing a straw hat； and carrying on her arm a little silk pelisse to
protect her against the damp of the river； was that Marguerite Gautier who；
only four months ago； had been the talk of the town for t
