camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第34节
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seemed little enough in return for the sacrifice which I was accepting。
There remained the five thousand francs a year from my father； and；
whatever happened； I had always enough to live on。 I did not tell
Marguerite what I had done； certain as I was that she would refuse the gift。
This income came from a mortgage of sixty thousand francs on a house
that I had never even seen。 All that I knew was that every three months my
father's solicitor； an old friend of the family； handed over to me seven
hundred and fifty francs in return for my receipt。
The day when Marguerite and I came to Paris to look for a flat； I went
to this solicitor and asked him what had to be done in order to make over
this income to another person。 The good man imagined I was ruined； and
questioned me as to the cause of my decision。 As I knew that I should be
obliged； sooner or later； to say in whose favour I made this transfer； I
thought it best to tell him the truth at once。 He made none of the objections
that his position as friend and solicitor authorized him to make； and
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assured me that he would arrange the whole affair in the best way possible。
Naturally； I begged him to employ the greatest discretion in regard to my
father； and on leaving him I rejoined Marguerite； who was waiting for me
at Julie Duprat's； where she had gone in preference to going to listen to the
moralizings of Prudence。
We began to look out for flats。 All those that we saw seemed to
Marguerite too dear； and to me too simple。 However； we finally found； in
one of the quietest parts of Paris； a little house； isolated from the main part
of the building。 Behind this little house was a charming garden；
surrounded by walls high enough to screen us from our neighbours； and
low enough not to shut off our own view。 It was better than our
expectations。
While I went to give notice at my own flat； Marguerite went to see a
business agent； who； she told me； had already done for one of her friends
exactly what she wanted him to do for her。 She came on to the Rue de
Provence in a state of great delight。 The man had promised to pay all her
debts； to give her a receipt for the amount； and to hand over to her twenty
thousand francs； in return for the whole of her furniture。 You have seen by
the amount taken at the sale that this honest man would have gained thirty
thousand francs out of his client。
We went back joyously to Bougival； talking over our projects for the
future； which； thanks to our heedlessness； and especially to our love； we
saw in the rosiest light。
A week later； as we were having lunch； Nanine came to tell us that my
servant was asking for me。 〃Let him come in；〃 I said。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃your father has arrived in Paris； and begs you to return
at once to your rooms； where he is waiting for you。〃
This piece of news was the most natural thing in the world； yet； as we
heard it； Marguerite and I looked at one another。 We foresaw trouble。
Before she had spoken a word； I replied to her thought； and； taking her
hand； I said； 〃Fear nothing。〃
〃Come back as soon as possible；〃 whispered Marguerite； embracing
me； 〃I will wait for you at the window。〃
I sent on Joseph to tell my father that I was on my way。 Two hours
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later I was at the Rue de Provence。
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CHAPTER 20
My father was seated in my room in his dressing…gown； he was writing；
and I saw at once； by the way in which he raised his eyes to me when I
came in； that there was going to be a serious discussion。 I went up to him；
all the same； as if I had seen nothing in his face； embraced him； and said：
〃When did you come； father？〃
〃Last night。〃
〃Did you come straight here； as usual？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I am very sorry not to have been here to receive you。〃
I expected that the sermon which my father's cold face threatened
would begin at once； but he said nothing； sealed the letter which he had
just written； and gave it to Joseph to post。
When we were alone； my father rose； and leaning against the mantel…
piece； said to me：
〃My dear Armand； we have serious matters to discuss。〃
〃I am listening； father。〃
〃You promise me to be frank？〃
〃Am I not accustomed to be so？〃
〃Is it not true that you are living with a woman called Marguerite
Gautier？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do you know what this woman was？〃
〃A kept woman。〃
〃And it is for her that you have forgotten to come and see your sister
and me this year？〃
〃Yes； father； I admit it。〃
〃You are very much in love with this woman？〃
〃You see it； father； since she has made me fail in duty toward you； for
which I humbly ask your forgiveness to…day。〃
My father； no doubt； was not expecting such categorical answers； for
he seemed to reflect a moment； and then said to me：
〃You have； of course； realized that you can not always live like that？〃
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〃I fear so； father； but I have not realized it。〃
〃But you must realize；〃 continued my father； in a dryer tone； 〃that I； at
all events； should not permit it。〃
〃I have said to myself that as long as I did nothing contrary to the
respect which I owe to the traditional probity of the family I could live as I
am living； and this has reassured me somewhat in regard to the fears I
have had。〃
Passions are formidable enemies to sentiment。 I was prepared for
every struggle； even with my father； in order that I might keep Marguerite。
〃Then； the moment is come when you must live otherwise。〃
〃Why； father？〃
〃Because you are doing things which outrage the respect that you
imagine you have for your family。〃
〃I don't follow your meaning。〃
〃I will explain it to you。 Have a mistress if you will； pay her as a man
of honour is bound to pay the woman whom he keeps； by all means； but
that you should come to forget the most sacred things for her； that you
should let the report of your scandalous life reach my quiet countryside；
and set a blot on the honourable name that I have given you； it can not； it
shall not be。〃
〃Permit me to tell you； father； that those who have given you
information about me have been ill…informed。 I am the lover of Mlle。
Gautier； I live with her； it is the most natural thing in the world。 I do not
give Mlle。 Gautier the name you have given me； I spend on her account
what my means allow me to spend； I have no debts； and； in short； I am not
in a position which authorizes a father to say to his son what you have just
said to me。〃
〃A father is always authorized to rescue his son out of evil paths。 You
have not done any harm yet； but you will do it。〃
〃Father！〃
〃Sir； I know more of life than you do。 There are no entirely pure
sentiments except in perfectly chaste women。 Every Manon can have her
own Des Grieux； and times are changed。 It would be useless for the world
to grow older if it did not correct its ways。 You will leave your mistress。〃
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〃I am very sorry to disobey you； father； but it is impossible。〃
〃I will compel you to do so。〃
〃Unfortunately； father； there no longer exists a Sainte Marguerite to
which courtesans can be sent； and； even if there were； I would follow Mlle。
Gautier if you succeeded in having her sent there。 What would you have？
Perhaps am in the wrong； but I can only be happy as long as I am the lover
of this woman。〃
〃Come； Armand； open your eyes。 Recognise that it is your father who
speaks to you； your father who has always loved you； and who only
