camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第40节
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〃Well； what did she say？〃
〃She said； 'He is sure to come here；' and she begged me to ask you to
forgive her。〃
〃I have forgiven her； you may tell her。 She was a good girl； but； after
all； like the others； and I ought to have expected what happened。 I am even
grateful to her； for I see now what would have happened if I had lived with
her altogether。 It was ridiculous。〃
〃She will be very glad to find that you take it so well。 It was quite time
she left you； my dear fellow。 The rascal of an agent to whom she had
offered to sell her furniture went around to her creditors to find out how
much she owed； they took fright； and in two days she would have been
sold up。〃
〃And now it is all paid？〃
〃More or less。〃
〃And who has supplied the money？〃
〃The Comte de N。 Ah； my dear friend； there are men made on purpose
for such occasions。 To cut a long story short he gave her twenty thousand
francs； but he has had his way at last。 He knows quite well that Marguerite
is not in love with him； but he is very nice with her all the same。 As you
have seen； he has repurchased her horses； he has taken her jewels out of
pawn； and he gives her as much money as the duke used to give her； if she
likes to live quietly； he will stay with her a long time。〃
〃And what is she doing？ Is she living in Paris altogether？〃
〃She would never go back to Bougival after you went。 I had to go
myself and see after all her things； and yours； too。 I made a package of
them and you can send here for them。 You will find everything； except a
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little case with your initials。 Marguerite wanted to keep it。 If you really
want it； I will ask her for it。〃
〃Let her keep it；〃 I stammered； for I felt the tears rise from my heart to
my eyes at the recollection of the village where I had been so happy； and
at the thought that Marguerite cared to keep something which had
belonged to me and would recall me to her。 If she had entered at that
moment my thoughts of vengeance would have disappeared； and I should
have fallen at her feet。
〃For the rest；〃 continued Prudence； 〃I never saw her as she is now； she
hardly takes any sleep； she goes to all the balls； she goes to suppers； she
even drinks。 The other day； after a supper； she had to stay in bed for a
week； and when the doctor let her get up； she began again at the risk of her
life。 Shall you go and see her？〃
〃What is the good？ I came to see you； because you have always been
charming to me； and I knew you before I ever knew Marguerite。 I owe it to
you that I have been her lover； and also； don't I； that I am her lover no
longer？〃
〃Well； I did all I could to get her away from you； and I believe you
will be thankful to me later on。〃
I owe you a double gratitude；〃 I added； rising； for I was disgusted with
the woman； seeing her take every word I said to her as if it were serious。
〃You are going？〃
〃Yes。〃
I had learned enough。
〃When shall I be seeing you？〃
〃Soon。 Good…bye。〃
〃Good…bye。〃
Prudence saw me to the door； and I went back to my own rooms with
tears of rage in my eyes and a desire for vengeance in my heart。
So Marguerite was no different from the others； so the steadfast love
that she had had for me could not resist the desire of returning to her
former life； and the need of having a carriage and plunging into dissipation。
So I said to myself； as I lay awake at night though if I had reflected as
calmly as I professed to I should have seen in this new and turbulent life
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of Marguerite the attempt to silence a constant thought； a ceaseless
memory。 Unfortunately； evil passion had the upper hand； and I only sought
for some means of avenging myself on the poor creature。 Oh； how petty
and vile is man when he is wounded in one of his narrow passions！
This Olympe whom I had seen was； if not a friend of Marguerite； at all
events the woman with whom she was most often seen since her return to
Paris。 She was going to give a ball； and； as I took it for granted that
Marguerite would be there； I tried to get an invitation and succeeded。
When； full of my sorrowful emotions； I arrived at the ball； it was
already very animated。 They were dancing； shouting even； and in one of
the quadrilles I perceived Marguerite dancing with the Comte de N。； who
seemed proud of showing her off； as if he said to everybody： 〃This woman
is mine。〃
I leaned against the mantel…piece just opposite Marguerite and watched
her dancing。 Her face changed the moment she caught sight of me。 I
saluted her casually with a glance of the eyes and a wave of the hand。
When I reflected that after the ball she would go home； not with me but
with that rich fool； when I thought of what would follow their return； the
blood rose to my face； and I felt the need of doing something to trouble
their relations。
After the contredanse I went up to the mistress of the house； who
displayed for the benefit of her guests a dazzling bosom and magnificent
shoulders。 She was beautiful； and； from the point of view of figure； more
beautiful than Marguerite。 I realized this fact still more clearly from
certain glances which Marguerite bestowed upon her while I was talking
with her。 The man who was the lover of such a woman might well be as
proud as M。 de N。； and she was beautiful enough to inspire a passion not
less great than that which Marguerite had inspired in me。 At that moment
she had no lover。 It would not be difficult to become so； it depended only
on showing enough money to attract her attention。
I made up my mind。 That woman should be my mistress。 I began by
dancing with her。 Half an hour afterward； Marguerite； pale as death； put on
her pelisse and left the ball。
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CHAPTER 24
It was something already； but it was not enough。 I saw the hold which
I had upon this woman； and I took a cowardly advantage of it。
When I think that she is dead now； I ask myself if God will ever
forgive me for the wrong I did her。
After the supper； which was noisy as could be； there was gambling。 I
sat by the side of Olympe and put down my money so recklessly that she
could not but notice me。 In an instant I had gained one hundred and fifty
or two hundred louis； which I spread out before me on the table； and on
which she fastened her eyes greedily。
I was the only one not completely absorbed by the game； and able to
pay her some attention。 All the rest of the night I gained； and it was I who
gave her money to play； for she had lost all she had before her and
probably all she had in the house。
At five in the morning； the guests departed。 I had gained three hundred
louis。
All the players were already on their way downstairs； I was the only
one who had remained behind； and as I did not know any of them； no one
noticed it。 Olympe herself was lighting the way； and I was going to follow
the others； when； turning back； I said to her：
〃I must speak to you。〃
〃To…morrow；〃 she said。
〃No； now。〃
〃What have you to say？〃
〃You will see。〃
And I went back into the room。
〃You have lost；〃 I said。
〃Yes。
〃All that you had in the house？〃
She hesitated。
〃Be frank。〃
〃Well； it is true。〃
〃I have won three hundred louis。 Here they are； if you will let me stay
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here to…night。〃
And I threw the gold on the table。
〃And why this proposition？〃
〃Because I am in love with you； of course。〃
〃No； but because you love Marguerite； and you want to have your
revenge upon her by becoming my lover。 You don't deceive a woman like
me； my dear friend； unluckily； I am still too young and too good…looking
to accept the part that you offer me。〃
〃
