camille (la dame aux camilias)(卡米勒)-第9节
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I left her； is really dead。 I must convince myself of it。 I must see what
God has done with a being that I have loved so much； and perhaps the
horror of the sight will cure me of my despair。 Will you accompany me； if
it won't be troubling you too much？〃
〃What did her sister say about it？〃
〃Nothing。 She seemed greatly surprised that a stranger wanted to buy a
plot of ground and give Marguerite a new grave； and she immediately
signed the authorization that I asked her for。〃
〃Believe me； it would be better to wait until you are quite well。〃
〃Have no fear； I shall be quite composed。 Besides； I should simply go
out of my mind if I were not to carry out a resolution which I have set
myself to carry out。 I swear to you that I shall never be myself again until I
have seen Marguerite。 It is perhaps the thirst of the fever； a sleepless
night's dream； a moment's delirium； but though I were to become a
Trappist； like M。 de Rance'； after having seen； I will see。〃
〃I understand；〃 I said to Armand； 〃and I am at your service。 Have you
seen Julie Duprat？〃
〃Yes； I saw her the day I returned； for the first time。〃
〃Did she give you the papers that Marguerite had left for you？〃
Armand drew a roll of papers from under his pillow； and immediately
put them back。
〃I know all that is in these papers by heart；〃 he said。 〃For three weeks I
have read them ten times over every day。 You shall read them； too； but
later on； when I am calmer； and can make you understand all the love and
tenderness hidden away in this confession。 For the moment I want you to
do me a service。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Your cab is below？〃
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〃Yes。
〃Well； will you take my passport and ask if there are any letters for me
at the poste restante？ My father and sister must have written to me at Paris；
and I went away in such haste that I did not go and see before leaving。
When you come back we will go together to the inspector of police； and
arrange for to…morrow's ceremony。〃
Armand handed me his passport； and I went to Rue Jean Jacques
Rousseau。 There were two letters addressed to Duval。 I took them and
returned。 When I re…entered the room Armand was dressed and ready to go
out。
〃Thanks；〃 he said； taking the letters。 〃Yes；〃 he added； after glancing at
the addresses； 〃they are from my father and sister。 They must have been
quite at a loss to understand my silence。〃
He opened the letters； guessed at rather than read them； for each was
of four pages； and a moment after folded them up。 〃Come；〃 he said； 〃I will
answer tomorrow。〃
We went to the police station； and Armand handed in the permission
signed by Marguerite's sister。 He received in return a letter to the keeper of
the cemetery； and it was settled that the disinterment was to take place
next day； at ten o'clock； that I should call for him an hour before； and that
we should go to the cemetery together。
I confess that I was curious to be present； and I did not sleep all night。
judging from the thoughts which filled my brain； it must have been a long
night for Armand。 When I entered his room at nine on the following
morning he was frightfully pale； but seemed calm。 He smiled and held out
his hand。 His candles were burned out； and before leaving he took a very
heavy letter addressed to his father； and no doubt containing an account of
that night's impressions。
Half an hour later we were at Montmartre。 The police inspector was
there already。 We walked slowly in the direction of Marguerite's grave。
The inspector went in front； Armand and I followed a few steps behind。
From time to time I felt my companion's arm tremble convulsively； as
if he shivered from head to feet。 I looked at him。 He understood the look；
and smiled at me； we had not exchanged a word since leaving the house。
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Just before we reached the grave； Armand stopped to wipe his face；
which was covered with great drops of sweat。 I took advantage of the
pause to draw in a long breath； for I； too； felt as if I had a weight on my
chest。
What is the origin of that mournful pleasure which we find in sights of
this kind？ When we reached the grave the gardener had removed all the
flower…pots； the iron railing had been taken away； and two men were
turning up the soil。
Armand leaned against a tree and watched。 All his life seemed to pass
before his eyes。 Suddenly one of the two pickaxes struck against a stone。
At the sound Armand recoiled； as at an electric shock； and seized my hand
with such force as to give me pain。
One of the grave…diggers took a shovel and began emptying out the
earth； then； when only the stones covering the coffin were left； he threw
them out one by one。
I scrutinized Armand； for every moment I was afraid lest the emotions
which he was visibly repressing should prove too much for him； but he
still watched； his eyes fixed and wide open； like the eyes of a madman；
and a slight trembling of the cheeks and lips were the only signs of the
violent nervous crisis under which he was suffering。
As for me； all I can say is that I regretted having come。
When the coffin was uncovered the inspector said to the grave…digger：
〃Open it。〃 They obeyed； as if it were the most natural thing in the world。
The coffin was of oak； and they began to unscrew the lid。 The
humidity of the earth had rusted the screws； and it was not without some
difficulty that the coffin was opened。 A painful odour arose in spite of the
aromatic plants with which it was covered。
〃O my God； my God！〃 murmured Armand； and turned paler than
before。
Even the grave…digger drew back。
A great white shroud covered the corpse； closely outlining some of its
contours。 This shroud was almost completely eaten away at one end； and
left one of the feet visible。
I was nearly fainting； and at the moment of writing these lines I see the
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whole scene over again in all its imposing reality。
〃Quick；〃 said the inspector。 Thereupon one of the men put out his hand；
began to unsew the shroud； and taking hold of it by one end suddenly laid
bare the face of Marguerite。
It was terrible to see； it is horrible to relate。 The eyes were nothing but
two holes； the lips had disappeared； vanished； and the white teeth were
tightly set。 The black hair； long and dry； was pressed tightly about the
forehead； and half veiled the green hollows of the cheeks； and yet I
recognised in this face the joyous white and rose face that I had seen so
often。
Armand； unable to turn away his eyes； had put the handkerchief to his
mouth and bit it。
For my part； it was as if a circle of iron tightened about my head； a veil
covered my eyes； a rumbling filled my ears； and all I could do was to
unstop a smelling bottle which I happened to have with me； and to draw in
long breaths of it。
Through this bewilderment I heard the inspector say to Duval； 〃Do
you identify？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the young man in a dull voice。
〃Then fasten it up and take it away；〃 said the inspector。
The grave…diggers put back the shroud over the face of the corpse；
fastened up the coffin； took hold of each end of it； and began to carry it
toward the place where they had been told to take it。
Armand did not move。 His eyes were fixed upon the empty grave； he
was as white as the corpse which we had just seen。 He looked as if he had
been turned to stone。
I saw what was coming as soon as the pain caused by the spectacle
should have abated and thus ceased to sustain him。 I went up to the
inspector。 〃Is this gentleman's presence still necessary？〃 I said； pointing to
Armand。
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃and I should advise you to take him away。 He looks
ill。〃
