the ball at sceaux-第13节
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stranger〃 held in his hand a parcel of patterns； which left no doubt
as to his honorable profession。
Emilie felt an icy shudder； though no one perceived it。 Thanks to the
good breeding of the best society； she completely concealed the rage
in her heart； and answered her sister…in…law with the words； 〃I knew
it；〃 with a fulness of intonation and inimitable decision which the
most famous actress of the time might have envied her。 She went
straight up to the desk。 Longueville looked up； put the patterns in
his pocket with distracting coolness； bowed to Mademoiselle de
Fontaine； and came forward； looking at her keenly。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said to the shopgirl； who followed him； looking
very much disturbed； 〃I will send to settle that account； my house
deals in that way。 But here；〃 he whispered into her ear； as he gave
her a thousand…franc note； 〃take thisit is between ourselves。You
will forgive me； I trust； mademoiselle；〃 he added； turning to Emilie。
〃You will kindly excuse the tyranny of business matters。〃
〃Indeed； monsieur； it seems to me that it is no concern of mine；〃
replied Mademoiselle de Fontaine； looking at him with a bold
expression of sarcastic indifference which might have made any one
believe that she now saw him for the first time。
〃Do you really mean it？〃 asked Maximilien in a broken voice。
Emilie turned her back upon him with amazing insolence。 These words；
spoken in an undertone； had escaped the ears of her two sisters…in…
law。 When； after buying the cape； the three ladies got into the
carriage again； Emilie； seated with her back to the horses； could not
resist one last comprehensive glance into the depths of the odious
shop； where she saw Maximilien standing with his arms folded； in the
attitude of a man superior to the disaster that has so suddenly fallen
on him。 Their eyes met and flashed implacable looks。 Each hoped to
inflict a cruel wound on the heart of a lover。 In one instant they
were as far apart as if one had been in China and the other in
Greenland。
Does not the breath of vanity wither everything？ Mademoiselle de
Fontaine； a prey to the most violent struggle that can torture the
heart of a young girl； reaped the richest harvest of anguish that
prejudice and narrow…mindedness ever sowed in a human soul。 Her face；
but just now fresh and velvety； was streaked with yellow lines and red
patches； the paleness of her cheeks seemed every now and then to turn
green。 Hoping to hide her despair from her sisters； she would laugh as
she pointed out some ridiculous dress or passer…by； but her laughter
was spasmodic。 She was more deeply hurt by their unspoken compassion
than by any satirical comments for which she might have revenged
herself。 She exhausted her wit in trying to engage them in a
conversation； in which she tried to expend her fury in senseless
paradoxes； heaping on all men engaged in trade the bitterest insults
and witticisms in the worst taste。
On getting home； she had an attack of fever； which at first assumed a
somewhat serious character。 By the end of a month the care of her
parents and of the physician restored her to her family。
Every one hoped that this lesson would be severe enough to subdue
Emilie's nature； but she insensibly fell into her old habits and threw
herself again into the world of fashion。 She declared that there was
no disgrace in making a mistake。 If she； like her father； had a vote
in the Chamber； she would move for an edict； she said； by which all
merchants； and especially dealers in calico； should be branded on the
forehead； like Berri sheep； down to the third generation。 She wished
that none but nobles should have the right to wear the antique French
costume； which was so becoming to the courtiers of Louis XV。 To hear
her； it was a misfortune for France； perhaps； that there was no
outward and visible difference between a merchant and a peer of
France。 And a hundred more such pleasantries； easy to imagine； were
rapidly poured out when any accident brought up the subject。
But those who loved Emilie could see through all her banter a tinge of
melancholy。 It was clear that Maximilien Longueville still reigned
over that inexorable heart。 Sometimes she would be as gentle as she
had been during the brief summer that had seen the birth of her love；
sometimes； again； she was unendurable。 Every one made excuses for her
inequality of temper； which had its source in sufferings at once
secret and known to all。 The Comte de Kergarouet had some influence
over her； thanks to his increased prodigality； a kind of consolation
which rarely fails of its effect on a Parisian girl。
The first ball at which Mademoiselle de Fontaine appeared was at the
Neapolitan ambassador's。 As she took her place in the first quadrille
she saw； a few yards away from her； Maximilien Longueville； who nodded
slightly to her partner。
〃Is that young man a friend of yours？〃 she asked； with a scornful air。
〃Only my brother；〃 he replied。
Emilie could not help starting。 〃Ah！〃 he continued； 〃and he is the
noblest soul living〃
〃Do you know my name？〃 asked Emilie； eagerly interrupting him。
〃No； mademoiselle。 It is a crime； I confess； not to remember a name
which is on every lipI ought to say in every heart。 But I have a
valid excuse。 I have but just arrived from Germany。 My ambassador； who
is in Paris on leave； sent me here this evening to take care of his
amiable wife； whom you may see yonder in that corner。〃
〃A perfect tragic mask！〃 said Emilie； after looking at the
ambassadress。
〃And yet that is her ballroom face！〃 said the young man； laughing。 〃I
shall have to dance with her！ So I thought I might have some
compensation。〃 Mademoiselle de Fontaine courtesied。 〃I was very much
surprised；〃 the voluble young secretary went on； 〃to find my brother
here。 On arriving from Vienna I heard that the poor boy was ill in
bed； and I counted on seeing him before coming to this ball； but good
policy will always allow us to indulge family affection。 The Padrona
della case would not give me time to call on my poor Maximilien。〃
〃Then； monsieur； your brother is not； like you； in diplomatic
employment。〃
〃No；〃 said the attache； with a sigh； 〃the poor fellow sacrificed
himself for me。 He and my sister Clara have renounced their share of
my father's fortune to make an eldest son of me。 My father dreams of a
peerage； like all who vote for the ministry。 Indeed； it is promised
him；〃 he added in an undertone。 〃After saving up a little capital my
brother joined a banking firm； and I hear he has just effected a
speculation in Brazil which may make him a millionaire。 You see me in
the highest spirits at having been able； by my diplomatic connections；
to contribute to his success。 I am impatiently expecting a dispatch
from the Brazilian Legation； which will help to lift the cloud from
his brow。 What do you think of him？〃
〃Well； your brother's face does not look to me like that of a man
busied with money matters。〃
The young attache shot a scrutinizing glance at the apparently calm
face of his partner。
〃What！〃 he exclaimed； with a smile； 〃can young ladies read the
thoughts of love behind the silent brow？〃
〃Your brother is in love； then？〃 she asked； betrayed into a movement
of curiosity。
〃Yes； my sister Clara； to whom he is as devoted as a mother； wrote to
me that he had fallen in love this summer with a very pretty girl； but
I have had no further news of the affair。 Would you believe that the
poor boy used to get up at five in the morning； and went off to settle
his business that he might be back by four o'clock in the country
where the lady was？ In fact； he ruined a very nice thoroughbred that I
had just given him。 Forgive my chatter； mademoiselle； I have but just
come home from Germany。 For a year I have heard no decent French； I
have been weaned from French faces； and satiated with Germans； to such
a degree that； I believe； in my patriotic mania； I could talk to the
chimeras on a French candlestick。 And if I talk with a lack of reserve
unbecoming in a diplomatist； the fault is yours； mademoiselle。 Was it
not you who pointed out my brother？ When he is the theme I become
inexhaustible。 I should like to proclaim to all the world how good and
generous he is。 He gave up no less than a hundred thousand francs a
year； the income from the Longueville property。〃
If Mademoiselle de Fontaine had the benefit of these important
revelations； it was partly due to the skill with which she continued
to question her confiding partner from the moment when she found that
he was the brother of her scorned lover。
〃And could you； without being grieved； see your brother selling muslin
and calico？〃 asked Emilie； at the end of the third figure of the
quadrille。
〃How do you know that？〃 asked the attache。 〃Thank God； though I pour
out a flood of words； I have already acquired t
