the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第54节
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ese were the nurses and Sisters of Charity guiding the steps of the injured。 Desnoyers thought he recognized Marguerite in every one of them； but the prompt disillusion following each of these discoveries soon made him doubtful about the outcome of his journey。 She was not in Lourdes； either。 He would never find her in that France so immeasurably expanded by the war that it had converted every town into a hospital。
His afternoon explorations were no more successful。 The employees listened to his interrogations with a distraught air。 He could come back again； just now they were taken up with the announcement that another hospital train was on the way。 The great battle was still going on near Paris。 They had to improvise lodgings for the new consignment of mutilated humanity。 In order to pass away the time until his return； Desnoyers went back to the garden near the grotto。 He was planning to return to Pau that night； there was evidently nothing more to do at Lourdes。 In what direction should he now continue his search？
Suddenly he felt a thrill down his backthe same indefinable sensation which used to warn him of her presence when they were meeting in the gardens of Paris。 Marguerite was going to present herself unexpectedly as in the old days without his knowing from exactly what spotas though she came up out of the earth or descended from the clouds。
After a second's thought he smiled bitterly。 Mere tricks of his desire！ Illusions！ 。 。 。 Upon turning his head he recognized the falsity of his hope。 Nobody was following his footsteps； he was the only being going down the center of the avenue。 Near him； in the diaphanous white of a guardian angel； was a nurse。 Poor blind man！ 。 。 。 Desnoyers was passing on when a quick movement on the part of the white…clad woman； an evident desire to escape notice； to hide her face by looking at the plants； attracted his attention。 He was slow in recognizing her。 Two little ringlets escaping from the band of her cap made him guess the hidden head of hair； the feet shod in white were the signs which enabled him to reconstruct the person somewhat disfigured by the severe uniform。 Her face was pale and sad。 There wasn't a trace left in it of the old vanities that used to give it its childish； doll…like beauty。 In the depths of those great； dark…circled eyes life seemed to be reflected in new forms。 。 。 。 Marguerite！
They stared at one another for a long while； as though hypnotized with surprise。 She looked alarmed when Desnoyers advanced a step toward her。 No 。 。 。 No！ Her eyes； her hands； her entire body seemed to protest； to repel his approach； to hold him motionless。 Fear that he might come near her； made her go toward him。 She said a few words to the soldier who remained on the bench； receiving across the bandage on his face a ray of sunlight which he did not appear to feel。 Then she rose； going to meet Julio； and continued forward； indicating by a gesture that they must find some place further on where the wounded man could not hear them。
She led the way to a side path from which she could see the blind man confided to her care。 They stood motionless； face to face。 Desnoyers wished to say many things； many 。 。 。 but he hesitated； not knowing how to frame his complaints； his pleadings； his endearments。 Far above all these thoughts towered one； fatal； dominant and wrathful。
〃Who is that man？〃
The spiteful accent； the harsh voice with which he said these words surprised him as though they came from someone else's mouth。
The nurse looked at him with her great limpid eyes； eyes that seemed forever freed from contractions of surprise or fear。 Her response slipped from her with equal directness。
〃It is Laurier。 。 。 。 It is my husband。〃
Laurier！ 。 。 。 Julio looked doubtfully and for a long time at the soldier before he could be convinced。 That blind officer motionless on the bench； that figure of heroic grief； was Laurier！ 。 。 。 At first glance； he appeared prematurely old with roughened and bronzed skin so furrowed with lines that they converged like rays around all the openings of his face。 His hair was beginning to whiten on the temples and in the beard which covered his cheeks。 He had lived twenty years in that one month。 。 。 。 At the same time he appeared younger； with a youthfulness that was radiating an inward vigor； with the strength of a soul which has suffered the most violent emotions and； firm and serene in the satisfaction of duty fulfilled； can no longer know fear。
As Desnoyers contemplated him； he felt both admiration and jealousy。 He was ashamed to admit the aversion inspired by the wounded man； so sorely wounded that he was unable to see what was going on around him。 His hatred was a form of cowardice； terrifying in its persistence。 How pensive were Marguerite's eyes if she took them off her patient for a few seconds！ 。 。 。 She had never looked at him in that way。 He knew all the amorous gradations of her glance； but her fixed gaze at this injured man was something entirely different； something that he had never seen before。
He spoke with the fury of a lover who discovers an infidelity。
〃And for this thing you have run away without warning； without a word！ 。 。 。 You have abandoned me in order to go in search of him。 。 。 。 Tell me； why did you come？ 。 。 。 Why did you come？〃。 。 。
〃I came because it was my duty。〃
Then she spoke like a mother who takes advantage of a parenthesis of surprise in an irascible child's temper； in order to counsel self… control； and explained how it had all happened。 She had received the news of Laurier's wounding just as she and her mother were preparing to leave Paris。 She had not hesitated an instant； her duty was to hasten to the aid of this man。 She had been doing a great deal of thinking in the last few weeks； the war had made her ponder much on the values in life。 Her eyes had been getting glimpses of new horizons； our destiny is not mere pleasure and selfish satisfaction； we ought to take our part in pain and sacrifice。
She had wanted to work for her country； to share the general stress； to serve as other women did； and since she was disposed to devote herself to strangers； was it not natural that she should prefer to help this man whom she had so greatly wronged？ 。 。 。 There still lived in her memory the moment in which she had seen him approach the station； completely alone among so many who had the consolation of loving arms when departing in search of death。 Her pity had become still more acute on hearing of his misfortune。 A shell had exploded near him； killing all those around him。 Of his many wounds； the only serious one was that on his face。 He had completely lost the sight of one eye； and the doctors were keeping the other bound up hoping to save it。 But she was very doubtful about it； she was almost sure that Laurier would be blind。
Marguerite's voice trembled when saying this as if she were going to cry； although her eyes were tearless。 They did not now feel the irresistible necessity for tears。 Weeping had become something superfluous； like many other luxuries of peaceful days。 Her eyes had seen so much in so few days！ 。 。 。
〃How you love him！〃 exclaimed Julio。
Fearing that they might be overheard and in order to keep him at a distance； she had been speaking as though to a friend。 But her lover's sadness broke down her reserve。
〃No； I love you。 。 。 。 I shall always love you。〃
The simplicity with which she said this and her sudden tenderness of tone revived Desnoyers' hopes。
〃And the other one？〃 he asked anxiously。
Upon receiving her reply； it seemed to him as though something had just passed across the sun； veiling its light temporarily。 It was as though a cloud had drifted over the land and over his thoughts； enveloping them in an unbearable chill。
〃I love him； too。〃
She said it with a look that seemed to implore pardon； with the sad sincerity of one who has given up lying and weeps in foreseeing the injury that the truth must inflict。
He felt his hard wrath suddenly dwindling like a crumbling mountain。 Ah； Marguerite！ His voice was tremulous and despairing。 Could it be possible that everything between these two was going to end thus simply？ Were her former vows mere lies？ 。 。 。 They had been attracted to each other by an irresistible affinity in order to be together forever； to be one。 。 。 。 And now； suddenly hardened by indifference； were they to drift apart like two unfriendly bodies？ 。 。 。 What did this absurdity about loving him at the same time that she loved her former husband mean； anyway？
Marguerite hung her head； murmuring desperately：
〃You are a man； I am a woman。 You would never understand me； no matter what I might say。 Men are not able to comprehend certain of our mysteries。 。 。 。 A woman would be better able to appreciate the complexity。〃
Desnoyers felt that he must know his fate in all its cruelty。 She might speak without fear。 He felt strong enough to bear the blow。 。 。 。 What had Laurier said when he found that he was being so tenderly cared for by Marguerite？ 。 。 。
〃He does not know who I am。 。 。 。 He believes me to be a war…nurse； like the rest； who pities him seeing him a
