bureaucracy-第36节
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escaped into her bedroom; where chaos reigned; a jumble of furniture
to be put out of sight; with other heterogeneous articles of more or
rather less elegance;a domestic carnival; in short。 The bold des
Lupeaulx followed the handsome figure; so piquant did she seem to him
in her dishabille。 There is something indescribably alluring to the
eye in a portion of flesh seen through an hiatus in the undergarment;
more attractive far than when it rises gracefully above the circular
curve of the velvet bodice; to the vanishing line of the prettiest
swan's…neck that ever lover kissed before a ball。 When the eye dwells
on a woman in full dress making exhibition of her magnificent white
shoulders; do we not fancy that we see the elegant dessert of a grand
dinner? But the glance that glides through the disarray of muslins
rumpled in sleep enjoys; as it were; a feast of stolen fruit glowing
between the leaves on a garden wall。
〃Stop! wait!〃 cried the pretty Parisian; bolting the door of the
disordered room。
She rang for Therese; called for her daughter; the cook; and the man…
servant; wishing she possessed the whistle of the machinist at the
Opera。 Her call; however; answered the same purpose。 In a moment;
another phenomenon! the salon assumed a piquant morning look; quite in
keeping with the becoming toilet hastily got together by the fugitive;
we say it to her glory; for she was evidently a clever woman; in this
at least。
〃You!〃 she said; coming forward; 〃at this hour? What has happened?〃
〃Very serious things;〃 answered des Lupeaulx。 〃You and I must
understand each other now。〃
Celestine looked at the man behind his glasses; and understood the
matter。
〃My principle vice;〃 she said; 〃is oddity。 For instance; I do not mix
up affections with politics; let us talk politics;business; if you
will;the rest can come later。 However; it is not really oddity nor a
whim that forbids me to mingle ill…assorted colors and put together
things that have no affinity; and compels me to avoid discords; it is
my natural instinct as an artist。 We women have politics of our own。〃
Already the tones of her voice and the charm of her manners were
producing their effect on the secretary and metamorphosing his
roughness into sentimental courtesy; she had recalled him to his
obligations as a lover。 A clever pretty woman makes an atmosphere
about her in which the nerves relax and the feelings soften。
〃You are ignorant of what is happening;〃 said des Lupeaulx; harshly;
for he still thought it best to make a show of harshness。 〃Read that。〃
He gave the two newspapers to the graceful woman; having drawn a line
in red ink round each of the famous articles。
〃Good heavens!〃 she exclaimed; 〃but this is dreadful! Who is this
Baudoyer?〃
〃A donkey;〃 answered des Lupeaulx; 〃but; as you see; he uses means;
he gives monstrances; he succeeds; thanks to some clever hand that
pulls the wires。〃
The thought of her debts crossed Madame Rabourdin's mind and blurred
her sight; as if two lightning flashes had blinded her eyes at the
same moment; her ears hummed under the pressure of the blood that
began to beat in her arteries; she remained for a moment quite
bewildered; gazing at a window which she did not see。
〃But are you faithful to us?〃 she said at last; with a winning glance
at des Lupeaulx; as if to attach him to her。
〃That is as it may be;〃 he replied; answering her glance with an
interrogative look which made the poor woman blush。
〃If you demand caution…money you may lose all;〃 she said; laughing; 〃I
thought you more magnanimous than you are。 And you; you thought me
less a person than I am;a sort of school…girl。〃
〃You have misunderstood me;〃 he said; with a covert smile; 〃I meant
that I could not assist a man who plays against me just as l'Etourdi
played against Mascarille。〃
〃What can you mean?〃
〃This will prove to you whether I am magnanimous or not。〃
He gave Madame Rabourdin the memorandum stolen by Dutocq; pointing out
to her the passage in which her husband had so ably analyzed him。
〃Read that。〃
Celestine recognized the handwriting; read the paper; and turned pale
under the blow。
〃All the ministries; the whole service is treated in the same way;〃
said des Lupeaulx。
〃Happily;〃 she said; 〃you alone possess this document。 I cannot
explain it; even to myself。〃
〃The man who stole it is not such a fool as to let me have it without
keeping a copy for himself; he is too great a liar to admit it; and
too clever in his business to give it up。 I did not even ask him for
it。〃
〃Who is he?〃
〃Your chief clerk。〃
〃Dutocq! People are always punished through their kindnesses! But;〃
she added; 〃he is only a dog who wants a bone。〃
〃Do you know what the other side offer me; poor devil of a general…
secretary?〃
〃What?〃
〃I owe thirty…thousand and odd miserable francs;you will despise me
because it isn't more; but here; I grant you; I am significant。 Well;
Baudoyer's uncle has bought up my debts; and is; doubtless; ready to
give me a receipt for them if Baudoyer is appointed。〃
〃But all that is monstrous。〃
〃Not at all; it is monarchical and religious; for the Grand Almoner is
concerned in it。 Baudoyer himself must appoint Colleville in return
for ecclesiastical assistance。〃
〃What shall you do?〃
〃What will you bid me do?〃 he said; with charming grace; holding out
his hand。
Celestine no longer thought him ugly; nor old; nor white and chilling
as a hoar…frost; nor indeed anything that was odious and offensive;
but she did not give him her hand。 At night; in her salon; she would
have let him take it a hundred times; but here; alone and in the
morning; the action seemed too like a promise that might lead her far。
〃And they say that statesmen have no hearts!〃 she cried
enthusiastically; trying to hide the harshness of her refusal under
the grace of her words。 〃The thought used to terrify me;〃 she added;
assuming an innocent; ingenuous air。
〃What a calumny!〃 cried des Lupeaulx。 〃Only this week one of the
stiffest of diplomatists; a man who has been in the service ever since
he came to manhood; has married the daughter of an actress; and has
introduced her at the most iron…bound court in Europe as to
quarterings of nobility。〃
〃You will continue to support us?〃
〃I am to draw up your husband's appointment But no cheating;
remember。〃
She gave him her hand to kiss; and tapped him on the cheek as she did
so。 〃You are mine!〃 she said。
Des Lupeaulx admired the expression。
'That night; at the Opera; the old coxcomb related the incident as
follows: 〃A woman who did not want to tell a man she would be his;an
acknowledgment a well…bred woman never allows herself to make;
changed the words into 'You are mine。' Don't you think the evasion
charming?〃'
〃But you must be my ally;〃 he answered。 〃Now listen; your husband has
spoken to the minister of a plan for the reform of the administration;
the paper I have shown you is a part of that plan。 I want to know what
it is。 Find out; and tell me to…night。〃
〃I will;〃 she answered; wholly unaware of the important nature of the
errand which brought des Lupeaulx to the house that morning。
〃Madame; the hair…dresser。〃
〃At last!〃 thought Celestine。 〃I don't see how I should have got out
of it if he had delayed much longer。〃
〃You do not know to what lengths my devotion can go;〃 said des
Lupeaulx; rising。 〃You shall be invited to the first select party
given by his Excellency's wife。〃
〃Ah; you are an angel!〃 she cried。 〃And I see now how much you love
me; you love me intelligently。〃
〃To…night; dear child;〃 he said; 〃I shall find out at the Opera what
journalists are conspiring for Baudoyer; and we will measure swords
together。〃
〃Yes; but you must dine with us; will you not? I have taken pains to
get the things you like best〃
〃All that is so like love;〃 said des Lupeaulx to himself as he went
downstairs; 〃that I am willing to be deceived in that way for a long
time。 Well; if she IS tricking me I shall know it。 I'll set the
cleverest of all traps before the appointment is fairly signed; and
I'll read her heart。 Ah! my little cats; I know you! for; after all;
women are just what we men are。 Twenty…eight years old; virtuous; and
living here in the rue Duphot!a rare piece of luck and worth
cultivating;〃 thought the elderly butterfly as he fluttered down the
staircase。
〃Good heavens! that man; without his glasses; must look funny enough
in a dressing…gown!〃 thought Celestine; 〃but the harpoon is in his
back and he'll tow me where I want to go; I am sure now of that
invitation。 He has played his part in my comedy。〃
When; at five o'clock in the afternoon; Rabourdin came home to dress
for dinner; his wife presided at his toilet and presently laid be