the titan-第111节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ly promiscuous； so long as he trotted here and there； not snared by any particular siren； she could not despair； for； after all； she had ensnared him and held him deliciouslywithout variation； she believed； for all of ten yearsa feat which no other woman had achieved before or after。 Rita Sohlberg might have succeededthe beast！ How she hated the thought of Rita！ By this time； however； Cowperwood was getting on in years。 The day must come when he would be less keen for variability； or； at least； would think it no longer worth while to change。 If only he did not find some one woman； some Circe； who would bind and enslave him in these Later years as she had herself done in his earlier ones all might yet be well。 At the same time she lived in daily terror of a discovery which was soon to follow。
She had gone out one day to pay a call on some one to whom Rhees Grier； the Chicago sculptor； had given her an introduction。 Crossing Central Park in one of the new French machines which Cowperwood had purchased for her indulgence； her glance wandered down a branch road to where another automobile similar to her own was stalled。 It was early in the afternoon； at which time Cowperwood was presumably engaged in Wall Street。 Yet there he was； and with him two women； neither of whom； in the speed of passing； could Aileen quite make out。 She had her car halted and driven to within seeing…distance behind a clump of bushes。 A chauffeur whom she did not know was tinkering at a handsome machine； while on the grass near by stood Cowperwood and a tall； slender girl with red hair somewhat like Aileen's own。 Her expression was aloof； poetic； rhapsodical。 Aileen could not analyze it； but it fixed her attention completely。 In the tonneau sat an elderly lady； whom Aileen at once assumed to be the girl's mother。 Who were they？ What was Cowperwood doing here in the Park at this hour？ Where were they going？ With a horrible retch of envy she noted upon Cowperwood's face a smile the like and import of which she well knew。 How often she had seen it years and years before！ Having escaped detection； she ordered her chauffeur to follow the car； which soon started； at a safe distance。 She saw Cowperwood and the two ladies put down at one of the great hotels； and followed them into the dining…room； where； from behind a screen； after the most careful manoeuvering； she had an opportunity of studying them at her leisure。 She drank in every detail of Berenice's facethe delicately pointed chin； the clear； fixed blue eyes； the straight； sensitive nose and tawny hair。 Calling the head waiter； she inquired the names of the two women； and in return for a liberal tip was informed at once。 〃Mrs。 Ira Carter； I believe； and her daughter； Miss Fleming； Miss Berenice Fleming。 Mrs。 Carter was Mrs。 Fleming once。〃 Aileen followed them out eventually； and in her own car pursued them to their door； into which Cowperwood also disappeared。 The next day； by telephoning the apartment to make inquiry； she learned that they actually lived there。 After a few days of brooding she employed a detective； and learned that Cowperwood was a constant visitor at the Carters'； that the machine in which they rode was his maintained at a separate garage； and that they were of society truly。 Aileen would never have followed the clue so vigorously had it not been for the look she had seen Cowperwood fix on the girl in the Park and in the restaurantan air of soul…hunger which could not be gainsaid。
Let no one ridicule the terrors of unrequited love。 Its tentacles are cancerous； its grip is of icy death。 Sitting in her boudoir immediately after these events； driving； walking； shopping； calling on the few with whom she had managed to scrape an acquaintance； Aileen thought morning； noon； and night of this new woman。 The pale； delicate face haunted her。 What were those eyes； so remote in their gaze； surveying？ Love？ Cowperwood？ Yes！ Yes！ Gone in a flash； and permanently； as it seemed to Aileen； was the value of this house； her dream of a new social entrance。 And she had already suffered so much； endured so much。 Cowperwood being absent for a fortnight； she moped in her room； sighed； raged； and then began to drink。 Finally she sent for an actor who had once paid attention to her in Chicago； and whom she had later met here in the circle of the theaters。 She was not so much burning with lust as determined in her drunken gloom that she would have revenge。 For days there followed an orgy； in which wine； bestiality； mutual recrimination； hatred； and despair were involved。 Sobering eventually； she wondered what Cowperwood would think of her now if he knew this？ Could he ever love her any more？ Could he even tolerate her？ But what did he care？ It served him right； the dog！ She would show him； she would wreck his dream； she would make her own life a scandal； and his too！ She would shame him before all the world。 He should never have a divorce！ He should never be able to marry a girl like that and leave her alonenever； never； never！ When Cowperwood returned she snarled at him without vouchsafing an explanation。
He suspected at once that she had been spying upon his manoeuvers。 Moreover； he did not fail to notice her heavy eyes； superheated cheeks； and sickly breath。 Obviously she had abandoned her dream of a social victory of some kind； and was entering on a career of whatdebauchery？ Since coming to New York she had failed utterly； he thought； to make any single intelligent move toward her social rehabilitation。 The banal realms of art and the stage； with which in his absence or neglect she had trifled with here； as she had done in Chicago； were worse than useless； they were destructive。 He must have a long talk with her one of these days； must confess frankly to his passion for Berenice； and appeal to her sympathy and good sense。 What scenes would follow！ Yet she might succumb； at that。 Despair； pride； disgust might move her。 Besides； he could now bestow upon her a very large fortune。 She could go to Europe or remain here and live in luxury。 He would always remain friendly with herhelpful； advisoryif she would permit it。
The conversation which eventually followed on this topic was of such stuff as dreams are made of。 It sounded hollow and unnatural within the walls where it took place。 Consider the great house in upper Fifth Avenue； its magnificent chambers aglow； of a stormy Sunday night。 Cowperwood was lingering in the city at this time； busy with a group of Eastern financiers who were influencing his contest in the state legislature of Illinois。 Aileen was momentarily consoled by the thought that for him perhaps love might； after all； be a thing aparta thing no longer vital and soul…controlling。 To…night he was sitting in the court of orchids； reading a book the diary of Cellini； which some one had recommended to him stopping to think now and then of things in Chicago or Springfield； or to make a note。 Outside the rain was splashing in torrents on the electric…lighted asphalt of Fifth Avenuethe Park opposite a Corot…like shadow。 Aileen was in the music…room strumming indifferently。 She was thinking of times pastLynde； from whom she had not heard in half a year； Watson Skeet； the sculptor； who was also out of her ken at present。 When Cowperwood was in the city and in the house she was accustomed from habit to remain indoors or near。 So great is the influence of past customs of devotion that they linger long past the hour when the act ceases to become valid。
〃What an awful night！〃 she observed once； strolling to a window to peer out from behind a brocaded valance。
〃It is bad； isn't it？〃 replied Cowperwood； as she returned。 〃Hadn't you thought of going anywhere this evening？〃
〃Nooh no；〃 replied Aileen； indifferently。 She rose restlessly from the piano； and strolled on into the great picture…gallery。 Stopping before one of Raphael Sanzio's Holy Families； only recently hung； she paused to contemplate the serene facemedieval； Madonnaesque； Italian。
The lady seemed fragile； colorless； spinelesswithout life。 Were there such women？ Why did artists paint them？ Yet the little Christ was sweet。 Art bored Aileen unless others were enthusiastic。 She craved only the fanfare of the livingnot painted resemblances。 She returned to the music…room； to the court of orchids； and was just about to go up…stairs to prepare herself a drink and read a novel when Cowperwood observed：
〃You're bored； aren't you？〃
〃Oh no； I'm used to lonely evenings；〃 she replied； quietly and without any attempt at sarcasm。
Relentless as he was in hewing life to his theoryhammering substance to the form of his thoughtyet he was tender； too； in the manner of a rainbow dancing over an abyss。 For the moment he wanted to say； 〃Poor girlie； you do have a hard time； don't you； with me？〃 but he reflected instantly how such a remark would be received。 He meditated； holding his book in his hand above his knee； looking at the purling water that flowed and flowed in sprinkling showers over the sportive marble figures of mermaids； a Triton； and nymphs astride of fishes。
〃You're really not happy in this state； any more； are you？〃 he inquired。 〃Would you feel any more comfortable if I stayed aw
