the nabob-第66节
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； that child's step by which his own was guided； these alone would have made life sweet and pleasant to him； no less than this walk over the mossy turf of a green path。 He would have told the girl so； simply； as he felt it； had he not feared to alarm that confidence which Aline placed in him； no doubt because of the sentiments which she knew he possessed for another woman； and which seemed to hold at a distance from them every thought of love。
Suddenly； right before them； against the bright background； a group of persons riding on horseback came in sight； at first vague and indistinct； then appearing as a man and a woman； handsomely mounted； and entered the mysterious path among the bars of gold； the leafy shadows； the thousand dots of light with which the ground was strewn； and which； displaced by their progress as they cantered along； rose and covered them with flowery patterns from the chests of the horses to the blue veil of the lady rider。 They came along slowly； capriciously； and the two young people； who had drawn back into the copse； could see pass close by them； with a clinking of bits proudly shaken and white with foam as though after a furious gallop； two splendid animals carrying a pair of human beings brought very near together by the narrowing of the path； he； supporting with one arm the supple figure moulded in a dark cloth habit； she； with a hand resting on the shoulder of her cavalier and her small head seen in retreating profile beneath the half…dropped tulle of her veil； resting on it tenderly。 This embrace； half disturbed by the impatience of the horses； that kiss on which their reins became confused； that passion which stalked in broad day through the Bois with so great a contempt for public opinion； would have been enough to betray the duke and Felicia； if the haughty and charming mein of the lady and the aristocratic ease of her companion； his pallor slightly tinged with colour as the result of his ride and of Jenkins's miraculous pearls； had not already betrayed them。
It is not an extraordinary thing to meet Mora in the Bois on a Sunday。 Like his master； he loved to show himself to the Parisians； to advertise his popularity with all sections of the public； and then the duchess never accompanied him on that day； and he could make a halt quite at his ease in that little villa of Saint…James； known to all Paris； whose red towers； outlined among the trees schoolboys used to point out to each other in whispers。 But only a mad woman； a daring affronter of society like this Felicia； could have dreamt of advertising herself like this； with the loss of her reputation forever。 A sound of hoofs dying away in the distance； of shrubs brushed in passing； a few plants that had been pressed down and were straightening themselves again； branches pushed out of the way resuming their placesthat was all that remained of the apparition。
〃You saw？〃 said Paul； speaking first。
She had seen； and she had understood； notwithstanding the candour of her innocence； for a blush spread over her features； one of those feelings of shame experienced for the faults of those we love。
〃Poor Felicia！〃 she said in a low voice； pitying not only the unhappy woman who had just passed them； but also him whom this defection must have smitten to the very heart。 The truth is that Paul de Gery had felt no surprise at this meeting； which justified previous suspicions and the instinctive aversion which he had felt for Felicia at their dinner some days before。 But he found it pleasant to be pitied by Aline； to feel the compassion in that voice becoming more tender； in that arm leaning upon his。 Like children who pretend to be ill for the sake of the pleasure of being fondled by their mother； he allowed his consoler to strive to appease his grief； speaking to him of his brothers； of the Nabob； and of his forthcoming trip to Tunisa fine country； they said。 〃You must write to us often； and long letters about the interesting things on the journey； the place you stay in。 For one can see those who are far away better when one imagines the kind of place they are inhabiting。〃
So talking； they reached the end of the bowered path terminating in an immense open glade through which there moved the tumult of the Bois； carriages and riders on horseback alternating with each other； and the crowd at that distance seeming to be tramping through a flaky dust which blended it into a single confused herd。 Paul slackened his pace； emboldened by this last minute of solitude。
〃Do you know what I am thinking of？〃 he said； taking Aline's hand。 〃I am thinking that it would be a pleasure to be unhappy so as to be comforted by you。 But however precious your pity may be to me； I cannot allow you to waste your compassion on an imaginary pain。 No； my heart is not broken； but more alive； on the contrary； and stronger。 And if I were to tell you what miracle it is that has preserved it； what talisman〃
He held out before her eyes a little oval frame in which was set a simple profile； a pencil outline wherein she recognised herself； surprised to see herself so pretty； reflected； as it were； in the magic mirror of Love。 Tears came into her eyes without her knowing the reason； an open spring whose stream beat within her chaste breast。 He continued：
〃This portrait belongs to me。 It was drawn for me。 And yet； at the moment of starting on this journey I have a scruple。 I do not wish to have it except from yourself。 Take it； then； and if you find a worthier friend； some one who loves you with a love deeper and more loyal than mine； I am willing that you should give it to him。〃
She had regained her composure； and looking de Gery full in the face with a serious tenderness； she said：
〃If I listened only to my heart； I should feel no hesitation about my reply： for； if you love me as you say； I am sure that I love you too。 But I am not free； I am not alone in the world。 Look yonder。〃
She pointed to her father and her sisters； who were beckoning to them in the distance and hastening to come up with them。
〃Well； and I myself？〃 answered Paul quickly。 〃Have I not similar duties； similar responsibilities？ We are like two widowed heads of families。 Will you not love mine as much as I love yours？〃
〃True？ is it true？ You will let me stay with them？ I shall be Aline for you； and Bonne Maman for all our children？ Oh！ then；〃 exclaimed the dear creature； beaming with joy； 〃there is my portraitI give it to you！ And all my soul with it； too； and forever。〃
THE JENKINS PEARLS
About a week after his adventure with Moessard； that new complication in the terrible muddle of his affairs； Jansoulet； on leaving the Chamber； one Thursday； ordered his coachman to drive him to Mora's house。 He had not paid a visit there since the scuffle in the Rue Royale； and the idea of finding himself in the duke's presence gave him； through his thick skin； something of the panic that agitates a boy on his way upstairs to see the head…master after a fight in the schoolroom。 However； the embarrassment of this first interview had to be gone through。 They said in the committee…rooms that Le Merquier had completed his report； a masterpiece of logic and ferocity； that it meant an invalidation； and that he was bound to carry it with a high hand unless Mora； so powerful in the Assembly； should himself intervene and give him his word of command。 A serious matter； and one that made the Nabob's cheeks flush； while in the curved mirrors of his brougham he studied his appearance； his courtier's smiles； trying to think out a way of effecting a brilliant entry； one of those strokes of good…natured effrontery which had brought him fortune with Ahmed； and which served him likewise in his relations with the French ambassador。 All this accompanied by beatings of the heart and by those shudders between the shoulder…blades which precede decisive actions； even when these are settled within a gilded chariot。
When he arrived at the mansion by the river； he was much surprised to notice that the porter on the quay； as on the days of great receptions； was sending carriages up the Rue de Lille； in order to keep a door free for those leaving。 Rather anxious； he wondered； 〃What is there going on？〃 Perhaps a concert given by the duchess； a charity bazaar； some festivity from which Mora might have excluded him on account of the scandal of his last adventure。 And this anxiety was augmented still further when Jansoulet； after having passed across the principal court…yard amid a din of slamming doors and a dull and continuous rumble of wheels over the sand； found himselfafter ascending the stepsin the immense entrance…hall filled by a crowd which did not extend beyond any of the doors leading to the rooms； centring its anxious going and coming around the porter's table； where all the famous names of fashionable Paris were being inscribed。 It seemed as though a disastrous gust of wind had gone through the house； carrying off a little of its calm； and allowing disquiet and danger to filter into its comfort。
〃What a misfortune！〃
〃Ah！ it is terrible。〃
〃And so suddenly！〃
Such were the remarks that people were exchanging as they met。
An idea flashed into Jansoulet's mind：
〃Is the duke ill？〃 he inquired of a servant。
