the nabob-第91节

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　admiration　in　Felicia　Ruys's　studio；　brought　back　his　thoughts　to　the　beautiful　face；　with　its　pure　lines；　which　he　had　last　seen　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogue；　leaning　on　Mora's　shoulder。　What　had　become　of　this　unfortunate　girl　when　this　prop　had　failed　her？　Would　this　lesson　be　of　use　to　her　in　the　future？　And；　by　a　strange　coincidence；　while　he　was　thinking　thus　of　Felicia；　a　great　white　greyhound　was　bounding　up　an　alley　of　green　trees　on　the　slopes　of　the　neighbouring　garden。　It　was　like　Kadour　the　same　short　hair；　the　same　mouth；　red；　fierce；　and　delicate。　Paul；　before　his　open　window；　was　assailed　in　a　moment　by　all　sorts　of　visions；　sad　or　charming。　Perhaps　the　beauty　of　the　scene　before　his　eyes　made　his　thoughts　wander。　Under　the　orange…trees　and　lemon…trees　in　rows；　laden　with　their　golden　fruit；　stretched　immense　fields　of　violets　in　regular　and　packed　beds；　separated　by　little　irrigation　canals；　whose　white　stone　cut　up　the　exuberant　verdure。

An　exquisite　ordour　of　violets　dried　in　the　sun　was　risinga　hot　boudoir　scent；　enervating；　enfeebling；　which　called　up　for　de　Gery　feminine　visionsAline；　Feliciapermeating　the　fairy…like　landscape；　in　this　blue…charged　atmosphere；　this　heavenly　day；　which　one　might　have　called　the　perfume　become　visible　of　so　many　open　flowers。　The　creaking　of　a　door　made　him　open　his　eyes。　Some　one　had　just　gone　into　the　next　room。　He　heard　the　rustle　of　a　dress　against　the　thin　partition；　a　leaf　turned　in　a　book　which　could　not　be　very　interesting；　for　a　long　sigh　turning　into　a　yawn　made　him　start。　Was　he　still　sleeping；　dreaming？　Had　he　not　heard　the　cry　of　the　〃jackal　in　the　desert；〃　so　much　in　keeping　with　the　burning　temperature　out　of　doors？　Nonothing　more。　He　fell　asleep　again；　and　this　time　all　the　confused　images　which　pursued　him　fixed　themselves　in　a　dreama　very　pleasant　dream。

He　was　on　his　honeymoon　with　Aline。　She　was　a　delicious　wife；　her　clear　eyes　full　of　love　and　faith；　which　only　knew；　only　looked　at　him。　In　this　very　room；　on　the　other　side　of　the　partition；　she　was　sitting　in　white　morning　dress；　which　smelt　of　violets　and　of　the　fine　lace　of　her　trousseau。　They　were　having　breakfastone　of　those　solitary　breakfasts　of　a　honeymoon；　served　in　their　bedroom；　opposite　the　blue　sea；　and　the　clear　sky；　which　tinge　with　azure　the　glass　in　which　one　drinks；　the　eyes　where　one　sees　one's　self；　the　futurelife　the　distant　horizon。　Oh！　how　good　it　was；　what　a　divine　youth…giving　light；　how　happy　they　were！

And　all　at　once；　in　the　delight　of　their　kisses；　Aline　became　sad。　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　said　to　him：　〃Felicia　is　there。　You　will　love　me　no　longer。〃　And　he　laughed；　〃Felicia　here？　What　an　idea！〃　〃Yes；　yes；　she　is　there。〃　Trembling　she　pointed　to　the　next　room；　from　which　came　angry　barks；　and　the　voice　of　Felicia：　〃Here；　Kadour！　Here；　Kadour！〃　the　low；　concentrated；　furious　voice　of　some　one　who　is　hiding　and　suddenly　discovered。

Wide　awake；　the　lover；　disenchanted；　found　himself　in　his　empty　room；　before　an　empty　table；　his　dream；　fled　through　the　window　to　the　great　hillside。　But　he　heard　very　distinctly　in　the　next　room　the　bark　of　a　dog；　and　hurried　knocks　on　the　door。

〃Open　the　door！　It　is　Iit　is　Jenkins。〃

Paul　sat　up　on　his　divan；　stupefied。　Jenkins　here？　How　was　that？　To　whom　was　he　speaking？　What　voice　was　going　to　answer　him？　No　one　answered。　A　light　step　went　to　the　door；　and　the　lock　creaked　nervously。

〃Here　you　are　at　last；〃　said　the　Irishman；　entering。

And　truly　if　he　had　not　taken　care　to　announce　himself；　Paul　would　never　have　taken　this　brutal；　violent；　hoarse　voice　heard　through　the　partition　for　the　doctor's　with　his　sugary　manners。

〃At　last　I　have　found　you　after　a　week　of　searching；　of　mad　rushing　from　Genoa　to　Nice；　from　Nice　to　Genoa。　I　knew　that　you　had　not　gone；　because　the　yacht　was　in　the　harbour；　and　I　was　going　to　inspect　all　the　inns　on　the　coast；　when　I　remembered　Brehat。　I　have　just　come　from　him。　It　was　he　who　told　me　you　were　here。〃

But　to　whom　was　he　speaking？　Who　was　so　singularly　obstinate？　At　last　a　beautiful；　sad　voice；　which　Paul　well　knew；　made　the　hot　afternoon　air　vibrate。

〃Well；　yes；　Jenkins；　here　I　am。　What　is　the　matter？〃

Through　the　wall　Paul　could　see　the　disdainful　mouth；　turned　down　with　disgust。

〃I　have　come　to　prevent　you　from　goingfrom　doing　this　foolish　thing。〃

〃What　foolish　thing？　I　have　some　work　at　Tunis。　I　must　go　there。〃

〃But　you　don't　think；　my　dear　child；　that〃

〃Oh；　enough　of　your　fatherly　airs；　Jenkins。　We　know　what　lies　underneath　it。　Speak　to　me　as　you　did　just　now。　I　prefer　the　bull…dog　to　the　spaniel。　I　fear　it　less。〃

〃Well；　I　tell　you　that　you　must　be　mad　to　go　over　there　alone；　young　and　beautiful　as　you　are。〃

〃And　am　I　not　always　alone？　Would　you　like　me　to　take　Constance；　at　her　age？〃

〃Or　me？〃

〃You！〃　She　pronounced　the　word　with　an　ironical　laugh。　〃And　what　about　Paris？　And　your　patientsdeprive　society　of　its　Cagliostro？　Never；　on　any　account。〃

〃I　have；　however；　made　up　my　mind　to　follow　you　wherever　you　go；〃　said　Jenkins　resolutely。

There　was　an　instant　of　silence。　Paul　asked　himself　if　it　was　worthy　of　him　to　listen　to　this　conversation　which　was　full　of　terrible　revelations。　But　in　spite　of　his　fatigue　an　invincible　curiosity　nailed　him　to　the　spot。　It　seemed　to　him　that　the　enigma　which　had　so　long　been　perplexing　and　troubling　him　was　going　to　be　solved　at　last；　to　show　the　woman　sad　or　perverse；　concealed　by　the　fashionable　artist。　He　remained　there；　still　holding　his　breath；　needlessly；　however；　for　the　two；　believing　themselves　to　be　alone　in　the　hotel；　let　their　passions　and　their　voices　rise　without　constraint。

〃Well；　what　do　you　want　of　me？〃

〃I　want　you。〃

〃Jenkins！〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；　you　have　forbidden　me　to　say　such　words　before　you；　but　other　men　than　I　have　said　them；　and　nearer　still。〃

〃And　if　it　were　so；　wretch！　If　I　have　not　been　able　to　protect　myself　from　disgust　and　boredom；　if　I　have　lost　my　pride；　is　it　for　you　to　say　a　word？　As　if　you　were　not　the　cause　of　it；　as　if　you　had　not　forever　saddened　and　darkened　my　life　for　me！〃

And　these　burning　and　rapid　words　revealed　to　the　terrified　Paul　de　Gery　the　horrible　meaning　of　this　apparently　affectionate　guardianship；　against　which　the　mind；　the　thought；　the　dreams　of　the　young　girl　had　had　to　struggle　so　long；　and　which　had　left　her　the　incurable　sadness　of　precocious　regret；　the　heart…break　of　a　life　hardly　begun。

〃I　loved　you！　I　love　you　still！　Passion　excuses　everything；〃　answered　Jenkins　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃Love　me；　then；　if　that　amuses　you。　As　for　me；　I　hate　you　not　only　for　the　wrong　you　have　done　me；　all　the　beliefs　and　energy　you　have　killed　in　me；　but　because　you　represent　what　is　most　execrable；　most　hideous　under　the　sunhypocrisy　and　lies。　This　society　masquerade；　this　heap　of　falsity；　of　grimaces；　of　cowardly　and　unclean　conventions　have　sickened　me　to　such　an　extent；　that　I　am　running　away　exiling　myself　so　as　to　see　them　no　longer；　rather　than　them　I　would　have　the　prison；　the　sewer；　the　streets。　And　yet　it　is　your　deceit；　O　sublime　Jenkins；　which　horrifies　me　most。　You　have　mingled　our　French　hypocrisy；　all　smiles　and　politeness；　with　your　large　English　shakes　of　the　hand；　with　your　cordial　and　demonstrative　loyalty。　They　have　all　been　caught　by　it。　They　said；　'The　good　Jenkins；　the　worthy；　honest　Jenkins。'　But　II　knew　you；　and　in　spite　of　your　fine　motto　on　the　envelopes　of　your　letters；　on　your　seal；　your　sleeve…links；　your　hat…bands；　the　doors　of　your　carriage；　I　always　saw　the　rascal　you　are。〃

Her　voice　hissed　through　her　teeth；　clinched　by　an　incredible　ferocity　of　expression；　and　Paul　expected　some　furious　revolt　of　Jenkins　under　so　many　insults。　But　this　hate　and　contempt　of　the　woman　he　loved　must　have　given　him　more　sorrow　than　anger；　for　he　answered　softly；　in　a　tone　of　wounded　gentleness：

〃Oh！　you　are　cruel。　If　you　knew　the　pain　you　are　giving　me！　Hypocrite！　yes；　it　is　true；　but　I　was　not　born　like　that。　One　is　forced　into　it　by　the　difficulties　of　life。　When　one　has　the　wind　against　one；　and　wishes　to　advance；　one　tacks。　I　have　tacked。　Lay　the　blame　on　my　miserable　beginnings；　my　false　entry　into　existence；　and　agree　at　least　that　one　thing　in　me　has　never　liedmy　passion！　Nothing　has　been　able　to　kill　itneither　your　disdain；　nor　your　abuse；　nor　all　that　I　have　read　in　your　eyes；　which　for　so　many　years　have　not　once　smiled　at　me。　It　is　still　my　passion　which　gives　me　the　strength；　even　after　what　I　have　just　heard；　to　tell　you　why　I　am　here。　Listen！　You　told　me　once　that　you　wanted　a　husbandsome　one　who　would　watch　over　you　during　your　work；　who　would　take　over　some　of　the　duties　of　the　poor　Crenmitz。　Those　were　your　own　words；　which　wounded　me　then　because　I　was　not　free。　Now　all　that　is　changed。　Will　you　marry　me；　Felicia？〃

〃And　your　wife？〃　cried　the　young　girl；　while　Paul　was　asking　himself　the　same　question。

〃My　wife　is　dead。〃

〃Dead？　Mme。　Jenkins？　Is　it　true？〃

〃You　never　knew　her　of　whom　I　speak。　The　other　was　not　my　wife。　When　I　met　her　I　was　already　married　in　Irelandyears　before。　A　horrible　forced　marriage。　My　dear；　when　I　was　twenty…five　I　was　confronted　with　this　alternative：　a　debtor's　prison　or　Miss　Strang