the girl with the golden eyes-第13节

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feet；　led　him　by　his　hands　through　several　apartments；　and　left　him　in
a　room　whose　atmosphere　was　perfumed；　and　the　thick　carpet　of　which　he
could　feel　beneath　his　feet。

A　woman's　hand　pushed　him　on　to　a　divan；　and　untied　the　handkerchief
for　him。　Henri　saw　Paquita　before　him；　but　Paquita　in　all　her　womanly
and　voluptuous　glory。　The　section　of　the　boudoir　in　which　Henri　found
himself　described　a　circular　line；　softly　gracious；　which　was　faced
opposite　by　the　other　perfectly　square　half；　in　the　midst　of　which　a
chimney…piece　shone　of　gold　and　white　marble。　He　had　entered　by　a　door
on　one　side；　hidden　by　a　rich　tapestried　screen；　opposite　which　was　a
window。　The　semicircular　portion　was　adorned　with　a　real　Turkish
divan；　that　is　to　say；　a　mattress　thrown　on　the　ground；　but　a　mattress
as　broad　as　a　bed；　a　divan　fifty　feet　in　circumference；　made　of　white
cashmere；　relieved　by　bows　of　black　and　scarlet　silk；　arranged　in
panels。　The　top　of　this　huge　bed　was　raised　several　inches　by　numerous
cushions；　which　further　enriched　it　by　their　tasteful　comfort。　The
boudoir　was　lined　with　some　red　stuff；　over　which　an　Indian　muslin　was
stretched；　fluted　after　the　fashion　of　Corinthian　columns；　in　plaits
going　in　and　out；　and　bound　at　the　top　and　bottom　by　bands　of　poppy…
colored　stuff；　on　which　were　designs　in　black　arabesque。

Below　the　muslin　the　poppy　turned　to　rose；　that　amorous　color；　which
was　matched　by　window…curtains；　which　were　of　Indian　muslin　lined　with
rose…colored　taffeta；　and　set　off　with　a　fringe　of　poppy…color　and
black。　Six　silver…gilt　arms；　each　supporting　two　candles；　were
attached　to　the　tapestry　at　an　equal　distance；　to　illuminate　the
divan。　The　ceiling；　from　the　middle　of　which　a　lustre　of　unpolished
silver　hung；　was　of　a　brilliant　whiteness；　and　the　cornice　was　gilded。
The　carpet　was　like　an　Oriental　shawl；　it　had　the　designs　and　recalled
the　poetry　of　Persia；　where　the　hands　of　slaves　had　worked　on　it。　The
furniture　was　covered　in　white　cashmere；　relieved　by　black　and　poppy…
colored　ornaments。　The　clock；　the　candelabra；　all　were　in　white　marble
and　gold。　The　only　table　there　had　a　cloth　of　cashmere。　Elegant
flower…pots　held　roses　of　every　kind；　flowers　white　or　red。　In　fine；
the　least　detail　seemed　to　have　been　the　object　of　loving　thought。
Never　had　richness　hidden　itself　more　coquettishly　to　become　elegance；
to　express　grace；　to　inspire　pleasure。　Everything　there　would　have
warmed　the　coldest　of　beings。　The　caresses　of　the　tapestry；　of　which
the　color　changed　according　to　the　direction　of　one's　gaze；　becoming
either　all　white　or　all　rose；　harmonized　with　the　effects　of　the　light
shed　upon　the　diaphanous　tissues　of　the　muslin；　which　produced　an
appearance　of　mistiness。　The　soul　has　I　know　not　what　attraction
towards　white；　love　delights　in　red；　and　the　passions　are　flattered　by
gold；　which　has　the　power　of　realizing　their　caprices。　Thus　all　that
man　possesses　within　him　of　vague　and　mysterious；　all　his　inexplicable
affinities；　were　caressed　in　their　involuntary　sympathies。　There　was
in　this　perfect　harmony　a　concert　of　color　to　which　the　soul　responded
with　vague　and　voluptuous　and　fluctuating　ideas。

It　was　out　of　a　misty　atmosphere；　laden　with　exquisite　perfumes；　that
Paquita；　clad　in　a　white　wrapper；　her　feet　bare；　orange　blossoms　in
her　black　hair；　appeared　to　Henri；　knelt　before　him；　adoring　him　as
the　god　of　this　temple；　whither　he　had　deigned　to　come。　Although　De
Marsay　was　accustomed　to　seeing　the　utmost　efforts　of　Parisian　luxury；
he　was　surprised　at　the　aspect　of　this　shell；　like　that　from　which
Venus　rose　out　of　the　sea。　Whether　from　an　effect　of　contrast　between
the　darkness　from　which　he　issued　and　the　light　which　bathed　his　soul；
whether　from　a　comparison　which　he　swiftly　made　between　this　scene　and
that　of　their　first　interview；　he　experienced　one　of　those　delicate
sensations　which　true　poetry　gives。　Perceiving　in　the　midst　of　this
retreat；　which　had　been　opened　to　him　as　by　a　fairy's　magic　wand；　the
masterpiece　of　creation；　this　girl；　whose　warmly　colored　tints；　whose
soft　skinsoft；　but　slightly　gilded　by　the　shadows；　by　I　know　not
what　vaporous　effusion　of　lovegleamed　as　though　it　reflected　the
rays　of　color　and　light；　his　anger；　his　desire　for　vengeance；　his
wounded　vanity；　all　were　lost。

Like　an　eagle　darting　on　his　prey；　he　took　her　utterly　to　him；　set　her
on　his　knees；　and　felt　with　an　indescribable　intoxication　the
voluptuous　pressure　of　this　girl；　whose　richly　developed　beauties
softly　enveloped　him。

〃Come　to　me；　Paquita！〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice。

〃Speak；　speak　without　fear！〃　she　said。　〃This　retreat　was　built　for
love。　No　sound　can　escape　from　it；　so　greatly　was　it　desired　to　guard
avariciously　the　accents　and　music　of　the　beloved　voice。　However　loud
should　be　the　cries；　they　would　not　be　heard　without　these　walls。　A
person　might　be　murdered；　and　his　moans　would　be　as　vain　as　if　he　were
in　the　midst　of　the　great　desert。〃

〃Who　has　understood　jealousy　and　its　needs　so　well？〃

〃Never　question　me　as　to　that；〃　she　answered；　untying　with　a　gesture
of　wonderful　sweetness　the　young　man's　scarf；　doubtless　in　order　the
better　to　behold　his　neck。

〃Yes；　there　is　the　neck　I　love　so　well！〃　she　said。　〃Wouldst　thou
please　me？〃

This　interrogation；　rendered　by　the　accent　almost　lascivious；　drew　De
Marsay　from　the　reverie　in　which　he　had　been　plunged　by　Paquita's
authoritative　refusal　to　allow　him　any　research　as　to　the　unknown
being　who　hovered　like　a　shadow　about　them。

〃And　if　I　wished　to　know　who　reigns　here？〃

Paquita　looked　at　him　trembling。

〃It　is　not　I；　then？〃　he　said；　rising　and　freeing　himself　from　the
girl；　whose　head　fell　backwards。　〃Where　I　am；　I　would　be　alone。〃

〃Strike；　strike！　。　。　。〃　said　the　poor　slave；　a　prey　to　terror。

〃For　what　do　you　take　me；　then？　。　。　。　Will　you　answer？〃

Paquita　got　up　gently；　her　eyes　full　of　tears；　took　a　poniard　from　one
of　the　two　ebony　pieces　of　furniture；　and　presented　it　to　Henri　with　a
gesture　of　submission　which　would　have　moved　a　tiger。

〃Give　me　a　feast　such　as　men　give　when　they　love；〃　she　said；　〃and
whilst　I　sleep；　slay　me；　for　I　know　not　how　to　answer　thee。　Hearken！　I
am　bound　like　some　poor　beast　to　a　stake；　I　am　amazed　that　I　have　been
able　to　throw　a　bridge　over　the　abyss　which　divides　us。　Intoxicate　me；
then　kill　me！　Ah；　no；　no！〃　she　cried；　joining　her　hands；　〃do　not　kill
me！　I　love　life！　Life　is　fair　to　me！　If　I　am　a　slave；　I　am　a　queen
too。　I　could　beguile　you　with　words；　tell　you　that　I　love　you　alone；
prove　it　to　you；　profit　by　my　momentary　empire　to　say　to　you：　'Take　me
as　one　tastes　the　perfume　of　a　flower　when　one　passes　it　in　a　king's
garden。'　Then；　after　having　used　the　cunning　eloquence　of　woman　and
soared　on　the　wings　of　pleasure；　after　having　quenched　my　thirst；　I
could　have　you　cast　into　a　pit；　where　none　could　find　you；　which　has
been　made　to　gratify　vengeance　without　having　to　fear　that　of　the　law；
a　pit　full　of　lime　which　would　kindle　and　consume　you；　until　no
particle　of　you　were　left。　You　would　stay　in　my　heart；　mine　forever。〃

Henri　looked　at　the　girl　without　trembling；　and　this　fearless　gaze
filled　her　with　joy。

〃No；　I　shall　not　do　it！　You　have　fallen　into　no　trap　here；　but　upon
the　heart　of　a　woman　who　adores　you；　and　it　is　I　who　will　be　cast　into
the　pit。〃

〃All　this　appears　to　me　prodigiously　strange；〃　said　De　Marsay；
considering　her。　〃But　you　seem　to　me　a　good　girl；　a　strange　nature；
you　are；　upon　my　word　of　honor；　a　living　riddle；　the　answer　to　which
is　very　difficult　to　find。〃

Paquita　understood　nothing　of　what　the　young　man　said；　she　looked　at
him　gently；　opening　wide　eyes　which　could　never　be　stupid；　so　much　was
pleasure　written　in　them。

〃Come；　then；　my　love；〃　she　said；　returning　to　her　first　idea；　〃wouldst
thou　please　me？〃

〃I　would　do　all　that　thou　wouldst；　and　even　that　thou　wouldst　not；〃
answered　De　Marsay；　with　a　laugh。　He　had　recovered　his　foppish　ease；
as　he　took　the　resolve　to　let　himself　go　to　the　climax　of　his　good
fortune；　looking　neither　before　nor　after。　Perhaps　he　counted；
moreover；　on　his　power　and　his　capacity　of　a　man　used　to　adventures；
to　dominate　this　girl　a　few　hours　later　and　learn　all　her　secrets。

〃Well；〃　said　she；　〃let　me　arrange　you　as　I　would　like。〃

Paquita　went　joyously　and　took　from　one　of　the　two　chests　a　robe　of
red　velvet；　in　which　she　dressed　De　Marsay；　then　adorned　his　head　with
a　woman's　bonnet　and　wrapped　a　shawl　round　him。　Abandoning　herself　to
these　follies　with　a　child's　innocence；　she　laughed　a　convulsive
laugh；　and　resembled　some　bird　flapping　its　wings；　but　he　saw　nothing
beyond。

If　it　be　impossible　to　paint　the　unheard…of　delights　which　these　two
creaturesmade　by　heaven　in　a　joyous　momentfound；　it　is　perhaps
necessary　to　translate　metaphysically　the　extraordinary　and　almost
fantastic　impressions　of　the　young　man。　That　which　persons　in　the
social　position　of　De　Marsay；　living　as　he　lived；　are　best　able　to
recognize　is　a　girl's　innocence。　But；　strange　phenomenon！　The　girl　of
the　golden　eyes　might　be　virgin；　but　innocent　she　was　certainly　not。
The　fantastic　union　of　the　mysterious　and　the　real；　of　darkness　and
light；　h