the girl with the golden eyes-第18节

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Henri　caught　her　arm；　and　thus　they　could　contemplate　each　other　face
to　face。　A　horrible　surprise　froze　the　blood　in　their　veins；　and　their
limbs　quivered　like　those　of　frightened　horses。　In　effect；　the　two
Menoechmi　had　not　been　more　alike。　With　one　accord　they　uttered　the
same　phrase：

〃Lord　Dudley　must　have　been　your　father！〃

The　head　of　each　was　drooped　in　affirmation。

〃She　was　true　to　the　blood；〃　said　Henri；　pointing　to　Paquita。

〃She　was　as　little　guilty　as　it　is　possible　to　be；〃　replied　Margarita
Euphemia　Porraberil；　and　she　threw　herself　upon　the　body　of　Paquita；
giving　vent　to　a　cry　of　despair。　〃Poor　child！　Oh；　if　I　could　bring
thee　to　life　again！　I　was　wrongforgive　me；　Paquita！　Dead！　and　I
live！　II　am　the　most　unhappy。〃

At　that　moment　the　horrible　face　of　the　mother　of　Paquita　appeared。

〃You　are　come　to　tell　me　that　you　never　sold　her　to　me　to　kill；〃　cried
the　Marquise。　〃I　know　why　you　have　left　your　lair。　I　will　pay　you
twice　over。　Hold　your　peace。〃

She　took　a　bag　of　gold　from　the　ebony　cabinet；　and　threw　it
contemptuously　at　the　old　woman's　feet。　The　chink　of　the　gold　was
potent　enough　to　excite　a　smile　on　the　Georgian's　impassive　face。

〃I　come　at　the　right　moment　for　you；　my　sister；〃　said　Henri。　〃The　law
will　ask　of　you〃

〃Nothing；〃　replied　the　Marquise。　〃One　person　alone　might　ask　for　a
reckoning　for　the　death　of　this　girl。　Cristemio　is　dead。〃

〃And　the　mother；〃　said　Henri；　pointing　to　the　old　woman。　〃Will　you　not
always　be　in　her　power？〃

〃She　comes　from　a　country　where　women　are　not　beings；　but　things
chattels；　with　which　one　does　as　one　wills；　which　one　buys；　sells；　and
slays；　in　short；　which　one　uses　for　one's　caprices　as　you；　here；　use　a
piece　of　furniture。　Besides；　she　has　one　passion　which　dominates　all
the　others；　and　which　would　have　stifled　her　maternal　love；　even　if
she　had　loved　her　daughter；　a　passion〃

〃What？〃　Henri　asked　quickly；　interrupting　his　sister。

〃Play！　God　keep　you　from　it；〃　answered　the　Marquise。

〃But　whom　have　you；〃　said　Henri；　looking　at　the　girl　of　the　golden
eyes；　〃who　will　help　you　to　remove　the　traces　of　this　fantasy　which
the　law　would　not　overlook？〃

〃I　have　her　mother；〃　replied　the　Marquise；　designating　the　Georgian；
to　whom　she　made　a　sign　to　remain。

〃We　shall　meet　again；〃　said　Henri；　who　was　thinking　anxiously　of　his
friends　and　felt　that　it　was　time　to　leave。

〃No；　brother；〃　she　said；　〃we　shall　not　meet　again。　I　am　going　back　to
Spain　to　enter　the　Convent　of　/los　Dolores/。〃

〃You　are　too　young　yet；　too　lovely；〃　said　Henri；　taking　her　in　his
arms　and　giving　her　a　kiss。

〃Good…bye；〃　she　said；　〃there　is　no　consolation　when　you　have　lost　that
which　has　seemed　to　you　the　infinite。〃

A　week　later　Paul　de　Manerville　met　De　Marsay　in　the　Tuileries；　on　the
Terrasse　de　Feuillants。

〃Well；　what　has　become　of　our　beautiful　girl　of　the　golden　eyes；　you
rascal？〃

〃She　is　dead。〃

〃What　of？〃

〃Consumption。〃



PARIS；　March　1834…April　1835。








End