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the purse-第8节

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so charmed him; did not deserve at least an inquiry; were not

worthy of some justification。 Ashamed of having resisted the

promptings of his heart for a whole week; and feeling himself

almost a criminal in this mental struggle; he called the same

evening on Madame de Rouville。



All his suspicions; all his evil thoughts vanished at the sight

of the young girl; who had grown pale and thin。



〃Good heavens! what is the matter?〃 he asked her; after greeting

the Baroness。



Adelaide made no reply; but she gave him a look of deep

melancholy; a sad; dejected look; which pained him。



〃You have; no doubt; been working hard;〃 said the old lady。 〃You

are altered。 We are the cause of your seclusion。 That portrait

had delayed some pictures essential to your reputation。〃



Hippolyte was glad to find so good an excuse for his rudeness。



〃Yes;〃 he said; 〃I have been very busy; but I have been

suffering〃



At these words Adelaide raised her head; looked at her lover; and

her anxious eyes had now no hint of reproach。



〃You must have thought us quite indifferent to any good or ill

that may befall you?〃 said the old lady。



〃I was wrong;〃 he replied。 〃Still; there are forms of pain which

we know not how to confide to any one; even to a friendship of

older date than that with which you honor me。〃



〃The sincerity and strength of friendship are not to be measured

by time。 I have seen old friends who had not a tear to bestow on

misfortune;〃 said the Baroness; nodding sadly。



〃But youwhat ails you?〃 the young man asked Adelaide。



〃Oh; nothing;〃 replied the Baroness。 〃Adelaide has sat up late

for some nights to finish some little piece of woman's work; and

would not listen to me when I told her that a day more or less

did not matter〃



Hippolyte was not listening。 As he looked at these two noble;

calm faces; he blushed for his suspicions; and ascribed the loss

of his purse to some unknown accident。



This was a delicious evening to him; and perhaps to her too。

There are some secrets which young souls understand so well。

Adelaide could read Hippolyte's thoughts。 Though he could not

confess his misdeeds; the painter knew them; and he had come back

to his mistress more in love; and more affectionate; trying thus

to purchase her tacit forgiveness。 Adelaide was enjoying such

perfect; such sweet happiness; that she did not think she had

paid too dear for it with all the grief that had so cruelly

crushed her soul。 And yet; this true concord of hearts; this

understanding so full of magic charm; was disturbed by a little

speech of Madame de Rouville's。



〃Let us have our little game;〃 she said; 〃for my old friend

Kergarouet will not let me off。〃



These words revived all the young painter's fears; he colored as

he looked at Adelaide's mother; but he saw nothing in her

countenance but the expression of the frankest good…nature; no

double meaning marred its charm; its keenness was not

perifidious; its humor seemed kindly; and no trace of remorse

disturbed its equanimity。



He sat down to the card…table。 Adelaide took side with the

painter; saying that he did not know piquet; and needed a

partner。



All through the game Madame de Rouville and her daughter

exchanged looks of intelligence; which alarmed Hippolyte all the

more because he was winning; but at last a final hand left the

lovers in the old lady's debt。



To feel for some money in his pocket the painter took his hands

off the table; and he then saw before him a purse which Adelaide

had slipped in front of him without his noticing it; the poor

child had the old one in her hand; and; to keep her countenance;

was looking into it for the money to pay her mother。 The blood

rushed to Hippolyte's heart with such force that he was near

fainting。



The new purse; substituted for his own; and which contained his

fifteen gold louis; was worked with gilt beads。 The rings and

tassels bore witness to Adelaide's good taste; and she had no

doubt spent all her little hoard in ornamenting this pretty piece

of work。 It was impossible to say with greater delicacy that the

painter's gift could only be repaid by some proof of affection。



Hippolyte; overcome with happiness; turned to look at Adelaide

and her mother; and saw that they were tremulous with pleasure

and delight at their little trick。 He felt himself mean; sordid;

a fool; he longed to punish himself; to rend his heart。 A few

tears rose to his eyes; by an irresistible impulse he sprang up;

clasped Adelaide in his arms; pressed her to his heart; and stole

a kiss; then with the simple heartiness of an artist; 〃I ask for

her for my wife!〃 he exclaimed; looking at the Baroness。



Adelaide looked at him with half…wrathful eyes; and Madame de

Rouville; somewhat astonished; was considering her reply; when

the scene was interrupted by a ring at the bell。 The old vice…

admiral came in; followed by his shadow; and Madame Schinner。

Having guessed the cause of the grief her son vainly endeavored

to conceal; Hippolyte's mother had made inquiries among her

friends concerning Adelaide。 Very justly alarmed by the calumnies

which weighed on the young girl; unknown to the Comte de

Kergarouet; whose name she learned from the porter's wife; she

went to report them to the vice…admiral; and he; in his rage;

declared 〃he would crop all the scoundrels' ears for them。〃



Then; prompted by his wrath; he went on to explain to Madame

Schinner the secret of his losing intentionally at cards; because

the Baronne's pride left him none but these ingenious means of

assisting her。



When Madame Schinner had paid her respects to Madame de Rouville;

the Baroness looked at the Comte de Kergarouet; at the Chevalier

du Halgathe friend of the departed Comtesse de Kergarouetat

Hippolyte; and Adelaide; and said; with the grace that comes from

the heart; 〃So we are a family party this evening。〃







PARIS; May 1832











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