the ways of men(人们的手段)-第42节
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Then the whole force of his voice came out in one awful cry that fairly
froze the blood in my veins！
〃What a teacher you would make！〃 instinctively rose to my lips as he
ended。
With a careless laugh； Sardou resumed his shabby velvet cap； which
had fallen to the floor； and answered： 〃Oh； it's nothing！ I only wanted to
prove to you that the scene was not a fatiguing one for the voice if played
properly。 I'm no actor and could not teach； but any one ought to know
enough not to shout in that scene！〃
This with some bitterness； as news had arrived that Irving's voice had
given out the night before； and he had been replaced by his half…baked son
in the title role； a change hardly calculated to increase either the box…office
receipts or the success of the new drama。
Certain ominous shadows which； like Robespierre's visions； had been
for some time gathering in the corners of the room warned me that the
hour had come for my trip back to Paris。 Declining reluctantly an
invitation to take potluck with my host； I was soon in the Avenue of the
Sphinx again。 As we strolled along； talking of the past and its charm； a
couple of men passed us； carrying a piece of furniture rolled in burlaps。
〃Another acquisition？〃 I asked。 〃What epoch has tempted you this
time？〃
〃I'm sorry you won't stop and inspect it；〃 answered Sardou with a
twinkle in his eye。 〃It's something I bought yesterday for my bedroom。 An
armchair！ Pure Loubet！〃
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CHAPTER 28 … Inconsistencies
THE dinner had been unusually long and the summer evening warm。
During the wait before the dancing began I must have dropped asleep in
the dark corner of the piazza where I had installed myself； to smoke my
cigar； away from the other men and their tiresome chatter of golf and
racing。 Through the open window groups of women could be seen in the
ball…room； and the murmur of their conversation floated out； mingling
with the laughter of the men。
Suddenly； in that casual way peculiar to dreams； I found myself
conversing with a solemn young Turk； standing in all the splendor of fez
and stambouline beside my chair。
〃Pardon； Effendi；〃 he was murmuring。 〃Is this an American ball？ I was
asked at nine o'clock； it is now past eleven。 Is there not some mistake？〃
〃None；〃 I answered。 〃When a hostess puts nine o'clock on her card of
invitation she expects her guests at eleven or half… past； and would be
much embarrassed to be taken literally。〃
As we were speaking； our host rose。 The men； reluctantly throwing
away their cigars； began to enter the ball…room through the open windows。
On their approach the groups of women broke up； the men joining the girls
where they sat； or inviting them out to the lantern…lit piazza； where the
couples retired to dim； palm…embowered corners。
〃Are you sure I have not made a mistake？〃 asked my interlocutor； with
a faint quiver of the eyelids。 〃It is my intention； while travelling； to remain
faithful to my harem。〃
I hastened to reassure him and explain that he was in an exclusive and
reserved society。
〃Indeed；〃 he murmured incredulously。 〃When I was passing through
New York last winter a lady was pointed out to me as the owner of
marvellous jewels and vast wealth； but with absolutely no social position。
My informant added that no well…born woman would receive her or her
husband。
〃It's foolish； of course； but the handsome woman with the crown on
sitting in the centre of that circle； looks very like the woman I mean。 Am I
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THE WAYS OF MEN
right？〃
〃It's the same lady；〃 I answered； wearily。 〃You are speaking of last year。
No one could be induced to call on the couple then。 Now we all go to their
house； and entertain them in return。〃
〃They have doubtless done some noble action； or the reports about the
husband have been proved false？〃
〃Nothing of the kind has taken place。 She's a success； and no one asks
any questions！ In spite of that； you are in a society where the standard of
conduct is held higher than in any country of Europe； by a race of women
more virtuous； in all probability； than has yet been seen。 There is not a
man present；〃 I added； 〃who would presume to take； or a woman who
would permit； a liberty so slight even as the resting of a youth's arm across
the back of her chair。〃
While I was speaking； an invisible orchestra began to sigh out the first
passionate bars of a waltz。 A dozen couples rose； the men clasping in their
arms the slender matrons； whose smiling faces sank to their partners'
shoulders。 A blond mustache brushed the forehead of a girl as she swept
by us to the rhythm of the music； and other cheeks seemed about to touch
as couples glided on in unison。
The sleepy Oriental eyes of my new acquaintance opened wide with
astonishment。 〃This； you must understand；〃 I continued； hastily； 〃is quite
another matter。 Those people are waltzing。 It is considered perfectly
proper； when the musicians over there play certain measures； for men to
take apparent liberties。 Our women are infinitely self…respecting； and a
man who put his arm around a woman （in public） while a different
measure was being played； or when there was no music； would be
ostracized from polite society。〃
〃I am beginning to understand；〃 replied the Turk。 〃The husbands and
brothers of these women guard them very carefully。 Those men I see out
there in the dark are doubtless with their wives and sisters； protecting them
from the advances of other men。 Am I right？〃
〃Of course you're not right；〃 I snapped out； beginning to lose my
temper at his obtuseness。 〃No husband would dream of talking to his wife
in public； or of sitting with her in a corner。 Every one would be laughing at
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them。 Nor could a sister be induced to remain away from the ball…room
with her brother。 Those girls are ‘sitting out' with young men they like；
indulging in a little innocent flirtation。〃
〃What is that？〃 he asked。 〃Flirtation？〃
〃An American custom rather difficult to explain。 It may； however； be
roughly defined as the art of leading a man a long way on the road to …
nowhere！〃
〃Women flirt with friends or acquaintances； never with members of
their family？〃
〃The husbands are those dejected individuals wandering aimlessly
about over there like lost souls。 They are mostly rich men； who； having
married beautiful girls for love； wear themselves out maintaining elaborate
and costly establishments for them。 In return for his labor a husband；
however； enjoys but little of his wife's society； for a really fashionable
woman can rarely be induced to go home until she has collapsed with
fatigue。 In consequence； she contributes little but ‘nerves' and temper to
the household。 Her sweetest smiles； like her freshest toilets； are kept for
the public。 The husband is the last person considered in an American
household。 If you doubt what I say； look behind you。 There is a newly
married man speaking with his wife； and trying to persuade her to leave
before the cotillion begins。 Notice his apologetic air！ He knows he is
interrupting a tender conversation and taking an unwarrantable liberty。
Nothing short of extreme fatigue would drive him to such an extremity。
The poor millionnaire has hardly left his desk in Wall Street during the
week； and only arrived this evening in time to dress for dinner。 He would
give a fair slice of his income for a night's rest。 See！ He has failed； and is
lighting another cigar； preparing； with a sigh； for a long wait。 It will be
three before my lady is ready to leave。〃
After a silence
