the duchesse de langeais-第23节

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By　this　time　it　was　about　midnight。　　One　of　her　servants；　waiting　with　her　pelisse；　went　down　to　order　her　carriage。　　On　her　way　home　she　fell　naturally　enough　to　musing　over　M。　de　Montriveau's　prediction。　　Arrived　in　her　own　courtyard；　as　she　supposed；　she　entered　a　vestibule　almost　like　that　of　her　own　hotel；　and　suddenly　saw　that　the　staircase　was　different。　　She　was　in　a　strange　house。　　Turning　to　call　her　servants；　she　was　attacked　by　several　men；　who　rapidly　flung　a　handkerchief　over　her　mouth；　bound　her　hand　and　foot；　and　carried　her　off。　　She　shrieked　aloud。

〃Madame；　our　orders　are　to　kill　you　if　you　scream；〃　a　voice　said　in　her　ear。

So　great　was　the　Duchess's　terror；　that　she　could　never　recollect　how　nor　by　whom　she　was　transported。　　When　she　came　to　herself；　she　was　lying　on　a　couch　in　a　bachelor's　lodging；　her　hands　and　feet　tied　with　silken　cords。　　In　spite　of　herself；　she　shrieked　aloud　as　she　looked　round　and　met　Armand　de　Montriveau's　eyes。　　He　was　sitting　in　his　dressing…gown；　quietly　smoking　a　cigar　in　his　armchair。

〃Do　not　cry　out；　Mme　la　Duchesse；〃　he　said；　coolly　taking　the　cigar　out　of　his　mouth；　〃I　have　a　headache。　　Besides；　I　will　untie　you。　　But　listen　attentively　to　what　I　have　the　honour　to　say　to　you。〃

Very　carefully　he　untied　the　knots　that　bound　her　feet。

〃What　would　be　the　use　of　calling　out？　　Nobody　can　hear　your　cries。　　You　are　too　well　bred　to　make　any　unnecessary　fuss。　　If　you　do　not　stay　quietly；　if　you　insist　upon　a　struggle　with　me；　I　shall　tie　your　hands　and　feet　again。　　All　things　considered；　I　think　that　you　have　self…respect　enough　to　stay　on　this　sofa　as　if　you　were　lying　on　your　own　at　home；　cold　as　ever；　if　you　will。

You　have　made　me　shed　many　tears　on　this　couch；　tears　that　I　hid　from　all　other　eyes。〃

While　Montriveau　was　speaking；　the　Duchess　glanced　about　her；　it　was　a　woman's　glance；　a　stolen　look　that　saw　all　things　and　seemed　to　see　nothing。　　She　was　much　pleased　with　the　room。　　It　was　rather　like　a　monk's　cell。　　The　man's　character　and　thoughts　seemed　to　pervade　it。　　No　decoration　of　any　kind　broke　the　grey　painted　surface　of　the　walls。　　A　green　carpet　covered　the　floor。　　A　black　sofa；　a　table　littered　with　papers；　two　big　easy…chairs；　a　chest　of　drawers　with　an　alarum　clock　by　way　of　ornament；　a　very　low　bedstead　with　a　coverlet　flung　over　ita　red　cloth　with　a　black　key　borderall　these　things　made　part　of　a　whole　that　told　of　a　life　reduced　to　its　simplest　terms。　　A　triple　candle…sconce　of　Egyptian　design　on　the　chimney…piece　recalled　the　vast　spaces　of　the　desert　and　Montriveau's　long　wanderings；　a　huge　sphinx…claw　stood　out　beneath　the　folds　of　stuff　at　the　bed…foot；　and　just　beyond；　a　green　curtain　with　a　black　and　scarlet　border　was　suspended　by　large　rings　from　a　spear　handle　above　a　door　near　one　corner　of　the　room。　　The　other　door　by　which　the　band　had　entered　was　likewise　curtained；　but　the　drapery　hung　from　an　ordinary　curtain…rod。　　As　the　Duchess　finally　noted　that　the　pattern　was　the　same　on　both；　she　saw　that　the　door　at　the　bed…foot　stood　open；　gleams　of　ruddy　light　from　the　room　beyond　flickered　below　the　fringed　border。　　Naturally；　the　ominous　light　roused　her　curiosity；　she　fancied　she　could　distinguish　strange　shapes　in　the　shadows；　but　as　it　did　not　occur　to　her　at　the　time　that　danger　could　come　from　that　quarter；　she　tried　to　gratify　a　more　ardent　curiosity。

〃Monsieur；　if　it　is　not　indiscreet；　may　I　ask　what　you　mean　to　do　with　me？〃　　The　insolence　and　irony　of　the　tone　stung　through　the　words。　　The　Duchess　quite　believed　that　she　read　extravagant　love　in　Montriveau's　speech。　　He　had　carried　her　off；　was　not　that　in　itself　an　acknowledgment　of　her　power？

〃Nothing　whatever；　madame；〃　he　returned；　gracefully　puffing　the　last　whiff　of　cigar　smoke。　　〃You　will　remain　here　for　a　short　time。　　First　of　all；　I　should　like　to　explain　to　you　what　you　are；　and　what　I　am。　　I　cannot　put　my　thoughts　into　words　whilst　you　are　twisting　on　the　sofa　in　your　boudoir；　and　besides；　in　your　own　house　you　take　offence　at　the　slightest　hint；　you　ring　the　bell；　make　an　outcry；　and　turn　your　lover　out　at　the　door　as　if　he　were　the　basest　of　wretches。　　Here　my　mind　is　unfettered。　　Here　nobody　can　turn　me　out。　　Here　you　shall　be　my　victim　for　a　few　seconds；　and　you　are　going　to　be　so　exceedingly　kind　as　to　listen　to　me。　　You　need　fear　nothing。　　I　did　not　carry　you　off　to　insult　you；　nor　yet　to　take　by　force　what　you　refused　to　grant　of　your　own　will　to　my　unworthiness。　　I　could　not　stoop　so　low。　　You　possibly　think　of　outrage；　for　myself；　I　have　no　such　thoughts。〃

He　flung　his　cigar　coolly　into　the　fire。

〃The　smoke　is　unpleasant　to　you；　no　doubt；　madame？〃　he　said；　and　rising　at　once；　he　took　a　chafing…dish　from　the　hearth；　burnt　perfumes；　and　purified　the　air。　　The　Duchess's　astonishment　was　only　equalled　by　her　humiliation。　　She　was　in　this　man's　power；　and　he　would　not　abuse　his　power。　　The　eyes　in　which　love　had　once　blazed　like　flame　were　now　quiet　and　steady　as　stars。　　She　trembled。　　Her　dread　of　Armand　was　increased　by　a　nightmare　sensation　of　restlessness　and　utter　inability　to　move；　she　felt　as　if　she　were　turned　to　stone。　　She　lay　passive　in　the　grip　of　fear。　　She　thought　she　saw　the　light　behind　the　curtains　grow　to　a　blaze；　as　if　blown　up　by　a　pair　of　bellows；　in　another　moment　the　gleams　of　flame　grew　brighter；　and　she　fancied　that　three　masked　figures　suddenly　flashed　out；　but　the　terrible　vision　disappeared　so　swiftly　that　she　took　it　for　an　optical　delusion。

〃Madame；〃　Armand　continued　with　cold　contempt；　〃one　minute；　just　one　minute　is　enough　for　me；　and　you　shall　feel　it　afterwards　at　every　moment　throughout　your　lifetime；　the　one　eternity　over　which　I　have　power。　　I　am　not　God。　　Listen　carefully　to　me；〃　he　continued；　pausing　to　add　solemnity　to　his　words。　　〃Love　will　always　come　at　your　call。　　You　have　boundless　power　over　men：　but　remember　that　once　you　called　love；　and　love　came　to　you；　love　as　pure　and　true…hearted　as　may　be　on　earth；　and　as　reverent　as　it　was　passionate；　fond　as　a　devoted　woman's；　as　a　mother's　love；　a　love　so　great　indeed；　that　it　was　past　the　bounds　of　reason。　　You　played　with　it；　and　you　committed　a　crime。

Every　woman　has　a　right　to　refuse　herself　to　love　which　she　feels　she　cannot　share；　and　if　a　man　loves　and　cannot　win　love　in　return；　he　is　not　to　be　pitied；　he　has　no　right　to　complain。　　But　with　a　semblance　of　love　to　attract　an　unfortunate　creature　cut　off　from　all　affection；　to　teach　him　to　understand　happiness　to　the　full；　only　to　snatch　it　from　him；　to　rob　him　of　his　future　of　felicity；　to　slay　his　happiness　not　merely　today；　but　as　long　as　his　life　lasts；　by　poisoning　every　hour　of　it　and　every　thoughtthis　I　call　a　fearful　crime！〃

〃Monsieur〃

〃I　cannot　allow　you　to　answer　me　yet。　　So　listen　to　me　still。　　In　any　case　I　have　rights　over　you；　but　I　only　choose　to　exercise　onethe　right　of　the　judge　over　the　criminal；　so　that　I　may　arouse　your　conscience。　　If　you　had　no　conscience　left；　I　should　not　reproach　you　at　all；　but　you　are　so　young！　　You　must　feel　some　life　still　in　your　heart；　or　so　I　like　to　believe。　　While　I　think　of　you　as　depraved　enough　to　do　a　wrong　which　the　law　does　not　punish；　I　do　not　think　you　so　degraded　that　you　cannot　comprehend　the　full　meaning　of　my　words。　I　resume。〃

As　he　spoke　the　Duchess　heard　the　smothered　sound　of　a　pair　of　bellows。　　Those　mysterious　figures　which　she　had　just　seen　were　blowing　up　the　fire；　no　doubt；　the　glow　shone　through　the　curtain。　　But　Montriveau's　lurid　face　was　turned　upon　her；　she　could　not　choose　but　wait　with　a　fast…beating　heart　and　eyes　fixed　in　a　stare。　　However　curious　she　felt；　the　heat　in　Armand's　words　interested　her　even　more　than　the　crackling　of　the　mysterious　flames。

〃Madame；〃　he　went　on　after　a　pause；　〃if　some　poor　wretch　commits　a　murder　in　Paris；　it　is　the　executioner's　duty；　you　know；　to　lay　hands　on　him　and　stretch　him　on　the　plank；　where　murderers　pay　for　their　crimes　with　their　heads。　　Then　the　newspapers　inform　everyone；　rich　and　poor；　so　that　the　former　are　assured　that　they　may　sleep　in　peace；　and　the　latter　are　warned　that　they　must　be　on　the　watch　if　they　would　live。　　Well；　you　that　are　religious；　and　even　a　little　of　a　bigot；　may　have　masses　said　for　such　a　man's　soul。　　You　both　belong　to　the　same　family；　but　yours　is　the　elder　branch；　and　the　elder　branch　may　occupy　high　places　in　peace　and　live　happily　and　without　cares。　　Want　or　anger　may　drive　your　brother　the　convict　to　take　a　man's　life；　you　have　taken　more；　you　have　taken　the　joy　out　of　a　man's　life；　you　have　killed　all　that　was　best　in　his　lifehis　dearest　beliefs。　　The　murderer　simply　lay　in　wait　for　his　victim；　and　killed　him　reluctantly；　and　in　fear　of　the　scaffold；　but　YOU　。　。　。　！　　You　heaped　up　every　sin　that　weakness　can　commit　against　strength　that　suspected　no　evil；　you　tamed　a　passive　victim；　the　better　to　gnaw　his　heart　out；　you　lured　him　with　caresses；　you　left　nothing　undone　that　could　set　him　dreaming；　imagining；　longing　for　the　bliss　of　love。　　You　asked　innumerable　sacrifices　of　him；　only　to　refuse　to　make　any　in　return。　　He　should　see　the　light　indeed　before　you　put　out　his　eyes！　　It　is　wonderful　how　you　found　the　heart　to　do　it！　　Such　villainies　dem