monsieur beaucaire(博凯尔先生)-第3节
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M。 le Duc de Winterset and M。 le Duc de Chateaurien … ha； ha！ you see ？
… we are goin' arm…in…arm to that ball； and I am goin' have one of those
looks； I！ And a rose！ I！ It is time。 But ten minute'； nonsieur。 I make
my apology to keep you waitin' so long while I go in the nex' room and
execute my poor mustachio … that will be my only murder for jus' this one
evening … and inves' myself in white satin。 Ha； ha！ I shall be very gran'；
monsieur。 Francois； send Louis to me； Victor； to order two chairs for
monsieur and me； we are goin' out in the worl' to…right！〃
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Monsieur Beaucaire
Chapter Two
The chairmen swarmed in the street at Lady Malbourne's door； where
the joyous vulgar fought with muddied footmen and tipsy link…boys for
places of vantage whence to catch a glimpse of quality and of raiment at
its utmost。 Dawn was in the east； and the guests were departing。 Singly
or in pairs； glittering in finery； they came mincing down the steps； the
ghost of the night's smirk fading to jadedness as they sought the dark
recesses of their chairs。 From within sounded the twang of fiddles still
swinging manfully at it； and the windows were bright with the light of
many candles。 When the door was flung open to call the chair of Lady
Mary Carlisle； there was an eager pressure of the throng to see。
A small； fair gentleman in white satin came out upon the steps； turned
and bowed before a lady who appeared in the doorway； a lady whose royal
loveliness was given to view for a moment in that glowing frame。 The
crowd sent up a hearty English cheer for the Beauty of Bath。
The gentleman smiled upon them delightedly。 〃What enchanting
peopie！〃 he cried。 〃Why did I not know； so I might have shout' with
them？〃 The lady noticed the people not at all； whereat； being pleased；
the people cheered again。 The gentleman offered her his hand； she made
a slow courtesy； placed the tips of her fingers upon his own。 〃I am
honored； M。 de Chateaurien；〃 she said。
〃No； no！〃 he cried earnestly。 〃Behol' a poor Frenchman whom
emperors should envy。〃 Then reverently and with the pride of his gallant
office vibrant in every line of his slight figure； invested in white satin and
very grand； as he had prophesied； M。 le Duc de Chateaurien handed Lady
Mary Carlisle down the steps； an achievement which had figured in the
ambitions of seven other gentlemen during the evening。
〃Am I to be lef'in such onhappiness？〃 he said in a low voice。 〃That
rose I have beg' for so long … 〃
〃Never！〃 said Lady Mary。
〃Ah； I do not deserve it； I know so well！ But … 〃
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Monsieur Beaucaire
〃Never！〃
〃It is the greatness of my onworthiness that alone can claim your
charity； let your kin' heart give this little red rose； this great alms； to the
poor beggar。〃
〃Never！〃
She was seated in the chair。 〃Ah； give the rose；〃 he whispered。 Her
beauty shone dazzlingly on him out of the dimness。
〃Never！〃 she flashed defiantly as she was closed in。 〃Never！〃
〃Never！〃
The rose fell at his feet。
〃A rose lasts till morning；〃 said a voice behind him。
Turning； M。 de Chateaurien looked beamingly upon the face of the
Duke of Winterset。
〃'Tis already the daylight；〃 he replied； pointing to the east。 〃Monsieur；
was it not enough honor for you to han' out madame； the aunt of Lady
Mary？ Lady Rellerton retain much trace of beauty。 'Tis strange you did
not appear more happy。〃 〃The rose is of an unlucky color； I think；〃
observed the Duke。
〃The color of a blush； my brother。〃
〃Unlucky； I still maintain；〃 said the other calmly。
〃The color of the veins of a Frenchman。 Ha； ha！〃 cried the young
man。 〃What price would be too high？ A rose is a rose！ A good…night；
my brother； a good…night。 I wish you dreams of roses； red roses； only
beautiful red； red roses！〃
〃Stay！ Did you see the look she gave these street folk when they
shouted for her？ And how are you higher than they； when she knows？ As
high as yonder horse…boy！〃
〃Red roses； my brother； only roses。 I wish you dreams of red； red
roses！〃
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Monsieur Beaucaire
Chapter Three
It was well agreed by the fashion of Bath that M。 le Duc de
Chateaurien was a person of sensibility and haut ton； that his retinue and
equipage surpassed in elegance； that his person was exquisite； his manner
engaging。 In the company of gentlemen his ease was slightly tinged with
graciousness （his single equal in Bath being his Grace of Winterset）； but it
was remarked that when he bowed over a lady's hand； his air bespoke only
a gay and tender reverence。
He was the idol of the dowagers within a week after his appearance；
matrons warmed to him； young belles looked sweetly on him； while the
gentlemen were won to admiration or envy。 He was of prodigious wealth：
old Mr。 Bicksit； who dared not； for his fame's sake； fail to have seen all
things； had visited Chateaurien under the present Duke's father； and
descanted to the curious upon its grandeurs。 The young noble had one
fault； he was so poor a gambler。 He cared nothing for the hazards of a
die or the turn of a card。 Gayly admitting that he had been born with no
spirit of adventure in him； he was sure； he declared； that he failed of much
happiness by his lack of taste in such matters。
But he was not long wanting the occasion to prove his taste in the
matter of handling a weapon。 A certain led…captain； Rohrer by name；
notorious； amongst other things； for bearing a dexterous and bloodthirsty
blade； came to Bath post…haste； one night； and jostled heartily against him；
in the pump…room on the following morning。 M。 de Chauteaurien bowed；
and turned aside without offense； continuing a conversation with some
gentlemen near by。 Captain Rohrer jostled against him a second time。
M。 de Chateaurien looked him in the eye； and apologized pleasantly for
being so much in the way。 Thereupon Rohrer procured an introduction to
him； and made some observations derogatory to the valor and virtue of the
French。 There was current a curious piece of gossip of the French court：
a prince of the blood royal； grandson of the late Regent and second in the
line of succession to the throne of France； had rebelled against the
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Monsieur Beaucaire
authority of Louis XV； who had commanded him to marry the Princess
Henriette； cousin to both of them。 The princess was reported to be
openly devoted to the cousin who refused to accept her hand at the bidding
of the king； and； as rumor ran； the prince's caprice elected in preference
the discipline of Vincennes； to which retirement the furious king had
consigned him。 The story was the staple gossip of all polite Europe； and
Captain Rohrer； having in his mind a purpose to make use of it in leading
up to a statement that should be general to the damage of all
Frenchwomen； and which a Frenchman might not pass over as he might a
jog of the elbow； repeated it with garbled truths to make a scandal of a
story which bore none on a plain relation。
He did not reach his deduction。 M。 de Chateaurien； breaking into his
narrative； addressed him very quietly。 〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃none but
swine deny the nobleness of that good and gentle lady； Mademoiselle la
Princesse de Bourbon…Conti。 Every Frenchman know' tha
