la constantin-第7部分

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w　that？　Oh！　　promise　me；　if　you　love　me；　to　give　up　this　duel！　　Promise　me　not　to　seek　that　man　out　to…morrow！〃

The　poor　creature　hoped　to　work　wonders　with　her　eloquence；　her　tears；　her　pleading　glances。　　On　hearing　her　prayer　for　a　reprieve　of　twenty…four　hours；　swearing　that　after　that　she　would　never　see　Jeannin　again；　the　commander　and　the　chevalier　were　obliged　to　bite　their　lips　to　keep　from　laughing　outright。　　But　the　former　soon　regained　his　self…possession；　and　while　Angelique；　still　on　her　knees　before　him；　pressed　his　hands　to　her　bosom；　he　forced　her　to　raise　her　head；　and　looking　straight　into　her　eyes；　said

〃To…morrow；　madame；　if　not　this　evening；　he　shall　know　everything；　and　a　meeting　shall　take　place。〃

Then　pushing　her　away；　he　strode　towards　the　door。

〃Oh！　　how　unhappy　I　am！〃　exclaimed　Angelique。

She　tried　to　rise　and　rush　after　him；　but　whether　she　was　really　overcome　by　her　feelings；　or　whether　she　felt　the　one　chance　of　prevailing　left　her　was　to　faint；　she　uttered　a　heartrending　cry；　and　the　chevalier　had　no　choice　but　to　support　her　sinking　form。

De　Jars；　on　seeing　his　nephew　staggering　under　this　burden；　gave　a　loud　laugh；　and　hurried　away。　　Two　minutes　later　he　was　once　more　at　the　tavern　in　the　rue　Saint…Andre…des…Arts。

〃How's　this？　　Alone？〃　said　Jeannin。

〃Alone。〃

〃What　have　you　done　with　the　chevalier？〃

〃I　left　him　with　our　charmer；　who　was　unconscious；　overcome　with　grief；　exhausted　Ha！　ha！　ha！　　She　fell　fainting　into　his　arms！　　Ha！　ha！　ha！〃

〃It's　quite　possible　that　the　young　rogue；　being　left　with　her　in　such　a　condition；　may　cut　me　out。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？Ha！　ha！　ha！〃

And　de　Jars　laughed　so　heartily　and　so　infectiously　that　his　worthy　friend　was　obliged　to　join　in；　and　laughed　till　he　choked。

In　the　short　silence　which　followed　the　departure　of　the　commander；　Maitre　Quennebert　could　hear　the　widow　still　murmuring　something；　but　he　was　less　disposed　than　ever　to　attend　to　her。

〃On　my　word；〃　said　he；　〃the　scene　now　going　on　is　more　curious　than　all　that　went　before。　　I　don't　think　that　a　man　has　ever　found　himself　in　such　a　position　as　mine。　　Although　my　interests　demand　that　I　remain　here　and　listen；　yet　my　fingers　are　itching　to　box　the　ears　of　that　Chevalier　de　Moranges。　　If　there　were　only　some　way　of　getting　at　a　proof　of　all　this！　　Ah！　now　we　shall　hear　something；　the　hussy　is　coming　to　herself。〃

And　indeed　Angelique　had　opened　her　eyes　and　was　casting　wild　looks　around　her；　she　put　her　hand　to　her　brow　several　times；　as　if　trying　to　recall　clearly　what　had　happened。

〃Is　he　gone？〃　she　exclaimed　at　last。　　〃Oh；　why　did　you　let　him　go？　You　should　not　have　minded　me；　but　kept　him　here。〃

〃Be　calm；〃　answered　the　chevalier；　〃be　calm；　for　heaven's　sake。　　I　shall　speak　to　my　uncle　and　prevent　his　ruining　your　prospects。　　Only　don't　weep　any　more；　your　tears　break　my　heart。　　Ah；　my　God！　　how　cruel　it　is　to　distress　you　so！　　I　should　never　be　able　to　withstand　your　tears；　no　matter　what　reason　I　had　for　anger；　a　look　from　you　would　make　me　forgive　you　everything。〃

〃Noble　young　man！〃　said　Angelique。

〃Idiot！〃　muttered　Maitre　Quennebert；　〃swallow　the　honey　of　his　words；　do　But　how　the　deuce　is　it　going　to　end？　　Not　Satan　himself　ever　invented　such　a　situation。〃

〃But　then　I　could　never　believe　you　guilty　without　proof；　irrefutable　proof；　and　even　then　a　word　from　you　would　fill　my　mind　with　doubt　and　uncertainty　again。　　Yes；　were　the　whole　world　to　accuse　you　and　swear　to　your　guilt；　I　should　still　believe　your　simple　word。　　I　am　young；　madam；　I　have　never　known　love　as　yetuntil　an　instant　ago　I　had　no　idea　that　more　quickly　than　an　image　can　excite　the　admiration　of　the　eye；　a　thought　can　enter　the　heart　and　stir　it　to　its　depths；　and　features　that　one　may　never　again　behold　leave　a　lifelong　memory　behind。　　But　even　if　a　woman　of　whom　I　knew　absolutely　nothing　were　to　appeal　to　me；　exclaiming；　'I　implore　your　help；　your　protection！'　I　should；　without　stopping　to　consider；　place　my　sword　and　my　arm　at　her　disposal；　and　devote　myself　to　her　service。　　How　much　more　eagerly　would　I　die　for　you；　madam；　whose　beauty　has　ravished　my　heart！　　What　do　you　demand　of　me？　　Tell　me　what　you　desire　me　to　do。〃

〃Prevent　this　duel；　don't　allow　an　interview　to　take　place　between　your　uncle　and　the　man　whom　he　mentioned。　　Tell　me　you　will　do　this；　and　I　shall　be　safe；　for　you　have　never　learned　to　lie；　I　know。〃

〃Of　course　he　hasn't；　you　may　be　sure　of　that；　you　simpleton！〃　muttered　Maitre　Quennebert　in　his　corner。　　〃If　you　only　knew　what　a　mere　novice　you　are　at　that　game　compared　with　the　chevalier！　　If　you　only　knew　whom　you　had　before　you！〃

〃At　your　age；〃　went　on　Angelique；　〃one　cannot　feignthe　heart　is　not　yet　hardened；　and　is　capable　of　compassion。　　But　a　dreadful　idea　occurs　to　mea　horrible　suspicion！　　Is　it　all　a　devilish　tricka　snare　arranged　in　joke？　　Tell　me　that　it　is　not　all　a　pretence！　　A　poor　woman　encounters　so　much　perfidy。　　Men　amuse　themselves　by　troubling　her　heart　and　confusing　her　mind；　they　excite　her　vanity；　they　compass　her　round　with　homage；　with　flattery；　with　temptation；　and　when　they　grow　tired　of　fooling　her；　they　despise　and　insult　her。　Tell　me；　was　this　all　a　preconcerted　plan？　　This　love；　this　jealousy；　were　they　only　acted？〃

〃Oh；　madame；〃　broke　in　the　chevalier；　with　an　expression　of　the　deepest　indignation；　〃how　can　you　for　an　instant　imagine　that　a　human　heart　could　be　so　perverted？　　I　am　not　acquainted　with　the　man　whom　the　commander　accused　you　of　loving；　but　whoever　he　may　be　I　feel　sure　that　he　is　worthy　of　your　love；　and　that　he　would　never　have　consented　to　such　a　dastardly　joke。　　Neither　would　my　uncle；　his　jealousy　mastered　him　and　drove　him　mad

But　I　am　not　dependent　on　him；　I　am　my　own　master；　and　can　do　as　I　please。　　I　will　hinder　this　duel；　I　will　not　allow　the　illusion　and　ignorance　of　him　who　loves　you　and；　alas　that　I　must　say　it；　whom　you　love；　to　be　dispelled；　for　it　is　in　them　he　finds　his　happiness。　　Be　happy　with　him！　　As　for　me；　I　shall　never　see　you　again；　but　the　recollection　of　this　meeting；　the　joy　of　having　served　you；　will　be　my　consolation。〃

Angelique　raised　her　beautiful　eyes；　and　gave　the　chevalier　a　long　look　which　expressed　her　gratitude　more　eloquently　than　words。

〃May　I　be　hanged！〃　thought　Maitre　Quennebert；　〃if　the　baggage　isn't　making　eyes　at　him　already！　　But　one　who　is　drowning　clutches　at　a　straw。〃

〃Enough；　madam；〃　said　the　chevalier；　〃I　understand　all　you　would　say。　You　thank　me　in　his　name；　and　ask　me　to　leave　you：　I　obey…yes；　madame；　I　am　going；　at　the　risk　of　my　life　I　will　prevent　this　meeting；　I　will　stifle　this　fatal　revelation。　　But　grant　me　one　last　prayer…permit　me　to　look　forward　to　seeing　you　once　more　before　I　leave　this　city；　to　which　I　wish　I　had　never　come。　　But　I　shall　quit　it　in　a　day　or　two；　to…morrow　perhapsas　soon　as　I　know　that　your　happiness　is　assured。　　Oh！　　do　not　refuse　my　last　request；　let　the　light　of　your　eyes　shine　on　me　for　the　last　time；　after　that　I　shall　departI　shall　fly　far　away　for　ever。　　But　if　perchance；　in　spite　of　every　effort；　I　fail；　if　the　commander's　jealousy　should　make　him　impervious　to　my　entreatiesto　my　tears；　if　he　whom　you　love　should　come　and　overwhelm　you　with　reproaches　and　then　abandon　you；　would　you　drive　me　from　your　presence　if　I　should　then　say；　'I　love　you'？　Answer　me；　I　beseech　you。〃

〃Go！〃　said　she；　〃and　prove　worthy　of　my　gratitudeor　my　love。〃

Seizing　one　of　her　hands；　the　chevalier　covered　it　with　passionate　kisses。

〃Such　barefaced　impudence　surpasses　everything　I　could　have　imagined！〃　murmured　Quennebert：　〃fortunately；　the　play　is　over　for　to…night；　if　it　had　gone　on　any　longer；　I　should　have　done　something　foolish。　　The　lady　hardly　imagines　what　the　end　of　the　comedy　will　be。〃

Neither　did　Quennebert。　　It　was　an　evening　of　adventures。　　It　was　written　that　in　the　space　of　two　hours　Angelique　was　to　run　the　gamut　of　all　the　emotions；　experience　all　the　vicissitudes　to　which　a　life　such　as　she　led　is　exposed：　hope；　fear；　happiness；　mortification；　falsehood；　love　that　was　no　love；　intrigue　within　intrigue；　and；　to　crown　all；　a　totally　unexpected　conclusion。




CHAPTER　V

The　chevalier　was　still　holding　Angelique's　hand　when　a　step　resounded　outside；　and　a　voice　was　heard。

〃Can　it　be　that　he　has　come　back？〃　exclaimed　the　damsel；　hastily　freeing　herself　from　the　passionate　embrace　of　the　chevalier。　　〃It's　not　possible！　　Mon　Dieu！　　Mon　Dieu！　it's　his　voice！〃

She　grew　pale　to　the　lips；　and　stood　staring　at　the　door　with　outstretched　arms；　unable　to　advance　or　recede。

The　chevalier　listened；　but　felt　sure　the　approaching　voice　belonged　neither　to　the　commander　nor　to　the　treasurer。

〃'His　voice'？〃　thought　Quennebert　to　himself。　　〃Can　this　be　yet　another　aspirant　to　her　favour？〃

The　sound　came　nearer。

〃Hide　yourself！〃　said　Angelique；　pointing　to　a　door　opposite　to　the　partition　behind　which　the　widow　and　the　notary　were　ensconced。　〃Hide　yourself　there！there's　a　secret　staircaseyou　can　get　out　that　way。〃

〃I　hide　myself！〃　exclaimed　Moranges；　with　a　swaggering　air。　　〃What　are　you　thinking　of？　　I　remain。〃

It　would　have　been　better　for　him　to　have　followed　her　advice；　as　may　very　well　have　occurred　to　the　youth　two　minutes　later；　as　a　tall；　muscular　young　man　entered　in　a　state　of　intense　excitement。　Angelique　rushed　to　meet　him；　crying

〃Ah！　　Monsieur　le　duc；　is　it　you？〃

〃What　is　this　I　hear；　Angelique？〃　said　the　Duc　de　Vitry。　　〃I　was　told　below　that　three　men　had　visited　you　this　evening；　but　only　two　have　gone　outwhere　is　the　third　？　　Ha！　　I　do　not　need　long　to　find　him；〃　he　added；　as　he　caught　sight　of　the　chevalier；　who　stood　his　ground　bravely　enough。

〃In　Heaven's　name！〃　cried　Angelique；〃in　Heaven's　name；　listen　to　me！〃

〃No；　no；　not　a　word。　　Just　now　I　am　not　questioning　you。　　Who　are　you；　sir？〃

The　chevalier's　teasing　and　bantering　disposition　made　him　even　at　that　critical　moment　insensible　to　fear；　so　he　retorted　insolently

〃Whoever　I　please　to　be；　sir；　and　on　my　word　I　find　the　tone　in　which　you　put　your　question　delightfully　amusing。〃

The　duke　sprang　forward　in　a　rage；　laying　his　hand　on　his　sword。　Angelique　tried　in　vain　to　restrain　him。

〃You　want　to　screen　h