honorine-第15部分

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is　a　deadlock；　the　spy　will　prove　himself　a　friend；　I　will　place　you
in　a　convent　whence　the　Count's　power　cannot　drag　you。　But；　before
going　there；　let　us　consider　the　other　side　of　the　question。　There　is
a　law；　alike　divine　and　human；　which　even　hatred　affects　to　obey；　and
which　commands　us　not　to　condemn　the　accused　without　hearing　his
defence。　Till　now　you　have　passed　condemnation；　as　children　do；　with
your　ears　stopped。　The　devotion　of　seven　years　has　its　claims。　So　you
must　read　the　answer　your　husband　will　send　you。　I　have　forwarded　to
him；　through　my　uncle；　a　copy　of　your　letter；　and　my　uncle　asked　him
what　his　reply　would　be　if　his　wife　wrote　him　a　letter　in　such　terms。
Thus　you　are　not　compromised。　He　will　himself　bring　the　Count's
answer。　In　the　presence　of　that　saintly　man；　and　in　mine；　out　of
respect　for　your　own　dignity；　you　must　read　it；　or　you　will　be　no
better　than　a　wilful；　passionate　child。　You　must　make　this　sacrifice
to　the　world；　to　the　law；　and　to　God。'

〃As　she　saw　in　this　concession　no　attack　on　her　womanly　resolve；　she
consented。　All　the　labor　or　four　or　five　months　had　been　building　up
to　this　moment。　But　do　not　the　Pyramids　end　in　a　point　on　which　a　bird
may　perch？　The　Count　had　set　all　his　hopes　on　this　supreme　instant；
and　he　had　reached　it。

〃In　all　my　life　I　remember　nothing　more　formidable　than　my　uncle's
entrance　into　that　little　Pompadour　drawing…room；　at　ten　that　evening。
The　fine　head；　with　its　silver　hair　thrown　into　relief　by　the　entirely
black　dress；　and　the　divinely　calm　face；　had　a　magical　effect　on　the
Comtesse　Honorine；　she　had　the　feeling　of　cool　balm　on　her　wounds；　and
beamed　in　the　reflection　of　that　virtue　which　gave　light　without
knowing　it。

〃　'Monsieur　the　Cure　of　the　White　Friars；'　said　old　Gobain。

〃　'Are　you　come；　uncle；　with　a　message　of　happiness　and　peace？'　said
I。

〃　'Happiness　and　peace　are　always　to　be　found　in　obedience　to　the
precepts　of　the　Church；'　replied　my　uncle；　and　he　handed　the　Countess
the　following　letter：

〃　'MY　DEAR　HONORINE；

〃　'If　you　had　but　done　me　the　favor　of　trusting　me；　if　you　had　read
the　letter　I　wrote　to　you　five　years　since；　you　would　have　spared
yourself　five　years　of　useless　labor；　and　of　privations　which　have
grieved　me　deeply。　In　it　I　proposed　an　arrangement　of　which　the
stipulations　will　relieve　all　your　fears；　and　make　our　domestic　life
possible。　I　have　much　to　reproach　myself　with；　and　in　seven　years　of
sorrow　I　have　discovered　all　my　errors。　I　misunderstood　marriage。　I
failed　to　scent　danger　when　it　threatened　you。　An　angel　was　in　the
house。　The　Lord　bid　me　guard　it　well！　The　Lord　has　punished　me　for　my
audacious　confidence。

〃　'You　cannot　give　yourself　a　single　lash　without　striking　me。　Have
mercy　on　me；　my　dear　Honorine。　I　so　fully　appreciated　your
susceptibilities　that　I　would　not　bring　you　back　to　the　old　house　in
the　Rue　Payenne；　where　I　can　live　without　you；　but　which　I　could　not
bear　to　see　again　with　you。　I　am　decorating；　with　great　pleasure；
another　house；　in　the　Faubourg　Saint…Honore；　to　which；　in　hope；　I
conduct　not　a　wife　whom　I　owe　to　her　ignorance　of　life；　and　secured　to
me　by　law；　but　a　sister　who　will　allow　me　to　press　on　her　brow　such　a
kiss　as　a　father　gives　the　daughter　he　blesses　every　day。

〃　'Will　you　bereave　me　of　the　right　I　have　conquered　from　your　despair
that　of　watching　more　closely　over　your　needs；　your　pleasures；　your
life　even？　Women　have　one　heart　always　on　their　side；　always　abounding
in　excusestheir　mother's；　you　never　knew　any　mother　but　my　mother；
who　would　have　brought　you　back　to　me。　But　how　is　it　that　you　never
guessed　that　I　had　for　you　the　heart　of　a　mother；　both　of　my　mother
and　of　your　own？　Yes；　dear；　my　affection　is　neither　mean　nor　grasping；
it　is　one　of　those　which　will　never　let　any　annoyance　last　long　enough
to　pucker　the　brow　of　the　child　it　worships。　What　can　you　think　of　the
companion　of　your　childhood；　Honorine；　if　you　believe　him　capable　of
accepting　kisses　given　in　trembling；　of　living　between　delight　and
anxiety？　Do　not　fear　that　you　will　be　exposed　to　the　laments　of　a
suppliant　passion；　I　would　not　want　you　back　until　I　felt　certain　of
my　own　strength　to　leave　you　in　perfect　freedom。

〃　'Your　solitary　pride　has　exaggerated　the　difficulties。　You　may；　if
you　will；　look　on　at　the　life　of　a　brother；　or　of　a　father；　without
either　suffering　or　joy；　but　you　will　find　neither　mockery　nor
indifference；　nor　have　any　doubt　as　to　his　intentions。　The　warmth　of
the　atmosphere　in　which　you　live　will　be　always　equable　and　genial；
without　tempests；　without　a　possible　squall。　If；　later；　when　you　feel
secure　that　you　are　as　much　at　home　as　in　your　own　little　house；　you
desire　to　try　some　other　elements　of　happiness；　pleasures；　or
amusements；　you　can　expand　their　circle　at　your　will。　The　tenderness
of　a　mother　knows　neither　contempt　nor　pity。　What　is　it？　Love　without
desire。　Well；　in　me　admiration　shall　hide　every　sentiment　in　which　you
might　see　an　offence。

〃　'Thus；　living　side　by　side；　we　may　both　be　magnanimous。　In　you　the
kindness　of　a　sister；　the　affectionate　thoughtfulness　of　a　friend；
will　satisfy　the　ambition　of　him　who　wishes　to　be　your　life's
companion；　and　you　may　measure　his　tenderness　by　the　care　he　will　take
to　conceal　it。　Neither　you　nor　I　will　be　jealous　of　the　past；　for　we
may　each　acknowledge　that　the　other　has　sense　enough　to　look　only
straight　forward。

〃　'Thus　you　will　be　at　home　in　your　new　house　exactly　as　you　are　in
the　Rue　Saint…Maur；　unapproachable；　alone；　occupied　as　you　please；
living　by　your　own　law；　but　having　in　addition　the　legitimate
protection；　of　which　you　are　now　exacting　the　most　chivalrous　labors
of　love；　with　the　consideration　which　lends　so　much　lustre　to　a　woman；
and　the　fortune　which　will　allow　of　your　doing　many　good　works。
Honorine；　when　you　long　for　an　unnecessary　absolution；　you　have　only
to　ask　for　it；　it　will　not　be　forced　upon　you　by　the　Church　or　by　the
Law；　it　will　wait　on　your　pride；　on　your　own　impulsion。　My　wife　might
indeed　have　to　fear　all　the　things　you　dread；　but　not　my　friend　and
sister；　towards　whom　I　am　bound　to　show　every　form　and　refinement　of
politeness。　To　see　you　happy　is　enough　happiness　for　me；　I　have　proved
this　for　the　seven　years　past。　The　guarantee　for　this；　Honorine；　is　to
be　seen　in　all　the　flowers　made　by　you；　carefully　preserved；　and
watered　by　my　tears。　Like　the　/quipos/；　the　tally　cords　of　the
Peruvians；　they　are　the　record　of　our　sorrows。

〃　'If　this　secret　compact　does　not　suit　you；　my　child；　I　have　begged
the　saintly　man　who　takes　charge　of　this　letter　not　to　say　a　word　in
my　behalf。　I　will　not　owe　your　return　to　the　terrors　threatened　by　the
Church；　nor　to　the　bidding　of　the　Law。　I　will　not　accept　the　simple
and　quiet　happiness　that　I　ask　from　any　one　but　yourself。　If　you
persist　in　condemning　me　to　the　lonely　life；　bereft　even　of　a
fraternal　smile；　which　I　have　led　for　nine　years；　if　you　remain　in
your　solitude　and　show　no　sign；　my　will　yields　to　yours。　Understand　me
perfectly：　you　shall　be　no　more　troubled　that　you　have　been　until　this
day。　I　will　get　rid　of　the　crazy　fellow　who　has　meddled　in　your
concerns；　and　has　perhaps　caused　you　some　annoyance　。　。　。'

〃　'Monsieur；'　said　Honorine；　folding　up　the　letter；　which　she　placed
in　her　bosom；　and　looking　at　my　uncle；　'thank　you　very　much。　I　will
avail　myself　of　Monsieur　le　Comte's　permission　to　remain　here'

〃　'Ah！'　I　exclaimed。

〃This　exclamation　made　my　uncle　look　at　me　uneasily；　and　won　from　the
Countess　a　mischievous　glance；　which　enlightened　me　as　to　her　motives。

〃Honorine　had　wanted　to　ascertain　whether　I　were　an　actor；　a　bird
snarer；　and　I　had　the　melancholy　satisfaction　of　deceiving　her　by　my
exclamation；　which　was　one　of　those　cries　from　the　heart　which　women
understand　so　well。

〃　'Ah；　Maurice；'　said　she；　'you　know　how　to　love。'

〃The　light　that　flashed　in　my　eyes　was　another　reply　which　would　have
dissipated　the　Countess'　uneasiness　if　she　still　had　any。　Thus　the
Count　found　me　useful　to　the　very　last。

〃Honorine　then　took　out　the　Count's　letter　again　to　finish　reading　it。
My　uncle　signed　to　me；　and　I　rose。

〃　'Let　us　leave　the　Countess；'　said　he。

〃　'You　are　going　already　Maurice？'　she　said；　without　looking　at　me。

〃She　rose；　and　still　reading；　followed　us　to　the　door。　On　the
threshold　she　took　my　hand；　pressed　it　very　affectionately；　and　said；
'We　shall　meet　again　。　。　。'

〃　'No；'　I　replied；　wringing　her　hand；　so　that　she　cried　out。　'You　love
your　husband。　I　leave　to…morrow。'

〃And　I　rushed　away；　leaving　my　uncle；　to　whom　she　said：

〃　'Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　your　nephew？'

〃The　good　Abbe　completed　my　work　by　pointing　to　his　head　and　heart；　as
much　as　to　say；　'He　is　mad；　madame；　you　must　forgive　him！'　and　with
all　the　more　truth；　because　he　really　thought　it。

〃Six　days　after；　I　set　out　with　an　appointment　as　vice…consul　in
Spain；　in　a　large　commercial　town；　where　I　could　quickly　qualify　to
rise　in　the　career　of　a　consul；　to　which　I　now　restricted　my　ambition。
After　I　had　established　myself　there；　I　received　this　letter　from　the
Count：

〃　'MY　DEAR　MAURICE；

〃　'If　I　were　happy；　I　should　not　write　to　you；　but　I　have　entered　on　a
new　life　of　suffering。　I　have　grown　young　again　in　my　desires；　with
all　the　impatience　of　a　man　of　forty；　and　the　prudence　of　a
diplomatist；　who　has　learned　to　moderate　his　passion。　When　you　left　I
had　not　yet　been　admitted　to　the　/pavillon/　in　the　Rue　Saint…Maur；　but
a　letter　had　promised　me　that　I　should　have　permissionthe　mild　and
melancholy　letter　of　a　woman　who　dreaded　the　agitations　of　a　meeting。
After　waiting　for　more　than　a　month；　I　made　bold　to　call；　and　desired
Gobain　to　inquire　whether　I　could　be　received。　I　sat　down　in　a　chair
in　the　avenue　near　the　lodge；　my　head　buried　in　my　hands；　and　there　I
remained　for　almost　an　hour。

〃　'　〃Madame　had　to　dress；〃　said　Gobain；　to　hide　Honorine's　hesitancy
under　a　pride　of　appearance　which　was　flattering　to　me。

〃　'During　a　long　quarter　of　an　hour　we　both　of　us　were　possessed　by　an
involuntary　nervous　trembling　as　great　as　that　which　seizes　a　speaker
on　the　platform；　and　we　spoke　to　each　other　sacred　phras