original short stories-6-第2部分

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words。　　He　gave　his　nameHector　de　Gribelin；　employed　at　the　Ministry　of
Marine；　and　then　they　awaited　news　of　the　injured　woman。　　A　policeman　who
had　been　sent　to　obtain　information　returned；　saying　that　she　had
recovered　consciousness；　but　was　complaining　of　frightful　internal　pain。
She　was　a　charwoman；　sixty…five　years　of　age；　named　Madame　Simon。

When　he　heard　that　she　was　not　dead　Hector　regained　hope　and　promised　to
defray　her　doctor's　bill。　　Then　he　hastened　to　the　druggist's。　　The　door
way　was　thronged；　the　injured　woman；　huddled　in　an　armchair；　was
groaning。　　Her　arms　hung　at　her　sides；　her　face　was　drawn。　　Two　doctors
were　still　engaged　in　examining　her。　　No　bones　were　broken；　but　they
feared　some　internal　lesion。

Hector　addressed　her：

〃Do　you　suffer　much？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃

〃Where　is　the　pain？〃

〃I　feel　as　if　my　stomach　were　on　fire。〃

A　doctor　approached。

〃Are　you　the　gentleman　who　caused　the　accident？〃

〃I　am。〃

〃This　woman　ought　to　be　sent　to　a　home。　　I　know　one　where　they　would　take
her　at　six　francs　a　day。　　Would　you　like　me　to　send　her　there？〃

Hector　was　delighted　at　the　idea；　thanked　him　and　returned　home　much
relieved。

His　wife；　dissolved　in　tears；　was　awaiting　him。　　He　reassured　her。

〃It's　all　right。　　This　Madame　Simon　is　better　already　and　will　be　quite
well　in　two　or　three　days。　　I　have　sent　her　to　a　home。　　It's　all　right。〃

When　he　left　his　office　the　next　day　he　went　to　inquire　for　Madame　Simon。
He　found　her　eating　rich　soup　with　an　air　of　great　satisfaction。

〃Well？〃　said　he。

〃Oh；　sir；〃　she　replied；　〃I'm　just　the　same。　　I　feel　sort　of　crushednot
a　bit　better。〃

The　doctor　declared　they　must　wait　and　see；　some　complication　or　other
might　arise。

Hector　waited　three　days；　then　he　returned。　　The　old　woman；　fresh…faced
and　clear…eyed；　began　to　whine　when　she　saw　him：

〃I　can't　move；　sir；　I　can't　move　a　bit。　　I　shall　be　like　this　for　the
rest　of　my　days。〃

A　shudder　passed　through　Hector's　frame。　　He　asked　for　the　doctor；　who
merely　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　said：

〃What　can　I　do？　　I　can't　tell　what's　wrong　with　her。　　She　shrieks　when
they　try　to　raise　her。　　They　can't　even　move　her　chair　from　one　place　to
another　without　her　uttering　the　most　distressing　cries。　　I　am　bound　to
believe　what　she　tells　me；　I　can't　look　into　her　inside。　　So　long　as　I
have　no　chance　of　seeing　her　walk　I　am　not　justified　in　supposing　her　to
be　telling　lies　about　herself。〃

The　old　woman　listened；　motionless；　a　malicious　gleam　in　her　eyes。

A　week　passed；　then　a　fortnight；　then　a　month。　　Madame　Simon　did　not
leave　her　armchair。　　She　ate　from　morning　to　night；　grew　fat；　chatted
gaily　with　the　other　patients　and　seemed　to　enjoy　her　immobility　as　if　it
were　the　rest　to　which　she　was　entitled　after　fifty　years　of　going　up　and
down　stairs；　of　turning　mattresses；　of　carrying　coal　from　one　story　to
another；　of　sweeping　and　dusting。

Hector；　at　his　wits'　end；　came　to　see　her　every　day。　　Every　day　he　found
her　calm　and　serene；　declaring：

〃I　can't　move；　sir；　I　shall　never　be　able　to　move　again。〃

Every　evening　Madame　de　Gribelin；　devoured　with　anxiety；　said：

〃How　is　Madame　Simon？〃

And　every　time　he　replied　with　a　resignation　born　of　despair：

〃Just　the　same；　no　change　whatever。

They　dismissed　the　servant；　whose　wages　they　could　no　longer　afford。
They　economized　more　rigidly　than　ever。　　The　whole　of　the　extra　pay　had
been　swallowed　up。

Then　Hector　summoned　four　noted　doctors；　who　met　in　consultation　over　the
old　woman。　　She　let　them　examine　her；　feel　her；　sound　her；　watching　them
the　while　with　a　cunning　eye。

〃We　must　make　her　walk；〃　said　one。

〃But；　sirs；　I　can't！〃　she　cried。　　〃I　can't　move！〃

Then　they　took　hold　of　her；　raised　her　and　dragged　her　a　short　distance；
but　she　slipped　from　their　grasp　and　fell　to　the　floor；　groaning　and
giving　vent　to　such　heartrending　cries　that　they　carried　her　back　to　her
seat　with　infinite　care　and　precaution。

They　pronounced　a　guarded　opinionagreeing；　however；　that　work　was　an
impossibility　to　her。

And　when　Hector　brought　this　news　to　his　wife　she　sank　on　a　chair；
murmuring：

〃It　would　be　better　to　bring　her　here；　it　would　cost　us　less。〃

He　started　in　amazement。

〃Here？　　In　our　own　house？　　How　can　you　think　of　such　a　thing？〃

But　she；　resigned　now　to　anything；　replied　with　tears　in　her　eyes：

〃But　what　can　we　do；　my　love？　　It's　not　my　fault！〃






USELESS　BEAUTY

I

About　half…past　five　one　afternoon　at　the　end　of　June　when　the　sun　was
shining　warm　and　bright　into　the　large　courtyard；　a　very　elegant　victoria
with　two　beautiful　black　horses　drew　up　in　front　of　the　mansion。

The　Comtesse　de　Mascaret　came　down　the　steps　just　as　her　husband；　who　was
coming　home；　appeared　in　the　carriage　entrance。　　He　stopped　for　a　few
moments　to　look　at　his　wife　and　turned　rather　pale。　　The　countess　was
very　beautiful；　graceful　and　distinguished　looking；　with　her　long　oval
face；　her　complexion　like　yellow　ivory；　her　large　gray　eyes　and　her　black
hair；　and　she　got　into　her　carriage　without　looking　at　him；　without　even
seeming　to　have　noticed　him；　with　such　a　particularly　high…bred　air；　that
the　furious　jealousy　by　which　he　had　been　devoured　for　so　long　again
gnawed　at　his　heart。　　He　went　up　to　her　and　said：　〃You　are　going　for　a
drive？〃

She　merely　replied　disdainfully：　〃You　see　I　am！〃

〃In　the　Bois　de　Boulogne？〃

〃Most　probably。〃

〃May　I　come　with　you？〃

〃The　carriage　belongs　to　you。〃

Without　being　surprised　at　the　tone　in　which　she　answered　him；　he　got　in
and　sat　down　by　his　wife's　side　and　said：　〃Bois　de　Boulogne。〃　　The
footman　jumped　up　beside　the　coachman；　and　the　horses　as　usual　pranced
and　tossed　their　heads　until　they　were　in　the　street。　　Husband　and　wife
sat　side　by　side　without　speaking。　　He　was　thinking　how　to　begin　a
conversation；　but　she　maintained　such　an　obstinately　hard　look　that　he
did　not　venture　to　make　the　attempt。　　At　last；　however；　he　cunningly；
accidentally　as　it　were；　touched　the　countess'　gloved　hand　with　his　own；
but　she　drew　her　arm　away　with　a　movement　which　was　so　expressive　of
disgust　that　he　remained　thoughtful；　in　spite　of　his　usual　authoritative
and　despotic　character；　and　he　said：　〃Gabrielle！〃

〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃I　think　you　are　looking　adorable。〃

She　did　not　reply；　but　remained　lying　back　in　the　carriage；　looking　like
an　irritated　queen。　　By　that　time　they　were　driving　up　the　Champs
Elysees；　toward　the　Arc　de　Triomphe。　　That　immense　monument；　at　the　end
of　the　long　avenue；　raised　its　colossal　arch　against　the　red　sky　and　the
sun　seemed　to　be　descending　on　it；　showering　fiery　dust　on　it　from　the
sky。

The　stream　of　carriages；　with　dashes　of　sunlight　reflected　in　the　silver
trappings　of　the　harness　and　the　glass　of　the　lamps；　flowed　on　in　a
double　current　toward　the　town　and　toward　the　Bois；　and　the　Comte　de
Mascaret　continued：　〃My　dear　Gabrielle！〃

Unable　to　control　herself　any　longer；　she　replied　in　an　exasperated
voice：　〃Oh！　　do　leave　me　in　peace；　pray！　　I　am　not　even　allowed　to　have
my　carriage　to　myself　now。〃　　He　pretended　not　to　hear　her　and　continued：
〃You　never　have　looked　so　pretty　as　you　do　to…day。〃

Her　patience　had　come　to　an　end；　and　she　replied　with　irrepressible
anger：　〃You　are　wrong　to　notice　it；　for　I　swear　to　you　that　I　will　never
have　anything　to　do　with　you　in　that　way　again。〃

The　count　was　decidedly　stupefied　and　upset；　and；　his　violent　nature
gaining　the　upper　hand；　he　exclaimed：　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　in　a
tone　that　betrayed　rather　the　brutal　master　than　the　lover。　　She　replied
in　a　low　voice；　so　that　the　servants　might　not　hear　amid　the　deafening
noise　of　the　wheels：　〃Ah！　　What　do　I　mean　by　that？　　What　do　I　mean　by
that？　　Now　I　recognize　you　again！　　Do　you　want　me　to　tell　everything？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Everything　that　has　weighed　on　my　heart　since　I　have　been　the　victim　of
your　terrible　selfishness？〃

He　had　grown　red　with　surprise　and　anger　and　he　growled　between　his
closed　teeth：　〃Yes；　tell　me　everything。〃

He　was　a　tall；　broad…shouldered　man；　with　a　big　red　beard；　a　handsome
man；　a　nobleman；　a　man　of　the　world；　who　passed　as　a　perfect　husband　and
an　excellent　father；　and　now；　for　the　first　time　since　they　had　started；
she　turned　toward　him　and　looked　him　full　in　the　face：　〃Ah！　　You　will
hear　some　disagreeable　things；　but　you　must　know　that　I　am　prepared　for
everything；　that　I　fear　nothing；　and　you　less　than　any　one　to…day。〃

He　also　was　looking　into　her　eyes　and　was　already　shaking　with　rage　as　he
said　in　a　low　voice：　〃You　are　mad。〃

〃No；　but　I　will　no　longer　be　the　victim　of　the　hateful　penalty　of
maternity；　which　you　have　inflicted　on　me　for　eleven　years！　　I　wish　to
take　my　place　in　society　as　I　have　the　right　to　do；　as　all　women　have　the
right　to　do。〃

He　suddenly　grew　pale　again　and　stammered：　〃I　do　not　understand　you。〃

〃Oh！　yes；　you　understand　me　well　enough。　　It　is　now　three　months　since　I
had　my　last　child；　and　as　I　am　still　very　beautiful；　and　as；　in　spite　of
all　your　efforts　you　cannot　spoil　my　figure；　as　you　just　now　perceived；
when　you　saw　me　on　the　doorstep；　you　think　it　is　time　that　I　should　think
of　having　another　child。〃

〃But　you　are　talking　nonsense！〃

〃No；　I　am　not；　I　am　thirty；　and　I　have　had　seven　children；　and　we　have
been　married　eleven　years；　and　you　hope　that　this　will　go　on　for　ten
years　longer；　after　which　you　will　leave　off　being　jealous。〃

He　seized　her　arm　and　squeezed　it；　saying：　〃I　will　not　allow　you　to　talk
to　me　like　that　much　longer。〃

〃And　I　shall　talk　to　you　till　the　end；　until　I　have　finished　all　I　have
to　say　to　you；　and　if　you　try　to　prevent　me；　I　shall　raise　my　voice　so
that　the　two　servants；　who　are　on　the　box；　may　hear。　　I　only　allowed　you
to　come　with　me　for　that　object；　for　I　have　these　witnesses　who　will
oblige　you　to　listen　to　me　and　to　contain　yourself；　so　now　pay　attention
to　what　I　say。　　I　have　always　felt　an　antipathy　to　you；　and　I　have　always
let　you　see　it；　for　I　have　never　lied；　monsieur。　　You　married　me　in　spite
of　myself；　you　forced　my　parents；　who　were　in　embarrassed　circumstances；
to　give　me　to　you；　because　you　were　rich；　and　they　obliged　me　to　marry
you　in　spite　of　my