original short stories-6-第3部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


to　give　me　to　you；　because　you　were　rich；　and　they　obliged　me　to　marry
you　in　spite　of　my　tears。

〃So　you　bought　me；　and　as　soon　as　I　was　in　your　power；　as　soon　as　I　had
become　your　companion；　ready　to　attach　myself　to　you；　to　forget　your
coercive　and　threatening　proceedings；　in　order　that　I　might　only　remember
that　I　ought　to　be　a　devoted　wife　and　to　love　you　as　much　as　it　might　be
possible　for　me　to　love　you；　you　became　jealous；　you；　as　no　man　has　ever
been　before；　with　the　base；　ignoble　jealousy　of　a　spy；　which　was　as
degrading　to　you　as　it　was　to　me。　　I　had　not　been　married　eight　months
when　you　suspected　me　of　every　perfidiousness；　and　you　even　told　me　so。
What　a　disgrace！　　And　as　you　could　not　prevent　me　from　being　beautiful
and　from　pleasing　people；　from　being　called　in　drawing…rooms　and　also　in
the　newspapers　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　in　Paris；　you　tried
everything　you　could　think　of　to　keep　admirers　from　me；　and　you　hit　upon
the　abominable　idea　of　making　me　spend　my　life　in　a　constant　state　of
motherhood；　until　the　time　should　come　when　I　should　disgust　every　man。
Oh；　do　not　deny　it。　　I　did　not　understand　it　for　some　time；　but　then　I
guessed　it。　　You　even　boasted　about　it　to　your　sister；　who　told　me　of　it；
for　she　is　fond　of　me　and　was　disgusted　at　your　boorish　coarseness。

〃Ah！　　Remember　how　you　have　behaved　in　the　past！　　How　for　eleven　years
you　have　compelled　me　to　give　up　all　society　and　simply　be　a　mother　to
your　children。　　And　then　you　would　grow　disgusted　with　me　and　I　was　sent
into　the　country；　the　family　chateau；　among　fields　and　meadows。　　And　when
I　reappeared；　fresh；　pretty　and　unspoiled；　still　seductive　and　constantly
surrounded　by　admirers；　hoping　that　at　last　I　should　live　a　little　more
like　a　rich　young　society　woman；　you　were　seized　with　jealousy　again；　and
you　began　once　more　to　persecute　me　with　that　infamous　and　hateful　desire
from　which　you　are　suffering　at　this　moment　by　my　side。　　And　it　is　not
the　desire　of　possessing　mefor　I　should　never　have　refused　myself　to
you；　but　it　is　the　wish　to　make　me　unsightly。

〃And　then　that　abominable　and　mysterious　thing　occurred　which　I　was　a
long　time　in　understanding　（but　I　grew　sharp　by　dint　of　watching　your
thoughts　and　actions）：　You　attached　yourself　to　your　children　with　all
the　security　which　they　gave　you　while　I　bore　them。　　You　felt　affection
for　them；　with　all　your　aversion　to　me；　and　in　spite　of　your　ignoble
fears；　which　were　momentarily　allayed　by　your　pleasure　in　seeing　me　lose
my　symmetry。

〃Oh！　how　often　have　I　noticed　that　joy　in　you！　　I　have　seen　it　in　your
eyes　and　guessed　it。　　You　loved　your　children　as　victories；　and　not
because　they　were　of　your　own　blood。　　They　were　victories　over　me；　over
my　youth；　over　my　beauty；　over　my　charms；　over　the　compliments　which　were
paid　me　and　over　those　that　were　whispered　around　me　without　being　paid
to　me　personally。　　And　you　are　proud　of　them；　you　make　a　parade　of　them；
you　take　them　out　for　drives　in　your　break　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne　and
you　give　them　donkey　rides　at　Montmorency。　　You　take　them　to　theatrical
matinees　so　that　you　may　be　seen　in　the　midst　of　them；　so　that　the　people
may　say：　'What　a　kind　father'　and　that　it　may　be　repeated〃

He　had　seized　her　wrist　with　savage　brutality；　and　he　squeezed　it　so
violently　that　she　was　quiet　and　nearly　cried　out　with　the　pain　and　he
said　to　her　in　a　whisper：

〃I　love　my　children；　do　you　hear？　　What　you　have　just　told　me　is
disgraceful　in　a　mother。　　But　you　belong　to　me；　I　am　masteryour　master
I　can　exact　from　you　what　I　like　and　when　I　likeand　I　have　the　law…on
my　side。〃

He　was　trying　to　crush　her　fingers　in　the　strong　grip　of　his　large；
muscular　hand；　and　she；　livid　with　pain；　tried　in　vain　to　free　them　from
that　vise　which　was　crushing　them。　　The　agony　made　her　breathe　hard　and
the　tears　came　into　her　eyes。　　〃You　see　that　I　am　the　master　and　the
stronger；〃　he　said。　　When　he　somewhat　loosened　his　grip；　she　asked　him：
〃Do　you　think　that　I　am　a　religious　woman？〃

He　was　surprised　and　stammered　〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　think　that　I　could　lie　if　I　swore　to　the　truth　of　anything　to　you
before　an　altar　on　which　Christ's　body　is？〃

〃No。〃

〃Will　you　go　with　me　to　some　church？〃

〃What　for？〃

〃You　shall　see。　　Will　you？〃

〃If　you　absolutely　wish　it；　yes。〃

She　raised　her　voice　and　said：　〃Philippe！〃　And　the　coachman；　bending　down
a　little；　without　taking　his　eyes　from　his　horses；　seemed　to　turn　his　ear
alone　toward　his　mistress；　who　continued：　〃Drive　to　St。　Philippe…du…
Roule。〃　　And　the…victoria；　which　had　reached　the　entrance　of　the　Bois　de
Boulogne　returned　to　Paris。

Husband　and　wife　（did　riot　exchange　a　word　further　during　the　drive；　and
when　the　carriage　stopped　before　the　church　Madame　de　Mascaret　jumped　out
and　entered　it；　followed　by　the　count；　a　few　yards　distant。　　She　went；
without　stopping；　as　far　as　the　choir…screen；　and　falling　on　her　knees　at
a　chair；　she　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。　　She　prayed　for　a　long　time；
and　he；　standing　behind　her　could　see　that　she　was　crying。　　She　wept
noiselessly；　as　women　weep　when　they　are　in　great；　poignant　grief。　　There
was　a　kind　of　undulation　in　her　body；　which　ended　in　a　little　sob；　which
was　hidden　and　stifled　by　her　fingers。

But　the　Comte　de　Mascaret　thought　that　the　situation　was　lasting　too
long；　and　he　touched　her　on　the　shoulder。　　That　contact　recalled　her　to
herself；　as　if　she　had　been　burned；　and　getting　up；　she　looked　straight
into　his　eyes。　　〃This　is　what　I　have　to　say　to　you。　　I　am　afraid　of
nothing；　whatever　you　may　do　to　me。　　You　may　kill　me　if　you　like。　　One　of
your　children　is　not　yours；　and　one　only；　that　I　swear　to　you　before　God；
who　hears　me　here。　　That　was　the　only　revenge　that　was　possible　for　me　in
return　for　all　your　abominable　masculine　tyrannies；　in　return　for　the
penal　servitude　of　childbearing　to　which　you　have　condemned　me。　　Who　was
my　lover？　　That　you　never　will　know！　　You　may　suspect　every　one；　but　you
never　will　find　out。　　I　gave　myself　to　him；　without　love　and　without
pleasure；　only　for　the　sake　of　betraying　you；　and　he　also　made　me　a
mother。　　Which　is　the　child？　　That　also　you　never　will　know。　　I　have
seven；　try　to　find　out！　　I　intended　to　tell　you　this　later；　for　one　has
not　avenged　oneself　on　a　man　by　deceiving　him；　unless　he　knows　it。　　You
have　driven　me　to　confess　it　today。　　I　have　now　finished。〃

She　hurried　through　the　church　toward　the　open　door；　expecting　to　hear
behind　her　the　quick　step：　of　her　husband　whom　she　had　defied　and　to　be
knocked　to　the　ground　by　a　blow　of　his　fist；　but　she　heard　nothing　and
reached　her　carriage。　　She　jumped　into　it　at　a　bound；　overwhelmed　with
anguish　and　breathless　with　fear。　　So　she　called　out　to　the　coachman：
〃Home！〃　and　the　horses　set　off　at　a　quick　trot。


II

The　Comtesse　de　Mascaret　was　waiting　in　her　room　for　dinner　time　as　a
criminal　sentenced　to　death　awaits　the　hour　of　his　execution。　　What　was
her　husband　going　to　do？　　Had　he　come　home？　　Despotic；　passionate；　ready
for　any　violence　as　he　was；　what　was　he　meditating；　what　had　he　made　up
his　mind　to　do？　　There　was　no　sound　in　the　house；　and　every　moment　she
looked　at　the　clock。　　Her　lady's　maid　had　come　and　dressed　her　for　the
evening　and　had　then　left　the　room　again。　　Eight　o'clock　struck　and
almost　at　the　same　moment　there　were　two　knocks　at　the　door；　and　the
butler　came　in　and　announced　dinner。

〃Has　the　count　come　in？〃

〃Yes；　Madame　la　Comtesse。　　He　is　in　the　diningroom。〃

For　a　little　moment　she　felt　inclined　to　arm　herself　with　a　small
revolver　which　she　had　bought　some　time　before；　foreseeing　the　tragedy
which　was　being　rehearsed　in　her　heart。　　But　she　remembered　that　all　the
children　would　be　there；　and　she　took　nothing　except　a　bottle　of　smelling
salts。　　He　rose　somewhat　ceremoniously　from　his　chair。　　They　exchanged　a
slight　bow　and　sat　down。　　The　three　boys　with　their　tutor；　Abbe　Martin；
were　on　her　right　and　the　three　girls；　with　Miss　Smith；　their　English
governess；　were　on　her　left。　　The　youngest　child；　who　was　only　three
months　old；　remained　upstairs　with　his　nurse。

The　abbe　said　grace　as　usual　when　there　was　no　company；　for　the　children
did　not　come　down　to　dinner　when　guests　were　present。　　Then　they　began
dinner。　　The　countess；　suffering　from　emotion；　which　she　had　not
calculated　upon；　remained　with　her　eyes　cast　down；　while　the　count
scrutinized　now　the　three　boys　and　now　the　three　girls。　　with　an
uncertain；　unhappy　expression；　which　travelled　from　one　to　the　other。
Suddenly　pushing　his　wineglass　from　him；　it　broke；　and　the　wine　was　spilt
on　the　tablecloth；　and　at　the　slight　noise　caused　by　this　little　accident
the　countess　started　up　from　her　chair；　and　for　the　first　time　they
looked　at　each　other。　　Then；　in　spite　of　themselves；　in　spite　of　the
irritation　of　their　nerves　caused　by　every　glance；　they　continued　to
exchange　looks；　rapid　as　pistol　shots。

The　abbe；　who　felt　that　there　was　some　cause　for　embarrassment　which　he
could　not　divine；　attempted　to　begin　a　conversation　and　tried　various
subjects；　but　his　useless　efforts　gave　rise　to　no　ideas　and　did　not　bring
out　a　word。　　The　countess；　with　feminine　tact　and　obeying　her　instincts
of　a　woman　of　the　world；　attempted　to　answer　him　two　or　three　times；　but
in　vain。　　She　could　not　find　words；　in　the　perplexity　of　her　mind；　and
her　own　voice　almost　frightened　her　in　the　silence　of　the　large　room；
where　nothing　was　heard　except　the　slight　sound　of　plates　and　knives　and
forks。

Suddenly　her　husband　said　to　her；　bending　forward：　〃Here；　amid　your
children；　will　you　swear　to　me　that　what　you　told　me　just　now　is　true？〃

The　hatred　which　was　fermenting　in　her　veins　suddenly　roused　her；　and
replying　to　that　question　with　the　same　firmness　with　which　she　had
replied　to　his　looks；　she　raised　both　her　hands；　the　right　pointing
toward　the　boys　and　the　left　toward　the　girls；　and　said　in　a　firm；
resolute　voice　and　without　any　hesitation：　〃On　the　head　of　my　children；
I　swear　that　I　have　told　you　the　truth。〃

He　got　up　and　throwing　his　table　napkin　on　the　table　with　a　movement　of
exasperation；　he　turned　round　and　flung　his　chair　against　the　wall；　and
then　went　out　without　another