original short stories-6-第5部分

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surprising　outbursts　of　his　imagination；　asked　him：　〃Then　you　believe
that　human　thought　is　the　spontaneous　product　of　blind　divine
generation？〃

〃Naturally！　　A　fortuitous　function　of　the　nerve　centres　of　our　brain；
like　the　unforeseen　chemical　action　due　to　new　mixtures　and　similar　also
to　a　charge　of　electricity；　caused　by　friction　or　the　unexpected
proximity　of　some　substance；　similar　to　all　phenomena　caused　by　the
infinite　and　fruitful　fermentation　of　living　matter。

〃But；　my　dear　fellow；　the　truth　of　this　must　be　evident　to　any　one　who
looks　about　him。　　If　the　human　mind；　ordained　by　an　omniscient　Creator；
had　been　intended　to　be　what　it　has　become；　exacting；　inquiring；
agitated；　tormentedso　different　from　mere　animal　thought　and
resignationwould　the　world　which　was　created　to　receive　the　beings
which　we　now　are　have　been　this　unpleasant　little　park　for　small　game；
this　salad　patch；　this　wooded；　rocky　and　spherical　kitchen　garden　where
your　improvident　Providence　had　destined　us　to　live　naked；　in　caves　or
under　trees；　nourished　on　the　flesh　of　slaughtered　animals；　our　brethren；
or　on　raw　vegetables　nourished　by　the　sun　and　the　rain？

〃But　it　is　sufficient　to　reflect　for　a　moment；　in　order　to　understand
that　this　world　was　not　made　for　such　creatures　as　we　are。　　Thought；
which　is　developed　by　a　miracle　in　the　nerves　of　the　cells　in　our　brain；
powerless；　ignorant　and　confused　as　it　is；　and　as　it　will　always　remain；
makes　all　of　us　who　are　intellectual　beings　eternal　and　wretched　exiles
on　earth。

〃Look　at　this　earth；　as　God　has　given　it　to　those　who　inhabit　it。　　Is　it
not　visibly　and　solely　made；　planted　and　covered　with　forests　for　the
sake　of　animals？　　What　is　there　for　us？　　Nothing。　　And　for　them；
everything；　and　they　have　nothing　to　do　but　to　eat　or　go　hunting　and　eat
each　other；　according　to　their　instincts；　for　God　never　foresaw
gentleness　and　peaceable　manners；　He　only　foresaw　the　death　of　creatures
which　were　bent　on　destroying　and　devouring　each　other。　　Are　not　the
quail；　the　pigeon　and　the　partridge　the　natural　prey　of　the　hawk？　the
sheep；　the　stag　and　the　ox　that　of　the　great　flesh…eating　animals；　rather
than　meat　to　be　fattened　and　served　up　to　us　with　truffles；　which　have
been　unearthed　by　pigs　for　our　special　benefit？

〃As　to　ourselves；　the　more　civilized；　intellectual　and　refined　we　are；
the　more　we　ought　to　conquer　and　subdue　that　animal　instinct；　which
represents　the　will　of　God　in　us。　　And　so；　in　order　to　mitigate　our　lot
as　brutes；　we　have　discovered　and　made　everything；　beginning　with　houses；
then　exquisite　food；　sauces；　sweetmeats；　pastry；　drink；　stuffs；　clothes；
ornaments；　beds；　mattresses；　carriages；　railways　and　innumerable
machines；　besides　arts　and　sciences；　writing　and　poetry。　　Every　ideal
comes　from　us　as　do　all　the　amenities　of　life；　in　order　to　make　our
existence　as　simple　reproducers；　for　which　divine　Providence　solely
intended　us；　less　monotonous　and　less　hard。

〃Look　at　this　theatre。　　Is　there　not　here　a　human　world　created　by　us；
unforeseen　and　unknown　to　eternal　fate；　intelligible　to　our　minds　alone；
a　sensual　and　intellectual　distraction；　which　has　been　invented　solely　by
and　for　that　discontented　and　restless　little　animal；　man？

〃Look　at　that　woman；　Madame　de　Mascaret。　　God　intended　her　to　live　in　a
cave；　naked　or　wrapped　up　in　the　skins　of　wild　animals。　　But　is　she　not
better　as　she　is？　　But；　speaking　of　her；　does　any　one　know　why　and　how
her　brute　of　a　husband；　having　such　a　companion　by　his　side；　and
especially　after　having　been　boorish　enough　to　make　her　a　mother　seven
times；　has　suddenly　left　her；　to　run　after　bad　women？〃

Grandin　replied：　〃Oh！　my　dear　fellow；　this　is　probably　the　only　reason。
He　found　that　raising　a　family　was　becoming　too　expensive；　and　from
reasons　of　domestic　economy　he　has　arrived　at　the　same　principles　which
you　lay　down　as　a　philosopher。〃

Just　then　the　curtain　rose　for　the　third　act；　and　they　turned　round；　took
off　their　hats　and　sat　down。


IV

The　Comte　and　Comtesse　Mascaret　were　sitting　side　by　side　in　the　carriage
which　was　taking　them　home　from　the　Opera；　without　speaking　but　suddenly
the　husband　said　to　his　wife：　〃Gabrielle！〃

〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃Don't　you　think　that　this　has　lasted　long　enough？〃

〃What？〃

〃The　horrible　punishment　to　which　you　have　condemned　me　for　the　last　six
years？〃

〃What　do　you　want？　　I　cannot　help　it。〃

〃Then　tell　me　which　of　them　it　is。〃

〃Never。〃

〃Think　that　I　can　no　longer　see　my　children　or　feel　them　round　me；
without　having　my　heart　burdened　with　this　doubt。　　Tell　me　which　of　them
it　is；　and　I　swear　that　I　will　forgive　you　and　treat　it　like　the　others。〃

〃I　have　not　the　right　to　do　so。〃

〃Do　you　not　see　that　I　can　no　longer　endure　this　life；　this　thought　which
is　wearing　me　out；　or　this　question　which　I　am　constantly　asking　myself；
this　question　which　tortures　me　each　time　I　look　at　them？　　It　is　driving
me　mad。〃

〃Then　you　have　suffered　a　great　deal？〃　she　said。

〃Terribly。　　Should　I；　without　that；　have　accepted　the　horror　of　living　by
your　side；　and　the　still　greater　horror　of　feeling　and　knowing　that　there
is　one　among　them　whom　I　cannot　recognize　and　who　prevents　me　from　loving
the　others？〃

〃Then　you　have　really　suffered　very　much？〃　she　repeated。

And　he　replied　in　a　constrained　and　sorrowful　voice：

〃Yes；　for　do　I　not　tell　you　every　day　that　it　is　intolerable　torture　to
me？　　Should　I　have　remained　in　that　house；　near　you　and　them；　if　I　did
not　love　them？　　Oh！　　You　have　behaved　abominably　toward　me。　　All　the
affection　of　my　heart　I　have　bestowed　upon　my　children；　and　that　you
know。　　I　am　for　them　a　father　of　the　olden　time；　as　I　was　for　you　a
husband　of　one　of　the　families　of　old；　for　by　instinct　I　have　remained　a
natural　man；　a　man　of　former　days。　　Yes；　I　will　confess　it；　you　have　made
me　terribly　jealous；　because　you　are　a　woman　of　another　race；　of　another
soul；　with　other　requirements。　　Oh！　I　shall　never　forget　the　things　you
said　to　me；　but　from　that　day　I　troubled　myself　no　more　about　you。　　I　did
not　kill　you；　because　then　I　should　have　had　no　means　on　earth　of　ever
discovering　which　of　ourof　your　children　is　not　mine。　　I　have　waited；
but　I　have　suffered　more　than　you　would　believe；　for　I　can　no　longer
venture　to　love　them；　except；　perhaps；　the　two　eldest；　I　no　longer
venture　to　look　at　them；　to　call　them　to　me；　to　kiss　them；　I　cannot　take
them　on　my　knee　without　asking　myself；　'Can　it　be　this　one？'　　I　have　been
correct　in　my　behavior　toward　you　for　six　years；　and　even　kind　and
complaisant。　　Tell　me　the　truth；　and　I　swear　that　I　will　do　nothing
unkind。〃

He　thought；　in　spite　of　the　darkness　of　the　carriage；　that　he　could
perceive　that　she　was　moved；　and　feeling　certain　that　she　was　going　to
speak　at　last；　he　said：　〃I　beg　you；　I　beseech　you　to　tell　me〃　he　said。

〃I　have　been　more　guilty　than　you　think　perhaps；〃　she　replied；　〃but　I
could　no　longer　endure　that　life　of　continual　motherhood；　and　I　had　only
one　means　of　driving　you　from　me。　　I　lied　before　God　and　I　lied；　with　my
hand　raised　to　my　children's　head；　for　I　never　have　wronged　you。〃

He　seized　her　arm　in　the　darkness；　and　squeezing　it　as　he　had　done　on
that　terrible　day　of　their　drive　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　he　stammered：

〃Is　that　true？〃

〃It　is　true。〃

But；　wild　with　grief；　he　said　with　a　groan：　〃I　shall　have　fresh　doubts
that　will　never　end！　　When　did　you　lie；　the　last　time　or　now？　　How　am　I
to　believe　you　at　present？　　How　can　one　believe　a　woman　after　that？　　I
shall　never　again　know　what　I　am　to　think。　　I　would　rather　you　had　said
to　me；　'It　is　Jacques　or　it　is　Jeanne。'〃

The　carriage　drove　into　the　courtyard　of　the　house　and　when　it　had　drawn
up　in　front　of　the　steps　the　count　alighted　first；　as　usual；　and　offered
his　wife　his　arm　to　mount　the　stairs。　　As　soon　as　they　reached　the　first
floor　he　said：　〃May　I　speak　to　you　for　a　few　moments　longer？〃　And　she
replied；　〃I　am　quite　willing。〃

They　went　into　a　small　drawing…room　and　a　footman；　in　some　surprise；
lighted　the　wax　candles。　　As　soon　as　he　had　left　the　room　and　they　were
alone　the　count　continued：　〃How　am　I　to　know　the　truth？　I　have　begged　you
a　thousand　times　to　speak；　but　you　have　remained　dumb；　impenetrable；
inflexible；　inexorable；　and　now　to…day　you　tell　me　that　you　have　been
lying。　　For　six　years　you　have　actually　allowed　me　to　believe　such　a
thing！　　No；　you　are　lying　now；　I　do　not　know　why；　but　out　of　pity　for　me；
perhaps？〃

She　replied　in　a　sincere　and　convincing　manner：　〃If　I　had　not　done　so；　I
should　have　had　four　more　children　in　the　last　six　years！〃

〃Can　a　mother　speak　like　that？〃

〃Oh！〃　she　replied；　〃I　do　not　feel　that　I　am　the　mother　of　children　who
never　have　been　born；　it　is　enough　for　me　to　be　the　mother　of　those　that
I　have　and　to　love　them　with　all　my　heart。　　I　am　a　woman　of　the　civilized
world；　monsieurwe　all　areand　we　are　no　longer；　and　we　refuse　to　be；
mere　females　to　restock　the　earth。〃

She　got　up；　but　he　seized　her　hands。　　〃Only　one　word；　Gabrielle。　　Tell　me
the　truth！〃

〃I　have　just　told　you。　　I　never　have　dishonored　you。〃

He　looked　her　full　in　the　face；　and　how　beautiful　she　was；　with　her　gray
eyes；　like　the　cold　sky。　　In　her　dark　hair　sparkled　the　diamond　coronet；
like　a　radiance。　　He　suddenly　felt；　felt　by　a　kind　of　intuition；　that
this　grand　creature　was　not　merely　a　being　destined　to　perpetuate　the
race；　but　the　strange　and　mysterious　product　of　all　our　complicated
desires　which　have　been　accumulating　in　us　for　centuries　but　which　have
been　turned　aside　from　their　primitive　and　divine　object　and　have
wandered　after　a　mystic；　imperfectly　perceived　and　intangible　beauty。
There　are　some　women　like　that；　who　blossom　only　for　our　dreams；　adorned
with　every　poetical　attribute　of　civilization；　with　that　ideal　luxury；
coquetry　and　esthetic　charm　which　surround　woman；　a　living　statue　that
brightens　our　life。

Her　husband　remained　standing　before　her；　stupefied　at　his　tardy　and
obscure　discovery；　confusedly　hitting　on　the　cause　of　his　former　jealousy
and　understanding　it　all　very　imperfectly；　and　at　last　lie　said：　〃I
believe　you；　for　I　feel　at　this　moment　that　you　are　not　lying；　and　before
I