at the sign of the cat and racket-第11部分

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learned　that　a　wife　must　hide　from　every　one；　even　from　her　parents；
woes　for　which　it　is　so　difficult　to　find　sympathy。　The　storms　and
sufferings　of　the　upper　spheres　are　appreciated　only　by　the　lofty
spirits　who　inhabit　there。　In　any　circumstance　we　can　only　be　judged
by　our　equals。

Thus　poor　Augustine　found　herself　thrown　back　on　the　horror　of　her
meditations；　in　the　cold　atmosphere　of　her　home。　Study　was　indifferent
to　her；　since　study　had　not　brought　her　back　her　husband's　heart。
Initiated　into　the　secret　of　these　souls　of　fire；　but　bereft　of　their
resources；　she　was　compelled　to　share　their　sorrows　without　sharing
their　pleasures。　She　was　disgusted　with　the　world；　which　to　her　seemed
mean　and　small　as　compared　with　the　incidents　of　passion。　In　short；
her　life　was　a　failure。

One　evening　an　idea　flashed　upon　her　that　lighted　up　her　dark　grief
like　a　beam　from　heaven。　Such　an　idea　could　never　have　smiled　on　a
heart　less　pure；　less　virtuous　than　hers。　She　determined　to　go　to　the
Duchesse　de　Carigliano；　not　to　ask　her　to　give　her　back　her　husband's
heart；　but　to　learn　the　arts　by　which　it　had　been　captured；　to　engage
the　interest　of　this　haughty　fine　lady　for　the　mother　of　her　lover's
children；　to　appeal　to　her　and　make　her　the　instrument　of　her　future
happiness；　since　she　was　the　cause　of　her　present　wretchedness。

So　one　day　Augustine；　timid　as　she　was；　but　armed　with　supernatural
courage；　got　into　her　carriage　at　two　in　the　afternoon　to　try　for
admittance　to　the　boudoir　of　the　famous　coquette；　who　was　never
visible　till　that　hour。　Madame　de　Sommervieux　had　not　yet　seen　any　of
the　ancient　and　magnificent　mansions　of　the　Faubourg　Saint…Germain。　As
she　made　her　way　through　the　stately　corridors；　the　handsome
staircases；　the　vast　drawing…roomsfull　of　flowers；　though　it　was　in
the　depth　of　winter；　and　decorated　with　the　taste　peculiar　to　women
born　to　opulence　or　to　the　elegant　habits　of　the　aristocracy；
Augustine　felt　a　terrible　clutch　at　her　heart；　she　coveted　the　secrets
of　an　elegance　of　which　she　had　never　had　an　idea；　she　breathed　in　an
air　of　grandeur　which　explained　the　attraction　of　the　house　for　her
husband。　When　she　reached　the　private　rooms　of　the　Duchess　she　was
filled　with　jealousy　and　a　sort　of　despair；　as　she　admired　the
luxurious　arrangement　of　the　furniture；　the　draperies　and　the
hangings。　Here　disorder　was　a　grace；　here　luxury　affected　a　certain
contempt　of　splendor。　The　fragrance　that　floated　in　the　warm　air
flattered　the　sense　of　smell　without　offending　it。　The　accessories　of
the　rooms　were　in　harmony　with　a　view；　through　plate…glass　windows；　of
the　lawns　in　a　garden　planted　with　evergreen　trees。　It　was　all
bewitching；　and　the　art　of　it　was　not　perceptible。　The　whole　spirit　of
the　mistress　of　these　rooms　pervaded　the　drawing…room　where　Augustine
awaited　her。　She　tried　to　divine　her　rival's　character　from　the　aspect
of　the　scattered　objects；　but　there　was　here　something　as　impenetrable
in　the　disorder　as　in　the　symmetry；　and　to　the　simple…minded　young
wife　all　was　a　sealed　letter。　All　that　she　could　discern　was　that；　as
a　woman；　the　Duchess　was　a　superior　person。　Then　a　painful　thought
came　over　her。

〃Alas！　And　is　it　true；〃　she　wondered；　〃that　a　simple　and　loving　heart
is　not　all…sufficient　to　an　artist；　that　to　balance　the　weight　of
these　powerful　souls　they　need　a　union　with　feminine　souls　of　a
strength　equal　to　their　own？　If　I　had　been　brought　up　like　this　siren；
our　weapons　at　least　might　have　been　equal　in　the　hour　of　struggle。〃

〃But　I　am　not　at　home！〃　The　sharp；　harsh　words；　though　spoken　in　an
undertone　in　the　adjoining　boudoir；　were　heard　by　Augustine；　and　her
heart　beat　violently。

〃The　lady　is　in　there；〃　replied　the　maid。

〃You　are　an　idiot！　Show　her　in；〃　replied　the　Duchess；　whose　voice　was
sweeter；　and　had　assumed　the　dulcet　tones　of　politeness。　She　evidently
now　meant　to　be　heard。

Augustine　shyly　entered　the　room。　At　the　end　of　the　dainty　boudoir　she
saw　the　Duchess　lounging　luxuriously　on　an　ottoman　covered　with　brown
velvet　and　placed　in　the　centre　of　a　sort　of　apse　outlined　by　soft
folds　of　white　muslin　over　a　yellow　lining。　Ornaments　of　gilt　bronze；
arranged　with　exquisite　taste；　enhanced　this　sort　of　dais；　under　which
the　Duchess　reclined　like　a　Greek　statue。　The　dark　hue　of　the　velvet
gave　relief　to　every　fascinating　charm。　A　subdued　light；　friendly　to
her　beauty；　fell　like　a　reflection　rather　than　a　direct　illumination。
A　few　rare　flowers　raised　their　perfumed　heads　from　costly　Sevres
vases。　At　the　moment　when　this　picture　was　presented　to　Augustine's
astonished　eyes；　she　was　approaching　so　noiselessly　that　she　caught　a
glance　from　those　of　the　enchantress。　This　look　seemed　to　say　to　some
one　whom　Augustine　did　not　at　first　perceive；　〃Stay；　you　will　see　a
pretty　woman；　and　make　her　visit　seem　less　of　a　bore。〃

On　seeing　Augustine；　the　Duchess　rose　and　made　her　sit　down　by　her。

〃And　to　what　do　I　owe　the　pleasure　of　this　visit；　madame？〃　she　said
with　a　most　gracious　smile。

〃Why　all　the　falseness？〃　thought　Augustine；　replying　only　with　a　bow。

Her　silence　was　compulsory。　The　young　woman　saw　before　her　a
superfluous　witness　of　the　scene。　This　personage　was；　of　all　the
Colonels　in　the　army；　the　youngest；　the　most　fashionable；　and　the
finest　man。　His　face；　full　of　life　and　youth；　but　already　expressive；
was　further　enhanced　by　a　small　moustache　twirled　up　into　points；　and
as　black　as　jet；　by　a　full　imperial；　by　whiskers　carefully　combed；　and
a　forest　of　black　hair　in　some　disorder。　He　was　whisking　a　riding　whip
with　an　air　of　ease　and　freedom　which　suited　his　self…satisfied
expression　and　the　elegance　of　his　dress；　the　ribbons　attached　to　his
button…hole　were　carelessly　tied；　and　he　seemed　to　pride　himself　much
more　on　his　smart　appearance　than　on　his　courage。　Augustine　looked　at
the　Duchesse　de　Carigliano；　and　indicated　the　Colonel　by　a　sidelong
glance。　All　its　mute　appeal　was　understood。

〃Good…bye；　then；　Monsieur　d'Aiglemont；　we　shall　meet　in　the　Bois　de
Boulogne。〃

These　words　were　spoken　by　the　siren　as　though　they　were　the　result　of
an　agreement　made　before　Augustine's　arrival；　and　she　winged　them　with
a　threatening　look　that　the　officer　deserved　perhaps　for　the
admiration　he　showed　in　gazing　at　the　modest　flower；　which　contrasted
so　well　with　the　haughty　Duchess。　The　young　fop　bowed　in　silence；
turned　on　the　heels　of　his　boots；　and　gracefully　quitted　the　boudoir。
At　this　instant；　Augustine；　watching　her　rival；　whose　eyes　seemed　to
follow　the　brilliant　officer；　detected　in　that　glance　a　sentiment　of
which　the　transient　expression　is　known　to　every　woman。　She　perceived
with　the　deepest　anguish　that　her　visit　would　be　useless；　this　lady；
full　of　artifice；　was　too　greedy　of　homage　not　to　have　a　ruthless
heart。

〃Madame；〃　said　Augustine　in　a　broken　voice；　〃the　step　I　am　about　to
take　will　seem　to　you　very　strange；　but　there　is　a　madness　of　despair
which　ought　to　excuse　anything。　I　understand　only　too　well　why
Theodore　prefers　your　house　to　any　other；　and　why　your　mind　has　so
much　power　over　his。　Alas！　I　have　only　to　look　into　myself　to　find
more　than　ample　reasons。　But　I　am　devoted　to　my　husband；　madame。　Two
years　of　tears　have　not　effaced　his　image　from　my　heart；　though　I　have
lost　his。　In　my　folly　I　dared　to　dream　of　a　contest　with　you；　and　I
have　come　to　you　to　ask　you　by　what　means　I　may　triumph　over　yourself。
Oh；　madame；〃　cried　the　young　wife；　ardently　seizing　the　hand　which　her
rival　allowed　her　to　hold；　〃I　will　never　pray　to　God　for　my　own
happiness　with　so　much　fervor　as　I　will　beseech　Him　for　yours；　if　you
will　help　me　to　win　back　Sommervieux's　regardI　will　not　say　his
love。　I　have　no　hope　but　in　you。　Ah！　tell　me　how　you　could　please　him；
and　make　him　forget　the　first　days〃　At　these　words　Augustine　broke
down；　suffocated　with　sobs　she　could　not　suppress。　Ashamed　of　her
weakness；　she　hid　her　face　in　her　handkerchief；　which　she　bathed　with
tears。

〃What　a　child　you　are；　my　dear　little　beauty！〃　said　the　Duchess；
carried　away　by　the　novelty　of　such　a　scene；　and　touched；　in　spite　of
herself；　at　receiving　such　homage　from　the　most　perfect　virtue　perhaps
in　Paris。　She　took　the　young　wife's　handkerchief；　and　herself　wiped
the　tears　from　her　eyes；　soothing　her　by　a　few　monosyllables　murmured
with　gracious　compassion。　After　a　moment's　silence　the　Duchess；
grasping　poor　Augustine's　hands　in　both　her　ownhands　that　had　a　rare
character　of　dignity　and　powerful　beautysaid　in　a　gentle　and
friendly　voice：　〃My　first　warning　is　to　advise　you　not　to　weep　so
bitterly；　tears　are　disfiguring。　We　must　learn　to　deal　firmly　with　the
sorrows　that　make　us　ill；　for　love　does　not　linger　long　by　a　sick…bed。
Melancholy；　at　first；　no　doubt；　lends　a　certain　attractive　grace；　but
it　ends　by　dragging　the　features　and　blighting　the　loveliest　face。　And
besides；　our　tyrants　are　so　vain　as　to　insist　that　their　slaves　should
be　always　cheerful。〃

〃But；　madame；　it　is　not　in　my　power　not　to　feel。　How　is　it　possible；
without　suffering　a　thousand　deaths；　to　see　the　face　which　once　beamed
with　love　and　gladness　turn　chill；　colorless；　and　indifferent？　I
cannot　control　my　heart！〃

〃So　much　the　worse；　sweet　child。　But　I　fancy　I　know　all　your　story。　In
the　first　place；　if　your　husband　is　unfaithful　to　you；　understand
clearly　that　I　am　not　his　accomplice。　If　I　was　anxious　to　have　him　in
my　drawing…room；　it　was；　I　own；　out　of　vanity；　he　was　famous；　and　he
went　nowhere。　I　like　you　too　much　already　to　tell　you　all　the　mad
things　he　has　done　for　my　sake。　I　will　only　reveal　one；　because　it　may
perhaps　help　us　to　bring　him　back　to　you；　and　to　punish　him　for　the
audacity　of　his　behavior　to　me。　He　will　end　by　compromising　me。　I　know
the　world　too　well；　my　dear；　to　abandon　myself　to　the　discretion　of　a
too　superior　man。　You　should　know　that　one　may　allow　them　to　court
one；　but　marry　themthat　is　a　mistake！　We　women　ought　to　admire　men
of　genius；　and　delight　in　them　as　a　spectacle；　but　as　to　living　with
them？　Never。No；　no。　It　is　like　wanting　to　find　pleasure　in
inspecting　the　machinery　of　the　opera　instead　of　sitting　in　a　box　to
enjoy　its　brilliant　illusions。　But　this　misfortune　ha