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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Four years of solitude and repose had restored the freshness of her
complexion。 Besides； there are moments when the desire to please gives
an increase of beauty to women。 The will is not without influence on
the variations of the face。 If violent emotions have the power to
yellow the white tones of persons of bilious and melancholy
temperament； and to green lymphatic faces； shall we not grant to
desire； hope； and joy； the faculty of clearing the skin； giving
brilliancy to the eye； and brightening the glow of beauty with a light
as jocund as that of a lovely morning？ The celebrated faintness of the
princess had taken on a ripeness which now made her seem more august。
At this moment of her life； impressed by her many vicissitudes and by
serious reflections； her noble； dreamy brow harmonized delightfully
with the slow； majestic glance of her blue eyes。 It was impossible for
the ablest physiognomist to imagine calculation or self…will beneath
that unspeakable delicacy of feature。 There were faces of women which
deceive knowledge； and mislead observation by their calmness and
delicacy； it is necessary to examine such faces when passions speak；
and that is difficult； or after they have spoken； which is no longer
of any use； for then the woman is old and has ceased to dissimulate。
The princess is one of those impenetrable women； she can make herself
what she pleases to be： playful； childlike； distractingly innocent； or
reflective； serious； and profound enough to excite anxiety。 She came
to Madame d'Espard's dinner with the intention of being a gentle；
simple woman； to whom life was known only through its deceptions： a
woman full of soul； and calumniated； but resigned；in short； a
wounded angel。
She arrived early； so as to pose on a sofa near the fire beside Madame
d'Espard； as she wished to be first seen： that is； in one of those
attitudes in which science is concealed beneath an exquisite
naturalness； a studied attitude； putting in relief the beautiful
serpentine outline which； starting from the foot； rises gracefully to
the hip； and continues with adorable curves to the shoulder；
presenting； in fact； a profile of the whole body。 With a subtlety
which few women would have dreamed of； Diane； to the great amazement
of the marquise； had brought her son with her。 After a moment's
reflection； Madame d'Espard pressed the princess's hand； with a look
of intelligence that seemed to say：
〃I understand you！ By making d'Arthez accept all the difficulties at
once you will not have to conquer them later。〃
Rastignac brought d'Arthez。 The princess made none of those
compliments to the celebrated author with which vulgar persons
overwhelmed him； but she treated him with a kindness full of graceful
respect； which； with her； was the utmost extent of her concessions。
Her manner was doubtless the same with the King of France and the
royal princes。 She seemed happy to see this great man； and glad that
she had sought him。 Persons of taste； like the princess； are
especially distinguished for their manner of listening； for an
affability without superciliousness； which is to politeness what
practice is to virtue。 When the celebrated man spoke； she took an
attentive attitude； a thousand times more flattering than the best…
seasoned compliments。 The mutual presentation was made quietly；
without emphasis； and in perfectly good taste； by the marquise。
At dinner d'Arthez was placed beside the princess； who； far from
imitating the eccentricities of diet which many affected women
display； ate her dinner with a very good appetite； making it a point
of honor to seem a natural woman； without strange ways or fancies。
Between two courses she took advantage of the conversation becoming
general to say to d'Arthez； in a sort of aside：
〃The secret of the pleasure I take in finding myself beside you； is
the desire I feel to learn something of an unfortunate friend of
yours； monsieur。 He died for another cause greater than ours； but I
was under the greatest obligations to him； although unable to
acknowledge or thank him for them。 I know that you were one of his
best friends。 Your mutual friendship； pure and unalterable； is a claim
upon me。 You will not； I am sure； think it extraordinary； that I have
wished to know all you could tell me of a man so dear to you。 Though I
am attached to the exiled family； and bound； of course； to hold
monarchical opinions； I am not among those who think it is impossible
to be both republican and noble in heart。 Monarchy and the republic
are two forms of government which do not stifle noble sentiments。〃
〃Michel Chrestien was an angel； madame；〃 replied Daniel； in a voice of
emotion。 〃I don't know among the heroes of antiquity a greater than
he。 Be careful not to think him one of those narrow…minded republicans
who would like to restore the Convention and the amenities of the
Committee of Public Safety。 No； Michel dreamed of the Swiss federation
applied to all Europe。 Let us own； between ourselves； that AFTER the
glorious government of one man only； which； as I think； is
particularly suited to our nation； Michel's system would lead to the
suppression of war in this old world； and its reconstruction on bases
other than those of conquest； which formerly feudalized it。 From this
point of view the republicans came nearest to his idea。 That is why he
lent them his arm in July； and was killed at Saint…Merri。 Though
completely apart in opinion； he and I were closely bound together as
friends。〃
〃That is noble praise for both natures；〃 said Madame de Cadignan；
timidly。
〃During the last four years of his life；〃 continued Daniel； 〃he made
to me alone a confidence of his love for you； and this confidence
knitted closer than ever the already strong ties of brotherly
affection。 He alone； madame； can have loved you as you ought to be
loved。 Many a time I have been pelted with rain as we accompanied your
carriage at the pace of the horses； to keep at a parallel distance；
and see youadmire you。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur；〃 said the princess； 〃how can I repay such feelings！〃
〃Why is Michel not here！〃 exclaimed Daniel； in melancholy accents。
〃Perhaps he would not have loved me long；〃 said the princess； shaking
her head sadly。 〃Republicans are more absolute in their ideas than we
absolutists； whose fault is indulgence。 No doubt he imagined me
perfect； and society would have cruelly undeceived him。 We are
pursued； we women； by as many calumnies as you authors are compelled
to endure in your literary life； but we； alas！ cannot defend ourselves
either by our works or by our fame。 The world will not believe us to
be what we are； but what it thinks us to be。 It would soon have hidden
from his eyes the real but unknown woman that is in me； behind the
false portrait of the imaginary woman which the world considers true。
He would have come to think me unworthy of the noble feelings he had
for me； and incapable of comprehending him