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！
came a fortnight since to pay me the quarter due of my pension。 She is a very charitable lady； and she dresses beautifully； but she is a little hard on poor people。 She asks a great many questions； she wants to know everything。 She reproached me with spending too much； being too fond of luxury； and you know how that is。 She forgets that everything is higher priced than it used to be； that meat and vegetables are exorbitant； and that just now eggs cost one franc and fifty centimes a dozen。 Besides； a poor creature； deprived of the use of her limbs； as I am； cannot go to market herself； and it is quite possible that my /femme de menage/ does not purchase as wisely as she might。 I know I have great scenes with her sometimes for bringing me early vegetables； /le bon Dieu/ can； at least； bear me witness that I am no glutton。
〃The good Mme。 de Lorcy scolded me about a bouquet of camellias she saw on my table； just like those for which I have been grateful to my angel。 I don't know what notions she got into her head about them。 Ah！ well； /ma chere demoiselle/； I have learned since that these double camelliasthey are variegated； red and whitecame to me from a man； for； at present； as it would appear； men have taken to give me bouquets and making me visits； it is rather late in the day。 The particular man to whom I refer presented himself one fine morning； and； telling me that you had spoken to him of me； said that he wished to assure himself that I was well and wanted nothing。 He returned several times； always pampering me with some attention or other。 But the best of all was when he came to tell me that my angel had returned。 What a man he is！ he has surely dropped right down from the skies！ One evening when I was sick he gave me my medicine himself； and would have sat up with me all night if I had been willing to let him。 You must tell me who he is； for it puzzles me greatly。 He has the head of some grand lion； he is as generous as he is handsome； but very sad。 He must have some great sorrow on his heart。 The misfortune； so far as I am concerned； is that he cannot spoil me much longerit is almost over now。 He expects to leave here in two days； and he has announced to me that he will come to make his adieus； to…morrow afternoon。
〃You will come soon； won't you； /ma chere demoiselle/？ I burn with impatience to embrace you； since you permit me to embrace you。 You are my angel and my sunshine； and I am your very humble and devoted servant；
〃LOUISE GALET。〃
This letter of Mlle。 Louise Galet continued nothing definite； beyond； perhaps； the passage relative to the early vegetables； and the supposed scenes with her /chambriere/。 Whatever may have been the good demoiselle's past record； she certainly was not void of principles； and she prided herself on her truthfulness； only she did not always see the necessity of telling everything she knew； in her narratives she frequently omitted certain details。 She had written at the instigation of Samuel Brohl； who had not explained to her his motives。 To be sure； she had partially divined these； being shrewd and sly。 He had commended himself to her discretion； for which he had paid liberally。 Mlle。 Galet had at first refused the round sum he had offered her； she had ended by accepting it with tender gratitude。 These little pampering attentions make good friends。
An audacious idea suddenly came to Mlle。 Moriaz； there was no time to recoil from it。 She ordered up her coupe。 M。 Moriaz had just gone out to make a call in the neighbourhood。 She determined to profit by his absence； and besought Mlle。 Moiseney to make ready in haste to accompany her to Paris； where she had to confer with her dressmaker。 Ten minutes later she stepped into her carriage； having ordered her coachman to drive like the wind。
Her dressmaker did not detain her long； from the Rue de la Paix she ordered to be driven to No。 27 Rue Mouffetard。 She never was in the habit of permitting Mlle。 Moiseney； who was very short of breath； to climb with her to the fifth story； where Mlle。 Galet lodged； upon this occasion she indicated to her an express order to remain peaceably below in the coupe to await her return。
She slowly mounted the stairs； on her way up she encountered a servant； who informed her that Mlle。 Galet was lying down taking a nap； being somewhat indisposed； but that the key was in the door。 The apartment of which Mlle。 Moriaz was in quest was composed of three rooms； a vestibule serving as a kitchen； a tiny /salon/； and a bed… chamber。 She paused a few moments in the vestibule to regain her breath； to gather together all her courage； to compose her mind； she had at once divined that there was some one in the /salon/。 She entered； Mlle。 Galet was not there； but he was there； the man whom she had come to seek。 Apparently； he awaited the awakening of the mistress of the place。 In perceiving the woman whom he had sworn never to see again； he trembled violently； and his eyes sought some loophole of escape； there was none。 Standing upon the threshold； Antoinette barred the passage。 She looked fixedly at him and felt certain of her victory； he had the air of one vanquished； and his defeat resembled a complete routing。
She crossed her arms； she smiled； and； in a firm； half…mocking tone； said：
〃So this is the way you rob me of my poor people！ They flourish under it； I am well aware。 Confess now that there is a little hypocrisy in your virtue。 Mlle。 Galet never for a moment doubted that these famous camellias were given for my sake。 Bouquets costing sixty francs！ absolute folly！ How you despise money！ Why； then； do you not despise mine？ You are afraid of it； you fear to burn your fingers by touching it。 You will not aid me to throw it out of the windows？ Your poor and mine will surely pick it up。 Say； will you not？ My fortune is not such a great affair； but it is certain that I alone do not suffice to spend it properly； there is plenty for twofor two would really only be one。 You cannot consent to share it with me？ You are too proudthat is it。 The day before yesterday you were playing comedy； you do not love me。 It costs little to owe something to those we love。〃
He made a gesture of despair and cried：
〃I implore you； let me go！〃
〃Presently； I propose telling you first all that is in my mind。 I do not place much reliance on your boasted nobility of spirit； it is pride； egotistical pride。 Yes； your pride is your goda pitiful sort of a god！ And as to Poland〃 He winced at this word。 After a pause； Antoinette continued： 〃It is she herself who will give； or rather lend； you to me。 I solemnly promise that if ever she has need of you I will say to her； 'Here he is； take him'； and to you； yourself； I will say； 'She calls yougo。' But speak to me and look at me； you will not die of so doing。 Are you so very much afraid of me？ Come； have courage to repeat to me what you have said to others？〃
He fell back into a chair； where he remained； his arms hanging helplessly at his sides； his head drooping on his breast； and he murmured：
〃I knew well that if I saw you again I should be lost。〃
〃Say； rather； saved。 Your mind was sick； I have cur