Two weeks had passed since that happy night, two weeks during which the secretary of the Departmental Committee of Young Royalists had divided his time between the demands of his work and those of his love. Dressed in a tailor-made costume, her face covered with a white lace veil, the Baronne had come, at the appointed hour, to the first-floor flat of a discreet3 little house in the Rue4 Lord-Byron. Here were three rooms which she had herself furnished with a heart full of tenderness, hanging them with that celestial5 blue which had formerly6 figured in her forgotten love-affair with Raoul Marcien.
She found Joseph Lacrisse well-mannered, proud and even a little shy. He was young and charming, but not exactly what she had wanted. He was gloomy and seemed uneasy. With his frowning brows and thin tightly-closed lips he would have reminded her of Rara, had she not possessed7 to the full the delightful8 faculty9 of forgetting the past. She knew that if he was anxious it was not without cause. She knew that he was a conspirator10 and that it fell to his share to hoodwink the prefect and the chief Republicans of a very populous11 department; and she knew that in this enterprise he was risking his liberty and his life for the sake of King and Church. It was precisely12 because he was a conspirator that she had first loved him. But now she would have liked him to be more cheerful and more affectionate. He welcomed her warmly enough, however, saying:
“It is an intoxication13 to see you! For the last fortnight I have positively14 been walking in a starry15 dream.” And he had added: “How delicious you are!”
But he hardly looked at her, and at once went to the window, where he lifted a corner of the curtain, and for ten minutes remained there peering through the opening.
Then, without turning round, he remarked:
“I told you that we ought to have two exits, and you wouldn’t believe me. It’s a good thing we are in front anyhow, but I can’t see properly because of the tree.”
The house stood back from the road, facing a little courtyard, containing an acacia and a dozen spindle-trees, shut in by an ivy-covered railing.
“Yes, the acacia, if you like.”
“What are you looking at, mon ami?”
“At a man stuck against the wall opposite.”
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know. I’m looking to see if he is one of my detectives. I’m fed up. Since I’ve been in Paris I’ve had two of them at my heels all day. It gets on one’s nerves in the end. But this time I quite thought I’d managed to give them the slip.”
“Couldn’t you complain?”
“To whom?”
“I don’t know—to the Government.”
He made no reply, but stood for awhile still watching. Then, having made sure that it was not one of his pursuers, his countenance17 cleared and he came over to her.
“How I love you! You are lovelier than ever. You are, truly, and I adore you. But what if they had put different men on to me this time! It’s Dupuy who put them on my track. A tall fellow and a short one. The tall one wore black glasses and the short one had a nose like a parrot’s beak18 and little bright eyes like a bird’s that were always glancing sideways. I knew them well. They weren’t much to be feared. They were always after me. When I went to the Club my friends would tell me as they came in, ‘Lacrisse, I’ve just seen your two fellows at the door.’ I used to send them out beer and cigars. Sometimes I would ask myself if Dupuy did not set them on me to protect me. He was brusque and queer and irritable19, but a patriot20 all the same. He wasn’t a bit like the men in power to-day. With them you’ve got to be on your guard. What if they’ve changed my detectives, the brutes21!”
He went to the window again.
“No, it’s only a coachman smoking his pipe. I didn’t notice his yellow-striped waistcoat. Fear distorts objects, that’s certain! I must confess I was afraid—on your account, as you may imagine. You must not be compromised through me, you who are so charming, so delicious!”
He sat beside her and took her in his arms, covering her with vehement22 caresses23. Presently she found that her dress was in such disorder24 that modesty25 alone, in the absence of any other motive26, would have forced her to remove it.
“Elisabeth, tell me you love me.”
“If I did not love you, it seems to me——”
“Do you hear that heavy, regular footfall in the street?”
“No, mon ami.”
And it was true; plunged27 into a delicious oblivion she was not listening for sounds from the outer world.
“There’s no doubt this time, it’s he, my man, the little one, the bird. I know his step so well that I could pick it out among a thousand.”
And he returned to the window.
These alarms set his nerves on edge. Since the failure of the 28th of February he had lost his admirable assurance and was beginning to anticipate a long and difficult affair. Most of his companions were growing discouraged and he himself suspicious. Everything irritated him.
And now she made an unfortunate remark:
“Don’t forget, mon ami, that I’ve got you an invitation to dinner to-morrow at my brother’s. It will be an opportunity of meeting.”
“Your brother Wallstein! Ah, yes, let’s talk of him! He’s a true Jew if you like. This week Henri Léon told him about an interesting undertaking30, a propagandist newspaper which must be distributed gratuitously31 in large quantities throughout the country and in the manufacturing centres. He pretended not to understand what Léon was driving at and gave him advice—good advice! Does your brother imagine for a moment that it is his advice that we want?”
Elisabeth was an anti-Semite. She felt that she could not with decency32 defend her brother Wallstein, of Vienna, of whom she was exceedingly fond. She remained silent.
Lacrisse began to play with a small revolver which lay upon the table.
“If they attempt to arrest me here——” he said.
A fit of rage seized him. He cried out against the Jews, Protestants, Freemasons, Freethinkers, Parliamentarians, Republicans and Ministers. He would like to flog them in public, and bathe them in vitriol. He waxed eloquent33 and broke into the pious34 language of the Croix.
“The Jews and Freemasons are ruining France, ruining us, eating us up. But patience! Wait until after the Rennes trial, and then you will see how we will bleed them, split them up, smoke their hams, singe35 their hides and hang their heads in the pork-butchers’ shops! Everything is ready. The movement will break out simultaneously36 in Rennes and in Paris. The Dreyfusards will be trampled37 in the streets. Loubet will be roasted in the flames of the élysée, and none too soon either.”
Madame de Bonmont conceived of love as an abyss of delight. She did not hold it sufficient unto the day to forget the world once only in this room of sky-blue hangings. She sought to lead her lover back to gentler thoughts. So she said:
“What beautiful eyelashes you have!”
When she languidly opened her eyes again, languishing39 and recalling to her happy mind the infinity40 that had filled it for a moment, she noticed that Joseph was anxious and seemed far away from her, although she still held him with one of her soft, beautiful, supple41 arms. With a voice tender as a sigh, she asked him:
“What is the matter, mon ami? We were so happy just now.”
“Of course we were,” replied Joseph Lacrisse. “But I’ve just remembered three telegrams in cipher42 which have to be sent off before night. It is a complicated matter, and a dangerous one. We really thought for a moment that Dupuy had intercepted44 our telegrams on February 22nd. There was enough in them to jug45 the lot of us.”
“We must suppose not, as we were not molested46. But I have my reasons for believing that for the last fortnight the Government have had an eye on us, and until this wretched Republic is done for I shan’t have a moment’s peace.”
Tender and radiant, she put her arms about his neck, like a scented47 garland of flowers, and gazing at him with her moist sapphire48 eyes she said, with a smile upon her fresh, ardent49 mouth:
“Do not be anxious, mon ami. Do not worry so. I am sure you will succeed. Their Republic is done for. How could it resist you? The people have had enough of Parliamentarians. They don’t want any more of them, I’m certain. Nor of the Freemasons, and Freethinkers, and all those horrible godless people who have neither religion nor country. For one’s country and one’s religion are the same thing, aren’t they? There is a wonderful spiritual impulse abroad. On Sunday, at Mass, the churches are full. And not only of women, as the Republicans would have us believe. There are gentlemen and officers. Believe me mon ami, you will succeed. Besides, I will burn candles for you in St. Anthony’s chapel50.”
“Yes, we shall make a move early in September,” he replied, grave and thoughtful. “The public frame of mind is favourable51. We have the good wishes and encouragement of the people. Oh, it is not sympathy we lack.”
She imprudently inquired what they did lack.
“What we lack, or at any rate might lack, if things were not settled quickly, is the sinews of war—money, deuce take it! We get a good deal, of course, but we shall need so much. Three ladies in the best set gave us three hundred thousand francs. Monseigneur was much impressed by a generosity52 so truly French. Do you not think that there is something charming, exquisite53, fragrant54 of the old France, the old aristocratic society, in the offering of these women to royalty55?”
He explained his meaning:
“But they are trickling57, trickling away, the three hundred thousand francs presented by those white hands. Monseigneur told us, with chivalrous58 grace: ‘Spend the money to the last sou.’ If some dainty little hand were to bring us another hundred thousand francs, how we should bless it! It would have helped to save France. There is still a place to be filled among the amazons of the cheque, in the squadron of fair Leaguers. I can safely promise to the fourth donor59 an autograph letter from the Prince and, what is more, a place at Court next winter.”
But the Baronne, feeling that he was trying to bleed her, received a painful impression. This was not the first time, but she could not get used to it. Besides, she did not see that it would be in any way useful to give her money for the restoration of the monarchy60. Of course she liked the handsome young Prince with his rosy61 face and his fair silky beard. She wished ardently62 for his return; she was impatient to witness his entry into Paris, and his coronation. But, she argued, with his income of two millions he had no need of anything but love, good wishes and flowers. When Joseph Lacrisse had finished what he had to say the silence became painful.
“Mon Dieu! how awful my hair looks!” she muttered to the mirror.
When she had finished dressing, she took from her little purse a piece of four-leaved clover, enclosed in a glass medallion framed in silver gilt63, and handing it to him whispered sentimentally64:
“It will bring you luck. Promise to keep it always.”
In order to divert the attention of any police-agents that might be on his track, Joseph Lacrisse was the first to leave the blue flat. As he reached the landing he muttered with a scowl65:
“She’s a regular Wallstein! It was no good her being baptized. What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh!”
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1
glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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5
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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8
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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9
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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11
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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12
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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13
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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14
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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15
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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16
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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17
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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18
beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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19
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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20
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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21
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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22
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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23
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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24
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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25
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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26
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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27
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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28
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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30
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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31
gratuitously
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| 平白 | |
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32
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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33
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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34
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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35
singe
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| v.(轻微地)烧焦；烫焦；烤焦 | |
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36
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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37
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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38
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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39
languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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40
infinity
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| n.无限，无穷，大量 | |
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41
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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42
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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43
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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44
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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45
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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46
molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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47
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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48
sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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49
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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50
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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51
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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52
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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53
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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54
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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55
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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56
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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57
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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58
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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59
donor
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| n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体 | |
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60
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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61
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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62
ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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63
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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64
sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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65
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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