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cousin betty-第74部分
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me to die in dishonor and crime。 I am not at all like my husband; I
cannot swallow an outrage。 If I went back under my husband's roof; I
should be capable of smothering him in a fit of jealousyor of doing
worse! Do no exact from me a thing that is beyond my powers。 Do not
have to mourn for me still living; for the least that can befall me is
to go mad。 I feel madness close upon me!
〃Yesterday; yesterday; he could dine with that woman; after having
read my letter?Are other men made so? My life I give you; but do not
let my death be ignominious!His fault?A small one! When he has a
child by that woman!〃
〃A child!〃 cried Hulot; starting back a step or two。 〃Come。 This is
really some fooling。〃
At this juncture Victorin and Lisbeth arrived; and stood dumfounded at
the scene。 The daughter was prostrate at her father's feet。 The
Baroness; speechless between her maternal feelings and her conjugal
duty; showed a harassed face bathed in tears。
〃Lisbeth;〃 said the Baron; seizing his cousin by the hand and pointing
to Hortense; 〃you can help me here。 My poor child's brain is turned;
she believes that her Wenceslas is Madame Marneffe's lover; while all
that Valerie wanted was to have a group by him。〃
〃/Delilah/!〃 cried the young wife。 〃The only thing he has done since
our marriage。 The man would not work for me or for his son; and he has
worked with frenzy for that good…for…nothing creature。Oh; father;
kill me outright; for every word stabs like a knife!〃
Lisbeth turned to the Baroness and Victorin; pointing with a pitying
shrug to the Baron; who could not see her。
〃Listen to me;〃 said she to him。 〃I had no ideawhen you asked me to
go to lodge over Madame Marneffe and keep house for herI had no idea
of what she was; but many things may be learned in three years。 That
creature is a prostitute; and one whose depravity can only be compared
with that of her infamous and horrible husband。 You are the dupe; my
lord pot…boiler; of those people; you will be led further by them than
you dream of! I speak plainly; for you are at the bottom of a pit。〃
The Baroness and her daughter; hearing Lisbeth speak in this style;
cast adoring looks at her; such as the devout cast at a Madonna for
having saved their life。
〃That horrible woman was bent on destroying your son…in…law's home。 To
what end?I know not。 My brain is not equal to seeing clearly into
these dark intriguesperverse; ignoble; infamous! Your Madame
Marneffe does not love your son…in…law; but she will have him at her
feet out of revenge。 I have just spoken to the wretched woman as she
deserves。 She is a shameless courtesan; I have told her that I am
leaving her house; that I would not have my honor smirched in that
muck…heap。I owe myself to my family before all else。
〃I knew that Hortense had left her husband; so here I am。 Your
Valerie; whom you believe to be a saint; is the cause of this
miserable separation; can I remain with such a woman? Our poor little
Hortense;〃 said she; touching the Baron's arm; with peculiar meaning;
〃is perhaps the dupe of a wish of such women as these; who; to possess
a toy; would sacrifice a family。
〃I do not think Wenceslas guilty; but I think him weak; and I cannot
promise that he will not yield to her refinements of temptation。My
mind is made up。 The woman is fatal to you; she will bring you all to
utter ruin。 I will not even seem to be concerned in the destruction of
my own family; after living there for three years solely to hinder it。
〃You are cheated; Baron; say very positively that you will have
nothing to say to the promotion of that dreadful Marneffe; and you
will see then! There is a fine rod in pickle for you in that case。〃
Lisbeth lifted up Hortense and kissed her enthusiastically。
〃My dear Hortense; stand firm;〃 she whispered。
The Baroness embraced Lisbeth with the vehemence of a woman who sees
herself avenged。 The whole family stood in perfect silence round the
father; who had wit enough to know what that silence implied。 A storm
of fury swept across his brow and face with evident signs; the veins
swelled; his eyes were bloodshot; his flesh showed patches of color。
Adeline fell on her knees before him and seized his hands。
〃My dear; forgive; my dear!〃
〃You loathe me!〃 cried the Baronthe cry of his conscience。
For we all know the secret of our own wrong…doing。 We almost always
ascribe to our victims the hateful feelings which must fill them with
the hope of revenge; and in spite of every effort of hypocrisy; our
tongue or our face makes confession under the rack of some unexpected
anguish; as the criminal of old confessed under the hands of the
torturer。
〃Our children;〃 he went on; to retract the avowal; 〃turn at last to be
our enemies〃
〃Father!〃 Victorin began。
〃You dare to interrupt your father!〃 said the Baron in a voice of
thunder; glaring at his son。
〃Father; listen to me;〃 Victorin went on in a clear; firm voice; the
voice of a puritanical deputy。 〃I know the respect I owe you too well
ever to fail in it; and you will always find me the most respectful
and submissive of sons。〃
Those who are in the habit of attending the sittings of the Chamber
will recognize the tactics of parliamentary warfare in these fine…
drawn phrases; used to calm the factions while gaining time。
〃We are far from being your enemies;〃 his son went on。 〃I have
quarreled with my father…in…law; Monsieur Crevel; for having rescued
your notes of hand for sixty thousand francs from Vauvinet; and that
money is; beyond doubt; in Madame Marneffe's pocket。I am not finding
fault with you; father;〃 said he; in reply to an impatient gesture of
the Baron's; 〃I simply wish to add my protest to my cousin Lisbeth's;
and to point out to you that though my devotion to you as a father is
blind and unlimited; my dear father; our pecuniary resources;
unfortunately; are very limited。〃
〃Money!〃 cried the excitable old man; dropping on to a chair; quite
crushed by this argument。 〃From my son!You shall be repaid your
money; sir;〃 said he; rising; and he went to the door。
〃Hector!〃
At this cry the Baron turned round; suddenly showing his wife a face
bathed in tears; she threw her arms round him with the strength of
despair。
〃Do not leave us thusdo not go away in anger。 I have not said a word
not I!〃
At this heart…wrung speech the children fell at their father's feet。
〃We all love you;〃 said Hortense。
Lisbeth; as rigid as a statue; watched the group with a superior smile
on her lips。 Just then Marshal Hulot's voice was heard in the
anteroom。 The family all felt the importance of secrecy; and the scene
suddenly changed。 The young people rose; and every one tried to hide
all traces of emotion。
A discussion was going on at the door between Mariette and a soldier;
who was so persistent that the cook came in。
〃Monsieur; a regimental quartermaster; who says he is just come from
Algiers; insists on seeing you。〃
〃Tell him to wait。〃
〃Monsieur;〃 said Mariette to her master in an undertone; 〃he told me
to tell you privately that it has to do with your uncle there。〃
The Baron started; he believed that the funds had been sent at last
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