CONTENTS
I。TheInitiationofSavalII。BougivalandLoveIII。EnlightenmentIV。FromEmotiontoPhilosophyCHAPTERI。
TheInitiationofSavalAstheywereleavingtheCafeRiche,JeandeServignysaidtoLeonSaval:\"Ifyoudon\'tobject,letuswalk。Theweatheristoofinetotakeacab。\"
Hisfriendanswered:\"Iwouldlikenothingbetter。\"
Jeanreplied:\"Itishardlyeleveno\'clock。Weshallarrivemuchbeforemidnight,soletusgoslowly。\"
Arestlesscrowdwasmovingalongtheboulevard,thatthrongpeculiartosummernights,drinking,chatting,andflowinglikeariver,filledwithasenseofcomfortandjoy。Hereandthereacafethrewafloodoflightuponaknotofpatronsdrinkingatlittletablesonthesidewalk,whichwerecoveredwithbottlesandglasses,hinderingthepassingofthehurryingmultitude。Onthepavementthecabswiththeirred,blue,orgreenlightsdashedby,showingforasecond,intheglimmer,thethinshadowofthehorse,theraisedprofileofthecoachman,andthedarkboxofthecarriage。ThecabsoftheUrbaineCompanymadeclearandrapidspotswhentheiryellowpanelswerestruckbythelight。
Thetwofriendswalkedwithslowsteps,cigarsintheirmouths,ineveningdressandovercoatsontheirarms,withaflowerintheirbuttonholes,andtheirhatsatrifleononeside,asmenwillcarelesslywearthemsometimes,aftertheyhavedinedwellandtheairismild。
Theyhadbeenlinkedtogethersincetheircollegedaysbyaclose,devoted,andfirmaffection。JeandeServigny,small,slender,atriflebald,ratherfrail,witheleganceofmien,curledmustache,brighteyes,andfinelips,wasamanwhoseemedbornandbredupontheboulevard。Hewastirelessinspiteofhislanguidair,stronginspiteofhispallor,oneofthoseslightParisianstowhomgymnasticexercise,fencing,coldshowerandhotbathsgiveanervous,artificialstrength。Hewasknownbyhismarriageaswellasbyhiswit,hisfortune,hisconnections,andbythatsociability,amiability,andfashionablegallantrypeculiartocertainmen。
AtrueParisian,furthermore,light,sceptical,changeable,captivating,energetic,andirresolute,capableofeverythingandofnothing;selfishbyprincipleandgenerousonoccasion,helivedmoderatelyuponhisincome,andamusedhimselfwithhygiene。
Indifferentandpassionate,hegavehimselfreinanddrewbackconstantly,impelledbyconflictinginstincts,yieldingtoall,andthenobeying,intheend,hisownshrewdman-about-townjudgment,whoseweather-vanelogicconsistedinfollowingthewindanddrawingprofitfromcircumstanceswithouttakingthetroubletooriginatethem。
Hiscompanion,LeonSaval,richalso,wasoneofthosesuperbandcolossalfigureswhomakewomenturnaroundinthestreetstolookatthem。Hegavetheideaofastatueturnedintoaman,atypeofarace,likethosesculpturedformswhicharesenttotheSalons。Toohandsome,tootall,toobig,toostrong,hesinnedalittlefromtheexcessofeverything,theexcessofhisqualities。Hehadonhandcountlessaffairsofpassion。
AstheyreachedtheVaudevilletheater,heasked:\"Haveyouwarnedthatladythatyouaregoingtotakemetoherhousetoseeher?\"
Servignybegantolaugh:\"ForewarntheMarquiseObardi!Doyouwarnanomnibusdriverthatyoushallenterhisstageatthecorneroftheboulevard?\"
Saval,alittleperplexed,inquired:\"Whatsortofpersonisthislady?\"
Hisfriendreplied:\"Anupstart,acharminghussy,whocamefromnooneknowswhere,whomadeherappearanceoneday,nobodyknowshow,amongtheadventuressesofParis,knowingperfectlywellhowtotakecareofherself。Besides,whatdifferencedoesitmaketous?Theysaythatherrealname,hermaidenname——forshestillhaseveryclaimtothetitleofmaidenexceptthatofinnocence——isOctaviaBardin,fromwhichsheconstructsthenameObardibyprefixingthefirstletterofherfirstnameanddroppingthelastletterofthelastname。\"
\"Moreover,sheisalovablewoman,andyou,fromyourphysique,areinevitablyboundtobecomeherlover。HerculesisnotintroducedintoMessalina\'shomewithoutmakingsomedisturbance。NeverthelessImakeboldtoaddthatifthereisfreeentrancetothishouse,justasthereisinbazaars,youarenotexactlycompelledtobuywhatisforsale。Loveandcardsareontheprogramme,butnobodycompelsyoutotakeupwitheither。Andtheexitisasfreeastheentrance。\"
\"ShesettleddownintheEtoiledistrict,asuspiciousneighborhood,threeyearsago,andopenedherdrawing-roomtothatfrothofthecontinentswhichcomestoParistopracticeitsvariousformidableandcriminaltalents。\"
\"Idon\'trememberjusthowIwenttoherhouse。Iwentasweallgo,becausethereiscardplaying,becausethewomenarecompliant,andthemendishonest。Ilovethatsocialmobofbuccaneerswithdecorationsofallsortsoforders,alltitled,andallentirelyunknownattheirembassies,excepttothespies。Theyarealwaysdragginginthesubjectofhonor,quotingthelistoftheirancestorsontheslightestprovocation,andtellingthestoryoftheirlifeateveryopportunity,braggarts,liars,sharpers,dangerousastheircards,falseastheirnames,bravebecausetheyhavetobe,liketheassassinswhocannotplucktheirvictimsexceptbyexposingtheirownlives。Inaword,itisthearistocracyofthebagnio。\"
\"Ilikethem。Theyareinterestingtofathomandtoknow,amusingtolistento,oftenwitty,nevercommonplaceastheordinaryFrenchguests。Theirwomenarealwayspretty,withalittleflavorofforeignknavery,withthemysteryoftheirpastexistence,halfofwhich,perhaps,spentinaHouseofCorrection。Theygenerallyhavefineeyesandglorioushair,thetruephysiqueoftheprofession,anintoxicatinggrace,aseductivenesswhichdrivesmentofolly,anunwholesome,irresistiblecharm!Theyconquerlikethehighwaymenofold。Theyarerapaciouscreatures;truebirdsofprey。Ilikethem,too。\"
\"TheMarquiseObardiisoneofthetypeoftheseelegantgood-for-
nothings。Ripeandpretty,withafelinecharm,youcanseethatsheisvicioustothemarrow。Everybodyhasagoodtimeatherhouse,withcards,dancing,andsuppers;infactthereiseverythingwhichgoestomakeupthepleasuresoffashionablesocietylife。\"
\"Haveyoueverbeenorareyounowherlover?\"LeonSavalasked。
\"Ihavenotbeenherlover,Iamnotnow,andInevershallbe。I
onlygotothehousetoseeherdaughter。\"
\"Ah!Shehasadaughter,then?\"
\"Adaughter!Amarvel,mydearman。Sheistheprincipalattractionofthedento-day。Tall,magnificent,justripe,eighteenyearsold,asfairashermotherisdark,alwaysmerry,alwaysreadyforanentertainment,alwayslaughing,andreadytodancelikemad。Whowillbetheluckyman,tocaptureher,orwhohasalreadydoneso?
Nobodycantellthat。Shehastenofusinhertrain,allhoping。\"
\"SuchadaughterinthehandsofawomanliketheMarquiseisafortune。Andtheyplaythegametogether,thetwocharmers。Nooneknowsjustwhattheyareplanning。PerhapstheyarewaitingforabetterbargainthanIshouldprove。ButItellyouthatIshallclosethebargainifIevergetachance。\"
\"ThatgirlYvetteabsolutelybafflesme,moreover。Sheisamystery。
IfsheisnotthemostcompletemonsterofastutenessandperversitythatIhaveeverseen,shecertainlyisthemostmarvelousphenomenonofinnocencethatcanbeimagined。Shelivesinthatatmosphereofinfamywithacalmandtriumphingeasewhichiseitherwonderfullyprofligateorentirelyartless。Strangescionofanadventuress,castuponthemuck-heapofthatset,likeamagnificentplantnurtureduponcorruption,orratherlikethedaughterofsomenoblerace,ofsomegreatartist,orofsomegrandlord,ofsomeprinceordethronedking,tossedsomeeveningintohermother\'sarms,nobodycanmakeoutwhatsheisnorwhatshethinks。Butyouaregoingtoseeher。\"
Savalbegantolaughandsaid:\"Youareinlovewithher。\"
\"No。Iamonthelist,whichisnotpreciselythesamething。Iwillintroduceyoutomymostseriousrivals。Butthechancesareinmyfavor。Iaminthelead,andsomelittledistinctionisshowntome。\"
\"Youareinlove,\"Savalrepeated。
\"No。Shedisquietsme,seducesanddisturbsme,attractsandfrightensmeaway。ImistrustherasIwouldatrap,andIlongforherasIlongforasherbetwhenIamthirsty。Iyieldtohercharm,andIonlyapproachherwiththeapprehensionthatIwouldfeelconcerningamanwhowasknowntobeaskillfulthief。toherpresenceIhaveanirrationalimpulsetowardbeliefinherpossiblepurityandaveryreasonablemistrustofhernotlessprobabletrickery。Ifeelmyselfincontactwithanabnormalbeing,beyondthepaleofnaturallaws,anexquisiteordetestablecreature——I
don\'tknowwhich。\"
ForthethirdtimeSavalsaid:\"Itellyouthatyouareinlove。Youspeakofherwiththemagniloquenceofapoetandthefeelingofatroubadour。Come,searchyourheart,andconfess。\"
Servignywalkedafewstepswithoutanswering。Thenhereplied:
\"Thatispossible,afterall。Inanycase,shefillsmymindalmostcontinually。yes,perhapsIaminlove。Idreamabouthertoomuch。
IthinkofherwhenIamasleepandwhenIawake——thatissurelyagraveindication。Herfacefollowsme,accompaniesmeceaselessly,everbeforeme,aroundme,withme。Isthislove,thisphysicalinfatuation?HerfeaturesaresostampeduponmyvisionthatIseeherthemomentIshutmyeyes。MyheartbeatsquicklyeverytimeI
lookather,Idon\'tdenyit。\"
\"SoIaminlovewithher,butinaqueerfashion。Ihavethestrongestdesireforher,andyettheideaofmakinghermywifewouldseemtomeafolly,apieceofstupidity,amonstrousthing:
AndIhavealittlefearofher,aswell,thefearwhichabirdfeelsoverwhichahawkishovering。\"
\"AndagainIamjealousofher,jealousofallofwhichIamignorantinherincomprehensibleheart。Iamalwayswondering:\'Issheacharmingyoungsterorawretchedjade?\'Shesaysthingsthatwouldmakeanarmyshudder;butsodoesaparrot。SheisattimessoindiscreetandyetmodestthatIamforcedtobelieveinherspotlesspurity,andagainsoincrediblyartlessthatImustsuspectthatshehasneverbeenchaste。Shealluresme,excitesme,likeawomanofacertaincategory,andatthesametimeactslikeanimpeccablevirgin。Sheseemstolovemeandyetmakesfunofme;shedeportsherselfinpublicasifsheweremymistressandtreatsmeinprivateasifIwereherbrotherorfootman。\"
\"TherearetimeswhenIfancythatshehasasmanyloversashermother。AndatothertimesIimaginethatshesuspectsabsolutelynothingofthatsortoflife,youunderstand。Furthermore,sheisagreatnovelreader。Iamatpresent,whileawaitingsomethingbetter,herbookpurveyor。Shecallsmeher\'librarian。\'EveryweektheNewBookStoresendsher,onmyorders,everythingnewthathasappeared,andIbelievethatshereadseverythingatrandom。Itmustmakeastrangesortofmixtureinherhead。\"
\"Thatkindofliteraryhasty-puddingaccountsperhapsforsomeofthegirl\'speculiarways。Whenayoungwomanlooksatexistencethroughthemediumoffifteenthousandnovels,shemustseeitinastrangelight,andconstructqueerideasaboutmattersandthingsingeneral。Asforme,Iamwaiting。ItiscertainatanyratethatI
neverhavehadforanyotherwomanthedevotionwhichIhavehadforher。AndstillitisquitecertainthatIshallnevermarryher。Soifshehashadnumbers,Ishallswellthenumber。Andifshehasnot,Ishalltakethefirstticket,justasIwoulddoforastreetcar。\"
\"Thecaseisverysimple。Ofcourse,shewillnevermarry。WhointheworldwouldmarrytheMarquiseObardi\'sdaughter,thechildofOctaviaBardin?Nobody,forathousandreasons。Wherewouldtheyeverfindahusbandforher?Insociety?Never。Themother\'shouseisasortofliberty-hallwhosepatronageisattractedbythedaughter。Girlsdon\'tgetmarriedunderthoseconditions。\"
\"Wouldshefindahusbandamongthetrades-people?Stilllesswouldthatbepossible。AndbesidestheMarquiseisnotthewomantomakeabadbargain;shewillgiveYvetteonlytoamanofhighposition,andthatmanshewillneverdiscover。\"
\"Thenperhapsshewilllookamongthecommonpeople。Stilllesslikely。Thereisnosolutionoftheproblem,then。Thisyoungladybelongsneithertosociety,nortothetradesmen\'sclass,nortothecommonpeople,andshecanneverenteranyoftheseranksbymarriage。\"
\"Shebelongsthroughhermother,herbirth,hereducation,herinheritance,hermanners,andhercustoms,tothevortexofthemostrapidlifeofParis。Shecanneverescapeit,savebybecominganun,whichisnotatallprobablewithhermannersandtastes。Shehasonlyonepossiblecareer,alifeofpleasure。Shewillcometoitsoonerorlater,ifindeedshehasnotalreadybeguntotreaditsprimrosepath。Shecannotescapeherfate。Frombeingayounggirlshewilltaketheinevitablestep,quitesimply。AndIwouldliketobethepivotofthistransformation。\"
\"Iamwaiting。Therearemanylovers。YouwillseeamongthemaFrenchman,MonsieurdeBelvigne;aRussian,calledPrinceKravalow,andanItalian,ChevalierValreali,whohaveallannouncedtheircandidaciesandwhoareconsequentlymaneuveringtothebestoftheirability。Inadditiontothesethereareseveralfreebootersoflessimportance。TheMarquisewaitsandwatches。ButIthinkthatshehasviewsaboutme。SheknowsthatIamveryrich,andshemakeslessoftheothers。\"
\"Herdrawing-roomis,moreover,themostastoundingthatIknowof,insuch,exhibitions。Youevenmeetverydecentmenthere,likeourselves。Asforthewomen,shehasculledthebestthereisfromthebasketofpickpockets。Nobodyknowswhereshefoundthem。ItisasetapartfromBohemia,apartfromeverything。Shehashadoneinspirationshowinggenius,andthatistheknackofselectingespeciallythoseadventuresseswhohavechildren,generallygirls。
Sothatafoolmightbelievethatinherhousehewasamongrespectablewomen!\"TheyhadreachedtheavenueoftheChamps-
Elysees。Agentlebreezesoftlystirredtheleavesandtouchedthefacesofpassers-by,likethebreathsofagiantfan,wavingsomewhereinthesky。Silentshadowswanderedbeneaththetrees;
others,onbenches,madeadarkspot。Andtheseshadowsspokeverylow,asiftheyweretellingeachotherimportantorshamefulsecrets。
\"Youcan\'timaginewhatacollectionoffictitioustitlesaremetinthislair,\"saidServigny,\"Bytheway,IshallpresentyoubythenameofCountSaval;plainSavalwouldnotdoatall。\"
\"Oh,no,indeed!\"criedhisfriend;\"Iwouldnothaveanyonethinkmecapableofborrowingatitle,evenforanevening,evenamongthosepeople。Ah,no!\"
Servignybegantolaugh。
\"Howstupidyouare!Why,inthatsettheycallmetheDukedeServigny。Idon\'tknowhownorwhy。ButatanyratetheDukedeServignyIamandshallremain,withoutcomplainingorprotesting。
Itdoesnotworryme。Ishouldhavenofootingtherewhateverwithoutatitle。\"
ButSavalwouldnotbeconvinced。
\"Well,youareofrank,andsoyoumayremain。But,asforme,no。I
shallbetheonlycommonpersoninthedrawing-room。Somuchtheworse,or,somuchthebetter。Itwillbemymarkofdistinctionandsuperiority。\"
Servignywasobstinate。
\"Itellyouthatitisnotpossible。Why,itwouldalmostseemmonstrous。Youwouldhavetheeffectofaragmanatameetingofemperors。LetmedoasIlike。IshallintroduceyouastheVice-Roidu\'Haut-Mississippi,\'andnoonewillbeatallastonished。Whenamantakesongreatness,hecan\'ttaketoomuch。\"
\"Oncemore,no,Idonotwishit。\"
\"Verywell,haveyourway。But,infact,Iamveryfoolishtotrytoconvinceyou。Idefyyoutogetinwithoutsomeonegivingyouatitle,justastheygiveabunchofvioletstotheladiesattheentrancetocertainstores。\"
TheyturnedtotherightintheRuedeBarrie,mountedoneflightofstairsinafinemodernhouse,andgavetheirovercoatsandcanesintothehandsoffourservantsinknee-breeches。Awarmodor,asofafestivalassembly,filledtheair,anodorofflowers,perfumes,andwomen;andacomposedandcontinuousmurmurcamefromtheadjoiningrooms,whichwerefilledwithpeople。
Akindofmasterofceremonies,tall,erect,wideofgirth,serious,hisfaceframedinwhitewhiskers,approachedthenewcomers,askingwithashortandhaughtybow:\"WhomshallIannounce?\"
\"MonsieurSaval,\"Servignyreplied。
Thenwithaloudvoice,themanopeningthedoorcriedouttothecrowdofguests:
\"MonsieurtheDukedeServigny。\"
\"MonsieurtheBaronSaval。\"
Thefirstdrawing-roomwasfilledwithwomen。Thefirstthingwhichattractedattentionwasthedisplayofbareshoulders,aboveafloodofbrilliantgowns。
Themistressofthehousewhostoodtalkingwiththreefriends,turnedandcameforwardwithamajesticstep,withgraceinhermienandasmileonherlips。Herforeheadwasnarrowandverylow,andwascoveredwithamassofglossyblackhair,encroachingalittleuponthetemples。
Shewastall,atrifletoolarge,alittletoostout,overripe,butverypretty,withaheavy,warm,potentbeauty。Beneaththatmassofhair,fullofdreamsandsmiles,renderinghermysteriouslycaptivating,wereenormousblackeyes。Hernosewasalittlenarrow,hermouthlargeandinfinitelyseductive,madetospeakandtoconquer。
Hergreatestcharmwasinhervoice。Itcamefromthatmouthaswaterfromaspring,sonatural,solight,sowellmodulated,soclear,thattherewasaphysicalpleasureinlisteningtoit。Itwasajoyfortheeartoheartheflexiblewordsflowwiththegraceofababblingbrook,anditwasajoyfortheeyestoseethoseprettylips,atrifletoored,openasthewordsrippledforth。
ShegaveonehandtoServigny,whokissedit,anddroppingherfanonitslittlegoldchain,shegavetheothertoSaval,sayingtohim:\"Youarewelcome,Baron,alltheDuke\'sfriendsareathomehere。\"
ThenshefixedherbrillianteyesupontheColossuswhohadjustbeenintroducedtoher。Shehadjusttheslightestdownonherupperlip,asuspicionofamustache,whichseemeddarkerwhenshespoke。
Therewasapleasantodorabouther,pervading,intoxicating,someperfumeofAmericaoroftheIndies。Otherpeoplecamein,marquesses,countsorprinces。ShesaidtoServigny,withthegraciousnessofamother:\"Youwillfindmydaughterintheotherparlor。Haveagoodtime,gentlemen,thehouseisyours。\"
Andsheleftthemtogotothosewhohadcomelater,throwingatSavalthatsmilingandfleetingglancewhichwomenusetoshowthattheyarepleased。Servignygraspedhisfriend\'sarm。