Theynowreturned。Shecastvexedlooksonthepassers-by。\"Howstupidallthesepeopleseem,\"shesaid。Thenraisinghereyestothecountenanceofhercompanion,sheadded:\"You,too,likealltherest。\"
M。deBelvignebowed。TurningaroundshesawthatthePrinceandtheChevalierhaddisappeared。Servigny,dejectedanddripping,ceasedplayingonthetrumpet,andwalkedwithagloomyairatthesideofthetwoweariedyoungmen,whoalsohadstoppedthedrumplaying。
Shebegantolaughdryly,saying:
\"Youseemtohavehadenough;nevertheless,thatiswhatyoucallhavingagoodtime,isn\'tit?Youcameforthat;Ihavegivenyouyourmoney\'sworth。\"
Thenshewalkedon,sayingnothingfurther;andsuddenlyBelvigneperceivedthatshewasweeping。Astounded,heinquired:
\"Whatisthematter?\"
Shemurmured:\"Letmealone,itdoesnotconcernyou。\"
Butheinsisted,likeafool:\"Oh,Mademoiselle,come,whatisthematter,hasanyoneannoyedyou?\"
Sherepeatedimpatiently:\"Willyoukeepstill?\"
Thensuddenly,nolongerabletoresistthedespairingsorrowwhichdrownedherheart,shebegantosobsoviolently,thatshecouldnolongerwalk。Shecoveredherfacewithherhands,pantingforbreath,chokedbytheviolenceofherdespair。
Belvignestoodstillatherside,quitebewildered,repeating:\"I
don\'tunderstandthisatall。\"
ButServignybrusquelycameforward:\"Letusgohome,Mam\'zelle,sothatpeoplemaynotseeyouweepinginthestreet。Whydoyouperpetratefollieslikethatwhentheyonlymakeyousad?\"
Andtakingherarmhedrewherforward。Butassoonastheyreachedtheirongateofthevillashebegantorun,crossedthegarden,andwentupstairs,andshutherselfinherroom。Shedidnotappearagainuntilthedinnerhour,verypaleandserious。Servignyhadboughtfromacountrystorekeeperaworkingman\'scostume,withvelvetpantaloons,afloweredwaistcoatandablouse,andheadoptedthelocaldialect。Yvettewasinahurryforthemtofinish,feelinghercourageebbing。Assoonasthecoffeewasservedshewenttoherroomagain。
Sheheardthemerryvoicesbeneathherwindow。TheChevalierwasmakingequivocaljokes,foreignwitticisms,vulgarandclumsy。Shelistened,indespair。Servigny,justabittipsy,wasimitatingthecommonworkingman,callingtheMarquise\"theMissus。\"AndallofasuddenhesaidtoSaval:\"Well,Boss?\"Thatcausedagenerallaugh。
ThenYvettedecided。Shefirsttookasheetofpaperandwrote:
\"Bougival,Sunday,nineo\'clockintheevening。
\"IdiesothatImaynotbecomeakeptwoman。
\"YVETTE。\"
Theninapostscript:
\"Adieu,mydearmother,pardon。\"
Shesealedtheenvelope,andaddressedittotheMarquiseObardi。
Thensherolledherlongchairnearthewindow,drewalittletablewithinreachofherhand,andplaceduponitthebigbottleofchloroformbesideahandfulofwadding。
Agreatrose-treecoveredwithflowers,climbingashighasherwindow,exhaledinthenightasoftandgentleperfume,inlightbreaths;andshestoodforamomentenjoyingit。Themoon,initsfirstquarter,wasfloatinginthedarksky,alittleraggedattheleft,andveiledattimesbyslightmists。
Yvettethought:\"Iamgoingtodie!\"Andherheart,swollenwithsobs,nearlybursting,almostsuffocatedher。Shefeltinheraneedofaskingmercyfromsomeone,ofbeingsaved,ofbeingloved。
ThevoiceofServignyarousedher。Hewastellinganimproperstory,whichwasconstantlyinterruptedbyburstsoflaughter。TheMarquiseherselflaughedlouderthantheothers。
\"Thereisnobodylikehimfortellingthatsortofthing,\"shesaid,laughing。
Yvettetookthebottle,uncorkedit,andpouredalittleoftheliquidonthecotton。Astrong,sweet,strangeodorarose;andasshebroughtthepieceofcottontoherlips,thefumesenteredherthroatandmadehercough。
Thenshuttinghermouth,shebegantoinhaleit。Shetookinlongbreathsofthisdeadlyvapor,closinghereyes,andforcingherselftostifleinhermindallthoughts,sothatshemightnotreflect,thatshemightknownothingmore。
Itseemedtoheratfirstthatherchestwasgrowinglarger,wasexpanding,andthathersoul,recentlyheavyandburdenedwithgrief,wasbecominglight,light,asiftheweightwhichoverwhelmedherwaslifted,waftedaway。Somethinglivelyandagreeablepenetratedeventotheextremitiesofherlimbs,eventothetipsofhertoesandfingersandenteredherflesh,asortofdreamyintoxication,ofsoftfever。Shesawthatthecottonwasdry,andshewasastonishedthatshewasnotalreadydead。Hersensesseemedmoreacute,moresubtle,morealert。Sheheardthelowestwhisperontheterrace。PrinceKravalowwastellinghowhehadkilledanAustriangeneralinaduel。
Then,furtheroff,inthefields,sheheardthenoiseofthenight,theoccasionalbarkingsofadog,theshortcryofthefrogs,thealmostimperceptiblerustlingoftheleaves。
Shetookthebottleagain,andsaturatedoncemorethelittlepieceofwadding;thenshebegantobreatheinthefumesagain。Forafewmomentsshefeltnothing;thenthatsoftandsoothingfeelingofcomfortwhichshehadexperiencedbeforeenvelopedher。
Twiceshepouredmorechloroformuponthecotton,eagernowforthatphysicalandmentalsensation,thatdreamytorpor,whichbewilderedhersoul。
Itseemedtoherthatshehadnomorebones,flesh,legs,orarms。
Thedrughadgentlytakenalltheseawayfromher,withoutherperceivingit。Thechloroformhaddrawnawayherbody,leavingheronlyhermind,moreawakened,moreactive,larger,andmorefreethanshehadeverfeltit。
Sherecalledathousandforgottenthings,littledetailsofherchildhood,trifleswhichhadgivenherpleasure。Endowedsuddenlywithanawakenedagility,hermindleapedtothemostdiverseideas,ranthroughathousandadventures,wanderedinthepast,andlostitselfinthehoped-foreventsofthefuture。Andherlivelyandcarelessthoughtshadasensuouscharm:sheexperiencedadivinepleasureindreamingthus。
Shestillheardthevoices,butshecouldnolongerdistinguishthewords,whichtoherseemedtohaveadifferentmeaning。Shewasinakindofstrangeandchangingfairyland。
Shewasonagreatboatwhichfloatedthroughabeautifulcountry,allcoveredwithflowers。Shesawpeopleontheshore,andthesepeoplespokeveryloudly;thenshewasagainonland,withoutaskinghow,andServigny,cladasaprince,cametoseekher,totakehertoabull-fight。
Thestreetswerefilledwithpassers-by,whoweretalking,andsheheardconversationswhichdidnotastonishher,asifshehadknownthepeople,forthroughherdreamyintoxication,shestillheardhermother\'sfriendslaughingandtalkingontheterrace。
Theneverythingbecamevague。Thensheawakened,deliciouslybenumbed,andshecouldhardlyrememberwhathadhappened。
So,shewasnotyetdead。Butshefeltsocalm,insuchastateofphysicalcomfort,thatshewasnotinhastetofinishwithit——shewantedtomakethisexquisitedrowsinesslastforever。
Shebreathedslowlyandlookedatthemoon,oppositeher,abovethetrees。Somethinghadchangedinherspirit。Shenolongerthoughtasshehaddonejustnow。Thechloroformquietingherbodyandhersoulhadcalmedhergriefandlulledherdesiretodie。
Whyshouldshenotlive?Whyshouldshenotbeloved?Whyshouldshenotleadahappylife?Everythingappearedpossibletohernow,andeasyandcertain。Everythinginlifewassweet,everythingwascharming。Butasshewishedtodreamonstill,shepouredmoreofthedream-wateronthecottonandbegantobreatheitinagain,stoppingattimes,soasnottoabsorbtoomuchofitanddie。
Shelookedatthemoonandsawinitaface,awoman\'sface。Shebegantoscornthecountryinthefancifulintoxicationofthedrug。
Thatfaceswunginthesky;thenitsang,itsangwithawell-knownvoicethealleluiaoflove。
ItwastheMarquise,whohadcomeinandseatedherselfatthepiano。
Yvettehadwingsnow。Shewasflyingthroughaclearnight,abovethewoodandstreams。Shewasflyingwithdelight,openingandclosingherwings,bornebythewindasbyacaress。Shemovedintheair,whichkissedherskin,andshewentsofast,sofast,thatshehadnotimetoseeanythingbeneathher,andshefoundherselfseatedonthebankofapondwithalineinherhand;shewasfishing。
Somethingpulledonthecord,andwhenshedrewitoutofthewater,itboreamagnificentpearlnecklace,whichshehadlongedforsometimeago。Shewasnotatallastonishedatthisdeed,andshelookedatServigny,whohadcometoherside——sheknewnothow。Hewasfishingalso,anddrewoutoftheriverawoodenhorse。
Thenshehadanewthefeelingofawaking,andsheheardsomeonecallingdownstairs。Hermotherhadsaid:
\"Putoutthecandle。\"ThenServigny\'svoicerose,clearandjesting:
\"Putoutyourcandle,Mam\'zelleYvette。\"
Andalltookupthechorus:\"Mam\'zelleYvette,putoutyourcandle。\"
Sheagainpouredchloroformonthecotton,but,asshedidnotwanttodie,sheplaceditfarenoughfromherfacetobreathethefreshair,whileneverthelessherroomwasfilledwiththeasphyxiatingodorofthenarcotic,forsheknewthatsomeonewascoming,andtakingasuitableposture,aposeofthedead,shewaited。
TheMarquisesaid:\"Iamalittleuneasy!Thatfoolishchildhasgonetosleepleavingthelightonhertable。IwillsendClemencetoputitout,andtoshutthebalconywindow,whichiswideopen。\"
Andsoonthemaidrappedonthedoorcalling:\"Mademoiselle,Mademoiselle!\"Afteramoment\'ssilence,sherepeated:
\"Mademoiselle,MadametheMarquisebegsyoutoputoutyourcandleandshutthewindow。\"
Clemencewaitedalittle,thenknockedlouder,andcried:
\"Mademoiselle,Mademoiselle!\"
AsYvettedidnotreply,theservantwentawayandreportedtotheMarquise:
\"Mademoisellemusthavegonetosleep,herdoorisbolted,andI
couldnotawakenher。\"
MadameObardimurmured:
\"Butshemustnotstaylikethat,\"
Then,atthesuggestionofServigny,theyallgatheredunderthewindow,shoutinginchorus:
\"Hip!hip!hurrah!Mam\'zelleYvette。\"
Theirclamorroseinthecalmnight,throughthetransparentairbeneaththemoon,overthesleepingcountry;andtheyhearditdieawayinthedistancelikethesoundofadisappearingtrain。
AsYvettedidnotanswertheMarquisesaid:\"Ionlyhopethatnothinghashappened。Iambeginningtobeafraid。\"
ThenServigny,pluckingredrosesfromabigrosebushtrainedalongthewallandbudsnotyetopened,begantothrowthemintotheroomthroughthewindow。
Atthefirstrosethatfellatherside,Yvettestartedandalmostcriedout。Othersfelluponherdress,othersuponherhair,whileothersgoingoverherheadfelluponthebed,coveringitwitharainofflowers。
TheMarquise,inachokingvoice,cried:\"Come,Yvette,answer。\"
ThenServignydeclared:\"Trulythisisnotnatural;Iamgoingtoclimbupbythebalcony。\"
ButtheChevaliergrewindignant。
\"Now,letmedoit,\"hesaid。\"ItisagreatfavorIask;itistoogoodameans,andtoogoodatimetoobtainarendezvous。\"
Alltherest,whothoughttheyounggirlwasjoking,cried:\"Weprotest!Heshallnotclimbup。\"
ButtheMarquise,disturbed,repeated:\"Andyetsomeonemustgoandsee。\"
ThePrinceexclaimedwithadramaticgesture:
\"ShefavorstheDuke,wearebetrayed。\"
\"Letustossacointoseewhoshallgoup,\"saidtheChevalier。Hetookafive-francpiecefromhispocket,andbeganwiththePrince。
\"Tail,\"saidhe。Itwashead。
ThePrincetossedthecoininhisturnsayingtoSaval:\"Call,Monsieur。\"
Savalcalled\"Head。\"Itwastail。
ThePrincethengavealltheothersachance,andtheyalllost。
Servigny,whowasstandingoppositehim,exclaimedinhisinsolentway:\"PARBLEU!heischeating!\"
TheRussianputhishandonhisheartandheldoutthegoldpiecetohisrival,saying:\"Tossityourself,mydearDuke。\"
Servignytookitandspinningitup,said:\"Head。\"Itwastail。
Hebowedandpointingtothepillarofthebalconysaid:\"Climbup,Prince。\"ButthePrincelookedabouthimwithadisturbedair。
\"Whatareyoulookingfor?\"askedtheChevalier。
\"Well,——I——would——like——aladder。\"Agenerallaughfollowed。
Saval,advancing,said:\"Wewillhelpyou。\"
Heliftedhiminhisarms,asstrongasthoseofHercules,tellinghim:
\"Nowclimbtothatbalcony。\"
ThePrinceimmediatelyclungtoit,and。Savallettinghimgo,heswungthere,suspendedintheair,movinghislegsinemptyspace。
ThenServigny,seeinghisstrugglinglegswhichsoughtarestingplace,pulledthemdownwardwithallhisstrength;thehandslosttheirgripandthePrincefellinaheaponMonsieurdeBelvigne,whowascomingtoaidhim。\"Whoseturnnext?\"askedServigny。Nooneclaimedtheprivilege。
\"Come,Belvigne,courage!\"
\"Thankyou,mydearboy,Iamthinkingofmybones。\"
\"Come,Chevalier,youmustbeusedtoscalingwalls。\"
\"Igivemyplacetoyou,mydearDuke。\"
\"Ha,ha,thatisjustwhatIexpected。\"
Servigny,withakeeneye,turnedtothepillar。Thenwithaleap,clingingtothebalcony,hedrewhimselfuplikeagymnastandclimbedoverthebalustrade。
Allthespectators,gazingathim,applauded。Butheimmediatelyreappeared,calling:
\"Come,quick!Come,quick!Yvetteisunconscious。\"TheMarquiseutteredaloudcry,andrushedforthestairs。
Theyounggirl,hereyesclosed,pretendedtobedead。Hermotherentereddistracted,andthrewherselfuponher。
\"Tellmewhatisthematterwithher,whatisthematterwithher?\"
Servignypickedupthebottleofchloroformwhichhadfallenuponthefloor。
\"Shehasdruggedherself,\"saidhe。
Heplacedhiseartoherheart;thenheadded:
\"Butsheisnotdead;wecanresuscitateher。Haveyouanyammonia?\"
Themaid,bewildered,repeated:\"Anywhat,Monsieur?\"
\"Anysmelling-salts。\"
\"Yes,Monsieur。\"\"Bringthematonce,andleavethedooropentomakeadraftofair。\"
TheMarquise,onherknees,wassobbing:\"Yvette!Yvette,mydaughter,mydaughter,listen,answerme,Yvette,mychild。Oh,myGod!myGod!whathasshedone?\"
Themen,frightened,movedaboutwithoutspeaking,bringingwater,towels,glasses,andvinegar。Someonesaid:\"Sheoughttobeundressed。\"AndtheMarquise,whohadlostherhead,triedtoundressherdaughter;butdidnotknowwhatshewasdoing。Herhandstrembledandfaltered,andshegroaned:
\"Icannot,——Icannot——\"
Themaidhadcomebackbringingadruggist\'sbottlewhichServignyopenedandfromwhichhepouredouthalfuponahandkerchief。ThenheappliedittoYvette\'snose,causinghertochoke。
\"Good,shebreathes,\"saidhe。\"Itwillbenothing。\"
Andhebathedhertemples,cheeks,andneckwiththepungentliquid。
Thenhemadeasigntothemaidtounlacethegirl,andwhenshehadnothingmoreonthanaskirtoverherchemise,heraisedherinhisarmsandcarriedhertothebed,quivering,movedbytheodorandcontactofherflesh。Thenshewasplacedinbed。Hearoseverypale。
\"Shewillcometoherself,\"hesaid,\"itisnothing。\"Forhehadheardherbreatheinacontinuousandregularway。ButseeingallthemenwiththeireyesfixedonYvetteinbed,hewasseizedwithajealousirritation,andadvancedtowardthem。\"Gentlemen,\"hesaid,\"therearetoomanyofusinthisroom;bekindenoughtoleaveusalone,——MonsieurSavalandme——withtheMarquise。\"
Hespokeinatonewhichwasdryandfullofauthority。
MadameObardihadgraspedherlover,andwithherheadupliftedtowardhimshecriedtohim:
\"Saveher,oh,saveher!\"
ButServignyturningaroundsawaletteronthetable。Heseizeditwitharapidmovement,andreadtheaddress。Heunderstoodandthought:\"PerhapsitwouldbebetteriftheMarquiseshouldnotknowofthis,\"andtearingopentheenvelope,hedevouredataglancethetwolinesitcontained:
\"IdiesothatImaynotbecomeakeptwoman。\"
\"Yvette。\"
\"Adieu,mydearmother,pardon。\"
\"Thedevil!\"hethought,\"thiscallsforreflection。\"Andhehidtheletterinhispocket。
Thenheapproachedthebed,andimmediatelythethoughtcametohimthattheyounggirlhadregainedconsciousnessbutthatshedarednotshowit,fromshame,fromhumiliation,andfromfearofquestioning。TheMarquisehadfallenonherkneesnow,andwasweeping,herheadonthe,footofthebed。Suddenlysheexclaimed:
\"Adoctor,wemusthaveadoctor!\"
ButServigny,whohadjustsaidsomethinginalowtonetoSaval,repliedtoher:\"No,itisallover。Come,gooutaminute,justaminute,andIpromiseyouthatshewillkissyouwhenyoucomeback。\"AndtheBaron,takingMadameObardibythearm,ledherfromtheroom。
ThenServigny,sitting-bythebed,tookYvette\'shandandsaid:
\"Mam\'zelle,listentome。\"
Shedidnotanswer。Shefeltsowell,sosoftandwarminbed,thatshewouldhavelikednevertomove,nevertospeak,andtolivelikethatforever。Aninfinitecomforthadencompassedher,acomfortthelikeofwhichshehadneverexperienced。
Themildnightaircominginbyvelvetybreathstouchedhertemplesinanexquisitealmostimperceptibleway。Itwasacaresslikeakissofthewind,likethesoftandrefreshingbreathofafanmadeofalltheleavesofthetreesandofalltheshadowsofthenight,ofthemistofrivers,andofalltheflowerstoo,fortherosestossedupfrombelowintoherroomanduponherbed,andtherosesclimbingatherbalcony,mingledtheirheavyperfumewiththehealthfulsavoroftheeveningbreeze。
Shedrankinthisairwhichwassogood,hereyesclosed,herheartreposingintheyetpervadingintoxicationofthedrug,andshehadnolongeratallthedesiretodie,butastrong,imperiouswishtolive,tobehappy——nomatterhow——tobeloved,yes,tobeloved。
Servignyrepeated:\"Mam\'zelleYvette,listentome。\"
Andshedecidedtoopenhereyes。
Hecontinued,ashesawherreviving:\"Come!Come!whatdoesthisnonsensemean?\"
Shemurmured:\"MypoorMuscade,Iwassounhappy。\"
Hesqueezedherhand:\"Andthatledyouintoaprettyscrape!Come,youmustpromisemenottotryitagain。\"
Shedidnotreply,butnoddedherheadslightlywithanalmostimperceptiblesmile。Hedrewfromhispockettheletterwhichhehadfoundonthetable:
\"HadIbettershowthistoyourmother?\"
Sheshookherhead,no。Heknewnotwhatmoretosayforthesituationseemedtohimwithoutanoutlet。Sohemurmured\"Mydearchild,everyonehashardthingstobear。IunderstandyoursorrowandIpromiseyou——\"
Shestammered:\"Youaregood。\"
Theyweresilent。Helookedather。Shehadinherglancesomethingoftenderness,ofweakness;andsuddenlysheraisedbothherarms,asifshewoulddrawhimtoher;hebentoverher,feelingthatshecalledhim,andtheirlipsmet。
Foralongtimetheyremainedthus,theireyesclosed。
But,knowingthathewouldlosehishead,hedrewaway。Shesmiledathimnow,mosttenderly;and,withbothherhandsclingingtohisshoulders,sheheldhim。
\"Iamgoingtocallyourmother,\"hesaid。
Shemurmured:\"Justasecondmore。Iamsohappy。\"
Thenafterasilence,shesaidinatonesolowthatitcouldscarcelybeheard:\"Willyoulovemeverymuch?Tellme!\"
Hekneeledbesideherbed,andkissingthehandshehadgivenhim,said:\"Iadoreyou。\"Butsomeonewaswalkingnearthedoor。Hearosewithabound,andcalledinhisordinaryvoice,whichseemedneverthelessalittleironical:\"Youmaycomein。Itisallrightnow。\"
TheMarquisethrewherselfonherdaughter,withbotharmsopen,andclaspedherfrantically,coveringhercountenancewithtears,whileServignywithradiantsoulandquiveringbodywentoutuponthebalconytobreathethefreshairofthenight,hummingtohimselftheoldcouplet:
\"Awomanchangethofthermind:
Yetfoolsstilltrustinwomankind。\"