the muse of the department-第24节

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which　she　tried　to　disguise　her　intentions；　for　Etienne；　who　seemed　to
be　studying　progress　in　Cosne；　was　coming　to　meet　them。

〃Believe　me；〃　said　Bianchon；　〃what　he　wants　is　to　be　truly　loved；　and
if　he　alters　his　course　of　life；　it　will　be　to　the　benefit　of　his
talent。〃

Dinah's　coachman　hurried　up　breathlessly　to　say　that　the　diligence　had
come　in；　and　they　walked　on　quickly；　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　between　the
two　men。

〃Good…bye；　my　children！〃　said　Bianchon；　before　they　got　into　the　town；
〃you　have　my　blessing！〃

He　released　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　hand　from　his　arm；　and　allowed
Lousteau　to　draw　it　into　his；　with　a　tender　look；　as　he　pressed　it　to
his　heart。　What　a　difference　to　Dinah！　Etienne's　arm　thrilled　her
deeply。　Bianchon's　had　not　stirred　her　in　the　least。　She　and　the
journalist　exchanged　one　of　those　glowing　looks　that　are　more　than　an
avowal。

〃Only　provincial　women　wear　muslin　gowns　in　these　days；〃　thought
Lousteau　to　himself；　〃the　only　stuff　which　shows　every　crease。　This
woman；　who　has　chosen　me　for　her　lover；　will　make　a　fuss　over　her
frock！　If　she　had　but　put　on　a　foulard　skirt；　I　should　be　happy。What
is　the　meaning　of　these　difficulties〃

While　Lousteau　was　wondering　whether　Dinah　had　put　on　a　muslin　gown　on
purpose　to　protect　herself　by　an　insuperable　obstacle；　Bianchon；　with
the　help　of　the　coachman；　was　seeing　his　luggage　piled　on　the
diligence。　Finally；　he　came　to　take　leave　of　Dinah；　who　was
excessively　friendly　with　him。

〃Go　home；　Madame　la　Baronne；　leave　me　hereGatien　will　be　coming；〃　he
added　in　an　undertone。　〃It　is　getting　late；〃　said　he　aloud。　〃Good…
bye！〃

〃Good…byegreat　man！〃　cried　Lousteau；　shaking　hands　with　Bianchon。

When　the　journalist　and　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；　side　by　side　in　the
rickety　old　chaise；　had　recrossed　the　Loire；　they　both　were　unready　to
speak。　In　these　circumstances；　the　first　words　that　break　the　silence
are　full　of　terrible　meaning。

〃Do　you　know　how　much　I　love　you？〃　said　the　journalist　point　blank。

Victory　might　gratify　Lousteau；　but　defeat　could　cause　him　no　grief。
This　indifference　was　the　secret　of　his　audacity。　He　took　Madame　de　la
Baudraye's　hand　as　he　spoke　these　decisive　words；　and　pressed　it　in
both　his；　but　Dinah　gently　released　it。

〃Yes；　I　am　as　good　as　an　actress　or　a　/grisette/；〃　she　said　in　a　voice
that　trembled；　though　she　spoke　lightly。　〃But　can　you　suppose　that　a
woman　who；　in　spite　of　her　absurdities；　has　some　intelligence；　will
have　reserved　the　best　treasures　of　her　heart　for　a　man　who　will
regard　her　merely　as　a　transient　pleasure？I　am　not　surprised　to　hear
from　your　lips　the　words　which　so　many　men　have　said　to　mebut〃

The　coachman　turned　round。

〃Here　comes　Monsieur　Gatien；〃　said　he。

〃I　love　you；　I　will　have　you；　you　shall　be　mine；　for　I　have　never　felt
for　any　woman　the　passion　I　have　for　you！〃　said　Lousteau　in　her　ear。

〃In　spite　of　my　will；　perhaps？〃　said　she；　with　a　smile。

〃At　least　you　must　seem　to　have　been　assaulted　to　save　my　honor；〃　said
the　Parisian；　to　whom　the　fatal　immaculateness　of　clean　muslin
suggested　a　ridiculous　notion。

Before　Gatien　had　reached　the　end　of　the　bridge；　the　outrageous
journalist　had　crumpled　up　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　muslin　dress　to
such　an　effect　that　she　was　absolutely　not　presentable。

〃Oh；　monsieur！〃　she　exclaimed　in　dignified　reproof。

〃You　defied　me；〃　said　the　Parisian。

But　Gatien　now　rode　up　with　the　vehemence　of　a　duped　lover。　To　regain
a　little　of　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　esteem；　Lousteau　did　his　best　to
hide　the　tumbled　dress　from　Gatien's　eyes　by　leaning　out　of　the　chaise
to　speak　to　him　from　Dinah's　side。

〃Go　back　to　our　inn；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　still　time；　the　diligence
does　not　start　for　half　an　hour。　The　papers　are　on　the　table　of　the
room　Bianchon　was　in；　he　wants　them　particularly；　for　he　will　be　lost
without　his　notes　for　the　lecture。〃

〃Pray　go；　Gatien；〃　said　Dinah　to　her　young　adorer；　with　an　imperious
glance。　And　the　boy　thus　commanded　turned　his　horse　and　was　off　with　a
loose　rein。

〃Go　quickly　to　La　Baudraye；〃　cried　Lousteau　to　the　coachman。　〃Madame
is　not　wellYour　mother　only　will　know　the　secret　of　my　trick；〃　added
he；　taking　his　seat　by　Dinah。

〃You　call　such　infamous　conduct　a　trick？〃　cried　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；
swallowing　down　a　few　tears　that　dried　up　with　the　fire　of　outraged
pride。

She　leaned　back　in　the　corner　of　the　chaise；　crossed　her　arms；　and
gazed　out　at　the　Loire　and　the　landscape；　at　anything　rather　than　at
Lousteau。　The　journalist　put　on　his　most　ingratiating　tone；　and　talked
till　they　reached　La　Baudraye；　where　Dinah　fled　indoors；　trying　not　to
be　seen　by　any　one。　In　her　agitation　she　threw　herself　on　a　sofa　and
burst　into　tears。

〃If　I　am　an　object　of　horror　to　you；　of　aversion　or　scorn；　I　will　go；〃
said　Lousteau；　who　had　followed　her。　And　he　threw　himself　at　her　feet。

It　was　at　this　crisis　that　Madame　Piedefer　came　in；　saying　to　her
daughter：

〃What　is　the　matter？　What　has　happened？〃

〃Give　your　daughter　another　dress　at　once；〃　said　the　audacious
Parisian　in　the　prim　old　lady's　ear。

Hearing　the　mad　gallop　of　Gatien's　horse；　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　fled
to　her　bedroom；　followed　by　her　mother。

〃There　are　no　papers　at　the　inn；〃　said　Gatien　to　Lousteau；　who　went
out　to　meet　him。

〃And　you　found　none　at　the　Chateau　d'Anzy　either？〃　replied　Lousteau。

〃You　have　been　making　a　fool　of　me；〃　said　Gatien；　in　a　cold；　set
voice。

〃Quite　so；〃　replied　Lousteau。　〃Madame　de　la　Baudraye　was　greatly
annoyed　by　your　choosing　to　follow　her　without　being　invited。　Believe
me；　to　bore　a　woman　is　a　bad　way　of　courting　her。　Dinah　has　played　you
a　trick；　and　you　have　given　her　a　laugh；　it　is　more　than　any　of　you
has　done　in　these　thirteen　years　past。　You　owe　that　success　to
Bianchon；　for　your　cousin　was　the　author　of　the　Farce　of　the
'Manuscript。'Will　the　horse　get　over　it？〃　asked　Lousteau　with　a
laugh；　while　Gatien　was　wondering　whether　to　be　angry　or　not。

〃The　horse！〃　said　Gatien。

At　this　moment　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　came　in；　dressed　in　a　velvet
gown；　and　accompanied　by　her　mother；　who　shot　angry　flashes　at
Lousteau。　It　would　have　been　too　rash　for　Dinah　to　seem　cold　or　severe
to　Lousteau　in　Gatien's　presence；　and　Etienne；　taking　advantage　of
this；　offered　his　arm　to　the　supposed　Lucretia；　however；　she　declined
it。

〃Do　you　mean　to　cast　off　a　man　who　has　vowed　to　live　for　you？〃　said
he；　walking　close　beside　her。　〃I　shall　stop　at　Sancerre　and　go　home
to…morrow。〃

〃Are　you　coming；　mamma？〃　said　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　to　Madame
Piedefer；　thus　avoiding　a　reply　to　the　direct　challenge　by　which
Lousteau　was　forcing　her　to　a　decision。

Lousteau　handed　the　mother　into　the　chaise；　he　helped　Madame　de　la
Baudraye　by　gently　taking　her　arm；　and　he　and　Gatien　took　the　front
seat；　leaving　the　saddle　horse　at　La　Baudraye。

〃You　have　changed　your　gown；〃　said　Gatien；　blunderingly；　to　Dinah。

〃Madame　la　Baronne　was　chilled　by　the　cool　air　off　the　river；〃　replied
Lousteau。　〃Bianchon　advised　her　to　put　on　a　warm　dress。〃

Dinah　turned　as　red　as　a　poppy；　and　Madame　Piedefer　assumed　a　stern
expression。

〃Poor　Bianchon！　he　is　on　the　road　to　Paris。　A　noble　soul！〃　said
Lousteau。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　cried　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；　〃he　is　high…minded；　full　of
delicate　feeling〃

〃We　were　in　such　good　spirits　when　we　set　out；〃　said　Lousteau；　〃now
you　are　overdone；　and　you　speak　to　me　so　bitterlywhy？　Are　you　not
accustomed　to　being　told　how　handsome　and　how　clever　you　are？　For　my
part；　I　say　boldly；　before　Gatien；　I　give　up　Paris；　I　mean　to　stay　at
Sancerre　and　swell　the　number　of　your　/cavalieri　serventi/。　I　feel　so
young　again　in　my　native　district；　I　have　quite　forgotten　Paris　and
all　its　wickedness；　and　its　bores；　and　its　wearisome　pleasures。Yes；
my　life　seems　in　a　way　purified。〃

Dinah　allowed　Lousteau　to　talk　without　even　looking　at　him；　but　at
last　there　was　a　moment　when　this　serpent's　rhodomontade　was　really　so
inspired　by　the　effort　he　made　to　affect　passion　in　phrases　and　ideas
of　which　the　meaning；　though　hidden　from　Gatien；　found　a　loud　response
in　Dinah's　heart；　that　she　raised　her　eyes　to　his。　This　look　seemed　to
crown　Lousteau's　joy；　his　wit　flowed　more　freely；　and　at　last　he　made
Madame　de　la　Baudraye　laugh。　When；　under　circumstances　which　so
seriously　compromise　her　pride；　a　woman　has　been　made　to　laugh；　she　is
finally　committed。

As　they　drove　in　by　the　spacious　graveled　forecourt；　with　its　lawn　in
the　middle；　and　the　large　vases　filled　with　flowers　which　so　well　set
off　the　facade　of　Anzy；　the　journalist　was　saying：

〃When　women　love；　they　forgive　everything；　even　our　crimes；　when　they
do　not　love；　they　cannot　forgive　anythingnot　even　our　virtues。Do
you　forgive　me；〃　he　added　in　Madame　de　la　Baudraye's　ear；　and　pressing
her　arm　to　his　heart　with　tender　emphasis。　And　Dinah　could　not　help
smiling。

All　through　dinner；　and　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　Etienne　was　in
the　most　delightful　spirits；　inexhaustibly　cheerful；　but　while　thus
giving　vent　to　his　intoxication；　he　now　and　then　fell　into　the　dreamy
abstraction　of　a　man　who　seems　rapt　in　his　own　happiness。

After　coffee　had　been　served；　Madame　de　la　Baudraye　and　her　mothe