the titan-第110节

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〃I　hear　that　she　is　creating　quite　a　stir　in　Bohemia；〃　he　observed。　〃If　she　expects　to　enter　society　it's　a　poor　way　to　begin；　don't　you　think？〃

〃Do　you　know　that　she　expects　to？〃

〃All　the　usual　signs　are　outa　box　here；　a　house　on　Fifth　Avenue。〃

This　study　of　Aileen　puzzled　and　disturbed　Berenice　a　little。　Nevertheless；　she　felt　immensely　superior。　　Her　soul　seemed　to　soar　over　the　plain　Aileen　inhabited。　　The　type　of　the　latter's　escorts　suggested　errora　lack　of　social　discrimination。　　Because　of　the　high　position　he　had　succeeded　in　achieving　Cowperwood　was　entitled；　no　doubt；　to　be　dissatisfied。　　His　wife　had　not　kept　pace　with　him；　or；　rather；　had　not　eluded　him　in　his　onward　flight　had　not　run　swiftly　before；　like　a　winged　victory。　　Berenice　reflected　that　if　she　were　dealing　with　such　a　man　he　should　never　know　her　trulyhe　should　be　made　to　wonder　and　to　doubt。　　Lines　of　care　and　disappointment　should　never　mar　her　face。　　She　would　scheme　and　dream　and　conceal　and　evade。　　He　should　dance　attendance；　whoever　he　was。

Nevertheless；　here　she　herself　was；　at　twenty…two；　unmarried；　her　background　insecure；　the　very　ground　on　which　she　walked　treacherous。　Braxmar　knew；　and　Beales　Chadsey；　and　Cowperwood。　　At　least　three　or　four　of　her　acquaintances　must　have　been　at　the　Waldorf　on　that　fatal　night。　　How　long　would　it　be　before　others　became　aware？　She　tried　eluding　her　mother；　Cowperwood；　and　the　situation　generally　by　freely　accepting　more　extended　invitations　and　by　trying　to　see　whether　there　was　not　some　opening　for　her　in　the　field　of　art。　　She　thought　of　painting　and　essayed　several　canvases　which　she　took　to　dealers。　　The　work　was　subtle；　remote；　fancifula　snow　scene　with　purple　edges；　a　thinking　satyr；　iron…like　in　his　heaviness；　brooding　over　a　cloudy　valley；　a　lurking　devil　peering　at　a　praying　Marguerite；　a　Dutch　interior　inspired　by　Mrs。　Batjer；　and　various　dancing　figures。　　Phlegmatic　dealers　of　somber　mien　admitted　some　promise；　but　pointed　out　the　difficulty　of　sales。　　Beginners　were　numerous。　　Art　was　long。　　If　she　went　on；　of　course。　。　。　。　　Let　them　see　other　things。　　She　turned　her　thoughts　to　dancing。

This　art　in　its　interpretative　sense　was　just　being　introduced　into　America；　a　certain　Althea　Baker　having　created　a　good　deal　of　stir　in　society　by　this　means。　　With　the　idea　of　duplicating　or　surpassing　the　success　of　this　woman　Berenice　conceived　a　dance　series　of　her　own。　　One　was　to　be　〃The　Terror〃a　nymph　dancing　in　the　spring　woods；　but　eventually　pursued　and　terrorized　by　a　faun；　another；〃The　Peacock；〃　a　fantasy　illustrative　of　proud　self…adulation；　another；　〃The　Vestal；〃　a　study　from　Roman　choric　worship。　　After　spending　considerable　time　at　Pocono　evolving　costumes；　poses；　and　the　like；　Berenice　finally　hinted　at　the　plan　to　Mrs。　Batjer；　declaring　that　she　would　enjoy　the　artistic　outlet　it　would　afford；　and　indicating　at　the　same　time　that　it　might　provide　the　necessary　solution　of　a　problem　of　ways　and　means。

〃Why；　Bevy；　how　you　talk！〃　commented　Mrs。　Batjer。　　〃And　with　your　possibilities。　　Why　don't　you　marry　first；　and　do　your　dancing　afterward？　You　might　compel　a　certain　amount　of　attention　that　way。〃

〃Because　of　hubby？　How　droll！　Whom　would　you　suggest　that　I　marry　at　once？〃

〃Oh；　when　it　comes　to　that〃　replied　Mrs。　Batjer；　with　a　slight　reproachful　lift　in　her　voice；　and　thinking　of　Kilmer　Duelma。　　〃But　surely　your　need　isn't　so　pressing。　　If　you　were　to　take　up　professional　dancing　I　might　have　to　cut　you　afterwardparticularly　if　any　one　else　did。〃

She　smiled　the　sweetest；　most　sensible　smile。　　Mrs。　Batjer　accompanied　her　suggestions　nearly　always　with　a　slight　sniff　and　cough。　　Berenice　could　see　that　the　mere　fact　of　this　conversation　made　a　slight　difference。　　In　Mrs。　Batjer's　world　poverty　was　a　dangerous　topic。　　The　mere　odor　of　it　suggested　a　kind　of　horrorperhaps　the　equivalent　of　error　or　sin。　　Others；　Berenice　now　suspected；　would　take　affright　even　more　swiftly。

Subsequent　to　this；　however；　she　made　one　slight　investigation　of　those　realms　that　govern　professional　theatrical　engagements。　　It　was　a　most　disturbing　experience。　　The　mere　color　and　odor　of　the　stuffy　offices；　the　gauche；　material　attendants；　the　impossible　aspirants　and　participants　in　this　make…believe　world！　The　crudeness！　The　effrontery！　The　materiality！　The　sensuality！　It　came　to　her　as　a　sickening　breath　and　for　the　moment　frightened　her。　　What　would　become　of　refinement　there？　What　of　delicacy？　How　could　one　rise　and　sustain　an　individual　dignity　and　control　in　such　a　world　as　this？

Cowperwood　was　now　suggesting　as　a　binding　link　that　he　should　buy　a　home　for　them　in　Park　Avenue；　where　such　social　functions　as　would　be　of　advantage　to　Berenice　and　in　some　measure　to　himself　as　an　occasional　guest　might　be　indulged　in。　　Mrs。　Carter；　a　fool　of　comfort；　was　pleased　to　welcome　this　idea。　　It　promised　to　give　her　absolute　financial　security　for　the　future。

〃I　know　how　it　is　with　you；　Frank；〃　she　declared。　　〃I　know　you　need　some　place　that　you　can　call　a　home。　　The　whole　difficulty　will　be　with　Bevy。　　Ever　since　that　miserable　puppy　made　those　charges　against　me　I　haven't　been　able　to　talk　to　her　at　all。　　She　doesn't　seem　to　want　to　do　anything　I　suggest。　　You　have　much　more　influence　with　her　than　I　have。　　If　you　explain；　it　may　be　all　right。〃

Instantly　Cowperwood　saw　an　opportunity。　　Intensely　pleased　with　this　confession　of　weakness　on　the　part　of　the　mother；　he　went　to　Berenice；　but　by　his　usual　method　of　indirect　direction。

〃You　know；　Bevy；〃　he　said；　one　afternoon　when　he　found　her　alone；　〃I　have　been　wondering　if　it　wouldn't　be　better　if　I　bought　a　large　house　for　you　and　your　mother　here　in　New　York；　where　you　and　she　could　do　entertaining　on　a　large　scale。　　Since　I　can't　spend　my　money　on　myself；　I　might　as　well　spend　it　on　some　one　who　would　make　an　interesting　use　of　it。　　You　might　include　me　as　an　uncle　or　father's　cousin　or　something　of　that　sort；〃　he　added；　lightly。

Berenice；　who　saw　quite　clearly　the　trap　he　was　setting　for　her；　was　nonplussed。　　At　the　same　time　she　could　not　help　seeing　that　a　house；　if　it　were　beautifully　furnished；　would　be　an　interesting　asset。　　People　in　society　loved　fixed；　notable　dwellings；　she　had　observed　that。　　What　functions　could　not　be　held　if　only　her　mother's　past　were　not　charged　against　her！　That　was　the　great　difficulty。　　It　was　almost　an　Arabian　situation；　heightened　by　the　glitter　of　gold。　　And　Cowperwood　was　always　so　diplomatic。　　He　came　forward　with　such　a　bland；　engaging　smile。　　His　hands　were　so　shapely　and　seeking。

〃A　house　such　as　you　speak　of　would　enlarge　the　debt　beyond　payment；　I　presume；〃　she　remarked；　sardonically　and　with　a　sad；　almost　contemptuous　gesture。　　Cowperwood　realized　how　her　piercing　intellect　was　following　his　shifty　trail；　and　winced。　　She　must　see　that　her　fate　was　in　his　hands；　but　oh！　if　she　would　only　surrender；　how　swiftly　every　dollar　of　his　vast　fortune　should　be　piled　humbly　at　her　feet。　　She　should　have　her　heart's　desire；　if　money　would　buy　it。　　She　could　say　to　him　go；　and　he　would　go；　come；　and　he　would　come。

〃Berenice；〃　he　said；　getting　up；　〃I　know　what　you　think。　　You　fancy　I　am　trying　to　further　my　own　interests　in　this　way；　but　I'm　not。　I　wouldn't　compromise　you　ultimately　for　all　the　wealth　of　India。　I　have　told　you　where　I　stand。　　Every　dollar　that　I　have　is　yours　to　do　with　as　you　choose　on　any　basis　that　you　may　care　to　name。　　I　have　no　future　outside　of　you；　none　except　art。　　I　do　not　expect　you　to　marry　me。　　Take　all　that　I　have。　　Wipe　society　under　your　feet。　　Don't　think　that　I　will　ever　charge　it　up　as　a　debt。　　I　won't。　　I　want　you　to　hold　your　own。　　Just　answer　me　one　question；　I　won't　ever　ask　another。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃If　I　were　single　now；　and　you　were　not　in　love　or　married；　would　you　consider　me　at　all？〃

His　eyes　pleaded　as　never　had　they　pleaded　before。

She　started；　looked　concerned；　severe；　then　relaxed　as　suddenly。　〃Let　me　see；〃　she　said；　with　a　slight　brightening　of　the　eyes　and　a　toss　of　her　head。　　〃That　is　a　second　cousin　to　a　proposal；　isn't　it？　You　have　no　right　to　make　it。　　You　aren't　single；　and　aren't　likely　to　be。　　Why　should　I　try　to　read　the　future？〃

She　walked　indifferently　out　of　the　room；　and　Cowperwood　stayed　a　moment　to　think。　　Obviously　he　had　triumphed　in　a　way。　　She　had　not　taken　great　offense。　　She　must　like　him　and　would　marry　him　if　only。。。

Only　Aileen。

And　now　he　wished　more　definitely　and　forcefully　than　ever　that　he　were　really　and　truly　free。　　He　felt　that　if　ever　he　wished　to　attain　Berenice　he　must　persuade　Aileen　to　divorce　him。




Chapter　LVII



Aileen's　Last　Card

It　was　not　until　some　little　time　after　they　were　established　in　the　new　house　that　Aileen　first　came　upon　any　evidence　of　the　existence　of　Berenice　Fleming。　　In　a　general　way　she　assumed　that　there　were　womenpossibly　some　of　whom　she　had　knownStephanie；　Mrs。　Hand；　Florence　Cochrane；　or　later　arrivalsyet　so　long　as　they　were　not　obtruded　on　her　she　permitted　herself　the　semi…comforting　thought　that　things　were　not　as　bad　as　they　might　be。　　So　long；　indeed；　as　Cowperwood　was　genuinely　promiscuous；　so　long　as　he　trotted　here　and　there；　not　snared　by　any　particu