第26章

Ithankedherforhervisit，beggedhertobeseated，andIexpressedalltheinterestIfeltforher。Hergratitudesheweditselfmorebythetoneofhervoicethanbyherwords，andherconfidencebeingalreadycaptivatedshetoldmeartlessly，butnotwithoutsomedignity，hershorthistoryorratherhersituation，andsheconcludedbythesewords:

"Imustinthecourseofthedayfindalessexpensivelodging，forI

onlypossesssixfrancs。"

Iaskedherwhethershehadanylettersofrecommendation，andshedrewoutofherpocketaparcelofpaperscontainingsevenoreighttestimonialsofgoodconductandhonesty，andapassport。

"Isthisallyouhave，mydearcountrywoman？"

"Yes。Iintendtocallwithmybrotheruponthesecretaryofwar，andIhopehewilltakepityonme。"

"Youdonotknowanybodyhere？"

"Notoneperson，sir；youarethefirstmaninFrancetowhomIhaveexposedmysituation。"

"Iamacountrymanofyours，andyouarerecommendedtomebyyourpositionaswellasbyyourage；Iwishtobeyouradviser，ifyouwillpermitme。"

"Ah，sir！howgratefulIwouldbe！"

"Donotmentionit。Givemeyourpapers，Iwillseewhatistobedonewiththem。Donotrelateyourhistorytoanyone，anddonotsayonewordaboutyourposition。Youhadbetterremainatthishotel。

HerearetwoLouiswhichIwilllendyouuntilyouareinapositiontoreturnthemtome。"

Sheaccepted，expressingherheart—feltgratitude。

MademoiselleVesianwasaninterestingbrunetteofsixteen。ShehadagoodknowledgeofFrenchandItalian，gracefulmanners，andadignitywhichendowedherwithaverynobleappearance。Sheinformedmeofheraffairswithoutmeanness，yetwithoutthattimiditywhichseemstoarisefromafearofthepersonwholistensbeingdisposedtotakeadvantageofthedistressingpositionconfidedtohishonour。

Sheseemedneitherhumiliatednorbold；shehadhope，andshedidnotboastofhercourage。Hervirtuewasbynomeansostentatious，buttherewasinheranairofmodestywhichwouldcertainlyhaveputarestraintuponanyonedisposedtofailinrespecttowardsher。I

felttheeffectofitmyself，forinspiteofherbeautifuleyes，herfinefigure，ofthefreshnessofhercomplexion，hertransparentskin，hernegligee——inoneword，allthatcantemptamanandwhichfilledmewithburningdesires，Ididnotforoneinstantlosecontrolovermyself；shehadinspiredmewithafeelingofrespectwhichhelpedmetomastermysenses，andIpromisedmyselfnotonlytoattemptnothingagainsthervirtue，butalsonottobethefirstmantomakeherdeviatefromtherightpath。Ieventhoughtitbettertopostponetoanotherinterviewalittlespeechonthatsubject，theresultofwhichmightbetomakemefollowadifferentcourse。

"Youarenowinacity，"Isaidtoher，"inwhichyourdestinymustunfolditself，andinwhichallthefinequalitieswhichnaturehassobountifullybestoweduponyou，andwhichmayultimatelycauseyourfortune，maylikewisecauseyourruin；forhere，bydearcountrywoman，wealthymendespisealllibertinewomenexceptthosewhohaveofferedthemthesacrificeoftheirvirtue。Ifyouarevirtuous，andaredetermineduponremainingso，prepareyourselftobearagreatdealofmisery；ifyoufeelyourselfsufficientlyabovewhatiscalledprejudice，if，inoneword，youfeeldisposedtoconsenttoeverything，inordertosecureacomfortableposition，beverycarefulnottomakeamistake。Distrustaltogetherthesweetwordswhicheverypassionatemanwilladdresstoyouforthesakeofobtainingyourfavours，for，hispassiononcesatisfied，hisardourwillcooldown，andyouwillfindyourselfdeceived。Bewaryofyouradorers；theywillgiveyouabundanceofcounterfeitcoin，butdonottrustthemfar。AsfarasIamconcerned，IfeelcertainthatI

shallneverinjureyou，andIhopetobeofsomeusetoyou。Toreassureyouentirelyonmyaccount，Iwilltreatyouasifyouweremysister，forIamtooyoungtoplaythepartofyourfather，andI

wouldnottellyouallthisifIdidnotthinkyouaverycharmingperson。"

Herbrotherjoinedusasweweretalkingtogether。Hewasagood—

lookingyoungmanofeighteen，wellmade，butwithoutanystyleabouthim；hespokelittle，andhisexpressionwasdevoidofindividuality。

Webreakfastedtogether，andhavingaskedhimaswewereattableforwhatprofessionhefeltaninclination，heansweredthathewasdisposedtodoanythingtoearnanhonourableliving。

"Haveyouanypeculiartalent？"

"Iwriteprettywell。"

"Thatissomething。Whenyougoout，mistrusteverybody；donotenteranycaf？andneverspeaktoanyoneinthestreets。Eatyourmealsinyourroomwithyoursister，andtellthelandladytogiveyouasmallclosettosleepin。WritesomethinginFrenchto—day，letmehaveitto—morrowmorning，andwewillseewhatcanbedone。

Asforyou，mademoiselle，mybooksareatyourdisposal，Ihaveyourpapers；to—morrowImayhavesomenewstotellyou；weshallnotseeeachotheragainto—day，forIgenerallycomehomeverylate。"Shetookafewbooks，madeamodestreverence，andtoldmewithacharmingvoicethatshehadeveryconfidenceinme。

Feelingdisposedtobeusefultoher，whereverIwentduringthatdayIspokeofnothingbutofherandofheraffairs；andeverywheremenandwomentoldmethatifshewasprettyshecouldnotfail，butthatatalleventsitwouldberightforhertotakeallnecessarysteps。

Ireceivedapromisethatthebrothershouldbeemployedinsomeoffice。IthoughtthatthebestplanwouldbetofindsomeinfluentialladywhowouldconsenttopresentMdlle。VesiantoM。d’Argenson，andIknewthatinthemeantimeIcouldsupporther。

IbeggedSilviatomentionthemattertoMadamedeMontconseil，whohadverygreatinfluencewiththesecretaryofwar。Shepromisedtodoso，butshewishedtobeacquaintedwiththeyounggirl。

Ireturnedtothehoteltowardseleveno’clock，andseeingthattherewasalightstillburningintheroomofMdlle。VesianIknockedatherdoor。Sheopenedit，andtoldmethatshehadsatupinthehopeofseeingme。IgaveheranaccountofwhatIhaddone。Ifoundherdisposedtoundertakeallthatwasnecessary，andmostgratefulformyassistance。Shespokeofherpositionwithanairofnobleindifferencewhichsheassumedinordertorestrainhertears；shesucceededinkeepingthemback，butthemoistureinhereyesprovedalltheeffortsshewasmakingtopreventthemfromfalling。Wehadtalkedfortwohours，andgoingfromonesubjecttoanotherIlearnedthatshehadneverloved，andthatshewasthereforeworthyofaloverwhowouldrewardherinapropermannerforthesacrificeofhervirtue。Itwouldhavebeenabsurdtothinkthatmarriagewastobetherewardofthatsacrifice；theyounggirlhadnotyetmadewhatiscalledafalsestep，butshehadnoneoftheprudishfeelingsofthosegirlswhosaythattheywouldnottakesuchastepforallthegoldintheuniverse，andusuallygivewaybeforetheslightestattack；allmyyoungfriendwantedwastodisposeofherselfinaproperandadvantageousmanner。

IcouldnothelpsighingasIlistenedtoherverysensibleremarks，consideringthepositioninwhichshewasplacedbyanadversedestiny。Hersinceritywascharmingtome；Iwasburningwithdesire。LucieofPaseancamebacktomymemory；IrecollectedhowdeeplyIhadrepentedtheinjuryIhaddoneinneglectingasweetflower，whichanotherman，andalessworthyone，hadhastenedtopluck；Ifeltmyselfnearalambwhichwouldperhapsbecomethepreyofsomegreedywolf；andshe，withhernoblefeelings，hercarefuleducation，andacandourwhichanimpurebreathwouldperhapsdestroyforever，wassurelynotdestinedforalotofshame。IregrettedI

wasnotrichenoughtomakeherfortune，andtosaveherhonourandhervirtue。IfeltthatIcouldneithermakehermineinanillegitimatewaynorbeherguardianangel，andthatbybecomingherprotectorIshoulddohermoreharmthangood；inoneword，insteadofhelpingheroutoftheunfortunatepositioninwhichshewas，I

should，perhaps，onlycontributetoherentireruin。DuringthattimeIhadhernearme，speakingtoherinasentimentalway，andnotutteringonesinglewordoflove；butIkissedherhandandherarmstoooftenwithoutcomingtoaresolution，withoutbeginningathingwhichwouldhavetoorapidlycometoanend，andwhichwouldhavecompelledmetokeepherformyself；inthatcase，therewouldhavebeennolongeranyhopeofafortuneforher，andformenomeansofgettingridofher。Ihavelovedwomeneventomadness，butIhavealwayslovedlibertybetter；andwheneverIhavebeenindangeroflosingitfatehascometomyrescue。

IhadremainedaboutfourhourswithMdlle。Vesian，consumedbythemostintensedesires，andIhadhadstrengthenoughtoconquerthem。

Shecouldnotattributemyreservetoafeelingofmodesty，andnotknowingwhyIdidnotshewmoreboldnessshemusthavesupposedthatIwaseitherillorimpotent。Ilefther，afterinvitinghertodinnerforthenextday。

Wehadapleasantdinner，andherbrotherhavinggoneoutforawalkafterourmealwelookedtogetheroutofthewindowfromwhichwecouldseeallthecarriagesgoingtotheItalianComedy。Iaskedherwhethershewouldliketogo；sheansweredmewithasmileofdelight，andwestartedatonce。

IplacedherintheamphitheatrewhereIlefther，tellingherthatwewouldmeetatthehotelateleveno’clock。Iwouldnotremainwithher，inordertoavoidthequestionswhichwouldhavebeenaddressedtome，forthesimplerhertoiletwasthemoreinterestingshelooked。

AfterIhadleftthetheatre，IwenttosupatSilvia’sandreturnedtothehotel。Iwassurprisedatthesightofanelegantcarriage；I

enquiredtowhomitbelonged，andIwastoldthatitwasthecarriageofayoungnoblemanwhohadsuppedwithMdlle。Vesian。Shewasgettingon。

Thefirstthingnextmorning，asIwasputtingmyheadoutofthewindow，Isawahackneycoachstopatthedoorofthehotel；ayoungman，welldressedinamorningcostume，cameoutofit，andaminuteafterIheardhimentertheroomofMdlle。Vesian。Courage！Ihadmadeupmymind；Iaffectedafeelingofcompleteindifferenceinordertodeceivemyself。

Idressedmyselftogoout，andwhileIwasatmytoiletVesiancameinandtoldmethathedidnotliketogointohissister’sroombecausethegentlemanwhohadsuppedwithherhadjustarrived。

"That’samatterofcourse，"Isaid。

"Heisrichandveryhandsome。HewishestotakeushimselftoVersailles，andpromisestoprocuresomeemploymentforme。"

"Icongratulateyou。Whoishe？"

"Idonotknow。"

Iplacedinanenvelopethepapersshehadentrustedtome，andI

handedthemtohimtoreturntohissister。Ithenwentout。WhenI

camehometowardsthreeo’clock，thelandladygavemealetterwhichhadbeenleftformebyMdlle。Vesian，whohadleftthehotel。

Iwenttomyroom，openedtheletter，andreadthefollowinglines:

"Ireturnthemoneyyouhavelentmewithmybestthanks。TheCountdeNarbonnefeelsinterestedinme，andwishestoassistmeandmybrother。Ishallinformyouofeverything，ofthehouseinwhichhewishesmetogoandlive，wherehepromisestosupplymeallIwant。

Yourfriendshipisverydeartome，andIentreatyounottoforgetme。Mybrotherremainsatthehotel，andmyroombelongstomeforthemonth。Ihavepaideverything。"

"Hereis，"saidItomyself，"asecondLuciedePasean，andIamasecondtimethedupeofmyfoolishdelicacy，forIfeelcertainthatthecountwillnotmakeherhappy。ButIwashmyhandsofitall。"

IwenttotheTheatreFrancaisintheevening，andenquiredaboutNarbonne。ThefirstpersonIspoketotoldme，"Heisthesonofawealthyman，butagreatlibertineanduptohisneckindebts。"

Nicereferences，indeed！ForaweekIwenttoallthetheatresandpublicplacesinthehopeofmakingtheacquaintanceofthecount，butIcouldnotsucceed，andIwasbeginningtoforgettheadventurewhenonemorning，towardseighto’clockVesiancallingonme，toldmethathissisterwasinherroomandwishedtospeaktome。I

followedhimimmediately。Ifoundherlookingunhappyandwitheyesredfromcrying。Shetoldherbrothertogooutforawalk，andwhenhehadgoneshespoketomethus:

"M。deNarbonne，whomIthoughtanhonestman，becauseIwantedhimtobesuch，cametositbymewhereyouhadleftmeatthetheatre；

hetoldmethatmyfacehadinterestedhim，andheaskedmewhoI

was。ItoldhimwhatIhadtoldyou。Youhadpromisedtothinkofme，butNarbonnetoldmethathedidnotwantyourassistance，ashecouldactbyhimself。Ibelievedhim，andIhavebeenthedupeofmyconfidenceinhim；hehasdeceivedme；heisavillain。"

Thetearswerechokingher:Iwenttothewindowsoastolethercrywithoutrestraint:afewminutesafter，IcamebackandIsatdownbyher。

"Tellmeall，mydearVesian，unburdenyourheartfreely，anddonotthinkyourselfguiltytowardsme；inrealityIhavebeenwrongmorethanyou。YourheartwouldnotnowbeapreytosorrowifIhadnotbeensoimprudentastoleaveyoualoneatthetheatre。"

"Alas，sir！donotsayso；oughtItoreproachyoubecauseyouthoughtmesovirtuous？Well，inafewwords，themonsterpromisedtoshewmeeverycare，everyattention，onconditionofmygivinghimanundeniable，proofofmyaffectionandconfidence——namely，totakealodgingwithoutmybrotherinthehouseofawomanwhomherepresentedasrespectable。Heinsisteduponmybrothernotlivingwithme，sayingthatevil—mindedpersonsmightsupposehimtobemylover。Iallowedmyselftobepersuaded。Unhappycreature！HowcouldIgivewaywithoutconsultingyou？HetoldmethattherespectablewomantowhomhewouldtakemewouldaccompanymetoVersailles，andthathewouldsendmybrothertheresothatweshouldbebothpresentedtothewarsecretary。Afterourfirstsupperhetoldmethathewouldcomeandfetchmeinahackneycoachthenextmorning。Hepresentedmewithtwolouisandagoldwatch，andI

thoughtIcouldacceptthosepresentsfromayoungnoblemanwhoshewedsomuchinterestinme。Thewomantowhomheintroducedmedidnotseemtomeasrespectableashehadrepresentedhertobe。

Ihavepassedoneweekwithherwithouthisdoinganythingtobenefitmyposition。Hewouldcome，goout，returnashepleased，tellingmeeverydaythatitwouldbethemorrow，andwhenthemorrowcametherewasalwayssomeimpediment。Atlast，atseveno’clockthismorning，thewomantoldmethatthecountwasobligedtogointothecountry，thatahackneycoachwouldbringmebacktohishotel，andthathewouldcomeandseemeonhisreturn。Then，affectinganairofsadness，shetoldmethatImustgiveherbackthewatchbecausethecounthadforgottentopaythewatchmakerforit。Ihandedittoherimmediatelywithoutsayingaword，andwrappingthelittleI

possessedinmyhandkerchiefIcamebackhere，whereIarrivedhalfanhoursince。"

"Doyouhopetoseehimonhisreturnfromthecountry？"

"Toseehimagain！Oh，Lord！whyhaveIeverseenhim？"

Shewascryingbitterly，andImustconfessthatnoyounggirlevermovedmesodeeplyasshedidbytheexpressionofhergrief。PityreplacedinmyheartthetendernessIhadfeltforheraweekbefore。

TheinfamousproceedingsofNarbonnedisgustedmetothatextentthat，ifIhadknownwheretofindhimalone，Iwouldimmediatelyhavecompelledhimtogivemereparation。Ofcourse，ItookgoodcarenottoaskthepoorgirltogivemeadetailedaccountofherstayinthehouseofNarbonne’srespectableprocurers；IcouldguessevenmorethanIwantedtoknow，andtoinsistuponthatrecitalwouldhavehumiliatedMdlle。Vesian。Icouldseealltheinfamyofthecountinthetakingbackofthewatchwhichbelongedtoherasagift，andwhichtheunhappygirlhadearnedbuttoowell。IdidallIcouldtodryhertears，andshebeggedmetobeafathertoher，assuringmethatshewouldneveragaindoanythingtorenderherunworthyofmyfriendship，andthatshewouldalwaysbeguidedbymyadvice。

"Well，mydearyoungfriend，whatyoumustdonowisnotonlytoforgettheunworthycountandhiscriminalconducttowardsyou，butalsothefaultofwhichyouhavebeenguilty。Whatisdonecannotbeundone，andthepastisbeyondremedy；butcomposeyourself，andrecalltheairofcheerfulnesswhichshoneonyourcountenanceaweekago。ThenIcouldreadonyourfacehonesty，candour，goodfaith，andthenobleassurancewhicharousessentimentinthosewhocanappreciateitscharm。Youmustletallthosefeelingsshineagainonyourfeatures；fortheyalonecaninteresthonestpeople，andyourequirethegeneralsympathymorethanever。Myfriendshipisoflittleimportancetoyou，butyoumayrelyuponitallthemorebecauseIfancythatyouhavenowaclaimuponitwhichyouhadnotaweekago:Bequitecertain，Ibeg，thatIwillnotabandonyouuntilyourpositionisproperlysettled。Icannotatpresenttellyoumore；butbesurethatIwillthinkofyou。"

"Ah，myfriend！ifyoupromisetothinkofme，Iaskfornomore。

Oh！unhappycreaturethatIam；thereisnotasoulintheworldwhothinksofme。"

Shewas:sodeeplymovedthatshefaintedaway。Icametoherassistancewithoutcallinganyone，andwhenshehadrecoveredherconsciousnessandsomecalm，Itoldherahundredstories，trueorpurelyimaginary，oftheknavishtricksplayedinParisbymenwhothinkofnothingbutofdeceivingyounggirls。Itoldherafewamusinginstancesinordertomakehermorecheerful，andatlastI

toldherthatsheoughttobethankfulforwhathadhappenedtoherwithNarbonne，becausethatmisfortunewouldgiveherprudenceforthefuture。

Duringthatlongtete—a—teteIhadnodifficultyinabstainingfrombestowinganycaressesuponher；Ididnoteventakeherhand，forwhatIfeltforherwasatenderpity；andIwasveryhappywhenattheendoftwohoursIsawhercalmanddetermineduponbearingmisfortunelikeaheroine。

Shesuddenlyrosefromherseat，and，lookingatmewithanairofmodesttrustfulness，shesaidtome，"Are，youparticularlyengagedinanywayto—day？"

"No，mydear:"

"Well，then，begoodenoughtotakemesomewhereoutofParis；tosomeplacewhereIcanbreathethefreshairfreely；IshallthenrecoverthatappearancewhichyouthinkImusthavetointerestinmyfavourthosewhowillseeme；andifIcanenjoyaquietsleepthroughoutthenextnightIfeelIshallbehappyagain。"

"Iamgratefultoyouforyourconfidenceinme。WewillgooutassoonasIamdressed。Yourbrotherwillreturninthemeantime。"

"Oh，nevermindmybrother！"

"Hispresenceis，onthecontrary，ofgreatimportance。Recollect，mydearVesian，youmustmakeNarbonneashamedofhisownconduct。

Youmustconsiderthatifheshouldhappentohearthat，ontheverydayheabandonedyou，youwentintothecountryalonewithme，hewouldtriumph，andwouldc