第35章

Meanwhileithadgrownunbearablyhot，thesparklingriverlookedlikeablazeoffireandthefumesofthewineweregettingintotheirheads.

MonsieurDufour，whohadaviolenthiccough，hadunbuttonedhiswaistcoatandthetopbuttonofhistrousers，whilehiswife，whofeltchoking，wasgraduallyunfasteningherdress.Theapprenticewasshakinghisyellowwiginahappyframeofmind，andkepthelpinghimselftowine，andtheoldgrandmother，feelingtheeffectsofthewine，wasverystiffanddignified.Asforthegirl，onenoticedonlyapeculiarbrightnessinhereyes，whilethebrowncheeksbecamemorerosy.

Thecoffeefinished，theysuggestedsinging，andeachofthemsangorrepeatedacouplet，whichtheothersapplaudedfrantically.Thentheygotupwithsomedifficulty，andwhilethetwowomen，whowereratherdizzy，weretryingtogetabreathofair，thetwomen，whowerealtogetherdrunk，wereattemptinggymnastics.Heavy，limpandwithscarletfacestheyhungor，awkwardlytotheironrings，withoutbeingabletoraisethemselves.

Meanwhilethetwoboatingmenhadgottheirboatsintothewater，andtheycamebackandpolitelyaskedtheladieswhethertheywouldlikearow.

"Wouldyoulikeone，MonsieurDufour？"hiswifeexclaimed."Pleasecome！"

Hemerelygaveheradrunkennod，withoutunderstandingwhatshesaid.

Thenoneoftherowerscameupwithtwofishingrodsinhishands，andthehopeofcatchingagudgeon，thatgreatvisionoftheParisianshopkeeper，madeDufour’sdulleyesgleam，andhepolitelyallowedthemtodowhatevertheyliked，whilehesatintheshadeunderthebridge，withhisfeetdanglingovertheriver，bythesideoftheyoungmanwiththeyellowhair，whowassleepingsoundly.

Oneoftheboatingmenmadeamartyrofhimselfandtookthemother.

"LetusgotothelittlewoodontheIleauxAnglais！"hecalledoutasherowedoff.Theotherboatwentmoreslowly，fortherowerwaslookingathiscompanionsointentlythatbythoughtofnothingelse，andhisemotionseemedtoparalyzehisstrength，whilethegirl，whowassittinginthebow，gaveherselfuptotheenjoymentofbeingonthewater.Shefeltadisinclinationtothink，alassitudeinherlimbsandatotalenervation，asifshewereintoxicated，andherfacewasflushedandherbreathingquickened.Theeffectsofthewine，whichwereincreasedbytheextremeheat，madeallthetreesonthebankseemtobowasshepassed.Avaguewishforenjoymentandafermentationofherbloodseemedtopervadeherwholebody，whichwasexcitedbytheheatoftheday，andshewasalsodisturbedatthistete—a—teteonthewater，inaplacewhichseemeddepopulatedbytheheat，withthisyoungmanwhothoughtherpretty，whoseardentlooksseemedtocaressherskinandwereaspenetratingandpervadingasthesun’srays.

Theirinabilitytospeakincreasedtheiremotion，andtheylookedaboutthem.Atlast，however，hemadeaneffortandaskedhername.

"Henriette，"shesaid.

"Why，mynameisHenri，"hereplied.Thesoundoftheirvoiceshadcalmedthem，andtheylookedatthebanks.Theotherboathadpassedthemandseemedtobewaitingforthem，andtherowercalledout：

"Wewillmeetyouinthewood;wearegoingasfarasRobinson’s，becauseMadameDufouristhirsty."Thenhebentoverhisoarsagainandrowedoffsoquicklythathewassoonoutofsight.

Meanwhileacontinualroar，whichtheyhadheardforsometime，camenearer，andtheriveritselfseemedtoshiver，asifthedullnoisewererisingfromitsdepths.

"Whatisthatnoise？"sheasked.Itwasthenoiseoftheweirwhichcuttheriverintwoattheisland，andhewasexplainingittoher，when，abovethenoiseofthewaterfall，theyheardthesongofabird，whichseemedalongwayoff.

"Listen！"hesaid;"thenightingalesaresingingduringtheday，sothefemalebirdsmustbesitting."

Anightingale！Shehadneverheardonebefore，andtheideaoflisteningtoonerousedvisionsofpoetictendernessinherheart.Anightingale！

Thatistosay，theinvisiblewitnessofherlovetrystswhichJulietinvokedonherbalcony;thatcelestialmusicwhichitattunedtohumankisses，thateternalinspirerofallthoselanguorousromanceswhichopenanidealskytoallthepoorlittletenderheartsofsensitivegirls！

Shewasgoingtohearanightingale.

"Wemustnotmakeanoise，"hercompanionsaid，"andthenwecangointothewood，andsitdownclosebesideit."

Theboatseemedtoglide.Theysawthetreesontheisland，thebanksofwhichweresolowthattheycouldlookintothedepthsofthethickets.

Theystopped，hemadetheboatfast，HenriettetookholdofHenri’sarm，andtheywentbeneaththetrees.

"Stoop，"hesaid，soshestoopeddown，andtheywentintoaninextricablethicketofcreepers，leavesandreedgrass，whichformedanundiscoverableretreat，andwhichtheyoungmanlaughinglycalled"hisprivateroom."

Justabovetheirheads，perchedinoneofthetreeswhichhidthem，thebirdwasstillsinging.Heutteredtrillsandroulades，andthenloud，vibratingnotesthatfilledtheairandseemedtolosethemselvesonthehorizon，acrossthelevelcountry，throughthatburningsilencewhichweigheduponthewholelandscape.Theydidnotspeakforfearoffrighteningitaway.Theyweresittingclosetogether，and，slowly，Henri’sarmstoleroundthegirl’swaistandsqueezeditgently.Shetookthatdaringhandwithoutanyanger，andkeptremovingitwheneverheputitroundher;without，however，feelingatallembarrassedbythiscaress，justasifithadbeensomethingquitenatural，whichshewasresistingjustasnaturally.

Shewaslisteningtothebirdinecstasy.Shefeltaninfinitelongingforhappiness，forsomesuddendemonstrationoftenderness，fortherevelationofsuperhumanpoetry，andshefeltsuchasofteningatherheart，andrelaxationofhernerves，thatshebegantocry，withoutknowingwhy.Theyoungmanwasnowstrainingherclosetohim，yetshedidnotremovehisarm;shedidnotthinkofit.Suddenlythenightingalestopped，andavoicecalledoutinthedistance：

"Henriette！"

"Donotreply，"hesaidinalowvoice;"youwilldrivethebirdaway."

Butshehadnoideaofdoingso，andtheyremainedinthesamepositionforsometime.MadameDufourhadsatdownsomewhereorother，forfromtimetotimetheyheardthestoutladybreakoutintolittleburstsoflaughter.

Thegirlwasstillcrying;shewasfilledwithstrangesensations.

Henri’sheadwasonhershoulder，andsuddenlyhekissedheronthelips.

Shewassurprisedandangry，and，toavoidhim，shestoodup.

Theywerebothverypalewhentheylefttheirgrassyretreat.Theblueskyappearedtothemcloudedandtheardentsundarkened;andtheyfelttilesolitudeandthesilence.Theywalkedrapidly，sidebyside，withoutspeakingortouchingeachother，fortheyseemedtohavebecomeirreconcilableenemies，asifdisgustandhatredhadarisenbetweenthem，andfromtimetotimeHenriettecalledout："Mamma！"

Byandbytheyheardanoisebehindabush，andthestoutladyappeared，lookingratherconfused，andhercompanion’sfacewaswrinkledwithsmileswhichhecouldnotcheck.

MadameDufourtookhisarm，andtheyreturnedtotheboats，andHenri，whowasahead，walkedinsilencebesidetheyounggirl.AtlasttheygotbacktoBezons.MonsieurDufour，whowasnowsober，waswaitingforthemveryimpatiently，whiletheyoungmanwiththeyellowhairwashavingamouthfulofsomethingtoeatbeforeleavingtheinn.Thecarriagewaswaitingintheyard，andthegrandmother，whohadalreadygotin，wasveryfrightenedatthethoughtofbeingovertakenbynightbeforetheyreachedParis，astheoutskirtswerenotsafe.

Theyallshookbands，andtheDufourfamilydroveoff.

"Good—by，untilwemeetagain！"theoarsmencried，andtheanswertheygotwasasighandatear.

Twomonthslater，asHenriwasgoingalongtheRuedesMartyrs，hesawDufour，Ironmonger，overadoor，andsohewentin，andsawthestoutladysittingatthecounter.Theyrecognizedeachotherimmediately，andafteraninterchangeofpolitegreetings，heaskedafterthemall.

"AndhowisMademoiselleHenriette？"heinquiredspecially.

"Verywell，thankyou;sheismarried."

"Ah！"Hefeltacertainemotion，butsaid："Whomdidshemarry？"

"Thatyoungmanwhoaccompaniedus，youknow;hehasjoinedusinbusiness."

"Irememberhimperfectly."

Hewasgoingout，feelingveryunhappy，thoughscarcelyknowingwhy，whenmadamecalledhimback.

"Andhowisyourfriend？"sheaskedrathershyly.

"Heisverywell，thankyou."

"Pleasegivehimourcompliments，andbeghimtocomeandcall，whenheisintheneighborhood."

Shethenadded："Tellhimitwillgivemegreatpleasure."

"Iwillbesuretodoso.Adieu！"

"Donotsaythat;comeagainverysoon."

Thenextyear，oneveryhotSunday，allthedetailsofthatadventure，whichHenrihadneverforgotten，suddenlycamebacktohimsoclearlythathereturnedalonetotheirroominthewood，andwasoverwhelmedwithastonishmentwhenhewentin.Shewassittingonthegrass，lookingverysad，whilebyherside，stillinhisshirtsleeves，theyoungmanwiththeyellowhairwassleepingsoundly，likesomeanimal.

ShegrewsopalewhenshesawHenrithatatfirsthethoughtshewasgoingtofaint;then，however，theybegantotalkquitenaturally.

Butwhenhetoldherthathewasveryfondofthatspot，andwenttherefrequentlyonSundaystoindulgeinmemories，shelookedintohiseyesforalongtime.

"Itoo，thinkofit，"shereplied.

"Come，mydear，"herhusbandsaid，withayawn."Ithinkitistimeforustobegoing."

ROSE

Thetwoyoungwomenappeartobeburiedunderablanketofflowers.Theyarealoneintheimmenselandau，whichisfilledwithflowerslikeagiantbasket.Onthefrontseataretwosmallhampersofwhitesatinfilledwithviolets，andonthebearskinbywhichtheirkneesarecoveredthereisamassofroses，mimosas，pinks，daisies，tuberosesandorangeblossoms，interwovenwithsilkribbons;thetwofrailbodiesseemburiedunderthisbeautifulperfumedbed，whichhideseverythingbuttheshouldersandarmsandalittleofthedaintywaists.

Thecoachman’swhipiswoundwithagarlandofanemones，thehorses’

tracesaredottedwithcarnations，thespokesofthewheelsareclothedinmignonette，andwherethelanternsoughttobearetwoenormousroundbouquetswhichlookasthoughtheyweretheeyesofthisstrange，rolling，flower—bedeckedcreature.

Thelandaudrivesrapidlyalongtheroad，throughtheRued’Antibes，preceded，followed，accompanied，byacrowdofothercarriagescoveredwithflowers，fullofwomenalmosthiddenbyaseaofviolets.ItistheflowercarnivalatCannes.

ThecarriagereachestheBoulevarddelaFonciere，wherethebattleiswaged.Allalongtheimmenseavenueadoublerowofflower—bedeckedvehiclesaregoingandcominglikeanendlessribbon.Flowersarethrownfromonetotheother.Theypassthroughtheairlikeballs，strikingfreshfaces，bouncingandfallingintothedust，whereanarmyofyoungsterspickthemup.

Athickcrowdisstandingonthesidewalkslookingonandheldincheckbythemountedpolice，whopassbrutallyalongpushingbackthecuriouspedestriansasthoughtopreventthecommonpeoplefromminglingwiththerich.

Inthecarriages，peoplecalltoeachother，recognizeeachotherandbombardeachotherwithroses.Achariotfullofprettywomen，dressedinred，likedevils，attractstheeyesofall.Agentleman，wholooksliketheportraitsofHenryIV.，isthrowinganimmensebouquetwhichisheldbackbyanelastic.Fearingtheshock，thewomenhidetheireyesandthemenlowertheirheads，butthegraceful，rapidandobedientmissiledescribesacurveandreturnstoitsmaster，whoimmediatelythrowsitatsomenewface.

Thetwoyoungwomenbegintothrowtheirstockofflowersbyhandfuls，andreceiveaperfecthailofbouquets;then，afteranhourofwarfare，alittletired，theytellthecoachmantodrivealongtheroadwhichfollowstheseashore.

ThesundisappearsbehindEsterel，outliningthedark，ruggedmountainagainstthesunsetsky.Theclearbluesea，ascalmasamill—pond，stretchesoutasfarasthehorizon，whereitblendswiththesky;andthefleet，anchoredinthemiddleofthebay，lookslikeaherdofenormousbeasts，motionlessonthewater，apocalypticanimals，armoredandhump—backed，theirfrailmastslookinglikefeathers，andwitheyeswhichlightupwheneveningapproaches.

Thetwoyoungwomen，leaningbackundertheheavyrobes，lookoutlazilyovertheblueexpanseofwater.Atlastoneofthemsays：

"Howdelightfultheeveningsare！Howgoodeverythingseems！Don’tyouthinkso，Margot？"

"Yes，itisgood.Butthereisalwayssomethinglacking."

"Whatislacking？Ifeelperfectlyhappy.Idon’tneedanythingelse."

"Yes，youdo.Youarenotthinkingofit.Nomatterhowcontentedwemaybe，physically，wealwayslongforsomethingmore——fortheheart."

Theotheraskedwithasmile：

"Alittlelove？"

"Yes."

Theystoppedtalking，theireyesfastenedonthedistanthorizon，thentheonecalledMargueritemurmured："Lifewithoutthatseemstomeunbearable.Ineedtobeloved，ifonlybyadog.Butweareallalike，nomatterwhatyoumaysay，Simone."

"Notatall，mydear.Ihadrathernotbelovedatallthantobelovedbythefirstcomer.Doyouthink，forinstance，thatitwouldbepleasanttobelovedby——by——"

Shewasthinkingbywhomshemightpossiblybeloved，glancingacrossthewidelandscape.Hereyes，aftertravelingaroundthehorizon，fellonthetwobrightbuttonswhichwereshiningonthebackofthecoachman’slivery，andshecontinued，laughing："bymycoachman？"

MadameMargotbarelysmiled，andsaidinalowtoneofvoice：

"Iassureyouthatitisveryamusingtobelovedbyaservant.Ithashappenedtometwoorthreetimes.Theyrolltheireyesinsuchafunnymanner——it’senoughtomakeyoudielaughing！Naturally，themoreinlovetheyare，themoresevereonemustbewiththem，andthen，someday，forsomereason，youdismissthem，because，ifanyoneshouldnoticeit，youwouldappearsoridiculous."

MadameSimonewaslistening，staringstraightaheadofher，thensheremarked：

"No，I’mafraidthatmyfootman’sheartwouldnotsatisfyme.Tellmehowyounoticedthattheylovedyou."

"InoticeditthesamewaythatIdowithothermen——whentheygetstupid."

"Theothersdon’tseemstupidtome，whentheyloveme."

"Theyareidiots，mydear，unabletotalk，toanswer，tounderstandanything."

"Buthowdidyoufeelwhenyouwerelovedbyaservant？Wereyou——moved——flattered？"

"Moved？no，flattered——yesalittle.Oneisalwaysflatteredtobelovedbyaman，nomatterwhohemaybe."

"Oh，Margot！"

"Yes，indeed，mydear！Forinstance，Iwilltellyouofapeculiarincidentwhichhappenedtome.Youwillseehowcuriousandcomplexouremotionsare，insuchcases.

"AboutfouryearsagoIhappenedtobewithoutamaid.Ihadtriedfiveorsix，onerightaftertheother，andIwasaboutreadytogiveupindespair，whenIsawanadvertisementinanewspaperofayounggirlknowinghowtocook，embroider，dresshair，whowaslookingforapositionandwhocouldfurnishthebestofreferences.Besidesalltheseaccomplishments，shecouldspeakEnglish.

"Iwrotetothegivenaddress，andthenextdaythepersoninquestionpresentedherself.Shewastall，slender，pale，shy—looking.Shehadbeautifulblackeyesandacharmingcomplexion;shepleasedmeimmediately.Iaskedforhercertificates;shegavemeoneinEnglish，forshecame，asshesaid，fromLadyRymwell’s，whereshehadbeenfortenyears.

"Thecertificateshowedthattheyounggirlhadleftofherownfreewill，inordertoreturntoFrance，andtheonlythingwhichtheyhadhadtofindfaultinherduringherlongperiodofservicewasalittleFrenchcoquettishness.

"ThisprudishEnglishphraseevenmademesmile，andIimmediatelyengagedthismaid.

"Shecametomethesameday.HernamewasRose.

"AttheendofamonthIwouldhavebeenhelplesswithouther.Shewasatreasure，apearl，aphenomenon.

"Shecoulddressmyhairwithinfinitetaste;shecouldtrimahatbetterthanmostmilliners，andshecouldevenmakemydresses.

"Iwasastonishedatheraccomplishments.Ihadneverbeforebeenwaitedoninsuchamanner.

"Shedressedmerapidlyandwithasurprisinglylighttouch.Ineverfeltherfingersonmyskin，andnothingissodisagreeabletomeascontactwithaservant’shand.Isoonbecameexcessivelylazy;itwassopleasanttobedressedfromheadtofoot，andfromlingerietogloves，bythistall，timidgirl，alwaysblushingalittle，andneversayingaword.

AftermybathshewouldrubandmassagemewhileIdozedalittleonmycouch;Ialmostconsideredhermoreofafriendthanaservant.

"Onemorningthejanitorasked，mysteriously，tospeaktome.Iwassurprised，andtoldhimtocomein.Hewasagood，faithfulman，anoldsoldier，oneofmyhusband’sformerorderlies.

"Heseemedtobeembarrassedbywhathehadtosaytome.Atlasthemanagedtomumble：

"’Madame，thesuperintendentofpoliceisdownstairs.’

"Iaskedquickly：

"’Whatdoeshewish？’

"’Hewishestosearchthehouse.’

"Ofcoursethepoliceareuseful，butIhatethem.Idonotthinkthatitisanobleprofession.Ianswered，angeredandhurt：

"’Whythissearch？Forwhatreason？Heshallnotcomein.’

"Thejanitorcontinued：

"’Hesaysthatthereisacriminalhiddeninthehouse.’

"ThistimeIwasfrightenedandItoldhimtobringtheinspectortome，sothatImightgetsomeexplanation.HewasamanwithgoodmannersanddecoratedwiththeLegionofHonor.Hebeggedmypardonfordisturbingme，andtheninformedmethatIhad，amongmydomestics，aconvict.

"Iwasshocked;andIansweredthatIcouldguaranteeeveryservantinthehouse，andIbegantoenumeratethem.

"’Thejanitor，PierreCourtin，anoldsoldier.’

"’It’snothe.’

"’Astable—boy，sonoffarmerswhomIknow，andagroomwhomyouhavejustseen.’

"’It’snothe.’

"’Then，monsieur，youseethatyoumustbemistaken.’

"’Excuseme，madame，butIampositivethatIamnotmakingamistake.

Astheconvictionofanotablecriminalisatstake，wouldyoubesokindastosendforallyourservants？"

"AtfirstIrefused，butIfinallygavein，andsentdownstairsforeverybody，menandwomen.

"Theinspectorglancedatthemandthendeclared：

"’Thisisn’tall.’

"’Excuseme，monsieur，thereisnooneleftbutmymaid，ayounggirlwhomyoucouldnotpossiblymistakeforaconvict.’

"Heasked：

"’MayIalsoseeher？’

"’Certainly.’

"IrangforRose，whoimmediatelyappeared.Shehadhardlyenteredtheroom，whentheinspectormadeamotion，andtwomenwhomIhadnotseen，hiddenbehindthedoor，sprangforward，seizedherandtiedherhandsbehindherback.

"Icriedoutinangerandtriedtorushforwardtodefendher.Theinspectorstoppedme：

"’Thisgirl，madame，isamanwhosenameisJeanNicolasLecapet，condemnedtodeathin1879forassaultingawomanandinjuringhersothatdeathresulted.Hissentencewascommutedtoimprisonmentforlife.

Heescapedfourmonthsago.Wehavebeenlookingforhimeversince.’

"Iwasterrified，bewildered.Ididnotbelievehim.Thecommissionercontinued，laughing：

"’Icanproveittoyou.Hisrightarmistattooed.’

"’Thesleevewasrolledup.Itwastrue.Theinspectoradded，withbadtaste：

"’Youcantrustusfortheotherproofs.’

"Andtheyledmymaidaway！

"Well，wouldyoubelieveme，thethingthatmovedmemostwasnotangerathavingthusbeenplayedupon，deceivedandmaderidiculous，itwasnottheshameofhavingthusbeendressedandundressed，handledandtouchedbythisman——butadeephumiliation——awoman’shumiliation.Doyouunderstand？"

"IamafraidIdon’t."

"Justthink——thismanhadbeencondemnedfor——forassaultingawoman.

Well！Ithoughtoftheonewhomhehadassaulted——and——andIfelthumiliated——There！Doyouunderstandnow？"

MadameMargotdidnotanswer.Shewaslookingstraightahead，hereyesfastenedonthetwoshiningbuttonsofthelivery，withthatsphinx—likesmilewhichwomensometimeshave.

ROSALIEPRUDENT

Therewasarealmysteryinthisaffairwhichneitherthejury，northepresident，northepublicprosecutorhimselfcouldunderstand.

ThegirlPrudent（Rosalie），servantattheVarambots’，ofNantes，havingbecomeenceintewithouttheknowledgeofhermasters，had，duringthenight，killedandburiedherchildinthegarden.

Itwastheusualstoryoftheinfanticidescommittedbyservantgirls.

Buttherewasoneinexplicablecircumstanceaboutthisone.WhenthepolicesearchedthegirlPrudent’sroomtheydiscoveredacompleteinfant’soutfit，madebyRosalieherself，whohadspenthernightsforthelastthreemonthsincuttingandsewingit.Thegrocerfromwhomshehadboughthercandles，outofherownwages，forthislongpieceofworkhadcometotestify.Itcameout，moreover，thatthesage—femmeofthedistrict，informedbyRosalieofhercondition，hadgivenherallnecessaryinstructionsandcounselincasetheeventshouldhappenatatimewhenitmightnotbepossibletogethelp.ShehadalsoprocuredaplaceatPoissyforthegirlPrudent，whoforesawthatherpresentemployerswoulddischargeher，fortheVarambotcoupledidnottriflewithmorality.

Therewerepresentatthetrialboththemanandthewoman，amiddle—

classpairfromtheprovinces，livingontheirincome.Theyweresoexasperatedagainstthisgirl，whohadsulliedtheirhouse，thattheywouldhavelikedtoseeherguillotinedonthespotwithoutatrial.

Thespitefuldepositionstheymadeagainstherbecameaccusationsintheirmouths.

Thedefendant，alarge，handsomegirlofLowerNormandy，welleducatedforherstationinlife，weptcontinuouslyandwouldnotanswertoanything.

Thecourtandthespectatorswereforcedtotheopinionthatshehadcommittedthisbarbarousactinamomentofdespairandmadness，sincetherewaseveryindicationthatshehadexpectedtokeepandbringupherchild.

Thepresidenttriedforthelasttimetomakeherspeak，togetsomeconfession，and，havingurgedherwithmuchgentleness，hefinallymadeherunderstandthatallthesemengatheredheretopassjudgmentuponherwerenotanxiousforherdeathandmightevenhavepityonher.

Thenshemadeuphermindtospeak.

"Come，now，tellus，first，whoisthefatherofthischild？"heasked.

Untilthenshehadobstinatelyrefusedtogivehisname.

Butsherepliedsuddenly，lookingathermasterswhohadsocruellycalumniatedher：

"ItisMonsieurJoseph，MonsieurVarambot’snephew."

Thecouplestartedintheirseatsandcriedwithonevoice——"That’snottrue！Shelies！Thisisinfamous！"

Thepresidenthadthemsilencedandcontinued"Goon，