第2章

"Iwillpilotyou，"saidhe。"Inthisparlorwherewenoware，women，thetemplesofthefleshly，freshorotherwise。Bargainsasgoodasnew，evenbetter，forsaleoronlease。Attheright，gaming，thetempleofmoney。Youunderstandallaboutthat。Atthelowerend，dancing，thetempleofinnocence，thesanctuary，themarketforyounggirls。Theyareshownoffthereineverylight。

Evenlegitimatemarriagesaretolerated。Itisthefuture，thehope，ofourevenings。Andthemostcuriouspartofthismuseumofmoraldiseasesaretheseyounggirlswhosesoulsareoutofjoint，justlikethelimbsofthelittleclownsbornofmountebanks。Comeandlookatthem。"

Hebowed，rightandleft，courteously，acomplimentonhislips，sweepingeachlow-gownedwomanwhomheknewwiththelookofanexpert。

Themusicians，attheendofthesecondparlor，wereplayingawaltz；andthetwofriendsstoppedatthedoortolookatthem。A

scoreofcoupleswerewhirling-themenwithaseriousexpression，andthewomenwithafixedsmileontheirlips。Theydisplayedagooddealofshoulder，liketheirmothers；andthebodicesofsomewereonlyheldinplacebyaslenderribbon，disclosingattimesmorethanisgenerallyshown。

Suddenlyfromtheendoftheroomatallgirldartedforward，glidingthroughthecrowd，brushingagainstthedancers，andholdingherlongtraininherlefthand。Sheranwithquicklittlestepsaswomendoincrowds，andcalledout:"Ah！HowisMuscade？Howdoyoudo，Muscade？"

Herfeaturesworeanexpressionofthebloomoflife，theilluminationofhappiness。Herwhitefleshseemedtoshine，thegolden-whitefleshwhichgoeswithredhair。Themassofhertresses，twistedonherhead，fiery，flaminglocks，nestledagainsthersuppleneck，whichwasstillalittlethin。

Sheseemedtomovejustashermotherwasmadetospeak，sonatural，noble，andsimplewerehergestures。Apersonfeltamoraljoyandphysicalpleasureinseeingherwalk，stirabout，bendherhead，orliftherarm。"Ah！Muscade，howdoyoudo，Muscade？"sherepeated。

Servignyshookherhandviolently，ashewouldaman"s，andsaid:

"MademoiselleYvette，myfriend，BaronSaval。"

"Goodevening，Monsieur。Areyoualwaysastallasthat？"

Servignyrepliedinthatbanteringtonewhichhealwaysusedwithher，inordertoconcealhismistrustandhisuncertainty:

"No，Mam"zelle。Hehasputonhisgreatestdimensionstopleaseyourmother，wholovesacolossus。"

Andtheyounggirlremarkedwithacomicseriousness:"VerywellButwhenyoucometoseemeyoumustdiminishalittleifyouplease。I

preferthemediumheight。NowMuscadehasjusttheproportionswhichIlike。"

Andshegaveherhandtothenewcomer。Thensheasked:"Doyoudance，Muscade？Come，letuswaltz。"Withoutreplying，withaquickmovement，passionately，Servignyclaspedherwaistandtheydisappearedwiththefuryofawhirlwind。

Theydancedmorerapidlythananyoftheothers，whirledandwhirled，andturnedmadly，soclosetogetherthattheyseemedbutone，andwiththeformerect，thelegsalmostmotionless，asifsomeinvisiblemechanism，concealedbeneaththeirfeet，causedthemtotwirl。Theyappearedtireless。Theotherdancersstoppedfromtimetotime。Theystilldancedon，alone。Theyseemednottoknowwheretheywerenorwhattheyweredoing，asif，theyhadgonefarawayfromtheball，inanecstasy。Themusicianscontinuedtoplay，withtheirlooksfixeduponthismadcouple；alltheguestsgazedatthem，andwhenfinallytheydidstopdancing，everyoneapplaudedthem。

Shewasalittleflushed，withstrangeeyes，ardentandtimid，lessdaringthanamomentbefore，troubledeyes，blue，yetwithapupilsoblackthattheyseemedhardlynatural。Servignyappearedgiddy。

Heleanedagainstadoortoregainhiscomposure。

"Youhavenohead，mypoorMuscade，Iamsteadierthanyou，"saidYvettetoServigny。Hesmilednervously，anddevouredherwithalook。Hisanimalfeelingsrevealedthemselvesinhiseyesandinthecurlofhislips。Shestoodbesidehimlookingdown，andherbosomroseandfellinshortgaspsashelookedather。

Thenshesaidsoftly:"Really，therearetimeswhenyouarelikeatigerabouttospringuponhisprey。Come，givemeyourarm，andletusfindyourfriend。"

Silentlyheofferedherhisarmandtheywentdownthelongdrawing-

roomtogether。

Savalwasnotalone，fortheMarquiseObardihadrejoinedhim。Sheconversedwithhimonordinaryandfashionablesubjectswithaseductivenessinhertoneswhichintoxicatedhim。And，lookingatherwithhismentaleye，itseemedtohimthatherlips，utteredwordsfardifferentfromthosewhichtheyformed。WhenshesawServignyherfaceimmediatelylightedup，andturningtowardhimshesaid:

"Youknow，mydearDuke，thatIhavejustleasedavillaatBougivalfortwomonths，andIcountuponyourcomingtoseemethere，anduponyourfriendalso。Listen。WetakepossessionnextMonday，andshallexpectbothofyoutodinnerthefollowingSaturday。WeshallkeepyouoverSunday。"

PerfectlysereneandtranquilYvettesmiled，sayingwithadecisionwhichsweptawayhesitationonhispart:

"OfcourseMuscadewillcometodinneronSaturday。Wehaveonlytoaskhim，forheandIintendtocommitalotoffolliesinthecountry。"

Hethoughthedivinedthebirthofapromiseinhersmile，andinhervoiceheheardwhathethoughtwasinvitation。

ThentheMarquiseturnedherbig，blackeyesuponSaval:"Andyouwill，ofcourse，come，Baron？"

Withasmilethatforbadedoubt，hebenttowardher，saying，"I

shallbeonlytoocharmed，Madame。"

ThenYvettemurmuredwithmalicethatwaseithernaiveortraitorous:"Wewillsetalltheworldbytheearsdownthere，won"twe，Muscade，andmakemyregimentofadmirersfairlymad。"Andwithalook，shepointedoutagroupofmenwhowerelookingatthemfromalittledistance。

SaidServignytoher:"AsmanyfolliesasYOUmayplease，Mam"zelle。"

InspeakingtoYvette，Servignyneverusedtheword"Mademoiselle，"

byreasonofhiscloseandlongintimacywithher。

ThenSavalasked:"WhydoesMademoisellealwayscallmyfriendServigny"Muscade"？"

Yvetteassumedaveryfrankairandsaid:

"Iwilltellyou:Itisbecausehealwaysslipsthroughmyhands。

NowIthinkIhavehim，andthenIfindIhavenot。"

TheMarquise，withhereyesuponSaval，aridevidentlypreoccupied，saidinacarelesstone:"Youchildrenareveryfunny。"

ButYvettebridledup:"Idonotintendtobefunny；Iamsimplyfrank。Muscadepleasesme，andisalwaysdesertingme，andthatiswhatannoysme。"

Servignybowedprofoundly，saying:"Iwillneverleaveyouanymore，Mam"zelle，neitherdaynornight。"Shemadeagestureofhorror:

"Mygoodness！no——whatdoyoumean？Youareallrightduringtheday，butatnightyoumightembarrassme。"

Withanairofimpertinenceheasked:"Andwhy？"

Yvetterespondedcalmlyandaudaciously，"Becauseyouwouldnotlookwellendeshabille。"

TheMarquise，withoutappearingatalldisturbed，said:"Whatextraordinarysubjectsforconversation。Onewouldthinkthatyouwerenotatallignorantofsuchthings。"

AndServignyjokinglyadded:"Thatisalsomyopinion，Marquise。"

Yvetteturnedhereyesuponhim，andinahaughty，yetwounded，tonesaid:"Youarebecomingveryvulgar——justasyouhavebeenseveraltimeslately。"Andturningquicklysheappealedtoanindividualstandingby:

"Chevalier，comeanddefendmefrominsult。"

Athin，brownman，withaneasycarriage，cameforward。

"Whoistheculprit？"saidhe，withaconstrainedsmile。

YvettepointedoutServignywithanodofherhead:

"Thereheis，butIlikehimbetterthanIdoyou，becauseheislessofabore。"

TheChevalierValrealibowed:

"IdowhatIcan，Mademoiselle。Imayhavelessability，butnotlessdevotion。"

Agentlemancameforward，tallandstout，withgraywhiskers，sayinginloudtones:"MademoiselleYvette，Iamyourmostdevotedslave。"

Yvettecried:"Ah，MonsieurdeBelvigne。"ThenturningtowardSaval，sheintroducedhim。

"Mylastadorer——big，fat，rich，andstupid。ThosearethekindI

like。Averitabledrum-major——butofthetabled"hote。Butsee，youarestillbiggerthanhe。HowshallInicknameyou？Good！Ihaveit。

Ishallcallyou"M。ColossusofRhodes，Junior，"fromtheColossuswhocertainlywasyourfather。Butyoutwooughttohaveveryinterestingthingstosaytoeachotherupthere，abovetheheadsofusall——so，by-bye。"

Andsheleftthemquickly，goingtotheorchestratomakethemusiciansstrikeupaquadrille。

MadameObardiseemedpreoccupied。InasoftvoiceshesaidtoServigny:

"Youarealwaysteasingher。Youwillwarphercharacterandbringoutmanybadtraits。"

Servignyreplies:"Why，haven"tyoufinishedhereducation？"

Sheappearednottounderstand，andcontinuedtalkinginafriendlyway。Butshenoticedasolemnlookingman，wearingaperfectconstellationofcrossesandorders，standingnearher，andsherantohim；

"AhPrince，Prince，whatgoodfortune！"

ServignytookSaval"sarmanddrewhimaway:

"Thatisthelatestserioussuitor，PrinceKravalow。Isn"tshesuperb？"

"Tomymindtheyarebothsuperb。Themotherwouldsufficeformeperfectly，"answeredSaval。

Servignynoddedandsaid:"Atyourdisposal，mydearboy。"

Thedancerselbowedthemaside，astheywereformingforaquadrille。

"Nowletusgoandseethesharpers，"saidServigny。Andtheyenteredthegambling-room。

Aroundeachtablestoodagroupofmen，lookingon。Therewasverylittleconversation。Attimestheclinkofgoldcoins，tosseduponthegreenclothorhastilyseized，addeditssoundtothemurmuroftheplayers，justasifthemoneywasputtinginitswordamongthehumanvoices。

Allthemenweredecoratedwithvariousorders，andoddribbons，andtheyallworethesamesevereexpression，withdifferentcountenances。Theespeciallydistinguishingfeaturewasthebeard。

ThestiffAmericanwithhishorseshoe，thehaughtyEnglishmanwithhisfan-beardopenonhisbreast，theSpaniardwithhisblackfleecereachingtotheeyes，theRomanwiththathugemustachewhichItalycopiedfromVictorEmmanuel，theAustrianwithhiswhiskersandshavedchin，aRussiangeneralwhoselipseemedarmedwithtwotwistedlances，andaFrenchmanwithadaintymustache，displayedthefanciesofallthebarbersintheworld。

"Youwon"tjointhegame？"askedServigny。

"No，shallyou？"

"Notnow。Ifyouarereadytogo，wewillcomebacksomequieterday。Therearetoomanypeoplehereto-day，andwecan"tdoanything。"

"Well，letusgo。"

Andtheydisappearedbehindadoor-curtainintothehall。AssoonastheywereinthestreetServignyasked:"Well，whatdoyouthinkofit？"

"Itcertainlyisinteresting，butIfancythewomen"ssideofitmorethanthemen"s。"

"Indeed！Thosewomenarethebestofthetribeforus。Don"tyoufindthatyoubreathetheodorofloveamongthem，justasyouscenttheperfumesatahairdresser"s？"

"Reallysuchhousesaretheplaceforonetogo。Andwhatexperts，mydearfellow！Whatartists！Haveyouevereatenbakers"cakes？

Theylookwell，buttheyamounttonothing。Themanwhobakesthemonlyknowshowtomakebread。Well！theloveofawomaninordinarysocietyalwaysremindsmeofthesebake-shoptrifles，whiletheloveyoufindathousesliketheMarquiseObardi"s，don"tyousee，istherealsweetmeat。Oh！theyknowhowtomakecakes，thesecharmingpastry-cooks。Onlyyoupayfivesous，attheirshops，forwhatcoststwosouselsewhere。"

"Whoisthemasterofthehousejustnow？"askedSaval。

Servignyshruggedhisshoulders，signifyinghisignorance。

"Idon"tknow，thelatestoneknownwasanEnglishpeer，butheleftthreemonthsago。Atpresentshemustliveoffthecommonherd，orthegambling，perhaps，andonthegamblers，forshehashercaprices。Buttellme，itisunderstoodthatwedinewithheronSaturdayatBougival，isitnot？Peoplearemorefreeinthecountry，andIshallsucceedinfindingoutwhatideasYvettehasinherhead！"

"Ishouldlikenothingbetter，"repliedSaval。"Ihavenothingtodothatday。"

PassingdownthroughtheChamps-Elysees，underthestepstheydisturbedacouplemakingloveononeofthebenches，andServignymuttered:"Whatfoolishnessandwhataseriousmatteratthesametime！Howcommonplaceandamusingloveis，alwaysthesameandalwaysdifferent！AndthebeggarwhogiveshissweethearttwentysousgetsasmuchreturnasIwouldfortenthousandfrancsfromsomeObardi，noyoungerandnolessstupidperhapsthanthisnondescript。Whatnonsense！"

Hesaidnothingforafewminutes；thenhebeganagain:"Allthesame，itwouldbegoodtobecomeYvette"sfirstlover。Oh！forthatIwouldgive——"

Hedidnotaddwhathewouldgive，andSavalsaidgoodnighttohimastheyreachedthecorneroftheRueRoyale。

CHAPTERII。

BougivalandLoveTheyhadsetthetableontheverandawhichoverlookedtheriver。

ThePrintempsvilla，leasedbytheMarquiseObardi，washalfwayupthishill，justatthecorneroftheSeine，whichturnedbeforethegardenwall，flowingtowardMarly。

Oppositetheresidence，theislandofCroissyformedahorizonoftalltrees，amassofverdure，andtheycouldseealongstretchofthebigriverasfarasthefloatingcafeofLaGrenouillerehiddenbeneaththefoliage。

Theeveningfell，oneofthosecalmeveningsatthewaterside，fullofcoloryetsoft，oneofthosepeacefuleveningswhichproducesasensationofpleasure。Nobreathofairstirredthebranches，noshiverofwindruffledthesmoothclearsurfaceoftheSeine。Itwasnottoowarm，itwasmild——goodweathertolivein。ThegratefulcoolnessofthebanksoftheSeinerosetowardaserenesky。

Thesundisappearedbehindthetreestoshineonotherlands，andoneseemedtoabsorbtheserenityofthealreadysleepingearth，toinhale，inthepeaceofspace，thelifeoftheinfinite。

Astheyleftthedrawing-roomtoseatthemselvesatthetableeveryonewasjoyous。Asoftenedgaietyfilledtheirhearts，theyfeltthatitwouldbesodelightfultodinethereinthecountry，withthatgreatriverandthattwilightforasetting，breathingthatpureandfragrantair。

TheMarquisehadtakenSaval"sarm，andYvette，Servigny"s。Thefourwerealonebythemselves。ThetwowomenseemedentirelydifferentpersonsfromwhattheywereatParis，especiallyYvette。Shetalkedbutlittle，andseemedlanguidandgrave。

Saval，hardlyrecognizingherinthisframeofmind，askedher:

"Whatisthematter，Mademoiselle？Ifindyouchangedsincelastweek。Youhavebecomequiteaseriousperson。"

"Itisthecountrythatdoesthatforme，"shereplied。"Iamnotthesame，Ifeelqueer；besidesIamnevertwodaysalike。To-dayI

havetheairofamadwoman，andto-morrowshallbeasgraveasanelegy。Ichangewiththeweather，Idon"tknowwhy。Yousee，Iamcapableofanything，accordingtothemoment。TherearedayswhenI

wouldliketokillpeople，——notanimals，Iwouldneverkillanimals，——butpeople，yes，andotherdayswhenIweepatamerething。Alotofdifferentideaspassthroughmyhead。Itdepends，too，agooddealonhowIgetup。Everymorning，onwaking，IcantelljustwhatIshallbeintheevening。Perhapsitisourdreamsthatsettleitforus，anditdependsonthebookIhavejustread。"

Shewascladinawhiteflannelsuitwhichdelicatelyenvelopedherinthefloatingsoftnessofthematerial。Herbodice，withfullfolds，suggested，withoutdisplayingandwithoutrestraining，herfreechest，whichwasfirmandalreadyripe。Andhersuperbneckemergedfromafrothofsoftlace，bendingwithgentlemovements，fairerthanhergown，apilasterofflesh，bearingtheheavymassofhergoldenhair。

Servignylookedatherforalongtime:"Youareadorablethisevening，Mam"zelle，"saidhe，"IwishIcouldalwaysseeyoulikethis。"

"Don"tmakeadeclaration，Muscade。Ishouldtakeitseriously，andthatmightcostyoudear。"

TheMarquiseseemedhappy，veryhappy。Allinblack，richlydressedinaplaingownwhichshowedherstrong，fulllines，abitofredatthebodice，acinctureofredcarnationsfallingfromherwaistlikeachain，andfastenedatthehips，andaredroseinherdarkhair，shecarriedinallherpersonsomethingfervid，——inthatsimplecostume，inthoseflowerswhichseemedtobleed，inherlook，inherslowspeech，inherpeculiargestures。

Saval，too，appearedseriousandabsorbed。Fromtimetotimehestrokedhispointedbeard，trimmedinthefashionofHenriIII。，andseemedtobemeditatingonthemostprofoundsubjects。

Nobodyspokeforseveralminutes。Thenastheywereservingthetrout，Servignyremarked:

"Silenceisagoodthing，attimes。Peopleareoftennearertoeachotherwhentheyarekeepingstillthanwhentheyaretalking。Isn"tthatso，Marquise？"

Sheturnedalittletowardhimandanswered:

"Itisquitetrue。Itissosweettothinktogetheraboutagreeablethings。"

SheraisedherwarmglancetowardSaval，andtheycontinuedforsomesecondslookingintoeachother"seyes。Aslight，almostinaudiblemovementtookplacebeneaththetable。

Servignyresumed:"Mam"zelleYvette，youwillmakemebelievethatyouareinloveifyoukeeponbeingasgoodasthat。Now，withwhomcouldyoubeinlove？Letusthinktogether，ifyouwill；Iputasidethearmyofvulgarsighers。I"llonlytaketheprincipalones。

IsitPrinceKravalow？"

AtthisnameYvetteawoke:"MypoorMuscade，canyouthinkofsuchathing？Why，thePrincehastheairofaRussianinawax-figuremuseum，whohaswonmedalsinahairdressingcompetition。"

"Good！We"lldropthePrince。ButyouhavenoticedtheViscountPierredeBelvigne？"

Thistimeshebegantolaugh，andasked:"Canyouimaginemehangingtotheneckof"Raisine"？"Shenicknamedhimaccordingtotheday，Raisine，Malvoisie，[Footnote:Preservedgrapesandpears，malmsey，——

apoorwine。]Argenteuil，forshegaveeverybodynicknames。Andshewouldmurmurtohisface:"MydearlittlePierre，"or"MydivinePedro，darlingPierrot，giveyourbow-wow"sheadtoyourdearlittlegirl，whowantstokissit。"

"Scratchoutnumbertwo。TherestillremainstheChevalierValrealiwhomtheMarquiseseemstofavor，"continuedServigny。