little novels- 第21部分

I　was　too　indignant　to　place　any　restraint　on　the　language　in　which　I　answered　her。

〃Understand；　if　you　please；〃　I　said；　〃that　I　am　renewing　an　old　friendship　with　Mademoiselle　Jeannebegun　under　the　sanction　of　her　father。　Respect　that　young　lady；　madam；　as　I　respect　her。〃

The　detestable　Baroness　clapped　her　hands；　as　if　she　had　been　at　the　theater。

〃If　you　only　say　that　to　the　Princess；〃　she　remarked；　〃as　well　as　you　have　said　it　to　me；　there　will　be　no　danger　of　arousing　her　Highness's　jealousy。　I　have　a　message　for　you。　At　the　concert；　on　Saturday；　you　are　to　retire　to　the　conservatory；　and　you　may　hope　for　an　interview　when　the　singers　begin　the　second　part　of　the　programme。　Don't　let　me　detain　you　any　longer。　Go　back　to　your　young　lady；　Mr。　Ernestpray　go　back！〃

VII。

ON　the　second　night　of　the　opera　the　applications　for　places　were　too　numerous　to　be　received。　Among　the　crowded　audience；　I　recognized　many　of　my　friends。　They　persisted　in　believing　an　absurd　report　（first　circulated；　as　I　imagine；　by　the　Doctor）；　which　asserted　that　my　interest　in　the　new　singer　was　something　more　than　the　interest　of　an　old　friend。　When　I　went　behind　the　scenes　to　congratulate　Jeanne　on　her　success；　I　was　annoyed　in　another　wayand　by　the　Doctor　again。　He　followed　me　to　Jeanne's　room；　to　offer　_his_　congratulations；　and　he　begged　that　I　would　introduce　him　to　the　charming　prima　donna。　Having　expressed　his　admiration；　he　looked　at　me　with　his　insolently　suggestive　smile；　and　said　he　could　not　think　of　prolonging　his　intrusion。　On　leaving　the　room；　he　noticed　Uncle　David；　waiting　as　usual　to　take　care　of　Jeanne　on　her　return　from　the　theaterlooked　at　him　attentivelybowed；　and　went　out。

The　next　morning；　I　received　a　note　from　the　Baroness；　expressed　in　these　terms：

〃More　news！　My　rooms　look　out　on　the　wing　of　the　palace　in　which　the　Doctor　is　lodged。　Half　an　hour　since；　I　discovered　him　at　his　window；　giving　a　letter　to　a　person　who　is　a　stranger　to　me。　The　man　left　the　palace　immediately　afterward。　My　maid　followed　him；　by　my　directions。　Instead　of　putting　the　letter　in　the　post；　he　took　a　ticket　at　the　railway…stationfor　what　place　the　servant　was　unable　to　discover。　Here；　you　will　observe；　is　a　letter　important　enough　to　be　dispatched　by　special　messenger；　and　written　at　a　time　when　we　have　succeeded　in　freeing　ourselves　from　the　Doctor's　suspicions。　It　is　at　least　possible　that　he　has　decided　on　sending　a　favorable　report　of　the　Princess　to　the　Grand　Duke。　If　this　is　the　case；　please　consider　whether　you　will　not　act　wisely　（in　her　Highness's　interests）　by　keeping　away　from　the　concert。〃

Viewing　this　suggestion　as　another　act　of　impertinence　on　the　part　of　the　Baroness；　I　persisted　in　my　intention　of　going　to　the　concert。　It　was　for　the　Princess　to　decide　what　course　of　conduct　I　was　bound　to　follow。　What　did　I　care　for　the　Doctor's　report　to　the　Duke！　Shall　I　own　my　folly？　I　do　really　believe　I　was　jealous　of　the　Duke。

VIII。

ENTERING　the　Concert　Room；　I　found　the　Princess　alone　on　the　dais；　receiving　the　company。　〃Nervous　prostration〃　had　made　it　impossible　for　the　Prince　to　be　present。　He　was　confined　to　his　bed…chamber；　and　the　Doctor　was　in　attendance　on　him。

I　bowed　to　the　Baroness；　but　she　was　too　seriously　offended　with　me　for　declining　to　take　her　advice　to　notice　my　salutation。　Passing　into　the　conservatory；　it　occurred　to　me　that　I　might　be　seen；　and　possibly　suspected；　in　the　interval　between　the　first　and　second　parts　of　the　programme；　when　the　music　no　longer　absorbed　the　attention　of　the　audience。　I　went　on；　and　waited　outside　on　the　steps　that　led　to　the　garden；　keeping　the　glass　door　open；　so　as　to　hear　when　the　music　of　the　second　part　of　the　concert　began。

After　an　interval　which　seemed　to　be　endless；　I　saw　the　Princess　approaching　me。

She　had　made　the　heat　in　the　Concert　Room　an　excuse　for　retiring　for　a　while；　and　she　had　the　Baroness　in　attendance　on　her　to　save　appearances。　Instead　of　leaving　us　to　ourselves；　the　malicious　creature　persisted　in　paying　the　most　respectful　attentions　to　her　mistress。　It　was　impossible　to　make　her　understand　that　she　was　not　wanted　any　longer　until　the　Princess　said　sharply；　〃Go　back　to　the　music！〃　Even　then；　the　detestable　woman　made　a　low　curtsey；　and　answered：　〃I　will　return；　Madam；　in　five　minutes。〃

I　ventured　to　present　myself　in　the　conservatory。

The　Princess　was　dressed　with　exquisite　simplicity；　entirely　in　white。　Her　only　ornaments　were　white　roses　in　her　hair　and　in　her　bosom。　To　say　that　she　looked　lovely　is　to　say　nothing。　She　seemed　to　be　the　ethereal　creature　of　some　higher　sphere；　too　exquisitely　delicate　and　pure　to　be　approached　by　a　mere　mortal　man　like　myself。　I　was　awed；　I　was　silent。　Her　Highness's　sweet　smile　encouraged　me　to　venture　a　little　nearer。　She　pointed　to　a　footstool　which　the　Baroness　had　placed　for　her。　〃Are　you　afraid　of　me；　Ernest？〃　she　asked　softly。

Her　divinely　beautiful　eyes　rested　on　me　with　a　look　of　encouragement。　I　dropped　on　my　knees　at　her　feet。　She　had　asked　if　I　was　afraid　of　her。　This；　if　I　may　use　such　an　expression；　roused　my　manhood。　My　own　boldness　astonished　me。　I　answered：　〃Madam；　I　adore　you。〃

She　laid　her　fair　hand　on　my　head；　and　looked　at　me　thoughtfully。　〃Forget　my　rank；〃　she　whispered〃have　I　not　set　you　the　example？　Suppose　that　I　am　nothing　but　an　English　Miss。　What　would　you　say　to　Miss？〃

〃I　should　say；　I　love　you。〃

〃Say　it　to　Me。〃

My　lips　said　it　on　her　hand。　She　bent　forward。　My　heart　beats　fast　at　the　bare　remembrance　of　it。　Oh；　heavens；　her　Highness　kissed　me！

〃There　is　your　reward；〃　she　murmured；　〃for　all　you　have　sacrificed　for　my　sake。　What　an　effort　it　must　have　been　to　offer　the　pretense　of　love　to　an　obscure　stranger！　The　Baroness　tells　me　this　actressthis　singerwhat　is　she？is　pretty。　Is　it　true？〃

The　Baroness　was　quite　mischievous　enough　to　have　also　mentioned　the　false　impression；　prevalent　about　the　Court；　that　I　was　in　love　with　Jeanne。　I　attempted　to　explain。　The　gracious　Princess　refused　to　hear　me。

〃Do　you　think　I　doubt　you？〃　she　said。　〃Distinguished　by　me；　could　you　waste　a　look　on　a　person　in　_that_　rank　of　life？〃　She　laughed　softly；　as　if　the　mere　idea　of　such　a　thing　amused　her。　It　was　only　for　a　moment：　her　thoughts　took　a　new　directionthey　contemplated　the　uncertain　future。　〃How　is　this　to　end？〃　she　asked。　〃Dear　Ernest；　we　are　not　in　Paradise；　we　are　in　a　hard　cruel　world　which　insists　on　distinctions　in　rank。　To　what　unhappy　destiny　does　the　fascination　which　you　exercise　over　me　condemn　us　both？〃

She　pausedtook　one　of　the　white　roses　out　of　her　bosomtouched　it　with　her　lipsand　gave　it　to　me。

〃I　wonder　whether　you　feel　the　burden　of　life　as　I　feel　it？〃　she　resumed。　〃It　is　immaterial　to　me；　whether　we　are　united　in　this　world　or　in　the　next。　Accept　my　rose；　Ernest；　as　an　assurance　that　I　speak　with　perfect　sincerity。　I　see　but　two　alternatives　before　us。　One　of　them　（beset　with　dangers）　is　elopement。　And　the　other；〃　she　added；　with　truly　majestic　composure；　〃is　suicide。〃

Would　Englishmen　in　general　have　rightly　understood　such　fearless　confidence　in　them　as　this　language　implied？　I　am　afraid　they　might　have　attributed　it　to　what　my　friend　the　secretary　called　〃German　sentiment。〃　Perhaps　they　might　even　have　suspected　the　Princess　of　quoting　from　some　old…fashioned　German　play。　Under　the　irresistible　influence　of　that　glorious　creature；　I　contemplated　with　such　equal　serenity　the　perils　of　elopement　and　the　martyrdom　of　love；　that　I　was　for　the　moment　at　a　loss　how　to　reply。　In　that　moment；　the　evil　genius　of　my　life　appeared　in　the　conservatory。　With　haste　in　her　steps；　with　alarm　in　her　face；　the　Baroness　rushed　up　to　her　royal　mistress；　and　said；　〃For　God's　sake；　Madam；　come　away！　The　Prince　desires　to　speak　with　you　instantly。〃

Her　Highness　rose；　calmly　superior　to　the　vulgar　excitement　of　her　lady　in　waiting。　〃Think　of　it　to…night；〃　she　said　to　me；　〃and　let　me　hear　from　you　to…morrow。〃

She　pressed　my　hand；　she　gave　me　a　farewell　look。　I　sank　into　the　chair　that　she　had　just　left。　Did　I　think　of　elopement？　Did　I　think　of　suicide？　The　elevating　influence　of　the　Princess　no　longer　sustained　me；　my　nature　became　degraded。　Horrid　doubts　rose　in　my　mind。　Did　her　father　suspect　us？

IX。

NEED　I　say　that　I　passed　a　sleepless　night？

The　morning　found　me　with　my　pen　in　my　hand；　confronting　the　serious　responsibility　of　writing　to　the　Princess；　and　not　knowing　what　to　say。　I　had　already　torn　up　two　letters；　when　Uncle　David　presented　himself　with　a　message　from　his　niece。　Jeanne　was　in　trouble；　and　wanted　to　ask　my　advice。

My　state　of　mind；　on　hearing　this；　became　simply　inexplicable。　Here　was　an　interruption　which　ought　to　have　annoyed　me。　It　did　nothing　of　the　kindit　inspired　me　with　a　feeling　of　relief！

I　naturally　expected　that　the　old　Frenchman　would　return　with　me　to　his　niece；　and　tell　me　what　had　happened。　To　my　surprise；　he　begged　that　I　would　excuse　him；　and　left　me　without　a　word　of　explanation。　I　found　Jeanne　walking　up　and　down　her　little　sitting…room；　flushed　and　angry。　Fragments　of　torn　paper　and　heaps　of　flowers　littered　the　floor；　and　three　unopen　jewel…cases　appeared　to　have　been　thrown　into　the　empty　fireplace。　She　caught　me　　excitedly　by　the　hand　the　moment　I　entered　the　room。

〃You　are　my　true　friend；〃　she　said；　〃you　were　present　the　other　night　when　I　sang。　Was　there　anything　in　my　behavior　on　the　stage　which　could　justify　men　who　call　themselves　gentlemen　in　insulting　me？〃

〃My　dear；　how　can　you　ask　the　question？〃

〃I　must　ask　it。　Some　of　them　send　flowers；　and　some　of　them　send　jewels；　and　every　one　of　them　writes　lettersinfamous；　abominable　letterssaying　they　are　in　love　with　me；　and　asking　for　appointments　as　if　I　was〃

She　could　say　no　more。　Poor　dear　Jeanneher　head　dropped　on　my　shoulder；　she　burst　out　crying。　Who　could　see　her　so　cruelly　humiliatedthe　faithful　loving　daughter；　whose　one　motive　for　appearing　on　the　stage　had　been　to　preserve　her　father's　good　nameand　not　feel　for　her　as　I　did？　I　forgot　all　considerations　of　prudence；　I　thought　of　nothing　but　consoling　her；　I　took　her　in　my　arms；　I　dried　her　tears；　I　kissed　her；　I　said；　〃Tell　me　the　name　of　any　one　of　the　wretches　who　has　writt