登陆注册
14816900000103

第103章

"You will find that difficult," replied Crevel. "Valerie is a masterpiece in her way. My good mother, twenty-five years of virtue are always repellent, like a badly treated disease. And your virtue has grown very mouldy, my dear child. But you shall see how much I love you. I will manage to get you your two hundred thousand francs."

Adeline, incapable of uttering a word, seized his hand and laid it on her heart; a tear of joy trembled in her eyes.

"Oh! don't be in a hurry; there will be some hard pulling. I am a jolly good fellow, a good soul with no prejudices, and I will put things plainly to you. You want to do as Valerie does--very good. But that is not all; you must have a gull, a stockholder, a Hulot.--Well, I know a retired tradesman--in fact, a hosier. He is heavy, dull, has not an idea, I am licking him into shape, but I don't know when he will do me credit. My man is a deputy, stupid and conceited; the tyranny of a turbaned wife, in the depths of the country, has preserved him in a state of utter virginity as to the luxury and pleasures of Paris life. But Beauvisage--his name is Beauvisage--is a millionaire, and, like me, my dear, three years ago, he will give a hundred thousand crowns to be the lover of a real lady.--Yes, you see," he went on, misunderstanding a gesture on Adeline's part, "he is jealous of me, you understand; jealous of my happiness with Madame Marneffe, and he is a fellow quite capable of selling an estate to purchase a--"

"Enough, Monsieur Crevel!" said Madame Hulot, no longer controlling her disgust, and showing all her shame in her face. "I am punished beyond my deserts. My conscience, so sternly repressed by the iron hand of necessity, tells me, at this final insult, that such sacrifices are impossible.--My pride is gone; I do not say now, as I did the first time, 'Go!' after receiving this mortal thrust. I have lost the right to do so. I have flung myself before you like a prostitute.

"Yes," she went on, in reply to a negative on Crevel's part, "I have fouled my life, till now so pure, by a degrading thought; and I am inexcusable!--I know it!--I deserve every insult you can offer me!

God's will be done! If, indeed, He desires the death of two creatures worthy to appear before Him, they must die! I shall mourn them, and pray for them! If it is His will that my family should be humbled to the dust, we must bow to His avenging sword, nay, and kiss it, since we are Christians.--I know how to expiate this disgrace, which will be the torment of all my remaining days.

"I who speak to you, monsieur, am not Madame Hulot, but a wretched, humble sinner, a Christian whose heart henceforth will know but one feeling, and that is repentance, all my time given up to prayer and charity. With such a sin on my soul, I am the last of women, the first only of penitents.--You have been the means of bringing me to a right mind; I can hear the Voice of God speaking within me, and I can thank you!"

She was shaking with the nervous trembling which from that hour never left her. Her low, sweet tones were quite unlike the fevered accents of the woman who was ready for dishonor to save her family. The blood faded from her cheeks, her face was colorless, and her eyes were dry.

"And I played my part very badly, did I not?" she went on, looking at Crevel with the sweetness that martyrs must have shown in their eyes as they looked up at the Proconsul. "True love, the sacred love of a devoted woman, gives other pleasures, no doubt, than those that are bought in the open market!--But why so many words?" said she, suddenly bethinking herself, and advancing a step further in the way to perfection. "They sound like irony, but I am not ironical! Forgive me.

Besides, monsieur, I did not want to hurt any one but myself--"

The dignity of virtue and its holy flame had expelled the transient impurity of the woman who, splendid in her own peculiar beauty, looked taller in Crevel's eyes. Adeline had, at this moment, the majesty of the figures of Religion clinging to the Cross, as painted by the old Venetians; but she expressed, too, the immensity of her love and the grandeur of the Catholic Church, to which she flew like a wounded dove.

Crevel was dazzled, astounded.

"Madame, I am your slave, without conditions," said he, in an inspiration of generosity. "We will look into this matter--and--whatever you want--the impossible even--I will do. I will pledge my securities at the Bank, and in two hours you shall have the money."

"Good God! a miracle!" said poor Adeline, falling on her knees.

She prayed to Heaven with such fervor as touched Crevel deeply; Madame Hulot saw that he had tears in his eyes when, having ended her prayer, she rose to her feet.

"Be a friend to me, monsieur," said she. "Your heart is better than your words and conduct. God gave you your soul; your passions and the world have given you your ideas. Oh, I will love you truly," she exclaimed, with an angelic tenderness in strange contrast with her attempts at coquettish trickery.

"But cease to tremble so," said Crevel.

"Am I trembling?" said the Baroness, unconscious of the infirmity that had so suddenly come upon her.

"Yes; why, look," said Crevel, taking Adeline by the arm and showing her that she was shaking with nervousness. "Come, madame," he added respectfully, "compose yourself; I am going to the Bank at once."

"And come back quickly! Remember," she added, betraying all her secrets, "that the first point is to prevent the suicide of our poor Uncle Fischer involved by my husband--for I trust you now, and I am telling you everything. Oh, if we should not be on time, I know my brother-in-law, the Marshal, and he has such a delicate soul, that he would die of it in a few days."

"I am off, then," said Crevel, kissing the Baroness' hand. "But what has that unhappy Hulot done?"

"He has swindled the Government."

"Good Heavens! I fly, madame; I understand, I admire you!"

Crevel bent one knee, kissed Madame Hulot's skirt, and vanished, saying, "You will see me soon."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 探墓记

    探墓记

    1981年彭贾木带领一队考察人员来到罗布泊,无意中在一处湖泊底下发现了一处古墓。三十人的考察队进入古墓竟无一人生还,三十年后。兰陵王遵循爷爷的遗训,重新踏上了荒无人烟的罗布泊,寻找考察队失踪之谜。
  • 花倾华落

    花倾华落

    那年她为公主,他为皇子,一朝邂逅,她无法自拔。可她不知,他是她唯一的劫。数年后,蕴月大陆处于乱世之中,各地纷争四起,她为求自保谋权篡位,成为新一代女皇。她缓缓从皇座上站起来,脸上的轻纱挡住了她的半张脸,左眼角下方的黑色印记若隐若现。“思君千场,一念成殇。如今繁花落尽,君可归否?”她浅浅一笑,眸中万点柔情。“不过,笙樊……这天下,我帮你找回来了。”
  • 朱元璋传

    朱元璋传

    本书是吴晗1948年写定的版本,当时作者思想自由,文思活泼,语言生动,正当盛年。在他笔下,一个历经艰辛磨难,乞讨度日的小流氓和英勇睿智、气度恢宏的统帅;一个勤政爱民、夙兴夜寐又猜忌心极重,杀戮成性的矛盾复杂多面的帝王形象活灵活现,本书终成明史及帝王传记的不朽名著。
  • 权志龙与我

    权志龙与我

    【已完结】这部书是关于爆炸(以权志龙为主)的同人小说,讲述了当红女星李宝琳和韩流巨星权志龙的爱情故事。不喜勿喷,拒绝谩骂,左上角箭头不送
  • 妾誘:五岁宝宝是恶魔

    妾誘:五岁宝宝是恶魔

    她是异世的一缕游魂,占住了这个小妾的身子。人家穿越都是娘娘妃子的,可她倒好穿成一个小妾,还是一个不受宠的小妾。什么?她一穿过来竟在这里生孩子,疼得死去活来的她,孩子竟然被某个不生养的女人给抢了,做梦吧,她要抢回来。可是她怎么抢得过人家王妃,宝宝说话了,姐姐不要怕,俺宝宝帮你了,什么?才三个月大的宝宝竟然会说话了,原来她是她亲亲弟弟。太好了,激动,鼓掌放鞭炮,宝宝的密制宝典,第一招,哭给那个男人看,第二招,笑给那个男人看,第三招,毒给那个男人看,第四招,死给那个男人看,不要啊,人家不想死,宝宝说,谁让你真死啦,是吓那个男人的。
  • 画骨:当代中国文化乱象溯源

    画骨:当代中国文化乱象溯源

    无论一个人处在何种被名利、诱惑笼罩下的环境,无论“名利”的威胁有多么可怕,人都不应该丧失做人的信心,就是应该把这些“诱惑”和“威胁”当做确证自己的人性的高贵和尊严的挑战,越是在诱惑中,我们就要越经得住诱惑,越是在威胁中,我们越要意识到自己是人,越要把自己当成一个具有人格尊严和道德品质的人。
  • 邂逅神秘大BOSS

    邂逅神秘大BOSS

    一咬成灾,一个赔字,任他鱼肉,她只能乖乖地带着他回家,未料,等待她的却是更多的阴谋算计!而他,则是商界的冷漠帝王,为人冷漠异常,却没女人敢嫁给他。传闻,他身强内弱,是一个扶不起的阿斗。传闻,他根本不能行房。传闻,他的大兄弟短如唇膏……传闻……而她,恐怕这个世上没有人会比她更倒霉,不仅惨遭男友劈腿,还被父母拉去相亲逼婚,一怒之下,她在肚子里种了一个宝宝,事后,她后悔不已。五年后,当一对双胞胎宝宝出现在世人面前,一切虚假传闻就此作罢。而宝宝却一派天真的问:“爹地,他们暗中说你是唇膏男耶!那我们是从哪里出来的呢?”当天晚上,某男为了证明自身的清白,身体力行,把孩子她妈抱着滚来滚去,直到下不了床,事后,孩子她妈无言以对,一脚向他踹去……
  • 暗裔箭魔

    暗裔箭魔

    血脉之力觉醒,却被家族无情剥夺。理由仅仅是他太过平庸,不如献出真血,令族中的那个天才更进一步!苏文恨欲狂,母亲遗传给他的禁忌之血,却在此刻觉醒,铸就绝世天资!与天才争锋、与圣地争雄、与诸神夺永生神位!且看苏文一步一步,登临绝巅、证道不朽!
  • 末世通天战记

    末世通天战记

    开始,也是结束。当人类科技迈进巅峰阶段,踏上探索宇宙的通天道路时。末世灾难随之降临,那是上帝的旨意?结束,也是开始。灾难过后,苟延残喘的世界,满目苍夷。经历几千年的休养生息后,当人类重新审视这个世界时,却惊恐地发现,原本的世界已经不复存在。为求生存,人类在生死的边缘挣扎,重新掌控命运,迈入一个全新的文明,展开新时代的篇章。历经重重险阻,人类能否再次踏上通天的大道?异兽横行,异技层出,这是一个弱肉强食的时代;人类野心,奇招百出,这是一个强者争霸的世界。
  • 凶兽少女坑天下

    凶兽少女坑天下

    古有凶兽,名曰紫御。清纯可爱,貌若天使,圣洁容光闪瞎眼是她。暴力傲娇,凶残腹黑,凶兽本性惊破天,也是她。她是神秘的苍族大长老苍玄之女。她是远古留存至今的唯头凶兽。眨眼之间,一瞬千年。当她因意外穿越时间,踏上千年后的大陆,一切早已物是人非,她亦无家可归。失去了羁绊之锁链的她是狂暴天下,毁天灭地!还是……总而言之,言而总之,这是一只真实属性为暴力、傲娇,有点小腹黑的凶残兽兽,披着“软甜白”的萝莉少女皮,锲而不舍的在大陆上不断“坑”人,无意识的“勾搭”了无数俊男美女,最终“萌”翻天下的故事!(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)