第29部分(第5/7 页)

w；　I　drew　the　curtain　over　it；　leaving　only　an　opening　through　which　I　could　take　observations；　then　I　closed　the　casement；　all　but　a　chink　just　wide　enough　to　furnish　an　outlet　to　lovers’　whispered　vows：　then　I　stole　back　to　my　chair；　and　as　I　resumed　it　the　pair　came　in。　My　eye　was　quickly　at　the　aperture。　Céline’s　chamber…maid　entered；　lit　a　lamp；　left　it　on　the　table；　and　withdrew。　The　couple　were　thus　revealed　to　me　clearly：　both　removed　their　cloaks；　and　there　was　‘the　Varens；’　shining　in　satin　and　jewels；—my　gifts　of　course；—and　there　was　her　panion　in　an　officer’s　uniform；　and　I　knew　him　for　a　young　roue　of　a　vite—a　brainless　and　vicious　youth　whom　I　had　sometimes　met　in　society；　and　had　never　thought　of　hating　because　I　despised　him　so　absolutely。　On　recognising　him；　the　fang　of　the　snake　Jealousy　was　instantly　broken；　because　at　the　same　moment　my　love　for　Céline　sank　under　an　extinguisher。　A　woman　who　could　betray　me　for　such　a　rival　was　not　worth　contending　for；　she　deserved　only　scorn；　less；　however；　than　I；　who　had　been　her　dupe。

“They　began　to　talk；　their　conversation　eased　me　pletely：　frivolous；　mercenary；　heartless；　and　senseless；　it　was　rather　calculated　to　weary　than　enrage　a　listener。　A　card　of　mine　lay　on　the　table；　this　being　perceived；　brought　my　name　under　discussion。　Neither　of　them　possessed　energy　or　wit　to　belabour　me　soundly；　but　they　insulted　me　as　coarsely　as　they　could　in　their　little　way：　especially　Céline；　who　even　waxed　rather　brilliant　on　my　personal　defects—deformities　she　termed　them。　Now　it　had　been　her　custom　to　launch　out　into　fervent　admiration　of　what　she　called　my　‘beauté　male：’　wherein　she　differed　diametrically　from　you；　who　told　me　point…blank；　at　the　second　interview；　that　you　did　not　think　me　handsome。　The　contrast