Valvèdre

III

I III had followed Moserwald without affectation, thinking that if he had any heart, he would ask me for explanations about the way I had served his cause. I saw him hesitate before picking up his ring, shrug his shoulders, and take it back. As soon as he saw me, he drew me to his room and spoke to me with a great deal of bitterness, mocking what he called my prejudices and declaring that my austerity was the most ridiculous thing. I purposefully let him become a little cruder in his criticisms , and when he was there I said, “You know, dear Sir, that if you are displeased, there is a way to settle this, and I am at your service. Do not go any further in words because I should be forced to ask you for the reparation that I am offering.” “What? What is this?” he said very surprised. “You want to fight? Well, here is a ray of light: an admission! You are my rival, and it is out of jealousy that you so brutally or so clumsily betrayed me. Say that it is your motive and I shall understand and forgive you.” I stated that I had nothing to confess and that I did not need his forgiveness; but, as I did not want to waste in his company the precious moments that I could still spend near Madame de Valvèdre that evening, I left him after urging him to think further about the matter and telling him that I would meet him in one hour. The carved wooden gallery went around the house and I came back through it to Madame de Valvèdre’s apartment, but I found her in the gallery coming to meet me. “I have a question for you,” she said to me with a cold and irritated tone. “Sit down here. Our friends are still immersed in botany. As it is at least unnecessary to tell them about a ridiculous incident, we can exchange a few words here. Would you be kind enough, Francis Valigny, to - 47 - 48 Valvèdre tell me what role you played in this incident, and how you learned what you intimated?” I told her everything with the utmost sincerity. “Good,” she said, “your intention was good, and you really did me a favor by preventing me from falling into this undescribable trap for one more second. You could have been less acerbic in your manner, but you do not know me, and if you take me for a fallen woman, it is no more your fault than mine.” “Me!” I cried out, “I take you for . . . ? I . . . who . . . !” I began babbling uncontrollably. “Enough, enough,” she continued. “Do not deny your prejudices. I know what they are. They became cruelly clear when you said that my theory about diamonds, which was quite impersonal, was the expression of a courtesan’s taste.” “But, in the name of the Lord, allow me to swear that I did not say this!” “You thought it, and you said something similar. Listen, I have just been mortally insulted by this Jew and, consequently by you. Do not think that the scorn which saves me from anger protects me from being truly and deeply hurt.” I saw in the moonlight a stream of tears shining like a cascade of pearls on the pale cheeks of this charming woman, and without realizing what I was doing and even less what I was saying, I fell at her feet and swore to her that I respected her, that I commiserated with her, and that I was ready to avenge her. Perhaps at that moment I happened to tell her that I loved her. We were both upset, I because of her grief, she because of my sudden emotion, and for a few moments, we were unable to hear each other and hear ourselves. She was the first one to overcome this agitation and, in answer to the words that I was repeating to diminish my offense, she said “Yes, I know, you are a child; but just as there is nothing as generous as a child who believes, there is nothing as terrible and cruel as a child who doubts, and you are the friend, the alter ego of another child much more skeptical and brutal than you are . . . But I do not want to quarrel with either of you. The sweet and lovely Paule Valvèdre must be happy. You are...