Scenes from a Courtesan's Life [138]
The dog made no sound, he rolled over, and was stark dead. It was all over while Esther spoke these words of epitaph.
"Good God!" shrieked Madame du Val-Noble.
"You have a cab waiting. Carry away the departed Romeo," said Esther. "His death would make a commotion here. I have given him to you, and you have lost him--advertise for him. Make haste; you will have your fifty thousand francs this evening."
She spoke so calmly, so entirely with the cold indifference of a courtesan, that Madame du Val-Noble exclaimed:
"You are the Queen of us all!"
"Come early, and look very well----"
At five o'clock Esther dressed herself as a bride. She put on her lace dress over white satin, she had a white sash, white satin shoes, and a scarf of English point lace over her beautiful shoulders. In her hair she placed white camellia flowers, the simple ornament of an innocent girl. On her bosom lay a pearl necklace worth thirty thousand francs, a gift from Nucingen.
Though she was dressed by six, she refused to see anybody, even the banker. Europe knew that Lucien was to be admitted to her room. Lucien came at about seven, and Europe managed to get him up to her mistress without anybody knowing of his arrival.
Lucien, as he looked at her, said to himself, "Why not go and live with her at Rubempre, far from the world, and never see Paris again? I have an earnest of five years of her life, and the dear creature is one of those who never belie themselves! Where can I find such another perfect masterpiece?"
"My dear, you whom I have made my God," said Esther, kneeling down on a cushion in front of Lucien, "give me your blessing."
Lucien tried to raise her and kiss her, saying, "What is this jest, my dear love?" And he would have put his arm round her, but she freed herself with a gesture as much of respect as of horror.
"I am no longer worthy of you, Lucien," said she, letting the tears rise to her eyes. "I implore you, give me your blessing, and swear to me that you will found two beds at the Hotel-Dieu--for, as to prayers in church, God will never forgive me unless I pray myself.
"I have loved you too well, my dear. Tell me that I made you happy, and that you will sometimes think of me.--Tell me that!"
Lucien saw that Esther was solemnly in earnest, and he sat thinking.
"You mean to kill yourself," said he at last, in a tone of voice that revealed deep reflection.
"No," said she. "But to-day, my dear, the woman dies, the pure, chaste, and loving woman who once was yours.--And I am very much afraid that I shall die of grief."
"Poor child," said Lucien, "wait! I have worked hard these two days. I have succeeded in seeing Clotilde----"
"Always Clotilde!" cried Esther, in a tone of concentrated rage.
"Yes," said he, "we have written to each other.--On Tuesday morning she is to set out for Italy, but I shall meet her on the road for an interview at Fontainebleau."
"Bless me! what is it that you men want for wives? Wooden laths?" cried poor Esther. "If I had seven or eight millions, would you not marry me--come now?"
"Child! I was going to say that if all is over for me, I will have no wife but you."
Esther bent her head to hide her sudden pallor and the tears she wiped away.
"You love me?" said she, looking at Lucien with the deepest melancholy. "Well, that is my sufficient blessing.--Do not compromise yourself. Go away by the side door, and come in to the drawing-room through the ante-room. Kiss me on the forehead."
She threw her arms round Lucien, clasped him to her heart with frenzy, and said again:
"Go, only go--or I must live."
When the doomed woman appeared in the drawing-room, there was a cry of admiration. Esther's eyes expressed infinitude in which the soul sank as it looked into them. Her blue-black and beautiful hair set off the camellias. In short, this exquisite creature achieved all the effects she had intended. She had no rival. She looked like the supreme expression of that unbridled luxury which surrounded her in every form. Then she was brilliantly witty.