On the Bright Shore/Chapter 9
CHAPTER IX
Next day when Pani Lageat brought a lunch for three persons to the studio, she stated that an hour before the same two handsome boys had come, this time, however, not with a strangely dressed servant, but with a youthful and beautiful lady.
"The lady wanted absolutely to see you; but I told her that you had gone to Antibes."
"To Toulon! to Toulon!" cried the artist, joyously.
Next morning there was no one to whom Pani Lageat could give that answer, for only a letter came. Svirski did not read it. That day it happened that while trying to correct Panna Cervi's "position," he put his hand under her shoulder, and raised her so that their bosoms almost met, and her breath struck his face. Meanwhile her face changed from emotion, and he said to himself that if such a moment lasted longer, it would be worth while to give life for it.
That evening he talked to himself as follows: "The senses are playing in thee, but not as at other times; now thy soul rushes forth after them, and rushes forth because this is a child who in this 'pudridero' of Nice has remained as pure as a tear. This is not even her merit, but her nature; where could such another be found? This time I am not deceiving myself, and I am not talking anything into myself, for reality is speaking."
And it seemed to him that a sweet dream was taking hold of him. Unfortunately, after sleep comes waking. To Svirski, it came two days later in the form of one more telegram, which, shoved in through an opening in the door intended for letters and newspapers, fell on the floor in presence of both women.
Panna Maria, while preparing to let down her hair, saw the telegram first, and, raising the envelope, handed it to Svirski.
He opened it unwillingly, looked; and confusion was evident on his face.
"Pardon me, ladies," said he, after a while. "I have received such news that I must go at once."
"I hope at least that it is nothing bad," said Panna Maria, with alarm.
"No, no! But perhaps I shall not be able to return to the afternoon sitting. In every case work is over for to-day; but to-morrow I shall be calm."
Then he took leave of them somewhat feverishly, but with exceeding cordiality, and next moment he was in a carriage which, at his command, was to go straight to Monte Carlo.
When he had passed the "Jetée Promenade," he took out the telegram and read it again. It was as follows: —
Svirski was simply frightened at the signature, especially as he was under the recent impression of the event with Kresovich. "Who knows," said he in his mind, "to what a woman may be brought, not by genuine love, but by wounded vanity? I should not have acted as I have. It was easy to answer her first letter—and break with her. It is not proper to trifle with any one, whether good or bad. At present I must break with her decisively; but I must go without waiting for the four-o'clock train."
And he urged on the driver. At moments he strengthened himself with the hope that Pani Elzen would not in any case attempt her own life. That seemed utterly unlike her. But at moments he was possessed by doubt. If that monstrous egotism of hers is turned into a feeling of offence, would it not urge her to some insane act?
He remembered that there was a certain stubbornness in her character, a certain decision, and no little courage. Regard for her children, it is true, ought to restrain her; but did she really care for those children? And at thought of what might happen, the hair rose on his head. Conscience moved in him again, and a profound internal struggle began. The picture of Panna Cervi passed before his eyes every moment, rousing bitter and immense regret. He repeated to himself, it is true, that he was going to break with Pani Elzen, that he would break with her decisively; at the bottom of his soul, however, he felt a great fear. What would happen if that woman, vain and malicious, as well as determined, should say to him, "Thee, or morphine"? And meanwhile, with the alarm and uncertainty, there was born in his mind a disgust; for it seemed to him that the question could be put that way only by some counterfeit heroine belonging to "vile literature." But still what would happen if she should put it so? In society, especially in the society of Nice, there are many women who belong to "vile literature."
In the midst of these thoughts, and in a cloud of gray dust, he arrived finally at Monte Carlo, and ordered the driver to stop in front of the Hôtel de Paris. But before he had time to alight he descried Romulus and Remus on the turf with netted clubs in their hands, throwing up balls under the care of a Cossack whom Pani Lageat had called the strangely dressed servant. They, when they saw him, ran up.
"Good-day, sir!"
"Good-day."
"Good-day! Is mamma upstairs?"
"No. Mamma has gone bicycling with M. de Sinten."
Silence followed.
"Ah I mamma has gone bicycling with De Sinten?" repeated Svirski. "Well!"
And after a while he added,—
"True! she expected me only at four o'clock."
Then he began to laugh.
"The tragedy ends in a farce. But this, however, is the Riviera! Still, what an ass I am!"
"Will you wait for mamma?" asked Romulus.
"No. Listen, my boys. Tell your mamma that I came to say good-bye to her, and that I am sorry not to find her, because I am going on a journey to-day."
Then he gave directions to return to Nice. That evening he received one telegram more, in which there was the single word, "Scoundrel!"
After reading it he fell into excellent humor, for the telegram was not signed this time, "Morphine."