按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
put somewhere else。〃
〃Why won't he let it remain here？〃
〃You know； sir； people have queer notions about dead folk。 We see
something of that every day。 The ground here was only bought for five
years； and this young gentleman wants a perpetual lease and a bigger plot
of ground； it will be better in the new part。〃
〃What do you call the new part？〃
〃The new plots of ground that are for sale； there to the left。 If the
28
… Page 29…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
cemetery had always been kept like it is now； there wouldn't be the like of
it in the world； but there is still plenty to do before it will be quite all it
should be。 And then people are so queer！〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I mean that there are people who carry their pride even here。 Now；
this Demoiselle Gautier； it appears she lived a bit free； if you'll excuse my
saying so。 Poor lady； she's dead now； there's no more of her left than of
them that no one has a word to say against。 We water them every day。 Well；
when the relatives of the folk that are buried beside her found out the sort
of person she was； what do you think they said？ That they would try to
keep her out from here； and that there ought to be a piece of ground
somewhere apart for these sort of women； like there is for the poor。 Did
you ever hear of such a thing？ I gave it to them straight； I did： well…to…do
folk who come to see their dead four times a year； and bring their flowers
themselves； and what flowers！ and look twice at the keep of them they
pretend to cry over； and write on their tombstones all about the tears they
haven't shed； and come and make difficulties about their neighbours。 You
may believe me or not； sir； I never knew the young lady； I don't know
what she did。 Well； I'm quite in love with the poor thing； I look after her
well； and I let her have her camellias at an honest price。 She is the dead
body that I like the best。 You see； sir； we are obliged to love the dead； for
we are kept so busy； we have hardly time to love anything else。〃
I looked at the man； and some of my readers will understand； without
my needing to explain it to them； the emotion which I felt on hearing him。
He observed it； no doubt； for he went on：
〃They tell me there were people who ruined themselves over that girl；
and lovers that worshipped her； well； when I think there isn't one of them
that so much as buys her a flower now； that's queer； sir； and sad。 And； after
all； she isn't so badly off； for she has her grave to herself； and if there is
only one who remembers her； he makes up for the others。 But we have
other poor girls here； just like her and just her age； and they are just
thrown into a pauper's grave； and it breaks my heart when I hear their poor
bodies drop into the earth。 And not a soul thinks about them any more；
once they are dead！ 'Tisn't a merry trade； ours； especially when we have a
29
… Page 30…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
little heart left。 What do you expect？ I can't help it。 I have a fine； strapping
girl myself； she's just twenty； and when a girl of that age comes here I
think of her； and I don't care if it's a great lady or a vagabond； I can't help
feeling it a bit。 But I am taking up your time； sir； with my tales； and it
wasn't to hear them you came here。 I was told to show you Mlle。 Gautier's
grave； here you have it。 Is there anything else I can do for you？〃
〃Do you know M。 Armand Duval's address？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； he lives at Rue de ； at least； that's where I always go to get my
money for the flowers you see there。〃
〃Thanks； my good man。〃
I gave one more look at the grave covered with flowers； half longing
to penetrate the depths of the earth and see what the earth had made of the
fair creature that had been cast to it； then I walked sadly away。
〃Do you want to see M。 Duval； sir？〃 said the gardener； who was
walking beside me。
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I am pretty sure he is not back yet； or he would have been here
already。〃
〃You don't think he has forgotten Marguerite？〃
〃I am not only sure he hasn't； but I would wager that he wants to
change her grave simply in order to have one more look at her。〃
〃Why do you think that？〃
〃The first word he said to me when he came to the cemetery was：
'How can I see her again？' That can't be done unless there is a change of
grave； and I told him all about the formalities that have to be attended to in
getting it done； for； you see； if you want to move a body from one grave to
another you must have it identified； and only the family can give leave for
it under the direction of a police inspector。 That is why M。 Duval has gone
to see Mlle。 Gautier's sister； and you may be sure his first visit will be for
me。〃
We had come to the cemetery gate。 I thanked the gardener again；
putting a few coins into his hand； and made my way to the address he had
given me。
Armand had not yet returned。 I left word for him； begging him to come
30
… Page 31…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
and see me as soon as he arrived； or to send me word where I could find
him。
Next day； in the morning； I received a letter from Duval； telling me of
his return； and asking me to call on him； as he was so worn out with
fatigue that it was impossible for him to go out。
31
… Page 32…
CAMILLE （LA DAME AUX CAMILIAS）
CHAPTER 6
I found Armand in bed。 On seeing me he held out a burning hand。
〃You are feverish；〃 I said to him。 〃It is nothing； the fatigue of a rapid
journey； that is all。〃 〃You have been to see Marguerite's sister？〃 〃Yes； who
told you？〃 〃I knew it。 Did you get what you wanted？〃
〃Yes； but who told you of my journey； and of my reason for taking it？〃
〃The gardener of the cemetery。〃
〃You have seen the tomb？〃
I scarcely dared reply； for the tone in which the words were spoken
proved to me that the speaker was still possessed by the emotion which I
had witnessed before； and that every time his thoughts or speech travelled