ribbon which concealed her from him。 In the evening； installed at an
early hour in his box； alone； reclining on a sofa； he made for
himself； like a Turk drunk with opium； a happiness as fruitful； as
lavish； as he wished。 First of all； he familiarized himself gradually
with the too intense emotions which his mistress' singing caused him；
then he taught his eyes to look at her； and was finally able to
contemplate her at his leisure without fearing an explosion of
concealed frenzy； like that which had seized him the first day。 His
passion became more profound as it became more tranquil。 But the
unsociable sculptor would not allow his solitude； peopled as it was
with images； adorned with the fanciful creations of hope； and full of
happiness； to be disturbed by his comrades。 His love was so intense
and so ingenuous； that he had to undergo the innocent scruples with
which we are assailed when we love for the first time。 As he began to
realize that he would soon be required to bestir himself； to intrigue；
to ask where La Zambinella lived； to ascertain whether she had a
mother； an uncle； a guardian； a family；in a word； as he reflected
upon the methods of seeing her； of speaking to her； he felt that his
heart was so swollen with such ambitious ideas； that he postponed
those cares until the following day； as happy in his physical
sufferings as in his intellectual pleasures。〃
〃But；〃 said Madame de Rochefide； interrupting me； 〃I see nothing of
Marianina or her little old man in all this。〃
〃You see nothing but him！〃 I cried； as vexed as an author for whom
some one has spoiled the effect of a /coup de theatre/。
〃For some days；〃 I resumed after a pause； 〃Sarrasine had been so
faithful in attendance in his box； and his glances expressed such
passionate love； that his passion for La Zambinella's voice would have
been the town…talk of Paris； if the episode had happened here； but in
Italy； madame； every one goes to the theatre for his own enjoyment；
with all his own passions； with a heartfelt interest which precludes
all thought of espionage with opera…glasses。 However； the sculptor's
frantic admiration could not long escape the notice of the performers；
male and female。 One evening the Frenchman noticed that they were
laughing at him in the wings。 It is hard to say what violent measures
he might have resorted to； had not La Zambinella come on the stage。
She cast at Sarrasine one of those eloquent glances which often say
more than women intend。 That glance was a complete revelation in
itself。 Sarrasine was beloved！
〃 'If it is a mere caprice；' he thought； already accusing his mistress
of too great ardor； 'she does not know the sort of domination to which
she is about to become subject。 Her caprice will last； I trust； as
long as my life。'
〃At that moment； three light taps on the door of his box attracted the
artist's attention。 He opened the door。 An old woman entered with an
air of mystery。
〃 'Young man；' she said； 'if you wish to be happy； be prudent。 Wrap
yourself in a cloak； pull a broad…brimmed hat over your eyes； and be
on the Rue du Corso； in front of the Hotel d'Espagne； about ten
o'clock to…night。'
〃 'I will be there；' he replied； putting two louis in the duenna's
wrinkled hand。
〃He rushed from his box； after a sign of intelligence to La
Zambinella； who lowered her voluptuous eyelids modestly； like a woman
overjoyed to be understood at last。 Then he hurried home； in order to
borrow from his wardrobe all the charms it could loan him。 As he left
the theatre； a stranger grasped his arm。
〃 'Beware； Signor Frenchman；' he said in his ear。 'This is a matter of
life and death。 Cardinal Cicognara is her protector； and he is no
trifler。'
〃If a demon had placed the deep pit of hell between Sarrasine and La
Zambinella； he would have crossed it with one stride at that moment。
Like the horses of the immortal gods described by Homer； the
sculptor's love had traversed vast spaces in a twinkling。
〃 'If death awaited me on leaving the house； I would go the more
quickly；' he replied。
〃 '/Poverino！/' cried the stranger； as he disappeared。
〃To talk of danger to a man in love is to sell him pleasure。
Sarrasine's valet had never seen his master so painstaking in the
matter of dress。 His finest sword； a gift from Bouchardon； the bow…
knot Clotilde gave him； his coat with gold braid； his waistcoat of
cloth of silver； his gold snuff…box； his valuable watch； everything
was taken from its place； and he arrayed himself like a maiden about
to appear before her first lover。 At the appointed hour； drunk with
love and boiling over with hope； Sarrasine； his nose buried in his
cloak； hurried to the rendezvous appointed by the old woman。 She was
waiting。
〃 'You are very late；' she said。 'Come。'
〃She led the Frenchman through several narrow streets and stopped in
front of a palace of attractive appearance。 She knocked； the door
opened。 She led Sarrasine through a labyrinth of stairways； galleries；
and apartments which were lighted only by uncertain gleams of
moonlight； and soon reached a door through the cracks of which stole a
bright light； and from which came the joyous sound of several voices。
Sarrasine was suddenly blinded when； at a word from the old woman； he
was admitted to that mysterious apartment and found himself in a salon
as brilliantly lighted as it was sumptuously furnished； in the centre
stood a bountifully supplied table； laden with inviolable bottles；
with laughing decanters whose red facets sparkled merrily。 He
recognized the singers from the theatre； male and female； mingled with
charming women； all ready to begin an artists' spree and waiting only
for him。 Sarrasine restrained a feeling of displeasure and put a good
face on the matter。 He had hoped for a dimly lighted chamber； his
mistress leaning over a brazier； a jealous rival within two steps；
death and love； confidences exchanged in low tones； heart to heart；
hazardous kisses； and faces so near together that La Zambinella's hair
would have touched caressingly his desire…laden brow； burning with
happiness。
〃 '/Vive la folie！/' he cried。 '/Signori e belle donne/； you will
allow me to postpone my revenge and bear witness to my gratitude for
the welcome you offer a poor sculptor。'
〃After receiving congratulations not lacking in warmth from most of
those present； whom he knew by sight； he tried to approach the couch
on which La Zambinella was nonchalantly reclining。 Ah！ how his heart
beat when he spied a tiny foot in one of those slippers whichif you
will allow me to say so； madameformerly imparted to a woman's feet
such a coquettish； voluptuous look that I cannot conceive how men
could resist them。 Tightly fitting white stockings with green clocks；
short skirts； and the pointed； high…heeled slippers of Louis XV。's
time contributed somewhat； I fancy； to the demoralization of Europe
and the clergy。〃
〃Somewhat！〃 exclaimed the marchioness。 〃Have you read nothing； pray？〃
〃La Zambinella；〃 I continued； smiling； 〃had boldly crossed her legs；
and as she prattled swung the upper one； a duchess' attitude very well
suited to her capricious type of beauty； overflowing with a certain
attractive suppleness。 She had laid aside her stage costume； and wore
a waist which outlined a slender figure； displayed to the best
advantage by a /panier/ and a satin dress embroidered with blue
flowers。 Her breast； whose treasures were concealed by a coquettish
arrangement of lace； was of a gleaming white。 Her hair was dressed
almost like Madame du Barry's； her face； although overshadowed by a
large cap； seemed only the daintier therefor； and the powder was very
becoming to her。 She smiled graciously at the sculptor。 Sarrasine；
disgusted beyond measure at finding himself unable to speak to her
without witnesses； courteously seated himself beside her； and
discoursed of music； extolling her prodigious talent； but his voice
trembled with love and fear and hope。
〃 'What do you fear？' queried Vitagliani； the most celebrated singer
in the troupe。 'Go on； you have no rival here to fear。'
〃After he had said this the tenor smiled silently。 The lips of all the
guests repeated that smile； in which there was a lurking expression of
malice likely to escape a lover。 The publicity of his love was like a
sudden dagger…thrust in Sarrasine's heart。 Although possessed of a
certain strength of character； and although nothing that might happen
could subdue the violence of his passion； it had not before occurred
to him that La Zambinella was almost a courtesan； and that he could
not hope to enjoy at one and the same time the pure delights which
would make a maiden's love so sweet； and the passionate transports
with which one must purchase the perilous favors of an actress。 He
reflected and resigned himself to his fate。 The supper was served。
Sarrasine and La Zambinella seated themselves side by side without
ceremony。 During the first half of the feast the artists exercised
some restraint； and the sculptor was able to converse with the singer。
He found that she was very bright and quick…witted； but she was
amazingly ignorant and seemed weak and superstitious。 The delicacy of
her organs