feet； led him by his hands through several apartments； and left him in
a room whose atmosphere was perfumed； and the thick carpet of which he
could feel beneath his feet。
A woman's hand pushed him on to a divan； and untied the handkerchief
for him。 Henri saw Paquita before him； but Paquita in all her womanly
and voluptuous glory。 The section of the boudoir in which Henri found
himself described a circular line； softly gracious； which was faced
opposite by the other perfectly square half； in the midst of which a
chimney…piece shone of gold and white marble。 He had entered by a door
on one side； hidden by a rich tapestried screen； opposite which was a
window。 The semicircular portion was adorned with a real Turkish
divan； that is to say； a mattress thrown on the ground； but a mattress
as broad as a bed； a divan fifty feet in circumference； made of white
cashmere； relieved by bows of black and scarlet silk； arranged in
panels。 The top of this huge bed was raised several inches by numerous
cushions； which further enriched it by their tasteful comfort。 The
boudoir was lined with some red stuff； over which an Indian muslin was
stretched； fluted after the fashion of Corinthian columns； in plaits
going in and out； and bound at the top and bottom by bands of poppy…
colored stuff； on which were designs in black arabesque。
Below the muslin the poppy turned to rose； that amorous color； which
was matched by window…curtains； which were of Indian muslin lined with
rose…colored taffeta； and set off with a fringe of poppy…color and
black。 Six silver…gilt arms； each supporting two candles； were
attached to the tapestry at an equal distance； to illuminate the
divan。 The ceiling； from the middle of which a lustre of unpolished
silver hung； was of a brilliant whiteness； and the cornice was gilded。
The carpet was like an Oriental shawl； it had the designs and recalled
the poetry of Persia； where the hands of slaves had worked on it。 The
furniture was covered in white cashmere； relieved by black and poppy…
colored ornaments。 The clock； the candelabra； all were in white marble
and gold。 The only table there had a cloth of cashmere。 Elegant
flower…pots held roses of every kind； flowers white or red。 In fine；
the least detail seemed to have been the object of loving thought。
Never had richness hidden itself more coquettishly to become elegance；
to express grace； to inspire pleasure。 Everything there would have
warmed the coldest of beings。 The caresses of the tapestry； of which
the color changed according to the direction of one's gaze； becoming
either all white or all rose； harmonized with the effects of the light
shed upon the diaphanous tissues of the muslin； which produced an
appearance of mistiness。 The soul has I know not what attraction
towards white； love delights in red； and the passions are flattered by
gold； which has the power of realizing their caprices。 Thus all that
man possesses within him of vague and mysterious； all his inexplicable
affinities； were caressed in their involuntary sympathies。 There was
in this perfect harmony a concert of color to which the soul responded
with vague and voluptuous and fluctuating ideas。
It was out of a misty atmosphere； laden with exquisite perfumes； that
Paquita； clad in a white wrapper； her feet bare； orange blossoms in
her black hair； appeared to Henri； knelt before him； adoring him as
the god of this temple； whither he had deigned to come。 Although De
Marsay was accustomed to seeing the utmost efforts of Parisian luxury；
he was surprised at the aspect of this shell； like that from which
Venus rose out of the sea。 Whether from an effect of contrast between
the darkness from which he issued and the light which bathed his soul；
whether from a comparison which he swiftly made between this scene and
that of their first interview； he experienced one of those delicate
sensations which true poetry gives。 Perceiving in the midst of this
retreat； which had been opened to him as by a fairy's magic wand； the
masterpiece of creation； this girl； whose warmly colored tints； whose
soft skinsoft； but slightly gilded by the shadows； by I know not
what vaporous effusion of lovegleamed as though it reflected the
rays of color and light； his anger； his desire for vengeance； his
wounded vanity； all were lost。
Like an eagle darting on his prey； he took her utterly to him； set her
on his knees； and felt with an indescribable intoxication the
voluptuous pressure of this girl； whose richly developed beauties
softly enveloped him。
〃Come to me； Paquita！〃 he said； in a low voice。
〃Speak； speak without fear！〃 she said。 〃This retreat was built for
love。 No sound can escape from it； so greatly was it desired to guard
avariciously the accents and music of the beloved voice。 However loud
should be the cries； they would not be heard without these walls。 A
person might be murdered； and his moans would be as vain as if he were
in the midst of the great desert。〃
〃Who has understood jealousy and its needs so well？〃
〃Never question me as to that；〃 she answered； untying with a gesture
of wonderful sweetness the young man's scarf； doubtless in order the
better to behold his neck。
〃Yes； there is the neck I love so well！〃 she said。 〃Wouldst thou
please me？〃
This interrogation； rendered by the accent almost lascivious； drew De
Marsay from the reverie in which he had been plunged by Paquita's
authoritative refusal to allow him any research as to the unknown
being who hovered like a shadow about them。
〃And if I wished to know who reigns here？〃
Paquita looked at him trembling。
〃It is not I； then？〃 he said； rising and freeing himself from the
girl； whose head fell backwards。 〃Where I am； I would be alone。〃
〃Strike； strike！ 。 。 。〃 said the poor slave； a prey to terror。
〃For what do you take me； then？ 。 。 。 Will you answer？〃
Paquita got up gently； her eyes full of tears； took a poniard from one
of the two ebony pieces of furniture； and presented it to Henri with a
gesture of submission which would have moved a tiger。
〃Give me a feast such as men give when they love；〃 she said； 〃and
whilst I sleep； slay me； for I know not how to answer thee。 Hearken！ I
am bound like some poor beast to a stake； I am amazed that I have been
able to throw a bridge over the abyss which divides us。 Intoxicate me；
then kill me！ Ah； no； no！〃 she cried； joining her hands； 〃do not kill
me！ I love life！ Life is fair to me！ If I am a slave； I am a queen
too。 I could beguile you with words； tell you that I love you alone；
prove it to you； profit by my momentary empire to say to you： 'Take me
as one tastes the perfume of a flower when one passes it in a king's
garden。' Then； after having used the cunning eloquence of woman and
soared on the wings of pleasure； after having quenched my thirst； I
could have you cast into a pit； where none could find you； which has
been made to gratify vengeance without having to fear that of the law；
a pit full of lime which would kindle and consume you； until no
particle of you were left。 You would stay in my heart； mine forever。〃
Henri looked at the girl without trembling； and this fearless gaze
filled her with joy。
〃No； I shall not do it！ You have fallen into no trap here； but upon
the heart of a woman who adores you； and it is I who will be cast into
the pit。〃
〃All this appears to me prodigiously strange；〃 said De Marsay；
considering her。 〃But you seem to me a good girl； a strange nature；
you are； upon my word of honor； a living riddle； the answer to which
is very difficult to find。〃
Paquita understood nothing of what the young man said； she looked at
him gently； opening wide eyes which could never be stupid； so much was
pleasure written in them。
〃Come； then； my love；〃 she said； returning to her first idea； 〃wouldst
thou please me？〃
〃I would do all that thou wouldst； and even that thou wouldst not；〃
answered De Marsay； with a laugh。 He had recovered his foppish ease；
as he took the resolve to let himself go to the climax of his good
fortune； looking neither before nor after。 Perhaps he counted；
moreover； on his power and his capacity of a man used to adventures；
to dominate this girl a few hours later and learn all her secrets。
〃Well；〃 said she； 〃let me arrange you as I would like。〃
Paquita went joyously and took from one of the two chests a robe of
red velvet； in which she dressed De Marsay； then adorned his head with
a woman's bonnet and wrapped a shawl round him。 Abandoning herself to
these follies with a child's innocence； she laughed a convulsive
laugh； and resembled some bird flapping its wings； but he saw nothing
beyond。
If it be impossible to paint the unheard…of delights which these two
creaturesmade by heaven in a joyous momentfound； it is perhaps
necessary to translate metaphysically the extraordinary and almost
fantastic impressions of the young man。 That which persons in the
social position of De Marsay； living as he lived； are best able to
recognize is a girl's innocence。 But； strange phenomenon！ The girl of
the golden eyes might be virgin； but innocent she was certainly not。
The fantastic union of the mysterious and the real； of darkness and
light； h