Subject: Chapter XVII: End of Book 2
Author: Robin N (157.198.3.51)
Date: 09-27-1999 13:10
Chapter XVII
Renato’s looking dazedly out the window of the locked library and
Aimee demands that he open the door. She wants to speak to him but
he wants to be alone. She’s tired of this attitude of his and tells
him that he’s ‘breaking her heart’ with his coldness. “Love me
again, Renato! Love me again!” Aimee is prepared to do battle, using
as a bargaining chip a (potential) child. Without a child, all will
be lost for her. She drapes her arms around his neck, but he rejects
her.
“You don’t love me, you’ve forgotten me, abandoned me… you only
think of this unfortunate matter,” she pouts. Renato responds, “My
honor and prestige are tied up in this ‘unfortunate matter,’ as well
as Monica’s whole life.” Aimee tells him that he can’t feel
responsible, he did all he could, but Renato tells her that it
wasn’t enough. He needs to keep thinking about it, to find some new
plan, because he didn’t fight successfully enough. He tells her to
leave him alone, that she’s bothering him. This, of course, makes
her mad, but he tells her that he’s just trying to speak clearly and
make her understand him for once. He’s got to come up with a plan
for her sister. Aimee is incensed. She refers to Monica as her
‘odious rival’ and tells him that he’ll make her hate him. Renato
tells her to be quiet, “if someone heard you talk like that…” She’s
unrepentant. She tells him that he’s got to desist from this
course—even his own mother thinks he’s going about it
wrong—everybody does. He shouldn’t forget that he’s not alone, that
she’s tired of his abandonment and coldness and he should take
better care of her. “No se abandona asi a una mujer de mis años!”
Renato tells her that he hasn’t abandoned her, that he only needs to
think. He’s not going to put up with her childish behavior and
jealousy. It’s not so much that she’s been raised wrong, it’s just
that her mother lost control of her. If she was a good woman—hecha y
derecha—then… Aimee threatens him, “Si pensara como una mujer, te
cobraria muy caro este desaire!” Renato doesn’t follow this and he
just wants to get rid of her.
“Que desaire? Te he suplicado uno dias, unas horas de tranquilidad?
Donde esta la ofensa y el desaire? Por que no sales a dar un paseo?
Las tiendas estan llenas de adornos, de perfumes, de trapos…
Entretente con eso, ya que supongo que es lo que echas de menos en
el campo.”
Aimee’s snit just builds. “Find, you want it that way, you want me
to leave you in peace? Well I will, but don’t complain if I’m not
around when you want me!” and she storms off in a huff. “ Renato
calls her back, but she’s gone. Ana who’s apparently walking by (or
hovering?), tells him that she’s the only one there. He tells her to
bring some cognac to the library and tell everyone to leave him
alone.
* * * *
Aimee starts in on Ana: she’s been calling for her for an hour. She
wants her to bring her a new blouse, skirt, belt and shawl of Ana’s
to change into and she wants her to come along with her, but not in
a carriage. She doesn’t want anyone to see them. Ana tries to tell
her something but Aimee’s impatient. Finally she tells her that a
man’s waiting. He’s better looking than Renato. This sinks in with
Aimee. Ana tells her that this guy keeps walking up and down the
street. He saw her looking at him and told her that he’d seen her
together with Aimee. Aimee wants to know who she’s talking about.
“Why the man walking up and down the street!” He wanted me to advise
you that he was here and that would make him the happiest of men.
She tells Aimee that she doesn’t know him, but he’s wearing a
uniform and it looks like he’s from another country. She thinks he’s
called ‘teniente Botton.” It’s Lieutenant Britton. Aimee asks if
she’s seen him and Ana tells her that’s what she’s been trying to
tell her. If Aimee would look out the window, she can see him for
herself.
Aimee’s brain starts spinning. Why does he want to see her? He must
know who she is! Ana wants to know if she’ll talk to him, he’s
waiting for her. He gave Ana 20 francs. Aimee’s annoyed that Ana
took the money. She should have sent him on his way “Deberia echarte
a puntapies!” But, she starts thinking of how she can use him to her
advantage. Ana tells her that if she goes by the stableyard, over by
the fountain, by the mangos, nobody will see them talk. She wants to
change her clothes first, but not into servants clothing, since he
apparently already knows that she’s the señora D’Autremont. She
thinks that he’s arrived just in time, she needs a man!
* * * *
Ana tells Britton to follow her. He’s a little taken aback that he
can’t call by the front door, but he follows her all the same.
“Espere a la señora. Con calma, eh? Con mucha calma… Mire, ahi hay
un banco. Lo mejor es que la espere sentado..”
“Esta usted segura de que va a venir?”
“Pues, claro. Para que si no me iba a mandar meterlo por esta
puerta? La señora esta muy aburrida del señor Renato.. Ya vera… Ya
vera…”
Charles Britton calla, cada instante mas desconcertado. Aquella
mujer de ojos maliciosos y sonrisa bobalicona llega a hacerle dudar
de lo que por si mismo mira y oye. (Run, Chuck, run! While there’s
still time!) Un instante le ha parecide que se burlaba de el… Luego,
incapaz de seguir el consejo de sentarse, aguarda a pie firme,
frenando apenas su impaciencia.
Aimee greets him and he’s a little stunned by her beauty. Her red
silk dress gives her a lively glow. But… “Los ojos negros brillan, a
la vez malevelos, burlones y audaces, y es la fina y doble hilera de
sus dientes blancos como un collar de perlas que se asomara entre
los corales de los labios sensuales y golosos..”
She tells him that she’s returning the tip he gave her made. If he
has something important to tell her, it’s not necessary to pay her
servants. He’s a little embarrassed, and tells her that he wasn’t
paying her, so much as trying to get into her good graces. Aimee
tells him that poor Ana is “tonta de capirote” and her lack of sense
puts Aimee in lamentable situations but she’s loyal so she forgives
her. The implication is that she really didn’t know she was here to
meet Lt. Britton—foolish Ana is at fault. Lt. Britton says, ‘ah hah,
so if you’re here to meet me (in a way I didn’t dare dream of… all
alone), it’s really your maid’s fault.’ Aimee tells him, yes, but
don’t look so put out. She just doesn’t want him to think she’s
something she’s not. Britton tells her that he doesn’t think she’s
anything more than the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen.
Aimee enjoys the complement and gets down to business, the business
of flirtation. Why are you here? He wanted to tell her that his
mission in town was down and that he was leaving for Dominica at
dawn. This is bad news for Aimee. Britton takes hope when she says
that it’s so soon. Aimee tells him—frankly—that she can’t deny that
she found him extremely simpatico and was happy that circumstances
threw them together. However, how was it that the paper she
entrusted him to put into Juan’s hands could have fallen into the
hands of someone else—“fue a parar a manos de alguien que tiene
mucho interes en perjudicarme..” Britton is surprised by this, he
kept his word. She knows, she saw him put it into his hands, but
she’s not lying because look, here it is!
He’s troubled by this. Did it fall into the wrong hands and was she
harmed by it? She tells him no, that it would have if someone else
had read it. Britton tells her that Juan is the most fortunate man
in the world to have been loved by her. He remembers her words,
“Digale que este paper se lo envia una mujer que da la vida para
salvar a Juan del Diablo.” Aimee tells him that one could give one’s
life for gratitude, or for a debt, or for pity. If he only knew… She
embellishes this, “Cuando una mujer se siente que su esposo le
vuelve la espalda; cuando se siente una intrusa, una extraña en su
propio hogar… Pero no hablemos de mi, sino de usted. Queria verme
para decirme adios, nada mas?”
Britton tells her that he wanted only to say that he’ll never forget
her, nor Juan, as long as he lives. He thinks he owes Juan his life
and, since he knows that she loves him so passionately, perhaps she
can help him think of some way to repay this debt. Aimee tells him
that she thought perhaps he came seeking a gift in payment for his
service to her and she’s ready to pay her debt. He’s offended by
this. Aimee plays the coquette and tells him that she wasn’t trying
to offend him. It would be a symbolic gift. She knows he’s all alone
in Saint-Pierre and would like to see the town a little. Plus, it’s
carnival time. She’ll be his tour guide. They make plans to meet and
she formally introduces herself. “My name is Aimee, or Eme in
France. Here they pronounce it badly. It means ‘loved.’” Britton is
overcome with emotion, surprise, even fear and he kisses her white
hand. A diabolical smile illuminates Aimee’s face. She tells him
that he is to forget tomorrow will come and come see the city
without looking back, without asking any questions!
* * * *
Monica meets with Father Vivier. She only needs his permission to
take the habit. He tells her that there are impediments to this,
she’s married and one doesn’t break one’s vows lightly. She tells
him that her husband doesn’t care what she does. He tells her that
they can’t do it without his legal authorization anyhow and he
suspects he won’t authorize it. Besides, there’s a visitor for you.
Monica immediately hopes that it’s Juan, but it isn’t. This reaction
is enough for Father Vivier to see that her husband is part of her
heart, even if she’s trying to abandon him. Monica denies this. She
thinks he’s on the Luzbel sailing far away or in the taverns, not
thinking of her. He left her in the convent. The priest tells her
that there are others who fear he’ll be an obstacle to her taking
the veil, such as her mother. “She’s the one who’s waiting for her,
along with the señora D’Autremont. They are there to try to convince
her to sign a request for an annulment, that you don’t wish to sign.
They want it to happen quickly and secretly while you’re in this
mood, and before your husband returns to the convent.” He wants her
to think clearly and not act precipitously. he saw how she trembled
with happiness thinking that it was Juan who had come to see her.
“Ese hombre, a quien Dios trajo a tu vida por caminos extraños, te
interesa demasiado.”
Monica continues to deny Juan’s importance to herself. She tells him
that she’ll sign and give Juan the freedom that he wants. To him
she’s less than a shade, less than a ghost, “pero aun ese fantasma
quiero borrarlo… voy a terminar cuanto antes.”
Before she reaches the waiting room, someone calls to her. It’s
Colibri. He tells her he had to see her and he snuck in because they
wouldn’t let him in to see her. She caresses him and asks him if
he’s with anyone. He tells her that no one’s with him. He wants to
know if he can stay with her but she tells him to return to Juan,
even if he’s the only thing she still has that reminds her of her
happiest days. She tells him that she’s on her way to see her mother
to sign a document that will separate her from Juan forever. Colibri
doesn’t understand why she won’t return to the boat. He should go to
the boat and stay there without her? She tells him that he have
other mistresses and Juan will show other hands how to steer the
Luzbel.
“Tendras otras, habra otras mujeres en la cabina del Luzbel, y las
manos de Juan se posaran sobre otras manos, guiando la rueda del
timon hacia las islas maravillosas donde la vida parece dormida,
donde no hay odios ni lagrimas: las islas en las que al amor es como
un sueño, donde ni pecar parece pecado…Vete, Colibri, vete… Vuelve
con tu amo…”
She pries his hands off his skirts and pushes him away, but he tells
her that he doesn’t want anyone to go to the Luzbel but her, he
loves her and the master loves her too. He tells her that the master
is always thinking of her. The woman who came to see him in the jail
was nothing. He only fought with her. Monica says that this doesn’t
matter. They will make their peace, it is as if they were born for
each other. That’s how they show their love. He asks if they are
waiting for her to sign a paper against his master. She tells him
that it’s not against Juan, on the contrary. It’s what he wants
most, to break the bond of matrimony so that she can spend her days
within the walls of the convent.
Colibri tells her that his master doesn’t want her to stay locked
in. She asks him if Juan told him this, because she knows that
Colibri never lies. Don’t lie now. She tells him to run, other
people are coming and she doesn’t want them to catch him. It’s the
priest and her mother and Sofia. Monica tells them that she was just
on her way to come sign the paper. Father Vivier reminds her that
it’s against his advice, but Catalina can’t believe this. She thinks
Monica’s married to a canalla. Sofia interjects that she thinks that
she should do it right away, because her poor mother’s suffering,
then there’s the matter of her sister…”
Monica tells her, “Le ruego que tratemos mis asuntos separadamente
de los de mi hermana, doña Sofia! Si Renato entendiera que es
indespensable que olvide mis asuntos…” Sofia tells her that’s not
it, but she’d like them to speak privately. The priest offers to
leave but Monica asks him to wait. There’s no reason for him to
leave, he knows everything in her heart. Sofia tells her, “Queria
decirle que en el ultimo proyecto nuestro no ha intervenido para
nada Renato. Es mas, sospechamos que no sera de su agrado. Pero no
importa. Catalina y yo hemos tratado de solucionar las cosas sin el,
evitando posibles habladurias al verle intervenir en cosas que no le
conciernan.”
“Quiere que firme para usted aquel poder general que Renato habia
preparado?”
“Mucho menos. Solo una solicitud para el Santo Padre. Solicitud de
anulacion de matrimonio por razones que no ofenden a nadie, ni
siquiera a Juan del Diablo: Salud delicada, incompatabilidad de
caracteres y una vocacion religiosa que citaremos como causa
principal de su resolucion. En realidad, no es descabellado. Era
usted casi una niña cuando se empeño en ser religiosa, verdad? Y las
circunstancias que le impulsaron a ello, creo que no han cambiado…”
It’s as if Sofia wants to empty her heart in a single blow and
penetrate her innermost thoughts with her gaze. Monica returns the
gaze. Sofia tells her that for people of their class, nothing is
more mortifying than gossip. In the cloister they can avoid a
scandal. And that’s all she’s worried about, in truth, asks Monica.
Catalina interjects that she just wants Monica away from that man,
so that he has no rights to see her. She’s afraid that he’ll take
her away again into danger, or illness. It would give her a great
sorrow to see her as a cloistered nun, but if that’s what it takes!
Monica looks to where Colibri hid. She wished that she hadn’t seen
him, or spoken with him because of the memories that he brought
back. The priest’s voice interrupts her thoughts. He tells her that
with this they have something to begin with. Anyhow, the Pope has
many things to do and it will take many months before any resolution
will come.
“Por eso queremos apurar las cosas, Monica” manifiesta Sofia.
“Hacerlo sin ruido, evitar, a costa de lo que sea, que mi hijo
vuelva a entrentarse a ese Juan…”
Monica agrees. It’s sorrowful to see the hate between brothers.
Sofia tells her that she needn’t mention that detail, that bit of
legend could be a humbug!
“para mi, si era necesario recordarlo. Firmare, doña Sofia. Deme ese
papel. Lo firmare en el acto!”