Madame Aubin | Page 5

The essential thing is that four officers from the garrison are indeed willing to serve as seconds and are awaiting us in a nearby woods with swords and pistols as you please even though I have indeed the right to choose the weapons.
PELTIER I'll come with you.
AUBIN (to his wife, aloud, taking her hand which he kisses) You, Marie, await me here--dead or alive. Do you understand me, my pretty?
(Aubin and Peltier leave)
MARIE What an affair! Am I really dreaming in the end. (throwing herself on a sofa which might soon have become dangerous) A little order in my thoughts. (pressing her fingers to her forehead) There. There.--Yes, what I was telling Mr. Peltier is still true. I was a spoiled child when Aubin took me. He spoiled me, too. I became accustomed to prolonging my childhood and my youth in the married state. I was willful, demanding, capricious. At the beginning my husband found this charming, then he tired of it. Quarrels, harshness on his part, on mine sulks. Seven years later Peltier appeared. A charming man, surely. But less so than Aubin, now that I see things clearly. And at bottom, this stupid departure is still more my fault than his. A moment of feminine scorn which with our mores a man is praised for profiting from. I couldn't hold it against him just now for wanting what was implied by our innocent prank and a little fortitude helped me confine it to its character of folly and nothing more. But what? While I tell myself these things, two likable men who both love me, and of which I decidedly prefer one, my husband, are fighting over me. O Mercy! Just as if I were a young girl. And indeed! O punishment! Me! Me! What anguish and what a situation! And the future! During these sweet words with Aubin just now. I've the great misery of waiting for him or the other one. All the same, I've resisted. And there was a moment when I had some merit. But this trip! And this waiting! My God, you in whom one must believe despite all the opinions of folks these days, My God--have pity on me in my misery! (long silence during which she remains prostrated.)
AUBIN (enters, wounded in the shoulder, supported by an Officer) It's over. Madame Aubin, I present you one of my seconds.
(To the officer) Sir?
OFFICER (bowing before Marie) Count de Givors.
AUBIN Count de Givors, I present you my wife.
MARIE (who, since her husband's entrance has had eyes only for him, mechanically) Sir. (leaping after a fashion on his neck) Ah, my friend. Why, why, you are wounded.
AUBIN It's nothing. A bullet that they'll quickly extract from me. And then, right? as soon as my wound is dressed on our way to Paris? By the way, you know, Peltier has nothing.
MARIE (literally superb) Who cares?
(Silence)
AUBIN (immensely joyful) Huh?
OFFICER (to both) Excuse me. (he withdraws after having bowed, escorted out by both)
AUBIN (to his wife) Explain yourself, Marie.
(Peltier enters)
MARIE (to Peltier) Sir. Say if you have ever had the right to call yourself my lover?
PELTIER On my oath as an honest and gallant man which my return to this room confirms: Aubin, I swear No. This departure was a delirium from which Madame awakened first, pure and invincible. Invincible because I wanted to have the last word and she had it; and that was a no not to be misunderstood.
AUBIN* Indeed, each has fulfilled his duty here. I, after your folly rushed to get back my wife and to forgive her after a duel. You, Marie, having remained a good spouse. And I will answer to you that the misunderstandings which serve to excuse you, are dead forever. How happy we are going to be. And you, Peltier, what need is there for an explanation? Given our civilization's disapproval of your attempt to do me out of my wife, as for me, I'd bear you a grudge, too, if this bullet weren't in my shoulder. Now this is it: we'll return after my scratch is dressed. Naturally we will be some while without seeing you again, Peltier. Aren't you on a trip?
(to Peltier) And your hand.
(curtain)

* Translator's note. This final speech reads a little strangely and not just in translation because the idea behind it is a little strange. Aubin's idea is something like this: "The world condemns you, Peltier, for tampering with my wife, and I would too, but for the fact you've put a bullet in my shoulder which proves you're a man of honor, etc." I don't feel justified in incorporating the explanatory material into the text so the best I can do is offer this footnote.

End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Madame Aubin by Paul Verlaine, translated by Frank J. Morlock.

Madame Aubin