I was astounded by this language, by this impassioned eloquence which I
had never suspected in her, and which I now heard from her lips for the
first time. The butterfly of love had spread out its wings. Psyche was
born for love! No longer for that passive and vague love which was but
the awakening of the senses and of pleasure, but for that love of the
heart which is life itself, with its sorrows, its joys, and its
ecstacies. I contemplated it full of surprise, experiencing the
fascination of some new enchantment.
Louis, how can I describe it? Within an hour after I had entered
Kondjé-Gul's room; our quarrel, her jealousies, her offence, and the
punishment I had resolved upon, were all forgotten!
Nevertheless, appreciating more completely now the defeat to which I had
submitted, I could not fail to perceive the embarrassment which such
strange conduct would cause me. It would, at any rate, be remarkably
awkward for my wives to learn that the violent scene which had passed,
and poor Hadidjé's dagger-wound, had actually become the occasion for a
reconciliation with Kondjé-Gul. How could I show my face before the
victim to whom it was my duty to grant justice? It was really impossible
for me to show such contempt for fas and nefas as I should do were
I to reward her assault upon Hadidjé in such an extraordinary fashion as
by pardoning her. What in the world would Zouhra and Nazli say? It would
be all over with my authority and my reputation.
At any cost, therefore, it was necessary for me to conceal my very
imprudent weakness until their passions had calmed down, or until some
conciliatory advances on the part of Kondjé-Gul to Hadidjé had led to
the forgiveness of this deplorable folly. But directly I attempted to
appeal to her reason, Kondjé-Gul, full of pride at having won me back,
and even making use of my desertion as a weapon in her hands, would not
hear of humiliating herself before a rival. In vain I represented to her
that my own dignity, "the proprieties," and justice were at stake; she
held fast to her victory, and would not forego any of its advantages.
Finally, however, she comprehended the gravity of the situation.
"Well, do you know what we'll do?" she said; "it will be so nice! They
will all believe that you have given me a tremendous scolding. And so
you have, for you were cruel when first you came in!"
"I suppose you did not deserve it then?" I answered.