Louis Couperus - Inevitable

And she stopped thinking. The weary dream dissolved in the increasing blue of the day and she felt that she was approaching Nice. She was returning to a small reality. She felt that she looked a little travel-worn and sensing unconsciously that it would be better if Rudolf’s first glimpse of her were not so unappealing, she slowly opened her bag, washed herself with a handkerchief sprinkled with eau de Cologne, combed her hair, powdered her face, brushed herself off and carefully drew a white veil over her face, and put on a pair of new gloves. At a station she bought a couple of yellow roses and stuck them in her belt. She did all this unconsciously, without thinking that it was right, sensible to do so, for Rudolf to see her again with that aura of a beautiful woman. She felt that from now on her main task was to be beautiful, and that nothing else really mattered. And when the train rumbled into the station, when she recognised Nice, she was calm, because the conflict was over, because she was submitting to all the superior forces. The carriage door was pulled open, and in the station, which at that hour was not very full, she saw him at once: large, sturdy, with an easy manner, with his ruddy male face, his light summer suit, straw hat, yellow shoes. He gave an impression of healthy solidity and mainly of broad-shouldered masculinity and notwithstanding that broadness a ‘gentleman’ from head to toe, immaculately turned out without a suggestion of the dandy. And the ironically smiling moustache and the firm gaze of his handsome grey eyes, always on the lookout for women gave him a powerful and certain air of being able to do what he wanted, of being able to dominate, if he so wished. An ironic pride in his handsome strength, with a hint of contempt for the others who were not so handsome and powerful, so healthily animal and yet aristocratic, and in particular a sarcastic condescension towards all women, since he knew women and knew what they really counted for — this was expressed by his eyes, his bearing, his gestures. That was how she knew him. In the past it had often sparked rebellion in her, but now she felt resigned, and a little frightened too.

He had come over to her and helped her alight. She could see that he was angry, that he intended to give her a rough reception; then that his moustache curled into a smile, as if scoffing because he was the strongest … But she said nothing, calmly took his hand and got off the train. He took her out of the station and in the carriage she waited a moment for the suitcase. His eyes surveyed her. She was wearing an old blue linen skirt and a blue linen jacket, but despite the old clothes and the weary resignation she looked like an elegant, beautiful woman.

“I’m pleased you’ve finally seen the virtue of following my wishes,” he said at last.

“I thought it was best,” she said softly.

He was struck by her tone and he observed her closely from the side. He did not understand her, but he was pleased she had come. She was tired now from the emotion and from the train, but he thought she looked most charming, even though she was not as glamorous as at Mrs Uxeley’s ball, when he had spoken to his ex-wife for the first time.

“Are you tired?” he asked.

“I’ve had a bit of a temperature for a few days, and of course I did not sleep last night,” she said, as if apologising.

The suitcase had been loaded and they drove off, to the Hôtel Continental. They said nothing else in the carriage. They were also silent as they entered the hotel and the lift and he took her to his room. It was an ordinary hotel room, but she found it strange to see his brushes lying on the table, to see his jackets and trousers hanging on the hooks, things with a shape and creases that she remembered from before, with which she seemed familiar. In a corner she recognised his suitcase.

He opened the windows wide. She had sat down on a chair, in an attitude of wait and see. She felt slightly faint and closed her eyes, dazzled by the stream of sunlight.

“I expect you’re hungry,” he said. “What shall I order for you?”

“I’d like some tea and bread and butter.”

Her suitcase was brought in and he ordered her breakfast.

“Take your hat off,” he said.

She got up. She took off her jacket. Her cotton blouse was creased and she did not like it. In front of the mirror she pulled the pin out of her hat and very naturally combed her hair with his comb, which she saw lying on the table. And she folded the silk ribbon round her linen collar. He had lit up a cigar and was calmly standing smoking. A waiter brought breakfast. Silently she had something to eat and drank a cup of tea.

“Have you already had breakfast?” she asked.

“Yes.”

They fell silent again and she ate.

“Shall we talk a bit now?” he asked, standing smoking.

“Very well.”

“I don’t want to talk about your running off,” he said. “At first I was going to give you a piece of my mind: it was a damn idiotic thing for you to do …”

She said nothing. She just looked up at him and her lovely eyes took on a new expression — one of gentle resignation. Again he was silent, obviously restraining himself, choosing his words.

“As I say, I don’t want to talk about it again. For a moment you didn’t know what you were doing, you weren’t responsible for your actions. But there’s got to be an end to it now: that’s how I want it. Of course I know that in the eyes of the law I haven’t the slightest claim on you. But we’ve already talked about that, and I’ve already written to you. You were my wife, and now I see you again I feel very clearly that, despite everything, I look on you as my wife. You must have had the same impression of our reunion here in Nice.”

“Yes,” she said calmly.

“You admit it?”

“Yes,” she repeated.

“That’s all right then. That’s all I want from you. From now on don’t let’s think about the past, our divorce, the things you did afterwards. From now on we’ll blot all that out. I look on you as my wife and you’ll be my wife again. According to the law we can’t remarry, but that doesn’t matter. I regard our legal divorce as an interlude, a formality that as far as possible we shall render null and void. If we have children, we shall legitimise them. I’ll consult a lawyer about all that and take all the necessary steps, including financial ones. So our divorce will be nothing but a formality, with no force at all for us and only minimal force for the world and the law. And then I shall leave the army. I wouldn’t have wanted to stay in for ever anyway, and so I can leave sooner than I planned. Besides, you won’t enjoy living in Holland, and it doesn’t appeal to me either.”

“No,” she murmured.

“Where would you like to live?”

“I don’t know …”

“In Italy?”

“No …” the tone was pleading.

“Shall we stay here?”

“I’d rather not … to begin with.”

“I was thinking of Paris. Would you like to live in Paris?”

“Fine…”

“That’s agreed then. We’ll go to Paris as soon as possible, look for an apartment and get settled in. It’ll soon be spring and that’ll make a good start in Paris.”

“Fine …”

He threw himself into an armchair, which groaned under him.

“Tell me, what are you thinking, deep down?”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted to know what you were thinking about this husband of yours. Did you think he was ridiculous?”

“No …”

“Come and sit on my knee.”

She got up and went over to him. She did as he wanted and sat on his knee, and he pulled her towards him. He put his hand on her head: that gesture that left her unable to think. She closed her eyes and snuggled up to him, resting her head against his cheek.