original short stories-13-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



He　took　me　into　one　of　the　suburbs。　　The　woman　lived　in　a　pretty　little
house　by　the　side　of　the　road。　　It　was　attractive　and　well　kept。　　The
garden　was　filled　with　fragrant　flowers。　　One　might　have　supposed　it　to
be　the　residence　of　a　retired　lawyer。

A　maid　ushered　us　into　a　sort　of　little　country　parlor；　and　the　wretch
appeared。　　She　was　about　forty。　　She　was　a　tall；　big　woman　with　hard
features；　but　well　formed；　vigorous　and　healthy；　the　true　type　of　a
robust　peasant　woman；　half　animal；　and　half　woman。

She　was　aware　of　her　reputation　and　received　everyone　with　a　humility
that　smacked　of　hatred。

〃What　do　the　gentlemen　wish？〃　she　asked。

〃They　tell　me　that　your　last　child　is　just　like　an　ordinary　child；　that
he　does　not　resemble　his　brothers　at　all；〃　replied　my　friend。　　〃I　wanted
to　be　sure　of　that。　　Is　it　true？〃

She　cast　on　us　a　malicious　and　furious　look　as　she　said：

〃Oh；　no；　oh；　no；　my　poor　sir！　　He　is　perhaps　even　uglier　than　the　rest。
I　have　no　luck；　no　luck！

They　are　all　like　that；　it　is　heartbreaking！　　How　can　the　good　God　be　so
hard　on　a　poor　woman　who　is　all　alone　in　the　world；　how　can　He？〃
She　spoke　hurriedly；　her　eyes　cast　down；　with　a　deprecating　air　as　of　a
wild　beast　who　is　afraid。　　Her　harsh　voice　became　soft；　and　it　seemed
strange　to　hear　those　tearful　falsetto　tones　issuing　from　that　big；　bony
frame；　of　unusual　strength　and　with　coarse　outlines；　which　seemed　fitted
for　violent　action；　and　made　to　utter　howls　like　a　wolf。

〃We　should　like　to　see　your　little　one；〃　said　my　friend。

I　fancied　she　colored　up。　　I　may　have　been　deceived。　　After　a　few　moments
of　silence；　she　said　in　a　louder　tone：

〃What　good　will　that　do　you？〃

〃Why　do　you　not　wish　to　show　it　to　us？〃　replied　my　friend。　　〃There　are
many　people　to　whom　you　will　show　it；　you　know　whom　I　mean。〃

She　gave　a　start；　and　resuming　her　natural　voice；　and　giving　free　play　to
her　anger；　she　screamed：

〃Was　that　why　you　came　here？　　To　insult　me？　　Because　my　children　are　like
animals；　tell　me？　　You　shall　not　see　him；　no；　no；　you　shall　not　see　him！
Go　away；　go　away！　　I　do　not　know　why　you　all　try　to　torment　me　like
that。〃

She　walked　over　toward　us；　her　hands　on　her　hips。　　At　the　brutal　tone　of
her　voice；　a　sort　of　moaning；　or　rather　a　mewing；　the　lamentable　cry　of
an　idiot；　came　from　the　adjoining　room。　　I　shivered　to　the　marrow　of　my
bones。　　We　retreated　before　her。

〃Take　care；　Devil〃　（they　called　her　the　Devil）；　said　my　friend；　〃take
care；　some　day　you　will　get　yourself　into　trouble　through　this。〃

She　began　to　tremble；　beside　herself　with　fury；　shaking　her　fist　and
roaring：

〃Be　off　with　you！　　What　will　get　me　into　trouble？　　Be　off　with　you；
miscreants！〃

She　was　about　to　attack　us；　but　we　fled；　saddened　at　what　we　had　seen。
When　we　got　outside；　my　friend　said：

〃Well；　you　have　seen　her；　what　do　you　think　of　her？〃

〃Tell　me　the　story　of　this　brute；〃　I　replied。

And　this　is　what　he　told　me　as　we　walked　along　the　white　high　road；　with
ripe　crops　on　either　side　of　it　which　rippled　like　the　sea　in　the　light
breeze　that　passed　over　them。

〃This　woman　was　one　a　servant　on　a　farm。　　She　was　an　honest　girl；　steady
and　economical。　　She　was　never　known　to　have　an　admirer；　and　never
suspected　of　any　frailty。　　But　she　went　astray；　as　so　many　do。

〃She　soon　found　herself　in　trouble；　and　was　tortured　with　fear　and　shame。
Wishing　to　conceal　her　misfortune；　she　bound　her　body　tightly　with　a
corset　of　her　own　invention；　made　of　boards　and　cord。　　The　more　she
developed；　the　more　she　bound　herself　with　this　instrument　of　torture；
suffering　martyrdom；　but　brave　in　her　sorrow；　not　allowing　anyone　to　see；
or　suspect；　anything。　　She　maimed　the　little　unborn　being；　cramping　it
with　that　frightful　corset；　and　made　a　monster　of　it。　　Its　head　was
squeezed　and　elongated　to　a　point；　and　its　large　eyes　seemed　popping　out
of　its　head。　　Its　limbs；　exaggeratedly　long；　and　twisted　like　the　stalk
of　a　vine；　terminated　in　fingers　like　the　claws　of　a　spider。　　Its　trunk
was　tiny；　and　round　as　a　nut。

〃The　child　was　born　in　an　open　field；　and　when　the　weeders　saw　it；　they
fled　away；　screaming；　and　the　report　spread　that　she　had　given　birth　to　a
demon。　　From　that　time　on；　she　was　called　'the　Devil。'

〃She　was　driven　from　the　farm；　and　lived　on　charity；　under　a　cloud。　　She
brought　up　the　monster；　whom　she　hated　with　a　savage　hatred；　and　would
have　strangled；　perhaps；　if　the　priest　had　not　threatened　her　with
arrest。

〃One　day　some　travelling　showmen　heard　about　the　frightful　creature；　and
asked　to　see　it；　so　that　if　it　pleased　them　they　might　take　it　away。
They　were　pleased；　and　counted　out　five　hundred　francs　to　the　mother。
At　first；　she　had　refused　to　let　them　see　the　little　animal；　as　she　was
ashamed；　but　when　she　discovered　it　had　a　money　value；　and　that　these
people　were　anxious　to　get　it；　she　began　to　haggle　with　them；　raising　her
price　with　all　a　peasant's　persistence。

〃She　made　them　draw　up　a　paper；　in　which　they　promised　to　pay　her　four
hundred　francs　a　year　besides；　as　though　they　had　taken　this　deformity
into　their　employ。

〃Incited　by　the　greed　of　gain；　she　continued　to　produce　these　phenomena；
so　as　to　have　an　assured　income　like　a　bourgeoise。

〃Some　of　them　were　long；　some　short；　some　like　crabs…all　bodies…others
like　lizards。　　Several　died；　and　she　was　heartbroken。

〃The　law　tried　to　interfere；　but　as　they　had　no　proof　they　let　her
continue　to　produce　her　freaks。

She　has　at　this　moment　eleven　alive；　and　they　bring　in；　on　an　average；
counting　good　and　bad　years；　from　five　to　six　thousand　francs　a　year。
One；　alone；　is　not　placed；　the　one　she　was　unwilling　to　show　us。　　But　she
will　not　keep　it　long；　for　she　is　known　to　all　the　showmen　in　the　world；
who　come　from　time　to　time　to　see　if　she　has　anything　new。

〃She　even　gets　bids　from　them　when　the　monster　is　valuable。〃

My　friend　was　silent。　　A　profound　disgust　stirred　my　heart；　and　a　feeling
of　rage；　of　regret；　to　think　that　I　had　not　strangled　this　brute　when　I
had　the　opportunity。

I　had　forgotten　this　story；　when　I　saw　on　the　beach　of　a　fashionable
resort　the　other　day；　an　elegant；　charming；　dainty　woman；　surrounded　by
men　who　paid　her　respect　as　well　as　admiration。

I　was　walking　along　the　beach；　arm　in　arm　with　a　friend；　the　resident
physician。　　Ten　minutes　later；　I　saw　a　nursemaid　with　three　children；　who
were　rolling　in　the　sand。　　A　pair　of　little　crutches　lay　on　the　ground；
and　touched　my　sympathy。　　I　then　noticed　that　these　three　children　were
all　deformed；　humpbacked；　or　crooked；　and　hideous。

〃Those　are　the　offspring　of　that　charming　woman　you　saw　just　now；〃　said
the　doctor。

I　was　filled　with　pity　for　her；　as　well　as　for　them；　and　exclaimed：
〃Oh；　the　poor　mother！　　How　can　she　ever　laugh！〃

〃Do　not　pity　her；　my　friend。　　Pity　the　poor　children；〃　replied　the
doctor。　　〃This　is　the　consequence　of　preserving　a　slender　figure　up　to
the　last。　　These　little　deformities　were　made　by　the　corset。　　She　knows
very　well　that　she　is　risking　her　life　at　this　game。　　But　what　does　she
care；　as　long　as　lie　can　be　beautiful　and　have　admirers！〃

And　then　I　recalled　that　other　woman；　the　peasant；　the　〃Devil；〃　who　sold
her　children；　her　monsters。






AN　UNCOMFORTABLE　BED

One　autumn　I　went　to　spend　the　hunting　season　with　some　friends　in　a
chateau　in　Picardy。

My　friends　were　fond　of　practical　jokes。　　I　do　not　care　to　know　people
who　are　not。

When　I　arrived；　they　gave　me　a　princely　reception；　which　at　once　awakened
suspicion　in　my　mind。　　They　fired　off　rifles；　embraced　me；　made　much　of
me；　as　if　they　expected　to　have　great　fun　at　my　expense。

I　said　to　myself：

〃Look　out；　old　ferret！　　They　have　something　in　store　for　you。〃

During　the　dinner　the　mirth　was　excessive；　exaggerated；　in　fact。
I　thought：　〃Here　are　people　who　have　more　than　their　share　of　amusement；
and　apparently　without　reason。　　They　must　have　planned　some　good　joke。
Assuredly　I　am　to　be　the　victim　of　the　joke。　　Attention！〃

During　the　entire　evening　every　one　laughed　in　an　exaggerated　fashion。
I　scented　a　practical　joke　in　the　air；　as　a　dog　scents　game。　　But　what
was　it？　　I　was　watchful；　restless。　　I　did　not　let　a　word；　or　a　meaning；
or　a　gesture　escape　me。　　Every　one　seemed　to　me　an　object　of　suspicion；
and　I　even　looked　distrustfully　at　the　faces　of　the　servants。

The　hour　struck　for　retiring；　and　the　whole　household　came　to　escort　me
to　my　room。　　Why？

They　called　to　me：　〃Good…night。〃　　I　entered　the　apartment；　shut　the　door；
and　remained　standing；　without　moving　a　single　step；　holding　the　wax
candle　in　my　hand。

I　heard　laughter　and　whispering　in　the　corridor。　　Without　doubt　they　were
spying　on　me。　　I　cast　a　glance　round　the　walls；　the　furniture；　the
ceiling；　the　hangings；　the　floor。　　I　saw　nothing　to　justify　suspicion。
I　heard　persons　moving　about　outside　my　door。　　I　had　no　doubt　they　were
looking　through　the　keyhole。

An　idea　came　into　my　head：　〃My　candle　may　suddenly　go　out　and　leave　me　in
darkness。〃

Then　I　went　across　to　the　mantelpiece　and　lighted　all　the　wax　candles
that　were　on　it。　　After　that　I　cast　another　glance　around　me　without
discovering　anything。　　I　advanced　with　short　steps；　carefully　examining
the　apartment。　　Nothing。　　I　inspected　every　article；　one　after　the　other。
Still　nothing。　　I　went　over　to　the　window。　　The　shutters；　large　wooden
shutters；　were　open。　　I　shut　them　with　great　care；　and　then　drew　the
curtains；　enormous　velvet　curtains；　and　placed　a　chair　in　front　of　them；
so　as　to　have　nothing　to　fear　from　outside。

Then　I　cautiously　sat　down。　　The　armchair　was　solid。　　I　did　not　venture
to　get　into　the　bed。　　However；　the　night　was　advancing；　and　I　ended　by
coming　to　the　conclusion　that　I　was　foolish。　　If　they　were　spying　on　me；
as　I　supposed；　they　must；　while　waiting　for　the　success　of　the　joke　they
had　been　preparing　for　me；　have　been　laughing　immoderately　at　my　terror。
So　I　made　up　my　mind　to　go　to　bed。　　But　the　bed　was　particularly
suspicious…looking。　　I　pulled　at　the　curtains。　　They　seemed　to　be　secure。

All　the　same；　there　was　danger。　　I　was　going　perhaps　to　receive　a　cold
shower　both　from　overhead；　or　perhaps；　the　moment　I　stretched　myself　out；
to　find　myself　sinking　to　the　floor　with　my　mattress。　　I　searched　in　my
memory　for　all　the　practical　jokes　of　which　I　ever　had　experience。　　And　I
did　not　want　to　be　caught。　　Ah！　certainly　not！　certainly　not！　　Then　I
suddenly　bethought　myself　of　a　precaution　which　I　considered　insured
safety。　　I　caught　hold　of　the　side　of　the　mattress　gingerly；　and　very
slowly　drew　it　toward　me。　　It　came　away；　followed　by　the　sheet　and　the
rest　of　the　bedclothes。　　I　dragged　all　these　objects　into　the　very　middle
of　the　room；　facing　the　entrance　door。　　I　made　my　bed　over　again　as　best
I　could　at　some　distance　from　the　suspected　bedstead　and　the　corner　which
had　filled　me　with　such　anxiety。　　Then　I　extinguished　all　the　candles；
and；　groping　my　way；　I　slipped　under　the　bed　clothes。

For　at　least　another　hour　I　remained　awake；　starting　at　the　slightest
sound。　　Everything　seemed　quiet　in　the　chateau。　　I　fell　asleep。

I　must　have　been　in　a　deep　sleep　for　a　long　time；　but　all　of　a　sudden　I
was　awakened　with　a　star