albert savarus-第10章

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the　discomforts　of　the　town　he　took　rooms　in　a　house　at　Eaux…Vives；
outside　the　walls。　As　soon　as　he　was　settled；　his　first　care　was　to
ask　his　landlord；　a　retired　jeweler；　whether　some　Italian　refugees
from　Milan　had　not　lately　come　to　reside　at　Geneva。

〃Not　so　far　as　I　know；〃　replied　the　man。　〃Prince　and　Princess　Colonna
of　Rome　have　taken　Monsieur　Jeanrenaud's　place　for　three　years；　it　is
one　of　the　finest　on　the　lake。　It　is　situated　between　the　Villa
Diodati　and　that　of　Monsieur　Lafin…de…Dieu；　let　to　the　Vicomtesse　de
Beauseant。　Prince　Colonna　has　come　to　see　his　daughter　and　his　son…in…
law　Prince　Gandolphini；　a　Neopolitan；　or　if　you　like；　a　Sicilian；　an
old　adherent　of　King　Murat's；　and　a　victim　of　the　last　revolution。
These　are　the　last　arrivals　at　Geneva；　and　they　are　not　Milanese。
Serious　steps　had　to　be　taken；　and　the　Pope's　interest　in　the　Colonna
family　was　invoked；　to　obtain　permission　from　the　foreign　powers　and
the　King　of　Naples　for　the　Prince　and　Princess　Gandolphini　to　live
here。　Geneva　is　anxious　to　do　nothing　to　displease　the　Holy　Alliance
to　which　it　owes　its　independence。　/Our/　part　is　not　to　ruffle　foreign
courts；　there　are　many　foreigners　here；　Russians　and　English。〃

〃Even　some　Gevenese？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur；　our　lake　is　so　fine！　Lord　Byron　lived　here　about　seven
years　at　the　Villa　Diodati；　which　every　one　goes　to　see　now；　like
Coppet　and　Ferney。〃

〃You　cannot　tell　me　whether　within　a　week　or　so　a　bookseller　from
Milan　has　come　with　his　wifenamed　Lamporani；　one　of　the　leaders　of
the　last　revolution？〃

〃I　could　easily　find　out　by　going　to　the　Foreigners'　Club；〃　said　the
jeweler。

Rodolphe's　first　walk　was　very　naturally　to　the　Villa　Diodati；　the
residence　of　Lord　Byron；　whose　recent　death　added　to　its
attractiveness：　for　is　not　death　the　consecration　of　genius？

The　road　to　Eaux…Vives　follows　the　shore　of　the　lake；　and；　like　all
the　roads　in　Switzerland；　is　very　narrow；　in　some　spots；　in
consequence　of　the　configuration　of　the　hilly　ground；　there　is
scarcely　space　for　two　carriages　to　pass　each　other。

At　a　few　yards　from　the　Jeanrenauds'　house；　which　he　was　approaching
without　knowing　it；　Rodolphe　heard　the　sound　of　a　carriage　behind　him；
and；　finding　himself　in　a　sunk　road；　he　climbed　to　the　top　of　a　rock
to　leave　the　road　free。　Of　course　he　looked　at　the　approaching
carriagean　elegant　English　phaeton；　with　a　splendid　pair　of　English
horses。　He　felt　quite　dizzy　as　he　beheld　in　this　carriage　Francesca；
beautifully　dressed；　by　the　side　of　an　old　lady　as　hard　as　a　cameo。　A
servant　blazing　with　gold　lace　stood　behind。　Francesca　recognized
Rodolphe；　and　smiled　at　seeing　him　like　a　statue　on　a　pedestal。　The
carriage；　which　the　lover　followed　with　his　eyes　as　he　climbed　the
hill；　turned　in　at　the　gate　of　a　country　house；　towards　which　he　ran。

〃Who　lives　here？〃　he　asked　the　gardener。

〃Prince　and　Princess　Colonna；　and　Prince　and　Princess　Gandolphini。〃

〃Have　they　not　just　driven　in？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

In　that　instant　a　veil　fell　from　Rodolphe's　eyes；　he　saw　clearly　the
meaning　of　the　past。

〃If　only　this　is　her　last　piece　of　trickery！〃　thought　the　thunder…
struck　lover　to　himself。

He　trembled　lest　he　should　have　been　the　plaything　of　a　whim；　for　he
had　heard　what　a　/capriccio/　might　mean　in　an　Italian。　But　what　a
crime　had　he　committed　in　the　eyes　of　a　womanin　accepting　a　born
princess　as　a　citizen's　wife！　in　believing　that　a　daughter　of　one　of
the　most　illustrious　houses　of　the　Middle　Ages　was　the　wife　of　a
bookseller！　The　consciousness　of　his　blunders　increased　Rodolphe's
desire　to　know　whether　he　would　be　ignored　and　repelled。　He　asked　for
Prince　Gandolphini；　sending　in　his　card；　and　was　immediately　received
by　the　false　Lamparini；　who　came　forward　to　meet　him；　welcomed　him
with　the　best　possible　grace；　and　took　him　to　walk　on　a　terrace　whence
there　was　a　view　of　Geneva；　the　Jura；　the　hills　covered　with　villas；
and　below　them　a　wide　expanse　of　the　lake。

〃My　wife　is　faithful　to　the　lakes；　you　see；〃　he　remarked；　after
pointing　out　the　details　to　his　visitor。　〃We　have　a　sort　of　concert
this　evening；〃　he　added；　as　they　returned　to　the　splendid　Villa
Jeanrenaud。　〃I　hope　you　will　do　me　and　the　Princess　the　pleasure　of
seeing　you。　Two　months　of　poverty　endured　in　intimacy　are　equal　to
years　of　friendship。〃

Though　he　was　consumed　by　curiosity；　Rodolphe　dared　not　ask　to　see　the
Princess；　he　slowly　made　his　way　back　to　Eaux…Vives；　looking　forward
to　the　evening。　In　a　few　hours　his　passion；　great　as　it　had　already
been；　was　augmented　by　his　anxiety　and　by　suspense　as　to　future
events。　He　now　understood　the　necessity　for　making　himself　famous；
that　he　might　some　day　find　himself；　socially　speaking；　on　a　level
with　his　idol。　In　his　eyes　Francesca　was　made　really　great　by　the
simplicity　and　ease　of　her　conduct　at　Gersau。　Princess　Colonna's
haughtiness；　so　evidently　natural　to　her；　alarmed　Rodolphe；　who　would
find　enemies　in　Francesca's　father　and　motherat　least　so　he　might
expect；　and　the　secrecy　which　Princess　Gandolphini　had　so　strictly
enjoined　on　him　now　struck　him　as　a　wonderful　proof　of　affection。　By
not　choosing　to　compromise　the　future；　had　she　not　confessed　that　she
loved　him？

At　last　nine　o'clock　struck；　Rodolphe　could　get　into　a　carriage　and
say　with　an　emotion　that　is　very　intelligible；　〃To　the　Villa
Jeanrenaudto　Prince　Gandolphini's。〃

At　last　he　saw　Francesca；　but　without　being　seen　by　her。　The　Princess
was　standing　quite　near　the　piano。　Her　beautiful　hair；　so　thick　and
long；　was　bound　with　a　golden　fillet。　Her　face；　in　the　light　of　wax
candles；　had　the　brilliant　pallor　peculiar　to　Italians；　and　which
looks　its　best　only　by　artificial　light。　She　was　in　full　evening
dress；　showing　her　fascinating　shoulders；　the　figure　of　a　girl　and　the
arms　of　an　antique　statue。　Her　sublime　beauty　was　beyond　all　possible
rivalry；　though　there　were　some　charming　women　of　Geneva；　and　other
Italians；　among　them　the　dazzling　and　illustrious　Princess　Varese；　and
the　famous　singer　Tinti；　who　was　at　that　moment　singing。

Rodolphe；　leaning　against　the　door…post；　looked　at　the　Princess；
turning　on　her　the　fixed；　tenacious；　attracting　gaze；　charged　with　the
full；　insistent　will　which　is　concentrated　in　the　feeling　called
desire；　and　thus　assumes　the　nature　of　a　vehement　command。　Did　the
flame　of　that　gaze　reach　Francesca？　Was　Francesca　expecting　each
instant　to　see　Rodolphe？　In　a　few　minutes　she　stole　a　glance　at　the
door；　as　though　magnetized　by　this　current　of　love；　and　her　eyes；
without　reserve；　looked　deep　into　Rodolphe's。　A　slight　thrill　quivered
through　that　superb　face　and　beautiful　body；　the　shock　to　her　spirit
reacted：　Francesca　blushed！　Rodolphe　felt　a　whole　life　in　this
exchange　of　looks；　so　swift　that　it　can　only　be　compared　to　a
lightning　flash。　But　to　what　could　his　happiness　compare？　He　was
loved。　The　lofty　Princess；　in　the　midst　of　her　world；　in　this　handsome
villa；　kept　the　pledge　given　by　the　disguised　exile；　the　capricious
beauty　of　Bergmanns'　lodgings。　The　intoxication　of　such　a　moment
enslaves　a　man　for　life！　A　faint　smile；　refined　and　subtle；　candid　and
triumphant；　curled　Princess　Gandolphini's　lips；　and　at　a　moment　when
she　did　not　feel　herself　observed　she　looked　at　Rodolphe　with　an
expression　which　seemed　to　ask　his　pardon　for　having　deceived　him　as
to　her　rank。

When　the　song　was　ended　Rodolphe　could　make　his　way　to　the　Prince；　who
graciously　led　him　to　his　wife。　Rodolphe　went　through　the　ceremonial
of　a　formal　introduction　to　Princess　and　Prince　Colonna；　and　to
Francesca。　When　this　was　over；　the　Princess　had　to　take　part　in　the
famous　quartette；　/Mi　manca　la　voce/；　which　was　sung　by　her　with
Tinti；　with　the　famous　tenor　Genovese；　and　with　a　well…known　Italian
Prince　then　in　exile；　whose　voice；　if　he　had　not　been　a　Prince；　would
have　made　him　one　of　the　Princes　of　Art。

〃Take　that　seat；〃　said　Francesca　to　Rodolphe；　pointing　to　her　own
chair。　〃/Oime/！　I　think　there　is　some　mistake　in　my　name；　I　have　for
the　last　minute　been　Princess　Rodolphini。〃

It　was　said　with　the　artless　grace　which　revived；　in　this　avowal
hidden　beneath　a　jest；　the　happy　days　at　Gersau。　Rodolphe　reveled　in
the　exquisite　sensation　of　listening　to　the　voice　of　the　woman　he
adored；　while　sitting　so　close　to　her　that　one　cheek　was　almost
touched　by　the　stuff　of　her　dress　and　the　gauze　of　her　scarf。　But
when；　at　such　a　moment；　/Mi　manca　la　voce/　is　being　sung；　and　by　the
finest　voices　in　Italy；　it　is　easy　to　understand　what　it　was　that
brought　the　tears　to　Rodolphe's　eyes。

In　love；　as　perhaps　in　all　else；　there　are　certain　circumstances；
trivial　in　themselves；　but　the　outcome　of　a　thousand　little　previous
incidents；　of　which　the　importance　is　immense；　as　an　epitome　of　the
past　and　as　a　link　with　the　future。　A　hundred　times　already　we　have
felt　the　preciousness　of　the　one　we　love；　but　a　triflethe　perfect
touch　of　two　souls　united　during　a　walk　perhaps　by　a　single　word；　by
some　unlooked…for　proof　of　affection；　will　carry　the　feeling　to　its
supremest　pitch。　In　short；　to　express　this　truth　by　an　image　which　has
been　pre…eminently　successful　from　the　earliest　ages　of　the　world；
there　are　in　a　long　chain　points　of　attachment　needed　where　the
cohesion　is　stronger　than　in　the　intermediate　loops　of　rings。　This
recognition　between　Rodolphe　and　Francesca；　at　this　party；　in　the　face
of　the　world；　was　one　of　those　intense　moments　which　join　the　future
to　the　past；　and　rivet　a　real　attachment　more　deeply　in　the　heart。　It
was　perhaps　of　these　incidental　rivets　that　Bossuet　spoke　when　he
compared　to　them　the　rarity　of　happy　moments　in　our　liveshe　who　had
such　a　living　and　secret　experience　of　love。

Next　to　the　pleasure　of　admiring　the　woman　we　love；　comes　that　of
seeing　her　admired　by　every　one　else。　Rodolphe　was　enjoying　both　at
once。　Love　is　a　treasury　of　memories；　and　though　Rodolphe's　was
already　full；　he　added　to　it　pearls　of　great　price；　smiles　shed　aside
for　him　alone；　stolen　glances；　tones　in　her　singing　which　Francesca
addressed　to　him　alone；　but　which　made　Tinti　pale　with　jealousy；　they
were　so　much　applauded。　All　his　strength　of　desire；　the　special
expression　of　his　soul；　was　thrown　over　the　beautiful　Roman；　who
became　unchangeably　the　beginning　and　the　end　of　all　his　thoughts　and
actions。　Rodolphe　loved　as　every　woman　may　dream　of　being　loved；　with
a　force；　a　constancy；　a　tenacity；　which　made　Francesca　the　very
substance　of　his　heart；　he　felt　her　mingling　with　his　blood　as　purer
blood；　with　his　soul　as　a　more　perfect　soul；　she　would　henceforth
underlie　the　least　efforts　of　his　life　as　the　golden　sand　of　the
Mediterranean　lies　beneath　the　waves。　In　short；　Rodolphe's　lightest
aspiration　was　now　a　living　hope。

At　the　end　of　a　few　days；　Francesca　understood　this　boundless　love；
but　it　was　so　natural；　and　so　perfectly　shared　by　her；　that　it　did　not
surprise　her。　She　was　worthy　of　it。

〃What　is　there　that　is　strange？〃　said　she　to　Rodolphe；　as　they　walked
on　the　garden　terrace；　when　he　had　been　betrayed　into　one　of　those
outbursts　of　conceit　which　come　so　naturally　to　Frenchmen　in　the
expression　of　their　feelings〃what　is　extraordinary　in　the　fact　of
your　loving　a　young　an