albert savarus-第8章

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a　rustic　wooden　bench。

〃Am　I　very　indiscreet　in　asking　how　old　you　are；　cara　Francesca？〃　said
Rodolphe。

〃Nineteen；〃　said　she；　〃well　past。〃

〃If　anything　in　the　world　could　soothe　my　sorrow；〃　he　went　on；　〃it
would　be　the　hope　of　winning　you　from　your　father；　whatever　your
fortune　may　be。　So　beautiful　as　you　are；　you　seem　to　be　richer　than　a
prince's　daughter。　And　I　tremble　as　I　confess　to　you　the　feelings　with
which　you　have　inspired　me；　but　they　are　deepthey　are　eternal。〃

〃/Zitto/！〃　said　Francesca；　laying　a　finger　of　her　right　hand　on　her
lips。　〃Say　no　more；　I　am　not　free。　I　have　been　married　these　three
years。〃

For　a　few　minutes　utter　silence　reigned。　When　the　Italian　girl；
alarmed　at　Rodolphe's　stillness；　went　close　to　him；　she　found　that　he
had　fainted。

〃/Povero/！〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃And　I　thought　him　cold。〃

She　fetched　him　some　salts；　and　revived　Rodolphe　by　making　him　smell
at　them。

〃Married！〃　said　Rodolphe；　looking　at　Francesca。　And　then　his　tears
flowed　freely。

〃Child！〃　said　she。　〃But　there　is　still　hope。　My　husband　is〃

〃Eighty？〃　Rodolphe　put　in。

〃No；〃　said　she　with　a　smile；　〃but　sixty…five。　He　has　disguised　himself
as　much　older　to　mislead　the　police。〃

〃Dearest；〃　said　Rodolphe；　〃a　few　more　shocks　of　this　kind　and　I　shall
die。　Only　when　you　have　known　me　twenty　years　will　you　understand　the
strength　and　power　of　my　heart；　and　the　nature　of　its　aspirations　for
happiness。　This　plant；〃　he　went　on；　pointing　to　the　yellow　jasmine
which　covered　the　balustrade；　〃does　not　climb　more　eagerly　to　spread
itself　in　the　sunbeams　than　I　have　clung　to　you　for　this　month　past。　I
love　you　with　unique　passion。　That　love　will　be　the　secret　fount　of　my
lifeI　may　possibly　die　of　it。〃

〃Oh！　Frenchman；　Frenchman！〃　said　she；　emphasizing　her　exclamation　with
a　little　incredulous　grimace。

〃Shall　I　not　be　forced　to　wait；　to　accept　you　at　the　hands　of　time？〃
said　he　gravely。　〃But　know　this：　if　you　are　in　earnest　in　what　you
have　allowed　to　escape　you；　I　will　wait　for　you　faithfully；　without
suffering　any　other　attachment　to　grow　up　in　my　heart。〃

She　looked　at　him　doubtfully。

〃None；〃　said　he；　〃not　even　a　passing　fancy。　I　have　my　fortune　to　make；
you　must　have　a　splendid　one；　nature　created　you　a　princess〃

At　this　word　Francesca　could　not　repress　a　faint　smile；　which　gave　her
face　the　most　bewildering　expression；　something　subtle；　like　what　the
great　Leonardo　has　so　well　depicted　in　the　/Gioconda/。　This　smile　made
Rodolphe　pause。　〃Ah　yes！〃　he　went　on；　〃you　must　suffer　much　from　the
destitution　to　which　exile　has　brought　you。　Oh；　if　you　would　make　me
happy　above　all　men；　and　consecrate　my　love；　you　would　treat　me　as　a
friend。　Ought　I　not　to　be　your　friend？My　poor　mother　has　left　sixty
thousand　francs　of　savings；　take　half。〃

Francesca　looked　steadily　at　him。　This　piercing　gaze　went　to　the
bottom　of　Rodolphe's　soul。

〃We　want　nothing；　my　work　amply　supplies　our　luxuries；〃　she　replied　in
a　grave　voice。

〃And　can　I　endure　that　a　Francesca　should　work？〃　cried　he。　〃One　day
you　will　return　to　your　country　and　find　all　you　left　there。〃　Again
the　Italian　girl　looked　at　Rodolphe。　〃And　you　will　then　repay　me　what
you　may　have　condescended　to　borrow；〃　he　added；　with　an　expression
full　of　delicate　feeling。

〃Let　us　drop　the　subject；〃　said　she；　with　incomparable　dignity　of
gesture；　expression；　and　attitude。　〃Make　a　splendid　fortune；　be　one　of
the　remarkable　men　of　your　country；　that　is　my　desire。　Fame　is　a
drawbridge　which　may　serve　to　cross　a　deep　gulf。　Be　ambitious　if　you
must。　I　believe　you　have　great　and　powerful　talents；　but　use　them
rather　for　the　happiness　of　mankind　than　to　deserve　me；　you　will　be
all　the　greater　in　my　eyes。〃

In　the　course　of　this　conversation；　which　lasted　two　hours；　Rodolphe
discovered　that　Francesca　was　an　enthusiast　for　Liberal　ideas；　and　for
that　worship　of　liberty　which　had　led　to　the　three　revolutions　in
Naples；　Piemont；　and　Spain。　On　leaving；　he　was　shown　to　the　door　by
Gina；　the　so…called　mute。　At　eleven　o'clock　no　one　was　astir　in　the
village；　there　was　no　fear　of　listeners；　Rodolphe　took　Gina　into　a
corner；　and　asked　her　in　a　low　voice　and　bad　Italian；　〃Who　are　your
master　and　mistress；　child？　Tell　me；　I　will　give　you　this　fine　new
gold　piece。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　girl；　taking　the　coin；　〃my　master　is　the　famous
bookseller　Lamparini　of　Milan；　one　of　the　leaders　of　the　revolution；
and　the　conspirator　of　all　others　whom　Austria　would　most　like　to　have
in　the　Spielberg。〃

〃A　bookseller's　wife！　Ah；　so　much　the　better；〃　thought　he；　〃we　are　on
an　equal　footing。And　what　is　her　family？〃　he　added；　〃for　she　looks
like　a　queen。〃

〃All　Italian　women　do；〃　replied　Gina　proudly。　〃Her　father's　name　is
Colonna。〃

Emboldened　by　Francesca's　modest　rank；　Rodolphe　had　an　awning　fitted
to　his　boat　and　cushions　in　the　stern。　When　this　was　done；　the　lover
came　to　propose　to　Francesca　to　come　out　on　the　lake。　The　Italian
accepted；　no　doubt　to　carry　out　her　part　of　a　young　English　Miss　in
the　eyes　of　the　villagers；　but　she　brought　Gina　with　her。　Francesca
Colonna's　lightest　actions　betrayed　a　superior　education　and　the
highest　social　rank。　By　the　way　in　which　she　took　her　place　at　the　end
of　the　boat　Rodolphe　felt　himself　in　some　sort　cut　off　from　her；　and；
in　the　face　of　a　look　of　pride　worthy　of　an　aristocrat；　the
familiarity　he　had　intended　fell　dead。　By　a　glance　Francesca　made
herself　a　princess；　with　all　the　prerogatives　she　might　have　enjoyed
in　the　Middle　Ages。　She　seemed　to　have　read　the　thoughts　of　this
vassal　who　was　so　audacious　as　to　constitute　himself　her　protector。

Already；　in　the　furniture　of　the　room　where　Francesca　had　received
him；　in　her　dress；　and　in　the　various　trifles　she　made　use　of；
Rodolphe　had　detected　indications　of　a　superior　character　and　a　fine
fortune。　All　these　observations　now　recurred　to　his　mind；　he　became
thoughtful　after　having　been　trampled　on；　as　it　were；　by　Francesca's
dignity。　Gina；　her　half…grown…up　/confidante/；　also　seemed　to　have　a
mocking　expression　as　she　gave　a　covert　or　a　side　glance　at　Rodolphe。
This　obvious　disagreement　between　the　Italian　lady's　rank　and　her
manners　was　a　fresh　puzzle　to　Rodolphe；　who　suspected　some　further
trick　like　Gina's　assumed　dumbness。

〃Where　would　you　go；　Signora　Lamporani？〃　he　asked。

〃Towards　Lucerne；〃　replied　Francesca　in　French。

〃Good！〃　said　Rodolphe　to　himself；　〃she　is　not　startled　by　hearing　me
speak　her　name；　she　had；　no　doubt；　foreseen　that　I　should　ask　Gina
she　is　so　cunning。What　is　your　quarrel　with　me？〃　he　went　on；　going
at　last　to　sit　down　by　her　side；　and　asking　her　by　a　gesture　to　give
him　her　hand；　which　she　withdrew。　〃You　are　cold　and　ceremonious；　what；
in　colloquial　language；　we　should　call　/short/。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　she　replied　with　a　smile。　〃I　am　wrong。　It　is　not　good
manners；　it　is　vulgar。　In　French　you　would　call　it　inartistic。　It　is
better　to　be　frank　than　to　harbor　cold　or　hostile　feelings　towards　a
friend；　and　you　have　already　proved　yourself　my　friend。　Perhaps　I　have
gone　too　far　with　you。　You　must　take　me　to　be　a　very　ordinary　woman。〃
Rodolphe　made　many　signs　of　denial。〃Yes；〃　said　the　bookseller's
wife；　going　on　without　noticing　this　pantomime；　which；　however；　she
plainly　saw。　〃I　have　detected　that；　and　naturally　I　have　reconsidered
my　conduct。　Well！　I　will　put　an　end　to　everything　by　a　few　words　of
deep　truth。　Understand　this；　Rodolphe：　I　feel　in　myself　the　strength
to　stifle　a　feeling　if　it　were　not　in　harmony　with　my　ideas　or
anticipation　of　what　true　love　is。　I　could　loveas　we　can　love　in
Italy；　but　I　know　my　duty。　No　intoxication　can　make　me　forget　it。
Married　without　my　consent　to　that　poor　old　man；　I　might　take
advantage　of　the　liberty　he　so　generously　gives　me；　but　three　years　of
married　life　imply　acceptance　of　its　laws。　Hence　the　most　vehement
passion　would　never　make　me　utter；　even　involuntarily；　a　wish　to　find
myself　free。

〃Emilio　knows　my　character。　He　knows　that　without　my　heart；　which　is
my　own；　and　which　I　might　give　away；　I　should　never　allow　anyone　to
take　my　hand。　That　is　why　I　have　just　refused　it　to　you。　I　desire　to
be　loved　and　waited　for　with　fidelity；　nobleness；　ardor；　while　all　I
can　give　is　infinite　tenderness　of　which　the　expression　may　not
overstep　the　boundary　of　the　heart；　the　permitted　neutral　ground。　All
this　being　thoroughly　understoodOh！〃　she　went　on　with　a　girlish
gesture；　〃I　will　be　as　coquettish；　as　gay；　as　glad；　as　a　child　which
knows　nothing　of　the　dangers　of　familiarity。〃

This　plain　and　frank　declaration　was　made　in　a　tone；　an　accent；　and
supported　by　a　look　which　gave　it　the　deepest　stamp　of　truth。

〃A　Princess　Colonna　could　not　have　spoken　better；〃　said　Rodolphe；
smiling。

〃Is　that；〃　she　answered　with　some　haughtiness；　〃a　reflection　on　the
humbleness　of　my　birth？　Must　your　love　flaunt　a　coat…of…arms？　At　Milan
the　noblest　names　are　written　over　shop…doors：　Sforza；　Canova；
Visconti；　Trivulzio；　Ursini；　there　are　Archintos　apothecaries；　but；
believe　me；　though　I　keep　a　shop；　I　have　the　feelings　of　a　duchess。〃

〃A　reflection？　Nay；　madame；　I　meant　it　for　praise。〃

〃By　a　comparison？〃　she　said　archly。

〃Ah；　once　for　all；〃　said　he；　〃not　to　torture　me　if　my　words　should　ill
express　my　feelings；　understand　that　my　love　is　perfect；　it　carries
with　it　absolute　obedience　and　respect。〃

She　bowed　as　a　woman　satisfied；　and　said；　〃Then　monsieur　accepts　the
treaty？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　he。　〃I　can　understand　that　in　a　rich　and　powerful　feminine
nature　the　faculty　of　loving　ought　not　to　be　wasted；　and　that　you；　out
of　delicacy；　wished　to　restrain　it。　Ah！　Francesca；　at　my　age
tenderness　requited；　and　by　so　sublime；　so　royally　beautiful　a
creature　as　you　arewhy；　it　is　the　fulfilment　of　all　my　wishes。　To
love　you　as　you　desire　to　be　lovedis　not　that　enough　to　make　a　young
man　guard　himself　against　every　evil　folly？　Is　it　not　to　concentrate
all　his　powers　in　a　noble　passion；　of　which　in　the　future　he　may　be
proud；　and　which　can　leave　none　but　lovely　memories？　If　you　could　but
know　with　what　hues　you　have　clothed　the　chain　of　Pilatus；　the　Rigi；
and　this　superb　lake〃

〃I　want　to　know；〃　said　she；　with　the　Italian　artlessness　which　has
always　a　touch　of　artfulness。

〃Well；　this　hour　will　shine　on　all　my　life　like　a　diamond　on　a　queen's
brow。〃

Francesca's　only　reply　was　to　lay　her　hand　on　Rodolphe's。

〃Oh　dearest！　for　ever　dearest！Tell　me；　have　you　never　loved？〃

〃Never。〃

〃And　you　allow　me　to　love　you　nobly；　looking　to　heaven　for　the　utmost
fulfilment？〃　he　asked。

She　gently　bent　her　head。　Two　large　tears　rolled　down　Rodolphe's
cheeks。

〃Why！　what　is　the　matter？〃　she　cried；　abandoning　her　imperial　manner。

〃I　have　now　no　mother　whom　I　can　tell　of　my　happiness；　she　left　this
earth　without　seeing　what　would　have　mitigated　her　agony〃

〃What？〃　said　she。

〃Her　tenderness　replaced　by　an　equal　tenderness〃

〃/Povero　mio/！〃　exclaimed　the　Italian；　much　touched。　〃Believe　me；〃　she
went　on　after　a　pause；　〃it　is　a　very　sweet　thing；　and　to　a　woman；　a
strong　element　of　fidelity　to　know　that　she　is　all　in　all　on　earth　to
the　man　she　loves；　to　find　him　lonely；　with　no　family；　with　nothing　in
his　heart　but　his　lovein　short；　t