the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第7章
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therefore； after the voice had ceased； I did turn round； and saw a pretty
little womana sprightly brunette。
〃Madame；〃 I said； with a bow； 〃excuse my involuntary indiscretion。 I
could not help overhearing what you have just said。 You would like to be
of service to a poor old man。 And the wish； Madame； has already been
fulfilledthe mere sound of a French voice has given me such pleasure
that I must thank you。〃
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I bowed again； and turned to go away； but my foot slipped upon a
melon…rind； and I should certainly have embraced the Parthenopean soil
had not the young lady put out her hand and caught me。
There is a force in circumstanceseven in the very smallest
circumstancesagainst which resistance is vain。 I resigned myself to
remain the protege of the fair unknown。
〃It is late；〃 she said； 〃do you not wish to go back to your hotel； which
must be quite close to oursunless it be the same one？〃
〃Madame；〃 I replied； 〃I do not know what time it is； because
somebody has stolen my watch； but I think； as you say； that it must be
time to retire； and I shall be very glad to regain my hotel in the company
of such courteous compatriots。〃
So saying； I bowed once more to the young lady； and also saluted her
companion； a silent colossus with a gentle and melancholy face。
After having gone a little way with them； I learned； among other
matters； that my new acquaintances were the Prince and Princess Trepof；
and that they were making a trip round the world for the purpose of
finding match…boxes； of which they were making a collection。
We proceeded along a narrow； tortuous vicoletto； lighted only by a
single lamp burning in the niche of a Madonna。 The purity and
transparency of the air gave a celestial softness and clearness to the very
darkness itself； and one could find one's way without difficulty under such
a limpid night。 But in a little while we began to pass through a 〃venella；〃
or； in Neopolitan parlance； a sottoportico； which led under so many
archways and so many far… projecting balconies that no gleam of light
from the sky could reach us。 My young guide had made us take this route
as a short cut； she assured us； but I think she did so quite as much simply
in order to show that she felt at home in Naples； and knew the city
thoroughly。 Indeed； she needed to know it very thoroughly to venture by
night into that labyrinth of subterranean alleys and flights of steps。 If ever
any many showed absolute docility in allowing himself to be guided； that
man was myself。 Dante never followed the steps of Beatrice with more
confidence than I felt in following those of Princess Trepof。
The lady appeared to find some pleasure in my conversation； for she
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invited me to take a carriage…drive with her on the morrow to visit the
grotto of Posilippo and the tomb of Virgil。 She declared she had seen me
somewhere before； but she could not remember if it had been a Stockholm
or at Canton。 In the former event I was a very celebrated professor of
geology； in the latter； a provision… merchant whose courtesy and kindness
had been much appreciated。 One thing certain was that she had seen my
back somewhere before。
〃Excuse me；〃 she added； 〃we are continually travelling； my husband
and I； to collect match…boxes and to change our ennui by changing country。
Perhaps it would be more reasonable to content ourselves with a single
variety of ennui。 But we have made all our preparations and arrangements
for travelling： all our plans have been laid out in advance； and it gives us
no trouble； whereas it would be very troublesome for us to stop anywhere
in particular。 I tell you all this so that you many not be surprised if my
recollections have become a little mixed up。 But from the moment I first
saw you at a distance this evening； I feltin fact I knew that I had seen
you before。 Now the question is； 'Where was it that I saw you？' You are
not then； either the geologist or the provision…merchant？〃
〃No； Madame；〃 I replied； 〃I am neither the one nor the other； and I am
sorry for itsince you have had reason to esteem them。 There is really
nothing about me worthy of your interest。 I have spent all my life poring
over books； and I have never traveled： you might have known that from
my bewilderment； which excited your compassion。 I am a member of the
Institute。〃
〃You are a member of the Institute！ How nice！ Will you not write
something for me in my album？ Do you know Chinese？ I would like so
much to have you write something in Chinese or Persian in my album。 I
will introduce you to my friend； Miss Fergusson； who travels everywhere
to see all the famous people in the world。 She will be delighted。。。。 Dimitri；
did you hear that？this gentleman is a member of the Institute； and he has
passed all his life over books。〃
The prince nodded approval。
〃Monsieur；〃 I said； trying to engage him in our conversation； 〃it is true
that something can be learned from books； but a great deal more can be
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learned by travelling； and I regret that I have not been able to go round the
world like you。 I have lived in the same house for thirty years and I
scarcely every go out。〃
〃Lived in the same house for thirty years！〃 cried Madame Trepof； 〃is it
possible？〃
〃Yes； Madame；〃 I answered。 〃But you must know the house is situated
on the bank of the Seine； and in the very handsomest and most famous
part of the world。 From my window I can see the Tuileries and the Louvre；
the Pont…Neuf； the towers of Notre…Dame； the turrets of the Palais de
Justice； and the spire of the Sainte…Chapelle。 All those stones speak to me；
they tell me stories about the days of Saint…Louis； of the Valois； of Henri
IV。； and of Louus XIV。 I understand them； and I love them all。 It is only a
very small corner of the world； but honestly； Madame； where is there a
more glorious spot？〃
At this moment we found ourselves upon a public squarea largo
steeped in the soft glow of the night。 Madame Trepof looked at me in an
uneasy manner； her lifted eyebrows almost touched the black curls about
her forehead。
〃Where do you live then？〃 she demanded brusquely。
〃On the Quai Malaquais； Madame； and my name is Bonnard。 It is not a
name very widely known； but I am contented if my friends do not forget
it。〃
This revelation； unimportant as it was； produced an extraordinary
effect upon Madame Trepof。 She immediately turned her back upon me
and caught her husband's arm。
〃Come； Dimitri！〃 she exclaimed； 〃do walk a little faster。 I am horribly
tired； and you will not hurry yourself in the least。 We shall never get
home。。。。 As for you； monsieur； your way lies over there！〃
She made a vague gesture in the direction of some dark vicolo； pushed
her husband the opposite way； and called to me； without even turning her
head。
〃Adieu； Monsieur！ We shall not go to Posilippo to…morrow； nor the
day after； either。 I have a frightful headache！。。。 Dimitri； you are
unendurable！ will you not walk faster？〃
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I remained for the moment stupefied； vainly trying to think what I
could have done to offend Madame Trepof。 I had also lost my way； and
seemed doomed to wander about all night。 In order to ask my way； I would
have to see somebody； and it did not seem likely that I should find a single
human being who could understand me。 In my despair I entered a street at
randoma street； or rather a horrible alley that had the look of a
murderous place。 It proved so in fact； for I had not been two minutes in it
before I saw two men fighting with knives。 They were attacking each other
more fiercely with their tongues than with their weapons； and I concluded
from the nature of the abuse they were showering upon each other that it
was a love affair。 I prudently made my way into a side alley while those
two good fellows were still much too busy with their own affairs to think
about mine。 I wandered hopelessly about for a while； and at last sat down；
completely discouraged； on a stone bench； inwardly cursing the strange
caprices of Madame Trepof。
〃How are you； Signor？ Are you back from San Carlo？ Did you hear
the diva sing？ It is only at Naples you can hear singing like hers。〃
I looked up； and recognised my host。 I had seated myself with my back
to the facade of my hotel； under the window of my own room。
Monte…Allegro； November 30； 1859。
We were all restingmyself； my guides； and their muleson a road
from Sciacca to Girgenti； at a tavern in the miserable village of Monte…
Allegro； whose inhabitants； consumed by the mal aria； continually shiver
in the sun。 But nevertheless they are Greeks； and their gaiety triumphs
over all circumstances。 A few gather about the tavern； full of smiling
curiosity。 One good story would have sufficed； had I known how to tell it
to them； to make them forget all the woes of life。 They had all a look of
intelligence！ and their women； although tanned and faded； wore their long
black cloaks with much grace。
Before me I could see old ruins whitened by the sea…windruins about
which no grass ever grows。 The dismal melancholy of deserts prevails
over this arid land； whose cracked surface can barely nourish a few
shriveled mimosas； cacti； and dwarf palms。 Twenty yards away； along the
