the works of edgar allan poe-3-第47章

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hitherto　carefully　concealed；　weakness　of　my　eyes。

〃Upon　this　latter　point；〃　said　Madame　Lalande；　laughingly；　〃you　have
been　surely　injudicious　in　coming　to　confession；　for；　without　the
confession；　I　take　it　for　granted　that　no　one　would　have　accused　you
of　the　crime。　By　the　by；〃　she　continued；　〃have　you　any　recollection…〃
and　here　I　fancied　that　a　blush；　even　through　the　gloom　of　the
apartment；　became　distinctly　visible　upon　her　cheek　　〃have　you　any
recollection；　mon　cher　ami　of　this　little　ocular　assistant；　which　now
depends　from　my　neck？〃

As　she　spoke　she　twirled　in　her　fingers　the　identical　double
eye…glass　which　had　so　overwhelmed　me　with　confusion　at　the　opera。

〃Full　well　　alas！　do　I　remember　it；〃　I　exclaimed；　pressing
passionately　the　delicate　hand　which　offered　the　glasses　for　my
inspection。　They　formed　a　complex　and　magnificent　toy；　richly　chased
and　filigreed；　and　gleaming　with　jewels；　which；　even　in　the　deficient
light；　I　could　not　help　perceiving　were　of　high　value。

〃Eh　bien！　mon　ami〃　she　resumed　with　a　certain　empressment　of　manner
that　rather　surprised　me　　〃Eh　bien！　mon　ami；　you　have　earnestly
besought　of　me　a　favor　which　you　have　been　pleased　to　denominate
priceless。　You　have　demanded　of　me　my　hand　upon　the　morrow。　Should　I
yield　to　your　entreaties　　and；　I　may　add；　to　the　pleadings　of　my
own　bosom　　would　I　not　be　entitled　to　demand　of　you　a　very　　a
very　little　boon　in　return？〃

〃Name　it！〃　I　exclaimed　with　an　energy　that　had　nearly　drawn　upon　us
the　observation　of　the　company；　and　restrained　by　their　presence
alone　from　throwing　myself　impetuously　at　her　feet。　〃Name　it；　my
beloved；　my　Eugenie；　my　own！　　name　it！　　but；　alas！　it　is　already
yielded　ere　named。〃

〃You　shall　conquer；　then；　mon　ami；〃　said　she；　〃for　the　sake　of　the
Eugenie　whom　you　love；　this　little　weakness　which　you　have　at　last
confessed　　this　weakness　more　moral　than　physical　　and　which；　let
me　assure　you；　is　so　unbecoming　the　nobility　of　your　real　nature　
so　inconsistent　with　the　candor　of　your　usual　character　　and　which；
if　permitted　further　control；　will　assuredly　involve　you；　sooner　or
later；　in　some　very　disagreeable　scrape。　You　shall　conquer；　for　my
sake；　this　affectation　which　leads　you；　as　you　yourself　acknowledge；
to　the　tacit　or　implied　denial　of　your　infirmity　of　vision。　For；　this
infirmity　you　virtually　deny；　in　refusing　to　employ　the　customary
means　for　its　relief。　You　will　understand　me　to　say；　then；　that　I
wish　you　to　wear　spectacles；　　ah；　hush！　　you　have　already
consented　to　wear　them；　for　my　sake。　You　shall　accept　the　little　toy
which　I　now　hold　in　my　hand；　and　which；　though　admirable　as　an　aid　to
vision；　is　really　of　no　very　immense　value　as　a　gem。　You　perceive
that；　by　a　trifling　modification　thus　　or　thus　　it　can　be　adapted
to　the　eyes　in　the　form　of　spectacles；　or　worn　in　the　waistcoat
pocket　as　an　eye…glass。　It　is　in　the　former　mode；　however；　and
habitually；　that　you　have　already　consented　to　wear　it　for　my　sake。〃

This　request　　must　I　confess　it？　　confused　me　in　no　little
degree。　But　the　condition　with　which　it　was　coupled　rendered
hesitation；　of　course；　a　matter　altogether　out　of　the　question。

〃It　is　done！〃　I　cried；　with　all　the　enthusiasm　that　I　could　muster　at
the　moment。　〃It　is　done　　it　is　most　cheerfully　agreed。　I　sacrifice
every　feeling　for　your　sake。　To…night　I　wear　this　dear　eye…glass；　as
an　eye…glass；　and　upon　my　heart；　but　with　the　earliest　dawn　of　that
morning　which　gives　me　the　pleasure　of　calling　you　wife；　I　will　place
it　upon　my　　upon　my　nose；　　and　there　wear　it　ever　afterward；　in
the　less　romantic；　and　less　fashionable；　but　certainly　in　the　more
serviceable；　form　which　you　desire。〃

Our　conversation　now　turned　upon　the　details　of　our　arrangements　for
the　morrow。　Talbot；　I　learned　from　my　betrothed；　had　just　arrived　in
town。　I　was　to　see　him　at　once；　and　procure　a　carriage。　The　soiree
would　scarcely　break　up　before　two；　and　by　this　hour　the　vehicle　was
to　be　at　the　door；　when；　in　the　confusion　occasioned　by　the　departure
of　the　company；　Madame　L。　could　easily　enter　it　unobserved。　We　were
then　to　call　at　the　house　of　a　clergyman　who　would　be　in　waiting；
there　be　married；　drop　Talbot；　and　proceed　on　a　short　tour　to　the
East；　leaving　the　fashionable　world　at　home　to　make　whatever　comments
upon　the　matter　it　thought　best。

Having　planned　all　this；　I　immediately　took　leave；　and　went　in　search
of　Talbot；　but；　on　the　way；　I　could　not　refrain　from　stepping　into　a
hotel；　for　the　purpose　of　inspecting　the　miniature；　and　this　I　did　by
the　powerful　aid　of　the　glasses。　The　countenance　was　a　surpassingly
beautiful　one！　Those　large　luminous　eyes！　　that　proud　Grecian　nose！
　those　dark　luxuriant　curls！　　〃Ah！〃　said　I；　exultingly　to　myself；
〃this　is　indeed　the　speaking　image　of　my　beloved！〃　I　turned　the
reverse；　and　discovered　the　words　　〃Eugenie　Lalande　　aged
twenty…seven　years　and　seven　months。〃

I　found　Talbot　at　home；　and　proceeded　at　once　to　acquaint　him　with　my
good　fortune。　He　professed　excessive　astonishment；　of　course；　but
congratulated　me　most　cordially；　and　proffered　every　assistance　in
his　power。　In　a　word；　we　carried　out　our　arrangement　to　the　letter；
and；　at　two　in　the　morning；　just　ten　minutes　after　the　ceremony；　I
found　myself　in　a　close　carriage　with　Madame　Lalande　　with　Mrs。
Simpson；　I　should　say　　and　driving　at　a　great　rate　out　of　town；　in
a　direction　Northeast　by　North；　half…North。

It　had　been　determined　for　us　by　Talbot；　that；　as　we　were　to　be　up
all　night；　we　should　make　our　first　stop　at　C；　a　village　about
twenty　miles　from　the　city；　and　there　get　an　early　breakfast　and　some
repose；　before　proceeding　upon　our　route。　At　four　precisely；
therefore；　the　carriage　drew　up　at　the　door　of　the　principal　inn。　I
handed　my　adored　wife　out；　and　ordered　breakfast　forthwith。　In　the
meantime　we　were　shown　into　a　small　parlor；　and　sat　down。

It　was　now　nearly　if　not　altogether　daylight；　and；　as　I　gazed；
enraptured；　at　the　angel　by　my　side；　the　singular　idea　came；　all　at
once；　into　my　head；　that　this　was　really　the　very　first　moment　since
my　acquaintance　with　the　celebrated　loveliness　of　Madame　Lalande；
that　I　had　enjoyed　a　near　inspection　of　that　loveliness　by　daylight
at　all。

〃And　now；　mon　ami；〃　said　she；　taking　my　hand；　and　so　interrupting
this　train　of　reflection；　〃and　now；　mon　cher　ami；　since　we　are
indissolubly　one　　since　I　have　yielded　to　your　passionate
entreaties；　and　performed　my　portion　of　our　agreement　　I　presume
you　have　not　forgotten　that　you　also　have　a　little　favor　to　bestow　
a　little　promise　which　it　is　your　intention　to　keep。　Ah！　let　me　see！
Let　me　remember！　Yes；　full　easily　do　I　call　to　mind　the　precise　words
of　the　dear　promise　you　made　to　Eugenie　last　night。　Listen！　You　spoke
thus：　'It　is　done！　　it　is　most　cheerfully　agreed！　I　sacrifice　every
feeling　for　your　sake。　To…night　I　wear　this　dear　eye…glass　as　an
eye…glass；　and　upon　my　heart；　but　with　the　earliest　dawn　of　that
morning　which　gives　me　the　privilege　of　calling　you　wife；　I　will
place　it　upon　my　　upon　my　nose；　　and　there　wear　it　ever
afterward；　in　the　less　romantic；　and　less　fashionable；　but　certainly
in　the　more　serviceable；　form　which　you　desire。'　These　were　the　exact
words；　my　beloved　husband；　were　they　not？〃

〃They　were；〃　I　said；　〃you　have　an　excellent　memory；　and　assuredly；　my
beautiful　Eugenie；　there　is　no　disposition　on　my　part　to　evade　the
performance　of　the　trivial　promise　they　imply。　See！　Behold！　they　are
becoming　　rather　　are　they　not？〃　And　here；　having　arranged　the
glasses　in　the　ordinary　form　of　spectacles；　I　applied　them　gingerly
in　their　proper　position；　while　Madame　Simpson；　adjusting　her　cap；
and　folding　her　arms；　sat　bolt　upright　in　her　chair；　in　a　somewhat
stiff　and　prim；　and　indeed；　in　a　somewhat　undignified　position。

〃Goodness　gracious　me！〃　I　exclaimed；　almost　at　the　very　instant　that
the　rim　of　the　spectacles　had　settled　upon　my　nose　　〃My　goodness
gracious　me！　　why；　what　can　be　the　matter　with　these　glasses？〃　and
taking　them　quickly　off；　I　wiped　them　carefully　with　a　silk
handkerchief；　and　adjusted　them　again。

But　if；　in　the　first　instance；　there　had　occurred　something　which
occasioned　me　surprise；　in　the　second；　this　surprise　became　elevated
into　astonishment；　and　this　astonishment　was　profound　　was　extreme…
indeed　I　may　say　it　was　horrific。　What；　in　the　name　of　everything
hideous；　did　this　mean？　Could　I　believe　my　eyes？　　could　I？　　that
was　the　question。　Was　that　　was　that　　was　that　rouge？　And　were
those…　and　were　those　　were　those　wrinkles；　upon　the　visage　of
Eugenie　Lalande？　And　oh！　Jupiter；　and　every　one　of　the　gods　and
goddesses；　little　and　big！　what　　what　　what　　what　had　become　of
her　teeth？　I　dashed　the　spectacles　violently　to　the　ground；　and；
leaping　to　my　feet；　stood　erect　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；
confronting　Mrs。　Simpson；　with　my　arms　set　a…kimbo；　and　grinning　and
foaming；　but；　at　the　same　time；　utterly　speechless　with　terror　and
with　rage。

Now　I　have　already　said　that　Madame　Eugenie　Lalande　　that　is　to
say；　Simpson　　spoke　the　English　language　but　very　little　better
than　she　wrote　it；　and　for　this　reason　she　very　properly　never
attempted　to　speak　it　upon　ordinary　occasions。　But　rage　will　carry　a
lady　to　any　extreme；　and　in　the　present　care　it　carried　Mrs。　Simpson
to　the　very　extraordinary　extreme　of　attempting　to　hold　a
conversation　in　a　tongue　that　she　did　not　altogether　understand。

〃Vell；　Monsieur；〃　said　she；　after　surveying　me；　in　great　apparent
astonishment；　for　some　moments　　〃Vell；　Monsieur？　　and　vat　den？　
vat　de　matter　now？　Is　it　de　dance　of　de　Saint　itusse　dat　you　ave？　If
not　like　me；　vat　for　vy　buy　de　pig　in　the　poke？〃

〃You　wretch！〃　said　I；　catching　my　breath　　〃you　　you　　you
villainous　old　hag！〃

〃Ag？　　ole？　　me　not　so　ver　ole；　after　all！　Me　not　one　single　day
more　dan　de　eighty…doo。〃

〃Eighty…two！〃　I　ejaculated；　staggering　to　the　wall　　〃eighty…two
hundred　thousand　baboons！　The　miniature　said　twenty…seven　years　and
seven　months！〃

〃To　be　sure！　　dat　is　so！　　ver　true！　but　den　de　portraite　has　been
take　for　dese　fifty…five　year。　Ven　I　go　marry　my　segonde　usbande；
Monsieur　Lalande；　at　dat　time　I　had　de　portraite　take　for　my　daughter
by　my　first　usbande；　Monsieur　Moissart！〃

〃Moissart！〃　said　I。

〃Yes；　Moissart；〃　said　she；　mimicking　my　pronunciation；　which；　to
speak　the　truth；　was　none　of　the　best；　　〃and　vat　den？　Vat　you　know
about　de　Moissart？〃

〃Nothing；　you　old　fright！　　I　know　nothing　about　him　at　all；　only　I
had　an　ancestor　of　that　name；　once　upon　a　time。〃

〃Dat　name！　and　vat　you　ave　for　say　to　dat　name？　'Tis　ver　goot　name；
and　so　is　Voissart　　dat　is　ver　goot　name　too。　My　daughter；
Mademoiselle　Moissart；　she　marry　von　Monsieur　Voissart；　　and　de
name　is　bot　ver　respectaable　name。〃

〃Moissart？〃　I　exclaimed；　〃and　Voissart！　Why；　what　is　it　you　mean？〃

〃Vat　I　mean？　　I　mean　Moissart　and　Voissart；　and　for　de　matter　of
dat；　I　mean　Croissart　and　Froisart；　too；　if　I　only　tink　proper　to
mean　it。　My　daughter's　daughter；　Mademoiselle　Voissart；　she　marry　von
Monsieur　Croissart；　and　den　again；　my　daughter's　grande　daughter；
Mademoiselle　Croissart；　she　marry　von　Monsieur　Froissart；　and　I
suppose　you　say　dat　dat　is　not　von　ver　respect