stories by english authors in germany(旅德英国作家的故事)-第16章
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sleep； or too drowsy to know whether they turned the keys aright； had left
one of the doors unlocked。 By that accident the footfalls Patrasche sought
had passed through into the building； leaving the white marks of snow
upon the dark stone floor。 By that slender white thread； frozen as it fell； he
was guided through the intense silence； through the immensity of the
vaulted spaceguided straight to the gates of the chancel； and； stretched
there upon the stones； he found Nello。 He crept up； and touched the face of
the boy。 〃Didst thou dream that I should be faithless and forsake thee？ Ia
dog？〃 said that mute caress。
The lad raised himself with a low cry and clasped him close。 〃Let us
lie down and die together；〃 he murmured。 〃Men have no need of us； and
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we are all alone。〃
In answer； Patrasche crept closer yet； and laid his head upon the young
boy's breast。 The great tears stood in his brown； sad eyes； not for himself
for himself he was happy。
They lay close together in the piercing cold。 The blasts that blew over
the Flemish dikes from the northern seas were like waves of ice； which
froze every living thing they touched。 The interior of the immense vault of
stone in which they were was even more bitterly chill than the snow…
covered plains without。 Now and then a bat moved in the shadows； now
and then a gleam of light came on the ranks of carven figures。 Under the
Rubens they lay together quite still； and soothed almost into a dreaming
slumber by the numbing narcotic of the cold。 Together they dreamed of the
old glad days when they had chased each other through the flowering
grasses of the summer meadows； or sat hidden in the tall bulrushes by the
water's side； watching the boats go seaward in the sun。
Suddenly through the darkness a great white radiance streamed
through the vastness of the aisles； the moon； that was at her height； had
broken through the clouds； the snow had ceased to fall； the light reflected
from the snow without was clear as the light of dawn。 It fell through the
arches full upon the two pictures above； from which the boy on his
entrance had flung back the veil： the 〃Elevation〃 and the 〃Descent of the
Cross〃 were for one instant visible。
Nello rose to his feet and stretched his arms to them； the tears of a
passionate ecstasy glistened on the paleness of his face。 〃I have seen them
at last！〃 he cried aloud。 〃O God； it is enough！〃
His limbs failed under him； and he sank upon his knees； still gazing
upward at the majesty that he adored。 For a few brief moments the light
illumined the divine visions that had been denied to him so long light
clear and sweet and strong as though it streamed from the throne of
Heaven。 Then suddenly it passed away； once more a great darkness
covered the face of Christ。
The arms of the boy drew close again the body of the dog。 〃We shall
see His face/there/；〃 he murmured； 〃and He will not part us； I think。〃
On the morrow； by the chancel of the cathedral； the people of Antwerp
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found them both。 They were both dead； the cold of the night had frozen
into stillness alike the young life and the old。 When the Christmas
morning broke and the priests came to the temple； they saw them lying
thus on the stones together。 Above； the veils were drawn back from the
great visions of Rubens； and the fresh rays of the sunrise touched the
thorn…crowned head of the Christ。
As the day grew on there came an old； hard…featured man who wept as
women weep。 〃I was cruel to the lad；〃 he muttered； 〃and now I would
have made amends；yea； to the half of my substance；and he should have
been to me as a son。〃
There came also； as the day grew apace； a painter who had fame in the
world； and who was liberal of hand and of spirit。 〃I seek one who should
have had the prize yesterday had worth won；〃 he said to the people〃a
boy of rare promise and genius。 An old wood…cutter on a fallen tree at
eventidethat was all his theme； but there was greatness for the future in it。
I would fain find him； and take him with me and teach him art。〃
And a little child with curling fair hair； sobbing bitterly as she clung to
her father's arm； cried aloud； 〃Oh； Nello； come！ We have all ready for thee。
The Christ…child's hands are full of gifts； and the old piper will play for us；
and the mother says thou shalt stay by the hearth and burn nuts with us all
the Noel week longyes； even to the Feast of the Kings！ And Patrasche
will be so happy！ Oh； Nello； wake and come！〃
But the young pale face； turned upward to the light of the great Rubens
with a smile upon its mouth； answered them all； 〃It is too late。〃
For the sweet； sonorous bells went ringing through the frost； and the
sunlight shone upon the plains of snow； and the populace trooped gay and
glad through the streets； but Nello and Patrasche no more asked charity at
their hands。 All they needed now Antwerp gave unbidden。
Death had been more pitiful to them than longer life would have been。
It had taken the one in the loyalty of love； and the other in the innocence
of faith； from a world which for love has no recompense and for faith no
fulfilment。
All their lives they had been together； and in their deaths they were not
divided； for when they were found the arms of the boy were folded too
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closely around the dog to be severed without violence； and the people of
their little village； contrite and ashamed； implored a special grace for them；
and； making them one grave； laid them to rest there side by sideforever！
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MARKHEIM
by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
〃Yes；〃 said the dealer； 〃our windfalls are of various kinds。 Some
customers are ignorant； and then I touch a dividend on my superior
knowledge。 Some are dishonest；〃 and here he held up the candle； so that
the light fell strongly on his visitor； 〃and in that case；〃 he continued； 〃I
profit by my virtue。〃
Markheim had but just entered from the daylight streets； and his eyes
had not yet grown familiar with the mingled shine and darkness in the
shop。 At these pointed words； and before the near presence of the flame；
he blinked painfully and looked aside。
The dealer chuckled。 〃You come to me on Christmas Day；〃 he resumed；
〃when you know that I am alone in my house； put up my shutters； and
make a point of refusing business。 Well； you will have to pay for that； you
will have to pay for my loss of time； when I should be balancing my books；
you will have to pay； besides； for a kind of manner that I remark in you to…
day very strongly。 I am the essence of discretion； and ask no awkward
questions； but when a customer cannot look me in the eye； he has to pay
for it。〃 The dealer once more chuckled； and then； changing to his usual
business voice； though still with a note of irony； 〃You can give； as usual； a
clear account of how you came into the possession of the object？〃 he
continued。 〃Still your uncle's cabinet？ A remarkable collector； sir！〃
And the little pale； round…shouldered dealer stood almost on tip…toe；
looking over the top of his gold spectacles； and nodding his head with
every mark of disbelief。 Markheim returned his gaze with one of infinite
pity； and a touch of horror。
〃This time；〃 said he； 〃you are in error。 I have not come to sell； but to
buy。 I have no curios to dispose of； my uncle's cabinet is bare to the
wainscot； even were it still intact； I have done well on the Stock Exchange；
and should more likely add to it than otherwise； and my errand to…day is
simplicity itself。 I seek a Christmas present for a lady；〃 he continued；
waxing more fluent as he struck into the speech he had prepared； 〃and
certainly I owe you every excuse for thus disturbing you upon so small a
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matter。 But the thing was neglected yesterday； I must produce my little
compliment at dinner； and； as you very well know； a rich marriage is not a
thing to be neglected。〃
There followed a pause； during which the dealer seemed to weigh this
statement incredulously。 The ticking of many clocks among the curious
lumber of the shop； and the faint rushing of the cabs in a near thoroughfare；
filled up the interval of silence。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the dealer； 〃be it so。 You are an old customer after all；
and if； as you say； you have the chance of a good marriage； far be it from
me to be an obstacle。 Here is a nice thing for a lady now；〃 he went on；
〃this hand…glassfifteenth century； warranted； comes from a good
collection； too； but I reserve the name； in the interests of my customer；
who was just like yourself； my dear sir； the nephew and sole heir of a
remarkable collector。〃
The dealer； while he thus ran on in his dry and biting voice； had
stooped to take the object from its place； and； as he had done so； a shock
had passed through Markheim； a start both of hand and foot； a sudden leap
of many tumultuous passions to the face。 It passed as swiftly as it came；
and left no trace beyond a certain trembling of the hand that now received
the glass。
〃A glass；〃 he said hoarsely； and then paused； and repeated it more
clearly。 〃A glass？ For Christmas？ Surely not？〃
〃And why not？〃 cried the dealer。 〃Why not a glass？〃
Markheim was looking upon him with an indefinable expressi
