the works of edgar allan poe-5-第15章

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　　　　In　other　respects　the　Cafe　de　Bon…Bon　might　be　said　to　differ　little
from　the　usual　restaurants　of　the　period。　A　fireplace　yawned　opposite　the
door。　On　the　right　of　the　fireplace　an　open　cupboard　displayed　a
formidable　array　of　labelled　bottles。

　　　　It　was　here；　about　twelve　o'clock　one　night　during　the　severe　winter
the　comments　of　his　neighbours　upon　his　singular　propensity　…　that　Pierre
Bon…Bon；　I　say；　having　turned　them　all　out　of　his　house；　locked　the　door
upon　them　with　an　oath；　and　betook　himself　in　no　very　pacific　mood　to　the
comforts　of　a　leather…bottomed　arm…chair；　and　a　fire　of　blazing　fagots。

　　　　It　was　one　of　those　terrific　nights　which　are　only　met　with　once　or
twice　during　a　century。　It　snowed　fiercely；　and　the　house　tottered　to　its
centre　with　the　floods　of　wind　that；　rushing　through　the　crannies　in　the
wall；　and　pouring　impetuously　down　the　chimney；　shook　awfully　the　curtains
of　the　philosopher's　bed；　and　disorganized　the　economy　of　his　pate…pans
and　papers。　The　huge　folio　sign　that　swung　without；　exposed　to　the　fury　of
the　tempest；　creaked　ominously；　and　gave　out　a　moaning　sound　from　its
stanchions　of　solid　oak。

　　　　It　was　in　no　placid　temper；　I　say；　that　the　metaphysician　drew　up　his
chair　to　its　customary　station　by　the　hearth。　Many　circumstances　of　a
perplexing　nature　had　occurred　during　the　day；　to　disturb　the　serenity　of
his　meditations。　In　attempting　des　oeufs　a　la　Princesse；　he　had
unfortunately　perpetrated　an　omelette　a　la　Reine；　the　discovery　of　a
principle　in　ethics　had　been　frustrated　by　the　overturning　of　a　stew；　and
last；　not　least；　he　had　been　thwarted　in　one　of　those　admirable　bargains
which　he　at　all　times　took　such　especial　delight　in　bringing　to　a
successful　termination。　But　in　the　chafing　of　his　mind　at　these
unaccountable　vicissitudes；　there　did　not　fail　to　be　mingled　some　degree
of　that　nervous　anxiety　which　the　fury　of　a　boisterous　night　is　so　well
calculated　to　produce。　Whistling　to　his　more　immediate　vicinity　the　large
black　water…dog　we　have　spoken　of　before；　and　settling　himself　uneasily　in
his　chair；　he　could　not　help　casting　a　wary　and　unquiet　eye　toward　those
distant　recesses　of　the　apartment　whose　inexorable　shadows　not　even　the
red　firelight　itself　could　more　than　partially　succeed　in　overcoming。
Having　completed　a　scrutiny　whose　exact　purpose　was　perhaps　unintelligible
to　himself；　he　drew　close　to　his　seat　a　small　table　covered　with　books　and
papers；　and　soon　became　absorbed　in　the　task　of　retouching　a　voluminous
manuscript；　intended　for　publication　on　the　morrow。

　　　　He　had　been　thus　occupied　for　some　minutes　when　〃I　am　in　no　hurry；
Monsieur　Bon…Bon；〃　suddenly　whispered　a　whining　voice　in　the　apartment。

　　　　〃The　devil！〃　ejaculated　our　hero；　starting　to　his　feet；　overturning
the　table　at　his　side；　and　staring　around　him　in　astonishment。

　　　　〃Very　true；〃　calmly　replied　the　voice。

　　　　〃Very　true！　…　what　is　very　true？　…　how　came　you　here？〃　vociferated　the
metaphysician；　as　his　eye　fell　upon　something　which　lay　stretched　at　full
length　upon　the　bed。

　　　　〃I　was　saying；〃　said　the　intruder；　without　attending　to　the
interrogatives；　…　〃I　was　saying　that　I　am　not　at　all　pushed　for　time　…
that　the　business　upon　which　I　took　the　liberty　of　calling；　is　of　no
pressing　importance　…　in　short；　that　I　can　very　well　wait　until　you　have
finished　your　Exposition。〃

　　　　〃My　Exposition！　…　there　now！　…　how　do　you　know？　…　how　came　you　to
understand　that　I　was　writing　an　Exposition？　…　good　God！〃

　　　　〃Hush！〃　replied　the　figure；　in　a　shrill　undertone；　and；　arising
quickly　from　the　bed；　he　made　a　single　step　toward　our　hero；　while　an　iron
lamp　that　depended　over…head　swung　convulsively　back　from　his　approach。

　　　　The　philosopher's　amazement　did　not　prevent　a　narrow　scrutiny　of　the
stranger's　dress　and　appearance。　The　outlines　of　his　figure；　exceedingly
lean；　but　much　above　the　common　height；　were　rendered　minutely　distinct；
by　means　of　a　faded　suit　of　black　cloth　which　fitted　tight　to　the　skin；
but　was　otherwise　cut　very　much　in　the　style　of　a　century　ago。　These
garments　had　evidently　been　intended　for　a　much　shorter　person　than　their
present　owner。　His　ankles　and　wrists　were　left　naked　for　several　inches。
In　his　shoes；　however；　a　pair　of　very　brilliant　buckles　gave　the　lie　to
the　extreme　poverty　implied　by　the　other　portions　of　his　dress。　His　head
was　bare；　and　entirely　bald；　with　the　exception　of　a　hinder　part；　from
which　depended　a　queue　of　considerable　length。　A　pair　of　green　spectacles；
with　side　glasses；　protected　his　eyes　from　the　influence　of　the　light；　and
at　the　same　time　prevented　our　hero　from　ascertaining　either　their　color
or　their　conformation。　About　the　entire　person　there　was　no　evidence　of　a
shirt；　but　a　white　cravat；　of　filthy　appearance；　was　tied　with　extreme
precision　around　the　throat　and　the　ends　hanging　down　formally　side　by
side　gave　（although　I　dare　say　unintentionally）　the　idea　of　an
ecclesiastic。　Indeed；　many　other　points　both　in　his　appearance　and
demeanor　might　have　very　well　sustained　a　conception　of　that　nature。　Over
his　left　ear；　he　carried；　after　the　fashion　of　a　modern　clerk；　an
instrument　resembling　the　stylus　of　the　ancients。　In　a　breast…pocket　of
his　coat　appeared　conspicuously　a　small　black　volume　fastened　with　clasps
of　steel。　This　book；　whether　accidentally　or　not；　was　so　turned　outwardly
from　the　person　as　to　discover　the　words　〃Rituel　Catholique〃　in　white
letters　upon　the　back。　His　entire　physiognomy　was　interestingly　saturnine
…　even　cadaverously　pale。　The　forehead　was　lofty；　and　deeply　furrowed　with
the　ridges　of　contemplation。　The　corners　of　the　mouth　were　drawn　down　into
an　expression　of　the　most　submissive　humility。　There　was　also　a　clasping
of　the　hands；　as　he　stepped　toward　our　hero　…　a　deep　sigh　…　and　altogether
a　look　of　such　utter　sanctity　as　could　not　have　failed　to　be　unequivocally
preposessing。　Every　shadow　of　anger　faded　from　the　countenance　of　the
metaphysician；　as；　having　completed　a　satisfactory　survey　of　his　visiter's
person；　he　shook　him　cordially　by　the　hand；　and　conducted　him　to　a　seat。

　　　　There　would　however　be　a　radical　error　in　attributing　this
instantaneous　transition　of　feeling　in　the　philosopher；　to　any　one　of
those　causes　which　might　naturally　be　supposed　to　have　had　an　influence。
Indeed；　Pierre　Bon…Bon；　from　what　I　have　been　able　to　understand　of　his
disposition；　was　of　all　men　the　least　likely　to　be　imposed　upon　by　any
speciousness　of　exterior　deportment。　It　was　impossible　that　so　accurate　an
observer　of　men　and　things　should　have　failed　to　discover；　upon　the
moment；　the　real　character　of　the　personage　who　had　thus　intruded　upon　his
hospitality。　To　say　no　more；　the　conformation　of　his　visiter's　feet　was
sufficiently　remarkable　…　he　maintained　lightly　upon　his　head　an
inordinately　tall　hat　…　there　was　a　tremulous　swelling　about　the　hinder
part　of　his　breeches　…　and　the　vibration　of　his　coat　tail　was　a　palpable
fact。　Judge；　then；　with　what　feelings　of　satisfaction　our　hero　found
himself　thrown　thus　at　once　into　the　society　of　a　person　for　whom　he　had
at　all　times　entertained　the　most　unqualified　respect。　He　was；　however；
too　much　of　the　diplomatist　to　let　escape　him　any　intimation　of　his
suspicions　in　regard　to　the　true　state　of　affairs。　It　was　not　his　cue　to
appear　at　all　conscious　of　the　high　honor　he　thus　unexpectedly　enjoyed；
but；　by　leading　his　guest　into　the　conversation；　to　elicit　some　important
ethical　ideas；　which　might；　in　obtaining　a　place　in　his　contemplated
publication；　enlighten　the　human　race；　and　at　the　same　time　immortalize
himself　…　ideas　which；　I　should　have　added；　his　visitor's　great　age；　and
well…known　proficiency　in　the　science　of　morals；　might　very　well　have
enabled　him　to　afford。

　　　　Actuated　by　these　enlightened　views；　our　hero　bade　the　gentleman　sit
down；　while　he　himself　took　occasion　to　throw　some　fagots　upon　the　fire；
and　place　upon　the　now　re…established　table　some　bottles　of　Mousseux。
Having　quickly　completed　these　operations；　he　drew　his　chair　vis…a…vis　to
his　companion's；　and　waited　until　the　latter　should　open　the　conversation。
But　plans　even　the　most　skilfully　matured　are　often　thwarted　in　the　outset
of　their　application　…　and　the　restaurateur　found　himself　nonplussed　by
the　very　first　words　of　his　visiter's　speech。

　　　　〃I　see　you　know　me；　Bon…Bon；〃　said　he；　〃ha！　ha！　ha！　…　he！　he！　he！　…
hi！　hi！　hi！　…　ho！　ho！　ho！　…　hu！　hu！　hu！〃　…　and　the　devil；　dropping　at　once
the　sanctity　of　his　demeanor；　opened　to　its　fullest　extent　a　mouth　from
ear　to　ear；　so　as　to　display　a　set　of　jagged　and　fang…like　teeth；　and；
throwing　back　his　head；　laughed　long；　loudly；　wickedly；　and　uproariously；
while　the　black　dog；　crouching　down　upon　his　haunches；　joined　lustily　in
the　chorus；　and　the　tabby　cat；　flying　off　at　a　tangent；　stood　up　on　end；
and　shrieked　in　the　farthest　corner　of　the　apartment。

　　　　Not　so　the　philosopher；　he　was　too　much　a　man　of　the　world　either　to
laugh　like　the　dog；　or　by　shrieks　to　betray　the　indecorous　trepidation　of
the　cat。　It　must　be　confessed；　he　felt　a　little　astonishment　to　see　the
white　letters　which　formed　the　words　〃Rituel　Catholique〃　on　the　book　in
his　guest's　pocket；　momently　changing　both　their　color　and　their　import；
and　in　a　few　seconds；　in　place　of　the　original　title　the　words　Regitre　des
Condamnes　blazed　forth　in　characters　of　red。　This　startling　circumstance；
when　Bon…Bon　replied　to　his　visiter's　remark；　imparted　to　his　manner　an
air　of　embarrassment　which　probably　might；　not　otherwise　have　been
observed。

　　　　〃Why　sir；〃　said　the　philosopher；　〃why　sir；　to　speak　sincerely　…　I　I
imagine　…　I　have　some　faint　…　some　very　faint　idea　…　of　the　remarkable
honor…〃

　　　　〃Oh！　…　ah！　…　yes！　…　very　well！〃　interrupted　his　Majesty；　〃say　no　more
…　I　see　how　it　is。〃　And　hereupon；　taking　off　his　green　spectacles；　he
wiped　the　glasses　carefully　with　the　sleeve　of　his　coat；　and　deposited
them　in　his　pocket。

　　　　If　Bon…Bon　had　been　astonished　at　the　incident　of　the　book；　his
amazement　was　now　much　increased　by　the　spectacle　which　here　presented
itself　to　view。　In　raising　his　eyes；　with　a　strong　feeling　of　curiosity　to
ascertain　the　color　of　his　guest's；　he　found　them　by　no　means　black；　as　he
had　anticipated　…　nor　gray；　as　might　have　been　imagined　…　nor　yet　hazel
nor　blue　…　nor　indeed　yellow　nor　red　…　nor　purple　…　nor　white　…　nor　green
…　nor　any　other　color　in　the　heavens　above；　or　in　the　earth　beneath；　or　in
the　waters　under　the　earth。　In　short；　Pierre　Bon…Bon　not　only　saw　plainly
that　his　Majesty　had　no　eyes　whatsoever；　but　could　discover　no　indications
of　their　having　existed　at　any　previous　period　…　for　the　space　where　eyes
should　naturally　have　been　was；　I　am　constrained　to　say；　simply　a　dead
level　of　flesh。

　　　　It　was　not　in　the　nature　of　the　metaphysician　to　forbear　making　some
inquiry　into　the　sources　of　so　strange　a　phenomenon；　and　the　reply　of　his
Majesty　was　at　once　prompt；　dignified；　and　satisfactory。

　　　　〃Eyes！　my　dear　Bon…Bon　…　eyes！　did　you　say？　…　oh！　…　ah！　…　I　perceive！
The　ridiculous　prints；　eh；　which　are　in；　circulation；　have　given　you　a
false　idea　of　my　personal　appearance？　Eyes！　…　true。　Eyes；　Pierre　Bon…Bon；
a