the magic skin(驴皮记)-第22章

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motherly　way；　her　hands　shook　a　little　as　she　held　the　lamp；　so　that
the　light　fell　on　me　and　cried：

〃　'Dieu！　how　pale　you　are！　and　you　are　wet　through！　My　mother　will　try
to　wipe　you　dry。　Monsieur　Raphael；'　she　went　on；　after　a　little　pause；
'you　are　so　very　fond　of　milk；　and　to…night　we　happen　to　have　some
cream。　Here；　will　you　not　take　some？'

〃She　pounced　like　a　kitten；　on　a　china　bowl　full　of　milk。　She　did　it
so　quickly；　and　put　it　before　me　so　prettily；　that　I　hesitated。

〃　'You　are　going　to　refuse　me？'　she　said；　and　her　tones　changed。

〃The　pride　in　each　felt　for　the　other's　pride。　It　was　Pauline's
poverty　that　seemed　to　humiliate　her；　and　to　reproach　me　with　my　want
of　consideration；　and　I　melted　at　once　and　accepted　the　cream　that
might　have　been　meant　for　her　morning's　breakfast。　The　poor　child
tried　not　to　show　her　joy；　but　her　eyes　sparkled。

〃　'I　needed　it　badly；'　I　said　as　I　sat　down。　（An　anxious　look　passed
over　her　face。）　'Do　you　remember　that　passage；　Pauline；　where　Bossuet
tells　how　God　gave　more　abundant　reward　for　a　cup　of　cold　water　than
for　a　victory？'

〃　'Yes；'　she　said；　her　heart　beating　like　some　wild　bird's　in　a
child's　hands。

〃　'Well；　as　we　shall　part　very　soon；　now；'　I　went　on　in　an　unsteady
voice；　'you　must　let　me　show　my　gratitude　to　you　and　to　your　mother
for　all　the　care　you　have　taken　of　me。'

〃　'Oh；　don't　let　us　cast　accounts；'　she　said　laughing。　But　her
laughter　covered　an　agitation　that　gave　me　pain。　I　went　on　without
appearing　to　hear　her　words：

〃　'My　piano　is　one　of　Erard's　best　instruments；　and　you　must　take　it。
Pray　accept　it　without　hesitation；　I　really　could　not　take　it　with　me
on　the　journey　I　am　about　to　make。'

〃Perhaps　the　melancholy　tones　in　which　I　spoke　enlightened　the　two
women；　for　they　seemed　to　understand；　and　eyed　me　with　curiosity　and
alarm。　Here　was　the　affection　that　I　had　looked　for　in　the　glacial
regions　of　the　great　world；　true　affection；　unostentatious　but　tender；
and　possibly　lasting。

〃　'Don't　take　it　to　heart　so；'　the　mother　said；　'stay　on　here。　My
husband　is　on　his　way　towards　us　even　now；'　she　went　on。　'I　looked
into　the　Gospel　of　St。　John　this　evening　while　Pauline　hung　our　door…
key　in　a　Bible　from　her　fingers。　The　key　turned；　that　means　that
Gaudin　is　in　health　and　doing　well。　Pauline　began　again　for　you　and
for　the　young　man　in　number　sevenit　turned　for　you；　but　not　for　him。
We　are　all　going　to　be　rich。　Gaudin　will　come　back　a　millionaire。　I
dreamed　once　that　I　saw　him　in　a　ship　full　of　serpents；　luckily　the
water　was　rough；　and　that　means　gold　or　precious　stones　from　over…
sea。'

〃The　silly；　friendly　words　were　like　the　crooning　lullaby　with　which　a
mother　soothes　her　sick　child；　they　in　a　manner　calmed　me。　There　was　a
pleasant　heartiness　in　the　worthy　woman's　looks　and　tones；　which；　if
it　could　not　remove　trouble；　at　any　rate　soothed　and　quieted　it；　and
deadened　the　pain。　Pauline；　keener…sighted　than　her　mother；　studied　me
uneasily；　her　quick　eyes　seemed　to　read　my　life　and　my　future。　I
thanked　the　mother　and　daughter　by　an　inclination　of　the　head；　and
hurried　away；　I　was　afraid　I　should　break　down。

〃I　found　myself　alone　under　my　roof；　and　laid　myself　down　in　my
misery。　My　unhappy　imagination　suggested　numberless　baseless　projects；
and　prescribed　impossible　resolutions。　When　a　man　is　struggling　in　the
wreck　of　his　fortunes；　he　is　not　quite　without　resources；　but　I　was
engulfed。　Ah；　my　dear　fellow；　we　are　too　ready　to　blame　the　wretched。
Let　us　be　less　harsh　on　the　results　of　the　most　powerful　of　all　social
solvents。　Where　poverty　is　absolute　there　exist　no　such　things　as
shame　or　crime；　or　virtue　or　intelligence。　I　knew　not　what　to　do；　I
was　as　defenceless　as　a　maiden　on　her　knees　before　a　beast　of　prey。　A
penniless　man　who　has　no　ties　to　bind　him　is　master　of　himself　at　any
rate；　but　a　luckless　wretch　who　is　in　love　no　longer　belongs　to
himself；　and　may　not　take　his　own　life。　Love　makes　us　almost　sacred　in
our　own　eyes；　it　is　the　life　of　another　that　we　revere　within　us；　then
and　so　it　begins　for　us　the　cruelest　trouble　of　allthe　misery　with　a
hope　in　it；　a　hope　for　which　we　must　even　bear　our　torments。　I　thought
I　would　go　to　Rastignac　on　the　morrow　to　confide　Foedora's　strange
resolution　to　him；　and　with　that　I　slept。

〃　'Ah；　ha！'　cried　Rastignac；　as　he　saw　me　enter　his　lodging　at　nine
o'clock　in　the　morning。　'I　know　what　brings　you　here。　Foedora　has
dismissed　you。　Some　kind　souls；　who　were　jealous　of　your　ascendency
over　the　countess；　gave　out　that　you　were　going　to　be　married。　Heaven
only　knows　what　follies　your　rivals　have　equipped　you　with；　and　what
slanders　have　been　directed　at　you。'

〃　'That　explains　everything！'　I　exclaimed。　I　remembered　all　my
presumptuous　speeches；　and　gave　the　countess　credit　for　no　little
magnanimity。　It　pleased　me　to　think　that　I　was　a　miscreant　who　had　not
been　punished　nearly　enough；　and　I　saw　nothing　in　her　indulgence　but
the　long…suffering　charity　of　love。

〃　'Not　quite　so　fast；'　urged　the　prudent　Gascon；　'Foedora　has　all　the
sagacity　natural　to　a　profoundly　selfish　woman；　perhaps　she　may　have
taken　your　measure　while　you　still　coveted　only　her　money　and　her
splendor；　in　spite　of　all　your　care；　she　could　have　read　you　through
and　through。　She　can　dissemble　far　too　well　to　let　any　dissimulation
pass　undetected。　I　fear；'　he　went　on；　'that　I　have　brought　you　into　a
bad　way。　In　spite　of　her　cleverness　and　her　tact；　she　seems　to　me　a
domineering　sort　of　person；　like　every　woman　who　can　only　feel
pleasure　through　her　brain。　Happiness　for　her　lies　entirely　in　a
comfortable　life　and　in　social　pleasures；　her　sentiment　is　only
assumed；　she　will　make　you　miserable；　you　will　be　her　head　footman。'

〃He　spoke　to　the　deaf。　I　broke　in　upon　him；　disclosing；　with　an
affectation　of　light…heartedness；　the　state　of　my　finances。

〃　'Yesterday　evening；'　he　rejoined；　'luck　ran　against　me；　and　that
carried　off　all　my　available　cash。　But　for　that　trivial　mishap；　I
would　gladly　have　shared　my　purse　with　you。　But　let　us　go　and
breakfast　at　the　restaurant；　perhaps　there　is　good　counsel　in
oysters。'

〃He　dressed；　and　had　his　tilbury　brought　round。　We　went　to　the　Cafe　de
Paris　like　a　couple　of　millionaires；　armed　with　all　the　audacious
impertinence　of　the　speculator　whose　capital　is　imaginary。　That　devil
of　a　Gascon　quite　disconcerted　me　by　the　coolness　of　his　manners　and
his　absolute　self…possession。　While　we　were　taking　coffee　after　an
excellent　and　well…ordered　repast；　a　young　dandy　entered；　who　did　not
escape　Rastignac。　He　had　been　nodding　here　and　there　among　the　crowd
to　this　or　that　young　man；　distinguished　both　by　personal　attractions
and　elegant　attire；　and　now　he　said　to　me：

〃　'Here's　your　man；'　as　he　beckoned　to　this　gentleman　with　a　wonderful
cravat；　who　seemed　to　be　looking　for　a　table　that　suited　his　ideas。

〃　'That　rogue　has　been　decorated　for　bringing　out　books　that　he
doesn't　understand　a　word　of；'　whispered　Rastignac；　'he　is　a　chemist；
a　historian；　a　novelist；　and　a　political　writer；　he　has　gone　halves；
thirds；　or　quarters　in　the　authorship　of　I　don't　know　how　many　plays；
and　he　is　as　ignorant　as　Dom　Miguel's　mule。　He　is　not　a　man　so　much　as
a　name；　a　label　that　the　public　is　familiar　with。　So　he　would　do　well
to　avoid　shops　inscribed　with　the　motto；　〃Ici　l'on　peut　ecrire　soi…
meme。〃　He　is　acute　enough　to　deceive　an　entire　congress　of
diplomatists。　In　a　couple　of　words；　he　is　a　moral　half…caste；　not
quite　a　fraud；　nor　entirely　genuine。　But；　hush！　he　has　succeeded
already；　nobody　asks　anything　further；　and　every　one　calls　him　an
illustrious　man。'

〃　'Well；　my　esteemed　and　excellent　friend；　and　how　may　Your
Intelligence　be？'　So　Rastignac　addressed　the　stranger　as　he　sat　down
at　a　neighboring　table。

〃　'Neither　well　nor　ill；　I　am　overwhelmed　with　work。　I　have　all　the
necessary　materials　for　some　very　curious　historical　memoirs　in　my
hands；　and　I　cannot　find　any　one　to　whom　I　can　ascribe　them。　It
worries　me；　for　I　shall　have　to　be　quick　about　it。　Memoirs　are　falling
out　of　fashion。'

〃　'What　are　the　memoirscontemporaneous；　ancient；　or　memoirs　of　the
court；　or　what？'

〃　'They　relate　to　the　Necklace　affair。'

〃　'Now；　isn't　that　a　coincidence？'　said　Rastignac；　turning　to　me　and
laughing。　He　looked　again　to　the　literary　speculation；　and　said；
indicating　me：

〃　'This　is　M。　de　Valentin；　one　of　my　friends；　whom　I　must　introduce　to
you　as　one　of　our　future　literary　celebrities。　He　had　formerly　an
aunt；　a　marquise；　much　in　favor　once　at　court；　and　for　about　two　years
he　has　been　writing　a　Royalist　history　of　the　Revolution。'

〃Then；　bending　over　this　singular　man　of　business；　he　went　on：

〃　'He　is　a　man　of　talent；　and　a　simpleton　that　will　do　your　memoirs
for　you；　in　his　aunt's　name；　for　a　hundred　crowns　a　volume。'

〃　'It's　a　bargain；'　said　the　other；　adjusting　his　cravat。　'Waiter；　my
oysters。'

〃　'Yes；　but　you　must　give　me　twenty…five　louis　as　commission；　and　you
will　pay　him　in　advance　for　each　volume；'　said　Rastignac。

〃　'No；　no。　He　shall　only　have　fifty　crowns　on　account；　and　then　I
shall　be　sure　of　having　my　manuscript　punctually。'

〃Rastignac　repeated　this　business　conversation　to　me　in　low　tones；　and
then；　without　giving　me　any　voice　in　the　matter；　he　replied：

〃　'We　agree　to　your　proposal。　When　can　we　call　upon　you　to　arrange　the
affair？'

〃　'Oh；　well！　Come　and　dine　here　to…morrow　at　seven　o'clock。'

〃We　rose。　Rastignac　flung　some　money　to　the　waiter；　put　the　bill　in
his　pocket；　and　we　went　out。　I　was　quite　stupified　by　the　flippancy
and　ease　with　which　he　had　sold　my　venerable　aunt；　la　Marquise　de
Montbauron。

〃　'I　would　sooner　take　ship　for　the　Brazils；　and　give　the　Indians
lessons　in　algebra；　though　I　don't　know　a　word　of　it；　than　tarnish　my
family　name。'

〃Rastignac　burst　out　laughing。

〃　'How　dense　you　are！　Take　the　fifty　crowns　in　the　first　instance；　and
write　the　memoirs。　When　you　have　finished　them；　you　will　decline　to
publish　them　in　your　aunt's　name；　imbecile！　Madame　de　Montbauron；　with
her　hooped　petticoat；　her　rank　and　beauty；　rouge　and　slippers；　and　her
death　upon　the　scaffold；　is　worth　a　great　deal　more　than　six　hundred
francs。　And　then；　if　the　trade　will　not　give　your　aunt　her　due；　some
old　adventurer；　or　some　shady　countess　or　other；　will　be　found　to　put
her　name　to　the　memoirs。'

〃　'Oh；'　I　groaned；　'why　did　I　quit　the　blameless　life　in　my　garret？
This　world　has　aspects　that　are　very　vilely　dishonorable。'

〃　'Yes；'　said　Rastignac；　'that　is　all　very　poetical；　but　this　is　a
matter　of　business。　What　a　child　you　are！　Now；　listen　to　me。　As　to
your　work；　the　public　will　decide　upon　it；　and　as　for　my　literary
middle…man；　hasn't　he　devoted　eight　years　of　his　life　to　obtaining　a
footing　in　the　book…trade；　and　paid　heavily　for　his　experience？　You
divide　the　money　and　the　labor　of　the　book　with　him　very　unequally；
but　isn't　yours　the　better　part？　Twenty…five　louis　means　as　much　to
you　as　a　thousand　francs　does　to　him。　Come；　you　can　write　historical
memoirs；　a　work　of　art　such　as　never　was；　since　Diderot　once　wrote　six
sermons　for　a　hundred　crowns！'

〃　'After　all；'　I　said；　in　agitation；　'I　cannot　choose　but　do　it。　So；
my　dear　fr