the magic skin(驴皮记)-第32章

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〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　him？'　Taillefer　cried。　〃He　comes　by　his
fortune　very　cheaply。〃

〃Soutiens…le　Chatillon！〃　said　Bixiou　to　Emile。　〃The　joy　will　kill
him。〃

A　ghastly　white　hue　overspread　every　line　of　the　wan　features　of　the
heir…at…law。　His　face　was　drawn；　every　outline　grew　haggard；　the
hollows　in　his　livid　countenance　grew　deeper；　and　his　eyes　were　fixed
and　staring。　He　was　facing　Death。

The　opulent　banker；　surrounded　by　faded　women；　and　faces　with　satiety
written　on　them；　the　enjoyment　that　had　reached　the　pitch　of　agony；
was　a　living　illustration　of　his　own　life。

Raphael　looked　thrice　at　the　talisman；　which　lay　passively　within　the
merciless　outlines　on　the　table…napkin；　he　tried　not　to　believe　it；
but　his　incredulity　vanished　utterly　before　the　light　of　an　inner
presentiment。　The　whole　world　was　his；　he　could　have　all　things；　but
the　will　to　possess　them　was　utterly　extinct。　Like　a　traveler　in　the
midst　of　the　desert；　with　but　a　little　water　left　to　quench　his
thirst；　he　must　measure　his　life　by　the　draughts　he　took　of　it。　He　saw
what　every　desire　of　his　must　cost　him　in　the　days　of　his　life。　He
believed　in　the　powers　of　the　Magic　Skin　at　last；　he　listened　to　every
breath　he　drew；　he　felt　ill　already；　he　asked　himself：


〃Am　I　not　consumptive？　Did　not　my　mother　die　of　a　lung　complaint？〃

〃Aha；　Raphael！　what　fun　you　will　have！　What　will　you　give　me？〃　asked
Aquilina。

〃Here's　to　the　death　of　his　uncle；　Major　O'Flaharty！　There　is　a　man
for　you。〃

〃He　will　be　a　peer　of　France。〃

〃Pooh！　what　is　a　peer　of　France　since　July？〃　said　the　amateur　critic。

〃Are　you　going　to　take　a　box　at　the　Bouffons？〃

〃You　are　going　to　treat　us　all；　I　hope？〃　put　in　Bixiou。

〃A　man　of　his　sort　will　be　sure　to　do　things　in　style；〃　said　Emile。

The　hurrah　set　up　by　the　jovial　assembly　rang　in　Valentin's　ears；　but
he　could　not　grasp　the　sense　of　a　single　word。　Vague　thoughts　crossed
him　of　the　Breton　peasant's　life　of　mechanical　labor；　without　a　wish
of　any　kind；　he　pictured　him　burdened　with　a　family；　tilling　the　soil；
living　on　buckwheat　meal；　drinking　cider　out　of　a　pitcher；　believing
in　the　Virgin　and　the　King；　taking　the　sacrament　at　Easter；　dancing　of
a　Sunday　on　the　green　sward；　and　understanding　never　a　word　of　the
rector's　sermon。　The　actual　scene　that　lay　before　him；　the　gilded
furniture；　the　courtesans；　the　feast　itself；　and　the　surrounding
splendors；　seemed　to　catch　him　by　the　throat　and　made　him　cough。

〃Do　you　wish　for　some　asparagus？〃　the　banker　cried。

〃I　WISH　FOR　NOTHING！〃　thundered　Raphael。

〃Bravo！〃　Taillefer　exclaimed；　〃you　understand　your　position；　a　fortune
confers　the　privilege　of　being　impertinent。　You　are　one　of　us。
Gentlemen；　let　us　drink　to　the　might　of　gold！　M。　Valentin　here；　six
times　a　millionaire；　has　become　a　power。　He　is　a　king；　like　all　the
rich；　everything　is　at　his　disposal；　everything　lies　under　his　feet。
From　this　time　forth　the　axiom　that　'all　Frenchmen　are　alike　in　the
eyes　of　the　law；'　is　for　him　a　fib　at　the　head　of　the　Constitutional
Charter。　He　is　not　going　to　obey　the　lawthe　law　is　going　to　obey
him。　There　are　neither　scaffolds　nor　executioners　for　millionaires。〃

〃Yes；　there　are；〃　said　Raphael；　〃they　are　their　own　executioners。〃

〃Here　is　another　victim　of　prejudices！〃　cried　the　banker。

〃Let　us　drink！〃　Raphael　said；　putting　the　talisman　into　his　pocket。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　said　Emile；　checking　his　movement。　〃Gentlemen；〃
he　added；　addressing　the　company；　who　were　rather　taken　aback　by
Raphael's　behavior；　〃you　must　know　that　our　friend　Valentin　herewhat
am　I　saying？I　mean　my　Lord　Marquis　de　Valentinis　in　the　possession
of　a　secret　for　obtaining　wealth。　His　wishes　are　fulfilled　as　soon　as
he　knows　them。　He　will　make　us　all　rich　together；　or　he　is　a　flunkey；
and　devoid　of　all　decent　feeling。〃

〃Oh；　Raphael　dear；　I　should　like　a　set　of　pearl　ornaments！〃　Euphrasia
exclaimed。

〃If　he　has　any　gratitude　in　him；　he　will　give　me　a　couple　of　carriages
with　fast　steppers；〃　said　Aquilina。

〃Wish　for　a　hundred　thousand　a　year　for　me！〃

〃Indian　shawls！〃

〃Pay　my　debts！〃

〃Send　an　apoplexy　to　my　uncle；　the　old　stick！〃

〃Ten　thousand　a　year　in　the　funds；　and　I'll　cry　quits　with　you；
Raphael！〃

〃Deeds　of　gift　and　no　mistake；〃　was　the　notary's　comment。

〃He　ought；　at　least；　to　rid　me　of　the　gout！〃

〃Lower　the　funds！〃　shouted　the　banker。

These　phrases　flew　about　like　the　last　discharge　of　rockets　at　the　end
of　a　display　of　fireworks；　and　were　uttered；　perhaps；　more　in　earnest
than　in　jest。

〃My　good　friend；〃　Emile　said　solemnly；　〃I　shall　be　quite　satisfied
with　an　income　of　two　hundred　thousand　livres。　Please　to　set　about　it
at　once。〃

〃Do　you　not　know　the　cost；　Emile？〃　asked　Raphael。

〃A　nice　excuse！〃　the　poet　cried；　〃ought　we　not　to　sacrifice　ourselves
for　our　friends？〃

〃I　have　almost　a　mind　to　wish　that　you　all　were　dead；〃　Valentin　made
answer；　with　a　dark；　inscrutable　look　at　his　boon　companions。

〃Dying　people　are　frightfully　cruel；〃　said　Emile；　laughing。　〃You　are
rich　now；〃　he　went　on　gravely；　〃very　well；　I　will　give　you　two　months
at　most　before　you　grow　vilely　selfish。　You　are　so　dense　already　that
you　cannot　understand　a　joke。　You　have　only　to　go　a　little　further　to
believe　in　your　Magic　Skin。〃

Raphael　kept　silent；　fearing　the　banter　of　the　company；　but　he　drank
immoderately；　trying　to　drown　in　intoxication　the　recollection　of　his
fatal　power。



III

THE　AGONY

In　the　early　days　of　December　an　old　man　of　some　seventy　years　of　age
pursued　his　way　along　the　Rue　de　Varenne；　in　spite　of　the　falling
rain。　He　peered　up　at　the　door　of　each　house；　trying　to　discover　the
address　of　the　Marquis　Raphael　de　Valentin；　in　a　simple；　childlike
fashion；　and　with　the　abstracted　look　peculiar　to　philosophers。　His
face　plainly　showed　traces　of　a　struggle　between　a　heavy　mortification
and　an　authoritative　nature；　his　long；　gray　hair　hung　in　disorder
about　a　face　like　a　piece　of　parchment　shriveling　in　the　fire。　If　a
painter　had　come　upon　this　curious　character；　he　would；　no　doubt；　have
transferred　him　to　his　sketchbook　on　his　return；　a　thin；　bony　figure；
clad　in　black；　and　have　inscribed　beneath　it：　〃Classical　poet　in
search　of　a　rhyme。〃　When　he　had　identified　the　number　that　had　been
given　to　him；　this　reincarnation　of　Rollin　knocked　meekly　at　the　door
of　a　splendid　mansion。

〃Is　Monsieur　Raphael　in？〃　the　worthy　man　inquired　of　the　Swiss　in
livery。

〃My　Lord　the　Marquis　sees　nobody；〃　said　the　servant；　swallowing　a　huge
morsel　that　he　had　just　dipped　in　a　large　bowl　of　coffee。

〃There　is　his　carriage；〃　said　the　elderly　stranger；　pointing　to　a　fine
equipage　that　stood　under　the　wooden　canopy　that　sheltered　the　steps
before　the　house；　in　place　of　a　striped　linen　awning。　〃He　is　going
out；　I　will　wait　for　him。〃

〃Then　you　might　wait　here　till　to…morrow　morning；　old　boy；〃　said　the
Swiss。　〃A　carriage　is　always　waiting　for　monsieur。　Please　to　go　away。
If　I　were　to　let　any　stranger　come　into　the　house　without　orders；　I
should　lose　an　income　of　six　hundred　francs。〃

A　tall　old　man；　in　a　costume　not　unlike　that　of　a　subordinate　in　the
Civil　Service；　came　out　of　the　vestibule　and　hurried　part　of　the　way
down　the　steps；　while　he　made　a　survey　of　the　astonished　elderly
applicant　for　admission。

〃What　is　more；　here　is　M。　Jonathan；〃　the　Swiss　remarked；　〃speak　to
him。〃

Fellow…feeling　of　some　kind；　or　curiosity；　brought　the　two　old　men
together　in　a　central　space　in　the　great　entrance…court。　A　few　blades
of　grass　were　growing　in　the　crevices　of　the　pavement；　a　terrible
silence　reigned　in　that　great　house。　The　sight　of　Jonathan's　face
would　have　made　you　long　to　understand　the　mystery　that　brooded　over
it；　and　that　was　announced　by　the　smallest　trifles　about　the
melancholy　place。

When　Raphael　inherited　his　uncle's　vast　estate；　his　first　care　had
been　to　seek　out　the　old　and　devoted　servitor　of　whose　affection　he
knew　that　he　was　secure。　Jonathan　had　wept　tears　of　joy　at　the　sight
of　his　young　master；　of　whom　he　thought　he　had　taken　a　final　farewell；
and　when　the　marquis　exalted　him　to　the　high　office　of　steward；　his
happiness　could　not　be　surpassed。　So　old　Jonathan　became　an
intermediary　power　between　Raphael　and　the　world　at　large。　He　was　the
absolute　disposer　of　his　master's　fortune；　the　blind　instrument　of　an
unknown　will；　and　a　sixth　sense；　as　it　were；　by　which　the　emotions　of
life　were　communicated　to　Raphael。

〃I　should　like　to　speak　with　M。　Raphael；　sir；〃　said　the　elderly　person
to　Jonathan；　as　he　climbed　up　the　steps　some　way；　into　a　shelter　from
the　rain。

〃To　speak　with　my　Lord　the　Marquis？〃　the　steward　cried。　〃He　scarcely
speaks　even　to　me；　his　foster…father！〃

〃But　I　am　likewise　his　foster…father；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃If　your　wife
was　his　foster…mother；　I　fed　him　myself　with　the　milk　of　the　Muses。　He
is　my　nursling；　my　child；　carus　alumnus！　I　formed　his　mind；　cultivated
his　understanding；　developed　his　genius；　and；　I　venture　to　say　it；　to
my　own　honor　and　glory。　Is　he　not　one　of　the　most　remarkable　men　of
our　epoch？　He　was　one　of　my　pupils　in　two　lower　forms；　and　in
rhetoric。　I　am　his　professor。〃

〃Ah；　sir；　then　you　are　M。　Porriquet？〃

〃Exactly；　sir；　but〃

〃Hush！　hush！〃　Jonathan　called　to　two　underlings；　whose　voices　broke
the　monastic　silence　that　shrouded　the　house。

〃But　is　the　Marquis　ill；　sir？〃　the　professor　continued。

〃My　dear　sir；〃　Jonathan　replied；　〃Heaven　only　knows　what　is　the　matter
with　my　master。　You　see；　there　are　not　a　couple　of　houses　like　ours
anywhere　in　Paris。　Do　you　understand？　Not　two　houses。　Faith；　that
there　are　not。　My　Lord　the　Marquis　had　this　hotel　purchased　for　him；
it　formerly　belonged　to　a　duke　and　a　peer　of　France；　then　he　spent
three　hundred　thousand　francs　over　furnishing　it。　That's　a　good　deal；
you　know；　three　hundred　thousand　francs！　But　every　room　in　the　house
is　a　perfect　wonder。　'Good；'　said　I　to　myself　when　I　saw　this
magnificence；　'it　is　just　like　it　used　to　be　in　the　time　of　my　lord；
his　late　grandfather；　and　the　young　marquis　is　going　to　entertain　all
Paris　and　the　Court！'　Nothing　of　the　kind！　My　lord　refused　to　see　any
one　whatever。　'Tis　a　funny　life　that　he　leads；　M。　Porriquet；　you
understand。　An　inconciliable　life。　He　rises　every　day　at　the　same
time。　I　am　the　only　person；　you　see；　that　may　enter　his　room。　I　open
all　the　shutters　at　seven　o'clock；　summer　or　winter。　It　is　all
arranged　very　oddly。　As　I　come　in　I　say　to　him：

〃　'You　must　get　up　and　dress；　my　Lord　Marquis。'

〃Then　he　rises　and　dresses　himself。　I　have　to　give　him　his　dressing…
gown；　and　it　is　always　after　the　same　pattern；　and　of　the　same
material。　I　am　obliged　to　replace　it　when　it　can　be　used　no　longer；
simply　to　save　him　the　trouble　of　asking　for　a　new　one。　A　queer　fancy！
As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　has　a　thousand　francs　to　spend　every　day；　and
he　does　as　he　pleases；　the　dear　child。　And　besides；　I　am　so　fond　of
him　that　if　he　gave　me　a　box　on　the　ear　on　one　side；　I　should　hold　out
the　other　to　him！　The　most　difficult　things　he　will　tell　me　to　do；　and
yet　I　do　them；　you　know！　He　gives　me　a　lot　of　trifles　to　attend　to；
that　I　am　well　set　to　work！　He　reads　the　newspapers；　doesn't　he？　Well；
my　in