the magic skin(驴皮记)-第36章

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was　yesterday。〃

Raphael　hurried　up　the　staircase　to　his　garret；　as　he　reached　the　last
few　steps　he　heard　the　sounds　of　a　piano。　Pauline　was　there；　simply
dressed　in　a　cotton　gown；　but　the　way　that　it　was　made；　like　the
gloves；　hat；　and　shawl　that　she　had　thrown　carelessly　upon　the　bed；
revealed　a　change　of　fortune。

〃Ah；　there　you　are！〃　cried　Pauline；　turning　her　head；　and　rising　with
unconcealed　delight。

Raphael　went　to　sit　beside　her；　flushed；　confused；　and　happy；　he
looked　at　her　in　silence。

〃Why　did　you　leave　us　then？〃　she　asked；　dropping　her　eyes　as　the　flush
deepened　on　his　face。　〃What　became　of　you？〃

〃Ah；　I　have　been　very　miserable；　Pauline；　I　am　very　miserable　still。〃

〃Alas！〃　she　said；　filled　with　pitying　tenderness。　〃I　guessed　your　fate
yesterday　when　I　saw　you　so　well　dressed；　and　apparently　so　wealthy；
but　in　reality？　Eh；　M。　Raphael；　is　it　as　it　always　used　to　be　with
you？〃

Valentin　could　not　restrain　the　tears　that　sprang　to　his　eyes。

〃Pauline；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I〃

He　went　no　further；　love　sparkled　in　his　eyes；　and　his　emotion
overflowed　his　face。

〃Oh；　he　loves　me！　he　loves　me！〃　cried　Pauline。

Raphael　felt　himself　unable　to　say　one　word；　he　bent　his　head。　The
young　girl　took　his　hand　at　this；　she　pressed　it　as　she　said；　half
sobbing　and　half　laughing：

〃Rich；　rich；　happy　and　rich！　Your　Pauline　is　rich。　But　I？　Oh；　I　ought
to　be　very　poor　to…day。　I　have　said；　times　without　number；　that　I
would　give　all　the　wealth　upon　this　earth　for　those　words；　'He　loves
me！'　O　my　Raphael！　I　have　millions。　You　like　luxury；　you　will　be　glad；
but　you　must　love　me　and　my　heart　besides；　for　there　is　so　much　love
for　you　in　my　heart。　You　don't　know？　My　father　has　come　back。　I　am　a
wealthy　heiress。　Both　he　and　my　mother　leave　me　completely　free　to
decide　my　own　fate。　I　am　freedo　you　understand？〃

Seized　with　a　kind　of　frenzy；　Raphael　grasped　Pauline's　hands　and
kissed　them　eagerly　and　vehemently；　with　an　almost　convulsive　caress。
Pauline　drew　her　hands　away；　laid　them　on　Raphael's　shoulders；　and
drew　him　towards　her。　They　understood　one　anotherin　that　close
embrace；　in　the　unalloyed　and　sacred　fervor　of　that　one　kiss　without
an　afterthoughtthe　first　kiss　by　which　two　souls　take　possession　of
each　other。

〃Ah；　I　will　not　leave　you　any　more；〃　said　Pauline；　falling　back　in　her
chair。　〃I　do　not　know　how　I　come　to　be　so　bold！〃　she　added；　blushing。

〃Bold；　my　Pauline？　Do　not　fear　it。　It　is　love；　love　true　and　deep　and
everlasting　like　my　own；　is　it　not？〃

〃Speak！〃　she　cried。　〃Go　on　speaking；　so　long　your　lips　have　been　dumb
for　me。〃

〃Then　you　have　loved　me　all　along？〃

〃Loved　you？　MON　DIEU！　How　often　I　have　wept　here；　setting　your　room
straight；　and　grieving　for　your　poverty　and　my　own。　I　would　have　sold
myself　to　the　evil　one　to　spare　you　one　vexation！　You　are　MY　Raphael
to…day；　really　my　own　Raphael；　with　that　handsome　head　of　yours；　and
your　heart　is　mine　too；　yes；　that　above　all；　your　heartO　wealth
inexhaustible！　Well；　where　was　I？〃　she　went　on　after　a　pause。　〃Oh　yes！
We　have　three；　four；　or　five　millions；　I　believe。　If　I　were　poor；　I
should　perhaps　desire　to　bear　your　name；　to　be　acknowledged　as　your
wife；　but　as　it　is；　I　would　give　up　the　whole　world　for　you；　I　would
be　your　servant　still；　now　and　always。　Why；　Raphael；　if　I　give　you　my
fortune；　my　heart；　myself　to…day；　I　do　no　more　than　I　did　that　day
when　I　put　a　certain　five…franc　piece　in　the　drawer　there；〃　and　she
pointed　to　the　table。　〃Oh；　how　your　exultation　hurt　me　then！〃

〃Oh；　why　are　you　rich？〃　Raphael　cried；　〃why　is　there　no　vanity　in　you？
I　can　do　nothing　for　you。〃

He　wrung　his　hands　in　despair　and　happiness　and　love。

〃When　you　are　the　Marquise　de　Valentin；　I　know　that　the　title　and　the
fortune　for　thee；　heavenly　soul；　will　not　be　worth〃

〃One　hair　of　your　head；〃　she　cried。

〃I　have　millions　too。　But　what　is　wealth　to　either　of　us　now？　There　is
my　lifeah；　that　I　can　offer；　take　it。〃

〃Your　love；　Raphael；　your　love　is　all　the　world　to　me。　Are　your
thoughts　of　me？　I　am　the　happiest　of　the　happy！〃

〃Can　any　one　overhear　us？〃　asked　Raphael。

〃Nobody；〃　she　replied；　and　a　mischievous　gesture　escaped　her。

〃Come；　then！〃　cried　Valentin；　holding　out　his　arms。

She　sprang　upon　his　knees　and　clasped　her　arms　about　his　neck。

〃Kiss　me！〃　she　cried；　〃after　all　the　pain　you　have　given　me；　to　blot
out　the　memory　of　the　grief　that　your　joys　have　caused　me；　and　for　the
sake　of　the　nights　that　I　spent　in　painting　hand…screens〃

〃Those　hand…screens　of　yours？〃

〃Now　that　we　are　rich；　my　darling；　I　can　tell　you　all　about　it。　Poor
boy！　how　easy　it　is　to　delude　a　clever　man！　Could　you　have　had　white
waistcoats　and　clean　shirts　twice　a　week　for　three　francs　every　month
to　the　laundress？　Why；　you　used　to　drink　twice　as　much　milk　as　your
money　would　have　paid　for。　I　deceived　you　all　roundover　firing；　oil；
and　even　money。　O　Raphael　mine；　don't　have　me　for　your　wife；　I　am　far
too　cunning！〃　she　said　laughing。

〃But　how　did　you　manage？〃

〃I　used　to　work　till　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；　I　gave　my　mother　half
the　money　made　by　my　screens；　and　the　other　half　went　to　you。〃

They　looked　at　one　another　for　a　moment；　both　bewildered　by　love　and
gladness。

〃Some　day　we　shall　have　to　pay　for　this　happiness　by　some　terrible
sorrow；〃　cried　Raphael。

〃Perhaps　you　are　married？〃　said　Pauline。　〃Oh；　I　will　not　give　you　up
to　any　other　woman。〃

〃I　am　free；　my　beloved。〃

〃Free！〃　she　repeated。　〃Free；　and　mine！〃

She　slipped　down　upon　her　knees；　clasped　her　hands；　and　looked　at
Raphael　in　an　enthusiasm　of　devotion。

〃I　am　afraid　I　shall　go　mad。　How　handsome　you　are！〃　she　went　on；
passing　her　fingers　through　her　lover's　fair　hair。　〃How　stupid　your
Countess　Foedora　is！　How　pleased　I　was　yesterday　with　the　homage　they
all　paid　to　me！　SHE　has　never　been　applauded。　Dear；　when　I　felt　your
arm　against　my　back；　I　heard　a　vague　voice　within　me　that　cried；　'He
is　there！'　and　I　turned　round　and　saw　you。　I　fled；　for　I　longed　so　to
throw　my　arms　about　you　before　them　all。〃

〃How　happy　you　areyou　can　speak！〃　Raphael　exclaimed。　〃My　heart　is
overwhelmed；　I　would　weep；　but　I　cannot。　Do　not　draw　your　hand　away。　I
could　stay　here　looking　at　you　like　this　for　the　rest　of　my　life；　I
think；　happy　and　content。〃

〃O　my　love；　say　that　once　more！〃

〃Ah；　what　are　words？〃　answered　Valentin；　letting　a　hot　tear　fall　on
Pauline's　hands。　〃Some　time　I　will　try　to　tell　you　of　my　love；　just
now　I　can　only　feel　it。〃

〃You；〃　she　said；　〃with　your　lofty　soul　and　your　great　genius；　with
that　heart　of　yours　that　I　know　so　well；　are　you　really　mine；　as　I　am
yours？〃

〃For　ever　and　ever；　my　sweet　creature；〃　said　Raphael　in　an　uncertain
voice。　〃You　shall　be　my　wife；　my　protecting　angel。　My　griefs　have
always　been　dispelled　by　your　presence；　and　my　courage　revived；　that
angelic　smile　now　on　your　lips　has　purified　me；　so　to　speak。　A　new
life　seems　about　to　begin　for　me。　The　cruel　past　and　my　wretched
follies　are　hardly　more　to　me　than　evil　dreams。　At　your　side　I　breathe
an　atmosphere　of　happiness；　and　I　am　pure。　Be　with　me　always；〃　he
added；　pressing　her　solemnly　to　his　beating　heart。

〃Death　may　come　when　it　will；〃　said　Pauline　in　ecstasy；　〃I　have
lived！〃

Happy　he　who　shall　divine　their　joy；　for　he　must　have　experienced　it。

〃I　wish　that　no　one　might　enter　this　dear　garret　again；　my　Raphael；〃
said　Pauline；　after　two　hours　of　silence。

〃We　must　have　the　door　walled　up；　put　bars　across　the　window；　and　buy
the　house；〃　the　Marquis　answered。

〃Yes；　we　will；〃　she　said。　Then　a　moment　later　she　added：　〃Our　search
for　your　manuscripts　has　been　a　little　lost　sight　of；〃　and　they　both
laughed　like　children。

〃Pshaw！　I　don't　care　a　jot　for　the　whole　circle　of　the　sciences；〃
Raphael　answered。

〃Ah；　sir；　and　how　about　glory？〃

〃I　glory　in　you　alone。〃

〃You　used　to　be　very　miserable　as　you　made　these　little　scratches　and
scrawls；〃　she　said；　turning　the　papers　over。

〃My　Pauline〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　am　your　Paulineand　what　then？〃

〃Where　are　you　living　now？〃

〃In　the　Rue　Saint　Lazare。　And　you？〃

〃In　the　Rue　de　Varenne。〃

〃What　a　long　way　apart　we　shall　be　until〃　She　stopped；　and　looked
at　her　lover　with　a　mischievous　and　coquettish　expression。

〃But　at　the　most　we　need　only　be　separated　for　a　fortnight；〃　Raphael
answered。

〃Really！　we　are　to　be　married　in　a　fortnight？〃　and　she　jumped　for　joy
like　a　child。

〃I　am　an　unnatural　daughter！〃　she　went　on。　〃I　give　no　more　thought　to
my　father　or　my　mother；　or　to　anything　in　the　world。　Poor　love；　you
don't　know　that　my　father　is　very　ill？　He　returned　from　the　Indies　in
very　bad　health。　He　nearly　died　at　Havre；　where　we　went　to　find　him。
Good　heavens！〃　she　cried；　looking　at　her　watch；　〃it　is　three　o'clock
already！　I　ought　to　be　back　again　when　he　wakes　at　four。　I　am　mistress
of　the　house　at　home；　my　mother　does　everything　that　I　wish；　and　my
father　worships　me；　but　I　will　not　abuse　their　kindness；　that　would　be
wrong。　My　poor　father！　He　would　have　me　go　to　the　Italiens　yesterday。
You　will　come　to　see　him　to…morrow；　will　you　not？〃

〃Will　Madame　la　Marquise　de　Valentin　honor　me　by　taking　my　arm？〃

〃I　am　going　to　take　the　key　of　this　room　away　with　me；〃　she　said。
〃Isn't　our　treasure…house　a　palace？〃

〃One　more　kiss；　Pauline。〃

〃A　thousand；　MON　DIEU！〃　she　said；　looking　at　Raphael。　〃Will　it　always
be　like　this？　I　feel　as　if　I　were　dreaming。〃

They　went　slowly　down　the　stairs　together；　step　for　step；　with　arms
closely　linked；　trembling　both　of　them　beneath　their　load　of　joy。　Each
pressing　close　to　the　other's　side；　like　a　pair　of　doves；　they　reached
the　Place　de　la　Sorbonne；　where　Pauline's　carriage　was　waiting。

〃I　want　to　go　home　with　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　see　your　own　room
and　your　study；　and　to　sit　at　the　table　where　you　work。　It　will　be
like　old　times；〃　she　said；　blushing。

She　spoke　to　the　servant。　〃Joseph；　before　returning　home　I　am　going　to
the　Rue　de　Varenne。　It　is　a　quarter…past　three　now；　and　I　must　be　back
by　four　o'clock。　George　must　hurry　the　horses。〃　And　so　in　a　few
moments　the　lovers　came　to　Valentin's　abode。

〃How　glad　I　am　to　have　seen　all　this　for　myself！〃　Pauline　cried；
creasing　the　silken　bed…curtains　in　Raphael's　room　between　her
fingers。　〃As　I　go　to　sleep；　I　shall　be　here　in　thought。　I　shall
imagine　your　dear　head　on　the　pillow　there。　Raphael；　tell　me；　did　no
one　advise　you　about　the　furniture　of　your　hotel？〃

〃No　one　whatever。〃

〃Really？　It　was　not　a　woman　who〃

〃Pauline！〃

〃Oh；　I　know　I　am　fearfully　jealous。　You　have　good　taste。　I　will　have　a
bed　like　yours　to…morrow。〃

Quite　beside　himself　with　happiness；　Raphael　caught　Pauline　in　his
arms。

〃Oh；　my　father！〃　she　said；　〃my　father〃

〃I　will　take　you　back　to　him；〃　cried　Valentin；　〃for　I　want　to　be　away
from　you　as　little　as　possible。〃

〃How　loving　you　are！　I　did　not　venture　to　suggest　it〃

〃Are　you　not　my　life？〃

It　would　be　tedious　to　set　down　accurately　the　charming　prattle　of　the
lovers；　for　tones　and　looks　and　gestures　that　cannot　be　rendered　alone
gave　it　significance。　Valentin　went　back　with　Pauline　to　her　own　door；
and　returned　with　as　much　happiness　in　his　heart　as　mortal　man　can
know。

When　he　was　seated　in