the magic skin(驴皮记)-第37章

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and　returned　with　as　much　happiness　in　his　heart　as　mortal　man　can
know。

When　he　was　seated　in　his　armchair　beside　the　fire；　thinking　over　the
sudden　and　complete　way　in　which　his　wishes　had　been　fulfilled；　a　cold
shiver　went　through　him；　as　if　the　blade　of　a　dagger　had　been　plunged
into　his　breasthe　thought　of　the　Magic　Skin；　and　saw　that　it　had
shrunk　a　little。　He　uttered　the　most　tremendous　of　French　oaths；
without　any　of　the　Jesuitical　reservations　made　by　the　Abbess　of
Andouillettes；　leant　his　head　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　and　sat
motionless；　fixing　his　unseeing　eyes　upon　the　bracket　of　the　curtain
pole。

〃Good　God！〃　he　cried；　〃every　wish！　Every　desire　of　mine！　Poor
Pauline！〃

He　took　a　pair　of　compasses　and　measured　the　extent　of　existence　that
the　morning　had　cost　him。

〃I　have　scarcely　enough　for　two　months！〃　he　said。

A　cold　sweat　broke　out　over　him；　moved　by　an　ungovernable　spasm　of
rage；　he　seized　the　Magic　Skin；　exclaiming：

〃I　am　a　perfect　fool！〃

He　rushed　out　of　the　house　and　across　the　garden；　and　flung　the
talisman　down　a　well。

〃Vogue　la　galere；〃　cried　he。　〃The　devil　take　all　this　nonsense。〃

So　Raphael　gave　himself　up　to　the　happiness　of　being　beloved；　and　led
with　Pauline　the　life　of　heart　and　heart。　Difficulties　which　it　would
be　somewhat　tedious　to　describe　had　delayed　their　marriage；　which　was
to　take　place　early　in　March。　Each　was　sure　of　the　other；　their
affection　had　been　tried；　and　happiness　had　taught　them　how　strong　it
was。　Never　has　love　made　two　souls；　two　natures；　so　absolutely　one。
The　more　they　came　to　know　of　each　other；　the　more　they　loved。　On
either　side　there　was　the　same　hesitating　delicacy；　the　same
transports　of　joy　such　as　angels　know；　there　were　no　clouds　in　their
heaven；　the　will　of　either　was　the　other's　law。

Wealthy　as　they　both　were；　they　had　not　a　caprice　which　they　could　not
gratify；　and　for　that　reason　had　no　caprices。　A　refined　taste；　a
feeling　for　beauty　and　poetry；　was　instinct　in　the　soul　of　the　bride；
her　lover's　smile　was　more　to　her　than　all　the　pearls　of　Ormuz。　She
disdained　feminine　finery；　a　muslin　dress　and　flowers　formed　her　most
elaborate　toilette。

Pauline　and　Raphael　shunned　every　one　else；　for　solitude　was
abundantly　beautiful　to　them。　The　idlers　at　the　Opera；　or　at　the
Italiens；　saw　this　charming　and　unconventional　pair　evening　after
evening。　Some　gossip　went　the　round　of　the　salons　at　first；　but　the
harmless　lovers　were　soon　forgotten　in　the　course　of　events　which　took
place　in　Paris；　their　marriage　was　announced　at　length　to　excuse　them
in　the　eyes　of　the　prudish；　and　as　it　happened；　their　servants　did　not
babble；　so　their　bliss　did　not　draw　down　upon　them　any　very　severe
punishment。

One　morning　towards　the　end　of　February；　at　the　time　when　the
brightening　days　bring　a　belief　in　the　nearness　of　the　joys　of　spring；
Pauline　and　Raphael　were　breakfasting　together　in　a　small
conservatory；　a　kind　of　drawing…room　filled　with　flowers；　on　a　level
with　the　garden。　The　mild　rays　of　the　pale　winter　sunlight；　breaking
through　the　thicket　of　exotic　plants；　warmed　the　air　somewhat。　The
vivid　contrast　made　by　the　varieties　of　foliage；　the　colors　of　the
masses　of　flowering　shrubs；　the　freaks　of　light　and　shadow；　gladdened
the　eyes。　While　all　the　rest　of　Paris　still　sought　warmth　from　its
melancholy　hearth；　these　two　were　laughing　in　a　bower　of　camellias；
lilacs；　and　blossoming　heath。　Their　happy　faces　rose　above　lilies　of
the　valley；　narcissus　blooms；　and　Bengal　roses。　A　mat　of　plaited
African　grass；　variegated　like　a　carpet；　lay　beneath　their　feet　in
this　luxurious　conservatory。　The　walls；　covered　with　a　green　linen
material；　bore　no　traces　of　damp。　The　surfaces　of　the　rustic　wooden
furniture　shone　with　cleanliness。　A　kitten；　attracted　by　the　odor　of
milk；　had　established　itself　upon　the　table；　it　allowed　Pauline　to
bedabble　it　in　coffee；　she　was　playing　merrily　with　it；　taking　away
the　cream　that　she　had　just　allowed　the　kitten　to　sniff　at；　so　as　to
exercise　its　patience；　and　keep　up　the　contest。　She　burst　out　laughing
at　every　antic；　and　by　the　comical　remarks　she　constantly　made；　she
hindered　Raphael　from　perusing　the　paper；　he　had　dropped　it　a　dozen
times　already。　This　morning　picture　seemed　to　overflow　with
inexpressible　gladness；　like　everything　that　is　natural　and　genuine。

Raphael；　still　pretending　to　read　his　paper；　furtively　watched　Pauline
with　the　cathis　Pauline；　in　the　dressing…gown　that　hung　carelessly
about　her；　his　Pauline；　with　her　hair　loose　on　her　shoulders；　with　a
tiny；　white；　blue…veined　foot　peeping　out　of　a　velvet　slipper。　It　was
pleasant　to　see　her　in　this　negligent　dress；　she　was　delightful　as
some　fanciful　picture　by　Westall；　half…girl；　half…woman；　as　she　seemed
to　be；　or　perhaps　more　of　a　girl　than　a　woman；　there　was　no　alloy　in
the　happiness　she　enjoyed；　and　of　love　she　knew　as　yet　only　its　first
ecstasy。　When　Raphael；　absorbed　in　happy　musing；　had　forgotten　the
existence　of　the　newspaper；　Pauline　flew　upon　it；　crumpled　it　up　into
a　ball；　and　threw　it　out　into　the　garden；　the　kitten　sprang　after　the
rotating　object；　which　spun　round　and　round；　as　politics　are　wont　to
do。　This　childish　scene　recalled　Raphael　to　himself。　He　would　have
gone　on　reading；　and　felt　for　the　sheet　he　no　longer　possessed。　Joyous
laughter　rang　out　like　the　song　of　a　bird；　one　peal　leading　to
another。

〃I　am　quite　jealous　of　the　paper；〃　she　said；　as　she　wiped　away　the
tears　that　her　childlike　merriment　had　brought　into　her　eyes。　〃Now；　is
it　not　a　heinous　offence；〃　she　went　on；　as　she　became　a　woman　all　at
once；　〃to　read　Russian　proclamations　in　my　presence；　and　to　attend　to
the　prosings　of　the　Emperor　Nicholas　rather　than　to　looks　and　words　of
love！〃

〃I　was　not　reading；　my　dear　angel；　I　was　looking　at　you。〃

Just　then　the　gravel　walk　outside　the　conservatory　rang　with　the　sound
of　the　gardener's　heavily　nailed　boots。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　my　Lord　Marquisand　yours；　too；　madameif　I　am
intruding；　but　I　have　brought　you　a　curiosity　the　like　of　which　I
never　set　eyes　on。　Drawing　a　bucket　of　water　just　now；　with　due
respect；　I　got　out　this　strange　salt…water　plant。　Here　it　is。　It　must
be　thoroughly　used　to　water；　anyhow；　for　it　isn't　saturated　or　even
damp　at　all。　It　is　as　dry　as　a　piece　of　wood；　and　has　not　swelled　a
bit。　As　my　Lord　Marquis　certainly　knows　a　great　deal　more　about　things
than　I　do；　I　thought　I　ought　to　bring　it；　and　that　it　would　interest
him。〃

Therewith　the　gardener　showed　Raphael　the　inexorable　piece　of　skin；
there　were　barely　six　square　inches　of　it　left。

〃Thanks；　Vaniere；〃　Raphael　said。　〃The　thing　is　very　curious。〃

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　my　angel；　you　are　growing　quite　white！〃
Pauline　cried。

〃You　can　go；　Vaniere。〃

〃Your　voice　frightens　me；〃　the　girl　went　on；　〃it　is　so　strangely
altered。　What　is　it？　How　are　you　feeling？　Where　is　the　pain？　You　are
in　pain！Jonathan！　here！　call　a　doctor！〃　she　cried。

〃Hush；　my　Pauline；〃　Raphael　answered；　as　he　regained　composure。　〃Let
us　get　up　and　go。　Some　flower　here　has　a　scent　that　is　too　much　for
me。　It　is　that　verbena；　perhaps。〃

Pauline　flew　upon　the　innocent　plant；　seized　it　by　the　stalk；　and
flung　it　out　into　the　garden；　then；　with　all　the　might　of　the　love
between　them；　she　clasped　Raphael　in　a　close　embrace；　and　with
languishing　coquetry　raised　her　red　lips　to　his　for　a　kiss。

〃Dear　angel；〃　she　cried；　〃when　I　saw　you　turn　so　white；　I　understood
that　I　could　not　live　on　without　you；　your　life　is　my　life　too。　Lay
your　hand　on　my　back；　Raphael　mine；　I　feel　a　chill　like　death。　The
feeling　of　cold　is　there　yet。　Your　lips　are　burning。　How　is　your　hand？
Cold　as　ice；〃　she　added。

〃Mad　girl！〃　exclaimed　Raphael。

〃Why　that　tear？　Let　me　drink　it。〃

〃O　Pauline；　Pauline；　you　love　me　far　too　much！〃

〃There　is　something　very　extraordinary　going　on　in　your　mind；　Raphael！
Do　not　dissimulate。　I　shall　very　soon　find　out　your　secret。　Give　that
to　me；〃　she　went　on；　taking　the　Magic　Skin。

〃You　are　my　executioner！〃　the　young　man　exclaimed；　glancing　in　horror
at　the　talisman。

〃How　changed　your　voice　is！〃　cried　Pauline；　as　she　dropped　the　fatal
symbol　of　destiny。

〃Do　you　love　me？〃　he　asked。

〃Do　I　love　you？　Is　there　any　doubt？〃

〃Then；　leave　me；　go　away！〃

The　poor　child　went。

〃So！〃　cried　Raphael；　when　he　was　alone。　〃In　an　enlightened　age；　when
we　have　found　out　that　diamonds　are　a　crystallized　form　of　charcoal；
at　a　time　when　everything　is　made　clear；　when　the　police　would　hale　a
new　Messiah　before　the　magistrates；　and　submit　his　miracles　to　the
Academie　des　Sciencesin　an　epoch　when　we　no　longer　believe　in
anything　but　a　notary's　signaturethat　I；　forsooth；　should　believe　in
a　sort　of　Mene；　Tekel；　Upharsin！　No；　by　Heaven；　I　will　not　believe
that　the　Supreme　Being　would　take　pleasure　in　torturing　a　harmless
creature。Let　us　see　the　learned　about　it。〃

Between　the　Halle　des　Vins；　with　its　extensive　assembly　of　barrels；
and　the　Salpetriere；　that　extensive　seminary　of　drunkenness；　lies　a
small　pond；　which　Raphael　soon　reached。　All　sorts　of　ducks　of　rare
varieties　were　there　disporting　themselves；　their　colored　markings
shone　in　the　sun　like　the　glass　in　cathedral　windows。　Every　kind　of
duck　in　the　world　was　represented；　quacking；　dabbling；　and　moving
abouta　kind　of　parliament　of　ducks　assembled　against　its　will；　but
luckily　without　either　charter　or　political　principles；　living　in
complete　immunity　from　sportsmen；　under　the　eyes　of　any　naturalist
that　chanced　to　see　them。

〃That　is　M。　Lavrille；〃　said　one　of　the　keepers　to　Raphael；　who　had
asked　for　that　high　priest　of　zoology。

The　Marquis　saw　a　short　man　buried　in　profound　reflections；　caused　by
the　appearance　of　a　pair　of　ducks。　The　man　of　science　was　middle…aged；
he　had　a　pleasant　face；　made　pleasanter　still　by　a　kindly　expression；
but　an　absorption　in　scientific　ideas　engrossed　his　whole　person。　His
peruke　was　strangely　turned　up；　by　being　constantly　raised　to　scratch
his　head；　so　that　a　line　of　white　hair　was　left　plainly　visible；　a
witness　to　an　enthusiasm　for　investigation；　which；　like　every　other
strong　passion；　so　withdraws　us　from　mundane　considerations；　that　we
lose　all　consciousness　of　the　〃I〃　within　us。　Raphael；　the　student　and
man　of　science；　looked　respectfully　at　the　naturalist；　who　devoted　his
nights　to　enlarging　the　limits　of　human　knowledge；　and　whose　very
errors　reflected　glory　upon　France；　but　a　she…coxcomb　would　have
laughed；　no　doubt；　at　the　break　of　continuity　between　the　breeches　and
striped　waistcoat　worn　by　the　man　of　learning；　the　interval；　moreover；
was　modestly　filled　by　a　shirt　which　had　been　considerably　creased；
for　he　stooped　and　raised　himself　by　turns；　as　his　zoological
observations　required。

After　the　first　interchange　of　civilities；　Raphael　thought　it
necessary　to　pay　M。　Lavrille　a　banal　compliment　upon　his　ducks。

〃Oh；　we　are　well　off　for　ducks；〃　the　naturalist　replied。　〃The　genus；
moreover；　as　you　doubtless　know；　is　the　most　prolific　in　the　order　of
palmipeds。　It　begins　with　the　swan　and　ends　with　the　zin…zin　duck；
comprising　in　all　one　hundred　and　thirty…seven　very　distinct
varieties；　each　having　its　own　name；　habits；　country；　and　c