the magic skin(驴皮记)-第40章

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expansion　possessed　by　water；　has　brought　the　steam…engine　into　being。
But　water　will　only　expand　up　to　a　certain　point；　while　its
incompressibility；　being　a　force　in　a　manner　negative；　is；　of
necessity；　infinite。〃

〃If　this　skin　is　expanded；〃　said　Raphael；　〃I　promise　you　to　erect　a
colossal　statue　to　Blaise　Pascal；　to　found　a　prize　of　a　hundred
thousand　francs　to　be　offered　every　ten　years　for　the　solution　of　the
grandest　problem　of　mechanical　science　effected　during　the　interval；
to　find　dowries　for　all　your　cousins　and　second　cousins；　and　finally
to　build　an　asylum　on　purpose　for　impoverished　or　insane
mathematicians。〃

〃That　would　be　exceedingly　useful；〃　Planchette　replied。　〃We　will　go　to
Spieghalter　to…morrow；　sir；〃　he　continued；　with　the　serenity　of　a　man
living　on　a　plane　wholly　intellectual。　〃That　distinguished　mechanic
has　just　completed；　after　my　own　designs；　an　improved　mechanical
arrangement　by　which　a　child　could　get　a　thousand　trusses　of　hay
inside　his　cap。〃

〃Then　good…bye　till　to…morrow。〃

〃Till　to…morrow；　sir。〃

〃Talk　of　mechanics！〃　cried　Raphael；　〃isn't　it　the　greatest　of　the
sciences？　The　other　fellow　with　his　onagers；　classifications；　ducks；
and　species；　and　his　phials　full　of　bottled　monstrosities；　is　at　best
only　fit　for　a　billiard…marker　in　a　saloon。〃

The　next　morning　Raphael　went　off　in　great　spirits　to　find　Planchette；
and　together　they　set　out　for　the　Rue　de　la　Santeauspicious
appellation！　Arrived　at　Spieghalter's；　the　young　man　found　himself　in
a　vast　foundry；　his　eyes　lighted　upon　a　multitude　of　glowing　and
roaring　furnaces。　There　was　a　storm　of　sparks；　a　deluge　of　nails；　an
ocean　of　pistons；　vices；　levers；　valves；　girders；　files；　and　nuts；　a
sea　of　melted　metal；　baulks　of　timber　and　bar…steel。　Iron　filings
filled　your　throat。　There　was　iron　in　the　atmosphere；　the　men　were
covered　with　it；　everything　reeked　of　iron。　The　iron　seemed　to　be　a
living　organism；　it　became　a　fluid；　moved；　and　seemed　to　shape　itself
intelligently　after　every　fashion；　to　obey　the　worker's　every　caprice。
Through　the　uproar　made　by　the　bellows；　the　crescendo　of　the　falling
hammers；　and　the　shrill　sounds　of　the　lathes　that　drew　groans　from　the
steel；　Raphael　passed　into　a　large；　clean；　and　airy　place　where　he　was
able　to　inspect　at　his　leisure　the　great　press　that　Planchette　had
told　him　about。　He　admired　the　cast…iron　beams；　as　one　might　call
them；　and　the　twin　bars　of　steel　coupled　together　with　indestructible
bolts。

〃If　you　were　to　give　seven　rapid　turns　to　that　crank；〃　said
Spieghalter；　pointing　out　a　beam　of　polished　steel；　〃you　would　make　a
steel　bar　spurt　out　in　thousands　of　jets；　that　would　get　into　your
legs　like　needles。〃

〃The　deuce！〃　exclaimed　Raphael。

Planchette　himself　slipped　the　piece　of　skin　between　the　metal　plates
of　the　all…powerful　press；　and；　brimful　of　the　certainty　of　a
scientific　conviction；　he　worked　the　crank　energetically。

〃Lie　flat；　all　of　you；　we　are　dead　men！〃　thundered　Spieghalter；　as　he
himself　fell　prone　on　the　floor。

A　hideous　shrieking　sound　rang　through　the　workshops。　The　water　in　the
machine　had　broken　the　chamber；　and　now　spouted　out　in　a　jet　of
incalculable　force；　luckily　it　went　in　the　direction　of　an　old
furnace；　which　was　overthrown；　enveloped　and　carried　away　by　a

waterspout。

〃Ha！〃　remarked　Planchette　serenely；　〃the　piece　of　skin　is　as　safe　and
sound　as　my　eye。　There　was　a　flaw　in　your　reservoir　somewhere；　or　a
crevice　in　the　large　tube〃

〃No；　no；　I　know　my　reservoir。　The　devil　is　in　your　contrivance；　sir；
you　can　take　it　away；〃　and　the　German　pounced　upon　a　smith's　hammer；
flung　the　skin　down　on　an　anvil；　and；　with　all　the　strength　that　rage
gives；　dealt　the　talisman　the　most　formidable　blow　that　had　ever
resounded　through　his　workshops。

〃There　is　not　so　much　as　a　mark　on　it！〃　said　Planchette；　stroking　the
perverse　bit　of　skin。

The　workmen　hurried　in。　The　foreman　took　the　skin　and　buried　it　in　the
glowing　coal　of　a　forge；　while；　in　a　semi…circle　round　the　fire；　they
all　awaited　the　action　of　a　huge　pair　of　bellows。　Raphael；
Spieghalter；　and　Professor　Planchette　stood　in　the　midst　of　the　grimy
expectant　crowd。　Raphael；　looking　round　on　faces　dusted　over　with　iron
filings；　white　eyes；　greasy　blackened　clothing；　and　hairy　chests；
could　have　fancied　himself　transported　into　the　wild　nocturnal　world
of　German　ballad　poetry。　After　the　skin　had　been　in　the　fire　for　ten
minutes；　the　foreman　pulled　it　out　with　a　pair　of　pincers。

〃Hand　it　over　to　me；〃　said　Raphael。

The　foreman　held　it　out　by　way　of　a　joke。　The　Marquis　readily　handled
it；　it　was　cool　and　flexible　between　his　fingers。　An　exclamation　of
alarm　went　up；　the　workmen　fled　in　terror。　Valentin　was　left　alone
with　Planchette　in　the　empty　workshop。

〃There　is　certainly　something　infernal　in　the　thing！〃　cried　Raphael；
in　desperation。　〃Is　no　human　power　able　to　give　me　one　more　day　of
existence？〃

〃I　made　a　mistake；　sir；〃　said　the　mathematician；　with　a　penitent
expression；　〃we　ought　to　have　subjected　that　peculiar　skin　to　the
action　of　a　rolling　machine。　Where　could　my　eyes　have　been　when　I
suggested　compression！〃

〃It　was　I　that　asked　for　it；〃　Raphael　answered。

The　mathematician　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief；　like　a　culprit　acquitted　by
a　dozen　jurors。　Still；　the　strange　problem　afforded　by　the　skin
interested　him；　he　meditated　a　moment；　and　then　remarked：

〃This　unknown　material　ought　to　be　treated　chemically　by　re…agents。
Let　us　call　on　Japhetperhaps　the　chemist　may　have　better　luck　than
the　mechanic。〃

Valentin　urged　his　horse　into　a　rapid　trot；　hoping　to　find　the
chemist；　the　celebrated　Japhet；　in　his　laboratory。

〃Well；　old　friend；〃　Planchette　began；　seeing　Japhet　in　his　armchair；
examining　a　precipitate；　〃how　goes　chemistry？〃

〃Gone　to　sleep。　Nothing　new　at　all。　The　Academie；　however；　has
recognized　the　existence　of　salicine；　but　salicine；　asparagine；
vauqueline；　and　digitaline　are　not　really　discoveries〃

〃Since　you　cannot　invent　substances；〃　said　Raphael；　〃you　are　obliged
to　fall　back　on　inventing　names。〃

〃Most　emphatically　true；　young　man。〃

〃Here；〃　said　Planchette；　addressing　the　chemist；　〃try　to　analyze　this
composition；　if　you　can　extract　any　element　whatever　from　it；　I
christen　it　diaboline　beforehand；　for　we　have　just　smashed　a　hydraulic
press　in　trying　to　compress　it。〃

〃Let's　see！　let's　have　a　look　at　it！〃　cried　the　delighted　chemist；　〃it
may；　perhaps；　be　a　fresh　element。〃

〃It　is　simply　a　piece　of　the　skin　of　an　ass；　sir；〃　said　Raphael。

〃Sir！〃　said　the　illustrious　chemist　sternly。

〃I　am　not　joking；〃　the　Marquis　answered；　laying　the　piece　of　skin
before　him。

Baron　Japhet　applied　the　nervous　fibres　of　his　tongue　to　the　skin；　he
had　skill　in　thus　detecting　salts；　acids；　alkalis；　and　gases。　After
several　experiments；　he　remarked：

〃No　taste　whatever！　Come；　we　will　give　it　a　little　fluoric　acid　to
drink。〃

Subjected　to　the　influence　of　this　ready　solvent　of　animal　tissue；　the
skin　underwent　no　change　whatsoever。

〃It　is　not　shagreen　at　all！〃　the　chemist　cried。　〃We　will　treat　this
unknown　mystery　as　a　mineral；　and　try　its　mettle　by　dropping　it　in　a
crucible　where　I　have　at　this　moment　some　red　potash。〃

Japhet　went　out；　and　returned　almost　immediately。

〃Allow　me　to　cut　away　a　bit　of　this　strange　substance；　sir；〃　he　said
to　Raphael；　〃it　is　so　extraordinary〃

〃A　bit！〃　exclaimed　Raphael；　〃not　so　much　as　a　hair's…breadth。　You　may
try；　though；〃　he　added；　half　banteringly；　half　sadly。

The　chemist　broke　a　razor　in　his　desire　to　cut　the　skin；　he　tried　to
break　it　by　a　powerful　electric　shock；　next　he　submitted　it　to　the
influence　of　a　galvanic　battery；　but　all　the　thunderbolts　his　science
wotted　of　fell　harmless　on　the　dreadful　talisman。

It　was　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening。　Planchette；　Japhet；　and　Raphael；
unaware　of　the　flight　of　time；　were　awaiting　the　outcome　of　a　final
experiment。　The　Magic　Skin　emerged　triumphant　from　a　formidable
encounter　in　which　it　had　been　engaged　with　a　considerable　quantity　of
chloride　of　nitrogen。

〃It　is　all　over　with　me；〃　Raphael　wailed。　〃It　is　the　finger　of　God！　I
shall　die！〃　and　he　left　the　two　amazed　scientific　men。

〃We　must　be　very　careful　not　to　talk　about　this　affair　at　the
Academie；　our　colleagues　there　would　laugh　at　us；〃　Planchette　remarked
to　the　chemist；　after　a　long　pause；　in　which　they　looked　at　each　other
without　daring　to　communicate　their　thoughts。　The　learned　pair　looked
like　two　Christians　who　had　issued　from　their　tombs　to　find　no　God　in
the　heavens。　Science　had　been　powerless；　acids；　so　much　clear　water；
red　potash　had　been　discredited；　the　galvanic　battery　and　electric
shock　had　been　a　couple　of　playthings。

〃A　hydraulic　press　broken　like　a　biscuit！〃　commented　Planchette。

〃I　believe　in　the　devil；〃　said　the　Baron　Japhet；　after　a　moment's
silence。

〃And　I　in　God；〃　replied　Planchette。

Each　spoke　in　character。　The　universe　for　a　mechanician　is　a　machine
that　requires　an　operator；　for　chemistrythat　fiendish　employment　of
decomposing　all　thingsthe　world　is　a　gas　endowed　with　the　power　of
movement。

〃We　cannot　deny　the　fact；〃　the　chemist　replied。

〃Pshaw！　those　gentlemen　the　doctrinaires　have　invented　a　nebulous
aphorism　for　our　consolationStupid　as　a　fact。〃

〃Your　aphorism；〃　said　the　chemist；　〃seems　to　me　as　a　fact　very
stupid。〃

They　began　to　laugh；　and　went　off　to　dine　like　folk　for　whom　a　miracle
is　nothing　more　than　a　phenomenon。

Valentin　reached　his　own　house　shivering　with　rage　and　consumed　with
anger。　He　had　no　more　faith　in　anything。　Conflicting　thoughts　shifted
and　surged　to　and　fro　in　his　brain；　as　is　the　case　with　every　man
brought　face　to　face　with　an　inconceivable　fact。　He　had　readily
believed　in　some　hidden　flaw　in　Spieghalter's　apparatus；　he　had　not
been　surprised　by　the　incompetence　and　failure　of　science　and　of　fire；
but　the　flexibility　of　the　skin　as　he　handled　it；　taken　with　its
stubbornness　when　all　means　of　destruction　that　man　possesses　had　been
brought　to　bear　upon　it　in　vainthese　things　terrified　him。　The
incontrovertible　fact　made　him　dizzy。

〃I　am　mad；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　have　had　no　food　since　the　morning；　and
yet　I　am　neither　hungry　nor　thirsty；　and　there　is　a　fire　in　my　breast
that　burns　me。〃

He　put　back　the　skin　in　the　frame　where　it　had　been　enclosed　but
lately；　drew　a　line　in　red　ink　about　the　actual　configuration　of　the
talisman；　and　seated　himself　in　his　armchair。

〃Eight　o'clock　already！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃To…day　has　gone　like　a　dream。〃

He　leaned　his　elbow　on　the　arm　of　the　chair；　propped　his　head　with　his
left　hand；　and　so　remained；　lost　in　secret　dark　reflections　and
consuming　thoughts　that　men　condemned　to　die　bear　away　with　them。

〃O　Pauline！〃　he　cried。　〃Poor　child！　there　are　gulfs　that　love　can
never　traverse；　despite　the　strength　of　his　wings。〃

Just　then　he　very　distinctly　heard　a　smothered　sigh；　and　knew　by　one
of　the　most　tender　privileges　of　passionate　love　that　it　was　Pauline's
breathing。

〃That　is　my　death　warrant；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃If　she　were　there；　I
should　wish　to　die　in　her　arms。〃

A　burst　of　gleeful　and　hearty　laughter　made　him　turn　his　face　towards

the　bed；　he　saw　Pauline's　face　through　the