the magic skin(驴皮记)-第44章

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the　elevation　of　the　rich；　and　its　motto　is　deeply　graven　in　hearts
that　wealth　has　turned　to　stone；　or　that　have　been　reared　in
aristocratic　prejudices。

Assemble　a　collection　of　school…boys　together。　That　will　give　you　a
society　in　miniature；　a　miniature　which　represents　life　more　truly；
because　it　is　so　frank　and　artless；　and　in　it　you　will　always　find
poor　isolated　beings；　relegated　to　some　place　in　the　general
estimations　between　pity　and　contempt；　on　account　of　their　weakness
and　suffering。　To　these　the　Evangel　promises　heaven　hereafter。　Go
lower　yet　in　the　scale　of　organized　creation。　If　some　bird　among　its
fellows　in　the　courtyard　sickens；　the　others　fall　upon　it　with　their
beaks；　pluck　out　its　feathers；　and　kill　it。　The　whole　world；　in
accordance　with　its　character　of　egotism；　brings　all　its　severity　to
bear　upon　wretchedness　that　has　the　hardihood　to　spoil　its
festivities；　and　to　trouble　its　joys。

Any　sufferer　in　mind　or　body；　any　helpless　or　poor　man；　is　a　pariah。
He　had　better　remain　in　his　solitude；　if　he　crosses　the　boundary…line；
he　will　find　winter　everywhere；　he　will　find　freezing　cold　in　other
men's　looks；　manners；　words；　and　hearts；　and　lucky　indeed　is　he　if　he
does　not　receive　an　insult　where　he　expected　that　sympathy　would　be
expended　upon　him。　Let　the　dying　keep　to　their　bed　of　neglect；　and　age
sit　lonely　by　its　fireside。　Portionless　maids；　freeze　and　burn　in　your
solitary　attics。　If　the　world　tolerates　misery　of　any　kind；　it　is　to
turn　it　to　account　for　its　own　purposes；　to　make　some　use　of　it；
saddle　and　bridle　it；　put　a　bit　in　its　mouth；　ride　it　about；　and　get
some　fun　out　of　it。

Crotchety　spinsters；　ladies'　companions；　put　a　cheerful　face　upon　it；
endure　the　humors　of　your　so…called　benefactress；　carry　her　lapdogs
for　her；　you　have　an　English　poodle　for　your　rival；　and　you　must　seek
to　understand　the　moods　of　your　patroness；　and　amuse　her；　andkeep
silence　about　yourselves。　As　for　you；　unblushing　parasite；　uncrowned
king　of　unliveried　servants；　leave　your　real　character　at　home；　let
your　digestion　keep　pace　with　your　host's　laugh　when　he　laughs；　mingle
your　tears　with　his；　and　find　his　epigrams　amusing；　if　you　want　to
relieve　your　mind　about　him；　wait　till　he　is　ruined。　That　is　the　way
the　world　shows　its　respect　for　the　unfortunate；　it　persecutes　them；
or　slays　them　in　the　dust。

Such　thoughts　as　these　welled　up　in　Raphael's　heart　with　the
suddenness　of　poetic　inspiration。　He　looked　around　him；　and　felt　the
influence　of　the　forbidding　gloom　that　society　breathes　out　in　order
to　rid　itself　of　the　unfortunate；　it　nipped　his　soul　more　effectually
than　the　east　wind　grips　the　body　in　December。　He　locked　his　arms　over
his　chest；　set　his　back　against　the　wall；　and　fell　into　a　deep
melancholy。　He　mused　upon　the　meagre　happiness　that　this　depressing
way　of　living　can　give。　What　did　it　amount　to？　Amusement　with　no
pleasure　in　it；　gaiety　without　gladness；　joyless　festivity；　fevered
dreams　empty　of　all　delight；　firewood　or　ashes　on　the　hearth　without　a
spark　of　flame　in　them。　When　he　raised　his　head；　he　found　himself
alone；　all　the　billiard　players　had　gone。

〃I　have　only　to　let　them　know　my　power　to　make　them　worship　my
coughing　fits；〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　wrapped　himself　against　the
world　in　the　cloak　of　his　contempt。

Next　day　the　resident　doctor　came　to　call　upon　him；　and　took　an
anxious　interest　in　his　health。　Raphael　felt　a　thrill　of　joy　at　the
friendly　words　addressed　to　him。　The　doctor's　face；　to　his　thinking；
wore　an　expression　that　was　kind　and　pleasant；　the　pale　curls　of　his
wig　seemed　redolent　of　philanthropy；　the　square　cut　of　his　coat；　the
loose　folds　of　his　trousers；　his　big　Quaker…like　shoes；　everything
about　him　down　to　the　powder　shaken　from　his　queue　and　dusted　in　a
circle　upon　his　slightly　stooping　shoulders；　revealed　an　apostolic
nature；　and　spoke　of　Christian　charity　and　of　the　self…sacrifice　of　a
man；　who；　out　of　sheer　devotion　to　his　patients；　had　compelled　himself
to　learn　to　play　whist　and　tric…trac　so　well　that　he　never　lost　money
to　any　of　them。

〃My　Lord　Marquis；〃　said　he；　after　a　long　talk　with　Raphael；　〃I　can
dispel　your　uneasiness　beyond　all　doubt。　I　know　your　constitution　well
enough　by　this　time　to　assure　you　that　the　doctors　in　Paris；　whose
great　abilities　I　know；　are　mistaken　as　to　the　nature　of　your
complaint。　You　can　live　as　long　as　Methuselah；　my　Lord　Marquis；
accidents　only　excepted。　Your　lungs　are　as　sound　as　a　blacksmith's
bellows；　your　stomach　would　put　an　ostrich　to　the　blush；　but　if　you
persist　in　living　at　high　altitude；　you　are　running　the　risk　of　a
prompt　interment　in　consecrated　soil。　A　few　words；　my　Lord　Marquis；
will　make　my　meaning　clear　to　you。

〃Chemistry；〃　he　began；　〃has　shown　us　that　man's　breathing　is　a　real
process　of　combustion；　and　the　intensity　of　its　action　varies
according　to　the　abundance　or　scarcity　of　the　phlogistic　element
stored　up　by　the　organism　of　each　individual。　In　your　case；　the
phlogistic；　or　inflammatory　element　is　abundant；　if　you　will　permit　me
to　put　it　so；　you　generate　superfluous　oxygen；　possessing　as　you　do
the　inflammatory　temperament　of　a　man　destined　to　experience　strong
emotions。　While　you　breath　the　keen；　pure　air　that　stimulates　life　in
men　of　lymphatic　constitution；　you　are　accelerating　an　expenditure　of
vitality　already　too　rapid。　One　of　the　conditions　for　existence　for
you　is　the　heavier　atmosphere　of　the　plains　and　valleys。　Yes；　the
vital　air　for　a　man　consumed　by　his　genius　lies　in　the　fertile
pasture…lands　of　Germany；　at　Toplitz　or　Baden…Baden。　If　England　is　not
obnoxious　to　you；　its　misty　climate　would　reduce　your　fever；　but　the
situation　of　our　baths；　a　thousand　feet　above　the　level　of　the
Mediterranean；　is　dangerous　for　you。　That　is　my　opinion　at　least；〃　he
said；　with　a　deprecatory　gesture；　〃and　I　give　it　in　opposition　to　our
interests；　for；　if　you　act　upon　it；　we　shall　unfortunately　lose　you。〃

But　for　these　closing　words　of　his；　the　affable　doctor's　seeming　good…
nature　would　have　completely　won　Raphael　over；　but　he　was　too
profoundly　observant　not　to　understand　the　meaning　of　the　tone；　the
look　and　gesture　that　accompanied　that　mild　sarcasm；　not　to　see　that
the　little　man　had　been　sent　on　this　errand；　no　doubt；　by　a　flock　of
his　rejoicing　patients。　The　florid…looking　idlers；　tedious　old　women；
nomad　English　people；　and　fine　ladies　who　had　given　their　husbands　the
slip；　and　were　escorted　hither　by　their　loversone　and　all　were　in　a
plot　to　drive　away　a　wretched；　feeble　creature　to　die；　who　seemed
unable　to　hold　out　against　a　daily　renewed　persecution！　Raphael
accepted　the　challenge；　he　foresaw　some　amusement　to　be　derived　from
their　manoeuvres。

〃As　you　would　be　grieved　at　losing　me；〃　said　he　to　the　doctor；　〃I　will
endeavor　to　avail　myself　of　your　good　advice　without　leaving　the
place。　I　will　set　about　having　a　house　built　to…morrow；　and　the
atmosphere　within　it　shall　be　regulated　by　your　instructions。〃

The　doctor　understood　the　sarcastic　smile　that　lurked　about　Raphael's
mouth；　and　took　his　leave　without　finding　another　word　to　say。

The　Lake　of　Bourget　lies　seven　hundred　feet　above　the　Mediterranean；
in　a　great　hollow　among　the　jagged　peaks　of　the　hills；　it　sparkles
there；　the　bluest　drop　of　water　in　the　world。　From　the　summit　of　the
Cat's　Tooth　the　lake　below　looks　like　a　stray　turquoise。　This　lovely
sheet　of　water　is　about　twenty…seven　miles　round；　and　in　some　places
is　nearly　five　hundred　feet　deep。

Under　the　cloudless　sky；　in　your　boat　in　the　midst　of　the　great
expanse　of　water；　with　only　the　sound　of　the　oars　in　your　ears；　only
the　vague　outline　of　the　hills　on　the　horizon　before　you；　you　admire
the　glittering　snows　of　the　French　Maurienne；　you　pass；　now　by　masses
of　granite　clad　in　the　velvet　of　green　turf　or　in　low…growing　shrubs；
now　by　pleasant　sloping　meadows；　there　is　always　a　wilderness　on　the
one　hand　and　fertile　lands　on　the　other；　and　both　harmonies　and
dissonances　compose　a　scene　for　you　where　everything　is　at　once　small
and　vast；　and　you　feel　yourself　to　be　a　poor　onlooker　at　a　great
banquet。　The　configuration　of　the　mountains　brings　about　misleading
optical　conditions　and　illusions　of　perspective；　a　pine…tree　a　hundred
feet　in　height　looks　to　be　a　mere　weed；　wide　valleys　look　as　narrow　as
meadow　paths。　The　lake　is　the　only　one　where　the　confidences　of　heart
and　heart　can　be　exchanged。　There　one　can　live；　there　one　can
meditate。　Nowhere　on　earth　will　you　find　a　closer　understanding
between　the　water；　the　sky；　the　mountains；　and　the　fields。　There　is　a
balm　there　for　all　the　agitations　of　life。　The　place　keeps　the　secrets
of　sorrow　to　itself；　the　sorrow　that　grows　less　beneath　its　soothing
influence；　and　to　love；　it　gives　a　grave　and　meditative　cast；
deepening　passion　and　purifying　it。　A　kiss　there　becomes　something
great。　But　beyond　all　other　things　it　is　the　lake　for　memories；　it
aids　them　by　lending　to　them　the　hues　of　its　own　waves；　it　is　a　mirror
in　which　everything　is　reflected。　Only　here；　with　this　lovely
landscape　all　around　him；　could　Raphael　endure　the　burden　laid　upon
him；　here　he　could　remain　as　a　languid　dreamer；　without　a　wish　of　his
own。

He　went　out　upon　the　lake　after　the　doctor's　visit；　and　was　landed　at
a　lonely　point　on　the　pleasant　slope　where　the　village　of　Saint…
Innocent　is　situated。　The　view　from　this　promontory；　as　one　may　call
it；　comprises　the　heights　of　Bugey　with　the　Rhone　flowing　at　their
foot；　and　the　end　of　the　lake；　but　Raphael　liked　to　look　at　the
opposite　shore　from　thence；　at　the　melancholy　looking　Abbey　of　Haute…
Combe；　the　burying…place　of　the　Sardinian　kings；　who　lie　prostrate
there　before　the　hills；　like　pilgrims　come　at　last　to　their　journey's
end。　The　silence　of　the　landscape　was　broken　by　the　even　rhythm　of　the
strokes　of　the　oar；　it　seemed　to　find　a　voice　for　the　place；　in
monotonous　cadences　like　the　chanting　of　monks。　The　Marquis　was
surprised　to　find　visitors　to　this　usually　lonely　part　of　the　lake；
and　as　he　mused；　he　watched　the　people　seated　in　the　boat；　and
recognized　in　the　stern　the　elderly　lady　who　had　spoken　so　harshly　to
him　the　evening　before。

No　one　took　any　notice　of　Raphael　as　the　boat　passed；　except　the
elderly　lady's　companion；　a　poor　old　maid　of　noble　family；　who　bowed
to　him；　and　whom　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　saw　for　the　first　time。　A

few　seconds　later　he　had　already　forgotten　the　visitors；　who　had
rapidly　disappeared　behind　the　promontory；　when　he　heard　the
fluttering　of　a　dress　and　the　sound　of　light　footsteps　not　far　from
him。　He　turned　about　and　saw　the　companion；　and；　guessing　from　her
embarrassed　manner　that　she　wished　to　speak　with　him；　he　walked
towards　her。

She　was　somewhere　about　thirty…six　years　of　age；　thin　and　tall；
reserved　and　prim；　and；　like　all　old　maids；　seemed　puzzled　to　know
which　way　to　look；　an　expression　no　longer　in　keeping　with　her
measured；　springless；　and　hesitating　steps。　She　was　both　young　and　old
at　the　same　time；　and；　by　a　certain　dignity　in　her　carriage；　showed
the　high　value　which　she　set　upon　her　charms　and　perfections。　In
addition；　her　movements　were　all　demure　and　discreet；　like　those　of
women　who　are　accustomed　to　take　gre