the magic skin(驴皮记)-第45章

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addition；　her　movements　were　all　demure　and　discreet；　like　those　of
women　who　are　accustomed　to　take　great　care　of　themselves；　no　doubt
because　they　desire　not　to　be　cheated　of　love；　their　destined　end。

〃Your　life　is　in　danger；　sir；　do　not　come　to　the　Club　again！〃　she
said；　stepping　back　a　pace　or　two　from　Raphael；　as　if　her　reputation
had　already　been　compromised。

〃But；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Raphael；　smiling；　〃please　explain　yourself
more　clearly；　since　you　have　condescended　so　far〃

〃Ah；〃　she　answered；　〃unless　I　had　had　a　very　strong　motive；　I　should
never　have　run　the　risk　of　offending　the　countess；　for　if　she　ever
came　to　know　that　I　had　warned　you〃

〃And　who　would　tell　her；　mademoiselle？〃　cried　Raphael。

〃True；〃　the　old　maid　answered。　She　looked　at　him；　quaking　like　an　owl
out　in　the　sunlight。　〃But　think　of　yourself；〃　she　went　on；　〃several
young　men；　who　want　to　drive　you　away　from　the　baths；　have　agreed　to
pick　a　quarrel　with　you；　and　to　force　you　into　a　duel。〃

The　elderly　lady's　voice　sounded　in　the　distance。

〃Mademoiselle；〃　began　the　Marquis；　〃my　gratitude〃　But　his
protectress　had　fled　already；　she　had　heard　the　voice　of　her　mistress
squeaking　afresh　among　the　rocks。

〃Poor　girl！　unhappiness　always　understands　and　helps　the　unhappy；〃
Raphael　thought；　and　sat　himself　down　at　the　foot　of　a　tree。

The　key　of　every　science　is；　beyond　cavil；　the　mark　of　interrogation；
we　owe　most　of　our　greatest　discoveries　to　a　WHY？　and　all　the　wisdom
in　the　world；　perhaps；　consists　in　asking　WHEREFORE？　in　every
connection。　But；　on　the　other　hand；　this　acquired　prescience　is　the
ruin　of　our　illusions。

So　Valentin；　having　taken　the　old　maid's　kindly　action　for　the　text　of
his　wandering　thoughts；　without　the　deliberate　promptings　of
philosophy；　must　find　it　full　of　gall　and　wormwood。

〃It　is　not　at　all　extraordinary　that　a　gentlewoman's　gentlewoman
should　take　a　fancy　to　me；〃　said　he　to　himself。　〃I　am　twenty…seven
years　old；　and　I　have　a　title　and　an　income　of　two　hundred　thousand　a
year。　But　that　her　mistress；　who　hates　water　like　a　rabid　catfor　it
would　be　hard　to　give　the　palm　to　either　in　that　matterthat　her
mistress　should　have　brought　her　here　in　a　boat！　Is　not　that　very
strange　and　wonderful？　Those　two　women　came　into　Savoy　to　sleep　like
marmots；　they　ask　if　day　has　dawned　at　noon；　and　to　think　that　they
could　get　up　this　morning　before　eight　o'clock；　to　take　their　chances
in　running　after　me！〃

Very　soon　the　old　maid　and　her　elderly　innocence　became；　in　his　eyes；
a　fresh　manifestation　of　that　artificial；　malicious　little　world。　It
was　a　paltry　device；　a　clumsy　artifice；　a　piece　of　priest's　or　woman's
craft。　Was　the　duel　a　myth；　or　did　they　merely　want　to　frighten　him？
But　these　petty　creatures；　impudent　and　teasing　as　flies；　had
succeeded　in　wounding　his　vanity；　in　rousing　his　pride；　and　exciting
his　curiosity。　Unwilling　to　become　their　dupe；　or　to　be　taken　for　a
coward；　and　even　diverted　perhaps　by　the　little　drama；　he　went　to　the
Club　that　very　evening。

He　stood　leaning　against　the　marble　chimney…piece；　and　stayed　there
quietly　in　the　middle　of　the　principal　saloon；　doing　his　best　to　give
no　one　any　advantage　over　him；　but　he　scrutinized　the　faces　about　him；
and　gave　a　certain　vague　offence　to　those　assembled；　by　his
inspection。　Like　a　dog　aware　of　his　strength；　he　awaited　the　contest
on　his　own　ground；　without　necessary　barking。　Towards　the　end　of　the
evening　he　strolled　into　the　cardroom；　walking　between　the　door　and
another　that　opened　into　the　billiard…room；　throwing　a　glance　from
time　to　time　over　a　group　of　young　men　that　had　gathered　there。　He
heard　his　name　mentioned　after　a　turn　or　two。　Although　they　lowered
their　voices；　Raphael　easily　guessed　that　he　had　become　the　topic　of
their　debate；　and　he　ended　by　catching　a　phrase　or　two　spoken　aloud。

〃You？〃

〃Yes；　I。〃

〃I　dare　you　to　do　it！〃

〃Let　us　make　a　bet　on　it！〃

〃Oh；　he　will　do　it。〃

Just　as　Valentin；　curious　to　learn　the　matter　of　the　wager；　came　up　to
pay　closer　attention　to　what　they　were　saying；　a　tall；　strong；　good…
looking　young　fellow；　who；　however；　possessed　the　impertinent　stare
peculiar　to　people　who　have　material　force　at　their　back；　came　out　of
the　billiard…room。

〃I　am　deputed；　sir；〃　he　said　coolly　addressing　the　Marquis；　〃to　make
you　aware　of　something　which　you　do　not　seem　to　know；　your　face　and
person　generally　are　a　source　of　annoyance　to　every　one　here；　and　to
me　in　particular。　You　have　too　much　politeness　not　to　sacrifice
yourself　to　the　public　good；　and　I　beg　that　you　will　not　show　yourself
in　the　Club　again。〃

〃This　sort　of　joke　has　been　perpetrated　before；　sir；　in　garrison　towns
at　the　time　of　the　Empire；　but　nowadays　it　is　exceedingly　bad　form；〃
said　Raphael　drily。

〃I　am　not　joking；〃　the　young　man　answered；　〃and　I　repeat　it：　your
health　will　be　considerably　the　worse　for　a　stay　here；　the　heat　and
light；　the　air　of　the　saloon；　and　the　company　are　all　bad　for　your
complaint。〃

〃Where　did　you　study　medicine？〃　Raphael　inquired。

〃I　took　my　bachelor's　degree　on　Lepage's　shooting…ground　in　Paris；　and
was　made　a　doctor　at　Cerizier's；　the　king　of　foils。〃

〃There　is　one　last　degree　left　for　you　to　take；〃　said　Valentin；　〃study
the　ordinary　rules　of　politeness；　and　you　will　be　a　perfect
gentlemen。〃

The　young　men　all　came　out　of　the　billiard…room　just　then；　some
disposed　to　laugh；　some　silent。　The　attention　of　other　players　was
drawn　to　the　matter；　they　left　their　cards　to　watch　a　quarrel　that
rejoiced　their　instincts。　Raphael；　alone　among　this　hostile　crowd；　did
his　best　to　keep　cool；　and　not　to　put　himself　in　any　way　in　the　wrong；
but　his　adversary　having　ventured　a　sarcasm　containing　an　insult
couched　in　unusually　keen　language；　he　replied　gravely：

〃We　cannot　box　men's　ears；　sir；　in　these　days；　but　I　am　at　a　loss　for
any　word　by　which　to　stigmatize　such　cowardly　behavior　as　yours。〃

〃That's　enough；　that's　enough。　You　can　come　to　an　explanation　to…
morrow；〃　several　young　men　exclaimed；　interposing　between　the　two
champions。

Raphael　left　the　room　in　the　character　of　aggressor；　after　he　had
accepted　a　proposal　to　meet　near　the　Chateau　de　Bordeau；　in　a　little
sloping　meadow；　not　very　far　from　the　newly　made　road；　by　which　the
man　who　came　off　victorious　could　reach　Lyons。　Raphael　must　now　either
take　to　his　bed　or　leave　the　baths。　The　visitors　had　gained　their
point。　At　eight　o'clock　next　morning　his　antagonist；　followed　by　two
seconds　and　a　surgeon；　arrived　first　on　the　ground。

〃We　shall　do　very　nicely　here；　glorious　weather　for　a　duel！〃　he　cried
gaily；　looking　at　the　blue　vault　of　sky　above；　at　the　waters　of　the
lake；　and　the　rocks；　without　a　single　melancholy　presentiment　or　doubt
of　the　issue。　〃If　I　wing　him；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　shall　send　him　to　bed
for　a　month；　eh；　doctor？〃

〃At　the　very　least；〃　the　surgeon　replied；　〃but　let　that　willow　twig
alone；　or　you　will　weary　your　wrist；　and　then　you　will　not　fire
steadily。　You　might　kill　your　man　instead　of　wounding　him。〃

The　noise　of　a　carriage　was　heard　approaching。

〃Here　he　is；〃　said　the　seconds；　who　soon　descried　a　caleche　coming
along　the　road；　it　was　drawn　by　four　horses；　and　there　were　two
postilions。

〃What　a　queer　proceeding！〃　said　Valentin's　antagonist；　〃here　he　comes
post…haste　to　be　shot。〃

The　slightest　incident　about　a　duel；　as　about　a　stake　at　cards；　makes
an　impression　on　the　minds　of　those　deeply　concerned　in　the　results　of
the　affair；　so　the　young　man　awaited　the　arrival　of　the　carriage　with
a　kind　of　uneasiness。　It　stopped　in　the　road；　old　Jonathan　laboriously
descended　from　it；　in　the　first　place；　to　assist　Raphael　to　alight；　he
supported　him　with　his　feeble　arms；　and　showed　him　all　the　minute
attentions　that　a　lover　lavishes　upon　his　mistress。　Both　became　lost
to　sight　in　the　footpath　that　lay　between　the　highroad　and　the　field
where　the　duel　was　to　take　place；　they　were　walking　slowly；　and　did
not　appear　again　for　some　time　after。　The　four　onlookers　at　this
strange　spectacle　felt　deeply　moved　by　the　sight　of　Valentin　as　he
leaned　on　his　servant's　arm；　he　was　wasted　and　pale；　he　limped　as　if
he　had　the　gout；　went　with　his　head　bowed　down；　and　said　not　a　word。
You　might　have　taken　them　for　a　couple　of　old　men；　one　broken　with
years；　the　other　worn　out　with　thought；　the　elder　bore　his　age　visibly
written　in　his　white　hair；　the　younger　was　of　no　age。

〃I　have　not　slept　all　night；　sir；〃　so　Raphael　greeted　his　antagonist。

The　icy　tone　and　terrible　glance　that　went　with　the　words　made　the
real　aggressor　shudder；　he　know　that　he　was　in　the　wrong；　and　felt　in
secret　ashamed　of　his　behavior。　There　was　something　strange　in
Raphael's　bearing；　tone；　and　gesture；　the　Marquis　stopped；　and　every
one　else　was　likewise　silent。　The　uneasy　and　constrained　feeling　grew
to　a　height。

〃There　is　yet　time；〃　he　went　on；　〃to　offer　me　some　slight　apology；　and
offer　it　you　must；　or　you　will　die　sir！　You　rely　even　now　on　your
dexterity；　and　do　not　shrink　from　an　encounter　in　which　you　believe
all　the　advantage　to　be　upon　your　side。　Very　good；　sir；　I　am　generous；
I　am　letting　you　know　my　superiority　beforehand。　I　possess　a　terrible
power。　I　have　only　to　wish　to　do　so；　and　I　can　neutralize　your　skill；
dim　your　eyesight；　make　your　hand　and　pulse　unsteady；　and　even　kill
you　outright。　I　have　no　wish　to　be　compelled　to　exercise　my　power；　the
use　of　it　costs　me　too　dear。　You　would　not　be　the　only　one　to　die。　So
if　you　refuse　to　apologize　to　me；　not　matter　what　your　experience　in
murder；　your　ball　will　go　into　the　waterfall　there；　and　mine　will
speed　straight　to　your　heart　though　I　do　not　aim　it　at　you。〃

Confused　voices　interrupted　Raphael　at　this　point。　All　the　time　that
he　was　speaking；　the　Marquis　had　kept　his　intolerably　keen　gaze　fixed
upon　his　antagonist；　now　he　drew　himself　up　and　showed　an　impassive
face；　like　that　of　a　dangerous　madman。

〃Make　him　hold　his　tongue；〃　the　young　man　had　said　to　one　of　his
seconds；　〃that　voice　of　his　is　tearing　the　heart　out　of　me。〃

〃Say　no　more；　sir；　it　is　quite　useless；〃　cried　the　seconds　and　the
surgeon；　addressing　Raphael。

〃Gentlemen；　I　am　fulfilling　a　duty。　Has　this　young　gentleman　any　final
arrangements　to　make？〃

〃That　is　enough；　that　will　do。〃

The　Marquis　remained　standing　steadily；　never　for　a　moment　losing
sight　of　his　antagonist；　and　the　latter　seemed；　like　a　bird　before　a
snake；　to　be　overwhelmed　by　a　well…nigh　magical　power。　He　was
compelled　to　endure　that　homicidal　gaze；　he　met　and　shunned　it
incessantly。

〃I　am　thirsty；　give　me　some　water〃　he　said　again　to　the　second。

〃Are　you　nervous？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　〃There　is　a　fascination　about　that　man's　glowing
eyes。〃

〃Will　you　apologize？〃

〃It　is　too　late　now。〃

The　two　antagonists　were　placed　at　fifteen　paces'　distance　from　each
other。　Each　of　them　had　a　brace　of　pistols　at　hand；　and；　according　to
the　programme　prescribed　for　them；　each　was　to　fire　twice　when　and　how
he　pleased；　but　after　the　signal　had　been　given　by　the　seconds。

〃What　are　you　doing；　Charles？〃　exclaimed　the　young　man　who　acted　as
second　to　Raphael's　antagonist；　〃you　are　putting　in　the　ball　before
the　powder！〃

〃I　am　a　dead　man；〃　he　mut