the magic skin(驴皮记)-第5章

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the　shadows。　In　the　midst　of　the　circle　stood　a　little　old　man　who
turned　the　light　of　the　lamp　upon　him；　yet　he　had　not　heard　him　enter；
nor　move；　nor　speak。　There　was　something　magical　about　the　apparition。
The　boldest　man；　awakened　in　such　a　sort；　would　have　felt　alarmed　at
the　sight　of　this　figure；　which　might　have　issued　from　some
sarcophagus　hard　by。

A　curiously　youthful　look　in　the　unmoving　eyes　of　the　spectre　forbade
the　idea　of　anything　supernatural；　but　for　all　that；　in　the　brief
space　between　his　dreaming　and　waking　life；　the　young　man's　judgment
remained　philosophically　suspended；　as　Descartes　advises。　He　was；　in
spite　of　himself；　under　the　influence　of　an　unaccountable
hallucination；　a　mystery　that　our　pride　rejects；　and　that　our
imperfect　science　vainly　tries　to　resolve。

Imagine　a　short　old　man；　thin　and　spare；　in　a　long　black　velvet　gown
girded　round　him　by　a　thick　silk　cord。　His　long　white　hair　escaped　on
either　side　of　his　face　from　under　a　black　velvet　cap　which　closely
fitted　his　head　and　made　a　formal　setting　for　his　countenance。　His
gown　enveloped　his　body　like　a　winding　sheet；　so　that　all　that　was
left　visible　was　a　narrow　bleached　human　face。　But　for　the　wasted　arm；
thin　as　a　draper's　wand；　which　held　aloft　the　lamp　that　cast　all　its
light　upon　him；　the　face　would　have　seemed　to　hang　in　mid　air。　A　gray
pointed　beard　concealed　the　chin　of　this　fantastical　appearance；　and
gave　him　the　look　of　one　of　those　Jewish　types　which　serve　artists　as
models　for　Moses。　His　lips　were　so　thin　and　colorless　that　it　needed　a
close　inspection　to　find　the　lines　of　his　mouth　at　all　in　the　pallid
face。　His　great　wrinkled　brow　and　hollow　bloodless　cheeks；　the
inexorably　stern　expression　of　his　small　green　eyes　that　no　longer
possessed　eyebrows　or　lashes；　might　have　convinced　the　stranger　that
Gerard　Dow's　〃Money　Changer〃　had　come　down　from　his　frame。　The
craftiness　of　an　inquisitor；　revealed　in　those　curving　wrinkles　and
creases　that　wound　about　his　temples；　indicated　a　profound　knowledge
of　life。　There　was　no　deceiving　this　man；　who　seemed　to　possess　a
power　of　detecting　the　secrets　of　the　wariest　heart。

The　wisdom　and　the　moral　codes　of　every　people　seemed　gathered　up　in
his　passive　face；　just　as　all　the　productions　of　the　globe　had　been
heaped　up　in　his　dusty　showrooms。　He　seemed　to　possess　the　tranquil
luminous　vision　of　some　god　before　whom　all　things　are　open；　or　the
haughty　power　of　a　man　who　knows　all　things。

With　two　strokes　of　the　brush　a　painter　could　have　so　altered　the
expression　of　this　face；　that　what　had　been　a　serene　representation　of
the　Eternal　Father　should　change　to　the　sneering　mask　of　a
Mephistopheles；　for　though　sovereign　power　was　revealed　by　the
forehead；　mocking　folds　lurked　about　the　mouth。　He　must　have
sacrificed　all　the　joys　of　earth；　as　he　had　crushed　all　human　sorrows
beneath　his　potent　will。　The　man　at　the　brink　of　death　shivered　at　the
thought　of　the　life　led　by　this　spirit；　so　solitary　and　remote　from
our　world；　joyless；　since　he　had　no　one　illusion　left；　painless；
because　pleasure　had　ceased　to　exist　for　him。　There　he　stood；
motionless　and　serene　as　a　star　in　a　bright　mist。　His　lamp　lit　up　the
obscure　closet；　just　as　his　green　eyes；　with　their　quiet　malevolence；
seemed　to　shed　a　light　on　the　moral　world。

This　was　the　strange　spectacle　that　startled　the　young　man's　returning
sight；　as　he　shook　off　the　dreamy　fancies　and　thoughts　of　death　that
had　lulled　him。　An　instant　of　dismay；　a　momentary　return　to　belief　in
nursery　tales；　may　be　forgiven　him；　seeing　that　his　senses　were
obscured。　Much　thought　had　wearied　his　mind；　and　his　nerves　were
exhausted　with　the　strain　of　the　tremendous　drama　within　him；　and　by
the　scenes　that　had　heaped　on　him　all　the　horrid　pleasures　that　a
piece　of　opium　can　produce。

But　this　apparition　had　appeared　in　Paris；　on　the　Quai　Voltaire；　and
in　the　nineteenth　century；　the　time　and　place　made　sorcery　impossible。
The　idol　of　French　scepticism　had　died　in　the　house　just　opposite；　the
disciple　of　Gay…Lussac　and　Arago；　who　had　held　the　charlatanism　of
intellect　in　contempt。　And　yet　the　stranger　submitted　himself　to　the
influence　of　an　imaginative　spell；　as　all　of　us　do　at　times；　when　we
wish　to　escape　from　an　inevitable　certainty；　or　to　tempt　the　power　of
Providence。　So　some　mysterious　apprehension　of　a　strange　force　made
him　tremble　before　the　old　man　with　the　lamp。　All　of　us　have　been
stirred　in　the　same　way　by　the　sight　of　Napoleon；　or　of　some　other
great　man；　made　illustrious　by　his　genius　or　by　fame。

〃You　wish　to　see　Raphael's　portrait　of　Jesus　Christ；　monsieur？〃　the
old　man　asked　politely。　There　was　something　metallic　in　the　clear；
sharp　ring　of　his　voice。

He　set　the　lamp　upon　a　broken　column；　so　that　all　its　light　might　fall
on　the　brown　case。

At　the　sacred　names　of　Christ　and　Raphael　the　young　man　showed　some
curiosity。　The　merchant；　who　no　doubt　looked　for　this；　pressed　a
spring；　and　suddenly　the　mahogany　panel　slid　noiselessly　back　in　its
groove；　and　discovered　the　canvas　to　the　stranger's　admiring　gaze。　At
sight　of　this　deathless　creation；　he　forgot　his　fancies　in　the　show…
rooms　and　the　freaks　of　his　dreams；　and　became　himself　again。　The　old
man　became　a　being　of　flesh　and　blood；　very　much　alive；　with　nothing
chimerical　about　him；　and　took　up　his　existence　at　once　upon　solid
earth。

The　sympathy　and　love；　and　the　gentle　serenity　in　the　divine　face；
exerted　an　instant　sway　over　the　younger　spectator。　Some　influence
falling　from　heaven　bade　cease　the　burning　torment　that　consumed　the
marrow　of　his　bones。　The　head　of　the　Saviour　of　mankind　seemed　to
issue　from　among　the　shadows　represented　by　a　dark　background；　an
aureole　of　light　shone　out　brightly　from　his　hair；　an　impassioned
belief　seemed　to　glow　through　him；　and　to　thrill　every　feature。　The
word　of　life　had　just　been　uttered　by　those　red　lips；　the　sacred
sounds　seemed　to　linger　still　in　the　air；　the　spectator　besought　the
silence　for　those　captivating　parables；　hearkened　for　them　in　the
future；　and　had　to　turn　to　the　teachings　of　the　past。　The　untroubled
peace　of　the　divine　eyes；　the　comfort　of　sorrowing　souls；　seemed　an
interpretation　of　the　Evangel。　The　sweet　triumphant　smile　revealed　the
secret　of　the　Catholic　religion；　which　sums　up　all　things　in　the
precept；　〃Love　one　another。〃　This　picture　breathed　the　spirit　of
prayer；　enjoined　forgiveness；　overcame　self；　caused　sleeping　powers　of
good　to　waken。　For　this　work　of　Raphael's　had　the　imperious　charm　of
music；　you　were　brought　under　the　spell　of　memories　of　the　past；　his
triumph　was　so　absolute　that　the　artist　was　forgotten。　The　witchery　of
the　lamplight　heightened　the　wonder；　the　head　seemed　at　times　to
flicker　in　the　distance；　enveloped　in　cloud。

〃I　covered　the　surface　of　that　picture　with　gold　pieces；〃　said　the
merchant　carelessly。

〃And　now　for　death！〃　cried　the　young　man；　awakened　from　his　musings。
His　last　thought　had　recalled　his　fate　to　him；　as　it　led　him
imperceptibly　back　from　the　forlorn　hopes　to　which　he　had　clung。

〃Ah；　ha！　then　my　suspicions　were　well　founded！〃　said　the　other；　and
his　hands　held　the　young　man's　wrists　in　a　grip　like　that　of　a　vice。

The　younger　man　smiled　wearily　at　his　mistake；　and　said　gently：

〃You；　sir；　have　nothing　to　fear；　it　is　not　your　life；　but　my　own　that
is　in　question。　。　。　。　But　why　should　I　hide　a　harmless　fraud？〃　he　went
on；　after　a　look　at　the　anxious　old　man。　〃I　came　to　see　your　treasures
to　while　away　the　time　till　night　should　come　and　I　could　drown　myself
decently。　Who　would　grudge　this　last　pleasure　to　a　poet　and　a　man　of
science？〃

While　he　spoke；　the　jealous　merchant　watched　the　haggard　face　of　his
pretended　customer　with　keen　eyes。　Perhaps　the　mournful　tones　of　his
voice　reassured　him；　or　he　also　read　the　dark　signs　of　fate　in　the
faded　features　that　had　made　the　gamblers　shudder；　he　released　his

hands；　but；　with　a　touch　of　caution；　due　to　the　experience　of　some
hundred　years　at　least；　he　stretched　his　arm　out　to　a　sideboard　as　if
to　steady　himself；　took　up　a　little　dagger；　and　said：

〃Have　you　been　a　supernumerary　clerk　of　the　Treasury　for　three　years
without　receiving　any　perquisites？〃

The　stranger　could　scarcely　suppress　a　smile　as　he　shook　his　head。

〃Perhaps　your　father　has　expressed　his　regret　for　your　birth　a　little
too　sharply？　Or　have　you　disgraced　yourself？〃

〃If　I　meant　to　be　disgraced；　I　should　live。〃

〃You　have　been　hissed　perhaps　at　the　Funambules？　Or　you　have　had　to
compose　couplets　to　pay　for　your　mistress'　funeral？　Do　you　want　to　be
cured　of　the　gold　fever？　Or　to　be　quit　of　the　spleen？　For　what　blunder
is　your　life　forfeit？〃

〃You　must　not　look　among　the　common　motives　that　impel　suicides　for
the　reason　of　my　death。　To　spare　myself　the　task　of　disclosing　my
unheard…of　sufferings；　for　which　language　has　no　name；　I　will　tell　you
thisthat　I　am　in　the　deepest；　most　humiliating；　and　most　cruel
trouble；　and；〃　he　went　on　in　proud　tones　that　harmonized　ill　with　the
words　just　uttered；　〃I　have　no　wish　to　beg　for　either　help　or
sympathy。〃

〃Eh！　eh！〃

The　two　syllables　which　the　old　man　pronounced　resembled　the　sound　of
a　rattle。　Then　he　went　on　thus：

〃Without　compelling　you　to　entreat　me；　without　making　you　blush　for
it；　and　without　giving　you　so　much　as　a　French　centime；　a　para　from
the　Levant；　a　German　heller；　a　Russian　kopeck；　a　Scottish　farthing；　a
single　obolus　or　sestertius　from　the　ancient　world；　or　one　piastre
from　the　new；　without　offering　you　anything　whatever　in　gold；　silver；
or　copper；　notes　or　drafts；　I　will　make　you　richer；　more　powerful；　and
of　more　consequence　than　a　constitutional　king。〃

The　young　man　thought　that　the　older　was　in　his　dotage；　and　waited　in
bewilderment　without　venturing　to　reply。

〃Turn　round；〃　said　the　merchant；　suddenly　catching　up　the　lamp　in
order　to　light　up　the　opposite　wall；　〃look　at　that　leathern　skin；〃　he
went　on。

The　young　man　rose　abruptly；　and　showed　some　surprise　at　the　sight　of
a　piece　of　shagreen　which　hung　on　the　wall　behind　his　chair。　It　was
only　about　the　size　of　a　fox's　skin；　but　it　seemed　to　fill　the　deep
shadows　of　the　place　with　such　brilliant　rays　that　it　looked　like　a
small　comet；　an　appearance　at　first　sight　inexplicable。　The　young
sceptic　went　up　to　this　so…called　talisman；　which　was　to　rescue　him
from　all　points　of　view；　and　he　soon　found　out　the　cause　of　its
singular　brilliancy。　The　dark　grain　of　the　leather　had　been　so
carefully　burnished　and　polished；　the　striped　markings　of　the　graining
were　so　sharp　and　clear；　that　every　particle　of　the　surface　of　the　bit
of　Oriental　leather　was　in　itself　a　focus　which　concentrated　the
light；　and　reflected　it　vividly。

He　accounted　for　this　phenomenon　categorically　to　the　old　man；　who
only　smiled　meaningly　by　way　of　answer。　His　superior　smile　led　the
young　scientific　man　to　fancy　that　he　himself　had　been　deceived　by
some　imposture。　He　had　no　wish　to　carry　one　more　puzzle　to　his　grave；
and　hastily　turned　the　skin　over；　like　some　child　eager　to　find　out
the　mysteries　of　a　new　toy。

〃Ah；〃　he　cried；　〃here　is　the　mark　of　the　seal　which　they　call　in　the
East　the　Signet　of　Solomon。〃

〃So　you　know　that；　th