the magic skin(驴皮记)-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


which　I　could　fulfil；　but　I　leave　that　to　the　issues　of　your　new
existence。　After　all；　you　were　wishing　to　die；　very　well；　your　suicide
is　only　put　off　for　a　time。〃

The　stranger　was　surprised　and　irritated　that　this　peculiar　old　man
persisted　in　not　taking　him　seriously。　A　half　philanthropic　intention
peeped　so　clearly　forth　from　his　last　jesting　observation；　that　he
exclaimed：

〃I　shall　soon　see；　sir；　if　any　change　comes　over　my　fortunes　in　the
time　it　will　take　to　cross　the　width　of　the　quay。　But　I　should　like　us
to　be　quits　for　such　a　momentous　service；　that　is；　if　you　are　not
laughing　at　an　unlucky　wretch；　so　I　wish　that　you　may　fall　in　love
with　an　opera…dancer。　You　would　understand　the　pleasures　of
intemperance　then；　and　might　perhaps　grow　lavish　of　the　wealth　that
you　have　husbanded　so　philosophically。〃

He　went　out　without　heeding　the　old　man's　heavy　sigh；　went　back
through　the　galleries　and　down　the　staircase；　followed　by　the　stout
assistant　who　vainly　tried　to　light　his　passage；　he　fled　with　the
haste　of　a　robber　caught　in　the　act。　Blinded　by　a　kind　of　delirium；　he
did　not　even　notice　the　unexpected　flexibility　of　the　piece　of
shagreen；　which　coiled　itself　up；　pliant　as　a　glove　in　his　excited
fingers；　till　it　would　go　into　the　pocket　of　his　coat；　where　he
mechanically　thrust　it。　As　he　rushed　out　of　the　door　into　the　street；
he　ran　up　against　three　young　men　who　were　passing　arm…in…arm。

〃Brute！〃

〃Idiot！〃

Such　were　the　gratifying　expressions　exchanged　between　them。

〃Why；　it　is　Raphael！〃

〃Good！　we　were　looking　for　you。〃

〃What！　it　is　you；　then？〃

These　three　friendly　exclamations　quickly　followed　the　insults；　as　the
light　of　a　street　lamp；　flickering　in　the　wind；　fell　upon　the
astonished　faces　of　the　group。

〃My　dear　fellow；　you　must　come　with　us！〃　said　the　young　man　that
Raphael　had　all　but　knocked　down。

〃What　is　all　this　about？〃

〃Come　along；　and　I　will　tell　you　the　history　of　it　as　we　go。〃

By　fair　means　or　foul；　Raphael　must　go　along　with　his　friends　towards
the　Pont　des　Arts；　they　surrounded　him；　and　linked　him　by　the　arm
among　their　merry　band。

〃We　have　been　after　you　for　about　a　week；〃　the　speaker　went　on。　〃At
your　respectable　hotel　de　Saint　Quentin；　where；　by　the　way；　the　sign
with　the　alternate　black　and　red　letters　cannot　be　removed；　and　hangs
out　just　as　it　did　in　the　time　of　Jean　Jacques；　that　Leonarda　of　yours
told　us　that　you　were　off　into　the　country。　For　all　that；　we　certainly
did　not　look　like　duns；　creditors；　sheriff's　officers；　or　the　like。
But　no　matter！　Rastignac　had　seen　you　the　evening　before　at　the
Bouffons；　we　took　courage　again；　and　made　it　a　point　of　honor　to　find
out　whether　you　were　roosting　in　a　tree　in　the　Champs…Elysees；　or　in
one　of　those　philanthropic　abodes　where　the　beggars　sleep　on　a
twopenny　rope；　or　if；　more　luckily；　you　were　bivouacking　in　some
boudoir　or　other。　We　could　not　find　you　anywhere。　Your　name　was　not　in
the　jailers'　registers　at　the　St。　Pelagie　nor　at　La　Force！　Government
departments；　cafes；　libraries；　lists　of　prefects'　names；　newspaper
offices；　restaurants；　greenroomsto　cut　it　short；　every　lurking　place
in　Paris；　good　or　bad；　has　been　explored　in　the　most　expert　manner。　We
bewailed　the　loss　of　a　man　endowed　with　such　genius；　that　one　might
look　to　find　him　at　Court　or　in　the　common　jails。　We　talked　of
canonizing　you　as　a　hero　of　July；　and；　upon　my　word；　we　regretted
you！〃

As　he　spoke；　the　friends　were　crossing　the　Pont　des　Arts。　Without
listening　to　them；　Raphael　looked　at　the　Seine；　at　the　clamoring　waves
that　reflected　the　lights　of　Paris。　Above　that　river；　in　which　but　now
he　had　thought　to　fling　himself；　the　old　man's　prediction　had　been
fulfilled；　the　hour　of　his　death　had　been　already　put　back　by　fate。

〃We　really　regretted　you；〃　said　his　friend；　still　pursuing　his　theme。
〃It　was　a　question　of　a　plan　in　which　we　included　you　as　a　superior
person；　that　is　to　say；　somebody　who　can　put　himself　above　other
people。　The　constitutional　thimble…rig　is　carried　on　to…day；　dear　boy；
more　seriously　than　ever。　The　infamous　monarchy；　displaced　by　the
heroism　of　the　people；　was　a　sort　of　drab；　you　could　laugh　and　revel
with　her；　but　La　Patrie　is　a　shrewish　and　virtuous　wife；　and　willy…
nilly　you　must　take　her　prescribed　endearments。　Then　besides；　as　you
know；　authority　passed　over　from　the　Tuileries　to　the　journalists；　at
the　time　when　the　Budget　changed　its　quarters　and　went　from　the
Faubourg　Saint…Germain　to　the　Chaussee　de　Antin。　But　this　you　may　not
know　perhaps。　The　Government；　that　is；　the　aristocracy　of　lawyers　and
bankers　who　represent　the　country　to…day；　just　as　the　priests　used　to
do　in　the　time　of　the　monarchy；　has　felt　the　necessity　of　mystifying
the　worthy　people　of　France　with　a　few　new　words　and　old　ideas；　like
philosophers　of　every　school；　and　all　strong　intellects　ever　since
time　began。　So　now　Royalist…national　ideas　must　be　inculcated；　by
proving　to　us　that　it　is　far　better　to　pay　twelve　million　francs；
thirty…three　centimes　to　La　Patrie；　represented　by　Messieurs　Such…and…
Such；　than　to　pay　eleven　hundred　million　francs；　nine　centimes　to　a
king　who　used　to　say　_I_　instead　of　WE。　In　a　word；　a　journal；　with　two
or　three　hundred　thousand　francs；　good；　at　the　back　of　it；　has　just
been　started；　with　a　view　to　making　an　opposition　paper　to　content　the
discontented；　without　prejudice　to　the　national　government　of　the
citizen…king。　We　scoff　at　liberty　as　at　despotism　now；　and　at　religion
or　incredulity　quite　impartially。　And　since；　for　us；　'our　country'
means　a　capital　where　ideas　circulate　and　are　sold　at　so　much　a　line；
a　succulent　dinner　every　day；　and　the　play　at　frequent　intervals；
where　profligate　women　swarm；　where　suppers　last　on　into　the　next　day；
and　light　loves　are　hired　by　the　hour　like　cabs；　and　since　Paris　will
always　be　the　most　adorable　of　all　countries；　the　country　of　joy；
liberty；　wit；　pretty　women；　mauvais　sujets；　and　good　wine；　where　the
truncheon　of　authority　never　makes　itself　disagreeably　felt；　because
one　is　so　close　to　those　who　wield　it；we；　therefore；　sectaries　of
the　god　Mephistopheles；　have　engaged　to　whitewash　the　public　mind；　to
give　fresh　costumes　to　the　actors；　to　put　a　new　plank　or　two　in　the
government　booth；　to　doctor　doctrinaires；　and　warm　up　old　Republicans；
to　touch　up　the　Bonapartists　a　bit；　and　revictual　the　Centre；　provided
that　we　are　allowed　to　laugh　in　petto　at　both　kings　and　peoples；　to
think　one　thing　in　the　morning　and　another　at　night；　and　to　lead　a
merry　life　a　la　Panurge；　or　to　recline　upon　soft　cushions；　more
orientali。

〃The　sceptre　of　this　burlesque　and　macaronic　kingdom；〃　he　went　on；　〃we
have　reserved　for　you；　so　we　are　taking　you　straightway　to　a　dinner
given　by　the　founder　of　the　said　newspaper；　a　retired　banker；　who；　at
a　loss　to　know　what　to　do　with　his　money；　is　going　to　buy　some　brains
with　it。　You　will　be　welcomed　as　a　brother；　we　shall　hail　you　as　king
of　these　free　lances　who　will　undertake　anything；　whose　perspicacity
discovers　the　intentions　of　Austria；　England；　or　Russia　before　either
Russia；　Austria　or　England　have　formed　any。　Yes；　we　will　invest　you
with　the　sovereignty　of　those　puissant　intellects　which　give　to　the
world　its　Mirabeaus；　Talleyrands；　Pitts；　and　Metternichsall　the
clever　Crispins　who　treat　the　destinies　of　a　kingdom　as　gamblers'
stakes；　just　as　ordinary　men　play　dominoes　for　Kirschenwasser。　We　have
given　you　out　to　be　the　most　undaunted　champion　who　ever　wrestled　in　a
drinking…bout　at　close　quarters　with　the　monster　called　Carousal；　whom
all　bold　spirits　wish　to　try　a　fall　with；　we　have　gone　so　far　as　to
say　that　you　have　never　yet　been　worsted。　I　hope　you　will　not　make
liars　of　us。　Taillefer；　our　amphitryon；　has　undertaken　to　surpass　the
circumscribed　saturnalias　of　the　petty　modern　Lucullus。　He　is　rich
enough　to　infuse　pomp　into　trifles；　and　style　and　charm　into
dissipation　。　。　。　Are　you　listening；　Raphael？〃　asked　the　orator；
interrupting　himself。

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　young　man；　less　surprised　by　the　accomplishment　of
his　wishes　than　by　the　natural　manner　in　which　the　events　had　come
about。

He　could　not　bring　himself　to　believe　in　magic；　but　he　marveled　at　the
accidents　of　human　fate。

〃Yes；　you　say；　just　as　if　you　were　thinking　of　your　grandfather's
demise；〃　remarked　one　of　his　neighbors。

〃Ah！〃　cried　Raphael；　〃I　was　thinking；　my　friends；　that　we　are　in　a
fair　way　to　become　very　great　scoundrels；〃　and　there　was　an
ingenuousness　in　his　tones　that　set　these　writers；　the　hope　of　young
France；　in　a　roar。　〃So　far　our　blasphemies　have　been　uttered　over　our
cups；　we　have　passed　our　judgments　on　life　while　drunk；　and　taken　men
and　affairs　in　an　after…dinner　frame　of　mind。　We　were　innocent　of
action；　we　were　bold　in　words。　But　now　we　are　to　be　branded　with　the
hot　iron　of　politics；　we　are　going　to　enter　the　convict's　prison　and
to　drop　our　illusions。　Although　one　has　no　belief　left；　except　in　the
devil；　one　may　regret　the　paradise　of　one's　youth　and　the　age　of
innocence；　when　we　devoutly　offered　the　tip　of　our　tongue　to　some　good
priest　for　the　consecrated　wafer　of　the　sacrament。　Ah；　my　good
friends；　our　first　peccadilloes　gave　us　so　much　pleasure　because　the
consequent　remorse　set　them　off　and　lent　a　keen　relish　to　them；　but
nowadays〃

〃Oh！　now；〃　said　the　first　speaker；　〃there　is　still　left〃

〃What？〃　asked　another。

〃Crime〃

〃There　is　a　word　as　high　as　the　gallows　and　deeper　than　the　Seine；〃
said　Raphael。

〃Oh；　you　don't　understand　me；　I　mean　political　crime。　Since　this
morning；　a　conspirator's　life　is　the　only　one　I　covet。　I　don't　know
that　the　fancy　will　last　over　to…morrow；　but　to…night　at　least　my
gorge　rises　at　the　anaemic　life　of　our　civilization　and　its　railroad
evenness。　I　am　seized　with　a　passion　for　the　miseries　of　retreat　from
Moscow；　for　the　excitements　of　the　Red　Corsair；　or　for　a　smuggler's
life。　I　should　like　to　go　to　Botany　Bay；　as　we　have　no　Chartreaux　left
us　here　in　France；　it　is　a　sort　of　infirmary　reserved　for　little　Lord
Byrons　who；　having　crumpled　up　their　lives　like　a　serviette　after
dinner；　have　nothing　left　to　do　but　to　set　their　country　ablaze；　blow
their　own　brains　out；　plot　for　a　republic　or　clamor　for　a　war〃

〃Emile；〃　Raphael's　neighbor　called　eagerly　to　the　speaker；　〃on　my
honor；　but　for　the　revolution　of　July　I　would　have　taken　orders；　and
gone　off　down　into　the　country　somewhere　to　lead　the　life　of　an
animal；　and〃

〃And　you　would　have　read　your　breviary　through　every　day。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　are　a　coxcomb！〃

〃Why；　we　read　the　newspapers　as　it　is！〃

〃Not　bad　that；　for　a　journalist！　But　hold　your　tongue；　we　are　going
through　a　crowd　of　subscribers。　Journalism；　look　you；　is　the　religion
of　modern　society；　and　has　even　gone　a　little　further。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Its　pontiffs　are　not　obliged　to　believe　in　it　any　more　than　the
people　are。〃

Chatting　thus；　like　good　fellows　who　have　known　their　De　Viris
illustribus　for　years　past；　they　reached　a　mansion　in　the　Rue　Joubert。

Emile　was　a　journalist　who　had　acquired　more　reputation　by　dint　of
doing　nothing　than　others　had　derived　from　their　achievements。　A　bold；
caustic；　and　powerful　critic；　he　possessed　all　the　q