the magic skin(驴皮记)-第8章

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caustic；　and　powerful　critic；　he　possessed　all　the　qualities　that　his
defects　permitted。　An　outspoken　giber；　he　made　numberless　epigrams　on
a　friend　to　his　face；　but　would　defend　him；　if　absent；　with　courage
and　loyalty。　He　laughed　at　everything；　even　at　his　own　career。　Always
impecunious；　he　yet　lived；　like　all　men　of　his　calibre；　plunged　in
unspeakable　indolence。　He　would　fling　some　word　containing　volumes　in
the　teeth　of　folk　who　could　not　put　a　syllable　of　sense　into　their
books。　He　lavished　promises　that　he　never　fulfilled；　he　made　a　pillow
of　his　luck　and　reputation；　on　which　he　slept；　and　ran　the　risk　of
waking　up　to　old　age　in　a　workhouse。　A　steadfast　friend　to　the　gallows
foot；　a　cynical　swaggerer　with　a　child's　simplicity；　a　worker　only
from　necessity　or　caprice。

〃In　the　language　of　Maitre　Alcofribas；　we　are　about　to　make　a　famous
troncon　de　chiere　lie；〃　he　remarked　to　Raphael　as　he　pointed　out　the
flower…stands　that　made　a　perfumed　forest　of　the　staircase。

〃I　like　a　vestibule　to　be　well　warmed　and　richly　carpeted；〃　Raphael
said。　〃Luxury　in　the　peristyle　is　not　common　in　France。　I　feel　as　if
life　had　begun　anew　here。〃

〃And　up　above　we　are　going　to　drink　and　make　merry　once　more；　my　dear
Raphael。　Ah！　yes；〃　he　went　on；　〃and　I　hope　we　are　going　to　come　off
conquerors；　too；　and　walk　over　everybody　else's　head。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　jestingly　pointed　to　the　guests。　They　were　entering　a
large　room　which　shone　with　gilding　and　lights；　and　there　all　the
younger　men　of　note　in　Paris　welcomed　them。　Here　was　one　who　had　just
revealed　fresh　powers；　his　first　picture　vied　with　the　glories　of
Imperial　art。　There；　another；　who　but　yesterday　had　launched　forth　a
volume；　an　acrid　book　filled　with　a　sort　of　literary　arrogance；　which
opened　up　new　ways　to　the　modern　school。　A　sculptor；　not　far　away；
with　vigorous　power　visible　in　his　rough　features；　was　chatting　with
one　of　those　unenthusiastic　scoffers　who　can　either　see　excellence
anywhere　or　nowhere；　as　it　happens。　Here；　the　cleverest　of　our
caricaturists；　with　mischievous　eyes　and　bitter　tongue；　lay　in　wait
for　epigrams　to　translate　into　pencil　strokes；　there；　stood　the　young
and　audacious　writer；　who　distilled　the　quintessence　of　political
ideas　better　than　any　other　man；　or　compressed　the　work　of　some
prolific　writer　as　he　held　him　up　to　ridicule；　he　was　talking　with　the
poet　whose　works　would　have　eclipsed　all　the　writings　of　the　time　if
his　ability　had　been　as　strenuous　as　his　hatreds。　Both　were　trying　not
to　say　the　truth　while　they　kept　clear　of　lies；　as　they　exchanged
flattering　speeches。　A　famous　musician　administered　soothing
consolation　in　a　rallying　fashion；　to　a　young　politician　who　had　just
fallen　quite　unhurt；　from　his　rostrum。　Young　writers　who　lacked　style
stood　beside　other　young　writers　who　lacked　ideas；　and　authors　of
poetical　prose　by　prosaic　poets。

At　the　sight　of　all　these　incomplete　beings；　a　simple　Saint　Simonian；
ingenuous　enough　to　believe　in　his　own　doctrine；　charitably　paired
them　off；　designing；　no　doubt；　to　convert　them　into　monks　of　his
order。　A　few　men　of　science　mingled　in　the　conversation；　like　nitrogen
in　the　atmosphere；　and　several　vaudevillistes　shed　rays　like　the
sparking　diamonds　that　give　neither　light　nor　heat。　A　few　paradox…
mongers；　laughing　up　their　sleeves　at　any　folk　who　embraced　their
likes　or　dislikes　in　men　or　affairs；　had　already　begun　a　two…edged
policy；　conspiring　against　all　systems；　without　committing　themselves
to　any　side。　Then　there　was　the　self…appointed　critic　who　admires
nothing；　and　will　blow　his　nose　in　the　middle　of　a　cavatina　at　the
Bouffons；　who　applauds　before　any　one　else　begins；　and　contradicts
every　one　who　says　what　he　himself　was　about　to　say；　he　was　there
giving　out　the　sayings　of　wittier　men　for　his　own。　Of　all　the
assembled　guests；　a　future　lay　before　some　five；　ten　or　so　should
acquire　a　fleeting　renown；　as　for　the　rest；　like　all　mediocrities；
they　might　apply　to　themselves　the　famous　falsehood　of　Louis　XVIII。；
Union　and　oblivion。

The　anxious　jocularity　of　a　man　who　is　expending　two　thousand　crowns
sat　on　their　host。　His　eyes　turned　impatiently　towards　the　door　from
time　to　time；　seeking　one　of　his　guests　who　kept　him　waiting。　Very
soon　a　stout　little　person　appeared；　who　was　greeted　by　a
complimentary　murmur；　it　was　the　notary　who　had　invented　the　newspaper
that　very　morning。　A　valet…de…chambre　in　black　opened　the　doors　of　a
vast　dining…room；　whither　every　one　went　without　ceremony；　and　took
his　place　at　an　enormous　table。

Raphael　took　a　last　look　round　the　room　before　he　left　it。　His　wish
had　been　realized　to　the　full。　The　rooms　were　adorned　with　silk　and
gold。　Countless　wax　tapers　set　in　handsome　candelabra　lit　up　the
slightest　details　of　gilded　friezes；　the　delicate　bronze　sculpture；
and　the　splendid　colors　of　the　furniture。　The　sweet　scent　of　rare
flowers；　set　in　stands　tastefully　made　of　bamboo；　filled　the　air。
Everything；　even　the　curtains；　was　pervaded　by　elegance　without
pretension；　and　there　was　a　certain　imaginative　charm　about　it　all
which　acted　like　a　spell　on　the　mind　of　a　needy　man。

〃An　income　of　a　hundred　thousand　livres　a　year　is　a　very　nice
beginning　of　the　catechism；　and　a　wonderful　assistance　to　putting
morality　into　our　actions；〃　he　said；　sighing。　〃Truly　my　sort　of　virtue
can　scarcely　go　afoot；　and　vice　means；　to　my　thinking；　a　garret；　a
threadbare　coat；　a　gray　hat　in　winter　time；　and　sums　owing　to　the
porter。　。　。　。　I　should　like　to　live　in　the　lap　of　luxury　a　year；　or
six　months；　no　matter！　And　then　afterwards；　die。　I　should　have　known；
exhausted；　and　consumed　a　thousand　lives；　at　any　rate。〃

〃Why；　you　are　taking　the　tone　of　a　stockbroker　in　good　luck；〃　said
Emile；　who　overheard　him。　〃Pooh！　your　riches　would　be　a　burden　to　you
as　soon　as　you　found　that　they　would　spoil　your　chances　of　coming　out
above　the　rest　of　us。　Hasn't　the　artist　always　kept　the　balance　true
between　the　poverty　of　riches　and　the　riches　of　poverty？　And　isn't
struggle　a　necessity　to　some　of　us？　Look　out　for　your　digestion；　and
only　look；〃　he　added；　with　a　mock…heroic　gesture；　〃at　the　majestic；
thrice　holy；　and　edifying　appearance　of　this　amiable　capitalist's
dining…room。　That　man　has　in　reality　only　made　his　money　for　our
benefit。　Isn't　he　a　kind　of　sponge　of　the　polyp　order；　overlooked　by
naturalists；　which　should　be　carefully　squeezed　before　he　is　left　for
his　heirs　to　feed　upon？　There　is　style；　isn't　there；　about　those　bas…
reliefs　that　adorn　the　walls？　And　the　lustres；　and　the　pictures；　what
luxury　well　carried　out！　If　one　may　believe　those　who　envy　him；　or　who
know；　or　think　they　know；　the　origins　of　his　life；　then　this　man　got
rid　of　a　German　and　some　othershis　best　friend　for　one；　and　the
mother　of　that　friend；　during　the　Revolution。　Could　you　house　crimes
under　the　venerable　Taillefer's　silvering　locks？　He　looks　to　me　a　very
worthy　man。　Only　see　how　the　silver　sparkles；　and　is　every　glittering
ray　like　a　stab　of　a　dagger　to　him？　。　。　。　Let　us　go　in；　one　might　as
well　believe　in　Mahomet。　If　common　report　speak　truth；　here　are　thirty
men　of　talent；　and　good　fellows　too；　prepared　to　dine　off　the　flesh
and　blood　of　a　whole　family；　。　。　。　and　here　are　we　ourselves；　a　pair
of　youngsters　full　of　open…hearted　enthusiasm；　and　we　shall　be
partakers　in　his　guilt。　I　have　a　mind　to　ask　our　capitalist　whether　he
is　a　respectable　character。　。　。　。〃

〃No；　not　now；〃　cried　Raphael；　〃but　when　he　is　dead　drunk；　we　shall
have　had　our　dinner　then。〃

The　two　friends　sat　down　laughing。　First　of　all；　by　a　glance　more
rapid　than　a　word；　each　paid　his　tribute　of　admiration　to　the　splendid
general　effect　of　the　long　table；　white　as　a　bank　of　freshly…fallen
snow；　with　its　symmetrical　line　of　covers；　crowned　with　their　pale
golden　rolls　of　bread。　Rainbow　colors　gleamed　in　the　starry　rays　of
light　reflected　by　the　glass；　the　lights　of　the　tapers　crossed　and
recrossed　each　other　indefinitely；　the　dishes　covered　with　their
silver　domes　whetted　both　appetite　and　curiosity。

Few　words　were　spoken。　Neighbors　exchanged　glances　as　the　Maderia
circulated。　Then　the　first　course　appeared　in　all　its　glory；　it　would
have　done　honor　to　the　late　Cambaceres；　Brillat…Savarin　would　have
celebrated　it。　The　wines　of　Bordeaux　and　Burgundy；　white　and　red；　were
royally　lavished。　This　first　part　of　the　banquet　might　been　compared
in　every　way　to　a　rendering　of　some　classical　tragedy。　The　second　act
grew　a　trifle　noisier。　Every　guest　had　had　a　fair　amount　to　drink；　and
had　tried　various　crus　at　this　pleasure；　so　that　as　the　remains　of　the
magnificent　first　course　were　removed；　tumultuous　discussions　began；　a
pale　brow　here　and　there　began　to　flush；　sundry　noses　took　a　purpler
hue；　faces　lit　up；　and　eyes　sparkled。

While　intoxication　was　only　dawning；　the　conversation　did　not　overstep
the　bounds　of　civility；　but　banter　and　bon　mots　slipped　by　degrees
from　every　tongue；　and　then　slander　began　to　rear　its　little　snake's
heard；　and　spoke　in　dulcet　tones；　a　few　shrewd　ones　here　and　there
gave　heed　to　it；　hoping　to　keep　their　heads。　So　the　second　course
found　their　minds　somewhat　heated。　Every　one　ate　as　he　spoke；　spoke
while　he　ate；　and　drank　without　heeding　the　quantity　of　the　liquor；
the　wine　was　so　biting；　the　bouquet　so　fragrant；　the　example　around　so
infectious。　Taillefer　made　a　point　of　stimulating　his　guests；　and
plied　them　with　the　formidable　wines　of　the　Rhone；　with　fierce　Tokay；
and　heady　old　Roussillon。

The　champagne；　impatiently　expected　and　lavishly　poured　out；　was　a
scourge　of　fiery　sparks　to　these　men；　released　like　post…horses　from
some　mail…coach　by　a　relay；　they　let　their　spirits　gallop　away　into
the　wilds　of　argument　to　which　no　one　listened；　began　to　tell　stories
which　had　no　auditors；　and　repeatedly　asked　questions　to　which　no
answer　was　made。　Only　the　loud　voice　of　wassail　could　be　heard；　a
voice　made　up　of　a　hundred　confused　clamors；　which　rose　and　grew　like
a　crescendo　of　Rossini's。　Insidious　toasts；　swagger；　and　challenges
followed。

Each　renounced　any　pride　in　his　own　intellectual　capacity；　in　order　to
vindicate　that　of　hogsheads；　casks；　and　vats；　and　each　made　noise
enough　for　two。　A　time　came　when　the　footmen　smiled；　while　their
masters　all　talked　at　once。　A　philosopher　would　have　been　interested；
doubtless；　by　the　singularity　of　the　thoughts　expressed；　a　politician
would　have　been　amazed　by　the　incongruity　of　the　methods　discussed　in
the　melee　of　words　or　doubtfully　luminous　paradoxes；　where　truths；
grotesquely　caparisoned；　met　in　conflict　across　the　uproar　of　brawling
judgments；　of　arbitrary　decisions　and　folly；　much　as　bullets；　shells；
and　grapeshot　are　hurled　across　a　battlefield。

It　was　at　once　a　volume　and　a　picture。　Every　philosophy；　religion；　and
moral　code　differing　so　greatly　in　every　latitude；　every　government；
every　great　achievement　of　the　human　intellect；　fell　before　a　scythe
as　long　as　Time's　own；　and　you　might　have　found　it　hard　to　decide
whether　it　was　wielded　by　Gravity　intoxicated；　or　by　Inebriation　grown
sober　and　clear…sighted。　Borne　away　by　a　kind　of　tempest；　their　minds；
like　the　sea　raging　against　the　cliffs；　seemed　ready　to　shake　the　laws
which　confi