the magic skin(驴皮记)-第35章

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way；　but　I　had　accepted　the　situation；　and　had　deliberately　reckoned
with　its　dangers。

〃About　midnight　I　hid　myself　in　the　embrasure　of　the　window。　I　tried
to　scramble　on　to　a　ledge　of　the　wainscoting；　hanging　on　by　the
fastening　of　the　shutters　with　my　back　against　the　wall；　in　such　a
position　that　my　feet　could　not　be　visible。　When　I　had　carefully
considered　my　points　of　support；　and　the　space　between　me　and　the
curtains；　I　had　become　sufficiently　acquainted　with　all　the
difficulties　of　my　position　to　stay　in　it　without　fear　of　detection　if
undisturbed　by　cramp；　coughs；　or　sneezings。　To　avoid　useless　fatigue；
I　remained　standing　until　the　critical　moment；　when　I　must　hang
suspended　like　a　spider　in　its　web。　The　white…watered　silk　and　muslin
of　the　curtains　spread　before　me　in　great　pleats　like　organ…pipes。
With　my　penknife　I　cut　loopholes　in　them；　through　which　I　could　see。

〃I　heard　vague　murmurs　from　the　salons；　the　laughter　and　the　louder
tones　of　the　speakers。　The　smothered　commotion　and　vague　uproar
lessened　by　slow　degrees。　One　man　and　another　came　for　his　hat　from
the　countess'　chest　of　drawers；　close　to　where　I　stood。　I　shivered；　if
the　curtains　were　disturbed；　at　the　thought　of　the　mischances
consequent　on　the　confused　and　hasty　investigations　made　by　the　men　in
a　hurry　to　depart；　who　were　rummaging　everywhere。　When　I　experienced
no　misfortunes　of　this　kind；　I　augured　well　of　my　enterprise。　An　old
wooer　of　Foedora's　came　for　the　last　hat；　he　thought　himself　quite
alone；　looked　at　the　bed；　and　heaved　a　great　sigh；　accompanied　by　some
inaudible　exclamation；　into　which　he　threw　sufficient　energy。　In　the
boudoir　close　by；　the　countess；　finding　only　some　five　or　six　intimate
acquaintances　about　her；　proposed　tea。　The　scandals　for　which　existing
society　has　reserved　the　little　faculty　of　belief　that　it　retains；
mingled　with　epigrams　and　trenchant　witticisms；　and　the　clatter　of
cups　and　spoons。　Rastignac　drew　roars　of　laughter　by　merciless
sarcasms　at　the　expense　of　my　rivals。

〃　'M。　de　Rastignac　is　a　man　with　whom　it　is　better　not　to　quarrel；'
said　the　countess；　laughing。

〃　'I　am　quite　of　that　opinion；'　was　his　candid　reply。　'I　have　always
been　right　about　my　aversionsand　my　friendships　as　well；'　he　added。
'Perhaps　my　enemies　are　quite　as　useful　to　me　as　my　friends。　I　have
made　a　particular　study　of　modern　phraseology；　and　of　the　natural
craft　that　is　used　in　all　attack　or　defence。　Official　eloquence　is　one
of　our　perfect　social　products。

〃　'One　of　your　friends　is　not　clever；　so　you　speak　of　his　integrity
and　his　candor。　Another's　work　is　heavy；　you　introduce　it　as　a　piece
of　conscientious　labor；　and　if　the　book　is　ill　written；　you　extol　the
ideas　it　contains。　Such　an　one　is　treacherous　and　fickle；　slips
through　your　fingers　every　moment；　bah！　he　is　attractive；　bewitching；
he　is　delightful！　Suppose　they　are　enemies；　you　fling　every　one；　dead
or　alive；　in　their　teeth。　You　reverse　your　phraseology　for　their
benefit；　and　you　are　as　keen　in　detecting　their　faults　as　you　were
before　adroit　in　bringing　out　the　virtues　of　your　friends。　This　way　of
using　the　mental　lorgnette　is　the　secret　of　conversation　nowadays；　and
the　whole　art　of　the　complete　courtier。　If　you　neglect　it；　you　might
as　well　go　out　as　an　unarmed　knight…banneret　to　fight　against　men　in
armor。　And　I　make　use　of　it；　and　even　abuse　it　at　times。　So　we　are
respectedI　and　my　friends；　and；　moreover；　my　sword　is　quite　as　sharp
as　my　tongue。'

〃One　of　Foedora's　most　fervid　worshipers；　whose　presumption　was
notorious；　and　who　even　made　it　contribute　to　his　success；　took　up　the
glove　thrown　down　so　scornfully　by　Rastignac。　He　began　an　unmeasured
eulogy　of　me；　my　performances；　and　my　character。　Rastignac　had
overlooked　this　method　of　detraction。　His　sarcastic　encomiums　misled
the　countess；　who　sacrificed　without　mercy；　she　betrayed　my　secrets；
and　derided　my　pretensions　and　my　hopes；　to　divert　her　friends。

〃　'There　is　a　future　before　him；'　said　Rastignac。　'Some　day　he　may　be
in　a　position　to　take　a　cruel　revenge；　his　talents　are　at　least　equal
to　his　courage；　and　I　should　consider　those　who　attack　him　very　rash；
for　he　has　a　good　memory'

〃　'And　writes　Memoirs；'　put　in　the　countess；　who　seemed　to　object　to
the　deep　silence　that　prevailed。

〃　'Memoirs　of　a　sham　countess；　madame；'　replied　Rastignac。　'Another
sort　of　courage　is　needed　to　write　that　sort　of　thing。'

〃　'I　give　him　credit　for　plenty　of　courage；'　she　answered；　'he　is
faithful　to　me。'

〃I　was　greatly　tempted　to　show　myself　suddenly　among　the　railers；　like
the　shade　of　Banquo　in　Macbeth。　I　should　have　lost　a　mistress；　but　I
had　a　friend！　But　love　inspired　me　all　at　once；　with　one　of　those
treacherous　and　fallacious　subtleties　that　it　can　use　to　soothe　all
our　pangs。

〃If　Foedora　loved　me；　I　thought；　she　would　be　sure　to　disguise　her
feelings　by　some　mocking　jest。　How　often　the　heart　protests　against　a
lie　on　the　lips！

〃Well；　very　soon　my　audacious　rival；　left　alone　with　the　countess；
rose　to　go。

〃　'What！　already？'　asked　she　in　a　coaxing　voice　that　set　my　heart
beating。　'Will　you　not　give　me　a　few　more　minutes？　Have　you　nothing
more　to　say　to　me？　will　you　never　sacrifice　any　of　your　pleasures　for
me？'

〃He　went　away。

〃　'Ah！'　she　yawned；　'how　very　tiresome　they　all　are！'

〃She　pulled　a　cord　energetically　till　the　sound　of　a　bell　rang　through
the　place；　then；　humming　a　few　notes　of　Pria　che　spunti；　the　countess
entered　her　room。　No　one　had　ever　heard　her　sing；　her　muteness　had
called　forth　the　wildest　explanations。　She　had　promised　her　first
lover；　so　it　was　said；　who　had　been　held　captive　by　her　talent；　and
whose　jealousy　over　her　stretched　beyond　his　grave；　that　she　would
never　allow　others　to　experience　a　happiness　that　he　wished　to　be　his
and　his　alone。

〃I　exerted　every　power　of　my　soul　to　catch　the　sounds。　Higher　and
higher　rose　the　notes；　Foedora's　life　seemed　to　dilate　within　her；　her
throat　poured　forth　all　its　richest　tones；　something　well…nigh　divine
entered　into　the　melody。　There　was　a　bright　purity　and　clearness　of
tone　in　the　countess'　voice；　a　thrilling　harmony　which　reached　the
heart　and　stirred　its　pulses。　Musicians　are　seldom　unemotional；　a
woman　who　could　sing　like　that　must　know　how　to　love　indeed。　Her
beautiful　voice　made　one　more　puzzle　in　a　woman　mysterious　enough
before。　I　beheld　her　then；　as　plainly　as　I　see　you　at　this　moment。　She
seemed　to　listen　to　herself；　to　experience　a　secret　rapture　of　her
own；　she　felt；　as　it　were；　an　ecstasy　like　that　of　love。

〃She　stood　before　the　hearth　during　the　execution　of　the　principal
theme　of　the　rondo；　and　when　she　ceased　her　face　changed。　She　looked
tired；　her　features　seemed　to　alter。　She　had　laid　the　mask　aside；　her
part　as　an　actress　was　over。　Yet　the　faded　look　that　came　over　her
beautiful　face；　a　result　either　of　this　performance　or　of　the
evening's　fatigues；　had　its　charms；　too。

〃　'This　is　her　real　self；'　I　thought。

〃She　set　her　foot　on　a　bronze　bar　of　the　fender　as　if　to　warm　it；　took
off　her　gloves；　and　drew　over　her　head　the　gold　chain　from　which　her
bejeweled　scent…bottle　hung。　It　gave　me　a　quite　indescribable　pleasure
to　watch　the　feline　grace　of　every　movement；　the　supple　grace　a　cat
displays　as　it　adjusts　its　toilette　in　the　sun。　She　looked　at　herself
in　the　mirror　and　said　aloud　ill…humoredly'I　did　not　look　well　this
evening；　my　complexion　is　going　with　alarming　rapidity；　perhaps　I
ought　to　keep　earlier　hours；　and　give　up　this　life　of　dissipation。
Does　Justine　mean　to　trifle　with　me？'　She　rang　again；　her　maid　hurried
in。　Where　she　had　been　I　cannot　tell；　she　came　in　by　a　secret
staircase。　I　was　anxious　to　make　a　study　of　her。　I　had　lodged
accusations；　in　my　romantic　imaginings；　against　this　invisible
waiting…woman；　a　tall；　well…made　brunette。

〃　'Did　madame　ring？'

〃　'Yes；　twice；'　answered　Foedora；　'are　you　really　growing　deaf
nowadays？'

〃　'I　was　preparing　madame's　milk　of　almonds。'

〃Justine　knelt　down　before　her；　unlaced　her　sandals　and　drew　them　off；
while　her　mistress　lay　carelessly　back　on　her　cushioned　armchair
beside　the　fire；　yawned；　and　scratched　her　head。　Every　movement　was
p