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第49章

the magic skin(驴皮记)-第49章

小说: the magic skin(驴皮记) 字数: 每页4000字

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understood poetry; and lived in luxurious surroundings。 Here; in
short; was Foedora; gifted with a great soul; or Pauline become a
countess; and twice a millionaire; as Foedora had been。 When he
reached the worn threshold; and stood upon the broken step at the
door; where in the old days he had had so many desperate thoughts; an
old woman came out of the room within and spoke to him。

〃You are M。 Raphael de Valentin; are you not?〃

〃Yes; good mother;〃 he replied。

〃You know your old room then;〃 she replied; 〃you are expected up
there。〃

〃Does Mme。 Gaudin still own the house?〃 Raphael asked。

〃Oh no; sir。 Mme。 Gaudin is a baroness now。 She lives in a fine house
of her own on the other side of the river。 Her husband has come back。
My goodness; he brought back thousands and thousands。 They say she
could buy up all the Quartier Saint…Jacques if she liked。 She gave me
her basement room for nothing; and the remainder of her lease。 Ah;
she's a kind woman all the same; she is no more proud to…day than she
was yesterday。〃

Raphael hurried up the staircase to his garret; as he reached the last
few steps he heard the sounds of a piano。 Pauline was there; simply
dressed in a cotton gown; but the way that it was made; like the
gloves; hat; and shawl that she had thrown carelessly upon the bed;
revealed a change of fortune。

〃Ah; there you are!〃 cried Pauline; turning her head; and rising with
unconcealed delight。

Raphael went to sit beside her; flushed; confused; and happy; he
looked at her in silence。

〃Why did you leave us then?〃 she asked; dropping her eyes as the flush
deepened on his face。 〃What became of you?〃

〃Ah; I have been very miserable; Pauline; I am very miserable still。〃

〃Alas!〃 she said; filled with pitying tenderness。 〃I guessed your fate
yesterday when I saw you so well dressed; and apparently so wealthy;
but in reality? Eh; M。 Raphael; is it as it always used to be with
you?〃

Valentin could not restrain the tears that sprang to his eyes。

〃Pauline;〃 he exclaimed; 〃I〃

He went no further; love sparkled in his eyes; and his emotion
overflowed his face。

〃Oh; he loves me! he loves me!〃 cried Pauline。

Raphael felt himself unable to say one word; he bent his head。 The
young girl took his hand at this; she pressed it as she said; half
sobbing and half laughing:

〃Rich; rich; happy and rich! Your Pauline is rich。 But I? Oh; I ought
to be very poor to…day。 I have said; times without number; that I
would give all the wealth upon this earth for those words; 'He loves
me!' O my Raphael! I have millions。 You like luxury; you will be glad;
but you must love me and my heart besides; for there is so much love
for you in my heart。 You don't know? My father has come back。 I am a
wealthy heiress。 Both he and my mother leave me completely free to
decide my own fate。 I am freedo you understand?〃

Seized with a kind of frenzy; Raphael grasped Pauline's hands and
kissed them eagerly and vehemently; with an almost convulsive caress。
Pauline drew her hands away; laid them on Raphael's shoulders; and
drew him towards her。 They understood one anotherin that close
embrace; in the unalloyed and sacred fervor of that one kiss without
an afterthoughtthe first kiss by which two souls take possession of
each other。

〃Ah; I will not leave you any more;〃 said Pauline; falling back in her
chair。 〃I do not know how I come to be so bold!〃 she added; blushing。

〃Bold; my Pauline? Do not fear it。 It is love; love true and deep and
everlasting like my own; is it not?〃

〃Speak!〃 she cried。 〃Go on speaking; so long your lips have been dumb
for me。〃

〃Then you have loved me all along?〃

〃Loved you? MON DIEU! How often I have wept here; setting your room
straight; and grieving for your poverty and my own。 I would have sold
myself to the evil one to spare you one vexation! You are MY Raphael
to…day; really my own Raphael; with that handsome head of yours; and
your heart is mine too; yes; that above all; your heartO wealth
inexhaustible! Well; where was I?〃 she went on after a pause。 〃Oh yes!
We have three; four; or five millions; I believe。 If I were poor; I
should perhaps desire to bear your name; to be acknowledged as your
wife; but as it is; I would give up the whole world for you; I would
be your servant still; now and always。 Why; Raphael; if I give you my
fortune; my heart; myself to…day; I do no more than I did that day
when I put a certain five…franc piece in the drawer there;〃 and she
pointed to the table。 〃Oh; how your exultation hurt me then!〃

〃Oh; why are you rich?〃 Raphael cried; 〃why is there no vanity in you?
I can do nothing for you。〃

He wrung his hands in despair and happiness and love。

〃When you are the Marquise de Valentin; I know that the title and the
fortune for thee; heavenly soul; will not be worth〃

〃One hair of your head;〃 she cried。

〃I have millions too。 But what is wealth to either of us now? There is
my lifeah; that I can offer; take it。〃

〃Your love; Raphael; your love is all the world to me。 Are your
thoughts of me? I am the happiest of the happy!〃

〃Can any one overhear us?〃 asked Raphael。

〃Nobody;〃 she replied; and a mischievous gesture escaped her。

〃Come; then!〃 cried Valentin; holding out his arms。

She sprang upon his knees and clasped her arms about his neck。

〃Kiss me!〃 she cried; 〃after all the pain you have given me; to blot
out the memory of the grief that your joys have caused me; and for the
sake of the nights that I spent in painting hand…screens〃

〃Those hand…screens of yours?〃

〃Now that we are rich; my darling; I can tell you all about it。 Poor
boy! how easy it is to delude a clever man! Could you have had white
waistcoats and clean shirts twice a week for three francs every month
to the laundress? Why; you used to drink twice as much milk as your
money would have paid for。 I deceived you all roundover firing; oil;
and even money。 O Raphael mine; don't have me for your wife; I am far
too cunning!〃 she said laughing。

〃But how did you manage?〃

〃I used to work till two o'clock in the morning; I gave my mother half
the money made by my screens; and the other half went to you。〃

They looked at one another for a moment; both bewildered by love and
gladness。

〃Some day we shall have to pay for this happiness by some terrible
sorrow;〃 cried Raphael。

〃Perhaps you are married?〃 said Pauline。 〃Oh; I will not give you up
to any other woman。〃

〃I am free; my beloved。〃

〃Free!〃 she repeated。 〃Free; and mine!〃

She slipped down upon her knees; clasped her hands; and looked at
Raphael in an enthusiasm of devotion。

〃I am afraid I shall go mad。 How handsome you are!〃 she went on;
passing her fingers through her lover's fair hair。 〃How stupid your
Countess Foedora is! How pleased I was yesterday with the homage they
all paid to me! SHE has never been applauded。 Dear; when I felt your
arm against my back; I heard a vague voice within me that cried; 'He
is there!' and I turned round and saw you。 I fled; for I longed so to
throw my arms about you before them all。〃

〃How happy you areyou can speak!〃 Raphael exclaimed。 〃My heart is
overwhelmed; I would weep; but I cannot。 Do not draw your hand away。 I
could stay here looking at you like this for the rest of my life; I
think; happy and content。〃

〃O my love; say that once more!〃

〃Ah; what are words?〃 answered Valentin; letting a hot tear fall on
Pauline's hands。 〃Some time I will try to tell you of my love; just
now I can only feel it。〃

〃You;〃 she said; 〃with your lofty soul and your great genius; with
that heart of yours that I know so well; are you really mine; as I am
yours?〃

〃For ever and ever; my sweet creature;〃 said Raphael in an uncertain
voice。 〃You shall be my wife; my protecting angel。 My griefs have
always been dispelled by your presence; and my courage revived; that
angelic smile now on your lips has purified me; so to speak。 A new
life seems about to begin for me。 The cruel past and my wretched
follies are hardly more to me than evil dreams。 At your side I breathe
an atmosphere of happiness; and I am pure。 Be with me always;〃 he
added; pressing her solemnly to his beating heart。

〃D

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