the magic skin(驴皮记)-第50章
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an atmosphere of happiness； and I am pure。 Be with me always；〃 he
added； pressing her solemnly to his beating heart。
〃Death may come when it will；〃 said Pauline in ecstasy； 〃I have
lived！〃
Happy he who shall divine their joy； for he must have experienced it。
〃I wish that no one might enter this dear garret again； my Raphael；〃
said Pauline； after two hours of silence。
〃We must have the door walled up； put bars across the window； and buy
the house；〃 the Marquis answered。
〃Yes； we will；〃 she said。 Then a moment later she added： 〃Our search
for your manuscripts has been a little lost sight of；〃 and they both
laughed like children。
〃Pshaw！ I don't care a jot for the whole circle of the sciences；〃
Raphael answered。
〃Ah； sir； and how about glory？〃
〃I glory in you alone。〃
〃You used to be very miserable as you made these little scratches and
scrawls；〃 she said； turning the papers over。
〃My Pauline〃
〃Oh yes； I am your Paulineand what then？〃
〃Where are you living now？〃
〃In the Rue Saint Lazare。 And you？〃
〃In the Rue de Varenne。〃
〃What a long way apart we shall be until〃 She stopped； and looked
at her lover with a mischievous and coquettish expression。
〃But at the most we need only be separated for a fortnight；〃 Raphael
answered。
〃Really！ we are to be married in a fortnight？〃 and she jumped for joy
like a child。
〃I am an unnatural daughter！〃 she went on。 〃I give no more thought to
my father or my mother； or to anything in the world。 Poor love； you
don't know that my father is very ill？ He returned from the Indies in
very bad health。 He nearly died at Havre； where we went to find him。
Good heavens！〃 she cried； looking at her watch； 〃it is three o'clock
already！ I ought to be back again when he wakes at four。 I am mistress
of the house at home； my mother does everything that I wish； and my
father worships me； but I will not abuse their kindness； that would be
wrong。 My poor father！ He would have me go to the Italiens yesterday。
You will come to see him to…morrow； will you not？〃
〃Will Madame la Marquise de Valentin honor me by taking my arm？〃
〃I am going to take the key of this room away with me；〃 she said。
〃Isn't our treasure…house a palace？〃
〃One more kiss； Pauline。〃
〃A thousand； MON DIEU！〃 she said； looking at Raphael。 〃Will it always
be like this？ I feel as if I were dreaming。〃
They went slowly down the stairs together； step for step； with arms
closely linked； trembling both of them beneath their load of joy。 Each
pressing close to the other's side； like a pair of doves； they reached
the Place de la Sorbonne； where Pauline's carriage was waiting。
〃I want to go home with you；〃 she said。 〃I want to see your own room
and your study； and to sit at the table where you work。 It will be
like old times；〃 she said； blushing。
She spoke to the servant。 〃Joseph； before returning home I am going to
the Rue de Varenne。 It is a quarter…past three now； and I must be back
by four o'clock。 George must hurry the horses。〃 And so in a few
moments the lovers came to Valentin's abode。
〃How glad I am to have seen all this for myself！〃 Pauline cried；
creasing the silken bed…curtains in Raphael's room between her
fingers。 〃As I go to sleep； I shall be here in thought。 I shall
imagine your dear head on the pillow there。 Raphael； tell me； did no
one advise you about the furniture of your hotel？〃
〃No one whatever。〃
〃Really？ It was not a woman who〃
〃Pauline！〃
〃Oh； I know I am fearfully jealous。 You have good taste。 I will have a
bed like yours to…morrow。〃
Quite beside himself with happiness； Raphael caught Pauline in his
arms。
〃Oh； my father！〃 she said； 〃my father〃
〃I will take you back to him；〃 cried Valentin； 〃for I want to be away
from you as little as possible。〃
〃How loving you are！ I did not venture to suggest it〃
〃Are you not my life？〃
It would be tedious to set down accurately the charming prattle of the
lovers； for tones and looks and gestures that cannot be rendered alone
gave it significance。 Valentin went back with Pauline to her own door；
and returned with as much happiness in his heart as mortal man can
know。
When he was seated in his armchair beside the fire； thinking over the
sudden and complete way in which his wishes had been fulfilled； a cold
shiver went through him； as if the blade of a dagger had been plunged
into his breasthe thought of the Magic Skin； and saw that it had
shrunk a little。 He uttered the most tremendous of French oaths；
without any of the Jesuitical reservations made by the Abbess of
Andouillettes； leant his head against the back of the chair； and sat
motionless； fixing his unseeing eyes upon the bracket of the curtain
pole。
〃Good God！〃 he cried； 〃every wish！ Every desire of mine！ Poor
Pauline！〃
He took a pair of compasses and measured the extent of existence that
the morning had cost him。
〃I have scarcely enough for two months！〃 he said。
A cold sweat broke out over him； moved by an ungovernable spasm of
rage； he seized the Magic Skin； exclaiming：
〃I am a perfect fool！〃
He rushed out of the house and across the garden； and flung the
talisman down a well。
〃Vogue la galere；〃 cried he。 〃The devil take all this nonsense。〃
So Raphael gave himself up to the happiness of being beloved； and led
with Pauline the life of heart and heart。 Difficulties which it would
be somewhat tedious to describe had delayed their marriage； which was
to take place early in March。 Each was sure of the other； their
affection had been tried； and happiness had taught them how strong it
was。 Never has love made two souls； two natures； so absolutely one。
The more they came to know of each other； the more they loved。 On
either side there was the same hesitating delicacy； the same
transports of joy such as angels know； there were no clouds in their
heaven； the will of either was the other's law。
Wealthy as they both were； they had not a caprice which they could not
gratify； and for that reason had no caprices。 A refined taste； a
feeling for beauty and poetry； was instinct in the soul of the bride；
her lover's smile was more to her than all the pearls of Ormuz。 She
disdained feminine finery； a muslin dress and flowers formed her most
elaborate toilette。
Pauline and Raphael shunned every one else； for solitude was
abundantly beautiful to them。 The idlers at the Opera； or at the
Italiens； saw this charming and unconventional pair evening after
evening。 Some gossip went the round of the salons at first； but the
harmless lovers were soon forgotten in the course of events which took
place in Paris； their marriage was announced at length to excuse them
in the eyes of the prudish； and as it happened； their servants did not
babble； so their bliss did not draw down upon them any very severe
punishment。
One morning towards the end of February； at the time when the
brightening days bring a belief in the nearness of the joys of spring；
Pauline and Raphael were breakfasting together in a small
conservatory； a kind of drawing…room filled with flowers； on a level
with the garden。 The mild rays of the pale winter sunlight； breaking
through the thicket of exotic plants； warmed the air somewhat。 The
vivid contrast made by the varieties of foliage； the colors of the
masses of flowering shrubs； the freaks of light and shadow； gladdened
the eyes。 While all the rest of Paris still sought warmth from its
melancholy hearth； these two were laughing in a bower of camellias；
lilacs； and blossoming heath。 Their happy faces rose above lilies of
the valley； narcissus blooms； and Bengal roses。 A mat of plaited
African grass； variegated like a carpet； lay beneath their feet in
this luxurious conservatory。 The walls； covered with a green linen
material； bore no traces of damp。 The surfaces of the rustic wooden
furniture shone with cleanliness。 A kitten； attracted by the odor of
milk； had established itself upon the table； it allowed Pauline to
bedabble it in coffee； she was playing merrily with it； taking away
the cream that she had just allowed the kitten to sniff at； so as to
exercise its patience； and keep up the contest。 She burst out laughing
at every antic； and by t
