the magic skin(驴皮记)-第62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！
pay closer attention to what they were saying； a tall； strong； good…
looking young fellow； who； however； possessed the impertinent stare
peculiar to people who have material force at their back； came out of
the billiard…room。
〃I am deputed； sir；〃 he said coolly addressing the Marquis； 〃to make
you aware of something which you do not seem to know； your face and
person generally are a source of annoyance to every one here； and to
me in particular。 You have too much politeness not to sacrifice
yourself to the public good； and I beg that you will not show yourself
in the Club again。〃
〃This sort of joke has been perpetrated before； sir； in garrison towns
at the time of the Empire； but nowadays it is exceedingly bad form；〃
said Raphael drily。
〃I am not joking；〃 the young man answered； 〃and I repeat it： your
health will be considerably the worse for a stay here； the heat and
light； the air of the saloon； and the company are all bad for your
complaint。〃
〃Where did you study medicine？〃 Raphael inquired。
〃I took my bachelor's degree on Lepage's shooting…ground in Paris； and
was made a doctor at Cerizier's； the king of foils。〃
〃There is one last degree left for you to take；〃 said Valentin； 〃study
the ordinary rules of politeness； and you will be a perfect
gentlemen。〃
The young men all came out of the billiard…room just then； some
disposed to laugh； some silent。 The attention of other players was
drawn to the matter； they left their cards to watch a quarrel that
rejoiced their instincts。 Raphael； alone among this hostile crowd； did
his best to keep cool； and not to put himself in any way in the wrong；
but his adversary having ventured a sarcasm containing an insult
couched in unusually keen language； he replied gravely：
〃We cannot box men's ears； sir； in these days； but I am at a loss for
any word by which to stigmatize such cowardly behavior as yours。〃
〃That's enough； that's enough。 You can come to an explanation to…
morrow；〃 several young men exclaimed； interposing between the two
champions。
Raphael left the room in the character of aggressor； after he had
accepted a proposal to meet near the Chateau de Bordeau； in a little
sloping meadow； not very far from the newly made road； by which the
man who came off victorious could reach Lyons。 Raphael must now either
take to his bed or leave the baths。 The visitors had gained their
point。 At eight o'clock next morning his antagonist； followed by two
seconds and a surgeon； arrived first on the ground。
〃We shall do very nicely here； glorious weather for a duel！〃 he cried
gaily； looking at the blue vault of sky above； at the waters of the
lake； and the rocks； without a single melancholy presentiment or doubt
of the issue。 〃If I wing him；〃 he went on； 〃I shall send him to bed
for a month； eh； doctor？〃
〃At the very least；〃 the surgeon replied； 〃but let that willow twig
alone； or you will weary your wrist； and then you will not fire
steadily。 You might kill your man instead of wounding him。〃
The noise of a carriage was heard approaching。
〃Here he is；〃 said the seconds； who soon descried a caleche coming
along the road； it was drawn by four horses； and there were two
postilions。
〃What a queer proceeding！〃 said Valentin's antagonist； 〃here he comes
post…haste to be shot。〃
The slightest incident about a duel； as about a stake at cards； makes
an impression on the minds of those deeply concerned in the results of
the affair； so the young man awaited the arrival of the carriage with
a kind of uneasiness。 It stopped in the road； old Jonathan laboriously
descended from it； in the first place； to assist Raphael to alight； he
supported him with his feeble arms； and showed him all the minute
attentions that a lover lavishes upon his mistress。 Both became lost
to sight in the footpath that lay between the highroad and the field
where the duel was to take place； they were walking slowly； and did
not appear again for some time after。 The four onlookers at this
strange spectacle felt deeply moved by the sight of Valentin as he
leaned on his servant's arm； he was wasted and pale； he limped as if
he had the gout； went with his head bowed down； and said not a word。
You might have taken them for a couple of old men； one broken with
years； the other worn out with thought； the elder bore his age visibly
written in his white hair； the younger was of no age。
〃I have not slept all night； sir；〃 so Raphael greeted his antagonist。
The icy tone and terrible glance that went with the words made the
real aggressor shudder； he know that he was in the wrong； and felt in
secret ashamed of his behavior。 There was something strange in
Raphael's bearing； tone； and gesture； the Marquis stopped； and every
one else was likewise silent。 The uneasy and constrained feeling grew
to a height。
〃There is yet time；〃 he went on； 〃to offer me some slight apology； and
offer it you must； or you will die sir！ You rely even now on your
dexterity； and do not shrink from an encounter in which you believe
all the advantage to be upon your side。 Very good； sir； I am generous；
I am letting you know my superiority beforehand。 I possess a terrible
power。 I have only to wish to do so； and I can neutralize your skill；
dim your eyesight； make your hand and pulse unsteady； and even kill
you outright。 I have no wish to be compelled to exercise my power； the
use of it costs me too dear。 You would not be the only one to die。 So
if you refuse to apologize to me； not matter what your experience in
murder； your ball will go into the waterfall there； and mine will
speed straight to your heart though I do not aim it at you。〃
Confused voices interrupted Raphael at this point。 All the time that
he was speaking； the Marquis had kept his intolerably keen gaze fixed
upon his antagonist； now he drew himself up and showed an impassive
face； like that of a dangerous madman。
〃Make him hold his tongue；〃 the young man had said to one of his
seconds； 〃that voice of his is tearing the heart out of me。〃
〃Say no more； sir； it is quite useless；〃 cried the seconds and the
surgeon； addressing Raphael。
〃Gentlemen； I am fulfilling a duty。 Has this young gentleman any final
arrangements to make？〃
〃That is enough； that will do。〃
The Marquis remained standing steadily； never for a moment losing
sight of his antagonist； and the latter seemed； like a bird before a
snake； to be overwhelmed by a well…nigh magical power。 He was
compelled to endure that homicidal gaze； he met and shunned it
incessantly。
〃I am thirsty； give me some water〃 he said again to the second。
〃Are you nervous？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃There is a fascination about that man's glowing
eyes。〃
〃Will you apologize？〃
〃It is too late now。〃
The two antagonists were placed at fifteen paces' distance from each
other。 Each of them had a brace of pistols at hand； and； according to
the programme prescribed for them； each was to fire twice when and how
he pleased； but after the signal had been given by the seconds。
〃What are you doing； Charles？〃 exclaimed the young man who acted as
second to Raphael's antagonist； 〃you are putting in the ball before
the powder！〃
〃I am a dead man；〃 he muttered； by way of answer； 〃you have put me
facing the sun〃
〃The sun lies behind you；〃 said Valentin sternly and solemnly； while
he coolly loaded his pistol without heeding the fact that the signal
had been given； or that his antagonist was carefully taking aim。
There was something so appalling in this supernatural unconcern； that
it affected even the two postilions； brought thither by a cruel
curiosity。 Raphael was either trying his power or playing with it； for
he talked to Jonathan； and looked towards him as he received his
adversary's fire。 Charles' bullet broke a branch of willow； and
ricocheted over the surface of the water； Raphael fired at random； and
shot his antagonist through the heart。 He did not heed the young man
as he dropped； he hurriedly sought the Magic Skin to see what another
man's life had cost him。 The talisman was no larger than a small oak…
leaf。
〃What are you gaping at； you postilions over there？ Let us be off；〃
said the Marquis。
That same
