the magic skin(驴皮记)-第68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！


secret　of　his　own　he　draws　a　visionary　face　in　the　midst　of　those
flaming　violet　and　crimson　hues；　a　face　with　unimaginable　delicate
outlines；　a　fleeting　apparition　which　no　chance　will　ever　bring　back
again。　It　is　a　woman's　face；　her　hair　is　blown　back　by　the　wind；　her
features　speak　of　a　rapture　of　delight；　she　breathes　fire　in　the　midst
of　the　fire。　She　smiles；　she　dies；　you　will　never　see　her　any　more。
Farewell；　flower　of　the　flame！　Farewell；　essence　incomplete　and
unforeseen；　come　too　early　or　too　late　to　make　the　spark　of　some
glorious　diamond。〃

〃But；　Pauline？〃

〃You　do　not　see；　then？　I　will　begin　again。　Make　way！　make　way！　She
comes；　she　is　here；　the　queen　of　illusions；　a　woman　fleeting　as　a
kiss；　a　woman　bright　as　lightning；　issuing　in　a　blaze　like　lightning
from　the　sky；　a　being　uncreated；　of　spirit　and　love　alone。　She　has
wrapped　her　shadowy　form　in　flame；　or　perhaps　the　flame　betokens　that
she　exists　but　for　a　moment。　The　pure　outlines　of　her　shape　tell　you
that　she　comes　from　heaven。　Is　she　not　radiant　as　an　angel？　Can　you
not　hear　the　beating　of　her　wings　in　space？　She　sinks　down　beside　you
more　lightly　than　a　bird；　and　you　are　entranced　by　her　awful　eyes；
there　is　a　magical　power　in　her　light　breathing　that　draws　your　lips
to　hers；　she　flies　and　you　follow；　you　feel　the　earth　beneath　you　no
longer。　If　you　could　but　once　touch　that　form　of　snow　with　your　eager；
deluded　hands；　once　twine　the　golden　hair　round　your　fingers；　place
one　kiss　on　those　shining　eyes！　There　is　an　intoxicating　vapor　around；
and　the　spell　of　a　siren　music　is　upon　you。　Every　nerve　in　you　is
quivering；　you　are　filled　with　pain　and　longing。　O　joy　for　which　there
is　no　name！　You　have　touched　the　woman's　lips；　and　you　are　awakened　at
once　by　a　horrible　pang。　Oh！　ah！　yes；　you　have　struck　your　head
against　the　corner　of　the　bedpost；　you　have　been　clasping　its　brown
mahogany　sides；　and　chilly　gilt　ornaments；　embracing　a　piece　of　metal；
a　brazen　Cupid。〃

〃But　how　about　Pauline；　sir？〃

〃What；　again？　Listen。　One　lovely　morning　at　Tours　a　young　man；　who
held　the　hand　of　a　pretty　woman　in　his；　went　on　board　the　Ville
d'Angers。　Thus　united　they　both　looked　and　wondered　long　at　a　white
form　that　rose　elusively　out　of　the　mists　above　the　broad　waters　of
the　Loire；　like　some　child　of　the　sun　and　the　river；　or　some　freak　of
air　and　cloud。　This　translucent　form　was　a　sylph　or　a　naiad　by　turns；
she　hovered　in　the　air　like　a　word　that　haunts　the　memory；　which　seeks
in　vain　to　grasp　it；　she　glided　among　the　islands；　she　nodded　her　head
here　and　there　among　the　tall　poplar　trees；　then　she　grew　to　a　giant's
height；　she　shook　out　the　countless　folds　of　her　drapery　to　the　light；
she　shot　light　from　the　aureole　that　the　sun　had　litten　about　her
face；　she　hovered　above　the　slopes　of　the　hills　and　their　little
hamlets；　and　seemed　to　bar　the　passage　of　the　boat　before　the　Chateau
d'Usse。　You　might　have　thought　that　La　dame　des　belles　cousines　sought
to　protect　her　country　from　modern　intrusion。〃

〃Well；　well；　I　understand。　So　it　went　with　Pauline。　But　how　about
Foedora？〃

〃Oh！　Foedora；　you　are　sure　to　meet　with　her！　She　was　at　the　Bouffons
last　night；　and　she　will　go　to　the　Opera　this　evening；　and　if　you　like
to　take　it　so；　she　is　Society。〃



ADDENDUM

The　following　personages　appear　in　other　stories　of　the　Human　Comedy。

Aquilina
　　Melmoth　Reconciled

Bianchon；　Horace
　　Father　Goriot
　　The　Atheist's　Mass
　　Cesar　Birotteau
　　The　Commission　in　Lunacy
　　Lost　Illusions
　　A　Distinguished　Provincial　at　Paris
　　A　Bachelor's　Establishment
　　The　Secrets　of　a　Princess
　　The　Government　Clerks
　　Pierrette
　　A　Study　of　Woman
　　Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
　　Honorine
　　The　Seamy　Side　of　History
　　A　Second　Home
　　A　Prince　of　Bohemia
　　Letters　of　Two　Brides
　　The　Muse　of　the　Department
　　The　Imaginary　Mistress
　　The　Middle　Classes
　　Cousin　Betty
　　The　Country　Parson
In　addition；　M。　Bianchon　narrated　the　following：
　　Another　Study　of　Woman
　　La　Grande　Breteche

Canalis；　Constant…Cyr…Melchior；　Baron　de
　　Letters　of　Two　Brides
　　A　Distinguished　Provincial　at　Paris
　　Modeste　Mignon
　　Another　Study　of　Woman
　　A　Start　in　Life
　　Beatrix
　　The　Unconscious　Humorists
　　The　Member　for　Arcis

Dudley；　Lady　Arabella
　　The　Lily　of　the　Valley
　　The　Ball　at　Sceaux
　　The　Secrets　of　a　Princess
　　A　Daughter　of　Eve
　　Letters　of　Two　Brides

Euphrasia
　　Melmoth　Reconciled

Joseph
　　A　Study　of　Woman

Massol
　　Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
　　A　Daughter　of　Eve
　　Cousin　Betty
　　The　Unconscious　Humorists

Navarreins；　Duc　de
　　A　Bachelor's　Establishment
　　Colonel　Chabert
　　The　Muse　of　the　Department
　　The　Thirteen
　　Jealousies　of　a　Country　Town
　　The　Peasantry
　　Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
　　The　Country　Parson
　　The　Gondreville　Mystery
　　The　Secrets　of　a　Princess
　　Cousin　Betty

Rastignac；　Eugene　de
　　Father　Goriot
　　A　Distinguished　Provincial　at　Paris
　　Scenes　from　a　Courtesan's　Life
　　The　Ball　at　Sceaux
　　The　Interdiction
　　A　Study　of　Woman
　　Another　Study　of　Woman
　　The　Secrets　of　a　Princess
　　A　Daughter　of　Eve
　　The　Gondreville　Mystery
　　The　Firm　of　Nucingen
　　Cousin　Betty
　　The　Member　for　Arcis
　　The　Unconscious　Humorists

Taillefer；　Jean…Frederic
　　The　Firm　of　Nucingen
　　Father　Goriot
　　The　Red　Inn





End