clotelle(有色女英雄)-第32章
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examined his tongue； and pronounced him a sick man。 He immediately
ordered a tepid bath； and sent for a couple of leeches。
Seeing things taking such a serious turn； the American began to regret
the part he was playing； for there was no fun in being rubbed and leeched
when one was in perfect health。 He had gone too far to recede； however；
and so submitted quietly to the directions of the doctor； and； after
following the injunctions given by that learned Esculapius； was put to bed。
Shortly after； the sound of the horns and the yelp of the hounds
announced that the poor fox had taken the back track； and was repassing
near the house。 Even the pleasure of witnessing the beautiful sight from
the window was denied our hero； for the physician had ordered that he
must be kept in perfect quiet。
The chase was at last over； and the huntsmen all in； sympathizing with
their lost companion。 After nine days of sweating； blistering； and
leeching； Jerome left his bed convalescent； but much reduced in flesh and
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strength。 This was his first and last attempt to follow the fox and hounds。
During his fortnight's stay at Colonel G。'； Jerome spent most of his
time in the magnificent library。 Claude did not watch with more interest
every color of the skies； the trees； the grass； and the water； to learn from
nature； than did this son of a despised race search books to obtain that
knowledge which his early life as a slave had denied him。
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CLOTELLE
CHAPTER XXXI
THE MYSTERIOUS MEETING
AFTER more than a fortnight spent in the highlands of Scotland；
Jerome passed hastily through London on his way to the continent。
It was toward sunset； on a warm day in October； shortly after his
arrival in France； that； after strolling some distance from the Hotel de
Leon； in the old and picturesque town of Dunkirk； he entered a burial…
groundsuch places being always favorite walks with himand wandered
around among the silent dead。 All nature around was hushed in silence；
and seemed to partake of the general melancholy that hung over the quiet
resting…place of the departed。 Even the birds seemed imbued with the
spirit of the place； for they were silent； either flying noiselessly over the
graves； or jumping about in the tall grass。 After tracing the various
inscriptions that told the characters and conditions of the deceased； and
viewing the mounds beneath which the dust of mortality slumbered； he
arrived at a secluded spot near where an aged weeping willow bowed its
thick foliage to the ground； as though anxious to hide from the scrutinizing
gaze of curiosity the grave beneath it。 Jerome seated himself on a marble
tombstone； and commenced reading from a book which he had carried
under his arm。 It was now twilight； and he had read but a few minutes
when he observed a lady； attired in deep black； and leading a boy；
apparently some five or six years old； coming up one of the beautiful；
winding paths。 As the lady's veil was drawn closely over her face； he felt
somewhat at liberty to eye her more closely。 While thus engaged； the lady
gave a slight scream； and seemed suddenly to have fallen into a fainting
condition。 Jerome sprang from his seat； and caught her in time to save her
from falling to the ground。
At this moment an elderly gentleman； also dressed in black； was seen
approaching with a hurried step； which seemed to indicate that he was in
some way connected with the lady。 The old man came up； and in rather a
confused manner inquired what had happened； and Jerome explained
matters as well as he was able to do so。 After taking up the vinaigrette；
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which had fallen from her hand； and holding the bottle a short time to her
face； the lady began to revive。 During all this time； the veil had still partly
covered the face of the fair one； so that Jerome had scarcely seen it。 When
she had so far recovered as to be able to look around her； she raised herself
slightly； and again screamed and swooned。 The old man now feeling
satisfied that Jerome's dark complexion was the immediate cause of the
catastrophe； said in a somewhat petulant tone；
〃I will be glad； sir； if you will leave us alone。〃
The little boy at this juncture set up a loud cry； and amid the general
confusion； Jerome left the ground and returned to his hotel。
While seated at the window of his room looking out upon the crowded
street； with every now and then the strange scene in the graveyard vividly
before him； Jerome suddenly thought of the book he had been reading； and；
remembering that he had left it on the tombstone； where he dropped it
when called to the lady's assistance； he determined to return for it at once。
After a walk of some twenty minutes； he found himself again in the
burial…ground and on the spot where he had been an hour before。 The
pensive moon was already up； and its soft light was sleeping on the little
pond at the back of the grounds； while the stars seemed smiling at their
own sparkling rays gleaming up from the beautiful sheet of water。
Jerome searched in vain for his book； it was nowhere to be found。
Nothing； save the bouquet that the lady had dropped； and which lay half…
buried in the grass； from having been trodden upon； indicated that any one
had been there that evening。 The stillness of death reigned over the place；
even the little birds； that had before been twittering and flying about； had
retired for the night。
Taking up the bunch of flowers； Jerome returned to his hotel。 〃What
can this mean？〃 he would ask himself； 〃and why should they take my
book？〃 These questions he put to himself again and again during his walk。
His sleep was broken more than once that night； and he welcomed the
early dawn as it made its appearance。
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CHAPTER XXXII
THE HAPPY MEETING
AFTER passing a sleepless night； and hearing the clock strike six；
Jerome took from his table a book； and thus endeavored to pass away the
hours before breakfast…time。 While thus engaged； a servant entered and
handed him a note。 Hastily tearing it open； Jerome read as follows：
〃SIR；I owe you an apology for the abrupt manner in which I
addressed you last evening； and the inconvenience to which you were
subjected by some of my household。 If you will honor us with your
presence to…day at four o'clock； I will be most happy to give you due
satisfaction。 My servant will be waiting with the carriage at half…past
three。
