ferragus-第26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！
may be wrong。〃
〃Doctor； tell me the truth。 I am a man； and I can bear it。 Besides； I
have the deepest interest in knowing it； I have certain affairs to
settle。〃
〃Madame Jules is dying；〃 said the physician。 〃There is some moral
malady which has made great progress； and it has complicated her
physical condition； which was already dangerous； and made still more
so by her great imprudence。 To walk about barefooted at night！ to go
out when I forbade it！ on foot yesterday in the rain； to…day in a
carriage！ She must have meant to kill herself。 But still； my judgment
is not final； she has youth； and a most amazing nervous strength。 It
may be best to risk all to win all by employing some violent reagent。
But I will not take upon myself to order it； nor will I advise it； in
consultation I shall oppose it。〃
Jules returned to his wife。 For eleven days and eleven nights he
remained beside her bed； taking no sleep during the day when he laid
his head upon the foot of the bed。 No man ever pushed the jealousy of
care and the craving for devotion to such an extreme as he。 He could
not endure that the slightest service should be done by others for his
wife。 There were days of uncertainty； false hopes； now a little
better； then a crisis；in short； all the horrible mutations of death
as it wavers； hesitates； and finally strikes。 Madame Jules always
found strength to smile at her husband。 She pitied him； knowing that
soon he would be alone。 It was a double death；that of life； that of
love； but life grew feebler； and love grew mightier。 One frightful
night there was； when Clemence passed through that delirium which
precedes the death of youth。 She talked of her happy love； she talked
of her father； she related her mother's revelations on her death…bed；
and the obligations that mother had laid upon her。 She struggled； not
for life； but for her love which she could not leave。
〃Grant； O God！〃 she said； 〃that he may not know I want him to die with
me。〃
Jules； unable to bear the scene； was at that moment in the adjoining
room； and did not hear the prayer； which he would doubtless have
fulfilled。
When this crisis was over； Madame Jules recovered some strength。 The
next day she was beautiful and tranquil； hope seemed to come to her；
she adorned herself； as the dying often do。 Then she asked to be alone
all day； and sent away her husband with one of those entreaties made
so earnestly that they are granted as we grant the prayer of a little
child。
Jules； indeed； had need of this day。 He went to Monsieur de Maulincour
to demand the satisfaction agreed upon between them。 It was not
without great difficulty that he succeeded in reaching the presence of
the author of these misfortunes； but the vidame； when he learned that
the visit related to an affair of honor； obeyed the precepts of his
whole life； and himself took Jules into the baron's chamber。
Monsieur Desmarets looked about him in search of his antagonist。
〃Yes！ that is really he；〃 said the vidame； motioning to a man who was
sitting in an arm…chair beside the fire。
〃Who is it？ Jules？〃 said the dying man in a broken voice。
Auguste had lost the only faculty that makes us livememory。 Jules
Desmarets recoiled with horror at this sight。 He could not even
recognize the elegant young man in that thing withoutas Bossuet
saida name in any language。 It was； in truth； a corpse with whitened
hair； its bones scarce covered with a wrinkled； blighted； withered
skin；a corpse with white eyes motionless； mouth hideously gaping；
like those of idiots or vicious men killed by excesses。 No trace of
intelligence remained upon that brow； nor in any feature； nor was
there in that flabby flesh either color or the faintest appearance of
circulating blood。 Here was a shrunken； withered creature brought to
the state of those monsters we see preserved in museums； floating in
alchohol。 Jules fancied that he saw above that face the terrible head
of Ferragus； and his own anger was silenced by such a vengeance。 The
husband found pity in his heart for the vacant wreck of what was once
a man。
〃The duel has taken place；〃 said the vidame。
〃But he has killed many；〃 answered Jules； sorrowfully。
〃And many dear ones；〃 added the old man。 〃His grandmother is dying；
and I shall follow her soon into the grave。〃
On the morrow of this day； Madame Jules grew worse from hour to hour。
She used a moment's strength to take a letter from beneath her pillow；
and gave it eagerly to her husband with a sign that was easy to
understand；she wished to give him； in a kiss； her last breath。 He
took it； and she died。 Jules fell half…dead himself and was taken to
his brother's house。 There； as he deplored in tears his absence of the
day before； his brother told him that this separation was eagerly
desired by Clemence； who wished to spare him the sight of the
religious paraphernalia； so terrible to tender imaginations； which the
Church displays when conferring the last sacraments upon the dying。
〃You could not have borne it；〃 said his brother。 〃I could hardly bear
the sight myself； and all the servants wept。 Clemence was like a
saint。 She gathered strength to bid us all good…bye； and that voice；
heard for the last time； rent our hearts。 When she asked pardon for
the pain she might unwillingly have caused her servants； there were
cries and sobs and〃
〃Enough！ enough！〃 said Jules。
He wanted to be alone； that he might read the last words of the woman
whom all had loved； and who had passed away like a flower。
〃My beloved； this is my last will。 Why should we not make wills
for the treasures of our hearts； as for our worldly property？ Was
not my love my property； my all？ I mean here to dispose of my
love： it was the only fortune of your Clemence； and it is all that
she can leave you in dying。 Jules； you love me still； and I die
happy。 The doctors may explain my death as they think best； I
alone know the true cause。 I shall tell it to you； whatever pain
it may cause you。 I cannot carry with me； in a heart all yours； a
secret which you do not share； although I die the victim of an
enforced silence。
〃Jules； I was nurtured and brought up in the deepest solitude； far
from the vices and the falsehoods of the world； by the loving
woman whom you knew。 Society did justice to her conventional
charm； for that is what pleases society； but I knew secretly her
precious soul； I could cherish the mother who made my childhood a
joy without bitterness； and I knew why I cherished her。 Was not
that to love doubly？ Yes； I loved her； I feared her； I respected
her； yet nothing oppressed my heart； neither fear nor respect。 I
was all in all to her； she was all in all to me。 For nineteen
happy years； without a care； my soul； solitary amid the world
which muttered round me； reflected only her pure image； my heart
beat for her and through her。 I was scrupulously pious； I found
pleasure in being innocent before God。 My mother cultivated all
noble and self…respecting sentiments in me。 Ah！ it gives me
happiness to tell you； Jules； that I now know I was indeed a young
girl； and that I came to you virgin in heart。
〃When I left that absolute solitude； when； for the first time； I
braided my hair and crowned it with almond blossoms； when I added；
with delight； a few satin knots to my white dress； thinking of the
world I was to see； and which I was curious to seeJules； that
innocent and modest coquetry was done for you！ Yes； as I entered
the world； I saw /you/ first of all。 Your face； I remarked it； it
stood out from the rest； your person pleased me； your voice； your
manners all inspired me with pleasant presentiments。 When you came
up； when you spoke to me； the color on your forehead； the tremble
in your voice；that moment gave me memories with which I throb as
I now write to you； as I now； for the last time； think of them。
Our love was at first the keenest of sympathies； but it was soon
discovered by each of us and then； as speedily； shared； just as；
in after times； we have both equally felt and shared innumerable
happinesses。 From that moment my mother was only second in
