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第20章

the purcell papers-2-第20章

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not studied long in the school of Gerard

Douw; when he felt this interest deepening

into something of a keener and intenser

feeling than was quite consistent with the

tranquillity of his honest Dutch heart;

and at the same time he perceived; or

thought he perceived; flattering symptoms

of a reciprocity of liking; and this was

quite sufficient to determine whatever

indecision he might have heretofore

experienced; and to lead him to devote

exclusively to her every hope and feeling of his

heart。 In short; he was as much in love

as a Dutchman could be。 He was not

long in making his passion known to the

pretty maiden herself; and his declaration

was followed by a corresponding confession

upon her part。



Schalken; however; was a poor man;

and he possessed no counterbalancing

advantages of birth or position to induce

the old man to consent to a union which

must involve his niece and ward in the

strugglings and difficulties of a young and

nearly friendless artist。 He was; therefore;

to wait until time had furnished him with

opportunity; and accident with success; and

then; if his labours were found sufficiently

lucrative; it was to be hoped that his

proposals might at least be listened to by her

jealous guardian。 Months passed away;

and; cheered by the smiles of the little

Rose; Schalken's labours were redoubled;

and with such effect and improvement as

reasonably to promise the realisation of his

hopes; and no contemptible eminence in

his art; before many years should have

elapsed。



The even course of this cheering

prosperity was; however; destined to

experience a sudden and formidable

interruption; and that; too; in a manner so

strange and mysterious as to baffle all

investigation; and throw upon the events

themselves a shadow of almost supernatural horror。



Schalken had one evening remained in

the master's studio considerably longer

than his more volatile companions; who

had gladly availed themselves of the

excuse which the dusk of evening afforded;

to withdraw from their several tasks; in

order to finish a day of labour in the

jollity and conviviality of the tavern。



But Schalken worked for improvement;

or rather for love。 Besides; he was now

engaged merely in sketching a design; an

operation which; unlike that of colouring;

might be continued as long as there was

light sufficient to distinguish between

canvas and charcoal。 He had not then;

nor; indeed; until long after; discovered the

peculiar powers of his pencil; and he was

engaged in composing a group of extremely

roguish…looking and grotesque imps and

demons; who were inflicting various

ingenious torments upon a perspiring and

pot…bellied St。 Anthony; who reclined in

the midst of them; apparently in the last

stage of drunkenness。



The young artist; however; though

incapable of executing; or even of

appreciating; anything of true sublimity;

had nevertheless discernment enough to

prevent his being by any means satisfied

with his work; and many were the patient

erasures and corrections which the limbs

and features of saint and devil underwent;

yet all without producing in their new

arrangement anything of improvement or

increased effect。



The large; old…fashioned room was

silent; and; with the exception of himself;

quite deserted by its usual inmates。 An

hour had passednearly twowithout

any improved result。 Daylight had

already declined; and twilight was fast giving

way to the darkness of night。 The

patience of the young man was exhausted;

and he stood before his unfinished production;

absorbed in no very pleasing ruminations;

one hand buried in the folds of his

long dark hair; and the other holding the

piece of charcoal which had so ill executed

its office; and which he now rubbed; without

much regard to the sable streaks which

it produced; with irritable pressure upon

his ample Flemish inexpressibles。



'Pshaw!' said the young man aloud;

'would that picture; devils; saint; and all;

were where they should bein hell!'



A short; sudden laugh; uttered start



lingly close to his ear; instantly responded

to the ejaculation。



The artist turned sharply round; and

now for the first time became aware that

his labours had been overlooked by a

stranger。



Within about a yard and a half; and

rather behind him; there stood what was;

or appeared to be; the figure of an elderly

man: he wore a short cloak; and broad…

brimmed hat with a conical crown; and in

his hand; which was protected with a

heavy; gauntlet…shaped glove; he carried a

long ebony walking…stick; surmounted with

what appeared; as it glittered dimly in the

twilight; to be a massive head of gold;

and upon his breast; through the folds

of the cloak; there shone what appeared

to be the links of a rich chain of the same

metal。



The room was so obscure that nothing

further of the appearance of the figure

could be ascertained; and the face was

altogether overshadowed by the heavy flap

of the beaver which overhung it; so that

not a feature could be discerned。 A

quantity of dark hair escaped from

beneath this sombre hat; a circumstance

which; connected with the firm; upright

carriage of the intruder; proved that his

years could not yet exceed threescore or

thereabouts。



There was an air of gravity and

importance about the garb of this person; and

something indescribably odd; I might say

awful; in the perfect; stone…like movelessness

of the figure; that effectually checked

the testy comment which had at once

risen to the lips of the irritated artist。

He therefore; as soon as he had suf…

ficiently recovered the surprise; asked the

stranger; civilly; to be seated; and desired

to know if he had any message to leave for

his master。



'Tell Gerard Douw;' said the unknown;

without altering his attitude in the

smallest degree; 'that Mynher Vanderhauseny

of Rotterdam; desires to speak

with him to…morrow evening at this

hour; and; if he please; in this room; upon

matters of weightthat is all。 Good…night。'



The stranger; having finished this

message; turned abruptly; and; with a

quick but silent step; quitted the room;

before Schalken had time to say a word in

reply。



The young man felt a curiosity to see in

what direction the burgher of Rotterdam

would turn on quitting the studio;

and for that purpose he went directly

to the window which commanded the

door。



A lobby of considerable extent

intervened between the inner door of the

painter's room and the street entrance; so

that Schalken occupied the post of

observation before the old man could possibly

have reached the street。



He watched in vain; however。 There

was no other mode of exit。



Had the old man vanished; or was he

lurking about the recesses of the lobby

for some bad purpose? This last suggestion

filled the mind of Schalken with a

vague horror; which was so unaccountably

intense as to make him alike afraid to

remain in the room alone and reluctant to

pass through the lobby。



However; with an effort which ap…

peared very disproportioned to the

occasion; he summoned resolution to leave

the room; and; having double…locked the

door and thrust the key in his pocket;

without looking to the right or left; he

traversed the passage which had so

recently; perhaps still; contained the person

of his mysterious visitant; scarcely venturing

to breathe till he had arrived in the

open street。



'Mynher Vanderhausen;' said Gerard

Douw within himself; as the appointed

hour approached; 'Mynher Vanderhausen

of Rotterdam! I never heard of the man

till yesterday。 What can he want of me?

A portrait; perhaps; to be painted; or a

younger son or a poor relation to be

apprenticed; or a collection to be valued; or

pshaw I there's no one in Rotterdam to

leave me a legacy。 Well; wha

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