the purcell papers-2-第22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!
speedy return of Schalken。
'I desire;' said the mysterious gentleman;
'to place in your hands at once an
evidence of my wealth; and a security for
my liberal dealing with your niece。 The
lad will return in a minute or two with a
sum in value five times the fortune which
she has a right to expect from a husband。
This shall lie in your hands; together with
her dowry; and you may apply the united
sum as suits her interest best; it shall be
all exclusively hers while she lives。 Is that
liberal?'
Douw assented; and inwardly thought
that fortune had been extraordinarily kind
to his niece。 The stranger; he thought;
must be both wealthy and generous; and
such an offer was not to be despised; though
made by a humourist; and one of no very
prepossessing presence。
Rose had no very high pretensions; for
she was almost without dowry; indeed;
altogether so; excepting so far as the
deficiency had been supplied by the generosity
of her uncle。 Neither had she any right to
raise any scruples against the match on the
score of birth; for her own origin was by
no means elevated; and as to other objections;
Gerard resolved; and; indeed; by the
usages of the time was warranted in
resolving; not to listen to them for a moment。
'Sir;' said he; addressing the stranger;
'your offer is most liberal; and whatever
hesitation I may feel in closing with it
immediately; arises solely from my not
having the honour of knowing anything of
your family or station。 Upon these points
you can; of course; satisfy me without
difficulty?'
'As to my respectability;' said the
stranger; drily; 'you must take that for
granted at present; pester me with no
inquiries; you can discover nothing more
about me than I choose to make known。
You shall have sufficient security for my
respectabilitymy word; if you are honourable:
if you are sordid; my gold。'
'A testy old gentleman;' thought Douw;
'he must have his own way。 But; all
things considered; I am justified in giving
my niece to him。 Were she my own
daughter; I would do the like by her。 I
will not pledge myself unnecessarily; however。'
'You will not pledge yourself unnecessarily;'
said Vanderhausen; strangely uttering
the very words which had just floated
through the mind of his companion; 'but
you will do so if it IS necessary; I presume;
and I will show you that I consider it in…
dispensable。 If the gold I mean to leave
in your hands satisfy you; and if you
desire that my proposal shall not be at once
withdrawn; you must; before I leave this
room; write your name to this engagement。'
Having thus spoken; he placed a paper
in the hands of Gerard; the contents of
which expressed an engagement entered
into by Gerard Douw; to give to Wilken
Vanderhausen; of Rotterdam; in marriage;
Rose Velderkaust; and so forth; within one
week of the date hereof。
While the painter was employed in
reading this covenant; Schalken; as we have
stated; entered the studio; and having
delivered the box and the valuation of the
Jew into the hands of the stranger; he
was about to retire; when Vanderhausen
called to him to wait; and; presenting the
case and the certificate to Gerard Douw;
he waited in silence until he had satisfied
himself by an inspection of both as to the
value of the pledge left in his hands。 At
length he said:
'Are you content?'
The painter said he would fain have an
other day to consider。
'Not an hour;' said the suitor; coolly。
'Well; then;' said Douw; 'I am content;
it is a bargain。'
'Then sign at once;' said Vanderhausen;
'I am weary。'
At the same time he produced a small
case of writing materials; and Gerard signed
the important document。
'Let this youth witness the covenant;'
said the old man; and Godfrey Schalken
unconsciously signed the instrument which
bestowed upon another that hand which
he had so long regarded as the object and
reward of all his labours。
The compact being thus completed; the
strange visitor folded up the paper; and
stowed it safely in an inner pocket。
'I will visit you to…morrow night; at
nine of the clock; at your house; Gerard
Douw; and will see the subject of our
contract。 Farewell。' And so saying; Wilken
Vanderhausen moved stiffly; but rapidly
out of the room。
Schalken; eager to resolve his doubts;
had placed himself by the window in order
to watch the street entrance; but the
experiment served only to support his
suspicions; for the old man did not issue from
the door。 This was very strange; very
odd; very fearful。 He and his master
returned together; and talked but little on
the way; for each had his own sub…
jects of reflection; of anxiety; and of
hope。
Schalken; however; did not know the
ruin which threatened his cherished
schemes。
Gerard Douw knew nothing of the
attachment which had sprung up between
his pupil and his niece; and even if he
had; it is doubtful whether he would have
regarded its existence as any serious
obstruction to the wishes of Mynher Vanderhausen。
Marriages were then and there matters
of traffic and calculation; and it would have
appeared as absurd in the eyes of the guardian
to make a mutual attachment an
essential element in a contract of marriage;
as it would have been to draw up his bonds
and receipts in the language of chivalrous
romance。
The painter; however; did not communicate
to his niece the important step which
he had taken in her behalf; and his resolution
arose not from any anticipation of
opposition on her part; but solely from a
ludicrous consciousness that if his ward
were; as she very naturally might do; to
ask him to describe the appearance of the
bridegroom whom he destined for her; he
would be forced to confess that he had not
seen his face; and; if called upon; would find
it impossible to identify him。
Upon the next day; Gerard Douw having
dined; called his niece to him; and having
scanned her person with an air of satisfaction;
he took her hand; and looking upon
her pretty; innocent face with a smile of
kindness; he said:
'Rose; my girl; that face of yours will
make your fortune。' Rose blushed and
smiled。 'Such faces and such tempers
seldom go together; and; when they do;
the compound is a love…potion which few
heads or hearts can resist。 Trust me; thou
wilt soon be a bride; girl。 But this is
trifling; and I am pressed for time; so
make ready the large room by eight o'clock
to…night; and give directions for supper at
nine。 I expect a friend to…night; and
observe me; child; do thou trick thyself out
handsomely。 I would not have him think
us poor or sluttish。'
With these words he left the chamber;
and took his way to the room to which we
have already had occasion to introduce
our readersthat in which his pupils
worked。
When the evening closed in; Gerard
called Schalken; who was about to take his
departure to his obscure and comfortless
lodgings; and asked him to come
home and sup with Rose and Vanderhausen。
The invitation was of course accepted;
and Gerard Douw and his pupil soon
found themselves in the handsome and
somewhat antique…looking room which
had been prepared for the reception of the
stranger。
A cheerful wood…fire blazed in the capacious
hearth; a little at one side an old…
fashioned table; with richly…carved legs;
was placeddestined; no doubt; to receive
the supper; for which preparations were
going forward; and ranged with exact
regularity; stood the tall…backed chairs;
whose ungracefulness was more than
counterbalanced by their comfort。
The little party; consisting of Rose; her
uncle; and the artist; awaited the arrival of
the expected visitor with considerable impatience。
Nine o'clock at length came; and with it
a summons at the street…door; whi