sarrasine-第7章

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yourself　in　a　cloak；　pull　a　broad…brimmed　hat　over　your　eyes；　and　be
on　the　Rue　du　Corso；　in　front　of　the　Hotel　d'Espagne；　about　ten
o'clock　to…night。'

〃　'I　will　be　there；'　he　replied；　putting　two　louis　in　the　duenna's
wrinkled　hand。

〃He　rushed　from　his　box；　after　a　sign　of　intelligence　to　La
Zambinella；　who　lowered　her　voluptuous　eyelids　modestly；　like　a　woman
overjoyed　to　be　understood　at　last。　Then　he　hurried　home；　in　order　to
borrow　from　his　wardrobe　all　the　charms　it　could　loan　him。　As　he　left
the　theatre；　a　stranger　grasped　his　arm。

〃　'Beware；　Signor　Frenchman；'　he　said　in　his　ear。　'This　is　a　matter　of
life　and　death。　Cardinal　Cicognara　is　her　protector；　and　he　is　no
trifler。'

〃If　a　demon　had　placed　the　deep　pit　of　hell　between　Sarrasine　and　La
Zambinella；　he　would　have　crossed　it　with　one　stride　at　that　moment。
Like　the　horses　of　the　immortal　gods　described　by　Homer；　the
sculptor's　love　had　traversed　vast　spaces　in　a　twinkling。

〃　'If　death　awaited　me　on　leaving　the　house；　I　would　go　the　more
quickly；'　he　replied。

〃　'/Poverino！/'　cried　the　stranger；　as　he　disappeared。

〃To　talk　of　danger　to　a　man　in　love　is　to　sell　him　pleasure。
Sarrasine's　valet　had　never　seen　his　master　so　painstaking　in　the
matter　of　dress。　His　finest　sword；　a　gift　from　Bouchardon；　the　bow…
knot　Clotilde　gave　him；　his　coat　with　gold　braid；　his　waistcoat　of
cloth　of　silver；　his　gold　snuff…box；　his　valuable　watch；　everything
was　taken　from　its　place；　and　he　arrayed　himself　like　a　maiden　about
to　appear　before　her　first　lover。　At　the　appointed　hour；　drunk　with
love　and　boiling　over　with　hope；　Sarrasine；　his　nose　buried　in　his
cloak；　hurried　to　the　rendezvous　appointed　by　the　old　woman。　She　was
waiting。

〃　'You　are　very　late；'　she　said。　'Come。'

〃She　led　the　Frenchman　through　several　narrow　streets　and　stopped　in
front　of　a　palace　of　attractive　appearance。　She　knocked；　the　door
opened。　She　led　Sarrasine　through　a　labyrinth　of　stairways；　galleries；
and　apartments　which　were　lighted　only　by　uncertain　gleams　of
moonlight；　and　soon　reached　a　door　through　the　cracks　of　which　stole　a
bright　light；　and　from　which　came　the　joyous　sound　of　several　voices。
Sarrasine　was　suddenly　blinded　when；　at　a　word　from　the　old　woman；　he
was　admitted　to　that　mysterious　apartment　and　found　himself　in　a　salon
as　brilliantly　lighted　as　it　was　sumptuously　furnished；　in　the　centre
stood　a　bountifully　supplied　table；　laden　with　inviolable　bottles；
with　laughing　decanters　whose　red　facets　sparkled　merrily。　He
recognized　the　singers　from　the　theatre；　male　and　female；　mingled　with
charming　women；　all　ready　to　begin　an　artists'　spree　and　waiting　only
for　him。　Sarrasine　restrained　a　feeling　of　displeasure　and　put　a　good
face　on　the　matter。　He　had　hoped　for　a　dimly　lighted　chamber；　his
mistress　leaning　over　a　brazier；　a　jealous　rival　within　two　steps；
death　and　love；　confidences　exchanged　in　low　tones；　heart　to　heart；
hazardous　kisses；　and　faces　so　near　together　that　La　Zambinella's　hair
would　have　touched　caressingly　his　desire…laden　brow；　burning　with
happiness。

〃　'/Vive　la　folie！/'　he　cried。　'/Signori　e　belle　donne/；　you　will
allow　me　to　postpone　my　revenge　and　bear　witness　to　my　gratitude　for
the　welcome　you　offer　a　poor　sculptor。'

〃After　receiving　congratulations　not　lacking　in　warmth　from　most　of
those　present；　whom　he　knew　by　sight；　he　tried　to　approach　the　couch
on　which　La　Zambinella　was　nonchalantly　reclining。　Ah！　how　his　heart
beat　when　he　spied　a　tiny　foot　in　one　of　those　slippers　whichif　you
will　allow　me　to　say　so；　madameformerly　imparted　to　a　woman's　feet
such　a　coquettish；　voluptuous　look　that　I　cannot　conceive　how　men
could　resist　them。　Tightly　fitting　white　stockings　with　green　clocks；
short　skirts；　and　the　pointed；　high…heeled　slippers　of　Louis　XV。's
time　contributed　somewhat；　I　fancy；　to　the　demoralization　of　Europe
and　the　clergy。〃

〃Somewhat！〃　exclaimed　the　marchioness。　〃Have　you　read　nothing；　pray？〃

〃La　Zambinella；〃　I　continued；　smiling；　〃had　boldly　crossed　her　legs；
and　as　she　prattled　swung　the　upper　one；　a　duchess'　attitude　very　well
suited　to　her　capricious　type　of　beauty；　overflowing　with　a　certain
attractive　suppleness。　She　had　laid　aside　her　stage　costume；　and　wore
a　waist　which　outlined　a　slender　figure；　displayed　to　the　best
advantage　by　a　/panier/　and　a　satin　dress　embroidered　with　blue
flowers。　Her　breast；　whose　treasures　were　concealed　by　a　coquettish
arrangement　of　lace；　was　of　a　gleaming　white。　Her　hair　was　dressed
almost　like　Madame　du　Barry's；　her　face；　although　overshadowed　by　a
large　cap；　seemed　only　the　daintier　therefor；　and　the　powder　was　very
becoming　to　her。　She　smiled　graciously　at　the　sculptor。　Sarrasine；
disgusted　beyond　measure　at　finding　himself　unable　to　speak　to　her
without　witnesses；　courteously　seated　himself　beside　her；　and
discoursed　of　music；　extolling　her　prodigious　talent；　but　his　voice
trembled　with　love　and　fear　and　hope。

〃　'What　do　you　fear？'　queried　Vitagliani；　the　most　celebrated　singer
in　the　troupe。　'Go　on；　you　have　no　rival　here　to　fear。'

〃After　he　had　said　this　the　tenor　smiled　silently。　The　lips　of　all　the
guests　repeated　that　smile；　in　which　there　was　a　lurking　expression　of
malice　likely　to　escape　a　lover。　The　publicity　of　his　love　was　like　a
sudden　dagger…thrust　in　Sarrasine's　heart。　Although　possessed　of　a
certain　strength　of　character；　and　although　nothing　that　might　happen
could　subdue　the　violence　of　his　passion；　it　had　not　before　occurred
to　him　that　La　Zambinella　was　almost　a　courtesan；　and　that　he　could
not　hope　to　enjoy　at　one　and　the　same　time　the　pure　delights　which
would　make　a　maiden's　love　so　sweet；　and　the　passionate　transports
with　which　one　must　purchase　the　perilous　favors　of　an　actress。　He
reflected　and　resigned　himself　to　his　fate。　The　supper　was　served。
Sarrasine　and　La　Zambinella　seated　themselves　side　by　side　without
ceremony。　During　the　first　half　of　the　feast　the　artists　exercised
some　restraint；　and　the　sculptor　was　able　to　converse　with　the　singer。
He　found　that　she　was　very　bright　and　quick…witted；　but　she　was
amazingly　ignorant　and　seemed　weak　and　superstitious。　The　delicacy　of
her　organs　was　reproduced　in　her　understanding。　When　Vitagliani　opened
the　first　bottle　of　champagne；　Sarrasine　read　in　his　neighbor's　eyes　a
shrinking　dread　of　the　report　caused　by　the　release　of　the　gas。　The
involuntary　shudder　of　that　thoroughly　feminine　temperament　was
interpreted　by　the　amorous　artist　as　indicating　extreme　delicacy　of
feeling。　This　weakness　delighted　the　Frenchman。　There　is　so　much　of
the　element　of　protection　in　a　man's　love！

〃　'You　may　make　use　of　my　power　as　a　shield！'

〃Is　not　that　sentence　written　at　the　root　of　all　declarations　of　love？
Sarrasine；　who　was　too　passionately　in　love　to　make　fine　speeches　to
the　fair　Italian；　was；　like　all　lovers；　grave；　jovial；　meditative；　by
turns。　Although　he　seemed　to　listen　to　the　guests；　he　did　not　hear　a
word　that　they　said；　he　was　so　wrapped　up　in　the　pleasure　of　sitting
by　her　side；　of　touching　her　hand；　of　waiting　on　her。　He　was　swimming
in　a　sea　of　concealed　joy。　Despite　the　eloquence　of　divers　glances
they　exchanged；　he　was　amazed　at　La　Zambinella's　continued　reserve
toward　him。　She　had　begun；　it　is　true；　by　touching　his　foot　with　hers
and　stimulating　his　passion　with　the　mischievous　pleasure　of　a　woman
who　is　free　and　in　love；　but　she　had　suddenly　enveloped　herself　in
maidenly　modesty；　after　she　had　heard　Sarrasine　relate　an　incident
which　illustrated　the　extreme　violence　of　his　temper。　When　the　supper
became　a　debauch；　the　guests　began　to　sing；　inspired　by　the　Peralta
and　the　Pedro…Ximenes。　There　were　fascinating　duets；　Calabrian
ballads；　Spanish　/sequidillas/；　and　Neapolitan　/canzonettes/。
Drunkenness　was　in　all　eyes；　in　the　music；　in　the　hearts　and　voices　of
the　guests。　There　was　a　sudden　overflow　of　bewitching　vivacity；　of
cordial　unconstraint；　of　Italian　good　nature；　of　which　no　words　can
convey　an　idea　to　those　who　know　only　the　evening　parties　of　Paris；
the　routs　of　London；　or　the　clubs　of　Vienna。　Jests　and　words　of　love
flew　from　side　to　side　like　bullets　in　a　battle；　amid　laughter；
impieties；