the magic skin-第50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！
and polished the glasses of their lorgnettes with their gloves。 The
enthusiasm subsided by degrees； the stage echoed with the voices of
the singers； and order reigned as before。 The aristocratic section；
ashamed of having yielded to a spontaneous feeling； again assumed
their wonted politely frigid manner。 The well…to…do dislike to be
astonished at anything； at the first sight of a beautiful thing it
becomes their duty to discover the defect in it which absolves them
from admiring it；the feeling of all ordinary minds。 Yet a few still
remained motionless and heedless of the music； artlessly absorbed in
the delight of watching Raphael's neighbor。
Valentin noticed Taillefer's mean； obnoxious countenance by Aquilina's
side in a lower box； and received an approving smirk from him。 Then he
saw Emile； who seemed to say from where he stood in the orchestra；
〃Just look at that lovely creature there； close beside you！〃 Lastly；
he saw Rastignac； with Mme。 de Nucingen and her daughter； twisting his
gloves like a man in despair； because he was tethered to his place；
and could not leave it to go any nearer to the unknown fair divinity。
Raphael's life depended upon a covenant that he had made with himself；
and had hitherto kept sacred。 He would give no special heed to any
woman whatever； and the better to guard against temptation； he used a
cunningly contrived opera…glass which destroyed the harmony of the
fairest features by hideous distortions。 He had not recovered from the
terror that had seized on him in the morning when； at a mere
expression of civility； the Magic Skin had contracted so abruptly。 So
Raphael was determined not to turn his face in the direction of his
neighbor。 He sat imperturbable as a duchess with his back against the
corner of the box； thereby shutting out half of his neighbor's view of
the stage； appearing to disregard her； and even to be unaware that a
pretty woman sat there just behind him。
His neighbor copied Valentin's position exactly； she leaned her elbow
on the edge of her box and turned her face in three…quarter profile
upon the singers on the stage； as if she were sitting to a painter。
These two people looked like two estranged lovers still sulking； still
turning their backs upon each other； who will go into each other's
arms at the first tender word。
Now and again his neighbor's ostrich feathers or her hair came in
contact with Raphael's head； giving him a pleasurable thrill； against
which he sternly fought。 In a little while he felt the touch of the
soft frill of lace that went round her dress； he could hear the
gracious sounds of the folds of her dress itself； light rustling
noises full of enchantment； he could even feel her movements as she
breathed； with the gentle stir thus imparted to her form and to her
draperies； it seemed to Raphael that all her being was suddenly
communicated to him in an electric spark。 The lace and tulle that
caressed him imparted the delicious warmth of her bare； white
shoulders。 By a freak in the ordering of things； these two creatures；
kept apart by social conventions； with the abysses of death between
them； breathed together and perhaps thought of one another。 Finally；
the subtle perfume of aloes completed the work of Raphael's
intoxication。 Opposition heated his imagination； and his fancy； become
the wilder for the limits imposed upon it； sketched a woman for him in
outlines of fire。 He turned abruptly； the stranger made a similar
movement； startled no doubt at being brought in contact with a
stranger； and they remained face to face； each with the same thought。
〃Pauline！〃
〃M。 Raphael！〃
Each surveyed the other； both of them petrified with astonishment。
Raphael noticed Pauline's daintily simple costume。 A woman's
experienced eyes would have discerned and admired the outlines beneath
the modest gauze folds of her bodice and the lily whiteness of her
throat。 And then her more than mortal clearness of soul； her maidenly
modesty； her graceful bearing； all were unchanged。 Her sleeve was
quivering with agitation； for the beating of her heart was shaking her
whole frame。
〃Come to the Hotel de Saint…Quentin to…morrow for your papers；〃 she
said。 〃I will be there at noon。 Be punctual。〃
She rose hastily； and disappeared。 Raphael thought of following
Pauline； feared to compromise her； and stayed。 He looked at Foedora；
she seemed to him positively ugly。 Unable to understand a single
phrase of the music； and feeling stifled in the theatre； he went out；
and returned home with a full heart。
〃Jonathan；〃 he said to the old servant； as soon as he lay in bed；
〃give me half a drop of laudanum on a piece of sugar； and don't wake
me to…morrow till twenty minutes to twelve。〃
〃I want Pauline to love me！〃 he cried next morning； looking at the
talisman the while in unspeakable anguish。
The skin did not move in the least； it seemed to have lost its power
to shrink； doubtless it could not fulfil a wish fulfilled already。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Raphael； feeling as if a mantle of lead had fallen
away； which he had worn ever since the day when the talisman had been
given to him； 〃so you are playing me false； you are not obeying me；
the pact is broken！ I am free； I shall live。 Then was it all a
wretched joke？〃 But he did not dare to believe in his own thought as
he uttered it。
He dressed himself as simply as had formerly been his wont； and set
out on foot for his old lodging； trying to go back in fancy to the
happy days when he abandoned himself without peril to vehement
desires； the days when he had not yet condemned all human enjoyment。
As he walked he beheld Paulinenot the Pauline of the Hotel Saint…
Quentin； but the Pauline of last evening。 Here was the accomplished
mistress he had so often dreamed of； the intelligent young girl with
the loving nature and artistic temperament； who understood poets； who
understood poetry； and lived in luxurious surroundings。 Here； in
short； was Foedora； gifted with a great soul； or Pauline become a
countess； and twice a millionaire； as Foedora had been。 When he
reached the worn threshold； and stood upon the broken step at the
door； where in the old days he had had so many desperate thoughts； an
old woman came out of the room within and spoke to him。
〃You are M。 Raphael de Valentin； are you not？〃
〃Yes； good mother；〃 he replied。
〃You know your old room then；〃 she replied； 〃you are expected up
there。〃
〃Does Mme。 Gaudin still own the house？〃 Raphael asked。
〃Oh no； sir。 Mme。 Gaudin is a baroness now。 She lives in a fine house
of her own on the other side of the river。 Her husband has come back。
My goodness； he brought back thousands and thousands。 They say she
could buy up all the Quartier Saint…Jacques if she liked。 She gave me
her basement room for nothing； and the remainder of her lease。 Ah；
she's a kind woman all the same； she is no more proud to…day than she
was yesterday。〃
Raphael hurried up the staircase to his garret； as he reached the last
few steps he heard the sounds of a piano。 Pauline was there； simply
dressed in a cotton gown； but the way that it was made； like the
gloves； hat； and shawl that she had thrown carelessly upon the bed；
revealed a change of fortune。
〃Ah； there you are！〃 cried Pauline； turning her head； and rising with
unconcealed delight。
Raphael went to sit beside her； flushed； confused； and happy； he
looked at her in silence。
〃Why did you leave us then？〃 she asked； dropping her eyes as the flush
deepened on his face。 〃What became of you？〃
〃Ah； I have been very miserable； Pauline； I am very miserable still。〃
〃Alas！〃 she said； filled with pitying tenderness。 〃I guessed your fate
yesterday when I saw you so well dressed； and apparently so wealthy；
but in reality？ Eh； M。 Raphael； is it as it always used to be with
you？〃
Valentin could not restrain the tears that sprang to his eyes。
〃Pauli
