the girl with the golden eyes-第14章
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with the golden eyes； as the young and passionate can dream。 His
dreams were monstrous images； unattainable extravagancesfull of
light； revealing invisible worlds； yet in a manner always incomplete；
for an intervening veil changes the conditions of vision。
For the next and succeeding day Henri disappeared and no one knew what
had become of him。 His power only belonged to him under certain
conditions； and； happily for him； during those two days he was a
private soldier in the service of the demon to whom he owed his
talismanic existence。 But at the appointed time； in the evening； he
was waitingand he had not long to waitfor the carriage。 The
mulatto approached Henri； in order to repeat to him in French a phrase
which he seemed to have learned by heart。
〃If you wish to come； she told me； you must consent to have your eyes
bandaged。〃
And Cristemio produced a white silk handkerchief。
〃No！〃 said Henri； whose omnipotence revolted suddenly。
He tried to leap in。 The mulatto made a sign； and the carriage drove
off。
〃Yes！〃 cried De Marsay； furious at the thought of losing a piece of
good fortune which had been promised him。
He saw； moreover； the impossibility of making terms with a slave whose
obedience was as blind as the hangman's。 Nor was it this passive
instrument upon whom his anger could fall。
The mulatto whistled； the carriage returned。 Henri got in hastily。
Already a few curious onlookers had assembled like sheep on the
boulevard。 Henri was strong； he tried to play the mulatto。 When the
carriage started at a gallop he seized his hands； in order to master
him； and retain； by subduing his attendant； the possession of his
faculties； so that he might know whither he was going。 It was a vain
attempt。 The eyes of the mulatto flashed from the darkness。 The fellow
uttered a cry which his fury stifled in his throat； released himself；
threw back De Marsay with a hand like iron； and nailed him； so to
speak； to the bottom of the carriage； then with his free hand； he drew
a triangular dagger； and whistled。 The coachman heard the whistle and
stopped。 Henri was unarmed； he was forced to yield。 He moved his head
towards the handkerchief。 The gesture of submission calmed Cristemio；
and he bound his eyes with a respect and care which manifested a sort
of veneration for the person of the man whom his idol loved。 But；
before taking this course； he had placed his dagger distrustfully in
his side pocket； and buttoned himself up to the chin。
〃That nigger would have killed me！〃 said De Marsay to himself。
Once more the carriage moved on rapidly。 There was one resource still
open to a young man who knew Paris as well as Henri。 To know whither
he was going； he had but to collect himself and count； by the number
of gutters crossed； the streets leading from the boulevards by which
the carriage passed； so long as it continued straight along。 He could
thus discover into which lateral street it would turn； either towards
the Seine or towards the heights of Montmartre； and guess the name or
position of the street in which his guide should bring him to a halt。
But the violent emotion which his struggle had caused him； the rage
into which his compromised dignity had thrown him； the ideas of
vengeance to which he abandoned himself； the suppositions suggested to
him by the circumstantial care which this girl had taken in order to
bring him to her； all hindered him from the attention； which the blind
have； necessary for the concentration of his intelligence and the
perfect lucidity of his recollection。 The journey lasted half an hour。
When the carriage stopped； it was no longer on the street。 The mulatto
and the coachman took Henri in their arms； lifted him out； and；
putting him into a sort of litter； conveyed him across a garden。 He
could smell its flowers and the perfume peculiar to trees and grass。
The silence which reigned there was so profound that he could
distinguish the noise made by the drops of water falling from the
moist leaves。 The two men took him to a staircase； set him on his
feet； led him by his hands through several apartments； and left him in
a room whose atmosphere was perfumed； and the thick carpet of which he
could feel beneath his feet。
A woman's hand pushed him on to a divan； and untied the handkerchief
for him。 Henri saw Paquita before him； but Paquita in all her womanly
and voluptuous glory。 The section of the boudoir in which Henri found
himself described a circular line； softly gracious； which was faced
opposite by the other perfectly square half； in the midst of which a
chimney…piece shone of gold and white marble。 He had entered by a door
on one side； hidden by a rich tapestried screen； opposite which was a
window。 The semicircular portion was adorned with a real Turkish
divan； that is to say； a mattress thrown on the ground； but a mattress
as broad as a bed； a divan fifty feet in circumference； made of white
cashmere； relieved by bows of black and scarlet silk； arranged in
panels。 The top of this huge bed was raised several inches by numerous
cushions； which further enriched it by their tasteful comfort。 The
boudoir was lined with some red stuff； over which an Indian muslin was
stretched； fluted after the fashion of Corinthian columns； in plaits
going in and out； and bound at the top and bottom by bands of poppy…
colored stuff； on which were designs in black arabesque。
Below the muslin the poppy turned to rose； that amorous color； which
was matched by window…curtains； which were of Indian muslin lined with
rose…colored taffeta； and set off with a fringe of poppy…color and
black。 Six silver…gilt arms； each supporting two candles； were
attached to the tapestry at an equal distance； to illuminate the
divan。 The ceiling； from the middle of which a lustre of unpolished
silver hung； was of a brilliant whiteness； and the cornice was gilded。
The carpet was like an Oriental shawl； it had the designs and recalled
the poetry of Persia； where the hands of slaves had worked on it。 The
furniture was covered in white cashmere； relieved by black and poppy…
colored ornaments。 The clock； the candelabra； all were in white marble
and gold。 The only table there had a cloth of cashmere。 Elegant
flower…pots held roses of every kind； flowers white or red。 In fine；
the least detail seemed to have been the object of loving thought。
Never had richness hidden itself more coquettishly to become elegance；
to express grace； to inspire pleasure。 Everything there would have
warmed the coldest of beings。 The caresses of the tapestry； of which
the color changed according to the direction of one's gaze； becoming
either all white or all rose； harmonized with the effects of the light
shed upon the diaphanous tissues of the muslin； which produced an
appearance of mistiness。 The soul has I know not what attraction
towards white； love delights in red； and the passions are flattered by
gold； which has the power of realizing their caprices。 Thus all that
man possesses within him of vague and mysterious； all his inexplicable
affinities； were caressed in their involuntary sympathies。 There was
in this perfect harmony a concert of color to which the soul responded
with vague and voluptuous and fluctuating ideas。
It was out of a misty atmosphere； laden with exquisite perfumes； that
Paquita； clad in a white wrapper； her feet bare； orange blossoms in
her black hair； appeared to Henri； knelt before him； adoring him as
the god of this temple； whither he had deigned to come。 Although De
Marsay was accustomed to seeing the utmost efforts of Parisian luxury；
he was surprised at the aspect of this shell； like that from which
Venus rose out of the sea。 Whether from an effect of contrast between
the darkness from which he issued and the light which bathed his soul；
whether from a comparison which he swiftly made between this scene and
that of their first interview； he experienced one of those delicate
sensations which true poetry gives。 Perceiving in the midst of this
retreat； which had been opened to him as by a fairy's magic wand； the
masterpiece of creation； this girl； whose warmly colored tints； whose
soft skinsoft； but slightly gilded by the shad
