第 61 节
作者:      更新:2021-02-19 20:23      字数:9321
  him as you do to Celeste。〃
  〃Pere Anselme!〃 said Felix; stupidly。
  〃Yes; Pere Anselme;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃a great mathematician who does
  not despair of converting you。 Mademoiselle Celeste wept for joy。〃
  Felix looked around him with a bewildered air。 Madame de Godollo fixed
  upon him a pair of eyes the language of which a poodle could have
  understood。
  〃I wish;〃 he said finally; 〃I could have given that joy to
  Mademoiselle Celeste; but I think; madame; you are mistaken。〃
  〃Ah! monsieur; then I must be more precise;〃 said the countess; 〃and
  if your modesty still induces you to hide a step that can only honor
  you; you can contradict me; I will bear the mortification of having
  divulged a secret which; I acknowledge; you trusted implicitly to my
  discretion。〃
  Madame Thuillier and Celeste were truly a whole drama to behold; never
  were doubt and eager expectation more plainly depicted on the human
  face。 Measuring her words deliberately; Madame de Godollo thus
  continued:
  〃I said to these ladies; because I know how deep an interest they take
  in your salvation; and because you are accused of boldly defying the
  commandments of God by working on Sundays; that I had met you this
  morning at the house of Pere Anselme; a mathematician like yourself;
  with whom you were busy in solving a problem; I said that your
  scientific intercourse with that saintly and enlightened man had led
  to other explanations between you; that you had submitted to him your
  religious doubts; and he did not despair of removing them。 In the
  confirmation you can give of my words there is nothing; I am sure; to
  wound your self…esteem。 The matter was simply a surprise you intended
  for Celeste; and I have had the stupidity to divulge it。 But when she
  hears you admit the truth of my words you will have given her such
  happiness that I shall hope to be forgiven。〃
  〃Come; monsieur;〃 said la Peyrade; 〃there's nothing absurd or
  mortifying in having sought for light; you; so honorable and so truly
  an enemy to falsehood; you cannot deny what madame affirms with such
  decision。〃
  〃Well;〃 said Felix; after a moment's hesitation; 〃will you;
  Mademoiselle Celeste; allow me to say a few words to you in private;
  without witnesses?〃
  Celeste rose; after receiving an approving sign from Madame Thuillier。
  Felix took her hand and led her to the recess of the nearest window。
  〃Celeste;〃 he said; 〃I entreat you: wait! See;〃 he added; pointing to
  the constellation of Ursa Minor; 〃beyond those visible stars a future
  lies before us; I will place you there。 As for Pere Anselme; I cannot
  admit what has been said; for it is not true。 It is an invented tale。
  But be patient with me; you shall soon know all。〃
  〃He is mad!〃 said the young girl; in tones of despair; as she resumed
  her place beside Madame Thuillier。
  Felix confirmed this judgment by rushing frantically from the salon;
  without perceiving the emotion in which his father and his mother
  started after him。 After this sudden departure; which stupefied
  everybody; la Peyrade approached Madame de Godollo very respectfully;
  and said to her:
  〃You must admit; madame; that it is difficult to drag a man from the
  water when he persists in being drowned。〃
  〃I had no idea until this moment of such utter simplicity;〃 replied
  the countess; 〃it is too silly。 I pass over to the enemy; and with
  that enemy I am ready and desirous to have; whenever he pleases; a
  frank and honest explanation。〃
  CHAPTER IV
  HUNGARY VERSUS PROVENCE
  The next day Theodose felt himself possessed by two curiosities: How
  would Celeste behave as to the option she had accepted? and this
  Comtesse Torna de Godollo; what did she mean by what she had said; and
  what did she want with him?
  The first of these questions seemed; undoubtedly; to have the right of
  way; and yet; by some secret instinct; la Peyrade felt more keenly
  drawn toward the conclusion of the second problem。 He decided;
  therefore; to take his first step in that direction; fully
  understanding that he could not too carefully arm himself for the
  interview to which the countess had invited him。
  The morning had been rainy; and this great calculator was; of course;
  not ignorant how much a spot of mud; tarnishing the brilliancy of
  varnished boots; could lower a man in the opinion of some。 He
  therefore sent his porter for a cabriolet; and about three o'clock in
  the afternoon he drove from the rue Saint…Dominique d'Enfer toward the
  elegant latitudes of the Madeleine。 It may well be believed that
  certain cares had been bestowed upon his toilet; which ought to
  present a happy medium between the negligent ease of a morning costume
  and the ceremonious character of an evening suit。 Condemned by his
  profession to a white cravat; which he rarely laid aside; and not
  venturing to present himself in anything but a dress…coat; he felt
  himself being drawn; of necessity; to one of the extremes he desired
  to avoid。 However by buttoning up his coat and wearing tan instead of
  straw…colored gloves; he managed to UNSOLEMNIZE himself; and to avoid
  that provincial air which a man in full dress walking the streets of
  Paris while the sun is above the horizon never fails to convey。
  The wary diplomatist was careful not to drive to the house where he
  was going。 He was unwilling to be seen from the countess' entresol
  issuing from a hired cab; and from the first floor he feared to be
  discovered stopping short on his way up at the lower floor;a
  proceeding which could not fail to give rise to countless conjectures。
  He therefore ordered the driver to pull up at the corner of the rue
  Royale; whence; along a pavement that was now nearly dry; he picked
  his way on tiptoe to the house。 It so chanced that he was not seen by
  either the porter or his wife; the former being beadle of the church
  of the Madeleine; was absent at a service; and the wife had just gone
  up to show a vacant apartment to a lodger。 Theodose was therefore able
  to glide unobserved to the door of the sanctuary he desired to
  penetrate。 A soft touch of his hand to the silken bell…rope caused a
  sound which echoed from the interior of the apartment。 A few seconds
  elapsed; and then another and more imperious bell of less volume
  seemed to him a notification to the maid that her delay in opening the
  door was displeasing to her mistress。 A moment later; a waiting…woman;
  of middle age; and too well trained to dress like a 〃soubrette〃 of
  comedy; opened the door to him。
  The lawyer gave his name; and the woman ushered him into a
  dining…room; severely luxurious; where she asked him to wait。 A moment
  later; however; she returned; and admitted him into the most
  coquettish and splendid salon it was possible to insert beneath the
  low ceilings of an entresol。 The divinity of the place was seated
  before a writing…table covered with a Venetian cloth; in which gold
  glittered in little spots among the dazzling colors of the tapestry。
  〃Will you allow me; monsieur; to finish a letter of some importance?〃
  she said。
  The barrister bowed in sign of assent。 The handsome Hungarian then
  concluded a note on blue English paper; which she placed in an
  envelope; after sealing it carefully; she rang the bell。 The maid
  appeared immediately and lighted a little spirit lamp; above the lamp
  was suspended a sort of tiny crucible; in which was a drop of sealing…
  wax; as soon as this had melted; the maid poured it on the envelope;
  presenting to her mistress a seal with armorial bearings。 This the
  countess imprinted on the wax with her own beautiful hands; and then
  said:
  〃Take the letter at once to that address。〃
  The woman made a movement to take the letter; but; either from haste
  or inadvertence; the paper fell from her hand close to la Peyrade's
  feet。 He stooped hastily to pick it up; and read the direction
  involuntarily。 It bore the words; 〃His Excellency the Minister of
  Foreign Affairs〃; the significant words; 〃For him only;〃 written
  higher up; seemed to give this missive a character of intimacy。
  〃Pardon; monsieur;〃 said the countess; receiving the paper; which he
  had the good taste to return to her own hands in order to show his
  eagerness to serve her。 〃Be so good; mademoiselle; as to carry that in
  a way not to lose it;〃 she added in a dry tone to the unlucky maid。
  The countess then left her writing…table and took her seat on a sofa
  covered with pearl…gray satin。
  During these proceedings la Peyrade had the satisfaction of making an
  inventory of all the choice things by which he was surrounded。
  Paintings by good masters detached themselves from walls of even tone;
  on a pier…table stood a very tall Japanese vase; before the windows
  the jardinieres were filled with lilium rubrum; showing its handsome
  reversely curling petals surmounted by white and red camellias and a
  dwarf magnolia from China; with flowers of sulphur white with scarlet
  edges。 In a corner was a stand of arms; of curious shapes and rich
  construction; explained; perhaps; by the lady's Hungarian nationality
  always that of the hussar。 A few bronzes and statuettes of exquisite
  selection; chairs rolling softly on Persian carpets; and a perfect
  anarchy of stuffs of all kinds completed the arrangement of this