第 18 节
作者:悟来悟去      更新:2021-02-20 15:46      字数:9321
  visible in large letters Oeuvres de Bon…Bon。 Thus was delicately shadowed
  forth the two…fold occupation of the proprietor。
  Upon stepping over the threshold; the whole interior of the building
  presented itself to view。 A long; low…pitched room; of antique
  construction; was indeed all the accommodation afforded by the Cafe。 In a
  corner of the apartment stood the bed of the metaphysician。 An army of
  curtains; together with a canopy a la Grecque; gave it an air at once
  classic and comfortable。 In the corner diagonary opposite; appeared; in
  direct family communion; the properties of the kitchen and the
  bibliotheque。 A dish of polemics stood peacefully upon the dresser。 Here
  lay an ovenful of the latest ethics … there a kettle of dudecimo melanges。
  Volumes of German morality were hand and glove with the gridiron … a
  toasting…fork might be discovered by the side of Eusebius … Plato reclined
  at his ease in the frying…pan… and contemporary manuscripts were filed
  away upon the spit。
  In other respects the Cafe de Bon…Bon might be said to differ little
  from the usual restaurants of the period。 A fireplace yawned opposite the
  door。 On the right of the fireplace an open cupboard displayed a
  formidable array of labelled bottles。
  It was here; about twelve o'clock one night during the severe winter
  the comments of his neighbours upon his singular propensity … that Pierre
  Bon…Bon; I say; having turned them all out of his house; locked the door
  upon them with an oath; and betook himself in no very pacific mood to the
  comforts of a leather…bottomed arm…chair; and a fire of blazing fagots。
  It was one of those terrific nights which are only met with once or
  twice during a century。 It snowed fiercely; and the house tottered to its
  centre with the floods of wind that; rushing through the crannies in the
  wall; and pouring impetuously down the chimney; shook awfully the curtains
  of the philosopher's bed; and disorganized the economy of his pate…pans
  and papers。 The huge folio sign that swung without; exposed to the fury of
  the tempest; creaked ominously; and gave out a moaning sound from its
  stanchions of solid oak。
  It was in no placid temper; I say; that the metaphysician drew up his
  chair to its customary station by the hearth。 Many circumstances of a
  perplexing nature had occurred during the day; to disturb the serenity of
  his meditations。 In attempting des oeufs a la Princesse; he had
  unfortunately perpetrated an omelette a la Reine; the discovery of a
  principle in ethics had been frustrated by the overturning of a stew; and
  last; not least; he had been thwarted in one of those admirable bargains
  which he at all times took such especial delight in bringing to a
  successful termination。 But in the chafing of his mind at these
  unaccountable vicissitudes; there did not fail to be mingled some degree
  of that nervous anxiety which the fury of a boisterous night is so well
  calculated to produce。 Whistling to his more immediate vicinity the large
  black water…dog we have spoken of before; and settling himself uneasily in
  his chair; he could not help casting a wary and unquiet eye toward those
  distant recesses of the apartment whose inexorable shadows not even the
  red firelight itself could more than partially succeed in overcoming。
  Having completed a scrutiny whose exact purpose was perhaps unintelligible
  to himself; he drew close to his seat a small table covered with books and
  papers; and soon became absorbed in the task of retouching a voluminous
  manuscript; intended for publication on the morrow。
  He had been thus occupied for some minutes when 〃I am in no hurry;
  Monsieur Bon…Bon;〃 suddenly whispered a whining voice in the apartment。
  〃The devil!〃 ejaculated our hero; starting to his feet; overturning
  the table at his side; and staring around him in astonishment。
  〃Very true;〃 calmly replied the voice。
  〃Very true! … what is very true? … how came you here?〃 vociferated the
  metaphysician; as his eye fell upon something which lay stretched at full
  length upon the bed。
  〃I was saying;〃 said the intruder; without attending to the
  interrogatives; … 〃I was saying that I am not at all pushed for time …
  that the business upon which I took the liberty of calling; is of no
  pressing importance … in short; that I can very well wait until you have
  finished your Exposition。〃
  〃My Exposition! … there now! … how do you know? … how came you to
  understand that I was writing an Exposition? … good God!〃
  〃Hush!〃 replied the figure; in a shrill undertone; and; arising
  quickly from the bed; he made a single step toward our hero; while an iron
  lamp that depended over…head swung convulsively back from his approach。
  The philosopher's amazement did not prevent a narrow scrutiny of the
  stranger's dress and appearance。 The outlines of his figure; exceedingly
  lean; but much above the common height; were rendered minutely distinct;
  by means of a faded suit of black cloth which fitted tight to the skin;
  but was otherwise cut very much in the style of a century ago。 These
  garments had evidently been intended for a much shorter person than their
  present owner。 His ankles and wrists were left naked for several inches。
  In his shoes; however; a pair of very brilliant buckles gave the lie to
  the extreme poverty implied by the other portions of his dress。 His head
  was bare; and entirely bald; with the exception of a hinder part; from
  which depended a queue of considerable length。 A pair of green spectacles;
  with side glasses; protected his eyes from the influence of the light; and
  at the same time prevented our hero from ascertaining either their color
  or their conformation。 About the entire person there was no evidence of a
  shirt; but a white cravat; of filthy appearance; was tied with extreme
  precision around the throat and the ends hanging down formally side by
  side gave (although I dare say unintentionally) the idea of an
  ecclesiastic。 Indeed; many other points both in his appearance and
  demeanor might have very well sustained a conception of that nature。 Over
  his left ear; he carried; after the fashion of a modern clerk; an
  instrument resembling the stylus of the ancients。 In a breast…pocket of
  his coat appeared conspicuously a small black volume fastened with clasps
  of steel。 This book; whether accidentally or not; was so turned outwardly
  from the person as to discover the words 〃Rituel Catholique〃 in white
  letters upon the back。 His entire physiognomy was interestingly saturnine
  … even cadaverously pale。 The forehead was lofty; and deeply furrowed with
  the ridges of contemplation。 The corners of the mouth were drawn down into
  an expression of the most submissive humility。 There was also a clasping
  of the hands; as he stepped toward our hero … a deep sigh … and altogether
  a look of such utter sanctity as could not have failed to be unequivocally
  preposessing。 Every shadow of anger faded from the countenance of the
  metaphysician; as; having completed a satisfactory survey of his visiter's
  person; he shook him cordially by the hand; and conducted him to a seat。
  There would however be a radical error in attributing this
  instantaneous transition of feeling in the philosopher; to any one of
  those causes which might naturally be supposed to have had an influence。
  Indeed; Pierre Bon…Bon; from what I have been able to understand of his
  disposition; was of all men the least likely to be imposed upon by any
  speciousness of exterior deportment。 It was impossible that so accurate an
  observer of men and things should have failed to discover; upon the
  moment; the real character of the personage who had thus intruded upon his
  hospitality。 To say no more; the conformation of his visiter's feet was
  sufficiently remarkable … he maintained lightly upon his head an
  inordinately tall hat … there was a tremulous swelling about the hinder
  part of his breeches … and the vibration of his coat tail was a palpable
  fact。 Judge; then; with what feelings of satisfaction our hero found
  himself thrown thus at once into the society of a person for whom he had
  at all times entertained the most unqualified respect。 He was; however;
  too much of the diplomatist to let escape him any intimation of his
  suspicions in regard to the true state of affairs。 It was not his cue to
  appear at all conscious of the high honor he thus unexpectedly enjoyed;
  but; by leading his guest into the conversation; to elicit some important
  ethical ideas; which might; in obtaining a place in his contemplated
  publication; enlighten the human race; and at the same time immortalize
  himself … ideas which; I should have added; his visitor's great age; and
  well…known proficiency in the science of morals; might very well have
  enabled him to afford。
  Actuated by these enlightened views; our hero bade the gentleman sit
  down; while he himself took occasion to throw some fagots upon the fire;
  and place upon the now re…established table some bottles of Mousseux。
  Having quickly completed these operations; he drew his chair vis…a…vis to
  his companion's; and waited until the latter should open the conversation。
  But plans even the most skilfully matured are often