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！
more to say to me？ will you never sacrifice any of your pleasures for
me？'
〃He went away。
〃 'Ah！' she yawned； 'how very tiresome they all are！'
〃She pulled a cord energetically till the sound of a bell rang through
the place； then； humming a few notes of Pria che spunti； the countess
entered her room。 No one had ever heard her sing； her muteness had
called forth the wildest explanations。 She had promised her first
lover； so it was said； who had been held captive by her talent； and
whose jealousy over her stretched beyond his grave； that she would
never allow others to experience a happiness that he wished to be his
and his alone。
〃I exerted every power of my soul to catch the sounds。 Higher and
higher rose the notes； Foedora's life seemed to dilate within her； her
throat poured forth all its richest tones； something well…nigh divine
entered into the melody。 There was a bright purity and clearness of
tone in the countess' voice； a thrilling harmony which reached the
heart and stirred its pulses。 Musicians are seldom unemotional； a
woman who could sing like that must know how to love indeed。 Her
beautiful voice made one more puzzle in a woman mysterious enough
before。 I beheld her then； as plainly as I see you at this moment。 She
seemed to listen to herself； to experience a secret rapture of her
own； she felt； as it were； an ecstasy like that of love。
〃She stood before the hearth during the execution of the principal
theme of the rondo； and when she ceased her face changed。 She looked
tired； her features seemed to alter。 She had laid the mask aside； her
part as an actress was over。 Yet the faded look that came over her
beautiful face； a result either of this performance or of the
evening's fatigues； had its charms； too。
〃 'This is her real self；' I thought。
〃She set her foot on a bronze bar of the fender as if to warm it； took
off her gloves； and drew over her head the gold chain from which her
bejeweled scent…bottle hung。 It gave me a quite indescribable pleasure
to watch the feline grace of every movement； the supple grace a cat
displays as it adjusts its toilette in the sun。 She looked at herself
in the mirror and said aloud ill…humoredly'I did not look well this
evening； my complexion is going with alarming rapidity； perhaps I
ought to keep earlier hours； and give up this life of dissipation。
Does Justine mean to trifle with me？' She rang again； her maid hurried
in。 Where she had been I cannot tell； she came in by a secret
staircase。 I was anxious to make a study of her。 I had lodged
accusations； in my romantic imaginings； against this invisible
waiting…woman； a tall； well…made brunette。
〃 'Did madame ring？'
〃 'Yes； twice；' answered Foedora； 'are you really growing deaf
nowadays？'
〃 'I was preparing madame's milk of almonds。'
〃Justine knelt down before her； unlaced her sandals and drew them off；
while her mistress lay carelessly back on her cushioned armchair
beside the fire； yawned； and scratched her head。 Every movement was
perfectly natural； there was nothing whatever to indicate the secret
sufferings or emotions with which I had credited her。
〃 'George must be in love！' she remarked。 'I shall dismiss him。 He has
drawn the curtains again to…night。 What does he mean by it？'
〃All the blood in my veins rushed to my heart at this observation； but
no more was said about curtains。
〃 'Life is very empty；' the countess went on。 'Ah！ be careful not to
scratch me as you did yesterday。 Just look here； I still have the
marks of your nails about me；' and she held out a silken knee。 She
thrust her bare feet into velvet slippers bound with swan's…down； and
unfastened her dress； while Justine prepared to comb her hair。
〃 'You ought to marry； madame； and have children。'
〃 'Children！' she cried； 'it wants no more than that to finish me at
once； and a husband！ What man is there to whom I could？ Was my
hair well arranged to…night？'
〃 'Not particularly。'
〃 'You are a fool！'
〃 'That way of crimping your hair too much is the least becoming way
possible for you。 Large； smooth curls suit you a great deal better。'
〃 'Really？'
〃 'Yes； really； madame； that wavy style only looks nice in fair hair。'
〃 'Marriage？ never； never！ Marriage is a commercial arrangement； for
which I was never made。'
〃What a disheartening scene for a lover！ Here was a lonely woman；
without friends or kin； without the religion of love； without faith in
any affection。 Yet however slightly she might feel the need to pour
out her heart； a craving that every human being feels； it could only
be satisfied by gossiping with her maid； by trivial and indifferent
talk。 。 。 。 I grieved for her。
〃Justine unlaced her。 I watched her carefully when she was at last
unveiled。 Her maidenly form； in its rose…tinged whiteness； was visible
through her shift in the taper light； as dazzling as some silver
statue behind its gauze covering。 No； there was no defect that need
shrink from the stolen glances of love。 Alas； a fair form will
overcome the stoutest resolutions！
〃The maid lighted the taper in the alabaster sconce that hung before
the bed； while her mistress sat thoughtful and silent before the fire。
Justine went for a warming…pan； turned down the bed； and helped to lay
her mistress in it； then； after some further time spent in
punctiliously rendering various services that showed how seriously
Foedora respected herself； her maid left her。 The countess turned to
and fro several times； and sighed； she was ill at ease； faint； just
perceptible sounds； like sighs of impatience； escaped from her lips。
She reached out a hand to the table； and took a flask from it； from
which she shook four or five drops of some brown liquid into some milk
before taking it； again there followed some painful sighs； and the
exclamation； 'MON DIEU！'
〃The cry； and the tone in which it was uttered； wrung my heart。 By
degrees she lay motionless。 This frightened me； but very soon I heard
a sleeper's heavy； regular breathing。 I drew the rustling silk
curtains apart； left my post； went to the foot of the bed； and gazed
at her with feelings that I cannot define。 She was so enchanting as
she lay like a child； with her arm above her head； but the sweetness
of the fair； quiet visage； surrounded by the lace； only irritated me。
I had not been prepared for the torture to which I was compelled to
submit。
〃 'Mon Dieu！' that scrap of a thought which I understood not； but must
even take as my sole light； had suddenly modified my opinion of
Foedora。 Trite or profoundly significant； frivolous or of deep import；
the words might be construed as expressive of either pleasure or pain；
of physical or of mental suffering。 Was it a prayer or a malediction；
a forecast or a memory； a fear or a regret？ A whole life lay in that
utterance； a life of wealth or of penury； perhaps it contained a
crime！
〃The myste