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Italiens； saw this charming and unconventional pair evening after
evening。 Some gossip went the round of the salons at first； but the
harmless lovers were soon forgotten in the course of events which took
place in Paris； their marriage was announced at length to excuse them
in the eyes of the prudish； and as it happened； their servants did not
babble； so their bliss did not draw down upon them any very severe
punishment。
One morning towards the end of February； at the time when the
brightening days bring a belief in the nearness of the joys of spring；
Pauline and Raphael were breakfasting together in a small
conservatory； a kind of drawing…room filled with flowers； on a level
with the garden。 The mild rays of the pale winter sunlight； breaking
through the thicket of exotic plants； warmed the air somewhat。 The
vivid contrast made by the varieties of foliage； the colors of the
masses of flowering shrubs； the freaks of light and shadow； gladdened
the eyes。 While all the rest of Paris still sought warmth from its
melancholy hearth； these two were laughing in a bower of camellias；
lilacs； and blossoming heath。 Their happy faces rose above lilies of
the valley； narcissus blooms； and Bengal roses。 A mat of plaited
African grass； variegated like a carpet； lay beneath their feet in
this luxurious conservatory。 The walls； covered with a green linen
material； bore no traces of damp。 The surfaces of the rustic wooden
furniture shone with cleanliness。 A kitten； attracted by the odor of
milk； had established itself upon the table； it allowed Pauline to
bedabble it in coffee； she was playing merrily with it； taking away
the cream that she had just allowed the kitten to sniff at； so as to
exercise its patience； and keep up the contest。 She burst out laughing
at every antic； and by the comical remarks she constantly made； she
hindered Raphael from perusing the paper； he had dropped it a dozen
times already。 This morning picture seemed to overflow with
inexpressible gladness； like everything that is natural and genuine。
Raphael； still pretending to read his paper； furtively watched Pauline
with the cathis Pauline； in the dressing…gown that hung carelessly
about her； his Pauline； with her hair loose on her shoulders； with a
tiny； white； blue…veined foot peeping out of a velvet slipper。 It was
pleasant to see her in this negligent dress； she was delightful as
some fanciful picture by Westall； half…girl； half…woman； as she seemed
to be； or perhaps more of a girl than a woman； there was no alloy in
the happiness she enjoyed； and of love she knew as yet only its first
ecstasy。 When Raphael； absorbed in happy musing； had forgotten the
existence of the newspaper； Pauline flew upon it； crumpled it up into
a ball； and threw it out into the garden； the kitten sprang after the
rotating object； which spun round and round； as politics are wont to
do。 This childish scene recalled Raphael to himself。 He would have
gone on reading； and felt for the sheet he no longer possessed。 Joyous
laughter rang out like the song of a bird； one peal leading to
another。
〃I am quite jealous of the paper；〃 she said； as she wiped away the
tears that her childlike merriment had brought into her eyes。 〃Now； is
it not a heinous offence；〃 she went on； as she became a woman all at
once； 〃to read Russian proclamations in my presence； and to attend to
the prosings of the Emperor Nicholas rather than to looks and words of
love！〃
〃I was not reading； my dear angel； I was looking at you。〃
Just then the gravel walk outside the conservatory rang with the sound
of the gardener's heavily nailed boots。
〃I beg your pardon； my Lord Marquisand yours； too； madameif I am
intruding； but I have brought you a curiosity the like of which I
never set eyes on。 Drawing a bucket of water just now； with due
respect； I got out this strange salt…water plant。 Here it is。 It must
be thoroughly used to water； anyhow； for it isn't saturated or even
damp at all。 It is as dry as a piece of wood； and has not swelled a
bit。 As my Lord Marquis certainly knows a great deal more about things
than I do； I thought I ought to bring it； and that it would interest
him。〃
Therewith the gardener showed Raphael the inexorable piece of skin；
there were barely six square inches of it left。
〃Thanks； Vaniere；〃 Raphael said。 〃The thing is very curious。〃
〃What is the matter with you； my angel； you are growing quite white！〃
Pauline cried。
〃You can go； Vaniere。〃
〃Your voice frightens me；〃 the girl went on； 〃it is so strangely
altered。 What is it？ How are you feeling？ Where is the pain？ You are
in pain！Jonathan！ here！ call a doctor！〃 she cried。
〃Hush； my Pauline；〃 Raphael answered； as he regained composure。 〃Let
us get up and go。 Some flower here has a scent that is too much for
me。 It is that verbena； perhaps。〃
Pauline flew upon the innocent plant； seized it by the stalk； and
flung it out into the garden； then； with all the might of the love
between them； she clasped Raphael in a close embrace； and with
languishing coquetry raised her red lips to his for a kiss。
〃Dear angel；〃 she cried； 〃when I saw you turn so white； I understood
that I could not live on without you； your life is my life too。 Lay
your hand on my back； Raphael mine； I feel a chill like death。 The
feeling of cold is there yet。 Your lips are burning。 How is your hand？
Cold as ice；〃 she added。
〃Mad girl！〃 exclaimed Raphael。
〃Why that tear？ Let me drink it。〃
〃O Pauline； Pauline； you love me far too much！〃
〃There is something very extraordinary going on in your mind； Raphael！
Do not dissimulate。 I shall very soon find out your secret。 Give that
to me；〃 she went on； taking the Magic Skin。
〃You are my executioner！〃 the young man exclaimed； glancing in horror
at the talisman。
〃How changed your voice is！〃 cried Pauline； as she dropped the fatal
symbol of destiny。
〃Do you love me？〃 he asked。
〃Do I love you？ Is there any doubt？〃
〃Then； leave me； go away！〃
The poor child went。
〃So！〃 cried Raphael； when he was alone。 〃In an enlightened age； when
we have found out that diamonds are a crystallized form of charcoal；
at a time when everything is made clear； when the police would hale a
new Messiah before the magistrates； and submit his miracles to the
Academie des Sciencesin an epoch when we no longer believe in
anything but a notary's signaturethat I； forsooth； should believe in
a sort of Mene； Tekel； Upharsin！ No； by Heaven； I will not believe
that the Supreme Being would take pleasure in torturing a harmless
creature。Let us see the learned about it。〃
Between the Halle des Vins； with its extensive assembly of barrels；
and the Salpetriere； that extensive seminary of drunkenness； lies a
small pond； which Raphael soon reached。 All sorts of ducks of rare
varieties were there disporting themselves； their colored markings
shone in the sun like the glass in ca