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！
sight； as he shook off the dreamy fancies and thoughts of death that
had lulled him。 An instant of dismay； a momentary return to belief in
nursery tales； may be forgiven him； seeing that his senses were
obscured。 Much thought had wearied his mind； and his nerves were
exhausted with the strain of the tremendous drama within him； and by
the scenes that had heaped on him all the horrid pleasures that a
piece of opium can produce。
But this apparition had appeared in Paris； on the Quai Voltaire； and
in the nineteenth century； the time and place made sorcery impossible。
The idol of French scepticism had died in the house just opposite； the
disciple of Gay…Lussac and Arago； who had held the charlatanism of
intellect in contempt。 And yet the stranger submitted himself to the
influence of an imaginative spell； as all of us do at times； when we
wish to escape from an inevitable certainty； or to tempt the power of
Providence。 So some mysterious apprehension of a strange force made
him tremble before the old man with the lamp。 All of us have been
stirred in the same way by the sight of Napoleon； or of some other
great man； made illustrious by his genius or by fame。
〃You wish to see Raphael's portrait of Jesus Christ； monsieur？〃 the
old man asked politely。 There was something metallic in the clear；
sharp ring of his voice。
He set the lamp upon a broken column； so that all its light might fall
on the brown case。
At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some
curiosity。 The merchant； who no doubt looked for this； pressed a
spring； and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its
groove； and discovered the canvas to the stranger's admiring gaze。 At
sight of this deathless creation； he forgot his fancies in the show…
rooms and the freaks of his dreams； and became himself again。 The old
man became a being of flesh and blood； very much alive； with nothing
chimerical about him； and took up his existence at once upon solid
earth。
The sympathy and love； and the gentle serenity in the divine face；
exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator。 Some influence
falling from heaven bade cease the burning torment that consumed the
marrow of his bones。 The head of the Saviour of mankind seemed to
issue from among the shadows represented by a dark background； an
aureole of light shone out brightly from his hair； an impassioned
belief seemed to glow through him； and to thrill every feature。 The
word of life had just been uttered by those red lips； the sacred
sounds seemed to linger still in the air； the spectator besought the
silence for those captivating parables； hearkened for them in the
future； and had to turn to the teachings of the past。 The untroubled
peace of the divine eyes； the comfort of sorrowing souls； seemed an
interpretation of the Evangel。 The sweet triumphant smile revealed the
secret of the Catholic religion； which sums up all things in the
precept； 〃Love one another。〃 This picture breathed the spirit of
prayer； enjoined forgiveness； overcame self； caused sleeping powers of
good to waken。 For this work of Raphael's had the imperious charm of
music； you were brought under the spell of memories of the past； his
triumph was so absolute that the artist was forgotten。 The witchery of
the lamplight heightened the wonder； the head seemed at times to
flicker in the distance； enveloped in cloud。
〃I covered the surface of that picture with gold pieces；〃 said the
merchant carelessly。
〃And now for death！〃 cried the young man； awakened from his musings。
His last thought had recalled his fate to him； as it led him
imperceptibly back from the forlorn hopes to which he had clung。
〃Ah； ha！ then my suspicions were well founded！〃 said the other； and
his hands held the young man's wrists in a grip like that of a vice。
The younger man smiled wearily at his mistake； and said gently：
〃You； sir； have nothing to fear； it is not your life； but my own that
is in question。 。 。 。 But why should I hide a harmless fraud？〃 he went
on； after a look at the anxious old man。 〃I came to see your treasures
to while away the time till night should come and I could drown myself
decently。 Who would grudge this last pleasure to a poet and a man of
science？〃
While he spoke； the jealous merchant watched the haggard face of his
pretended customer with keen eyes。 Perhaps the mournful tones of his
voice reassured him； or he also read the dark signs of fate in the
faded features that had made the gamblers shudder； he released his
hands； but； with a touch of caution； due to the experience of some
hundred years at least； he stretched his arm out to a sideboard as if
to steady himself； took up a little dagger； and said：
〃Have you been a supernumerary clerk of the Treasury for three years
without receiving any perquisites？〃
The stranger could scarcely suppress a smile as he shook his head。
〃Perhaps your father has expressed his regret for your birth a little
too sharply？ Or have you disgraced yourself？〃
〃If I meant to be disgraced； I should live。〃
〃You have been hissed perhaps at the Funambules？ Or you have had to
compose couplets to pay for your mistress' funeral？ Do you want to be
cured of the gold fever？ Or to be quit of the spleen？ For what blunder
is your life forfeit？〃
〃You must not look among the common motives that impel suicides for
the reason of my death。 To spare myself the task of disclosing my
unheard…of sufferings； for which language has no name； I will tell you
thisthat I am in the deepest； most humiliating； and most cruel
trouble； and；〃 he went on in proud tones that harmonized ill with the
words just uttered； 〃I have no wish to beg for either help or
sympathy。〃
〃Eh！ eh！〃
The two syllables which the old man pronounced resembled the sound of
a rattle。 Then he went on thus：
〃Without compelling you to entreat me； without making you blush for
it； and without giving you so much as a French centime； a para from
the Levant； a German heller； a Russian kopeck； a Scottish farthing； a
single obolus or sestertius from the ancient world； or one piastre
from the new； without offering you anything whatever in gold； silver；
or copper； notes or drafts； I will make you richer； more powerful； and
of more consequence than a constitutional king。〃
The young man thought that the older was in his dotage； and waited in
bewilderment without venturing to reply。
〃Turn round；〃 said the merchant； suddenly catching up the lamp in
order to light up the opposite wall； 〃look at that leathern skin；〃 he
went on。
The young man rose abruptly； and showed some surprise at the sight of
a piece of shagreen which hung on the wall behind his chair。 It was
only about the size of a fox's skin； but it seemed to fill the deep
shadows of the place with such brilliant rays that it looked like a
small comet； an appearance at first sight inexplicable。 The young
sceptic we