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！
improbable recovery； and that he should live always in a cool room
with a subdued light。Mademoiselle de Villenoix； whom I had been
careful not to apprise of Louis' state；〃 he went on； blinking his
eyes； 〃but who was supposed to have broken off the match； went to
Paris and heard what the doctors had pronounced。 She immediately
begged to see my nephew； who hardly recognized her； then； like the
noble soul she is； she insisted on devoting herself to giving him such
care as might tend to his recovery。 She would have been obliged to do
so if he had been her husband； she said； and could she do less for him
as her lover？
〃She removed Louis to Villenoix； where they have been living for two
years。〃
So； instead of continuing my journey； I stopped at Blois to go to see
Louis。 Good Monsieur Lefebvre would not hear of my lodging anywhere
but at his house； where he showed me his nephew's room with the books
and all else that had belonged to him。 At every turn the old man could
not suppress some mournful exclamation； showing what hopes Louis'
precocious genius had raised； and the terrible grief into which this
irreparable ruin had plunged him。
〃That young fellow knew everything； my dear sir！〃 said he； laying on
the table a volume containing Spinoza's works。 〃How could so well
organized a brain go astray？〃
〃Indeed； monsieur；〃 said I； 〃was it not perhaps the result of its
being so highly organized？ If he really is a victim to the malady as
yet unstudied in all its aspects； which is known simply as madness； I
am inclined to attribute it to his passion。 His studies and his mode
of life had strung his powers and faculties to a degree of energy
beyond which the least further strain was too much for nature； Love
was enough to crack them； or to raise them to a new form of expression
which we are maligning perhaps； by ticketing it without due knowledge。
In fact； he may perhaps have regarded the joys of marriage as an
obstacle to the perfection of his inner man and his flight towards
spiritual spheres。〃
〃My dear sir；〃 said the old man； after listening to me with attention；
〃your reasoning is； no doubt； very sound； but even if I could follow
it； would this melancholy logic comfort me for the loss of my nephew？〃
Lambert's uncle was one of those men who live only by their
affections。
I went to Villenoix on the following day。 The kind old man accompanied
me to the gates of Blois。 When we were out on the road to Villenoix；
he stopped me and said：
〃As you may suppose； I do not go there。 But do not forget what I have
said； and in Mademoiselle de Villenoix's presence affect not to
perceive that Louis is mad。〃
He remained standing on the spot where I left him； watching me till I
was out of sight。
I made my way to the chateau of Villenoix； not without deep agitation。
My thoughts were many at each step on this road； which Louis had so
often trodden with a heart full of hopes； a soul spurred on by the
myriad darts of love。 The shrubs； the trees； the turns of the winding
road where little gullies broke the banks on each side； were to me
full of strange interest。 I tried to enter into the impressions and
thoughts of my unhappy friend。 Those evening meetings on the edge of
the coombe； where his lady…love had been wont to find him； had； no
doubt； initiated Mademoiselle de Villenoix into the secrets of that
vast and lofty spirit； as I had learned them all some years before。
But the thing that most occupied my mind； and gave to my pilgrimage
the interest of intense curiosity； in addition to the almost pious
feelings that led me onwards； was that glorious faith of Mademoiselle
de Villenoix's which the good priest had told me of。 Had she in the
course of time been infected with her lover's madness； or had she so
completely entered into his soul that she could understand all its
thoughts； even the most perplexed？ I lost myself in the wonderful
problem of feeling； passing the highest inspirations of passion and
the most beautiful instances of self…sacrifice。 That one should die
for the other is an almost vulgar form of devotion。 To live faithful
to one love is a form of heroism that immortalized Mademoiselle
Dupuis。 When the great Napoleon and Lord Byron could find successors
in the hearts of women they had loved； we may well admire
Bolingbroke's widow； but Mademoiselle Dupuis could feed on the
memories of many years of happiness； whereas Mademoiselle de
Villenoix； having known nothing of love but its first excitement；
seemed to me to typify love in its highest expression。 If she were
herself almost crazy； it was splendid； but if she had understood and
entered into his madness； she combined with the beauty of a noble
heart a crowning effort of passion worthy to be studied and honored。
When I saw the tall turrets of the chateau； remembering how often poor
Lambert must have thrilled at the sight of them； my heart beat
anxiously。 As I recalled the events of our boyhood； I was almost a
sharer in his present life and situation。 At last I reached a wide；
deserted courtyard； and I went into the hall of the house without
meeting a soul。 There the sound of my steps brought out an old woman；
to whom I gave a letter written to Mademoiselle de Villenoix by
Monsieur Lefebvre。 In a few minutes this woman returned to bid me
enter； and led me to a low room； floored with black…and…white marble；
the Venetian shutters were closed； and at the end of the room I dimly
saw Louis Lambert。
〃Be seated； monsieur；〃 said a gentle voice that went to my heart。
Mademoiselle de Villenoix was at my side before I was aware of her
presence； and noiselessly brought me a chair； which at first I would
not accept。 It was so dark that at first I saw Mademoiselle de
Villenoix and Lambert only as two black masses perceived against the
gloomy background。 I presently sat down under the influence of the
feeling that comes over us； almost in spite of ourselves； under the
obscure vault of a church。 My eyes； full of the bright sunshine；
accustomed themselves gradually to this artificial night。
〃Monsieur is your old school…friend；〃 she said to Louis。
He made no reply。 At last I could see him； and it was one of those
spectacles that are stamped on the memory for ever。 He was standing；
his elbows resting on the cornice of the low wainscot； which threw his
body forward； so that it seemed bowed under the weight of his bent
head。 His hair was as long as a woman's； falling over his shoulders
and hanging about his face； giving him a resemblance to the busts of
the great men of the time of Louis XIV。 His face was perfectly white。
He constantly rubbed one leg against the other； with a mechanical
action that nothing could have checked； and the incessant friction of
the bones made a doleful sound。 Near him was a bed of moss on boards。
〃He very rarely lies down；〃 said Mademoiselle de Villenoix； 〃but
whenever he does； he sleeps for several days。〃
Louis stood； as I beheld him； day and night with a fixed gaze； never
winking his eyelids as we do。 Having asked Mademoiselle de Villenoix
whether a little more light would hurt our friend； on her reply I
opened the shutters a little way； and could