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！
but an accessory。 Imagine a lean； dry man； dressed like the
former； but seeming to be only his reflection； or his shadow； if
you will。 The coat； new on the first； on the second was old； the
powder in his hair looked less white； the gold of the fleurs…de…
lis less bright； the shoulder straps more hopeless and dog's
eared； his intellect seemed more feeble； his life nearer the
fatal term than in the former。 In short； he realized Rivarol's
witticism on Champcenetz； 〃He is the moonlight of me。〃 He was
simply his double； a paler and poorer double； for there was
between them all the difference that lies between the first and
last impressions of a lithograph。
This speechless old man was a mystery to the painter； and always
remained a mystery。 The Chevalier； for he was a Chevalier； did
not speak； nobody spoke to him。 Was he a friend； a poor relation；
a man who followed at the old gallant's heels as a lady companion
does at an old lady's？ Did he fill a place midway between a dog；
a parrot； and a friend？ Had he saved his patron's fortune； or
only his life？ Was he the Trim to another Captain Toby？
Elsewhere； as at the Baronne de Rouville's； he always piqued
curiosity without satisfying it。 Who； after the Restoration；
could remember the attachment which； before the Revolution； had
bound this man to his friend's wife； dead now these twenty year？
The leader； who appeared the least dilapidated of these wrecks；
came gallantly up to Madame de Rouville； kissed her hand； and sat
down by her。 The other bowed and placed himself not far from his
model； at a distance represented by two chairs。 Adelaide came
behind the old gentleman's armchair and leaned her elbows on the
back； unconsciously imitating the attitude given to Dido's sister
by Guerin in his famous picture。
Though the gentleman's familiarity was that of a father； his
freedom seemed at the moment to annoy the young girl。
〃What； are you sulky with me？〃 he said。
Then he shot at Schinner one of those side…looks full of
shrewdness and cunning； diplomatic looks； whose expression
betrays the discreet uneasiness； the polite curiosity of well…
bred people； and seems to ask； when they see a stranger； 〃Is he
one of us？〃
〃This is our neighbor；〃 said the old lady； pointing to Hippolyte。
〃Monsieur is a celebrated painter； whose name must be known to you
in spite of your indifference to the arts。〃
The old man saw his friend's mischievous intent in suppressing
the name； and bowed to the young man。
〃Certainly；〃 said he。 〃I heard a great deal about his pictures at
the last Salon。 Talent has immense privileges。〃 he added；
observing the artist's red ribbon。 〃That distinction； which we
must earn at the cost of our blood and long service； you win in
your youth； but all glory is of the same kindred；〃 he said；
laying his hand on his Cross of Saint…Louis。
Hippolyte murmured a few words of acknowledgment； and was silent
again； satisfied to admire with growing enthusiasm the beautiful
girl's head that charmed him so much。 He was soon lost in
contemplation； completely forgetting the extreme misery of the
dwelling。 To him Adelaide's face stood out against a luminous
atmosphere。 He replied briefly to the questions addressed to him；
which； by good luck； he heard； thanks to a singular faculty of
the soul which sometimes seems to have a double consciousness。
Who has not known what it is to sit lost in sad or delicious
meditation； listening to its voice within； while attending to a
conversation or to reading？ An admirable duality which often
helps us to tolerate a bore！ Hope； prolific and smiling； poured
out before him a thousand visions of happiness； and he refused to
consider what was going on around him。 As confiding as a child；
it seemed to him base to analyze a pleasure。
After a short lapse of time he perceived that the old lady and
her daughter were playing cards with the old gentleman。 As to the
satellite； faithful to his function as a shadow； he stood behind
his friend's chair watching his game； and answering the player's
mute inquiries by little approving nods； repeating the
questioning gestures of the other countenance。
〃Du Halga； I always lose；〃 said the gentleman。
〃You discard badly；〃 replied the Baronne de Rouville。
〃For three months now I have never won a single game；〃 said he。
〃Have you the aces？〃 asked the old lady。
〃Yes； one more to mark；〃 said he。
〃Shall I come and advise you？〃 said Adelaide。
〃No； no。 Stay where I can see you。 By Gad； it would be losing too
much not to have you to look at！〃
At last the game was over。 The gentleman pulled out his purse；
and； throwing two louis d'or on the table； not without temper
〃Forty francs；〃 he exclaimed； 〃the exact sum。Deuce take it！ It
is eleven o'clock。〃
〃It is eleven o'clock；〃 repeated the silent figure； looking at
the painter。
The young man； hearing these words rather more distinctly than
all the others； thought it time to retire。 Coming back to the
world of ordinary ideas； he found a few commonplace remarks to
make； took leave of the Baroness； her daughter； and the two
strangers； and went away； wholly possessed by the first raptures
of true love； without attempting to analyze the little incidents
of the evening。
On the morrow the young painter felt the most ardent desire to
see Adelaide once more。 If he had followed the call of his
passion； he would have gone to his neighbor's door at six in the
morning； when he went to his studio。 However； he still was
reasonable enough to wait till the afternoon。 But as soon as he
thought he could present himself to Madame de Rouville； he went
downstairs； rang； blushing like a girl； shyly asked Mademoiselle
Leseigneur； who came to let him in； to let him have the portrait
of the Baron。
〃But come in；〃 said Adelaide； who had no doubt heard him come
down from the studio。
The painter followed； bashful and out of countenance； not knowing
what to say； happiness had so dulled his wit。 To see Adelaide； to
hear the rustle of her skirt； after longing for a whole morning
to be near her； after starting up a hundred time〃I will go down
now〃and not to have gone； this was to him life so rich that
such sensations； too greatly prolonged； would have worn out his
spirit。 The heart has the singular power of giving extraordinary
value to mere nothings。 What joy it is to a traveler to treasure
a blade of grass； an unfamiliar leaf； if he has risked his life
to pluck it！ It is the same with the trifles of love。
The old lady was not in the drawing…room。 When the young girl
found herself there； alone with the painter； she brought a chair
to stand on； to take down the picture； but perceiving that she
could not unhook it without setting her foot on the chest of
drawers； she turned to Hippolyte； and said with a blush：
〃I am not tall enough。 Will you get it down？〃
A feeling of modesty； betrayed in the expres