友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the crime of sylvestre bonnard-第9章

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!



n alleys and flights of steps。  If ever any many showed absolute docility in allowing himself to be guided; that man was myself。  Dante never followed the steps of Beatrice with more confidence than I felt in following those of Princess Trepof。

The lady appeared to find some pleasure in my conversation; for she invited me to take a carriage…drive with her on the morrow to visit the grotto of Posilippo and the tomb of Virgil。  She declared she had seen me somewhere before; but she could not remember if it had been a Stockholm or at Canton。  In the former event I was a very celebrated professor of geology; in the latter; a provision… merchant whose courtesy and kindness had been much appreciated。 One thing certain was that she had seen my back somewhere before。

〃Excuse me;〃 she added; 〃we are continually travelling; my husband and I; to collect match…boxes and to change our ennui by changing country。  Perhaps it would be more reasonable to content ourselves with a single variety of ennui。  But we have made all our preparations and arrangements for travelling:  all our plans have been laid out in advance; and it gives us no trouble; whereas it would be very troublesome for us to stop anywhere in particular。 I tell you all this so that you many not be surprised if my recollections have become a little mixed up。  But from the moment I first saw you at a distance this evening; I feltin fact I knew that I had seen you before。  Now the question is; 'Where was it that I saw you?'  You are not then; either the geologist or the provision…merchant?〃

〃No; Madame;〃 I replied; 〃I am neither the one nor the other; and I am sorry for itsince you have had reason to esteem them。  There is really nothing about me worthy of your interest。  I have spent all my life poring over books; and I have never traveled:  you might have known that from my bewilderment; which excited your compassion。  I am a member of the Institute。〃

〃You are a member of the Institute!  How nice!  Will you not write something for me in my album?  Do you know Chinese?  I would like so much to have you write something in Chinese or Persian in my album。  I will introduce you to my friend; Miss Fergusson; who travels everywhere to see all the famous people in the world。  She will be delighted。。。。  Dimitri; did you hear that?this gentleman is a member of the Institute; and he has passed all his life over books。〃

The prince nodded approval。

〃Monsieur;〃 I said; trying to engage him in our conversation; 〃it is true that something can be learned from books; but a great deal more can be learned by travelling; and I regret that I have not been able to go round the world like you。  I have lived in the same house for thirty years and I scarcely every go out。〃

〃Lived in the same house for thirty years!〃 cried Madame Trepof; 〃is it possible?〃

〃Yes; Madame;〃 I answered。  〃But you must know the house is situated on the bank of the Seine; and in the very handsomest and most famous part of the world。  From my window I can see the Tuileries and the Louvre; the Pont…Neuf; the towers of Notre…Dame; the turrets of the Palais de Justice; and the spire of the Sainte…Chapelle。  All those stones speak to me; they tell me stories about the days of Saint…Louis; of the Valois; of Henri IV。; and of Louus XIV。  I understand them; and I love them all。  It is only a very small corner of the world; but honestly; Madame; where is there a more glorious spot?〃

At this moment we found ourselves upon a public squarea largo steeped in the soft glow of the night。  Madame Trepof looked at me in an uneasy manner; her lifted eyebrows almost touched the black curls about her forehead。

〃Where do you live then?〃 she demanded brusquely。

〃On the Quai Malaquais; Madame; and my name is Bonnard。  It is not a name very widely known; but I am contented if my friends do not forget it。〃

This revelation; unimportant as it was; produced an extraordinary effect upon Madame Trepof。  She immediately turned her back upon me and caught her husband's arm。

〃Come; Dimitri!〃 she exclaimed; 〃do walk a little faster。  I am horribly tired; and you will not hurry yourself in the least。  We shall never get home。。。。  As for you; monsieur; your way lies over there!〃

She made a vague gesture in the direction of some dark vicolo; pushed her husband the opposite way; and called to me; without even turning her head。

〃Adieu; Monsieur!  We shall not go to Posilippo to…morrow; nor the day after; either。  I have a frightful headache!。。。  Dimitri; you are unendurable! will you not walk faster?〃

I remained for the moment stupefied; vainly trying to think what I could have done to offend Madame Trepof。  I had also lost my way; and seemed doomed to wander about all night。  In order to ask my way; I would have to see somebody; and it did not seem likely that I should find a single human being who could understand me。  In my despair I entered a street at randoma street; or rather a horrible alley that had the look of a murderous place。  It proved so in fact; for I had not been two minutes in it before I saw two men fighting with knives。  They were attacking each other more fiercely with their tongues than with their weapons; and I concluded from the nature of the abuse they were showering upon each other that it was a love affair。  I prudently made my way into a side alley while those two good fellows were still much too busy with their own affairs to think about mine。  I wandered hopelessly about for a while; and at last sat down; completely discouraged; on a stone bench; inwardly cursing the strange caprices of Madame Trepof。

〃How are you; Signor?  Are you back from San Carlo?  Did you hear the diva sing?  It is only at Naples you can hear singing like hers。〃

I looked up; and recognised my host。  I had seated myself with my back to the facade of my hotel; under the window of my own room。




Monte…Allegro; November 30; 1859。


We were all restingmyself; my guides; and their muleson a road from Sciacca to Girgenti; at a tavern in the miserable village of Monte…Allegro; whose inhabitants; consumed by the mal aria; continually shiver in the sun。  But nevertheless they are Greeks; and their gaiety triumphs over all circumstances。  A few gather about the tavern; full of smiling curiosity。  One good story would have sufficed; had I known how to tell it to them; to make them forget all the woes of life。  They had all a look of intelligence! and their women; although tanned and faded; wore their long black cloaks with much grace。

Before me I could see old ruins whitened by the sea…windruins about which no grass ever grows。  The dismal melancholy of deserts prevails over this arid land; whose cracked surface can barely nourish a few shriveled mimosas; cacti; and dwarf palms。  Twenty yards away; along the course of a ravine; stones were gleaming whitely like a long line of scattered bones。  They told me that was the bed of a stream。

I had been fifteen days in Sicily。  On coming into the Bay of Palermowhich opens between the two mighty naked masses of the Pelligrino and the Catalfano; and extends inward along the 〃Golden Conch〃the view inspired me with such admiration that I resolved to travel a little in this
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!