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