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！
match in France。
The beauty； the great wealth； the intellectual qualities； of these two
children came entirely from their mother。 The Comte de Lanty was a
short； thin； ugly little man； as dismal as a Spaniard； as great a bore
as a banker。 He was looked upon； however； as a profound politician；
perhaps because he rarely laughed； and was always quoting M。 de
Metternich or Wellington。
This mysterious family had all the attractiveness of a poem by Lord
Byron； whose difficult passages were translated differently by each
person in fashionable society； a poem that grew more obscure and more
sublime from strophe to strophe。 The reserve which Monsieur and Madame
de Lanty maintained concerning their origin； their past lives； and
their relations with the four quarters of the globe would not； of
itself； have been for long a subject of wonderment in Paris。 In no
other country； perhaps； is Vespasian's maxim more thoroughly
understood。 Here gold pieces； even when stained with blood or mud；
betray nothing； and represent everything。 Provided that good society
knows the amount of your fortune； you are classed among those figures
which equal yours； and no one asks to see your credentials； because
everybody knows how little they cost。 In a city where social problems
are solved by algebraic equations； adventurers have many chances in
their favor。 Even if this family were of gypsy extraction； it was so
wealthy； so attractive； that fashionable society could well afford to
overlook its little mysteries。 But； unfortunately； the enigmatical
history of the Lanty family offered a perpetual subject of curiosity；
not unlike that aroused by the novels of Anne Radcliffe。
People of an observing turn； of the sort who are bent upon finding out
where you buy your candelabra； or who ask you what rent you pay when
they are pleased with your apartments； had noticed； from time to time；
the appearance of an extraordinary personage at the fetes； concerts；
balls； and routs given by the countess。 It was a man。 The first time
that he was seen in the house was at a concert； when he seemed to have
been drawn to the salon by Marianina's enchanting voice。
〃I have been cold for the last minute or two；〃 said a lady near the
door to her neighbor。
The stranger； who was standing near the speaker； moved away。
〃This is very strange！ now I am warm；〃 she said； after his departure。
〃Perhaps you will call me mad； but I cannot help thinking that my
neighbor； the gentleman in black who just walked away； was the cause
of my feeling cold。〃
Ere long the exaggeration to which people in society are naturally
inclined； produced a large and growing crop of the most amusing ideas；
the most curious expressions； the most absurd fables concerning this
mysterious individual。 Without being precisely a vampire； a ghoul； a
fictitious man； a sort of Faust or Robin des Bois； he partook of the
nature of all these anthropomorphic conceptions； according to those
persons who were addicted to the fantastic。 Occasionally some German
would take for realities these ingenious jests of Parisian evil…
speaking。 The stranger was simply /an old man/。 Some young men； who
were accustomed to decide the future of Europe every morning in a few
fashionable phrases； chose to see in the stranger some great criminal；
the possessor of enormous wealth。 Novelists described the old man's
life and gave some really interesting details of the atrocities
committed by him while he was in the service of the Prince of Mysore。
Bankers； men of a more positive nature； devised a specious fable。
〃Bah！〃 they would say； shrugging their broad shoulders pityingly；
〃that little old fellow's a /Genoese head/！〃
〃If it is not an impertinent question； monsieur； would you have the
kindness to tell me what you mean by a Genoese head？〃
〃I mean； monsieur； that he is a man upon whose life enormous sums
depend； and whose good health is undoubtedly essential to the
continuance of this family's income。 I remember that I once heard a
mesmerist； at Madame d'Espard's； undertake to prove by very specious
historical deductions； that this old man； if put under the magnifying
glass； would turn out to be the famous Balsamo； otherwise called
Cagliostro。 According to this modern alchemist； the Sicilian had
escaped death； and amused himself making gold for his grandchildren。
And the Bailli of Ferette declared that he recognized in this
extraordinary personage the Comte de Saint…Germain。〃
Such nonsense as this； put forth with the assumption of superior
cleverness； with the air of raillery； which in our day characterize a
society devoid of faith； kept alive vague suspicions concerning the
Lanty family。 At last； by a strange combination of circumstances； the
members of that family justified the conjectures of society by
adopting a decidedly mysterious course of conduct with this old man；
whose life was； in a certain sense； kept hidden from all
investigations。
If he crossed the threshold of the apartment he was supposed to occupy
in the Lanty mansion； his appearance always caused a great sensation
in the family。 One would have supposed that it was an event of the
greatest importance。 Only Filippo； Marianina； Madame de Lanty； and an
old servant enjoyed the privilege of assisting the unknown to walk； to
rise； to sit down。 Each one of them kept a close watch on his
slightest movements。 It seemed as if he were some enchanted person
upon whom the happiness； the life； or the fortune of all depended。 Was
it fear or affection？ Society could discover no indication which
enabled them to solve this problem。 Concealed for months at a time in
the depths of an unknown sanctuary； this familiar spirit suddenly
emerged； furtively as it were； unexpectedly； and appeared in the
salons like the fairies of old； who alighted from their winged dragons
to disturb festivities to which they had not been invited。 Only the
most experienced observers could divine the anxiety； at such times； of
the masters of the house； who were peculiarly skilful in concealing
their feelings。 But sometimes； while dancing a quadrille； the too
ingenuous Marianina would cast a terrified glance at the old man； whom
she watched closely from the circle of dancers。 Or perhaps Filippo
would leave his place and glide through the crowd to where he stood；
and remain beside him； affectionate and watchful； as if the touch of
man； or the faintest breath； would shatter that extraordinary
creature。 The countess would try to draw nearer to him without
apparently intending to join him； then； assuming a manner and an
expression in which servility and affection； submissiveness and
tyranny； were equally noticeable； she would say two or three words； to
which the old man almost always deferred； and he would disappear； led；
or I might better say carried away； by her。 If Madame de Lanty were
not present； the Count would employ a thousand ruses to reach his
side； but it always seemed as if he found difficulty in inducing him
to listen； and he treated him like a spoiled child； whose mother
gratifies his whims and at the same time suspects mutiny。 Some prying
persons having ventured to question the Comte de Lanty indiscr