sarrasine-第3部分

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frill　a　diamond　of　inestimable　value　gleamed　like　a　sun。　That
superannuated　splendor；　that　display　of　treasure；　of　great　intrinsic
worth；　but　utterly　without　taste；　served　to　bring　out　in　still　bolder
relief　the　strange　creature's　face。　The　frame　was　worthy　of　the
portrait。　That　dark　face　was　full　of　angles　and　furrowed　deep　in　every
direction；　the　chin　was　furrowed；　there　were　great　hollows　at　the
temples；　the　eyes　were　sunken　in　yellow　orbits。　The　maxillary　bones；
which　his　indescribable　gauntness　caused　to　protrude；　formed　deep
cavities　in　the　centre　of　both　cheeks。　These　protuberances；　as　the
light　fell　upon　them；　caused　curious　effects　of　light　and　shadow　which
deprived　that　face　of　its　last　vestige　of　resemblance　to　the　human
countenance。　And　then；　too；　the　lapse　of　years　had　drawn　the　fine；
yellow　skin　so　close　to　the　bones　that　it　described　a　multitude　of
wrinkles　everywhere；　either　circular　like　the　ripples　in　the　water
caused　by　a　stone　which　a　child　throws　in；　or　star…shaped　like　a　pane
of　glass　cracked　by　a　blow；　but　everywhere　very　deep；　and　as　close
together　as　the　leaves　of　a　closed　book。　We　often　see　more　hideous　old
men；　but　what　contributed　more　than　aught　else　to　give　to　the　spectre
that　rose　before　us　the　aspect　of　an　artificial　creation　was　the　red
and　white　paint　with　which　he　glistened。　The　eyebrows　shone　in　the
light　with　a　lustre　which　disclosed　a　very　well　executed　bit　of
painting。　Luckily　for　the　eye；　saddened　by　such　a　mass　of　ruins；　his
corpse…like　skull　was　concealed　beneath　a　light　wig；　with　innumerable
curls　which　indicated　extraordinary　pretensions　to　elegance。　Indeed；
the　feminine　coquettishness　of　this　fantastic　apparition　was
emphatically　asserted　by　the　gold　ear…rings　which　hung　at　his　ears；　by
the　rings　containing　stones　of　marvelous　beauty　which　sparkled　on　his
fingers；　like　the　brilliants　in　a　river　of　gems　around　a　woman's　neck。
Lastly；　this　species　of　Japanese　idol　had　constantly　upon　his　blue
lips；　a　fixed；　unchanging　smile；　the　shadow　of　an　implacable　and
sneering　laugh；　like　that　of　a　death's　head。　As　silent　and　motionless
as　a　statue；　he　exhaled　the　musk…like　odor　of　the　old　dresses　which　a
duchess'　heirs　exhume　from　her　wardrobe　during　the　inventory。　If　the
old　man　turned　his　eyes　toward　the　company；　it　seemed　that　the
movements　of　those　globes；　no　longer　capable　of　reflecting　a　gleam；
were　accomplished　by　an　almost　imperceptible　effort；　and；　when　the
eyes　stopped；　he　who　was　watching　them　was　not　certain　finally　that
they　had　moved　at　all。　As　I　saw；　beside　that　human　ruin；　a　young　woman
whose　bare　neck　and　arms　and　breast　were　white　as　snow；　whose　figure
was　well…rounded　and　beautiful　in　its　youthful　grace；　whose　hair；
charmingly　arranged　above　an　alabaster　forehead；　inspired　love；　whose
eyes　did　not　receive　but　gave　forth　light；　who　was　sweet　and　fresh；
and　whose　fluffy　curls；　whose　fragrant　breath；　seemed　too　heavy；　too
harsh；　too　overpowering　for　that　shadow；　for　that　man　of　dustah！　the
thought　that　came　into　my　mind　was　of　death　and　life；　an　imaginary
arabesque；　a　half…hideous　chimera；　divinely　feminine　from　the　waist
up。

〃And　yet　such　marriages　are　often　made　in　society！〃　I　said　to　myself。

〃He　smells　of　the　cemetery！〃　cried　the　terrified　young　woman；　grasping
my　arm　as　if　to　make　sure　of　my　protection；　and　moving　about　in　a
restless；　excited　way；　which　convinced　me　that　she　was　very　much
frightened。　〃It's　a　horrible　vision；〃　she　continued；　〃I　cannot　stay
here　any　longer。　If　I　look　at　him　again　I　shall　believe　that　Death
himself　has　come　in　search　of　me。　But　is　he　alive？〃

She　placed　her　hand　on　the　phenomenon；　with　the　boldness　which　women
derive　from　the　violence　of　their　wishes；　but　a　cold　sweat　burst　from
her　pores；　for；　the　instant　she　touched　the　old　man；　she　heard　a　cry
like　the　noise　made　by　a　rattle。　That　shrill　voice；　if　indeed　it　were
a　voice；　escaped　from　a　throat　almost　entirely　dry。　It　was　at　once
succeeded　by　a　convulsive　little　cough　like　a　child's；　of　a　peculiar
resonance。　At　that　sound；　Marianina；　Filippo；　and　Madame　de　Lanty
looked　toward　us；　and　their　glances　were　like　lightning　flashes。　The
young　woman　wished　that　she　were　at　the　bottom　of　the　Seine。　She　took
my　arm　and　pulled　me　away　toward　a　boudoir。　Everybody；　men　and　women；
made　room　for　us　to　pass。　Having　reached　the　further　end　of　the　suite
of　reception…rooms；　we　entered　a　small　semi…circular　cabinet。　My
companion　threw　herself　on　a　divan；　breathing　fast　with　terror；　not
knowing　where　she　was。

〃You　are　mad；　madame；〃　I　said　to　her。

〃But；〃　she　rejoined；　after　a　moment's　silence；　during　which　I　gazed　at
her　in　admiration；　〃is　it　my　fault？　Why　does　Madame　de　Lanty　allow
ghosts　to　wander　round　her　house？〃

〃Nonsense；〃　I　replied；　〃you　are　doing　just　what　fools　do。　You　mistake
a　little　old　man　for　a　spectre。〃

〃Hush；〃　she　retorted；　with　the　imposing；　yet　mocking；　air　which　all
women　are　so　well　able　to　assume　when　they　are　determined　to　put
themselves　in　the　right。　〃Oh！　what　a　sweet　boudoir！〃　she　cried；
looking　about　her。　〃Blue　satin　hangings　always　produce　an　admirable
effect。　How　cool　it　is！　Ah！　the　lovely　picture！〃　she　added；　rising　and
standing　in　front　of　a　magnificently　framed　painting。

We　stood　for　a　moment　gazing　at　that　marvel　of　art；　which　seemed　the
work　of　some　supernatural　brush。　The　picture　represented　Adonis
stretched　out　on　a　lion's　skin。　The　lamp；　in　an　alabaster　vase；
hanging　in　the　centre　of　the　boudoir；　cast　upon　the　canvas　a　soft
light　which　enabled　us　to　grasp　all　the　beauties　of　the　picture。

〃Does　such　a　perfect　creature　exist？〃　she　asked　me；　after　examining
attentively；　and　not　without　a　sweet　smile　of　satisfaction；　the
exquisite　grace　of　the　outlines；　the　attitude；　the　color；　the　hair；　in
fact　everything。

〃He　is　too　beautiful　for　a　man；〃　she　added；　after　such　a　scrutiny　as
she　would　have　bestowed　upon　a　rival。

Ah！　how　sharply　I　felt　at　that　moment　those　pangs　of　jealousy　in　which
a　poet　had　tried　in　vain　to　make　me　believe！　the　jealousy　of
engravings；　of　pictures；　of　statues；　wherein　artists　exaggerate　human
beauty；　as　a　result　of　the　doctrine　which　leads　them　to　idealize
everything。

〃It　is　a　portrait；〃　I　replied。　〃It　is　a　product　of　Vien's　genius。　But
that　great　painter　never　saw　the　original；　and　your　admiration　will　be
modified　somewhat　perhaps；　when　I　tell　you　that　this　study　was　made
from　a　statue　of　a　woman。〃

〃But　who　is　it？〃

I　hesitated。

〃I　insist　upon　knowing；〃　she　added　earnestly。

〃I　believe；〃　I　said；　〃that　this　/Adonis/　represents　aa　relative　of
Madame　de　Lanty。〃

I　had　the　chagrin　of　seeing　that　she　was　lost　in　contemplation　of　that
figure。　She　sat　down　in　silence；　and　I　seated　myself　beside　her　and
took　her　hand　without　her　noticing　it。　Forgotten　for　a　portrait！　At
that　moment　we　heard　in　the　silence　a　woman's　footstep　and　the　faint
rustling　of　a　dress。　We　saw　the　youthful　Marianina　enter　the　boudoir；
even　more　resplendent　by　reason　of　her　grace　and　her　fresh　costume；
she　was　walking　slowly　and　leading　with　motherly　care；　with　a
daughter's　solicitude；　the　spectre　in　human　attire；　who　had　driven　us
from　the　music…room；　as　she　led　him；　she　watched　with　some　anxiety　the
slow　movement　of　his　feeble　feet。　They　walked　painfully　across　the
boudoir　to　a　door　hidden　in　the　hangings。　Marianina　knocked　softly。
Instantly　a　tall；　thin　man；　a　sort　of　familiar　spirit；　appeared　as　if
by　magic。　Before　entrusting　the　old　man　to　this　mysterious　guardian；
the　lovely　child；　with　deep　veneration；　kissed　the　ambulatory　corpse；
and　her　chaste　caress　was　not　without　a　touch　of　that　graceful
playfulness；　the　secret　of　which　only　a　few　privileged　women　possess。

〃/Addio；　addio！/〃　she　said；　with　the　sweetest　inflection　of　her　young
voice。

She　added　to　the　last　syllable　a　wonderfully　executed　trill；　in　a　very
low　tone；　as　if　to　depict　the　overflowing　affection　of　her　heart　by　a
poetic　expression。　The　old　man；　suddenly　arrested　by　some　memory；
remained　on　the　threshold　of　that　secret　retreat。　In　the　profound
silence　we　heard　the　sigh　that　came　forth　form　his　breast；　he　removed
the　most　beautiful　of　the　rings　with　which　his　skeleton　fingers　were
laden；　and　placed　it　in　Marianina's　bosom。　The　young　madcap　laughed；
plucked　out　the　ring；　slipped　it　on　one　of　her　fingers　over　her　glove；
and　ran　hastily　back　toward　the　salon；　where　the　orchestra　were；　at
that　moment；　beginning　the　prelude　of　a　contra…dance。

She　spied　us。

〃Ah！　were　you　here？〃　she　said；　blushing。

After　a　searching　glance　at　us　as　if　to　question　us；　she　ran　away　to
her　partner　with　the　careless　petulance　of　her　years。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　queried　my　young　partner。　〃Is　he　her　husband？　I
believe　I　am　dreaming。　Where　am　I？〃

〃You！〃　I　retorted；　〃you；　madame；　who　are　easily　excited；　and　who；
understanding　so　well　the　most　imperceptible　emotions；　are　able　to
cultivate　in　a　man's　heart　the　most　delicate　of　sentiments；　without
crushing　it；　without　shattering　it　at　the　very　outset；　you　who　have
compassion　for　the　tortures　of　the　heart；　and　who；　with　the　wit　of　the
Parisian；　combine　a　passionate　temperament　worthy　of　Spain　or
Italy〃

She　realized　that　my　words　were　heavily　charged　with　bitter　irony；
and；　thereupon；　without　seeming　to　notice　it；　she　interrupted　me　to
say：

〃Oh！　you　describe　me　to　suit　your　own　taste。　A　strange　kind　of
tyranny！　You　wish　me　not　to　be　/myself/！〃

〃Oh！　I　wish　nothing；〃　I　cried；　alarmed　by　the　severity　of　her　manner。
〃At　all　events；　it　is　true；　is　it　not；　that　you　like　to　hear　stories
of　the　fierce　passions；　kindled　in　our　heart　by　the　enchanting　women
of　the　South？〃

〃Yes。　And　then？〃

〃Why；　I　will　come　to　your　house　about　nine　o'clock　to…morrow　evening；
and　elucidate　this　mystery　for　you。〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　with　a　pout；　〃I　wish　it　done　now。〃

〃You　have　not　yet　given　me　the　right　to　obey　you　when　you　say；　'I　wish
it。'　〃

〃At　this　moment；〃　she　said；　with　an　exhibition　of　coquetry　of　the　sort
that　drives　men　to　despair；　〃I　have　a　most　violent　desire　to　know　this
secret。　To…morrow　it　may　be　that　I　will　not　listen　to　you。〃

She　smiled　and　we　parted；　she　still　as　proud　and　as　cruel；　I　as
ridiculous；　as　ever。　She　had　the　audacity