original short stories-6-第22部分

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fiery　ballet　in　the　perfumed　air。

One　of　them　happened　to　come　into　our　carriage；　and　shed　its　intermittent
light；　which　seemed　to　be　extinguished　one　moment　and　to　be　burning　the
next。　　I　covered　the　carriage…lamp　with　its　blue　shade　and　watched　the
strange　fly　careering　about　in　its　fiery　flight。　　Suddenly　it　settled　on
the　dark　hair　of　our　neighbor；　who　was　half　dozing　after　dinner。　　Paul
seemed　delighted；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　bright；　sparkling　spot；
which　looked　like　a　living　jewel　on　the　forehead　of　the　sleeping　woman。

The　Italian　woke　up　about　eleven　o'clock；　with　the　bright　insect　still　in
her　hair。　　When　I　saw　her　move；　I　said：　〃We　are　just　getting　to　Genoa；
madame；〃　and　she　murmured；　without　answering　me；　as　if　possessed　by　some
obstinate　and　embarrassing　thought：

〃What　am　I　going　to　do；　I　wonder？〃

And　then　she　suddenly　asked：

〃Would　you　like　me　to　come　with　you？〃

I　was　so　taken　aback　that　I　really　did　not　understand　her。

〃With　us？　　How　do　you　mean？〃

She　repeated；　looking　more　and　more　furious：

〃Would　you　like　me　to　be　your　guide　now；　as　soon　as　we　get　out　of　the
train？〃

〃I　am　quite　willing；　but　where　do　you　want　to　go。

She　shrugged　her　shoulders　with　an　air　of　supreme　indifference。

〃Wherever　you　like；　what　does　it　matter　to　me？〃　She　repeated　her　〃Che　mi
fa〃　twice。

〃But　we　are　going　to　the　hotel。〃

〃Very　well；　let　us　all　go　to　the　hotel；〃　she　said；　in　a　contemptuous
voice。

I　turned　to　Paul；　and　said：

〃She　wishes　to　know　whether　we　should　like　her　to　come　with　us。〃

My　friend's　utter　surprise　restored　my　self…possession。　　He　stammered：

〃With　us？　　Where　to？　　What　for？　　How？〃

〃I　don't　know；　but　she　made　this　strange　proposal　to　me　in　a　most
irritated　voice。　　I　told　her　that　we　were　going　to　the　hotel；　and　she
said：　'Very　well；　let　us　all　go　there！'　I　suppose　she　is　without　a　penny。
She　certainly　has　a　very　strange　way　of　making　acquaintances。〃

Paul；　who　'was　very　much　excited；　exclaimed：

〃I　am　quite　agreeable。　　Tell　her　that　we　will　go　wherever　she　likes。〃
Then；　after　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　said　uneasily：

〃We　must　know；　however；　with　whom　she　wishes　to　gowith　you　or　with　me？〃

I　turned　to　the　Italian；　who　did　not　even　seem　to　be　listening　to　us；　and
said：

〃We　shall　be　very　happy　to　have　you　with　us；　but　my　friend　wishes　to　know
whether　you　will　take　my　arm　or　his？〃

She　opened　her　black　eyes　wide　with　vague　surprise；　and　said；　〃Che　ni
fa？〃

I　was　obliged　to　explain　myself。　　〃In　Italy；　I　believe；　when　a　man　looks
after　a　woman；　fulfils　all　her　wishes；　and　satisfies　all　her　caprices；　he
is　called　a　patito。　　Which　of　us　two　will　you　take　for　your　patito？〃

Without　the　slightest　hesitation　she　replied：

〃You！〃

I　turned　to　Paul。　　〃You　see；　my　friend；　she　chooses　me；　you　have　no
chance。〃

〃All　the　better　for　you；〃　he　replied　in　a　rage。　　Then；　after　thinking　for
a　few　moments；　he　went　on：

〃Do　you　really　care　about　taking　this　creature　with　you？　　She　will　spoil
our　journey。　　What　are　we　to　do　with　this　woman；　who　looks　like　I　don't
know　what？　　They　will　not　take　us　in　at　any　decent　hotel。〃

I；　however；　just　began　to　find　the　Italian　much　nicer　than　I　had　thought
her　at　first；　and　I　was　now　very　desirous　to　take　her　with　us。　　The　idea
delighted　me。

I　replied；　〃My　dear　fellow；　we　have　accepted；　and　it　is　too　late　to
recede。　　You　were　the　first　to　advise　me　to　say　'Yes。'〃

〃It　is　very　stupid；〃　he　growled；　〃but　do　as　you　please。〃

The　train　whistled；　slackened　speed；　and　we　ran　into　the　station。

I　got　out　of　the　carriage；　and　offered　my　new　companion　my　hand。　　She
jumped　out　lightly；　and　I　gave　her　my　arm；　which　she　took　with　an　air　of
seeming　repugnance。　　As　soon　as　we　had　claimed　our　luggage　we　set　off
into　the　town；　Paul　walking　in　utter　silence。

〃To　what　hotel　shall　we　go？〃　I　asked　him。　　〃It　may　be　difficult　to　get
into　the　City　of　Paris　with　a　woman；　especially　with　this　Italian。〃

Paul　interrupted　me。　　〃Yes；　with　an　Italian　who　looks　more　like　a　dancer
than　a　duchess。　　However；　that　is　no　business　of　mine。　　Do　just　as　you
please。〃

I　was　in　a　state　of　perplexity。　　I　had　written　to　the　City　of　Paris　to
retain　our　rooms；　and　now　I　did　not　know　what　to　do。

Two　commissionaires　followed　us　with　our　luggage。　　I　continued：　〃You
might　as　well　go　on　first；　and　say　that　we　are　coming；　and　give　the
landlord　to　understand　that　I　have　aa　friend　with　me　and　that　we　should
like　rooms　quite　by　themselves　for　us　three；　so　as　not　to　be　brought　in
contact　with　other　travellers。　　He　will　understand；　and　we　will　decide
according　to　his　answer。〃

But　Paul　growled；　〃Thank　you；　such　commissions　and　such　parts　do　not　suit
me；　by　any　means。　　I　did　not　come　here　to　select　your　apartments　or　to
minister　to　your　pleasures。〃

But　I　was　urgent：　〃Look　here；　don't　be　angry。　　It　is　surely　far　better　to
go　to　a　good　hotel　than　to　a　bad　one；　and　it　is　not　difficult　to　ask　the
landlord　for　three　separate　bedrooms　and　a　dining…room。〃

I　put　a　stress　on　three；　and　that　decided　him。

He　went　on　first；　and　I　saw　him　go　into　a　large　hotel　while　I　remained　on
the　other　side　of　the　street；　with　my　fair　Italian；　who　did　not　say　a
word；　and　followed　the　porters　with　the　luggage。

Paul　came　back　at　last；　looking　as　dissatisfied　as　my　companion。

〃That　is　settled；〃　he　said；　〃and　they　will　take　us　in；　but　here　are　only
two　bedrooms。　　You　must　settle　it　as　you　can。〃

I　followed　him；　rather　ashamed　of　going　in　with　such　a　strange　companion。

There　were　two　bedrooms　separated　by　a　small　sitting…room。　　I　ordered　a
cold　supper；　and　then　I　turned　to　the　Italian　with　a　perplexed　look。

〃We　have　only　been　able　to　get　two　rooms；　so　you　must　choose　which　you
like。〃

She　replied　with　her　eternal　〃Che　mi　fa！〃　I　thereupon　took　up　her　little
black　wooden　trunk；　such　as　servants　use；　and　took　it　into　the　room　on
the　right；　which　I　had　chosen　for　her。　　A　bit　of　paper　was　fastened　to
the　box；　on　which　was　written；　Mademoiselle　Francesca　Rondoli；　Genoa。

〃Your　name　is　Francesca？〃　I　asked；　and　she　nodded　her　head；　without
replying。

〃We　shall　have　supper　directly；〃　I　continued。　　〃Meanwhile；　I　dare　say　you
would　like　to　arrange　your　toilette　a　little？〃

She　answered　with　a　'mica'；　a　word　which　she　employed　just　as　frequently
as　'Che　me　fa'；　but　I　went　on：　〃It　is　always　pleasant　after　a　journey。〃

Then　I　suddenly　remembered　that　she　had　not；　perhaps；　the　necessary
requisites；　for　she　appeared　to　me　in　a　very　singular　position；　as　if　she
had　just　escaped　from　some　disagreeable　adventure；　and　I　brought　her　my
dressing…case。

I　put　out　all　the　little　instruments　for　cleanliness　and　comfort　which　it
contained：　a　nail…brush；　a　new　toothbrushI　always　carry　a　selection　of
them　about　with　memy　nail…scissors；　a　nail…file；　and　sponges。　　I
uncorked　a　bottle　of　eau　de　cologne；　one　of　lavender…water；　and　a　little
bottle　of　new…mown　hay；　so　that　she　might　have　a　choice。　　Then　I　opened
my　powder…box；　and　put　out　the　powder…puff；　placed　my　fine　towels　over
the　water…jug；　and　a　piece　of　new　soap　near　the　basin。

She　watched　my　movements　with　a　look　of　annoyance　in　her　wide…open　eyes；
without　appearing　either　astonished　or　pleased　at　my　forethought。

〃Here　is　all　that　you　require；〃　I　then　said；　〃I　will　tell　you　when　supper
is　ready。〃

When　I　returned　to　the　sitting…room　I　found　that　Paul　had　shut　himself　in
the　other　room；　so　I　sat　down　to　wait。

A　waiter　went　to　and　fro；　bringing　plates　and　glasses。　　He　laid　the　table
slowly；　then　put　a　cold　chicken　on　it；　and　told　me　that　all　was　ready。

I　knocked　gently　at　Mademoiselle　Rondoli's　door。　　〃Come　in；〃　she　said；
and　when　I　did　so　I　was　struck　by　a　strong；　heavy　smell　of　perfumes；　as
if　I　were　in　a　hairdresser's　shop。

The　Italian　was　sitting　on　her　trunk　in　an　attitude　either　of　thoughtful
discontent　or　absent…mindedness。　　The　towel　was　still　folded　over　the
waterjug　that　was　full　of　water；　and　the　soap；　untouched　and　dry；　was
lying　beside　the　empty　basin；　but　one　would　have　thought　that　the　young
woman　had　used　half　the　contents　of　the　bottles　of　perfume。　　The　eau　de
cologne；　however；　had　been　spared；　as　only　about　a　third　of　it　had　gone；
but　to　make　up　for　that　she　had　used　a　surprising　amount　of　lavender…
water　and　new…mown　hay。　　A　cloud　of　violet　powder；　a　vague　white　mist；
seemed　still　to　be　floating　in　the　air；　from　the　effects　of　her　over…
powdering　her　face　and　neck。　　It　seemed　to　cover　her　eyelashes；　eyebrows；
and　the　hair　on　her　temples　like　snow；　while　her　cheeks　were　plastered
with　it；　and　layers　of　it　covered　her　nostrils；　the　corners　of　her　eyes；
and　her　chin。

When　she　got　up　she　exhaled　such　a　strong　odor　of　perfume　that　it　almost
made　me　feel　faint。

When　we　sat　down　to　supper；　I　found　that　Paul　was　in　a　most　execrable
temper；　and　I　could　get　nothing　out　of　him　but　blame；　irritable　words；
and　disagreeable　remarks。

Mademoiselle　Francesca　ate　like　an　ogre；　and　as　soon　as　she　had　finished
her　meal　she　threw　herself　upon　the　sofa　in　the　sitting…room。　　Sitting
down　beside　her；　I　said　gallantly；　kissing　her　hand：

〃Shall　I　have　the　bed　prepared；　or　will　you　sleep　on　the　couch？〃

〃It　is　all　the　same　to　me。　　'Che　mi　fa'！〃

Her　indifference　vexed　me。

〃Should　you　like　to　retire　at　once？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　very　sleepy。〃

She　got　up；　yawned；　gave　her　hand　to　Paul；　who　took　it　with　a　furious
look；　and　I　lighted　her　into　the　bedroom。　　A　disquieting　feeling　haunted
me。　　〃Here　is　all　you　want；〃　I　said　again。

The　next　morning　she　got　up　early；　like　a　woman　who　is　accustomed　to
work。　　She　woke　me　by　doing　so；　and　I　watched　her　through　my　half…closed
eyelids。

She　came　and　went　without　hurrying　herself；　as　if　she　were　astonished　at
having　nothing　to　do。　　At　length　she　went　to　the　dressing…table；　and　in　a
moment　emptied　all　my　bottles　of　perfume。　　She　certainly　also　used　some
water；　but　very　little。

When　she　was　quite　dressed；　she　sat　down　on　her　trunk　again；　and　clasping
one　knee　between　her　hands；　she　seemed　to　be　thinking。

At　that　moment　I　pretended　to　first　notice　her；　and　said：

〃Good…morning；　Francesca。〃

Without　seeming　in　at　all　a　better　temper　than　the　previous　night；　she
murmured；　〃Good…morning！〃