the works of edgar allan poe-3-第49部分

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〃But；　Talbot；〃　I　continued；　pulling　him　by　the　shoulder；　〃listen　to
me　will　you？　Do　you　see　the　stage　　box？　　there！　　no；　the　next。
　did　you　ever　behold　as　lovely　a　woman？〃

〃She　is　very　beautiful；　no　doubt；〃　he　said。

〃I　wonder　who　she　can　be？〃

〃Why；　in　the　name　of　all　that　is　angelic；　don't　you　know　who　she　is？
'Not　to　know　her　argues　yourself　unknown。'　She　is　the　celebrated
Madame　Lalande　　the　beauty　of　the　day　par　excellence；　and　the　talk
of　the　whole　town。　Immensely　wealthy　too　　a　widow；　and　a　great
match　　has　just　arrived　from　Paris。〃

〃Do　you　know　her？〃

〃Yes；　I　have　the　honor。〃

〃Will　you　introduce　me？〃

〃Assuredly；　with　the　greatest　pleasure；　when　shall　it　be？〃

〃To…morrow；　at　one；　I　will　call　upon　you　at　B's。

〃Very　good；　and　now　do　hold　your　tongue；　if　you　can。〃

In　this　latter　respect　I　was　forced　to　take　Talbot's　advice；　for　he
remained　obstinately　deaf　to　every　further　question　or　suggestion；
and　occupied　himself　exclusively　for　the　rest　of　the　evening　with
what　was　transacting　upon　the　stage。

In　the　meantime　I　kept　my　eyes　riveted　on　Madame　Lalande；　and　at
length　had　the　good　fortune　to　obtain　a　full　front　view　of　her　face。
It　was　exquisitely　lovely　　this；　of　course；　my　heart　had　told　me
before；　even　had　not　Talbot　fully　satisfied　me　upon　the　point　　but
still　the　unintelligible　something　disturbed　me。　I　finally　concluded
that　my　senses　were　impressed　by　a　certain　air　of　gravity；　sadness；
or；　still　more　properly；　of　weariness；　which　took　something　from　the
youth　and　freshness　of　the　countenance；　only　to　endow　it　with　a
seraphic　tenderness　and　majesty；　and　thus；　of　course；　to　my
enthusiastic　and　romantic　temperment；　with　an　interest　tenfold。

While　I　thus　feasted　my　eyes；　I　perceived；　at　last；　to　my　great
trepidation；　by　an　almost　imperceptible　start　on　the　part　of　the
lady；　that　she　had　become　suddenly　aware　of　the　intensity　of　my　gaze。
Still；　I　was　absolutely　fascinated；　and　could　not　withdraw　it；　even
for　an　instant。　She　turned　aside　her　face；　and　again　I　saw　only　the
chiselled　contour　of　the　back　portion　of　the　head。　After　some
minutes；　as　if　urged　by　curiosity　to　see　if　I　was　still　looking；　she
gradually　brought　her　face　again　around　and　again　encountered　my
burning　gaze。　Her　large　dark　eyes　fell　instantly；　and　a　deep　blush
mantled　her　cheek。　But　what　was　my　astonishment　at　perceiving　that
she　not　only　did　not　a　second　time　avert　her　head；　but　that　she
actually　took　from　her　girdle　a　double　eyeglass　　elevated　it　
adjusted　it　　and　then　regarded　me　through　it；　intently　and
deliberately；　for　the　space　of　several　minutes。

Had　a　thunderbolt　fallen　at　my　feet　I　could　not　have　been　more
thoroughly　astounded　　astounded　only　　not　offended　or　disgusted
in　the　slightest　degree；　although　an　action　so　bold　in　any　other
woman　would　have　been　likely　to　offend　or　disgust。　But　the　whole
thing　was　done　with　so　much　quietude　　so　much　nonchalance　　so
much　repose…　with　so　evident　an　air　of　the　highest　breeding；　in　short
　that　nothing　of　mere　effrontery　was　perceptible；　and　my　sole
sentiments　were　those　of　admiration　and　surprise。

I　observed　that；　upon　her　first　elevation　of　the　glass；　she　had
seemed　satisfied　with　a　momentary　inspection　of　my　person；　and　was
withdrawing　the　instrument；　when；　as　if　struck　by　a　second　thought；
she　resumed　it；　and　so　continued　to　regard　me　with　fixed　attention
for　the　space　of　several　minutes　　for　five　minutes；　at　the　very
least；　I　am　sure。

This　action；　so　remarkable　in　an　American　theatre；　attracted　very
general　observation；　and　gave　rise　to　an　indefinite　movement；　or
buzz；　among　the　audience；　which　for　a　moment　filled　me　with
confusion；　but　produced　no　visible　effect　upon　the　countenance　of
Madame　Lalande。

Having　satisfied　her　curiosity　　if　such　it　was　　she　dropped　the
glass；　and　quietly　gave　her　attention　again　to　the　stage；　her　profile
now　being　turned　toward　myself；　as　before。　I　continued　to　watch　her
unremittingly；　although　I　was　fully　conscious　of　my　rudeness　in　so
doing。　Presently　I　saw　the　head　slowly　and　slightly　change　its
position；　and　soon　I　became　convinced　that　the　lady；　while　pretending
to　look　at　the　stage　was；　in　fact；　attentively　regarding　myself。　It
is　needless　to　say　what　effect　this　conduct；　on　the　part　of　so
fascinating　a　woman；　had　upon　my　excitable　mind。

Having　thus　scrutinized　me　for　perhaps　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　the　fair
object　of　my　passion　addressed　the　gentleman　who　attended　her；　and
while　she　spoke；　I　saw　distinctly；　by　the　glances　of　both；　that　the
conversation　had　reference　to　myself。

Upon　its　conclusion；　Madame　Lalande　again　turned　toward　the　stage；
and；　for　a　few　minutes；　seemed　absorbed　in　the　performance。　At　the
expiration　of　this　period；　however；　I　was　thrown　into　an　extremity　of
agitation　by　seeing　her　unfold；　for　the　second　time；　the　eye…glass
which　hung　at　her　side；　fully　confront　me　as　before；　and；
disregarding　the　renewed　buzz　of　the　audience；　survey　me；　from　head
to　foot；　with　the　same　miraculous　composure　which　had　previously　so
delighted　and　confounded　my　soul。

This　extraordinary　behavior；　by　throwing　me　into　a　perfect　fever　of
excitement　　into　an　absolute　delirium　of　love…served　rather　to
embolden　than　to　disconcert　me。　In　the　mad　intensity　of　my　devotion；
I　forgot　everything　but　the　presence　and　the　majestic　loveliness　of
the　vision　which　confronted　my　gaze。　Watching　my　opportunity；　when　I
thought　the　audience　were　fully　engaged　with　the　opera；　I　at　length
caught　the　eyes　of　Madame　Lalande；　and；　upon　the　instant；　made　a
slight　but　unmistakable　bow。

She　blushed　very　deeply　　then　averted　her　eyes　　then　slowly　and
cautiously　looked　around；　apparently　to　see　if　my　rash　action　had
been　noticed　　then　leaned　over　toward　the　gentleman　who　sat　by　her
side。

I　now　felt　a　burning　sense　of　the　impropriety　I　had　committed；　and
expected　nothing　less　than　instant　exposure；　while　a　vision　of
pistols　upon　the　morrow　floated　rapidly　and　uncomfortably　through　my
brain。　I　was　greatly　and　immediately　relieved；　however；　when　I　saw
the　lady　merely　hand　the　gentleman　a　play…bill；　without　speaking；　but
the　reader　may　form　some　feeble　conception　of　my　astonishment　　of
my　profound　amazement　　my　delirious　bewilderment　of　heart　and　soul
　when；　instantly　afterward；　having　again　glanced　furtively　around；
she　allowed　her　bright　eyes　to　set　fully　and　steadily　upon　my　own；
and　then；　with　a　faint　smile；　disclosing　a　bright　line　of　her　pearly
teeth；　made　two　distinct；　pointed；　and　unequivocal　affirmative
inclinations　of　the　head。

It　is　useless；　of　course；　to　dwell　upon　my　joy　　upon　my　transport…
upon　my　illimitable　ecstasy　of　heart。　If　ever　man　was　mad　with　excess
of　happiness；　it　was　myself　at　that　moment。　I　loved。　This　was　my
first　love　　so　I　felt　it　to　be。　It　was　love　supreme…indescribable。
It　was　〃love　at　first　sight；〃　and　at　first　sight；　too；　it　had　been
appreciated　and　returned。

Yes；　returned。　How　and　why　should　I　doubt　it　for　an　instant。　What
other　construction　could　I　possibly　put　upon　such　conduct；　on　the
part　of　a　lady　so　beautiful　　so　wealthy　　evidently　so
accomplished　　of　so　high　breeding　　of　so　lofty　a　position　in
society　　in　every　regard　so　entirely　respectable　as　I　felt　assured
was　Madame　Lalande？　Yes；　she　loved　me　　she　returned　the　enthusiasm
of　my　love；　with　an　enthusiasm　as　blind　　as　uncompromising　　as
uncalculating　　as　abandoned　　and　as　utterly　unbounded　as　my　own！
These　delicious　fancies　and　reflections；　however；　were　now
interrupted　by　the　falling　of　the　drop…curtain。　The　audience　arose；
and　the　usual　tumult　immediately　supervened。　Quitting　Talbot
abruptly；　I　made　every　effort　to　force　my　way　into　closer　proximity
with　Madame　Lalande。　Having　failed　in　this；　on　account　of　the　crowd；
I　at　length　gave　up　the　chase；　and　bent　my　steps　homeward；　consoling
myself　for　my　disappointment　in　not　having　been　able　to　touch　even
the　hem　of　her　robe；　by　the　reflection　that　I　should　be　introduced　by
Talbot；　in　due　form；　upon　the　morrow。

This　morrow　at　last　came；　that　is　to　say；　a　day　finally　dawned　upon　a
long　and　weary　night　of　impatience；　and　then　the　hours　until　〃one〃
were　snail…paced；　dreary；　and　innumerable。　But　even　Stamboul；　it　is
said；　shall　have　an　end；　and　there　came　an　end　to　this　long　delay。
The　clock　struck。　As　the　last　echo　ceased；　I　stepped　into　B's　and
inquired　for　Talbot。

〃Out；〃　said　the　footman　　Talbot's　own。

〃Out！〃　I　replied；　staggering　back　half　a　dozen　paces　　〃let　me　tell
you；　my　fine　fellow；　that　this　thing　is　thoroughly　impossible　and
impracticable；　Mr。　Talbot　is　not　out。　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Nothing；　sir；　only　Mr。　Talbot　is　not　in；　that's　all。　He　rode　over　to
S；　immediately　after　breakfast；　and　left　word　that　he　would　not　be
in　town　again　for　a　week。〃

I　stood　petrified　with　horror　and　rage。　I　endeavored　to　reply；　but　my
tongue　refused　its　office。　At　length　I　turned　on　my　heel；　livid　with
wrath；　and　inwardly　consigning　the　whole　tribe　of　the　Talbots　to　the
innermost　regions　of　Erebus。　It　was　evident　that　my　considerate
friend；　il　fanatico；　had　quite　forgotten　his　appointment　with　myself
　had　forgotten　it　as　soon　as　it　was　made。　At　no　time　was　he　a　very
scrupulous　man　of　his　word。　There　was　no　help　for　it；　so　smothering
my　vexation　as　well　as　I　could；　I　strolled　moodily　up　the　street；
propounding　futile　inquiries　about　Madame　Lalande　to　every　male
acquaintance　I　met。　By　report　she　was　known；　I　found；　to　all…　to　many
by　sight　　but　she　had　been　in　town　only　a　few　weeks；　and　there　were
very　few；　therefore；　who　claimed　her　personal　acquaintance。　These
few；　being　still　comparatively　strangers；　could　not；　or　would　not；
take　the　liberty　of　introducing　me　through　the　formality　of　a　morning
call。　While　I　stood　thus　in　despair；　conversing　with　a　trio　of
friends　upon　the　all　absorbing　subject　of　my　heart；　it　so　happened
that　the　subject　itself　passed　by。

〃As　I　live；　there　she　is！〃　cried　one。

〃Surprisingly　beautiful！〃　exclaimed　a　second。

〃An　angel　upon　earth！〃　ejaculated　a　third。

I　looked；　and　in　an　open　carriage　which　approached　us；　passing　slowly
down　the　street；　sat　the　enchanting　vision　of　the　opera；　accompanied
by　the　younger　lady　who　had　occupied　a　portion　of　her　box。