ursula-第14部分

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withheld　his　hand　and　did　not　offer　it。　Bouvard　spoke　first：



〃You　seem　wonderfully　well。〃



〃Yes；　I　amand　you？〃　said　Minoret；　feeling　that　the　ice　was　now

broken。



〃As　you　see。〃



〃Does　magnetism　prevent　people　from　dying？〃　asked　Minoret　in　a　joking

tone；　but　without　sharpness。



〃No；　but　it　almost　prevented　me　from　living。〃



〃Then　you　are　not　rich？〃　exclaimed　Minoret。



〃Pooh！〃　said　Bouvard。



〃But　I　am！〃　cried　the　other。



〃It　is　not　your　money　but　your　convictions　that　I　want。　Come；〃　replied

Bouvard。



〃Oh！　you　obstinate　fellow！〃　said　Minoret。



The　Mesmerist　led　his　sceptic；　with　some　precaution；　up　a　dingy

staircase　to　the　fourth　floor。



At　this　particular　time　an　extraordinary　man　had　appeared　in　Paris；

endowed　by　faith　with　incalculable　power；　and　controlling　magnetic

forces　in　all　their　applications。　Not　only　did　this　great　unknown　（who

still　lives）　heal　from　a　distance　the　worst　and　most　inveterate

diseases；　suddenly　and　radically；　as　the　Savior　of　men　did　formerly；

but　he　was　also　able　to　call　forth　instantaneously　the　most　remarkable

phenomena　of　somnambulism　and　conquer　the　most　rebellious　will。　The

countenance　of　this　mysterious　being；　who　claims　to　be　responsible　to

God　alone　and　to　communicate；　like　Swedenborg；　with　angels；　resembles

that　of　a　lion；　concentrated；　irresistible　energy　shines　in　it。　His

features；　singularly　contorted；　have　a　terrible　and　even　blasting

aspect。　His　voice；　which　comes　from　the　depths　of　his　being；　seems

charged　with　some　magnetic　fluid；　it　penetrates　the　hearer　at　every

pore。　Disgusted　by　the　ingratitude　of　the　public　after　his　many　cures；

he　has　now　returned　to　an　impenetrable　solitude；　a　voluntary

nothingness。　His　all…powerful　hand；　which　has　restored　a　dying

daughter　to　her　mother；　fathers　to　their　grief…stricken　children；

adored　mistresses　to　lovers　frenzied　with　love；　cured　the　sick　given

over　by　physicians；　soothed　the　sufferings　of　the　dying　when　life

became　impossible；　wrung　psalms　of　thanksgiving　in　synagogues；

temples；　and　churches　from　the　lips　of　priests　recalled　to　the　one　God

by　the　same　miracle；that　sovereign　hand；　a　sun　of　life　dazzling　the

closed　eyes　of　the　somnambulist；　has　never　been　raised　again　even　to

save　the　heir…apparent　of　a　kingdom。　Wrapped　in　the　memory　of　his　past

mercies　as　in　a　luminous　shroud；　he　denies　himself　to　the　world　and

lives　for　heaven。



But；　at　the　dawn　of　his　reign；　surprised　by　his　own　gift；　this　man；

whose　generosity　equaled　his　power；　allowed　a　few　interested　persons

to　witness　his　miracles。　The　fame　of　his　work；　which　was　mighty；　and

could　easily　be　revived　to…morrow；　reached　Dr。　Bouvard；　who　was　then

on　the　verge　of　the　grave。　The　persecuted　mesmerist　was　at　last

enabled　to　witness　the　startling　phenomena　of　a　science　he　had　long

treasured　in　his　heart。　The　sacrifices　of　the　old　man　touched　the

heart　of　the　mysterious　stranger；　who　accorded　him　certain　privileges。

As　Bouvard　now　went　up　the　staircase　he　listened　to　the　twittings　of

his　old　antagonist　with　malicious　delight；　answering　only；　〃You　shall

see；　you　shall　see！〃　with　the　emphatic　little　nods　of　a　man　who　is

sure　of　his　facts。



The　two　physicians　entered　a　suite　of　rooms　that　were　more　than

modest。　Bouvard　went　alone　into　a　bedroom　which　adjoined　the　salon

where　he　left　Minoret；　whose　distrust　was　instantly　awakened；　but

Bouvard　returned　at　once　and　took　him　into　the　bedroom；　where　he　saw

the　mysterious　Swedenborgian；　and　also　a　woman　sitting　in　an　armchair。

The　woman　did　not　rise；　and　seemed　not　to　notice　the　entrance　of　the

two　old　men。



〃What！　no　tub？〃　cried　Minoret；　smiling。



〃Nothing　but　the　power　of　God；〃　answered　the　Swedenborgian　gravely。　He

seemed　to　Minoret　to　be　about　fifty　years　of　age。



The　three　men　sat　down　and　the　mysterious　stranger　talked　of　the　rain

and　the　coming　fine　weather；　to　the　great　astonishment　of　Minoret；　who

thought　he　was　being　hoaxed。　The　Swedenborgian　soon　began；　however；　to

question　his　visitor　on　his　scientific　opinions；　and　seemed　evidently

to　be　taking　time　to　examine　him。



〃You　have　come　here　solely　from　curiosity；　monsieur；〃　he　said　at　last。

〃It　is　not　my　habit　to　prostitute　a　power　which；　according　to　my

conviction；　emanates　from　God；　if　I　made　a　frivolous　or　unworthy　use

of　it；　it　would　be　taken　from　me。　Nevertheless；　there　is　some　hope；

Monsieur　Bouvard　tells　me；　of　changing　the　opinions　of　one　who　has

opposed　us；　of　enlightening　a　scientific　man　whose　mind　is　candid；　I

have　therefore　determined　to　satisfy　you。　That　woman　whom　you　see

there；〃　he　continued；　pointing　to　her；　〃is　now　in　a　somnambulic　sleep。

The　statements　and　manifestations　of　somnambulists　declare　that　this

state　is　a　delightful　other　life；　during　which　the　inner　being；　freed

from　the　trammels　laid　upon　the　exercise　of　our　faculties　by　the

visible　world；　moves　in　a　world　which　we　mistakenly　term　invisible。

Sight　and　hearing　are　then　exercised　in　a　manner　far　more　perfect　than

any　we　know　of　here；　possibly　without　the　help　of　the　organs　we　now

employ；　which　are　the　scabbard　of　the　luminous　blades　called　sight　and

hearing。　To　a　person　in　that　state；　distance　and　material　obstacles　do

not　exist；　or　they　can　be　traversed　by　a　life　within　us　for　which　our

body　is　a　mere　receptacle；　a　necessary　shelter；　a　casing。　Terms　fail

to　describe　effects　that　have　lately　been　rediscovered；　for　to…day　the

words　imponderable；　intangible；　invisible　have　no　meaning　to　the　fluid

whose　action　is　demonstrated　by　magnetism。　Light　is　ponderable　by　its

heat；　which；　by　penetrating　bodies；　increases　their　volume；　and

certainly　electricity　is　only　too　tangible。　We　have　condemned　things

themselves　instead　of　blaming　the　imperfection　of　our　instruments。〃



〃She　sleeps；〃　said　Minoret；　examining　the　woman；　who　seemed　to　him　to

belong　to　an　inferior　class。



〃Her　body　is　for　the　time　being　in　abeyance；〃　said　the　Swedenborgian。

〃Ignorant　persons　suppose　that　condition　to　be　sleep。　But　she　will

prove　to　you　that　there　is　a　spiritual　universe；　and　that　the　mind

when　there　does　not　obey　the　laws　of　this　material　universe。　I　will

send　her　wherever　you　wish　to　go；a　hundred　miles　from　here　or　to

China；　as　you　will。　She　will　tell　you　what　is　happening　there。〃



〃Send　her　to　my　house　in　Nemours；　Rue　des　Bourgeois；　that　will　do；〃

said　Minoret。



He　took　Minoret's　hand；　which　the　doctor　let　him　take；　and　held　it　for

a　moment　seeming　to　collect　himself；　then　with　his　other　hand　he　took

that　of　the　woman　sitting　in　the　arm…chair　and　placed　the　hand　of　the

doctor　in　it；　making　a　sign　to　the　old　sceptic　to　seat　himself　beside

this　oracle　without　a　tripod。　Minoret　observed　a　slight　tremor　on　the

absolutely　calm　features　of　the　woman　when　their　hands　were　thus

united　by　the　Swedenborgian；　but　the　action；　though　marvelous　in　its

effects；　was　very　simply　done。



〃Obey　him；〃　said　the　unknown　personage；　extending　his　hand　above　the

head　of　the　sleeping　woman；　who　seemed　to　imbibe　both　light　and　life

from　him；　〃and　remember　that　what　you　do　for　him　will　please　me。You

can　now　speak　to　her；〃　he　added；　addressing　Minoret。



〃Go　to　Nemours；　to　my　house；　Rue　des　Bourgeois；〃　said　the　doctor。



〃Give　her　time；　put　your　hand　in　hers　until　she　proves　to　you　by　what

she　tells　you　that　she　is　where　you　wish　her　to　be；〃　said　Bouvard　to

his　old　friend。



〃I　see　a　river；〃　said　the　woman　in　a　feeble　voice；　seeming　to　look

within　herself　with　deep　attention；　notwithstanding　her　closed

eyelids。　〃I　see　a　pretty　garden〃



〃Why　do　you　enter　by　the　river　and　the　garden？〃　said　Minoret。



〃Because　they　are　there。〃



〃Who？〃



〃The　young　girl　and　her　nurse；　whom　you　are　thinking　of。〃



〃What　is　the　garden　like？〃　said　Minoret。



〃Entering　by　the　steps　which　go　down　to　the　river；　there　is　the　right；

a　long　brick　gallery；　in　which　I　see　books；　it　ends　in　a　singular

building；there　are　wooden　bells；　and　a　pattern　of　red　eggs。　To　the

left；　the　wall　is　covered　with　climbing　plants；　wild　grapes；　Virginia

jessamine。　In　the　middle　is　a　sun…dial。　There　are　many　plants　in　pots。

Your　child　is　looking　at　the　flowers。　She　shows　them　to　her　nurseshe

is　making　holes　in　the　earth　with　her　trowel；　and　planting　seeds。　The

nurse　is　raking　the　path。　The　young　girl　is　pure　as　an　angel；　but　the

beginning　of　love　is　there；　faint　as　the　dawn〃



〃Love　for　whom？〃　asked　the　doctor；　who；　until　now；　would　have　listened

to　no　word　said　to　him　by　somnambulists。　He　considered　it　all

jugglery。



〃You　know　nothingthough　you　have　lately　been　uneasy　about　her

health；〃　answered　the　woman。　〃Her　heart　has　followed　the　dictates　of

nature。〃



〃A　woman　of　the　people　to　talk　like　this！〃　cried　the　doctor。



〃In　the　state　she　is　in　all　persons　speak　with　extraordinary

perception；〃　said　Bouvard。



〃But　who　is　it　that　Ursula　loves？〃



〃Ursula　does　not　know　that　she　loves；〃　said　the　woman　with　a　shake　of

the　head；　〃she　is　too　angelic　to　know　what　love　is；　but　her　mind　is

occupied　by　him；　she　thinks　of　him；　she　tries　to　escape　the　thought；

but　she　returns　to　it　in　spite　of　her　will　to　abstain。She　is　at　the

piano〃



〃But　who　is　he？〃



〃The　son　of　a　lady　who　lives　opposite。〃



〃Madame　de　Portenduere？〃



〃Portenduere；　did　you　say？〃　replied　the　sleeper。　〃Perhaps　so。　But

there's　no　danger；　he　is　not　in　the　neighbourhood。〃



〃Have　they　spoken　to　each　other？〃　asked　the　doctor。



〃Never。　They　have　looked　at　one　another。　She　thinks　him　charming。　He

is；　in　fact；　a　fine　man；　he　has　a　good　heart。　She　sees　him　from　her

window；　they　see　each　other　in　church。　But　the　young　man　no　longer

thinks　of　her。〃



〃His　name？〃



〃Ah！　to　tell　you　that　I　must　read　it；　or　hear　it。　He　is　named

Savinien；　she　has　just　spoken　his　name；　she　thinks　it　sweet　to　say；

she　has　looked　in　the　almanac　for　his　fete…day　and　marked　a　red　dot

against　it；child's　play；　that。　Ah