the professor(教授)-第31节
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integrity to all her other excellences？ Supposing she were to
marry an English and Protestant husband； would she not； rational；
sensible as she is； quickly acknowledge the superiority of right
over expediency； honesty over policy？ It would be worth a man’s
while to try the experiment； to…morrow I will renew my
observations。 She knows that I watch her： how calm she is under
scrutiny！ it seems rather to gratify than annoy her。” Here a strain
of music stole in upon my monologue； and suspended it； it was a
bugle； very skilfully played； in the neighbourhood of the park； I
thought； or on the Place Royale。 So sweet were the tones； so
subduing their effect at that hour； in the midst of silence and
under the quiet reign of moonlight； I ceased to think； that I might
listen more intently。 The strain retreated； its sound waxed fainter
and was soon gone； my ear prepared to repose on the absolute
hush of midnight once more。 No。 What murmur was that which；
low； and yet near and approaching nearer； frustrated the
expectation of total silence？ It was some one conversing—yes；
evidently； an audible； though subdued voice spoke in the garden
immediately below me。 Another answered； the first voice was that
of a man； the second that of a woman； and a man and a woman I
saw coming slowly down the alley。 Their forms were at first in
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shade； I could but discern a dusk outline of each； but a ray of
moonlight met them at the termination of the walk； when they
were under my very nose； and revealed very plainly； very
unequivocally； Mdlle Zoraide Reuter； arm…in…arm； or hand…in…
hand （I forget which） with my principal； confidant； and counsellor；
M。 Francois Pelet。 And M。 Pelet was saying—
“A quand donc le jour des noces； ma bien…aimée？”
And Mdlle Reuter answered—
“Mais； Francois； tu sais bien qu’il me serait impossible de me
marier avant les vacances。”
“June； July； August； a whole quarter！” exclaimed the director。
“How can I wait so long？—I who am ready； even now； to expire at
your feet with impatience！”
“Ah！ if you die； the whole affair will be settled without any
trouble about notaries and contracts； I shall only have to order a
slight mourning dress； which will be much sooner prepared than
the nuptial trousseau。”
“Cruel Zoraide！ you laugh at the distress of one who loves you
so devotedly as I do： my torment is your sport； you scruple not to
stretch my soul on the rack of jealousy； for； deny it as you will； I
am certain you have cast encouraging glances on that school…boy；
Crimsworth； he has presumed to fall in love； which he dared not
have done unless you had given him room to hope。”
“What do you say； Francois？ Do you say Crimsworth is in love
with me？”
“Over head and ears。”
“Has he told you so？”
“No—but I see it in his face： he blushes whenever your name is
mentioned。” A little laugh of exulting coquetry announced Mdlle
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Reuter’s gratification at this piece of intelligence （which was a lie；
by…the…by—I had never been so far gone as that； after all）。 M。 Pelet
proceeded to ask what she intended to do with me； intimating
pretty plainly； and not very gallantly； that it was nonsense for her
to think of taking such a “blanc…bec” as a husband； since she must
be at least ten years older than I （was she then thirty…two？ I should
not have thought it）。 I heard her disclaim any intentions on the
subject—the director； however； still pressed her to give a definite
answer。
“Francois；” said she； “you are jealous；” and still she laughed；
then； as if suddenly recollecting that this coquetry was not
consistent with the character for modest dignity she wished to
establish； she proceeded； in a demure voice： “Truly； my dear
Francois； I will not deny that this young Englishman may have
made some attempts to ingratiate himself with me； but； so far from
giving him any encouragement； I have always treated him with as
much reserve as it was possible to combine with civility； affianced
as I am to you； I would give no man false hopes； believe me； dear
friend。” Still Pelet uttered murmurs of distrust—so I judged； at
least； from her reply。
“What folly！ How could I prefer an unknown foreigner to you？
And then—not to flatter your vanity—Crimsworth could not bear
comparison with you either physically or mentally； he is not a
handsome man at all； some may call him gentleman…like and
intelligent…looking； but for my part—”
The rest of the sentence was lost in the distance； as the pair；
rising from the chair in which they had been seated； moved away。
I waited their return； but soon the opening and shutting of a door
informed me that they had re…entered the house； I listened a little
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longer； all was perfectly still； I listened more than an hour—at last
I heard M。 Pelet come in and ascend to his chamber。 Glancing
once more towards the long front of the garden…house； I perceived
that its solitary light was at length extinguished； so； for a time； was
my faith is love and friendship。 I went to bed； but something
feverish and fiery had got into my veins which prevented me from
sleeping much that night。
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Chapter XIII
ext morning I rose with the dawn； and having dressed
Nmyself and stood half…an…hour； my elbow leaning on the
chest of drawers； considering what means I should adopt
to restore my spirits； fagged with sleeplessness； to their ordinary
tone—for I had no intention of getting up a scene with M。 Pelet；
reproaching him with perfidy； sending him a challenge； or
performing other gambadoes of the sort—I hit at last on the
expedient of walking out in the cool of the morning to a
neighbouring establishment of baths； and treating myself to a
bracing plunge。 The remedy produced the desired effect。 I came
back at seven o’clock steadied and invigorated； and was able to
greet M。 Pelet； when he entered to breakfast； with an unchanged
and tranquil countenance； even a cordial offering of the hand and
the flattering appellation of “mon fils；” pronounced in that
caressing tone with which Monsieur had； of late days especially；
been accustomed to address me； did not elicit any external sign of
the feeling which； though subdued； still glowed at my heart。 Not
that I nursed vengeance—no； but the sense of insult and treachery
lived in me like a kindling； though as yet smothered coal。 God
knows I am not by nature vindictive； I would not hurt a man
because I can no longer trust or like him； but neither my reason
nor feelings are of the vacillating order—they are not of that sand…
like sort where impressions； if soon made； are as soon effaced。
Once convinced that my friend’s disposition is incompatible with
my own； once assured that he is indelibly stained with certain
defects obnoxious to my principles； and I dissolve the connection。
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The Prof
