clotelle(有色女英雄)-第29节
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gave a slight scream； and seemed suddenly to have fallen into a fainting
condition。 Jerome sprang from his seat； and caught her in time to save her
from falling to the ground。
At this moment an elderly gentleman； also dressed in black； was seen
approaching with a hurried step； which seemed to indicate that he was in
some way connected with the lady。 The old man came up； and in rather a
confused manner inquired what had happened； and Jerome explained
matters as well as he was able to do so。 After taking up the vinaigrette；
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which had fallen from her hand； and holding the bottle a short time to her
face； the lady began to revive。 During all this time； the veil had still partly
covered the face of the fair one； so that Jerome had scarcely seen it。 When
she had so far recovered as to be able to look around her； she raised herself
slightly； and again screamed and swooned。 The old man now feeling
satisfied that Jerome's dark complexion was the immediate cause of the
catastrophe； said in a somewhat petulant tone；
〃I will be glad； sir； if you will leave us alone。〃
The little boy at this juncture set up a loud cry； and amid the general
confusion； Jerome left the ground and returned to his hotel。
While seated at the window of his room looking out upon the crowded
street； with every now and then the strange scene in the graveyard vividly
before him； Jerome suddenly thought of the book he had been reading； and；
remembering that he had left it on the tombstone； where he dropped it
when called to the lady's assistance； he determined to return for it at once。
After a walk of some twenty minutes； he found himself again in the
burial…ground and on the spot where he had been an hour before。 The
pensive moon was already up； and its soft light was sleeping on the little
pond at the back of the grounds； while the stars seemed smiling at their
own sparkling rays gleaming up from the beautiful sheet of water。
Jerome searched in vain for his book； it was nowhere to be found。
Nothing； save the bouquet that the lady had dropped； and which lay half…
buried in the grass； from having been trodden upon； indicated that any one
had been there that evening。 The stillness of death reigned over the place；
even the little birds； that had before been twittering and flying about； had
retired for the night。
Taking up the bunch of flowers； Jerome returned to his hotel。 〃What
can this mean？〃 he would ask himself； 〃and why should they take my
book？〃 These questions he put to himself again and again during his walk。
His sleep was broken more than once that night； and he welcomed the
early dawn as it made its appearance。
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CHAPTER XXXII
THE HAPPY MEETING
AFTER passing a sleepless night； and hearing the clock strike six；
Jerome took from his table a book； and thus endeavored to pass away the
hours before breakfast…time。 While thus engaged； a servant entered and
handed him a note。 Hastily tearing it open； Jerome read as follows：
〃SIR；I owe you an apology for the abrupt manner in which I
addressed you last evening； and the inconvenience to which you were
subjected by some of my household。 If you will honor us with your
presence to…day at four o'clock； I will be most happy to give you due
satisfaction。 My servant will be waiting with the carriage at half…past
three。
I am； sir； yours； &c。； J。 DEVENANT JEROME
FLETCHER； Esq。
Who this gentleman was； and how he had found out his name and the
hotel at which he was stopping； were alike mysteries to Jerome。 And this
note seemed to his puzzled brain like a challenge。 〃Satisfaction？〃 He
had not asked for satisfaction。 However； he resolved to accept the
invitation； and； if need be； meet the worst。 At any rate； this most
mysterious and complicated affair would be explained。
The clock on a neighboring church had scarcely finished striking three
when a servant announced to Jerome that a carriage had called for him。 In
a few minutes； he was seated in a sumptuous barouche； drawn by a pair of
beautiful iron…grays； and rolling over a splendid gravel road entirely
shaded by trees； which appeared to have been the accumulated growth of
many centuries。 The carriage soon stopped at a low villa； which was
completely embowered in trees。
Jerome alighted； and was shown into a superb room； with the walls
finely decorated with splendid tapestry； and the ceilings exquisitely
frescoed。 The walls were hung with fine specimens from the hands of
the great Italian masters； and one by a German artist； representing a
beautiful monkish legend connected with the 〃Holy Catharine；〃 an
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illustrious lady of Alexandria。 High…backed chairs stood around the room；
rich curtains of crimson damask hung in folds on either side of the
window； and a beautiful； rick； Turkey carpet covered the floor。 In the
centre of the room stood a table covered with books； in the midst of which
was a vase of fresh flowers； loading the atmosphere with their odors。 A
faint light； together with the quiet of the hour； gave beauty beyond
description to the whole scene。 A half…open door showed a fine marble
floor to an adjoining room； with pictures； statues； and antiquated sofas；
and flower…pots filled with rare plants of every kind and description。
Jerome had scarcely run his eyes over the beauties of the room when
the elderly gentleman whom he had met on the previous evening made his
appearance； followed by the little boy； and introduced himself as Mr。
Devenant。 A moment more and a lady； a beautiful brunette； dressed in
black； with long black curls hanging over her shoulders； entered the room。
Her dark； bright eyes flashed as she caught the first sight of Jerome。 The
gentleman immediately arose on the entrance of the lady； and Mr。
Devenant was in the act of introducing the stranger when he observed that
Jerome had sunk back upon the sofa； in a faint voice exclaiming；
〃It is she！〃
After this； all was dark and dreary。 How long he remained in this
condition； it was for others to tell。 The lady knelt by his side and wept；
and when he came to； he found himself stretched upon the sofa with his
boots off and his head resting upon a pillow。 By his side sat the old man；
with the smelling…bottle in one hand and a glass of water in the other；
while the little boy stood at the foot of the sofa。 As soon as Jerome had so
far recovered as to be able to speak； he said；
〃Where am I； and what does all this mean？〃
〃Wait awhile；〃 replied the old man； 〃and I will tell you all。〃
After the lapse of some ten minutes； Jerome arose from the sofa；
adjusted his apparel； and said；
〃I am now ready to hear anything you have to say。〃
〃You were born in America？〃 said the old man。
〃I was；〃 he replied。
〃And you knew a girl named Clotelle；〃 continued the old man。
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〃Yes； and I loved her as I can love none other。〃
〃The lady whom you met so mysteriously last evening was she；〃 said
Mr。 Devenant。
Jerome was silent； but the fountain of mingled grief and joy stole out
from beneath his eyelashes； and glistened like pearls upon his ebony
cheeks。
At this juncture； the lady again entered the room。 With an enthusiasm
that can be better imagined than described； Jerome sprang from the sofa；
and they rushed into ea
