the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第12节
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widest possible extent； and betrayed every sign of extreme nervousness。
〃Oh！ the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend！' A pearl； Excellence！ a
ruby； a diamond！ Two miniatures so perfect that they give one the feeling
of glimpses of Paradise！ What suavity！ Those colours ravished from the
corollas of flowers make a honey for the eyes！ Even a Sicilian could have
done no better！〃
〃Let me see it； then；〃 I asked； unable to conceal either my anxiety or
my hope。
〃Let you see it！〃 cried Polizzi。 〃But how can I； Excellence？ I have not
got it any longer！ I have not got it！〃
And he seemed determined to tear out his hair。 He might indeed have
pulled every hair in his head out of his hide before I should have tried to
prevent him。 But he stopped of his own accord； before he had done
himself any grievous harm。
〃What！〃 I cried out in anger〃what！ you make me come all the way
from Paris to Girgenti； by promising to show me a manuscript； and now；
when I come； you tell me you have not got it！ It is simply infamous；
Monsieur！ I shall leave your conduct to be judged by all honest men！〃
Anybody who could have seen me at that moment would have been
able to form a good idea of the aspect of a furious sheep。
〃It is infamous！ it is infamous！〃 I repeated； waving my arms； which
trembled from anger。
Then Michel…Angelo Polizzi let himself fall into a chair in the attitude
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of a dying hero。 I saw his eyes fill with tears； and his hairuntil then
flamboyant and erect upon his headfall down in limp disorder over his
brow。
〃I am a father； Excellence！ I am a father！〃 he groaned； wringing his
hands。
He continued； sobbing：
〃My son Rafaelthe son of my poor wife； for whose death I have been
mourning fifteen yearsRafael； Excellence； wanted to settle at Paris； he
hired a shop in the Rue Lafitte for the sale of curiosities。 I gave him
everything precious which I hadI gave him my finest majolicas； my most
beautiful Urbino ware； my masterpieces of art； what paintings； Signor！
Even now they dazzle me with I see them only in imagination！ And all of
them signed！ Finally； I gave him the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend'！ I
would have given him my flesh and my blood！ An only son； Signor！ the
son of my poor saintly wife！〃
〃So；〃 I said； 〃while Irelying on your written word； Monsieurwas
travelling to the very heart of Sicily to find the manuscript of the Clerk
Alexander； the same manuscript was actually exposed for sale in a
window in the Rue Lafitte； only fifteen hundred yards from my house？〃
〃Yes； it was there！ that is positively true！〃 exclaimed Signor Polizzi；
suddenly growing calm again； 〃and it is there stillat least I hope it is；
Excellence。〃
He took a card from a shelf as he spoke； and offered it to me； saying；
〃Here is the address of my son。 Make it known to your friends； and
you will oblige me。 Faience and enameled wares； hangings； pictures。 He
has a complete stock of objects of artall at the fairest possible pricesand
everything authentic； I can vouch for it； upon my honour！ Go and see him。
He will show you the manuscript of the 'Golden Legend。' Two miniatures
miraculously fresh in colour！〃
I was feeble enough to take the card he held out to me。
The fellow was taking further advantage of my weakness to make me
circulate the name of Rafael Polizzi among the Societies of the learned！
My hand was already on the door…knob； when the Sicilian caught me
by the arm； he had a look as of sudden inspiration。
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〃Ah！ Excellence！〃 he cried； 〃what a city is this city of ours！ It gave
birth to Empedocles！ Empedocles！ What a great man what a great citizen！
What audacity of thought！ what virtue！ what soul！ At the port over there is
a statue of Empedocles； before which I bare my head each time that I pass
by！ When Rafael； my son； was going away to found an establishment of
antiquities in the Rue Lafitte； at Paris； I took him to the port； and there； at
the foot of that statue of Empedocles； I bestowed upon him my paternal
benediction！ 'Always remember Empedocles！' I said to him。 Ah！ Signor；
what our unhappy country needs to…day is a new Empedocles！ Would you
not like me to show you the way to his statue； Excellence？ I will be your
guide among the ruins here。 I will show you the temple of Castor and
Pollux； the temple of the Olympian Jupiter； the temple of the Lucinian
Juno； the antique well； the tomb of Theron； and the Gate of Gold！ All the
professional guides are asses； but wewe shall make excavations； if you
are willingand we shall discover treasures！ I know the science of
discovering hidden treasuresthe secret art of finding their whereaboutsa
gift from Heaven！〃
I succeeded in tearing myself away from his grasp。 But he ran after me
again； stopped me at the foot of the stairs； and said in my ear；
〃Listen； Excellence。 I will conduct you about the city； I will introduce
you to some Girgentines！ What a race！ what types！ what forms！ Sicilian
girls； Signor！the antique beauty itself！〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 I cried at last； in anger； and rushed into the street；
leaving him still writhing in the loftiness of his enthusiasm。
When I had got out of his sight； I sank down upon a stone； and began
to think； with my face in my hands。
〃And it was for this；〃 I said to myself〃it was to hear such
propositions as this that I came to Sicily！ That Polizzi is simply a
scoundrel； and his son another； and they made a plan together to ruin me。〃
But what was their scheme？ I could not unravel it。 Meanwhile； it may be
imagined how discouraged and humiliated I felt。
A merry burst of laughter caused me to turn my head； and I saw
Madame Trepof running in advance of her husband； and holding up
something which I could not distinguish clearly。
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She sat down beside me； and showed melaughing more merrily all
the whilean abominable little paste…board box； on which was printed a
red and blue face； which the inscription declared to be the face of
Empedocles。
〃Yes； Madame；〃 I said； 〃but that abominable Polizzi； to whom I advise
you not to send Monsieur Trepof； has made me fall out for ever with
Empedocles； and this portrait is not at all of a nature to make me feel more
kindly to the ancient philosopher。〃
〃Oh！〃 declared Madame Trepof； 〃it is ugly； but it is rare！ These boxes
are not exported at all； you can buy them only where they are made。
Dimitri has six others just like this in his pocket。 We got them so as to
exchange with other collectors。 You understand？ At none o'clock this
morning we were at the factory。 You see we did not waste our time。〃
〃So I certainly perceive； Madame；〃 I replied； bitterly； 〃but I have lost
mine。〃
I then saw that she was a naturally good…hearted woman。 All her
merriment vanished。
〃Poor Monsieur Bonnard！ poor Monsieur Bonnard！〃 she murmured。
And； taking my hand in hers； she added：
〃Tell me about your troubles。〃
I told her about them。 My story was long； but she was evidently
touched by it； for she asked me quite a number of circumstantial questions；
which I took for proof of her friendly interest。 She wanted to know the
exact title of the manuscript； its shape； its appearance； and its age； she
asked me for the address of Signor Rafael Polizzi。
And I gave it to her； thus doing （O destiny！） precisely what the
abominable Polizzi had told me to do。
It is sometimes difficult to check oneself。 I recommenced my plaints
and my imprecations。 But this time Madame Trepof only burst out
laughing。
〃Why do you laugh？〃 I asked her。
〃Becau
