the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第13节
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laughing。
〃Why do you laugh？〃 I asked her。
〃Because I am a wicked woman；〃 she answered。
And she fled away； leaving me all disheartened on my stone。
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Paris； December 8； 1859。
My unpacked trunks still encumbered the hall。 I was seated at a
tabled covered with all those good things which the land of France
produces for the delectation of gourmets。 I was eating a pate le Chartres；
which is alone sufficient to make one love one's country。 Therese； standing
before me with her hands joined over her white apron； was looking at me
with benignity； with anxiety； and with pity。 Hamilcar was rubbing himself
against my legs； wild with delight。
These words of an old poet came back to my memory：
〃Happy is he who； like Ulysses； hath made a goodly journey。〃
。。。〃Well；〃 I thought to myself； 〃I travelled to no purpose； I have come
back with empty hands； but； like Ulysses； I made a goodly journey。〃
And having taken my last sip of coffee； I asked Therese for my hat and
cane； which she gave me not without dire suspicions； she feared I might be
going upon another journey。 But I reassured her by telling her to have
dinner ready at six o'clock。
It had always been a keen pleasure for me to breathe the air in those
Parisian streets whose every paving…slab and every stone I love devotedly。
But I had an end in view； and I took my way straight to the Rue Lafitte。 I
was not long in find the establishment of Signor Rafael Polizzi。 It was
distinguishable by a great display of old paintings which； although all
bearing the signature of some illustrious artist； had a certain family air of
resemblance that might have suggested some touching idea about the
fraternity of genius； had it not still more forcibly suggested the
professional tricks of Polizzi senior。 Enriched by these doubtful works of
art； the shop was further rendered attractive by various petty curiosities：
poniards； drinking…vessels； goblets； figulines； brass guadrons； and
Hispano…Arabian wares of metallic lustre。
Upon a Portuguese arm…chair； decorated with an escutcheon； lay a
copy of the 〃Heures〃 of Simon Vostre； open at the page which has an
astrological figure on it； and an old Vitruvius； placed upon a quaint chest；
displayed its masterly engravings of caryatides and telamones。 This
apparent disorder which only masked cunning arrangement； this factitious
hazard which had placed the best objects in the most favourable light；
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would have increased my distrust of the place； but that the distrust which
the mere name of Polizzi had already inspired could not have been
increased by any circumstancesbeing already infinite。
Signor Rafael； who sat there as the presiding genius of all these vague
and incongruous shapes； impressed me as a phlegmatic young man； with a
sort of English character。 he betrayed no sign whatever of those
transcendent faculties displayed by his father in the arts of mimcry and
declamation。
I told him what I had come for； he opened a cabinet and drew from it a
manuscript； which he placed on a table that I might examine it at my
leisure。
Never in my life did I experience such an emotionexcept； indeed；
during some few brief months of my youth； months whose memories；
though I should live a hundred years； would remain as fresh at my last
hour as in the first day they came to me。
It was； indeed； the very manuscript described by the librarian of Sir
Thomas Raleigh； it was； indeed； the manuscript of the Clerk Alexander
which I saw； which I touched！ The work of Voragine himself had been
perceptibly abridged； but that made little difference to me。 All the
inestimable additions of the monk of Saint…Germain… des…Pres were there。
That was the main point！ I tried to read the Legend of Saint Droctoveus；
but I could notall the lines of the page quivered before my eyes； and
there was a sound in my ears like the noise of a windmill in the country at
night。 Nevertheless； I was able to see that the manuscript offered every
evidence of indubitable authenticity。 The two drawings of the Purification
of the Virgin and the Coronationof Proserpine were meagre in design and
vulgar in violence of colouring。 Considerably damaged in 1824； as attested
by the catalogue of Sir Thomas； they had obtained during the interval a
new aspect of freshness。 But this miracle did not surprise me at all。 And；
besides； what did I care about the two miniatures？ The legends and the
poem of Alexanderthose alone formed the treasure I desired。 My eyes
devoured as much of it as they had the power to absorb。
I affected indifference while asking Signor Polizzi the price of the
manuscript； and； while awaiting his reply； I offered up a secret prayer that
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the price might not exceed the amount of ready money at my disposal
already much diminished by the cost of my expensive voyage。 Signor
Polizzi； however； informed me that he was not at liberty to dispose of the
article； inasmuch as it did not belong to him； and was to be sold at auction
shortly； at the Hotel des Ventes； with a number of other MSS。 and several
incunabula。
This was a severe blow to me。 It tried to preserve my calmness；
notwithstanding； and replied somewhat to this effect：
〃You surprise me； Monsieur！ Your father； whom I talked with recently
at Girgenti； told me positively that the manuscript was yours。 You cannot
now attempt to make me discredit your father's word。〃
〃I DID own the manuscript； indeed；〃 answered Signor Rafael with
absolute frankness； 〃but I do not own it any longer。 I sold that manuscript…
…the remarkable interest of which you have not failed to perceiveto an
amateur whom I am forbidden to name； and who； for reasons which I am
not at liberty to mention； finds himself obliged to sell his collection。 I am
honoured with the confidence of my customer； and was commissioned by
him to draw up the catalogue and manage the sale； which takes place the
24th of December。 Now； if you will be kind enough to give me your
address； I shall have the pleasure of sending you the catalogue； which is
already in the press。 you fill find the 'Legende Doree' described in it as 'No。
42。'〃
I gave my address； and left the shop。
The polite gravity of the son impressed me quite as disagreeably as the
impudent buffoonery of the father。 I hated； from the bottom of my heart；
the tricks of the vile hagglers！ It was perfectly evident that the two rascals
had a secret understanding； and had only devised this auction…sale； with
the aid of a professional appraiser； to force the bidding on the manuscript I
wanted so much up to an outrageous figure。 I was completely at their
mercy。 There is one evil in all passionate desires； even the noblestnamely；
that they leave us subject to the will of others； and in so far dependent。
This reflection made me suffer cruelly； but it did not conquer my longing
to won the work of Clerk Alexander。 While I was thus meditating； I heard
a coachman swear。 And I discovered it was I whom he was swearing at
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only when I felt the pole of a carriage poke me in the ribs。 I started aside；
barely in time to save myself from being run over； and whom did I
perceive through the windows of the coupe？ Madame Trepof； being taken
by two beautiful horses； and a coachman all wrapped up in furs like a
Russian Boyard； into the very street I had just left。 She did not notice me；
