condensed novels(压缩小说)-第24节
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glanced off。
N N。 was also near…sighted； as all Parisians finally become。 This is a
gallant provision of Nature to spare them the mortification of observing
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that their lady friends grow old。 After a certain age every woman is
handsome to a Parisian。
One day； N N。 was walking down Washington street。 Suddenly he
stopped。
He was standing before the door of a mantuamaker。 Beside the counter；
at the farther extremity of the shop； stood a young and elegantly formed
woman。 Her face was turned from N N。 He entered。 With a plausible
excuse； and seeming indifference； he gracefully opened conversation with
the mantuamaker as only a Parisian can。 But he had to deal with a Parisian。
His attempts to view the features of the fair stranger by the counter were
deftly combated by the shop…woman。 He was obliged to retire。
N N。 went home and lost his appetite。 He was haunted by the elegant
basque and graceful shoulders of the fair unknown； during the whole
night。
The next day he sauntered by the mantuamaker。 Ah！ Heavens！ A thrill
ran through his frame； and his fingers tingled with a delicious electricity。
The fair inconnue was there！ He raised his hat gracefully。 He was not
certain； but he thought that a slight motion of her faultless bonnet betrayed
recognition。 He would have wildly darted into the shop； but just then the
figure of the mantuamaker appeared in the doorway。
Did Monsieur wish anything？
Misfortune！ Desperation。 N N。 purchased a bottle of Prussic acid； a
sack of charcoal； and a quire of pink note…paper； and returned home。 He
wrote a letter of farewell to the closely fitting basque； and opened the
bottle of Prussic acid。
Some one knocked at his door。 It was a Chinaman； with his weekly
linen。
These Chinese are docile； but not intelligent。 They are ingenious； but
not creative。 They are cunning in expedients； but deficient in tact。 In love
they are simply barbarous。 They purchase their wives openly； and not
constructively by attorney。 By offering small sums for their sweethearts；
they degrade the value of the sex。
Nevertheless； N N。 felt he was saved。 He explained all to the faithful
Mongolian； and exhibited the letter he had written。 He implored him to
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deliver it。
The Mongolian assented。 The race are not cleanly or sweet…savored；
but N N。 fell upon his neck。 He embraced him with one hand； and closed
his nostrils with the other。 Through him； he felt he clasped the close…fitting
basque。
The next day was one of agony and suspense。 Evening came； but no
Mercy。 N N。 lit the charcoal。 But； to compose his nerves； he closed his
door and first walked mildly up and down Montgomery Steeet。 When he
returned； he found the faithful Mongolian on the steps。
All lity！
These Chinese are not accurate in their pronunciation。 They avoid the r；
like the English nobleman。
N N。 gasped for breath。 He leaned heavily against the Chinaman。
Then you have seen her； Ching Long？
Yes。 All lity。 She cum。 Top side of house。
The docile barbarian pointed up the stairs； and chuckled。
She hereimpossible！ Ah； Heaven！ do I dream？
Yes。 All lity；top side of house。 Good by； John。
This is the familiar parting epithet of the Mongolian。 It is equivalent to
our au revoir。
N N。 gazed with a stupefied air on the departing servant。
He placed his hand on his throbbing heart。 She here；alone beneath
this roof。 O Heavens； what happiness！
But how？ Torn from her home。 Ruthlessly dragged； perhaps； from her
evening devotions； by the hands of a relentless barbarian。 Could she
forgive him？
He dashed frantically up the stairs。 He opened the door。 She was
standing beside his couch with averted face。
A strange giddiness overtook him。 He sank upon his knees at the
threshold。
Pardon； pardon。 My angel； can you forgive me？
A terrible nausea now seemed added to the fearful giddiness。 His
utterance grew thick and sluggish。
Speak； speak； enchantress。 Forgiveness is all I ask。 My Love； my
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Life！
She did not answer。 He staggered to his feet。 As he rose； his eyes fell
on the pan of burning charcoal。 A terrible suspicion flashed across his
mind。 This giddiness；this nausea。 The ignorance of the barbarian。 This
silence。 O merciful heavens！ she was dying！
He crawled toward her。 He touched her。 She fell forward with a lifeless
sound upon the floor。 He uttered a piercing shriek； and threw himself
beside her。
* * * * *
A file of gendarmes； accompanied by the Chef Burke； found him the
next morning lying lifeless upon the floor。 They laughed brutally；these
cruel minions of the law；and disengaged his arm from the waist of the
wooden dummy which they had come to reclaim for the mantuamaker。
Emptying a few bucketfuls of water over his form； they finally
succeeded in robbing him； not only of his mistress； but of that Death he
had coveted without her。
Ah！ we live in a strange world； Messieurs。
FANTINE。
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AFTER THE FRENCH OF
VICTOR HUGO。
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PROLOGUE。
As long as there shall exist three paradoxes； a moral Frenchman； a
religious Atheist； and a believing sceptic； so long； in fact； as booksellers
shall waitsay twenty…five yearsfor a new gospel； so long as paper shall
remain cheap and ink three sous a bottle； I have no hesitation in saying
that such books as these are not utterly profitless。
VICTOR HUGO。
I。
To be good is to be queer。 What is a good man？ Bishop Myriel。 My
friend； you will possibly object to this。 You will say you know what a
good man is。 Perhaps you will say your clergyman is a good man； for
instance。
Bah！ you are mistaken； you are an Englishman； and an Englishman is
a beast。
Englishmen think they are moral when they are only serious。 These
Englishmen also wear ill…shaped hats； and dress horribly！
Bah！ they are canaille。
Still； Bishop Myriel was a good man；quite as good as you。 Better
than you； in fact。
One day M。 Myriel was in Paris。 This angel used to walk about the
streets like any other man。 He was not proud； though fine…looking。 Well；
three gamins de Paris called him bad names。 Says one：
〃Ah； mon Dieu！ there goes a priest； look out for your eggs and
chickens！〃
What did this good man do？ He called to them kindly。
〃My children；〃 said he； 〃this is clearly not your fault。 I recognize in
this insult and irreverence only the fault of your immediate progenitors。
Let us pray for your immediate progenitors。〃
They knelt down and prayed for their immediate progenitors。
The effect was touching。
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The Bishop looked calmly around。
〃On reflection；〃 said he； gravely； 〃I was mistaken； this is clearly the
fault of Society。 Let us pray for Society。〃
They knelt down and prayed for Society。
The effect was sublimer yet。 What do you think of that？ You； I mean。
Everybody remembers the story of the Bishop and Mother Nez
Retrousse。 Old Mother Nez Retrouse sold asparagus。 She was poor； there's
a great deal of meaning in that word； my friend。 Some people say 〃poor
but honest。〃 I say； Bah！
Bishop Myriel bought six bunches of as
