the magic skin(驴皮记)-第39部分

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the　stage；　appearing　to　disregard　her；　and　even　to　be　unaware　that　a
pretty　woman　sat　there　just　behind　him。

His　neighbor　copied　Valentin's　position　exactly；　she　leaned　her　elbow
on　the　edge　of　her　box　and　turned　her　face　in　three…quarter　profile
upon　the　singers　on　the　stage；　as　if　she　were　sitting　to　a　painter。
These　two　people　looked　like　two　estranged　lovers　still　sulking；　still
turning　their　backs　upon　each　other；　who　will　go　into　each　other's
arms　at　the　first　tender　word。

Now　and　again　his　neighbor's　ostrich　feathers　or　her　hair　came　in
contact　with　Raphael's　head；　giving　him　a　pleasurable　thrill；　against
which　he　sternly　fought。　In　a　little　while　he　felt　the　touch　of　the
soft　frill　of　lace　that　went　round　her　dress；　he　could　hear　the
gracious　sounds　of　the　folds　of　her　dress　itself；　light　rustling
noises　full　of　enchantment；　he　could　even　feel　her　movements　as　she
breathed；　with　the　gentle　stir　thus　imparted　to　her　form　and　to　her
draperies；　it　seemed　to　Raphael　that　all　her　being　was　suddenly
communicated　to　him　in　an　electric　spark。　The　lace　and　tulle　that
caressed　him　imparted　the　delicious　warmth　of　her　bare；　white
shoulders。　By　a　freak　in　the　ordering　of　things；　these　two　creatures；
kept　apart　by　social　conventions；　with　the　abysses　of　death　between
them；　breathed　together　and　perhaps　thought　of　one　another。　Finally；
the　subtle　perfume　of　aloes　completed　the　work　of　Raphael's
intoxication。　Opposition　heated　his　imagination；　and　his　fancy；　become
the　wilder　for　the　limits　imposed　upon　it；　sketched　a　woman　for　him　in
outlines　of　fire。　He　turned　abruptly；　the　stranger　made　a　similar
movement；　startled　no　doubt　at　being　brought　in　contact　with　a
stranger；　and　they　remained　face　to　face；　each　with　the　same　thought。

〃Pauline！〃

〃M。　Raphael！〃

Each　surveyed　the　other；　both　of　them　petrified　with　astonishment。
Raphael　noticed　Pauline's　daintily　simple　costume。　A　woman's
experienced　eyes　would　have　discerned　and　admired　the　outlines　beneath
the　modest　gauze　folds　of　her　bodice　and　the　lily　whiteness　of　her
throat。　And　then　her　more　than　mortal　clearness　of　soul；　her　maidenly
modesty；　her　graceful　bearing；　all　were　unchanged。　Her　sleeve　was
quivering　with　agitation；　for　the　beating　of　her　heart　was　shaking　her
whole　frame。

〃Come　to　the　Hotel　de　Saint…Quentin　to…morrow　for　your　papers；〃　she
said。　〃I　will　be　there　at　noon。　Be　punctual。〃

She　rose　hastily；　and　disappeared。　Raphael　thought　of　following
Pauline；　feared　to　compromise　her；　and　stayed。　He　looked　at　Foedora；
she　seemed　to　him　positively　ugly。　Unable　to　understand　a　single
phrase　of　the　music；　and　feeling　stifled　in　the　theatre；　he　went　out；
and　returned　home　with　a　full　heart。

〃Jonathan；〃　he　said　to　the　old　servant；　as　soon　as　he　lay　in　bed；
〃give　me　half　a　drop　of　laudanum　on　a　piece　of　sugar；　and　don't　wake
me　to…morrow　till　twenty　minutes　to　twelve。〃

〃I　want　Pauline　to　love　me！〃　he　cried　next　morning；　looking　at　the
talisman　the　while　in　unspeakable　anguish。

The　skin　did　not　move　in　the　least；　it　seemed　to　have　lost　its　power
to　shrink；　doubtless　it　could　not　fulfil　a　wish　fulfilled　already。

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Raphael；　feeling　as　if　a　mantle　of　lead　had　fallen
away；　which　he　had　worn　ever　since　the　day　when　the　talisman　had　been
given　to　him；　〃so　you　are　playing　me　false；　you　are　not　obeying　me；
the　pact　is　broken！　I　am　free；　I　shall　live。　Then　was　it　all　a
wretched　joke？〃　But　he　did　not　dare　to　believe　in　his　own　thought　as
he　uttered　it。

He　dressed　himself　as　simply　as　had　formerly　been　his　wont；　and　set
out　on　foot　for　his　old　lodging；　trying　to　go　back　in　fancy　to　the
happy　days　when　he　abandoned　himself　without　peril　to　vehement
desires；　the　days　when　he　had　not　yet　condemned　all　human　enjoyment。
As　he　walked　he　beheld　Paulinenot　the　Pauline　of　the　Hotel　Saint…
Quentin；　but　the　Pauline　of　last　evening。　Here　was　the　accomplished
mistress　he　had　so　often　dreamed　of；　the　intelligent　young　girl　with
the　loving　nature　and　artistic　temperament；　who　understood　poets；　who
understood　poetry；　and　lived　in　luxurious　surroundings。　Here；　in
short；　was　Foedora；　gifted　with　a　great　soul；　or　Pauline　become　a
countess；　and　twice　a　millionaire；　as　Foedora　had　been。　When　he
reached　the　worn　threshold；　and　stood　upon　the　broken　step　at　the
door；　where　in　the　old　days　he　had　had　so　many　desperate　thoughts；　an
old　woman　came　out　of　the　room　within　and　spoke　to　him。

〃You　are　M。　Raphael　de　Valentin；　are　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　good　mother；〃　he　replied。

〃You　know　your　old　room　then；〃　she　replied；　〃you　are　expected　up
there。〃

〃Does　Mme。　Gaudin　still　own　the　house？〃　Raphael　asked。

〃Oh　no；　sir。　Mme。　Gaudin　is　a　baroness　now。　She　lives　in　a　fine　house
of　her　own　on　the　other　side　of　the　river。　Her　husband　has　come　back。
My　goodness；　he　brought　back　thousands　and　thousands。　They　say　she
could　buy　up　all　the　Quartier　Saint…Jacques　if　she　liked。　She　gave　me
her　basement　room　for　nothing；　and　the　remainder　of　her　lease。　Ah；
she's　a　kind　woman　all　the　same；　she　is　no　more　proud　to…day　than　she
was　yesterday。〃

Raphael　hurried　up　the　staircase　to　his　garret；　as　he　reached　the　last
few　steps　he　heard　the　sounds　of　a　piano。　Pauline　was　there；　simply
dressed　in　a　cotton　gown；　but　the　way　that　it　was　made；　like　the
gloves；　hat；　and　shawl　that　she　had　thrown　carelessly　upon　the　bed；
revealed　a　change　of　fortune。

〃Ah；　there　you　are！〃　cried　Pauline；　turning　her　head；　and　rising　with
unconcealed　delight。

Raphael　went　to　sit　beside　her；　flushed；　confused；　and　happy；　he
looked　at　her　in　silence。

〃Why　did　you　leave　us　then？〃　she　asked；　dropping　her　eyes　as　the　flush
deepened　on　his　face。　〃What　became　of　you？〃

〃Ah；　I　have　been　very　miserable；　Pauline；　I　am　very　miserable　still。〃

〃Alas！〃　she　said；　filled　with　pitying　tenderness。　〃I　guessed　your　fate
yesterday　when　I　saw　you　so　well　dressed；　and　apparently　so　wealthy；
but　in　reality？　Eh；　M。　Raphael；　is　it　as　it　always　used　to　be　with
you？〃

Valentin　could　not　restrain　the　tears　that　sprang　to　his　eyes。

〃Pauline；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I〃

He　went　no　further；　love　sparkled　in　his　eyes；　and　his　emotion
overflowed　his　face。

〃Oh；　he　loves　me！　he　loves　me！〃　cried　Pauline。

Raphael　felt　himself　unable　to　say　one　word；　he　bent　his　head。　The
young　girl　took　his　hand　at　this；　she　pressed　it　as　she　said；　half
sobbing　and　half　laughing：

〃Rich；　rich；　happy　and　rich！　Your　Pauline　is　rich。　But　I？　Oh；　I　ought
to　be　very　poor　to…day。　I　have　said；　times　without　number；　that　I
would　give　all　the　wealth　upon　this　earth　for　those　words；　'He　loves
me！'　O　my　Raphael！　I　have　millions。　You　like　luxury；　you　will　be　glad；
but　you　must　love　me　and　my　heart　besides；　for　there　is　so　much　love
for　you　in　my　heart。　You　don't　know？　My　father　has　come　back。　I　am　a
wealthy　heiress。　Both　he　and　my　mother　leave　me　completely　free　to
decide　my　own　fate。　I　am　freedo　you　understand？〃

Seized　with　a　kind　of　frenzy；　Raphael　grasped　Pauline's　hands　and
kissed　them　eagerly　and　vehemently；　with　an　almost　convulsive　caress。
Pauline　drew　her　hands　away；　laid　them　on　Raphael's　shoulders；　and
drew　him　towards　her。　They　understood　one　anotherin　that　close
embrace；　in　the　unalloyed　and　sacred　fervor　of　that　one　kiss　without
an　afterthoughtthe　first　kiss　by　which　two　souls　take　possession　of
each　other。

〃Ah；　I　will　not　leave　you　any　more；〃　said　Pauline；　falling　back　in　her
chair。　〃I　do　not　know　how　I　come　to　be　so　bold！〃　she　added；　blushing。

〃Bold；　my　Pauline？　Do　not　fear　it。　It　is　love；　love　true　and　deep　and
everlasting　like　my　own；　is　it　not？〃

〃Speak！〃　she　cried。　〃Go　on　speaking；　so　long　your　lips　have　been　dumb
for　me。〃

〃Then　you　have　loved　me　all　along？〃

〃Loved　you？　MON　DIEU！　How　often　I　have　wept　here；　setting　your　room
straight；　and　grieving　for　your　poverty　and　my　own。　I　would　have　sold
myself　to　the　evil　one　to　spare　you　one　vexation！　You　are　MY　Raphael
to…day；　really　my　own　Raphael；　with　that　handsome　head　of　yours；　and
your　heart　is　mine　too；　yes；　that　above　all；　your　heartO　wealth
inexhaustible！　Well；　where　was　I？〃　she　went　on　after　a　pause。　〃Oh　yes！
We　have　three；　four；　or　five　millions；　I　believe。　If　I　were　poor；　I
should　perhaps　desire　to　bear　your　name；　to　be　acknowledged　as　your
wife；　but　as　it　is；　I　would　give　up　the　whole　world　for　you；　I　would
be　your　servant　still；　now　and　always。　Why；　Raphael；　if　I　give　you　my
fortune；　my　heart；　myself　to…day；　I　do　no　more　than　I　did　that　day
when　I　put　a　certain　five…franc　piece　in　the　drawer　there；〃　and　she
pointed　to　the　table。　〃Oh；　how　your　exultation　hurt　me　then！〃

〃Oh；　why　are　you　rich？〃　Raphael　cried；　〃why　is　there　no　vanity　in　you？
I　can　do　nothing　for　you。〃

He　wrung　his　hands　in　despair　and　happiness　and　love。

〃When　you　are　the　Marquise　de　Valentin；　I　know　that　the　title　and　the
fortune　for　thee；　heavenly　soul；　will　not　be　worth〃

〃One　hair　of　your　head；〃　she　cried。

〃I　have　millions　too。　But　what　is　wealth　to　either　of　us　now？　There　is
my　lifeah；　that　I　can　offer；　take　it。〃

〃Your　love；　Raphael；　your　love　is　all　the　world　to　me。　Are　your
thoughts　of　me？　I　am　the　happiest　of　the　happy！〃

〃Can　any　one　overhear　us？〃　asked　Raphael。

〃Nobody；〃　she　replied；　and　a　mischievous　gesture　escaped　her。

〃Come；　then！〃　cried　Valentin；　holding　out　his　arms。

She　sprang　upon　his　knees　and　clasped　her　arms　about　his　neck。

〃Kiss　me！〃　she　cried；　〃after　all　the　pain　you　have　given　me；　to　blot
out　the　memory　of　the　grief　that　your　joys　have　caused　me；　and　for　the
sake　of　the　nights　that　I　spent　in　painting　hand…screens〃

〃Those　hand…screens　of　yours？〃

〃Now　that　we　are　rich；　my　darling；　I　can　tell　you　all　about　it。　Poor
boy！　how　easy　it　is　to　delude　a　clever　man！　Could　you　have　had　white
waistcoats　and　clean　shirts　twice　a　week　for　three　francs　every　month
to　the　laundress？　Why；　you　used　to　drink　twice　as　much　milk　as　your
money　would　have　paid　for。　I　deceived　you　all　roundover　firing；　oil；
and　even　money。　O　Raphael　mine；　don't　have　me　for　your　wife；　I　am　far
too　cunning！〃　she　said　laughing。

〃But　how　did　you　manage？〃

〃I　used　to　work　till　two　o'clock　in　the　morning；　I　gave　my　mother　half
the　money　made　by　my　screens；　and　the　other　half　went　to　you。〃