第3章

类别:其他 作者:Honore de Balzac字数:9723更新时间:18/12/14 13:40:56
\"Whilealltheworldissleeping,heisawake——likeGod!\"thoughtshe。 Theeducationofgirlsbringswithitsuchseriousproblems——forthefutureofanationisinthemother——thattheUniversityofFrancelongsincesetitselfthetaskofhavingnothingtodowithit。Hereisoneoftheseproblems:Oughtgirlstobeinformedonallpoints? Oughttheirmindstobeunderrestraint?Itneednotbesaidthatthereligioussystemisoneofrestraint。Ifyouenlightenthem,youmakethemdemonsbeforetheirtime;ifyoukeepthemfromthinking,youendinthesuddenexplosionsowellshownbyMoliereinthecharacterofAgnes,andyouleavethissuppressedmind,sofreshandclear-seeing,asswiftandaslogicalasthatofasavage,atthemercyofanaccident。ThisinevitablecrisiswasbroughtoninMademoiselledeWattevillebytheportraitwhichoneofthemostprudentAbbesoftheChapterofBesanconimprudentlyallowedhimselftosketchatadinnerparty。 Nextmorning,MademoiselledeWatteville,whiledressing,necessarilylookedoutatAlbertSavaronwalkinginthegardenadjoiningthatoftheHoteldeRupt。 \"Whatwouldhavebecomeofme,\"thoughtshe,\"ifhehadlivedanywhereelse?HereIcan,atanyrate,seehim——Whatishethinkingabout?\" Havingseenthisextraordinaryman,thoughatadistance,theonlymanwhosecountenancestoodforthincontrastwithcrowdsofBesanconfacesshehadhithertometwith,Rosalieatoncejumpedattheideaofgettingintohishouse,ofascertainingthereasonofsomuchmystery,ofhearingthateloquentvoice,ofwinningaglancefromthosefineeyes。Allthisshesetherhearton,buthowcouldsheachieveit? Allthatdayshedrewherneedlethroughherembroiderywiththeobtuseconcentrationofagirlwho,likeAgnes,seemstobethinkingofnothing,butwhoisreflectingonthingsingeneralsodeeply,thatherartificeisunfailing。Asaresultofthisprofoundmeditation,Rosaliethoughtshewouldgotoconfession。Nextmorning,afterMass,shehadabriefinterviewwiththeAbbeGiroudatSaint-Pierre,andmanagedsoingeniouslythatthehourofherconfessionwasfixedforSundaymorningathalf-pastseven,beforetheeighto\'clockMass。Shecommittedherselftoadozenfibsinordertofindherself,justforonce,inthechurchatthehourwhenthelawyercametoMass。Thenshewasseizedwithanimpulseofextremeaffectionforherfather;shewenttoseehiminhisworkroom,andaskedhimforallsortsofinformationontheartofturning,endingbyadvisinghimtoturnlargerpieces,columns。Afterpersuadingherfathertosettoworkonsometwistedpillars,oneofthedifficultiesoftheturner\'sart,shesuggestedthatheshouldmakeuseofalargeheapofstonesthatlayinthemiddleofthegardentoconstructasortofgrottoonwhichhemighterectalittletempleorBelvedereinwhichhistwistedpillarscouldbeusedandshownofftoalltheworld。 Attheclimaxofthepleasurethepoorunoccupiedmanderivedfromthisscheme,Rosaliesaid,asshekissedhim,\"Aboveall,donottellmammawhogaveyouthenotion;shewouldscoldme。\" \"Donotbeafraid!\"repliedMonsieurdeWatteville,whogroanedasbitterlyashisdaughterunderthetyrannyoftheterribledescendantoftheRupts。 SoRosaliehadacertainprospectofseeingerelongacharmingobservatorybuilt,whencehereyewouldcommandthelawyer\'sprivateroom。Andtherearemenforwhosesakeyounggirlscancarryoutsuchmasterstrokesofdiplomacy,while,forthemostpart,likeAlbertSavaron,theyknowitnot。 TheSundaysoimpatientlylookedforarrived,andRosaliedressedwithsuchcarefulnessasmadeMariette,theladies\'-maid,smile。 \"ItisthefirsttimeIeverknewmademoiselletobesofidgety,\"saidMariette。 \"Itstrikesme,\"saidRosalie,withaglanceatMariette,whichbroughtpoppiestohercheeks,\"thatyoutooaremoreparticularonsomedaysthanonothers。\" Asshewentdownthesteps,acrossthecourtyard,andthroughthegates,Rosalie\'sheartbeat,aseverybody\'sdoesinanticipationofagreatevent。Hitherto,shehadneverknownwhatitwastowalkinthestreets;foramomentshehadfeltasthoughhermothermustreadherschemesonherbrow,andforbidhergoingtoconfession,andshenowfeltnewbloodinherfeet,sheliftedthemasthoughshetrodonfire。Shehad,ofcourse,arrangedtobewithherconfessorataquarter-pasteight,tellinghermothereight,soastohaveaboutaquarterofanhournearAlbert。ShegottochurchbeforeMass,andafterashortprayer,wenttoseeiftheAbbeGiroudwereinhisconfessional,simplytopassthetime;andshethusplacedherselfinsuchawayastoseeAlbertashecameintochurch。 ThemanmusthavebeenatrociouslyuglywhodidnotseemhandsometoMademoiselledeWattevilleintheframeofmindproducedbyhercuriosity。AndAlbertSavaron,whowasreallyverystriking,madeallthemoreimpressiononRosaliebecausehismien,hiswalk,hiscarriage,everythingdowntohisclothing,hadtheindescribablestampwhichcanonlybeexpressedbythewordMystery。 Hecamein。Thechurch,tillnowgloomy,seemedtoRosalietobeilluminated。Thegirlwasfascinatedbyhisslowandsolemndemeanor,asofamanwhobearsaworldonhisshouldersandwhosedeepgaze,whoseverygestures,combinetoexpressadevastatingorabsorbingthought。RosalienowunderstoodtheVicar-General\'swordsintheirfullestextent。Yes,thoseeyesoftawnybrown,shotwithgoldenlights,coveredardorwhichrevealeditselfinsuddenflashes。 Rosalie,witharecklessnesswhichMariettenoted,stoodinthelawyer\'sway,soastoexchangeglanceswithhim;andthisglanceturnedherblood,foritseethedandboiledasthoughitswarmthweredoubled。 AssoonasAlberthadtakenaseat,MademoiselledeWattevillequicklyfoundaplacewhenceshecouldseehimperfectlyduringallthetimetheAbbemightleaveher。WhenMariettesaid,\"HereisMonsieurGiroud,\"itseemedtoRosaliethattheinterviewhadlastednomorethanafewminutes。Bythetimeshecameoutfromtheconfessional,Masswasover。Alberthadleftthechurch。 \"TheVicar-Generalwasright,\"thoughtshe。\"/He/isunhappy。Whyshouldthiseagle——forhehastheeyesofaneagle——swoopdownonBesancon?Oh,Imustknoweverything!Buthow?\" UnderthesmartofthisnewdesireRosaliesetthestitchesofherworsted-workwithexquisiteprecision,andhidhermeditationsunderalittleinnocentair,whichshammedsimplicitytodeceiveMadamedeWatteville。 FromthatSunday,whenMademoiselledeWattevillehadmetthatlook,or,ifyouplease,receivedthisbaptismoffire——afineexpressionofNapoleon\'swhichmaybewellappliedtolove——sheeagerlypromotedtheplanfortheBelvedere。 \"Mamma,\"saidsheonedaywhentwocolumnswereturned,\"myfatherhastakenasingularideaintohishead;heisturningcolumnsforaBelvedereheintendstoerectontheheapofstonesinthemiddleofthegarden。Doyouapproveofit?Itseemstome——\" \"Iapproveofeverythingyourfatherdoes,\"saidMadamedeWattevilledrily,\"anditisawife\'sdutytosubmittoherhusbandevenifshedoesnotapproveofhisideas。WhyshouldIobjecttoathingwhichisofnoimportanceinitself,ifonlyitamusesMonsieurdeWatteville?\" \"Well,becausefromthenceweshallseeintoMonsieurdeSoulas\' rooms,andMonsieurdeSoulaswillseeuswhenwearethere。Perhapsremarksmaybemade——\" \"Doyoupresume,Rosalie,toguideyourparents,andthinkyouknowmorethantheydooflifeandtheproprieties?\" \"Isaynomore,mamma。Besides,myfathersaidthattherewouldbearoominthegrotto,whereitwouldbecool,andwherewecantakecoffee。\" \"Yourfatherhashadanexcellentidea,\"saidMadamedeWatteville,whoforthwithwenttolookatthecolumns。 ShegaveherentireapprobationtotheBarondeWatteville\'sdesign,whilechoosingfortheerectionofthismonumentaspotatthebottomofthegarden,whichcouldnotbeseenfromMonsieurdeSoulas\' windows,butwhencetheycouldperfectlyseeintoAlbertSavaron\'srooms。Abuilderwassentfor,whoundertooktoconstructagrotto,ofwhichthetopshouldbereachedbyapaththreefeetwidethroughtherock-work,whereperiwinkleswouldgrow,iris,clematis,ivy,honeysuckle,andVirginiacreeper。TheBaronessdesiredthattheinsideshouldbelinedwithrusticwood-work,suchaswasthenthefashionforflower-stands,withalooking-glassagainstthewall,anottomanformingabox,andatableofinlaidbark。MonsieurdeSoulasproposedthatthefloorshouldbeofasphalt。Rosaliesuggestedahangingchandelierofrusticwood。 \"TheWattevillesarehavingsomethingcharmingdoneintheirgarden,\" wasrumoredinBesancon。 \"Theyarerich,andcanaffordathousandcrownsforawhim——\" \"Athousandcrowns!\"exclaimedMadamedeChavoncourt。 \"Yes,athousandcrowns,\"criedyoungMonsieurdeSoulas。\"AmanhasbeensentforfromParistorusticatetheinteriorbutitwillbeverypretty。MonsieurdeWattevillehimselfismakingthechandelier,andhasbeguntocarvethewood。\" \"Berquetistomakeacellarunderit,\"saidanAbbe。 \"No,\"repliedyoungMonsieurdeSoulas,\"heisraisingthekioskonaconcretefoundation,thatitmaynotbedamp。\" \"Youknowtheveryleastthingsthataredoneinthathouse,\"saidMadamedeChavoncourtsourly,asshelookedatoneofhergreatgirlswaitingtobemarriedforayearpast。 MademoiselledeWatteville,withalittleflushofprideinthinkingofthesuccessofherBelvedere,discernedinherselfavastsuperiorityovereveryoneabouther。Nooneguessedthatalittlegirl,supposedtobeawitlessgoose,hadsimplymadeuphermindtogetacloserviewofthelawyerSavaron\'sprivatestudy。 AlbertSavaron\'sbrilliantdefenceoftheCathedralChapterwasallthesoonerforgottenbecausetheenvyoftheotherlawyerswasaroused。Also,Savaron,faithfultohisseclusion,wentnowhere。 Havingnofriendstocryhimup,andseeingnoone,heincreasedthechancesofbeingforgottenwhicharecommontostrangersinBesancon。 Nevertheless,hepleadedthreetimesattheCommercialTribunalinthreeknottycaseswhichhadtobecarriedtothesuperiorCourt。Hethusgainedasclientsfourofthechiefmerchantsoftheplace,whodiscernedinhimsomuchgoodsenseandsoundlegalpurviewthattheyplacedtheirclaimsinhishands。 OnthedaywhentheWattevillefamilyinauguratedtheBelvedere,Savaronalsowasfoundingamonument。ThankstotheconnectionshehadobscurelyformedamongtheupperclassofmerchantsinBesancon,hewasstartingafortnightlypaper,calledthe/EasternReview/,withthehelpoffortysharesoffivehundredfrancseach,takenupbyhisfirsttenclients,onwhomhehadimpressedthenecessityforpromotingtheinterestsofBesancon,thetownwherethetrafficshouldmeetbetweenMulhouseandLyons,andthechiefcentrebetweenMulhouseandRhone。 TocompetewithStrasbourg,wasitnotneedfulthatBesanconshouldbecomeafocusofenlightenmentaswellasoftrade?TheleadingquestionsrelatingtotheinterestsofEasternFrancecouldonlybedealtwithinareview。WhataglorioustasktorobStrasbourgandDijonoftheirliteraryimportance,tobringlighttotheEastofFrance,andcompetewiththecentralizinginfluenceofParis!Thesereflections,putforwardbyAlbert,wererepeatedbythetenmerchants,whobelievedthemtobetheirown。 MonsieurSavarondidnotcommittheblunderofputtinghisnameinfront;heleftthefinanceoftheconcerntohischiefclient,MonsieurBoucher,connectedbymarriagewithoneofthegreatpublishersofimportantecclesiasticalworks;buthekepttheeditorship,withashareoftheprofitsasfounder。ThecommercialinterestappealedtoDole,toDijon,toSalins,toNeufchatel,totheJura,Bourg,Nantua,Lous-le-Saulnier。TheconcurrencewasinvitedofthelearningandenergyofeveryscientificstudentinthedistrictsofleBugey,laBresse,andFrancheComte。Bytheinfluenceofcommercialinterestsandcommonfeeling,fivehundredsubscriberswerebookedinconsiderationofthelowprice;the/Review/costeightfrancsaquarter。 Toavoidhurtingtheconceitoftheprovincialsbyrefusingtheirarticles,thelawyerhitonthegoodideaofsuggestingadesirefortheliterarymanagementofthis/Review/toMonsieurBoucher\'seldestson,ayoungmanoftwo-and-twenty,veryeagerforfame,towhomthesnaresandwoesofliteraryresponsibilitieswereutterlyunknown。 AlbertquietlykepttheupperhandandmadeAlfredBoucherhisdevotedadherent。AlfredwastheonlymaninBesanconwithwhomthekingofthebarwasonfamiliarterms。AlfredcameinthemorningtodiscussthearticlesforthenextnumberwithAlbertinthegarden。Itisneedlesstosaythatthetrialnumbercontaineda\"Meditation\"byAlfred,whichSavaronapproved。InhisconversationswithAlfred,Albertwouldletdropsomegreatideas,subjectsforarticlesofwhichAlfredavailedhimself。Andthusthemerchant\'ssonfanciedhewasmakingcapitaloutofthegreatman。ToAlfred,Albertwasamanofgenius,ofprofoundpolitics。Thecommercialworld,enchantedatthesuccessofthe/Review/,hadtopayuponlythree-tenthsoftheirshares。Twohundredmoresubscribers,andtheperiodicalwouldpayadividendtotheshare-holdersoffivepercent,theeditorremainingunpaid。Thisediting,indeed,wasbeyondprice。 Afterthethirdnumberthe/Review/wasrecognizedforexchangebyallthepaperspublishedinFrance,whichAlberthenceforthreadathome。 Thisthirdnumberincludedatalesigned\"A。S。,\"andattributedtothefamouslawyer。InspiteofthesmallattentionpaidbythehighercircleofBesancontothe/Review/whichwasaccusedofLiberalviews,this,thefirstnovelproducedinthecounty,cameunderdiscussionthatmid-winteratMadamedeChavoncourt\'s。 \"Papa,\"saidRosalie,\"a/Review/ispublishedinBesancon;yououghttotakeitin;andkeepitinyourroom,formammawouldnotletmereadit,butyouwilllendittome。\" MonsieurdeWatteville,eagertoobeyhisdearRosalie,whoforthelastfivemonthshadgivenhimsomanyproofsoffilialaffection,—— MonsieurdeWattevillewentinpersontosubscribeforayeartothe/EasternReview/,andlentthefournumbersalreadyouttohisdaughter。InthecourseofthenightRosaliedevouredthetale——thefirstshehadeverreadinherlife——butshehadonlyknownlifefortwomonthspast。Hencetheeffectproducedonherbythisworkmustnotbejudgedbyordinaryrules。WithoutprejudiceofanykindastothegreaterorlessmeritofthiscompositionfromthepenofaParisianwhohadthusimportedintotheprovincethemanner,thebrilliancy,ifyouwill,ofthenewliteraryschool,itcouldnotfailtobeamasterpiecetoayounggirlabandoningallherintelligenceandherinnocenthearttoherfirstreadingofthiskind。 Also,fromwhatshehadheardsaid,Rosaliehadbyintuitionconceivedanotionofitwhichstrangelyenhancedtheinterestofthisnovel。 Shehopedtofindinitthesentiments,andperhapssomethingofthelifeofAlbert。Fromthefirstpagesthisopiniontooksostrongaholdonher,thatafterreadingthefragmenttotheendshewascertainthatitwasnomistake。Here,then,isthisconfession,inwhich,accordingtothecriticsofMadamedeChavoncourt\'sdrawing- room,Alberthadimitatedsomemodernwriterswho,forlackofinventiveness,relatetheirprivatejoys,theirprivategriefs,orthemysteriouseventsoftheirownlife。 ***** AMBITIONFORLOVE\'SSAKE In1823twoyoungmen,havingagreedasaplanforaholidaytomakeatourthroughSwitzerland,setoutfromLucerneonefinemorninginthemonthofJulyinaboatpulledbythreeoarsmen。TheystartedforFluelen,intendingtostopateverynotablespotonthelakeoftheFourCantons。TheviewswhichshutinthewatersonthewayfromLucernetoFluelenoffereverycombinationthatthemostexactingfancycandemandofmountainsandrivers,lakesandrocks,brooksandpastures,treesandtorrents。Hereareausteresolitudesandcharmingheadlands,smilingandtrimlykeptmeadows,forestscrowningperpendiculargranitecliffs,likeplumes,desertedbutverdantreachesopeningout,andvalleyswhosebeautyseemsthelovelierinthedreamydistance。 AstheypassedtheprettyhamletofGersau,oneofthefriendslookedforalongtimeatawoodenhousewhichseemedtohavebeenrecentlybuilt,enclosedbyapaling,andstandingonapromontory,almostbathedbythewaters。Astheboatrowedpast,awoman\'sheadwasraisedagainstthebackgroundoftheroomontheupperstoryofthishouse,toadmiretheeffectoftheboatonthelake。Oneoftheyoungmenmettheglancethusindifferentlygivenbytheunknownfair。 \"Letusstophere,\"saidhetohisfriend。\"WemeanttomakeLucerneourheadquartersforseeingSwitzerland;youwillnottakeitamiss,Leopold,ifIchangemymindandstayheretotakechargeofourpossessions。Thenyoucangowhereyouplease;myjourneyisended。 Pulltoland,men,andputusoutatthisvillage;wewillbreakfasthere。IwillgobacktoLucernetofetchallourluggage,andbeforeyouleaveyouwillknowinwhichhouseItakealodging,whereyouwillfindmeonyourreturn。\" \"HereoratLucerne,\"repliedLeopold,\"thedifferenceisnotsogreatthatIneedhinderyoufromfollowingyourwhim。\" Thesetwoyouthswerefriendsinthetruestsenseoftheword。Theywereofthesameage;theyhadlearnedatthesameschool;andafterstudyingthelaw,theywerespendingtheirholidayintheclassicaltourinSwitzerland。Leopold,byhisfather\'sdetermination,wasalreadypledgedtoaplaceinanotary\'sofficeinParis。Hisspiritofrectitude,hisgentleness,andthecoolnessofhissensesandhisbrain,guaranteedhimtobeadocilepupil。LeopoldcouldseehimselfanotaryinParis;hislifelaybeforehimlikeoneofthehighroadsthatcrosstheplainsofFrance,andhelookedalongitswholelengthwithphilosophicalresignation。 Thecharacterofhiscompanion,whomwewillcallRodolphe,presentedastrongcontrastwithLeopold\'s,andtheirantagonismhadnodoubthadtheresultoftighteningthebondthatunitedthem。Rodolphewasthenaturalsonofamanofrank,whowascarriedoffbyaprematuredeathbeforehecouldmakeanyarrangementsforsecuringthemeansofexistencetoawomanhefondlylovedandtoRodolphe。Thuscheatedbyastrokeoffate,Rodolphe\'smotherhadrecoursetoaheroicmeasure。 Shesoldeverythingsheowedtothemunificenceofherchild\'sfatherforasumofmorethanahundredthousandfrancs,boughtwithitalifeannuityforherselfatahighrate,andthusacquiredanincomeofaboutfifteenthousandfrancs,resolvingtodevotethewholeofittotheeducationofherson,soastogivehimallthepersonaladvantagesthatmighthelptomakehisfortune,whilesaving,bystricteconomy,asmallcapitaltobehiswhenhecameofage。Itwasbold;itwascountingonherownlife;butwithoutthisboldnessthegoodmotherwouldcertainlyhavefounditimpossibletoliveandtobringherchildupsuitably,andhewasheronlyhope,herfuture,thespringofallherjoys。 Rodolphe,thesonofamostcharmingParisianwoman,andamanofmark,anoblemanofBrabant,wascursedwithextremesensitiveness。 Fromhisinfancyhehadineverythingshownamostardentnature。Inhimmeredesirebecameaguidingforceandthemotivepowerofhiswholebeing,thestimulustohisimagination,thereasonofhisactions。Notwithstandingthepainstakenbyaclevermother,whowasalarmedwhenshedetectedthispredisposition,Rodolphewishedforthingsasapoetimagines,asamathematiciancalculates,asapaintersketches,asamusiciancreatesmelodies。Tender-hearted,likehismother,hedashedwithinconceivableviolenceandimpetusofthoughtaftertheobjectofhisdesires;heannihilatedtime。Whiledreamingofthefulfilmentofhisschemes,healwaysoverlookedthemeansofattainment。\"Whenmysonhaschildren,\"saidhisother,\"hewillwantthemborngrownup。\" Thisfinefrenzy,carefullydirected,enabledRodolphetoachievehisstudieswithbrilliantresults,andtobecomewhattheEnglishcallanaccomplishedgentleman。Hismotherwasthenproudofhim,thoughstillfearingacatastropheifeverapassionshouldpossessaheartatoncesotenderandsosusceptible,sovehementandsokind。Therefore,thejudiciousmotherhadencouragedthefriendshipwhichboundLeopoldtoRodolpheandRodolphetoLeopold,sinceshesawinthecoldandfaithfulyoungnotary,aguardian,acomrade,whomighttoacertainextenttakeherplaceifbysomemisfortunesheshouldbelosttoherson。Rodolphe\'smother,stillhandsomeatthree-and-forty,hadinspiredLeopoldwithanardentpassion。Thiscircumstancemadethetwoyoungmenevenmoreintimate。 SoLeopold,knowingRodolphewell,wasnotsurprisedtofindhimstoppingatavillageandgivinguptheprojectedjourneytoSaint- Gothard,onthestrengthofasingleglanceattheupperwindowofahouse。WhilebreakfastwaspreparedforthemattheSwanInn,thefriendswalkedroundthehamletandcametotheneighborhoodoftheprettynewhouse;here,whilegazingabouthimandtalkingtotheinhabitants,Rodolphediscoveredtheresidenceofsomedecentfolk,whowerewillingtotakehimasaboarder,averyfrequentcustominSwitzerland。Theyofferedhimabedroomlookingoverthelakeandthemountains,andfromwhencehehadaviewofoneofthoseimmensesweepingreacheswhich,inthislake,aretheadmirationofeverytraveler。Thishousewasdividedbyaroadwayandalittlecreekfromthenewhouse,whereRodolphehadcaughtsightoftheunknownfairone\'sface。 ForahundredfrancsamonthRodolphewasrelievedofallthoughtforthenecessariesoflife。But,inconsiderationoftheoutlaytheStopfercoupleexpectedtomake,theybargainedforthreemonths\' residenceandamonth\'spaymentinadvance。RubaSwisseversolittle,andyoufindtheusurer。Afterbreakfast,RodolpheatoncemadehimselfathomebydepositinginhisroomsuchpropertyashehadbroughtwithhimforthejourneytotheSaint-Gothard,andhewatchedLeopoldashesetout,movedbythespiritofroutine,tocarryouttheexcursionforhimselfandhisfriend。WhenRodolphe,sittingonafallenrockontheshore,couldnolongerseeLeopold\'sboat,heturnedtoexaminethenewhousewithstolenglances,hopingtoseethefairunknown。Alas!hewentinwithoutitshavinggivenasignoflife。Duringdinner,inthecompanyofMonsieurandMadameStopfer,retiredcoopersfromNeufchatel,hequestionedthemastotheneighborhood,andendedbylearningallhewantedtoknowaboutthelady,thankstohishosts\'loquacity;fortheywerereadytopourouttheirbudgetofgossipwithoutanypressing。