太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > juana >

第6节

juana-第6节

小说: juana 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




speak to God。 Are you not as beautiful as Mary in heaven? Listen。 I

swear to you;〃 he continued; kissing her hair; 〃I swear to take that

forehead for my altar; to make you my idol; to lay at your feet all

the luxuries of the world。 For you; my palace at Milan; for you my

horses; my jewels; the diamonds of my ancient family; for you; each

day; fresh jewels; a thousand pleasures; and all the joys of earth!〃



〃Yes;〃 she said reflectively; 〃I would like that; but I feel within my

soul that I would like better than all the world my husband。 Mio caro

sposo!〃 she said; as if it were impossible to give in any other

language the infinite tenderness; the loving elegance with which the

Italian tongue and accent clothe those delightful words。 Besides;

Italian was Juana's maternal language。



〃I should find;〃 she continued; with a glance at Montefiore in which

shone the purity of the cherubim; 〃I should find in HIM my dear

religion; him and GodGod and him。 Is he to be you?〃 she said。 〃Yes;

surely it will be you;〃 she cried; after a pause。 〃Come; and see the

picture my father brought me from Italy。〃



She took a candle; made a sign to Montefiore; and showed him at the

foot of her bed a Saint Michael overthrowing the demon。



〃Look!〃 she said; 〃has he not your eyes? When I saw you from my window

in the street; our meeting seemed to me a sign from heaven。 Every day

during my morning meditation; while waiting for my mother to call me

to prayer; I have so gazed at that picture; that angel; that I have

ended by thinking him my husbandoh! heavens; I speak to you as

though you were myself。 I must seem crazy to you; but if you only knew

how a poor captive wants to tell the thoughts that choke her! When

alone; I talk to my flowers; to my tapestry; they can understand me

better; I think; than my father and mother; who are so grave。〃



〃Juana;〃 said Montefiore; taking her hands and kissing them with the

passion that gushed in his eyes; in his gestures; in the tones of his

voice; 〃speak to me as your husband; as yourself。 I have suffered all

that you have suffered。 Between us two few words are needed to make us

comprehend our past; but there will never be enough to express our

coming happiness。 Lay your hand upon my heart。 Feel how it beats。 Let

us promise before God; who sees and hears us; to be faithful to each

other throughout our lives。 Here; take my ringand give me yours。〃



〃Give you my ring!〃 she said in terror。



〃Why not?〃 asked Montefiore; uneasy at such artlessness。



〃But our holy father the Pope has blessed it; it was put upon my

finger in childhood by a beautiful lady who took care of me; and who

told me never to part with it。〃



〃Juana; you cannot love me!〃



〃Ah!〃 she said; 〃here it is; take it。 You; are you not another

myself?〃



She held out the ring with a trembling hand; holding it tightly as she

looked at Montefiore with a clear and penetrating eye that questioned

him。 That ring! all of herself was in it; but she gave it to him。



〃Oh; my Juana!〃 said Montefiore; again pressing her in his arms。 〃I

should be a monster indeed if I deceived you。 I will love you

forever。〃



Juana was thoughtful。 Montefiore; reflecting that in this first

interview he ought to venture upon nothing that might frighten a young

girl so ignorantly pure; so imprudent by virtue rather than from

desire; postponed all further action to the future; relying on his

beauty; of which he knew the power; and on this innocent ring…

marriage; the hymen of the heart; the lightest; yet the strongest of

all ceremonies。 For the rest of that night; and throughout the next

day; Juana's imagination was the accomplice of her passion。



On this first evening Montefiore forced himself to be as respectful as

he was tender。 With that intention; in the interests of his passion

and the desires with which Juana inspired him; he was caressing and

unctuous in language; he launched the young creature into plans for a

new existence; described to her the world under glowing colors; talked

to her of household details always attractive to the mind of girls;

giving her a sense of the rights and realities of love。 Then; having

agreed upon the hour for their future nocturnal interviews; he left

her happy; but changed; the pure and pious Juana existed no longer; in

the last glance she gave him; in the pretty movement by which she

brought her forehead to his lips; there was already more of passion

than a girl should feel。 Solitude; weariness of employments contrary

to her nature had brought this about。 To make the daughter of the

Maranas truly virtuous; she ought to have been habituated; little by

little; to the world; or else to have been wholly withdrawn from it。



〃The day; to…morrow; will seem very long to me;〃 she said; receiving

his kisses on her forehead。 〃But stay in the salon; and speak loud;

that I may hear your voice; it fills my soul。〃



Montefiore; clever enough to imagine the girl's life; was all the more

satisfied with himself for restraining his desires because he saw that

it would lead to his greater contentment。 He returned to his room

without accident。



Ten days went by without any event occurring to trouble the peace and

solitude of the house。 Montefiore employed his Italian cajolery on old

Perez; on Dona Lagounia; on the apprentice; even on the cook; and they

all liked him; but; in spite of the confidence he now inspired in

them; he never asked to see Juana; or to have the door of her

mysterious hiding…place opened to him。 The young girl; hungry to see

her lover; implored him to do so; but he always refused her from an

instinct of prudence。 Besides; he had used his best powers and

fascinations to lull the suspicions of the old couple; and had now

accustomed them to see him; a soldier; stay in bed till midday on

pretence that he was ill。 Thus the lovers lived only in the night…

time; when the rest of the household were asleep。 If Montefiore had

not been one of those libertines whom the habit of gallantry enables

to retain their self…possession under all circumstances; he might have

been lost a dozen times during those ten days。 A young lover; in the

simplicity of a first love; would have committed the enchanting

imprudences which are so difficult to resist。 But he did resist even

Juana herself; Juana pouting; Juana making her long hair a chain which

she wound about his neck when caution told him he must go。



The most suspicious of guardians would however have been puzzled to

detect the secret of their nightly meetings。 It is to be supposed

that; sure of success; the Italian marquis gave himself the ineffable

pleasures of a slow seduction; step by step; leading gradually to the

fire which should end the affair in a conflagration。 On the eleventh

day; at the dinner…table; he thought it wise to inform old Perez;

under seal of secrecy; that the reason of his separation from his

family was an ill…assorted marriage。 This false revelation was an

infamous thing in view of the nocturnal drama which was being played

under that roof。 Montefiore; an experienced rake; was preparing for

the finale of that drama which he foresaw and enjoyed as an artist who

loves his art。 He expected to leave before long; and without regret;

the house and his love。 It would happen; he thought; in this way:

Juana; after waiting for him in vain for several nights; would risk

her life; perhaps; in asking Perez what had become of his guest; and

Perez would reply; not aware of the importance of his answer;



〃The Marquis de Montefiore is reconciled to his family; who consent to

receive his wife; he has gone to Italy to present her to them。〃



And Juana?The marquis never asked himself what would become of

Juana; but he had studied her character; its nobility; candor; and

strength; and he knew he might be sure of her silence。



He obtained a mission from one of the generals。 Three days later; on

the night preceding his intended departure; Montefiore; instead of

returning to his own room after dinner; contrived to enter unseen that

of Juana; to make that farewell night the longer。 Juana; true Spaniard

and true Italian; was enchanted with such boldness; it argued ardor!

For herself she did not fear discovery。 To find in the pure love of

marriage the excitements of intrigue; to hide her husband behind the

curtains of her bed; and say to her adopted father and mother; in case

of detection: 〃I am the Marquise de Montefiore!〃was to an ignorant

and romantic young girl; who for three years past had dreamed of love

without dreaming of its dangers; delightful。 The door closed on this

last evening upon her folly; her happiness; like a veil; which it is

useless here to raise。



It was nine o'clock; the merchant and his wife were reading their

evening prayers; suddenly the noise of a carriage drawn by several

horses resounded in the street; loud and hasty raps echoed from the

shop where the s

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的