the works of edgar allan poe-3-第56节
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returned by that footman； with the following endorsement in pencil。
The scoundrel had joined his master in the country：
〃Left S… yesterday； for parts unknown did not say where or
when be back so thought best to return letter； knowing your
handwriting； and as how you is always； more or less； in a hurry。
〃Yours sincerely；
〃STUBBS。〃
After this； it is needless to say； that I devoted to the infernal
deities both master and valet： but there was little use in anger；
and no consolation at all in complaint。
But I had yet a resource left； in my constitutional audacity。
Hitherto it had served me well； and I now resolved to make it avail
me to the end。 Besides； after the correspondence which had passed
between us； what act of mere informality could I commit； within
bounds； that ought to be regarded as indecorous by Madame Lalande？
Since the affair of the letter； I had been in the habit of watching
her house； and thus discovered that； about twilight； it was her
custom to promenade； attended only by a negro in livery； in a public
square overlooked by her windows。 Here； amid the luxuriant and
shadowing groves； in the gray gloom of a sweet midsummer evening； I
observed my opportunity and accosted her。
The better to deceive the servant in attendance； I did this with the
assured air of an old and familiar acquaintance。 With a presence of
mind truly Parisian； she took the cue at once； and； to greet me； held
out the most bewitchingly little of hands。 The valet at once fell
into the rear； and now； with hearts full to overflowing； we
discoursed long and unreservedly of our love。
As Madame Lalande spoke English even less fluently than she wrote it；
our conversation was necessarily in French。 In this sweet tongue； so
adapted to passion； I gave loose to the impetuous enthusiasm of my
nature； and； with all the eloquence I could command； besought her to
consent to an immediate marriage。
At this impatience she smiled。 She urged the old story of decorum…
that bug…bear which deters so many from bliss until the opportunity
for bliss has forever gone by。 I had most imprudently made it known
among my friends； she observed； that I desired her acquaintance… thus
that I did not possess it thus； again； there was no possibility of
concealing the date of our first knowledge of each other。 And then
she adverted； with a blush； to the extreme recency of this date。 To
wed immediately would be improper would be indecorous would be
outre。 All this she said with a charming air of naivete which
enraptured while it grieved and convinced me。 She went even so far as
to accuse me； laughingly； of rashness of imprudence。 She bade me
remember that I really even know not who she was what were her
prospects； her connections； her standing in society。 She begged me；
but with a sigh； to reconsider my proposal； and termed my love an
infatuation a will o' the wisp a fancy or fantasy of the moment
a baseless and unstable creation rather of the imagination than of
the heart。 These things she uttered as the shadows of the sweet
twilight gathered darkly and more darkly around us and then； with
a gentle pressure of her fairy…like hand； overthrew； in a single
sweet instant； all the argumentative fabric she had reared。
I replied as best I could as only a true lover can。 I spoke at
length； and perseveringly of my devotion； of my passion of her
exceeding beauty； and of my own enthusiastic admiration。 In
conclusion； I dwelt； with a convincing energy； upon the perils that
encompass the course of love that course of true love that never
did run smooth and thus deduced the manifest danger of rendering
that course unnecessarily long。
This latter argument seemed finally to soften the rigor of her
determination。 She relented； but there was yet an obstacle； she said；
which she felt assured I had not properly considered。 This was a
delicate point for a woman to urge； especially so； in mentioning
it； she saw that she must make a sacrifice of her feelings； still；
for me； every sacrifice should be made。 She alluded to the topic of
age。 Was I aware was I fully aware of the discrepancy between us？
That the age of the husband； should surpass by a few years even by
fifteen or twenty the age of the wife； was regarded by the world
as admissible； and； indeed； as even proper； but she had always
entertained the belief that the years of the wife should never exceed
in number those of the husband。 A discrepancy of this unnatural kind
gave rise； too frequently； alas！ to a life of unhappiness。 Now she
was aware that my own age did not exceed two and twenty； and I； on
the contrary； perhaps； was not aware that the years of my Eugenie
extended very considerably beyond that sum。
About all this there was a nobility of soul a dignity of candor…
which delighted which enchanted me which eternally riveted my
chains。 I could scarcely restrain the excessive transport which
possessed me。
〃My sweetest Eugenie；〃 I cried； 〃what is all this about which you are
discoursing？ Your years surpass in some measure my own。 But what
then？ The customs of the world are so many conventional follies。 To
those who love as ourselves； in what respect differs a year from an
hour？ I am twenty…two； you say； granted： indeed； you may as well call
me； at once； twenty…three。 Now you yourself； my dearest Eugenie； can
have numbered no more than can have numbered no more than no
more than than than than…〃
Here I paused for an instant； in the expectation that Madame Lalande
would interrupt me by supplying her true age。 But a Frenchwoman is
seldom direct； and has always； by way of answer to an embarrassing
query； some little practical reply of her own。 In the present
instance； Eugenie； who for a few moments past had seemed to be
searching for something in her bosom； at length let fall upon the
grass a miniature； which I immediately picked up and presented to
her。
〃Keep it！〃 she said； with one of her most ravishing smiles。 〃Keep it
for my sake for the sake of her whom it too flatteringly
represents。 Besides； upon the back of the trinket you may discover；
perhaps； the very information you seem to desire。 It is now； to be
sure； growing rather dark but you can examine it at your leisure
in the morning。 In the meantime； you shall be my escort home
to…night。 My friends are about holding a little musical levee。 I can
promise you； too； some good singing。 We French are not nearly so
punctilious as you Americans； and I shall have no difficulty in
smuggling you in； in the character of an old acquaintance。〃
With this； she took my arm； and I attended her home。 The mansion was
quite a fine one； and； I believe； furnished in good taste。 Of this
latter point； however； I am scarcely qualified to judge； for it was
just dark as we arrived； and in American mansions of the better sort
lights seldom； during the heat of summer； make their appearance at
this； the most pleasant period of the day。 In about an hour after my
arrival； to be sure； a single shaded solar lamp was lit in the
principal drawing…room； and this apartment； I could thus see； was
arranged with unusual good taste and even splendor； but two other
rooms of the suite； and in which the company chiefly assembled；
remained； during the whole evening； in a very agreeable shadow。 This
is a well…conceived custom； giving the party at least a choice of
light or shade； and one which our friends over the water could not do
better than immediately adopt。
The evening thus spent was unquestionably the most delicious of my
life。 Madame Lalande had not overrated the musical abilities of her
friends； and the singing I here heard I had never heard excelled in
any private circle out of Vienna。 The instrumental performers were
many and of superior talents。 The vocalists were chiefly ladies； and
no individual sang less than well。 At length； upon a peremptory call
for 〃Madame Lalande；〃 she arose at once； without affectation or
demur； from the chaise longue upon which she had sat by my side； and；
accompanied by one or two gentlemen and her female friend of the
opera； repaired to the piano in the main drawing…room。 I would have
escorted her myself； but felt that； under the circumstances of my
introduction to the house； I had better remain unobserved where I
was。 I was thus deprived of the pleasure of seeing； although not of
hearing； her sing。
The impression she produced upon the company seemed electrical but
the effect upon myself was something even more。 I know not how
adequately to describe it。 It arose in part； no doubt； from the
sentiment of love with which I was imbued； but chiefly from my
conviction of the extreme sensibility of the singer。 It is beyond the
reach of art to endow either air or recitative with more impassioned
expression than was hers。 Her utterance of the romance in Otello
the tone with which she gave the words 〃Sul mio sasso；〃 in the
Capuletti is ringing in my memory yet。 Her lower tones were
absolutely miraculous。 Her voice embraced three complete octaves；
extending from the contralto D to the D upper soprano； and； though
sufficiently powerful to have filled the San Carlos； executed； with
the minutest precision； every difficul
