catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第40节
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with that lady； who； if she had seen him； had only seen him by stealth。
The fact is； that after Billings had related to her the particulars of his
first meeting with his Excellency； which ended； like many of the latter
visits； in nothing at all； Mrs。 Hayes had found some pressing business；
which continually took her to Whitehall； and had been prowling from day
to day about Monsieur de Galgenstein's lodgings。 Four or five times in the
week； as his Excellency stepped into his coach； he might have remarked；
had he chosen； a woman in a black hood； who was looking most eagerly
into his eyes： but those eyes had long since left off the practice of
observing； and Madam Catherine's visits had so far gone for nothing。
On this night； however； inspired by gaiety and drink； the Count had
been amazingly stricken by the gait and ogling of the lady in the mask。
The Reverend O'Flaherty； who was with him； and had observed the figure
in the black cloak； recognised； or thought he recognised； her。 〃It is the
woman who dogs your Excellency every day；〃 said he。 〃She is with that
tailor lad who loves to see people hangedyour Excellency's son； I mean。〃
And he was just about to warn the Count of a conspiracy evidently made
against him； and that the son had brought； most likely； the mother to play
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her arts upon himhe was just about； I say； to show to the Count the folly
and danger of renewing an old liaison with a woman such as he had
described Mrs。 Cat to be； when his Excellency； starting up； and
interrupting his ghostly adviser at the very beginning of his sentence； said；
〃Egad； l'Abbe； you are rightit IS my son； and a mighty smart…looking
creature with him。 Hey！ Mr。 What's…your…nameTom； you rogue； don't
you know your own father？〃 And so saying； and cocking his beaver on
one side； Monsieur de Galgenstein strutted jauntily after Mr。 Billings and
the lady。
It was the first time that the Count had formally recognised his son。
〃Tom； you rogue；〃 stopped at this； and the Count came up。 He had a
white velvet suit； covered over with stars and orders； a neat modest wig
and bag； and peach…coloured silk…stockings with silver clasps。 The lady in
the mask gave a start as his Excellency came forward。 〃Law； mother； don't
squeege so；〃 said Tom。 The poor woman was trembling in every limb； but
she had presence of mind to 〃squeege〃 Tom a great deal harder； and the
latter took the hint； I suppose； and was silent。
The splendid Count came up。 Ye gods； how his embroidery glittered in
the lamps！ What a royal exhalation of musk and bergamot came from his
wig； his handkerchief； and his grand lace ruffles and frills！ A broad yellow
riband passed across his breast； and ended at his hip in a shining diamond
crossa diamond cross； and a diamond sword…hilt！ Was anything ever seen
so beautiful？ And might not a poor woman tremble when such a noble
creature drew near to her； and deigned； from the height of his rank and
splendour； to look down upon her？ As Jove came down to Semele in state；
in his habits of ceremony； with all the grand cordons of his orders blazing
about his imperial personthus dazzling； magnificent； triumphant； the
great Galgenstein descended towards Mrs。 Catherine。 Her cheeks glowed
red…hot under her coy velvet mask； her heart thumped against the
whalebone prison of her stays。 What a delicious storm of vanity was
raging in her bosom！ What a rush of long…pent recollections burst forth at
the sound of that enchanting voice！
As you wind up a hundred…guinea chronometer with a twopenny
watch…keyas by means of a dirty wooden plug you set all the waters of
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Versailles a…raging； and splashing； and stormingin like manner； and by
like humble agents； were Mrs。 Catherine's tumultuous passions set going。
The Count； we have said； slipped up to his son； and merely saying； 〃How
do； Tom？〃 cut the young gentleman altogether； and passing round to the
lady's side； said； 〃Madam； 'tis a charming eveningegad it is！〃 She almost
fainted： it was the old voice。 There he was； after seventeen years； once
more at her side！
Now I know what I could have done。 I can turn out a quotation from
Sophocles （by looking to the index） as well as another： I can throw off a
bit of fine writing too； with passion； similes； and a moral at the end。 What；
pray； is the last sentence but one but the very finest writing？ Suppose； for
example； I had made Maximilian； as he stood by the side of Catherine；
look up towards the clouds； and exclaim； in the words of the voluptuous
Cornelius Nepos；
'Aenaoi nephelai 'Arthoomen phanerai Droseran phusin euageetoi；
k。t。l。 *
* Anglicised version of the author's original Greek text。
Or suppose； again； I had said； in a style still more popular：
The Count advanced towards the maiden。 They both were mute for a
while； and only the beating of her heart interrupted that thrilling and
passionate silence。 Ah； what years of buried joys and fears； hopes and
disappointments； arose from their graves in the far past； and in those brief
moments flitted before the united ones！ How sad was that delicious
retrospect； and oh； how sweet！ The tears that rolled down the cheek of
each were bubbles from the choked and moss…grown wells of youth； the
sigh that heaved each bosom had some lurking odours in itmemories of
the fragrance of boyhood； echoes of the hymns of the young heart！ Thus is
it everfor these blessed recollections the soul always has a place； and
while crime perishes； and sorrow is forgotten； the beautiful alone is
eternal。
〃O golden legends； written in the skies！〃 mused De Galgenstein； 〃ye
shine as ye did in the olden days！ WE change； but YE speak ever the same
language。 Gazing in your abysmal depths； the feeble ratioci〃
* * * * *
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There； now； are six columns* of the best writing to be found in this or
any other book。 Galgenstein has quoted Euripides thrice； Plato once；
Lycophron nine times； besides extracts from the Latin syntax and the
minor Greek poets。 Catherine's passionate embreathings are of the most
fashionable order； and I call upon the ingenious critic of the X
newspaper to say whether they do not possess the real impress of the
giants of the olden timethe real Platonic smack； in a word？ Not that I
want in the least to show off； but it is as well； every now and then； to show
the public what one CAN do。
（* There WERE six columns； as mentioned by the accurate Mr。
Solomons； but we have withdrawn two pages and three…quarters； because；
although our correspondent has been excessively eloquent； according to
custom； we were anxious to come to the facts of the story。
Mr。 Solomons； by sending to our office； may have the cancelled
passages。O。Y。）
Instead； however； of all this rant and nonsense； how much finer is the
speech that the Count really did make！ 〃It is a very fine evening；egad it
is！〃 The 〃egad〃 did the whole business： Mrs。 Cat was as much in love with
him now as ever she had been； and； gathering up all her energies； she said；
〃It is dreadful hot too； I think；〃 and with this she made a curtsey。
〃Stifling； split me！〃 added his Excellency。 〃What do you say； madam；
to a rest in an arbour； and a drink of something cool？〃
〃Sir！〃 said the lady； drawing back。
〃Oh； a drinka drink by all means；〃 exclaimed Mr。 Billings； who was
troubled with a perpetual thirst。 〃Come； mo； Mrs。 Jones； I mean。 you're
fond of a glass of cold punch； you know； and the rum here is prime； I can
tell you。〃
The lady in the mask consented with some difficulty to the proposal of
Mr。 Billings； and was led by the two gentlemen into an arbour； where sh
