the mysterious portrait-第13节

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cannot　plant　discord　in　the　spirit；　but　ascends；　like　a　resounding

prayer；　eternally　to　God。　But　there　are　moments；　dark　moments'　He

paused；　and　I　observed　that　his　bright　face　darkened；　as　though　some

cloud　crossed　it　for　a　moment。　'There　is　one　incident　of　my　life；'　he

said。　'Up　to　this　moment；　I　cannot　understand　what　that　terrible　being

was　of　whom　I　painted　a　likeness。　It　was　certainly　some　diabolical

apparition。　I　know　that　the　world　denies　the　existence　of　the　Devil；

and　therefore　I　will　not　speak　of　him。　I　will　only　say　that　I　painted

him　with　repugnance：　I　felt　no　liking　for　my　work；　even　at　the　time。　I

tried　to　force　myself；　and；　stifling　every　emotion　in　a　hard…hearted

way；　to　be　true　to　nature。　I　have　been　informed　that　this　portrait　is

passing　from　hand　to　hand；　and　sowing　unpleasant　impressions；

inspiring　artists　with　feelings　of　envy；　of　dark　hatred　towards　their

brethren；　with　malicious　thirst　for　persecution　and　oppression。　May

the　Almighty　preserve　you　from　such　passions！　There　is　nothing　more

terrible。'



〃He　blessed　and　embraced　me。　Never　in　my　life　was　I　so　grandly　moved。

Reverently；　rather　than　with　the　feeling　of　a　son；　I　leaned　upon　his

breast；　and　kissed　his　scattered　silver　locks。



〃Tears　shone　in　his　eyes。　'Fulfil　my　one　request；　my　son；'　said　he；　at

the　moment　of　parting。　'You　may　chance　to　see　the　portrait　I　have

mentioned　somewhere。　You　will　know　it　at　once　by　the　strange　eyes；　and

their　peculiar　expression。　Destroy　it　at　any　cost。'



〃Judge　for　yourselves　whether　I　could　refuse　to　promise；　with　an　oath；

to　fulfil　this　request。　In　the　space　of　fifteen　years　I　had　never

succeeded　in　meeting　with　anything　which　in　any　way　corresponded　to

the　description　given　me　by　my　father；　until　now；　all　of　a　sudden；　at

an　auction〃



The　artist　did　not　finish　his　sentence；　but　turned　his　eyes　to　the

wall　in　order　to　glance　once　more　at　the　portrait。　The　entire　throng

of　auditors　made　the　same　movement；　seeking　the　wonderful　portrait

with　their　eyes。　But；　to　their　extreme　amazement；　it　was　no　longer　on

the　wall。　An　indistinct　murmur　and　exclamation　ran　through　the　crowd；

and　then　was　heard　distinctly　the　word；　〃stolen。〃　Some　one　had

succeeded　in　carrying　it　off；　taking　advantage　of　the　fact　that　the

attention　of　the　spectators　was　distracted　by　the　story。　And　those

present　long　remained　in　a　state　of　surprise；　not　knowing　whether　they

had　really　seen　those　remarkable　eyes；　or　whether　it　was　simply　a

dream　which　had　floated　for　an　instant　before　their　eyesight；　strained

with　long　gazing　at　old　pictures。