louisa of prussia and her times-第34节

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！


She　then　with　trembling　hands　loosened　the　golden　sash　from　her
tapering　waist；　and　the　diamond　pins　from　her　hair；　and　threw　all
these　precious　trinkets　disdainfully　upon　the　floor。　And　now　with
her　small　feet；　with　her　embroidered　silken　shoes；　she　furiously
stamped　on　them　with　flaming　eyes；　and　in　her　paroxysm　of　anger
slightly　opening　her　lips；　so　as　to　show　her　two　rows　of　peerless
teeth　which　she　held　firmly　pressed　together。

Her　fine　hair；　no　longer　fastened　by　the　diamond　pins；　had　fallen
down；　and　was　now　floating　around　her　form　like　a　black　veil；　and
closely　covered　her　purple　dress。　Thus　she　looked　like　a　goddess　of
vengeance；　so　beautiful；　so　proud；　so　glorious　and　terribleher
small　hands　raised　toward　heaven；　and　her　feet　crushing　the　jewelry。

〃Insulted；　scorned！〃　she　murmured。　〃The　meanest　woman　on　the　street
believes　she　has　a　right　to　despise　meme；　the　celebrated　Marianne
Meierme；　at　whose　feet　counts　and　princes　have　sighed　in　vain！　And
who　am　I；　then；　that　they　should　dare　to　despise　me？〃

She　asked　this　question　with　a　defiant；　burning　glance　toward
heaven；　but　all　at　once　she　commenced　trembling；　and　hung　her　head
humbly　and　mournfully。

〃I　am　a　disgraced　woman；〃　she　whispered。　〃Diamonds　and　velvet　do　not
hide　my　shame。　I　am　the　prince's　mistress。　That's　all！〃

〃But　it　shall　be　so　no　longer！〃　she　exclaimed；　suddenly。　〃I　will　put
a　stop　to　it。　I　MUST　put　a　stop　to　it！　This　hour　has　decided　my
destiny　and　broken　my　stubbornness。　I　thought　I　could　defy　the　world
in　MY　way。　I　believed　I　could　laugh　at　its　prejudices；　but　the　world
is　stronger　than　I；　and　therefore　I　have　to　submit；　and　shall
hereafter　defy　it　in　its　own　way。　And　I　shall　do　so　most　assuredly。
I　shall　do　so　on　the　spot。〃

Without　reflecting　any　further；　she　left　her　chamber　and　hastened
once　more　through　the　rooms。　Her　hair　now　was　waving　wildly　around
her　shoulders；　and　her　purple　dress；　no　longer　held　together　by　the
golden　sash；　was　floating　loosely　around　her　form。　She　took　no
notice　whatever　of　her　dishabille；　only　one　idea；　only　one　purpose
filled　her　heart。

In　breathless　haste　she　hurried　on；　and　now　quickly　opened　a　last
door；　through　which　she　entered　a　room　furnished　in　the　most
sumptuous　and　comfortable　manner。

At　her　appearance；　so　sudden；　and　evidently　unexpected；　the　elderly
gentleman；　who　had　reposed　on　the　silken　sofa；　arose　and　turned
around　with　a　gesture　of　displeasure。

On　recognizing　Marianne；　however；　a　smile　overspread　his　features；
and　he　went　to　meet　her　with　a　pleasant　greeting。

〃Back　already；　dearest？〃　he　said；　extending　his　hand　toward　her。

〃Yes；　your　highnessI　am　back　already；〃　she　said　drily　and　coldly。

The　gentleman　upon　whose　features　the　traces　of　a　life　of
dissipation　were　plainly　visible；　fixed　his　eyes　with　an　anxious　air
upon　the　beautiful　lady。　He　only　now　noticed　her　angry　mien　and　the
strange　dishabille　in　which　she　appeared　before　him。

〃Good　Heaven；　Marianne！〃　he　asked；　sharply；　〃what　is　the　cause　of
your　agitation；　of　your　coldness　toward　me？　What　has　happened　to
you？〃

〃What　has　happened　to　me？　The　most　infamous　insults　have　been　heaped
upon　my　head！〃　she　exclaimed　with　quivering　lips；　an　angry　blush
suffusing　her　cheeks；　〃For　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　nay；　for　an
eternity；　I　was　the　target　of　the　jeers；　the　contempt；　and　the　scorn
of　the　rabble　that　publicly　abused　me　in　the　most　disgraceful
manner！〃

〃Tell　me；〃　exclaimed　the　old　gentleman；　〃what　has　occurred；　and
whose　fault　it　was！〃

〃Whose　fault　it　was？〃　she　asked；　bending　a　piercing　glance　upon　him。
〃YOURS；　my　prince；　you　alone　are　to　blame　for　my　terrible　disgrace
and　humiliation。　For　your　sake　the　rabble　has　reviled　me；　called　me
your　mistress；　and　laughed　at　my　diamonds；　calling　them　the　reward
of　my　shame！　Oh；　how　many　insults；　how　many　mortifications　have　I
not　already　suffered　for　your　sakewith　how　many　bloody　tears　have
I　not　cursed　this　love　which　attaches　me　to　you；　and　which　I　was
nevertheless　unable　to　tear　from　my　heart；　for　it　is　stronger　than
myself。　But　now　the　cup　of　bitterness　is　full　to　overflowing。　My
pride　cannot　hear　so　much　contumely　and　scorn。　Farewell；　my　prince；
my　beloved！　I　must　leave　you。　I　cannot　stay　with　you　any　longer。
Shame　would　kill　me。　Farewell！　Hereafter；　no　one　shall　dare　to　call
me　a　mistress。〃

With　a　last　glowing　farewell；　she　turned　to　the　door；　but　the　prince
kept　her　back。　〃Marianne；〃　he　asked；　tenderly；　〃do　you　not　know　that
I　love　you；　and　that　I　cannot　live　without　you？〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　fascinating　smile。　〃And　I？〃　she　asked；　〃far
from　you；　shall　die　of　a　broken　heart；　with　you；　I　shall　die　of
shame。　I　prefer　the　former。　Farewell！　No　one　shall　ever　dare　again
to　call　me　by　that　name。〃　And　her　hand　touched　already　the　door…
knob。

The　prince　encircled　her　waist　with　his　arms　and　drew　her　back。　〃I
shall　not　let　you　go；〃　he　said；　ardently。　〃You　are　mine；　and　shall
remain　so！　Oh；　why　are　you　so　proud　and　so　cold？　Why　will　you　not
sacrifice　your　faith　to　our　love？　Why　do　you　insist　upon　remaining　a
Jewess？〃

〃Your　highness；〃　she　said；　leaning　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　〃why　do
you　want　me　to　become　a　Christian？〃

〃Why？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Because　my　religion　and　the　laws　of　my　country
prevent　me　from　marrying　a　Jewess。〃

〃And　if　I　should　sacrifice　to　you　the　last　that　has　remained　to　me？〃
she　whispered〃my　conscience　and　my　religion。〃

〃Marianne；〃　he　exclaimed；　solemnly；　〃I　repeat　to　you　what　I　have
told　you　so　often　already：　'Become　a　Christian　in　order　to　become　my
wife。'〃

She　encircled　his　neck　impetuously　with　her　arms　and　clung　to　him
with　a　passionate　outburst　of　tenderness。　〃I　will　become　a
Christian！〃　she　whispered。




CHAPTER　XVII。

LOVE　AND　POLITICS。


〃At　last！　at　last！〃　exclaimed　Gentz；　in　a　tone　of　fervid　tenderness；
approaching　Marianne；　who　went　to　meet　him　with　a　winning　smile。　〃Do
you　know；　dearest；　that　you　have　driven　me　to　despair　for　a　whole
week？　Not　a　word；　not　a　message　from　you！　Whenever　I　came　to　see
you；　I　was　turned　away。　Always　the　same　terrible　reply；　'Madame　is
not　at　home；'　while　I　felt　your　nearness　in　every　nerve　and　vein　of
mine；　and　while　my　throbbing　heart　was　under　the　magic　influence　of
your　presence。　And　then　to　be　turned　away！　No　reply　whatever　to　my
letters；　to　my　ardent　prayers　to　see　you　only　for　a　quarter　of　an
hour。〃

〃Oh；　you　ungrateful　man！〃　she　said；　smiling；　〃did　I　not　send　for　you
to…day？　Did　I　not　give　you　this　rendezvous　quite　voluntarily？〃

〃You　knew　very　well　that　I　should　have　died　if　your　heart　had　not
softened　at　last。　Oh；　heavenly　Marianne；　what　follies　despair　made
me　commit　already！　In　order　to　forget　you；　I　plunged　into　all　sorts
of　pleasures；　I　commenced　new　works；　I　entered　upon　fresh　love…
affairs。　But　it　was　all　in　vain。　Amidst　those　pleasures　I　was　sad；
during　my　working　hours　my　mind　was　wandering；　and　in　order　to
impart　a　semblance　of　truth　and　tenderness　to　my　protestations　of
love；　I　had　to　close　my　eyes　and　imagine　YOU　were　the　lady　whom　I
was　addressing…。〃

〃And　then　you　were　successful？〃　asked　Marianne；　smiling。

〃Yes；　then　I　was　successful；〃　he　said；　gravely；　〃but　my　new　lady…
love；　the　beloved　of　my　distraction　and　despair；　did　not　suspect
that　I　only　embraced　her　so　tenderly　because　I　kissed　in　her　the
beloved　of　my　heart　and　of　my　enthusiasm。〃

〃And　who　was　the　lady　whom　you　call　the　beloved　of　your　distraction
and　despair？〃　asked　Marianne。

〃Ah；　Marianne；　you　ask　me　to　betray　a　woman？〃

〃No；　no；　I　am　glad　to　perceive　that　you　are　a　discreet　cavalier。　You
shall　betray　no　woman。　I　will　tell　you　her　name。　The　beloved　of　your
distraction　and　despair　was　the　most　beautiful　and　charming　lady　in
Berlinit　was　the　actress　Christel　Eughaus。　Let　me　compliment　you；
my　friend；　on　having　triumphed　with　that　belle　over　all　those
sentimental；　lovesick　princes；　counts；　and　barons。　Indeed；　you　have
improved　your　week　of　'distraction　and　despair'　in　the　most
admirable　manner。〃

〃Still；　Marianne；　I　repeat　to　you；　she　was　merely　my　sweetheart　for
the　time　being；　and　I　merely　plunged　into　this　adventure　in　order　to
forget　you。〃

〃Then　you　love　me　really？〃　asked　Marianne。

〃Marianne；　I　adore　you！　You　know　it。　Oh；　now　I　may　tell　you　so。
Heretofore　you　repelled　me　and　would　not　listen　to　my　protestations
of　love　because　I　was　a　MARRIED　man。　Now；　however；　I　have　got　rid　of
my　ignominious　fetters；　Marianne；　now　I　am　no　longer　a　married　man。
I　am　free；　and　all　the　women　in　the　world　are　at　liberty　to　love　me。
I　am　as　free　as　a　bird　in　the　air！〃

〃And　like　a　bird　you　want　to　flit　from　one　heart　to　another？〃

〃No；　most　beautiful；　most　glorious　Marianne；　your　heart　shall　be　the
cage　in　which　I　shall　imprison　myself。〃

〃Beware；　my　friend。　What　would　you　say　if　there　was　no　door　in　this
cage　through　which　you　might　escape？〃

〃Oh；　if　it　had　a　door；　I　should　curse　it。〃

〃Then　you　love　me　so　boundlessly　as　to　be　ready　to　sacrifice　to　me
the　liberty　you　have　scarcely　regained？〃

〃Can　you　doubt　it；　Marianne？〃　asked　Gentz；　tenderly　pressing　her
beautiful　hands　to　his　lips。

〃Are　you　in　earnest；　my　friend？〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃So　you　offer
your　hand　to　me？　You　want　to　m