louisa of prussia and her times-第85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！


Indian　birds'…nests　which　he　relishes　greatly。　As　for　myself；　he
never　admires　me　until　after　dinner；　for　so　soon　as　his　stomach　is
at　rest　his　heart　awakes　and　craves　for　food；　and　his　heart　is　a
gourmand；　tooit　believes　love　to　be　a　dish；　voila　tout！〃

〃Next；　there　is　the　handsome　Marchese　Pallafredo；〃　said　her　husband；
smiling。

〃He　loves　me　because　he　has　been　told　that　I　speak　excellent　and
pure　German；　and　because　he　wants　me　to　teach　him　how　to　speak
German。　He　takes　me　for　a　grammar；　by　means　of　which　he　may　become
familiar　with　our　language　without　any　special　effort。〃

〃Then　there　is　Count　Esterhazy；　one　of　our　most　brilliant　cavaliers；
you　must　not　accuse　him　of　stinginess；　for　he　is　just　the　reverse；　a
spendthrift；　squandering　his　money　with　full　hands；　nor　must　you
charge　him　with　being　an　epicure；　for　he　scarcely　eats　any　thing　at
all　at　our　dinner…parties；　and　does　not　know　what　he　is　eating；　his
eyes　being　constantly　riveted　on　you；　and　his　thoughts　being
occupied　exclusively　with　you。〃

〃It　is　true；　he　admires　me；〃　said　Fanny；　calmly；　〃but　only　a　few
months　ago　he　was　as　ardent　an　adorer　of　my　sister　Eskeles；　and
before　he　was　enamoured　of　her；　he　was　enthusiastically　in　love　with
Countess　Victoria　Colloredo。　He　loves　every　woman　who　is　fashionable
in　society　for　the　time　being；　and　his　heart　changes　as　rapidly　as
the　fashions。〃

〃Besides；　there　is　the　prebendary；　Baron　Weichs；〃　said　her　husband；
〃a　gentleman　of　great　ability；　a　savant；　and　withal　a　cavalier；　a〃

〃Oh；　pray　do　not　speak　of　him！〃　exclaimed　Fanny；　with　an　air　of
horror。　〃His　love　is　revolting　to　me；　and　fills　me　with　shame　and
dismay。　Whenever　he　approaches　me　my　heart　shrinks　back　as　if　from　a
venomous　serpent；　and　a　feeling　of　disgust　pervades　my　whole　being；
although　I　am　unable　to　account　for　it。　There　is　something　in　his
glances　that　is　offensive　to　me；　and　although　he　has　never　dared　to
address　me　otherwise　than　in　the　most　respectful　and　reserved
manner；　his　conversation　always　makes　me　feel　as　though　I　were
standing　under　a　thunder…cloud　from　which　the　lightning　might　burst
forth　at　any　moment　to　shatter　me。　As　you　say；　he　is　a　man　of
ability；　but　he　is　a　bad　man；　he　is　passionately　fond　of　the　ladies；
but　he　does　not　respect　them。〃

〃And　he　does　not　even　deserve　mentioning　here；〃　said　the　baron；
smiling；　〃for；　even　though　you　were　free　already；　the　prebendary
never　could　enjoy　the　happiness　of　becoming　your　husband；　and　I　know
that　your　heart　is　too　chaste　to　love　a　man　who　is　unable　to　offer
you　his　hand。　Let　us；　then；　look　for　such　a　man　among　the　other
cavaliers。　There　is；　for　instance；　Prince　Charles；　of　Lichtenstein；
the　most　amiable；　genial；　and　handsome　of　your　admirers；　a　young
prince　who　is　neither　haughty　nor　proud；　neither　prodigal　nor
stingy；　who　neither　makes　love　to　all　ladies　so　soon　as　they　become
fashionable　as　does　Count　Esterhazy；　nor　wants　to　learn　German　from
you；　as　does　the　Marchese　Pallafredo；　a　young　man　as　beautiful　as
Apollo；　as　brave　as　Mars；　modest　notwithstanding　his　learning；　and
affable　and　courteous　notwithstanding　his　high　birth。　Well；　Fanny；
you　do　not　interrupt　me？　Your　sharp　tongue；　that　was　able　to　condemn
all　the　others；　has　no　such　sentence　for　the　Prince　von
Lichtenstein。　You　suffer　me　to　praise　him。　Then　you　assent　to　my
words？〃

〃I　can　neither　contradict　you　nor　assent　to　your　words；〃　said　Fanny；
with　a　forced　smile；　〃I　do　not　know　the　prince　sufficiently　to　judge
him。　He　has　been　at　Vienna　but　a　very　few　months〃

〃But　he　has　been　a　daily　visitor　in　our　house　during　that　period；〃
said　her　husband；　interrupting　her；　〃and　he　is　constantly　seen　at
your　side。　All　Vienna　knows　that　the　prince　is　deeply　enamoured　of
you；　and　he　does　not　conceal　it　by　any　means；　not　even　from　myself。
A　few　days　ago；　when　he　was　so　unfortunate　as　not　to　find　you　at
home；　because　you　were　presiding　over　a　meeting　of　your　benevolent
society；　he　met　me　all　alone　in　the　reception…room。　Suddenly；　in　the
midst　of　a　desultory　conversation；　he　paused；　embraced　me
passionately；　and　exclaimed：　'Be　not　so　kind；　so　courteous；　and
gentle　toward　me；　for　I　hate　you；　I　detest　youbecause　I　hate　every
thing　keeping　me　back　from　her；　I　detest　every　thing　that　prevents
me　from　joining　HER！　Forgive　my　love　for　her　and　my　hatred　toward
you；　I　feel　both　in　spite　of　myself。　If　you　were　not　her　husband；　I
should　love　you　like　a　friend；　but　that　accursed　word　renders　you　a
mortal　enemy　of　mine。　And　still　I　bow　to　you　in　humilitystill　I
implore　you　to　be　generous；　do　not　banish　me　from　your　house；　from
HER；　for　I　should　die　if　I　were　not　allowed　to　see　her　every　day！'〃

Fanny　had　listened　to　him　with　blushing　cheeks　and　in　breathless
suspense。　Her　whole　soul　was　speaking　from　the　looks　which　she　fixed
on　her　husband；　and　with　which　she　seemed　to　drink　every　word；　like
sweet　nectar；　from　his　lips。

〃And　what　did　you　reply　to　him？〃　she　asked；　in　a　dry　and　husky
voice；　when　the　baron　was　silent。

〃I　replied　to　him　that　you　alone　had　to　decide　who　should　appear　at
our　parties；　and　that　every　one　whom　you　had　invited　would　be
welcome　to　me。　I　further　told　him　that　his　admiration　for　you　did
not　astonish　me　at　all；　and　that　I　would　readily　forgive　his　hatred；
for〃

The　baron　paused　all　at　once　and　looked　at　his　wife　with　a　surprised
and　inquiring　glance。　She　had　started　in　sudden　terror；　a　deep　blush
was　burning　on　her　cheeks；　and　her　eyes；　which　had　assumed　a
rapturous　and　enthusiastic　expression；　turned　toward　the　door。

The　baron's　eyes　followed　her　glance；　and　he　heard　now　a　slight
noise　at　the　door。

〃I　believe　somebody　has　knocked　at　the　door；〃　he　said；　fixing　his
piercing　eyes　on　his　wife。　　She　raised　her　head　and　whispered；　〃Yes；
I　believe　so。〃

〃And　it　is　the　second　time　already；〃　said　the　baron；　calmly。　〃Will
you　not　permit　the　stranger　to　walk　in？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　said；　in　great　embarrassment；　〃I〃

Suddenly　the　door　opened；　and　a　young　man　appeared　on　the　threshold。

〃Ah；　the　Prince　von　Lichtenstein；〃　said　the　baron；　and　he　went　with
perfect　calmness　and　politeness　to　meet　the　prince　who；　evidently　in
great　surprise；　remained　standing　in　the　door；　and　was　staring
gloomily　at　the　strange　and　unexpected　group。

〃Come　in；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　the　baron；　quietly；　〃the　baroness　will
be　very　grateful　to　you　for　coming　here　just　at　this　moment　and
interrupting　our　conversation；　for　it　referred　to　dry　business
matters。　I　laid　a　few　old　accounts；　that　had　been　running　for　five
years；　before　the　baroness；　and　she　gave　me　a　receipt　for　them；　that
was　all。　Our　interview；　moreover；　was　at　an　end；　and　you　need　not
fear　to　have　disturbed　us。　Permit　me；　therefore；　to　withdraw；　for
you　know　very　well　that；　in　the　forenoon；　I　am　nothing　but　a　banker；
a　business　man；　and　have　to　attend　to　the　affairs　of　our　firm。〃

He　bowed　simultaneously　to　the　prince　and　to　his　wife；　and　left　the
room；　as　smiling；　calm；　and　unconcerned　as　ever。　Only　when　the　door
had　closed　behind　him；　when　he　had　satisfied　himself　by　a　rapid
glance　through　the　reception…room　that　nobody　was　there；　the　smile
disappeared　from　his　lips；　and　his　features　assumed　an　air　of
profound　melancholy。

〃She　loves　him；〃　he　muttered；　〃yes；　she　loves　him！　Her　hand　trembled
in　mine　when　I　pronounced　his　name；　and　oh！　how　radiant　she　looked
when　she　heard　him　come！　Yes；　she　loves　him；　and　I？I　will　go　to　my
counting…house！〃　he　said；　with　a　smile　that　was　to　veil　the　tears　in
his　eyes。




CHAPTER　XXXVIII。

THE　RIVALS。


The　baron　had　no　sooner　closed　the　door　of　the　boudoir　when　the
young　Prince　von　Lichtenstein　hastened　to　Fanny；　and；　impetuously
seizing　her　hand；　looked　at　her　with　a　passionate　and　angry　air。

〃You　did　that　for　the　purpose　of　giving　me　pain；　I　suppose？〃　he
asked；　with　quivering　lips。　〃You　wished　to　prove　to　me　that　you　did
not　confer　any　special　favor　upon　me；　Yesterday　you　were　kind　enough
to　assure　me　that　no　man　ever　had　set　foot　into　this　room；　and　that
I　should　be　the　first　to　whom　it　would　be　opened　today；　and　I　was
such　a　conceited　fool　as　to　believe　your　beatifying　words；　and　I
rush　hither　as　early　as　is　permitted　by　decency　and　respect；　and　yet
I　do　not　find　you　alone。〃

〃It　was　my　husband　who　was　here；〃　said　Fanny；　almost　deprecatingly。

〃It　was　a　man；〃　he　ejaculated；　impetuously；　〃and　you　had　given　me
the　solemn　assurance　that　this　door　had　never　yet　opened　to　any　man。
Oh；　I　had　implored　you　on　my　knees；　and　with　tearful　eyes；　to　allow
me　to　see　you　here　to…day；　it　seemed　to　me　as　though　the　gates　of
paradise　were　to　be　at　last　opened　to　me；　no　sleep　came　into　my　eyes
all　night；　the　consciousness　of　my　approaching　bliss　kept　me　awake；
it　was　over　me　like　a　smiling　cherub；　and　I　was　dreaming　with　open
eyes。　And　now　that　the　lazy；　snail…like　time　has　elapsed；　now　that　I
have　arrived　here；　I　find　in　my　heaven；　at　the　side　of　my　cherub；　a
calculating　machine；　desecrating　my　paradise　by　vile　accounts〃

〃Pray　do　not　go　on　in　this　manner；〃　interrupted　Fanny；　sternly。　〃You
found　my　husband　here；　and　that；　of　course；　dissolves　the　whole
poetry　of　your　words　into　plain　prose；　for　she；　whom　in　your
enthusiastic　strain　y