penguin island-第40节
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〃The ancient shrine had been melted down during the Terror and the precious relics of the saint thrown into a fire that had been lit on the Place de Greve； but a poor woman of great piety； named Rouquin； went by night at the peril of her life to gather up the calcined bones and the ashes of the blessed saint。 She preserved them in a jam…pot； and when religion was again restored； brought them to the venerable Cure of St。 Maels。 The woman ended her days piously as a vendor of tapers and custodian of seats in the saint's chapel。〃
It is certain that in the time of Father Douillard； although faith was declining； the cult of St。 Orberosia； which for three hundred years had fallen under the criticism of Canon Princeteau and the silence of the Doctors of the Church； recovered； and was surrounded with more pomp； more splendour； and more fervour than ever。 The theologians did not now subtract a single iota from the legend。 They held as certainly established all the facts related by Abbot Simplicissimus； and in particular declared； on the testimony of that monk； that the devil； assuming a monk's form had carried off the saint to a cave and had there striven with her until she overcame him。 Neither places nor dates caused them any embarrassment。 They paid no heed to exegesis and took good care not to grant as much to science as Canon Princeteau had formerly conceded。 They knew too well whither that would lead。
The church shone with lights and flowers。 An operatic tenor sang the famous canticle of St。 Orberosia：
Virgin of Paradise Come； come in the dusky night And on us shed Thy beams of light。
Mademoiselle Clarence sat beside her mother and in front of Viscount Clena。 She remained kneeling during a considerable time； for the attitude of prayer is natural to discreet virgins and it shows off their figures。
The Reverend Father Douillard ascended the pulpit。 He was a powerful orator and could； at once melt； surprise； and rouse his hearers。 Women complained only that he fulminated against vice with excessive harshness and in crude terms that made them blush。 But they liked him none the less for it。
He treated in his sermon of the seventh trial of St。 Orberosia； who was tempted by the dragon which she went forth to combat。 But she did not yield； and she disarmed the monster。 The orator demonstrated without difficulty that we； also； by the aid of St。 Orberosia； and strong in the virtue which she inspires； can in our turn overthrow the dragons that dart upon us and are waiting to devour us； the dragon of doubt； the dragon of impiety； the dragon of forgetfulness of religious duties。 He proved that the charity of St。 Orberosia was a work of social regeneration； and he concluded by an ardent appeal to the faithful 〃to become instruments of the Divine mercy； eager upholders and supporters of the charity of St。 Orberosia； and to furnish it with all the means which it required to take its flight and bear its salutary fruits。〃 *
* Cf。 J。 Ernest Charles in the 〃Censeur；〃 May…August； 1907； p。 562； col。 2。
After the ceremony； the Reverend Father Douillard remained in the sacristy at the disposal of those of the faithful who desired information concerning the charity； or who wished to bring their contributions。 Mademoiselle Clarence wished to speak to Father Douillard； so did Viscount Clena。 The crowd was large； and a queue was formed。 By chance Viscount Clena and Mademoiselle Clarence were side by side and possibly they were squeezed a little closely to each other by the crowd。 Eveline had noticed this fashionable young man； who was almost as well known as his father in the world of sport。 Clena had noticed her； and； as he thought her pretty； he bowed to her； then apologised and pretended to believe that he had been introduced to the ladies； but could not remember where。 They pretended to believe it also。
He presented himself the following week at Madame Clarence's； thinking that her house was a bit fasta thing not likely to displease himand when he saw Eveline again he felt he had not been mistaken and that she was an extremely pretty girl。
Viscount Clena had the finest motor…car in Europe。 For three months he drove the Clarences every day over hills and plains； through woods and valleys； they visited famous sites and went over celebrated castles。 He said to Eveline all that could be said and did all that could be done to overcome her resistance。 She did not conceal from him that she loved him； that she would always love him； and love no one but him。 She remained grave and trembling by his side。 To his devouring passion she opposed the invincible defence of a virtue conscious of its danger。 At the end of three months； after having gone uphill and down hill； turned sharp corners； and negotiated level crossings； and experienced innumerable break…downs； he knew her as well as he knew the fly…wheel of his car； but not much better。 He employed surprises； adventures； sudden stoppages in the depths of forests and before hotels； but he had advanced no farther。 He said to himself that it was absurd； then； taking her again in his car he set off at fifty miles an hour quite prepared to upset her in a ditch or to smash himself and her against a tree。
One day； having come to take her on some excursion； he found her more charming than ever； and more provoking。 He darted upon her as a storm falls upon the reeds that border a lake。 She bent with adorable weakness beneath the breath of the storm； and twenty times was almost carried away by its strength； but twenty times she arose； supple and； bowing to the wind。 After all these shocks one would have said that a light breeze had barely touched her charming stem； she smiled as if ready to be plucked by a bold hand。 Then her unhappy aggressor； desperate； enraged； and three parts mad； fled so as not to kill her； mistook the door； went into the bedroom of Madame Clarence； whom he found putting on her hat in front of a wardrobe； seized her； flung her on the bed； and possessed her before she knew what had happened。
The same day Eveline； who had been making inquiries； learned that Viscount Clena had nothing but debts； lived on money given him by an elderly lady； and promoted the sale of the latest models of a motor…car manufacturer。 They separated with common accord and Eveline began again disdainfully to serve tea to her mother's guests。
III。 HIPPOLYTE CERES
In Madame Clarence's drawing…room the conversation turned upon love； and many charming things were said about it。
〃Love is a sacrifice；〃 sighed Madame Cremeur。
〃I agree with you；〃 replied M。 Boutourle with animation。
But Professor Haddock soon displayed his fastidious insolence。
〃It seems to me；〃 said he； 〃that the Penguin ladies have made a great fuss since； through St。 Mael's agency； they became viviparous。 But there is nothing to be particularly proud of in that； for it is a state they share in common with cows and pigs； and even with orange and lemon trees； for the seeds of these plants germinate in the pericarp。〃
〃The self…importance which the Penguin ladies give themselves does not go so far back as that；〃 answered M。 Boutourle。 〃It dates from the day when the holy apostle gave them clothes。 But this self…importance was long kept in restraint； and displayed itself fully only with increased luxury of dress and in a small section of society。 For go only two leagues from Alca into the country at harvest time； and you will see whether women are over…precise or self…important。〃
On that day M。 Hippolyte Ceres paid his first call。 He was a Deputy of Alca； and one of the youngest members of the House。 His father was said to have kept a dram shop； but he himself was a lawyer of robust physique； a good though prolix speaker； with a self…important air and a reputation for ability。
〃M。 Ceres；〃 said the mistress of the house； 〃your constituency is one of the finest in Alca。〃
〃And there are fresh improvements made in it every day； Madame。〃
〃Unfortunately； it is impossible to take a stroll through it any longer；〃 said M。 Boutourle。
〃Why？〃 asked M。 Ceres。
〃On account of the motors； of course。〃
〃Do not give them a bad name；〃 answered the Deputy。 〃They are our great national industry。〃
〃I know。 The Penguins of to…day make me think of the ancient Egyptians。 According to Clement of Alexandria； Taine tells usthough he misquotes the textthe Egyptians worshipped the crocodiles that devoured them。 The Penguins to…day worship the motors that crush them。 Without a doubt the future belongs to the metal beast。 We are no more likely to go back to cabs than we are to go back to the diligence。 And the long martyrdom of the horse will come to an end。 The motor； which the frenzied cupidity of manufacturers hurls like a juggernaut's car upon the bewildered people and of which the idle and fashionable make a foolish though fatal elegance； will soon begin to perform its true function； and putting its strength at the service of the entire people； will behave like a docile； toiling monster。 But in order that the motor may cease to be injurious and become beneficent we must build roads suited to its speed； roads which it cannot tear up with its ferocious tyres； and from which it will send no clouds of poisonous dus
