albert savarus-第9节

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〃She　has　missed　me；〃　said　Rodolphe；　pulling　from　his　wound　a　stiletto；
which　had　been　turned　by　one　of　the　false　ribs。　〃But　a　little　higher
up　it　would　have　been　deep　in　my　heart。I　was　wrong；　Francesca；〃　he
went　on；　remembering　the　name　he　had　heard　little　Gina　repeat　several
times；　〃I　owe　her　no　grudge；　do　not　scold　her。　The　happiness　of
speaking　to　you　is　well　worth　the　prick　of　a　stiletto。　Only　show　me
the　way　out；　I　must　get　back　to　the　Stopfer's　house。　Be　easy；　I　shall
tell　nothing。〃

Francesca；　recovering　from　her　astonishment；　helped　Rodolphe　to　rise；
and　said　a　few　words　to　Gina；　whose　eyes　filled　with　tears。　The　two
girls　made　him　sit　down　on　a　bench　and　take　off　his　coat；　his
waistcoat　and　cravat。　Then　Gina　opened　his　shirt　and　sucked　the　wound
strongly。　Francesca；　who　had　left　them；　returned　with　a　large　piece　of
sticking…plaster；　which　she　applied　to　the　wound。

〃You　can　now　walk　as　far　as　your　house；〃　she　said。

Each　took　an　arm；　and　Rodolphe　was　conducted　to　a　side　gate；　of　which
the　key　was　in　Francesca's　apron　pocket。

〃Does　Gina　speak　French？〃　said　Rodolphe　to　Francesca。

〃No。　But　do　not　excite　yourself；〃　replied　Francesca　with　some
impatience。

〃Let　me　look　at　you；〃　said　Rodolphe　pathetically；　〃for　it　may　be　long
before　I　am　able　to　come　again…〃

He　leaned　against　one　of　the　gate…posts　contemplating　the　beautiful
Italian；　who　allowed　him　to　gaze　at　her　for　a　moment　under　the
sweetest　silence　and　the　sweetest　night　which　ever；　perhaps；　shone　on
this　lake；　the　king　of　Swiss　lakes。

Francesca　was　quite　of　the　Italian　type；　and　such　as　imagination
supposes　or　pictures；　or；　if　you　will；　dreams；　that　Italian　women　are。
What　first　struck　Rodolphe　was　the　grace　and　elegance　of　a　figure
evidently　powerful；　though　so　slender　as　to　appear　fragile。　An　amber
paleness　overspread　her　face；　betraying　sudden　interest；　but　it　did
not　dim　the　voluptuous　glance　of　her　liquid　eyes　of　velvety　blackness。
A　pair　of　hands　as　beautiful　as　ever　a　Greek　sculptor　added　to　the
polished　arms　of　a　statue　grasped　Rodolphe's　arm；　and　their　whiteness
gleamed　against　his　black　coat。　The　rash　Frenchman　could　but　just
discern　the　long；　oval　shape　of　her　face；　and　a　melancholy　mouth
showing　brilliant　teeth　between　the　parted　lips；　full；　fresh；　and
brightly　red。　The　exquisite　lines　of　this　face　guaranteed　to　Francesca
permanent　beauty；　but　what　most　struck　Rodolphe　was　the　adorable
freedom；　the　Italian　frankness　of　this　woman；　wholly　absorbed　as　she
was　in　her　pity　for　him。

Francesca　said　a　word　to　Gina；　who　gave　Rodolphe　her　arm　as　far　as　the
Stopfers'　door；　and　fled　like　a　swallow　as　soon　as　she　had　rung。

〃These　patriots　do　not　play　at　killing！〃　said　Rodolphe　to　himself　as
he　felt　his　sufferings　when　he　found　himself　in　his　bed。　〃　'/Nel
lago！'　Gina　would　have　pitched　me　into　the　lake　with　a　stone　tied　to
my　neck。〃

Next　day　he　sent　to　Lucerne　for　the　best　surgeon　there；　and　when　he
came；　enjoined　on　him　absolute　secrecy；　giving　him　to　understand　that
his　honor　depended　on　it。

Leopold　returned　from　his　excursion　on　the　day　when　his　friend　first
got　out　of　bed。　Rodolphe　made　up　a　story；　and　begged　him　to　go　to
Lucerne　to　fetch　their　luggage　and　letters。　Leopold　brought　back　the
most　fatal；　the　most　dreadful　news：　Rodolphe's　mother　was　dead。　While
the　two　friends　were　on　their　way　from　Bale　to　Lucerne；　the　fatal
letter；　written　by　Leopold's　father；　had　reached　Lucerne　the　day　they
left　for　Fluelen。

In　spite　of　Leopold's　utmost　precautions；　Rodolphe　fell　ill　of　a
nervous　fever。　As　soon　as　Leopold　saw　his　friend　out　of　danger；　he　set
out　for　France　with　a　power　of　attorney；　and　Rodolphe　could　thus
remain　at　Gersau；　the　only　place　in　the　world　where　his　grief　could
grow　calmer。　The　young　Frenchman's　position；　his　despair；　the
circumstances　which　made　such　a　loss　worse　for　him　than　for　any　other
man；　were　known；　and　secured　him　the　pity　and　interest　of　every　one　in
Gersau。　Every　morning　the　pretended　dumb　girl　came　to　see　him　and
bring　him　news　of　her　mistress。

As　soon　as　Rodolphe　could　go　out　he　went　to　the　Bergmanns'　house；　to
thank　Miss　Fanny　Lovelace　and　her　father　for　the　interest　they　had
taken　in　his　sorrow　and　his　illness。　For　the　first　time　since　he　had
lodged　with　the　Bergmanns　the　old　Italian　admitted　a　stranger　to　his
room；　where　Rodolphe　was　received　with　the　cordiality　due　to　his
misfortunes　and　to　his　being　a　Frenchman；　which　excluded　all　distrust
of　him。　Francesca　looked　so　lovely　by　candle…light　that　first　evening
that　she　shed　a　ray　of　brightness　on　his　grieving　heart。　Her　smiles
flung　the　roses　of　hope　on　his　woe。　She　sang；　not　indeed　gay　songs；
but　grave　and　solemn　melodies　suited　to　the　state　of　Rodolphe's　heart；
and　he　observed　this　touching　care。

At　about　eight　o'clock　the　old　man　left　the　young　people　without　any
sign　of　uneasiness；　and　went　to　his　room。　When　Francesca　was　tired　of
singing；　she　led　Rodolphe　on　to　the　balcony；　whence　they　perceived　the
sublime　scenery　of　the　lake；　and　signed　to　him　to　be　seated　by　her　on
a　rustic　wooden　bench。

〃Am　I　very　indiscreet　in　asking　how　old　you　are；　cara　Francesca？〃　said
Rodolphe。

〃Nineteen；〃　said　she；　〃well　past。〃

〃If　anything　in　the　world　could　soothe　my　sorrow；〃　he　went　on；　〃it
would　be　the　hope　of　winning　you　from　your　father；　whatever　your
fortune　may　be。　So　beautiful　as　you　are；　you　seem　to　be　richer　than　a
prince's　daughter。　And　I　tremble　as　I　confess　to　you　the　feelings　with
which　you　have　inspired　me；　but　they　are　deepthey　are　eternal。〃

〃/Zitto/！〃　said　Francesca；　laying　a　finger　of　her　right　hand　on　her
lips。　〃Say　no　more；　I　am　not　free。　I　have　been　married　these　three
years。〃

For　a　few　minutes　utter　silence　reigned。　When　the　Italian　girl；
alarmed　at　Rodolphe's　stillness；　went　close　to　him；　she　found　that　he
had　fainted。

〃/Povero/！〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃And　I　thought　him　cold。〃

She　fetched　him　some　salts；　and　revived　Rodolphe　by　making　him　smell
at　them。

〃Married！〃　said　Rodolphe；　looking　at　Francesca。　And　then　his　tears
flowed　freely。

〃Child！〃　said　she。　〃But　there　is　still　hope。　My　husband　is〃

〃Eighty？〃　Rodolphe　put　in。

〃No；〃　said　she　with　a　smile；　〃but　sixty…five。　He　has　disguised　himself
as　much　older　to　mislead　the　police。〃

〃Dearest；〃　said　Rodolphe；　〃a　few　more　shocks　of　this　kind　and　I　shall
die。　Only　when　you　have　known　me　twenty　years　will　you　understand　the
strength　and　power　of　my　heart；　and　the　nature　of　its　aspirations　for
happiness。　This　plant；〃　he　went　on；　pointing　to　the　yellow　jasmine
which　covered　the　balustrade；　〃does　not　climb　more　eagerly　to　spread
itself　in　the　sunbeams　than　I　have　clung　to　you　for　this　month　past。　I
love　you　with　unique　passion。　That　love　will　be　the　secret　fount　of　my
lifeI　may　possibly　die　of　it。〃

〃Oh！　Frenchman；　Frenchman！〃　said　she；　emphasizing　her　exclamation　with
a　little　incredulous　grimace。

〃Shall　I　not　be　forced　to　wait；　to　accept　you　at　the　hands　of　time？〃
said　he　gravely。　〃But　know　this：　if　you　are　in　earnest　in　what　you
have　allowed　to　escape　you；　I　will　wait　for　you　faithfully；　without
suffering　any　other　attachment　to　grow　up　in　my　heart。〃

She　looked　at　him　doubtfully。

〃None；〃　said　he；　〃not　even　a　passing　fancy。　I　have　my　fortune　to　make；
you　must　have　a　splendid　one；　nature　created　you　a　princess〃

At　this　word　Francesca　could　not　repress　a　faint　smile；　which　gave　her
face　the　most　bewildering　expression；　something　subtle；　like　what　the
great　Leonardo　has　so　well　depicted　in　the　/Gioconda/。　This　smile　made
Rodolphe　pause。　〃Ah　yes！〃　he　went　on；　〃you　must　suffer　much　from　the
destitution　to　which　exile　has　brought　you。　Oh；　if　you　would　make　me
happy　above　all　men；　and　consecrate　my　love；　you　would　treat　me　as　a
friend。　Ought　I　not　to　be　your　friend？My　poor　mother　has　left　sixty
thousand　francs　of　savings；　take　half。〃

Francesca　looked　steadily　at　him。　This　piercing　gaze　went　to　the
bottom　of　Rodolphe's　soul。

〃We　want　nothing；　my　work　amply　supplies　our　luxuries；〃　she　replied　in
a　grave　voice。

〃And　can　I　endure　that　a　Francesca　should　work？〃　cried　he。　〃One　day
you　will　return　to　your　country　and　find　all　you　left　there。〃　Again
the　Italian　girl　looked　at　Rodolphe。　〃And　you　will　then　repay　me　what
you　may　have　condescended　to　borrow；〃　he　added；　with　an　expression
full　of　delicate　feeling。

〃Let　us　drop　the　subject；〃　said　she；　with　incomparable　dignity　of
gesture；　expression；　and　attitude。　〃Make　a　splendid　fortune；　be　one　of
the　remarkable　men　of　your　country；　that　is　my　desire。　Fame　is　a
drawbridge　which　may　serve　to　cross　a　deep　gulf。　Be　ambitious　if　you
must。　I　believe　you　have　great　and　powerful　talents；　but　use　them
rather　for　the　happiness　of　mankind　than　to　deserve　me；　you　will　be
all　the　greater　in　my　eyes。〃

In　the　course　of　this　conversation；　which　lasted　two　hours；　Rodolphe
discovered　that　Francesca　was　an　enthusiast　for　Liberal　ideas；　and　for
that　worship　of　liberty　which　had　led　to　the　three　revolutions　in
Naples；　Piemont；　and　Spain。　On　leaving；　he　was　shown　to　the　door　by
Gina；　the　so…called　mute。　At　eleven　o'clock　no　one　was　astir　in　the
village；　there　was　no　fear　of　listeners；　Rodolphe　took　Gina　into　a
corner；　and　aske