the nabob-第74章

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！


hor；　her　sailors　cleaning　the　deck　or　repainting　the　red　siren　of　her　figurehead；　as　if　they　were　expecting　someone　of　importance。　Paul　had　not　the　curiosity　to　ask　who　this　personage　was。　He　crossed　the　marble　city；　and　returned　by　the　coast　railway　from　Genoa　to　Marseillesthat　marvellous　route　where　one　passes　suddenly　from　the　blackness　of　the　tunnels　to　the　dazzling　light　of　the　blue　sea。

At　Savona　the　train　stopped；　and　the　passengers　were　told　that　they　could　go　no　farther；　as　one　of　the　little　bridges　over　the　torrents　which　rush　from　the　mountains　to　the　sea　had　been　broken　during　the　night。　They　must　wait　for　the　engineer　and　the　break…down　gang；　already　summoned　by　telegraph；　wait　perhaps　a　half　day。　It　was　early　morning。　The　Italian　town　was　waking　in　one　of　those　veiled　dawns　which　forecast　great　heat　for　the　day。　While　the　dispersed　travellers　took　refuge　in　the　hotels；　installed　themselves　in　the　/cafes/；　and　others　visited　the　town；　de　Gery；　chafing　at　the　delay；　tried　to　think　of　some　means　of　saving　these　few　hours。　He　thought　of　poor　Jansoulet；　to　whom　the　money　he　was　bringing　might　save　honour　and　life；　of　his　dear　Aline；　her　whose　remembrance　had　not　quitted　him　a　single　day　of　his　journey；　no　more　than　the　portrait　which　she　had　given　him。　Then　he　was　inspired　to　hire　one　of　those　four…horse　/calesinos/　which　run　from　Genoa　to　Nice；　along　the　Italian　Cornichean　adorable　trip　which　foreigners；　lovers；　and　winners　at　Monaco　often　enjoy。　The　driver　guaranteed　that　he　would　be　at　Nice　early；　and　even　if　he　arrived　no　earlier　than　the　train；　his　impatient　spirit　felt　the　comfort　of　movement；　of　feeling　at　each　turn　of　the　wheel　the　distance　from　his　desire　decrease。

On　a　fine　morning　in　June；　when　one　is　young　and　in　love；　it　is　a　delicious　intoxication　to　tear　behind　four　horses　over　the　white　Corniche　road。　To　the　left；　a　hundred　feet　below；　the　sea　sparkling　with　foam；　from　the　rounded　rocks　of　the　shore　to　those　vapoury　distances　where　the　blue　of　the　waves　and　of　the　heavens　mingle；　red　or　white　sails　are　scattered　over　it　like　wings；　steamers　leaving　behind　them　their　trail　of　smoke；　and　on　the　sands；　fishermen　no　larger　than　birds；　in　their　anchored　boats　like　nests。　Then　the　road　descends；　follows　a　rapid　declivity　along　the　rocks　and　sharp　promontories。　The　fresh　wind　from　the　waves　shakes　the　little　harness　bells；　while　on　the　right；　on　the　side　of　the　mountain；　the　rows　of　pine…trees；　the　green　oaks　with　roots　capriciously　leaving　the　arid　soil；　and　olive…trees　growing　on　their　terraces；　up　to　a　wide　and　white　pebbly　ravine；　bordered　with　grass；　marking　the　passage　of　the　waters。　This　is　really　a　dried…up　water…course；　which　the　loaded　mules　ascend　with　firm　foot　among　the　shingle；　and　a　washer…woman　stoops　near　a　microscopic　pondthe　few　drops　that　remained　of　the　great　inundation　of　winter。　From　time　to　time　one　crosses　the　street　of　some　village；　or　little　town　rather；　grown　rusty　through　too　much　sun；　of　historic　age；　the　houses　closely　packed　and　joined　by　dark　arcadesa　network　of　vaulted　courts　which　clamber　the　hillside　with　glimpses　of　the　upper　daylight；　here　and　there　letting　one　see　crowds　of　children　with　aureoles　of　hair；　baskets　of　brilliant　fruit；　a　woman　coming　down　the　road；　her　water…pot　on　her　head　and　her　distaff　on　her　arm。　Then　at　a　corner　of　the　street；　the　blue　sparkle　of　the　waves　and　the　immensity　of　nature。

But　as　the　day　advanced；　the　sun　rising　in　the　heavens　spread　over　the　seanow　escaped　from　its　mists；　still　with　the　transparence　of　quartz　thousands　of　rays　striking　the　water　like　arrow…heads；　a　dazzling　sight　made　doubly　so　by　the　whiteness　of　the　rocks　and　of　the　soil；　by　a　veritable　African　sirocco　which　raised　the　dust　in　a　whirlwind　on　the　road。　They　were　coming　to　the　hottest　and　most　sheltered　places　of　the　Cornichea　true　exotic　temperature；　scattering　dates；　cactus；　and　aloes。　Seeing　these　thin　trunks；　this　fantastic　vegetation　in　the　white　hot　air；　feeling　the　blinding　dust　crackle　under　the　wheels　like　snow；　de　Gery；　his　eyes　half　closed；　dreaming　in　this　leaden　noon；　thought　he　was　once　more　on　that　fatiguing　road　from　Tunis　to　the　Bardo；　in　a　singular　medley　of　Levantine　carriages　with　brilliant　liveries；　of　long…necked　camels；　of　caparisoned　mules；　of　young　donkeys；　of　Arabs　in　rags；　of　half…naked　negroes；　of　officials　in　full…dress　with　their　guard　of　honour。　Should　he　find　there；　where　the　road　ran　through　the　gardens　of　palm…trees；　the　strange　and　colossal　architecture　of　the　Bey's　palace；　its　barred　windows　with　closed　lattices；　its　marble　gates；　its　balconies　in　carved　wood　painted　in　bright　colours？　It　was　not　the　Bardo；　but　the　lovely　country　of　Bordighera；　divided；　like　all　those　on　the　coast；　into　two　partsthe　sea　town　lying　on　the　shore；　and　the　upper　town；　joined　to　it　by　a　forest　of　motionless　palm…trees；　with　upright　stem　and　falling　crown　like　green　rockets；　springing　into　the　blue　with　their　thousand　feathers。

The　insupportable　heat；　the　overtired　horses；　forced　the　traveller　to　stop　for　a　couple　of　hours　at　one　of　those　great　hotels　which　line　the　road；　and　bring　every　November　into　this　little　town；　so　marvellously　sheltered；　the　luxurious　life　and　cosmopolitan　animation　of　an　aristocratic　wintering　place。　But　at　this　time　of　year　there　was　no　one　in　the　sea　town　of　Bordighera　but　fishermen；　invisible　at　this　hour。　The　villas　and　hotels　seemed　dead；　their　blinds　and　shutters　closed。　They　took　Paul　through　long；　cool；　and　silent　passages　to　a　great　drawing…room　facing　north；　which　seemed　to　be　part　of　the　suites　let　for　the　season；　whose　doors　communicated　with　the　other　rooms。　White　curtains；　a　carpet；　the　comfort　demanded　by　the　English　even　when　travelling；　and　outside　the　windows；　which　the　hotel…keeper　opened　wide　to　tempt　the　traveller　to　a　longer　stay；　a　splendid　view　of　the　mountain。　An　astonishing　quiet　reigned　in　this　great　deserted　inn；　with　neither　manager；　nor　cook；　nor　waitersthe　whole　staff　coming　only　in　the　winterand　given　up　for　domestic　needs　to　a　local　spoil…sauce；　expert　at　a　/stoffato/；　a　/risotto/；　also　to　two　stablemen；　who　clothed　themselves　at　meal…time　with　the　dress…coat　and　white　tie　of　office。　Happily；　de　Gery　was　only　going　to　remain　there　for　an　hour　or　two；　to　rest　his　eyes　from　the　overpowering　light；　his　head　from　the　dolorous　grip　of　the　sun。

From　the　divan　where　he　lay；　the　admirable　landscape；　diversified　with　light　and　trembling　leaves；　seemed　to　descend　to　his　window　by　stages　of　different　greens；　where　scattered　villas　shone　white；　and　among　them　that　of　Maurice　Trott；　the　banker；　recognisable　by　its　capricious　architecture　and　the　height　of　its　palms。

The　Levantine　house；　whose　gardens　came　up　to　the　windows　of　the　hotel；　had　sheltered　for　some　months　an　artistic　celebrity；　the　sculptor　Brehat；　who　was　dying　of　consumption；　and　owed　the　prolonging　of　his　existence　to　this　princely　hospitality。　The　neighbourhood　of　this　dying　celebrityof　which　the　hotel…keeper　was　proud；　and　which　he　would　have　liked　to　charge　in　the　billthe　name　of　Brehat；　which　de　Gery　had　so　often　heard　pronounced　with　admiration　in　Felicia　Ruys's　studio；　brought　back　his　thoughts　to　the　beautiful　face；　with　its　pure　lines；　which　he　had　last　seen　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogue；　leaning　on　Mora's　shoulder。　What　had　become　of　this　unfortunate　girl　when　this　prop　had　failed　her？　Would　this　lesson　be　of　use　to　her　in　the　future？　And；　by　a　strange　coincidence；　while　he　was　thinking　thus　of　Felicia；　a　great　white　greyhound　was　bounding　up　an　alley　of　green　trees　on　the　slopes　of　the　neighbouring　garden。　It　was　like　Kadour　the　same　short　hair；　the　same　mouth；　red；　fierce；　and　delicate。　Paul；　before　his　open　window；　was　assailed　in　a　moment　by　all　sorts　of　visions；　sad　or　charming。　Perhaps　the　beauty　of　the　scene　before　his　eyes　made　his　thoughts　wander。　Under　the　orange…trees　and　lemon…trees　in　rows；　laden　with　their　golden　fruit；　stretched　immense　fields　of　violets　in　regular　and　packed　beds；　separated　by　little　irrigation　canals；　whose　white　stone　cut　up　the　exuberant　verdure。

An　exquisite　ordour　of　violets　dried　in　the　sun　was　risinga　hot　boudoir　scent；　enervating；　enfeebling；　which　called　up　for　de　Gery　feminine　visionsAline；　Feliciapermeating　the　fairy…like　landscape；　in　this　blue…charged　atmosphere；　this　heavenly　day；　which　one　might　have　called　the　perfume　become　visible　of　so　many　open　flowers。　The　creaking　of　a　door　made　him　open　his　eyes。　Some　one　had　just　gone　into　the　next　room。　He　heard　the　rustle　of　a　dress　against　the　thin　partition；　a　leaf　turned　in　a　book　which　could　not　be　very　interesting；　for　a　long　sigh　turning　into　a　yawn　made　him　start。　Was　he　still　sleeping；　dreaming？　Had　he　not　heard　the　cry　of　the　〃jackal　in　the　desert；〃　so　much　in　keeping　with　the　burning　temperature　out　of　doors？　Nonothing　more。　He　fell　asleep　again；　and　this　time　all　the　confused　images　which　pursued　him　fixed　themselves　in　a　dreama　very　pleasant　dream。

He　was　on　his　honeymoon　with　Aline。　She　was　a　delicious　wife；　her　clear　eyes　full　of　love　and　faith；　which　only　knew；　only　looked　at　him。　In　this　very　room；　on　the　other　side　of　the　partition；　she　was　sitting　in　white　morning　dress；　which　smelt　of　violets　and　of　the　fine　lace　of　her　trousseau。　They　were　having　breakfastone　of　those　solitary　breakfasts　of　a　honeymoon；　served　in　their　bedroom；　opposite　the　blue　sea；　and　the　clear　sky；　which　tinge　with　azure　the　glass　in　which　one　drinks；　the　eyes　where　one　sees　one's　self；　the　futurelife　the　distant　horizon。　Oh！　how　good　it　was；　what　a　divine　youth…giving　light；　how　happy　they　were！

And　all　at　once；　in　the　delight　of　their　kisses；　Aline　became　sad。　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　said　to　him：　〃Felicia　is　there。　You　will　love　me　no　longer。〃　And　he　laughed；　〃Felicia　here？　What　an　idea！〃　〃Yes；　yes；　she　is　there。〃　Trembling　she　pointed　to　the　next　room；　from　which　came　angry　barks；　and　the　voice　of　Felicia：　〃Here；　Kadour！　Here；　Kadour！〃　the　low；　concentrated；　furious　voice　of　some　one　who　is　hiding　and　suddenly　discovered。

Wide　awake；　the　lover；　disenchanted；　found　himself　in　his　empty　room；　before　an　empty　table；　his　dream；　fled　through　the　window　to　the　great　hillside。　But　he　heard　very　distinctly　in　the　next　room　the　bark　of　a　dog；　and　hurried　knocks　on　the　door。

〃Open　the　door！　It　is　Iit　is　Jenkins。〃

Paul　sat　up　on　his　divan；　stupefied。　Jenkins　here？　How　was　that？　To　whom　was　he　speaking？　What　voice　was　going　to　answer　him？　No　one　answered。　A　light　step　went　to　the　door；　and　the　lock　creaked　nervously。

〃Here　you　are　at　last；〃　said　the　Irishman；　entering。

And　truly　if　he　had　not　taken　care　to　announce　himself；　Paul　would　never　have　taken　this　brutal；　violent；　hoarse　voice　heard　through　the　partition　for　the　doctor's　with　his　sugary　manners。

〃At　last　I　have　found　you　after　a　week　of　searching；　of　mad　rushing　from　Genoa　to　Nice；　from　Nice　to　Genoa。　I　knew　that　you　had　not　gone；　because　the　yacht　was　in　the　harbour；　and　I　was　going　to　inspect　all　the　inns　on　the　coast；　when　I　remembered　Brehat。　I　have　just　come　from　him。　It　was　he　who　told　me　you　were　here。〃

But　to　whom　was　he　speaking？　Who　was　so　singularly　obstinate？　At　last　a　beautiful；　sad　voice；　which　Paul　well　knew；　made　the　hot　afternoon　air　vibrate。

〃Well；　yes；　Jenkin