tales and fantasies-第17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！









WHEN　Dick　Naseby　was　in　Paris　he　made　some　odd　acquaintances；

for　he　was　one　of　those　who　have　ears　to　hear；　and　can　use

their　eyes　no　less　than　their　intelligence。　　He　made　as　many

thoughts　as　Stuart　Mill；　but　his　philosophy　concerned　flesh

and　blood；　and　was　experimental　as　to　its　method。　　He　was　a

type…hunter　among　mankind。　　He　despised　small　game　and

insignificant　personalities；　whether　in　the　shape　of　dukes　or

bagmen；　letting　them　go　by　like　sea…weed；　but　show　him　a

refined　or　powerful　face；　let　him　hear　a　plangent　or　a

penetrating　voice；　fish　for　him　with　a　living　look　in　some

one's　eye；　a　passionate　gesture；　a　meaning　and　ambiguous

smile；　and　his　mind　was　instantaneously　awakened。　　'There　was

a　man；　there　was　a　woman；'　he　seemed　to　say；　and　he　stood　up

to　the　task　of　comprehension　with　the　delight　of　an　artist　in

his　art。



And　indeed；　rightly　considered；　this　interest　of　his　was　an

artistic　interest。　　There　is　no　science　in　the　personal　study

of　human　nature。　　All　comprehension　is　creation；　the　woman　I

love　is　somewhat　of　my　handiwork；　and　the　great　lover；　like

the　great　painter；　is　he　that　can　so　embellish　his　subject　as

to　make　her　more　than　human；　whilst　yet　by　a　cunning　art　he

has　so　based　his　apotheosis　on　the　nature　of　the　case　that

the　woman　can　go　on　being　a　true　woman；　and　give　her

character　free　play；　and　show　littleness；　or　cherish　spite；

or　be　greedy　of　common　pleasures；　and　he　continue　to　worship

without　a　thought　of　incongruity。　　To　love　a　character　is

only　the　heroic　way　of　understanding　it。　　When　we　love；　by

some　noble　method　of　our　own　or　some　nobility　of　mien　or

nature　in　the　other；　we　apprehend　the　loved　one　by　what　is

noblest　in　ourselves。　　When　we　are　merely　studying　an

eccentricity；　the　method　of　our　study　is　but　a　series　of

allowances。　　To　begin　to　understand　is　to　begin　to

sympathise；　for　comprehension　comes　only　when　we　have　stated

another's　faults　and　virtues　in　terms　of　our　own。　　Hence　the

proverbial　toleration　of　artists　for　their　own　evil

creations。　　Hence；　too；　it　came　about　that　Dick　Naseby；　a

high…minded　creature；　and　as　scrupulous　and　brave　a　gentleman

as　you　would　want　to　meet；　held　in　a　sort　of　affection　the

various　human　creeping　things　whom　he　had　met　and　studied。



One　of　these　was　Mr。　Peter　Van　Tromp；　an　English…speaking；

two…legged　animal　of　the　international　genus；　and　by

profession　of　general　and　more　than　equivocal　utility。　　Years

before　he　had　been　a　painter　of　some　standing　in　a　colony；

and　portraits　signed　'Van　Tromp'　had　celebrated　the　greatness

of　colonial　governors　and　judges。　　In　those　days　he　had　been

married；　and　driven　his　wife　and　infant　daughter　in　a　pony

trap。　　What　were　the　steps　of　his　declension？　　No　one　exactly

knew。　　Here　he　was　at　least；　and　had　been　any　time　these　past

ten　years；　a　sort　of　dismal　parasite　upon　the　foreigner　in

Paris。



It　would　be　hazardous　to　specify　his　exact　industry。

Coarsely　followed；　it　would　have　merited　a　name　grown

somewhat　unfamiliar　to　our　ears。　　Followed　as　he　followed　it；

with　a　skilful　reticence；　in　a　kind　of　social　chiaroscuro；　it

was　still　possible　for　the　polite　to　call　him　a　professional

painter。　　His　lair　was　in　the　Grand　Hotel　and　the　gaudiest

cafes。　　There　he　might　be　seen　jotting　off　a　sketch　with　an

air　of　some　inspiration；　and　he　was　always　affable；　and　one

of　the　easiest　of　men　to　fall　in　talk　withal。　　A　conversation

usually　ripened　into　a　peculiar　sort　of　intimacy；　and　it　was

extraordinary　how　many　little　services　Van　Tromp　contrived　to

render　in　the　course　of　six…and…thirty　hours。　　He　occupied　a

position　between　a　friend　and　a　courier；　which　made　him　worse

than　embarrassing　to　repay。　　But　those　whom　he　obliged　could

always　buy　one　of　his　villainous　little　pictures；　or；　where

the　favours　had　been　prolonged　and　more　than　usually

delicate；　might　order　and　pay　for　a　large　canvas；　with

perfect　certainty　that　they　would　hear　no　more　of　the

transaction。



Among　resident　artists　he　enjoyed　celebrity　of　a　non…

professional　sort。　　He　had　spent　more　money　…　no　less　than

three　individual　fortunes；　it　was　whispered　…　than　any　of　his

associates　could　ever　hope　to　gain。　　Apart　from　his　colonial

career；　he　had　been　to　Greece　in　a　brigantine　with　four　brass

carronades；　he　had　travelled　Europe　in　a　chaise　and　four；

drawing　bridle　at　the　palace…doors　of　German　princes；　queens

of　song　and　dance　had　followed　him　like　sheep　and　paid　his

tailor's　bills。　　And　to　behold　him　now；　seeking　small　loans

with　plaintive　condescension；　sponging　for　breakfast　on　an

art…student　of　nineteen；　a　fallen　Don　Juan　who　had　neglected

to　die　at　the　propitious　hour；　had　a　colour　of　romance　for

young　imaginations。　　His　name　and　his　bright　past；　seen

through　the　prism　of　whispered　gossip；　had　gained　him　the

nickname　of　THE　ADMIRAL。



Dick　found　him　one　day　at　the　receipt　of　custom；　rapidly

painting　a　pair　of　hens　and　a　cock　in　a　little　water…colour

sketching　box；　and　now　and　then　glancing　at　the　ceiling　like

a　man　who　should　seek　inspiration　from　the　muse。　　Dick

thought　it　remarkable　that　a　painter　should　choose　to　work

over　an　absinthe　in　a　public　cafe；　and　looked　the　man　over。

The　aged　rakishness　of　his　appearance　was　set　off　by　a

youthful　costume；　he　had　disreputable　grey　hair　and　a

disreputable　sore；　red　nose；　but　the　coat　and　the　gesture；

the　outworks　of　the　man；　were　still　designed　for　show。　　Dick

came　up　to　his　table　and　inquired　if　he　might　look　at　what

the　gentleman　was　doing。　　No　one　was　so　delighted　as　the

Admiral。



'A　bit　of　a　thing；'　said　he。　　'I　just　dash　them　off　like

that。　　I　…　I　dash　them　off；'　he　added　with　a　gesture。



'Quite　so；'　said　Dick；　who　was　appalled　by　the　feebleness　of

the　production。



'Understand　me；'　continued　Van　Tromp；　'I　am　a　man　of　the

world。　　And　yet　…　once　an　artist　always　an　artist。　　All　of　a

sudden　a　thought　takes　me　in　the　street；　I　become　its　prey：

it's　like　a　pretty　woman；　no　use　to　struggle；　I　must　…　dash

it　off。'



'I　see；'　said　Dick。



'Yes；'　pursued　the　painter；　'it　all　comes　easily；　easily　to

me；　it　is　not　my　business；　it's　a　pleasure。　　Life　is　my

business　…　life　…　this　great　city；　Paris　…　Paris　after　dark　…

its　lights；　its　gardens；　its　odd　corners。　　Aha！'　he　cried；

'to　be　young　again！　　The　heart　is　young；　but　the　heels　are

leaden。　　A　poor；　mean　business；　to　grow　old！　　Nothing　remains

but　the　COUP　D'OEIL；　the　contemplative　man's　enjoyment；　Mr。　…

；'　and　he　paused　for　the　name。



'Naseby；'　returned　Dick。



The　other　treated　him　at　once　to　an　exciting　beverage；　and

expatiated　on　the　pleasure　of　meeting　a　compatriot　in　a

foreign　land；　to　hear　him；　you　would　have　thought　they　had

encountered　in　Central　Africa。　　Dick　had　never　found　any　one

take　a　fancy　to　him　so　readily；　nor　show　it　in　an　easier　or

less　offensive　manner。　　He　seemed　tickled　with　him　as　an

elderly　fellow　about　town　might　be　tickled　by　a　pleasant　and

witty　lad；　he　indicated　that　he　was　no　precision；　but　in　his

wildest　times　had　never　been　such　a　blade　as　he　thought　Dick。

Dick　protested；　but　in　vain。　　This　manner　of　carrying　an

intimacy　at　the　bayonet's　point　was　Van　Tromp's　stock…in…

trade。　　With　an　older　man　he　insinuated　himself；　with　youth

he　imposed　himself；　and　in　the　same　breath　imposed　an　ideal

on　his　victim；　who　saw　that　he　must　work　up　to　it　or　lose　the

esteem　of　this　old　and　vicious　patron。　　And　what　young　man

can　bear　to　lose　a　character　for　vice？



At　last；　as　it　grew　towards　dinner…time；　'Do　you　know　Paris？'

asked　Van　Tromp。



'Not　so　well　as　you；　I　am　convinced；'　said　Dick。



'And　so　am　I；'　returned　Van　Tromp　gaily。　　'Paris！　　My　young

friend　…　you　will　allow　me？　…　when　you　know　Paris　as　I　do；

you　will　have　seen　Strange　Things。　　I　say　no　more；　all　I　say

is；　Strange　Things。　　We　are　men　of　the　world；　you　and　I；　and

in　Paris；　in　the　heart　of　civilised　existence。　　This　is　an

opportunity；　Mr。　Naseby。　　Let　us　dine。　　Let　me　show　you　where

to　dine。'



Dick　consented。　　On　the　way　to　dinner　the　Admiral　showed　him

where　to　buy　gloves；　and　made　him　buy　them；　where　to　buy

cigars；　and　made　him　buy　a　vast　store；　some　of　which　he

obligingly　accepted。　　At　the　restaurant　he　showed　him　what　to

order；　with　surprising　consequences　in　the　bill。　　What　he

made　that　night　by　his　percentages　it　would　be　hard　to

estimate。　　And　all　the　while　Dick　smilingly　consented；

understanding　well　that　he　was　being　done；　but　taking　his

losses　in　the　pursuit　of　character　as　a　hunter　sacrifices　his

dogs。　　As　for　the　Strange　Things；　the　reader　will　be　relieved

to　hear　that　they　were　no　stranger　than　might　have　been

expected；　and　he　may　find　things　quite　as　strange　without　the

expense　of　a　Van　Tromp　for　guide。　　Yet　he　was　a　guide　of　no

mean　order；　who　made　up　for　the　poverty　of　what　he　had　to

show　by　a　copious；　imaginative　commentary。



'And　such；'　said　he；　with　a　hiccup；　'such　is　Paris。'



'Pooh！'　said　Dick；　who　was　tired　of　the　performance。



The　Admiral　hung　an　ear；　and　looked　up　sidelong　with　a

glimmer　of　suspicion。



'Good　night；'　said　Dick；　'I'm　tired。'



'So　English！'　cried　Van　Tromp；　clutching　him　by　the　hand。

'So　English！　　So　BLASE！　　Such　a　charming　companion！　　Let　me

see　you　home。'



'Look　here；'　returned　Dick；　'I　have　said　good　night；　and　now

I'm　going。　　You're　an　amusing　old　boy：　I　like　you；　in　a

sense；　but　here's　an　end　of　it　for　to…night。　　Not　another

cigar；　not　another　grog；　not　another　percentage　out　of　me。'



'I　beg　your　pardon！'　cried　the　Admiral　with　dignity。



'Tut；　man！'　said　Dick；　'you're　not　offended；　you're　a　man　of

the　world；　I　thought。　　I've　been　studying　you；　and　it's　over。

Have　I　not　paid　for　the　lesson？　　AU　REVOIR。'



Van　Tromp　laughed　gaily；　shook　hands　up　to　the　elbows；　hoped

cordially　they　would　meet　again　and　that　often；　but　looked

after　Dick　as　he　departed　with　a　tremor　of　indignation。

After　that　they　two　not　unfrequently　fell　in　each　other's

way；　and　Dick　would　often　treat　the　old　boy　to　breakfast　on　a

moderate　scale　and　in　a　restaurant　of　his　own　selection。

Often；　too；　he　would　lend　Van　Tromp　the　matter　of　a　pound；　in

view　of　that　gentleman's　contemplated　departure　for

Australia；　there　would　be　a　scene　of　farewell　almost　touching

in　character；　and　a　week　or　a　month　later　they　would　meet　on

the　same　boulevard　without　surprise　or　embarrassment。　　And　in

the　meantime　Dick　learned　more　about　his　acquaintance　on　all

sides：　heard　of　his　yacht；　his　chaise　and　four；　his　brief

season　of　celebrity　amid　a　more　confiding　population；　his

daughter；　of　whom　he　loved　to　whimper　in　his　cups；　his

sponging；　parasitical；　nameless　way　of　life；　and　with　each

new　detail　something　that　was　not　merely　interest　nor　yet

altogether　affection　grew　up　in　his　mind　towards　this

disreputable　stepson　of　the　arts。　　Ere　he　left　Paris　Van

Tromp　was　one　of　those　whom　he　entertai