Her heart beat violently; she recalled the crystal vase, and a secret presentiment4 told her that this picture had some mysterious connection with the adventure among the rocks of Ollioules.
She approached it, trembling.
The perfection of this picture, painted on vellum, in imitation of ancient manuscripts, was incredible.
It represented the scene in the gorges5 of Ollioules at the very moment when the baron6, embracing his daughter, had extended his hand to the young stranger; at a distance on the rock, Pog and Trimalcyon, the two foreign personages of whom we have spoken, appeared to command the scene.
Although Reine had seen these two men but a moment, the likeness7 in the picture was so striking that she recognised them. She shuddered8 involuntarily at the sinister9 expression of Fog’s face, easily known by his long red beard and the bitter smile which contracted his lips.
The features of the baron, as well as those of Reine, were rendered with surprising fidelity10 and perfect art, although the faces were scarcely larger than the nail of the little finger. They were drawn11 with a delicacy12 which was marvellous.
Notwithstanding the inimitable skill displayed in this ravishing picture, an odd, extravagant13 thing destroyed its harmony and effect.
The pose, person, and costume of Erebus—the strange young man—were perfectly14 portrayed15; but his head disappeared beneath a small cloud, in the centre of which was represented the enamelled dove already portrayed on the crystal vase.
This omission16 was strange, and perhaps cleverly calculated, inasmuch as Reine, in spite of her fear and astonishment, could not help calling memory to her aid in order to complete the portrait of the stranger.
She saw it in her own mind, instead of on the vellum which she held in her hand.
There was, besides, on the part of the stranger, a sort of delicacy in thus effacing17 his own features under a symbol which represented to his mind the most precious memory of that day; or he may have adopted this means to quiet the scruples18 of the young girl, should she decide to keep the picture.
In order to comprehend the struggle between the desire to keep the picture and the resolve to destroy it, which rose in the young girl’s mind, we must say a few words about Reine’s love for Honorat de Berrol, and her own sentiments after the adventure in the gorges of Ollioules.
Honorat de Berrol was an orphan19 and distant relative of Raimond V. He had considerable fortune, his estates lying near those of the baron, and community of interest as well as other ties bound the chevalier and the old gentleman.
For two or three years Honorat came almost every day to Maison-Forte. The chevalier was the impersonation of rectitude, sincerity20, and honour. His education, without being extraordinary, was superior to that of most young men of his age.
He was actively21 occupied in the management of his estates; his order and his economy were remarkable22, although, when an opportunity presented itself, he knew how to be generous.
His mind was not unusual, but he had plenty of good sense and reason, and his character, naturally charming, could be firm and decided23 when circumstances demanded it.
His predominating characteristic was a love of justice. Little given to enthusiasm or exaggeration, and supremely24 happy in his position, he looked forward to his marriage with the baron’s daughter with a pure and serene25 joy.
There was no romantic aspect to this love. Before allowing himself to fall in love with Reine, Honorat had frankly26 expressed his intentions to the baron, and asked him to learn his daughter’s feelings.
The good gentleman, who never temporised or resorted to half-measures, replied to Honorat that the alliance would be agreeable to him, and at once told Reine of the chevalier’s proposal.
Reine was then sixteen years old; she was pleased with the appearance and bearing of the Chevalier de Berrol, for the manners of most of the country gentlemen who visited Maison-Forte suffered much by comparison with those of her amiable27 relative.
Reine accepted the baron’s plans, and the baron wrote at length to his brothers, the commander and Father Elzear, without whose advice he did nothing, concerning the happy betrothal28.
Their response was favourable29 to Honorat, and the marriage was fixed30 for the Christmas celebration which would follow the young girl’s eighteenth birthday.
Thus passed two years in the midst of sweet hopes and a pure, calm love.
Honorat, serious and gentle, began at once his part as mentor31, and by degrees acquired a great ascendancy32 over the mind of Reine.
Raimond V. loved his daughter so foolishly and idolatrously, that the happy influence of Honorat saved her from her father’s weakness.
The girl had lost her mother when she was in the cradle, and had been reared under the eyes of the baron by Stephanette’s mother, an excellent woman, and, although happily endowed with good instincts, had been permitted to indulge her caprice at will.
Her lively imagination exaggerated sympathy and antipathy33, and she often received the wise and reasonable suggestions of Honorat with mischievous34 irony35 and even resentment36.
Legend and romance were the mental food she craved37, and often in thought she pictured herself as the heroine of some strange adventure. Honorat would dissipate these fantastic visions by a breath, and not infrequently reproached Reine, with as much good-humour as gaiety, for these vagabond imaginations.
But these little differences were soon forgotten. Reine would confess her wrong-doing with adorable frankness, and the beautiful affection of the two lovers seemed only to increase.
Unconsciously, Reine began to feel the influence of Honorat more and more in her daily life, and instead of indulging herself in vague reveries and foolish imaginations, occupied her mind with graver thoughts. She recognised the nothingness of her former dreams, and every step of this wise and happy way served to establish her love for Chevalier de Berrol.
Her mind and character had undergone such a complete transformation38 under the influence of Honorat, that her father, sometimes, when he had gone beyond the limits of temperance, would say in jest that Reine was becoming insupportably serious.
The sentiment of Reine for Honorat was by no means a passionate39 love, nourished by difficulties and uncertainties40, but a calm, sincere, and reasonable affection, in which the young girl recognised, with a sort of tender veneration41, the superior reason of her betrothed42.
Such were the sentiments of Mlle, des Anbiez when the fatal meeting in the rocks of Ollioules took place.
The first time that she saw Erebus, placed her under the influence of a profound sentiment of gratitude43; he had just saved the baron’s life.
Reine, perhaps, might never have observed the surprising beauty of the stranger, but for the startling circumstances by which he was presented to her.
The fact that he had just delivered her father from a frightful44 danger was the most powerful fascination45 that Erebus could offer.
No doubt the charm was broken when, after the few words uttered by his companions, his countenance46 and manner changed, and he had the audacity47 to press his lips to hers. The features of the stranger, that a moment before possessed48 a beauty so pure, and an amiability49 so lovely, seemed suddenly to disappear under the mask of an insolent50 libertine51.
Since that day, Erebus appeared to her always under these two different physiognomies.
Sometimes she tried to banish52 from her memory all thought of an audacious stranger, who had insolently53 robbed her of what she would have given to her father’s saviour54 with reluctance55. Again, she would dream, with a deep sentiment of gratitude, that her father owed his life to this same stranger who at first seemed so courageous56 and so timid.
Unhappily for Reine’s repose57 of mind, Erebus united and justified58, so to speak, these two distinct natures, and in her thought she gave him sometimes her admiration59, and sometimes her contempt.
So she wavered between these two sentiments.
Thus the natural exaggeration of her character, rather suppressed than destroyed, was excited by this singular adventure.
The unknown one seemed to her the genius of good and the genius of evil.
Involuntarily, her excitable mind tried to penetrate60 the secret of this double power.
Reine herself was made aware of her morbid61 mental condition only by the tender reproaches of Honorat, who accused her of distraction62. For the first time, then, Reine realised with horror the empire that the unknown person had gained over her mind; she resolved to escape from it, but the resistance with which she endeavoured to drive Erebus from her mind, only made her think of him the more.
In her vexation she shed bitter tears, and sought refuge and diversion in the calm and wise conversation of Honorat.
Nothing could make her forget the past. Notwithstanding his goodness and kindness, her betrothed seemed to weary her, and even wound her.
She dared not open her heart to him. The baron, too, was the best of fathers, yet absolutely incapable63 of comprehending the unaccountable anguish64 of his daughter.
Concentrated by silence, and overexcited by solitude65, a sentiment mingled66 with curiosity, admiration, and almost hatred67, began to take deep root in the heart of Reine.
Many times she shuddered to see that the gravity of Honorat oppressed her. In her thought she reproached him for having nothing in his career that was adventurous68 or romantic.
She compared his peaceful and uniform life with the mystery which surrounded the stranger.
Then, ashamed of such thoughts, she sought to fix her hopes upon her approaching union with Honorat,—a union so sacred that, in the fulfilment of its duties, every foolish dream and imagination would be effaced69.
Such was the state of Reine’s heart when, by an inexplicable70 mystery, she found in the same day two objects, the sight of which redoubled her anguish and excited every power of her imagination.
This stranger, or one of his agents, was then near her, though invisible.
She could not suspect the servants within the walls of Maison-Forte of being in collusion with the stranger. All of them were old servants, grown gray in the service of Raimond V.
Reared, so to speak, by them, she was too well acquainted with their life and morality to believe them capable of underhand manoeuvres. The fact that the picture was placed on her praying-stool in her chamber71, disquieted72 her above all.
She was on the point of going to her father and telling him all, but an instinctive73 love of the marvellous restrained her; she feared to break the charm. Her romantic character found a sort of pleasure, mingled with fear, in this mystery.
Inaccessible74 to superstition75, of a firm and decided mind, and recognising the fact that, after all, there was nothing really dangerous in allowing this strange adventure to take its course, Reine reassured76 herself, after searching her chamber and the connecting one very carefully.
She took up the picture again, looked at it for some time, then, after dreaming awhile, she threw it into the fire.
She followed the destruction of this little masterpiece with a melancholy77 gaze.
By a strange chance the vellum, detached from the frame, caught first on both sides.
Thus the figure of Erebus burned the last and was outlined a moment on the burning embers,—then a light flame leaped upon it, and all disappeared.
Reine remained a long time gazing in the fireplace, as though she still saw there the picture which had been consumed.
The clock of Maison-Forte struck two in the morning; the young girl returned to her senses, went to bed, and, for a long time, tried to fall asleep.
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1
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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filigree
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| n.金银丝做的工艺品；v.用金银细丝饰品装饰；用华而不实的饰品装饰；adj.金银细丝工艺的 | |
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presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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17
effacing
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| 谦逊的 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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supremely
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| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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30
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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ascendancy
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| n.统治权，支配力量 | |
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33
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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37
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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38
transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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39
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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40
uncertainties
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| 无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
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41
veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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42
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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43
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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44
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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45
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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46
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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47
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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48
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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49
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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50
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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51
libertine
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| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
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52
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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53
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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54
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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55
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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56
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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57
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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58
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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59
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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60
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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61
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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64
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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66
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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67
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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69
effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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70
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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71
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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72
disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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74
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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75
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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76
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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