N coming away from the Baron2 Everdingen's, Prince Istar went to have a few oysters3 and a bottle of white wine at an eating-house in the Market. Then, being prudent4 as well as powerful, he paid a visit to his friend, Théophile Belais, for his pockets were full of bombs, and he wanted to secrete5 them in the musician's cupboard. The composer of Aline, Queen of Golconda was not at home. However, the Ker?b found Bouchotte busily working up the r?le of Zigouille; for the young artiste was booked to play the principal part in Les Apaches, an operetta that was then being rehearsed in one of the big music halls. The part in question was that of a street-walker who by her obscene gestures lures6 a passer-by into a trap, and then, while her victim is being gagged and bound, repeats with fiendish[228] cruelty the lascivious7 motions by which he had been led astray. The part required that she should appear both as mime8 and singer, and she was in a state of high enthusiasm about it.
The accompanist had just left. Prince Istar seated himself at the piano, and Bouchotte resumed her task. Her movements were unseemly and delicious. Her tawny9 hair was flying in all directions in wild disordered curls; her skin was moist, it exhaled10 a scent11 of violets and alkaline salts which made the nostrils12 throb13; even she herself felt the intoxication14. Suddenly, inebriated15 with her intoxicating16 presence, Prince Istar arose, and with never a word or a look, caught her into his arms and drew her on to the couch, the little couch with the flowered tapestry17 which Théophile had procured18 at one of the big shops by promising19 to pay ten francs a month for a long term of years. Now Istar might have solicited20 Bouchotte's favours; he might have invited her to a rapid, and, withal, a mutual21 embrace, and, despite her preoccupation and excitement, she would not have refused him. But Bouchotte was a girl of spirit. The merest hint of coercion22 awoke all her untamable pride. She would consent of her own accord, yes; but be mastered, never! She would readily yield to love, curiosity, pity, to less than that even, but she would die rather than yield to force. Her surprise immediately gave place to fury. She fought her aggressor with all her heart and soul.[229]
With nails, to which fury lent an added edge, she tore at the cheeks and eyelids23 of the Ker?b, and, though he held her as in a vice24, she arched herself so stiffly and made such excellent play with knee and elbow, that the human-headed bull, blinded with blood and rage, was sent crashing into the piano which gave forth25 a prolonged groan26, while the bombs, tumbling out of his pockets, fell on the floor with a noise like thunder. And Bouchotte, with dishevelled locks, and one breast bare, beautiful and terrible, stood brandishing27 the poker28 over the prostrate29 giant, crying:
"Be off with you, or I'll put your eyes out!"
Prince Istar went to wash himself in the kitchen, and plunged30 his gory31 visage into a basin where some haricot beans lay soaking; then he withdrew without anger or resentment32, for he had a noble soul.
Scarcely had he gone when the door-bell rang. Bouchotte, calling upon the absent maid in vain, slipped on a dressing-gown and opened the door herself. A young man, very correct in appearance and rather good-looking, bowed politely, and apologising for having to introduce himself, gave his name. It was Maurice d'Esparvieu.
Maurice was still seeking his guardian33 angel. Upheld by a desperate hope, he sought him in the queerest places. He enquired34 for him at the houses of sorcerers, magicians, and thaumaturgists, who in filthy35 hovels lay bare the ineffable36 secrets of[230] the future, and who, though masters of all the treasures of the earth, wear trousers without any seats to them, and eat pigs' brains. That very day, having been to a back street in Montmartre to consult a priest of Satan, who practised black magic by piercing waxen images, Maurice had gone on to Bouchotte's, having been sent by Madame de la Verdelière, who, being about to give a fête in aid of the fund for the Preservation37 of Country Churches, was anxious to secure Bouchotte's services, since she had suddenly become—no one knew why—a fashionable artiste.
Bouchotte invited the visitor to sit down on the little flowered couch; at his request she seated herself beside him, and our young man of fashion explained to the singer what Madame de la Verdelière desired of her. The lady wished Bouchotte to sing one of those apache songs which were giving such delight in the fashionable world. Unfortunately Madame de la Verdelière could only offer a very modest fee, one out of all proportion to the merits of the artiste, but then it was for a good cause.
Bouchotte agreed to take part, and accepted the reduced fee with the accustomed liberality of the poor towards the rich and of artists towards society people. Bouchotte was not a selfish girl; the work for the preservation of country churches interested her. She remembered with sobs38 and tears her first[231] communion, and she still retained her faith. When she passed by a church she wanted to enter it, especially in the evening. And so she did not love the Republic which had done its utmost to destroy both the Church and the Army. Her heart rejoiced to see the re-birth of national sentiment. France was lifting up her head. What was most applauded in the music halls were songs about the soldiers and the kind nuns39. Meanwhile Maurice inhaled40 the odour of her tawny hair, the subtle bitter perfume of her body, all the odours of her person, and desire grew in him. He felt her near him on the little couch, very warm and very soft. He complimented the artiste on her great talent. She asked him what he liked best in all her repertory. He knew nothing about it, still he made replies that satisfied her. She had dictated41 them herself without knowing it. The vain creature spoke42 of her talent, of her success, as she wished others to speak of them. She never ceased talking of her triumphs, yet withal she was candour itself. Maurice in all sincerity43 praised Bouchotte's beauty, her fresh skin, her purity of line. She attributed this advantage to the fact that she never made up and never "put messes on her face." As to her figure, she admitted that there was enough everywhere and none too much, and to illustrate44 this assertion she passed her hand over all the contours of her charming body, rising lightly to follow the delightful45 curves on which she reposed46.[232]
Maurice was quite moved by it. It began to grow dark; she offered to light up. He begged her to do nothing of the sort.
Their talk, at first gay and full of laughter, grew more intimate and very sweet, with a certain languor47 in its tone. It seemed to Bouchotte that she had known Monsieur Maurice d'Esparvieu for a long time, and holding him for a man of delicacy48, she gave him her confidence. She told him that she was by nature a good woman, but that she had had a grasping and unscrupulous mother. Maurice recalled her to the consideration of her own beauty, and exalted49 by subtle flattery the excellent opinion she had of herself. Patient and calculating, in spite of the burning desire growing in him, he aroused and increased in the desired one the longing50 to be still further admired. The dressing-gown opened and slipped down of its own accord, the living satin of her shoulders gleamed in the mysterious light of evening. He—so prudent, so clever, so adroit,—let her sink in his arms, ardent51 and half swooning before she had even perceived she had granted anything at all. Their breath and their murmurs52 intermingled. And the little flowery couch sighed in sympathy with them.
When they recovered the power to express their feelings in words, she whispered in his ear that his cheek was even softer than her own.
He answered, holding her embraced:[233]
"It is charming to hold you like this. One would think you had no bones."
She replied, closing her eyes:
"It is because I love you. Love seems to dissolve my bones; it makes me as soft and melting as a pig's foot à la Ste. Menebould."
Hereupon Théophile came in, and Bouchotte called upon him to thank Monsieur Maurice d'Esparvieu, who had been amiable53 enough to be the bearer of a handsome offer from Madame la Comtesse de la Verdelière.
The musician was happy, feeling the quiet and peace of the house after a day of fruitless applications, of colourless lessons, of failure and humiliation54. Three new collaborators had been thrust upon him who would add their signatures to his on his operetta, and receive their share of the author's rights, and he had been told to introduce the tango into the Court of Golconda. He pressed young d'Esparvieu's hand and dropped wearily on to the little couch, which, being now at the end of its strength, gave way at the four legs and suddenly collapsed55.
And the angel, precipitated56 to the ground, rolled terror-struck on to the watch, match-box and cigarette-case that had fallen from Maurice's pocket, and on to the bombs Prince Istar had left behind him.
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1
misogynist
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| n.厌恶女人的人 | |
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2
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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3
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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4
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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secrete
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| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
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6
lures
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| 吸引力，魅力（lure的复数形式） | |
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7
lascivious
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| adj.淫荡的，好色的 | |
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8
mime
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| n.指手画脚，做手势，哑剧演员，哑剧；vi./vt.指手画脚的表演，用哑剧的形式表演 | |
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9
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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10
exhaled
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| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
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11
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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12
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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13
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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14
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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15
inebriated
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| adj.酒醉的 | |
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16
intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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17
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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18
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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19
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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20
solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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21
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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22
coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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23
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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24
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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25
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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26
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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27
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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28
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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29
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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30
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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31
gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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32
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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33
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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34
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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35
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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36
ineffable
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| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
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37
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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38
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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39
nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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40
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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42
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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43
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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44
illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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45
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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46
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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48
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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49
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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50
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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51
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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52
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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53
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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54
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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55
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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56
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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