Mr. Paul Somerset was a young gentleman of a lively and fiery1 imagination, with very small capacity for action. He was one who lived exclusively in dreams and in the future: the creature of his own theories, and an actor in his own romances. From the cigar divan2 he proceeded to parade the streets, still heated with the fire of his eloquence3, and scouting4 upon every side for the offer of some fortunate adventure. In the continual stream of passers-by, on the sealed fronts of houses, on the posters that covered the hoardings, and in every lineament and throb5 of the great city, he saw a mysterious and hopeful hieroglyph6. But although the elements of adventure were streaming by him as thick as drops of water in the Thames, it was in vain that, now with a beseeching7, now with something of a braggadocio8 air, he courted and provoked the notice of the passengers; in vain that, putting fortune to the touch, he even thrust himself into the way and came into direct collision with those of the more promising9 demeanour. Persons brimful of secrets, persons pining for affection, persons perishing for lack of help or counsel, he was sure he could perceive on every side; but by some contrariety of fortune, each passed upon his way without remarking the young gentleman, and went farther (surely to fare worse!) in quest of the confidant, the friend, or the adviser10. To thousands he must have turned an appealing countenance11, and yet not one regarded him.
A light dinner, eaten to the accompaniment of his impetuous aspirations12, broke in upon the series of his attempts on fortune; and when he returned to the task, the lamps were already lighted, and the nocturnal crowd was dense13 upon the pavement. Before a certain restaurant, whose name will readily occur to any student of our Babylon, people were already packed so closely that passage had grown difficult; and Somerset, standing14 in the kennel15, watched, with a hope that was beginning to grow somewhat weary, the faces and the manners of the crowd. Suddenly he was startled by a gentle touch upon the shoulder, and facing about, he was aware of a very plain and elegant brougham, drawn16 by a pair of powerful horses, and driven by a man in sober livery. There were no arms upon the panel; the window was open, but the interior was obscure; the driver yawned behind his palm; and the young man was already beginning to suppose himself the dupe of his own fancy, when a hand, no larger than a child’s and smoothly17 gloved in white, appeared in a corner of the window and privily18 beckoned19 him to approach. He did so, and looked in. The carriage was occupied by a single small and very dainty figure, swathed head and shoulders in impenetrable folds of white lace; and a voice, speaking low and silvery, addressed him in these words —
‘Open the door and get in.’
‘It must be,’ thought the young man with an almost unbearable20 thrill, ‘it must be that duchess at last!’ Yet, although the moment was one to which he had long looked forward, it was with a certain share of alarm that he opened the door, and, mounting into the brougham, took his seat beside the lady of the lace. Whether or no she had touched a spring, or given some other signal, the young man had hardly closed the door before the carriage, with considerable swiftness, and with a very luxurious21 and easy movement on its springs, turned and began to drive towards the west.
Somerset, as I have written, was not unprepared; it had long been his particular pleasure to rehearse his conduct in the most unlikely situations; and this, among others, of the patrician22 ravisher, was one he had familiarly studied. Strange as it may seem, however, he could find no apposite remark; and as the lady, on her side, vouchsafed23 no further sign, they continued to drive in silence through the streets. Except for alternate flashes from the passing lamps, the carriage was plunged24 in obscurity; and beyond the fact that the fittings were luxurious, and that the lady was singularly small and slender in person, and, all but one gloved hand, still swathed in her costly25 veil, the young man could decipher no detail of an inspiring nature. The suspense26 began to grow unbearable. Twice he cleared his throat, and twice the whole resources of the language failed him. In similar scenes, when he had forecast them on the theatre of fancy, his presence of mind had always been complete, his eloquence remarkable27; and at this disparity between the rehearsal28 and the performance, he began to be seized with a panic of apprehension29. Here, on the very threshold of adventure, suppose him ignominiously30 to fail; suppose that after ten, twenty, or sixty seconds of still uninterrupted silence, the lady should touch the check-string and re-deposit him, weighed and found wanting, on the common street! Thousands of persons of no mind at all, he reasoned, would be found more equal to the part; could, that very instant, by some decisive step, prove the lady’s choice to have been well inspired, and put a stop to this intolerable silence.
His eye, at this point, lighted on the hand. It was better to fall by desperate councils than to continue as he was; and with one tremulous swoop31 he pounced32 on the gloved fingers and drew them to himself. One overt33 step, it had appeared to him, would dissolve the spell of his embarrassment34; in act, he found it otherwise: he found himself no less incapable35 of speech or further progress; and with the lady’s hand in his, sat helpless. But worse was in store. A peculiar36 quivering began to agitate37 the form of his companion; the hand that lay unresistingly in Somerset’s trembled as with ague; and presently there broke forth38, in the shadow of the carriage, the bubbling and musical sound of laughter, resisted but triumphant39. The young man dropped his prize; had it been possible, he would have bounded from the carriage. The lady, meanwhile, lying back upon the cushions, passed on from trill to trill of the most heartfelt, high-pitched, clear and fairy-sounding merriment.
‘You must not be offended,’ she said at last, catching40 an opportunity between two paroxysms. ‘If you have been mistaken in the warmth of your attentions, the fault is solely41 mine; it does not flow from your presumption42, but from my eccentric manner of recruiting friends; and, believe me, I am the last person in the world to think the worse of a young man for showing spirit. As for to-night, it is my intention to entertain you to a little supper; and if I shall continue to be as much pleased with your manners as I was taken with your face, I may perhaps end by making you an advantageous43 offer.’
Somerset sought in vain to find some form of answer, but his discomfiture44 had been too recent and complete.
‘Come,’ returned the lady, ‘we must have no display of temper; that is for me the one disqualifying fault; and as I perceive we are drawing near our destination, I shall ask you to descend45 and offer me your arm.’
Indeed, at that very moment the carriage drew up before a stately and severe mansion46 in a spacious47 square; and Somerset, who was possessed48 of an excellent temper, with the best grace in the world assisted the lady to alight. The door was opened by an old woman of a grim appearance, who ushered49 the pair into a dining-room somewhat dimly lighted, but already laid for supper, and occupied by a prodigious50 company of large and valuable cats. Here, as soon as they were alone, the lady divested51 herself of the lace in which she was enfolded; and Somerset was relieved to find, that although still bearing the traces of great beauty, and still distinguished52 by the fire and colour of her eye, her hair was of a silvery whiteness and her face lined with years.
‘And now, mon preux,’ said the old lady, nodding at him with a quaint53 gaiety, ‘you perceive that I am no longer in my first youth. You will soon find that I am all the better company for that.’
As she spoke54, the maid re-entered the apartment with a light but tasteful supper. They sat down, accordingly, to table, the cats with savage55 pantomime surrounding the old lady’s chair; and what with the excellence56 of the meal and the gaiety of his entertainer, Somerset was soon completely at his ease. When they had well eaten and drunk, the old lady leaned back in her chair, and taking a cat upon her lap, subjected her guest to a prolonged but evidently mirthful scrutiny57.
‘I fear, madam,’ said Somerset, ‘that my manners have not risen to the height of your preconceived opinion.’
‘My dear young man,’ she replied, ‘you were never more mistaken in your life. I find you charming, and you may very well have lighted on a fairy godmother. I am not one of those who are given to change their opinions, and short of substantial demerit, those who have once gained my favour continue to enjoy it; but I have a singular swiftness of decision, read my fellow men and women with a glance, and have acted throughout life on first impressions. Yours, as I tell you, has been favourable58; and if, as I suppose, you are a young fellow of somewhat idle habits, I think it not improbable that we may strike a bargain.’
‘Ah, madam,’ returned Somerset, ‘you have divined my situation. I am a man of birth, parts, and breeding; excellent company, or at least so I find myself; but by a peculiar iniquity59 of fate, destitute60 alike of trade or money. I was, indeed, this evening upon the quest of an adventure, resolved to close with any offer of interest, emolument61, or pleasure; and your summons, which I profess62 I am still at some loss to understand, jumped naturally with the inclination63 of my mind. Call it, if you will, impudence64; I am here, at least, prepared for any proposition you can find it in your heart to make, and resolutely65 determined66 to accept.’
‘You express yourself very well,’ replied the old lady, ‘and are certainly a droll67 and curious young man. I should not care to affirm that you were sane68, for I have never found any one entirely69 so besides myself; but at least the nature of your madness entertains me, and I will reward you with some description of my character and life.’
Thereupon the old lady, still fondling the cat upon her lap, proceeded to narrate70 the following particulars.
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1
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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hieroglyph
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| n.象形文字， 图画文字 | |
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beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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braggadocio
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| n.吹牛大王 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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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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kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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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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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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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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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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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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rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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29
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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31
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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32
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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overt
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| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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39
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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41
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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42
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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43
advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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44
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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45
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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46
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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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
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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51
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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52
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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53
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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54
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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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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56
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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58
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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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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60
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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emolument
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| n.报酬，薪水 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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63
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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65
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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70
narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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