‘It’s a scandal.’
‘There must be a reply. The Académie cannot be silent under the attack.’
‘What are you thinking of? On the contrary, the dignity of the Académie demands——’
‘Gentlemen, gentlemen, the real feeling of the Académie is——’
In their private assembly room, in front of the great chimney-piece and the full-length portrait of Cardinal1 Richelieu, the ‘deities’ were engaged in a discussion preliminary to the meeting. The cold smoke-stained light of a Parisian winter’s day, falling through the great lantern overhead, gave effect to the chill solemnity of the marble busts2 ranged in row along the walls; and the huge fire in the chimney, nearly as red as the Cardinal’s robe, was not enough to warm the little council-chamber or court-house, furnished with green leather seats, long horse-shoe table in front of the desk, and chain-bedecked usher3, keeping the entrance near the place of Picheral, the Secretary.
Generally the best part of the meeting is the quarter of an hour’s grace allowed to late-comers. The Academicians gather in groups with their backs to the fire and their coat tails turned up, chatting familiarly in undertones. But on this afternoon the conversation was general and had risen to the utmost violence of public debate, each new comer joining in from the far end of the room, while he signed the attendance list. Some even before entering, while they were still depositing their great coats, comforters, and overshoes in the empty room of the Académie des Sciences, opened the door to join in the cries of ‘Shame!’ and ‘Scandalous!’
The cause of all the commotion4 was this. There had appeared in a morning paper a reprint of a highly disrespectful report made to the Académie of Florence upon Astier-Réhu’s ‘Galileo’ and the manifestly apocryphal5 and absurd (sic) historical documents which were published with it. The report had been sent with the greatest privacy to the President of the Académie Fran?aise, and for some days there had been considerable excitement at the Institute, where Astier-Réhu’s decision was eagerly awaited. He had said nothing but, ‘I know, I know; I am taking the necessary steps.’ And now suddenly here was this report which they believed to be known only to themselves, hurled6 at them like a bomb-shell from the outer sheet of one of the most widely circulated of the Parisian newspapers, and accompanied by remarks insulting to the Permanent Secretary and to the whole Society.
Furious was the indignant outcry against the impudence7 of the journalist and the folly8 of Astier-Réhu, which had brought this upon them. The Académie has not been accustomed to such attacks, since it has prudently9 opened its doors to ‘gentlemen of the Press.’ The fiery10 Laniboire, familiar with every kind of ‘sport.’ talked of cutting off the gentleman’s ears, and it took two or three colleagues to restrain his ardour.
‘Come, Laniboire; we wear the sword, but we do not draw it Why, it’s your own epigram, confound you, though adopted by the Institute.’
‘Gentlemen, you remember that Pliny the Elder, in the thirteenth book of his “Natural History”’—here arrived Gazan, who came in puffing11 with his elephantine trot—‘is one of the first writers who mentions counterfeit12 autographs; amongst others, a false letter of Priam’s on papyrus13’—
‘Monsieur Gazan has not signed the list,’ cried Picheral’s sharp falsetto.
‘Oh, I beg your pardon.’ And the fat man went off to sign, still discoursing14 about papyrus and King Priam, though unheard for the hubbub15 of angry voices, in which the only word that could be distinguished16 was ‘Académie.’ They all talked about the Académie as if it were an actual live person, whose real view each man believed himself alone to know and to express. Suddenly the exclamations17 ceased, as Astier-Réhu entered, signed his name, and quietly deposited at his place as Permanent Secretary the ensign of his office, carried under his arm. Then moving towards his colleagues he said:
‘Gentlemen, I have bad news for you. I sent to the Library to be tested the twelve or fifteen thousand documents which made what I called my collection. Well, gentlemen, all are forgeries19. The Académie of Florence stated the truth. I am the victim of a stupendous hoax20.’
As he wiped from his brow the great drops of sweat wrung21 out by the strain of his confession22, some one asked in an insolent23 tone:
‘Well, and so, Mr. Secretary’—
‘So, M. Danjou, I had no other choice but to bring an action—which is what I have done. There was a general protest, all declaring that a lawsuit24 was out of the question and would bring ridicule25 upon the whole Society, to which he answered that he was exceedingly sorry to disoblige his colleagues, but his mind was made up. ‘Besides, the man is in prison and the proceedings26 have commenced.’
Never had the private assembly-room heard a roar like that which greeted this statement. Laniboire distinguished himself as usual among the most excited by shouting that the Académie ought to get rid of so dangerous a member. In the first heat of their anger some of the assembly began to discuss the question aloud. Could it be done? Could the Académie say to a member who had brought the whole body into an undignified position, ‘Go! I reverse my judgment27. Deity28 as you are, I relegate29 you to the rank of a mere30 mortal’? Suddenly, either having caught a few words of the discussion, or by one of those strange intuitions which seem occasionally to come as an inspiration to the most hopelessly deaf, old Réhu, who had been keeping to himself, away from the fire for fear of a fit, remarked in his loud unmodulated voice, ‘During the Restoration, for reasons merely political, we turned out eleven members at once.’ The patriarch gave the usual little attesting31 movement of the head, calling to witness his contemporaries of the period, white busts with vacant eyes standing32 in rows on pedestals round the room.
‘Eleven! whew!’ muttered Danjou amid a great silence. And Laniboire, cynical33 as before, said ‘All societies are cowardly; it’s the natural law of self-preservation.’ Here Epinchard, who had been busy near the door with Picheral the Secretary, rejoined the rest, and observed in a weak voice, between two fits of coughing, that the Permanent Secretary was not the only person to blame in the matter, as would appear from the minutes of the proceedings of July 8, 1879, which should now be read. Picheral from his place, in his thin brisk voice, began at a great pace: On July 8, 1879, Léonard-Pierre-Alexandre Astier-Réhu presented to the Académie Fran?aise a letter from Rotrou to Cardinal Richelieu respecting the statutes34 of the Society. The Académie, after an examination of this unpublished and interesting document, passed a vote of thanks to the donor35, and decided36 to enter the letter of Rotrou upon the minutes. The letter is appended (at this point the Secretary slackened his delivery and put a malicious37 stress upon each word) with all the errors of the original text, which, being such as occur in ordinary correspondence, confirm the authenticity38 of the document. All stood motionless in the faded light that came through the glass, avoiding each other’s eyes and listening in utter amazement39.
‘Shall I read the letter too?’ asked Picheral with a smile. He was much amused.
‘Yes, read the letter too,’ said Epinchard. But after a phrase or two there were cries of ‘Enough, enough, that will do!’ They were ashamed of such a letter of Rotrou. It was a crying forgery40, a mere schoolboy’s imitation, the sentences misshapen, and half the words not known at the supposed date. How could they have been so blind?
‘You see, gentlemen, that we could scarcely throw the whole burden upon our unfortunate colleague,’ said Epinchard; and turning to the Permanent Secretary begged him to abandon proceedings which could bring nothing but discredit41 upon the whole Society and the great Cardinal himself.
But neither the fervour of the appeal nor the magnificence of the orator’s attitude, as he pointed42 to the insignia of the Sacred Founder43, could prevail over the stubborn resolution of Astier-Réhu. Standing firm and upright before the little table in the middle of the room, which was used as a desk for the reading of communications, with his fists clenched44, as if he feared that his decision might be wrung out of his hands, he repeated that ‘Nothing, I assure you, nothing’ would alter his determination. He struck the hard wood angrily with his big knuckles45, as he said, ‘Ah, gentlemen, I have waited, for reasons like these, too long already! I tell you, my “Galileo” is a bone in my throat! I am not rich enough to buy it up, and I see it in the shop windows, advertising46 me as the accomplice47 of a forger18.’ What was his object! Why, to tear out the rotten pages with his own hand and burn them before all the world! A trial would give him the opportunity. ‘You talk of ridicule? The Académie is above the fear of it; and as for me, a butt48 and a beggar as I must be, I shall have the proud satisfaction of having protected my personal honour and the dignity of history. I ask no more.’ Honest Crocodilus! In the beat of his rhetoric49 was a sound of pure probity50, which rang strangely where all around was padded with compromise and concealment51. Suddenly the usher announced, ‘Four o’clock, gentlemen.’ Four o’clock! and they had not finished the arrangements for Ripault-Babin’s funeral.
‘Ah, we must remember Ripault-Babin!’ observed Danjou in a mocking voice. ‘He has died at the right moment!’ said Laniboire with mournful emphasis. But the point of his epigram was lost, for the usher was crying, ‘Take your places’; and the President was ringing his bell On his right was Desminières the Chancellor52, and on his left the Permanent Secretary, reading quietly with recovered self-possession the report of the Funeral Committee, to an accompaniment of eager whispers and the pattering of sleet53 on the glass.
‘How late you went on to-day!’ remarked Coren-tine, as she opened the door to her master. Corentine was certainly to be reckoned with those who had no great opinion of the Institute. ‘M. Paul is in your study with Madame. You must go through the library; the drawing-room is full of people waiting to see you.’
The library, where nothing was left but the frame of the pigeon-holes, looked as if there had been a fire or a burglary. It depressed54 him, and he generally avoided it But to-day he went through it proudly, supported by the remembrance of his resolve, and of how he had declared it at the meeting. After an effort, which had cost him so much courage and determination, he felt a sweet sense of relief in the thought that his son was waiting for him. He had not seen him since just after the duel55, when he had been overcome by the sight of his gallant56 boy, laid at full length and whiter than the sheet. He was thinking with delight how he would go up to him with open arms, and embrace him, and hold him tight, a long while, and say nothing—nothing! But as soon as he came into the room and saw the mother and son close together, whispering, with their eyes on the carpet, and their everlasting57 air of conspiracy58, the affectionate impulse was gone.
‘Here you are at last!’ cried Madame Astier, who was dressed to go out. And in a tone of mock solemnity, as if introducing the two, she said, ‘My dear—the Count Paul Astier.’
‘At your service, Master,’ said Paul, as he bowed.
Astier-Réhu knitted his thick brows as he looked at them. ’Count Paul Astier?’ said he.
The young fellow, as charming as ever, in spite of the tanning of six months spent in the open air, said he had just indulged in the extravagance of a Roman title, not so much for his own sake as in honour of the lady who was about to take his name.
‘So you are going to be married,’ said his father, whose suspicions increased. ‘And who is the lady?’
‘The Duchess Padovani.’
‘You must have lost your senses! Why she is five-and-twenty years older than you, and besides—and besides—’ He hesitated, trying to find a respectful phrase, but at last blurted59 right out, ‘You can’t marry a woman who to every one’s knowledge has belonged to another for years.’
‘A fact, however, which has never prevented our dining with her regularly, and accepting from her all kinds of favours,’ hissed60 Madame Astier, rearing her little head as to strike. Without bestowing61 on her a word or a look, as holding her no judge in a question of honour, the man went up to his son, and said in earnest tones, the muscles of his big cheeks twitching62 with emotion, ‘Don’t do it, Paul. For the sake of the name you bear, don’t do it, my boy, I beg you.’ He grasped his son’s shoulder and shook him, voice and hand quivering together. But the young fellow moved away, not liking63 such demonstrations64, and objected generally that ‘he didn’t see it; it was not his view.’ The father felt the impassable distance between himself and his son, saw the impenetrable face and the look askance, and instinctively65 lifted up his voice in appeal to his rights as head of the family. A smile which he caught passing between Paul and his mother, a fresh proof of their joint66 share in this discreditable business, completed his exasperation67. He shouted and raved68, threatening to make a public protest, to write to the papers, to brand them both, mother and son, ‘in his history.’ This last was his most appalling69 threat. When he had said of some historical character, ‘I have branded him in my history,’ he thought no punishment could be more severe. Madame Astier, almost as familiar with the threat of branding as with the dragging of his trunk about the passage, contented70 herself with saying as she buttoned her gloves: ‘You know every word can be heard in the next room.’ In spite of the curtains over the door, the murmur71 of conversation was audible from the drawing-room.
Then, repressing and swallowing his wrath72, ‘Listen to me, Paul,’ said Léonard Astier, shaking his forefinger73 in the young man’s face, ‘if ever this thing you are talking of comes to pass, do not expect to look upon me again. I will not be present on your wedding day; I will not have you near me, not even at my death-bed; You are no longer a son of mine; and you go with my curse upon you.’ Moving away instinctively from the finger which almost touched him, Paul replied with great calmness, ‘Oh, you know, my dear father, that sort of thing is never done now-a-days! Even on the stage they have given up blessing74 and cursing.’
‘But not punishing, you scoundrel!’ growled75 the old man, lifting his hand. There was an angry cry of ‘Léonard!’ from the mother, as with the prompt parry of a boxer76 Paul turned the blow aside, quietly as if he had been in Keyser’s gymnasium, and without letting go the wrist he had twisted under, said beneath his breath, ‘No, no; I won’t have that.’
The tough old hillsman struggled violently, but, vigorous as he still was, he had found his master. At this terrible moment, while father and son stood face to face, breathing hate at one another, and exchanging murderous glances, the door of the drawing-room opened a little and showed the good-natured doll-like smile of a fat lady bedecked with feathers and flowers. ‘Excuse me, dear master, I want just to say a word—why, Adelaide is here, and M. Paul too. Charming! delightful77! Quite a family group!’ Madame Ancelin was right. A family group it was, a picture of the modern family, spoilt by the crack which runs through European society from top to bottom, endangering its essential principles of authority and subordination, and nowhere more remarkable78 than here, under the stately dome79 of the Institute, where the traditional domestic virtues80 are judged and rewarded.
收听单词发音 |
1
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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busts
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| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
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usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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apocryphal
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| adj.假冒的，虚假的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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discoursing
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| 演说（discourse的现在分词形式） | |
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hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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forger
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| v.伪造；n.（钱、文件等的）伪造者 | |
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forgeries
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| 伪造( forgery的名词复数 )； 伪造的文件、签名等 | |
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hoax
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| v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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relegate
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| v.使降级，流放，移交，委任 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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attesting
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| v.证明( attest的现在分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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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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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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statutes
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| 成文法( statute的名词复数 )； 法令； 法规； 章程 | |
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donor
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| n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体 | |
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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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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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48
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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50
probity
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| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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52
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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53
sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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55
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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56
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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57
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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58
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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59
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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61
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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65
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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66
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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70
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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71
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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72
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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73
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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74
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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75
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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76
boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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77
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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78
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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80
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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