Chapter 19

The Church of Saint-Sulpice, it is said, has the most eccentric history of any building in Paris. Builtover the ruins of an ancient temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis, the church possesses anarchitectural footprint matching that of Notre Dame¹ to within inches. The sanctuary² has playedhost to the baptisms of the Marquis de Sade and Baudelaire, as well as the marriage of VictorHugo. The attached seminary has a well-documented history of unorthodoxy and was once theclandestine meeting hall for numerous secret societies.

　　Tonight, the cavernous nave³ of Saint-Sulpice was as silent as a tomb, the only hint of life the faintsmell of incense⁴ from mass earlier that evening. Silas sensed an uneasiness in Sister Sandrine'sdemeanor as she led him into the sanctuary. He was not surprised by this. Silas was accustomed topeople being uncomfortable with his appearance.

　　"You're an American," she said.

　　"French by birth," Silas responded. "I had my calling in Spain, and I now study in the UnitedStates."Sister Sandrine nodded. She was a small woman with quiet eyes. "And you have never seen Saint-Sulpice?""I realize this is almost a sin in itself.""She is more beautiful by day.""I am certain. Nonetheless, I am grateful that you would provide me this opportunity tonight.""The abbé requested it. You obviously have powerful friends."You have no idea, Silas thought.

　　As he followed Sister Sandrine down the main aisle⁵, Silas was surprised by the austerity of thesanctuary. Unlike Notre Dame with its colorful frescoes⁶, gilded⁷ altar-work, and warm wood, Saint-Sulpice was stark⁸ and cold, conveying an almost barren quality reminiscent of the asceticcathedrals of Spain. The lack of decor made the interior look even more expansive, and as Silasgazed up into the soaring ribbed vault⁹ of the ceiling, he imagined he was standing¹⁰ beneath the hullof an enormous overturned ship.

　　A fitting image, he thought. The brotherhood¹¹'s ship was about to be capsized forever. Feeling eagerto get to work, Silas wished Sister Sandrine would leave him. She was a small woman whom Silascould incapacitate easily, but he had vowed¹² not to use force unless absolutely necessary. She is awoman of the cloth, and it is not her fault the brotherhood chose her church as a hiding place fortheir keystone. She should not be punished for the sins of others.

　　"I am embarrassed, Sister, that you were awoken on my behalf.""Not at all. You are in Paris a short time. You should not miss Saint-Sulpice. Are your interests inthe church more architectural or historical?""Actually, Sister, my interests are spiritual."She gave a pleasant laugh. "That goes without saying. I simply wondered where to begin yourtour."Silas felt his eyes focus on the altar. "A tour is unnecessary. You have been more than kind. I canshow myself around.""It is no trouble," she said. "After all, I am awake."Silas stopped walking. They had reached the front pew now, and the altar was only fifteen yardsaway. He turned his massive body fully¹³ toward the small woman, and he could sense her recoil¹⁴ asshe gazed up into his red eyes. "If it does not seem too rude, Sister, I am not accustomed to simplywalking into a house of God and taking a tour. Would you mind if I took some time alone to praybefore I look around?"Sister Sandrine hesitated. "Oh, of course. I shall wait in the rear of the church for you."Silas put a soft but heavy hand on her shoulder and peered down. "Sister, I feel guilty already forhaving awoken you. To ask you to stay awake is too much. Please, you should return to bed. I canenjoy your sanctuary and then let myself out."She looked uneasy. "Are you sure you won't feel abandoned?""Not at all. Prayer is a solitary¹⁵ joy.""As you wish."Silas took his hand from her shoulder. "Sleep well, Sister. May the peace of the Lord be with you.""And also with you." Sister Sandrine headed for the stairs. "Please be sure the door closes tightlyon your way out.""I will be sure of it." Silas watched her climb out of sight. Then he turned and knelt in the frontpew, feeling the cilice cut into his leg.

　　Dear God, I offer up to you this work I do today....

　　Crouching in the shadows of the choir¹⁶ balcony high above the altar, Sister Sandrine peered silentlythrough the balustrade at the cloaked monk¹⁷ kneeling alone. The sudden dread¹⁸ in her soul made ithard to stay still. For a fleeting¹⁹ instant, she wondered if this mysterious visitor could be the enemythey had warned her about, and if tonight she would have to carry out the orders she had beenholding all these years. She decided²⁰ to stay there in the darkness and watch his every move.

据说，在巴黎，圣叙尔皮斯教堂的历史最为奇异。它是在一座古庙的废墟上建立起来的，而那座古庙原先是为埃及女神爱塞丝而修建的。圣叙尔皮斯教堂的建筑风格与巴黎圣母院的风格极其相似。这座教堂曾主持过马尔。德。萨特和波德莱尔的洗礼仪式和雨果的婚礼。它的附属神学院见证过一段异教发展史，曾被作为许多秘密团体的地下集会场所。

今晚，圣叙尔皮斯那洞穴般幽深的中殿寂静得好似一座坟墓。傍晚人们焚香时残留的气味，是这里唯一的一丝生气。当桑德琳嬷嬷将塞拉斯领进教堂时，塞拉斯从她的举止中感觉到了不安。他并不感到奇怪。人们看见他的样子都会觉得不舒服，塞拉斯对此早已习以为常了。

"你是美国人吧。"她说。

"我出生在法国。"塞拉斯回答道。"在西班牙入教，现在在美国学习。"

桑德琳嬷嬷身材矮小，目光安详。"你第一次来这个教堂吧？"

"以前没来过，我想这就是个罪过。"

"白天时，她看上去更美丽。"

"我相信。无论如何，感谢您这么晚还让我进来。"

"院长下了命令。你肯定有一些有权势的朋友吧。"

你一无所知，塞拉斯想。

当塞拉斯在桑德琳嬷嬷的引导下沿着走道前行时，他为中殿的朴素感到惊讶。这里没有巴黎圣母院里那种色彩缤纷的壁画，也没有光彩夺目的圣坛，更没有用来取暖的柴火。

圣叙尔皮斯让人感到荒凉而寒冷，让人回想起西班牙禁欲者的大教堂。由于缺乏装饰，大殿显得更加空旷。塞拉斯仰望着拱顶，觉得自己仿佛置身于许多倒扣着的船身下。

这个样子正合我意，塞拉斯想。兄弟会的人就要翻船了，他们都将永沉海底。塞拉斯迫不及待地想开始执行他的任务，希望把桑德琳嬷嬷支开。虽然塞拉斯可以轻而易举地废了这个矮小瘦弱的女人，但他已经发过誓不在迫不得已时绝不使用暴力。她也不知情，兄弟会将楔石藏在她所在的教堂，这也不是她的错。她不应该为别人的罪过而受到惩罚。

"真不好意思，我把您吵醒了。"

"没关系。你刚来到巴黎，不应该错过到这里的机会。你对教堂的建筑感兴趣，还是对教堂的历史感兴趣呢？"

"嬷嬷，其实我只是为信仰而来的。"

嬷嬷高兴地笑了起来。"这还用说？不过，带你从哪里开始参观呢？"

塞拉斯注视着圣坛。"不用参观了。您不必这么客气。我可以自己逛逛。"

"没关系，反正我已经醒了。"嬷嬷说。

这时，他们已走到了教堂的前排座位，距圣坛不足十五码远了。塞拉斯停住了脚步，转过庞大的身躯，面对着嬷嬷。他可以感觉到嬷嬷正畏惧地看着他那发红的眼睛。"嬷嬷，请原谅我的粗鲁。我不习惯走进教堂这样神圣的地方就四处闲逛。我想在参观前独自做一下祷告，您不介意吧？请您回去睡觉吧！我可以独自欣赏一下您的圣殿，然后自己离开。"桑德琳嬷嬷犹豫了一下，说："哦，当然不介意。我在后排座位上等你。"

塞拉斯将他那柔软而又厚重的大手放在嬷嬷身上，俯视着她，说道："嬷嬷，把您吵醒我已经很不好意思了，再不让您去睡觉更是过意不去。请您回去睡觉吧！我可以独自欣赏一下您的圣殿，然后自己离开。"嬷嬷看上去很不安。"你肯定自己不会有种被遗弃般的孤独吗？"

"不会的。祷告是一个人享受的快乐。"

"那你就自便吧。"

塞拉斯将手从她的肩膀上移开。"睡个好觉，嬷嬷。愿上帝保佑你平安。"

"也保佑你平安。"桑德琳嬷嬷朝楼梯走去。"走的时候一定要把门关紧。"

"我一定会的。"塞拉斯看着桑德琳嬷嬷爬上了楼梯，消失在他的视线中。然后，他转过身来，跪在前排的座位上。

亲爱的上帝，我今晚的工作是为您而做的……

桑德琳嬷嬷蹲在圣坛上方的唱诗班站台的阴影中，透过栏杆，静静地注视着独自跪在下方的那个伪装的修道士。突然袭上她心头的恐惧使她难以平静。刹那间，她觉得这个神秘的来访者可能就是兄弟会提醒她要注意的敌人，可能今晚她必须执行多年来她一直肩负着的使命。她决定躲在黑暗中，观察他的一举一动。

1 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

2 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

3 nave   

n.教堂的中部；本堂

参考例句：

• People gathered in the nave of the house.人们聚拢在房子的中间。
• The family on the other side of the nave had a certain look about them,too.在中殿另一边的那一家人，也有着自己特有的相貌。

4 incense   

v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气

参考例句：

• This proposal will incense conservation campaigners.这项提议会激怒环保人士。
• In summer,they usually burn some coil incense to keep away the mosquitoes.夏天他们通常点香驱蚊。

5 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

6 frescoes   

n.壁画( fresco的名词复数 )；温壁画技法，湿壁画

参考例句：

• The Dunhuang frescoes are gems of ancient Chinese art. 敦煌壁画是我国古代艺术中的瑰宝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The frescoes in these churches are magnificent. 这些教堂里的壁画富丽堂皇。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 gilded   

a.镀金的，富有的

参考例句：

• The golden light gilded the sea. 金色的阳光使大海如金子般闪闪发光。
• "Friends, they are only gilded disks of lead!" "朋友们，这只不过是些镀金的铅饼！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡

8 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

9 vault   

n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室

参考例句：

• The vault of this cathedral is very high.这座天主教堂的拱顶非常高。
• The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

12 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

13 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

14 recoil   

vi.退却，退缩，畏缩

参考例句：

• Most people would recoil at the sight of the snake.许多人看见蛇都会向后退缩。
• Revenge may recoil upon the person who takes it.报复者常会受到报应。

15 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

16 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

17 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

18 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

19 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

20 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。