"But how weak he is still!" he added, "and suffering from his wounds.
I hardly recognized him, he has grown so pale and so thin."But the girl was listening to him no more. A flood of life filledher heart. This moment made her forget all her troubles and allher anguish2.
"And I too," thought she, "shall see him again to-day."And, with the unerring instinct of the woman who loves, shecalculated the moment when Marius would appear in Rue3 St. Gilles.
It would probably be about nightfall, like the first time, beforeleaving; that is, about eight o'clock, for the days just then wereabout the longest in the year. Now it so happened, that, on thatvery day and hour, Mlle. Gilberte expected to be alone at home.
It was understood that her mother would, after dinner, call onMme. Desclavettes, who was in bed, half dead of the fright she hadhad during the last convulsions of the Commune. She would thereforebe free and would not need to invent a pretext4 to go out for a fewmoments. She could not help, however, but feel that this was abold and most venturesome step for her to take; and, when her motherwent out, she had not yet fully5 decided6 what to do. But her bonnetwas within reach, and Marius' letter was in her pocket. She wentto sit at the window. The street was solitary7 and silent as ofold. Night was coming; and heavy black clouds floated over Paris.
The heat was overpowering: there was not a breath of air.
One by one, as the hour was approaching when she expected to seeMarius, the hesitations8 of the young girl vanished like smoke. Shefeared but one thing, - that he would not come, or that he mayalready have come and left, without succeeding in seeing her.
Already did the objects become less distinct; and the gas was beinglit in the back-shops, when she recognized him on the other side ofthe street. He looked up as he went by; and, without stopping, headdressed her a rapid gesture, which she alone could understand, andwhich meant, "Come, I beseech9 you!"Her heart beating loud enough to be heard, Mlle. Gilberte ran downthe stairs. But it was only When she found herself in the streetthat she could appreciate the magnitude of the risk she was running.
Concierges10 and shopkeepers were all sitting in front of their doors,taking the fresh air. All knew her. Would they not be surprisedto see her out alone at such an hour? Twenty steps in front of hershe could see Marius. But he had understood the danger; for,instead of turning the corner of the Rue des Minimes, he followedthe Rue St. Gilles straight, and only stopped on the other side ofthe Boulevard.
Then only did Mlle. Gilberte join him; and she could not withholdan exclamation11, when she saw that he was as pale as death, andscarcely able to stand and to walk.
"How imprudent of you to have returned so soon!" she said.
A little blood came to M. de Tregars' cheeks. His face brightenedup, and, in a voice quivering with suppressed passion,"It would have been more imprudent still to stay away," he uttered.
"Far from you, I felt myself dying."They were both leaning against the door of a closed shop; and theywere as alone in the midst of the throng12 that circulated on theBoulevards, busy looking at the fearful wrecks13 of the Commune.
"And besides," added Marius, "have I, then, a minute to lose? Iasked you for three years. Fifteen months have gone, and I am nobetter off than on the first day. When this accursed war broke out,all my arrangements were made. I was certain to rapidly accumulatea sufficient fortune to enable me to ask for your hand without beingrefused. Whereas now""Well?""Now every thing is changed. The future is so uncertain, that noone wishes to venture their capital. Marcolet himself, who certainlydoes not lack boldness, and who believes firmly in the success of ourenterprise, was telling me yesterday, 'There is nothing to be donejust now: we must wait.'"There was in his voice such an intensity14 of grief, that the girlfelt the tears coming to her eyes.
"We will wait then," she said, attempting to smile.
But M. de Tregars shook his head.
"Is it possible?" he said. "Do you, then, think that I do not knowwhat a life you lead?"Mlle. Gilberte looked up.
"Have I ever complained?" she asked proudly?
"No. Your mother and yourself, you have always religiously kept thesecret of your tortures; and it was only a providential accidentthat revealed them to me. But I learned every thing at last. I knowthat she whom I love exclusively and with all the power of my soul issubjected to the most odious15 despotism, insulted, and condemned16 tothe most humiliating privations. And I, who would give my life forher a thousand times over, - I can do nothing for her. Money raisesbetween us such an insuperable obstacle, that my love is actually anoffence. To hear from her, I am driven to accept accomplices17. If Iobtain from her a few moments of conversation, I run the risk ofcompromising her maidenly18 reputation."Deeply affected19 by his emotion:
"At least," said Mlle. Gilberte, "you succeeded in delivering mefrom M. Costeclar.""Yes, I was fortunately able to find weapons against that scoundrel.
But can I find some against all others that may offer? Your fatheris very rich; and the men are numerous for whom marriage is but aspeculation like any other.""Would you doubt me?""Ah, rather would I doubt myself! But I know what cruel trials yourrefusal to marry M. Costeclar imposed upon you: I know what amerciless struggle you had to sustain. Another pretender may come,and then - No, no, you see that we cannot wait.""What would you do?""I know not. I have not yet decided upon my future course. And yetHeaven knows what have been the labors20 of my mind during that longmonth I have just spent upon an ambulance-bed, that month duringwhich you were my only thought. Ah! when I think of it, I cannotfind words to curse the recklessness with which I disposed of myfortune."As if she had heard a blasphemy21, the young girl drew back a step.
"It is impossible," she exclaimed, "that you should regret havingpaid what your father owed."A bitter smile contracted M. de Tregars' lips.
"And suppose I were to tell you," he replied, "that my father inreality owed nothing?""Oh!""Suppose I told you they took from him his entire fortune, over twomillions, as audaciously as a pick-pocket robs a man of hishandkerchief? Suppose I told you, that, in his loyal simplicity,he was but a man of straw in the hands of skillful knaves22? Have youforgotten what you once heard the Count de Villegre say?"Mlle. Gilberte had forgotten nothing.
"The Count de Villegre," she replied, "pretended that it was timeenough still to compel the men who had robbed your father todisgorge.""Exactly!" exclaimed Marius. "And now I am determined23 to make themdisgorge."In the mean time night had quite come. Lights appeared in theshop-windows; and along the line of the Boulevard the gas-lamps werebeing lit. Alarmed by this sudden illumination, M. de Tregars drewoff Mlle. Gilberte to a more obscure spot, by the stairs that leadto the Rue Amelot; and there, leaning against the iron railing, hewent on,"Already, at the time of my father's death, I suspected theabominable tricks of which he was the victim. I thought it unworthyof me to verify my suspicions. I was alone in the world: my wantswere few. I was fully convinced that my researches would give me,within a brief time, a much larger fortune than the one I gave up.
I found something noble and grand, and which flattered my vanity,in thus abandoning every thing, without discussion, withoutlitigation, and consummating25 my ruin with a single dash of my pen.
Among my friends the Count de Villegre alone had the courage to tellme that this was a guilty piece of folly26; that the silence of thedupes is the strength of the knaves; that my indifference27, whichmade the rascals28 rich, would make them laugh too. I replied that Idid not wish to see the name of Tregars dragged into court in ascandalous law-suit, and that to preserve a dignified29 silence wasto honor my father's memory. Treble fool that I was! The only wayto honor my father's memory was to avenge30 him, to wrest31 his spoilsfrom the scoundrels who had caused his death. I see it clearlyto-day. But, before undertaking32 any thing, I wished to consult you."Mlle. Gilberte was listening with the most intense attention. Shehad come to mingle33 so completely in her thoughts her future life andthat of M. de Tregars, that she saw nothing unusual in the fact ofhis consulting her upon matters affecting their prospects34, and ofseeing herself standing35 there deliberating with him.
"You will require proofs," she suggested.
"I have none, unfortunately," replied M. de Tregars; "at least, nonesufficiently positive, and such as are required by courts of justice.
But I think I may find them. My former suspicions have become acertainty. The same good luck that enabled me to deliver you of M.
Costeclar's persecutions, also placed in my hands the most valuableinformation.""Then you must act," uttered Mlle. Gilberte resolutely36.
Marius hesitated for a moment, as if seeking expression to conveywhat he had still to say. Then,"It is my duty," he proceeded, "to conceal37 nothing from you. Thetask is a heavy one. The obscure schemers of ten years ago havebecome big financiers, intrenched behind their money-bags as behindan impregnable fort. Formerly38 isolated39, they have managed to gatheraround them powerful interests, accomplices high in office, andfriends whose commanding situation protects them. Having succeeded,they are absolved40. They have in their favor what is called publicconsideration,-that idiotic41 thing which is made up of the admirationof the fools, the approbation42 of the knaves, and the concert of allinterested vanities. When they pass, their horses at full trot,their carriage raising a cloud of dust, insolent43, impudent44, swelledwith the vulgar fatuity45 of wealth, people bow to the ground, and say,'Those are smart fellows!' And in fact, yes, skill or luck, theyhave hitherto avoided the police-courts where so many others havecome to grief. Those who despise them fear them) and shake handswith them. Moreover, they are rich enough not to steal any morethemselves. They have employes to do that. I take Heaven to witnessthat never until lately had the idea come to me to disturb in theirpossession the men who robbed my father. Alone, what need had I ofmoney? Later, 0 my friend! I thought I could succeed in conqueringthe fortune I needed to obtain your hand. You had promised to wait;and I was happy to think that I should owe you to my sole exertions46.
Events have crushed my hopes. I am to-day compelled to acknowledgethat all my efforts would be in vain. To wait would be to run therisk of losing you. Therefore I hesitate no longer. I want what'smine: I wish to recover that of which I have been robbed. WhateverI may do, - for, alas47! I know not to what I may be driven, whatrole I may have to play, - remember that of all my acts, of all mythoughts, there will not be a single one that does not aim to bringnearer the blessed day when you shall become my wife."There was in his voice so much unspeakable affection, that the younggirl could hardly restrain her tears.
"Never, whatever may happen, shall I doubt you, Marius," she uttered.
He took her hands, and, pressing them passionately48 within his,"And I," he exclaimed, "I swear, that, sustained by the thought ofyou, there is no disgust that I will not overcome, no obstacle thatI will not overthrow49."He spoke50 so loud, that two or three persons stopped. He noticed it,and was brought suddenly from sentiment to the reality,"Wretches that we are," he said in a low voice, and very fast, "weforget what this interview may cost us!
And he led Mlle. Gilberte across the Boulevard; and, whilst makingtheir way to the Rue St. Gilles, through the deserted51 streets,"It is a dreadful imprudence we have just committed," resumed M. deTregars. "But it was indispensable that we should see each other;and we had not the choice of means. Now, and for a long time, weshall be separated. Every thing you wish me to know, - say it tothat worthy24 Gismondo, who repeats faithfully to me every word youutter. Through him, also, you shall hear from me. Twice a week,on Tuesdays and Fridays, about nightfall, I shall pass by your house;and, if I am lucky enough to have a glimpse of you, I shall returnhome fired with fresh energy. Should any thing extraordinaryhappen, beckon52 to me, and I'll wait for you in the Rue des Minimes.
But this is an expedient53 to which we must only resort in the lastextremity. I should never forgive myself, were I to compromise yourfair name."They had reached the Rue St. Gilles. Marius stopped.
"We must part," he began.
But then only Mlle. Gilberte remembered M. de Tregars' letter, whichshe had in her pocket. Taking it out, and handing it to him,"Here," she said, "is the package you deposited with me.""No," he answered, repelling54 her gently, "keep that letter: it mustnever be opened now, except by the Marquise de Tregars."And raising her hand to his lips, and in a deeply agitated55 voice,"Farewell!" he murmured. "Have courage, and have hope."
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收听单词发音
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1
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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4
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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5
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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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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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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8
hesitations
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| n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 )；踌躇；犹豫（之事或行为）；口吃 | |
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9
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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concierges
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| n.看门人，门房( concierge的名词复数 ) | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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12
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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13
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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accomplices
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| 从犯，帮凶，同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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consummating
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| v.使结束( consummate的现在分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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26
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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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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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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38
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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absolved
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| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的过去式和过去分词 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
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idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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42
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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43
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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44
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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45
fatuity
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| n.愚蠢，愚昧 | |
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46
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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47
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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48
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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49
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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50
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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51
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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52
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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53
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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54
repelling
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| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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55
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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