“Love is a sacrifice,” sighed Madame Cremeur.
“I agree with you,” replied M. Boutourle with animation1.
But Professor Haddock soon displayed his fastidious insolence2.
“It seems to me,” said he, “that the Penguin3 ladies have made a great fuss since, through St. Mael’s agency, they became viviparous. But there is nothing to be particularly proud of in that, for it is a state they share in common with cows and pigs, and even with orange and lemon trees, for the seeds of these plants germinate4 in the pericarp.”
“The self-importance which the Penguin ladies give themselves does not go so far back as that,” answered M. Boutourle. “It dates from the day when the holy apostle gave them clothes. But this self-importance was long kept in restraint, and displayed itself fully5 only with increased luxury of dress and in a small section of society. For go only two leagues from Alca into the country at harvest time, and you will see whether women are over-precise or self-important.”
On that day M. Hippolyte Ceres paid his first call. He was a deputy of Alca, and one of the youngest members of the House. His father was said to have kept a dram shop, but he himself was a lawyer of robust6 physique, a good though prolix7 speaker, with a self-important air and a reputation for ability.
“M. Ceres,” said the mistress of the house, “your constituency is one of the finest in Alca.”
“And there are fresh improvements made in it every day, Madame.”
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to take a stroll through it any longer,” said M. Boutourle.
“Why?” asked M. Ceres.
“On account of the motors, of course.”
“Do not give them a bad name,” answered the Deputy. “They are our great national industry.”
“I know. The Penguins8 of today make me think of the ancient Egyptians. According to Clement9 of Alexandria, Taine tells us-though he misquotes the text — the Egyptians worshipped the crocodiles that devoured10 them. The Penguins today worship the motors that crush them. Without a doubt the future belongs to the metal beast. We are no more likely to go back to cabs than we are to go back to the diligence. And the long martyrdom of the horse will come to an end. The motor, which the frenzied11 cupidity12 of manufacturers hurls13 like a juggernaut’s car upon the bewildered people and of which the idle and fashionable make a foolish though fatal elegance14, will soon begin to perform its true function, and putting its strength at the service of the entire people, will behave like a docile15, toiling16 monster. But in order that the motor may cease to be injurious and become beneficent we must build roads suited to its speed, roads which it cannot tear up with its ferocious17 tyres, and from which it will send no clouds of poisonous dust into human lungs. We ought not to allow slower vehicles or mere18 animals to go upon those roads, and we should establish garages upon them and foot-bridges over them, and so create order and harmony among the means of communication of the future. That is the wish of every good citizen.”
Madame Clarence led the conversation back to the improvements in M. Ceres’ constituency. M. Ceres showed his enthusiasm for demolitions19, tunnelings, constructions, reconstructions20, and all other fruitful operations.
“We build today in an admirable style,” said he; “everywhere majestic21 avenues are being reared. Was ever anything as fine as our arcaded22 bridges and our domed23 hotels!”
“You are forgetting that big palace surmounted24 by an immense melon-shaped dome,” grumbled25 M. Daniset, an old art amateur, in a voice of restrained rage. “I am amazed at the degree of ugliness which a modern city can attain26. Alca is becoming Americanised. Everywhere we are destroying all that is free, unexpected, measured, restrained, human, or traditional among the things that are left us. Everywhere we are destroying that charming object, a piece of an old wall that bears up the branches of a tree. Everywhere we are suppressing some fragment of light and air, some fragment of nature, some fragment of the associations that still remain with us, some fragment of our fathers, some fragment of ourselves. And we are putting up frightful27, enormous, infamous28 houses, surmounted in Viennese style by ridiculous domes29, or fashioned after the models of the ‘new art’ without mouldings, or having profiles with sinister30 corbels and burlesque31 pinnacles32, and such monsters as these shamelessly peer over the surrounding buildings. We see bulbous protuberances stuck on the fronts of buildings and we are told they are ‘new art’ motives33. I have seen the ‘new art’ in other countries, but it is not so ugly as with us; it has fancy and it has simplicity34. It is only in our own country that by a sad privilege we may behold35 the newest and most diverse styles of architectural ugliness. What an enviable privilege!”
“Are you not afraid,” asked M. Ceres severely36, “are you not afraid that these bitter criticisms tend to keep out of our capital the foreigners who flow into it from all parts of the world and who leave millions behind them?”
“You may set your mind at rest about that,” answered M. Daniset. “Foreigners do not come to admire our buildings; they come to see our courtesans, our dressmakers, and our dancing saloons.”
“We have one bad habit,” sighed M. Ceres, “it is that we calumniate37 ourselves.”
Madame Clarence as an accomplished38 hostess thought it was time to return to the subject of love and asked M. Jumel his opinion of M. Leon Blum’s recent book in which the author complained. . . .
“ . . . That an irrational39 custom,” went on Professor Haddock, “prevents respectable young ladies from making love, a thing they would enjoy doing, whilst mercenary girls do it too much and without getting any enjoyment40 out of it. It is indeed deplorable. But M. Leon Blum need not fret41 too much. If the evil exists, as he says it does, in our middle-class society, I can assure him that everywhere else he would see a consoling spectacle. Among the people, the mass of the people through town and country, girls do not deny themselves that pleasure.”
“It is depravity!” said Madame Cremeur.
And she praised the innocence42 of young girls in terms full of modesty43 and grace. It was charming to hear her.
Professor Haddock’s views on the same subject were, on the contrary, painful to listen to.
“Respectable young girls,” said he, “are guarded and watched over. Besides, men do not, as a rule, pursue them much, either through probity44, or from a fear of grave responsibilities, or because the seduction of a young girl would not be to their credit. Even then we do not know what really takes place, for the reason that what is hidden is not seen. This is a condition necessary to the existence of all society. The scruples45 of respectable young girls could be more easily overcome than those of married women if the same pressure were brought to bear on them, and for this there are two reasons: they have more illusions, and their curiosity has not been satisfied. Women, for the most part, have been so disappointed by their husbands that they have not courage enough to begin again with somebody else. I myself have been met by this obstacle several times in my attempts at seduction.”
At the moment when Professor Haddock ended his unpleasant remarks, Mademoiselle Eveline Clarence entered the drawing-room and listlessly handed about tea with that expression of boredom46 which gave an oriental charm to her beauty.
“For my part,” said Hippolyte Ceres, looking at her, “I declare myself the young ladies’ champion.”
“He must be a fool,” thought the girl.
Hippolyte Ceres, who had never set foot outside of his political world of electors and elected, thought Madame Clarence’s drawing-room most select, its mistress exquisite47, and her daughter amazingly beautiful. His visits became frequent and he paid court to both of them. Madame Clarence, who now liked attention, thought him agreeable. Eveline showed no friendliness48 towards him, and treated him with a hauteur49 and disdain50 that he took for aristocratic behaviour and fashionable manners, and he thought all the more of her on that account.
This busy man taxed his ingenuity51 to please them, and he sometimes succeeded. He got them cards for fashionable functions and boxes at the Opera. He furnished Mademoiselle Clarence with several opportunities of appearing to great advantage and in particular at a garden party which, although given by a Minister, was regarded as really fashionable, and gained its first success in society circles for the Republic.
At that party Eveline had been much noticed and had attracted the special attention of a young diplomat52 called Roger Lambilly who, imagining that she belonged to a rather fast set, invited her to his bachelor’s flat. She thought him handsome and believed him rich, and she accepted. A little moved, almost disquieted53, she very nearly became the victim of her daring, and only avoided defeat by an offensive measure audaciously carried out. This was the most foolish escapade in her unmarried life.
Being now on friendly terms with Ministers and with the President, Eveline continued to wear her aristocratic and pious54 affectations, and these won for her the sympathy of the chief personages in the anti-clerical and democratic Republic. M. Hippolyte Ceres, seeing that she was succeeding and doing him credit, liked her still more. He even went so far as to fall madly in love with her.
Henceforth, in spite of everything, she began to observe him with interest, being curious to see if his passion would increase. He appeared to her without elegance or grace, and not well bred, but active, clear-sighted, full of resource, and not too great a bore. She still made fun of him, but he had now won her interest.
One day she wished to test him. It was during the elections, when members of Parliament were, as the phrase runs, requesting a renewal55 of their mandates56. He had an opponent, who, though not dangerous at first and not much of an orator57, was rich and was reported to be gaining votes every day. Hippolyte Ceres, banishing58 both dull security and foolish alarm from his mind, redoubled his care. His chief method of action was by public meetings at which he spoke59 vehemently60 against the rival candidate. His committee held huge meetings on Saturday evenings and at three o’clock on Sunday afternoons. One Sunday, as he called on the Clarences, he found Eveline alone in the drawing-room. He had been chatting for about twenty or twenty-five minutes, when, taking out his watch, he saw that it was a quarter to three. The young girl showed herself amiable61, engaging, attractive, and full of promises. Ceres was fascinated, but he stood up to go.
“Stay a little longer,” said she in a pressing and agreeable voice which made him promptly62 sit down again.
She was full of interest, of abandon, curiosity, and weakness. He blushed, turned pale, and again got up.
Then, in order to keep him still longer, she looked at him out of two grey and melting eyes, and though her bosom63 was heaving, she did not say another word. He fell at her feet in distraction64, but once more looking at his watch, he jumped up with a terrible oath.
“D-! a quarter to four! I must be off.”
And immediately he rushed down the stairs.
From that time onwards she had a certain amount of esteem65 for him.
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1
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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penguin
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| n.企鹅 | |
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germinate
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| v.发芽；发生；发展 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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prolix
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| adj.罗嗦的；冗长的 | |
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penguins
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| n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 ) | |
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clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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hurls
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的第三人称单数 )；大声叫骂 | |
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14
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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16
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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demolitions
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| n.毁坏，破坏，拆毁( demolition的名词复数 ) | |
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reconstructions
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| 重建( reconstruction的名词复数 )； 再现； 重建物； 复原物 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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arcaded
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| adj.成为拱廊街道的，有列拱的 | |
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23
domed
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| adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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24
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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25
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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26
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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29
domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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burlesque
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| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
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32
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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34
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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calumniate
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| v.诬蔑，中伤 | |
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38
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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39
irrational
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| adj.无理性的，失去理性的 | |
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40
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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41
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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42
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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43
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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44
probity
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| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
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45
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
boredom
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| n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊 | |
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47
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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48
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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49
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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50
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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51
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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52
diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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53
disquieted
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| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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55
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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56
mandates
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| 托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式） | |
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57
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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58
banishing
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的现在分词 ) | |
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59
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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vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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61
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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63
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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64
distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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65
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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