A StormMy God, give me mediocrity!
MIRABEAUHe was completely absorbed; he made only a half-hearted response tothe keen affection that she showed for him. He remained taciturn andsombre. Never had he appeared so great, so adorable in the eyes ofMathilde. She feared some subtle refinement1 of his pride which wouldpresently upset the whole position.
Almost every morning, she saw the abbe Pirard come to the Hotel.
Through his agency might not Julien have penetrated2 to some extent intoher father's intentions? Might not the Marquis himself, in a moment ofcaprice, have written to him? After so great a happiness, how was she toaccount for Julien's air of severity? She dared not question him.
Dared not! She, Mathilde! There was, from that moment, in her feelingfor Julien, something vague, unaccountable, almost akin3 to terror. Thatsere heart felt all the passion that is possible in one brought up amid allthat excess of civilisation4 which Paris admires.
Early next morning, Julien was in the abbe Pirard's presbytery. A pairof post-horses arrived in the courtyard drawing a dilapidated chaise,hired at the nearest post.
'Such an equipage is no longer in keeping,' the stern abbe told him,with a cantankerous5 air. 'Here are twenty thousand francs, of which M.
de La Mole6 makes you a present; he expects you to spend them withinthe year, but to try and make yourself as little ridiculous as possible.' (Inso large a sum, bestowed7 on a young man, the priest saw only an occasion of sin.)'The Marquis adds: "M. Julien de La Vernaye will have received thismoney from his father, whom there is no use in my identifying more precisely8. M. de La Vernaye will doubtless think it proper to make a present to M. Sorel, carpenter at Verrieres, who looked after him in his childhood … " I will undertake this part of the commission,' the abbe went on;'I have at last made M. de La Mole decide to compromise with that abbede Frilair, who is such a Jesuit. His position is unquestionably too strongfor us. The implicit9 recognition of your noble birth by that man who governs Besancon will be one of the implied conditions of the arrangement.'
Julien was no longer able to control his enthusiasm, he embraced theabbe, he saw himself recognised.
'Fie!' said M. Pirard, and thrust him away; 'what is the meaning of thisworldly vanity? As for Sorel and his sons, I shall offer them, in my name,an annual pension of five hundred francs, which will be paid to each ofthem separately, so long as I am satisfied with them.'
Julien was by this time cold and stiff. He thanked the abbe, but in thevaguest terms and without binding11 himself to anything. 'Can it indeedbe possible,' he asked himself, 'that I am the natural son of some greatnobleman, banished12 among our mountains by the terrible Napoleon?'
Every moment this idea seemed to him less improbable … 'My hatred13 formy father would be a proof … I should no longer be a monster!'
A few days after this monologue14, the Fifteenth Regiment15 of Hussars,one of the smartest in the Army, was drawn16 up in order of battle on theparade ground of Strasbourg. M. le Chevalier de La Vernaye was mounted upon the finest horse in Alsace, which had cost him six thousandfrancs. He had joined as Lieutenant17, without having ever been a SecondLieutenant, save on the muster-roll of a Regiment of which he had nevereven heard.
His impassive air, his severe and almost cruel eyes, his pallor, his unalterable coolness won him a reputation from the first day. In a shorttime, his perfect and entirely19 measured courtesy, his skill with the pistoland sabre, which he made known without undue20 affectation, removedall temptation to joke audibly at his expense. After five or six days ofhesitation, the general opinion of the Regiment declared itself in his favour. 'This young man has everything,' said the older officers who wereinclined to banter21, 'except youth.'
>
From Strasbourg, Julien wrote to M. Chelan, the former cure of Verrieres, who was now reaching the extreme limits of old age:
'You will have learned with a joy, of which I have no doubt, of theevents that have led my family to make me rich. Here are five hundred francs which I beg you to distribute without display, and with no mention of my name, among the needy22, who are poor now as I was once, andwhom you are doubtless assisting as in the past you assisted me.'
Julien was intoxicated23 with ambition and not with vanity; he still applied24 a great deal of his attention to his outward appearance. His horses,his uniforms, the liveries of his servants were kept up with a nicetywhich would have done credit to the punctiliousness25 of a great Englishnobleman. Though only just a Lieutenant, promoted by favour and aftertwo days' service, he was already calculating that, in order to be Commander in Chief at thirty, at latest, like all the great Generals, he wouldneed at three and twenty to be something more than Lieutenant. Hecould think of nothing but glory and his son.
It was in the midst of the transports of the most frenzied26 ambition thathe was interrupted by a young footman from the Hotel de La Mole, whoarrived with a letter.
'All is lost,' Mathilde wrote to him; 'hasten here as quickly as possible,sacrifice everything, desert if need be. As soon as you arrive, wait for mein a cab, outside the little gate of the garden, No.— Rue18 ——. I shallcome out to speak to you; perhaps I may be able to let you into thegarden. All is lost, and, I fear, beyond hope of repair; count upon me,you will find me devoted27 and steadfast28 in adversity. I love you.'
In a few minutes, Julien obtained leave from his Colonel, and leftStrasbourg at a gallop29; but the fearful anxiety which was devouring30 himdid not allow him to continue this method of travel farther than Metz.
He flung himself into a post-chaise; and it was with an almost incrediblerapidity that he arrived at the appointed place, outside the little gate ofthe garden of the Hotel de La Mole. The gate was flung open, and in amoment, Mathilde, forgetting all self-respect, threw herself into his arms.
Fortunately, it was but five o'clock in the morning and the street was stilldeserted.
'All is lost; my father, dreading31 my tears, went away on Thursdaynight. Where? No one knows. Here is his letter; read it.' And she got intothe cab with Julien.
'I could forgive everything, except the plan of seducing32 you becauseyou are rich. That, unhappy girl, is the appalling33 truth. I give you myword of honour that I will never consent to a marriage with that man. Ipromise him an income of ten thousand livres if he consents to liveabroad, beyond the frontiers of France, or better still in America. Readthe letter which I have received in reply to a request for information. The shameless scoundrel had himself invited me to write to Madame de Renal. Never will I read a line from you about the man. I have a horror ofParis and of you. I request you to cloak with the greatest secrecy34 whatmust shortly happen. Renounce35 honestly a vile36 fellow, and you will regain37 a father.'
'Where is Madame de Renal's letter?' said Julien coldly. 'Here it is. Idid not wish to show it to you until you were prepared.'
LETTER'What I owe to the sacred cause of religion and morals obliges me, Sir,to the painful step which I take in addressing you; a rule, which admitsof no relaxation38, orders me at this moment to do harm to my neighbour,but in order to avoid a greater scandal. The grief which I feel must beoverborne by a sense of duty. It is only too true, Sir, the conduct of theperson with regard to whom you ask me to tell the whole truth mayhave seemed inexplicable39 or indeed honourable40. It may have beenthought expedient41 to conceal42 or to disguise a part of the truth, prudencerequired this as well as religion. But that conduct, which you desire toknow, has been in fact extremely reprehensible43, and more so than I cansay. Poor and avaricious44, it is by the aid of the most consummate45 hypocrisy46, and by the seduction of a weak and unhappy woman, that thisman has sought to make a position for himself and to become somebody.
It is a part of my painful duty to add that I am obliged to believe that M.
J—— has no religious principles. I am bound in conscience to think thatone of his avenues to success in a household is to seek to seduce47 the woman who has most influence there. Cloaked by a show of disinterestedness48 and by phrases from novels, his great and sole object is to contriveto secure control over the master of the house and over his fortune. Heleaves in his wake misery49 and undying regret,' etc., etc., etc.
This letter, extremely long and half obliterated50 by tears, was certainlyin the hand of Madame de Renal; it was even written with greater carethan usual.
'I cannot blame M. de La Mole,' said Julien when he had finished reading it; 'he is just and prudent51. What father would give his beloveddaughter to such a man! Farewell!'
Julien sprang out of the cab, and ran to his post-chaise which haddrawn up at the end of the street. Mathilde, whom he seemed to haveforgotten, followed him for a little way; but the sight of the tradesmenwho were coming to the doors of their shops, and to whom she wasknown, forced her to retire in haste into the garden.
Julien had set off for Verrieres. On this rapid journey, he was unable towrite to Mathilde as he had intended, his hand traced nothing more thanan illegible52 scrawl53 on the paper.
He arrived at Verrieres on a Sunday morning. He entered the shop ofthe local gunsmith, who congratulated him effusively54 on his recent access to fortune. It was the talk of the town.
Julien had some difficulty in making him understand that he requireda brace10 of pistols. The gunsmith, at his request, loaded the pistols.
The three bells sounded; this is a signal well known in French villages,which, after the various peals55 of the morning, announces that mass is justabout to begin.
Julien entered the new church of Verrieres. All the tall windows of thebuilding were screened by crimson56 curtains. He found himself standinga few yards behind Madame de Renal's bench. He had the impressionthat she was praying with fervour. The sight of this woman who hadloved him so dearly made Julien's arm tremble so violently that he couldnot at first carry out his design. 'I cannot,' he said to himself; 'I am physically57 incapable58 of it.'
At that moment, the young clerk who was serving mass rang the bellfor the Elevation59. Madame de Renal bowed her head which for a moment was almost entirely concealed60 by the folds of her shawl. Her aspectwas less familiar to Julien; he fired a shot at her with one pistol andmissed her, he fired a second shot; she fell.
收听单词发音 |
1
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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cantankerous
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| adj.爱争吵的，脾气不好的 | |
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mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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monologue
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| n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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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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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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punctiliousness
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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29
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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30
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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seducing
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| 诱奸( seduce的现在分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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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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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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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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42
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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43
reprehensible
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| adj.该受责备的 | |
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avaricious
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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45
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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46
hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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47
seduce
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| vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱 | |
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48
disinterestedness
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49
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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50
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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51
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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52
illegible
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| adj.难以辨认的，字迹模糊的 | |
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53
scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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54
effusively
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| adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地 | |
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55
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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57
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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58
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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59
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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60
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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