There was, however, at the corner of the boulevard a large house, with an aristocratic air; but this house, which might, from the number of its windows, have illuminated2 the whole street, had it been lighted up, was the darkest and most somber-looking of any. The door was never seen to open; and the windows were thick with dust, which seemed never disturbed. Sometimes an idler, attracted by curiosity, approached the gates and peeped through; all he could see, however, were masses of weeds growing between the stones of the courtyard, and green moss3 spreading itself over everything. Occasionally an enormous rat, sole inmate4 of those deserted5 domains6, ran across the yard, on his way to his usual habitation in the cellars, which seemed, however, to be an excess of modesty7, when he had the choice of so many fine sitting-rooms, where he need never fear the intrusion of a cat.
At times, one or two of the neighbors, passing the house, might stop to take a survey, and one would say to the other:
“Well, what do you see?”
“Why,” he would reply, “I see the rat.”
“Oh! let me look at him. How fat he has grown!”
“That is not to be wondered at; he is never disturbed; and there must be some good pickings in the house. M. de Balsamo disappeared so suddenly, that he must have left something behind.”
“But you forget that the house was half burned down.”
And they would pursue their way.
Opposite this ruin was a high narrow house inclosed within a garden wall. From the upper windows, a light was to be seen; the rest was shrouded8 in darkness. Either all the inhabitants were already asleep, or they were very economical of wood and candles, which certainly were frightfully dear this winter. It is, however, with the fifth story only that we have any business.
We must, in the first place, take a survey of the house, and, ascending9 the staircase, open the first door. This room is empty and dark, however, but it opens into another of which the furniture deserves our attention.
The doors were gaudily10 painted, and it contained easy chairs covered in white, with yellow velvet11 trimming, and a sofa to match; the cushions of which, however, were so full of the wrinkles of old age as scarcely to be cushions any longer. Two portraits hanging on the walls next attracted attention. A candle and a lamp—one placed on a stand, about three feet high, and the other on the chimney-piece—threw a constant light on them.
The first was a well-known portrait of Henry III., King of France and Poland; a cap on his head, surmounting12 his long pale face and heavy eyes; a pointed13 beard, and a ruff round his neck.
Under it was the inscription14, traced in black letters, on a badly-gilded frame, “Henri de Valois.”
The other portrait, of which the gilding15 was newer, and the painting more fresh and recent, represented a young lady with black eyes, a straight nose, and rather compressed lips, who appeared crushed under a tower of hair and ribbons, to which the cap of Henry III. was in the proportion of a mole-hill to a pyramid.
Glance at the fireless hearth17, at the faded curtains, and then turn towards a little oak table in the corner; for there, leaning on her elbow, and writing the addresses of some letters, sits the original of this portrait.
A few steps off, in an attitude half curious, half respectful, stands a little old woman, apparently18 about sixty.
“Jeanne de Valois,” says the inscription; but if this lady be indeed a Valois, one wonders however the portrait of Henry III., the sybarite king, the great voluptuary, could support the sight of so much poverty in a person not only of his race, but bearing his name.
In her person, however, this lady of the fifth story did no discredit19 to her portrait. She had white and delicate hands, which from time to time she rubbed together, as if to endeavor to put some warmth into them; her foot also, which was encased in a rather coquettish velvet slipper20, was small and pretty.
The wind whistled through all the old doors, and penetrated21 the crevices22 of the shaking windows; and the old servant kept glancing sadly towards the empty grate. Her lady continued her occupation, talking aloud as she did so.
“Madame de Misery,” she murmured; “first lady of the bedchamber to her majesty24—I cannot expect more than six louis from her, for she has already given to me once.” And she sighed. “Madame Patrick, lady’s-maid to her majesty, two louis; M. d’Ormesson, an audience; M. de Calonne, some good advice, M. de Rohan, a visit; at least, we will try to induce him,” said she, smiling at the thought. “Well, then, I think I may hope for eight louis within a week.” Then, looking up, “Dame23 Clotilde,” she said, “snuff this candle.”
The old woman did as she was bid, and then resumed her place. This kind of inquisition seemed to annoy the young lady, for she said, “Pray go and look if you cannot find the end of a wax candle for me; this tallow is odious25.”
“There is none,” replied the old woman.
“But just look.”
“Where?”
“In the ante-chamber.”
“It is so cold there.”
“There is some one ringing,” said the young lady.
“I thought I heard it, Dame Clotilde;” then, abandoning the attempt, she turned again to her calculations. “Eight louis! Three I owe for the rent, and five I have promised to M. de la Motte, to make him support his stay at Bar-sur-Aube. Pauvre diable, our marriage has not enriched him as yet—but patience;” and she smiled again, and looked at herself in the mirror that hung between the two portraits. “Well, then,” she continued, “I still want one louis for going from Versailles to Paris and back again; living for a week, one louis; dress, and gifts to the porters of the houses where I go, four louis; but,” said she, starting up, “some one is ringing!”
“No, madame,” replied the old woman. “It is below, on the next floor.”
“But I tell you it is not,” said she angrily, as the bell rang yet louder.
Even the old woman could deny it no longer; so she hobbled off to open the door, while her mistress rapidly cleared away all the papers, and seated herself on the sofa, assuming the air of a person humble27 and resigned, although suffering.
It was, however, only her body that reposed28; for her eyes, restless and unquiet, sought incessantly29, first her mirror and then the door.
At last it opened, and she heard a young and sweet voice saying, “Is it here that Madame la Comtesse de la Motte lives?”
“Madame la Comtesse de la Motte Valois,” replied Clotilde.
“It is the same person, my good woman; is she at home?”
“Yes, madame; she is too ill to go out.”
During this colloquy30, the pretended invalid31 saw reflected in the glass the figure of a lady talking to Clotilde, unquestionably belonging to the higher ranks. She then saw her turn round, and say to some one behind, “We can go in—it is here.”
And the two ladies we have before seen asking the way prepared to enter the room.
“Whom shall I announce to the countess?” said Clotilde.
“Announce a Sister of Charity,” said the elder lady.
“From Paris?”
“No; from Versailles.”
Clotilde entered the room, and the strangers followed her.
Jeanne de Valois seemed to rise with difficulty from her seat to receive her visitors.
Clotilde placed chairs for them, and then unwillingly32 withdrew.
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1
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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6
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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7
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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10
gaudily
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| adv.俗丽地 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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12
surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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13
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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14
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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15
gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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16
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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18
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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19
discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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20
slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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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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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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23
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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24
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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25
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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27
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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28
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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30
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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31
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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32
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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