"But my aunt is the creature I am going to destroy.... Oh, Therese, in a philosopher's view how frivolous1 are these consanguinary ties! Forgive me, but I do not even wish to discuss them, so futile2 are they. These contemptible3 chains, fruit of our laws and our political institutions can they mean anything to Nature?
"Desert your prejudices, Therese, leave them behind, and serve me; your fortune is made."
"Oh Monsieur !" I replied, terrified by the Comte de Bressac, "your mind invents this theory of an impassive, indifferent Nature; deign4 rather to heed5 your heart, and you will hear it condemn6 all libertinage's false reasonings. Is not that heart, to whose tribunal I recommend you, the sanctuary7 where this Nature you outrage8 wishes to be heard and respected? If she engraves9 upon it the extreme horror of the crime you meditate10, will you grant me it is a damnable one? Passions, I know, are blinding you at the present moment, but once they subside11, how will you not be torn by remorse12?
The greater your sensitivity, the more cruelly shall it sting you.... Oh Monsieur! preserve, respect this tender, invaluable13 friend's life; sacrifice it not; you would perish of despair! Every day... at every instant you would be visited by the image of this cherished aunt, she whom your unthinking rage would have hurled14 into her tomb; you would hear her plaintive15 voice still pronouncing those sweet names that were your childhood's joy; she would be present during your waking hours and appear to torture you in your dreams; she would open with her bloodstained fingers the wounds wherewith you would have mutilated her; thereafter not one happy moment would shine for you while you dwelt upon this earth; you would become a stranger to pleasures; your every idea would be of trouble; a celestial16 arm, whose might you do not appreciate, would avenge17 the days you would have obliterated18, by envenoming your own, and without having tasted happiness from your felonies, you would be slain19 by mortal sorrow for having dared accomplish them."
As I uttered these words tears returned to my eyes, I sank to my knees before the Count; by all that is most holy I did implore20 him to let fade into oblivion an infamous21 aberration22 I swore to him all my life I would conceal23.... But I did not know the man with whom I was dealing24; I knew not to what point passions had enthroned crime in that perverse25 soul. The Count rose and spoke26 in a voice of ice.
"I see very well I was mistaken, Therese," said he. "I regret it, perhaps as much on your account as on my own; no matter, I shall discover other means, and it will be much you shall have lost without your mistress gaining anything."
The threat changed all my ideas; by not accepting the criminal role proposed to me, I was exposing myself to great personal risk and my protectress was infallibly to perish; by consenting to be his accomplice27, I would shield myself from the Count's wrath28 and would assuredly save his aunt; an instant's reflection convinced me I should agree to everything. But as so rapid a reversal would have appeared suspicious, I strove to delay my capitulation; I obliged the Count to repeat his sophistries29 often; little by little I took on an air of not knowing what to reply: Bressac believed me vanquished30; I justified31 my weakness by the potency32 of his art and in the end I surrendered. The Count sprang into my arms. Ah, how I should have been overjoyed had his movement been inspired by another motive33.... What is it I am saying? The time had passed: his horrible conduct, his barbarous designs had annihilated34 all the feelings my weakling heart had dared conceive, and I saw in him nothing but a monster....
"You are the first woman I have ever held in my arms," said the Count, "and truly, it is with all my soul.... You are delicious, my child; a gleam of wisdom seems to have penetrated35 into your mind! That this charming mind has lain in darkness for so long! Incredible."
Next, we came to facts. In two or three days, as soon, that is, as an opportunity presented itself, I was to drop a dose of poison Bressac gave me the package that contained it into the cup of chocolate Madame customarily took in the morning. The Count assured my immunity36 against all consequences and directly I consummated37 the deed, handed me a contract providing me with an annuity38 of two thousand crowns; he signed these promises without characterizing the state in which I was to enjoy their benefits; we separated.
In the midst of all this, something most singular occurred, something all too able to reveal the atrocious soul of the monster with whom I had to deal; I must not interrupt myself for a moment for, no doubt, you are awaiting the denouement39 of the adventure in which I had become involved.
Two days following the conclusion of our criminal pact40, the Count learned that an uncle, upon whose succession he had not in the least counted, had just left him an income of eighty thousand pounds.... "O Heaven!" I said to myself upon hearing the news, "is it then in thuswise celestial justice punishes the basest conspiracy41!" And straightway repenting42 this blasphemy43 spoken against Providence44, I cast myself upon my knees and implored45 the Almighty's forgiveness, and happily supposed that this unexpected development should at least change the Count's plans.... What was my error!
"Ah, my dear Therese," he said that same evening, having run to my room, "how prosperity does rain down upon me! Often I have told you so: the idea of a crime or an execution is the surest means to attract good fortune; none exists save for villains46."
"What!" I responded, "this unhoped for bounty47 does not persuade you, Monsieur, patiently to await the death you wished to hasten?"
"Wait?" the Count replied sharply, "I do not intend to wait two minutes, Therese; are you not aware I am twenty-eight? Well, it is hard to wait at my age.... No, let this affect our scheme not in the slightest, give me the comfort of seeing everything brought to an end before the time comes for us to return to Paris.... Tomorrow, at the very latest the day after tomorrow, I beseech48 you. There has been delay enough: the hour approaches for the payment of the first quarter of your annuity... for performing the act which guarantees you the money...."
As best I could, I disguised the fright this desperate eagerness inspired in me, and I renewed my resolution of the day before, well persuaded that if I were not to execute the horrible crime I had engaged to commit, the Count would soon notice I was playing a trick upon him and that, if I were to warn Madame de Bressac, whatever would be her reaction to the project's disclosure, the young Count, observing himself deceived one way or another, would promptly49 resort to more certain methods which, causing his aunt equally to perish, would also expose me to all her nephew's vengeance50. There remained the alternative of consulting the law, but nothing in the world could have induced me to adopt it; I decided51 to forewarn the Marquise; of all possible measures, that seemed the best, and I elected it.
"Madame," I said to her on the morrow of my last interview with the Count, "Madame, I have something of the highest importance to reveal, but however vital its interest to you, I shall not broach52 it unless, beforehand, you give me your word of honor to bear no resentment53 against your nephew for what Monsieur has had the audacity54 to concert.... You will act, Madame, you will take the steps prudence55 enjoins56, but you will say not a word. Deign to give me your promise; else I am silent."
Madame de Bressac, who thought it was but a question of some of her nephew's everyday extravagances, bound herself by the oath I demanded, and I disclosed everything. The unhappy woman burst into tears upon learning of the infamy57.... "The monster!" she cried, "have I ever done anything that was not for his good? Had I wished to thwart58 his vices59, or correct them, what other motive than his own happiness could have constrained60 me to severity! And is it not thanks to me he inherits this legacy61 his uncle has just left him ? Ah, Therese, Therese, prove to me that it is true, this project... put me in a way that will prevent me from doubting; I need all that may aid in extinguishing the sentiments my unthinking heart dares yet preserve for the monster...." And then I brought the package of poison into view; it were difficult to furnish better proof; yet the Marquise wished to experiment with it; we made a dog swallow a light dose, shut up the animal, and at the end of two hours it was dead after being seized by frightful62 convulsions.
Any lingering doubt by now dispelled63, Madame de Bressac came to a decision; she bade me give her the rest of the poison and immediately sent a courier with a letter to the Duc de Sonzeval, related to her, asking him to go directly, but in secrecy64, to the Secretary of State, and to expose the atrocity65 of a nephew whose victim she might at any moment become; to provide himself with a lettre de cachet; to make all possible haste to come and deliver her from the wretch66 who had so cruelly plotted to take her life.
But the abominable67 crime was to be consummated; some inconceivable permission must have been granted by Heaven that virtue68 might be made to yield to villainy's oppressions: the animal upon which we had experimented revealed everything to the Count: he heard it howling; knowing of his aunt's fondness for the beast, he asked what had been done to it; those to whom he spoke knew nothing of the matter and made him no clear answer; from this moment, his suspicions began to take shape; he uttered not a word, but I saw that he was disquieted69; I mentioned his state to the Marquise, she became further upset, but could think of nothing to do save urge the courier to make yet greater haste, and, if possible, still more carefully to hide the purpose of his mission. She advised her nephew that she was writing to Paris to beg the Duc de Sonzeval to waste not a moment to take up the matter of the recently deceased uncle's inheritance for if no one were to appear to claim it, there was litigation to be feared; she added that she had requested the Duke to come and give her a complete account of the affair, in order that she might learn whether or not she and her nephew would be obliged to make a journey to Paris. Too skillful a physiognomist to fail to notice the embarrassment70 in his aunt's face, to fail to observe, as well, some confusion written upon mine, the Count smiled at everything and was no less on his guard. Under the pretext71 of taking a promenade72, he leaves the chateau73; he lies in wait for the courier at a place the man must inevitably74 pass.
The messenger, far more a creature of the Count than his aunt's trustworthy minion75, raises no objections when his master demands to see the dispatches he is carrying, and Bressac, once convinced of what no doubt he calls my treachery, gives the courier a hundred louis, together with instructions never to appear again at the Marquise's. He returns to the chateau, rage in his heart; however, he restrains himself; he encounters me, as usual he cajoles me, asks whether it shall not be tomorrow, points out it is essential the deed be performed before the Duke's arrival, then goes to bed with a tranquil76 air about which nothing is to be remarked. At the time I knew nothing, I was the dupe of everything. Were the appalling77 crime to be committed as the Count's actions informed me later he would of course have to commit it himself; but I did not know how; I conjectured78 much; what good would it do to tell you what I imagined? Rather, let us move ahead to the cruel manner in which I was punished for not having wished to undertake the thing. On the day after the messenger was intercepted79, Madame drank her chocolate as she always did, dressed, seemed agitated80, and sat down at table; scarcely was I out of the dining room when the Count accosted81 me.
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1
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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engraves
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的第三人称单数 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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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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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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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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aberration
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| n.离开正路，脱离常规，色差 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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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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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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sophistries
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| n.诡辩术( sophistry的名词复数 )；（一次）诡辩 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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potency
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| n. 效力，潜能 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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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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immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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denouement
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| n.结尾，结局 | |
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pact
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| n.合同，条约，公约，协定 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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42
repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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43
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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44
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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45
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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47
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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48
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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49
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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50
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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51
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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52
broach
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| v.开瓶，提出(题目) | |
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53
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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54
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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56
enjoins
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| v.命令( enjoin的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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58
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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59
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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63
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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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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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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72
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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minion
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| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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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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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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