"Ha!" said Rombeau, full of enthusiasm for these appalling1 maxims2, "I applaud you, my dear fellow, your wisdom enchants3 me, but your indifference4 is astonishing; I thought you were amorous5 -"
"I? in love with a girl?... Ah, Rombeau! I supposed you knew me better; I employ those creatures when I have nothing better to hand: the extreme penchant6 I have for pleasures of the variety you have watched me taste makes very precious to me all the temples at which this sort of incense7 can be offered, and to multiply my devotions, I sometimes assimilate a little girl into a pretty little boy; but should one of these female personages unhappily nourish my illusion for too long, my disgust becomes energetically manifest, and I have never found but one means to satisfy it deliciously... you understand me, Rombeau; Chilperic, the most voluptuous8 of France's kings, held the same views. His boisterous9 organ proclaimed aloud that in an emergency one could make use of a woman, but upon the express condition one exterminated10 her immediately one had done with her.
( Cf. a work entitled `The Jesuits in Fine Fettle')
For five years this little wench has been serving my pleasures; the time has come for her to pay for my loss of interest by the loss of her existence."
The meal ended; from those two madmen's behavior, from their words, their actions, their preparations, from their very state, which bordered upon delirium11, I was very well able to see that there was not a moment to be lost, and that the hour of the unhappy Rosalie's destruction had been fixed12 for that evening. I rushed to the cellar, resolved to deliver her or die.
"O dear friend," I cried, "there is not an instant to waste... the monsters ... it is to be tonight ... they are going to come...."
And upon saying that, I make the most violent efforts to batter13 down the door. One of my blows dislodges something, I reach out my hand, it is the key, I seize it, I hasten to open the door... I embrace Rosalie, I urge her to fly, I promise to follow her, she springs forward... Just Heaven! It was again decreed that Virtue14 was to succumb15, and that sentiments of the tenderest commiseration16 were going to be brutally17 punished; lit by the governess, Rodin and Rombeau appeared of a sudden, the former grasped his daughter the instant she crossed the threshold of the door beyond which, a few steps away, lay deliverance.
"Ah, wretch18, where are you going?" Rodin shouts, bringing her to a halt while Rombeau lays hands upon me.... "Why," he continues, glancing at me, "here's the rascal19 who has encouraged your flight! Therese, now we behold20 the results of your great virtuous21 principles... the kidnapping of a daughter from her father!"
"Certainly," was my steadfast22 reply, "and I must do so when that father is so barbarous as to plot against his daughter's life."
"Well, well! Espionage23 and seduction," Rodin pursued; "all a servant's most dangerous vices24; upstairs, up with you, I say, the case requires to be judged."
Dragged by the two villains25, Rosalie and I are brought back to the apartments; the doors are bolted. The unlucky daughter of Rodin is tied to the posts of a bed, and those two demoniacs turn all their rage upon me, their language is of the most violent, the sentence pronounced upon me appalling: it is nothing less than a question of a vivisection in order to inspect the beating of my heart, and upon this organ to make observations which cannot practicably be made upon a cadaver26. Meanwhile, I am undressed, and subjected to the most impudicious fondlings.
"Before all else," says Rombeau, "my opinion is a stout27 attack ought to be delivered upon the fortress28 your lenient29 proceedings30 have respected.... Why, 'tis superb! do you mark that velvet31 texture32, the whiteness of those two half-moons defending the portal! never was there a virgin33 of such freshness."
"Virgin! but so she is, or nearly," says Rodin, "once raped34, and then it was despite her wishes; since then, untouched. Here, let me take the wheel a moment..." and the cruel one added to Rombeau's his homage36 made up of those harsh and savage37 caresses38 which degrade rather than honor the idol39. Had whips been available I should have been cruelly dealt with; whips were indeed mentioned, but none were found, they limited themselves to what the bare hand could achieve; they set me afire... the more I struggled, the more rigidly40 I was held; when however I saw them about to undertake more serious matters, I flung myself prostrate41 before my executioners and offered them my life.
"But when you are no longer a virgin," said Rombeau, "what is the difference? What are these qualms42? we are only going to violate you as you have been already and not the least peccadillo43 will sit on your conscience; you will have been vanquished44 by force..." and comforting me in this manner, the infamous45 one placed me on a couch.
"No," spoke46 up Rodin, interrupting his colleague's effervescence, of which I was on the brink47 of becoming the victim, "no, let's not waste our powers with this creature; remember we cannot further postpone48 the operations scheduled for Rosalie, and our vigor49 is necessary to carry them out; let's punish this wretch in some other manner."
Upon saying which, Rodin put an iron in the fire. "Yes," he went on, "let's punish her a thousand times more than we would were we to take her life, let's brand her; this disgrace, joined to all the sorry business about her body, will get her hanged if she does not first die of hunger; until then she will suffer, and our more prolonged vengeance50 will become the more delicious."
Wherewith Rombeau seized me, and the abominable51 Rodin applied52 behind my shoulder the red-hot iron with which thieves are marked.
"Let her dare appear in public, the whore," the monster continued, exhibiting the ignominious53 letter, "and I'll sufficiently54 justify55 my reasons for sending her out of the door with such secrecy56 and promptitude."
They bandage me, dress me, and fortify57 me with a few drops of brandy, and under the cover of night the two scientists conduct me to the forest's edge and abandon me cruelly there after once again having sketched58 what dangers a recrimination would expose me to were I to dare bring complaint in my present state of disgrace.
Anyone else might have been little impressed by the menace; what would I have to fear as soon as I found the means to prove that what I had just suffered had been the work not of a tribunal but of criminals? But my weakness, my natural timidity, the frightful59 memory of what I had undergone at Paris and recollections of the chateau60 de Bressac it all stunned61 me, terrified me; I thought only of flight, and was far more stirred by anguish62 at having to abandon an innocent victim to those two villains, who were without doubt ready to immolate63 her, than I was touched by my own ills. More irritated, more afflicted64 morally than in physical pain, I set off at once; but, completely unoriented, never stopping to ask my way, I did but swing in a circle around Paris and on the fourth day of traveling I found I had got no further than Lieursaint. Knowing this road would lead me to the southern provinces, I resolved to follow it and try to reach those distant regions, fancying to myself that the peace and calm so cruelly denied me in those parts of France where I had grown up were, perhaps, awaiting me in others more remote; fatal error! how much there remained of grief and pain yet to experience.
Whatever had been my trials until that time, at least I was in possession of my innocence65. Merely the victim of a few monsters' attempts, I was still able to consider myself more or less in the category of an honest girl. The fact was I had never been truly soiled save by a rape35 operated five years earlier, and its traces had healed... a rape consummated66 at an instant when my numbed67 state had not even left me the faculty68 of sensation. Other than that, what was there with which I could reproach myself? Nothing, oh! nothing, doubtless; and my heart was chaste69, I was overweeningly proud of it, my presumption70 was to be punished; the outrages71 awaiting me were to be such that in a short while it would no longer be possible, however slight had been my participation72, for me to form the same comforting ideas in the depths of my heart.
This time I had my entire fortune about me; that is to say, about a hundred crowns, comprising the total of what I had saved from Bressac's clutches and earned from Rodin. In my extreme misery73 I was able to feel glad that this money, at least, had not been taken from me; I flattered myself with the notion that through the frugality74, temperance, and economy to which I was accustomed, this sum would amply suffice until I was so situated75 as to be able to find a place of some sort. The execration76 they had just stamped upon my flesh did not show, I imagined I would always be able to disguise it and that this brand would be no bar to making my living. I was twenty-two years old, in good health, and had a face which, to my sorrow, was the object of eulogies77 all too frequent; I possessed78 some virtues79 which, although they had brought me unremitting injury, nevertheless, as I have just told you, were my whole consolation80 and caused me to hope that Heaven would finally grant me, if not rewards, at least some suspension of the evils they had drawn81 down upon me. Full of hope and courage, I kept my road until I gained Sens, where I rested several days. A week of this and I was entirely82 restored; I might perhaps have found work in that city but, penetrated83 by the necessity of getting further away, I resumed my journeying with the design of seeking my fortune in Dauphine; I had heard this province much spoken of, I fancied happiness attended me there, and we are going to see with what success I sought it out.
Never, not in a single one of my life's circumstances, had the sentiments of Religion deserted84 me. Despising the vain casuistries of strong-headed thinkers, believing them all to emanate85 from libertinage86 rather than consequent upon firm persuasion87, I had dressed my conscience and my heart against them and, by means of the one and the other, I had found what was needed in order to make them stout reply. By my misfortunes often forced to neglect my pious88 duties, I would make reparation for these faults whenever I could find the opportunity.
1 appalling | |
adj.骇人听闻的,令人震惊的,可怕的 | |
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2 maxims | |
n.格言,座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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3 enchants | |
使欣喜,使心醉( enchant的第三人称单数 ); 用魔法迷惑 | |
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4 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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5 amorous | |
adj.多情的;有关爱情的 | |
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6 penchant | |
n.爱好,嗜好;(强烈的)倾向 | |
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7 incense | |
v.激怒;n.香,焚香时的烟,香气 | |
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8 voluptuous | |
adj.肉欲的,骄奢淫逸的 | |
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9 boisterous | |
adj.喧闹的,欢闹的 | |
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10 exterminated | |
v.消灭,根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 delirium | |
n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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12 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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13 batter | |
v.接连重击;磨损;n.牛奶面糊;击球员 | |
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14 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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15 succumb | |
v.屈服,屈从;死 | |
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16 commiseration | |
n.怜悯,同情 | |
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17 brutally | |
adv.残忍地,野蛮地,冷酷无情地 | |
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18 wretch | |
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 | |
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19 rascal | |
n.流氓;不诚实的人 | |
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20 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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21 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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22 steadfast | |
adj.固定的,不变的,不动摇的;忠实的;坚贞不移的 | |
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23 espionage | |
n.间谍行为,谍报活动 | |
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24 vices | |
缺陷( vice的名词复数 ); 恶习; 不道德行为; 台钳 | |
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25 villains | |
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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26 cadaver | |
n.尸体 | |
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28 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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29 lenient | |
adj.宽大的,仁慈的 | |
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30 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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31 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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32 texture | |
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理 | |
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33 virgin | |
n.处女,未婚女子;adj.未经使用的;未经开发的 | |
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34 raped | |
v.以暴力夺取,强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 );强奸 | |
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35 rape | |
n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸 | |
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36 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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37 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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38 caresses | |
爱抚,抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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39 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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40 rigidly | |
adv.刻板地,僵化地 | |
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41 prostrate | |
v.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的 | |
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42 qualms | |
n.不安;内疚 | |
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43 peccadillo | |
n.轻罪,小过失 | |
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44 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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45 infamous | |
adj.声名狼藉的,臭名昭著的,邪恶的 | |
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46 spoke | |
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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47 brink | |
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿 | |
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48 postpone | |
v.延期,推迟 | |
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49 vigor | |
n.活力,精力,元气 | |
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50 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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51 abominable | |
adj.可厌的,令人憎恶的 | |
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52 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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53 ignominious | |
adj.可鄙的,不光彩的,耻辱的 | |
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54 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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55 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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56 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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57 fortify | |
v.强化防御,为…设防;加强,强化 | |
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58 sketched | |
v.草拟(sketch的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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59 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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60 chateau | |
n.城堡,别墅 | |
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61 stunned | |
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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62 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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63 immolate | |
v.牺牲 | |
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64 afflicted | |
使受痛苦,折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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66 consummated | |
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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67 numbed | |
v.使麻木,使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68 faculty | |
n.才能;学院,系;(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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69 chaste | |
adj.贞洁的;有道德的;善良的;简朴的 | |
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70 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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71 outrages | |
引起…的义愤,激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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72 participation | |
n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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73 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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74 frugality | |
n.节约,节俭 | |
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75 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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76 execration | |
n.诅咒,念咒,憎恶 | |
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77 eulogies | |
n.颂词,颂文( eulogy的名词复数 ) | |
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78 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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79 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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80 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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81 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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82 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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83 penetrated | |
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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84 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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85 emanate | |
v.发自,来自,出自 | |
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86 libertinage | |
n.放荡,自由观点 | |
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87 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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88 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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