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Chapter 22
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I settled down in Paris and began to write a play. I led a very regular life, working in the morning, and in the afternoon lounging about the gardens of the Luxembourg or sauntering through the streets. I spent long hours in the Louvre, the most friendly of all galleries and the most convenient for meditation1; or idled on the quays2, fingering second-hand3 books that I never meant to buy. I read a page here and there, and made acquaintance with a great many authors whom I was content to know thus desultorily4. In the evenings I went to see my friends. I looked in often on the Stroeves, and sometimes shared their modest fare. Dirk Stroeve flattered himself on his skill in cooking Italian dishes, and I confess that his spaghetti were very much better than his pictures. It was a dinner for a King when he brought in a huge dish of it, succulent with tomatoes, and we ate it together with the good household bread and a bottle of red wine. I grew more intimate with Blanche Stroeve, and I think, because I was English and she knew few English people, she was glad to see me. She was pleasant and simple, but she remained always rather silent, and I knew not why, gave me the impression that she was concealing5 something. But I thought that was perhaps no more than a natural reserve accentuated6 by the verbose7 frankness of her husband. Dirk never concealed8 anything. He discussed the most intimate matters with a complete lack of self-consciousness. Sometimes he embarrassed his wife, and the only time I saw her put out of countenance9 was when he insisted on telling me that he had taken a purge10, and went into somewhat realistic details on the subject. The perfect seriousness with which he narrated11 his misfortunes convulsed me with laughter, and this added to Mrs. Stroeve's irritation12.

"You seem to like making a fool of yourself, " she said.

His round eyes grew rounder still, and his brow puckered13 in dismay as he saw that she was angry.

"Sweetheart, have I vexed14 you? I'll never take another. It was only because I was bilious15. I lead a sedentary life. I don't take enough exercise. For three days I hadn't . . . "

"For goodness sake, hold your tongue, " she interrupted, tears of annoyance16 in her eyes.

His face fell, and he pouted17 his lips like a scolded child. He gave me a look of appeal, so that I might put things right, but, unable to control myself, I shook with helpless laughter.

We went one day to the picture-dealer18 in whose shop Stroeve thought he could show me at least two or three of Strickland's pictures, but when we arrived were told that Strickland himself had taken them away. The dealer did not know why.

"But don't imagine to yourself that I make myself bad blood on that account. I took them to oblige Monsieur Stroeve, and I said I would sell them if I could. But really --" He shrugged19 his shoulders. "I'm interested in the young men, but voyons, you yourself, Monsieur Stroeve, you don't think there's any talent there. "

"I give you my word of honour, there's no one painting to-day in whose talent I am more convinced. Take my word for it, you are missing a good affair. Some day those pictures will be worth more than all you have in your shop. Remember Monet, who could not get anyone to buy his pictures for a hundred francs. What are they worth now?"

"True. But there were a hundred as good painters as Monet who couldn't sell their pictures at that time, and their pictures are worth nothing still. How can one tell? Is merit enough to bring success? Don't believe it. Du reste, it has still to be proved that this friend of yours has merit. No one claims it for him but Monsieur Stroeve. "

"And how, then, will you recognise merit?" asked Dirk, red in the face with anger.

"There is only one way -- by success. "

"Philistine20, " cried Dirk.

"But think of the great artists of the past -- Raphael, Michael Angelo, Ingres, Delacroix -- they were all successful. "

"Let us go, " said Stroeve to me, "or I shall kill this man. "

 

我在巴黎定居下来,开始写一个剧本。我的生活很有规律;早上工作,下午在卢森堡公园或者在大街上漫步。我把很多时间消磨在卢佛尔宫里,这是巴黎所有画廊中我感到最亲切的一个,也是最适于我冥想的地方。再不然我就在塞纳河边悠闲地打发时间,翻弄一些我从来不想买的旧书。我东读两页、西读两页,就这样熟悉了不少作家。对这些作家我有这种零星的知识也就完全够用了。晚饭后我去看朋友。我常常到施特略夫家去,有时候在他家吃一顿简便的晚饭。施特略夫认为做意大利菜是他的拿手,我也承认他做的意大利通心粉远比他画的画高明。当他端上来一大盘香喷喷的通心粉,配着西红柿,我们一边喝红葡萄酒,一边就着通心粉吃他家自己烘烤的面包的时候,这一顿饭简直抵得上皇上的御餐了。我同勃朗什·施特略夫逐渐熟起来。我想,可能因为我是英国人,而她在这里认识的英国人不多,所以她很高兴看到我。她心地单纯,人总是快快活活,但是她一般不太爱说话。不知道为什么,她给我一个印象,仿佛心里藏着什么东西似的。但是我也想过,这也许只是因为她生性拘谨,再加上她丈夫心直口快、过于饶舌的缘故。戴尔克心里有什么话都憋不住,就是最隐秘的事也毫无避讳地公开和你讨论。他的这种态度有时候叫他妻子感到很尴尬。我见到她恼羞成怒只有一次。那次施特略夫非要告诉我他服泻药的事不可,而且说得绘声绘色。在他给我描述这件灾祸时,他的脸色一本正经,结果我差点儿笑破了肚皮,而施特略夫太太则窘得无地自容,终于冒起火来。

“你好象愿意把自己当个傻瓜似的,”她说。

当他看到自己的老婆真的生起气来的时候,他的一对圆眼睛瞪得更圆了,眉毛也不知所措地皱了起来。

“亲爱的,你生我的气了吗?我再也不吃泻药了。这都是因为我肝火太旺的缘故。我整天坐着不动。我的运动不够。我有三天没有……”

“老天啊,你还不闭嘴!”她打断了他的话,因为气恼而迸出眼泪来。

他的脸耷拉下来,象是个挨了训的孩子似地撅起嘴来。他向我递了个恳求的眼色,希望我替他打个圆场,可是我却无法控制自己,笑得直不起腰来。

有一天我们一起到一个画商那里去,施特略夫认为他至少可以让我看到两三张思特里克兰德的画。但是在我们到了那里以后,画商却告诉我们,思特里克兰德已经把画取走了。画商也不知道他为什么要这样做。

“不要认为我为这件事感到恼火。我接受他的画都是看在施特略夫先生的面上。我告诉他我尽量替他卖。但是说真的——”他耸了耸肩膀。“我对年轻人是有兴趣的,可是施待略夫先生,你自己也知道,你也并不认为他们中有什么天才。”

“我拿名誉向你担保,在所有这些画家里,再没有谁比他更有天才了。你相信我的话吧,一笔赚钱的买卖叫你白白糟蹋了。迟早有一天他的这几张画会比你铺子里所有的画加在一起还值钱。你还记得莫奈吗?当时他的一张画一百法郎都没人要。现在值多少钱了?”

“不错。但是当时还有一百个画家,一点也不次于莫奈,同样也卖不掉自己的画。现在这些人的画还是不值钱。谁知道这是怎么回事?是不是画家只要画得好就能成名呢?千万别相信这个。再说①,你的这位朋友究竟画得好不好也还没有证实。只有你施特略夫先生一个人夸奖他,我还没听见别人说他好呢。”

①原文为法语。

“那么你说说,怎样才知道一个人画得好不好?”戴尔克问道,脸都气红了。

“只有一个办法——出了名画得就好。”

“市侩,”戴尔克喊道。

“不妨想想过去的大艺术家——拉斐尔,米开朗基罗,安格尔②,德拉克罗瓦③,都是出了名的。”

②让·奥古斯特·多米尼克·安格尔(1780—1867),法国画家。

③费迪南·维克多·欧仁·德拉克罗瓦(1798—1863),法国画家。

“咱们走吧,”施特略夫对我说,“再不走的话我非把这个人宰了不可。”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 meditation yjXyr     
n.熟虑,(尤指宗教的)默想,沉思,(pl.)冥想录
参考例句:
  • This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉,我打断了你的沉思。
2 quays 110ce5978d72645d8c8a15c0fab0bcb6     
码头( quay的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She drove across the Tournelle bridge and across the busy quays to the Latin quarter. 她驾车开过图尔内勒桥,穿过繁忙的码头开到拉丁区。
  • When blasting is close to such installations as quays, the charge can be reduced. 在靠近如码头这类设施爆破时,装药量可以降低。
3 second-hand second-hand     
adj.用过的,旧的,二手的
参考例句:
  • I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
  • They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。
4 desultorily c9ae3dbd0e359514b1a3f332b59f901d     
adv. 杂乱无章地, 散漫地
参考例句:
  • The man continued talking. She answered him desultorily. 那个男人继续说着。她随口应答。 来自柯林斯例句
5 concealing 0522a013e14e769c5852093b349fdc9d     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善,我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定,还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产
6 accentuated 8d9d7b3caa6bc930125ff5f3e132e5fd     
v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 );使突出;使恶化;加重音符号于
参考例句:
  • The problem is accentuated by a shortage of water and electricity. 缺乏水电使问题愈加严重。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Her black hair accentuated the delicateness of her skin. 她那乌黑的头发更衬托出她洁嫩的皮肤。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
7 verbose vi1wL     
adj.用字多的;冗长的;累赘的
参考例句:
  • His writing is difficult and often verbose.他的文章很晦涩,而且往往篇幅冗长。
  • Your report is too long and verbose.你的报告太长太罗嗦了。
8 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
9 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
10 purge QS1xf     
n.整肃,清除,泻药,净化;vt.净化,清除,摆脱;vi.清除,通便,腹泻,变得清洁
参考例句:
  • The new president carried out a purge of disloyal army officers.新总统对不忠诚的军官进行了清洗。
  • The mayoral candidate has promised to purge the police department.市长候选人答应清洗警察部门。
11 narrated 41d1c5fe7dace3e43c38e40bfeb85fe5     
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
12 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒,恼怒,生气
参考例句:
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说,但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
13 puckered 919dc557997e8559eff50805cb11f46e     
v.(使某物)起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • His face puckered , and he was ready to cry. 他的脸一皱,像要哭了。
  • His face puckered, the tears leapt from his eyes. 他皱着脸,眼泪夺眶而出。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 vexed fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7     
adj.争论不休的;(指问题等)棘手的;争论不休的问题;烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 );使苦恼;使生气;详细讨论
参考例句:
  • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
  • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
15 bilious GdUy3     
adj.胆汁过多的;易怒的
参考例句:
  • The quality or condition of being bilious.多脂肪食物使有些人患胆汁病。
  • He was a bilious old gentleman.他是一位脾气乖戾的老先生。
16 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
参考例句:
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
17 pouted 25946cdee5db0ed0b7659cea8201f849     
v.撅(嘴)( pout的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her lips pouted invitingly. 她挑逗地撮起双唇。
  • I pouted my lips at him, hinting that he should speak first. 我向他努了努嘴,让他先说。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
18 dealer GyNxT     
n.商人,贩子
参考例句:
  • The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
  • The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。
19 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 philistine 1A2yG     
n.庸俗的人;adj.市侩的,庸俗的
参考例句:
  • I believe he seriously thinks me an awful Philistine.我相信,他真的认为我是个不可救药的庸人。
  • Do you know what a philistine is,jim?吉姆,知道什么是庸俗吗?


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