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the magic skin(驴皮记)-第44章

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Pauline drew her hands away; laid them on Raphael's shoulders; and
drew him towards her。 They understood one anotherin that close
embrace; in the unalloyed and sacred fervor of that one kiss without
an afterthoughtthe first kiss by which two souls take possession of
each other。

〃Ah; I will not leave you any more;〃 said Pauline; falling back in her
chair。 〃I do not know how I come to be so bold!〃 she added; blushing。

〃Bold; my Pauline? Do not fear it。 It is love; love true and deep and
everlasting like my own; is it not?〃

〃Speak!〃 she cried。 〃Go on speaking; so long your lips have been dumb
for me。〃

〃Then you have loved me all along?〃

〃Loved you? MON DIEU! How often I have wept here; setting your room
straight; and grieving for your poverty and my own。 I would have sold
myself to the evil one to spare you one vexation! You are MY Raphael
to…day; really my own Raphael; with that handsome head of yours; and
your heart is mine too; yes; that above all; your heartO wealth
inexhaustible! Well; where was I?〃 she went on after a pause。 〃Oh yes!
We have three; four; or five millions; I believe。 If I were poor; I
should perhaps desire to bear your name; to be acknowledged as your
wife; but as it is; I would give up the whole world for you; I would
be your servant still; now and always。 Why; Raphael; if I give you my
fortune; my heart; myself to…day; I do no more than I did that day
when I put a certain five…franc piece in the drawer there;〃 and she
pointed to the table。 〃Oh; how your exultation hurt me then!〃

〃Oh; why are you rich?〃 Raphael cried; 〃why is there no vanity in you?
I can do nothing for you。〃

He wrung his hands in despair and happiness and love。

〃When you are the Marquise de Valentin; I know that the title and the
fortune for thee; heavenly soul; will not be worth〃

〃One hair of your head;〃 she cried。

〃I have millions too。 But what is wealth to either of us now? There is
my lifeah; that I can offer; take it。〃

〃Your love; Raphael; your love is all the world to me。 Are your
thoughts of me? I am the happiest of the happy!〃

〃Can any one overhear us?〃 asked Raphael。

〃Nobody;〃 she replied; and a mischievous gesture escaped her。

〃Come; then!〃 cried Valentin; holding out his arms。

She sprang upon his knees and clasped her arms about his neck。

〃Kiss me!〃 she cried; 〃after all the pain you have given me; to blot
out the memory of the grief that your joys have caused me; and for the
sake of the nights that I spent in painting hand…screens〃

〃Those hand…screens of yours?〃

〃Now that we are rich; my darling; I can tell you all about it。 Poor
boy! how easy it is to delude a clever man! Could you have had white
waistcoats and clean shirts twice a week for three francs every month
to the laundress? Why; you used to drink twice as much milk as your
money would have paid for。 I deceived you all roundover firing; oil;
and even money。 O Raphael mine; don't have me for your wife; I am far
too cunning!〃 she said laughing。

〃But how did you manage?〃

〃I used to work till two o'clock in the morning; I gave my mother half
the money made by my screens; and the other half went to you。〃

They looked at one another for a moment; both bewildered by love and
gladness。

〃Some day we shall have to pay for this happiness by some terrible
sorrow;〃 cried Raphael。

〃Perhaps you are married?〃 said Pauline。 〃Oh; I will not give you up
to any other woman。〃

〃I am free; my beloved。〃

〃Free!〃 she repeated。 〃Free; and mine!〃

She slipped down upon her knees; clasped her hands; and looked at
Raphael in an enthusiasm of devotion。

〃I am afraid I shall go mad。 How handsome you are!〃 she went on;
passing her fingers through her lover's fair hair。 〃How stupid your
Countess Foedora is! How pleased I was yesterday with the homage they
all paid to me! SHE has never been applauded。 Dear; when I felt your
arm against my back; I heard a vague voice within me that cried; 'He
is there!' and I turned round and saw you。 I fled; for I longed so to
throw my arms about you before them all。〃

〃How happy you areyou can speak!〃 Raphael exclaimed。 〃My heart is
overwhelmed; I would weep; but I cannot。 Do not draw your hand away。 I
could stay here looking at you like this for the rest of my life; I
think; happy and content。〃

〃O my love; say that once more!〃

〃Ah; what are words?〃 answered Valentin; letting a hot tear fall on
Pauline's hands。 〃Some time I will try to tell you of my love; just
now I can only feel it。〃

〃You;〃 she said; 〃with your lofty soul and your great genius; with
that heart of yours that I know so well; are you really mine; as I am
yours?〃

〃For ever and ever; my sweet creature;〃 said Raphael in an uncertain
voice。 〃You shall be my wife; my protecting angel。 My griefs have
always been dispelled by your presence; and my courage revived; that
angelic smile now on your lips has purified me; so to speak。 A new
life seems about to begin for me。 The cruel past and my wretched
follies are hardly more to me than evil dreams。 At your side I breathe
an atmosphere of happiness; and I am pure。 Be with me always;〃 he
added; pressing her solemnly to his beating heart。

〃Death may come when it will;〃 said Pauline in ecstasy; 〃I have
lived!〃

Happy he who shall divine their joy; for he must have experienced it。

〃I wish that no one might enter this dear garret again; my Raphael;〃
said Pauline; after two hours of silence。

〃We must have the door walled up; put bars across the window; and buy
the house;〃 the Marquis answered。

〃Yes; we will;〃 she said。 Then a moment later she added: 〃Our search
for your manuscripts has been a little lost sight of;〃 and they both
laughed like children。

〃Pshaw! I don't care a jot for the whole circle of the sciences;〃
Raphael answered。

〃Ah; sir; and how about glory?〃

〃I glory in you alone。〃

〃You used to be very miserable as you made these little scratches and
scrawls;〃 she said; turning the papers over。

〃My Pauline〃

〃Oh yes; I am your Paulineand what then?〃

〃Where are you living now?〃

〃In the Rue Saint Lazare。 And you?〃

〃In the Rue de Varenne。〃

〃What a long way apart we shall be until〃 She stopped; and looked
at her lover with a mischievous and coquettish expression。

〃But at the most we need only be separated for a fortnight;〃 Raphael
answered。

〃Really! we are to be married in a fortnight?〃 and she jumped for joy
like a child。

〃I am an unnatural daughter!〃 she went on。 〃I give no more thought to
my father or my mother; or to anything in the world。 Poor love; you
don't know that my father is very ill? He returned from the Indies in
very bad health。 He nearly died at Havre; where we went to find him。
Good heavens!〃 she cried; looking at her watch; 〃it is three o'clock
already! I ought to be back again when he wakes at four。 I am mistress
of the house at home; my mother does everything that I wish; and my
father worships me; but I will not abuse their kindness; that would be
wrong。 My poor father! He would have me go to the Italiens yesterday。
You will come to see him to…morrow; will you not?〃

〃Will Madame la Marquise de Valentin honor me by taking my arm?〃

〃I am going to take the key of this room away with me;〃 she said。
〃Isn't our treasure…house a palace?〃

〃One more kiss; Pauline。〃

〃A thousand; MON DIEU!〃 she said; looking at Raphael。 〃Will it always
be like this? I feel as if I were dreaming。〃

They went slowly down the stairs together; step for step; with arms
closely linked; trembling both of them beneath their load of joy。 Each
pressing close to the other's side; like a pair of doves; they reached
the Place de la Sorbonne; where Pauline's carriage was waiting。

〃I want to go home with you;〃 she said。 〃I want to see your own room
and your study; and to sit at the table where you work。 It will be
like old times;〃 she said; blushing。

She spoke to the servant。 〃Joseph; before returning home I am going to
the Rue de Varenne。 It is a quarter…past three now; and I must be back
by four o'clock。 George must hurry the horses。〃 And so in a few
moments the lovers came to Valentin's abode。

〃How glad I am to have seen all this for myself!〃 Pauline cried;
creasing the silken bed…curtains in Raphael's room between her
fingers。 〃As I go to sleep; I shall be here in thought。 I shall
imagine your dear head on the pillow there。 Raphael; tell me; did no
one advise you about the furniture of your hotel?〃

〃No one whatever。〃

〃Really? It was not a woman who〃

〃Pauline!〃

〃Oh; I know I am fearfully jealous。 You have good taste。 I will have a
bed like yours to…morrow。〃

Quite beside himself with happiness; Raphael caught Pauline in his
arms。

〃Oh; my father!〃 she said; 〃my father〃

〃I will take you back to him;〃 cried Valentin; 〃for I want to be away
from you as little as possible。〃

〃How loving you are! I did not venture to suggest it〃

〃Are you not my life?〃

It would be tedious to set down accurately the charming prattle of the
lovers; for tones and looks and gestures that cannot be rendered alone
gave it significance。 Valentin went back with Pauline to her own door;
and returned with as much happiness in his heart as mortal 
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