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second to Raphael's antagonist； 〃you are putting in the ball before
the powder！〃
〃I am a dead man；〃 he muttered； by way of answer； 〃you have put me
facing the sun〃
〃The sun lies behind you；〃 said Valentin sternly and solemnly； while
he coolly loaded his pistol without heeding the fact that the signal
had been given； or that his antagonist was carefully taking aim。
There was something so appalling in this supernatural unconcern； that
it affected even the two postilions； brought thither by a cruel
curiosity。 Raphael was either trying his power or playing with it； for
he talked to Jonathan； and looked towards him as he received his
adversary's fire。 Charles' bullet broke a branch of willow； and
ricocheted over the surface of the water； Raphael fired at random； and
shot his antagonist through the heart。 He did not heed the young man
as he dropped； he hurriedly sought the Magic Skin to see what another
man's life had cost him。 The talisman was no larger than a small oak…
leaf。
〃What are you gaping at； you postilions over there？ Let us be off；〃
said the Marquis。
That same evening he crossed the French border； immediately set out
for Auvergne； and reached the springs of Mont Dore。 As he traveled；
there surged up in his heart； all at once； one of those thoughts that
come to us as a ray of sunlight pierces through the thick mists in
some dark valleya sad enlightenment； a pitiless sagacity that lights
up the accomplished fact for us； that lays our errors bare； and leaves
us without excuse in our own eyes。 It suddenly struck him that the
possession of power； no matter how enormous； did not bring with it the
knowledge how to use it。 The sceptre is a plaything for a child； an
axe for a Richelieu； and for a Napoleon a lever by which to move the
world。 Power leaves us just as it finds us； only great natures grow
greater by its means。 Raphael had had everything in his power； and he
had done nothing。
At the springs of Mont Dore he came again in contact with a little
world of people； who invariably shunned him with the eager haste that
animals display when they scent afar off one of their own species
lying dead； and flee away。 The dislike was mutual。 His late adventure
had given him a deep distaste for society； his first care；
consequently； was to find a lodging at some distance from the
neighborhood of the springs。 Instinctively he felt within him the need
of close contact with nature； of natural emotions； and of the
vegetative life into which we sink so gladly among the fields。
The day after he arrived he climbed the Pic de Sancy； not without
difficulty； and visited the higher valleys； the skyey nooks；
undiscovered lakes； and peasants' huts about Mont Dore； a country
whose stern and wild features are now beginning to tempt the brushes
of our artists； for sometimes wonderfully fresh and charming views are
to be found there； affording a strong contrast to the frowning brows
of those lonely hills。
Barely a league from the village Raphael discovered a nook where
nature seemed to have taken a pleasure in hiding away all her
treasures like some glad and mischievous child。 At the first sight of
this unspoiled and picturesque retreat； he determined to take up his
abode in it。 There； life must needs be peaceful； natural； and
fruitful； like the life of a plant。
Imagine for yourself an inverted cone of granite hollowed out on a
large scale； a sort of basin with its sides divided up by queer
winding paths。 On one side lay level stretches with no growth upon
them； a bluish uniform surface； over which the rays of the sun fell as
upon a mirror； on the other lay cliffs split open by fissures and
frowning ravines； great blocks of lava hung suspended from them； while
the action of rain slowly prepared their impending fall； a few stunted
trees tormented by the wind； often crowned their summits； and here and
there in some sheltered angle of their ramparts a clump of chestnut…
trees grew tall as cedars； or some cavern in the yellowish rocks
showed the dark entrance into its depths； set about by flowers and
brambles； decked by a little strip of green turf。
At the bottom of this cup； which perhaps had been the crater of an
old…world volcano； lay a pool of water as pure and bright as a
diamond。 Granite boulders lay around the deep basin； and willows；
mountain…ash trees； yellow…flag lilies； and numberless aromatic plants
bloomed about it； in a realm of meadow as fresh as an English bowling…
green。 The fine soft grass was watered by the streams that trickled
through the fissures in the cliffs； the soil was continually enriched
by the deposits of loam which storms washed down from the heights
above。 The pool might be some three acres in extent； its shape was
irregular； and the edges were scalloped like the hem of a dress； the
meadow might be an acre or two acres in extent。 The cliffs and the
water approached and receded from each other； here and there； there
was scarcely width enough for the cows to pass between them。
After a certain height the plant life ceased。 Aloft in air the granite
took upon itself the most fantastic shapes； and assumed those misty
tints that give to high mountains a dim resemblance to clouds in the
sky。 The bare； bleak cliffs； with the fearful rents in their sides；
pictures of wild and barren desolation； contrasted strongly with the
pretty view of the valley； and so strange were the shapes they
assumed； that one of the cliffs had been called 〃The Capuchin；〃
because it was so like a monk。 Sometimes these sharp…pointed peaks；
these mighty masses of rock； and airy caverns were lighted up one by
one； according to the direction of the sun or the caprices of the
atmosphere； they caught gleams of gold； dyed themselves in purple；
took a tint of glowing rose…color； or turned dull and gray。 Upon the
heights a drama of color was always to be seen； a play of ever…
shifting iridescent hues like those on a pigeon's breast。
Oftentimes at sunrise or at sunset a ray of bright sunlight would
penetrate between two sheer surfaces of lava； that might have been
split apart by a hatchet； to the very depths of that pleasant little
garden； where it would play in the waters of the pool； like a beam of
golden light which gleams through the chinks of a shutter into a room
in Spain； that has been carefully darkened for a siesta。 When the sun
rose above the old crater that some antediluvian revolution had filled
with water； its rocky sides took warmer tones； the extinct volcano
glowed again； and its sudden heat quickened the sprouting seeds and
vegetation； gave color to the flowers； and ripened the fruits of this
forgotten corner of the earth。
As Raphael reached it； he noticed several cows grazing in the pasture…
land； and when he had taken a few steps towards the water； he saw a
little house built of granite and roofed with shingle in the spot
where the meadowland was at its widest。 The roof of this little
cottage harmonized with everything about it； for it had long been
overgrown with ivy； moss； and flowers of no recent date。 A thin smoke；
that did not scare the birds away； went up from the dilapidated
chimney。 There was a great bench at the door between two huge honey…
suckle bushes； that were pink with blossom and full of scent。 The
walls could scarcely be seen for branches of vine and sprays of rose
and jessamine that interlaced and grew entirely as chance and their
own will bade them； for the inmates of the cottage seemed to pay no
attention to the growth which adorned their house； and to take no care
of it； leaving to it the fresh capricious charm of nature。
Some clothes spread out on the gooseberry bushes were drying in the
sun。 A cat was sitting on a machine for stripping hemp； beneath it lay
a newly scoured brass caldron； among a quantity of potato…parings。 On
the other side of the house Raphael saw a sort of barricade of dead
thorn…bushes； meant no doubt to keep the poultry from scratching up
the vegetables and pot…herbs。 It seemed like the end of the earth。 The
dwelling was like some bird's…nest ingeniously set in a cranny of the
rocks； a clever and at the same time a careless bit of workmanship。 A
simple and kindly nature lay round about it； its rusticity was
genuine； but there was a charm like that of poetry in it； for it grew
and throve at a thousand miles' distance from our elaborate and
conventional poetry。 It was like none of our conceptions； it was a
spontaneous growth； a masterpiece due to chance。
As Raphael reached the place； the sunlight fell across it from right
to left； bringing out all the colors of its plants and trees； the
yellowish or gray bases of the crags； the different shades of the
green leaves； the masses of flowers； pink； blue； or white； the
climbing plants with their bell…like blossoms； and the shot velvet of
the mosses； the purple…tinted blooms of the heather；everything was
either brought into relief or made fairer yet by the enchantment of
the light or by the contrasting shadows； and this was the case most of
all with the sheet of water； wherein the house； the trees； the granite
peaks； and the sky were all faithfully reflected。 Everything had a
radiance of its own in this delightfu