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TO BE READ AT DUSK
TO BE READ AT DUSK
by Charles Dickens
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One； two； three； four； five。 There were five of them。
Five couriers； sitting on a bench outside the convent on the summit of
the Great St。 Bernard in Switzerland； looking at the remote heights；
stained by the setting sun as if a mighty quantity of red wine had been
broached upon the mountain top； and had not yet had time to sink into the
snow。
This is not my simile。 It was made for the occasion by the stoutest
courier； who was a German。 None of the others took any more notice of
it than they took of me； sitting on another bench on the other side of the
convent door； smoking my cigar； like them； and … also like them … looking
at the reddened snow； and at the lonely shed hard by； where the bodies of
belated travellers； dug out of it； slowly wither away； knowing no
corruption in that cold region。
The wine upon the mountain top soaked in as we looked； the mountain
became white； the sky； a very dark blue； the wind rose； and the air turned
piercing cold。 The five couriers buttoned their rough coats。 There
being no safer man to imitate in all such proceedings than a courier； I
buttoned mine。
The mountain in the sunset had stopped the five couriers in a
conversation。 It is a sublime sight； likely to stop conversation。 The
mountain being now out of the sunset； they resumed。 Not that I had
heard any part of their previous discourse； for indeed； I had not then
broken away from the American gentleman； in the travellers' parlour of the
convent； who； sitting with his face to the fire； had undertaken to realise to
me the whole progress of events which had led to the accumulation by the
Honourable Ananias Dodger of one of the largest acquisitions of dollars
ever made in our country。
'My God！' said the Swiss courier； speaking in French； which I do not
hold （as some authors appear to do） to be such an all… sufficient excuse for
a naughty word； that I have only to write it in that language to make it
innocent； 'if you talk of ghosts … '
'But I DON'T talk of ghosts；' said the German。
'Of what then？' asked the Swiss。
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'If I knew of what then；' said the German； 'I should probably know a
great deal more。'
It was a good answer； I thought； and it made me curious。 So； I moved
my position to that corner of my bench which was nearest to them； and
leaning my back against the convent wall； heard perfectly； without
appearing to attend。
'Thunder and lightning！' said the German； warming； 'when a certain
man is coming to see you； unexpectedly； and； without his own knowledge；
sends some invisible messenger； to put the idea of him into your head all
day； what do you call that？ When you walk along a crowded street … at
Frankfort； Milan； London； Paris … and think that a passing stranger is like
your friend Heinrich； and then that another passing stranger is like your
friend Heinrich； and so begin to have a strange foreknowledge that
presently you'll meet your friend Heinrich … which you do； though you
believed him at Trieste … what do you call THAT？'
'It's not uncommon； either；' murmured the Swiss and the other three。
'Uncommon！' said the German。 'It's as common as cherries in the
Black Forest。 It's as common as maccaroni at Naples。 And Naples
reminds me！ When the old Marchesa Senzanima shrieks at a card… party
on the Chiaja … as I heard and saw her； for it happened in a Bavarian
family of mine； and I was overlooking the service that evening … I say；
when the old Marchesa starts up at the card…table； white through her rouge；
and cries； 〃My sister in Spain is dead！ I felt her cold touch on my back！〃
… and when that sister IS dead at the moment … what do you call that？'
'Or when the blood of San Gennaro liquefies at the request of the
clergy … as all the world knows that it does regularly once a…year； in my
native city；' said the Neapolitan courier after a pause； with a comical look；
'what do you call that？' 'THAT！' cried the German。 'Well； I think I
know a name for that。'
'Miracle？' said the Neapolitan； with the same sly face。
The German merely smoked and laughed； and they all smoked and
laughed。
'Bah！' said the German； presently。 'I speak of things that really do
happen。 When I want to see the conjurer； I pay to see a professed one；
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and have my money's worth。 Very strange things do happen without
ghosts。 Ghosts！ Giovanni Baptista； tell your story of the English bride。
There's no ghost in that； but something full as strange。 Will any man tell
me what？'
As there was a silence among them； I glanced around。 He whom I
took to be Baptista was lighting a fresh cigar。 He presently went on to
speak。 He was a Genoese； as I judged。
'The story of the English bride？' said he。 'Basta！ one ought not to call
so slight a thing a story。 Well； it's all one。 But it's true。 Observe me
well； gentlemen； it's true。 That which glitters is not always gold； but
what I am going to tell； is true。'
He repeated this more than once。
Ten years ago； I took my credentials to an English gentleman at
Long's Hotel； in Bond Street； London； who was about to travel … it might
be for one year； it might be for two。 He approved of them； likewise of
me。 He was pleased to make inquiry。 The testimony that he received
was favourable。 He engaged me by the six months； and my
entertainment was generous。
He was young； handsome； very happy。 He was enamoured of a fair
young English lady； with a sufficient fortune； and they were going to be
married。 It was the wedding…trip； in short； that we were going to take。
For three months' rest in the hot weather （it was early summer then） he
had hired an old place on the Riviera； at an easy distance from my city；
Genoa； on the road to Nice。 Did I know that place？ Yes； I told him I
knew it well。 It was an old palace with great gardens。 It was a little
bare； and it was a little dark and gloomy； being close surrounded by trees；
but it was spacious； ancient； grand； and on the seashore。 He said it had
been so described to him exactly； and he was well pleased that I knew it。
For its being a little bare of furniture； all such places were。 For its being a
little gloomy； he had hired it principally for the gardens； and he and my
mistress would pass the summer weather in their shade。
'So all goes well； Baptista？' said he。
'Indubitably； signore； very well。'
We had a travelling chariot for our journey； newly built for us； and in
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all respects complete。 All we had was complete； we wanted for nothing。
The marriage took place。 They were happy。 I was happy； seeing all so
bright； being so well situated； going to my own city； teaching my language
in the rumble to the maid； la bella Carolina； whose heart was gay with
laughter： who was young and rosy。
The time flew。 But I observed … listen to this； I pray！ （and here the
courier dropped his voice） … I observed my mistress sometimes brooding
in a manner very strange； in a frightened manner； in an unhappy manner；
with a cloudy； uncertain alarm upon her。 I think that I began to notice
this when I was walking up hills by the carriage side； and master had gone
on in front。 At any rate； I