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accidents only excepted。 Your lungs are as sound as a blacksmith's
bellows； your stomach would put an ostrich to the blush； but if you
persist in living at high altitude； you are running the risk of a
prompt interment in consecrated soil。 A few words； my Lord Marquis；
will make my meaning clear to you。
〃Chemistry；〃 he began； 〃has shown us that man's breathing is a real
process of combustion； and the intensity of its action varies
according to the abundance or scarcity of the phlogistic element
stored up by the organism of each individual。 In your case； the
phlogistic； or inflammatory element is abundant； if you will permit me
to put it so； you generate superfluous oxygen； possessing as you do
the inflammatory temperament of a man destined to experience strong
emotions。 While you breath the keen； pure air that stimulates life in
men of lymphatic constitution； you are accelerating an expenditure of
vitality already too rapid。 One of the conditions for existence for
you is the heavier atmosphere of the plains and valleys。 Yes； the
vital air for a man consumed by his genius lies in the fertile
pasture…lands of Germany； at Toplitz or Baden…Baden。 If England is not
obnoxious to you； its misty climate would reduce your fever； but the
situation of our baths； a thousand feet above the level of the
Mediterranean； is dangerous for you。 That is my opinion at least；〃 he
said； with a deprecatory gesture； 〃and I give it in opposition to our
interests； for； if you act upon it； we shall unfortunately lose you。〃
But for these closing words of his； the affable doctor's seeming good…
nature would have completely won Raphael over； but he was too
profoundly observant not to understand the meaning of the tone； the
look and gesture that accompanied that mild sarcasm； not to see that
the little man had been sent on this errand； no doubt； by a flock of
his rejoicing patients。 The florid…looking idlers； tedious old women；
nomad English people； and fine ladies who had given their husbands the
slip； and were escorted hither by their loversone and all were in a
plot to drive away a wretched； feeble creature to die； who seemed
unable to hold out against a daily renewed persecution！ Raphael
accepted the challenge； he foresaw some amusement to be derived from
their manoeuvres。
〃As you would be grieved at losing me；〃 said he to the doctor； 〃I will
endeavor to avail myself of your good advice without leaving the
place。 I will set about having a house built to…morrow； and the
atmosphere within it shall be regulated by your instructions。〃
The doctor understood the sarcastic smile that lurked about Raphael's
mouth； and took his leave without finding another word to say。
The Lake of Bourget lies seven hundred feet above the Mediterranean；
in a great hollow among the jagged peaks of the hills； it sparkles
there； the bluest drop of water in the world。 From the summit of the
Cat's Tooth the lake below looks like a stray turquoise。 This lovely
sheet of water is about twenty…seven miles round； and in some places
is nearly five hundred feet deep。
Under the cloudless sky； in your boat in the midst of the great
expanse of water； with only the sound of the oars in your ears； only
the vague outline of the hills on the horizon before you； you admire
the glittering snows of the French Maurienne； you pass； now by masses
of granite clad in the velvet of green turf or in low…growing shrubs；
now by pleasant sloping meadows； there is always a wilderness on the
one hand and fertile lands on the other； and both harmonies and
dissonances compose a scene for you where everything is at once small
and vast； and you feel yourself to be a poor onlooker at a great
banquet。 The configuration of the mountains brings about misleading
optical conditions and illusions of perspective； a pine…tree a hundred
feet in height looks to be a mere weed； wide valleys look as narrow as
meadow paths。 The lake is the only one where the confidences of heart
and heart can be exchanged。 There one can live； there one can
meditate。 Nowhere on earth will you find a closer understanding
between the water； the sky； the mountains； and the fields。 There is a
balm there for all the agitations of life。 The place keeps the secrets
of sorrow to itself； the sorrow that grows less beneath its soothing
influence； and to love； it gives a grave and meditative cast；
deepening passion and purifying it。 A kiss there becomes something
great。 But beyond all other things it is the lake for memories； it
aids them by lending to them the hues of its own waves； it is a mirror
in which everything is reflected。 Only here； with this lovely
landscape all around him； could Raphael endure the burden laid upon
him； here he could remain as a languid dreamer； without a wish of his
own。
He went out upon the lake after the doctor's visit； and was landed at
a lonely point on the pleasant slope where the village of Saint…
Innocent is situated。 The view from this promontory； as one may call
it； comprises the heights of Bugey with the Rhone flowing at their
foot； and the end of the lake； but Raphael liked to look at the
opposite shore from thence； at the melancholy looking Abbey of Haute…
Combe； the burying…place of the Sardinian kings； who lie prostrate
there before the hills； like pilgrims come at last to their journey's
end。 The silence of the landscape was broken by the even rhythm of the
strokes of the oar； it seemed to find a voice for the place； in
monotonous cadences like the chanting of monks。 The Marquis was
surprised to find visitors to this usually lonely part of the lake；
and as he mused； he watched the people seated in the boat； and
recognized in the stern the elderly lady who had spoken so harshly to
him the evening before。
No one took any notice of Raphael as the boat passed； except the
elderly lady's companion； a poor old maid of noble family； who bowed
to him； and whom it seemed to him that he saw for the first time。 A
few seconds later he had already forgotten the visitors； who had
rapidly disappeared behind the promontory； when he heard the
fluttering of a dress and the sound of light footsteps not far from
him。 He turned about and saw the companion； and； guessing from her
embarrassed manner that she wished to speak with him； he walked
towards her。
She was somewhere about thirty…six years of age； thin and tall；
reserved and prim； and； like all old maids； seemed puzzled to know
which way to look； an expression no longer in keeping with her
measured； springless； and hesitating steps。 She was both young and old
at the same time； and； by a certain dignity in her carriage； showed
the high value which she set upon her charms and perfections。 In
addition； her movements were all demure and discreet； like those of
women who are accustomed to take great care of themselves； no doubt
because they desire not to be cheated of love； their destined end。
〃Your life is in danger； sir； do not come to the Club again！〃 she
said； stepping back a pace or two from Raphael； as if her reputation
had already been compromised。
〃But； mademoiselle；〃 said Raphael； smiling； 〃please explain yourself
more clearly； since you have condescended so far〃
〃Ah；〃 she answered； 〃unless I had had a very strong motive； I should
never have run the risk of offending the countess； for if she ever
came to know that I had warned you〃
〃And who would tell her； mademoiselle？〃 cried Raphael。
〃True；〃 the old maid answered。 She looked at him； quaking like an owl
out in the sunlight。 〃But think of yourself；〃 she went on； 〃several
young men； who want to drive you away from the baths； have agreed to
pick a quarrel with you； and to force you into a duel。〃
The elderly lady's voice sounded in the distance。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 began the Marquis； 〃my gratitude〃 But his
protectress had fled already； she had heard the voice of her mistress
squeaking afresh among the rocks。
〃Poor girl！ unhappiness always understands and helps the unhappy；〃
Raphael thought； and sat himself down at the foot of a tree。
The key of every science is； beyond cavil； the mark of interrogation；
we owe most of our greatest discoveries to a WHY？ and all the wisdom
in the world； perhaps； consists in asking WHEREFORE？ in every
connection。 But； on the other hand； this acquired prescience is the
ruin of our illusions。
So Valentin； having taken the old maid's kindly action for the text of
his wandering thoughts； without the deliberate promptings of
philosophy； must find it full of gall and wormwood。
〃It is not at all extraordinary that a gentlewoman's gentlewoman
should take a fancy to me；〃 said he to himself。 〃I am twenty…seven
years old； and I have a title and an income of two hundred thousand a
year。 But that her mistress； who hates water like a rabid catfor it
would be hard to give the palm to either in that matterthat her
mistress should have brought he