第4章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Sentimental Journey",免费读到尾

  IHADcountedtwentypulsations,andwasgoingonfasttowardsthefortieth,whenherhusband,comingunexpectedfromabackparlourintotheshop,putmealittleoutofmyreckoning-\'Twasnobodybutherhusband,shesaid;-soIbeganafreshscore-Monsieurissogood,quothshe,ashepass\'dbyus,astogivehimselfthetroubleoffeelingmypulse-Thehusbandtookoffhishat,andmakingmeabow,said,Ididhimtoomuchhonour-andhavingsaidthat,heputonhishatandwalk\'dout。

  GoodGod!saidItomyself,ashewentout,-andcanthismanbethehusbandofthiswoman!

  Letitnottormentthefewwhoknowwhatmusthavebeenthegroundsofthisexclamation,ifIexplainittothosewhodonot。

  InLondonashopkeeperandashopkeeper\'swifeseemtobeoneboneandoneflesh:intheseveralendowmentsofmindandbody,sometimestheone,sometimestheotherhasit,soas,ingeneral,tobeuponapar,andtotallywitheachotherasnearlyasmanandwifeneedtodo。

  InParis,therearescarcetwoordersofbeingsmoredifferent:forthelegislativeandexecutivepowersoftheshopnotrestinginthehusband,heseldomcomesthere:-insomedarkanddismalroombehind,hesitscommerce-less,inhisthrumnightcap,thesameroughsonofNaturethatNaturelefthim。

  Thegeniusofapeople,wherenothingbutthemonarchyisSALIQUE,havingcededthisdepartment,withsundryothers,totallytothewomen,-byacontinualhigglingwithcustomersofallranksandsizesfrommorningtonight,likesomanyroughpebblesshooklongtogetherinabag,byamicablecollisionstheyhaveworndowntheirasperitiesandsharpangles,andnotonlybecomeroundandsmooth,butwillreceive,someofthem,apolishlikeabrilliant:-

  MonsieurLEMARIislittlebetterthanthestoneunderyourfoot-

  Surely,-surely,man!itisnotgoodfortheetositalone:-

  thouwastmadeforsocialintercourseandgentlegreetings;andthisimprovementofournaturesfromitIappealtoasmyevidence-

  Andhowdoesitbeat,Monsieur?saidshe-Withallthebenignity,saidI,lookingquietlyinhereyes,thatIexpected-

  Shewasgoingtosaysomethingcivilinreturn-buttheladcameintotheshopwiththegloves-APROPOS,saidI,Iwantacoupleofpairsmyself。

  THEGLOVES。PARIS。

  THEbeautifulgrisetteroseupwhenIsaidthis,andgoingbehindthecounter,reach\'ddownaparcelanduntiedit:Iadvancedtothesideoveragainsther:theywerealltoolarge。Thebeautifulgrisettemeasuredthemonebyoneacrossmyhand-Itwouldnotaltertheirdimensions-Shebegg\'dIwouldtryasinglepair,whichseemedtobetheleast-Shehelditopen;-myhandslippedintoitatonce-Itwillnotdo,saidI,shakingmyheadalittle-No,saidshe,doingthesamething。

  Therearecertaincombinedlooksofsimplesubtlety,-wherewhim,andsense,andseriousness,andnonsense,aresoblended,thatallthelanguagesofBabelsetloosetogether,couldnotexpressthem;-

  theyarecommunicatedandcaughtsoinstantaneously,thatyoucanscarcesaywhichpartyistheinfector。Ileaveittoyourmenofwordstoswellpagesaboutit-itisenoughinthepresenttosayagain,thegloveswouldnotdo;so,foldingourhandswithinourarms,webothlolleduponthecounter-itwasnarrow,andtherewasjustroomfortheparceltolaybetweenus。

  Thebeautifulgrisettelookedsometimesatthegloves,thensidewaystothewindow,thenatthegloves,-andthenatme。I

  wasnotdisposedtobreaksilence:-Ifollowedherexample:so,I

  lookedatthegloves,thentothewindow,thenatthegloves,andthenather,-andsoonalternately。

  IfoundIlostconsiderablyineveryattack:-shehadaquickblackeye,andshotthroughtwosuchlongandsilkeneyelasheswithsuchpenetration,thatshelook\'dintomyveryheartandreins-

  Itmayseemstrange,butIcouldactuallyfeelshedid-

  Itisnomatter,saidI,takingupacoupleofthepairsnextme,andputtingthemintomypocket。

  Iwassensiblethebeautifulgrisettehadnotaskedaboveasinglelivreabovetheprice-Iwish\'dshehadaskedalivremore,andwaspuzzlingmybrainshowtobringthematterabout-Doyouthink,mydearSir,saidshe,mistakingmyembarrassment,thatI

  couldaskasoustoomuchofastranger-andofastrangerwhosepoliteness,morethanhiswantofgloves,hasdonemethehonourtolayhimselfatmymercy?-M\'ENCROYEZCAPABLE?-Faith!notI,saidI;andifyouwere,youarewelcome。Socountingthemoneyintoherhand,andwithalowerbowthanonegenerallymakestoashopkeeper\'swife,Iwentout,andherladwithhisparcelfollowedme。

  THETRANSLATION。PARIS。

  THEREwasnobodyintheboxIwasletintobutakindlyoldFrenchofficer。Ilovethecharacter,notonlybecauseIhonourthemanwhosemannersaresoftenedbyaprofessionwhichmakesbadmenworse;butthatIonceknewone,-forheisnomore,-andwhyshouldInotrescueonepagefromviolationbywritinghisnameinit,andtellingtheworlditwasCaptainTobiasShandy,thedearestofmyflockandfriends,whosephilanthropyIneverthinkofatthislongdistancefromhisdeath-butmyeyesgushoutwithtears。ForhissakeIhaveapredilectionforthewholecorpsofveterans;andsoIstrodeoverthetwobackrowsofbenchesandplacedmyselfbesidehim。

  Theoldofficerwasreadingattentivelyasmallpamphlet,itmightbethebookoftheopera,withalargepairofspectacles。AssoonasIsatdown,hetookhisspectaclesoff,andputtingthemintoashagreencase,return\'dthemandthebookintohispockettogether。

  Ihalfroseup,andmadehimabow。

  Translatethisintoanycivilizedlanguageintheworld-thesenseisthis:

  \"Here\'sapoorstrangercomeintothebox-heseemsasifheknewnobody;andisneverlikely,washetobesevenyearsinParis,ifeverymanhecomesnearkeepshisspectaclesuponhisnose:-\'tisshuttingthedoorofconversationabsolutelyinhisface-andusinghimworsethanaGerman。\"

  TheFrenchofficermightaswellhavesaiditallaloud:andifhehad,IshouldincoursehaveputthebowImadehimintoFrenchtoo,andtoldhim,\"Iwassensibleofhisattention,andreturn\'dhimathousandthanksforit。\"

  Thereisnotasecretsoaidingtotheprogressofsociality,astogetmasterofthisSHORTHAND,andtobequickinrenderingtheseveralturnsoflooksandlimbswithalltheirinflectionsanddelineations,intoplainwords。Formyownpart,bylonghabitude,Idoitsomechanically,that,whenIwalkthestreetsofLondon,I

  gotranslatingalltheway;andhavemorethanoncestoodbehindinthecircle,wherenotthreewordshavebeensaid,andhavebroughtofftwentydifferentdialogueswithme,whichIcouldhavefairlywrotedownandswornto。

  IwasgoingoneeveningtoMartini\'sconcertatMilan,and,wasjustenteringthedoorofthehall,whentheMarquisinadiF-wascomingoutinasortofahurry:-shewasalmostuponmebeforeI

  sawher;soIgaveaspringtooncesidetoletherpass-Shehaddonethesame,andonthesamesidetoo;soweranourheadstogether:sheinstantlygottotheothersidetogetout:Iwasjustasunfortunateasshehadbeen,forIhadsprungtothatside,andopposedherpassageagain-Webothflewtogethertotheotherside,andthenback,-andsoon:-itwasridiculous:webothblush\'dintolerably:soIdidatlastthethingIshouldhavedoneatfirst;-Istoodstock-still,andtheMarquisinahadnomoredifficulty。Ihadnopowertogointotheroom,till

  Ihadmadehersomuchreparationastowaitandfollowherwithmyeyetotheendofthepassage。Shelook\'dbacktwice,andwalk\'dalongitrathersideways,asifshewouldmakeroomforanyonecomingupstairstopassher-No,saidI-that\'saviletranslation:theMarquisinahasarighttothebestapologyIcanmakeher,andthatopeningisleftformetodoitin;-soIranandbegg\'dpardonfortheembarrassmentIhadgivenher,sayingitwasmyintentiontohavemadeherway。Sheanswered,shewasguidedbythesameintentiontowardsme;-sowereciprocallythank\'deachother。Shewasatthetopofthestairs;andseeingnoCICISBEOnearher,I

  begg\'dtohandhertohercoach;-sowewentdownthestairs,stoppingateverythirdsteptotalkoftheconcertandtheadventure-Uponmyword,Madame,saidI,whenIhadhandedherin,Imadesixdifferenteffortstoletyougoout-AndImadesixefforts,repliedshe,toletyouenter-Iwishtoheavenyouwouldmakeaseventh,saidI-Withallmyheart,saidshe,makingroom-Lifeistooshorttobelongabouttheformsofit,-soI

  instantlystepp\'din,andshecarriedmehomewithher-Andwhatbecameoftheconcert,St。Cecilia,whoIsupposewasatit,knowsmorethanI。

  Iwillonlyadd,thattheconnexionwhicharoseoutofthetranslationgavememorepleasurethananyoneIhadthehonourtomakeinItaly。

  THEDWARF。PARIS。

  IHADneverheardtheremarkmadebyanyoneinmylife,exceptbyone;andwhothatwaswillprobablycomeoutinthischapter;sothatbeingprettymuchunprepossessed,theremusthavebeengroundsforwhatstruckmethemomentIcastmyeyesovertheparterre,-

  andthatwas,theunaccountablesportofNatureinformingsuchnumbersofdwarfs-Nodoubtshesportsatcertaintimesinalmosteverycorneroftheworld;butinParisthereisnoendtoheramusements-Thegoddessseemsalmostasmerryassheiswise。

  AsIcarriedmyideaoutoftheOperaComiquewithme,ImeasuredeverybodyIsawwalkinginthestreetsbyit-Melancholyapplication!especiallywherethesizewasextremelylittle,-thefaceextremelydark,-theeyesquick,-thenoselong,-theteethwhite,-thejawprominent,-toseesomanymiserables,byforceofaccidentsdrivenoutoftheirownproperclassintotheveryvergeofanother,whichitgivesmepaintowritedown:-everythirdmanapigmy!-somebyricketyheadsandhumpbacks;-othersbybandylegs;-athirdsetarrestedbythehandofNatureinthesixthandseventhyearsoftheirgrowth;-afourth,intheirperfectandnaturalstatelikedwarfappletrees;fromthefirstrudimentsandstaminaoftheirexistence,nevermeanttogrowhigher。

  AMedicalTravellermightsay,\'tisowingtounduebandages;-aSpleneticone,towantofair;-andanInquisitiveTraveller,tofortifythesystem,maymeasuretheheightoftheirhouses,-thenarrownessoftheirstreets,andinhowfewfeetsquareinthesixthandseventhstoriessuchnumbersofthebourgeoisieeatandsleeptogether;butIrememberMr。Shandytheelder,whoaccountedfornothinglikeanybodyelse,inspeakingoneeveningofthesematters,averredthatchildren,likeotheranimals,mightbeincreasedalmosttoanysize,providedtheycamerightintotheworld;butthemiserywas,thecitizensofwereParissocoop\'dup,thattheyhadnotactuallyroomenoughtogetthem-Idonotcallitgettinganything,saidhe;-\'tisgettingnothing-Nay,continuedhe,risinginhisargument,\'tisgettingworsethannothing,whenallyouhavegotaftertwentyorfiveandtwentyyearsofthetenderestcareandmostnutritiousalimentbestoweduponit,shallnotatlastbeashighasmyleg。Now,Mr。Shandybeingveryshort,therecouldbenothingmoresaidofit。

  Asthisisnotaworkofreasoning,IleavethesolutionasIfoundit,andcontentmyselfwiththetruthonlyoftheremark,whichisverifiedineverylaneandby-laneofParis。IwaswalkingdownthatwhichleadsfromtheCarousaltothePalaisRoyal,andobservingalittleboyinsomedistressatthesideofthegutterwhichrandownthemiddleofit,Itookholdofhishandandhelp\'dhimover。Uponturninguphisfacetolookathimafter,I

  perceivedhewasaboutforty-Nevermind,saidI,somegoodbodywilldoasmuchformewhenIamninety。

  Ifeelsomelittleprincipleswithinmewhichinclinemetobemercifultowardsthispoorblightedpartofmyspecies,whohaveneithersizenorstrengthtogetonintheworld-Icannotbeartoseeoneofthemtrodupon;andhadscarcegotseatedbesidemyoldFrenchofficer,erethedisgustwasexercised,byseeingtheverythinghappenundertheboxwesatin。

  Attheendoftheorchestra,andbetwixtthatandthefirstsidebox,thereisasmallesplanadeleft,where,whenthehouseisfull,numbersofallrankstakesanctuary。Thoughyoustand,asintheparterre,youpaythesamepriceasintheorchestra。Apoordefencelessbeingofthisorderhadgotthrustsomehoworotherintothislucklessplace;-thenightwashot,andhewassurroundedbybeingstwofeetandahalfhigherthanhimself。Thedwarfsufferedinexpressiblyonallsides;butthethingwhichincommodedhimmost,wasatallcorpulentGerman,nearsevenfeethigh,whostooddirectlybetwixthimandallpossibilityofhisseeingeitherthestageortheactors。Thepoordwarfdidallhecouldtogetapeepatwhatwasgoingforwards,byseekingforsomelittleopeningbetwixttheGerman\'sarmandhisbody,tryingfirstononeside,thentheother;buttheGermanstoodsquareinthemostunaccommodatingposturethatcanbeimagined:-thedwarfmightaswellhavebeenplacedatthebottomofthedeepestdraw-

  wellinParis;sohecivillyreacheduphishandtotheGerman\'ssleeve,andtoldhimhisdistress-TheGermanturn\'dhisheadback,lookeddownuponhimasGoliahdiduponDavid,-andunfeelinglyresumedhisposture。

  Iwasjustthentakingapinchofsnuffoutofmymonk\'slittlehornbox-Andhowwouldthymeekandcourteousspirit,mydearmonk!sotemper\'dtoBEARANDFORBEAR!-howsweetlywouldithavelentaneartothispoorsoul\'scomplaint!

  TheoldFrenchofficer,seeingmeliftupmyeyeswithanemotion,asImadetheapostrophe,tookthelibertytoaskmewhatwasthematter?-Itoldhimthestoryinthreewords;andadded,howinhumanitwas。

  Bythistimethedwarfwasdriventoextremes,andinhisfirsttransports,whicharegenerallyunreasonable,hadtoldtheGermanhewouldcutoffhislongqueuewithhisknife-TheGermanlook\'dbackcoolly,andtoldhimhewaswelcome,ifhecouldreachit。

  Aninjurysharpen\'dbyaninsult,beittowhomitwill,makeseverymanofsentimentaparty:Icouldhaveleap\'doutoftheboxtohaveredressedit-TheoldFrenchofficerdiditwithmuchlessconfusion;forleaningalittleover,andnoddingtoasentinel,andpointingatthesametimewithhisfingeratthedistress,-thesentinelmadehiswaytoit-Therewasnooccasiontotellthegrievance,-thethingtoldhimself;sothrustingbacktheGermaninstantlywithhismusket,-hetookthepoordwarfbythehand,andplacedhimbeforehim-Thisisnoble!

  saidI,clappingmyhandstogether-Andyetyouwouldnotpermitthis,saidtheoldofficer,inEngland-

  InEngland,dearSir,saidI,WESITALLATOUREASE。

  TheoldFrenchofficerwouldhavesetmeatunitywithmyself,incaseIhadbeenatvariance,-bysayingitwasaBONMOT;-and,asaBONMOTisalwaysworthsomethingatParis,heofferedmeapinchofsnuff。

  THEROSE。PARIS。

  ITWASnowmyturntoasktheoldFrenchofficer\"Whatwasthematter?\"foracryof\"HAUSSEZLESMAINS,MONSIEURL\'ABBE!\"re-

  echoedfromadozendifferentpartsoftheparterre,wasasunintelligibletome,asmyapostrophetothemonkhadbeentohim。

  HetoldmeitwassomepoorAbbeinoneoftheupperloges,who,hesupposed,hadgotplantedperdubehindacoupleofgrisettesinordertoseetheopera,andthattheparterreespyinghim,wereinsistinguponhisholdingupbothhishandsduringtherepresentation-Andcanitbesupposed,saidI,thatanecclesiasticwouldpickthegrisettes\'pockets?TheoldFrenchofficersmiled,andwhisperinginmyear,openedadoorofknowledgewhichIhadnoideaof。

  GoodGod!saidI,turningpalewithastonishment-isitpossible,thatapeoplesosmitwithsentimentshouldatthesametimebesounclean,andsounlikethemselves,-QUELLEGROSSIERTE!addedI。

  TheFrenchofficertoldme,itwasanilliberalsarcasmatthechurch,whichhadbeguninthetheatreaboutthetimetheTartuffewasgiveninitbyMoliere:butlikeotherremainsofGothicmanners,wasdeclining-Everynation,continuedhe,havetheirrefinementsandGROSSIERTES,inwhichtheytakethelead,andloseitofoneanotherbyturns:-thathehadbeeninmostcountries,butneverinonewherehefoundnotsomedelicacies,whichothersseemedtowant。LEPOURETLECONTRESETROUVENTENCHAQUENATION;

  thereisabalance,saidhe,ofgoodandbadeverywhere;andnothingbuttheknowingitisso,canemancipateonehalfoftheworldfromtheprepossessionwhichitholdsagainsttheother:-

  thattheadvantageoftravel,asitregardedtheSCAVOIRVIVRE,wasbyseeingagreatdealbothofmenandmanners;ittaughtusmutualtoleration;andmutualtoleration,concludedhe,makingmeabow,taughtusmutuallove。

  TheoldFrenchofficerdeliveredthiswithanairofsuchcandourandgoodsense,ascoincidedwithmyfirstfavourableimpressionsofhischaracter:-IthoughtIlovedtheman;butIfearImistooktheobject;-\'twasmyownwayofthinking-thedifferencewas,I

  couldnothaveexpressedithalfsowell。

  Itisaliketroublesometoboththeriderandhisbeast,-ifthelattergoesprickinguphisears,andstartingallthewayateveryobjectwhichheneversawbefore-Ihaveaslittletormentofthiskindasanycreaturealive;andyetIhonestlyconfess,thatmanyathinggavemepain,andthatIblush\'datmanyawordthefirstmonth,-whichIfoundinconsequentandperfectlyinnocentthesecond。

  MadamedoRambouliet,afteranacquaintanceofaboutsixweekswithher,haddonemethehonourtotakemeinhercoachabouttwoleaguesoutoftown-Ofallwomen,MadamedeRamboulietisthemostcorrect;andIneverwishtoseeoneofmorevirtuesandpurityofheart-Inourreturnback,MadamedeRamboulietdesiredmetopullthecord-Iaskedherifshewantedanything-RIEN

  QUEPOURPISSER,saidMadamedeRambouliet。

  Grievenot,gentletraveller,toletMadamedeRamboulietp-sson-

  And,yefairmysticnymphs!goeachonePLUCKYOURROSE,andscattertheminyourpath,-forMadamedeRamboulietdidnomore-

  IhandedMadamedeRamboulietoutofthecoach;andhadIbeenthepriestofthechasteCastalia,Icouldnothaveservedatherfountainwithamorerespectfuldecorum。

  THEFILLEDECHAMBRE。PARIS。

  WHATtheoldFrenchofficerhaddeliveredupontravelling,bringingPolonius\'sadvicetohissonuponthesamesubjectintomyhead,-

  andthatbringinginHamlet,andHamlettherestofShakespeare\'sworks,Istopp\'dattheQuaideContiinmyreturnhome,topurchasethewholeset。

  Thebooksellersaidhehadnotasetintheworld。COMMENT!saidI,takingoneupoutofasetwhichlayuponthecounterbetwixtus-Hesaidtheyweresenthimonlytobegotbound,andweretobesentbacktoVersaillesinthemorningtotheCountdeB-

  AnddoestheCountdeB-,saidI,readShakespeare?C\'ESTUN

  ESPRITFORT,repliedthebookseller-HelovesEnglishbooks!andwhatismoretohishonour,Monsieur,helovestheEnglishtoo。

  Youspeakthissocivilly,saidI,thatitisenoughtoobligeanEnglishmantolayoutalouisd\'orortwoatyourshop-Thebooksellermadeabow,andwasgoingtosaysomething,whenayoungdecentgirlabouttwenty,whobyherairanddressseemedtobeFILLEDECHAMBREtosomedevoutwomanoffashion,comeintotheshopandaskedforLESEGAREMENTSDUCOEURETDEL\'ESPRIT:thebooksellergaveherthebookdirectly;shepulledoutalittlegreensatinpurserunroundwitharibandofthesamecolour,andputtingherfingerandthumbintoit,shetookoutthemoneyandpaidforit。AsIhadnothingmoretostaymeintheshop,webothwalk\'doutatthedoortogether-

  Andwhathaveyoutodo,mydear,saidI,withTHEWANDERINGSOF

  THEHEART,whoscarceknowyetyouhaveone?nor,tilllovehasfirsttoldyouit,orsomefaithlessshepherdhasmadeitache,canstthoueverbesureitisso-LEDIEUM\'ENGARDE!saidthegirl-Withreason,saidI,forifitisagoodone,\'tispityitshouldbestolen;\'tisalittletreasuretothee,andgivesabetterairtoyourface,thanifitwasdress\'doutwithpearls。

  Theyounggirllistenedwithasubmissiveattention,holdinghersatinpursebyitsribandinherhandallthetime-\'Tisaverysmallone,saidI,takingholdofthebottomofit-sheheldittowardsme-andthereisverylittleinit,mydear,saidI;butbebutasgoodasthouarthandsome,andheavenwillfillit。I

  hadaparcelofcrownsinmyhandtopayforShakespeare;and,asshehadletgothepurseentirely,Iputasingleonein;and,tyinguptheribandinabow-knot,returnedittoher。

  Theyounggirlmadememoreahumblecourtesythanalowone:-

  \'twasoneofthosequiet,thankfulsinkings,wherethespiritbowsitselfdown,-thebodydoesnomorethantellit。Inevergaveagirlacrowninmylifewhichgavemehalfthepleasure。

  Myadvice,mydear,wouldnothavebeenworthapintoyou,saidI,ifIhadnotgiventhisalongwithit:butnow,whenyouseethecrown,you\'llrememberit;-sodon\'t,mydear,layitoutinribands。

  Uponmyword,Sir,saidthegirl,earnestly,Iamincapable;-insayingwhich,asisusualinlittlebargainsofhonour,shegavemeherhand:-ENVERITE,MONSIEUR,JEMETTRAICETARGENTEPART,saidshe。

  Whenavirtuousconventionismadebetwixtmanandwoman,itsanctifiestheirmostprivatewalks:so,notwithstandingitwasdusky,yetasbothourroadslaythesameway,wemadenoscrupleofwalkingalongtheQuaideContitogether。

  Shemademeasecondcourtesyinsettingoff,andbeforewegottwentyyardsfromthedoor,asifshehadnotdoneenoughbefore,shemadeasortofalittlestoptotellmeagain-shethank\'dme。

  Itwasasmalltribute,Itoldher,whichIcouldnotavoidpayingtovirtue,andwouldnotbemistakeninthepersonIhadbeenrenderingittofortheworld;-butIseeinnocence,mydear,inyourface,-andfoulbefallthemanwhoeverlaysasnareinitsway!

  Thegirlseem\'daffectedsomewayorotherwithwhatIsaid;-shegavealowsigh:-IfoundIwasnotempoweredtoenquireatallafterit,-sosaidnothingmoretillIgottothecorneroftheRuedeNevers,where,weweretopart-

  Butisthistheway,mydear,saidI,totheHoteldeModene?

  Shetoldmeitwas;-orthatImightgobytheRuedeGueneguault,whichwasthenextturn-ThenI\'llgo,mydear,bytheRuedeGueneguault,saidI,fortworeasons;first,Ishallpleasemyself,andnext,IshallgiveyoutheprotectionofmycompanyasfaronyourwayasIcan。ThegirlwassensibleIwascivil-andsaid,shewishedtheHoteldeModenewasintheRuedeSt。Pierre-Youlivethere?saidI-ShetoldmeshewasFILLEDECHAMBREtoMadameR-GoodGod!saidI,\'tistheveryladyforwhomIhavebroughtaletterfromAmiens-ThegirltoldmethatMadameR-,shebelieved,expectedastrangerwithaletter,andwasimpatienttoseehim:-soIdesiredthegirltopresentmycomplimentstoMadameR-,andsay,Iwouldcertainlywaituponherinthemorning。

  WestoodstillatthecorneroftheRuedeNeverswhilstthispass\'d-WethenstoppedamomentwhilstshedisposedofherEGAREMENTSDUCOEUR&c。morecommodiouslythancarryingtheminherhand-theyweretwovolumes:soIheldthesecondforherwhilstsheputthefirstintoherpocket;andthensheheldherpocket,andIputintheotherafterit。

  \'Tissweettofeelbywhatfinespunthreadsouraffectionsaredrawntogether。

  Wesetoffafresh,andasshetookherthirdstep,thegirlputherhandwithinmyarm-Iwasjustbiddingher,-butshediditofherself,withthatundeliberatingsimplicity,whichshow\'ditwasoutofherheadthatshehadneverseenmebefore。Formyownpart,Ifelttheconvictionofconsanguinitysostrongly,thatI

  couldnothelpturninghalfroundtolookinherface,andseeifI

  couldtraceoutanythinginitofafamilylikeness-Tut!saidI,arewenotallrelations?

  WhenwearrivedattheturningupoftheRuedeGueneguault,I

  stopp\'dtobidheradieuforgoodandall:thegirlwouldthankmeagainformycompanyandkindness-Shebidmeadieutwice-I

  repeateditasoften;andsocordialwasthepartingbetweenus,thathadithappenedanywhereelse,I\'mnotsurebutIshouldhavesigneditwithakissofcharity,aswarmandholyasanapostle。

  ButinParis,asnonekisseachotherbutthemen,-Idid,whatamountedtothesamething——

  IbidGodblessher。

  THEPASSPORT。PARIS。

  WHENIgothometomyhotel,LaFleurtoldmeIhadbeenenquiredafterbytheLieutenantdePolice-Thedeucetakeit!saidI,-I

  knowthereason。Itistimethereadershouldknowit,forintheorderofthingsinwhichithappened,itwasomitted:notthatitwasoutofmyhead;butthathadItolditthenitmighthavebeenforgottennow;-andnowisthetimeIwantit。

  IhadleftLondonwithsomuchprecipitation,thatitneverenter\'dmymindthatwewereatwarwithFrance;andhadreachedDover,andlookedthroughmyglassatthehillsbeyondBoulogne,beforetheideapresenteditself;andwiththisinitstrain,thattherewasnogettingtherewithoutapassport。Gobuttotheendofastreet,IhaveamortalaversionforreturningbacknowiserthanI

  setout;andasthiswasoneofthegreatesteffortsIhadevermadeforknowledge,Icouldlessbearthethoughtsofit:sohearingtheCountde-hadhiredthepacket,Ibegg\'dhewouldtakemeinhissuite。TheCounthadsomelittleknowledgeofme,somadelittleornodifficulty,-onlysaid,hisinclinationtoservemecouldreachnofartherthanCalais,ashewastoreturnbywayofBrusselstoParis;however,whenIhadoncepass\'dthere,I

  mightgettoPariswithoutinterruption;butthatinParisImustmakefriendsandshiftformyself-LetmegettoParis,MonsieurleCount,saidI,-andIshalldoverywell。SoIembark\'d,andneverthoughtmoreofthematter。

  WhenLaFleurtoldmetheLieutenantdePolicehadbeenenquiringafterme,-thethinginstantlyrecurred;-andbythetimeLaFleurhadwelltoldme,themasterofthehotelcameintomyroomtotellmethesamething,withthisadditiontoit,thatmypassporthadbeenparticularlyaskedafter:themasterofthehotelconcludedwithsaying,HehopedIhadone-NotI,faith!saidI。

  Themasterofthehotelretiredthreestepsfromme,asfromaninfectedperson,asIdeclaredthis;-andpoorLaFleuradvancedthreestepstowardsme,andwiththatsortofmovementwhichagoodsoulmakestosuccouradistress\'done:-thefellowwonmyheartbyit;andfromthatsingletraitIknewhischaracterasperfectly,andcouldrelyuponitasfirmly,asifhehadservedmewithfidelityforsevenyears。

  MONSEIGNEUR!criedthemasterofthehotel;butrecollectinghimselfashemadetheexclamation,heinstantlychangedthetoneofit-IfMonsieur,saidhe,hasnotapassportAPPAREMMENTinalllikelihoodhehasfriendsinPariswhocanprocurehimone-

  NotthatIknowof,quothI,withanairofindifference-ThenCERTES,repliedhe,you\'llbesenttotheBastileortheChateletAUMOINS-Poo!saidI,theKingofFranceisagoodnatur\'dsoul:-

  he\'llhurtnobody-CELAN\'EMPECHEPAS,saidhe-youwillcertainlybesenttotheBastileto-morrowmorning-ButI\'vetakenyourlodgingsforamonth,answer\'dI,andI\'llnotquitthemadaybeforethetimeforallthekingsofFranceintheworld。LaFleurwhisperedinmyear,ThatnobodycouldopposethekingofFrance。

  PARDI!saidmyhost,CESMESSIEURSANGLOISSONTDESGENSTRES

  EXTRAORDINAIRES;-and,havingbothsaidandswornit,-hewentout。

  THEPASSPORT。THEHOTELATPARIS。

  ICOULDnotfindinmyhearttotortureLaFleur\'swithaseriouslookuponthesubjectofmyembarrassment,whichwasthereasonI

  hadtreateditsocavalierly:andtoshowhimhowlightitlayuponmymind,Idroptthesubjectentirely;andwhilsthewaiteduponmeatsupper,talk\'dtohimwithmorethanusualgaietyaboutParis,andoftheOperaComique-LaFleurhadbeentherehimself,andhadfollowedmethroughthestreetsasfarasthebookseller\'sshop;butseeingmecomeoutwiththeyoungFILLEDECHAMBRE,andthatwewalk\'ddowntheQuaideContitogether,LaFleurdeem\'ditunnecessarytofollowmeastepfurther;-somakinghisownreflectionsuponit,hetookashortercut,-andgottothehotelintimetobeinform\'doftheaffairofthepoliceagainstmyarrival。

  Assoonasthehonestcreaturehadtakenaway,andgonedowntosuphimself,Ithenbegantothinkalittleseriouslyaboutmysituation——

  Andhere,Iknow,Eugenius,thouwiltsmileattheremembranceofashortdialoguewhichpassedbetwixtusthemomentIwasgoingtosetout:-Imusttellithere。

  Eugenius,knowingthatIwasaslittlesubjecttobeoverburden\'dwithmoneyasthought,haddrawnmeasidetointerrogatemehowmuchIhadtakencarefor。Upontellinghimtheexactsum,Eugeniusshookhishead,andsaiditwouldnotdo;sopull\'douthispurseinordertoemptyitintomine-I\'veenoughinconscience,Eugenius,saidI-Indeed,Yorick,youhavenot,repliedEugenius;IknowFranceandItalybetterthanyou-Butyoudon\'tconsider,Eugenius,saidI,refusinghisoffer,thatbeforeIhavebeenthreedaysinParis,IshalltakecaretosayordosomethingorotherforwhichIshallgetclapp\'dupintotheBastile,andthatIshalllivethereacoupleofmonthsentirelyatthekingofFrance\'sexpense-Ibegpardon,saidEugeniusdrily:

  reallyIhadforgotthatresource。

  NowtheeventItreatedgailycameseriouslytomydoor。

  Isitfolly,ornonchalance,orphilosophy,orpertinacity-orwhatisitinme,that,afterall,whenLaFleurhadgonedownstairs,andIwasquitealone,IcouldnotbringdownmymindtothinkofitotherwisethanIhadthenspokenofittoEugenius?-

  AndasfortheBastile;theterrorisintheword-Makethemostofityoucan,saidItomyself,theBastileisbutanotherwordforatower;-andatowerisbutanotherwordforahouseyoucan\'tgetoutof-Mercyonthegouty!fortheyareinittwiceayear-Butwithninelivresaday,andpenandink,andpaper,andpatience,albeitamancan\'tgetout,hemaydoverywellwithin,-

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