按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
kitchen aided by her companion； the two laughing over their clumsiness and inexperience in preparing the Sunday dinner。
The concierge thought that this woman was a German； but she herself said that she was Swiss。 She was a cashier in a shopnot the one in which her husband was employed。 In the mornings they left home together； separating in the Place d'Etoile。 At seven in the evening they met here； greeting each other with a kiss； like lovers who meet for the first time； and then after supper； they returned to their nest in the rue de la Pompe。 All Argensola's attempts at friendliness with these neighbors were repulsed because of their self…centredness。 They responded with freezing courtesy； they lived only for themselves。
The other apartment of two rooms was occupied by a single man。 He was a Russian or Pole who almost always returned with a package of books； and passed many hours writing near the patio window。 From the very first the Spaniard took him to be a mysterious man； probably a very distinguished onea true hero of a novel。 The foreign appearance of this Tchernoff made a great impression upon himhis dishevelled beard； and oily locks； his spectacles upon a large nose that seemed deformed by a dagger…thrust。 There emanated from him； like an invisible nimbus； an odor of cheap wine and soiled clothing。
When Argensola caught a glimpse of him through the service door he would say to himself； 〃Ah； Friend Tchernoff is returning；〃 and thereupon he would saunter out to the stairway in order to have a chat with his neighbor。 For a long time the stranger discouraged all approach to his quarters； which fact led the Spaniard to infer that he devoted himself to alchemy and kindred mysteries。 When he finally was allowed to enter he saw only books； many books； books everywherescattered on the floor； heaped upon benches； piled in corners； overflowing on to broken…down chairs； old tables； and a bed that was only made up now and then when the owner； alarmed by the increasing invasion of dust and cobwebs； was obliged to call in the aid of his friend； the concierge。
Argensola finally realized； not without a certain disenchantment； that there was nothing mysterious in the life of the man。 What he was writing near the window were merely translations； some of them ordered； others volunteer work for the socialist periodicals。 The only marvellous thing about him was the quantity of languages that he knew。
〃He knows them all；〃 said the Spaniard； when describing their neighbor to Desnoyers。 〃He has only to hear of a new one to master it。 He holds the key； the secret of all languages； living or dead。 He speaks Castilian as well as we do； and yet he has never been in a Spanish…speaking country。〃
Argensola again felt a thrill of mystery upon reading the titles of many of the volumes。 The majority were old books； many of them in languages that he was not able to decipher； picked up for a song at second…hand shops or on the book stands installed upon the parapets of the Seine。 Only a man holding the key of tongues could get together such volumes。 An atmosphere of mysticism； of superhuman insight； of secrets intact for many centuries appeared to emanate from these heaps of dusty volumes with worm…eaten leaves。 And mixed with these ancient tomes were others red and conspicuous； pamphlets of socialistic propaganda； leaflets in all the languages of Europe and periodicalsmany periodicals； with revolutionary titles。
Tchernoff did not appear to enjoy visits and conversation。 He would smile enigmatically into his black beard； and was very sparing with his words so as to shorten the interview。 But Argensola possessed the means of winning over this sullen personage。 It was only necessary for him to wink one eye with the expressive invitation； 〃Do we go？〃 and the two would soon be settled on a bench in the kitchen of Desnoyers' studio； opposite a bottle which had come from the avenue Victor Hugo。 The costly wines of Don Marcelo made the Russian more communicative； although； in spite of this aid； the Spaniard learned little of his neighbor's real existence。 Sometimes he would mention Jaures and other socialistic orators。 His surest means of existence was the translation of periodicals or party papers。 On various occasions the name of Siberia escaped from his lips； and he admitted that he had been there a long time； but he did not care to talk about a country visited against his will。 He would merely smile modestly； showing plainly that he did not wish to make any further revelations。
The morning after the return of Julio Desnoyers； while Argensola was talking on the stairway with Tchernoff； the bell rang。 How annoying！ The Russian； who was well up in advanced politics； was just explaining the plans advanced by Jaures。 There were still many who hoped that war might be averted。 He had his motives for doubting it。 。 。 。 He； Tchernoff； was commenting on these illusions with the smile of a flat…nosed sphinx when the bell rang for a second time； so that Argensola was obliged to break away from his interesting friend； and run to open the main door。
A gentleman wished to see Julio。 He spoke very correct French； though his accent was a revelation for Argensola。 Upon going into the bedroom in search of his master； who was just arising； he said confidently； 〃It's the cousin from Berlin who has come to say good… bye。 It could not be anyone else。〃
When the three came together in the studio； Desnoyers presented his comrade； in order that the visitor might not make any mistake in regard to his social status。
〃I have heard him spoken of。 The gentleman is Argensola； a very deserving youth。〃
Doctor Julius von Hartrott said this with the self…sufficiency of a man who knows everything and wishes to be agreeable to an inferior； conceding him the alms of his attention。
The two cousins confronted each other with a curiosity not altogether free from distrust。 Although closely related； they knew each other very slightly； tacitly admitting complete divergence in opinions and tastes。
After slowly examining the Sage； Argensola came to the conclusion that he looked like an officer dressed as a civilian。 He noticed in his person an effort to imitate the soldierly when occasionally discarding uniformthe ambition of every German burgher wishing to be taken for the superior class。 His trousers were narrow； as though intended to be tucked into cavalry boots。 His coat with two rows of buttons had the contracted waist with very full skirt and upstanding lapels； suggesting vaguely a military great coat。 The reddish moustachios； strong jaw and shaved head completed his would… be martial appearance； but his eyes； large； dark…circled and near… sighted； were the eyes of a student taking refuge behind great thick glasses which gave him the aspect of a man of peace。
Desnoyers knew that he was an assistant professor of the University； that he had published a few volumes； fat and heavy as bricks； and that he was a member of an academic society collaborating in documentary research directed by a famous historian。 In his lapel he was wearing the badge of a foreign order。
Julio's respect for the learned member of the family w