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！
talks； I do not choose to be calumniated； not for my own sake； but for
his。 I make it my pride to be the glory of that old man； who is； after
all； my only protector。 We are leaving； stay here a few days。 When you
come on to Geneva； call first on my husband； and let him introduce you
to me。 Let us hide our great and unchangeable affection from the eyes
of the world。 I love you； you know it； but this is how I will prove it
to you you shall never discern in my conduct anything whatever that
may arouse your jealousy。〃
She drew him into a corner of the balcony； kissed him on the forehead；
and fled； leaving him in amazement。
Next day Rodolphe heard that the lodgers at the Bergmanns' had left at
daybreak。 It then seemed to him intolerable to remain at Gersau； and
he set out for Vevay by the longest route； starting sooner than was
necessary。 Attracted to the waters of the lake where the beautiful
Italian awaited him； he reached Geneva by the end of October。 To avoid
the discomforts of the town he took rooms in a house at Eaux…Vives；
outside the walls。 As soon as he was settled； his first care was to
ask his landlord； a retired jeweler； whether some Italian refugees
from Milan had not lately come to reside at Geneva。
〃Not so far as I know；〃 replied the man。 〃Prince and Princess Colonna
of Rome have taken Monsieur Jeanrenaud's place for three years； it is
one of the finest on the lake。 It is situated between the Villa
Diodati and that of Monsieur Lafin…de…Dieu； let to the Vicomtesse de
Beauseant。 Prince Colonna has come to see his daughter and his son…in…
law Prince Gandolphini； a Neopolitan； or if you like； a Sicilian； an
old adherent of King Murat's； and a victim of the last revolution。
These are the last arrivals at Geneva； and they are not Milanese。
Serious steps had to be taken； and the Pope's interest in the Colonna
family was invoked； to obtain permission from the foreign powers and
the King of Naples for the Prince and Princess Gandolphini to live
here。 Geneva is anxious to do nothing to displease the Holy Alliance
to which it owes its independence。 /Our/ part is not to ruffle foreign
courts； there are many foreigners here； Russians and English。〃
〃Even some Gevenese？〃
〃Yes； monsieur； our lake is so fine！ Lord Byron lived here about seven
years at the Villa Diodati； which every one goes to see now； like
Coppet and Ferney。〃
〃You cannot tell me whether within a week or so a bookseller from
Milan has come with his wifenamed Lamporani； one of the leaders of
the last revolution？〃
〃I could easily find out by going to the Foreigners' Club；〃 said the
jeweler。
Rodolphe's first walk was very naturally to the Villa Diodati； the
residence of Lord Byron； whose recent death added to its
attractiveness： for is not death the consecration of genius？
The road to Eaux…Vives follows the shore of the lake； and； like all
the roads in Switzerland； is very narrow； in some spots； in
consequence of the configuration of the hilly ground； there is
scarcely space for two carriages to pass each other。
At a few yards from the Jeanrenauds' house； which he was approaching
without knowing it； Rodolphe heard the sound of a carriage behind him；
and； finding himself in a sunk road； he climbed to the top of a rock
to leave the road free。 Of course he looked at the approaching
carriagean elegant English phaeton； with a splendid pair of English
horses。 He felt quite dizzy as he beheld in this carriage Francesca；
beautifully dressed； by the side of an old lady as hard as a cameo。 A
servant blazing with gold lace stood behind。 Francesca recognized
Rodolphe； and smiled at seeing him like a statue on a pedestal。 The
carriage； which the lover followed with his eyes as he climbed the
hill； turned in at the gate of a country house； towards which he ran。
〃Who lives here？〃 he asked the gardener。
〃Prince and Princess Colonna； and Prince and Princess Gandolphini。〃
〃Have they not just driven in？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
In that instant a veil fell from Rodolphe's eyes； he saw clearly the
meaning of the past。
〃If only this is her last piece of trickery！〃 thought the thunder…
struck lover to himself。
He trembled lest he should have been the plaything of a whim； for he
had heard what a /capriccio/ might mean in an Italian。 But what a
crime had he committed in the eyes of a womanin accepting a born
princess as a citizen's wife！ in believing that a daughter of one of
the most illustrious houses of the Middle Ages was the wife of a
bookseller！ The consciousness of his blunders increased Rodolphe's
desire to know whether he would be ignored and repelled。 He asked for
Prince Gandolphini； sending in his card； and was immediately received
by the false Lamparini； who came forward to meet him； welcomed him
with the best possible grace； and took him to walk on a terrace whence
there was a view of Geneva； the Jura； the hills covered with villas；
and below them a wide expanse of the lake。
〃My wife is faithful to the lakes； you see；〃 he remarked； after
pointing out the details to his visitor。 〃We have a sort of concert
this evening；〃 he added； as they returned to the splendid Villa
Jeanrenaud。 〃I hope you will do me and the Princess the pleasure of
seeing you。 Two months of poverty endured in intimacy are equal to
years of friendship。〃
Though he was consumed by curiosity； Rodolphe dared not ask to see the
Princess； he slowly made his way back to Eaux…Vives； looking forward
to the evening。 In a few hours his passion； great as it had already
been； was augmented by his anxiety and by suspense as to future
events。 He now understood the necessity for making himself famous；
that he might some day find himself； socially speaking； on a level
with his idol。 In his eyes Francesca was made really great by the
simplicity and ease of her conduct at Gersau。 Princess Colonna's
haughtiness； so evidently natural to her； alarmed Rodolphe； who would
find enemies in Francesca's father and motherat least so he might
expect； and the secrecy which Princess Gandolphini had so strictly
enjoined on him now struck him as a wonderful proof of affection。 By
not choosing to compromise the future； had she not confessed that she
loved him？
At last nine o'clock struck； Rodolphe could get into a carriage and
say with an emotion that is very intelligible； 〃To the Villa
Jeanrenaudto Prince Gandolphini's。〃
At last he saw Francesca； but without being seen by her。 The Princess
was standing quite near the piano。 Her beautiful hair； so thick and
long； was bound with a golden fillet。 Her face； in the light of wax
candles； had the brilliant pallor peculiar to Italians； and which
looks its best only by artificial light。 She was in full evening
dress； showing her fascinating shoulders； the figure of a girl and the
arms of an antique statue。 Her sublime beauty was beyond all possible
rivalry； though there were some charming women of Geneva； and other
Italians； among them the dazzling and illustrious Princess Varese； and
the famous singer Tinti； who was at that moment singing。
Rodolphe； leaning against the door…post； looked at the Princess；
turning on her the fixed； tenacious； attracting gaze； charged w