第 18 节
作者:
悟来悟去 更新:2021-02-20 15:46 字数:9321
visible in large letters Oeuvres de Bon…Bon。 Thus was delicately shadowed
forth the two…fold occupation of the proprietor。
Upon stepping over the threshold; the whole interior of the building
presented itself to view。 A long; low…pitched room; of antique
construction; was indeed all the accommodation afforded by the Cafe。 In a
corner of the apartment stood the bed of the metaphysician。 An army of
curtains; together with a canopy a la Grecque; gave it an air at once
classic and comfortable。 In the corner diagonary opposite; appeared; in
direct family communion; the properties of the kitchen and the
bibliotheque。 A dish of polemics stood peacefully upon the dresser。 Here
lay an ovenful of the latest ethics … there a kettle of dudecimo melanges。
Volumes of German morality were hand and glove with the gridiron … a
toasting…fork might be discovered by the side of Eusebius … Plato reclined
at his ease in the frying…pan… and contemporary manuscripts were filed
away upon the spit。
In other respects the Cafe de Bon…Bon might be said to differ little
from the usual restaurants of the period。 A fireplace yawned opposite the
door。 On the right of the fireplace an open cupboard displayed a
formidable array of labelled bottles。
It was here; about twelve o'clock one night during the severe winter
the comments of his neighbours upon his singular propensity … that Pierre
Bon…Bon; I say; having turned them all out of his house; locked the door
upon them with an oath; and betook himself in no very pacific mood to the
comforts of a leather…bottomed arm…chair; and a fire of blazing fagots。
It was one of those terrific nights which are only met with once or
twice during a century。 It snowed fiercely; and the house tottered to its
centre with the floods of wind that; rushing through the crannies in the
wall; and pouring impetuously down the chimney; shook awfully the curtains
of the philosopher's bed; and disorganized the economy of his pate…pans
and papers。 The huge folio sign that swung without; exposed to the fury of
the tempest; creaked ominously; and gave out a moaning sound from its
stanchions of solid oak。
It was in no placid temper; I say; that the metaphysician drew up his
chair to its customary station by the hearth。 Many circumstances of a
perplexing nature had occurred during the day; to disturb the serenity of
his meditations。 In attempting des oeufs a la Princesse; he had
unfortunately perpetrated an omelette a la Reine; the discovery of a
principle in ethics had been frustrated by the overturning of a stew; and
last; not least; he had been thwarted in one of those admirable bargains
which he at all times took such especial delight in bringing to a
successful termination。 But in the chafing of his mind at these
unaccountable vicissitudes; there did not fail to be mingled some degree
of that nervous anxiety which the fury of a boisterous night is so well
calculated to produce。 Whistling to his more immediate vicinity the large
black water…dog we have spoken of before; and settling himself uneasily in
his chair; he could not help casting a wary and unquiet eye toward those
distant recesses of the apartment whose inexorable shadows not even the
red firelight itself could more than partially succeed in overcoming。
Having completed a scrutiny whose exact purpose was perhaps unintelligible
to himself; he drew close to his seat a small table covered with books and
papers; and soon became absorbed in the task of retouching a voluminous
manuscript; intended for publication on the morrow。
He had been thus occupied for some minutes when 〃I am in no hurry;
Monsieur Bon…Bon;〃 suddenly whispered a whining voice in the apartment。
〃The devil!〃 ejaculated our hero; starting to his feet; overturning
the table at his side; and staring around him in astonishment。
〃Very true;〃 calmly replied the voice。
〃Very true! … what is very true? … how came you here?〃 vociferated the
metaphysician; as his eye fell upon something which lay stretched at full
length upon the bed。
〃I was saying;〃 said the intruder; without attending to the
interrogatives; … 〃I was saying that I am not at all pushed for time …
that the business upon which I took the liberty of calling; is of no
pressing importance … in short; that I can very well wait until you have
finished your Exposition。〃
〃My Exposition! … there now! … how do you know? … how came you to
understand that I was writing an Exposition? … good God!〃
〃Hush!〃 replied the figure; in a shrill undertone; and; arising
quickly from the bed; he made a single step toward our hero; while an iron
lamp that depended over…head swung convulsively back from his approach。
The philosopher's amazement did not prevent a narrow scrutiny of the
stranger's dress and appearance。 The outlines of his figure; exceedingly
lean; but much above the common height; were rendered minutely distinct;
by means of a faded suit of black cloth which fitted tight to the skin;
but was otherwise cut very much in the style of a century ago。 These
garments had evidently been intended for a much shorter person than their
present owner。 His ankles and wrists were left naked for several inches。
In his shoes; however; a pair of very brilliant buckles gave the lie to
the extreme poverty implied by the other portions of his dress。 His head
was bare; and entirely bald; with the exception of a hinder part; from
which depended a queue of considerable length。 A pair of green spectacles;
with side glasses; protected his eyes from the influence of the light; and
at the same time prevented our hero from ascertaining either their color
or their conformation。 About the entire person there was no evidence of a
shirt; but a white cravat; of filthy appearance; was tied with extreme
precision around the throat and the ends hanging down formally side by
side gave (although I dare say unintentionally) the idea of an
ecclesiastic。 Indeed; many other points both in his appearance and
demeanor might have very well sustained a conception of that nature。 Over
his left ear; he carried; after the fashion of a modern clerk; an
instrument resembling the stylus of the ancients。 In a breast…pocket of
his coat appeared conspicuously a small black volume fastened with clasps
of steel。 This book; whether accidentally or not; was so turned outwardly
from the person as to discover the words 〃Rituel Catholique〃 in white
letters upon the back。 His entire physiognomy was interestingly saturnine
… even cadaverously pale。 The forehead was lofty; and deeply furrowed with
the ridges of contemplation。 The corners of the mouth were drawn down into
an expression of the most submissive humility。 There was also a clasping
of the hands; as he stepped toward our hero … a deep sigh … and altogether
a look of such utter sanctity as could not have failed to be unequivocally
preposessing。 Every shadow of anger faded from the countenance of the
metaphysician; as; having completed a satisfactory survey of his visiter's
person; he shook him cordially by the hand; and conducted him to a seat。
There would however be a radical error in attributing this
instantaneous transition of feeling in the philosopher; to any one of
those causes which might naturally be supposed to have had an influence。
Indeed; Pierre Bon…Bon; from what I have been able to understand of his
disposition; was of all men the least likely to be imposed upon by any
speciousness of exterior deportment。 It was impossible that so accurate an
observer of men and things should have failed to discover; upon the
moment; the real character of the personage who had thus intruded upon his
hospitality。 To say no more; the conformation of his visiter's feet was
sufficiently remarkable … he maintained lightly upon his head an
inordinately tall hat … there was a tremulous swelling about the hinder
part of his breeches … and the vibration of his coat tail was a palpable
fact。 Judge; then; with what feelings of satisfaction our hero found
himself thrown thus at once into the society of a person for whom he had
at all times entertained the most unqualified respect。 He was; however;
too much of the diplomatist to let escape him any intimation of his
suspicions in regard to the true state of affairs。 It was not his cue to
appear at all conscious of the high honor he thus unexpectedly enjoyed;
but; by leading his guest into the conversation; to elicit some important
ethical ideas; which might; in obtaining a place in his contemplated
publication; enlighten the human race; and at the same time immortalize
himself … ideas which; I should have added; his visitor's great age; and
well…known proficiency in the science of morals; might very well have
enabled him to afford。
Actuated by these enlightened views; our hero bade the gentleman sit
down; while he himself took occasion to throw some fagots upon the fire;
and place upon the now re…established table some bottles of Mousseux。
Having quickly completed these operations; he drew his chair vis…a…vis to
his companion's; and waited until the latter should open the conversation。
But plans even the most skilfully matured are often