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！
n it。 As it was； I have profited by the malevolent curiosity which induces that amiable lepidopter to insinuate himself into all studios。 I confided the whole affair to him； even to the two hundred and fifty thousand francs （which I attributed to a lucky stroke at the Bourse）； I told him all my plans of parliamentary conduct； down to the number of the house I have bought to conform to the requirements of the electoral law。 It is all jotted down in his notebook。
That statement； I think； would somewhat reduce the admiration of his hearers in the salon Montcornet did they know of it。 As for the political horoscope which he has been so kind as to draw for me； I cannot honestly say that his astrology is at fault。 It is very certain that with my intention of following no set of fixed opinions； I must reach the situation so admirably summed up by the lawyer of Monsieur de la Palisse； when he exclaimed with burlesque emphasis： 〃What do you do； gentlemen； when you place a man in solitude？ You isolate him。〃
Isolation will certainly be my lot； and the artist…life； in which a man lives alone and draws from himself like the Great Creator whose work he toils to imitate； has predisposed me to welcome the situation。 But although； in the beginning especially； it will deprive me of all influence in the lobbies； it may serve me well in the tribune； where I shall be able to speak with strength and /freedom/。 Being bound by no promises and by no party trammels； nothing will prevent me from being the man I am； and expressing； in all their sacred crudity； the ideas which I think sound and just。 I know very well that before an audience plain； honest truth may fail to be contagious or even welcome。 But have you never remarked that； by using our opportunities wisely； we finally meet with days which may be called the festivals of morality and intelligence； days on which； naturally and almost without effort； the thought of good triumphs？
I do not； however； conceal from myself that； although I may reach to some reputation as an orator； such a course will never lead to a ministry； and that it does not bestow that reputation of being a practical man to which it is now the fashion to sacrifice so much。 But if at arm's length in the tribune I have but little influence； I shall make my mark at a greater distance。 I shall speak as it were from a window； beyond the close and narrow sphere of parliamentary discussion； and above the level of its petty passions and its petty interests。 This species of success appears to meet the views of the mysterious paternal intentions toward me。 What they seem to require is that I shall sound and resound。 From that point of view； i' faith； politics have a poetic side which is not out of keeping with my past life。
Now； to take up your other warning： that of my passion born or to be born for Madame de l'Estorade。 I quote your most judicious deductions for the purpose of answering them fully。
In 1837； when you left for Italy； Madame de l'Estorade was； you say； in the flower of her beauty； and the queer； audacious persistence which I have shown in deriving inspiration from her shows that it has not faded。 Hence； if the evil be not already done； you warn me to be on my guard； from the admiration of an artist to the adoration of the man there is but a step； and the history of the late Pygmalion is commended to my study。
In the first place； learned doctor and mythologian； allow me this remark。 Being on the spot and therefore much better placed than you to judge of the dangers of the situation； I can assure you that the principal person concerned does not appear to feel the least anxiety。 Monsieur de l'Estorade quarrels with me for one thing only： he thinks my visits too few； and my reserve misanthropy。
/Parbleu/！ I hear you say； a husband is always the last to know that his wife is being courted。 So be it。 But the high renown of Madame de l'Estorade's virtue； her cold and rather calculating good sense； which often served to balance the ardent and passionate impetuosity of one you knew well；what of that？ And will you not grant that motherhood as it appears in that ladypushed to a degree of fervor which I might almost call fanaticismwould be to her an infallible preservative？
So much for her。 But it is not； I see； for her tranquillity； it is mine for which your friendship is concerned； if Pygmalion had not succeeded in giving life to his statue； a pretty life his love would have made him！
To your charitable solicitude I must answer； （1） by asserting my principles （though the word and the thing are utterly out of date）； （2） by a certain stupid respect that I feel for conjugal loyalty； （3） by the natural preoccupation which the serious public enterprise I am about to undertake must necessarily give to my mind and imagination。 I must also tell you that I belong； if not by spiritual height； at least by all the tendencies of my mind and character； to that strong and serious school of artists of another age who； finding that art is long and life is short/ars longa et vita brevis/did not commit the mistake of wasting their time and lessening their powers of creation by silly and insipid intrigues。
But I have a better reason still to offer you。 As Monsieur de l'Estorade has told you of the really romantic incidents of my first meeting with his wife； you know already that a /memory/ was the cause of my studying her as a model。 Well； that memory； while it attracted me to the beautiful countess； is the strongest of all reasons to keep me from her。 This appears to you； I am sure； sufficiently enigmatical and far…fetched； but wait till I explain it。
If you had not thought proper to break the thread of our intercourse； I should not to…day be obliged to take up the arrears of our confidence； as it is； my dear boy； you must now take your part in my past history and listen to me bravely。
In 1835； the last year of my stay in Rome； I became quite intimate with a comrade in the Academy named Desroziers。 He was a musician and a man of distinguished and very observing mind； who would probably have gone far in his art if malarial fever had not put an end to him the following year。 Suddenly the idea took possession of us to go to Sicily； one of the excursions permitted by the rules of the school； but as we were radically 〃dry；〃 as they say； we walked about Rome for some time endeavoring to find some means of recruiting our finances。 On one of these occasions we happened to pass before the Palazzo Braschi。 Its wide…open doors gave access to the passing and repassing of a crowd of persons of all sorts。
〃/Parbleu/！〃 exclaimed Desroziers； 〃here's the very thing for us。〃
And without explaining his words or where he was taking me； he made me follow the crowd and enter the palace。
After mounting a magnificent marble staircase and crossing a very long suite of apartments rather poorly furnished；which is customary in Italian palaces； all their luxury being put into ceilings； statues； paintings； and other objects of art；we reached a room that was wholly hung with black and lighted by quantities of tapers。 It was； of course； a /chambre…ardente/。 In the middle of it on a raised platform surmounted by a baldaquin； lay a /thing/； the