登陆注册
5397100000096

第96章

"You can't have it.It's all in my head.No woman will read it.

I suspect it was something that could never have been written.But what a farewell! And now I suppose we shall say good-bye without even a handshake.But you are safe! Only I must ask you not to come out of this room till I tell you you may."I was extremely anxious that Senor Ortega should never even catch a glimpse of Dona Rita, never guess how near he had been to her.Iwas extremely anxious the fellow should depart for Tolosa and get shot in a ravine; or go to the Devil in his own way, as long as he lost the track of Dona Rita completely.He then, probably, would get mad and get shut up, or else get cured, forget all about it, and devote himself to his vocation, whatever it was - keep a shop and grow fat.All this flashed through my mind in an instant and while I was still dazzled by those comforting images, the voice of Dona Rita pulled me up with a jerk.

"You mean not out of the house?"

"No, I mean not out of this room," I said with some embarrassment.

"What do you mean? Is there something in the house then? This is most extraordinary! Stay in this room? And you, too, it seems?

Are you also afraid for yourself?"

"I can't even give you an idea how afraid I was.I am not so much now.But you know very well, Dona Rita, that I never carry any sort of weapon in my pocket.""Why don't you, then?" she asked in a flash of scorn which bewitched me so completely for an instant that I couldn't even smile at it.

"Because if I am unconventionalized I am an old European," Imurmured gently."No, Excellentissima, I shall go through life without as much as a switch in my hand.It's no use you being angry.Adapting to this great moment some words you've heard before: I am like that.Such is my character!"Dona Rita frankly stared at me - a most unusual expression for her to have.Suddenly she sat up.

"Don George," she said with lovely animation, "I insist upon knowing who is in my house.""You insist!...But Therese says it is her house."Had there been anything handy, such as a cigarette box, for instance, it would have gone sailing through the air spouting cigarettes as it went.Rosy all over, cheeks, neck, shoulders, she seemed lighted up softly from inside like a beautiful transparency.

But she didn't raise her voice.

"You and Therese have sworn my ruin.If you don't tell me what you mean I will go outside and shout up the stairs to make her come down.I know there is no one but the three of us in the house.""Yes, three; but not counting my Jacobin.There is a Jacobin in the house.""A Jac...! Oh, George, is this the time to jest?" she began in persuasive tones when a faint but peculiar noise stilled her lips as though they had been suddenly frozen.She became quiet all over instantly.I, on the contrary, made an involuntary movement before I, too, became as still as death.We strained our ears; but that peculiar metallic rattle had been so slight and the silence now was so perfect that it was very difficult to believe one's senses.

Dona Rita looked inquisitively at me.I gave her a slight nod.We remained looking into each other's eyes while we listened and listened till the silence became unbearable.Dona Rita whispered composedly: "Did you hear?""I am asking myself...I almost think I didn't.""Don't shuffle with me.It was a scraping noise.""Something fell."

"Something! What thing? What are the things that fall by themselves? Who is that man of whom you spoke? Is there a man?""No doubt about it whatever.I brought him here myself.""What for?"

"Why shouldn't I have a Jacobin of my own? Haven't you one, too?

But mine is a different problem from that white-haired humbug of yours.He is a genuine article.There must be plenty like him about.He has scores to settle with half a dozen people, he says, and he clamours for revolutions to give him a chance.""But why did you bring him here?"

"I don't know - from sudden affection..."All this passed in such low tones that we seemed to make out the words more by watching each other's lips than through our sense of hearing.Man is a strange animal.I didn't care what I said.All I wanted was to keep her in her pose, excited and still, sitting up with her hair loose, softly glowing, the dark brown fur making a wonderful contrast with the white lace on her breast.All I was thinking of was that she was adorable and too lovely for words! Icared for nothing but that sublimely aesthetic impression.It summed up all life, all joy, all poetry! It had a divine strain.

I am certain that I was not in my right mind.I suppose I was not quite sane.I am convinced that at that moment of the four people in the house it was Dona Rita who upon the whole was the most sane.

She observed my face and I am sure she read there something of my inward exaltation.She knew what to do.In the softest possible tone and hardly above her breath she commanded: "George, come to yourself."Her gentleness had the effect of evening light.I was soothed.

同类推荐
  • 徐文长先生佚稿

    徐文长先生佚稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 七言律

    七言律

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 刘子

    刘子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 集验背疽方

    集验背疽方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 修禅要诀

    修禅要诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 若换作我守护你

    若换作我守护你

    千年前本该你继承这星界的王位,只是没想到上一任的星王竟将这王座交于我。而我就这样成为了这星界第二位星皇。只是这王座的荣耀与权利实在太过诱人,即使是你也逃不过。占星师占卜星象,只有将我放逐人间才可免去浩劫,而你却默许了,将我送去人间历劫。
  • 逆天重生之王妃太嚣张

    逆天重生之王妃太嚣张

    她,身怀异能,无人能敌;她,天漓凤家的嫡女,花瓶一个,天生的废材之体。当她变成她,又会谱写出怎样的命运呢?他,神秘莫测,实力高深莫测,让她第一眼看到便想逃离,但逃得了吗?从他注意到她的那一刻开始就已经注定了,他生,她便生;若他死,就算是下地狱她也要陪着,他也一样。一个逃,一个追,且看是谁先沦陷,不能自拔;强强联手,且看他们如何登上这世界的巅峰!
  • 小世界山寨计划

    小世界山寨计划

    傅平获得了金手指——一个残缺的小世界却从此沦为工具人,游荡在诸天万界(抄X)借鉴他们的法则“山寨万界,完善自己”是傅平万年不变的口号
  • 贴身丫鬟升职记

    贴身丫鬟升职记

    山贼世家的关柳柳被娘亲送到苏州第一大户唐家做丫鬟,没想到只用了一个月的时间,就从面瘫大小姐的贴身小丫鬟变成了唐夫人钦点的儿媳妇!这升职的速度也太快啦!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 明月珠(中国好小说)

    明月珠(中国好小说)

    荣耀祖是八旗子弟,解放前过着锦衣玉食、游手好闲的日子。解放后,地位一落千丈,等同于一个小市民,而命运也奇迹般地将他自小讨厌的一个与他同名的大白蓍安排住在了同一个院落。两人磕磕绊绊,相互看不起。大白蓍的儿子在容家院子里捡到了一颗神奇的珠子,此珠不同的人拿去看,可以看见不同的景象。容耀祖认为此物一定是他家的宝物,想方设法想夺回来。他伙同情人金盘的哥哥金毛设计绑架大白蓍的儿子,目的是得到那颗神奇的珠子。而结果呢,珠子到了他们手上却如同一颗石头。这颗珠子到底是赝品还是宝物?到底是谁留下的?后来又落入谁人之手?荣耀祖的命运随着这颗珠子在文革中又会有怎样的起伏?……
  • 璟爷霸宠:女王逆袭拽翻天

    璟爷霸宠:女王逆袭拽翻天

    【本文背景人物等纯属虚构】重生前,第一次遇见他,是在末世。他救了濒死的她,对她百般温柔,最后牺牲了自己助她出末世,得以重生。重生后,再一次遇见他,已经是十二年后。他像‘黑化’了似的,不仅性情大变,还失去所有的记忆。她决定,既然他不记得了,那么这次一定要远离他,不能再次害了他。可她越想远离,他越是凑上来。还总带着萌娃在她身旁晃悠,美名其曰是为了找回遗失的记忆……重来一世,早早就身居高位的她,发现了一个秘密——这个表面平和的世界实则并非如此,除了普通人外,还存在着少数‘异能者’……强大腹黑超护短女主vs冰冷如神谪纯情男主,外加一个腹黑可爱萌娃神助攻!注:男女主强强联合,后期会涉及星际等。
  • 快穿轶事:大人,从了吧

    快穿轶事:大人,从了吧

    竺兮莫名其妙的被绑定了一个傻瓜系统,一看就不是一般的妖艳贱货可以比的,瞬间放弃了后面追着的那群小可爱们,从此每天都活在刺激和兴奋的乐趣当中。傻瓜·系统:……摔!这明明就是要完成任务获得好评,怎么就成了乐趣!系统:宿主,你在干什么?竺兮:找命定之人。系统:不对……任务目标是男性,命定之人怎么会也是男性!!系统:宿主,你拿着刀干什么?竺兮龇了龇牙,“我砍死这丫的!”某男:你就是我的命定之人。系统:……宿主总是一言不合就要砍死人物目标,该怎么办,在线等,急!
  • 沙乡年鉴(中小学生必读丛书)

    沙乡年鉴(中小学生必读丛书)

    作者利奥波德以文学手法描述了大自然的绚丽多彩,栩栩如生地记叙了人类与大自然的搏斗,如歌如泣地抒发了崇尚自然的情趣。读者可以看到令人惊叹的自然力量,也可以看出作者对人类为自身利益毁灭自然而发出的悲叹。作者以随笔美文的写作方式,传达出一种关于人和土地的生态伦理观,意在唤醒人们的环保意识。
  • 倾城宠妃要上天

    倾城宠妃要上天

    人人都说林梓沫是这世界第一丑女,可惜在林梓沫面对众人摘下脸上的面纱时,众人纷纷打脸。面对这绝世容颜。很多皇亲贵胄纷纷上门提亲。“林小姐,我仰慕你很久了”“林小姐,天上有星星,我心有着你。不知可否答应本公子的提亲呢?”“小姐貌美无双,与我成为佳偶,必定是这人间的第一佳事”“都给朕让开,有你们这么提亲的吗?给有夫之妇提亲,真有你们的。媳妇,你说他们是不是很傻啊?”
  • 流浪的燕子

    流浪的燕子

    燕碧巧,女,33岁,自由职业,离婚无孩,持美国绿卡,诚觅30至50岁海内外成功男士……新年伊始,碧巧自拟的征婚豆腐干就在故乡晚报的一角刊出了。碧巧在美国,她自己没法看到。闺中好友兔兔就把“豆腐干”扫描下来,电邮给了她。燕碧巧,玲珑秀气,轻盈妩媚,一脸的温良和善,眼睛不大却常常挂着笑意。因为长得有些像港星钟楚虹,曾经被同学叫作“小楚虹”。和很多住在大城市周边的女孩子一样,她们常常去上海买衣服、去杭州玩,也对外面的世界充满神往,但又喜欢自己小城市的简单和宁静。