登陆注册
4606300000042

第42章

After my introduction to Juliette, I paid her four or five visits, and I thought myself justified, by the care I had given to the examination of her beauty, in saying in M. de Malipiero's draw-room, one evening, when my opinion about her was asked, that she could please only a glutton with depraved tastes; that she had neither the fascination of simple nature nor any knowledge of society, that she was deficient in well-bred, easy manners as well as in striking talents and that those were the qualities which a thorough gentleman liked to find in a woman. This opinion met the general approbation of his friends, but M. de Malipiero kindly whispered to me that Juliette would certainly be informed of the portrait I had drawn of her, and that she would become my sworn enemy. He had guessed rightly.

I thought Juliette very singular, for she seldom spoke to me, and whenever she looked at me she made use of an eye-glass, or she contracted her eye-lids, as if she wished to deny me the honour of seeing her eyes, which were beyond all dispute very beautiful. They were blue, wondrously large and full, and tinted with that unfathomable variegated iris which nature only gives to youth, and which generally disappears, after having worked miracles, when the owner reaches the shady side of forty. Frederick the Great preserved it until his death.

Juliette was informed of the portrait I had given of her to M. de Malipiero's friends by the indiscreet pensioner, Xavier Cortantini.

One evening I called upon her with M. Manzoni, and she told him that a wonderful judge of beauty had found flaws in hers, but she took good care not to specify them. It was not difficult to make out that she was indirectly firing at me, and I prepared myself for the ostracism which I was expecting, but which, however, she kept in abeyance fully for an hour. At last, our conversation falling upon a concert given a few days before by Imer, the actor, and in which his daughter, Therese, had taken a brilliant part, Juliette turned round to me and inquired what M. de Malipiero did for Therese. I said that he was educating her. "He can well do it," she answered, "for he is a man of talent; but I should like to know what he can do with you?"

"Whatever he can."

"I am told that he thinks you rather stupid."

As a matter of course, she had the laugh on her side, and I, confused, uncomfortable and not knowing what to say, took leave after having cut a very sorry figure, and determined never again to darken her door. The next day at dinner the account of my adventure caused much amusement to the old senator.

Throughout the summer, I carried on a course of Platonic love with my charming Angela at the house of her teacher of embroidery, but her extreme reserve excited me, and my love had almost become a torment to myself. With my ardent nature, I required a mistress like Bettina, who knew how to satisfy my love without wearing it out. I

still retained some feelings of purity, and I entertained the deepest veneration for Angela. She was in my eyes the very palladium of Cecrops. Still very innocent, I felt some disinclination towards women, and I was simple enough to be jealous of even their husbands.

Angela would not grant me the slightest favour, yet she was no flirt;

but the fire beginning in me parched and withered me. The pathetic entreaties which I poured out of my heart had less effect upon her than upon two young sisters, her companions and friends: had I not concentrated every look of mine upon the heartless girl, I might have discovered that her friends excelled her in beauty and in feeling, but my prejudiced eyes saw no one but Angela. To every outpouring of my love she answered that she was quite ready to become my wife, and that such was to be the limit of my wishes; when she condescended to add that she suffered as much as I did myself, she thought she had bestowed upon me the greatest of favours.

Such was the state of my mind, when, in the first days of autumn, I

received a letter from the Countess de Mont-Real with an invitation to spend some time at her beautiful estate at Pasean. She expected many guests, and among them her own daughter, who had married a Venetian nobleman, and who had a great reputation for wit and beauty, although she had but one eye; but it was so beautiful that it made up for the loss of the other. I accepted the invitation, and Pasean offering me a constant round of pleasures, it was easy enough for me to enjoy myself, and to forget for the time the rigours of the cruel Angela.

I was given a pretty room on the ground floor, opening upon the gardens of Pasean, and I enjoyed its comforts without caring to know who my neighbours were.

The morning after my arrival, at the very moment I awoke, my eyes were delighted with the sight of the charming creature who brought me my coffee. She was a very young girl, but as well formed as a young person of seventeen; yet she had scarcely completed her fourteenth year. The snow of her complexion, her hair as dark as the raven's wing, her black eyes beaming with fire and innocence, her dress composed only of a chemise and a short petticoat which exposed a well-turned leg and the prettiest tiny foot, every detail I gathered in one instant presented to my looks the most original and the most perfect beauty I had ever beheld. I looked at her with the greatest pleasure, and her eyes rested upon me as if we had been old acquaintances.

"How did you find your bed?" she asked.

"Very comfortable; I am sure you made it. Pray, who are you?"

"I am Lucie, the daughter of the gate-keeper: I have neither brothers nor sisters, and I am fourteen years old. I am very glad you have no servant with you; I will be your little maid, and I am sure you will be pleased with me."

同类推荐
  • 狱中杂记

    狱中杂记

    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。
  • 后汉书

    后汉书

    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。
  • 赵太祖三下南唐

    赵太祖三下南唐

    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。
  • 青眉

    青眉

    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。
  • 巴西集

    巴西集

    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
  • 朕的皇后太有财

    朕的皇后太有财

    水儿新文推荐:《特工“贤后”》爆笑无德拜金女,一张毒嘴闯古代步多金——一个视财如命,发誓要寿尽钱堆中的拜金女。为想一夜成为世界首富,竟独身去挖古墓,岂料竟不幸遇地震,竟让她穿越到了一个没有历史记载朝代的冷宫皇后身上。而拜金女的本性难移,这无人问津的冷宫似乎再适合她不过,且看她如何在这古代实现她天下第一首富的梦想“皇后,这已经是你第六次钻狗洞,第八次挖地洞,第十次写罪己诏,第十二次硬闯宫门,第十五次翻宫墙,第五十一次失败被抓了回来。朕希望下次皇后能换点新鲜的招,朕抓累了。”男子低头批阅手中奏章,声音平淡无波道。某女怒气冲冲的瞪着他,咬牙愤恨道:“你到底要怎么样才肯废了我?”“和朕生个皇子,废你后位,放你自由,五湖四海任你逍遥,朕绝不管你。”语气依旧平淡的没有阴阳顿挫,继续埋头批改奏章。某女气得呲牙咧嘴,眼瞪如铜铃,片刻后却像是泄了气的皮球般,心一横,一咬牙,一跺脚,大有风萧萧兮易水寒,壮士一去兮不负还的悲壮道:“好,今晚我们就把这事给办了。”某男一惊,手中笔头一歪,字不成字,终于抬起了头。他是至高无上的帝王,从不知何为丢面子,自从遇见了她,他不但没了帝王的威严,还被她弄得颜面尽失、无地自容。“呜呜,奶奶,你孙子欺负我,他昨晚像狗一样,对人家又添又咬——”面对一室的宫女、太监,某男怒瞪着一脸楚楚可怜的某女,大有想要掐死她的冲动。“铜臭女,你把这狗东西给朕扔出去——”某男指着床上的一只雪白小狗愤恨道。某女立刻一脸严肃的否决:“不行,这不是狗,是钱。一天一百两呢。而若少了一根狗毛,我一天要陪一万两,我可得好好保护它,让它寸步不离我。”“那朕睡哪里?“”哎呀!皇宫这么大,你哪里不能睡啊!和一狗争什么?”“你——”某男简直要吐血。他后宫佳丽三千,从不把女子当回事,而当她出现,似乎改变了他这样的看法,在宫中,她祸害皇宫,本以为废了她便可解决她这个麻烦,但没想到她出了皇宫,更是肆无忌惮的给他惹来了更大的麻烦——竟闹得女子造反要工作,百官罢朝要辞职,嫔妃要自由,美人要解放,就连宫女太监也被她怂恿的罢工要加薪——而且竟把挣钱的主意打到了他身上,竟敢把他十万两卖给一个女子一夜——哼!是可忍孰不可忍,铜臭女,朕倒要看看是你道高一尺,还是朕魔高一丈,制不服你,朕就跟你混——而一心想做天下第一首富的她,当身边出现了这些人:霸道专权的——帝王
  • 爱是我们

    爱是我们

    爱是……不怕相见恨晚;爱是……在对的时间抓住对的你;爱是……你和我,称之为“我们”
  • 三嫁未晚

    三嫁未晚

    看到陌溪的第一眼,三生做了一个伟大的决定。“我要勾搭你!”陌溪神君,三界最可怕的战神,以冰冷无情闻名三界。这样的他,却对她说:“若是你能找到我,便来勾搭吧。”他给了她三生的时间,她却成了他三世的劫数——第一世,她是他的童养媳,但却为了他的前程,甘愿牺牲性命;第二世,她是他囚禁的妖物,但却为了他的弟子,被他亲手诛杀;第三世,她是他最想保护的人,但他却一次一次将她错失……三生石灵搅乱了他的三生劫,那就只好用她余生来补了……
  • 二十五史故事精选大全

    二十五史故事精选大全

    作为中国史学主干的二十五史是中国唯一一部完整的官修史总集,它用统一的纪传体裁,完整系统地记录了我国从远古至清末的历史发展,全面展示了历代王朝的兴衰轨迹,涵盖了不同历史时期的经济、政治、科技、军事、艺术、外交等多方面的内容,是当之无愧的中华文明百科全书。本书在认真研读二十五史原文的基础上,萃取二十五史的精髓,将其中最精彩的故事呈现在读者面前,尊重史实,叙述准确,尽量保留了原书中的史家评论,是一本雅俗共赏、老少咸宜的历史读本。
  • 芝园遗编

    芝园遗编

    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。
  • 青鸾乱

    青鸾乱

    商界后起之秀被人下套,聚集所有仇人后携情人玉石俱焚斗转星移,竟然穿越到了另一个时空的古代,可怕的是附身在了一个五岁多的公主身上,而这公主因为母亲生她而死,皇帝从此不再见她,在宫中毫无地位可言,从小就被定下了联姻的命运但是既然我陈万青到了这里,便定要逆天改命,扭转乾坤!
  • 古墓:打开古墓的机关

    古墓:打开古墓的机关

    1599年,意大利西西里岛巴勒莫嘉布遣会的修士在一座修道院下发现了一些地下墓穴,在墓穴中有一些制作木乃伊的完整工具。于是,他们决定在刚刚去世的一名修士身上试试这种技术。从那时起直到1880年这种行为被禁,制作木乃伊的风气一直在西西里岛上盛行。时至今日,人们还可以在当地看到身着各时期服饰的,腐烂程度不一的,高高悬挂着的尸体。
  • 大将军

    大将军

    鹤峰邬阳关人陈连升斩杀恶霸除暴安良被迫逃亡,鬼使神差英雄救美,继而被施南府千总尹英图召为女婿,自此以后跟随尹英图剿匪、平叛,平步青云。鸦片战争爆发,被举荐的陈连升带着两个儿子骁勇善战,最后全都壮烈殉国,成为第一位为国捐躯的少数民族将领,他和自己六百兄弟英勇抗英的故事被后人传诵至今。本书为第一届海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛入围作品。
  • 三国志平话

    三国志平话

    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。
  • 匆匆那年(上册)

    匆匆那年(上册)

    80年代生人的张楠因大学毕业找不到好工作而留学澳洲,在那里他认识了同样留学的方茴。就在他被方茴的神秘感吸引时,却听说她竟然是同性恋。阴错阳差,他与方茴住在了同一屋檐下,并且通过其他朋友知道方茴并不是真正的同性恋者,而是曾经深受伤害,有过一段难以忘怀的经历。一次偶然的机会,在张楠的房间里,方茴给他讲述了自己的故事…