登陆注册
4606300000756

第756章

Hedvig looked as red as fire.

The pastor and the other guests looked at each other, while I

gazed fixedly at the young theologian, who was reflecting. M.

d'Harcourt said that we should have to send for Voltaire to settle a question so difficult, but as Hedvig had collected her thoughts and seemed ready to speak everybody was silent.

"It would be absurd," said she, "to suppose that a deity could perform such an action without its having any results. At the end of nine months a woman would be delivered a male child, which would be three parts man and one part god."

At these words all the guests applauded, M. de Ximenes expressed his admiration of the way the question had been solved, adding,--

"Naturally, if the son of the woman married, his children would be seven-eighths men and one-eighth gods."

"Yes," said I, "unless he married a goddess, which would have made the proportion different."

"Tell me exactly," said Hedvig, "what proportion of divinity there would be in a child of the sixteenth generation."

"Give me a pencil and I will soon tell you," said M. de Ximenes.

"There is no need to calculate it," said I; "the child would have some small share of the wit which you enjoy."

Everybody applauded this gallant speech, which did not by any means offend the lady to whom it was addressed.

This pretty blonde was chiefly desirable for the charms of her intellect. We rose from the table and made a circle round her, but she told us with much grace not to pay her any more compliments.

I took Helen aside, and told her to get her cousin to choose a ring from my casket, which I gave her, and she seemed glad to execute the commission. A quarter of an hour afterwards Hedvig came to shew me her hand adorned with the ring she had chosen. I

kissed it rapturously, and she must have guessed from the warmth of my kisses with what feelings she had inspired me.

In the evening Helen told the syndic and the three girls all about the morning's discussion without leaving out the smallest detail.

She told the story with ease and grace, and I had no occasion to prompt her. We begged her to stay to supper, but she whispered something to the three friends, and they agreed that it was impossible; but she said that she might spend a couple of days with them in their country house on the lake, if they would ask her mother.

At the syndic's request the girls called on the mother the next day, and the day after that they went off with Helen. The same evening we went and supped with them, but we could not sleep there. The syndic was to take me to a house at a short distance off, where we should be very comfortable. This being the case there was no hurry, and the eldest girl said that the syndic and I

could leave whenever we liked, but that they were going to bed.

So saying she took Helen to her room, while the two others slept in another room. Soon after the syndic went into the room where Helen was, and I visited the two others.

I had scarcely been with my two sweethearts for an hour when the syndic interrupted my erotic exploits by begging me to go.

"What have you done with Helen?" I asked.

"Nothing; she's a simpleton, and an intractable one. She hid under the sheets and would not look at my performance with her friend."

"You ought to go to her direct."

"I have done so, but she repulsed me again and again. I have given it up, and shall not try it again, unless you will tame her for me."

"How is it to be done?"

"Come to dinner to-morrow. I shall be away at Geneva. I shall be back by supper-time. I wish we could give her too much to drink!"

"That would be a pity. Let me see what I can do."

I accordingly went to dine with them by myself the next day, and they entertained me in all the force of the word. After dinner we went for a walk, and the three friends understanding my aims left me alone with the intractable girl, who resisted my caresses in a manner which almost made me give up the hope of taming her.

"The syndic," said I, "is in love with you, and last night . . .

"Last night," she said, "he amused himself with his old friend. I

am for everyone's following their own tastes, but I expect to be allowed to follow mine."

"If I could gain your heart I should be happy."

"Why don't you invite the pastor and my cousin to dine with you?

I could come too, for the pastor makes much of everyone who loves his niece."

"I am glad to hear that. Has she a lover?"

"No."

"I can scarcely believe it. She is young, pretty, agreeable, and very clever."

"You don't understand Genevan ways. It is because she is so clever that no young man falls in love with her. Those who might be attracted by her personal charms hold themselves aloof on account of her intellectual capacities, as they would have to sit in silence before her."

"Are the young Genevans so ignorant, then?"

"As a rule they are. Some of them have received excellent educations, but in a general way they are full of prejudice.

Nobody wishes to be considered a fool or a blockhead, but clever women are not appreciated; and if a girl is witty or well educated she endeavors to hide her lights, at least if she desires to be married."

"Ah! now I see why you did not open your lips during our discussion."

"No, I know I have nothing to hide. This was not the motive which made me keep silence, but the pleasure of listening. I admired my cousin, who was not afraid to display her learning on a subject which any other girl would have affected to know nothing about."

"Yes, affected, though she might very probably know as much as her grandmother."

"That's a matter of morals, or rather of prejudices."

"Your reasoning is admirable, and I am already longing for the party you so cleverly suggested:"

"You will have the pleasure of being with my cousin."

"I do her justice. Hedvig is certainly a very interesting and agreeable girl, but believe me it is your presence that will constitute my chief enjoyment."

"And how if I do not believe you?"

"You would wrong me and give me pain, for I love you dearly."

"In spite of that you have deceived me. I am sure that you have given marks of your affection to those three young ladies. For my part I pity them."

"Why?"

同类推荐
  • 岚斋集

    岚斋集

    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。
  • 大唐西域求法高僧传

    大唐西域求法高僧传

    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。
  • 根本说一切有部苾刍尼戒经

    根本说一切有部苾刍尼戒经

    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。
  • 因明入正理论

    因明入正理论

    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。
  • 赞僧功德经

    赞僧功德经

    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
  • 奉和袭美酬前进士崔

    奉和袭美酬前进士崔

    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。
  • 欺负仇人的女儿难道有错吗

    欺负仇人的女儿难道有错吗

    被迫和南极企鹅做了12年邻居后,心里坏掉的少年踏上了回乡复仇之路,第一步就是要把仇人的女儿变成奴隶!
  • 海那边的风景

    海那边的风景

    我怎么也没有想到,平时很少跟我交流的儿子石川,一见我回家便憨头憨脑地冲我笑。看着儿子可爱的模样,我也顾不得旅途的劳累,一下子把儿子抱在怀里。
  • 狂拽冷少妖娆妻

    狂拽冷少妖娆妻

    弄死个人然后就穿越了!唔,天理报应,因果循环?可是,我想要空调电脑热水器,老天爷你倒是给我弄来啊!!!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 德闻视界:我在德国当记者

    德闻视界:我在德国当记者

    本书是作者在驻德期间所当记者采访的一些文字集结,可以作为一段心路历程,一个时间标签,一种历史纪念。此书不是的单纯叙事,而是一部触景生情的思想札记,它更偏重于抒发作者内心感受。通过作者的采访纪实,本书为我们展示出德意志家多姿多彩的风俗画卷,而且,又涉及了外交时政、人生、社会、历史等重大的时代课题,并不断地给人以精神启迪。本书作者是央视驻外记者,从2005年2月28日到2008年6月30日,3年多的光阴,40个月,作者在德国当央视驻外记者。那是一段忙忙碌碌、风风火火、变动不居的日子,作者接触了不同层面的人,采访经历了不同的事,足迹几乎踏遍了整个德国,但是却似乎总是无暇看风景。
  • 中药药事管理手册

    中药药事管理手册

    医院药事管理是提高医疗质量的重要途径,在医院管理中越来越受到重视。随着医疗卫生事业的深化改革,开展以患者为中心,提高医疗服务质量,有效降低医疗费用,规范医疗行为,提高医疗质量,确保用药安全,这些内容对医院的管理提出了新的要求,医院必须把药事管理放在重要的位置。
  • 双视人生

    双视人生

    打破技术壁垒,领军医药行业;看破蛛丝马迹,拨开悬案迷雾;品鉴天下美食,完善卓越配方;从学习到超越,双眼异能,开启不一样的人生。
  • 三皇内文遗秘

    三皇内文遗秘

    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。
  • 团队合作能力训练

    团队合作能力训练

    本书具有以下几个的特点。第一,以职业院校学生的合作能力现状为出发点,针对学生的基础和特点,介绍他们最欠缺、最需要的技能。第二,体现“职业”特色,在案例的选择和能力训练的设计上融入职场元素,如职场案例、职业情境体验,让学生提前对职场有所了解,感受职场氛围。第三,以能力训练为主,理论指导为辅,通过有针对性的训练让学生在活动中掌握相关技能,真正做到“有趣、有用、有效”。第四,采用学习目标、学习引导、能力训练、知识链接、推荐阅读、课外练习的编写体例,层次分明,可操作性强。
  • 春已去夏犹清

    春已去夏犹清

    深居俯夹城,春去夏犹清。你在深宫,我在江湖。