登陆注册
4606300000844

第844章

For instance, on the third day after her regeneration, she requested me to ask Paralis where she was to die--that is, to be brought to bed. I made the oracle reply that she must sacrifice to the water-

spirits on the banks of two rivers, at the same hour, and that afterwards the question of her lying-in would be resolved. The oracle added that I must perform three expiatory sacrifices to Saturn, on account of my too harsh treatment of the false Querilinthos, and that Semiramis need not take part in these ceremonies, though she herself must perform the sacrifices to the water-spirits.

As I was pretending to think of a place where two rivers were sufficiently near to each other to fulfil the requirements of the oracle, Semiramis herself suggested that Lyons was watered by the Rhone and the Saone, and that it would be an excellent place for the ceremony. As may be imagined, I immediately agreed with her. On asking Paralis if there were any preparations to be made, he replied that it Would be necessary to pour a bottle of sea-water into each river a fortnight before the sacrifice, and that this ceremony was to be performed by Semiramis in person, at the first diurnal hour of the moon.

"Then," said the marchioness, "the bottles must be filled here, for the other French ports are farther off. I will go as soon as ever I

can leave my bed, and will wait for you at Lyons; for as you have to perform expiatory sacrifices to Saturn in this place, you cannot come with me."

I assented, pretending sorrow at not being able to accompany her.

The next morning I brought her two well-sealed bottles of sea-water, telling her that she was to pour them out into the two rivers on the 15th of May (the current month). We fixed her departure for the 11th, and I promised to rejoin her before the expiration of the fortnight. I gave her the hours of the moon in writing, and also directions for the journey.

As soon as the marchioness had gone I left the "Treize Cantons" and went to live with Marcoline, giving her four hundred and sixty louis, which, with the hundred and forty she had won at biribi, gave her a total of six hundred louis, or fourteen thousand four hundred francs.

With this sum she could look the future in the face fearlessly.

The day after Madame d'Urfe's departure, the betrothed of Mdlle.

Crosin arrived at Marseilles with a letter from Rosalie, which he handed to me on the day of his arrival. She begged me in the name of our common honour to introduce the bearer in person to the father of the betrothed. Rosalie was right, but as the lady was not my real niece there were some difficulties in the way. I welcomed the young man and told him that I would first take him to Madame Audibert, and that we could then go together to his father-in-law in prospective.

The young Genoese had gone to the "Treize Cantons," where he thought I was staying. He was delighted to find himself so near the goal of his desires, and his ecstacy received a new momentum when he saw how cordially Madame Audibert received him. We all got into my carriage and drove to the father's who gave him an excellent reception, and then presented him to his wife, who was already friendly disposed towards him.

I was pleasantly surprised when this good and sensible man introduced me to his wife as his cousin, the Chevalier de Seingalt, who had taken such care of their daughter. The good wife and good mother, her husband's worthy partner, stretched out her hand to me, and all my trouble was over.

My new cousin immediately sent an express messenger to his sister, telling her that he and his wife, his future son-in-law, Madame Audibert, and a cousin she had not met before, would come and dine with her on the following day. This done he invited us, and Madame Audibert said that she would escort us. She told him that I had another niece with me, of whom his daughter was very fond, and would be delighted to see again. The worthy man was overjoyed to be able to increase his daughter's happiness.

I, too, was pleased with Madame Audibert's tact and thoughtfulness;

and as making Marcoline happy was to make me happy also, I expressed my gratitude to her in very warm terms.

I took the young Genoese to the play, to Marcoline's delight, for she would have liked the French very much if she could have understood them. We had an excellent supper together, in the course of which I

told Marcoline of the pleasure which awaited her on the morrow. I

thought she would have gone wild with joy.

The next day we were at Madame Audibert's as punctually as Achilles on the field of battle. The lady spoke Italian well, and was charmed with Marcoline, reproaching me for not having introduced her before.

At eleven we got to St. Louis, and my eyes were charmed with the dramatic situation. My late niece had an air of dignity which became her to admiration, and received her future husband with great graciousness; and then, after thanking me with a pleasant smile for introducing him to her father, she passed from dignity to gaiety, and gave her sweetheart a hundred kisses.

The dinner was delicious, and passed off merrily; but I alone preserved a tender melancholy, though I laughed to myself when they asked me why I was sad. I was thought to be sad because I did not talk in my usual vivacious manner, but far from being really sad that was one of the happiest moments of my life. My whole being was absorbed in the calm delight which follows a good action. I was the author of the comedy which promised such a happy ending. I was pleased with the thought that my influence in the world was more for good than for ill, and though I was not born a king yet I contrived to make many people happy. Everyone at table was indebted to me for some part of their happiness, and the father, the mother, and the betrothed pair wholly so. This thought made me feel a peaceful calm which I could only enjoy in silence.

同类推荐
  • 瀛涯勝覽

    瀛涯勝覽

    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。
  • 上清高上玉晨凤台曲素上经

    上清高上玉晨凤台曲素上经

    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。
  • 槐叶冷淘

    槐叶冷淘

    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。
  • LookingGlass

    LookingGlass

    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。
  • 紫阳真人悟真篇注疏

    紫阳真人悟真篇注疏

    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
  • 傲娇帝君是神坑

    傲娇帝君是神坑

    为了逃避追杀,贺兰玖躲入水底,一不小心看见了某妖孽果体。她嘴贱说:“哥哥,你……没啥看头?”一句话引发血案,她被妖孽重伤!这下梁子结大了!等妖孽落难了,她又狠阴了他一把。妖孽反击:“那……我们就凑成对吧。”“!!!……”(妖孽宣言:本王可以欺负你,但,别人不行!)
  • 网游之黑暗剑士

    网游之黑暗剑士

    一个只知打怪升级,买药卖装备的普通玩家,误入龙潭险地,意外转职为暗黑剑士,新职业,拥有比普通玩家更强的提升,宠物都能虐着他人玩,而无心却忙着创世,让网游界在手心发抖!
  • 符篆苍穹

    符篆苍穹

    这是一个灵符师的世界,无法打开神识之海的叶离,在家族启符仪式这个最后的机会里,服用下剧毒的神禁果,强行打开了神识之海,接引本命符篆降临。奇特怪异的本命符篆,究竟如众人所说只是个废符,还是有着远超世人认知的力量。
  • 仗剑霸天下

    仗剑霸天下

    一剑一人一天下,从无到有,从小到大,从平凡到伟大。体验世态炎凉,品味人生疾苦,看一个平凡之人如何走出不平凡之路。————信着认为武侠已死,但我始终坚信它永远存活,武侠在哪?就在我们每个人的心中!
  • 噩梦手机与闪烁密室

    噩梦手机与闪烁密室

    画室中50幅世界名画“泉”的临摹作已被隐形怪盗锁定,画面上的水瓶接连遭到莫名其妙的盗割,这其中究竟有何隐秘?痛心疾首的宝瓶经过一番调查,终于接近了真相,然而《瓶中之海》背后竟是今生无法承受之痛……
  • 高调宠爱

    高调宠爱

    姜棠上过两次微博头条:名模姜棠嫁入顾氏豪门姜棠产女,亲子鉴定不匹配。声名狼藉,沈擎第三次凑过来追她。姜棠:你到底喜欢我什么啊?沈擎:哪都喜欢。他从她出道那年就开始追,追,追,这次大的跑不了,小的也得抢回家!
  • 江湖遍地遇相公

    江湖遍地遇相公

    凤女临世,美男来袭。且看各路公子,如何大显身手,抱美而归。
  • 废材逆袭:呆萌腹黑三小姐

    废材逆袭:呆萌腹黑三小姐

    (已完结包月免费看此文)她是紫翼佣兵界的女王,一朝穿越成为痴傻三小姐。穿越又怎样,在异世她一样混的风生水起。对敌人,她狠绝毒辣,她冰冷凶残。为解除强大的封印,获取六大神兽的鲜血,她决定闯“上古八荒界”。她有神界大神当靠山,更有上古神兽当小弟,只是这一只狐貂和一只青龙为毛总喜欢打击她?请问,她养得是两只禽、兽吗?(第一次写文,文笔不足之处请多多点评!你们的支持就是我的力量!此文纯属虚构,如有雷同纯属巧合。)
  • 优雅女性的自我提升课

    优雅女性的自我提升课

    “她力量”正在逐渐崛起,终有一天,“她”会改变世界。或许,你也会成为其中的一员。“她力量系列”就是这样一套女性自修、励志图书,书名分别为《财智女性的人生经营课》《魅力女性的气质修炼课》《优雅女性的自我提升课》。本书中,为我们呈现了16位令人羡慕的优雅女性,包括绽放在央视舞台的主持人董卿、中国“网坛一姐”李娜、像花儿一样幸福的“国民娘娘”孙俪、“最贤的妻,最才的女”杨绛先生等。
  • 死亡七部曲

    死亡七部曲

    七个不同的女孩,每一夜不同的惊魂故事,在追寻友谊,爱情的道路上,有过伤心,失落,有过伤害,血泪,最终在阴霾中触碰到阳光的温暖。那一刻,有些明白比死亡更可怕的是人心的黑暗面,比死亡更温暖的是真心的交换时刻。每个人的内心中都有着隐藏性的罪恶面,当欲望来临,罪恶又能否被良知战胜。