登陆注册
5154600000181

第181章

'I sent for you, Emily,' said Montoni, raising his head, 'that you might be a witness in some business, which I am transacting with my friend Orsino.All that is required of you will be to sign your name to this paper:' he then took one up, hurried unintelligibly over some lines, and, laying it before her on the table, offered her a pen.

She took it, and was going to write--when the design of Montoni came upon her mind like a flash of lightning; she trembled, let the pen fall, and refused to sign what she had not read.Montoni affected to laugh at her scruples, and, taking up the paper, again pretended to read; but Emily, who still trembled on perceiving her danger, and was astonished, that her own credulity had so nearly betrayed her, positively refused to sign any paper whatever.Montoni, for some time, persevered in affecting to ridicule this refusal; but, when he perceived by her steady perseverance, that she understood his design, he changed his manner, and bade her follow him to another room.

There he told her, that he had been willing to spare himself and her the trouble of useless contest, in an affair, where his will was justice, and where she should find it law; and had, therefore, endeavoured to persuade, rather than to compel, her to the practice of her duty.

'I, as the husband of the late Signora Montoni,' he added, 'am the heir of all she possessed; the estates, therefore, which she refused to me in her life-time, can no longer be withheld, and, for your own sake, I would undeceive you, respecting a foolish assertion she once made to you in my hearing--that these estates would be yours, if she died without resigning them to me.She knew at that moment, she had no power to withhold them from me, after her decease; and I think you have more sense, than to provoke my resentment by advancing an unjust claim.I am not in the habit of flattering, and you will, therefore, receive, as sincere, the praise I bestow, when I say, that you possess an understanding superior to that of your sex; and that you have none of those contemptible foibles, that frequently mark the female character--such as avarice and the love of power, which latter makes women delight to contradict and to tease, when they cannot conquer.If I understand your disposition and your mind, you hold in sovereign contempt these common failings of your sex.'

Montoni paused; and Emily remained silent and expecting; for she knew him too well, to believe he would condescend to such flattery, unless he thought it would promote his own interest; and, though he had forborne to name vanity among the foibles of women, it was evident, that he considered it to be a predominant one, since he designed to sacrifice to hers the character and understanding of her whole sex.

'Judging as I do,' resumed Montoni, 'I cannot believe you will oppose, where you know you cannot conquer, or, indeed, that you would wish to conquer, or be avaricious of any property, when you have not justice on your side.I think it proper, however, to acquaint you with the alternative.If you have a just opinion of the subject in question, you shall be allowed a safe conveyance to France, within a short period; but, if you are so unhappy as to be misled by the late assertion of the Signora, you shall remain my prisoner, till you are convinced of your error.'

Emily calmly said, 'I am not so ignorant, Signor, of the laws on this subject, as to be misled by the assertion of any person.The law, in the present instance, gives me the estates in question, and my own hand shall never betray my right.'

'I have been mistaken in my opinion of you, it appears,' rejoined Montoni, sternly.'You speak boldly, and presumptuously, upon a subject, which you do not understand.For once, I am willing to pardon the conceit of ignorance; the weakness of your sex, too, from which, it seems, you are not exempt, claims some allowance; but, if you persist in this strain--you have every thing to fear from my justice.'

'From your justice, Signor,' rejoined Emily, 'I have nothing to fear--I have only to hope.'

Montoni looked at her with vexation, and seemed considering what to say.'I find that you are weak enough,' he resumed, 'to credit the idle assertion I alluded to! For your own sake I lament this; as to me, it is of little consequence.Your credulity can punish only yourself; and I must pity the weakness of mind, which leads you to so much suffering as you are compelling me to prepare for you.'

'You may find, perhaps, Signor,' said Emily, with mild dignity, 'that the strength of my mind is equal to the justice of my cause; and that I can endure with fortitude, when it is in resistance of oppression.'

'You speak like a heroine,' said Montoni, contemptuously; 'we shall see whether you can suffer like one.'

Emily was silent, and he left the room.

Recollecting, that it was for Valancourt's sake she had thus resisted, she now smiled complacently upon the threatened sufferings, and retired to the spot, which her aunt had pointed out as the repository of the papers, relative to the estates, where she found them as described; and, since she knew of no better place of concealment, than this, returned them, without examining their contents, being fearful of discovery, while she should attempt a perusal.

To her own solitary chamber she once more returned, and there thought again of the late conversation with Montoni, and of the evil she might expect from opposition to his will.But his power did not appear so terrible to her imagination, as it was wont to do: a sacred pride was in her heart, that taught it to swell against the pressure of injustice, and almost to glory in the quiet sufferance of ills, in a cause, which had also the interest of Valancourt for its object.For the first time, she felt the full extent of her own superiority to Montoni, and despised the authority, which, till now, she had only feared.

同类推荐
  • The Miracle Mongers

    The Miracle Mongers

    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。
  • 诸司职掌

    诸司职掌

    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。
  • buttered side down

    buttered side down

    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。
  • 太上灵宝五符序

    太上灵宝五符序

    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。
  • 一切道经音义妙门由起

    一切道经音义妙门由起

    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
  • 二十四重梦境

    二十四重梦境

    (●—●)柳明月握着一个名为涉梦铃的铃铛,突然开始做一些真实得异乎寻常的梦,穿梭于各种各样滞涨的世界,莫名其妙获得各种各样奇妙的能力,遇到各种各样中二的怪咖。“有什么阴谋也尽管来吧,反正我这个人除了做梦什么也不会。”“我最见不得人家哭了。”“纵那般姹紫嫣红开遍,何曾有那棠梨半分温柔。”“……你是光啊。”“桐桐,我们回家。”“你不是说最讨厌与我为伍,缘何如今和我一起犯傻?”“生命是世界上最珍贵最耀眼的存在了,对不对?”“我终究拾起了那只笔,索性作了一个世界,而后永远的睡了过去。这一次,千世万载,可有人能唤醒我?”
  • 映山红盛开的时节

    映山红盛开的时节

    小说讲述一位处于青春期的青年,决心在茫茫的人生征途上,踏出一条属于自己的人生之路的故事。谁的青春不迷茫,作品告诉人们:人生之路,总是在充满了无尽的失望和希望中蹒跚向前延伸。面对人生的无常,生活的乖戾,现实的虚幻和残酷,关键是你悟到了什么?追求什么?你如果选择一条正确的、适合自己的道路,坚持不懈地走下去。只要不怕苦、不怕累,走得足够的远,就一定能收获到一个和别人不一样的人生,会看到别人看不到的风景。
  • 石头和星宿:译文集

    石头和星宿:译文集

    他是文学史上的一个传奇,却被掩埋得像一个传说。吴兴华译文集《石头和星宿》从过往期刊中寻找到了吴译的英国散文家E.V.卢卡斯的《捡东西、选译詹姆斯·乔易士的《友律色斯》(即尤利西斯)插话三节、选译自《汉堡剧评》的《雷兴自论》(雷兴即莱辛)、里尔克的《述罗丹》、哲学家休谟的《论趣味的标准》、著名文艺复兴艺术研究者乔基欧·瓦萨里的《达·芬奇轶事》以及节译了意大利戏剧理论家卡斯忒尔维特洛著名的《亚里士多德〈诗学〉疏证》。译诗方面则补入了当时吴兴华为中德学会做的《黎尔克诗选》(现通译为里尔克)中德对照本所选译的二十七首里尔克诗作以,以及《雪莱诗抄》、《旦尼生诗抄》、《穆尔诗抄》、《司高托诗抄》等。
  • 爱你掠不过沧海

    爱你掠不过沧海

    相遇相知不到一年,我已情根深种,你却渐行渐远。冥婚,肖易楚要把梅钰玲活埋,阴差阳错被救,却被他当成了代孕的工具。梅钰玲恨他入骨,却不曾想一年时间,她却爱上了最恨的人。但她嘴硬,同他一样。“肖易楚,你承认吧,你是爱上我了!”“你是不是幻想症犯了?”其实对于爱情有时候你不得不承认,它不是在特定时间来,也不是在特定地点到,它就那么悄然而至,打得你措手不及。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 中国意象:回到最美的古代

    中国意象:回到最美的古代

    《中国意象:回到最美的古代》是由周语创作的一部优秀的作品。中国风的古代画卷被周语重新赋予了涵义。以其独特的浪漫色彩,瑰丽的想象力向我们展现了古代的最美,仿佛一幅幅美图在眼前一样。
  • 落跑萌妃:腹黑王爷很傲娇

    落跑萌妃:腹黑王爷很傲娇

    她,是来自二十一世纪的大龄肥胖女职员,异世重生,她改头换面,变身倾世女娇娃唐果果。奈何造化弄人,相同的遭遇再一次降临,看似穷途末路,但又见柳暗花明,绝地逢生。原本一生只为夺位复仇的腹黑王爷苏卿墨,却沉沦在她的古灵精怪的异世情怀之中,相似的遭遇令二人的心更加紧密的联系在一起。夺位之路,注定不再孤单,而后宫生活,也注定不会枯燥……本文轻微玛丽苏,虐中带甜,喜欢本文的小伙伴可以加群10834331,一起沟通。微博求互关,兮兮微博是:唐子兮cici
  • 联盟之竞技之魂

    联盟之竞技之魂

    他懵了。。。原来他重生到了S3这个年代!lol多年无冠,面对ig的邀请,晨歌会做出如何选择?欢迎加入竞技之魂,群聊号码:605184969
  • 木槿花西月锦绣(3):月影花移约重来

    木槿花西月锦绣(3):月影花移约重来

    我,花木槿,胸藏智慧,通达人世,守义重爱,善良勇敢,拼搏坚忍,拥有两世记忆,自命对风月无情……其实,我,花木槿,贪财好色,贪生怕死……谁叫在紫园里,咱妹是红人,咱哥是西营首领,咱有小五义当后台,最横的四爷给我撑腰……我外号叫女色魔!我怕谁?什么,你确定?我是被调去三爷的西枫苑,不是四爷的玉北斋?是那个身残志残心也残的原非白原三爷的西枫苑?!好吧……就这样,命运的轮盘悄然启动,东庭末年,欲望、野心、杀戮、王位、权力交织着血浓于水的亲情、弥足珍贵的友情,还有,这一世注定凄艳的爱情……错入乱世风云,面对铁血山河,心中却渴望那一曲缠绵的长相守……花西夫人,该何去何从?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 爷爷进城

    爷爷进城

    无为,原名赵亮。甘肃平凉人,定居广西北海。出版有中短篇小说集《周家情事》。广西作家协会会员!
  • 宠你上瘾,离婚女人是个宝!

    宠你上瘾,离婚女人是个宝!

    【溺宠二婚妻】简介:萧静想,女人一生中影响最大的两件事,就是结婚和生孩子,这两件她都经历了,要再加上离婚,那就圆满了。当朱军递来离婚协议的时候,萧静很干脆的提出条件,“车子,房子,公司都归你,银行里的固定存款咱们一人一半,孩子和剩下的归我,你要同意咱们就离,你要不同意,我上法院告你重婚。”朱军说,“萧静,咱们结婚十年,我真怀疑你是个没心的,你爱过我吗?”萧静嗤之以鼻,小三都养了,她爱不爱他有意义吗,搞得好像她才是出轨的那个一样。…李晓是牙科诊所的老板兼医生,35岁的他在别人眼里儒雅稳重,待人随和,事业有成,是单身女人眼中完美的丈夫人选。…在萧静的眼里,李晓就是个三观不正,眼睛有病的男人。在李晓的眼里,萧静就是个没心没肺,懒得要命的女人。两个本没有任何交集的男女,意外的产生交集,然后发生了让人大跌眼镜的事情。李晓说,“我就喜欢她漫不经心的样子,我就想要宠着她,依着她,把最好的都给她。”萧静说,“魅力太大,不解释。”