登陆注册
5382900000150

第150章

"My dear fellow, are you really on such good terms with her as to venture to take me to her box?""Why, I have only had the honor of being in her society and conversing with her three or four times in my life; but you know that even such an acquaintance as that might warrant my doing what you ask." At that instant, the countess perceived Franz, and graciously waved her hand to him, to which he replied by a respectful inclination of the head."Upon my word," said Albert, "you seem to be on excellent terms with the beautiful countess.""You are mistaken in thinking so," returned Franz calmly;"but you merely fall into the same error which leads so many of our countrymen to commit the most egregious blunders, --I mean that of judging the habits and customs of Italy and Spain by our Parisian notions; believe me, nothing is more fallacious than to form any estimate of the degree of intimacy you may suppose existing among persons by the familiar terms they seem upon; there is a similarity of feeling at this instant between ourselves and the countess -- nothing more.""Is there, indeed, my good fellow? Pray tell me, is it sympathy of heart?""No; of taste," continued Franz gravely.

"And in what manner has this congeniality of mind been evinced?""By the countess's visiting the Colosseum, as we did last night, by moonlight, and nearly alone.""You were with her, then?"

"I was."

"And what did you say to her?"

"Oh, we talked of the illustrious dead of whom that magnificent ruin is a glorious monument!""Upon my word," cried Albert, "you must have been a very entertaining companion alone, or all but alone, with a beautiful woman in such a place of sentiment as the Colosseum, and yet to find nothing better a talk about than the dead! All I can say is, if ever I should get such a chance, the living should be my theme.""And you will probably find your theme ill-chosen.""But," said Albert, breaking in upon his discourse, "never mind the past; let us only remember the present.Are you not going to keep your promise of introducing me to the fair subject of our remarks?""Certainly, directly the curtain falls on the stage.""What a confounded time this first act takes.I believe, on my soul, that they never mean to finish it.""Oh, yes, they will; only listen to that charming finale.

How exquisitely Coselli sings his part."

"But what an awkward, inelegant fellow he is.""Well, then, what do you say to La Specchia? Did you ever see anything more perfect than her acting?""Why, you know, my dear fellow, when one has been accustomed to Malibran and Sontag, such singers as these don't make the same impression on you they perhaps do on others.""At least, you must admire Moriani's style and execution.""I never fancied men of his dark, ponderous appearance singing with a voice like a woman's.""My good friend," said Franz, turning to him, while Albert continued to point his glass at every box in the theatre, "you seem determined not to approve; you are really too difficult to please." The curtain at length fell on the performances, to the infinite satisfaction of the Viscount of Morcerf, who seized his hat, rapidly passed his fingers through his hair, arranged his cravat and wristbands, and signified to Franz that he was waiting for him to lead the way.Franz, who had mutely interrogated the countess, and received from her a gracious smile in token that he would be welcome, sought not to retard the gratification of Albert's eager impatience, but began at once the tour of the house, closely followed by Albert, who availed himself of the few minutes required to reach the opposite side of the theatre to settle the height and smoothness of his collar, and to arrange the lappets of his coat.This important task was just completed as they arrived at the countess's box.At the knock, the door was immediately opened, and the young man who was seated beside the countess, in obedience to the Italian custom, instantly rose and surrendered his place to the strangers, who, in turn, would be expected to retire upon the arrival of other visitors.

同类推荐
  • 台海使槎录

    台海使槎录

    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。
  • 佛说普达王经

    佛说普达王经

    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。
  • 皇览辑本

    皇览辑本

    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。
  • AUTOBIOGRAPHY

    AUTOBIOGRAPHY

    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。
  • 唐诗鉴赏大辞典(上)

    唐诗鉴赏大辞典(上)

    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
  • 二林唱和詩

    二林唱和詩

    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。
  • 学校永远不教的30堂感恩课

    学校永远不教的30堂感恩课

    感恩的心,感谢有你,伴我一生,让我有勇气做我自己。感恩的心,感谢命运,花开花落,我一样会珍惜。谨以此书献给所有孩子及其关心下一代成才的人,让孩子从感恩的心对待人生。
  • 胭脂醉(《柜中美人》原著)

    胭脂醉(《柜中美人》原著)

    周渝民、胡冰卿、陈瑶领衔主演的《柜中美人》原著小说!唐敬宗李湛,沉迷玩乐、爱好猎狐滥杀,同时为了在骊山扩建行宫,大兴土木,令骊山的狐群生存空间受到极大威胁。皇室不知因此而跟狐族结下了恩怨,令狐族对人类甚至皇室又怕又恨,惹来狐族中主战派决定向皇室报复。李涵即位后,狐族暗中派来两位使者,一个是黄鼠狼精黄轻凤,另一个则是轻凤的好姐妹狐精贵族胡飞鸾,两只妖精化身成美女,分别代表狐族的主战派和主和派,李涵不知道两位美人,一个是为自己带来杀机,另一个则希望令狐族与人类达成和平共处。宫中阉党肆虐,李涵的登基由宦官王守澄一手拥立,并受到王守澄牵制。
  • 破产名媛

    破产名媛

    前一秒还在嬉笑,后一秒却只能悲伤,似乎对于很多人来说,这总是一种很沉重的打击,钟淮楚也不例外。不过二十米的路程,她却感觉有很长一段路,一步、两步、三步,已经没有多远了,夏末的白天还是燥热得很,太阳毒辣得有些过分,晒得她白皙的脸颊上有些微红,汗珠也一滴滴落下,期间还会混入一些与之相似却又有些不同的液体。钟淮楚,骄傲地活了二十多年的她,第一次感受到这世间的寒意与不堪,车窗上划过的身影瘦弱带着一丝凄凉。钟淮楚微微挺直了自己的身体,手指拭去眼角的泪水,昂首挺胸向前走着。无论什么时候,都要挺直腰板,只看自己想看的,听自己想听的,不管别人说了什么,做了什……
  • 明医杂着

    明医杂着

    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。
  • 箭心

    箭心

    天赋极高的公主,因为突发事件而被“命运”重生。还是同一个世界,还是继续这时间线。她,到底会怎样去改变,属于她的心和一切。
  • 神灼之我欲成神

    神灼之我欲成神

    心风潇潇,奈何易飘,落叶回城,沉竞竞跃,消散于天,毁灭于地,回眼遥看天际,忘世间浮沉,便于成神。落月回秋,陨落于心,蓦然回首,那年妇孺之日…
  • 快穿攻略:我把男主养挂了

    快穿攻略:我把男主养挂了

    朝辞逃跑间一不小心睡了个最俊俏的和尚,坏了他清规,破了他色戒,动了他凡心。然后她不小心带球跑了,十个月后,为什么她生了一只蜗牛精?!【女主有个系统叫250,男主有个系统叫520,致力于写小甜文,我一定能写出小甜文!】
  • 悦读MOOK(第十八卷)

    悦读MOOK(第十八卷)

    本书将带你走进茫茫书海,我们将请一些学者和专家帮你指津,请一些书界人士为你剖析书坛风云,使你从中获得大量的图书信息,还能饱览各类书籍的精彩片段,一册在手,尽情享受读书的乐趣。
  • 世间最美是心安

    世间最美是心安

    周国平、张德芬、李尚龙、十点读书林少联袂倾情推荐,高人气专栏作家李月亮提笔书写给万千读者的暖心之作,心乱一切乱,心安一切安,不必急躁,不必慌乱,不沉湎过去,不畏惧将来,生活自会给出想要的答案。