the madonna of the future-第7部分

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interminable　staircase；　and　reached　her　door。　　It　stood　ajar；　and　as

I　hesitated　whether　to　enter；　a　little　serving…maid　came　clattering

out　with　an　empty　kettle；　as　if　she　had　just　performed　some　savoury

errand。　　The　inner　door；　too；　was　open；　so　I　crossed　the　little

vestibule　and　entered　the　room　in　which　I　had　formerly　been　received。

It　had　not　its　evening　aspect。　　The　table；　or　one　end　of　it；　was

spread　for　a　late　breakfast；　and　before　it　sat　a　gentlemanan

individual；　at　least；　of　the　male　sexdoing　execution　upon　a

beefsteak　and　onions；　and　a　bottle　of　wine。　　At　his　elbow；　in

friendly　proximity；　was　placed　the　lady　of　the　house。　　Her　attitude；

as　I　entered；　was　not　that　of　an　enchantress。　　With　one　hand　she　held

in　her　lap　a　plate　of　smoking　maccaroni；　with　the　other　she　had

lifted　high　in　air　one　of　the　pendulous　filaments　of　this　succulent

compound；　and　was　in　the　act　of　slipping　it　gently　down　her　throat。

On　the　uncovered　end　of　the　table；　facing　her　companion；　were　ranged

half　a　dozen　small　statuettes；　of　some　snuff…　coloured　substance

resembling　terra…cotta。　　He；　brandishing　his　knife　with　ardour；　was

apparently　descanting　on　their　merits。



Evidently　I　darkened　the　door。　　My　hostess　dropped　liner　maccaroni

into　her　mouth；　and　rose　hastily　with　a　harsh　exclamation　and　a

flushed　face。　　I　immediately　perceived　that　the　Signora　Serafina's

secret　was　even　better　worth　knowing　than　I　had　supposed；　and　that

the　way　to　learn　it　was　to　take　it　for　granted。　　I　summoned　my　best

Italian；　I　smiled　and　bowed　and　apologised　for　my　intrusion；　and　in　a

moment；　whether　or　no　I　had　dispelled　the　lady's　irritation；　I　had　at

least　stimulated　her　prudence。　　I　was　welcome；　she　said；　I　must　take

a　seat。　　This　was　another　friend　of　hersalso　an　artist；　she

declared　with　a　smile　which　was　almost　amiable。　　Her　companion　wiped

his　moustache　and　bowed　with　great　civility。　　I　saw　at　a　glance　that

he　was　equal　to　the　situation。　　He　was　presumably　the　author　of　the

statuettes　on　the　table；　and　he　knew　a　money…spending　forestiere　when

he　saw　one。　　He　was　a　small　wiry　man；　with　a　clever；　impudent；

tossed…up　nose；　a　sharp　little　black　eye；　and　waxed　ends　to　his

moustache。　　On　the　side　of　his　head　he　wore　jauntily　a　little　crimson

velvet　smoking…cap；　and　I　observed　that　his　feet　were　encased　in

brilliant　slippers。　　On　Serafina's　remarking　with　dignity　that　I　was

the　friend　of　Mr。　Theobald；　he　broke　out　into　that　fantastic　French

of　which　certain　Italians　are　so　insistently　lavish；　and　declared

with　fervour　that　Mr。　Theobald　was　a　magnificent　genius。



〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know；〃　I　answered　with　a　shrug。　　〃If　you　are　in　a

position　to　affirm　it；　you　have　the　advantage　of　me。　　I　have　seen

nothing　from　his　hand　but　the　bambino　yonder；　which　certainly　is

fine。〃



He　declared　that　the　bambino　was　a　masterpiece；　a　pure　Corregio。　　It

was　only　a　pity；　he　added　with　a　knowing　laugh；　that　the　sketch　had

not　been　made　on　some　good　bit　of　honeycombed　old　panel。　　The　stately

Serafina　hereupon　protested　that　Mr。　Theobald　was　the　soul　of　honour；

and　that　he　would　never　lend　himself　to　a　deceit。　　〃I　am　not　a　judge

of　genius；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　know　nothing　of　pictures。　　I　am　but　a

poor　simple　widow；　but　I　know　that　the　Signor　Teobaldo　has　the　heart

of　an　angel　and　the　virtue　of　a　saint。　　He　is　my　benefactor；〃　she

added　sententiously。　　The　after…glow　of　the　somewhat　sinister　flush

with　which　she　had　greeted　me　still　lingered　in　her　cheek；　and

perhaps　did　not　favour　her　beauty；　I　could　not　but　fancy　it　a　wise

custom　of　Theobald's　to　visit　her　only　by　candle…light。　　She　was

coarse；　and　her　pour　adorer　was　a　poet。



〃I　have　the　greatest　esteem　for　him；〃　I　said；　〃it　is　for　this　reason

that　I　have　been　uneasy　at　not　seeing　him　for　ten　days。　　Have　you

seen　him？　　Is　he　perhaps　ill？〃



〃Ill！　　Heaven　forbid！〃　cried　Serafina；　with　genuine　vehemence。



Her　companion　uttered　a　rapid　expletive；　and　reproached　her　with　not

having　been　to　see　him。　　She　hesitated　a　moment；　then　she　simpered

the　least　bit　and　bridled。　　〃He　comes　to　see　mewithout　reproach！

But　it　would　not　be　the　same　for　me　to　go　to　him；　though；　indeed；　you

may　almost　call　him　a　man　of　holy　life。〃



〃He　has　the　greatest　admiration　for　you；〃　I　said。　　〃He　would　have

been　honoured　by　your　visit。〃



She　looked　at　me　a　moment　sharply。　　〃More　admiration　than　you。　　Admit

that！〃　　Of　course　I　protested　with　all　the　eloquence　at　my　command；

and　my　mysterious　hostess　then　confessed　that　she　had　taken　no　fancy

to　me　on　my　former　visit；　and　that；　Theobald　not　having　returned；　she

believed　I　had　poisoned　his　mind　against　her。　　〃It　would　be　no

kindness　to　the　poor　gentleman；　I　can　tell　you　that；〃　she　said。　　〃He

has　come　to　see　me　every　evening　for　years。　　It's　a　long　friendship！

No　one　knows　him　as　well　as　I。〃



〃I　don't　pretend　to　know　him　or　to　understand　him；〃　I　said。　　〃He's　a

mystery！　　Nevertheless；　he　seems　to　me　a　little〃　　And　I　touched　my

forehead　and　waved　my　hand　in　the　air。



Serafina　glanced　at　her　companion　a　moment；　as　if　for　inspiration。

He　contented　himself　with　shrugging　his　shoulders　as　he　filled　his

glass　again。　　The　padrona　hereupon　gave　me　a　more　softly　insinuating

smile　than　would　have　seemed　likely　to　bloom　on　so　candid　a　brow。

〃It's　for　that　that　I　love　him！〃　she　said。　　〃The　world　has　so　little

kindness　for　such　persons。　　It　laughs　at　them；　and　despises　them；　and

cheats　them。　　He　is　too　good　for　this　wicked　life！　　It's　his　fancy

that　he　finds　a　little　Paradise　up　here　in　my　poor　apartment。　　If　he

thinks　so；　how　can　I　help　it？　　He　has　a　strange　beliefreally；　I

ought　to　he　ashamed　to　tell　youthat　I　resemble　the　Blessed　Virgin：

Heaven　forgive　me！　　I　let　him　think　what　he　pleases；　so　long　as　it

makes　him　happy。　　He　was　very　kind　to　me　once；　and　I　am　not　one　that

forgets　a　favour。　　So　I　receive　him　every　evening　civilly；　and　ask

after　his　health；　and　let　him　look　at　me　on　this　side　and　that！　　For

that　matter；　I　may　say　it　without　vanity；　I　was　worth　looking　at

once！　　And　he's　not　always　amusing；　poor　man！　　He　sits　sometimes　for

an　hour　without　speaking　a　word；　or　else　he　talks　away；　without

stopping；　on　art　and　nature；　and　beauty　and　duty；　and　fifty　fine

things　that　are　all　so　much　Latin　to　me。　　I　beg　you　to　understand

that　he　has　never　said　a　word　to　me　that　I　mightn't　decently　listen

to。　　He　may　be　a　little　cracked；　but　he's　one　of　the　blessed　saints。〃



〃Eh！〃　cried　the　man；　〃the　blessed　saints　were　all　a　little　cracked！〃



Serafina；　I　fancied；　left　part　of　her　story　untold；　but　she　told

enough　of　it　to　make　poor　Theobald's　own　statement　seem　intensely

pathetic　in　its　exalted　simplicity。　　〃It's　a　strange　fortune；

certainly；〃　she　went　on；　〃to　have　such　a　friend　as　this　dear　mana

friend　who　is　less　than　a　lover　and　more　than　a　friend。〃　　I　glanced

at　her　companion；　who　preserved　an　impenetrable　smile；　twisted　the

end　of　his　moustache；　and　disposed　of　a　copious　mouthful。　　Was　HE

less　than　a　lover？　〃But　what　will　you　have？〃　Serafina　pursued。　　〃In

this　hard　world　one　must　not　ask　too　many　questions；　one　must　take

what　comes　and　keep　what　one　gets。　　I　have　kept　my　good　friend　for

twenty　years；　and　I　do　hope　that；　at　this　time　of　day；　signore；　you

have　not　come　to　turn　him　against　me！〃



I　assured　her　that　I　had　no　such　design；　and　that　I　should　vastly

regret　disturbing　Mr。　Theobald's　habits　or　convictions。　　On　the

contrary；　I　was　alarmed　about　him；　and　I　should　immediately　go　in

search　of　him。　　She　gave　me　his　address；　and　a　florid　account　of　her

sufferings　at　his　non…appearance。　　She　had　not　been　to　him　for

various　reasons；　chiefly　because　she　was　afraid　of　displeasing　him；

as　he　had　always　made　such　a　mystery　of　his　home。　　〃You　might　have

sent　this　gentleman！〃　I　ventured　to　suggest。



〃Ah；〃　cried　the　gentleman；　〃he　admires　the　Signora　Serafina；　but　he

wouldn't　admire　me。〃　　And　then；　confidentially；　with　his　finger　on

his　nose；　〃He's　a　purist！〃



I　was　about　to　withdraw；　after　having　promised　that　I　would　inform

the　Signora　Serafina　of　my　friend's　condition；　when　her　companion；

who　had　risen　from　table　and　girded　his　loins　apparently　for　the

onset；　grasped　me　gently　by　the　arm；　and　led　me　before　the　row　of

statuettes。　　〃I　perceive　by　your　conversation；　signore；　that　you　are

a　patron　of　the　arts。　　Allow　me　to　request　your　honourable　attention

for　these　modest　products　of　my　own　ingenuity。　　They　are　brand…new；

fresh　from　my　atelier；　and　have　never　been　exhibited　in　public。　　I

have　brought　them　here　to　receive　the　verdict　of　this　dear　lady；　who

is　a　good　critic；　for　all　she　may　pretend　to　the　contrary。　　I　am　the

inventor　of　this　peculiar　style　of　statuetteof　subject；　manner；

material；　everything。　　Touch　them；　I　pray　you；　handle　them　freely

you　needn't　fear。　　Delicate　as　they　look；　it　is　impossible　they

should　break！　　My　various　creations　have　met　with　great　success。

They　are　especially　admired　by　Americans。　　I　have　sent　them　all　over

Europeto　London；　Paris；　Vienna！　　You　may　have　observed　some　little

specimens　in　Paris；　on　the　Boulevard；　in　a　shop　of　which　they

constitute　the　specialty。　　There　is　always　a　crowd　about　the　window。

They　form　a　very　pleasing　ornament　for　the　mantel…shelf　of　a　gay

young　bachelor；　for　the　boudoir　of　a　pretty　woman。　　You　couldn't　make

a　prettier　present　to　a　person　with　whom　you　wished　to　exchange　a

harmless　joke。　　It　is　not　classic　art；　signore；　of　course；　but；

between　ourselves；　isn't　classic　art　sometimes　rather　a　bore？

Caricature；　burlesque；　la　charge；　as　the　French　say；　has　hitherto

been　confined　to　paper；　to　the　pen　and　pencil。　　Now；　it　has　been　my

inspiration　to　introduce　it　into　statuary。　　For　this　purpose　I　have

invented　a　peculiar　plastic　compound　which　you　will　permit　me　not　to

divulge。　　That's　my　secret；　signore！　　It's　as　light；　you　perceive；　as

cork；　and　yet　as　firm　as　alabaster！　　I　frankly　confess　that　I　really

pride　myself　a