old fritz and the new era-第70部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


peep　in；　or　at　least　catch　a　fugitive　glance　of　the　ladies　alighting
from　their　carriages；　who　were　received　by　the　butler　at　the　foot　of
the　carpeted　steps。　A　host　of　gold…bespangled　footmen　lined　the
entrance　upon　each　side；　which　was　ornamented　with　the　most
exquisite　hot…house　plants；　filling　the　air　with　perfume。

Two　tall；　stately　footmen；　with　broad　gold　shoulder…bands　and　large
gilt　batons；　stood　at　the　door　of　the　anteroom；　which　was
brilliantly　illuminated　with　chandeliers　and　side…lights；　reflected
in　the　numerous　mirrors。　The　anteroom　led　into　the　reception…room　by
wide　folding…doors；　where　the　names　were　given　to　the　usher；　who
announced　them　in　a　stentorian　voice　in　the　drawing…room。　There
stood　the　Baron　von　Ebenstreit　to　receive　the　guests；　all　smiles；
and　with　bustling　assiduity　accompany　them　to　the　adjoining　drawing…
room　to　present　them　to　the　baroness。

Among　the　select　company　were　conspicuous　the　most　distinguished
names　of　the　aristocracy。　Generals　and　staff…officers；　countesses
and　baronesses　were　crowded　together；　with　the　ladies　of　the
financial　world；　near　ministers　and　counsellors　in　this　gorgeous
saloon；　which　was　the　delight　and　admiration　of　the　envious；　and
excited　the　tongues　of　the　slanderous。　Those　acquainted　gathered　in
the　window…niches　and　cosy　corners；　maliciously　criticising　the
motley　crowd；　and　eminently　consoled　with　the　sure　prospect　of　the
ruin　of　the　late　banker；　surrounding　himself　with　such　unbecoming
splendor　and　luxury；　the　bad　taste　of　his　arrogant；　overdressed；　and
extravagant　wife。

〃Have　you　noticed　her　parure　of　diamonds？〃　whispered　the　Countess
Moltke　to　Fran　von　Morien。　〃If　they　are　real；　then　she　wears　an
estate　upon　her　shoulders。〃

〃The　family　estate　of　Von　Leuthen；〃　laughingly　replied　Frau　von
Morien。　〃You　know；　I　suppose；　that　the　father　of　General　von　Leuthen
was　a　brick…burner；　and　he　may　have　succeeded　in　changing　a　few
bricks　into　diamonds。〃

〃You　are　wicked；　sweet　one；〃　replied　the　countess；　smiling。　〃One
must　acknowledge　that　her　toilet　is　charming。　I　have　never　seen　its
equal。　The　gold　lace　over　the　rose…colored　satin　is　superb；〃

〃Yes；　and　the　mingling　of　straw　feathers；　diamonds；　flowers；　lace；
and　birds　is　truly　ridiculous　in　her　head…dress。〃

〃It　must　have　been　copied　exactly　from　the　one　which　the　Queen　Marie
Antoinette　wore　at　the　ball　at　Versailles　a　fortnight　since。　The
baroness　was　present　at　this　court　ball　with　her　greyhound　of　a
husband；　and　created　quite　a　sensation　with　her　costly　recherchee
toilet；　as　the　French　ambassador　told　us　yesterday。〃

〃Certainly　not　by　her　manner；〃　said　Frau　von　Morien。　〃She　is
insupportably　arrogant　and　self…sufficient。　What　do　you　think　of
this　pretentious　manner　of　announcing　our　names　as　if　we　were　at　an
auction　where　they　sold　titles？〃

〃It　is　a　very　good　French　custom；〃　remarked　the　countess。　〃But　it
does　not　become　a　lady　of　doubtful　nobility　and　uncertain　position；
to　introduce　foreign　customs　here。　She　should　leave　this　to　others；
and　modestly　accept　those　already　in　use　by　us。〃

〃One　remarks　the　puffed…up　parvenue；〃　whispered　Frau　von　Morien。
〃Every　thing　smells　of　the　varnish　upon　the　newly…painted　coat…of…
arms。〃

〃Hush；　my　friend！　I　there　comes　the　baroness　leaning　upon　the　arm　of
the　French　ambassador。　She　is　indeed　imposing　in　appearance；　and　one
could　mistake　her　for　a　queen。〃

〃Could　any　one　ever　suppose　that　this　queen　once　made　flowers　to
sell？　Come；　countess；　I　have　just　thought　of　a　charming　scene　to
revenge　myself　upon　this　arrogant　personage。〃

Giving　her　arm　to　the　countess；　she　approached　her　hostess　leaning
upon　the　arm　of　the　Marquis　de　Treves；　the　French　ambassador；　as
they　were　standing　beneath　the　immense　chandelier　of　rock　crystal；
which　sparkled　above　them　like　a　crown　of　stars；　causing　her
diamonds　to　look　as　if　in　one　blaze　of　different　hues。

〃Oh；　permit　us　to　sun　ourselves　in　your　rays；　ma　toute　belle；〃　said
the　Countess　Moltke。　〃One　could　well　fancy　themselves　in　a　fairy
palace；　so　enchanting　is　everything　here。〃

〃And　the　baroness's　appearance　confirms　this　impression；〃　remarked
the　gallant　Frenchman。　〃Fancy　could　not　well　paint　a　more　lovely
fairy　in　one's　happiest　dreams。〃

〃Yes；　truly　I　wander　around　as　if　in　an　enchanted　scene。　I　feel　as
if　I　must　seize　myself　by　the　head　and　be　well　shaken；　to　convince
myself　that　I　am　really　awake　and　not　dreaming　a　chapter　from
Aladdin。　I　made　the　effort；　but　felt　the　wreath　of　roses　in　my　hair；
and〃

〃And　that　convinced　you　of　your　wakefulness；〃　said　the　baroness；　a
little　haughtily。　Turning　to　the　ambassador；　she　added：　〃Do　you
observe；　monsieur　le　marquis；　what　a　delicate　attention　this　lady
shows　me　in　wearing　a　wreath　of　flowers　which　I　manufactured？〃

〃Comment！　The　baroness　is　truly　a　fairy！　She　causes　flowers　to　grow
at　her　pleasure；　and　vies　with　Nature。　It　seems　impossible。　I　can
scarcely　believe　it。〃

〃And　yet　it　is　true；〃　said　Frau　von　Morien。　〃The　baroness；　indeed；
fabricated　these　roses　three　years　since；　when　she　had　the　kindness
to　work　for　me。　You　will　acknowledge　that　I　have　kept　them　well？〃

〃It　was　no　kindness　of　mine；　but　a　necessity；〃　said　the　baroness；
〃and　I　must　confess　that　I　would　not　have　undertaken　so　troublesome
a　piece　of　work　from　pure　goodness　or　pleasure。　You　will　remember
that　I　was　very　poor　before　my　marriage；　and　as　Frau　von　Morien　was
one　of　my　customers；　it　is　very　natural　that　she　possesses　my
flowers。　She　gave　me　many　orders；　and　paid　me　a　very　small　price；
for　she　is　very　practical　and　prudent；　and　understands　bargaining
and　cheapening；　and　when　one　is　poor　they　are　obliged　to　yield　to
the　shameless　parsimony　of　the　rich。　I　thank　you；　my　dear
benefactress；　for　the　honor　you　have　shown　me　in　wearing　my　flowers；
for　it　has　been　a　pleasant　occasion　to　explain　ourselves　and
recognize　each　other。　Have　the　kindness　to　recall　other　remembrances
of　the　past。〃

〃I　do　not　remember　possessing　any　other　souvenirs；〃　replied　the
countess；　confused。

Have　you　forgotten　that　I　gave　French　lessons　to　your　niece；　the
present　Frau　von　Hohenthal？　She　came　to　me　three　times　weekly；
because　the　lessons　were　a　few　groschen　cheaper　at　the　house。〃

At　this　instant　the　usher　announced　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Professor
Philip　Moritz。〃

A　gentleman　of　slight　proportions；　in　an　elegant　fashionable　dress；
appeared　and　remained　standing　in　the　doorway；　his　large　black　eyes
wandering　searchingly　through　the　drawing…room。　Herr　von　Ebenstreit
approached；　extending　him　his　hand；　uttering　a　few　unintelligible
words；　which　his　guest　appeared　not　to　notice；　but；　slightly
inclining；　asked　if　he　would　present　him　to　the　lady　of　the　house。

〃Have　the　kindness　to　follow　me；〃　said　Ebenstreit；　leading　Moritz
through　the　circle　of　jesting；　slandering　ladies　and　gentlemen；　to
the　centre　of　the　room；　where　Marie　was　still　standing　with　the
French　ambassador　and　the　two　ladies。

〃My　dear；〃　said　her　husband；　〃I　have　brought　you　an　old
acquaintance；　Professor　Moritz。〃

As　Ebenstreit　would　retreat；　Moritz　commanded　him　to　remain；　placing
his　white…gloved　hand　upon　his　arm；　and　holding　him　fast。　〃I　would
ask　you　one　question　before　I　speak　with　the　baroness。〃

Moritz　spoke　so　loud；　and　in　such　a　strange；　harsh；　and　repulsive
manner；　that　every　one　turned　astonished；　asking　himself　what　it
meant。　Conversation　was　hushed；　and　the　curious　pressed　toward　the
peculiar　group　in　the　centre　to　the　baroness；　who　regarded　her
husband　perfectly　composed；　and　the　pale　man；　with　the　flashing
eyes；　the　glance　of　which　pierced　her　like　daggers。

A　breathless　silence　reigned；　broken　only　by　Ebenstreit's　trembling
voice。　〃What　is　it；　professor？　How　can　I　serve　you？〃

〃Tell　me　who　you　are？〃　replied　Moritz；　with　a　gruff　laugh。

〃I　am　the　Baron　Ebenstreit　von　Leuthen！〃

〃And　the　scar　which　you　bear　upon　your　face；　is　it　not　the　mark　of　a
whip；　with　which　I　lashed　a　certain　Herr　Ebenstreit　three　years
since；　who　prevented　my　eloping　with　my　betrothed？　I　challenged　him
to　fight　a　duel；　but　the　coward　refused　me　satisfaction；　and　then　I
struck　him　in　the　face；　causing　the　blood　to　flow。　Answer　meare
you　this　gentleman？〃

Not　a　sound　interrupted　the　fearfully　long　pause　which　followed。
Every　one　turned　astonished　to　Ebenstreit；　who；　pale　as　death；　was
powerless　to　utter　a　word；　but　stood　staring　at　his　opponent。

〃Why　do　you　not　answer　me？〃　cried　Moritz；　stamping　his　foot。　〃Are
you　the　coward？　Was　this　red　scar　caused　by　the　whip…lash？〃

Another　long　pause　ensued；　and　a　distinctly　audible　voice　was　heard；
saying；　〃Yes；　it　is　he！〃

〃Who　replied　to　me？〃　asked　Moritz；　turning　his　angry　glance　away
from　Ebenstreit。

〃I；〃　said　Marie。　〃I　reply　for　my　husband！〃

〃You？　Are　you　the　wife　of　this　man？〃　thundered　Moritz。

〃I　am；〃　Marie　answered。

〃Is　this　invitation　directed　to　me　from　you？〃　he　continued；　drawing
a　paper　from　his　pocket。　〃Did　you　permit　yourself　to　invite　me　to
your　house？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　she　calmly　answered。

〃And　by　what　right；　madame？　This　is　the　question　I　wish　answered；
and　I　came　here　for　that　purpose。〃

〃I　invited　you　because　I　desired　to　see　you。〃

〃Shameless　one！〃　cried　Moritz；　furious。

〃Sir；〃　cried　the　ambassador；　placing　himself　before　Moritz；　defying
his　anger；　〃you　forget　that　you　are　speaking　to　a　lady。　As　her
husband　is　silent；　I　declare　myself　her　knight；　and　I　will　not
suffer　her　to　be　injured　by　word　or　look。

〃How　can　you　hinder　me？〃　cried　Moritz；　with　scorn。　〃What　will　you　do
if　I　dash　this　paper　at　her　feet；　and　forbid　her　to　ever　write　my
name　again？〃　Making　a　ball　of　it；　he　suited　the　action　to　the　word；
casting　a　defiant　look　at　the　marquis。

〃I　shall　order　the　footmen　to　thrust　you　out　of　the　house。　Here；
servants；　remove　this　man；　he　is　an　escaped　lunatic；　undoubtedly。〃

Two　footmen　pressed　forward　through　the　circle　which　crowded　around
Moritz。

〃Whoever　touches　me；　death　to　him！〃　thundered　Moritz；　laying　his
hand　upon　a　small　sword　at　his　side。

〃Let　no　one　dare　lay　a　hand　on　this　gentleman；〃　cried　Marie；　with　a
commanding　wave　of　her　hand　to　the　lackeys。　〃I　beseech　you；　marquis；
and　you；　honored　guests；　to　quietly　await　the　conclusion　of　this