the gambler-第33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！


Mlle。　Polina　a　personal　legacy　of　seven　thousand　pounds
sterling。　That　was　about　six　months　ago；　and　now　Mlle。　is
travelling　with　my　sister's　family　my　sister　having　since
married。　Mlle。's　little　brother　and　sister　also　benefited　by　the
Grandmother's　will；　and　are　now　being　educated　in　London。　As　for
the　General；　he　died　in　Paris　last　month；　of　a　stroke。　Mlle。
Blanche　did　well　by　him；　for　she　succeeded　in　having　transferred
to　herself　all　that　he　received　from　the　Grandmother。　That；　I
think；　concludes　all　that　I　have　to　tell。〃

〃And　De　Griers？　Is　he　too　travelling　in　Switzerland？〃

〃No；　nor　do　I　know　where　he　is。　Also　I　warn　you　once　more　that
you　had　better　avoid　such　hints　and　ignoble　suppositions；
otherwise　you　will　assuredly　have　to　reckon　with　me。〃

〃What？　In　spite　of　our　old　friendship？〃

〃Yes；　in　spite　of　our　old　friendship。〃

〃Then　I　beg　your　pardon　a　thousand　times；　Mr。　Astley。　I　meant
nothing　offensive　to　Mlle。　Polina；　for　I　have　nothing　of　which
to　accuse　her。　Moreover；　the　question　of　there　being　anything
between　this　Frenchman　and　this　Russian　lady　is　not　one　which
you　and　I　need　discuss；　nor　even　attempt　to　understand。〃

〃If；〃　replied　Astley；　〃you　do　not　care　to　hear　their　names
coupled　together；　may　I　ask　you　what　you　mean　by　the　expressions
'this　Frenchman；'　'this　Russian　lady；'　and　'there　being
anything　between　them'？　Why　do　you　call　them　so　particularly　a
'Frenchman'　and　a　'Russian　lady'？〃

〃Ah；　I　see　you　are　interested；　Mr。　Astley。　But　it　is　a　long；
long　story；　and　calls　for　a　lengthy　preface。　At　the　same　time；
the　question　is　an　important　one；　however　ridiculous　it　may　seem
at　the　first　glance。　A　Frenchman；　Mr。　Astley；　is　merely　a　fine
figure　of　a　man。　With　this　you；　as　a　Britisher；　may　not　agree。
With　it　I　also；　as　a　Russian；　may　not　agreeout　of　envy。　Yet
possibly　our　good　ladies　are　of　another　opinion。　For　instance；
one　may　look　upon　Racine　as　a　broken…down；　hobbledehoy；　perfumed
individualone　may　even　be　unable　to　read　him；　and　I　too　may
think　him　the　same；　as　well　as；　in　some　respects；　a　subject　for
ridicule。　Yet　about　him；　Mr。　Astley；　there　is　a　certain　charm；
and；　above　all　things；　he　is　a　great　poetthough　one　might　like
to　deny　it。　Yes；　the　Frenchman；　the　Parisian；　as　a　national
figure；　was　in　process　of　developing　into　a　figure　of　elegance
before　we　Russians　had　even　ceased　to　be　bears。　The　Revolution
bequeathed　to　the　French　nobility　its　heritage；　and　now　every
whippersnapper　of　a　Parisian　may　possess　manners；　methods　of
expression；　and　even　thoughts　that　are　above　reproach　in　form；
while　all　the　time　he　himself　may　share　in　that　form　neither　in
initiative　nor　in　intellect　nor　in　soulhis　manners；　and　the
rest；　having　come　to　him　through　inheritance。　Yes；　taken　by
himself；　the　Frenchman　is　frequently　a　fool　of　fools　and　a
villain　of　villains。　

Per　contra；　there　is　no　one　in　the　world
more　worthy　of　confidence　and　respect　than　this　young　Russian
lady。　De　Griers　might　so　mask　his　face　and　play　a　part　as　easily
to　overcome　her　heart；　for　he　has　an　imposing　figure；　Mr。
Astley；　and　this　young　lady　might　easily　take　that　figure　for
his　real　selffor　the　natural　form　of　his　heart　and　soulinstead
of　the　mere　cloak　with　which　heredity　has　dowered　him。　And　even
though　it　may　offend　you；　I　feel　bound　to　say　that　the　majority
also　of　English　people　are　uncouth　and　unrefined；　whereas　we
Russian　folk　can　recognise　beauty　wherever　we　see　it；　and　are
always　eager　to　cultivate　the　same。　But　to　distinguish　beauty　of
soul　and　personal　originality　there　is　needed　far　more
independence　and　freedom　than　is　possessed　by　our　women；
especially　by　our　younger　ladies。　At　all　events；　they　need　more
EXPERIENCE。　For　instance；　this　Mlle。　Polinapardon　me；　but　the
name　has　passed　my　lips；　and　I　cannot　well　recall　itis　taking　a
very　long　time　to　make　up　her　mind　to　prefer　you　to　Monsieur　de
Griers。　She　may　respect　you；　she　may　become　your　friend；　she　may
open　out　her　heart　to　you；　yet　over　that　heart　there　will　be
reigning　that　loathsome　villain；　that　mean　and　petty　usurer；　De
Griers。　This　will　be　due　to　obstinacy　and　self…loveto　the　fact
that　De　Griers　once　appeared　to　her　in　the　transfigured　guise　of
a　marquis；　of　a　disenchanted　and　ruined　liberal　who　was　doing
his　best　to　help　her　family　and　the　frivolous　old　General；　and；
although　these　transactions　of　his　have　since　been　exposed；　you
will　find　that　the　exposure　has　made　no　impression　upon　her
mind。　Only　give　her　the　De　Griers　of　former　days；　and　she　will
ask　of　you　no　more。　The　more　she　may　detest　the　present　De
Griers；　the　more　will　she　lament　the　De　Griers　of　the　pasteven
though　the　latter　never　existed　but　in　her　own　imagination。　You
are　a　sugar　refiner；　Mr。　Astley；　are　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　I　belong　to　the　well…known　firm　of　Lovell　and　Co。〃

〃Then　see　here。　On　the　one　hand；　you　are　a　sugar　refiner；
while；　on　the　other　hand；　you　are　an　Apollo　Belvedere。　But　the
two　characters　do　not　mix　with　one　another。　I；　again；　am　not
even　a　sugar　refiner；　I　am　a　mere　roulette　gambler　who　has　also
served　as　a　lacquey。　Of　this　fact　Mlle。　Polina　is　probably　well
aware；　since　she　appears　to　have　an　excellent　force　of　police　at
her　disposal。〃

〃You　are　saying　this　because　you　are　feeling　bitter；〃　said
Astley　with　cold　indifference。　〃Yet　there　is　not　the　least
originality　in　your　words。〃

〃I　agree。　But　therein　lies　the　horror　of　it　allthat；　however
mean　and　farcical　my　accusations　may　be；　they　are　none　the　less
TRUE。　But　I　am　only　wasting　words。〃

〃Yes；　you　are；　for　you　are　only　talking　nonsense！　exclaimed　my
companionhis　voice　now　trembling　and　his　eyes　flashing　fire。　
〃Are　you　aware；〃　he　continued；　〃that　wretched；　ignoble；　petty；
unfortunate　man　though　you　are；　it　was　at　HER　request　I　came　to
Homburg；　in　order　to　see　you；　and　to　have　a　long；　serious　talk
with　you；　and　to　report　to　her　your　feelings　and　thoughts　and
hopesyes；　and　your　recollections　of　her；　too？〃

〃Indeed？　Is　that　really　so？〃　I　criedthe　tears　beginning　to
well　from　my　eyes。　Never　before　had　this　happened。

〃Yes；　poor　unfortunate；〃　continued　Astley。　〃She　DID　love　you；
and　I　may　tell　you　this　now　for　the　reason　that　now　you　are
utterly　lost。　Even　if　I　were　also　to　tell　you　that　she　still
loves　you；　you　would　none　the　less　have　to　remain　where　you　are。
Yes；　you　have　ruined　yourself　beyond　redemption。　Once　upon　a
time　you　had　a　certain　amount　of　talent；　and　you　were　of　a
lively　disposition；　and　your　good　looks　were　not　to　be　despised。
You　might　even　have　been　useful　to　your　country；　which　needs　men
like　you。　Yet　you　remained　here；　and　your　life　is　now　over。　I　am
not　blaming　you　for　this　in　my　view　all　Russians　resemble　you；　
or　are　inclined　to　do　so。　If　it　is　not　roulette；　then　it　is　
something　else。　The　exceptions　are　very　rare。　Nor　are　you　the　
first　to　learn　what　a　taskmaster　is　yours。　For　roulette　is　not　
exclusively　a　Russian　game。　Hitherto；　you　have　honourably　preferred　
to　serve　as　a　lacquey　rather　than　to　act　as　a　thief；　but　what　the　
future　may　have　in　store　for　you　I　tremble　to　think。　Now　good…bye。　
You　are　in　want　of　money；　I　suppose？　Then　take　these　ten　louis　d'or。　
More　I　shall　not　give　you；　for　you　would　only　gamble　it　away。　Take　
care　of　these　coins；　and　farewell。　Once　more；　TAKE　CARE　of　them。〃

〃No；　Mr。　Astley。　After　all　that　has　been　said　I〃

〃TAKE　CARE　of　them！〃　repeated　my　friend。　〃I　am　certain　you
are　still　a　gentleman；　and　therefore　I　give　you　the　money　as　one
gentleman　may　give　money　to　another。　Also；　if　I　could　be　certain
that　you　would　leave　both　Homburg　and　the　gaming…tables；　and
return　to　your　own　country；　I　would　give　you　a　thousand　pounds
down　to　start　life　afresh；　but；　I　give　you　ten　louis　d'or　instead
of　a　thousand　pounds　for　the　reason　that　at　the　present　time　a
thousand　pounds　and　ten　louis　d'or　will　be　all　the　same　to
youyou　will　lose　the　one　as　readily　as　you　will　the　other。　Take
the　money；　therefore；　and　good…bye。〃

〃Yes；　I　WILL　take　it　if　at　the　same　time　you　will　embrace　me。〃

〃With　pleasure。〃

So　we　partedon　terms　of　sincere　affection。

。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

But　he　was　wrong。　If　I　was　hard　and　undiscerning　as　regards
Polina　and　De　Griers；　HE　was　hard　and　undiscerning　as　regards
Russian　people　generally。　Of　myself　I　say　nothing。　Yetyet　words
are　only　words。　I　need　to　ACT。　Above　all　things　I　need　to　think
of　Switzerland。　Tomorrow；　tomorrow　Ah；　but　if　only　I　could
set　things　right　tomorrow；　and　be　born　again；　and　rise　again
from　the　dead！　But　noI　cannot。　Yet　I　must　show　her　what　I　can
do。　Even　if　she　should　do　no　more　than　learn　that　I　can　still
play　the　man；　it　would　be　worth　it。　Today　it　is　too　late；　but
TOMORROW。。。

Yet　I　have　a　presentiment　that　things　can　never　be　otherwise。　I
have　got　fifteen　louis　d'or　in　my　possession；　although　I　began
with　fifteen　gulden。　If　I　were　to　play　carefully　at　the
startBut　no；　no！　Surely　I　am　not　such　a　fool　as　that？　Yet　WHY
should　I　not　rise　from　the　dead？　I　should　require　at　first　but
to　go　cautiously　and　patiently　and　the　rest　would　follow。　I
should　require　but　to　put　a　check　upon　my　nature　for　one　hour；
and　my　fortunes　would　be　changed　entirely。　Yes；　my　nature　is　my
weak　point。　I　have　only　to　remember　what　happened　to　me　some
months　ago　at　Roulettenberg；　before　my　final　ruin。　What　a
notable　instance　that　was　of　my　capacity　for　resolution！　On　the
occasion　in　question　I　had　lost　everythingeverything；　yet；　just
as　I　was　leaving　the　Casino；　I　heard　another　gulden　give　a
rattle　in　my　pocket！　〃Perhaps　I　shall　need　it　for　a　meal；〃　I
thought　to　myself；　but　a　hundred　paces　further　on；　I　changed　my
mind；　and　returned。　That　gulden　I　staked　upon　manqueand　there
is　something　in　the　feeling　that；　though　one　is　alone；　and　in　a
foreign　land；　and　far　from　one's　own　home　and　friends；　and
ignorant　of　whence　one's　next　meal　is　to　come；　one　is
nevertheless　staking　one's　very　last　coin！　Well；　I　won　the
stake；　and　in　twenty　minutes　had　left　the　Casino　with　a　hundred
and　seventy　gulden　in　my　pocket！　That　is　a　fact；　and　it　shows
what　a　last　remaining　gulden　can　do。　。　。　。　But　what　if　my　heart
had　failed　me；　or　I　had　shrunk　from　making　up　my　mind？　。　。　。

No：　tomorrow　all　shall　be　ended！






End