selected writings of guy de maupassant(莫伯桑作品选)-第24部分

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the　danger　came　from。　When　he　got　to　the　door；　he　sniffed　beneath
it；　smelling　vigorously；　with　his　coat　bristling　and　his　tail
stiff　while　he　growled　angrily。　Kunsi；　who　was　terrified；　jumped
up；　and　holding　his　chair　by　one　leg；　cried：　〃Don't　come　in；
don't　come　in；　or　I　shall　kill　you。〃　And　the　dog；　excited　by　this
threat；　barked　angrily　at　that　invisible　enemy　who　defied　his
master's　voice。　By　degrees；　however；　he　quieted　down；　came　back
and　stretched　himself　in　front　of　the　fire。　But　he　was　uneasy；
and　kept　his　head　up；　and　growled　between　his　teeth。

Ulrich；　in　turn；　recovered　his　senses；　but　as　he　felt　faint　with
terror；　he　went　and　got　a　bottle　of　brandy　out　of　the　sideboard；
and　drank　off　several　glasses；　one　after　another；　at　a　gulp。　His
ideas　became　vague；　his　courage　revived；　and　a　feverish　glow　ran
through　his　veins。

He　ate　scarcely　anything　the　next　day；　and　limited　himself　to
alcohol；　so　he　lived　for　several　days；　like　a　drunken　brute。　As
soon　as　he　thought　of　Gaspard　Hari　he　began　to　drink　again；　and
went　on　drinking　until　he　fell　on　to　the　floor；　overcome　by
intoxication。　And　there　he　remained　on　his　face；　dead　drunk；　his
limbs　benumbed；　and　snoring　with　his　face　to　the　ground。　But
scarcely　had　he　digested　the　maddening　and　burning　liquor；　than
the　same　cry；　〃Ulrich；〃　woke　him　like　a　bullet　piercing　his
brain；　and　he　got　up；　still　staggering；　stretching　out　his　hands
to　save　himself　from　falling；　and　calling　to　Sam　to　help　him。　And
the　dog；　who　appeared　to　be　going　mad　like　his　master；　rushed　to
the　door；　scratched　it　with　his　claws；　and　gnawed　it　with　his
long　white　teeth；　while　the　young　man；　his　neck　thrown　back；　and
his　head　in　the　air；　drank　the　brandy　in　gulps；　as　if　it　were
cold　water；　so　that　it　might　by　and　by　send　his　thoughts；　his
frantic　terror；　and　his　memory；　to　sleep　again。

In　three　weeks　he　had　consumed　all　his　stock　of　ardent　spirits。
But　his　continual　drunkenness　only　lulled　his　terror；　which　awoke
more　furiously　than　ever；　as　soon　as　it　was　impossible　for　him　to
calm　it　by　drinking。　His　fixed　idea；　which　had　been　intensified
by　a　month　of　drunkenness；　and　which　was　continually　increasing
in　his　absolute　solitude？　pene…trated　him　like　a　gimlet。　He　now
walked　about　his　house　like　a　wild　beast　in　its　cage；　putting　his
eat　to　the　door　to　listen　if　the　other　were　there；　and　defying
him　through　the　wall。　Then　as　soon　as　he　dozed；　overcome　by
fatigue；　he　heard　the　voice　which　made　him　leap　to　his　feet。

At　last　one　night；　as　cowards　do　when　driven　to　extremity；　he
sprang　to　the　door　and　opened　it；　to　see　who　was　calling　him；　and
to　force　him　to　keep　quiet。　But　such　a　gust　of　cold　wind　blew
into　his　face　that　it　chilled　him　to　the　bone。　He　closed　and
bolted　the　door　again　immediately；　without　noticing　that　Sam　had
rushed　out。　Then；　as　he　was　shivering　with　cold；　he　threw　some
wood　on　the　fire；　and　sat　down　in　front　of　it　to　warm　himself。
But　suddenly　he　started；　for　somebody　was　scratching　at　the　wall；
and　crying。　In　desperation　he　called　out：　〃Go　away！〃　but　was
answered　by　another　long；　sorrowful　wail。

Then　all　his　remaining　senses　forsook　him；　from　sheer　fright。　He
repeated：　〃Go　away！〃　and　turned　round　to　find　some　corner　in
which　to　hide；　while　the　other　person　went　round　the　house　still
crying；　and　rubbing　against　the　wall。　Ulrich　went　to　the　oak
sideboard；　which　was　full　of　plates　and　dishes　and　of　provisions；
and　lifting　it　up　with　superhuman　strength；　he　dragged　it　to　the
door；　so　as　to　form　a　barricade。　Then　piling　up　all　the　rest　of
the　furniture；　the　mattresses；　paillasses；　and　chairs；　he　stopped
up　the　windows　as　men　do　when　assailed　by　an　enemy。

But　the　person　outside　now　uttered　long；　plaintive；　mournful
groans；　to　which　the　young　man　replied　by　similar　groans；　and
thus　days　and　nights　passed　without　their　ceasing　to　howl　at　each
other。　The　one　was　continually　walking　round　the　house　and
scraped　the　walls　with　his　nails　so　vigorously　that　it　seemed　as
if　he　wished　to　destroy　them；　while　the　other；　inside；　followed
all　his　movements；　stooping　down；　and　holding　his　ear　to　the
walls；　and　replying　to　all　his　appeals　with　terrible　cries。　One
evening；　however；　Ulrich　heard　nothing　more；　and　he　sat　down；　so
overcome　by　fatigue　that　he　went　to　sleep　immediately；　and　awoke
in　the　morning　without　a　thought；　without　any　recollection　of
what　had　happened；　just　as　if　his　head　had　been　emptied　during
his　heavy　sleep。　But　he　felt　hungry；　and　he　ate。

The　winter　was　over；　and　the　Gemmi　pass　was　practicable　again；　so
the　Hauser　family　started　off　to　return　to　their　inn。　As　soon　as
they　had　reached　the　top　of　the　ascent；　the　women　mounted　their
mule；　and　spoke　about　the　two　men　who　they　would　meet　again
shortly。　They　were；　indeed；　rather　surprised　that　neither　of　them
had　come　down　a　few　days　before；　as　soon　as　the　road　became
passable；　in　order　to　tell　them　all　about　their　long　winter
sojourn。　At　last；　however；　they　saw　the　inn；　still　covered　with
snow；　like　a　quilt。　The　door　and　the　windows　were　closed；　but　a
little　smoke　was　coming　out　of　the　chimney；　which　reassured　old
Hauser；　on　going　up　to　the　door；　however；　he　saw　the　skeleton　of
an　animal　which　had　been　torn　to　pieces　by　the　eagles；　a　large
skeleton　lying　on　its　side。

They　all　looked　closely　at　it；　and　the　mother　said：　〃That　must　be
Sam。〃　Then　she　shouted：　〃Hi！　Gaspard！〃　A　cry　from　the　interior　of
the　house　answered　her；　so　sharp　a　cry　that　one　might　have
thought　some　animal　uttered　it。　Old　Hauser　repeated：　〃Hi！
Gaspard！〃　and　they　heard　another　cry；　similar　to　the　first。

Then　the　three　men；　the　father　and　the　two　sons；　tried　to　open
the　door；　but　it　resisted　their　efforts。　From　the　empty　cow…stall
they　took　a　beam　to　serve　as　a　battering…ram；　and　hurled　it
against　the　door　with　all　their　might。　The　wood　gave　way；　and　the
boards　flew　into　splinters；　then　the　house　was　shaken　by　a　loud
voice；　and　inside；　behind　the　sideboard　which　was　overturned；
they　saw　a　man　standing　upright；　his　hair　falling　on　to　his
shoulders　and　a　beard　descending　to　his　breast；　with　shining　eyes
and　nothing　but　rags　to　cover　him。　They　did　not　recognize　him；
but　Louise　Hauser　exclaimed：　〃It　is　Ulrich；　mother。〃　And　her
mother　declared　that　it　was　Ulrich；　although　his　hair　was　white。

He　allowed　them　to　go　up　to　him；　and　to　touch　him；　but　he　did　not
reply　to　any　of　their　questions；　and　they　were　obliged　to　take
him　to　Loeche；　where　the　doctors　found　that　he　was　mad。　Nobody
ever　knew　what　had　become　of　his　companion。

Little　Louise　Hauser　nearly　died　that　summer　of　decline；　which
the　medical　men　attributed　to　the　cold　air　of　the　mountains。



A　FAMILY

I　was　going　to　see　my　friend　Simon　Radevin　once　more；　for　I　had
not　seen　him　for　fifteen　years。　Formerly　he　was　my　most　intimate
friend；　and　I　used　to　spend　long；　quiet；　and　happy　evenings　with
him。　He　was　one　of　those　men　to　whom　one　tells　the　most　intimate
affairs　of　the　heart；　and　in　whom　one　finds；　when　quietly
talking；　rare；　clever；　ingenious；　and　refined　thoughtsthoughts
which　stimulate　and　capture　the　mind。

For　years　we　had　scarcely　been　separated：　we　had　lived；　traveled；
thought；　and　dreamed　together；　had　liked　the　same　things　with　the
same　liking；　admired　the　same　books；　comprehended　the　same　works；
shivered　with　the　same　sensations；　and　very　often　laughed　at　the
same　individuals；　whom　we　understood　completely；　by　merely
exchanging　a　glance。

Then　he　marriedquite　unexpectedly　married　a　little　girl　from
the　provinces；　who　had　come　to　Paris　in　search　of　a　husband。　How
ever　could　that　little；　thin；　insipidly　fair　girl；　with　her　weak
hands；　her　light；　vacant　eyes；　and　her　clear；　silly　voice；　who　was
exactly　like　a　hundred　thousand　marriageable　dolls；　have　picked　up
that　intelligent；　clever　young　fellow？　Can　anyone　understand　these
things？　No　doubt　he　had　hoped　for　happiness；　simple；　quiet；　and
long…enduring　happiness；　in　the　arms　of　a　good；　tender；　and
faithful　woman；　he　had　seen　all　that　in　the　transparent　looks　of
that　schoolgirl　with　light　hair。

He　had　not　dreamed　of　the　fact　that　an　active；　living；　and
vibrating　man　grows　tired　as　soon　as　he　has　comprehended　the
stupid　reality　of　a　common…place　life；　unless　indeed；　he　becomes
so　brutalized　as　to　be　callous　to　externals。

What　would　he　be　like　when　I　met　him　again？　Still　lively；　witty；
light…hearted；　and　enthusiastic；　or　in　a　state　of　mental　torpor
through　provincial　life？　A　man　can　change　a　great　deal　in　the
course　of　fifteen　years！

The　train　stopped　at　a　small　station；　and　as　I　got　out　of　the
carriage；　a　stout；　a　very　stout　man　with　red　cheeks　and　a　big
stomach　rushed　up　to　me　with　open　arms；　exclaiming：　〃George！〃

I　embraced　him；　but　I　had　not　recognized　him；　and　then　I　said；　in
astonishment：　〃By　Jove！　You　have　not　grown　thin！〃

And　he　replied　with　a　laugh：　〃What　did　you　expect？　Good　living；　a
good　table；　and　good　nights！　Eating　and　sleeping；　that　is　my
existence！〃

I　looked　at　him　closely；　trying　to　find　the　features　I　held　so
dear　in　that　broad　face。　His　eyes　alone　had　not　altered；　but　I　no
longer　saw　the　same　looks　in　them；　and　I　said　to　myself：　〃If
looks　be　the　reflection　of　the　mind；　the　thoughts　in　that　head
are　not　what　they　used　to　bethose　thoughts　which　I　knew　so
well。〃

Yet　his　eyes　were　bright；　full　of　pleasure　and　friendship；　but
they　had　not　that　clear；　intelligent　expression　which　tells
better　than　do　words　the　value　of　the　mind。　Suddenly　he　said　to
me：

〃Here　are　my　two　eldest　children。〃　A　girl　of　fourteen；　who　was
almost　a　woman；　and　a　boy　of　thirteen；　in　the　dress　of　a　pupil
from　a　lycee；　came　forward　in　a　hesitating　and　awkward　manner；
and　I　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Are　they　yours？〃

〃Of　course　they　are；〃　he　replied　laughing。

〃How　many　have　you？〃

〃Five！　There　are　three　more　indoors。〃

He　said　that　in　a　proud；　self…satisfied；　almost　triumphant
manner；　and　I　felt　profound　pity；　mingled　with　a　feeling　of　vague
contempt　for　this　vainglorious　and　simple　reproducer　of　his
species；　who　spent　his　nights　in　his　country　house　in　uxorious
pleasures。

I　got　into　a　carriage；　which　he　drove　himself；　and　we　set　off
through　the　town；　a　dull；　sleepy；　gloomy　town　where　nothing　wa