selected writings of guy de maupassant(莫伯桑作品选)-第37部分

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curious；　so　funny；　who　never　had　the　same　caprice；　the　same
smile；　or　the　same　look　twice；　and　who；　at　bottom；　was　worth　more
than　many　others；　either　saints　or　sinners。

He　thought　of　her　constantly；　during　long　hours　of　sleeplessness。
He　carried　her　portrait　about　with　him　in　the　breast　pocket　of
his　pea…jacketa　charming　portrait　in　which　she　was　smiling；　and
showing　her　white　teeth　between　her　half…open　lips。　Her　gentle
eyes　with　their　magnetic　look　had　a　happy；　frank　expression；　and
from　the　mere　arrangement　of　her　hair；　one　could　see　that　she　was
fair　among　the　fair。

He　used　to　kiss　that　portrait　of　the　woman　who　had　been　his　wife
as　if　he　wished　to　efface　it；　would　look　at　it　for　hours；　and
then　throw　himself　down　on　the　netting　and　sob　like　a　child　as　he
looked　at　the　infinite　expanse　before　him；　seeming　to　see　their
lost　happiness；　the　joys　of　their　perished　affections；　and　the
divine　remembrance　of　their　love；　in　the　monotonous　waste　of
green　waters。　And　he　tried　to　accuse　himself　for　all　that　had
occurred；　and　not　to　be　angry　with　her；　to　think　that　his
grievances　were　imaginary；　and　to　adore　her　in　spite　of
everything　and　always。

And　so　he　roamed　about　the　world；　tossed　to　and　fro；　suffering
and　hoping　he　knew　not　what。　He　ventured　into　the　greatest
dangers；　and　sought　for　death　just　as　a　man　seeks　for　his
mistress；　and　death　passed　close　to　him　without　touching　him；
perhaps　amused　at　his　grief　and　misery。

For　he　was　as　wretched　as　a　stone…breaker；　as　one　of　those　poor
devils　who　work　and　nearly　break　their　backs　over　the　hard　flints
the　whole　day　long；　under　the　scorching　sun　or　the　cold　rain；　and
Marie　Anne　herself　was　not　happy；　for　she　was　pining　for　the　past
and　remembered　their　former　love。

At　last；　however；　he　returned　to　France；　changed；　tanned　by
exposure；　sun；　and　rain；　and　transformed　as　if　by　some　witch's
philter。

Nobody　would　have　recognized　the　elegant　and　effeminate　clubman；
in　this　corsair　with　broad　shoulders；　a　skin　the　color　of　tan；
with　very　red　lips；　who　rolled　a　little　in　his　walk；　who　seemed
to　be　stifled　in　his　black　dress…coat；　but　who　still　retained　the
distinguished　manners　and　bearing　of　a　nobleman　of　the　last
century；　one　of　those　who；　when　he　was　ruined；　fitted　out　a
privateer；　and　fell　upon　the　English　wherever　he　met　them；　from
St。　Malo　to　Calcutta。　And　wherever　he　showed　himself　his　friends
exclaimed：

〃Why！　Is　that　you？　I　should　never　have　known　you　again！〃

He　was　very　nearly　starting　off　again　immediately；　he　even
telegraphed　orders　to　Havre　to　get　the　steam…yacht　ready　for　sea
directly；　when　he　heard　that　Marie　Anne　had　married　again。

He　saw　her　in　the　distance；　at　the　Theatre　Francais　one　Tuesday；
and　when　he　noticed　how　pretty；　how　fair；　how　desirable　she
was；looking　so　melancholy；　with　all　the　appearance　of　an
unhappy　soul　that　regrets　something；his　determination　grew
weaker；　and　he　delayed　his　departure　from　week　to　week；　and
waited；　without　knowing　why；　until；　at　last；　worn　out　with　the
struggle；　watching　her　wherever　she　went；　more　in　love　with　her
than　he　had　ever　been　before；　he　wrote　her　long；　mad；　ardent
letters　in　which　his　passion　overflowed　like　a　stream　of　lava。

He　altered　his　handwriting；　as　he　remembered　her　restless　brain；
and　her　many　whims。　He　sent　her　the　flowers　which　he　knew　she
liked　best；　and　told　her　that　she　was　his　life；　that　he　was　dying
of　waiting　for　her；　of　longing　for　her；　for　her　his　idol。

At　last；　very　much　puzzled　and　surprised；　guessingwho
knows？from　the　instinctive　beating　of　her　heart；　and　her
general　emotion；　that　it　must　be　he　this　time；　he　whose　soul　she
had　tortured　with　such　cold　cruelty；　and　knowing　that　she　could
make　amends　for　the　past　and　bring　back　their　former　love；　she
replied　to　him；　and　granted　him　the　meeting　that　he　asked　for。
She　fell　into　his　arms；　and　they　both　sobbed　with　joy　and
ecstasy。　Their　kisses　were　those　which　lips　give　only　when　they
have　lost　each　other　and　found　each　other　again　at　last；　when
they　meet　and　exhaust　themselves　in　each　other's　looks；　thirsting
for　tenderness；　love；　and　enjoyment。

　*　*　*　*　*　*　*

Last　week　Count　de　Baudemont　carried　off　Marie　Anne　quietly　and
coolly；　just　like　one　resumes　possession　of　one's　house　on
returning　from　a　journey；　and　drives　out　the　intruders。　And　when
Maitre　Garrulier　was　told　of　this　unheard　of　scandal；　he　rubbed
his　handsthe　long；　delicate　hands　of　a　sensual　prelateand
exclaimed：

〃That　is　absolutely　logical；　and　I　should　like　to　be　in　their
place。〃



THE　MAD　WOMAN

〃I　can　tell　you　a　terrible　story　about　the　Franco…Prussian　war；〃
Monsieur　d'Endolin　said　to　some　friends　assembled　in　the
smoking…room　of　Baron　de　Ravot's　chateau。　〃You　know　my　house　in
the　Faubourg　de　Cormeil；　I　was　living　there　when　the　Prussians
came；　and　I　had　for　a　neighbor　a　kind　of　mad　woman；　who　had　lost
her　senses　in　consequence　of　a　series　of　misfortunes。　At　the　age
of　seven　and　twenty　she　had　lost　her　father；　her　husband；　and　her
newly　born　child；　all　in　the　space　of　a　month。

〃When　death　has　once　entered　into　a　house；　it　almost　invariably
returns　immediately；　as　if　it　knew　the　way；　and　the　young　woman；
overwhelmed　with　grief；　took　to　her　bed　and　was　delirious　for　six
weeks。　Then　a　species　of　calm　lassitude　succeeded　that　violent
crisis；　and　she　remained　motionless；　eating　next　to　nothing；　and
only　moving　her　eyes。　Every　time　they　tried　to　make　her　get　up；
she　screamed　as　if　they　were　about　to　kill　her；　and　so　they　ended
by　leaving　her　continually　in　bed；　and　only　taking　her　out　to
wash　her；　to　change　her　linen；　and　to　turn　her　mattress。

〃An　old　servant　remained　with　her；　to　give　her　something　to
drink；　or　a　little　cold　meat；　from　time　to　time。　What　passed　in
that　despairing　mind？　No　one　ever　knew；　for　she　did　not　speak　at
all　now。　Was　she　thinking　of　the　dead？　Was　she　dreaming　sadly；
without　any　precise　recollection　of　anything　that　had　happened？
Or　was　her　memory　as　stagnant　as　water　without　any　current？　But
however　this　may　have　been；　for　fifteen　years　she　remained　thus
inert　and　secluded。

〃The　war　broke　out；　and　in　the　beginning　of　December　the　Germans
came　to　Cormeil。　I　can　remember　it　as　if　it　were　but　yesterday。
It　was　freezing　hard　enough　to　split　the　stones；　and　I　myself　was
lying　back　in　an　armchair；　being　unable　to　move　on　account　of　the
gout；　when　I　heard　their　heavy　and　regular　tread；　and　could　see
them　pass　from　my　window。

〃They　defiled　past　interminably；　with　that　peculiar　motion　of　a
puppet　on　wires；　which　belongs　to　them。　Then　the　officers
billeted　their　men　on　the　inhabitants；　and　I　had　seventeen　of
them。　My　neighbor；　the　crazy　woman；　had　a　dozen；　one　of　whom　was
the　Commandant；　a　regular　violent；　surly　swashbuckler。

〃During　the　first　few　days；　everything　went　on　as　usual。　The
officers　next　door　had　been　told　that　the　lady　was　ill；　and　they
did　not　trouble　themselves　about　that　in　the　least；　but　soon　that
woman　whom　they　never　saw　irritated　them。　They　asked　what　
her　illness　was；　and　were　told　that　she　had　been　in　bed　for
fifteen　years；　in　consequence　of　terrible　grief。　No　doubt　they
did　not　believe　it；　and　thought　that　the　poor　mad　creature　would
not　leave　her　bed　out　of　pride；　so　that　she　might　not　come　near
the　Prussians；　or　speak　to　them　or　even　see　them。

〃The　Commandant　insisted　upon　her　receiving　him。　He　was　shown
into　the　room　and　said　to　her　roughly：　'I　must　beg　you　to　get　up；
Madame；　and　to　come　downstairs　so　that　we　may　all　see　you。'　But
she　merely　turned　her　vague　eyes　on　him；　without　replying；　and　so
he　continued：　'I　do　not　intend　to　tolerate　any　insolence；　and　if
you　do　not　get　up　of　your　own　accord；　I　can　easily　find　means　to
make　you　walk　without　any　assistance。'

〃But　she　did　not　give　any　signs　of　having　heard　him；　and　remained
quite　motionless。　Then　he　got　furious；　taking　that　calm　silence
for　a　mark　of　supreme　contempt；　so　he　added：　'If　you　do　not　come
downstairs　to…morrow'　And　then　he　left　the　room。

〃The　next　day　the　terrified　old　servant　wished　to　dress　her；　but
the　mad　woman　began　to　scream　violently；　and　resisted　with　all
her　might。　The　officer　ran　upstairs　quickly；　and　the　servant
threw　herself　at　his　feet　and　cried：　'She　will　not　come　down；
Monsieur；　she　will　not。　Forgive　her；　for　she　is　so　unhappy。'

〃The　soldier　was　embarrassed；　as　in　spite　of　his　anger；　he　did
not　venture　to　order　his　soldiers　to　drag　her　out。　But　suddenly
he　began　to　laugh；　and　gave　some　orders　in　German；　and　soon　a
party　of　soldiers　was　seen　coming　out　supporting　a　mattress　as　if
they　were　carrying　a　wounded　man。　On　that　bed；　which　had　not　been
unmade；　the　mad　woman；　who　was　still　silent；　was　lying　quite
quietly；　for　she　was　quite　indifferent　to　anything　that　went　on；
as　long　as　they　let　her　lie。　Behind　her；　a　soldier　was　carrying　a
parcel　of　feminine　attire；　and　the　officer　said；　rubbing　his
hands：　'We　will　just　see　whether　you　cannot　dress　yourself　alone；
and　take　a　little　walk。'

〃And　then　the　procession　went　off　in　the　direction　of　the　forest
of　Imauville；　in　two　hours　the　soldiers　came　back　alone；　and
nothing　more　was　seen　of　the　mad　woman。　What　had　they　done　with
her？　Where　had　they　taken　her　to？　No　one　knew。

〃The　snow　was　falling　day　and　night；　and　enveloped　the　plain　and
the　woods　in　a　shroud　of　frozen　foam；　and　the　wolves　came　and
howled　at　our　very　doors。

〃The　thought　of　that　poor　lost　woman　haunted　me；　and　I　made
several　applications　to　the　Prussian　authorities　in　order　to
obtain　some　information；　and　was　nearly　shot　for　doing　so。　When
spring　returned；　the　army　of　occupation　withdrew；　but　my
neighbor's　house　remained　closed；　and　the　grass　grew　thick　in　the
garden　walks。　The　old　servant　had　died　during　the　winter；　and
nobody　troubled　any　longer　about　the　occurrence；　I　alone　thought
about　it　constantly。　What　had　they　done　with　the　woman？　Had　she
escaped　through　the　forest？　Had　somebody　found　her；　and　taken　her
to　a　hospital；　without　being　able　to　obtain　any　information　from
her？　Nothing　happened　to　relieve　my　doubts；　but　by　degrees；　time
assuaged　my　fears。

〃Well；　in　the　following　autumn　the　woodcock　were　very　plentiful；
and　as　my　gout　had　left　me　for　a　time；　I　dragged　my