hr.thecarpetbaggers-第50部分

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　It　was　nothing　but　a　repetition　of　what　he　had　been　saying　all　evening；　and　many　times　before；　but　at　its　finish；　he　suddenly　began　to　weep。　He　was　very　drunk　and　he　almost　fell　as；　with　a　quick　gesture；　he　tore　the　covering　from　the　statue。
　There　was　a　silence　in　the　room　as　all　looked　at　the　cold　marble　form　of　the　statue。　It　was　scaled　to　two…thirds　life　size　and　carved　from　a　rose…blush　Italian　marble　that　took　on　a　soft　hue　of　warm　life　from　the　light　in　the　room。　The　figure　stood　poised　on　tiptoe；　the　hands　held　over　her　upturned　face；　reaching　for　her　lover；　the　sun。
　Then　the　silence　was　broken　as　all　at　once　began　to　ment　and　congratulate　the　sculptor。　That　is　all　except　one。　He　was　Leocadia；　the　art　dealer。　A　small；　gray　man　with　the　thin；　pursed　lips　of　the　money…changer。
　In　the　end；　no　matter　what　anyone　said；　his　was　the　final　judgment。　It　was　he　who　determined　its　value。　It　did　not　matter　that　the　price　he　set　might　forever　prohibit　a　sale；　his　evaluation　was　the　recognition　of　art。
　Pavan　approached　him　anxiously。　〃Well；　monsieur？〃　he　asked。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　Leocadia　did　not　look　at　Pavan。　He　never　looked　at　anyone　while　he　spoke　to　him。　The　artists　claimed　that　he　could　not　meet　their　gaze　because　he　was　a　parasite　living　better　from　the　proceeds　of　their　life's　blood　than　they　themselves　did。　〃The　market　for　sculpture　is　very　weak；〃　he　said。
　〃Bah！〃　Pavan　snorted。　〃I　do　not　ask　about　the　market。　I　ask　about　my　work！〃
　〃Your　work　is　as　always；〃　the　dealer　said　evasively。
　Pavan　turned　and　gestured；　his　arm　outflung　toward　the　silent　statue。　〃Look　at　those　breasts。　I　took　them　from　different　girls　to　achieve　the　symmetry　that　nature　did　not　provide。　And　the　face。　Flawless！　Notice　the　brow；　the　eyes；　the　cheekbones；　the　nose！〃　He　was　suddenly　silent；　staring　up　at　the　statue。　〃The　nose；〃　he　said；　almost　whispering。
　He　turned　toward　the　models；　huddling　against　the　wall。　〃Bring　monsieur　a　bottle　of　wine！　The　nose；　monsieur；〃　he　said　accusingly。　〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me　about　the　nose？〃
　Leocadia　was　silent。　This　was　no　time　to　tell　Pavan　he　had　found　nothing　at　fault　with　the　nose。　He　had　a　reputation　to　maintain。
　〃My　chisel！〃　Pavan　roared。　He　climbed　upon　a　chair　and　positioned　the　chisel　delicately。　He　scraped　the　stone　slightly；　then　polished　the　surface　with　his　sleeve。　The　marble　shone　once　more　and　he　stepped　down　and　looked。
　Suddenly　he　screamed　in　frustrated　agony。　〃It's　wrong！〃　he　cried；　〃It's　all　wrong！　Why　didn't　you　tell　me；　monsieur？　Why　did　you　let　me　make　a　fool　of　myself？〃
　Leocadia　still　did　not　speak。
　Pavan　stared　dumbly　at　the　dealer；　tears　ing　to　his　eyes；　then　he　turned　and　violently　swung　the　mallet　at　the　statue's　head。　The　marble　cracked　and　the　head　fell　into　fragments　on　the　floor。　Pavan　began　to　swing　wildly　at　the　rest　of　the　statue。　The　arms　fell；　then　a　shoulder；　a　crack　appeared　across　the　bust　and　that；　too；　shattered。　The　statue　rocked　crazily　on　its　pedestal；　then　crashed　forward。
　Pavan　knelt　over　the　pieces；　swinging　his　mallet　like　a　man　possessed。　〃I　loved　you！〃　he　screamed；　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks。　〃I　loved　you　and　you　betrayed　me！〃　At　last；　he　sank　exhausted　to　the　floor；　amidst　the　debris。
　As　suddenly　as　they　had　e；　the　tears　stopped　and　Pavan　began　searching　frantically　among　the　pieces　of　shattered　marble。　At　last；　he　found　what　he　sought。　He　got　to　his　feet。　Holding　the　fragment　in　his　hand；　he　weaved　unsteadily　toward　the　art　dealer。　Cupping　the　marble　in　his　hands；　he　held　it　out。　〃I　see　now　where　I　went　wrong；　monsieur；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you？〃
　Leocadia　looked　at　the　piece　of　stone。　He　didn't　even　know　what　it　was　intended　to　be。　But　again；　this　was　no　time　for　him　to　speak。　He　nodded　cautiously。
　〃Thank　God！〃　Pavan　cried。　〃Thank　the　good　Lord　that　I　did　not　destroy　the　sole　thing　of　beauty　in　the　stupidity　of　my　disappointment！〃
　The　crowd　pushed　forward　to　see　what　Pavan　held　in　his　hand。　It　seemed　to　be　only　a　piece　of　broken　marble。　〃What　is　it？〃　one　of　them　whispered　to　another。
　〃You　stupid　fools！　Do　you　not　recognize　where　you　e　from？　The　soul　itself　of　a　woman's　beauty？〃　Pavan　roared。
　He　got　to　his　feet　and　stared　at　them　balefully。　〃This　is　fit　only　for　the　gods　themselves　to　lie　upon！〃　He　looked　down　at　the　stone　in　his　hands　and　a　tender　look　came　over　his　face。
　〃Now　I　see　my　error；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　around　this　tiny　core　that　I　will　carve　into　stone　the　perfect　Woman！〃　He　looked　around　at　them　dramatically。
　Leocadia　looked　at　the　piece　of　marble　again。　So　that　was　what　it　was。　Almost　immediately；　he　thought　of　the　fat　young　Egyptian　prince　who　had　e　into　the　gallery。　This　was　something　he　would　appreciate。　〃A　thousand　francs；〃　he　said。
　Pavan　looked　at　the　dealer；　his　confidence　suddenly　restored。　〃A　thousand　francs！〃　he　said　scornfully。
　〃Fifteen　hundred；　then；〃　Leocadia　murmured。
　Pavan　was　caught　up　now　in　the　never…ending　struggle　between　artist　and　dealer。　He　turned　to　his　fellow　artists。　〃Only　fifteen　hundred　francs　he　offers　me！〃
　He　whirled　back　to　the　dealer。　〃Not　a　centime　less　than　twenty…five　hundred　and　a　mission　to　do　the　sculpture　of　the　woman　from　whom　this　was　taken！〃　he　shouted。
　Leocadia　looked　down　at　the　floor。　〃How　can　I　undertake　such　a　mission　when　I　do　not　know　the　model？〃
　Pavan　spun　around。　The　models　looked　at　each　other　curiously；　wondering　which　of　them　had　posed　for　that　particular　portion　of　the　statue。　But　it　was　none　of　them。　Suddenly；　Pavan's　arm　shot　out。　〃You！〃　he　shouted；　pointing。　〃e　here！〃
　They　turned　and　followed　his　pointing　finger。　Rina　stood　frozen　to　the　spot。　Her　face　began　to　flame；　then　hands　pulled　her　forward；　propelling　her　toward　the　sculptor。
　Pavan　seized　her　hand　and　turned　toward　the　dealer。　For　once；　Leocadia　looked。　Almost　immediately；　he　looked　away　again。　〃Agreed！〃　he　murmured。
　A　deep　bellow　of　triumph　arose　from　the　sculptor's　throat。　He　lifted　Rina　into　his　arms　and　kissed　her　excitedly　on　both　cheeks。　〃You　will　live　forever；　my　lovely　one！〃　he　cried　proudly。　〃I　will　carve　your　beauty　into　the　stone　for　all　eternity　to　worship！〃
　Rina　began　to　laugh。　It　was　crazy。　They　were　all　crazy。　Pavan　began　to　sing　lustily；　dragging　her　with　him　in　an　erratic　dance。　He　lifted　her　up　onto　the　pedestal　where　the　statue　formerly　stood。　She　felt　hands　tugging　at　her　dress；　at　her　clothing。　She　reached　out　her　arms　to　brace　herself；　to　keep　from　falling。　Then　she　was　pletely　nude　on　the　pedestal。　A　strange　hush　fell　over　the　room。
　It　was　Pavan　himself　who　led　her　down。　He　threw　a　cloth　around　her　as　she　started　to　walk　toward　the　bathroom。　One　of　the　models　handed　her　her　torn　clothing。　Rina　took　it　and　closed　the　door　behind　her。　A　moment　later；　she　reappeared。
　Peggy　was　waiting　for　her。　She　half　led；　half　dragged　Rina　toward　the　door。　The　door　slammed　behind　them。
　Suddenly；　one　of　the　curtains　in　the　mind　of　Amru　Singh　lifted。　Through　the　thin　wooden　partition　behind　his　head；　he　could　hear　dim　voices。
　〃Are　you　crazy？〃
　〃It　wasn't　that　important；　Peggy。〃
　〃What　if　it　gets　into　the　papers？　The　next　thing　you　know；　it　will　be　picked　up　and　spread　all　over　the　front　pages　in　Boston！〃
　Rina's　laughter　echoed　gaily。　〃I　can　just　see　the　headline　now；〃　she　said。　〃Boston　girl　chosen　as　most　beautiful　cunt　in　Paris！〃
　〃You　sound　as　if　you're　proud　of　it。〃
　〃Why　shouldn't　I　be？　It's　the　only　thing　I've　ever　done　for　myself。〃
　〃Once　it　gets　around；　every　man　in　Paris　will　be　after　you。　I　suppose　you'd　like　that。〃
　〃Maybe　I　would。　It's　time　I　began　to　grow　up；　stopped　taking　your　word　for　everything。〃
　There　was　the　sound　of　a　vicious　slap；　then　an　angry　voice。　〃You're　a　whore；　a　cheap　whore；　and　that's　how　a　whore　should　be　treated！〃
　There　was　a　moment's　silence。　〃I　told　you　never　to　do　that　again！〃
　He　heard　the　sound　of　another　slap。　〃Whore；　bitch！　That's　the　only　language　you　understand！〃　There　was　a　pause；　then　〃Rina！〃　The　hidden　sound　of　fear　was　in　the　voice。　Amru　Singh　thought　it　sounded　much　like　the　trainer　of　the　tiger　who　steps　into　the　cage　only　to　find　his　kitten　has　bee　a　full…grown　cat。　〃What　are　you　doing？　Put　down　that　shoe！〃
　Then　there　was　a　half…pitched　scream　and　the　sound　of　a　body　falling；　tumbling　erratically　down　the　long；　steep　stair　well。　And　for　the　first　time　in　the　memory　of　anyone　there；　Amru　Singh　left　a　party　before　the　last　guest　had　departed。
　Rina　was　standing　at　the　railing；　her　face　ashen；　looking　down　the　stair　well。　Her　sharp…pointed　high…heeled　shoe　was　still　in　her　hand。　He　took　the　shoe　from　her　fingers　and　bending　down；　slipped　it　on　her　foot。
　〃I　never　even　touched　her！〃
　〃I　know；〃　Amru　Singh　said　quietly。
　She　collapsed　suddenly　against　him。　He　could　feel　the　wild；　frightened　beating　of　her　heart　against　his　chest。　〃She　slipped　and　fell　over　the　railing！〃
　〃Don't　say　anything　to　anyone！〃　he　whispered　mandingly。　〃Leave　the　talking　to　me！〃
　Then　the　door　behind　them　opened　and　two　departing　guests　came　out　into　the　hall。　Amru　Singh　turned　toward　them；　his　hand　pressing　Rina's　face　against　his　chest　so　that　she　could　scarcely　breathe；　let　alone　speak。　〃There's　been　an　accident；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃Call　a　doctor。〃
　He　felt　Rina　begin　to　cry　against　his　shoulder。　He　looked　down　at　the　shining　blond　head。　A　strange　satisfied　look　came　into　his　dark；　deep…set　eyes。
　His　portent　had　e　true。　The　evil　goddess；　Kali；　had　struck。　But　this　time；　she　was　not　to　receive　the　innocent　as　a　further　sacrifice　to　her　power；　no　matter　how　carefully　she　had　contrived　to　plant　the　guilt。
　
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　Rina　was　standing　on　her　head；　the　length　of　her　body　against　the　wall；　when　Jacques　entered　the　apartment。　He　stood　there　for　a　moment；　looking　at　her　slim　body；　sheathed　in　the　tight　black　leotard；　her　hair　shining　as　it　spilled　over　on　the　floor。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked　politely。
　She　smiled　an　upside…down　smile　at　him。　〃Standing　on　my　head。〃
　〃I　can　see　that；〃　he　answered。　〃But　why？〃
　〃Amru　Singh　says　it　is　very　good　for　the　brain。　The　blood　washes　the　brain　and　a　new　perspective　is　given　to　the　world。　He　is　right；　too。　You　just　don't　know　how　different　everything　looks　upside　down。〃
　〃Did　Amru　Singh　also　tell　you　how　one　goes　about　kissing　a　girl　who　is　st