第3章

humour。

"Ah，then，yousawthatwonderfullady？"

"Wonderfulshewasindeed。Isawherafterwards，too，sittingontheterraceinthestarlight。Iimagineshewasnotalone。"

"No，indeed，Iwaswithher——fornearlyanhour。ThenIwalkedhomewithher。"

"Ah！Anddidyougoin？"

"No，shesaiditwastoolatetoaskme;thoughsheremarkedthatinageneralwayshedidnotstanduponceremony。"

"Shedidherselfinjustice。Whenitcametolosingyourmoneyforyou，shemadeyouinsist。"

"Ah，younoticedthattoo？"criedPickering，stillquiteunconfused。

"Ifeltasifthewholetablewerestaringatme;buthermannerwassograciousandreassuringthatIsupposedshewasdoingnothingunusual。Sheconfessed，however，afterwards，thatsheisveryeccentric。Theworldbegantocallherso，shesaid，beforesheeverdreamedofit，andatlastfindingthatshehadthereputation，inspiteofherself，sheresolvedtoenjoyitsprivileges。Now，shedoeswhatshechooses。"

"Inotherwords，sheisaladywithnoreputationtolose！"

Pickeringseemedpuzzled;hesmiledalittle。"Isnotthatwhatyousayofbadwomen？"

"Ofsome——ofthosewhoarefoundout。"

"Well，"hesaid，stillsmiling，"IhavenotyetfoundoutMadameBlumenthal。"

"Ifthat’shername，Isupposeshe’sGerman。"

"Yes;butshespeaksEnglishsowellthatyouwouldn’tknowit。Sheisveryclever。Herhusbandisdead。"

Ilaughedinvoluntarilyattheconjunctionofthesefacts，andPickering’sclearglanceseemedtoquestionmymirth。"Youhavebeensobluntlyfrankwithme，"Isaid，"thatItoomustbefrank。Tellme，ifyoucan，whetherthiscleverMadameBlumenthal，whosehusbandisdead，hasgivenapointtoyourdesireforasuspensionofcommunicationwithSmyrna。"

Heseemedtopondermyquestion，unshrinkingly。"Ithinknot，"hesaid，atlast。"Ihavehadthedesireforthreemonths;IhaveknownMadameBlumenthalforlessthantwenty—fourhours。"

"Verytrue。Butwhenyoufoundthisletterofyoursonyourplaceatbreakfast，didyouseemforamomenttoseeMadameBlumenthalsittingopposite？"

"Opposite？"

"Opposite，mydearfellow，oranywhereintheneighbourhood。Inaword，doessheinterestyou？"

"Verymuch！"hecried，joyously。

"Amen！"Ianswered，jumpingupwithalaugh。"Andnow，ifwearetoseetheworldinamonth，thereisnotimetolose。LetusbeginwiththeHardtwald。"

Pickeringrose，andwestrolledawayintotheforest，talkingoflighterthings。Atlastwereachedtheedgeofthewood，satdownonafallenlog，andlookedoutacrossanintervalofmeadowatthelongwoodedwavesoftheTaunus。WhatmyfriendwasthinkingofIcan’tsay;Iwasmeditatingonhisqueerbiography，andlettingmywondermentwanderawaytoSmyrna。SuddenlyIrememberedthathepossessedaportraitoftheyounggirlwhowaswaitingforhimthereinawhite—walledgarden。Iaskedhimifhehaditwithhim。Hesaidnothing，butgravelytookouthispocket—bookanddrewforthasmallphotograph。Itrepresented，asthepoetsays，asimplemaideninherflower——aslightyounggirl，withacertainchildishroundnessofcontour。Therewasnoeaseinherposture;shewasstanding，stifflyandshyly，forherlikeness;sheworeashort—waistedwhitedress;herarmshungathersidesandherhandswereclaspedinfront;herheadwasbentdownwardalittle，andherdarkeyesfixed。

Butherawkwardnesswasasprettyasthatofsomeangularseraphinamediaevalcarving，andinhertimidgazethereseemedtolurkthequestioninggleamofchildhood。"Whatisthisfor？"hercharmingeyesappearedtoask;"whyhaveIbeendressedupforthisceremonyinawhitefrockandamberbeads？"

"Graciouspowers！"Isaidtomyself;"whatanenchantingthingisinnocence！"

"Thatportraitwastakenayearandahalfago，"saidPickering，asifwithanefforttobeperfectlyjust。"Bythistime，Isuppose，shelooksalittlewiser。"

"Notmuch，Ihope，"Isaid，asIgaveitback。"Sheisverysweet！"

"Yes，poorgirl，sheisverysweet——nodoubt！"Andheputthethingawaywithoutlookingatit。

Weweresilentforsomemoments。Atlast，abruptly——"Mydearfellow，"Isaid，"IshouldtakesomesatisfactioninseeingyouimmediatelyleaveHomburg。"

"Immediately？"

"To—day——assoonasyoucangetready。"

Helookedatme，surprised，andlittlebylittleheblushed。"ThereissomethingIhavenottoldyou，"hesaid;"somethingthatyoursayingthatMadameBlumenthalhasnoreputationtolosehasmademehalfafraidtotellyou。"

"IthinkIcanguessit。MadameBlumenthalhasaskedyoutocomeandplayhergameforheragain。"

"Notatall！"criedPickering，withasmileoftriumph。"Shesaysthatshemeanstoplaynomoreforthepresent。Shehasaskedmetocomeandtaketeawithherthisevening。"

"Ah，then，"Isaid，verygravely，"ofcourseyoucan’tleaveHomburg。"

Heanswerednothing，butlookedaskanceatme，asifhewereexpectingmetolaugh。"Urgeitstrongly，"hesaidinamoment。

"Sayit’smyduty——thatIMUST。"

Ididn’tquiteunderstandhim，but，featheringtheshaftwithaharmlessexpletive，ItoldhimthatunlesshefollowedmyadviceI

wouldneverspeaktohimagain。

Hegotup，stoodbeforeme，andstruckthegroundwithhisstick。

"Good！"hecried;"Iwantedanoccasiontobreakarule——toleapabarrier。Hereitis。Istay！"

Imadehimamockbowforhisenergy。"That’sveryfine，"Isaid;

"butnow，toputyouinapropermoodforMadameBlumenthal’stea，wewillgoandlistentothebandplaySchubertunderthelindens。"Andwewalkedbackthroughthewoods。

IwenttoseePickeringthenextday，athisinn，andonknocking，asdirected，athisdoor，wassurprisedtohearthesoundofaloudvoicewithin。Myknockremainedunnoticed，soIpresentlyintroducedmyself。Ifoundnocompany，butIdiscoveredmyfriendwalkingupanddowntheroomandapparentlydeclaimingtohimselffromalittlevolumeboundinwhitevellum。Hegreetedmeheartily，threwhisbookonthetable，andsaidthathewastakingaGermanlesson。

"Andwhoisyourteacher？"Iasked，glancingatthebook。

Heratheravoidedmeetingmyeye，asheanswered，afteraninstant’sdelay，"MadameBlumenthal。"

"Indeed！Hasshewrittenagrammar？"

"It’snotagrammar;it’satragedy。"Andhehandedmethebook。

Iopenedit，andbeheld，indelicatetype，withaverylargemargin，anHistorischesTrauerspielinfiveacts，entitled"Cleopatra。"

Therewereagreatmanymarginalcorrectionsandannotations，apparentlyfromtheauthor’shand;thespeecheswereverylong，andtherewasaninordinatenumberofsoliloquiesbytheheroine。Oneofthem，Iremember，towardstheendoftheplay，beganinthisfashion—

"What，afterall，islifebutsensation，andsensationbutdeception？——realitythatpalesbeforethelightofone’sdreamsasOctavia’sdullbeautyfadesbesidemine？Butletmebelieveinsomeintenserbliss，andseekitinthearmsofdeath！"

"Itseemsdecidedlypassionate，"Isaid。"Hasthetragedyeverbeenacted？"

"Neverinpublic;butMadameBlumenthaltellsmethatshehaditplayedatherownhouseinBerlin，andthatsheherselfundertookthepartoftheheroine。"

Pickering’sunworldlylifehadnotbeenofasorttosharpenhisperceptionoftheridiculous，butitseemedtomeanunmistakablesignofhisbeingunderthecharm，thatthisinformationwasverysoberlyoffered。Hewaspreoccupied，hewasirresponsivetomyexperimentalobservationsonvulgartopics——thehotweather，theinn，theadventofAdelinaPatti。Atlast，utteringhisthoughts，heannouncedthatMadameBlumenthalhadprovedtobeanextraordinarilyinterestingwoman。HeseemedtohavequiteforgottenourlongtalkintheHartwaldt，andbetrayednosenseofthisbeingaconfessionthathehadtakenhisplungeandwasfloatingwiththecurrent。HeonlyrememberedthatIhadspokenslightinglyofthelady，andhenowhintedthatitbehovedmetoamendmyopinion。Ihadreceivedthedaybeforesostronganimpressionofasortofspiritualfastidiousnessinmyfriend’snature，thatonhearingnowthestrikingofanewhour，asitwere，inhisconsciousness，andobservinghowtheechoesofthepastwereimmediatelyquenchedinitsmusic，Isaidtomyselfthatithadcertainlytakenadelicatehandtowindupthatfinemachine。NodoubtMadameBlumenthalwasacleverwoman。ItisagoodGermancustomatHomburgtospendthehourprecedingdinnerinlisteningtotheorchestraintheKurgarten;

MozartandBeethoven，fororganismsinwhichtheinterfusionofsoulandsenseispeculiarlymysterious，areavigorousstimulustotheappetite。PickeringandIconformed，aswehaddonethedaybefore，tothefashion，andwhenwewereseatedunderthetrees，hebegantoexpatiateonhisfriend’smerits。

"Idon’tknowwhethersheiseccentricornot，"hesaid;"tomeeveryoneseemseccentric，andit’snotforme，yetawhile，tomeasurepeoplebymynarrowprecedents。Ineversawagamingtableinmylifebefore，andsupposedthatagamblerwasofnecessitysomeduskyvillainwithanevileye。InGermany，saysMadameBlumenthal，peopleplayatrouletteastheyplayatbilliards，andherownvenerablemotheroriginallytaughthertherulesofthegame。Itisarecognisedsourceofsubsistencefordecentpeoplewithsmallmeans。

ButIconfessMadameBlumenthalmightdoworsethingsthanplayatroulette，andyetmakethemharmoniousandbeautiful。Ihaveneverbeeninthehabitofthinkingpositivebeautythemostexcellentthinginawoman。Ihavealwayssaidtomyselfthatifmyheartwereevertobecaptureditwouldbebyasortofgeneralgrace——asweetnessofmotionandtone——onwhichonecouldcountforsoothingimpressions，asonecountsonamusicalinstrumentthatisperfectlyintune。MadameBlumenthalhasit——thisgracethatsoothesandsatisfies;anditseemsthemoreperfectthatitkeepsorderandharmonyinacharacterreallypassionatelyardentandactive。Withhereagernatureandherinnumerableaccomplishmentsnothingwouldbeeasierthanthatsheshouldseemrestlessandaggressive。Youwillknowher，andIleaveyoutojudgewhethershedoesseemso！Shehaseverygift，andculturehasdoneeverythingforeach。WhatgoesoninhermindIofcoursecan’tsay;whatreachestheobserver——theadmirer——issimplyasortoffragrantemanationofintelligenceandsympathy。"

"MadameBlumenthal，"Isaid，smiling，"mightbetheloveliestwomanintheworld，andyoutheobjectofherchoicestfavours，andyetwhatIshouldmostenvyyouwouldbe，notyourpeerlessfriend，butyourbeautifulimagination。"

"That’sapolitewayofcallingmeafool，"saidPickering。"Youareasceptic，acynic，asatirist！IhopeIshallbealongtimecomingtothat。"

"Youwillmakethejourneyfastifyoutravelbyexpresstrains。Butpraytellme，haveyouventuredtointimatetoMadameBlumenthalyourhighopinionofher？"

"Idon’tknowwhatImayhavesaid。Shelistensevenbetterthanshetalks，andIthinkitpossibleImayhavemadeherlistentoagreatdealofnonsense。ForafterthefirstfewwordsIexchangedwithherIwasconsciousofanextraordinaryevaporationofallmyolddiffidence。Ihave，intruth，Isuppose，"headdedinamoment，"owingtomypeculiarcircumstances，agreataccumulatedfundofunutteredthingsofallsortstogetridof。Lastevening，sittingtherebeforethatcharmingwoman，theycameswarmingtomylips。

VerylikelyIpouredthemallout。Ihaveasenseofhavingenshroudedmyselfinasortofmistoftalk，andofseeingherlovelyeyesshiningthroughitoppositetome，likefog—lampsatsea。"Andhere，ifIrememberrightly，Pickeringbrokeoffintoanardentparenthesis，anddeclaredthatMadameBlumenthal’seyeshadsomethinginthemthathehadneverseeninanyothers。"Itwasajumbleofcruditiesandinanities，"hewenton;"theymusthaveseemedtohergreatrubbish;butIfeltthewiserandthestronger，somehow，forhavingfiredoffallmyguns——theycouldhurtnobodynowiftheyhit—

—andIimagineImighthavegonefarwithoutfindinganotherwomaninwhomsuchanexhibitionwouldhaveprovokedsolittleofmerecoldamusement。"

"MadameBlumenthal，onthecontrary，"Isurmised，"enteredintoyoursituationwithwarmth。"

"Exactlyso——thegreatest！Shehasfeltandsuffered，andnowsheunderstands！"

"Shetoldyou，Iimagine，thatsheunderstoodyouasifshehadmadeyou，andsheofferedtobeyourguide，philosopher，andfriend。"

"Shespoketome，"Pickeringanswered，afterapause，"asIhadneverbeenspokentobefore，andsheofferedme，formally，alltheofficesofawoman’sfriendship。"

"Whichyouasformallyaccepted？"

"Toyouthescenesoundsabsurd，Isuppose，butallowmetosayI

don’tcare！"Pickeringspokewithanairofgenialdefiancewhichwasthemostinoffensivethingintheworld。"Iwasverymuchmoved;

Iwas，infact，verymuchexcited。Itriedtosaysomething，butI

couldn’t;Ihadhadplentytosaybefore，butnowIstammeredandbungled，andatlastIboltedoutoftheroom。"

"Meanwhileshehaddroppedhertragedyintoyourpocket！"

"Notatall。Ihadseenitonthetablebeforeshecamein。

AfterwardsshekindlyofferedtoreadGermanaloudwithme，fortheaccent，twoorthreetimesaweek。’Whatshallwebeginwith？’sheasked。’Withthis！’Isaid，andheldupthebook。Andsheletmetakeittolookitover。"

Iwasneitheracynicnorasatirist，butevenifIhadbeen，ImighthavebeendisarmedbyPickering’sassurance，beforeweparted，thatMadameBlumenthalwishedtoknowmeandexpectedhimtointroduceme。

Amongthefoolishthingswhich，accordingtohisownaccount，hehaduttered，weresomegenerouswordsinmypraise，towhichshehadcivillyreplied。IconfessIwascurioustoseeher，butIbeggedthattheintroductionshouldnotbeimmediate，forIwishedtoletPickeringworkouthisdestinyalone。ForsomedaysIsawlittleofhim，thoughwemetattheKursaalandstrolledoccasionallyinthepark。Iwatched，inspiteofmydesiretolethimalone，forthesignsandportentsoftheworld’sactionuponhim——ofthatportionoftheworld，inespecial，ofwhichMadameBlumenthalhadconstitutedherselftheagent。Heseemedveryhappy，andgavemeinadozenwaysanimpressionofincreasedself—confidenceandmaturity。Hismindwasadmirablyactive，andalways，afteraquarterofanhour’stalkwithhim，Iaskedmyselfwhatexperiencecouldreallydo，thatinnocencehadnotdone，tomakeitbrightandfine。Iwasstruckwithhisdeepenjoymentofthewholespectacleofforeignlife——itsnovelty，itspicturesqueness，itslightandshade——andwiththeinfinitefreedomwithwhichhefelthecouldgoandcomeandroveandlingerandobserveitall。Itwasanexpansion，anawakening，acomingtomoralmanhood。EachtimeImethimhespokealittlelessofMadameBlumenthal;butheletmeknowgenerallythathesawheroften，andcontinuedtoadmireher。Iwasforcedtoadmittomyself，inspiteofpreconceptions，thatifshewerereallytherulingstarofthishappyseason，shemustbeaverysuperiorwoman。Pickeringhadtheairofaningenuousyoungphilosophersittingatthefeetofanausteremuse，andnotofasentimentalspendthriftdanglingaboutsomesupremeincarnationoflevity。

CHAPTERII。

MadameBlumenthalseemed，forthetime，tohaveabjuredtheKursaal，andInevercaughtaglimpseofher。Heryoungfriend，apparently，wasaninterestingstudy，andthestudiousmindprefersseclusion。

Shereappeared，however，atlast，oneeveningattheopera，wherefrommychairIperceivedherinabox，lookingextremelypretty。

AdelinaPattiwassinging，andaftertherisingofthecurtainIwasoccupiedwiththestage;butonlookingroundwhenitfellfortheentr’acte，Isawthattheauthoressof"Cleopatra"hadbeenjoinedbyheryoungadmirer。Hewassittingalittlebehindher，leaningforward，lookingoverhershoulderandlistening，whileshe，slowlymovingherfantoandfroandlettinghereyewanderoverthehouse，wasapparentlytalkingofthispersonandthat。Nodoubtshewassayingsharpthings;butPickeringwasnotlaughing;hiseyeswerefollowinghercovertindications;hismouthwashalfopen，asitalwayswaswhenhewasinterested;helookedintenselyserious。I

wasgladthat，havingherbacktohim，shewasunabletoseehowhelooked。Itseemedthepropermomenttopresentmyselfandmakehermybow;butjustasIwasabouttoleavemyplaceagentleman，whominamomentIperceivedtobeanoldacquaintance，cametooccupythenextchair。Recognitionandmutualgreetingsfollowed，andIwasforcedtopostponemyvisittoMadameBlumenthal。Iwasnotsorry，foritverysoonoccurredtomethatNiedermeyerwouldbejustthemantogivemeafairproseversionofPickering’slyrictributestohisfriend。HewasanAustrianbybirth，andhadformerlylivedaboutEuropeagreatdealinaseriesofsmalldiplomaticposts。