下载辰思小说免费APP
Then，asthebloodwasmakingapoolonthedeckoftheboat，oneofthesailorscried："Hewillbleedtodeath，wemustbindthevein."
Sotheytookacord，athick，brown，tarrycord，andtwistingitaroundthearmabovethewound，tighteneditwithalltheirmight.Thebloodceasedtospurtbyslowdegrees，and，presently，stoppedaltogether.
YoungJavelrose，hisarmhangingathisside.Hetookholdofitwiththeotherhand，raisedit，turneditover，shookit.Itwasallmashed，thebonesbroken，themusclesaloneholdingittogether.Helookedatitsadly，reflectively.Thenhesatdownonafoldedsailandhiscomradesadvisedhimtokeepwettingthearmconstantlytopreventitfrommortifying.
Theyplacedapailofwaterbesidehim，andeveryfewminuteshedippedaglassintoitandbathedthefrightfulwound，lettingtheclearwatertrickleontoit.
"Youwouldbebetterinthecabin，"saidhisbrother.Hewentdown，butcameupagaininanhour，notcaringtobealone.And，besides，hepreferredthefreshair.Hesatdownagainonhissailandbegantobathehisarm.
Theymadeagoodhaul.Thebroadfishwiththeirwhitebellieslaybesidehim，quiveringinthethroesofdeath;helookedatthemashecontinuedtobathehiscrushedflesh.
AstheywereabouttoreturntoBoulognethewindsprangupanew，andthelittleboatresumeditsmadcourse，boundingandtumblingabout，shakingupthepoorwoundedman.
Nightcameon.Thesearanhighuntildawn.AsthesunrosetheEnglishcoastwasagainvisible，but，astheweatherhadabatedalittle，theyturnedbacktowardstheFrenchcoast，tackingastheywent.
TowardseveningJavel，junior，calledhiscomradesandshowedthemsomeblackspots，allthehorribletokensofmortificationintheportionofthearmbelowthebrokenbones.
Thesailorsexaminedit，givingtheiropinion.
"Thatmightbethe’Black，’"thoughtone.
"Heshouldputsaltwateronit，"saidanother.
Theybroughtsomesaltwaterandpoureditonthewound.Theinjuredmanbecamelivid，groundhisteethandwrithedalittle，butdidnotexclaim.
Then，assoonasthesmartinghadabated，hesaidtohisbrother：
"Givemeyourknife."
Thebrotherhandedittohim.
"Holdmyarmup，quitestraight，andpullit."
Theydidasheaskedthem.
Thenhebegantocutoffhisarm.Hecutgently，carefully，severingalthetendonswiththisbladethatwassharpasarazor.And，presently，therewasonlyastumpleft.Hegaveadeepsighandsaid：
"Ithadtobedone.Itwasdonefor."
Heseemedrelievedandbreathedloud.Hethenbeganagaintopourwateronthestumpofarmthatremained.
Theseawasstillroughandtheycouldnotmaketheshore.
Whenthedaybroke，Javel，junior，tooktheseveredportionofhisarmandexamineditforalongtime.Gangrenehadsetin.Hiscomradesalsoexamineditandhandeditfromonetotheother，feelingit，turningitover，andsniffingatit.
"Youmustthrowthatintotheseaatonce，"saidhisbrother.
ButJavel，junior，gotangry.
"Oh，no！Oh，no！Idon’twantto.Itbelongstome，doesitnot，asitismyarm？"
Andhetookandplaceditbetweenhisfeet.
"Itwillputrefy，justthesame，"saidtheolderbrother.Thenanideacametotheinjuredman.Inordertopreservethefishwhentheboatwaslongatsea，theypackeditinsalt，inbarrels.Heasked：
"WhycanInotputitinpickle？"
"Why，that’safact，"exclaimedtheothers.
Thentheyemptiedoneofthebarrels，whichwasfullfromthehaulofthelastfewdays;andrightatthebottomofthebarreltheylaidthedetachedarm.Theycovereditwithsalt，andthenputbackthefishonebyone.
Oneofthesailorssaidbywayofjoke：
"Ihopewedonotsellitatauction."
Andeveryonelaughed，exceptthetwoJavels.
Thewindwasstillboisterous.TheytackedwithinsightofBoulogneuntilthefollowingmorningatteno’clock.YoungJavelcontinuedtobathehiswound.Fromtimetotimeheroseandwalkedfromoneendtotheotheroftheboat.
Hisbrother，whowasatthetiller，followedhimwithglances，andshookhishead.
Atlasttheyranintoharbor.
Thedoctorexaminedthewoundandpronouncedittobeingoodcondition.
Hedresseditproperlyandorderedthepatienttorest.ButJavelwouldnotgotobeduntilhegotbackhisseveredarm，andhereturnedatoncetothedocktolookforthebarrelwhichhehadmarkedwithacross.
Itwasemptiedbeforehimandheseizedthearm，whichwaswellpreservedinthepickle，hadshrunkandwasfreshened.Hewrappeditupinatowelhehadbroughtforthepurposeandtookithome.
Hiswifeandchildrenlookedforalongtimeatthisfragmentoftheirfather，feelingthefingers，andremovingthegrainsofsaltthatwereunderthenails.Thentheysentforacarpentertomakealittlecoffin.
Thenextdaytheentirecrewofthetrawlingsmackfollowedthefuneralofthedetachedarm.Thetwobrothers，sidebyside，ledtheprocession;
theparishbeadlecarriedthecorpseunderhisarm.
Javel，junior，gaveupthesea.Heobtainedasmallpositiononthedock，andwhenhesubsequentlytalkedabouthisaccident，hewouldsayconfidentiallytohisauditors：
"Ifmybrotherhadbeenwillingtocutawaythenet，Ishouldstillhavemyarm，thatissure.Buthewasthinkingonlyofhisproperty."
MINUET
Greatmisfortunesdonotaffectmeverymuch，saidJohnBridelle，anoldbachelorwhopassedforasceptic.Ihaveseenwaratquiteclosequarters;Iwalkedacrosscorpseswithoutanyfeelingofpity.Thegreatbrutalfactsofnature，orofhumanity，maycallforthcriesofhorrororindignation，butdonotcauseusthattighteningoftheheart，thatshudderthatgoesdownyourspineatsightofcertainlittleheartrendingepisodes.
Thegreatestsorrowthatanyonecanexperienceiscertainlythelossofachild，toamother;andthelossofhismother，toaman.Itisintense，terrible，itrendsyourheartandupsetsyourmind;butoneishealedoftheseshocks，justaslargebleedingwoundsbecomehealed.Certainmeetings，certainthingshalfperceived，orsurmised，certainsecretsorrows，certaintricksoffatewhichawakeinusawholeworldofpainfulthoughts，whichsuddenlyunclosetousthemysteriousdoorofmoralsuffering，complicated，incurable;allthedeeperbecausetheyappearbenign，allthemorebitterbecausetheyareintangible，allthemoretenaciousbecausetheyappearalmostfactitious，leaveinoursoulsasortoftrailofsadness，atasteofbitterness，afeelingofdisenchantment，fromwhichittakesalongtimetofreeourselves.
Ihavealwayspresenttomymindtwoorthreethingsthatotherswouldsurelynothavenoticed，butwhichpenetratedmybeinglikefine，sharpincurablestings.
YoumightnotperhapsunderstandtheemotionthatIretainedfromthesehastyimpressions.Iwilltellyouoneofthem.Shewasveryold，butaslivelyasayounggirl.Itmaybethatmyimaginationaloneisresponsibleformyemotion.
Iamfifty.Iwasyoungthenandstudyinglaw.Iwasrathersad，somewhatofadreamer，fullofapessimisticphilosophyanddidnotcaremuchfornoisycafes，boisterouscompanions，orstupidgirls.Iroseearlyandoneofmychiefenjoymentswastowalkaloneabouteighto’clockinthemorninginthenurserygardenoftheLuxembourg.
Youpeopleneverknewthatnurserygarden.Itwaslikeaforgottengardenofthelastcentury，asprettyasthegentlesmileofanoldlady.
Thickhedgesdividedthenarrowregularpaths，——peacefulpathsbetweentwowallsofcarefullytrimmedfoliage.Thegardener’sgreatshearswerepruningunceasinglytheseleafypartitions，andhereandthereonecameacrossbedsofflowers，linesoflittletreeslookinglikeschoolboysoutforawalk，companiesofmagnificentrosebushes，orregimentsoffruittrees.
Anentirecornerofthischarmingspotwasinhabitedbybees.Theirstrawhivesskillfullyarrangedatdistancesonboardshadtheirentrances——aslargeastheopeningofathimble——turnedtowardsthesun，andallalongthepathsoneencounteredthesehummingandgildedflies，thetruemastersofthispeacefulspot，therealpromenadersofthesequietpaths.
Icametherealmosteverymorning.Isatdownonabenchandread.
SometimesIletmybookfallonmyknees，todream，tolistentothelifeofParisaroundme，andtoenjoytheinfinitereposeoftheseold—
fashionedhedges.
ButIsoonperceivedthatIwasnottheonlyonetofrequentthisspotassoonasthegateswereopened，andIoccasionallymetfacetoface，ataturninthepath，astrangelittleoldman.
Heworeshoeswithsilverbuckles，knee—breeches，asnuff—coloredfrockcoat，alacejabot，andanoutlandishgrayhatwithwidebrimandlong—
hairedsurfacethatmighthavecomeoutoftheark.
Hewasthin，verythin，angular，grimacingandsmiling.Hisbrighteyeswererestlessbeneathhiseyelidswhichblinkedcontinuously.Healwayscarriedinhishandasuperbcanewithagoldknob，whichmusthavebeenforhimsomeglorioussouvenir.
Thisgoodmanastonishedmeatfirst，thencausedmetheintensestinterest.Iwatchedhimthroughtheleafywalls，Ifollowedhimatadistance，stoppingataturninthehedgesoasnottobeseen.
Andonemorningwhenhethoughthewasquitealone，hebegantomakethemostremarkablemotions.Firsthewouldgivesomelittlesprings，thenmakeabow;then，withhisslimlegs，hewouldgivealivelyspringintheair，clappinghisfeetashedidso，andthenturnroundcleverly，skippingandfriskingaboutinacomicalmanner，smilingasifhehadanaudience，twistinghispoorlittlepuppet—likebody，bowingpatheticandridiculouslittlegreetingsintotheemptyair.Hewasdancing.
Istoodpetrifiedwithamazement，askingmyselfwhichofuswascrazy，heorI.
Hestoppedsuddenly，advancedasactorsdoonthestage，thenbowedandretreatedwithgracioussmiles，andkissinghishandasactorsdo，histremblinghand，tothetworowsoftrimmedbushes.
Thenhecontinuedhiswalkwithasolemndemeanor.
AfterthatIneverlostsightofhim，andeachmorninghebegananewhisoutlandishexercises.
Iwaswildlyanxioustospeaktohim.Idecidedtoriskit，andoneday，aftergreetinghim，Isaid：
"Itisabeautifulday，monsieur."
Hebowed.
"Yes，sir，theweatherisjustasitusedtobe."
AweeklaterwewerefriendsandIknewhishistory.Hehadbeenadancingmasterattheopera，inthetimeofLouisXV.HisbeautifulcanewasapresentfromtheComtedeClermont.Andwhenwespokeaboutdancingheneverstoppingtalking.
Onedayhesaidtome：
"ImarriedLaCastris，monsieur.Iwillintroduceyoutoherifyouwishit，butshedoesnotgetheretilllater.Thisgarden，yousee，isourdelightandourlife.Itisallthatremainsofformerdays.Itseemsasthoughwecouldnotexistifwedidnothaveit.Itisoldanddistingue，isitnot？IseemtobreatheanairherethathasnotchangedsinceIwasyoung.MywifeandIpassallourafternoonshere，butI
comeinthemorningbecauseIgetupearly."
AssoonasIhadfinishedluncheonIreturnedtotheLuxembourg，andpresentlyperceivedmyfriendofferinghisarmceremoniouslytoaveryoldlittleladydressedinblack，towhomheintroducedme.ItwasLaCastris，thegreatdancer，belovedbyprinces，belovedbytheking，belovedbyallthatcenturyofgallantrythatseemstohaveleftbehinditintheworldanatmosphereoflove.
Wesatdownonabench.ItwasthemonthofMay.Anodorofflowersfloatedintheneatpaths;ahotsunglideditsraysbetweenthebranchesandcovereduswithpatchesoflight.TheblackdressofLaCastrisseemedtobesaturatedwithsunlight.
Thegardenwasempty.Weheardtherattlingofvehiclesinthedistance.
"Tellme，"Isaidtotheolddancer，"whatwastheminuet？"
Hegaveastart.
"Theminuet，monsieur，isthequeenofdances，andthedanceofqueens，doyouunderstand？Sincethereisnolongeranyroyalty，thereisnolongeranyminuet."
AndhebeganinapompousmanneralongdithyrambiceulogywhichIcouldnotunderstand.Iwantedtohavethesteps，themovements，thepositions，explainedtome.Hebecameconfused，wasamazedathisinabilitytomakemeunderstand，becamenervousandworried.
Thensuddenly，turningtohisoldcompanionwhohadremainedsilentandserious，hesaid：
"Elise，wouldyoulike——say——wouldyoulike，itwouldbeveryniceofyou，wouldyouliketoshowthisgentlemanwhatitwas？"
Sheturnedeyesuneasilyinalldirections，thenrosewithoutsayingawordandtookherpositionoppositehim.
ThenIwitnessedanunheard—ofthing.
Theyadvancedandretreatedwithchildlikegrimaces，smiling，swingingeachother，bowing，skippingaboutliketwoautomatondollsmovedbysomeoldmechanicalcontrivance，somewhatdamaged，butmadebyacleverworkmanaccordingtothefashionofhistime.
AndIlookedatthem，myheartfilledwithextraordinaryemotions，mysoultouchedwithanindescribablemelancholy.Iseemedtoseebeforemeapatheticandcomicalapparition，theout—of—dateghostofaformercentury.
Theysuddenlystopped.Theyhadfinishedallthefiguresofthedance.
Forsomesecondstheystoodoppositeeachother，smilinginanastonishingmanner.Thentheyfelloneachother’sneckssobbing.
Ileftfortheprovincesthreedayslater.Ineversawthemagain.
WhenIreturnedtoParis，twoyearslater，thenurseryhadbeendestroyed.Whatbecameofthem，deprivedofthedeargardenofformerdays，withitsmazes，itsodorofthepast，andthegracefulwindingsofitshedges？
Aretheydead？Aretheywanderingamongmodernstreetslikehopelessexiles？Aretheydancing——grotesquespectres——afantasticminuetinthemoonlight，amidthecypressesofacemetery，alongthepathwaysborderedbygraves？
Theirmemoryhauntsme，obsessesme，tormentsme，remainswithmelikeawound.Why？Idonotknow.
Nodoubtyouthinkthatveryabsurd？
THESON
Thetwooldfriendswerewalkinginthegardeninbloom，wherespringwasbringingeverythingtolife.
Onewasasenator，theotheramemberoftheFrenchAcademy，bothseriousmen，fullofverylogicalbutsolemnarguments，menofnoteandreputation.
Theytalkedfirstofpolitics，exchangingopinions;notonideas，butonmen，personalitiesinthisregardtakingthepredominanceoverability.
Thentheyrecalledsomememories.Thentheywalkedalonginsilence，enervatedbythewarmthoftheair.
Alargebedofwallflowersbreathedoutadelicatesweetness.Amassofflowersofallspeciesandcolorflungtheirfragrancetothebreeze，whileacytisuscoveredwithyellowclustersscattereditsfinepollenabroad，agoldencloud，withanodorofhoneythatboreitsbalmyseedacrossspace，similartothesachet—powdersofperfumers.
Thesenatorstopped，breathedinthecloudoffloatingpollen，lookedatthefertileshrub，yellowasthesun，whoseseedwasfloatingintheair，andsaid：
"Whenoneconsidersthattheseimperceptiblefragrantatomswillcreateexistencesatahundredleaguesfromhere，willsendathrillthroughthefibresandsapoffemaletreesandproducebeingswithroots，growingfromagerm，justaswedo，mortallikeourselves，andwhowillbereplacedbyotherbeingsofthesameorder，likeourselvesagain！"
And，standinginfrontofthebrilliantcytisus，whoselivepollenwasshakenoffbyeachbreathofair，thesenatoradded：
"Ah，oldfellow，ifyouhadtokeepcountofallyourchildrenyouwouldbemightilyembarrassed.Hereisonewhogeneratesfreely，andthenletsthemgowithoutapangandtroubleshimselfnomoreaboutthem."
"Wedothesame，myfriend，"saidtheacademician.
"Yes，Idonotdenyit;weletthemgosometimes，"resumedthesenator，"butweareawarethatwedo，andthatconstitutesoursuperiority."
"No，thatisnotwhatImean，"saidtheother，shakinghishead.
"Yousee，myfriend，thatthereisscarcelyamanwhohasnotsomechildrenthathedoesnotknow，children——’fatherunknown’——whomhehasgeneratedalmostunconsciously，justasthistreereproduces.
"Ifwehadtokeepaccountofouramours，weshouldbejustasembarrassedasthiscytisuswhichyouapostrophizedwouldbeincountinguphisdescendants，shouldwenot？
"Fromeighteentofortyyears，infact，countingineverychancecursoryacquaintanceship，wemaywellsaythatwehavebeenintimatewithtwoorthreehundredwomen.
"Well，then，myfriend，amongthisnumbercanyoubesurethatyouhavenothadchildrenbyatleastoneofthem，andthatyouhavenotinthestreets，orinthebagnio，someblackguardofasonwhostealsfromandmurdersdecentpeople，i.e.，ourselves;orelseadaughterinsomedisreputableplace，or，ifshehasthegoodfortunetobedesertedbyhermother，ascookinsomefamily？
"Consider，also，thatalmostallthosewhomwecall’prostitutes’haveoneortwochildrenofwhosepaternalparentagetheyareignorant，generatedbychanceatthepriceoftenortwentyfrancs.Ineverybusinessthereisprofitandloss.Thesewildingsconstitutethe’loss’
intheirprofession.Whogeneratedthem？You——I——wealldid，themencalled’gentlemen’！Theyaretheconsequencesofourjoviallittledinners，ofourgayevenings，ofthosehourswhenourcomfortablephysicalbeingimpelsustochanceliaisons.
"Thieves，marauders，allthesewretches，infact，areourchildren.
Andthatisbetterforusthanifweweretheirchildren，forthosescoundrelsgeneratealso！
"IhaveinmymindaveryhorriblestorythatIwillrelatetoyou.Ithascausedmeincessantremorse，and，furtherthanthat，acontinualdoubt，adisquietinguncertainty，that，attimes，tormentsmefrightfully.
"WhenIwastwenty—fiveIundertookawalkingtourthroughBrittanywithoneofmyfriends，nowamemberofthecabinet.
"AfterwalkingsteadilyforfifteenortwentydaysandvisitingtheCotes—du—NordandpartofFinisterewereachedDouarnenez.FromtherewewentwithouthaltingtothewildpromontoryofRazbythebayofLesTrepaases，andpassedthenightinavillagewhosenameendsin’of.’
Thenextmorningastrangelassitudekeptmyfriendinbed;Isaybedfromhabit，forourcouchconsistedsimplyoftwobundlesofstraw.
"Itwouldneverdotobeillinthisplace.SoImadehimgetup，andwereachedAndierneaboutfourorfiveo’clockintheevening.
"Thefollowingdayhefeltalittlebetter，andwesetoutagain.Butontheroadhewasseizedwithintolerablepain，andwecouldscarcelygetasfarasPontLabbe.
"Here，atleast，therewasaninn.Myfriendwenttobed，andthedoctor，whohadbeensentforfromQuimper，announcedthathehadahighfever，withoutbeingabletodetermineitsnature.
"DoyouknowPontLabbe？No？Well，then，itisthemostBretonofallthisBretonBrittany，whichextendsfromthepromontoryofRaztotheMorbihan，ofthislandwhichcontainstheessenceoftheBretonmanners，legendsandcustoms.Evento—daythiscornerofthecountryhasscarcelychanged.Isay’evento—day，’forInowgothereeveryyear，alas！
"Anoldchateaulavesthewallsofitstowersinagreatmelancholypond，melancholyandfrequentedbyflightsofwildbirds.Ithasanoutletinariveronwhichboatscannavigateasfarasthetown.Inthenarrowstreetswiththeirold—timehousesthemenwearbighats，embroideredwaistcoatsandfourcoats，oneontopoftheother;theinsideone，aslargeasyourhand，barelycoveringtheshoulder—blades，andtheoutsideonecomingtojustabovetheseatofthetrousers.
"Thegirls，tall，handsomeandfreshhavetheirbosomscrushedinaclothbodicewhichmakesanarmor，compressesthem，notallowingoneeventoguessattheirrobustandtorturedneck.Theyalsowearastrangeheaddress.Ontheirtemplestwobandsembroideredincolorsframetheirface，inclosingthehair，whichfallsinashoweratthebackoftheirheads，andisthenturnedupandgatheredontopoftheheadunderasingularcap，oftenwovenwithgoldorsilverthread.
"Theservantatourinnwaseighteenatmost，withveryblueeyes，apalebluewithtwotinyblackpupils，shortteethclosetogether，whichsheshowedcontinuallywhenshelaughed，andwhichseemedstrongenoughtogrindgranite.
"ShedidnotknowawordofFrench，speakingonlyBreton，asdidmostofhercompanions.
"Asmyfrienddidnotimprovemuch，andalthoughhehadnodefinitemalady，thedoctorforbadehimtocontinuehisjourneyyet，orderingcompleterest.Ispentmydayswithhim，andthelittlemaidwouldcomeinincessantly，bringingeithermydinnerorsomeherbtea.
"Iteasedheralittle，whichseemedtoamuseher，butwedidnotchat，ofcourse，aswecouldnotunderstandeachother.
"Butonenight，afterIhadstayedquitelatewithmyfriendandwasgoingbacktomyroom，Ipassedthegirl，whowasgoingtoherroom.
Itwasjustoppositemyopendoor，and，withoutreflection，andmoreforfunthananythingelse，Iabruptlyseizedherroundthewaist，andbeforesherecoveredfromherastonishmentIhadthrownherdownandlockedherinmyroom.Shelookedatme，amazed，excited，terrified，notdaringtocryoutforfearofascandalandofbeingprobablydrivenout，firstbyheremployersandthen，perhaps，byherfather.
"Ididitasajokeatfirst.Shedefendedherselfbravely，andatthefirstchancesherantothedoor，drewbacktheboltandfled.
"Iscarcelysawherforseveraldays.Shewouldnotletmecomenearher.ButwhenmyfriendwascuredandweweretogetoutonourtravelsagainIsawhercomingintomyroomaboutmidnightthenightbeforeourdeparture，justafterIhadretired.
"Shethrewherselfintomyarmsandembracedmepassionately，givingmealltheassurancesoftendernessanddespairthatawomanca
