按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bowls； and must； undoubtedly； be considered the most striking creature
of these various groups； who （if it is permissible to liken Parisians
to the different orders of zoology） belonged to the genus mollusk。 The
new…comer kept sympathetic step with the /cochonnet/；the little bowl
which serves as a goal and on which the interest of the game must
centre。 He leaned against a tree when the /cochonnet/ stopped； then；
with the same attention that a dog gives to his master's gestures； he
looked at the other bowls flying through the air； or rolling along the
ground。 You might have taken him for the weird and watchful genii of
the /cochonnet/。 He said nothing； and the bowl…playersthe most
fanatic men that can be encountered among the sectarians of any faith
had never asked the reason of his dogged silence； in fact； the most
observing of them thought him deaf and dumb。
When it happened that the distances between the bowls and the
/cochonnet/ had to be measured； the cane of this silent being was used
as a measure； the players coming up and taking it from the icy hands
of the old man and returning it without a word or even a sign of
friendliness。 The loan of his cane seemed a servitude to which he had
negatively consented。 When a shower fell； he stayed near the
/cochonnet/； the slave of the bowls； and the guardian of the
unfinished game。 Rain affected him no more than the fine weather did；
he was； like the players themselves； an intermediary species between a
Parisian who has the lowest intellect of his kind and an animal which
has the highest。
In other respects； pallid and shrunken； indifferent to his own person；
vacant in mind； he often came bareheaded； showing his sparse white
hair； and his square； yellow； bald skull； like the knee of a beggar
seen through his tattered trousers。 His mouth was half…open； no ideas
were in his glance； no precise object appeared in his movements； he
never smiled； he never raised his eyes to heaven； but kept them
habitually on the ground； where he seemed to be looking for something。
At four o'clock an old woman arrived； to take him Heaven knows where；
which she did by towing him along by the arm； as a young girl drags a
wilful goat which still wants to browse by the wayside。 This old man
was a horrible thing to see。
In the afternoon of the day when Jules Desmarets left Paris； his
travelling…carriage； in which he was alone； passed rapidly through the
rue de l'Est； and came out upon the esplanade of the Observatoire at
the moment when the old man； leaning against a tree； had allowed his
cane to be taken from his hand amid the noisy vociferations of the
players； pacifically irritated。 Jules； thinking that he recognized
that face； felt an impulse to stop； and at the same instant the
carriage came to a standstill； for the postilion； hemmed in by some
handcarts； had too much respect for the game to call upon the players
to make way for him。
〃It is he！〃 said Jules； beholding in that human wreck； Ferragus
XXIII。； chief of the Devorants。 Then； after a pause； he added； 〃How he
loved her！Go on； postilion。〃
End