登陆注册
25527900000794

第794章

"As I am not going to appear with you, I may as well tell you the parts you are to play. You are to be five beggars, two men and three women, all rags and tatters."

The long faces they pulled at this announcement were a pleasant sight to see.

"You will each carry a plate in your hands to solicit alms, and you must walk together about the ball-room as a band of mendicants. But now follow me and take possession of your ragged robes."

Although I had much ado to refrain from laughing at the vexation and disappointment which appeared on all their faces, I succeeded in preserving my serious air. They did not seem in any kind of hurry to get their clothes, and I was obliged to tell them that they were keeping me waiting. They rose from the table and I

threw the door open, and all were struck with Zenobia's beauty as she stood up by the table on which the rich though tattered robes were displayed, bowing to the company with much grace.

"Here, ladies," said I to the cousins, "are your dresses, and here is yours, mademoiselle--a little smaller. Here are your shifts, your handkerchiefs and your stockings, and I think you will find everything you require on this table. Here are masks, the faces of which shew so poorly beside your own, and here are three plates to crave alms. If anybody looks as high as your garters, they will see how wretched you are, and the holes in the stockings will let people know that you have not the wherewithal to buy silk to mend them. This packthread must serve you for buckles, and we must take care that there are holes in your shoes and also in your gloves, and as everything must match, as soon as you have put on your chemises you must tear the lace round the neck."

While I was going through this explanation I saw surprise and delight efface the disappointment and vexation which had been there a moment before. They saw what a rich disguise I had provided for them, and they could not find it in their hearts to say, "What a pity!"

"Here, gentlemen, are your beggar-clothes. I forgot to lacerate your beaver hats, but that is soon done. Well, what do you think of the costume?"

"Now, ladies, we must leave you; shut the door fast, for it is a case of changing your shifts. Now, gentlemen, leave the room."

The marquis was enthusiastic.

"What a sensation we shall create!" said he, "nothing could be better."

In half an hour we were ready. The stockings in holes, the worn-

out shoes, the lace in rags, the straggling hair, the sad masks, the notched plates--all made a picture of sumptuous misery hard to be described.

The ladies took more time on account of their hair, which floated on their shoulders in fine disorder. Mdlle. Q----'s hair was especially fine, it extended almost to her knees.

When they were ready the door was opened, and we saw everything which could excite desire without wounding decency. I admired Zenobia's adroitness. The rents in dresses and chemises disclosed parts of their shoulders, their breasts, and their arms, and their white legs shone through the holes in the stockings.

I shewed them how to walk, and to sway their heads to and fro, to excite compassion, and yet be graceful, and how to use their handkerchiefs to shew people the tears in them and the fineness of the lace. They were delighted, and longed to be at the ball, but I wanted to be there first to have the pleasure of seeing them come in. I put on my mask, told Zenobia to go to bed, as we would not be back till daybreak, and set out on my way.

I entered the ball-room, and as there were a score of Pierrots nobody noticed me. Five minutes after there was a rush to see some maskers who were coming in, and I stood so as to have a good view. The marquis came in first between the two cousins. Their slow, pitiful step matched the part wonderfully. Mdlle. Q----

with her flame-coloured dress, her splendid hair, and her fine shape, drew all eyes towards her. The astonished and inquisitive crowd kept silence for a quarter of an hour after they had come in, and then I heard on every side, "What a disguise!" "It's wonderful!" "Who are they?" "Who can they be?" "I don't know."

"I'll find out."

I enjoyed the results of my inventiveness.

The music struck up, and three fine dominos went up to the three beggar-girls to ask them to dance a minuet, but they excused themselves by pointing to their dilapidated shoes. I was delighted; it shewed that they had entered into the spirit of the part.

I followed them about for a quarter of an hour, and the curiosity about them only increased, and then I paid a visit to Canano's table, where play was running high. A masquer dressed in the Venetian style was punting on a single card, going fifty sequins paroli and paix de paroli, in my fashion. He lost three hundred sequins, and as he was a man of about the same size as myself people said it was Casanova, but Canano would not agree. In order that I might be able to stay at the table, I took up the cards and punted three or four ducats like a beginner. The next deal the Venetian masquer had a run of luck, and going paroli, paix de paroli and the va, won back all the money he had lost.

The next deal was also in his favour, and he collected his winnings and left the table.

I sat down in the chair he had occupied, and a lady said,--

"That's the Chevalier de Seingalt."

"No," said another. "I saw him a little while ago in the ball-

room disguised as a beggar, with four other masquers whom nobody knows."

"How do you mean, dressed as a beggar?" said Canano.

"Why, in rags, and the four others, too; but in spite of that the dresses are splendid and the effect is very good. They are asking for alms."

"They ought to be turned out," said another.

I was delighted to have attained my object, for the recognition of me was a mere guess. I began putting sequins on one card, and I

lost five or six times running. Canano studied me, but I saw he could not make me out. I heard whispers running round the table.

"It isn't Seingalt; he doesn't play like that; besides, he is at the ball."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 灵界惘生

    灵界惘生

    少年凌枫从天之骄子一夜之间沦为囚徒,谁带他逃离无尽的牢?爱人的背叛,家族的覆灭,人生的颠覆……但是莫欺少年穷,总有一天,他会站在灵界的巅峰
  • BOSS追妻:一宠成瘾

    BOSS追妻:一宠成瘾

    萧大少的追妻路可谓一波三折,这波未平,那波又起。某天晚上,萧大少不小心吃了某个女人的豆腐,被一脚踹下床,还被骂:“流氓。”又是一个月黑风高夜,萧大少把某人扑倒在床,微微一笑:“我让你知道什么叫真正的流氓。”“嘘,别说话,吻我。”萧大少不要脸地说。
  • 花千骨之盛开不败

    花千骨之盛开不败

    前世,花千骨以为她对白子画的感情是爱,可她错了,彻底错了,她对白子画的感情只是单纯的师徒之情,并非是爱。前世,花千骨以为她对东方彧卿的感情是友情,可她错了,彻底错了,她对东方彧卿的感情是少女羞涩的爱恋,并非是朋友之间的依赖。如果,一起还有机会,哪花千骨是否能真正的看清之间的心?杀阡陌,他为什么会拥有六界最美的容颜?那个叫狄秋女子为什么那么熟悉却又想不起来?慕容晓雪拥有的力量比花千骨妖神时拥有的洪荒之力还要强大?
  • 苍穹寰宇

    苍穹寰宇

    小镇少年,上山历练,却遇上大造化,从此踏上一条不平凡的修仙之路,且看少年如何纵横四海,称霸寰宇!一部玄幻小说为主题的无敌嚣张小说,无敌哦,看过的请给张推荐票,谢谢
  • 天涯眀月心

    天涯眀月心

    剑——划破了长天,将黑夜撕裂,鸿图霸业,天下沉眠。血——染红了枯叶,将目光遮掩,江湖杀戮,何时能消散?人,江湖人,带着恩怨的江湖人。听,声音,兵戎交结的声音。看,血,鲜血。草木上滴着鲜血,一颗,一颗的像红珍珠一样。一路的逃亡,一路的厮杀。血染红了草木,恩怨遍布了江湖。尸体堆积了山野,血水汇成了小河。在湘黔桂交界的崇山峻岭中,日也西斜,像一个红灯笼一样,悬挂在天边。夕阳西下,一青衣老者,面对七个武林一流的上乘高手。老者也是衣裳破碎,血染胸襟,头发凌乱,面色苍白。
  • 暴虎冯河

    暴虎冯河

    从都市到乡村,高中毕业的廉古六跟大伯学习兽医技艺,并拜师民间武术家学武练功,在此期间遇到一些爱恨情仇的人和事。涉世未深的廉古六迎难而上,与小人、无赖、地痞展开角斗,恶恶要去;对爱情、友情及亲情全身心地投入,善善要留。
  • 军质

    军质

    一个人成长经历,面对人生的十字路口,你是如何决择的?是选择叛逆还是选择顺从?别人我不知道,但我,是这样决择……
  • 回首流年不悔

    回首流年不悔

    时针在不停的转动,时间亦在不停的流逝着。那一年的那一天,他与她悄然相遇。不知为何,命运使他们开始有了交集。初遇,邂逅悄然而至。开始的开始就是如此,后来的后来也就一直这样发展下去。若两人分隔两地,地方上的距离会成为心与心之间的那道墙么?当蓦然回首之际,或许才会发觉,原来爱你已成习惯,你的一犟一笑早已刻进心里,只是你却一直忽略了我的存在,但我依旧不悔自己的付出,只因我爱你。时光带不走的是回忆,还有感情;岁月消逝了的是容貌,却并非是我的心。我心如初,流年不悔…………
  • 廉雨清风沐桃李

    廉雨清风沐桃李

    全书分为理论篇和实践篇,共收录36篇论文。既有廉政文化理论上的研究,又有对校园廉政文化建设的实践提炼;既有结合形势分析提出进一步加强校园廉政文化建设的对策举措,又有立足校园文化实际,体现了校园廉政文化的政治性、道德性和科学性特色。
  • 双枪中国人

    双枪中国人

    <双枪中国人>是从本人的<无敌中国人>改编而来。<双枪中囯人>是一部描写抗战体裁长篇小说作品。主人公一马双枪驰骋在东北嫩江两岸,主人公靠打家劫舍,杀富济贫起家,他虽是土匪,却与其他土匪截然不同,他从不抢穷人一分钱,一粒粮食,有时还把抢来东西施舍给当地穷苦人家,他不但心地善良,并且又重情讲义,远近闻名,深得民心,更让老百性敬佩的是,他敢与日本强盗抗争,大仗小仗与小鬼子交锋无数次,后因抗联的进入,主人公思想有了新的转变,便毅然决然带手下众兄弟投奔了抗联,从此成为抗联一支最勇敢最坚强,所向披糜的队伍。主人公仍是一马双枪,冲杀在抗日救国最前沿。