Скорбь сатаны / The sorrows of Satan. Уровень 4. Мария Корелли

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      He smiled.

      “Always! That is, I am always at work endeavouring to gratify every man’s desire. Whether that is good of me, or bad, remains to be proved. Men’s wants are almost illimitable. The only thing none of them ever seem to wish is to cut my acquaintance!”

      “Why, of course not! After once meeting you, how could they!” I said.

      He gave me a whimsical side-look.

      “Their desires are not always virtuous,” he remarked.

      “But of course you do not gratify them in their vices!” I rejoined, laughing.

      “Ah now I see we shall flounder in the sands of theory if we go any further,” he said. “You forget, my dear fellow, that nobody can decide as to what is vice, or what is virtue. These things are chameleon-like, and take different colours in different countries. Abraham had two or three wives and several concubines, and he was the very soul of virtue according to sacred lore. Whereas my Lord Tom-Noddy in London today has one wife and several concubines, and is really very much like Abraham in other particulars, yet he is considered a very dreadful person. Let’s drop the subject. What shall we do with the rest of the evening? Will we go to the theater? Or are you tired, and would you prefer a long night’s rest?”

      To tell the truth I was thoroughly fatigued, and mentally as well as physically worn out with the excitements of the day.

      “I think I would rather go to bed,” I confessed. “But what about my room?”

      “Oh, Amiel will have attended to that for you, we’ll ask him.”

      And he touched the bell. His valet instantly appeared.

      “Have you got a room for Mr. Tempest?”

      “Yes, your Excellency. An apartment in this corridor almost facing your Excellency’s suite. I have made it as comfortable as I can for the night.”

      “Thanks very much!” I said. “I am greatly obliged to you.”

      Amiel bowed deferentially.

      “Thank you, sir.”

      He retired. The Prince took my hand, and held it in his, looking at me.

      “I like you, Geoffrey Tempest;” he said – “And because I like you, I am going to make you what you may perhaps consider rather a singular proposition. It is this, – that if you don’t like me, say so at once, and we will part now, before we have time to know anything more of each other, and I will endeavour not to cross your path again unless you seek me out. But if on the contrary, you like me, give me your promise that you will be my friend and comrade for a while, say for a few months. I can take you into the best society, and introduce you to the prettiest women in Europe as well as the most brilliant men. I know them all, and I believe I can be useful to you. But if there is the smallest aversion to me, let me go, because I swear to you that I am not what I seem!”

      I was strongly impressed by his strange look and stranger manner. It was true, I had felt a shadow of distrust and repulsion for this fascinating yet cynical man, and he guessed it. But now every suspicion of him vanished from my mind, and I clasped his hand with heartiness.

      “My dear fellow, it’s too late!” I said mirthfully. “Whatever you are, I find you most sympathetic to my disposition, and I consider myself most fortunate in knowing you. I assure you I shall be proud of your companionship. You know the old adage, ‘the devil is not so black as he is painted’!”

      “And that is true!” he murmured dreamily. “Poor devil! His faults are no doubt much exaggerated by the clergy! And so we are friends?”

      “I hope so! I shall not be the first to break the compact!”

      His dark eyes rested upon me thoughtfully.

      “Compact is a good word,” he said. “I think I can still be of service in pushing you on in society. And love – of course you will fall in love if you have not already done so, have you?”

      “Not I!” I answered quickly, and with truth. “I have seen no woman yet who perfectly fulfils my notions of beauty.”

      He burst out laughing violently,

      “Nothing but perfect beauty will suit you, eh? But consider, my friend, you, though a good-looking well-built man, are not yourself quite Apollo!”

      “That has nothing to do with the matter,” I rejoined. “A man should choose a wife with a careful eye, in the same way that he chooses horses or wine, – perfection or nothing.”

      “And the woman?” Rimanez demanded.

      “The woman has really no right of choice,” I responded. “A man is always a man, a woman is only a man’s appendage. Without beauty she cannot put forth any just claim to his admiration or his support.”

      “Right! Very right, and logically argued!” he exclaimed, becoming serious in a moment. “I myself have no sympathy with the new ideas concerning the intellectuality of woman. She is simply the female of man, she has no real soul, she is incapable of forming a correct opinion on any subject. And in the present age she is becoming more than ever unmanageable.”

      “It is only a passing phase,” I returned carelessly. “I care very little for women – I doubt whether I shall ever marry.”

      “Well you have plenty of time to consider, and amuse yourself with the belles,” he said watching me narrowly. “And in the meantime I can take you round the different marriage-markets of the world, though the largest one of them all is of course this metropolis. Good-night!”

      “Good-night!” I responded.

      “Amiel, show Mr Tempest to his room.”

      Amiel obeyed, and crossing the corridor, ushered me into a large, luxurious apartment, richly furnished, and lit up by the blaze of a bright fire.

      “Is there anything I can do for you sir?” Amiel inquired.

      “No thank you,” – I answered. “you have been very attentive, I shall not forget it.”

      A slight smile flickered over his features.

      “Much obliged to you, sir. Good-night.”

      And he retired, leaving me alone.

      “Geoffrey Tempest, the world is before you!” I said. “You are a young man, you have health, a good appearance, and brains, added to these you now have five millions of money, and a wealthy prince for your friend. What more do you want of Fate or Fortune? Nothing, except fame! And that you will get easily, for now even fame is purchaseable – like love.”

      5

      The next morning I learned that ‘His Excellency’, Prince Rimanez, had gone out riding in the Park, leaving me to breakfast alone. I therefore took that meal in the public room of the hotel. The servants asked many questions. When would I be pleased to lunch? At what hour would I dine? Should my present apartment be retained? Was it not satisfactory? Would I prefer a ‘suite’ similar to that occupied by His Excellency? All these deferential questions first astonished and then amused me. After the breakfast I saw my new friend coming back from his ride. He bestrode a magnificent СКАЧАТЬ