Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-11
~ Y Egeuiug Post.l
MODEM d T 5YGHOSIS.
Translated from the French o. Theophile Gautier
by Margaret Glsaaor Neal


Translated from the French o Theophilo Gautier
by Margaret alsaaOr Neal
<.
Oosave Labinski followed very closely at
the heels Of the valet de cbambre, for in
this house, in which he was apparently the
master. ne had no Idea of the location OF
the dining room, which he found TO be a
very large and beautiful apartment noble
and sonlew has severe n style, on the ground
foor, locking On Cbe court. The walls were
of dark oak, rich aud warm in tins, divided
in compartment and panels, painted by
Rousseau and Ja6in. Above each shone an
immense plaque Of Palsy, Limoges, Japan
porcelain, Inajolics, or Arabian faience,
with It's iridescant surface differing with
all the pri5nsatio co,ors. Alternating with
these were STAGE heads and sntlers, and at
each end Of tho room was an immense
carved etagare, high as the retables in
Spanish cAurches On one glittered in
brilliant proiusion the antique plate of the
Labinski family, eEers with fantastic han
dies, salt cellars Of the olden style, goblets
and vases. On the other were the marvel
Gus chefs 'ooIvfe of modern goldsmiths-
Wagner, Dupouehel, Rudolph and Fro.
ment- Meurice niello trays, silver stands
for champagne, wish handles of vine leaves
and ornamented with Baechanalian figures
IN relief chaing dishes, az elegant in form
as the classic tripod of Pompeii, without
speaking Of Bohemian crystal Venetian
glass and superb devices in antique Saxony
and Sevres. Oaken chairs covered in green
leather were ranged against the walls, and
49, F-14 Il .-lL
ground glass window in the ceiling, sur
rounded and partly shaded by vine leaves.
On the table. served q Ia Russo, were
the fruits, surrounded by violets, and
dishes with silver covers like an emir's
helmet and stesming Russian samovar,
while behind each fauteuil facing one an
other, stood two silent, motionless figures,
in short jackets and eravats.
With one quick glance Octave took in
all these details, that he might not by
and by become inyoluntarily absorbed by
the novelty of objects with which he was
expected to be familiar.
Hearing light step in the hall, rust
ling Of drspery, he turned his head and
saw the Countess Labinski, who, entering,
seated herself at the table with a smile
and morning salutation,
With her hair drawn back from her
temples, and massed in a shining coil low
on her neck, her head was like that of an
antique marble; sad although the ex-
quisiIe color on her cheek was more faint
than usual, and her lovely eyes were sur.
rounded with an almost imperceptible
aureole of pearly shadow, the result of
emotion aud a sieepless night, the air of
fatigue and languor seemed only to add to
while softening her beauty, giving it more
human character the goddess had become
woman The angel, folding its wings, had
descended to earth.
More prudent on this occasion, Octave
assumed an air of Indifference. With a
slight movement Of her shoulders, as if
chilly, the Countess fixed her blue eyes on
the companion whom she supposed to be
her husband flor all her terrors, fancies and
preseptiments had vanished with the morn
ing light, and in her musical and tender
voice, full of caressing intonations, she
asked him question in the Polish Ian
,guage With the Count she often made
use of her beloved mother tongue in mo-
ments OF confidence, especially in the
presence of French servants, none of
whom understood syllable of the Ian.
guage.
Octave, the Partisan, understood Latin,
Italian, Spanish, a few words of English
but, like the majority of the French, he
was utterly ignorant of the Slavonic Ian.
guages. The chevaux de frise of conso.
nants guarding the somewhat infrequent
vowels of the Polish language would have
prevented his approach, even had he been
desirous of attacking it. In Florence the
Countess had always spoken French or
italian, and the idea of becoming acquaint-
ed with the idiom IN which Mickiewicz
had almost rivalled Byron. had never even
crossed his mind. Il is really quite impos.
sible to be prepared for everything
As the words we're uttered there took
place in the brain OF the Count, inhabited
by the ego OF Octave, most singular phe-
nomenon. The sounds so foreign to his
Partisan, followed the convolutions of the
Slavonic ear, reached the place where OLAF
was accustomed to receive and translate
them into ideas Oh their arrival they
evoked sort of physical memory; their
meaning was vaguely suggested to Octave,
and words buried in the labyrinths of the
brain, concealed IN the depths of the secret
drawers of memory, slowly presented
themselves with confusing buzz. ready
for use as he should reply but these indis
tinct "reminiscences, not being placed IL
communication with the mind, very sooI
disappeared, and all was q blank. The
poor mans enhancement was frightful
he had not dreamed OF all these maddeninI
complications in slipping into the body o
Count Olaf Laoinski, and he began to un
derstard that in this transportation OF soul
there must necessarily be much that is no
agreeable in fact quite discomfiting.
Piascovie, astonished at Octaves silence
and fsncying that, absorbed in thought, h
had not heard her question, repeated 1t yer,
slowly, raising her voice slightly.
Although hearing more distinctly tn
sound of each syllable, the false Count hat
not received the slightest idea of thei
Specification he made desperate effort t,
guess at her meaning but, for those unac
auainted with the compact language of tn
North they have no transparency whatever
and though Frenchman may, per
hans. guess at the meaning OF al
JLIhesne. he must necessarily be as a dea
mute in listening to the words of Polo
pnise. In spite of all efforts to control il
he colored deeply; bit his lips, and. t
cover his embarrassment, began ferociousl
TO cut the bit Of game on his plate.
lone would really suppose, dear Olaf.
said the Countess, this time in French
THAT you either do not hear, or do nc
understand me"
"The fact is" stammered Octave Il
binski, hardly knowing what he said, 9TH
COMPOUNDED language Is so difficult !"
Difficult perhaps so-undoubtedly s
for foreigners but for one who has prattle
it on his mothers knee it comes as natui
ally as the breath of life, as unccnsciousl
as thought.
"Oh, unquestionably but there al
moments when it seems to me have TO
gotten it"
what can you mean, Olaf? that yo
have forgotten the language OF your al
cestors, the language of your beloved coui