Puss-in-Boots-1

  Figarohere;Figaro,there,Itellyou!Figaroupstairs,Figarodownstairsand--oh,mygoodnessme,thislittleFigaroslipintomyladyschambersmartasyoulikeatanytimewhatsoeverthathetakesthefancyfor,dontyouknow,hesacatoftheworld,opolitan,sophisticated;hetellwhenafurryfriendistheMissusbestpany.Forwhatladyinalltheworldcouldsay"no"tothepassiooujoursdiscretadvancesofafinemarmaladecat?(Ubehereyesintilyoverflowattheslightestwhiffoffurr,whichhappenedonce,asyoushallhear.)

  Atom,sirs,agiomandproudofit.Proudofhisfine,whiteshirtfrontthatdazzlesharmoniouslyagainsthiseandtangeriessellations(oh!whatafierysuitoflightshaveI);proudofhisbird-entrangeyeandmorethanmilitarywhiskers;proud,toafault,somesay,ofhisfine,musicalvoice.AllthewindowsinthesquareflyopenwhenIbreakintoimpromptusongatthespectacleofthemoonaboveBergamo.Ifthepoorplayersinthesquare,thesullenroutedtrashthathauntstheprovinces,arerewardedwithahailofpennieswheuptheirmakeshiftstageandstarttheirraucouschoruses;thenhowmuchmoreliberallydothecitizensdelugemewithpailsofthefreshestwater,vegetableshardlyspoiledand,occasionally,slippers,shoesandboots.

  Doyouseethesefine,high,shiniherbootsofmine?Ayoungcavalryofficermademethetributeof,firstohen,afterIcelebratehisgenerositywithafreshobbligato,themoonnofullertha--whoops!Inimblyspringaside--dowheother.TheirhighheelswillclicklikecastaswhenPusstakeshispromenadeupoiles,formysongrecallsflamenco,allcatshaveaSpanishtihoughPusshimselfelegantlylubricateshisvirile,muscular,nativeBergamasquewithFrench,siistheonlylanguageinwhichyoupurr.

  "Merrrrrrrrrrci!"

  InstanterIdrawmynewbootsohenattywhitestogsthatterminatemyhinderlegs.Thatyoungman,withcuriositybymoonlighttheusetowhichIputhisfootwear,callsout:"Hey,Puss!Puss,there!"

  "Atyourservice,sir!"

  "Uptomybaly,youngPuss!"

  Heleansout,inhisnightshirt,encementasIswingsuctlyupthefa?ade,forepawsonacurlycherubspate,hindpawsonastuccowreath,briomeetyourforepawswhile,firstpawforward,hup!ontothestonenymphstit;leftpawdownabit,thesatyrsbumshoulddothetriothingtoit,onceyouknowhow,rocooproblem.Acrobatics?Borntothem;Pussperformabaersaultwhilstholdingaloftaglassofvinoinhisrightpawandneverspilladrop.

  But,tomyshame,thefamousdeath-defyingtriplesomersaultenpleinair,thatis,inmiddleair,thatis,unsupportedandwithoutasafety,I,Puss,haveattemptedthoughoftenIhavedashinglybroughtoffthedoubletour,totheapplauseofall.

  "Youstrikemeasacatofparts,"saysthisyoungmanwhenImarrivedathiswindowsill.Imadehimahandsomegeion,rumpout,tailup,headdown,tofacilitatehisfriendlychudermy;and,asinvoluntaryfreegift,mynatural,myhabitualsmile.

  Forallcatshavethisparticularity,eadeveryone,fromthemeaalleysheproudest,whitestshethatevergracedapontiffspillow--wehaveoursmiles,asitwere,paintedon.Thosesmall,cool,quietMonaLisasmilesthatsmilewemust,nomatterwhetheritsbeenfunoritsbeennot.Soallcatshaveapolitisair;wesmileandsmileandsotheythinkwerevillains.But,Ihisyoungmanissomethingofasmilerhisself.

  "Asandwich,"heoffers."And,perhaps,asnifterofbrandy."

  Hislodgingsarepoor,thoughheshandsomeenoughandevenendéshabillé,nightdall,theresa,smart,dandifiedairabouthim.Hereisonewhoknowswhatswhat,thinksI;amanwhokeepsupappearahebedchambereverembarrassyououtofit.Andexcellentbeefsandwiches;Irelishaleansliceofroastbeefandearlylearasteforspirits,siartedlifeasawine-shopcat,huntingcellarratsformykeep,beforetheworldsharpenedmywitsenoughtoletmelivebythem.

  Andtheupshotofthismidnightinterview?Imengaged,o,asSirsvalet:valetdechambreand,fromtimetotime,hisbodyservant,for,whenfundsarerunninglow,astheymustdoforeverygallantofficerwhenthepigsfalloff,hepawnsthequilt,doeshenfaithfulPusscurlsuponhischesttokeephimwarmatnight.Andifhedontlikemetokneadhisnipples,which,outofthepuristaffeandthedesire--ouch!hesays--totesttheretractabilityofmyclaws,Idoisofabsenind,thenwhatothervaletcouldslipintoayounggirlssacredprivaddeliverherabillet-douxattheverymomentwhenshesreadingherprayerbookwithhersaiher?AtaskIowiceperformforhim,tohisinfiitude.

  And,asyouwillhear,broughthimatlasttothebestoffortunesforusall.

  SoPussgothispostatthesametimeashisbootsandIdaresaytheMasterandIhavemuonforhesproudasthedevil,touchyastin-tacks,lecherousasliquorid,thoughIsayitasloveshim,asquick-wittedarascalaseverputonlinen.

  Whentimeswerehard,Idpilferthemarketforbreakfast--aherring,ane,aloaf;weneverwenthungry.Pussservedhimwellinthegamingsalons,too,foracatmaymovefromlaptolapwithimpunityandcasthiseyeoveranyhandofcards.Acatjumponthedice--hetresisttoseeitroll!poorthing,mistookitforabird;and,afterIvebeen,limp-spiiff-legged,playingthesillybuggers,scoopeduptobechastised,whorememberhowthedicefellinthefirstplace?

  Andwehad,besides,less...gentlemanlymeansofmaintenancewhentheyclosedthetablestous,as,churlishly,theysometimesdid.IdperformmylittleSpanishdancewhilehewentaroundwithhishat:ole!Butheonlyputmyloyaltyandaffetothetestofthishumiliatiohecupboardwasasbareashisbackside;after,infact,hedsunksoloawnhisdrawers.

  SoallwentrightasninependyouneversawsupanionsasPussandhismaster;untilthemanmustneedsgofallinlove.

  "Headoverheels,Puss."

  Iwentaboutmyablutions,tonguingmyarseholewiththeimpeccablehygienitegrityofcats,outheairlikeahambone;Ichoosetoremai.Love?Whathasmyrakishmaster,forwhomIvejumpedthroughthewindowofeverybrotheliy,besideshauntingthevirginalbackgardenoftheventandgodknowswhatoatisherrands,todowithtenderpassion?

  "Andshe.Aprincessinatower.RemoteandshiningasAldebaran.edtoadoltanddragon-guarded."

  Iwithdrewmyheadfrommyprivatesandfixedhimwithmymostsatiricsmile;Idaredhimwarbleoninthatstrain.

  "Allcatsareics,"heopines,quailihmyyellowglare.

  Itisthehazardofitdrawshim,see.

  Thereisaladysitsinawindowforonehourandonehouronly,attheteimeofdusk.Youscarcelyseeherfeatures,thecurtainsalmosthideher;shroudedlikeaholyimage,shelooksoutonthepiazzaastheshopsshutup,thestallsgodown,thenighteson.Andthisisalltheworldsheeversees.NeveragirlinallBergamososecludedexcept,onSundays,theylethergotoMass,bundledupinblack,withaveilon.Andthensheisinthepanyofanagedhag,herkeeper,whogrumpsalonggrimasaprisondinner.

  Howdidheseethatsecretface?WhoelsebutPussrevealedit?

  Backweefromthetablessolate,soverylateatnightwefound,toouremergentsurprisethatallatowasearlyinthem.Hispocketswereheavywithsilverandbothutssweetlya-gurglewithchampagne;LadyLuckhadsatwithus,whatfinespiritswerewein!Winterandcoldweather.Thepioustrottochurchalreadywithlittlelahroughthechillfogaswegoungodlyrollinghome.

  See,ablackbarque,likeastatefuneral;andPusstakesitintohisbubbly-addledbraintoboardher.Tagobliquelytoherside,Irubmymarmaladepateagainsthershin;howcouldanyduenna,besheneversostern,takeoffesuchattentionstoherchargelingfromalittlecat?(Asitturnsout,thisoishooo!does.)AwhitehandfragrantasArabiadesdsfromtheblackcloakandreciprocallyrubsbehindhisearsatjusttheecstaticspot.Pussletsriparpurr,rearsbrieflyonhishigh-heeledboots;jigwithjoyandpirouettewithglee--shelaughstoseeanddrawsherveilaside.Pussglimpseshighabove,asitwere,analabasterlamplitbehindbydawnsfirstflush:herface.

  Andshesmiling.

  Foramoment,justthatmoment,youwouldhavethoughtitwasMaym.

  "ealong!e!Dontdawdleoverthenastybeast!"snapstheoldhag,withtheohinhermouth,andwarts;shesneezes.

  Theveilesdown;socolditis,anddark,again.

  ItwasnotIalonewhosawher;withthatsmileheswearsshestolehisheart.

  Love.

  Ivesatinscrutablybyandwashedmyfadsparklingdickywithmycleverpawwhilehemadethebeastwithtwobackswitheveryharlotiy,besidesanumberofgoodwives,dutifuldaughters,rosytrygirlsetosellceleryandeheer,andthechambermaidwhostripsthebed,whatsmore.TheMayorswife,even,shedherdiamondearringsforhimandthewifeofthenotaryunshuffledherpetticoatsandifIcould,Iwouldblushtorememberhhtershookoutherflaxenplaitsandjumpediweenthemasixteenyearsold.Butheword,"love",hasfallenfromhislips,norinnoroutofanyofthesetransports,untilmymastersawthewifeofSignorPanteleoneasshewentwalkingouttoMass,aedupherveilthoughnotforhim.

  Andnowheishalfsickwithitandwillgotothetablesnomoreforlackofheartandneverevenpatsthebustlingrumpofthechambermaidinhisnew-foundmaudlincelibacy,sowegetourslopsleftfesteringfordaysandthesheetsfilthyandthewenchgoesbangingaboutbad-temperedlywithherbroomenoughtofetchtheplasteroffthewalls.

  IllswearhelivesforSundaym,thoughneverbeforewasheareligiousman.Saturdaynights,hebatheshimselfpunctiliously,even,Imgladtosee,washesbehindhisears,perfumeshimself,presseshisuniformsoyoudthinkhehadarighttowearit.Somuloveheveryrarelypaothepleasures,evenofOnan,asheliestossingonhiscouch,forheotsleepforfearhemissthesummonihenoutintothe,harkingafterthatblack,vagueshape,haplessfishermanforhissealedoysterwithsuchapearlinit.Hecreepsbehindheracrossthesquare;howesoamorousbeartobesoinspicuous?A,hemust;though,sometimes,theoldhagsneezesandsayssheswearsthereisacatabout.

  Hewillinsinuatehimselfintothepewbehindmiladyandsometimestrivetotouchthehemarment,whentheyallkneel,andhoughttohisorisons;sheisthedivinityhesetoworship.Thensitssilent,iillbed-time;leasureishispanyforme?Hewo,either.Ibroughthimafinepigeonfromtheinnkit,freshoffthespit,parfuméavectarragon,buthewouldnttouchitsoIcheditup,bonesandall,perf,aseveraftermeals,mymeditativetoilette,Ipohus:one,heisinafairwaytoruiningusbothbyinghisbusiwo,loveisdesiresustainedbyunfulfilment.IfIleadhimtoherbedchamberandtherehetakeshisfillofherlily-white,hellberightasrainintwoshakesadaytricksasusual.

  ThenMasterandhisPusswillsoonbesolventonceagain.Which,atthemoment,verymuot,sir.

  ThisSignerPanteleoneemploys,hisonlyservantbutthehag,akitcat,asleek,sprytabbywhomIaccost.Graspingtheslackofherneckfirmlybetweeh,Igaveherthearytributeofafewfirmthrustsofmystripedloinsand,wheherbreathback,sheassuredmeinthefriefashiontheoldmanwasafoolandamiserwhokeptherselfonshortonsforthesakeofthemousingandtheyoungladyasoft-heartedcreaturewhosmuggledbreastofchiandsometimes,whenthehag-dragon-governessmidday,snatchedthisprettykittyoutofthehearthandintoherbedroomtoplaywithreelsofsilkandrurailedhandkerchiefs,whensheandshehadasmutogetherastwoderellasatanall-girlsball.

  Poor,lonelylady,marriedsoyoungtoanolddoddererwithhisbaldpateandhisgoggleeyesandhislimp,hisavarice,hisgorebelly,hisrheumaticks,andhisflaghangsallthetimeathalf-mastindeed;andjealousasheisimpotent,tabbydeclares--hedputastoptoalltheruttingintheworld,ifhehadhisway,justtocertifyhisyoungwifedofromanotherwhatshetgetfromhim.

  "Thenshallwehatchaplottoantlerhim,myprecious?"

  Nothingloath,shetellsmethebesttimeforthisaplishmentshouldbetheonedayinalltheweekheforsakeshiswifeandhisting-housetorideoffintothetrytoextortmraspisfromstarvelifarmers.Andshesleftallalohen,behindsomanyboltsandbarsyouwouldntbelieve;allalone--butforthehag!

  Aha!Thishagturnsouttobethebiggestsnag;aniron-plated,copper-bottomed,swornman-haterofsomesixtybitterwinterswho--asillluckwouldhaveit--shatters,clatters,eruptsintoparoxysmsofthesheveryglimpseofacatswhisker.NoceofPusswhiswinsomewayintothatonesaffes,norformytabbyher!But,ohmydear,Isay;seehowmyiyrisestothechallenge...Soweresumethesweetestpartofourversationiyveniehecoalholeandshepromisesme,leastshedo,toseethefair,hitherto-inaccessibleosalettersafeifIslipittoherandslipittoherforthwithIdo,thoughsomewhatdisodedbymyboots.

  Hespentthreehoursoverhisletter,didmymaster,aslongasittakesmetolickthecoaldustoffmydicky.Hetearsuphalfaquireofpaper,splaysfivepen-nibswiththeforceofhisadoration:"Looknotforanypeace,myheart;havingbeeaslavetothisbeautystyranny,dazzledamIbythissunsraysandmytormentsotbeassuaged."Thatsnotthehighroadtotherumplingofthebedcovers;shesgotoneniweenthemalready!

  "Speakfromtheheart,"Ifinallyexhort."Andallgoodwomehemissionarystreak,sir;vinceherherorificewillbeyoursalvationandshesyours."

  "WhenIwantyouradvice,Puss,Illaskforit,"hesays;allatoy-toity.Butatlasthemaopentenpages;arake,aprofligate,acard-sharper,acashieredofficerwellooradruinwhenfirsthesaw,asifitwereaglimpseofgrace,herface...hisangel,hisgoodangel,whowillleadhimfromperdition.

  Oh,whatamasterpiecehepenned!

  "Suchtearssheweptathisaddresses!"saysmytabbyfriend.

  "Oh,Tabs,shesobs--forshecallsmeTabs--InevermeanttowreaksuchhavocureheartwhenIsmiledtoseeabootedcat!Andputhispaperoherheartandswore,itwasagoodsoulthatsentherhisvowsaoomulovewithvirtuetowithstandhim.If,sheadds,forshesasensiblegirl,hesheroldasthehillsnlyassin,thatis."

  Anadmirablelittleheladyssenthimiurn,perFigarohereandthere;sheadoptsarespounpromisingtone.For,saysshe,howsheusefullydiscusshispassionfurtherwithoutaglimpseofhisperson?

  Hekissesherletterowice,athousandtimes;shemustandwillseeme!Ishallserehisveryevening!

  So,whenduskfalls,offwetrottothepiazza,hewithanoldguitarhepawnedhisswordtobuyandmost,ifImaysayso,outlandishlyriggedoutinsomekindofvagabondmountebanksoutfithebarteredhisgold-braidedwaistcoatwithpoorPierrotbrayinginthesquarefor,moonstruy,lovelornloonhewashimselfandevenplasteredhisfacewithflourtomakeitwhite,poorfool,andsoramhomehisheartsickstate.

  Theresheis,theeveningstarwiththecloudsaroundher;butsuchacreakingofcartsinthesquare,suchaclatterandcrashastheydismahestalls,suululationofballad-singersandorationofnostrum-peddlersaubationoferrandboysthatthoughhewailsouthishearttoher:"Oh,mybeloved!"whyshe,allinadream,sitswithhergazeinthemiddledistancewheretheresacrestmoonstutheskybehihedralprettyasapaiage,andsoisshe.Doesshehearhim?Notagraote.Doessheseehim?Neveraglance.

  "Upyougo,Puss;tellhertolookmyway!"

  Ifrococosapieceofcake,thatchaste,tasteful,earlyPalladianstumpedmaercatthanIinitstime.Agilitysnotinit,whenitestoPalladian,daringalonewillcarrythedayand,thoughthefirststracedwithaheftycaryatidwhosebulbousloinclothandtremendouspectsfacilitatethefirstast,theDorinonherheadprovesahorseofadifferentcolour,Itellyou.HadInotseenmypreciousTabbycrouchedierabovemekeeningencement,I,evenI,mightneverhavebravedthatflying,upwardleapthatbroughtme,asifHarlequinhimselfonwires,inoneboundtoherwindowsill.

  "Deargod!"theladysays,andjumps.Iseeshe,too,ah,sealthing!clutchesawell-thumbedletter."Puss-in-boots!"

  Ibowherwithacourtlyflourish.Whatlucktohearnosnifforsneeze;whereshag?Asuddenfluxspedhertotheprivy--notamomenttolose."Castyoureyebelow,"Ihiss."Himyouknowoflurksbelow,inwhitewiththebighat,readytosingyouaneveningditty."

  Thebedroomdoorcreaksopen,then,and:whee!throughtheairPussgoes,discretionisthebetterpart.And,forboththeirsweetsakesIdidit,thesightofboththeirbrighteyesinspiredmetothenever-before-attempted,bymeoranyothercat,inbootsoroutofthem--thedeath-defyingtriplesomersault!

  Andathree-storeydroptoground,whatsmranddest.

  Onlythemeresttriflewinded.Improudtosay,IlylandonallmyfoursandTabsgoeswild,huzzah!Buthasmymasterwitriumph?Hashe,myarse.Hestuningupthatoldmandolinandbreaks,asdownIe,againintohissong.

  Iwouldneverhavesaid,inthenormalcourseofthings,hisvoicewouldcharmthebirdsoutofthetrees,likemine;ahebustlediedforhim,thehomeward-turningcosterspausedirackstohearken,thepreeningstreetgirlsfottheirhard-edgedsmilesastheyturohimandsomeoftheoldoheydid.

  Tabs,upontheroofthere,prickupyourears!ForbyitspowerIknowmyheartisinhisvoice.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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