下载辰思小说免费APP
Thechalet，adornedwithawildvinewhichcoverstheroof，isliterallyembeddedinclimbingplantsofallkinds——hops，clematis，jasmine，azalea，copaea。Itwillbeasharpeyewhichcandescryourwindows!
Thechalet，mydear，isagood，solidhouse，withitsheatingsystemandalltheconveniencesofmodernarchitecture，whichcanraiseapalaceinthecompassofahundredsquarefeet。ItcontainsasuiteofroomsforGastonandanotherforme。Theground-floorisoccupiedbyanante-room，aparlor，andadiningroom。Aboveourflooragainarethreeroomsdestinedforthenurseries。Ihavefivefirst-ratehorses，asmalllightcoupe，andatwo-horsecabriolet。Weareonlyforty-
minutes’drivefromParis；sothat，whenthespiritmovesustohearanoperaorseeanewplay，wecanstartafterdinnerandreturnthesamenighttoourbower。Theroadisagoodone，andpassesundertheshadeofourgreendividingwall。
Myservants——cook，coachman，groom，andgardeners，inadditiontomymaid——areallveryrespectablepeople，whomIhavespentthelastsixmonthsinpickingup，andtheywillbesuperintendedbymyoldPhilippe。Althoughconfidentoftheirloyaltyandgoodfaith，Ihavenotneglectedtocultivateself-interest；theirwagesaresmall，butwillreceiveanannualadditionintheshapeofaNewYear’sDaypresent。Theyareallawarethattheslightestfault，orameresuspicionofgossiping，mightlosethemacapitalplace。Loversarenevertroublesometotheirservants；theyareindulgentbydisposition，andthereforeIfeelthatIcanreckononmyhousehold。
Allthatischoice，pretty，ordecorativeinmyhouseintheRueduBachasbeentransportedtothechalet。TheRembrandthangsonthestaircase，asthoughitwereameredaub；theHobbemafacestheRubensin/his/study；theTitian，whichmysister-in-lawMarysentmefromMadrid，adornstheboudoir。ThebeautifulfurniturepickedupbyFelipelooksverywellintheparlor，whichthearchitecthasdecoratedmosttastefully。Everythingatthechaletischarminglysimple，withthesimplicitywhichcan’tbegotunderahundredthousandfrancs。Ourground-floorrestsoncellars，whicharebuiltofmillstoneandembeddedinconcrete；itisalmostcompletelyburiedinflowersandshrubs，andisdeliciouslycoolwithoutavestigeofdamp。
Tocompletethepicture，afleetofwhiteswanssailovermylake!
Oh!Renee，thesilencewhichreignsinthisvalleywouldbringjoytothedead!Oneisawakenedbythebirdssingingorthebreezerustlinginthepoplars。Alittlespring，discoveredbythearchitectindiggingthefoundationsofthewall，tricklesdownthehillsideoversilverysandtothelake，betweentwobanksofwater-cress，huggingtheedgeofthewoods。Iknownothingthatmoneycanbuytoequalit。
MaynotGastoncometoloathethistooperfectbliss？Ishuddertothinkhowcompleteitis，fortheripestfruitsharbortheworms，themostgorgeousflowersattracttheinsects。Isitnoteverthemonarchoftheforestwhichiseatenawaybythefatalbrowngrub，greedyasdeath？Ihavelearnedbeforenowthatanunseenandjealouspowerattackshappinesswhichhasreachedperfection。Besides，thisisthemoralofallyourpreaching，andyouhavebeenprovedaprophet。
WhenIwent，thedaybeforeyesterday，toseewhethermylastwhimhadbeencarriedout，tearsrosetomyeyes；and，tothegreatsurpriseofmyarchitect，Iatoncepassedhisaccountforpayment。
“But，madame，“heexclaimed，“yourmanofbusinesswillrefusetopaythis；itisamatterofthreehundredthousandfrancs。“Myonlyreplywastoaddthewords，“Tobepaidwithoutquestion，“withthebearingofaseventeenth-centuryChaulieu。
“But，“Isaid，“thereisoneconditiontomygratitude。Nohumanbeingmusthearfromyouoftheparkandbuildings。Promiseme，onyourhonor，toobservethisarticleinourcontract——nottobreathetoasoultheproprietor’sname。“
Now，canyouunderstandthemeaningofmysuddenjourneys，mymysteriouscomingsandgoings？Now，doyouknowwhitherthosebeautifulthings，whichtheworldsupposestobesold，haveflown？Doyouperceivetheultimatemotiveofmychangeofinvestment？Love，mydear，isavastbusiness，andtheywhowouldsucceedinitshouldhavenoother。HenceforthIshallhavenomoretroublefrommoneymatters；
Ihavetakenallthethornsoutofmylife，anddonemyhousekeepingworkonceforallwithavengeance，soasnevertobetroubledwithitagain，exceptduringthedailytenminuteswhichIshalldevotetomyoldmajor-domoPhilippe。Ihavemadeastudyoflifeanditssharpcurves；therecameadaywhendeathalsogavemeharshlessons。NowI
wanttoturnallthistoaccount。Myoneoccupationwillbetoplease/him/andlove/him/，tobrightenwithvarietywhattocommonmortalsismonotonouslydull。
Gastonisstillincompleteignorance。Atmyrequesthehas，likemyself，takenuphisquartersatVilled’Avray；to-morrowwestartforthechalet。Ourlifetherewillcostbutlittle；butifItoldyouthesumIamsettingasideformytoilet，youwouldex
后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节
