anner.bloodandgold(v2)-第108部分
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And I caught no menace from anyone either。 Nevertheless； I marked the nearby window； and noting that it was heavily barred though otherwise open to the night； wondered if I could easily break through it。 I thought that I could。 I felt no fear。 In fact； I felt no fear of this Talamasca because it seemed to feel no fear of me and had admitted me so guilelessly。
〃e； sit down with me； Marius；〃 Raymond said。 He drew me near to an immense fireplace。 I tried not to gaze with concern at his thin palsied hands； or his thin shoulders。 I thanked the gods that I had e tonight； and that he was still here to greet me。
He called out to the sleepy boy who remained still at the door。
〃Edgar； build the fire and light it； please。 Marius； you will forgive me；〃 he said。 〃I'm very cold。 Do you mind it？ I understand what happened to you。〃
〃No； not at all； Raymond；〃 I said。 〃I can't fear fire forever on that account。 Not only am I healed now； I'm stronger than ever I was before。 It's quite a mystery。 And you； how old are you？ Tell me；
Raymond。 I can't guess it。〃
〃Eighty years； Marius；〃 he said。 He smiled。 〃You don't know how I've dreamed of your ing。 I had so much more to tell you。 I didn't dare to write it in a letter。〃
〃And rightly so；〃 I said； 〃for the letter was read； and who knows what might have happened？ As it was； the priest who received it for me could not make much of it。 I understand everything； however。〃
He motioned to the door。 Two young men at once entered the room； and I made them out to be the simple sort rather like the busy Edgar who was piling up the oak in the fireplace。 There were richly carved stone gargoyles above the fire。 I rather liked them。
〃Two chairs；〃 said Raymond to the boys。 〃We'll talk together。 I'll tell you all lean。〃
〃Why are you so generous to me； Raymond？〃 I asked。 I wanted so to fort him； to stop his agitation。 But as he smiled at me； as if to reassure me； as he put his hand gently on my arm； and urged me towards the two wooden chairs which the boys had brought to the hearth； I saw that he did not need my fort。
〃I'm only very excited； my old friend；〃 he said。 〃You mustn't be concerned for me。 Here； sit down。 Is this fortable enough for you？〃
The chairs were as heavily carved as every bit of ornament in the room； and the arms were the paws of lions。 I found them beautiful as well as fortable。 I looked about myself at the many bookshelves； and mused as I have often done on how all libraries subdue me and seduce me。 I thought of books burnt and books lost。
May this be a safe place for books； I thought； this Talamasca。
〃I have been decades in a stone room；〃 I said in a muted voice。 〃I am quite fortable。 Will you send the boys away now？〃
〃Yes； yes； of course； only let them bring me some warm wine；〃 he replied。 〃I need it。〃
〃Please； how could I be so inconsiderate？〃 I replied。
We were now facing each other； and the fire had begun with a riot of deep good fragrance ing from the burning oak； and a warmth that I even enjoyed； I had to admit it。
One of the boys had brought Raymond a red velvet dressing gown； and once he was clothed in this； and settled in his chair； he did not seem so fragile。 His face was radiant after all； his cheeks actually rosy； and I could easily see the young man in him that I had once known。
〃My friend； should anything e between us；〃 he said； 〃let me give you to know that she still travels in her old way； rapidly through many European cities。 Never to England； for I don't think they want to cross the water； though no doubt they can； contrary to folklore。〃
I laughed。 〃Is that the folklore？ That we can't cross water？ It's nonsense；〃 I said。 I would have said more； but I wondered if it were wise。
He apparently took no note of my hesitation。 He plunged on：
〃She has for the last few decades traveled under the name of the Marquis a De Malvrier； and her panion the Marquis of the same name； though it is she who goes to Court more often than he does。 They're seen in Russia； in Bavaria； in Saxony…in countries in which old ceremony is honored； seeming from time to time to need the courtly balls and the immense Roman church ceremonies。 But understand； I have gleaned my account of this from many different reports。 I'm sure of nothing。〃
The warm wine was being set upon a small stand beside him。 He took the cup in his hands。 His hands were shaking。 He drank from the wine。
〃But how do such reports e to you？〃 I asked。 I was fascinated。 There was no doubt he was telling me the truth。 As for the rest of the house； I could hear its many inhabitants all around us； waiting in silence it seemed for some kind of summons。
〃Forget them；〃 he said。 〃What can they learn from this audience？〃 he asked。 〃They are all faithful members。 To answer your questions； we go out sometimes in the guise of priests seeking information about those whom we call vampires。 We inquire as to mysterious deaths。 And so we gather information which is meaningful to us when it may not be meaningful to others。〃
〃Ah； of course。 And you take note of the name when it is mentioned in Russia or Saxony or Bavaria。〃
〃Exactly。 I tell you it is De Malvrier。 They have a liking for it。 And I shall tell you something else。〃
〃Please； you must。〃
〃Several times we have found upon the wall of a church inscribed the name； Pandora。〃
〃Ah； she's done this；〃 I said； desperately trying to conceal my emotion。
〃She wants to be discovered by me。〃 I paused。 〃This is painful for me；〃 I said。 〃I wonder if the one who travels with her even knows her by that name。 Ah； this is painful； but why do you assist me？〃
〃By my very life； I don't know；〃 he said； 〃except somehow I believe in you。〃
〃What do you mean believe； believe that I'm a wonder？ That I'm a demon？ Believe what； Raymond； tell me？ Oh； never mind； it doesn't matter； does it？ We do things because our hearts impel us。〃
〃Marius； my friend；〃 he said； leaning forward and touching my knee with his right hand； 〃long ago in Venice when I spied upon you； you know that I spoke to you with the purity of my mind。 I read your thoughts also。 I knew that you slew only those who were the degraded killers of their own sisters or brothers。〃
〃That's true； Raymond； and it was that way with Pandora。 But is it now？〃
〃Yes； I think so；〃 he said； 〃for every ghastly crime imputed to the vampires whom these creatures may in fact be is connected to one who was known to be guilty of many murders。 So you see it's not difficult for me to help you。〃
〃Ah； so she is true to our vow；〃 I whispered。 〃I didn't think so； not when I heard of her harsh panion。〃
I looked intently at Raymond； seeing with every passing moment more of the young man I had once known so briefly。 It was saddening to me。 It was dreadful。 And the more I felt it； the more I tried to conceal it。
What was my suffering to this； the slow triumph of old age？ Nothing。
〃Where was she seen last？〃 I asked。
〃On that point；〃 he said； 〃allow me to give you my interpretation of her behavior。 She and her panion follow a pattern in their roamings。 They go in rude circles； returning over and over again to one city。 Once they have been some time in that city they begin their circles once more until they have gone as far afield as Russia。 The central city of which I speak is Dresden。〃
〃Dresden！〃 I said。 〃I don't know the place。 I've never been there。〃
〃Oh； it cannot rival your gorgeous Italian cities。 It cannot equal Paris or London。 But it is the capital of Saxony and it lies on the Elbe River。 It has been much adorned by the various Dukes who have ruled there。 And invariably； I say invariably； these creatures…Pandora and her panion…return to Dresden。 It may not be for twenty years； but they e back to Dresden。〃
I fell silent in my excitement。 Was this some pattern meant for me to interpret？ Was this pattern meant for me to discover？ Was it like a great round spiderweb meant sooner or later to ensnare me？
Why else would Pandora and her panion follow such a life？ I couldn't imagine it。 But how did I dare to think Pandora even remembered me。 She had written her name in the stone of the
