The Moon And Sixpence 12.1

The Avenue deClichy was crowded at that hour, and a lively fancy might see in the passers-bythe personages of many a sordid romance. There were clerks and shopgirls; oldfellows who might have stepped out of the pages of Honore de Balzac; members,male and female, of the professions which make their profit of the frailties ofmankind. There is in the streets of the poorer quarters of Paris a throngingvitality which excites the blood and prepares the soul for the unexpected."Do youknow Paris well?" I asked."No. Wecame on our honeymoon. I haven't been since. ""How onearth did you find out your hotel?""It wasrecommended to me. I wanted something cheap. "The absinthecame, and with due solemnity we dropped water over the melting sugar."I thoughtI'd better tell you at once why I had come to see you, " I said, notwithout embarrassment.His eyestwinkled. "I thought somebody would come along sooner or later. I've had alot of letters from Amy. ""Then youknow pretty well what I've got to say. ""I've notread them. "I lit acigarette to give myself a moment's time. I did not quite know now how to setabout my mission. The eloquent phrases I had arranged, pathetic or indignant,seemed out of place on the Avenue de Clichy. Suddenly he gave a chuckle.这会儿正是克里舍林荫路最热闹的时刻，只需要发挥一点儿想象力，就能够在过往行人中发现不少庸俗罗曼司中的人物。小职员和女售货员，宛如从巴尔扎克的小说中走出来的老古董，靠着人性的弱点赚钱糊口的一些行当的男女成员。在巴黎的一些贫穷地区，街道上总是人群熙攘，充满无限生机，使你血流激动，随时准备为你演一出意想不到的好戏。“你对巴黎熟悉不熟悉？”我问。“不熟悉。我们度蜜月的时候来过。以后我从来没有再来。”“那你怎么会找到这家旅馆的？”“别人介绍的。我要找一家便宜的。”苦艾酒端上来了，我们一本正经地把水浇在溶化的糖上。“我想我还是坦白对你讲我为什么来找你吧，”我有一些困窘地说。他的眼睛闪闪发亮。“我早就想迟早会有个人来的。阿美已经给我写了一大堆信来了。”“那么我要对你讲的，不用我说你也知道得很清楚了。”“她那些信我都没有看。”我点了一支烟，为了给自己一些思索的时间。我这时候真不知道该怎样办理我承担下的这件差事了。我准备好的一套绝妙词令，哀婉的也罢、愤激的也罢，在克里舍林荫道上以乎都不合拍了。突然，思特里克兰德咯咯地笑起来。