Since then, I have often been invited - sometimes just a few people - to attend such a banquet, but I can't. I used to think of the guests at these banquets as twelve saints of the temple. Indeed, like the first Christians, they gathered at Galmont House, not only to share delicious food, but also to attend Jesus'last social dinner. So, not many times, I got to know my master's friends. When the host introduced me to them, I was very kind, as if I had always been cared for by their kind fathers, and was their favorite person, so that my friends would list me every time they held a dance, otherwise they would be disrespectful to the Duke and the Duchess. As I drank the Igam from the Gelmont cellar, I tasted delicious dishes cooked according to different recipes. The recipe is customized and revised by the Duke himself every time. But for those who have eaten at this table more than once, it is not necessarily necessary to "receive the Holy Spirit". Mr. and Mrs. De Gelmont's old friends often visit before dinner and, in Mrs. Swan's words, come to the "after-dinner pick-teeth party": in winter, drink a cup of linden tea in the bright living room; in summer, drink a glass of orange water in the small rectangular garden covered with night curtain. The Garments'garden parties always serve only orange water. This seems to be the rule. Adding other drinks seems to be a betrayal of tradition, just as performing comedy or music at a grand communicative meeting in St. Germanic is not a communicative meeting in St. Germanic. Even if 500 people came, they should only be regarded as visiting the Duchess of Gelmont. But I'm the exception. Besides orange water, I can also enjoy cherry juice or pear juice in a long-necked belly bottle. I'm amazed at my privilege. Because of this bottle of juice, I had a bad feeling for King Aggrejant. Like all people who lack imagination but not greed, he admires what others drink and asks others to give him a little. Therefore, every time Mr. de Aggregate drank my ration of juice, it always spoiled my spirits. Because there wasn't enough juice for him to drink. Nothing is more delightful than the transformation of a fruit's color into delicacy. Boiled fruit, as if back to the flowering season. Juice is like a spring orchard, showing purple-red, or like the breeze under the fruit tree, colorless, cool, let people breathe and gaze drop by drop. But Mr. De Aglijente always prevented me from enjoying the beautiful scenery. Despite the sugar boiled fruit at the party, the traditional orange water, like basswood tea, remains unchanged. Common as it is, the communion continued. In this respect, as I had imagined at the outset, the relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. de Gelmont, after all, and their disappointing appearance, did not impress me very much. Many old men came to the Duchess's house and drank immutable drinks. They were received with great enthusiasm. However, they did not come to serve as upper class people. They were of nobler origin than anyone else. Nor is it because they like luxury: they may like it, but they will enjoy more luxury when they go to the homes of the lower-ranking people, because on the same night, the charming wife of a financial tycoon will do everything possible to invite them to participate in the dazzling two-day event for the King of Spain. Hunting. They refused, however, and took a chance to see if Mrs. de Gelmont was at home. Even, they can't be sure that they can hear exactly the same opinions as they do here, or that they will encounter emotions that make them boil with blood. Sometimes Mrs. de Gelmont talks about the Dreyfus case, the Republic and anti-religious laws, and even whispers about them about their physical defects and how tedious they are. They had to pretend to be deaf and dumb to listen to her remarks. Undoubtedly, they do not change their habits, because they are well-trained social gourmet, well aware of the quality of social dishes, delicious, authentic, reassuring. They know the origin and history of social cuisine as well as the hostess. In this respect, they are more aristocratic than they know. However, among the guests who visited after the meal (introduced by the host, I knew them all), there happened to be General de Montsevier, whom Princess Palma had talked about, who was a frequent visitor to Mrs. de Gelmont's salon, but she did not know that he would come that evening. He heard my name introduced and bowed to me as if I were the chairman of the High Military Commission. Just now, the Duchess politely refused to recommend her nephew to General de Montsevier. I only thought that she was not born to help others, and the Duke and she were her accomplices, just as he was her accomplice, at least intellectually, if not in love. When Princess Parma's inadvertent remarks made me realize that Robert was in danger and should change jobs, I felt even more that her indifference should be condemned. Later, Princess Parma cowardly proposed that she should talk to the general herself, but the Duchess obstructed her. At this time, I was very angry and felt that the Duchess was too bad-minded.
(1) After-dinner pick-up party refers to activities such as eating fruit or drinking coffee after dinner.
"But Madame," she cried, "Montsevier has no influence on the new Zheng House, and the new Zheng House does not trust him. It's no doubt a waste of your effort to find him."
"Keep it quiet, don't let him hear it," the princess whispered to the duchess. La Cousine Bette
"Your Highness may rest assured that he is very deaf," the Duchess said aloud, and the general could hear him clearly.
"Because I don't think it's safe for Mr. de Saint-Lou to work there," said Princess Parma.
"What do you want me to do?" The Duchess answered, "He's in the same situation as everybody else, except that he asked to go there himself. Besides, there is no danger at all. Otherwise, you think, can I ignore it? I would have said this to St. Joseph at dinner. His influence is much greater and more diligent than this one. You see, he's gone. Besides, it's much easier to deal with him than this one. This one happened to have three sons in Morocco, but they didn't want to be tuned. He will refuse. Now that your Highness insists, I'll talk to St. Joseph later... If I could see him. Otherwise, it's OK to talk to Botley.
But if I don't meet them, you don't have to worry too much about Robert. On that day, we were told about the situation there. I don't think he's as good there as he is there."
What beautiful flowers! I have never seen such beautiful flowers. Only you, Oliana, will have such wonderful flowers and weeds!" The Princess of Parma, General Fed Monsevier, may have heard the Duchess talking and wanted to change the subject, saying, "I recognize this flower as the one Elstier painted in front of me."
"I'm glad you like them. They are lovely. Look at this thin, purple and fluffy neck. Even if the name is not pleasant, the smell is not pleasant, just as handsome and elegant people will have ugly names. Nevertheless, I like them very much. But they're dying. It's sad."
"But they are potted flowers, not picked," said Princess Parma.
"Yes, potted flowers," said the Duchess with a laugh, "but that's the same thing, because they are female. This plant has different male and female plants. I'm like a man with only one bitch. I need a husband for my flowers. Otherwise, I would not have future generations."
How strange! But in nature...
"Yes, some insects can be matchmakers, just like the marriage of a monarch, which is also matched by a third party. The fianc and fiancee have never met. So, I swear to you, it's true. I told my servant to put my flowers in the window as much as possible, sometimes in the yard, sometimes in the garden, hoping to fly insects to match them. But it all depends on luck. You see, if that insect happens to have visited the opposite sex of my flower, it just has to think of coming to my house to send business cards. But it hasn't come yet. I believe that my flower is still an ice-clean girl worthy of a rose corolla. I admit that I would be glad if it had been more wild. Look, take the beautiful tree in the courtyard for example, it will not have offspring until it dies, because there are few such trees in this area. It's mediated by the wind, but our walls are a little too high.
"It's a little too high," said Mr. De Brauday. "Just push it down a few hundred centimeters. These things should be done. Duchess, the ice cream you asked us to eat just now is very fragrant, and the essence of the ingredients is extracted from a plant named vanilla. This plant is monoecious, but separated by a rigid layer of things that affect pollination. It would not have been possible if there hadn't been a native black youth named Alban on the island of Reunion, which, by the way, was quite funny, because Alban meant white * when it came to thinking of using a pin to connect separate male and female organs.
"Babel, you know everything," exclaimed the Duchess.
"You too, Oliana. I never thought of many things you said."
"I want to tell your highness that Swan taught me all these things. He always told me about plants. Sometimes, when we find it too boring to go to tea parties or day shows, we go to the countryside. He shows me fantastic matches of flowers, no cold dinner parties, no hallowed vessel room of French clothes, but it is more interesting than human marriage. But at that time, we had no time to go far away. Now there's a car. It would be great to take a car to the countryside. Unfortunately, in the meantime, he married himself. This marriage is even more incredible, and nothing can be done in this way. Ah! Madam, life is terrible. You spend your time doing something that makes you feel bored. You happen to know someone who you can go to see something interesting with, but he just wants to marry like Swan. I had to either give up going to the countryside to see the plants or associate with an unseemly person. Of these two disasters, I chose the former. Besides, there is no need to go that far. In my garden, in broad daylight, there are also things that are not decent, more than at night... More happens in Bronilin Park! Just nobody noticed. Because the thing between the flowers is very simple, an orange | Color * light rain, or a fly covered with dust came to wipe its feet or shower, and then flew into the flowers. That's it!"
"The five cupboards with the potted flowers are also gorgeous. I think it's imperial style." Princess Parma, who knew nothing about Darwin and his heirs, couldn't understand the Duchess'jokes and had to change the subject.
"It's beautiful, isn't it? Madame likes it. I'm glad, "the Duchess answered." This is a treasure. I want to say to you that I adore imperial furniture very much, and then it's out of fashion, but I still like it. I remember being humiliated by my mother-in-law at the Castle of Galmont because I had all the splendid imperial furniture removed from the top floor and put in the side room where I lived. The furniture was inherited by Bazan from the Montesquieus.
Mr. de Gelmont smiled. However, he should remember that the facts were quite different from what his wife had said. However, for a short period of time when Prince Lom and his wife were so affectionate and like glue, Mrs. Prince always liked to joke about her mother-in-law's vulgar aesthetics. Later, Prince Lom's love for his wife disappeared, but he still looked down on his mother's vulgarity, although he loved and respected her very much.
"The Jena family also has an easy chair inlaid with Wedgwood, which is beautiful, but I prefer my one," said the Duchess impartially, as if neither chair was hers, "but I admit that we don't have some of the wonderful things in their family."
Princess Parma was silent.
Wedgwood (1730-1795), British artist and industrialist, the best pottery maker.
"That's true. Your Highness has never seen their collection. Ah! You must come with me once. It's the most splendid collection of treasures in Paris, a living museum."
The Duchess'proposal is the boldest one in the spirit of Gelmont, because for Princess Palma, the Jena couple are real usurpers, and their son, like her son, is also called Duke Guastala. When Mrs. de Gelmont put forward this proposal, she couldn't help looking at other guests with pleasure and a smile, for although she respected Princess Palma, she preferred to be original. The guests also tried to pretend to be smiling. They were frightened and frightened, but they were more overjoyed because they were the witnesses of Oliana's "latest creation" and could "ride the heat" to tell others. But they weren't stunned, because they knew that the Duchess was very good at challenging all the prejudices of the Gufuscier family in her life, thus achieving a very interesting and pleasant victory. Hasn't she made Duke Omar and Princess Matilde better in recent years? It was the Duke who wrote a famous letter to the princess's brothers: "In my family, every man is upright and every woman is perfect." However, no matter how honest the princes of the Omar family are, they show their integrity even when they intentionally forget their personality. The Duke of Omar and Princess Mathilde still fall in love at first sight at Mrs. de Gelmont's house, and then interact with each other. They have the ability of Louis XVIII to forget history. Fuxie voted to execute his brother Louis XVI, but he did not remember his enemies and appointed him Minister of Public Security. Mrs. de Gelmont is now working on a plan to bring Princess Mulla and Queen Naples closer. At the Duchess'suggestion, Princess Palma was embarrassed, as were Prince Orange and Duke Brabant, heirs to the throne of the Netherlands and Belgium, when they heard that Mr. de Mayi-Neill and Mr. de Charles would be introduced to them. But the Duchess did not wait for Princess Palma to make her voice heard. (Actually, she did not like the imperial style at first. It took Mr. Swan and Mr. de Charles a lot of effort to make her like it, but Mr. de Charles despised the Jena family.):"Madam, frankly, you did. Those collections will certainly feel beautiful. I admit, I've always been impressed by the Imperial style of furniture. But when we arrived at Jena's house, it was as if we were in a phantom. We seem to be back. How can we tell you that... Back to the days of expeditions to Egypt, back to ancient times, when Egypt and Rome invaded houses, Sphinx rested on the legs of an easy chair, snakes wrapped around candlesticks, and a tall Muse held out a small Candlestick to illuminate you to play cards, or to stay quietly on the fireplace, with arms on the bell. All the lights are Pompeii style. Those boat-shaped beds are like boats found on the Nile River. You can expect Moses to come out of them. There are four horses and two-wheeled chariots in ancient Rome running along the edge of the bedside cabinet.
Fischer (1759-1820), French statesman. Elected to the National Assembly in 1792, he voted for the execution of King Louis XVI. During the restoration period, Louis XVIII appointed him Minister of Public Security.
Pompeii is an ancient Italian city. Pompeii style refers to the artistic style of pictures found in Pompeii, which is a variant of Greek art or Alexandrian art.
(3) Moses was the ancient leader of Jews in Biblical stories. When he was born, he was packed into a box and hid in a reed bush. When Pharaoh's daughter took a bath, she found him and named him Moses, meaning "I pulled him out of the water".
"It's not comfortable sitting in an imperial chair," said Princess Parma boldly.
"It's uncomfortable," the Duchess answered, "but I like it," and then she smiled and stressed, "I like the uncomfortable feeling of sitting in a red wooden chair wrapped in pomegranate red velvet or green silk. I like this kind of military discomfort. They just sit in Ivory chairs, cross sticks in the middle of the hall and pile up laurels. I assure you, at Jena's house, when you see a big villain, the goddess of victory, painted on the wall in front of you, you won't feel uncomfortable sitting down. My husband is going to think I'm a bad royalist, but you know, my thoughts are not orthodox. I assure you that in those homes, you will fall in love with these unknown people and these bees. My God, during the reign of the monarch, the soldiers had not fully enjoyed the honor for a long time. Now how many laurels have they brought back, even on the arm of the easy chair, they have placed laurels. I think it has a different flavor! Your Highness should go and see it."
"My God, you think I should go there," said the princess, "but I don't think it's easy."
"Look, madam, everything will be arranged. They are all good people, not fools. We've taken Mrs. De Chevres with us, "added the Duchess, who knew the case was convincing." She was delighted. Jena's son is very likable... What I'm going to say next may not be very appropriate, "she continued." He has a bedroom, especially that bed, on which everyone wants to sleep! Of course, when he's not sleeping! The following words may be even more inappropriate: once, when he was ill and bedridden, I went to see him. Next to him, along the bed, was carved a slender, charming Mermaid with a tail made of moles and a lotus in his hand. With the brown leaf ornament and the golden crown next to it, I assure you, "added Mrs. de Gelmont, deliberately slowing down her speech, as if she had been moulding her words with a beautiful pout and expressive pointed fingers, while gazing at Princess Palma with a tender and deep gaze." It's really very touching. It's exactly the same layout as Gustav Moro's Youth and Death. Your Highness must have known about this painting?"
Princess Parma had not even heard of the painter's name, but she nodded desperately and smiled warmly to show that she appreciated the painting. But her face is full of expression, but her eyes are not shining. Looking at her eyes without light, she knows that she doesn't know the painter at all.
"I think he's a beautiful young man, isn't he?" She asked.
"No, he's like a tapir. The eyes are like lampshades, somewhat similar to those of Queen Holtens. He presumably thought that it would be ridiculous for a man to let this image unfold elsewhere, so when he got to his cheek, he would no longer look like Queen Holtens. His face seemed to be covered with wax, and he looked like a guard of the ancient Egyptian Sudan. It's like someone waxes him every morning." Then she drew the subject back to the young Duke's bed: "Swan was surprised to see that the mermaid resembled Gustav Moro's Death. "But," she added in a more sober, quicker tone to make people laugh, "we need not be surprised. The boy had rhinitis. He's as strong as a cow."
Moro (1826-1898), French painter and sculptor.
(2) Queen Holtens (1783-1837), born to Josephine, Napoleon's wife and her ex-husband, was the third mother of Napoleon.
"It is said that he is infatuated with social life?" Mr. De Bleoday asked with unkindness and excitement, expecting a clear answer he hoped for: "Is it true that someone said to me that he has only four fingers on his right hand?"
"My... God, no... "Yes," Mrs. de Gelmont answered with a tolerant smile. On the face of it, he may be a little addicted to social life, because he is too young. If he was such a person, I would be surprised because he was a smart person, "she added, as if in her opinion, obsession with sociality and intelligence were incompatible." He's funny, and I've seen his funny looks, "she went on, showing the smiles of connoisseurs and experts, as if to say that a person is funny and must make such a happy expression, or maybe it's Duke Guastala's funny remarks that are ringing in her ears at the moment." Besides, he has not been accepted by the upper classes, so there is no need to say that he is keen on social life, "she added, regardless of whether it would discourage Princess Parma.
"I wonder what Prince Gelmont would say if he knew I had been to her house. He called her Mrs. Jena."
"How come?" The Duchess cried fiercely, "We have given Hilbert an entire Imperial-style billiard house. (She regrets too much now!) These are all handed down to us by the dove. They are beautiful! Half is Etruscan style, half is Egyptian style..."
(1) Iceluria is the name of the old region of Italy.
"Egypt?" The Princess asked. She did not know what was going on in Etruria.
"My God, both styles are what Swan told us. He talked to me for half a day. Just. As you know, I'm only a stranger to learning, so I don't seem to understand. However, Madam, it is clear that the imperial style of Egypt has nothing to do with real Egypt. The Romans of the Jena family are completely different from the real Romans. Their Etrulia..."
"Really!" The Princess said.
"Yes, as in the Second Reich, when Anna de Mussie or the mother of dear Briggard was young, some of the clothes were called Louis XV, but they had nothing to do with Louis XV. Just now, Ba agreed with you about Beethoven. On that day, someone played a piece of his music for us. It was beautiful, but not bold enough. One of the themes in this piece was Russian style. When we think of Beethoven thinking that this is Russian music, we cannot but be moved. Similarly, Chinese painters think they are imitating Berlini. Even in the same country, when someone looks at things in a relatively new way, 100% of the people simply can't see what he wants to show. It will take at least forty years to figure it out."
(1) Berlini (1400-1470), Italian painter.
"Forty years!" The princess was shocked and exclaimed.
"Of course." The Duchess went on to say that her special pronunciation made her words (almost mine, because I happened to express a similar opinion in front of her) more and more literal in italics, "which is very much like the first individual in isolation of a species that does not yet exist but will multiply and thrive." This individual has feelings that are not shared by the human race of his time. I can say it's an exception, because I always like interesting new things. As soon as they come out, I like them. But that day I went to the Louvre with the Grand Duchess, and we passed before Manet's Olympia. Nobody will be surprised by this picture any more. It looks like an Angle painting! However, God knows why I defend this painting. I don't like everything about it, but I'm sure it came from a master. Maybe its location is not entirely in the Louvre.
"How is Grand Duchess?" Princess Parma said. She was far more familiar with the Czar's aunt than with Manet's paintings.
"Very well. We talked about you. In fact, "said the Duchess, still following her own line of thought," as my little uncle Palamedes said, there is a language barrier between people. In addition. I admit that nobody has a big obstacle between Hillbe and others. You have an independent mind, and if you think that going to Jena's house will make you happy, you don't have to think about what poor Hillbe would think. He is a lovely honest man, but he sticks to the old ways. I feel that I am closer and more related to my coachman and horse than to Hillberg. He often said what would happen to those who were under the rule of Phillips or Louis. When he was walking in the countryside, he always foolishly asked the peasants to give way with crutches and said in his mouth,'Get out, countryman!' To be honest, when he talks to me, it's like the'dead recumbent'in an ancient Gothic tomb talking to me. I'm very surprised. Although this living sleeping image is my cousin, it frightens me. I have only one idea, that is, to let him stay in his Middle Ages. In addition, I admit that he never killed a man.
(1) Yongfu Philip (1342-1404), the Regent in French history.
Louis the Fatty (1081-1137), King of France.
"Just now, I happened to have dinner with him at Mrs. de Villebarisis's house," said the general, but there was no smile on his face and he disapproved of the duchess's joke.
"Is Mr. de Nobwa in?" Prince Feng asked. He never forgot joining the College of Ethics and Politics.
"Yes," said the general, "he also talked about your emperor."
"It is said that Emperor William was very clever, but he did not like Elstier's paintings. But I'm not saying he's doing wrong, "said the Duchess." I agree with him. Even though Elstier painted me a beautiful picture. Ah! Don't you know there's this picture? It doesn't look like it, but it's wonderful. He's very interesting when people pose. He posed me as an old woman. This is imitating Hares'The Regent of the Hospital. I think you must know this, as my nephew said, "Supreme," said the Duchess, shaking her black feather fan and turning her face to me. She sat upright in her chair and looked up elegantly, because although she had always been a lady, she still had to put on a lady's look. I said, I've been to Amsterdam and The Hague before, but I didn't go to Harlem because of the time constraints, so I had to highlight the main points.
"Ah! The Hague, that's a big museum!" Cried Mr. de Gelmont. I told him that he must have seen Vermeer's Delft Scenery there. However, the Duke was ignorant and arrogant. He pretended to be pretentious and confined himself to answering my questions, as he did every time he talked to him about a painting in a museum or exhibition that he could not remember:
"If it's worth seeing, I must have seen it!"
(1) Halls (about 1580-1666), Dutch portrait painter and custom painter.
(2) Vermeer (1632-1675), a Dutch custom painter, also paints portraits and landscapes.
"What! You're traveling to Holland, not even Harlem?' The Duchess said aloud. Even if you have only a quarter of an hour's free time, it's great to see Hares'paintings. I dare say that if his paintings were put on an open-air exhibition, they would be stunned even if they could only be seen from the top of the fast-moving tram. This sentence seems to indicate that our eyes are just a fast camera, not acknowledging that works of art can make an impression on us, so I feel a little uncomfortable listening to it.
Mr. de Gelmont was delighted to see her talking to me so professionally about issues of interest to me. He gazed at his wife Heh's famous demeanor, listened to her views on Franz Hares, and thought, "She knows everything well and knows everything well." My young guest may think that he is confronted with a real old lady, and nowadays he can't find a second one." As I have seen, they are completely out of touch with the name Gelmont. I used to imagine them living an extraordinary life by their names. Now I think they are no different from other men or other women, just slightly behind their contemporaries. However, they lag behind to varying degrees, just like many couples in the Saint Germanic District, and their wives are very versatile. Big, can stay in the golden age, but the husband is unlucky, can only return to the youth of history, when the husband has entered the luxurious Louis-Philip era, the wife still stays in the Louis XV era. When I saw that Mrs. de Gelmont was no different from other women, I was disappointed at first, but because of the reaction and a couple of good drinks, I began to feel that it was amazing. If we imagine a man named Don Juan de Austria or a woman named Isabel de Ester by name, we will see that they have nothing to do with real history, just as the side of Messegris has nothing to do with the side of Galmont Castle. Undoubtedly, Isabel de Ester is a little princess in reality. She is very much the same as the princess who did not gain special status in Louis XIV. But when we imagine her as unique and therefore incomparable, we will see her as great as Louis XIV, so that we only see dinner with Louis XIV as a meaningful thing, but magically move Isabel de Ester from this mythical world to her patiently. In real history, we will be disappointed when we realize that her thoughts and life do not have the secrets that her name has made us imagine, but then we will sincerely thank the princess for her mastery of Mantana, whose knowledge in this respect can be compared with that of Mr. Lavernest. As far as we are concerned, we have not yet attached importance to Mr. Lavernest's knowledge. In Franoise's words, we regard it as lower than the earth. I climbed the heights of the name Galmont and went down the Duchess'footsteps to find familiar names: Victor Hugo, Franz Halls, and, unfortunately, Vibel. I was amazed, like a traveler, in a wilderness Valley in Central America or North Africa. In the middle, because of its remote location and bizarre names of flowers and trees, he felt strange customs everywhere, but when he passed through the tall Aloe or Manziela forests, he found that the inhabitants, sometimes in front of an ancient Roman theatre and a relic carved with the pillar of Venus, were reading Voltaire's Merop. 》 Or Alezil, how surprised it would be. Mrs. de Gelmont tried to understand the culture she would never understand through similar culture, which was so remote and unattainable to the cultured bourgeois women I knew, just like a politician or a doctor who had the origin of Phoenician culture. Knowledge is so commendable, but it's pathetic that it's useless.
Mantana (1431-1506), an Italian Renaissance Badua painter, has painted murals for the palace of Isabel de Ester's husband Gonzaga.
Lavernest (1837-1919), French poet and literary critic. He was the curator of the Louvre Museum.
"I could have shown you a beautiful painting," Mrs. de Gelmont said to me kindly about Halls, "which, according to some people, is the most beautiful one. I inherited it from a German cousin. It's a pity that it's a'manor'in the castle. You don't know the word? I know that too, "she added. She liked to joke about old customs, thinking it was fashionable, but she was unconsciously and painfully attached to them." If you look at my paintings of El showing disgust, there's no doubt about it. It must be a masterpiece. Steele's painting, I'm very happy, but I admit that if I could show you Hares's painting as a'fief', I would be even happier.
"I've seen that painting," Prince Feng said. "It's a portrait of Grand Duke Hess."
"Yes, his brother married my sister," said Mr. de Gelmont, "and his mother was a cousin of Oliana's mother."
"As for Mr. Elstel," Prince Von added, "I venture to say that although I have not seen his paintings and can't say anything about them, I don't think Emperor William should refrain from his constant hatred of him. Emperor William is the most intelligent man."
"Yes, I had two meals with him, one at Aunt Sagan's and one at Aunt Rajiville's. It should be said that I think he is extraordinary. I don't think he has a simple mind! But there was something "artificial" and interesting about him, like the green carnation (she said it very clearly with one glance), which surprised me but didn't appeal to me very much. It's amazing to make such things artificially, but I think it's okay not to make them. I hope my words will not upset you." Emperor William was extremely smart, "Prince Feng added." He loved art, and his appreciation of works of art was absolute, and he never made a mistake: if a work was beautiful, he could recognize it at a glance and hate it immediately; if he was happy with a piece of work, everyone would enjoy it.
"I'm relieved of what you said," said the Duchess. Father Goriot
"I'd love to compare the emperor with an old archaeologist in Berlin." The prince's pronunciation was inaccurate and he read the archaeologist's "exam" as "do", but he never missed the opportunity to use the word. Old archaeologists cry in front of ancient Assyrian buildings. But when confronted with fake cultural relics and fakes, he would not cry. Therefore, when you want to know whether a relic is genuine or fake, you take it to an old archaeologist for identification. When he cries, you buy it for the museum. If his eyes are dry, you return it to the merchant, and you can sue the merchant. Ah! Whenever I eat at the Potsdam Palace, as long as I hear the German Emperor say,'Prince, you should have a look at it. It's a genius', I will write down the works concerned and never ask for help. If I hear his harsh condemnation of a painting exhibition, I will go and watch them whenever possible.
"Does Nobwa disapprove of Anglo-French peace?" Mrs. de Gelmont said.
"What's good for you?" Angrily and dangerously, Prince Feng, who hated the British people to the bone, asked, "They met (foolishly) foolishly. I know they will not help you as soldiers. However, we can still evaluate them according to what they will receive. Recently, a friend of mine had a conversation with Buda. Do you know? He was the leader of the Boer people. Buda said to my friend,'It's terrible for the army to be like this. Actually, I still like the British, but think about it, I'm just a peasant, but I beat them up in every battle. Let's just say in the last battle, the enemy's force is twenty times larger than mine. I can't resist it and have to surrender, but I still caught 2,000 of his prisoners! That's good enough. Because I'm just a general of able people's origin. If these fools compete with a real European army, the result is conceivable!' In addition, if you look at their king, you know what kind of person he is, but he has become a great man in Britain.
Buda (1862-1919), a South African general, bravely resisted the British invaders.
The Boers were colonists of South Africa.
I listened absently to Prince Feng's chatter. His stories are much the same as those Mr. de Nobwa told my father. They can't provide spiritual food for my dreams. Even if they have something that arouses my fantasy, it has to be very stimulating to revitalize my inner life at this social moment, because at this moment I only pay attention to my skin, hair and shirt, that is to say, the pleasures of ordinary life, which I can not feel at all.
"Ah! I don't agree with you, "Mrs. de Gelmont retorted, feeling that Prince von's speech was unimportant." I think Edward VII is very cute, very simple, much smarter than you think. His queen is still the most beautiful person I know, even now."
Edward VII (1841-1910), King of England. When he was young, he was a well-known figure in Paris's social circles. After his accession to the throne, his pro-French stance brought Britain and France closer.
"But the Duchess," said the Prince angrily, not realizing that others hated him. "If the Prince of Wales was just an ordinary person, then no social circle would accept him and no one would shake hands with him. The Queen was charming, gentle and kind, but ignorant. After all, the King and his wife had something to disgust them: they depended entirely on their subjects to support them and let Jewish financiers pay all their expenses in exchange for having to make these Jews barons. Like the Bulgarian prince...
"He's our cousin," said the Duchess. "He's very intelligent."
"It's also my cousin," Prince Feng said, "but we don't think he's a real (honest) man. No You should be close to us. That's the emperor's greatest wish, but he wants to be close in good faith. He said: I want to shake hands, not take off my hat, so that you will be invincible. This is more practical than the English and French language advocated by Mr. Nobua."
"You know Mr. de Nobwa, I know," the Duchess said to me in order to allow me to join the conversation. I recall that Mr. de Nobwa once said that I seemed to want to kiss his hand. He might have told Mrs. de Gelmont about it. He would only speak ill of me in front of her anyway, because, despite his good friendship with my father, he did not hesitate to make me look bad in public. I did not think of that. An upper-class person should answer the Duchess like that: a upper-class person may say that he hates Mr. De Nobwa and will make him feel that he hates him; he says this to let people know that the ambassador says bad things because he hates him, purely retaliatory, nonsense. However, I say that I deeply regret that Mr. de Nobwa does not like me." You're wrong, "Mrs. de Gelmont answered me." He likes you very much. You can ask Bazan. If, in the eyes of the public, I love to be polite, Bazan is not, he will say to you, we have never heard Nobuva praise a person as you praise. Finally, he wants to find you a good job in the Foreign Ministry. But he knew you were not in good health and would not accept it, so he dared not tell your father what he thought. He has great respect for your father." Mr. De Nobwa is the last person I can look forward to receiving help from. In fact, despite Mr. de Nobwa's mockery and often ill-intentions, his appearance makes people feel fair, much like St. Louis, who arbitrates civil affairs under an oak tree, with a pleasant and compassionate voice. Those who like me believe in his appearance and voice hear bad words from a person who has always spoken honestly. But that doesn't stop him from being sympathetic. He will praise the people he likes and be ready to help others.
(1) St. Louis (1214-1270), the ninth of Louis, the greatest king of the Gape Dynasty in France, was wise and just. He often arbitrates under an oak tree in his garden.
"Besides, I'm not surprised that he appreciates you," Mrs. de Gelmont said to me. "He's very smart." Next, she revealed a marriage affair in the bud, which I haven't heard before: "I know very well that my aunt as his old mistress has not liked him anymore, and of course, being his bride is more redundant. Moreover, I think she is no longer his mistress. She is too religious. Booth-Nobwa can quote a poem by Victor Hugo.
The woman who sleeps with me, God!
I've already left my bed and plunged into your arms! ____________
(1) Booth, a rich old man from the Bible, is the first poem in Hugo's Collection of Legends of All Dynasties, The Sleeping Booth. In the novel, the Duchess compares Nobwa to Booth, so she calls him Booth-Nobwa.
My poor aunt, like the avant-garde artists, attacked the French Academy all her life, but in her twilight, she founded her own little French Academy, or, like the vulgar ones, eventually established her own religion. In this way, it is better not to return vulgar, or live in a loafer. Who knows, "said the Duchess thoughtfully." Maybe considering widowhood in the future. There is nothing sadder than the death of a person who cannot mourn for it."
"Ah! If Mrs. de Villebarisis were to become Mrs. de Nobwa, I believe our cousin Hilbert would be sad, "General De Jian Joseph said.
"Prince Gelmont is a good man, but he really values birth and etiquette," said Princess Parma. "Unfortunately, Mrs. Gelmont was ill and I stayed in his country house for two days. Little one (Mrs. de Yuknolstein's nickname, because she's a big horse) accompanied me. The prince came down the steps to meet me, took my arm, and pretended not to see the little one. After walking down the steps, he came to the door of the living room and the prince flashed over to give way to me. Then he said,'Ah! Hello, Mrs. de Knowlestein (since he broke up with her, he only called her Mrs. de Knowlestein)', pretending to have just seen a little bit, indicating that there is no need to go down the stone steps to meet her.
"I'm not surprised at all. I don't have to tell you that my cousin and I disagree on many issues, "said the Duke, who considers himself an extreme new-school figure who scorns birth, even a republican, more than anyone else." Madam may feel that I and he have completely different views on almost all issues. But I want to say that if my aunt wants to marry Nobua, this time I will stand by Hillberg. As Florimon de Giss's daughter, she married such a man, which, as the saying goes, would make the hen laugh off her teeth. How would you tell me? The Duke usually put it in the middle of the last sentence, which is totally superfluous. But he always uses it. If he can't find a place in the sentence, he throws it at the end of the sentence. It seems to be a rhythm to him, and it's very important.) Notice, however,'he went on,'that Nobwa's relatives are honest gentlemen, of noble origin and of a long family.
"Listen, Bazan, since you agree with Hilbert, why do you sneer at him?" said Mrs. de Gelmont. She believes that a person's origin is not "noble", which, like wine, depends on whether the age is long. She saw the same thing as Prince Gelmont and Duke Gelmont. But she had no cousin who was more forthright and shrewd than her husband. Therefore, she never spoke against the spirit of Gelmont, and even if she held her position in action, she would despise it verbally.
"Aren't you still related to him?" General de Saint Joseph asked, "In my impression, Nobwa married a lady of the La Rochefoucauld family."
"It's not that kind of relationship. She belongs to the branch of Duke La Rochefoucault. My grandmother is the Duke of Dudowell, and she is also Edward Gogo's grandmother. Gogo is the most intelligent in the family, "the Duke answered, his views on wisdom are too superficial." Since Louis XIV, the two branches have never been married again. We are far from him."
"Oh, that's interesting. I don't know about that, "said the general.
"Besides," continued Mr. de Gelmont, "his mother, as far as I know, was the sister of the Duke of Montmorancy and married first to a member of the Ladur de Ovonne family. However, these people named Montmoranci and the Montmoranci family barely touch each other, and these people named Rado de Ovonne are not Rado de Ovonne at all, so I do not see any help for Mr. Nobwa. He said that he was a descendant of St. Tetray, which might make sense, because we are directly from St. Tetray..."
Saint Trail, a French soldier in the fifteenth century, was named Marshal after being a partner of Joan of Arc.
In Gombre, there is a St. Tray Street. After leaving Gombre, I never think of it again. One end of the street is adjacent to Brittany Street, and the other leads to Bird Street. Because Joan's partner, St. Tray, married a Miss Gelmont, the Count of Gombret's territory belongs to the Gelmont family. Saint Lay's weapons are also displayed under a stained glass window of St. Elaine's church, making the weapons of the Gelmont family. We are in a dilemma. When the conversation turned and the name of Gelmont had a tone that I had often heard and forgotten, it seemed as if I had seen the steps of black clay again. How different was the tone given to the name by the attentive host who invited me to dinner tonight from the tone I had heard before? If the name of the Duchess of Gelmont is a collective noun for me, then it is not only the name of many women in history, but also in my short youth, I have seen many different women appear one after another in this Gelmont, and now take root in her. Then the first one will disappear. The meaning of words will not change much in a few centuries, but names will change a lot for us in just a few years. Our memories are not strong enough, our hearts are not broad enough to remember everything. Our brains don't have enough space to remember both the living and the dead. We had to conceive of things that we had discovered by chance in the past, just as we had just discovered in St. Trail. I think it's superfluous to explain all this, even when Mr. de Gelmont asked me,'You don't know our liars', I didn't say a word. In fact, I was lying. Maybe he knows I know him, but he's well educated and embarrassed to stick to it. I'm thinking about it. Mrs. de Gelmont pulled me back to reality.
"I find it tedious to talk about it. Listen, our family is not always so boring. I hope you'll have another meal soon, and next time you won't have a family tree, "the Duchess whispered to me. She couldn't understand what attracted me from her family. She couldn't put down her shelf and be willing to be a collection of ancient plant specimens to win my favor.
Mrs. de Gelmont believed that I would be disappointed by the Duke and the General's constant talk about genealogy. On the contrary, it was because they talked about genealogy that I was not completely disappointed this evening. How can I not be disappointed before that? I felt that the guests at the dinner gave this mysterious name, which I could only imagine at a distance, a plain, vulgar color, adding a mediocre, even more mediocre body and head to it, as well as every Hamlet-obsessed reader, to Denmark. The Port of Elsino is the same impression. Of course, these areas and this period of history have filled the names of these guests with ancient trees and Gothic bell towers, forming their images, ideas and prejudices to some extent, but this is only a causal relationship, that is to say, the region and history can be analyzed with wisdom, but imagination is useless here.
Port Elsino is the place where the story of Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet takes place. Now it's Helsinger.
These prejudices of the past suddenly restored their poetry to the friends of Mr. and Mrs. de Gelmont. Ideas in the aristocratic mind can undoubtedly turn aristocrats into writers and etymologists (names, not words), just compared with the general ignorant bourgeoisie, because even a mediocre believer can better answer your questions about liturgy than a mediocre liberal thinker, but an anti-religious one. Archaeologists know the parish church better than their own priests, but if we want to tell the truth, that is, to keep a rational mind, these ideas are less attractive to these great lords than to a bourgeois man. They know that the Duchess of Giss is Princess Clive, Princess Orleans, or Princess Bossian, which I may not be as good as them, but before they know these names, they know the face of the Duchess of Giss. From then on, when they hear the name of the Duchess of Giss, they will think of her face. I started with fairies, who knew people first, even though she was fleeting.
In bourgeois families, a sister marries earlier than her sister, sometimes causing her sister's jealousy. And aristocratic societies (especially the Gufu Vassiers and the Garments) always naively attribute aristocratic greatness only to family superiority. The first thing I learned from the books was the naive idea of the aristocracy (which, in my opinion, was the only charm of the aristocratic society). In his memoir, Duleman proudly recounted Mr. de Gaimene's loud cry to his brother: "You can come in, this is not the Louvre!" It also describes Mr. de Gaimene's comments on the Knight de Roon (the illegitimate son of the Duke of Clermont): "He is at least the prince." Doesn't Duleman seem to be talking about the Garments when he talks about the Roons? In the conversation between Mr. de Gelmont and General St. Joseph, there was only one thing that made me uncomfortable: I saw that rumors about the lovely heir to the Grand Duke of Luxembourg could find a market in this salon, just as St. Luxembourg's friends believed these rumors to be true. Obviously, it's an epidemic that has been spreading for only two years, but everyone can catch it. While spreading rumors, it also adds twigs and leaves and spreads new rumors. Even the princess of Luxembourg seems to be defending her nephew, but I understand that she is actually providing offensive weapons to everyone. It's wrong of you to defend him, "Mr. de Gelmont said to me, and Saint Luther told me so." Well, you may not listen to what our relatives say, although the views are the same. You can talk to his servants, who know us best after all. Mrs. de Luxembourg gave her little slave to him. The slave ran back crying and said,'Grand Duke hit me, I'm not a bad man, Grand Duke. It's amazing. I'm responsible for what I say. He's a cousin of Oliana."
(1) Dullemann (1619-1692), French memoir writer.
(2) De Gemene was the first lord of Mombasson territory in the fifteenth century, and later became Prince Gemene. Since there were no offspring, the territory passed on to his brother, the Duke of Mombasson.
(3) The Knight of Roon (1635-1674), captain of the dog hunting team of King Louis XIV of France.
(4) The Roon family is one of the most famous families in France. It is the descendant of King Brittany. The Gaimene family and the Mombasson family are the branches of the Roon family.
That night, I didn't know how many times I heard the words cousins and cousins. First of all, whenever someone mentions a name, Mr. de Gelmont always shouts happily: "This is a cousin of Oliana!" It's like when someone lost in the forest suddenly sees a road sign. Two opposite arrows point to Belleville-Casimir-Perrier and the main hunter's Cross Village. Under the arrows are small kilometres. It's ecstatic to know that you've found the right road. Secondly, the Turkish Ambassador's wife uses the words cousins and cousins for completely different purposes (with the exception of cousins). The Ambassador's wife came after dinner. She is ambitious and eager to show herself in society. She is talented, knowledgeable and memorable. Whatever it is, the retreat history of ten thousand people or the mistake of bird sex make her easy to learn. She knows everything about the latest German publications, political and economic history, all kinds of mental illness and epicurean philosophy. In addition, what she said was very untrustworthy, because she often put the cart before the horse, describing the white and flawless chastity as an unruly prostitute, and the modest and selfless gentleman as a little man to be on guard against. She talks like stories in books, not because they are serious, but because they are absurd.
(1) The history of ten thousand retreats refers to the history of ten thousand Greek mercenaries who were requisitioned by the Persian King Cyrus Junior in 400 B.C. crossing the mountains of Albania to overcome difficulties and return to their homeland.
At that time, there were not many people she could go in and out of. For weeks, she had visited distinguished ladies like Mrs. Galmont, but on the whole, she could only communicate with some of the noble families who had lost their luster, and the Galmonts had long since broken off from them. She wanted people to feel that she was close to the upper classes and often referred to the names of her friends. Her friends are not popular in society, but their names are loud. When Mr. de Gelmont heard this, he thought that he was a regular guest at the dinner table and an acquaintance of his. He was so happy that he echoed and shouted, "Oh, that's one of Oliana's cousins!" I know him like the palm of my hand. He lives on Vano Street. His mother is Miss De Husseins." So the Ambassador's wife had to admit that the person she said belonged to a lower animal. She tried to connect her friend with Mr. de Gelmont's friend, took the Duke's words and said roundabout, "I know who you are talking about, I am not talking about them, but about their cousins." But the poor Mrs. Ambassador's retreat was quickly blocked, for Mr. de Gelmont was disappointed and answered, "Ah! Then I don't know who you're talking about." The Ambassador's wife was speechless, because if she knew the cousins of the people she should know, they were often not relatives. After a while, Mr. de Gelmont would throw out again, "That's one of Oliana's cousins." In his opinion, this sentence is as important as some of the modifiers that Latin poets like to use: these modifiers provide a cadence or a Yanger for poets to write six-syllable poems. disillusionment
I think, at least, "That's a cousin of Oliana" is natural for Princess Gelmont, who is indeed a close relative of the Duchess. Mrs. Ambassador seems to dislike Mrs. Prince. She whispered to me, "She's stupid. Actually, she is not very beautiful. This is reputation theft. Besides, "she said to me in a thoughtful, resolute and disgusting manner," I don't like her at all. However, this cousinship often extends far. Mrs. de Gelmont had to call some people "aunts", but it would take at least the fifteenth century of Louis to find a common ancestor. Likewise, every misfortune of the times made a prince marry a woman with billions of dollars. If both the prince's high grandfather and Mrs. de Gelmont's high grandfather married a young lady of the Louvoir family, then the American wife of the prince could call the Duchess aunt on her first visit. It would be a privilege to be somewhat snubbed and criticized, and Mrs. de Gelmont accepted the title with a kind smile. But it does not matter to me what Mr. de Gelmont and General de Bozefoye think of origin; in their conversation on the subject, I seek only a poetic pleasure. They don't feel happy themselves, but they bring me happiness, just like the farmers or sailors talking about crops or tides, because these realities are their daily life, they can't understand the poetry and painting in them, they have to rely on ourselves to refine.
Sometimes a name brings to mind not so much a family as an event or a date. When I heard Mr. de Gelmont recall that Mr. de Braudet's mother's surname was Schwarzer and his grandmother's surname was Luxens, it seemed to me that the hearts of Mrs. Plasland and the Duke of Berry --- these solemn remains --- bled in two crystal beads, and the others --- under very ordinary shirts with beaded buttons. Remains such as Mrs. Dalian's or Mrs. de Sabran's slender hair are more pleasant.
Sometimes I don't see an ordinary remains. Mr. de Gelmont knows their ancestors better than his wife, and some memories make his conversation like an ancient house, which lacks masterpieces and authentic works. These paintings are plain and solemn. On the whole, they are magnificent. Prince Aggregate asked why Prince X called him "my uncle" when he talked about the Duke of Omar, and Prince de Gelmont answered, "Because his uncle, the Duke of Fortenburg, married a daughter of Louis-Philip."
Duke of Omar (1822-1897), the fourth son of Louis Philip, king of France.
So I looked at the whole skeleton box, which was very much like the sacred bone box painted by Cappaccio or Memlin. I see the last one from the first one. In the first case, I saw Princess Mary, Louis-Philip's daughter, wearing a dress for a walk in the garden (to show that she was in a bad mood, because her envoy sent to propose to Prince Syracuse for her was refused), attending her brother's wedding to the Duke of Orleans; in the last case, I saw the princess there. In this fantastic palace, I have just given birth to a boy, Duke of Wutenberg (the uncle of the prince who just had dinner with me). This castle and other castles, like some families, are the cradle of the birth of outstanding people: every generation, there will always be more than one historical figure. Especially in this castle, many people have left memories: the Governor's wife of Beloit III, the somewhat fantastic Princess (the sister of the Duke of Orleans, who is said to like the name of her husband's castle), the King of Bavaria, and finally Prince X... The prince had just asked Prince Gelmont to write to him, leaving the address of the castle, because he inherited it and rented it to another lovely "fantastic" Prince Poliniac only when he performed Wagner's opera. Mr. de Gelmont, in order to explain his relationship with Mrs. de Abachong, had to follow the genealogy and marriage of three or five ancestors back to the distant past, to Mary-Louise or Colbert, and the result remained the same: in any case, in the name of a castle or a woman. There will always be a major historical event, but it has been disguised, distorted and restricted. Women choose this name not because her grandparents, Louis Philip and Mary Amelie, were Kings and Queens of France, but simply because they left behind a legacy (we can see that Napoleon's status in the character dictionary of Balzac's works is far less important than that of Lastinique for other reasons, The figures in the dictionary are arranged according to the size of their relationship with Human Comedy. The bigger the relationship, the more important the position is. He had a place only because he had spoken to the noble ladies of the five Swan Monasteries. The aristocracy is like a dull ancient Roman building, with few windows, dark light and dead air, but its walls are thick, which firmly block and imprison all history. History is like a bird locked in a cage, with a sad face and embarrassment.
(1) Cappaccio (1240-1525), Italian painter.
(2) Mamelin (1433-1494), Flanders painter.
(3) Beloit: The German city belongs to the state of Bavaria. The "Fantastic Opening" Palace is located in the suburb of the city.
(4) Mary Louise (1791-1847), daughter of Austrian Emperor Franois I, who needed an heir to the throne, married Josephine after divorce.
Colbert (1619-1683), born in a wealthy merchant family, became Minister of Finance in 1665 after Louis XIV came to power, and gradually became the actual decision-maker of the internal and external policies of the palace relocation.
In this way, my memory is gradually filled with names, which are arranged in order, complementary and closely related. Like those perfect works of art, no strokes are isolated. Each part receives the reason of existence from the other parts in turn, and at the same time imposes its own existence on them.