登陆注册
15483200000108

第108章 CHAPTER XXI "THE WOMAN IN BLACK"(1)

In the doorway, immediately behind Bianchi and looking over the little man's head, stood a woman of perhaps forty years of age in full evening toilet.

About her head was wound a black lace scarf, and hanging from her beautiful shoulders, half-concealing a figure of marvellous symmetry, was a long black cloak, open at the throat, trimmed with fur, and lined with watermelon pink silk. Tucked in her hair was a red japonica. She was courtesying to the room with all the poise and graciousness of a prima donna saluting an audience.

Oliver sprang for his coat and was about to cram his arms into the sleeves, when she cried:

"Oh, please don't! I wish I could wear a coat myself, so that I could take it off and paint. Oh! the smell of the lovely pipes! It's heavenly, and it's so like home. Really," and she looked about her, "this is the only place I have seen in America that I can breathe in. I've heard of you all winter and I so wanted to come. I would not give dear Bianchi any rest till he brought me. Oh! I'm so glad to be here."

Oliver and the others were still standing, looking in amazement at the new-corner. One of the unwritten laws of the club was that no woman should ever enter its doors, a law that until this moment had never been broken.

While she was speaking Bianchi stepped back, and took the tips of the woman's fingers within his own.

When she had finished he thrust out one foot and, with the bow of an impresario introducing a new songstress, said:

"Gentlemen of the Stone Mugs, I have the honor of presenting you to the Countess Kovalski."

Again the woman courtesied, sweeping the floor with her black velvet skirt, broke out into a laugh, handed her cloak and scarf to Bianchi, who threw them over the shoulders of the lay figure, and moved toward the table, Fred, as host, drawing out a chair for her.

"Oh!--what lovely beginnings--" she continued, examining the sketches with her lorgnette, after the members had made their salutations, "Let me make one. I studied two years with Achenbach.

You did not know that Bianchi, did you? There are so many things you do not know, you lovely man."

She was as much at home as if she had been there every evening of her life.

Still, with the same joyous self-contained air she settled herself in Fred's proffered chair, picked up one of Jack's brushes, reached over his shoulder, and with a "please-hold-still, thank you," scooped up a little yellow ochre from his palette, and unloaded it on a corner of a tile. Then, stripping off her bracelets, she piled them in a heap before her, selected a Greek coin dangling from the end of one of them, propped it up on the table and began to paint; the men, all of whom were too astonished to resume their work, crowding about her, watching the play of her brush; a brush so masterful in its technique that before the picture was finished the room broke out in unrestrained applause.

During all this time she was talking in German to Crug, or in French to Waller, only stopping to light a fresh cigarette which she took from a jewelled case and laid beside her. She could, no doubt, have as easily lapsed into Russian, Choctaw, or Chinese had there been any such strange people about.

When the men had resumed their customary seats and the room had once more settled to work--it had only been a question of sex that had destroyed the equilibrium, a question no longer of value now that the fair intruder could really PAINT--Oliver bent over her and said in his most gallant manner:

"If the Countess Kovalski will be gracious enough to excuse Bianchi (he had never left her elbow) I will try and make a burgomaster of him. Perhaps you will help me tie this around his neck," and he held out the white ruff. He had put on his coat despite her protest.

"What, dear Bianchi in a ruff! Oh! how perfectly charming! That's really just what he looks like.

I've always told him that Rembrandt ought to have seen him. Come, you sweet man, hold up your beautiful Dutch face."

As she spoke she caught the ruff from Oliver's hand and stretched out her bare arms toward Blanch.

"No, I'm not going to pose now," protested the Pole, pushing back her hands. "You can get me any time. Take the Countess, Horn. She'd make a stunner."

"Yes! Yes! Please do," she laughed, springing from her seat and clapping her hands with all the gayety and joyousness of a child over some expected pleasure.

Oliver hesitated for an instant, as he looked down into her eyes, wondering whether his brush could do justice to their depth. Then he glanced at her supple figure and white skin in contrast to the black velvet, its edge softened by the fall of lace, the dominant, insistent note of the red japonica in her blue-black hair, the flesh tones brilliant under the gas-jets.

The color scheme was exactly what he had been looking for all winter--black, white, and a touch of red.

"I have never been so honored, Madame. Nothing could give me greater pleasure," he answered, with a dry smile. "May I escort your ladyship to the platform?" And he held out his hand and conducted her to the stand facing the big easel.

Then there followed a scene such as many of the Stone Mugs had not shared in since they left the Latin Quarter.

The Countess stood erect on the raised platform, with head up and slightly turned, the full glare of the gas-jets falling upon her neck and throat, made all the more brilliant by reason of the dark green walls of Fred's studio, which formed the background behind her. One arm was partly raised, a lighted cigarette between her fingers; the other was lost in the folds of the velvet gown. She posed as naturally and as easily as if she had done nothing else all her life, and with a certain bravado and swing that enchanted everybody in the room.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 完美女探

    完美女探

    白若雪:人如其名,白衣若雪,美丽,善良,成熟,充满正义感,知识感,有着对未知事件的强烈好奇感,是一个几乎无所不能的21世纪现代化女侠,她的职业是一名高级女探,经历了各种各样的传奇生活,在她的故事当中充满着各种光怪陆离的经历,她是一个几乎无所不能的女侠,但也同时有着每一个女性都有的丰富感情。在柔道和空手道上有极高的造诣。秦少游:消瘦,英俊,具有绅士风度。开锁偷盗本领一流。本为无业游民,后在白若雪的帮助下改邪归正,屡屡帮助白若雪解决遇到的困难。方兰花:白若雪的职员,极其好打抱不平。然而,时常冒失,冲动,性子急。?在分析事情上常常犯错误。
  • 恶魔校草之小宝贝,你别跑

    恶魔校草之小宝贝,你别跑

    就在贝雪儿觉得世界上除了爷爷之外再也没有什么人可好留恋的时候南宫翼出现在了贝雪儿的生活里让贝雪儿的生活彻底的改变了............
  • 封灵少女

    封灵少女

    身世未知的少女岳歌,自幼与奶奶相依为命,一次偶然事件,导致香城大乱,鬼魅四起,妖孽丛生。一栋明清徽式建筑;一面会蹦出活物的铜镜;一只举动像人的黑猫。笼罩在城市里,连环不绝的诡异事件……是天意还是人为?石鼓响,鬼镜出。阴兵过,妖孽生。一句看似普通的话,却隐藏着惊天秘密,当谜团一一解开,究竟是顺应天意,还是逆天改命?
  • 兄弟一起闯都市

    兄弟一起闯都市

    有人说,有人的地方就有江湖,有江湖的地方就有传说,而这个江湖都由强者来缔造。傲天,一个从小就跟随妈妈过着凄惨的生活,后来遇见好心人的帮助,改变了他的一生,也注定缔造他的光辉岁月,他的辉煌人生。一次噩耗,惊醒了他的梦,唤醒了他热血青春,谱写的他的传奇故事。当他遇见像陈煌、王钧、李国荣等一热血青年,他的命运将如何改写,他的传奇故事将如何流传。一个故事就是一个人生,一个人生就是一段故事。一个谱写真实,一个真实的谱写。
  • 易烊千玺之星尘愿

    易烊千玺之星尘愿

    还记得那年夏天我们在一起看星星,你便成了我此生最爱!你说曾说过:“属于我的那一片满天星花海还在吗?”我听到了,答应过你会实现的。谢谢你出现在我生命里,我会好好珍惜的!……【纯属虚构,这段话是以千玺的角度来写的】
  • 边伯贤之原来你是爱我的

    边伯贤之原来你是爱我的

    喜欢你多年,你还是未能明白我的心。我在做梦么?卞白贤告诉我你有木有在骗我。
  • 道歉的力量

    道歉的力量

    学会道歉重要么?答案是肯定的。学会道歉,是高手化解危机的第一堂必修课。善于说“Sorry”,不仅不会降低自己在他人心目中的地位,反而会因此被冠上大度、负责的美誉,并且获得谅解。这就是道歉的力量!人的一生,许多打不开的结在终点回望时才赫然发现,不过是个芝麻粒罢了。唯有懂得自省的人,才能在关键时刻,发挥道歉的力量,解开那些看似无解的结,化危机为转机,甚至商机!作者除了深入的剖析道歉的作用外,更从心理、文化等层面,精辟地分析人们抗拒道歉的原因,并提出解决的正确态度,运用大量的实际案例,论理清晰,让你轻易的掌握道歉学细腻的学问,成为最有智慧的职场高手。
  • 孟三山

    孟三山

    碧波天上涌,流云水中来;满目盈盈皆青翠,何必忧忧满心怀。人到中年,本以为此生将浑浑老矣,却不料误入仙山。护树碑上留名,看到的却是一场平静背后的乱战。本以为活着就为了落叶归根,然而登到高处才明白,你若求安求稳,必有万千人阻你。既然如此,我必踏平前路,翻手为天。三山之中皆念我名,威名也好,凶名也罢。九州之上,我所过处,必是乐土......
  • 蚀心蚀骨:总裁,离婚吧

    蚀心蚀骨:总裁,离婚吧

    走投无路之际,她将自己卖给了他,原本以为只是一夜冷冰冰的交易,却不料肚子里多了一颗意外而来的小种子。他是站在云端的豪门贵胄,她是被生活所迫的落魄千金,云泥之别,她从未幻想过与他再有交集。而打掉孩子那一天,她恰好看到他揽着心爱的女友,笑容俊逸而又满足。他恋着心头的明月光,连多余的眼神都不肯赐予她。她谨小慎微的在陆家的夹缝中求生存,只是为了让弟妹能心无旁骛的读书求学。他的恋人在异国出嫁,他喝得烂醉闯入她的房间,误把她当做了他的她。结婚三年,唯一的一夜,她却第二次有了他的孩子。原本以为命运开始垂怜她,他的目光总算是肯为她稍稍停留,可一切却不过是她的一场幻梦。
  • 寻梨花白

    寻梨花白

    这是一个关于爱情、事业、回忆以及悲伤和赎罪的故事,是一次令人心碎的探寻之旅——探寻生活的真谛以及人生的意义。在接近炼狱般的反复悲欢和省悟中,揭示人以及人性的奥秘。故事看似简单,却高潮迭起,惊喜连连,其间暗藏了许多令人幽思冥想的人生哲学。