Мхи старой усадьбы

           "DoesnotyourworshipseethatIaminhaste?"

           Now,whilehewasspeakingtherecameamaninblackalongthestreet,stoopingandmovingfeeblylikeapersonininferiorhealth.Hisfacewasalloverspreadwithamostsicklyandsallowhue,butyetsopervadedwithanexpressionofpiercingandactiveintellectthatanobservermighteasilyhaveoverlookedthemerelyphysicalattributesandhaveseenonlythiswonderfulenergy.Ashepassed,thispersonexchangedacoldanddistantsalutationwithBaglioni,butfixedhiseyesuponGiovanniwithanintentnessthatseemedtobringoutwhateverwaswithinhimworthyofnotice.Nevertheless,therewasapeculiarquietnessinthelook,asiftakingmerelyaspeculative,notahumaninterest,intheyoungman.

           "ItisDr.Rappaccini!"whisperedtheprofessorwhenthestrangerhadpassed."Hasheeverseenyourfacebefore?"

           "NotthatIknow,"answeredGiovanni,startingatthename.

           "HeHASseenyou!hemusthaveseenyou!"saidBaglioni,hastily."Forsomepurposeorother,thismanofscienceismakingastudyofyou.Iknowthatlookofhis!Itisthesamethatcoldlyilluminateshisfaceashebendsoverabird,amouse,orabutterfly,which,inpursuanceofsomeexperiment,hehaskilledbytheperfumeofaflower;alookasdeepasNatureitself,butwithoutNature’swarmthoflove.SignorGiovanni,Iwillstakemylifeuponit,youarethesubjectofoneofRappaccini’sexperiments!"

           "Willyoumakeafoolofme?"criedGiovanni,passionately."THAT,signorprofessor,wereanuntowardexperiment."

           "Patience!patience!"repliedtheimperturbableprofessor.