Мхи старої садиби

           "Iknownot,mostlearnedprofessor,"returnedGiovanni,aftermusingonwhathadbeensaidofRappaccini’sexclusivezealforscience,—"Iknownothowdearlythisphysicianmaylovehisart;butsurelythereisoneobjectmoredeartohim.Hehasadaughter."

           "Aha!"criedtheprofessor,withalaugh."SonowourfriendGiovanni’ssecretisout.Youhaveheardofthisdaughter,whomalltheyoungmeninPaduaarewildabout,thoughnothalfadozenhaveeverhadthegoodhaptoseeherface.IknowlittleoftheSignoraBeatricesavethatRappacciniissaidtohaveinstructedherdeeplyinhisscience,andthat,youngandbeautifulasfamereportsher,sheisalreadyqualifiedtofillaprofessor’schair.Perchanceherfatherdestinesherformine!Otherabsurdrumorstherebe,notworthtalkingaboutorlisteningto.Sonow,SignorGiovanni,drinkoffyourglassoflachryma."

           Guascontireturnedtohislodgingssomewhatheatedwiththewinehehadquaffed,andwhichcausedhisbraintoswimwithstrangefantasiesinreferencetoDr.RappacciniandthebeautifulBeatrice.Onhisway,happeningtopassbyaflorist’s,heboughtafreshbouquetofflowers.

           Ascendingtohischamber,heseatedhimselfnearthewindow,butwithintheshadowthrownbythedepthofthewall,sothathecouldlookdownintothegardenwithlittleriskofbeingdiscovered.Allbeneathhiseyewasasolitude.Thestrangeplantswerebaskinginthesunshine,andnowandthennoddinggentlytooneanother,asifinacknowledgmentofsympathyandkindred.