You would have thought that this practical dreaming must have soon
brought Carrigaholt to a bad end, but he was in much less danger
than you would suppose; for besides that the new visions of
happiness almost always came in time to counteract the fatal
completion of the preceding scheme, his high breeding and his
delicately sensitive taste almost always came to his aid at times
when he was left without any other protection; and the efficacy of
these qualities in keeping a man out of harm's way is really
immense. In all baseness and imposture there is a coarse, vulgar
spirit, which, however artfully concealed for a time, must sooner
or later show itself in some little circumstance sufficiently plain
to occasion an instant jar upon the minds of those whose taste is
lively and true. To such men a shock of this kind, disclosing the
UGLINESS of a cheat, is more effectively convincing than any mere
proofs could be.
Thus guarded from isle to isle, and through Greece, and through
Albania, this practical Plato with a purse in his hand, carried on
his mad chase after the good and the beautiful, and yet returned in
safety to his home. But now, poor fellow! the lowly grave, that is
the end of men's romantic hopes, has closed over all his rich
fancies, and all his high aspirations; he is utterly married! No
more hope, no more change for him--no more relays--he must go on
Vetturini-wise to the appointed end of his journey!
Smyrna, I think, may be called the chief town and capital of the
Grecian race, against which you will be cautioned so carefully as
soon as you touch the Levant.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73