samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第16章
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she said to herself： 〃No； I do not mistake； he has a future before him； in
two or three years he will be superb。 Three years is not long： the gardener
who grafts a young tree is often condemned to wait longer than that。〃
When he had ended his narrative； she told him that she was in want of a
secretary； that she had had several； but that she had soon tired of them； on
account of their not having the desired qualifications； she asked him if he
would like to accept the position。 He replied only by pointing his finger to
his father； who was smoking his pipe on the door…step。 A moment later she
was closeted with Jeremiah Brohl。
She at once proposed to him to buy his son； he dropped his arms in
astonishment； then felt delighted and charmed。 He declared； at first； that
his son was not for sale； and then he insinuated that if ever he did sell him
he would sell him dear； he was； according to his opinion； merchandise of
the best quality； a rich and rare article。 He raised his demands ridiculously；
she exclaimed； he affirmed he could not put them lower； that he had his
terms； and that he always sold at a fixed price。 They disputed a long time；
she was about to give up； he yielded； and they ended by making the
transaction。 She sent for Samuel and said to him： 〃My boy； you belong to
meI have bought you for cash。 You are satisfied with the bargain； are you
not？〃
He was stupefied to learn that he had a commercial value； he never
had suspected it。 He wanted very much to know what he was worth； but
the princess was discreet upon the subject； and desired that he should
believe that he had cost her a fabulous sum。 After reflection； he made his
conditions； he stipulated that he should belong to himself for three years；
which time he would employ in study and in satisfying a multitude of
curious longings。
She readily consented； as that had been her own intention： it would
take fully three years before the fruit was ripe and ready to be served at the
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princely table。 She gave him instructions and advice； all bearing the stamp
of a superior mind； she understood the world； the state of public affairs；
and physiology； all that can be learned； and all that cannot be learned。
Thus Samuel Brohl set out； his pocket well filled； for the University of
Prague； which he soon left to settle at Heidelberg； whence he went to
Bonn； then to Berlin； then to Paris。 He was restless； he did not know what
he wanted； but wherever he went he studied semiquavers； naturals； and
flats； it was part of the conditions。
The princess was herself a great traveller； two or three times a year
Samuel Brohl received a visit from her。 She questioned him； examined
him； felt him； as we feel a peach to be certain it is ripe。 Samuel was very
happy； he was free； he enjoyed his life； he did as he pleased。 One single
thing spoiled his happiness； when he looked in the glass； he would
sometimes say within himself： 〃These are the features of a man who is
sold； and the woman who bought him is neither young nor beautiful。〃
Several times he determined to learn a trade； so that he might be in a
position to refund the debt and break the bargain。 But he never did。 He
was both ambitious and idle。 He wanted to fly at once； he had a horror of
beginnings of apprenticeships。 His early education had been so neglected
that in order to recover lost time he would have been compelled to study
hardall the more so because； although he was quick…witted； and had a
marvellous facility for entering into the thoughts of others； his own stock
was poor； he had no ideas of his own； nor individuality of mind。 He
possessed a collection of half…talents； even in music； he was incapable of
originating； when he attempted to compose； his inspirations proved mere
reminiscences。 He did himself justice； he felt that； strive as he might； his
half…talents never would aid him to secure the first position； and he
disdained the second。 In fact； what he most needed was will； which； after
all； makes the man。 He tried to fling himself from his horse； which carried
him where he did not desire to go； but he felt that his feet held firm in the
stirrup； he had not strength to disengage them； and he remained in the
saddle。 Not being able to be a great man； he abandoned himself to his fate；
which condemned him to be only a knave。 At the expiration of his term of
freedom； he declared himself solvent； and the princess took possession of
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her merchandise。
〃Yes； poets are corrupters；〃 thought Count Abel Larinski。 〃If Samuel
Brohl never had read /The Merchant of Venice/； or /Egmont/； a tragedy in
five acts； or Schiller's ballads； he would have been resigned to his new
position； he would have seen its good sides； and would have eaten and
drunk his shame in peace； without experiencing any uncomfortable
sensations； but he had read the poets； and he grew disgusted； nauseated。
He was dying with desire to get away； and the princess suspected it。 She
kept him always in sight； she held him close； she paid him quarterly；
shilling by shilling； his meagre allowance。 She said to herself： 'So long as
he has nothing； he cannot escape。' She mistook； he did escape； and he was
so afraid of being retaken that for some time he hid like a criminal；
pursued by the police。 He fancied that this woman was always on his track。
It was then； for the first time； that he felt hunger； for they eat in the land of
Egypt。 He lived by all sorts of expedients； and cursed the poets。 One day
he learned that his father was dead； he hastened to the old tavern in order
to succeed to the inheritance。 He was not aware that for two years old
Jeremiah Brohl had been in his dotage； and that his debtors mocked him
while devouring his substance。 A fine inheritance！ it was diminished to
two or three rickety chairs； four cracked walls that scarcely could stand
upright； and some jewellery concealed in a hiding…place that Samuel knew
of。 Old Jeremiah never had been able to dispose of it for the price he
required； and he preferred to keep it rather than lower his charge。 He had
principles； which was well for Samuel； as the jewellery was useful to him。
He sold a necklace； and set out for Bucharest； some one having told him
that he certainly would make his fortune there。 He gave music…lessons；
this wearisome profession did not suit him； he could not endure the
constraint and the regular hours。 The boys plagued himhe would
willingly have wrung their necks； the girls treated him like a dog they
never thought of his being handsome； because they suspected him of being
a Jew。 Why had he gone to Bucharesta city where all Germans are Jews；
and where Jews are not considered men？ Although he had earned a little
money； he grew melancholy； and he began to think seriously of killing
himself。〃
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Count Abel Larinski leaned forward； plucked a spray of heather；
tickled his lips with it； and began to laugh； then； striking his breast； he said；
in an undertone； 〃Thank God； Samuel Brohl is not dead； for he is here！〃
He spoke the truth： Samuel Brohl was not dead； and life was of value
to him； since he had met Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz in the cathedral in Chur。
It was Samuel Brohl who had come to Cormeilles； and who was seated； at
this moment； in the midst of a grove of oaks。 Perhaps the lark that he had
heard singing a quarter of an hour before had recognised him； for it had
ceased singing。 The peacock continued its screaming； and its doleful cries
sounded like a warning。 Yes； the man seated among the heather； employed
in narrating his own history to himself； was indeed Samuel Brohl； and the
proof of this was that he had laughed； while Count Abel Larinski never
laughed； moreover； for four years the latter had been out of the world。 The
second reason is； perhaps； the better。
He whom； with or without his consent； we shall call henceforth
Samuel Brohl； reproached himself for this access of levity； as he would
have reproached himself for a false note that had escaped him in executing
a Mozart sonata。 He resumed his grave； dignified air； in order to salute
with a wave of his hand the phantom that had just appeared before him。 It
was the same that he had summoned one evening at the Hotel Steinbock；
and treated there as an addle…brain； as a visionary； and even as an imbecile；
but this time he gave him a more indulgent and gracious reception。 He
bore him no ill…will； he wished him well； he was under essential
obligations to him； and Samuel Brohl was no ingrate。
〃Ah！ well； my poor friend； I am here；〃 he said； in that mute language
that phantoms understand。 〃I have taken your place； and almost your form；
I play your part in the great fair of this world； and； although your noble
body has rested for four years； six feet underground； thanks to me you still
live。 I always have had a most sincere admiration for you。 I considered
you a phenomenon； a prodigy。 You were courageous； devoted； generosity
itself； you esteemed honour above all the gold deposits in California； you
detested all coarse thoughts and doubtful actions； your mother had
nourished you in all sublime follies。 You were a true chevalier； a true Pole；
the last Don Quixote in this age of sceptics； plunderers； and interlopers。
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Blessed be the chance that made us acquainted！ You lived r
