samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第20章
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considering marriage as a business transaction； of esteeming it as a
financial or commercial partnership； and making everything subordinate to
the equality of the personal estates。 This principle is revolting to me； my
dear friend。 We are accused in foreign countries of being an immoral
people。 Heavens！ it seems to me that we understand and practise virtue
quite as much as the English or Germans； and； to speak the whole truth； I
am not afraid to advance the opinion that this； of all the countries of the
universe； is the one where there is the most virtue。 It is not at that point
that we sin。 Our misfortune is； that we are too rational in our habits of life；
too circumspect； too prudent； we lack boldness in our undertakings； we
wish； as it is said； to have one foot on firm land and the other not far off。
We must have security； we do not like risk； doubtful affairs do not please
us； we are too prone to look ahead； and to look ahead is to fear。 That is one
reason why we send out no colonies； and that is the reason we have no
more children。 Are you satisfied with me？
〃Napoleon I was in the habit of saying that； in fighting a battle； he so
ordered matters as to have seventy chances out of a hundred in his favour；
he left the rest to Fate。 Ah！ brave people； life is a battle； but the French of
to…day will not risk anything。 They are the most honest； the least romantic
of men； and I regret it。 Read Antoinette this passage of my letter。 Our
young people think that they have a right to the paternal fortune； they
consider that their father is wanting in his duty if he does not leave them a
settled position； a certain future。 Their second preconceived notion is that
they must find a wife who will bring them as much at least as they have to
offer her。 I have so much； you have so muchwe are evidently created for
each other； let us marry。 All this is deplorable。 I like better to hear of the
young American who only expects from his parents the education
necessary for a man to make his way； he has his tools given to him and the
method of using them； but not a sou。 You have learned to swim； my friend
swim。 After that he marries； most frequently a woman who has nothing；
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and who loves to spend money。 May the God Dollar protect him！ he will
gaily make an opening for himself in life； and his wife will give him ten
children； who will follow the same course as their father。 Where it is
customary for hunger to marry thirst； there are happy marriages； and a
hardy race of people。 In all conscience； am I not romantic enough？
〃Let me consider another case。 Take a man who has fortune： he
profits thereby to consult his heart only； and offer his name and revenues
to the woman he loves and who has no dower。 I clap my hands； I think it
the best of examples； and I regret that it is so seldom practised among us。
In France princes never are seen marrying shepherdesses； on the contrary；
one too often sees penniless sons…in…law carrying off heiresses； and that is
precisely the most objectionable case。 In a romance； or at the theatre； the
poor young man who marries a million is a very noble person； in life it is
different。 Not if the poor young man had a profession or a trade； if he
could procure by his own work a sufficient income to render him
independent of his wife； but if he submit to be dependent on her； if he
expect from her his daily bread； to roll in her carriage； to ask her for the
expenses of his toilet； for his pocket…money； and perhaps for sundry
questionable outlaysfrankly； this young man lacks pride； and what is a
man who has no pride？ Besides； what surety is there that in marrying it is；
indeed； the woman he is in love with and not the dower？ Who assures me
that Count Abel Larinski？I name no one； personalities are odious； and I
own there are exceptions。 /Dieu/； how rare they are！ If I were Antoinette； I
would love the poor； but in their own interest。 I would not marry them。
The interest of the whole human race is at stake。 Beggars are inventive； let
them have their own way to make； and they will be sure to invent some
means of livelihood； give them the key of a cash…box； and they will cease
to strive； you have destroyed their genius。 My dear professor； in fifteen
years I have brought about a great many marriages。 Three times I have
married hunger to thirst； and； thank God； I once decided a millionaire to
marry a poor girl who had not a sou； but I never aided a beggar to marry a
rich girl。 Now you have my principles and ideasAre you listening to me
still？ You fall asleep sometimes while listening to a sermon。 Good！ you
open your eyesI proceed：
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〃I have seen your man。 Well； sincerely； he only half pleases me。 I do
not deny that he has a handsome head； a sculptor might use it as a model。 I
will add that his eyes are very interesting； by turns grave； gentle； gay； or
melancholy。 I have nothing to say against his manners or his language； his
address is excellent； and he is no boobyfar from it。 With all this there is
something about him that shocks meI scarcely know whata mingling of
two natures that I cannot explain。 He might be said to resemble； according
to circumstances； a lion or a fox； I believe that the fox…nature
predominates； that the lion is supplementary。 I simply give you my
impressions； which I am perfectly willing to be induced to change。 I am
inclined to fancy that M。 Larinski passed his first youth amid vulgar
surroundings； that later he came into contact with good society； and being
intelligent soon shook off the force of early influences； but there still
remain some traces of these。 While he was in my /salon/ his eyes twice
took an inventory of its contents； and that with a rapidity which would
have done credit to a practised appraiser。 It was then； especially； that he
had the air of a fox。
〃Nor is this all。 I read the other day the story of a princess who was
travelling over the world； and asked hospitality； one evening； at the door
of a palace。 Was she a real princess or an adventuress？ The queen who
received her judged it well to ascertain。 For this purpose she prepared for
her； with her own hands； a soft bed； composed of two mattresses； on which
she piled five feather…beds； between the two mattresses she slipped three
peas。 The next day the traveller was asked how she had slept。 'Very badly；'
she replied。 'I do not know what was in my bed； but my whole body is
bruised； I am black and blue； and I never closed my eyes until dawn！' 'She
is a true princess；' cried the queen。 Is M。 Larinski a true prince？ I made
him undergo the test of the three peas。 I allowed myself to question him
with indiscreet； urgent； improper curiosity； he did not appear to feel the
indiscretion。 He replied promptly and submissively； he endeavoured to
satisfy me； and I was not satisfied。 I shall see him again to…morrowhe
comes to dine at Maisons。 I only wish to be able to prove to myself that he
is a true prince。
〃My dear professor； you are the most imprudent of men； and；
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whatever happens； you have only yourself to blame。 People do not open
their doors so easily to strangers。 You tell me that； thanks to M。 Larinski's
kindness； you did not break your leg。 Mercy on me！ a father would better
break his leg in three places than expose his daughter to the risk of
marrying an adventurer； his leg could be easily set。 There is nothing so
frightful in that。
〃/Postscriptum/。I open my letter。 I want to prove to you how much I
desire to be just； and how far my impartiality goes。 You know that my
neighbour； Abbe Miollens； lived a long time in Poland； and has
correspondents there。 I begged him to get me information concerning the
countof course； without explaining anything to him。 He reports that
Count Abel Larinski is a true count。 His father； the confiscation of the
property； the emigration to America； the Isthmus of Panamaall is true；
the history is authentic。 Countess Larinski was a saint。 Concerning the son；
nothing is known； he must have been three or four years old when he
landed in New York。 No one ever saw him； no one seems to know
anything about his taking part in the insurrection of 1863。 Having spoken
the truth about his parents； it is to be presumed that he told the truth about
himself。 Very well； but one can fight for one's country； and have a saint for
one's mother； and yet possess none of the qualities that go towards making
a happy household。 I take back the word adventurer； but I still hold to all I
have said about him。 Why did he take an inventory of my furniture with
his eyes？ Why did he sleep so soundly in a bed where there were three
peas？ This requires an explanation。
〃Kiss Antoinette for me。 Give my regards to Mlle。 Moiseney； without
telling her that I think her a simpleton； it is a conviction in which I shall
die。 Was it； indeed； very difficult to descend from that terrible rock of
yours？〃
Three days later； Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a second letter：
〃August 19th。
〃I have received this very moment； my dear monsieur； the reply from
Vienna that I have been expecting； and which I hasten to share with you。 I
had applied to our friend Baron B…； first secretary of the embassy from
France to Vienna； in order to try to learn what reputation Count Larinski
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had left there。 He is esteemed there as a mos
