samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第21章
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had left there。 He is esteemed there as a most worthy man； as an inventor
who was more daring than wise； as a devoted patriot； as one of those Poles
whose only thought is of Poland and of their Utopia； and who would set
fire to the four corners of the earth without wincing； for the sole purpose
of procuring embers at which to roast their chestnuts。 I will not return to
the subject of the gun； you know all about it。 It seems that there was some
good in this explosive gun； and that he who invented it united a sort of
genius with ingenuousness； inexperience； and ignorance enough to make
one weep。 Nothing can be said against the private character of the man。 He
had a few debts； and his tradespeople felt considerable anxiety when he
left Vienna one morning on foot。 He had no sooner reached Switzerland
than he sent back money to settle everything。 Here we have an admirable
trait。 However； his tastes were simple； and he led a steady life； it was the
gun that brought his finances into disorder。 I will add that M。 Larinski
visited in Vienna at several of the most distinguished houses； where he is
remembered most kindly。 He was sought everywhere on account of his
talents as a musician； which were far more to be relied on than his talent as
a gunsmith。 He plays the piano to perfection； and has a very beautiful
voice。 Had he employed these talents； he could have made his way to the
opera； but his dignity held him back。 Now you know what has been
communicated to me by Baron B…。 On the faith of an honest woman； I
have neither added nor omitted anything。
〃I am going to astonish you。 Would you believe that I am beginning
to be reconciled to Count Larinski？ What shocked me in him is explained
and excused by his long residence in America。 He is a mixed breed of
Yankee and Pole。 Far from having prejudices against him； I now have
them in his favour。 Do you know； I am by no means sure that he cherishes
in his heart any serious sentiment for your daughter？ As a man of taste he
admires her。 I should like to know who would not admire her！ I suspect
Antoinette of allowing her imagination to become excited about nothing。
He talks of her on all occasions in as free and tranquil a fashion as he
would talk of a work of art。 I find it impossible to believe that he is in love。
I have in vain watched his green eyes。 I never have seen a suspicious look。
〃As I announced to you； he came to Maisons yesterday to dine。 I had
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invited Abbe Miollens； and Camille had invited himself； promising that he
would act like a philosopher； he only half kept his promise： for I must
inform you that my nephew has conceived； I do not know why； an
insurmountable antipathy to M。 Larinski； he is subject to taking dislikes to
people。 During dinner； Abbe Miollens； who is a great linguist and a great
traveller； and who has at the ends of his fingers everything concerning
Poland and the Poles； led the conversation to the insurrection of 1863。 M。
Larinski； at first； refrained from discussing this sad subject； little by little
the flood…gates were opened： he related his adventures or campaigns
without boasting； praising others rather than himself； when suddenly his
voice grew husky and his eyes dim； he interrupted himself； and begged we
would speak of other things。 Fortunately； at this moment； he did not see
Camille； whose lips were a sinister smile。 Young Frenchmen have become
such sceptics！ I made eyes at the bad boy； and on leaving the table I sent
him to smoke a cigar in the park。
〃I should confess to you that M。 Larinski has made a conquest of
Abbe Miollens； who of all men is the most difficult to please； and who
disputes with Providence the privilege of fathoming the depths of the
human heart。 You are aware that the abbe is a remarkable violinist： he sent
for his instrument； M。 Larinski seated himself at the piano； and the two
gentlemen played a concert by Mozart divine music performed by two
angels of the first class。 The conversation that followed charmed me more
than the concerto。 I do not know by what fatality we came to speak of
marriage。 I did not miss the opportunity to disclose with a most innocent
air； my little theories； with which you are acquainted。 Would you believe
that the count concurred； more than concurred； with my views？ He is more
royalist than the king； he does not admit that a good rule allows of any
exception。 According to him； a poor man who marries a rich woman
forfeits his honour； debases himself； sells himself； he is a man in bondage。
He developed this theme with sombre eloquence。 I assure you that the lion
no longer bore resemblance to the fox。
〃After the departure of this fine musician and great orator； Abbe
Miollens； remaining alone with me； told me how much he was charmed
with his conversation and manners； he could not cease to sing his praises。 I
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think he went a little too far。 However； I joined with him in regretting that
a man of his merit should be reduced to live by expedients。 The abbe's arm
reaches a long way； he promised me that he would busy himself； at the
expense of all other business； to find some employment for M。 Larinski。
He remembered that there was some talk of establishing in London an
international school for the living languages。 One of the founders of this
institute had applied to him to learn if he could recommend some
professor of the Slavonian languages。 It would be exactly the thing； and I
should be delighted to procure for your /prot 間*/ an occupation that
would insure all the happiness that it is possible to enjoy on the other side
of the Channel。 After this； will you still accuse me of being prejudiced
against him？
〃Adieu； my dear monsieur。 Give my tender love to my amiable
goddaughter。 I rely on you to read my letters to her with care and
discretion。 Little girls should have only a part of the truth。〃
Eight days afterward Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a third letter； which was
thus expressed：
〃August 27th。
〃I am more and more content with M。 Larinski。 I blame myself for
the suspicions with which he inspired me。 The Viennese were right to
consider him a worthy man； and Abbe Miollens has not valued him too
highly。 You write； on your part； my dear friend； that you are not
dissatisfied with Antoinette。 She is gay； tranquil； she walks； paints； never
speaks of Count Abel Larinski； and； when you speak to her of him； she
smiles and does not reply。 You claim that she has reflected； that time and
absence have wrought their effect。 'Out of sight； out of mind；' you say。
Take care！ I am more mistrustful than you。 Are you very sure that
Antoinette may not be a slyboots？
〃What is certain is； that I received a charming epistle from her； in
which there is no more mention of M。 Larinski than if Poland and the Pole
did not exist。 She praises Engadine； she pretends that she would ask for
nothing better than to end her days in a pine…forest。 I can read between the
lines that it would be a pine… forest after her own heart； where there would
be reunions； balls； guests to dinner； small parties； a conservatory of music；
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and the opera。 The last paragraph of her letter is devoted to the
insurrection in Herzegovina； and it is hardly worth while to say that all her
sympathies are with the insurgents。 'If I were a man；' she writes； 'I would
go and fight for them。' That is very well； she always took the part of
thieves against the police。 I remember long agoshe was ten years oldI
told her the story of an unfortunate traveller besieged in a forest by an
army of wolves。 He made a barricade about himself； and around it he
lighted great fires。 The wolves fell into the flames； where they roasted； one
after the other。 Antoinette began to weep bitterly； and I imagined that she
was lamenting the terror of the unfortunate man。 'Not at all；' she cried： 'the
poor beasts！' She was made so； we cannot remake her。 She will always
side with the wolves； especially with the lean ones who scarcely can make
two ends meet。
〃I told you that Count Larinski was a worthy man。 He came to see me
the day before yesterday。 We have become very good friends。 I asked him
if Paris still pleased him； and he replied； with the most gracious smile；
'What I like best in Paris is Maisons Lafitte。' Thereupon he said some
exceedingly pretty things； which I will not repeat。 We walked /tete…a… tete/
around the park。 Heaven be praised that I returned heart…whole！ We talked
politics； he bears the reputation of being hot…headed； but he is not wanting
in good sense。 I wished to know if he was in favour of the Turks or of the
Bosnians。 He replied：
〃 'As a Christian； as a Catholic； I am interested in the Christians of
the East； and I am for the Cross against the Crescent。' He pronounced
these words； Christian； Catholic； and cross； in a tone full of unction。 I
surmise that he is a devotee。 He added； 'As a Pole； I am for Turkey。'
〃 'I believed；' said I； 'that the Poles had sympathy with all the
oppressed。'
〃 'Poles；' he replied； 'cannot like those who like their oppressors； and
they cannot forget that the Osmanlis are their natural allies； and； on
occasions； their refuge。'
〃I gave him Antoinette's letter
