samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第32章
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perfumed air； pouring out her heart to the night and to the stars。 Her happy
reverie was troubled only by the presence of a bat； flitting incessantly
from one end of the terrace to the other； flapping its wings about her head。
The loathsome creature seemed to be especially in quest of her； circling
around and above her with obstinate persistency； even venturing to graze
her hair in passing； Antoinette even fancied that she could distinguish its
hideous face； with deep pouches and long ears； and she moved away；
quivering with disgust。
She heard a step on the gravel…walk。 Samuel Brohl had taken leave of
M。 Moriaz and was crossing the terrace to regain his carriage。 He
recognised Antoinette； approached her and clasped on her wrist a bracelet
he held in his hand； saying as he did so： 〃What could I give you that would
equal in value the medallion you deigned to offer me and that should
never leave me？ However； here is a trinket by which I set great store。 My
mother loved it； she always refused to part with it； even in the time of her
greatest distress； she wore it on her arm when she died。〃
We are not all moulded alike； and there is no human clay in which are
not intermingled some spangles of gold。 Intriguers as well as downright
knaves are often capable of experiencing moments of sincere and pure
sentiments； in certain encounters every human being rises superior to him…
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or herself。 The upper part of Mlle。 Moriaz's face was shaded by her red
hood； the lower part lit up by the moon； which was slowly rising above the
hills。 Samuel Brohl contemplated her in silence； she seemed to him as
beautiful as a dream。 During two entire minutes he forgot that she had an
income of a hundred thousand livres； and that； according to all
probabilities； M。 Moriaz would die one day。 His head was completely
turned by the thought that this woman loved him； that soon she would be
his。 Yes； for precisely two minutes； Samuel Brohl was as passionately in
love with Mlle。 Moriaz as might； perchance； have been Count Larinski。
He could not resist the impulse that transported him。 He folded in his
arms the slender； supple form of Antoinette； and imprinted upon her hair a
kiss of flame； a true Polish kiss。 She offered no resistance； but at this
moment the bat that had already forced upon her its distasteful company
renewed the attack； struck her full in the face； and stuck fast in her hood。
Antoinette felt the touch of its cold； clammy wings； of its hooked claws。
She tore the hood from her head and flung it away in horror。 Samuel Brohl
sprang forward to pick it up； pressed it to his lips； and made his escape；
like a thief carrying off his booty。
When Antoinette re…entered the /salon/； she found there Mlle。
Moiseney； whose boisterous； overwhelming joy had just put M。 Moriaz to
flight。 This time Mlle。 Moiseney knew everything。 She had seen Samuel
Brohl arrive； she had been unable to control her overweening curiosity；
and； without the slightest scruples； she had listened at the door。 She cast
herself into Antoinette's arms； pressed her to her heart； and cried： 〃Ah； my
dear！ oh； my dear！ Did I not always say that it would end thus？〃
Mlle。 Moriaz hastened to free herself from her embraces； she felt the
need of being alone。 On entering her chamber she took a hasty survey of it：
her furniture； her pretty knick…knacks； her rose…tined tapestry； the muslin
hangings of her bed； the large silver crucifix hanging on the extreme wall；
all seemed to regard her with astonishment； asking； 〃What has happened？〃
And she replied：
〃You are right； something has happened。〃
She remained in contemplation before a portrait of her mother； whom
she had lost very young。
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〃I have been told；〃 she mused； 〃that you were a great romance…reader。
I do not care for romances at allI scarcely ever read them； but I have just
been making one myself； with which you would not be discontented。 This
man would astonish you a little； he would please you still more。 Some
hours ago he seemed lost to me forever。 I brazened it out。 I went in search
of him； and when he saw me he surrendered。 Only now he was with me on
the terrace； his lips touched me here on my hair； and thrilled me from head
to foot。 Do not feel displeased with mehis are pure and royal lips！ They
have been touched by the sacred fire； they never have lied； never have
there fallen from them other than proud and noble words； they modestly
recount the history of a life without blemish Ah！ why are you not here？ I
have a thousand things to say to you； which you alone could comprehend；
others do not comprehend me。〃
She began her toilet for the night。 When she had unfastened her hair；
she remembered that there was One in her chamber who could
comprehend everything； and to whom she had yet said nothing。 She knelt
down； her wealth of hair streaming over her beautiful shoulders； her hands
reverently clasped； her eyes fixed on the silver crucifix； and she said； in a
low tone：
〃Forgive me that I have forgotten thee； thou who never hast forgotten
me！ I return thanks to thee that thou hast granted my desires； thou hast
given me the happiness of which I have dreamed without daring to ask it。
Ah； yes； I am happy； perfectly happy！ I promise thee that I will cast the
reflection of my joy among the poor and unfortunate of this world： I will
love them as I have never loved them before！ When we give them food
and drink； we give it also unto thee； and when we give them flowers； this
crown of thorns that has wounded thy brow bursts into bloom。 I will give
them flowers and bread。 It is vain to say that thou art a jealous God。 Full
as may be my heart； thou knowest that there is always room for thee； and
that thou never canst knock at the door without my crying： 'Enter； the
house and all that therein is belong unto thee！ My happiness blesses thee：
oh； bless thou it！' 〃
While Mlle。 Moriaz thus held communion with her crucifix； Samuel
Brohl was rolling along the great highway from Cormeilles to Argenteuil；
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a distance of six kilometres。 His head was held erect； his face was radiant；
his eyes were like balls of fire； his temples throbbed； and it seemed to him
that his dilated chest might have held the world。 He was speaking to
himselfmurmuring over and over again the same phrase。 〃She is mine！〃
he repeated to the vines bordering the road； to the mill of Trouillet； to the
Sannois Hills； whose vague outlines loomed up against the sky。 〃She is
mine！〃 he cried to the moon； which this evening shone for him alone；
whose sole occupation was to gaze upon Samuel Brohl。 It was plain to see
that she was in the secret； that she knew that before long Samuel Brohl
would marry Mlle。 Moriaz。 She had donned her festal garments to
celebrate this marvellous adventure； her great gleaming face expressed
sympathy and joy。
Although he had exhorted his coachman to make haste； Samuel missed
the train； which was the last。 He decided to put up for the night at
Argenteuil； and sought hospitality at the inn of the Coeur…Volant； where he
ordered served forthwith a great bowl of punch； his favourite drink。 He
betook himself to bed in the full expectation of enjoying most delicious
dreams； but his sleep was troubled by a truly disagreeable incident。
Glorious days are at times succeeded by most wretched nights； and the inn
of Coeur…Volant was destined to leave most disagreeable reminiscences
with Samuel Brohl。
Towards four o'clock he heard some one knocking at his door； and a
voice not unknown to him cried：
〃Open； I beseech you！〃
He was seized with an insupportable anguish； he felt like one
paralyzed； and it was with great difficulty that he rose up in a sitting
posture。 He remembered that the bolt was drawn； and this reassured him。
What was not his stupefied amazement to see the bolt glide back in its
shaft！ The door opened； some one entered； slowly approached Samuel；
drew back the curtains of his bed； and bent towards him； fixing upon him
great eager eyes that he recognised。 They were singular eyes； these； at
once full of sweetness and full of fire； of audacity and of candour； a child；
a grand soul； an unbalanced weakling all this in one was in this gaze。
Samuel Brohl quailed with horror。 He tried to speak； but his tongue
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was powerless to move。 He made desperate efforts to unloose it； he finally
succeeded in moving his lips； and he murmured：
〃Is it you； Abel？ I believed you dead。〃
Evidently Count Abel； the veritable Abel Larinski； was not dead。 He
was on his feet； his eyes were terribly wide open； and his face never had
worn more life…like colouring。 Nothing remained but to believe that he had
been buried alive； and that he had been resuscitated。 In coming forth from
the tomb； he had carried with him a portion of its dust； his hair was
covered with a singular powder of an earthy hue； and at intervals he shook
himself as though to make it fall from him。
With the exception of this there was nothing alarming in his
appearance； but a mocking； half…crafty smile played about his lips。 After a
long pause； he said to Samuel：
〃Yes； it is indeed I。 You did not expect me？〃
〃Are you sure that you are not dead？〃 rejoined Samuel。
〃Perfectly sure；〃 he replied； once more shaking a mass of dust from his
head。 〃Does my return incommode you； Samuel Brohl？〃 he added。 〃Your
name is Samuel； I believe； it is a pret
