samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第37章
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self…deceptions regarding their sentiments。 Friendship and love； however；
are two entirely different things！ I once said to Mlle。 Moiseney that a
woman never should marry an intimate friend； because it would be a sure
way of losing him as such； and friends are good to keep。〃
〃Bah！ How much do you care now for yours？ I find my role very
modest； very insignificant。 Open the trap…doorit is time for me to
disappear。〃
〃Bad counsel！ I shall not open the trap…door。 One always has need of
friends。 I can readily imagine the possibility of the very happiest married
woman needing some advice or assistance that she could not ask of her
husband； for husbands do not understand everything。 If ever such a thing
happens to me； Camille； I shall turn to you。〃
〃Agreed！〃 he cried； 〃to help you out of embarrassment； I would run； if
necessary； all the way from Transylvania。〃
He held out his right hand； which she shook warmly。
At this moment they heard a step that Mlle。 Moriaz at once recognised；
and Count Larinski appeared from the walk bordering the house。
Antoinette hastened to meet him； and led him forward by laying hold of
the tip of his glove； which he was in the act of drawing off。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said she； 〃I do not need to present you to each other； you
are already acquainted。〃
It is a very difficult thing to lead two men who do not like each other
into conversation： the present effort proved a total failure。 Fortunately for
all parties； M。 Moriaz shortly made his appearance at the end of the terrace；
and M。 Langis arose to join him。 Antoinette remained alone with Samuel
Brohl； who at once rather brusquely asked：
〃Has M。 Langis the intention of remaining here forever？〃
〃He has only just arrived；〃 she replied。
〃And you will send him away soon？〃
〃I thought so little of sending him away that I asked him to dinner； in
order to give you an opportunity of becoming more fully acquainted with
him。〃
〃I thank you for your amiable intentions； but M。 Langis pleases me
little。〃
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〃What have you against him？〃
〃I have met him sometimes at Mme。 de Lorcy's； and he always has
shown me a most dubious politeness。 I scent in him an enemy。〃
〃Pure imagination！ M。 Langis has been my friend from childhood up；
and I have forewarned him that it is his duty to love the people whom I
love。〃
〃I mistrust these childhood's friends；〃 said he； growing excited。 〃I
should not wonder if this youth was in love with you。〃
〃Ah； indeed！ then you should have heard him but now。 He has been
reminding me； this youth； that two years ago he sought my hand； and he
assured me that forty…eight hours sufficed to console him for my refusal。〃
〃I did not know that the case was so grave； or the personage so
dangerous。 Truly； do you mean to keep him to dinner？〃
〃I invited him； can I retract？〃
〃Very well； I will leave the place；〃 he cried； rising。
She uplifted her eyes to his face and remained transfixed with
astonishment； so completely was his face transformed。 His contracted
brows formed an acute angle； and he had a sharp； hard； evil air。 This was a
Larinski with whom she was not yet acquainted； or rather it was Samuel
Brohl who had just appeared to herSamuel Brohl； who had entered upon
the scene as suddenly as though he had emerged from a magic surprise…
box。 She could not remove her eyes from him； and he at once perceived
the impression he was making on her。 Forthwith Samuel Brohl re…entered
his box； whose cover closed over him； and it was a true Pole who said to
Mlle。 Moriaz； in a grave； melancholy； and respectful tone：
〃Pardon me； I am not always master of my impressions。〃
〃That is right；〃 said she； 〃and you will remain； won't you？〃
〃Impossible；〃 he replied； 〃I should be cross； and you would not be
pleased。〃
She urged him； he opposed her entreaties with a polite but firm
resistance。
〃Adieu；〃 said she。 〃When shall I see you again？〃
〃To…morrowor the day afterI do not know。〃
〃Really； do you not know？〃
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He perceived that her eyes were full of tears。 Tenderly kissing her
hand he said； with a smile that consoled her：
〃This is the first time we have had any dispute； it is possible that I may
be wrong； but it seems to me that if I were a woman I would not willingly
marry a man who was always right。〃
These words uttered； he assured himself anew that her eyes were
humid； and then he left； charmed to have proved the extent of the empire
he held over her。
When she rejoined M。 Langis； the young man asked：
〃Does it chance to be I who put Count Larinski to flight？ If so； I
should be quite heart…broken。〃
〃Reassure yourself；〃 said she； 〃he came expressly to inform me that
his evening was not free。〃
The dinner was only passably lively。 Mlle。 Moiseney owed M。 Langis
a grudge； she could not forgive him for having made fun of her more than
oncein her eyes an unpardonable sin。 M。 Moriaz was enchanted to find
himself once more in company with his dear Camille； but he kept asking
himself； mournfully； 〃Why is not he to be my son…in…law？〃 Antoinette had
several attacks of abstraction； she did not； however； omit the least friendly
attention to Camille。 Love had become master of this generous soul； it
might cause it to commit many imprudences； but it was not in its power to
cause it to commit an injustice。
At nine o'clock M。 Langis mounted his horse and took his departure。
Meanwhile； Mlle。 Moriaz； her arm resting on the ledge of her window；
was meditating on the strange conduct of Count Larinski as she gazed on
the stars； the sky was without clouds； unless a little black speck above
Mount…Valerien might be so called。 Mlle。 Moriaz's heart swelled with
emotion； and she felt implicit confidence that all would be arranged the
next day。 What is one black spot in the immensity of a starry sky？
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CHAPTER X
In all that Samuel Brohl did； even in his wildest freaks； there was
somewhat of calculation； or contrivance。 Unquestionably； he had
experienced intense displeasure at encountering M。 Camille Langis at
Cormeilles； he had； doubtless； very particular and very personal reasons
for not liking him。 He knew； however； that there was need for controlling
his temper； his impressions； his rancour； and； if he ceased to do so for a
moment； it was because he counted upon deriving advantage therefrom。
He was impatient to enter into possession； to feel his good…fortune
sheltered from all hazards； delays； procrastinations； long waiting；
displeased and irritated him。 He suspected M。 Moriaz of purposely putting
his shoulder to the wheel of time； and of preparing a contract that would
completely tie the hands of Count Larinski。 He resolved to seize the first
opportunity of proving that he was mistrustful； stormy； susceptible； in the
hope that Mlle。 Moriaz would become alarmed and say to her father； 〃I
intend to marry in three weeks； and without any conditions。〃 The
opportunity had presented itself； and Samuel Brohl had taken good care
not to lose it。
The next day he received the following note：
〃You have caused me pain； a great deal of pain。 Already！ I passed a
sorrowful evening； and slept wretchedly all night。 I have reflected
seriously upon our dispute； I have endeavoured to persuade myself that I
was in the wrong： I have neither been able to succeed； nor to comprehend
you。 Ah！ how your lack of confidence astonishes me！ It is so easy to
believe when one loves。 Please write me word quickly that you also have
reflected； and that you have acknowledged your misdemeanour。 I will not
insist upon your doing penance； your face humbled to the ground； but I
will condemn you to love me to…day more than yesterday； to…morrow more
than to…day。 Upon these conditions； I will pass a sponge across your grave
error； and we shall speak of it no more。
〃Ever yours。 It is agreed； is it not？〃 Samuel Brohl had the surprise of
receiving at the same time another
letter； thus worded：
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〃MY DEAR COUNT： I cannot explain to myself your conduct； you
no longer give me any signs of life。 I believed that I had some claims upon
you； and that you would hasten to announce to me in person the great
event of events； and seek my congratulations。 Come； I beg of you； and
dine this evening at Maisons with Abbe Miollens； who is dying to embrace
you； he studies men in Horace； you know； and he finds none whom he
prefers to you。
〃You need not answer； but come； else I will be displeased with you as
long as I live。〃
Samuel replied as follows to Mlle。 Moriaz：
〃Be assured I have suffered more than you。 Forgive me； much should
be forgiven a man who has suffered much。 My imagination is subject to
the wildest alarms。 Great； unlooked…for joy has rendered me mistrustful。 I
have been especially low…spirited of late。 After having resolutely fought
against my happiness； I tremble now lest it escape me； it appears to me too
beautiful not to prove only a dream。 To be loved by you！ How can I help
fearing to lose the great boon？ Each evening I ask myself： 'Will she still
love me to…morrow？' Perhaps my anxiety is blended with secret remorse。
My pride； ever on the alert to take umbrage；
