samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第38章
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love me to…morrow？' Perhaps my anxiety is blended with secret remorse。
My pride； ever on the alert to take umbrage； has often been my torment；
you can tell me it is only self…love： I will endeavour to cure myself of it；
but this cannot be done in a day。 During these long months of waiting
there will come to me more than one suspicion； more than one troubled
thought。 I promise you； however； that I shall maintain a rigid silence
concerning them； and； if possible； hide them。
〃You condemn me； for my punishment； to love you to…day more than
yesterday； you know well this were impossible。 No； I shall inflict upon
myself another chastisement。 Mme。 de Lorcy has invited me to dinner。 I
suspect her of having a very mediocre feeling of good… will for me； and I
also accuse her of being cold and insensible； of understanding nothing
whatever of the heart's unreasonableness； which is true wisdom。
Nevertheless； I will refrain from declining her invitation。 It is at Maisons
and not at Cormeilles that I shall this day pass my evening。 Are you
content with me？ Is not the penance severe enough？
〃But to…morrowoh！ I shall arrive at your home to…morrow by two
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o'clock； and I shall enter by the little green gate at the foot of the orchard。
Will you do me a favour？ Promenade about two o'clock in the gravel…walk
that I adore。 The wall being low at that place； I shall perceive from afar；
before entering； the white silk of your sun…umbrella。 I am counting； you
see； upon sunshine。 How very childish！ Yet； even this is not strange； I was
born three months and a half ago； I commenced to live July 5th of this
year； at four o'clock in the afternoon； in the cathedral at Chur。 Forgive me
all my errors； my suspicions； my childish absurdities。〃
Mlle。 Moriaz concluded that it would be well to shorten the term of
waiting； and that she would ask Count Larinski to fix the date of their
marriage himself。 As to the contract； she had immediate occasion to speak
of it to her father； who announced to her that he had invited his notary；
Maitre Noirot； to dine with him the next day。
She was silent a few moments； and then said； 〃Can you explain to me
the use of notaries？〃
He replied about as did /le Philosophe sans le savoir/： 〃We only see the
present； notaries foresee the future and possible contingencies。〃
She replied that she did not believe in contingencies； and that she did
not like precautions； because they presupposed distrust； and might appear
offensive。
〃We have charming weather to…day；〃 said her father； 〃nevertheless
there is a possibility of rain to…morrow。 If I started this evening on a
journey； I should carry my umbrella； without fearing to insult Providence。
Who speaks to you of offending M。 Larinski？ Not content with approving
of the step I propose taking； he will thank me for it。 Why did he at first
refuse to marry you？ Because you are rich； and he is poor。 The contract I
wish to have drawn up will thoroughly set at ease his disinterestedness and
his pride。〃
〃The question of money no longer exists for him；〃 she eagerly replied；
〃it is my desire that it should not be started again。 And since you like
comparisons； let us suppose that you invited one of your friends to take a
turn in your garden。 Your espaliers are laden with fruit； and you know that
your friend is an honest man； and that； besides； he does not care for pears。
Suppose you were to put handcuffs on him； would he or would he not be
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insulted？〃
He answered in an exceedingly vexed tone； that this was entirely
different； and Mlle。 Moiseney having taken the liberty to interfere in the
discussion in Antoinette's behalf； declaring that Counts Larinski are not to
be distrusted； and that men of science are incapable of comprehending
delicacy of sentiment； he gave full vent to his wrath； telling the worthy
demoiselle to meddle with what concerned her。 For the first time in his life
he was seriously angry。 Antoinette caressed him into good…humour；
promised that she would put on the best possible face to Maitre Noirot；
that she would pay religious attention to his counsels； and that she would
endeavour to profit by them。
While M。 Moriaz was engaged in this stormy interview with his
daughter； Samuel Brohl was /en route/ for Maisons。 After the first flush of
astonishment； the note and invitation of Mme。 de Lorcy had pleased him
immensely； he saw in it the proof that she had ceased to struggle against
the inevitableagainst Samuel Brohl and destiny； that she had resolved to
bear her disappointment with a cheerful countenance。 He formed the
generous resolution to console her for her vexation； to gain her good…will
by force of modesty and graceful attentions。
Alone in his compartment of the cars； Samuel Brohl was happy；
perfectly happy。 He was nearing port； he held it for an established fact that；
before a fortnight； the banns would be published。 Was he alone in his
compartment？ An adored image kept him company； he spoke to it； it
replied to him。 Blended with a rather uncommon frigidity of soul； Samuel
Brohl had an imagination that readily took fire； and； when his imagination
was kindled； he felt within him something warm； which he took for a heart；
and sincerely persuaded himself that he had such an organ。 At this moment
he saw Antoinette as he had left her the evening previous； her face
animated； her cheeks flushed； her countenance full of reproach； her eyes
tearful。 She never had appeared to him so charming。 He believed himself
so madly in love that he was inclined to mock a little at himself。 He teased
in anticipation the joys that were in reserve for him； he revelled in thought
of the day and the hour when this superb creature would be his； when he
could view her as his own undisputed possession； and devour page after
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page； chapter after chapter； of this elegantly printed； richly bound book。
However； he was not the man to wholly absorb himself in such a
reverie。 His thoughts travelled farther； in idea he embraced his entire
future； which he fashioned out at pleasure。 He took leave of his sorrowful
past as a blind man who by some miracle recovers his sight； parts from his
dog and his stafftroublesome witnesses of evil days。 He had done with
petty employments； with ungrateful toil； with humiliating servitude； with
anxiety about the morrow； with the necessity for counting every sou； with
meagre repasts； with sordid expedients； with sorrow； distress； and usuries；
to all these he said farewell。 Henceforth he would pick up silver and gold
by the shovelful； he would have a share in abundance of festivalsthe joy
of doing nothingthe pleasure of commandingall the sweetness and all
the calm satisfaction of delightful egotismreposing in a bed of eider…
downfed upon delicate birdsowning two or three houses； a carriage；
horses； and a box at the opera。 What a future！ At intervals Samuel Brohl
passed his tongue over his lips； they were parched with thirst。
Alnaschar the Lazy received one hundred drachms of silver as his
entire patrimony； and he promised himself that he would one day marry
the daughter of the grand…vizier。 He meant to clothe himself like a prince；
to mount upon a horse with a saddle of fine gold and housings of gold；
richly embroidered with diamonds and pearls。 He proposed to see that his
wife formed good habits； to train her to obedience； to teach her to stand
before him and be always ready to wait upon him； he resolved to
discipline her with his looks； his hand； and his foot。 Samuel Brohl
possessed a calmer spirit than the Athenian Hippoclide； he was less brutal
than Alnaschar of Bagdad： was he much less ferocious？ He proposed； he
also； to educate his wife； he intended that the daughter of the grand…vizier
should consecrate herself wholly to his happiness； to his service。 To
possess a beautiful slave； with velvety eyes； chestnut hair； tinged with gold；
who would make of Samuel Brohl her padishah and her god； who would
pass her life at his knees on the alert for his wishes； reading his good
pleasure in his face； attentive to his fancies and to his eye…brows；
belonging to him body and soul； uplifting to him the gaze of a timid
gazelle or a faithful spanielsuch was his dream of conjugal felicity。 And
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little need would he have to exert himself much in the education of Mlle。
Antoinette Moriaz。 Love would charge itself with that。 She adored Samuel
Brohl； and he relied upon her devotion； it were impossible that she could
refuse him anything！ She was prepared in advance for every compliance；
every obedience； she was ready to be his humble servant in all things。
Knaves make it their boast that they can readily fathom honest people； the
truth is； they only half comprehend them。 Honest people have sentiments；
as do certain languages； reputed easy； which are full of mystery； of refined
delicacy； inaccessible to the vulgar mind。 A commercial traveller often
learns to speak Italian in three weeks； and yet never really knows the
language； Samuel Brohl had gained a superficial knowledge of Mlle。
Moriaz in a few days； and yet he was far from having a true
comprehension of her。
He arrived at Maisons in the most cheerful； self…satisfied frame of
mind。 As he walked through the park； he remembered that Mme。 de Lorcy
had lost her only two children when
