samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第5章
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amounting actually to idolatry。 The English profess that their sovereigns
can do nothing amiss： 〃The king can do no wrong。〃 Mlle。 Moiseney was
convinced that Mlle。 Moriaz could neither do wrong nor make mistakes
about anything。 She saw everything with her eyes； espoused her likes and
her dislikes； her sentiments； her opinions； her rights； and her wrongs； she
lived； as it were； a reflected existence。 Every morning she said to her idol；
〃How beautiful we are to…day！〃 precisely as the bell…ringer who； puffing
out his cheeks； cried： 〃We are in voice； we have chanted vespers well to…
day！〃 M。 Moriaz excused her for finding his daughter charming； but could
not so readily approve of her upholding Antoinette's ideas； her decisions；
her prejudices。 〃This woman is no chaperon；〃 said he； 〃she is an
admiration…point！〃 He would have been very glad to have routed her from
the field； and to give her place to a person of good sound sense and
judgment； one who might gain some influence over Antoinette。 It would
have greatly surprised Mlle。 Moiseney had he represented to her that she
lacked good sense。 This good creature flattered herself that she had an
inexhaustible stock of this commodity； she placed the highest estimate on
her own judgment； she believed herself to be well… nigh infallible。 She
discoursed in the tone of an oracle on future contingencies； she prided
herself on being able to divine all things； to foresee all things； to predict all
thingsin a word； to be in the secret of the gods。 As her Christian name
was Joan； M。 Moriaz； who set little store by his calendar； sometimes called
her Pope Joan； which wounded her deeply。
Mlle。 Moiseney had two weaknesses； she was a gormand； and she
admired handsome men。 Let us understand the case： she knew perfectly
well that they were not created for her； that she had no attractions to offer
them； that they had nothing to give her。 She admired them naively and
innocently； as a child might admire a beautiful Epinal engraving； she
would willingly have cut out their likenesses to hang on a nail on her wall；
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and contemplate while rereading 〃Gonzalve de Cordue〃 and 〃Le Dernier
des Cavaliers；〃 her two favourite romances。 At Bergun； during the repast；
her brain had been working； and she had made two reflections。 The first
was； that the trout of Albula were incomparable； the second that the
stranger seated opposite her had a remarkably handsome head； and was
altogether a fine…looking man。 Several times； with fork halfway to mouth；
and nose in the air； she had forgotten herself in her scrutiny of him。
Antoinette； rather weary； had retired early to her chamber。 Mlle。
Moiseney repaired thither to see if she needed anything； and； as she was
about leaving her for the night； candle in hand； she suddenly inquired； 〃Do
not you think； as I do； that this stranger is a remarkable…looking person？〃
〃Of whom do you speak？〃 rejoined Antoinette。
〃Why； of the traveller who sat opposite me。〃
〃I confess that I scarcely looked at him。〃
〃Indeed！ He has superb eyes； nearly green； with fawn…coloured
tinting。〃
〃Most astonishing！ And his hair； is it green also？〃
〃Chestnut brown； almost hazel。〃
〃Pray be more exact； is it hazel or not？〃
〃You need not laugh at mehis whole appearance is striking； his figure
singular； but full of character； full of expression； and as handsome as
singular。〃
〃What enthusiasm！ It seemed to me； so far as I noticed； that he was
inclined to stoop； and that his head was very badly poised。〃
〃What do you say？〃 cried Mlle。 Moiseney； greatly scandalized。 〃How
came you to think his head badly poised？〃
〃Therethere！ Don't let us quarrel about it； I am ready to retract。
Good…night； mademoiselle。 Apropos； did you know that M。 Camille
Langis had returned to Paris？〃
〃I did not know it； but I am not surprised。 I had surmised it； in fact； I
was quite sure that he would be back about this time； perfectly sure。 And；
of course； you think he has returned with the intention〃
〃I think；〃 interrupted Antoinette； 〃that it costs me more to pain M。
Langis than any other man in the world。 I think； also； that he possesses
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most tiresome fidelity； it is always the way； one never loses one's dog
when one wants to lose him； and I think； moreover； that a woman makes a
poor bargain when she marries a man for whom she feels friendship； for； if
she gains a husband； she is very sure to lose a friend。〃
〃How true your words are！〃 exclaimed Mlle。 Moiseney。 〃But you are
always right。 Has M。 Langis forgotten that you thought him too young
only twenty…three？〃
〃He has so little forgotten it that he has managed； I don't know how； to
be at present twenty…five。 How resist such a mark of affection？ I shall be
compelled to marry him。〃
〃That will never do。 People do not marry for charity；〃 replied Mlle。
Moiseney； deprecatingly。
〃Adieu； my dear；〃 said Antoinette； dismissing her。 〃Do not dream too
much about your unknown charmer。 I assure you he had a decided stoop in
his shoulders。 However； that makes small difference； if your heart speaks；
I will see to arranging this affair for you。〃 And she added； musingly； 〃How
amusing it must be to marry other people！〃
The next morning Mlle。 Moiseney made the acquaintance of her
unknown charmer。 Before leaving Bergun Mlle。 Moriaz wished to make a
sketch； and she had gone out early with her father。 Mlle。 Moiseney
descended to the hotel /salon/； and； espying a piano； she opened it and
played a /fantasia/ by Schumann； she was a tolerably good musician。
When she had finished； Count Abel Larinski； the man with green eyes；
who had entered the /salon/ without her hearing him； approached to thank
her for the pleasure he had had in listening to her； but he begged to take
the liberty to tell her that she failed to properly observe the movement； and
had taken an /andantino/ for an /andante/。 At her solicitation he took her
place at the instrument； and executed the /andantino/ as few but
professional artists could do。 Mlle。 Moiseney； ever ready with her
enthusiasm； declared that he must be a Liszt or a Chopin； and implored
him to play her something else； to which he consented with good grace。
After this they talked about music and many other things。 The man with
the green eyes possessed one quality in common with Socrates； he was
master in the art of interrogating； and Mlle。 Moiseney loved to talk。 The
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subject on which she discoursed most willingly was Mlle。 Antoinette
Moriaz； when she was started under this heading she became eloquent。 At
the end of half an hour Count Abel was thoroughly /au fait/ on the
character and position of Mlle。 Moriaz。 He knew that she had a heart of
gold； a mind free from all narrow prejudices； a generous soul； and a love
for all that was chivalrous and heroic； he knew that two days of every
week were devoted by her to visiting the poor； and that she looked upon
these as natural creditors to whom it was her duty to make restitution。 He
knew also that Mlle。 Moriaz could all the better satisfy her charitable
inclinations； as her mother had left her an income of one hundred thousand
livres。 He learned that she danced to perfection； that she drew like an
angel； and that she read Italian and spoke English。 This last seemed of
mediocre importance to Count Abel。 St。 Paul said： 〃Though I speak with
the tongues of men and of angels； and have not charity； I am become as
sounding brass； or a tinkling cymbal。〃 The count was of St。 Paul's opinion；
and had Mlle。 Moriaz known neither how to speak English； nor to draw；
nor yet to dance； it would not in the least have diminished the esteem with
which he honoured her。 The main essential in his eyes was that she was
benevolent to the poor； and that she cherished a little tenderness for
heroes。
When he had learned； with an air of indifference； all that he cared to
learn； he respectfully bowed himself away from Mlle。 Moiseney； to whom
he had not mentioned his name； and； buckling his haversack； he put it on
his back； paid his bill； and set out on foot to make a hasty ascent of the
culminating point of the Albula Pass； which leads into the Engadine Valley。
One would have difficulty in finding throughout the Alps a more
completely barren； rugged； desolate spot； than this portion of the Albula
Pass。 The highway lies among masses of rocks； heaped up in terrible
disorder。 Arrived at the culminating point； Count Abel felt the necessity of
taking breath。 He clambered up a little hillock； where he seated himself。 At
his feet were wide open the yawning jaws of a cavern； obstructed by great
tufts of aconite （wolf's…bane）； with sombre foliage； one would have said
that they kept guard over some crime in which they had been accomplices。
Count Abel contemplated the awful silence that surrounded him；
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everywhere enormous boulders； heaped together； or scattered about in
isolated grandeur； some pitched on their sides； others standing erect； still
others suspended； as it were； in mid…air。 It seemed to him that these
boulders had formerly served for the games of bacchanalian Titans； who；
after having used them as skittles or jack…stones； had ended by hurling
them at one another's heads。 It is most probable that He who constructed
the Albula Pa
