samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第7章
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She loved to see the cows returning at evening from the pasture。 The
cowherd in charge marshalled home in the most orderly manner his little
drove； which announced its coming from afar by the tinkling of the cow…
bells。 Each one of the creatures stopped of itself at the entrance to its stall
and demanded admittance by its lowing。 In the morning； when they were
turned out again； they awaited the arrival of the entire herd； and fell into
rank and file； each in its proper place。 The first time Mlle。 Moriaz
witnessed this ceremony； she found it as interesting as a first presentation
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at the theatre or opera。
There were several rainy days； which she employed in reading；
painting； and making observations on the human animals of both sexes
whom she encountered at the /table d'hote/。 She soon gained an increase of
occupation。 With her； mind and heart were so constantly on the alert that it
was impossible for her to remain a week in a place without discovering
some work of charity to be performed。 A woman to whom she had taken a
fancy； a little shopkeeper of the place； interested her in her daughter； who
was destined to be a governess； and who desired to learn drawing。
Antoinette undertook to give her drawing…lessons； making her come every
day to the hotel； and often keeping her there several hours。 Her pupil was
rather dull of comprehension； and caused her to grow a little cross
sometimes； but she always made amends to the girl by her caresses and
sprightly talk。
The weather became fine again。 Antoinette availed herself of the
opportunity to take long promenades； she clambered up the mountain…
slopes； over slippery turf； in the hope of carrying home some rare plant；
but her strength was not equal to her valourshe could not succeed in
scaling those heights where flourished the /Edelweiss/。 A week after her
arrival she had a surprise； we might even say a pleasurable emotion； which
was not comprised in the programme of amusements that the proprietor of
Hotel Badrutt undertook to procure for his guests。 Returning from an
excursion to Lake Silvaplana； she found in her chamber a basket
containing a veritable sheaf of Alpine flowers； freshly gathered； and
among them not only /Edelweiss/ in profusion； but several very rare plants；
and the rarest of all a certain bell…flower creeper； which smells like the
apricot； and which； except in some districts of the Engadine； is only found
now in Siberia。 This splendid bouquet was accompanied by a note； thus
conceived：
〃A man who had had enough of life； resolved to hang himself。 To
execute his dolorous design； he selected a lonely and dismal spot； where
there grew a solitary oak； whose sap was nearly exhausted。 As he was
engaged in securing his cord； a bird alighted on the half…dead tree and
began to sing。 The man said to himself： 'Since there is no spot so
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miserable that a bird will not deign to sing in it； I will have the courage to
live。' And he lived。
〃I arrived in this village disgusted with life； sorrowful and so weary
that I longed to die。 I saw you pass by； and I know not what mysterious
virtue entered into me。 I will live。
〃 'What matters it to me？' you will say； in reading these lines； and you
will be right。 My sole excuse for having written them is； that I will leave
here in a few days； that you never will see me again； never know who I
am！〃
The first impression of Antoinette was one of profound astonishment。
She would have taken it for granted that there was some mistake had not
her name been written in full on the envelope。 Her second impulse was to
laugh at her adventure。 She accorded full justice to Mlle。 Moriaz； she
knew very well that she did not resemble the first chance comer； but that
her beauty would work miracles； resurrections； that a hypochondriac；
merely from seeing her pass by； was likely to regain his taste for existence；
scarcely appeared admissible to her。 So great was her curiosity； that she
took the pains to make inquiries； the flowers and the letter had been left by
a little peasant； who was not of the place； and who could not be found。
Antoinette examined the hotel…register； she did not see there the
handwriting of the letter。 She studied the faces which surrounded her；
there was not in Hotel Badrutt a single romantic…looking person。 Very
speedily she renounced her search。 The bouquet pleased her； she kept it as
a present fallen from the skies； and preserved the letter as a curiosity；
without long troubling herself to know who had written it。 〃Do not let us
talk about it any more； it is doubtless some lunatic；〃 she replied one day to
Mlle。 Moiseney； who kept constantly recurring to the incident whose
mystery she burned to fathom。 The good demoiselle had been tempted to
stop people in the road to ask； 〃Was it you？〃 Perchance she might have
suspected her Bergun unknown to have a hand in the affair； had she had
the least idea that he was at Saint Moritz； where she never had met him。
He came there； nevertheless； every day； but at his own time； besides； the
hotels were full to overflowing； and it was very easy to lose one's self in
the crowd。
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To tell the truth； when Count Abel Larinski came to Saint Moritz he
was far less occupied with Mlle。 Moriaz than with a certain illustrious
chemist。 The air of the Engadine and the waters that tasted like ink had
worked marvels： in a week M。 Moriaz felt like a new man。 There had
come to him a most formidable appetite； and he could walk for hours at a
time without becoming weary。 He abused his growing strength by
constantly strolling through the mountains without a guide； hammer in
hand； and every day； in spite of the remonstrances of his daughter； he
increased the length of his excursions。 The more people know； the more
inquisitive they become； and； when one is inquisitive； one can go to great
lengths without feeling fatigue； one only becomes conscious of this after
the exertion is over。 M。 Moriaz never for a moment suspected that he was
accompanied； at a respectful distance； on these solitary expeditions； by a
stranger； who； with eyes and ears both on the alert； watched over him like
a providence。 The most peculiar part of the affair was that this providence
would gladly have caused him to take a misstep； or thrust him into some
quagmire； in order to have the pleasure of drawing him out； and bearing
him in his arms to the Hotel Badrutt。 〃If only he could fall into a hole and
break his leg！〃 Such was the daily wish of Count Abel Larinski； but
/savants/ have great license allowed them。 Although M。 Moriaz was both
corpulent and inclined to be absent…minded； he plunged into more than one
quagmire without sticking fast； more than one marsh without having his
progress impeded。
One morning he conceived the project of climbing up as high as a
certain fortress of mountains whose battlements overhang a forest of pine
and larch trees。 He was not yet sufficiently accustomed to the mountains
to realize how deceptive distances become there。 After having drained two
glasses of the chalybeate waters； and breakfasted heartily； he set out；
crossed the Inn； and began the ascent to the forest。 The slope grew more
and more abrupt； and ere long he discovered that he had wandered from
the foot…path。 He was not one to be easily disheartened； he continued
climbing； laying hold of the brushwood with his hands； planting his feet
among perfidious pine… needles； which form a carpet as smooth as a mirror；
making three steps forward and two backward。 Great drops of perspiration
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started out on his brow； and he sat down for a moment to wipe them away；
hoping that some wood…cutter might appear and show him the way back to
the path； if there was one。 But no human soul came within sight； and
plucking up his courage again he resumed the ascent； until he had nearly
reached a breastwork of rock； in which he vainly sought an opening。 He
was about retracing his steps when he remembered that from the gallery of
the hotel he had observed this breastwork of reddish rock； and it seemed to
him that he remembered also that it formed the buttress of the mountain…
stronghold of which he was in quest； and so he concluded that this would
be the last obstacle he would have to overcome。 He thought that it would
be actually humiliating to be so near the goal and yet renounce it。 The rock；
worn by the frost； presented sundry crevices and indentures； forming a
natural stairway。 Arming himself with all his strength； and making free use
of his nails； he undertook to scale it； and in five minutes had gained a sort
of plateau； which； unluckily for him； he found to be commanded by a
smooth granite wall of a fearful height。 The only satisfactory procedure for
him now was to return whence he had come； but in these perilous passages
to ascend is easier than to descend； it being impossible to choose one's
steps； descent might lead to a rather undesirable adventure。 M。 Moriaz did
not dare to risk this adventure。
He walked the whole length of the plateau where he found himself in
the hope of discovering some outlet； but the sole outlet he could discover
had already been monopolized by a mountain…torrent whose troubled
waters noisily precipitated themselves through it to the depths below。 This
torrent was much too wide to wade； and to think of leaping over it would
