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SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
SAMUEL BROHL &
COMPANY
VICTOR CHERBULIEZ
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SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
CHAPTER I
Were the events of this nether sphere governed by the calculus of
probabilities； Count Abel Larinski and Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz would
almost unquestionably have arrived at the end of their respective careers
without ever having met。 Count Larinski lived in Vienna； Austria； Mlle。
Moriaz never had been farther from Paris than Cormeilles； where she went
every spring to remain throughout the fine weather。 Neither at Cormeilles
nor at Paris had she ever heard of Count Larinski； and he； on his part； was
wholly unaware of the existence of Mlle。 Moriaz。 His mind was occupied
with a gun of his own invention； which should have made his fortune； and
which had not made it。 He had hoped that this warlike weapon； a true
/chef…d'oeuvre/； in his opinion superior in precision and range to any other
known； would be appreciated； according to its merits； by competent judges；
and would one day be adopted for the equipment of the entire Austro…
Hungarian infantry。 By means of unremitting perseverance； he had
succeeded in obtaining the appointment of an official commission to
examine it。 The commission decided that the Larinski musket possessed
certain advantages； but that it had three defects： it was too heavy； the
breech became choked too rapidly with oil from the lubricator； and the
cost of manufacture was too high。 Count Abel did not lose courage。 He
gave himself up to study； devoted nearly two years to perfecting his
invention； and applied all his increased skill to rendering his gun lighter
and less costly。 When put under test； the new firearm burst； and this
vexatious incident ruined forever the reputation of the Larinski gun。 Far
from becoming enriched； the inventor had sunk his expenses； his advances
of every kind； he had recklessly squandered both revenue and capital；
which； to be sure； was not very considerable。
Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz had a more fortunate destiny than Count
Larinski。 She did not plume herself on having invented a new gun； nor did
she depend upon her ingenuity for a livelihood； she had inherited from her
mother a yearly income of about a hundred thousand livres； which enabled
her to enjoy life and make others happy； for she was very charitable。 She
loved the world without loving it too much； she knew how to do without it；
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having abundant resources within herself； and being of a very independent
disposition。 During the winter she went out a great deal into society； and
received freely at home。 Her father； member of the Institute and Professor
of Chemistry at the College of France； was one of those /savants/ who
enjoy dining out； he had a taste also for music and for the theatre。
Antoinette accompanied him everywhere； they scarcely ever remained at
home except upon their reception evenings； but with the return of the
swallows it was a pleasure to Mlle。 Moriaz to fly to Cormeilles and there
pass seven months； reduced to the society of Mlle。 Moiseney； who； after
having been her instructress； had become her /demoiselle de compagnie/。
She lived pretty much in the open air； walking about in the woods； reading；
or painting； and the woods； her books； and her paint…brushes； to say
nothing of her poor people； so agreeably occupied her time that she never
experienced a quarter of an hour's /ennui/。 She was too content with her lot
to have the slightest inclination to change it； therefore she was in no hurry
to marry。 She had completed twenty…four years of her existence； had
refused several desirable offers； and wished nothing better than to retain
her maidenhood。 It was the sole article concerning which this heiress had
discussions with those around her。 When her father took it into his head to
grow angry and cry； 〃You must！〃 she would burst out laughing；
whereupon he would laugh also； and say： 〃I'm not the master here； in fact；
I am placed in the position of a ploughman arguing with a priest。〃
It is very dangerous to tax one's brains too much when one dines out
frequently。 During the winter of 1875； M。 Moriaz had undertaken an
excess of work； he was overdriven； and his health suffered。 He was
attacked by one of those anemic disorders of which we hear so much
nowadays； and which may be called /la maladie a la mode/。 He was
obliged to break in upon his daily routine； employ an assistant； and early
in July his physician ordered him to set out for Engadine； and try the
chalybeate water…cure at Saint Moritz。 The trip from Paris to Saint Moritz
cannot be made without passing through Chur。 It was at Chur that Mlle。
Antoinette Moriaz； who accompanied her father； met for the first time
Count Abel Larinski。 When the decree of Destiny goes forth； the spider
and the fly must inevitably meet。
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Abel Larinski had arrived at Chur from Vienna； having taken the route
through Milan and across the Splugen Pass。 Although he was very short of
funds； upon reaching the capital of the canton of Grisons he had put up at
the Hotel Steinbock； the best and most expensive in the place。 It was his
opinion that he owed this mark of respect to Count Larinski； such duties
he held to be very sacred； and he fulfilled them religiously。 He was in a
very melancholy mood； and set out for a promenade in order to divert his
mind。 In crossing the Plessur Bridge； he fixed his troubled eyes on the
muddy waters of the stream； and he felt almost tempted to take the fatal
leap； but in such a project there is considerable distance between the
dream and its fulfilment； and Count Larinski experienced at this juncture
that the most melancholy man in the world may find it difficult to conquer
his passion for living。
He had no reason to feel very cheerful。 He had quitted Vienna in order
to betake himself to the Saxon Casino； where /roulette/ and /trente… et…
quarante/ are played。 His ill…luck would have it that he stopped on the way
at Milan； and fell in with a circle of ill repute； where this most imprudent
of men played and lost。 There remained to him just enough cash to carry
him to Saxon； but what can be accomplished in a casino when one has
empty pockets？ Before crossing the Splugen he had written to a petty Jew
banker of his acquaintance for money。 He counted but little on the
compliance of this Hebrew； and this was why he paused five minutes to
contemplate the Plessur； after which he retraced his steps。 Twenty minutes
later he was crossing a public square； ornamented with a pretty Gothic
fountain； and seeing before him a cathedral； he hastened to enter it。
The cathedral of Chur possesses； among other curiosities； a painting
by Albert Durer； a St。 Lawrence on the gridiron； attributed to Holbein； a
piece of the true cross； and some relics of St。 Lucius and his sister Ernesta。
Count Abel only accorded a wandering attention to either St。 Lucius or St。
Lawrence。 Scarcely had he made his way into the nave of the building；
when he beheld something that appeared to him far more interesting than
paintings or relics。 An English poet has said that at times there is revealed
to us a glimpse of paradise in a woman's face； and it was such a rare
blessing that was at this moment vouchsafed unto Count Larinski。 He was
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not a romantic man； and yet he remained for some moments motionless；
rooted to the spot in admiration。 Was it a premonition of his destiny？ The
fact is that； in beholding for the first time Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz； f