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fact is that； in beholding for the first time Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz； for it
was none other than she who thus riveted his attention； he experienced an
inexplicable surprise； a thrilling of the heart； such as he never before had
experienced。 In his first impression of this charming girl he made one
slight mistake。 He divined at once that the man by whom she was
accompanied； who had gray hair； a broad； open brow； vivacious eyes；
shaded by beautiful； heavy eye…brows； belonged to some learned fraternity；
but he imagined that this individual with a white cravat； who had evidently
preserved his freshness of heart； although past sixty years of age； was the
fortunate suitor of the beautiful girl by his side。
There are some women whom it is impossible not to gaze upon。
Wherever Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz appeared she was the object of
universal observation： first； because she was charming； and； then； because
she had a way of her own of dressing and of arranging her hair； a peculiar
movement of the head； a grace of carriage； which inevitably must attract
notice。 There were those who made so bold as to assert that she assumed
certain little peculiarities solely for the purpose of attracting the chance
observer。 Do not believe a word of it。 She was altogether indifferent to
public opinion and consulted her own taste alone； which was certainly
impregnated with a touch of audacity； but she did not seek to appear
audaciousshe merely acted according to her natural bent。 Observing her
from a distance； people were apt to fancy her affected； and somewhat
inclined to be fantastic； but on approaching her； their minds were speedily
disabused of this fancy。 The purity of her countenance； her air of
refinement and thorough modesty； speedily dispelled any suspicious
thoughts； and those who had for a moment harboured them would say
mentally； 〃Pardon me； mademoiselle； I mistook。〃 Such； at least； was the
mental comment of Count Abel； as she passed close by him on leaving the
church。 Her father was telling her something that made her smile； this
smile was that of a young girl just budding into womanhood； who has
nothing yet to conceal from her guardian angel。 Count Larinski left the
church after her； and followed her with his eyes as she crossed the square。
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On returning to the hotel he had a curiosity to satisfy。 He questioned one
of the /garcons/； who pointed out to him in the hotel register for travellers
the following entry： 〃M。 Moriaz； member of the Institute of France； and
his daughter； from Paris； /en route/ for Saint Moritz。〃 〃And where then？〃
he asked himself； then dismissed the subject from his mind。
When he had dined； he repaired to the post…office to inquire for a letter
he was expecting from Vienna。 He found it； and returned to shut himself
up in his chamber； where he tore open the envelope with a feverish hand。
This letter； written in a more peculiar than felicitous French； was the reply
of the Jew banker。 It read as follows：
〃M。 LE COMTE：
〃Although you both write and understand German very well； you do
not like to read it； and therefore I write to you in French。 It grieves me
deeply not to have it in my power to satisfy your honoured demand。
Business is very dull。 It is impossible for me to advance you another florin；
or even to renew your note； which falls due shortly。 I am the father of a
family； it pains me to be compelled to remind you of this。
〃I wish to tell you quite freely what I think。 I did believe in your gun；
but I believe in it no longer； no one believes in it any more。 When strong；
it was too heavy； when you made it lighter； it was no longer strong。 What
came next？ You know it burst。 Beware how you further perfect it； or it will
explode whenever it becomes aware that any one is looking at it。 This
accursed gun has eaten up the little you had； and some of my savings
besides； although I have confidence that you will； at least； pay me the
interest due on that。 It grieves me to tell you so； M。 de Comte； but all
inventors are more or less crack…brained； and end in the hospital。 For the
love of God； leave guns as they are； and invent nothing more； or you will
go overboard； and there will be no one to fish you out。〃
Abel Larinski paused at this place。 He put his letter down on the table；
and； turning round in his arm…chair； with a savage air； his eye fixed on a
distant corner of the room； he fell to thus soliloquizing in a sepulchral
voice：
〃Do you hear； idiot？ This old knave is right。 Accursed be the day when
the genius of invention thrilled your sublime brain！ A grand discovery you
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have made； forsooth！ What have I gained from it？ Grand illusions； grand
discomfitures！ What hath it availed me that I passed whole nights
discussing with you breech…loaders； screw…plates； tumbrels； sockets；
bridges； ovoid balls； and spring…locks？ What fruits have I gained from
these refreshing conversations？ You foresaw everything； my great man；
except that one little thing which great men so often fail to see； that
mysterious something； I know not what； which makes success。 When you
spoke to me； in your slow； monotonous tones； when you fixed upon me
your melancholy gaze； I should have been able to read in your eyes that
you were only a fool。 The devil take thee and thy gun； thy gun and thee；
hollow head； head full of chimeras； true Pole； true Larinski！〃
To whom was Count Abel speaking？ To a phantom？ To his double？ He
alone knew。 When he had uttered the last words； he resumed the perusal of
his letter； which ended thus：
〃Will you permit me to give you a piece of advice； M。 le Comte； a
good little piece of advice？ I have known you for three years； and have
taken much interest in your welfare。 You invent guns； which； when they
are strong； lack lightness。 I beg your pardon； but I do not comprehend you；
M。 le Comte。 The name you bear is excellent； the head you carry on your
shoulders is superb； and it is the general opinion that you resemble /Faust/；
but neither name nor head does you any good。 Leave the guns as they are；
and bestow your attention upon women； they； and they alone； can draw
you out of the deep waters where you are now floundering。 There is no
time to lose。 I beg your pardon； but you must be thirty years old； and
perhaps a little more。 This /diable/ of a gun has made you lose three
valuable years。
〃It pains me； M。 le Comte； to be compelled to remind you that the
little note falls due shortly。 I have had the value of the bracelet you left
with me as a pledge estimated； it is not worth a thousand florins； as you
believed； it is a piece of antiquity that has a value to only those who can
indulge in a caprice for fancy articles； and such caprices are rare nowadays；
the time for such is past。
〃I am； M。 le Comte； with much respect； your humble and obedient
servant；
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〃MOSES GULDENTHAL。〃
Abel Larinski turned once more in his chair。 He crumpled up between
his fingers the letter of M。 Moses Guldenthal； saying to himself as he did
so； that the Guldenthals are often very clear…sighted folks。 〃Ay； to be sure；〃
thought he； 〃this Hebrew is right； I have lost three valuable years。 I have
had fever； and my eyes have been clouded； but； Heaven be praised！ The
charm is broken； the illusion fled； I am cured saved！ Farewell； my
chimera； I am no longer thy dupe！ Many thanks； my dear friend： I return to
you your gun； do with it as it seemeth best to you。〃
His eyes suddenly fell on his own reflection in the mirror above the
chimney…piece； and he regarded it fixedly for a few moments。
〃The semblance truly of an inventor；〃 he res