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〃But I might possibly have misunderstood。〃
〃I have entire confidence in your earsthey are excellent。〃
〃But pray allow me to observe that it is never worth while to despair
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too soon。 Do you know what？ Count Larinski came recently to see me
without finding me at home。 I owe him a farewell visit。 To…morrow
morning； I promise you； I will call on him。〃
〃For what purpose？〃 interrupted M。 Moriaz。 〃I thank you a thousand
times for your kindly intentions； but God forbid that I should uselessly
interfere with your daily pursuits； your time is too precious！ I declare
myself completely edified。 I consider the proof firmly established； there is
no further doubt。〃
As Madame de Lorcy had remarked； Abbe Miollens was not one to
easily relax his hold upon an idea he had once deemed good。 In vain M。
Moriaz combated his proposition； bestowing secret maledictions on his
excess of zeal； the abbe would not give up； and M。 Moriaz was forced to
be resigned。 It was agreed that the next day the worthy man should call on
Count Larinski； and that from Paris he should repair to Cormeilles； in
order to communicate to the proper person the result of his mission。 M。
Moriaz perceived the advantage of having Antoinette learn from the abbe's
own lips the fatal truth； and he did not leave without impressing upon him
to be very circumspect； as prudent as a serpent； as discreet as a father
confessor。 He started for home with quite a contented mind； seeing the
future lie smoothly and pleasantly before him； and it really seemed to him
that the drive from Maisons to Cormeilles was a much shorter and more
agreeable one than that from Cormeilles to Maisons。
Samuel Brohl was seated before an empty trunk； which he was
apparently about to pack； when he heard some one knock at his door。 He
went to open it and found himself face to face with Abbe Miollens。 From
the moment of their first meeting； Samuel Brohl had conceived for the
abbe that warm sympathy； that strong liking； with which he was always
inspired by people in whom he believed he recognised useful animals who
might be of advantage to him； whom he considered destined to render him
some essential service。 He seldom mistook； he was a admirable
diagnostician； he recognised at first sight the divine impress of
predestination。 He gave the most cordial reception to his reverend friend；
and ushered him into his modest quarters with all the more
/empressement/； because he detected at once the mysterious； rather
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agitated air he wore。 〃Does he come in the quality of a diplomatic agent；
charged with some mission extraordinary？〃 he asked himself。 On his side
the abbe studied Samuel Brohl without seeming to do so。 He was struck
with his physiognomy； which expressed at this moment a manly yet
sorrowful pride。 His eyes betrayed at intervals the secret of some heroic
grief that he had sworn to repress before men； and to confess to God alone。
He sat down with his guest； and they began to talk； but the abbe
directed the conversation into topics of the greatest indifference。 Samuel
Brohl listened to him and replied with a melancholy grace。 Lively as was
his curiosity he well knew how to hold it in check。 Samuel Brohl never
had been in a hurry； during the month that had elapsed he had proved that
he knew how to waita faculty lacking in more diplomates than one。
Abbe Miollens's call had lasted during the usual time allotted to a
polite visit； and the worthy man seemed about to depart； when； pointing
with his forefinger to the open valise； he remarked： 〃I see here
preparations that grieve me。 I did dream； my dear count； of inviting you to
Maisons。 I have a spare chamber there which I might offer to you。 /Hoc
erat in votis/； I should indeed have been happy to have had you for a guest。
We should have chatted and made music to our hearts' content； close by a
window opening on a garden。 'Hae latebrae dulces； etiam； si credis；
amoenae。' But； alas！ you are going to leave us； you do not care for the
friendship accorded you here。 Has Vienna such superior attractions for you？
But I remember； you will doubtless be restored there to a pleasant home； a
charming wife； children perhaps who〃
Samuel looked at him with an astonished； confused air； as he had
viewed Mme。 de Lorcy when she undertook to speak to him of the
Countess Larinski。 〃What do you mean？〃 he finally asked。
〃Why； did you not confide to me yourself that you were married？〃
Samuel opened wide his eyes； during some moments he seemed to be
in a dream； then； suddenly putting his hand to his brow and beginning to
smile； he said： 〃Ah！ I seeI see。 Did you take me literally？ I thought you
understood what I said。 No； my dear abbe； I am not married； and I never
shall marry； but there are free unions as sacred； as indissoluble as
marriage。〃
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The abbe knit his brows； his countenance assumed an expression of
chagrin and disapproval。 He was about delivering to his dear count a
sermon on the immorality and positive danger of free unions； but Samuel
Brohl gave him no time。 〃I am not going to Vienna to rejoin my mistress；〃
he interposed。 〃She never leaves me； she accompanies me everywhere； she
is here。〃
Abbe Miollens cast about him a startled； bewildered gaze； expecting to
see a woman start out of some closet or come forward from behind some
curtain。
〃I tell you that she is here；〃 repeated Samuel Brohl； pointing to an
alabaster statuette； posed on a /piedouche/。 The statuette represented a
woman bound tightly； on whom two Cossacks were inflicting the knout；
the socle bore the inscription； 〃Polonia vincta et flagellata。〃
The abbe's countenance became transformed in the twinkling of an eye；
the wrinkles smoothed away from his brow； his mouth relaxed； a joyous
light shone in his eyes。 〃How well it is that I came！〃 thought he。 〃And
under what obligations M。 Moriaz will be to me！〃
Turning towards Samuel he exclaimed：
〃I am simply a fool； I imagined Ah！ I comprehend； your mistress is
Poland； this is delightful； and it is truly a union that is as sacred as
marriage。 It has； besides； this advantagethat it interferes with nothing
else。 Poland is not jealous； and if； peradventure； you should meet a woman
worthy of you whom you would like to marry； your mistress would have
nothing to say against it。 To speak accurately； however； she is not your
mistress； one's country is one's mother； and reasonable mothers never
prevent their sons from marrying。〃
It was now Samuel's turn to assume a stern and sombre countenance。
His eye fixed upon the statuette； he replied：
〃You deceive yourself； M。 l'Abbe； I belong to her； I have no longer the
right to dispose of either my heart； or my soul； or my life； she will have
my every thought and my last drop of blood。 I am bound to her by my
vows quite as much； I think； as is the monk by his。〃
〃Excuse me； my dear count；〃 said the abbe； 〃this is fanaticism； or I
greatly mistake。 Since when have patriots come to take the vow of
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celibacy？ Their first duty is to become the fathers of children who will
become good citizens。 The day when there will cease to be Poles； there
will cease also to be a Poland。〃
Samuel Brohl interrupted him； pressing his arm earnestly； and saying：
〃Look at me well； have I not the appearance of an adventurer？〃 The
abbe recoiled。 〃This word shocks you？〃 continued Samuel。