按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
believe when one loves。 Please write me word quickly that you also have
reflected； and that you have acknowledged your misdemeanour。 I will not
insist upon your doing penance； your face humbled to the ground； but I
will condemn you to love me to…day more than yesterday； to…morrow more
than to…day。 Upon these conditions； I will pass a sponge across your grave
error； and we shall speak of it no more。
〃Ever yours。 It is agreed； is it not？〃 Samuel Brohl had the surprise of
receiving at the same time another
letter； thus worded：
156
… Page 157…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃MY DEAR COUNT： I cannot explain to myself your conduct； you
no longer give me any signs of life。 I believed that I had some claims upon
you； and that you would hasten to announce to me in person the great
event of events； and seek my congratulations。 Come； I beg of you； and
dine this evening at Maisons with Abbe Miollens； who is dying to embrace
you； he studies men in Horace； you know； and he finds none whom he
prefers to you。
〃You need not answer； but come； else I will be displeased with you as
long as I live。〃
Samuel replied as follows to Mlle。 Moriaz：
〃Be assured I have suffered more than you。 Forgive me； much should
be forgiven a man who has suffered much。 My imagination is subject to
the wildest alarms。 Great； unlooked…for joy has rendered me mistrustful。 I
have been especially low…spirited of late。 After having resolutely fought
against my happiness； I tremble now lest it escape me； it appears to me too
beautiful not to prove only a dream。 To be loved by you！ How can I help
fearing to lose the great boon？ Each evening I ask myself： 'Will she still
love me to…morrow？' Perhaps my anxiety is blended with secret remorse。
My pride； ever on the alert to take umbrage； has often been my torment；
you can tell me it is only self…love： I will endeavour to cure myself of it；
but this cannot be done in a day。 During these long months of waiting
there will come to me more than one suspicion； more than one troubled
thought。 I promise you； however； that I shall maintain a rigid silence
concerning them； and； if possible； hide them。
〃You condemn me； for my punishment； to love you to…day more than
yesterday； you know well this were impossible。 No； I shall inflict upon
myself another chastisement。 Mme。 de Lorcy has invited me to dinner。 I
suspect her of having a very mediocre feeling of good… will for me； and I
also accuse her of being cold and insensible； of understanding nothing
whatever of the heart's unreasonableness； which is true wisdom。
Nevertheless； I will refrain from declining her invitation。 It is at Maisons
and not at Cormeilles that I shall this day pass my evening。 Are you
content with me？ Is not the penance severe enough？
〃But to…morrowoh！ I shall arrive at your home to…morrow by two
157
… Page 158…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
o'clock； and I shall enter by the little green gate at the foot of the orchard。
Will you do me a favour？ Promenade about two o'clock in the gravel…walk
that I adore。 The wall being low at that place； I shall perceive from afar；
before entering； the white silk of your sun…umbrella。 I am counting； you
see； upon sunshine。 How very childish！ Yet； even this is not strange； I was
born three months and a half ago； I commenced to live July 5th of this
year； at four o'clock in the afternoon； in the cathedral at Chur。 Forgive me
all my errors； my suspicions； my childish absurdities。〃
Mlle。 Moriaz concluded that it would be well to shorten the term of
waiting； and that she would ask Count Larinski to fix the date of their
marriage himself。 As to the contract； she had immediate occasion to speak
of it to her father； who announced to her that he had invited his notary；
Maitre Noirot； to dine with him the next day。
She was silent a few moments； and then said； 〃Can you explain to me
the use of notaries？〃
He replied about as did /le Philosophe sans le savoir/： 〃We only see the
present； notaries foresee the future and possible contingencies。〃
She replied that she did not believe in contingencies； and that she did
not like precautions； because they presupposed distrust； and might appear
offensive。
〃We have charming weather to…day；〃 said her father； 〃nevertheless
there is a possibility of rain to…morrow。 If I started this evening on a
journey； I should carry my umbrella； without fearing to insult Providence。
Who speaks to you of offending M。 Larinski？ Not content with approving
of the step I propose taking； he will thank me for it。 Why did he at first
refuse to marry you？ Because you are rich； and he is poor。 The contract I
wish to have drawn up will thoroughly set at ease his disinterestedness and
his pride。〃
〃The question of money no longer exists for him；〃 she eagerly replied；
〃it is my desire that it should not be started again。 And since you like
comparisons； let us suppose that you invited one of your friends to take a
turn in your garden。 Your espaliers are laden with fruit； and you know that
your friend is an honest man； and that； besides； he does not care for pears。
Suppose you were to put handcuffs on him； would he or would he not be
158
… Page 159…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
insulted？〃
He answered in an exceedingly vexed tone； that this was entirely
different； and Mlle。 Moiseney having taken the liberty to interfere in the
discussion in Antoinette's behalf； declaring that Counts Larinski are not to
be distrusted； and that men of science are incapable of comprehending
delicacy of sentiment； he gave full vent to his wrath； telling the worthy
demoiselle to meddle with what concerned her。 For the first time in his life
he was seriously angry。 Antoinette caressed him into good…humour；
promised that she would put on the best possible face to Maitre Noirot；
that she would pay religious attention to his counsels； and that she would
endeavour to profit by them。
While M。 Moriaz was engaged in this stormy interview with his
daughter； Samuel Brohl was /en route/ for Maisons。 After the first flush of
astonishment； the note and invitation of Mme。 de Lorcy had pleased him
immensely； he saw in it the proof that she had ceased to struggle against
the inevitableagainst Samuel Brohl and destiny； that she had resolved to
bear her disappointment with a cheerful countenance。 He formed the
generous resolution to console her for her vexation； to gain her good…will
by force of modesty and graceful attentions。
Alone in his compartment of the cars； Samuel Brohl was happy；
perfectly happy。 He was nearing port； he held it for an established fact that；
before a fortnight； the banns would be published。 Was he alone in his
compartment？ An adored image kept him company； he spoke to it； it
replied to him。 Blended with a rather uncommon frigidity of soul； Samuel
Brohl had an imagination that readily took fire； and； when his imagination
was kindled； he felt within him something warm； which he took for a heart；
and sincerely persuaded himself that he had such an organ。 At this moment
he saw Antoinette as he had left her the evening previous； her face
animated； her cheeks flushed； her countenance full of reproach； her eyes
tearful。 She never had appeared to him so charming。 He believed himself
so madly in love that he was inclined to mock a little at himself。 He teased
in anticipation the joys that were in reserve for him； he revelled in thought
of the day and the hour when this superb creature would be his； when he
could view her as his own undisputed possession； and devour page after
159
… Page 160…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
page； chapter after chapter； of this elegantly printed； richly bound book。
However； he was not the man to wholly absorb himself in such a
reverie。 His thoughts travelled farther；