samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第23章
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〃He executed the most pearly chromatic scale； and replied： 'Alas！
madame； I am only deferring my departure on account of a letter that
cannot be much longer delayed； in less than a week； I shall have the
distress of bidding you farewell。'
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〃 'You shall not leave；' said Abbe Miollens； 'without letting us hear
once again the poem of the pine。 You sang it with so much soul that it
seemed to me you must be relating an episode of your own history。 My
dear count； did you ever chance to dream of a palm？'
〃He answered： 'I have no longer the right to dream； I am no longer
free。'
〃The abbe started and cried out； in his simple…hearted way； 'Ah！ what；
are you married？'
〃 'I thought I had told you so；' replied he with a melancholy smile；
and he hastened to speak of a ballet that he had seen the evening before at
the opera； and with which he was only half pleased。
〃You can readily believe that when he pronounced the words； 'I
thought I had told you so；' I was on the point of falling on his neck； I was
so happy； that I was afraid he would read in my eyes my joy； astonishment；
and profound gratitude。 I think that he is very keen； and that he has
conjectured for some time the mistrust with which he inspired me。 If he
wanted to mock me a little； I will pardon him； a good man unjustly
suspected has a perfect right to revenge himself by a little irony。 I ordered
the horses to be put to my carriage to take him over to the railroad； and the
abbe and I accompanied him as far as the station。 There cannot be too
much regard shown to honest people who have been abused by fortune。
〃Well！ what do you say； my dear friend？ Was I wrong in claiming
that M。 Larinski is a delightful man？ He will leave before the end of a
week； and he is married； unhappily married； I fear； for his smile was
melancholy。 You see he may have married out of gratitude some /grisette/；
some little working…woman； who nursed him through illness； one of those
women who are not presentable； that would be thoroughly in character。
Happily； in law there are no good or bad marriages； this one I hold to be
unimpeachable。
〃The reaction was violent： I am so rejoiced that I feel tempted to
illuminate Cormeilles and Maisons Lafitte。 In what way will your
undeceive our dreamer？ In your place I would use some precautions。 Be
prudent； go bridle in hand； and in the future； believe me； climb no more
among the rocks； you see what it may lead to。
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〃Once more； do not hasten your departure。 We have had for some
days stifling heat； we literally suffocate。 You need to spend a fortnight
longer amid the shade of the pine…trees； and four thousand feet above the
level of the sea。
〃Adieu； my dear professor！ I am interrupted in my writing by the
incredulous； the sceptical； the suspicious； the absurd； the ridiculous
Camille； who respectfully recommends himself to your indulgent
friendship。〃
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CHAPTER VI
In reading the fourth letter of Mme。 de Lorcy； M。 Moriaz experienced
a feeling of satisfaction and deliverance； over which he was not master。
His daughter had gone to pay a visit in the neighbourhood； and he was
alone with Mlle。 Moiseney； who said to him； 〃You have received good
news； monsieur？〃
〃It is excellent；〃 he replied； then； promptly correcting himself； he
added： 〃Excellent； or to be regretted； or vexatious； I leave that to our
powers of discernment。〃
When he had finished reading the letter； and replaced it in the envelope；
he remained thoughtful for some moments； he was wondering how he
should proceed to announce the excellent news。 For three weeks his
daughter had been a mystery to him。 She never once had pronounced the
name of Count Larinski。 Churwalden pleased her as much as Saint Moritz；
apparently； she was gay； tranquil； perfectly happy。 Had her delusion passed
away？ Had she changed her mind？ M。 Moriaz did not know； but he
surmised that still waters should be mistrusted； and that a young girl's
imagination is like an abyss。 One thoroughly good warning is worth two
indifferent ones； henceforth； he feared everything。 〃If I speak to her；〃
thought he； 〃I shall not be able to dissimulate my joy； and perhaps she will
go into hysterics。〃 He had a horror of hysterics； he resolved to have
recourse to Mlle。 Moiseney； and he said to her； abruptly：
〃I suppose； mademoiselle； that you are acquainted with all that has
passed； and that Antoinette has given you her confidence？〃
She opened her eyes wide； and was on the point of answering that she
knew nothing； but she restrained herself； and setting her little pointed head
erect on her thin shoulders； she said； proudly； 〃Can you imagine that
Antoinette would keep any secrets from me？〃
〃Heaven forbid！〃 replied he。 〃And do you approve； do you encourage
her sentiments for M。 Larinski？〃
Mlle。 Moiseney started； she had been far from suspecting that Count
Larinski had specially impressed Mlle。 Moriaz； and； as on certain
occasions her mind worked rapidly； she understood immediately all the
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consequences of this prodigious event。 There was a cloud before her eyes；
and in this cloud she beheld all manner of things； both pleasing and
displeasing to her； her mouth open； she strove to clear her ideas。 She said
to herself： 〃It is an imprudent act； not only that； it cannot be；〃 but she also
said： 〃Mlle。 Antoinette can no more make a mistake than the Queen of
England can； because she wishes it； she is right in wishing it。〃 Mlle。
Moiseney ended by regaining her self…possession； her lips formed the most
pleasant smile； as she exclaimed：
〃He has no fortune； but he has a beautiful name。 Mme。 la Comtesse
Larinski！ it sounds well to the ear。〃
〃Like music； I grant； it is perfect；〃 rejoined M。 Moriaz。 〃Unfortunately；
music is not everything in the affairs of this world。〃
She was not listening to him。 Full of her own idea； without taking time
to breathe： 〃You jest； monsieur；〃 she continued； with extraordinary
volubility。 〃Believe me or not； I have foreseen this marriage for some time。
I have presentiments that never deceive me。 I was sure that it would be
thus。 What a handsome couple！ Fancy them driving in an open carriage
through the park； or entering a proscenium…box at the opera！ They will
make a sensation。 And truly； without boasting； I think I may call your
attention to the fact that I have been of some account in the affair。 The first
time I saw Count Larinski； you know； at the /table d'hote/ in Bergun； I
recognised at once that he was beyond comparison〃
〃By…the…way； he ate trout？〃 interrupted M。 Moriaz； 〃it does honour to
your discernment。〃
〃You had better ask Antoinette；〃 replied she； 〃if that very evening I did
not praise the handsome stranger。 She maintained that he stooped； and that
his head was badly poised； would you believe it？his head badly poised！
Ah！ I was sure it would end so。 Do you wish to prove my discernment？
Shall I tell you where your letter comes from that contains such excellent
news？ The count wrote it； he has at last proposed。 I guessed it at once。 Ah！
monsieur； I sympathize in your joy。 He is； indeed； the son…in…law that I
have dreamed of for you。 A superior man； so open…hearted； so unaffected
and frank！〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 asked M。 Moriaz； fanning himself with the
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letter。
〃He related to us his whole life；〃 rejoined she； in a pedantic tone。
〃How many people could do as much？〃
〃A delightful narration。 I only regret that he was silent concerning one
detail which was of a nature to interest us。〃
〃An unpleasant detail？〃 she asked； raising her gooseberry…coloured
eyes to him。
〃On the contrary； a circumstance that does him honour； and for which I
am obliged to him。 Believe me； my dear demoiselle； I should be charmed
to receive a son…in…law from your hands； and to give my daughter to a man
whose genius and noble sentiments you divined from merely seeing him
eat。 Unfortunately； I fear this marriage will not come about； there is one
little difficulty。〃
〃What？〃
〃Count Larinski forgot to apprise us that he was already married。〃
Mlle。 Moiseney sent forth a doleful cry。 M。 Moriaz handed her Mme。
de Lorcy's letter； after reading it； she remained in a state of deep dejection；
a pitiless finger had burst the iris bubble that she had just blown； and that
she saw resplendent at the end of her pipe。
〃Do not give way to your despair；〃 said M。 Moriaz； 〃take courage；
follow the example I set you； imitate my resignation。 But tell me； how do
you think Antoinette will take the matter？〃
〃It will be a terrible blow to her；〃 replied Mlle。 Moiseney； 〃she loves
him so much！〃
〃How do you know； since she has not judged it best to tell you？〃
〃I know from circumstances。 Poor dear Antoinette！ The greatest
consideration must be used in announcing to her this intelligence； and I
alone； I believe〃
〃I agree with you；〃 M。
