samuel brohl & company-第29节

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k。　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。〃

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　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。　〃Yes；　I　am　a　man　of　adventures；　born　to　be　always　on　my　feet；　and　ready　to　start　off　at　a　moment's　warning。　Marriage　was　not　instituted　for　those　whose　lives　are　liable　at　any　time　to　be　in　jeopardy。〃　With　a　tragic　accent；　he　added：　〃You　know　what　occurred　in　Bosnia。　How　do　we　know　that　war　may　not　very　shortly　be　proclaimed；　and　who　can　foresee　the　consequences？　I　must　hold　myself　in　readiness　for　the　great　day。　Perhaps　an　inscrutable　Providence　may　ere　long　offer　me　a　new　occasion　to　risk　my　life　for　my　country；　perhaps　Poland　will　call　me；　crying；　'Come；　I　have　need　of　thee！'　If　I　should　respond：　'I　belong　no　more　to　myself；　I　have　given　my　heart　to　a　woman　who　holds　me　in　chains；　I　have　henceforth　a　roof；　a　family；　a　hearthstone；　dear　ties　that　I　dare　not　break！'　I　ask　you；　M。　l'Abbe；　would　not　Poland　have　a　right　to　say　to　me；　'Thou　hast　violated　thy　vow；　thou　hast　denied　me；　upon　thy　head　rest　forever　my　maledictions？'　〃

Abbe　Miollens　had　just　taken　a　pinch　of　snuff；　and　he　hearkened　to　this　harangue；　tapping　his　fingers　impatiently　on　the　lid　of　his　handsome　gold　snuff…box；　which　had　been　presented　to　him　by　the　most　amiable　of　his　penitents。

〃If　this　be　the　way　you　view　it；〃　replied　he；　〃is　your　conscience　quite　tranquil；　my　dear　friend？　for　you　will　permit　me；　I　trust；　to　call　you　so。　Ay；　is　it　sure　that　from　your　standpoint　your　conscience　has　no　accusations　to　make　you？　Is　it　certain　that　your　heart　has　not　been　unfaithful　to　its　mistress？　If　I　may　believe　a　certain　rumour　that　has　reached　my　ear；　there　took　place　a　most　singular　scene　yesterday　at　the　house　of　Mme。　de　Lorcy。〃

Samuel　Brohl　trembled　violently；　he　changed　colour；　he　buried　his　face　in　his　hands；　doubtless　to　hide　from　the　abbe　the　blushes　remorse　had　caused　to　mantle　his　cheeks。　In　a　faint　voice　he　murmured：

〃Not　a　word　more！　you　know　not　how　deep　a　wound　you　have　probed。〃

〃It　is；　then；　true　that　you　love　Mlle。　Antoinette　Moriaz？〃　asked　the　abbe。

〃I　have　sworn　that　she　never　shall　know　it；〃　replied　Samuel；　in　accents　of　the　most　humble　contrition。　〃Yesterday　I　had　the　unworthy　weakness　to　betray　myself。　/Mon　Dieu！/　what　must　she　have　thought　of　me？〃

As　he　spoke　thus；　his　face　buried　in　his　hands；　he　slightly　moved　apart　his　fingers；　and　fixed　upon　the　abbe　two　glittering　eyes　that；　like　cats'　eyes；　were　capable　of　seeing　clearly　in　the　dark。

〃What　she　thinks　of　you！〃　echoed　the　abbe；　taking　a　fresh　pinch　of　snuff。　〃Bah！　my　dear　count；　women　never　are　angry　when　a　man　swoons　away　because　of　their　bright　eyes；　especially　when　this　man　is　a　noble　chevalier；　a　true　knight　of　the　Round　Table。　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　Mlle。　Moriaz　did　not　take　your　accident　unkindly。　Shall　I　tell　you　my　whole　thought？　I　should　not　be　surprised　if　you　had　touched　her　heart；　and　that；　if　you　take　the　pains；　you　may　flatter　yourself　with　the　hope　of　one　day　being　loved　by　her。〃

At　this　moment　the　voice　of　his　worthy　friend　appeared　to　Samuel　Brohl　the　most　harmonious　of　all　music。　He　felt　a　delicious　thrill　quiver　through　his　frame。　The　abbe　was　telling　him　nothing　he　had　not　known　before；　but　there　are　things　of　which　we　are　certain；　things　that　we　have　told　ourselves　a　hundred　times；　and　yet　that　seem　new　when　told　us　for　the　first　time　by　another。

〃You　are　not　misleading　me？〃　ejaculated　Samuel　Brohl；　overwhelmed　with　joy；　transported　beyond　himself。　〃Can　it　really　be　true！One　day　I　may　flatter　myselfone　day　she　may　judge　me　worthy　Ah！　what　a　glorious　vision　you　cause　to　pass　before　my　eyes！　How　good　and　cruel　together　you　are　to　me！　What　bitterness　is　intermingled　with　the　ineffable　sweetness　of　your　words！　No；　I　never　could　have　believed　that　there　could　be　so　much　joy　in　anguish；　so　much　anguish　in　joy。〃

〃What　would　you　imply；　my　dear　count？〃　interposed　Abbe　Miollens。　〃Have　you　need　of　a　negotiator？　I　can　boast　of　having　had　some　experience　in　that　line。　I　am　wholly　at　your　service。〃

These　words　calmed　Samuel　Brohl。　Quickly　recovering　himself；　he　coldly　rejoined：

〃A　negotiator？　What　occasion　would　I　have　for　a　negotiator？　Do　not　delude　me　with　a　chimera；　and　above　all　do　not　tempt　me　to　sacrifice　my　honour　to　it。　This　height　of　felicity　that　you　offer　to　me　I　must　renounce　forever；　I　have　told　you　why。〃

Abbe　Miollens　was　at　first　inclined　to　be　indignant；　he　even　took　the　liberty　to　rebuke；　to　expostulate　with　his　noble　friend。　He　endeavoured　to　prove　to　him　that　his　principles　were　too　rigorous；　that　such　a　thing　is　possible　as　exaggeration　in　virtue；　too　great　refinement　in　delicacy　of　conscience。　He　represented　to　him　that　noble　souls　should　beware　of　exaltation　of　sentiment。　He　cited　the　Gospels；　he　cited　Bossuet；　he　also　cited　his　well…beloved　Horace；　who　censored　all　that　was　ultra　or　excessive；　and　recommended　the　sage　to　flee　all　extremities。　His　reasoning　was　weak　against　the　unwavering　resolution　of　Samuel；　who　resisted；　with　the　firmness　of　a　rock；　all　his　remonstrances；　and　finally　ended　these　with　the　words：

〃Peace；　I　implore　you！　Respect　my　folly；　which　is　surely　wisdom　in　the　eyes　of　God。　I　repeat　it　to　you；　I　am　no　longer　free；　and；　even　if