samuel brohl & company-第32节

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e　with　Mlle。　Moriaz　as　might；　perchance；　have　been　Count　Larinski。

He　could　not　resist　the　impulse　that　transported　him。　He　folded　in　his　arms　the　slender；　supple　form　of　Antoinette；　and　imprinted　upon　her　hair　a　kiss　of　flame；　a　true　Polish　kiss。　She　offered　no　resistance；　but　at　this　moment　the　bat　that　had　already　forced　upon　her　its　distasteful　company　renewed　the　attack；　struck　her　full　in　the　face；　and　stuck　fast　in　her　hood。　Antoinette　felt　the　touch　of　its　cold；　clammy　wings；　of　its　hooked　claws。　She　tore　the　hood　from　her　head　and　flung　it　away　in　horror。　Samuel　Brohl　sprang　forward　to　pick　it　up；　pressed　it　to　his　lips；　and　made　his　escape；　like　a　thief　carrying　off　his　booty。

When　Antoinette　re…entered　the　/salon/；　she　found　there　Mlle。　Moiseney；　whose　boisterous；　overwhelming　joy　had　just　put　M。　Moriaz　to　flight。　This　time　Mlle。　Moiseney　knew　everything。　She　had　seen　Samuel　Brohl　arrive；　she　had　been　unable　to　control　her　overweening　curiosity；　and；　without　the　slightest　scruples；　she　had　listened　at　the　door。　She　cast　herself　into　Antoinette's　arms；　pressed　her　to　her　heart；　and　cried：　〃Ah；　my　dear！　oh；　my　dear！　Did　I　not　always　say　that　it　would　end　thus？〃

Mlle。　Moriaz　hastened　to　free　herself　from　her　embraces；　she　felt　the　need　of　being　alone。　On　entering　her　chamber　she　took　a　hasty　survey　of　it：　her　furniture；　her　pretty　knick…knacks；　her　rose…tined　tapestry；　the　muslin　hangings　of　her　bed；　the　large　silver　crucifix　hanging　on　the　extreme　wall；　all　seemed　to　regard　her　with　astonishment；　asking；　〃What　has　happened？〃　And　she　replied：

〃You　are　right；　something　has　happened。〃

She　remained　in　contemplation　before　a　portrait　of　her　mother；　whom　she　had　lost　very　young。

〃I　have　been　told；〃　she　mused；　〃that　you　were　a　great　romance…reader。　I　do　not　care　for　romances　at　allI　scarcely　ever　read　them；　but　I　have　just　been　making　one　myself；　with　which　you　would　not　be　discontented。　This　man　would　astonish　you　a　little；　he　would　please　you　still　more。　Some　hours　ago　he　seemed　lost　to　me　forever。　I　brazened　it　out。　I　went　in　search　of　him；　and　when　he　saw　me　he　surrendered。　Only　now　he　was　with　me　on　the　terrace；　his　lips　touched　me　here　on　my　hair；　and　thrilled　me　from　head　to　foot。　Do　not　feel　displeased　with　mehis　are　pure　and　royal　lips！　They　have　been　touched　by　the　sacred　fire；　they　never　have　lied；　never　have　there　fallen　from　them　other　than　proud　and　noble　words；　they　modestly　recount　the　history　of　a　life　without　blemish　Ah！　why　are　you　not　here？　I　have　a　thousand　things　to　say　to　you；　which　you　alone　could　comprehend；　others　do　not　comprehend　me。〃

She　began　her　toilet　for　the　night。　When　she　had　unfastened　her　hair；　she　remembered　that　there　was　One　in　her　chamber　who　could　comprehend　everything；　and　to　whom　she　had　yet　said　nothing。　She　knelt　down；　her　wealth　of　hair　streaming　over　her　beautiful　shoulders；　her　hands　reverently　clasped；　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　silver　crucifix；　and　she　said；　in　a　low　tone：

〃Forgive　me　that　I　have　forgotten　thee；　thou　who　never　hast　forgotten　me！　I　return　thanks　to　thee　that　thou　hast　granted　my　desires；　thou　hast　given　me　the　happiness　of　which　I　have　dreamed　without　daring　to　ask　it。　Ah；　yes；　I　am　happy；　perfectly　happy！　I　promise　thee　that　I　will　cast　the　reflection　of　my　joy　among　the　poor　and　unfortunate　of　this　world：　I　will　love　them　as　I　have　never　loved　them　before！　When　we　give　them　food　and　drink；　we　give　it　also　unto　thee；　and　when　we　give　them　flowers；　this　crown　of　thorns　that　has　wounded　thy　brow　bursts　into　bloom。　I　will　give　them　flowers　and　bread。　It　is　vain　to　say　that　thou　art　a　jealous　God。　Full　as　may　be　my　heart；　thou　knowest　that　there　is　always　room　for　thee；　and　that　thou　never　canst　knock　at　the　door　without　my　crying：　'Enter；　the　house　and　all　that　therein　is　belong　unto　thee！　My　happiness　blesses　thee：　oh；　bless　thou　it！'　〃

While　Mlle。　Moriaz　thus　held　communion　with　her　crucifix；　Samuel　Brohl　was　rolling　along　the　great　highway　from　Cormeilles　to　Argenteuil；　a　distance　of　six　kilometres。　His　head　was　held　erect；　his　face　was　radiant；　his　eyes　were　like　balls　of　fire；　his　temples　throbbed；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　dilated　chest　might　have　held　the　world。　He　was　speaking　to　himselfmurmuring　over　and　over　again　the　same　phrase。　〃She　is　mine！〃　he　repeated　to　the　vines　bordering　the　road；　to　the　mill　of　Trouillet；　to　the　Sannois　Hills；　whose　vague　outlines　loomed　up　against　the　sky。　〃She　is　mine！〃　he　cried　to　the　moon；　which　this　evening　shone　for　him　alone；　whose　sole　occupation　was　to　gaze　upon　Samuel　Brohl。　It　was　plain　to　see　that　she　was　in　the　secret；　that　she　knew　that　before　long　Samuel　Brohl　would　marry　Mlle。　Moriaz。　She　had　donned　her　festal　garments　to　celebrate　this　marvellous　adventure；　her　great　gleaming　face　expressed　sympathy　and　joy。

Although　he　had　exhorted　his　coachman　to　make　haste；　Samuel　missed　the　train；　which　was　the　last。　He　decided　to　put　up　for　the　night　at　Argenteuil；　and　sought　hospitality　at　the　inn　of　the　Coeur…Volant；　where　he　ordered　served　forthwith　a　great　bowl　of　punch；　his　favourite　drink。　He　betook　himself　to　bed　in　the　full　expectation　of　enjoying　most　delicious　dreams；　but　his　sleep　was　troubled　by　a　truly　disagreeable　incident。　Glorious　days　are　at　times　succeeded　by　most　wretched　nights；　and　the　inn　of　Coeur…Volant　was　destined　to　leave　most　disagreeable　reminiscences　with　Samuel　Brohl。

Towards　four　o'clock　he　heard　some　one　knocking　at　his　door；　and　a　voice　not　unknown　to　him　cried：

〃Open；　I　beseech　you！〃

He　was　seized　with　an　insupportable　anguish；　he　felt　like　one　paralyzed；　and　it　was　with　great　difficulty　that　he　rose　up　in　a　sitting　posture。　He　remembered　that　the　bolt　was　drawn；　and　this　reassured　him。　What　was　not　his　stupefied　amazement　to　see　the　bolt　glide　back　in　its　shaft！　The　door　opened；　some　one　entered；　slowly　approached　Samuel；　drew　back　the　curtains　of　his　bed；　and　bent　towards　him；　fixing　upon　him　great　eager　eyes　that　he　recognised。　They　were　singular　eyes；　these；　at　once　full　of　sweetness　and　full　of　fire；　of　audacity　and　of　candour；　a　child；　a　grand　soul；　an　unbalanced　weakling　all　this　in　one　was　in　this　gaze。

Samuel　Brohl　quailed　with　horror。　He　tried　to　speak；　but　his　tongue　was　powerless　to　move。　He　made　desperate　efforts　to　unloose　it；　he　finally　succeeded　in　moving　his　lips；　and　he　murmured：

〃Is　it　you；　Abel？　I　believed　you　dead。〃

Evidently　Count　Abel；　the　veritable　Abel　Larinski；　was　not　dead。　He　was　on　his　feet；　his　eyes　were　terribly　wide　open；　and　his　face　never　had　worn　more　life…like　colouring。　Nothing　remained　but　to　believe　that　he　had　been　buried　alive；　and　that　he　had　been　resuscitated。　In　coming　forth　from　the　tomb；　he　had　carried　with　him　a　portion　of　its　dust；　his　hair　was　covered　with　a　singular　powder　of　an　earthy　hue；　and　at　intervals　he　shook　himself　as　though　to　make　it　fall　from　him。

With　the　exception　of　this　there　was　nothing　alarming　in　his　appearance；　but　a　mocking；　half…crafty　smile　played　about　his　lips。　After　a　long　pause；　he　said　to　Samuel：

〃Yes；　it　is　indeed　I。　You　did　not　expect　me？〃

〃Are　you　sure　that　you　are　not　dead？〃　rejoined　Samuel。

〃Perfectly　sure；〃　he　replied；　once　more　shaking　a　mass　of　dust　from　his　head。　〃Does　my　return　incommode　you；　Samuel　Brohl？〃　he　added。　〃Your　name　is　Samuel；　I　believe；　it　is　a　pretty　name。　Why　have　you　taken　mine？　You　must　give　it　back　to　me。〃

〃Not　to…day；〃　pleaded　Samuel；　in　a　stifled　voice；　〃nor　to…morrow；　nor　the　day　after　to…morrow；　but　after　the　marriage。〃

Count　Abel　burst　out　laughing；　which　was　by　no　means　his　habit；　and　which　therefore　greatly　surprised　Samuel。　Then　he　cried：

〃It　is　I　she　will　marryshe　will　be　the　Countess　Larinski。〃

Suddenly　the　door　opened　again；　and　Mlle。　Antoinette　Moriaz　appeared；　robed　in　white　like　a　bride；　a　crown　on　her　head；　a　bouquet　in　her　hand。　She　bent　her　steps　towards　Samuel；　but　the　apparition　arrested　her　progress；　saying：

〃It　is　not　he　whom　you　love；　it　is　my　history。　Do　you　not　see　that　this　is　a　false　Pole？　His　father　was　a　German　Jew；　who　kept　a　tavern。　Here　it　was　that　this　hero　grew　up。　I　will　relate　to　you　how。〃

Here　Samuel　put　his　hand　over　his　mouth；　and　stammered：　〃Oh；　for　mercy's　sake；　say　nothing！〃

Heeding　him　not；　the　apparition　continued：　〃Yes；　Samuel　Brohl　is　a　hero。　For　five　years　he　was　the　pledged　lover　of　an　old　woman；　and　he　fulfilled　all　the　duties　of　his　post。　This　cherished　hero　well　earned　his　money。　Are　you　not　eager　to　be　called　Mme。　Brohl？〃

With　these　words；　he　opened　wide　his　arms　to　Mlle。　Moriaz；　who　fixed　upon　him　a　gaze　at　the　same　time　astonishing　and　tender；　and　straining　her　to　his　bosom；　kissed　her　hair　and　her　crown。

Then　Samuel　Brohl　recovered　strength；　life；　movement；　clinching　his　hands；　he　sprang　forward　to　dispute　with　Abel　Larinski　his　prey。　Suddenly；　with　a　shiver　of　terror　and　dismay；　he　paused；　he　had　heard　proceeding　from　a　distant　corner　of　the　chamber　a　shrill；　malignant　laugh。　He　turned；　and　distinctly　perceived　his　fathera　greasy　cap　on　his　head；　wrapped　in　a　forlorn；　threadbare；　dirty　caftan。　This　was　unquestionably　Jeremiah　Brohl；　and　this　night　it　seemed　truly　that　the　whole　world　had　arisen　from　the　dead。　The　little　old　man　continued　to　laugh　jeeringly