samuel brohl & company-第38节
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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 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 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； in idea he embraced his entire future； which he fashioned out at pleasure。 He took leave of his sorrowful past as a blind man who by some miracle recovers his sight； parts from his dog and his stafftroublesome witnesses of evil days。 He had done with petty employments； with ungrateful toil； with humiliating servitude； with anxiety about the morrow； with the necessity for counting every sou； with meagre repasts； with sordid expedients； with sorrow； distress； and usuries； to all these he said farewell。 Henceforth he would pick up silver and gold by the shovelful； he would have a share in abundance of festivalsthe joy of doing nothingthe pleasure of commandingall the sweetness and all the calm satisfaction of delightful egotismreposing in a bed of eider…downfed upon delicate birdsowning two or three houses； a carriage； horses； and a box at the opera。 What a future！ At intervals Samuel Brohl passed his tongue over his lips； they were parched with thirst。
Alnaschar the Lazy received one hundred drachms of silver as his entire patrimony； and he promised himself that he would one day marry the daughter of the grand…vizier。 He meant to clothe himself like a prince； to mount upon a horse with a saddle of fine gold and housings of gold； richly embroidered with diamonds and pearls。 He proposed to see that his wife formed good habits； to train her to obedience； to teach her to stand before him and be always ready to wait upon him； he resolved to discipline her with his looks； his hand； and his foot。 Samuel Brohl possessed a calmer spirit than the Athenian Hippoclide； he was less brutal than Alnaschar of Bagdad： was he much less ferocious？ He proposed； he also； to educate his wife； he intended that the daughter of the grand…vizier should consecrate herself wholly to his happiness； to his service。 To possess a beautiful slave； with velvety eyes； chestnut hair； tinged with gold； who would make of Samuel Brohl her padishah and her god； who would pass her life at his knees on the alert for his wishes； reading his good pleasure in his face； attentive to his fancies and to his eye…brows； belonging to him body and soul； uplifting to him the gaze of a timid gazelle or a faithful spanielsuch was his dream of conjugal felicity。 And little need would he have to exert himself much in the education of Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz。 Love would charge itself with that。 She adored Samuel Brohl； and he relied upon her devotion； it were impossible that she could refuse him anything！ She was prepared in advance for every compliance； every obedience； she was ready to be his humble servant in all things。 Knaves make it their boast that they can readily fathom honest people； the truth is； they only half comprehend them。 Honest people have sentiments； as do certain languages； reputed easy； which are full of mystery； of refined delicacy； inaccessible to the vulgar mind。 A commercial traveller often learns to speak Italian in three weeks； and yet never really knows the language； Samuel Brohl had gained a superficial knowledge of Mlle。 Moriaz in a few days； and yet he was far from having a true comprehension of her。
He arrived at Maisons in the most cheerful； self…satisfied frame of mind。 As he walked through the park； he remembered that Mme。 de Lorcy had lost her only two children when they were still of a tender age； that she was therefore free to will her property as she pleased； that she had a short neck； an apoplectic temperament； that Antoinette was her goddaughter； that although she was piqued with Count Larinski the count was adroit； and would find a way to regain her sympathies。 The park appeared to him magnificent； he admired its long； regular alleys； which had the appearance of extending as far as Peking； he paused some moments before the purple beech； and it seemed to him that there must be some resemblance between this beautiful tree and himself。 He contemplated with the eyes of proprietorship the terrace planted with superb lindens； and he decided that he would establish himself in his Maisons chateau； that his pretty Cormeilles villa would merely be his country…seat。 As it may be seen； his imagination refused him nothing； it placed happiness and wealth untold at his command。
We are unable to state whether Mme。 de Lorcy actually had an apoplectic temperament； the one thing certain is； that she was not dead。 Samuel Brohl perceived her from afar on the veranda； which she had just stepped out upon in order to watch for his arrival。 He had forgotten himself in the park； which should one day be his park； and she was beginning to be uneasy about his coming。
She cried out to him： 〃At last！ You always make us wait for you；〃 adding； in a most affable tone； 〃We meet to…day under less tragic circumstances than the last time you were here； and I hope you will bear away a pleasanter remembrance of Maisons。〃
He respectfully kissed her hand； saying： 〃Happiness must be purchased； I cannot pay too dearly for mine。〃
She ushered him into the /salon/； where he had scarcely set foot； when he descried an old woman lounging on a /causeuse/； fanning herself as she chatted with Abbe Miollens。 He remained motionless； his eyes fixed； scarcely breathing； cold as marble； it seemed to him that the four walls of the /salon/ swayed from right to left； and left to right； and that the floor was sliding from under his feet like the deck of a pitching vessel。
The previous day； Antoinette once departed； Mme。 de Lorcy had resumed her attack on Princess Gulof； and the princess ha
