samuel brohl & company-第39节
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The previous day； Antoinette once departed； Mme。 de Lorcy had resumed her attack on Princess Gulof； and the princess had ended by consenting to delay her departure； to dine with the adventurer of the green eyes； and to subject him to a close scrutiny。 There she was； yes； it was indeed she！ The first impulse of Samuel Brohl was to regain the door as speedily as possible； but he did nothing of the kind。 He looked at Mme。 de Lorcy： she herself was regarding him with astonishment； she wondered what could suddenly have overcome him； she could find no explanation for the bewilderment apparent in his countenance。 〃It is a mere chance；〃 he thought at last； 〃she has not intentionally drawn me into a snare。〃 This thought was productive of a sort of half relief。
〃/Eh bien！/ what is it？〃 she asked。 〃Has my poor /salon/ still the misfortune to be hurtful to you？〃
He pointed to a /jardiniere/； saying： 〃You are fond of hyacinths and tuberoses； their perfume overpowered me for a moment。 I fear you think me very effeminate。〃
She replied in a caressing voice： 〃I take you for a most worthy man who has terrible nerves； but you know by experience that if you have weaknesses I have salts。 Will you have my smelling…bottle？〃
〃You are a thousand times too good；〃 he rejoined； and bravely marched forward to face the danger。 It is a well…known fact that dangers in a silken robe are the most formidable of all。
Mme。 de Lorcy presented him to the princess； who raised her chin to examine him with her little glittering eyes。 It seemed to him that those gray orbs directed at him were two balls； which struck him in the heart； he quivered from head to foot and asked himself confusedly whether he were dead or living。 He soon perceived that he was still living； the princess had remained impassiblenot a muscle of her face had moved。 She ended by bestowing upon Samuel a smile that was almost gracious； and addressing to him some insignificant words； which he only half understood； but which seemed to him exquisitedelicious。 He fancied that she was saying to him： 〃You have a chance； you were born lucky； my sight has been impaired for some years； and I do not recognise you。 Bless your star； you are saved！〃 He experienced such a transport of joy that he could have flung his arms about the neck of Abbe Miollens； who came up to him with extended hand； saying：
〃What have you been thinking about； my dear count？ Since we last met a very great event has been accomplished。 What woman wishes； God wishes； but； after all； my own humble efforts were not without avail； and I am proud of it。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy requested Count Larinski to offer his arm to Princess Gulof and lead her out to dinner。 He mechanically complied； but he had not the strength to utter a syllable as he conducted the princess to table。 She herself said nothing； she seemed wholly busied in arranging with her unoccupied hand a lock of her gray hair； which had strayed too far over her forehead。 He looked fixedly at this short； plump hand； which one day in a fit of jealous fury had administered to him two smart blows； his cheeks recognised it。
During dinner the princess was very gay： she paid more attention to Abbe Miollens than to Count Larinski； she took pleasure in teasing the good priestin endeavouring to shock him a little。 It was not easy to shock him； to his natural； easy good…nature he united an innate respect for grandeurs and for princesses。 She did not neglect so good an opportunity to air her monkey…development theories。 He merrily flung back the ball； he declared that he should prefer to be a fallen angel rather than a perfected monkey； that in his estimation a parvenu made a much sorrier figure in the world than the descendent of an old family of ruined nobility。 She replied that she was more democratic than he。 〃It is pleasant to me；〃 said she； 〃to think that I am a progressive ape； who has a wide future before him； and who； by taking proper pains； may hope to attain new advancement。〃
While they were thus chatting； Samuel Brohl was striving with all his might to recover from the terrible blow he had received。 He noted with keen satisfaction that the eyesight of the princess was considerably impaired； that the microscopic studies； for which she had always had a taste； had resulted in rendering her somewhat near…sighted； that she was obliged to look out carefully to find her way among her wine… glasses。 〃She has not seen me for six years；〃 thought he； 〃and I have become a different man； I have undergone a complete metamorphosis； I have difficulty sometimes in recognising myself。 Formerly； my face was close…shaven； now I have let my entire beard grow。 My voice； my accent； the poise of my head； my manners； the expression of my countenance； all are changed； Poland has entered my bloodI am Samuel no longer； I am Larinski。〃 He blessed the microscope； which enfeebled the sight of old women； he blessed Count Abel Larinski； who had made of him his twin brother。 Before the end of the repast he had recovered all his assurance； all his aplomb。 He began to take part in the conversation： he recounted in a sorrowful tone a sorrowful little story； he retailed sundry playful anecdotes with a melancholy grace and sprightliness； he expressed the most chivalrous sentiments； shaking his lion's mane； he spoke of the prisoner at the Vatican with tears in his voice。 It were impossible to be a more thorough Larinski。
The princess manifested； in listening to him； an astonished curiosity； she concluded by saying to him： 〃Count； I admire you； but I believe only in physiology； and you are a little too much of a Pole for me。〃
After they had left the table and repaired to the /salon/； several callers dropped in。 It was like a deliverance to Samuel。 If the society was not numerous enough for him to lose himself in it； at least it served him as a shield。 He held it for a certainty that the princess had not recognised him； yet he did not cease feeling in her presence unutterably ill at ease。 This Calmuck visage of hers recalled to him all the miseries； the shame； the hard； grinding slavery of his youth； he could not look at her without feeling his brow burn as though it were being seared with a hot iron。
He entered into conversation with a supercilious； haughty； and pedantic counsellor…at…law； whose interminable monologues distilled ennui。 This fine speaker seemed charming to Samuel； who found in him wit； knowledge； scholarship； and taste； he possessed the （in his eyes） meritorious quality of not knowing Samuel Brohl。 For Samuel had come to divide the human race into two categories： the first comprehended those well…to…do； thriving people who did not know a certain Brohl； he placed in the second old women who did know him。 He interrogated the counsellor with deference； he hung upon his words； he smiled with an air of approbation at all the absurdities that escaped him； he would have been willing to have his discourse last three hours by the watch； if this charming bore had shown symptoms of escaping him； he would have held him back by the button。
Suddenly he heard a harsh voice； saying to Mme。 de Lorcy： 〃Where is Count Larinski？ Bring him to me； I want to have a discussion with him。〃
He could not do otherwise than comply； he quitted his counsellor with regret； went over and took a seat in the arm…chair that Mme。 de Lorcy drew up for him at the side of the princess； and which had for him the effect of a stool of repentance。 Mme。 de Lorcy moved away； and he was left /tete…a…tete/ with Princess Gulof； who said to him； 〃I have been told that congratulations are due to you； and I must make them at once although we are enemies。〃
〃By what right are we enemies； princess？〃 he asked with a slightly troubled feeling； which quickly passed away as she answered：
〃I am a Russian and you are a Pole； but we shall have no time for fighting； I leave for London to…morrow morning at seven o'clock。〃
He was on the point of casting himself at her feet and tenderly kissing her two hands； in testimony of his gratitude。 〃To…morrow at seven o'clock；〃 he mentally ejaculated。 〃I have slandered her； she has some good in her。〃
〃When I say that I am a Russian；〃 resumed the princess； 〃it is merely a formal speech。 Love of country is a prejudice； an idea that has had its day； that had sense in the times of Epaminondas or of Theseus； but that has it no longer。 We live in the age of the telegraph； the locomotive； and I know of nothing more absurd now than a frontier； or more ridiculous than a patriot。 Rumour says that you fought like a hero in the insurrection of 1863； that you gave proof of incomparable prowess； and that you killed with your own hand ten Cossacks？ What harm had they done you； those poor Cossacks？ Do they not sometimes haunt your dreams？ Can you think of your victims without disquietude and without remorse？〃
He replied； in a dry； haughty tone： 〃I really do not know； princess； how many Cossacks I have killed； but I do know that there are some subjects on which I do not love to expatiate。〃
〃You are rightI should not comprehend you。 Don Quixote did not do Sancho the honour to explain himself to him every day。〃
〃Ah； I beg of you； let us talk a little of the man…monkey；〃 he observed； in a rather more pliant tone
