samuel brohl & company-第43节

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〃It　was　not　the　man　that　you　loved；　it　was　the　count。〃

She　replied；　〃The　man　whom　I　loved　never　lied。〃

〃Yes；　I　lied！〃　he　cried；　gasping　for　breath。　〃I　drank　that　cup　of　shame　without　remorse　or　disgust。　I　lied　because　I　loved　you　madly。　I　lied　because　you　were　dearer　to　me　than　my　honour。　I　lied　because　I　despaired　of　touching　your　heart；　and　any　road　seemed　good　that　led　to　you。　Why　did　I　meet　you？　why　could　I　not　see　you　without　recognising　in　you　the　dream　of　my　whole　life？　Happiness　had　passed　me　by；　it　was　about　to　take　flight；　I　caught　it　in　a　trapI　lied。　Who　would　not　lie；　to　be　loved　by　you？〃

Samuel　Brohl　never　had　looked　so　handsome。　Despair　and　passion　kindled　a　sombre　flame　in　his　eyes；　he　had　the　sinister　charm　of　a　fiery　Satan。　He　fixed　on　Antoinette　a　fascinating　glance　that　said：　〃What　matter　my　name；　my　lies；　and　the　rest？　My　face　is　not　a　mask；　and　I　am　the　man　who　pleased　you。〃　He　had　not　the　least　suspicion　of　the　astonishing　facility　with　which　Antoinette　had　taken　back　the　heart　that　she　had　given　away　so　easily；　he　did　not　suspect　that　miracles　can　be　wrought　by　contempt。　In　the　middle　ages　people　believed　in　golems；　figures　in　clay　of　an　entrancing　beauty；　which　had　all　the　appearance　of　life。　Under　a　lock　of　hair　was　written；　in　Hebrew　characters；　on　their　brow；　the　word　〃Truth。〃　If　they　chanced　to　lie；　the　word　was　obliterated；　they　lost　all　their　charm；　the　clay　was　no　longer　anything　but　clay。

Mlle。　Moriaz　divined　Samuel　Brohl's　thought；　she　exclaimed：　〃The　man　I　loved　was　he　whose　history　you　related　to　me。〃

He　would　have　liked　to　kill　her；　so　that　she　never　should　belong　to　another。　Behind　Antoinette；　not　twenty　steps　distant；　he　descried　the　curb　of　a　well；　and　grew　dizzy　at　the　sight。　He　discovered；　with　despair；　that　he　was　not　made　of　the　stuff　for　crime。　He　dropped　down　on　his　knees　in　the　grass；　and　cried；　〃If　you　will　not　pardon　me；　nothing　remains　for　me　but　to　die！〃　She　stood　motionless　and　impassive。　She　repeated　between　her　teeth　Camille　Langis's　phrase：　〃I　am　waiting　until　this　great　comedian　has　finished　playing　his　piece。〃

He　rose　and　started　to　run　towards　the　well。　She　was　in　front　of　him　and　barred　the　passage；　but　at　the　same　moment　she　felt　two　hands　clasp　her　waist；　and　the　breath　of　two　lips　that　sought　her　lips　and　that　murmured；　〃You　love　me　still；　since　you　do　not　want　me　to　die。〃

She　struggled　with　violence　and　horror；　she　succeeded；　by　a　frantic　effort；　in　disengaging　herself　from　his　grasp。　She　fled　towards　the　house。　Samuel　Brohl　rushed　after　her　in　mad　pursuit；　he　was　just　reaching　her；　when　he　suddenly　stopped。　He　had　caught　sight　of　M。　Langis；　hurrying　from　out　a　thicket；　where　he　had　been　hidden。　Growing　uneasy；　he　had　approached　the　orchard　through　a　path　concealed　by　the　heavy　foliage。　Antoinette；　out　of　breath；　ran　to　him；　gasping；　〃Camille；　save　me　from　this　man！〃　and　she　threw　herself　into　his　arms；　which　closed　about　her　with　delight。　He　felt　her　sink；　she　would　have　fallen　had　he　not　supported　her。

At　the　same　instant　a　menacing　voice　saluted　him　with　the　words；　〃Monsieur；　we　will　meet　again！〃

〃To…day；　if　you　will；〃　he　replied。

Antoinette's　wild　excitement　had　given　place　to　insensibility；　she　neither　saw　nor　heard；　her　limbs　no　longer　sustained　her。　Camille　had　great　difficulty　in　bringing　her　to　the　house；　she　could　not　ascend　the　steps　of　the　terrace；　he　was　obliged　to　carry　her。　Mlle。　Moiseney　saw　him；　and　filled　the　air　with　her　cries。　She　ran　forward；　she　lavished　her　best　care　on　her　queen。　All　the　time　she　was　busy　in　bringing　her　to　her　senses　she　was　asking　Camille　for　explanations；　to　which　she　did　not　pay　the　least　attention；　she　interrupted　him　at　every　word　to　exclaim：　〃This　has　been　designed；　and　you　are　at　the　bottom　of　the　plot。　I　have　suspected　youyou　owe　Antoinette　a　grudge。　Your　wounded　vanity　never　has　recovered　from　her　refusal；　and　you　are　determined　to　be　revenged。　Perhaps　you　flatter　yourself　that　she　will　end　by　loving　you。　She　does　not　love　you；　and　she　never　will　love　you。　Who　are　you；　to　dare　compare　yourself　with　Count　Larinski？　Be　silent！　Do　I　believe　in　Samuel　Brohl？　I　do　not　know　Samuel　Brohl。　I　venture　my　head　that　there　is　no　such　person　as　Samuel　Brohl。〃

〃Not　much　of　a　venture；　mademoiselle；〃　replied　M。　Moriaz；　who　had　arrived　in　the　meantime。

Antoinette　remained　during　an　hour　in　a　state　of　mute　languor；　then　a　violent　fever　took　possession　of　her。　When　the　physician　who　had　been　sent　for　arrived；　M。　Langis　accompanied　him　into　the　chamber　of　the　sick　girl。　She　was　delirious：　seated　upright；　she　kept　continually　passing　her　hand　over　her　brow；　she　sought　to　efface　the　taint　of　a　kiss　she　had　received　one　moonlight　night；　and　the　impression　in　her　hair　of　the　flapping　of　a　bat's　wings　that　had　caught　in　her　hood。　These　two　things　were　confounded　in　her　memory。　From　time　to　time　she　said：　〃Where　is　my　portrait？　Give　me　my　portrait。〃

It　was　about　ten　o'clock　when　M。　Langis　called　on　Samuel　Brohl；　who　was　not　astonished　to　see　him　appear；　he　had　hoped　he　would　come。　Samuel　had　regained　self…possession。　He　was　calm　and　dignified。　However；　the　tempest　through　which　he　had　gone　had　left　on　his　features　some　vestige　of　its　passage。　His　lips　quivered；　and　his　beautiful　chestnut　locks　curled　like　serpents　about　his　temples；　and　gave　his　head　a　Medusa…like　appearance。

He　said　to　Camille：　〃Where　and　when？　Our　seconds　will　undertake　the　arrangement　of　the　rest。〃

〃You　mistake；　monsieur；　the　motive　of　my　visit；〃　replied　M。　Langis。　〃I　am　grieved　to　destroy　your　illusions；　but　I　did　not　come　to　arrange　a　meeting　with　you。〃

〃Do　you　refuse　to　give　me　satisfaction？〃

〃What　satisfaction　do　I　owe　you？〃

〃You　insulted　me。〃

〃When？〃

〃And　you　said：　'The　day；　the　place；　the　weapons。　I　leave　all　to　your　choice。'　〃

M。　Langis　could　not　refrain　from　smiling。　〃Ah！　you　at　last　acknowledge　that　your　fainting…fit　was　comedy？〃　he　rejoined。

〃Acknowledge　on　your　part；〃　replied　Samuel；　〃that　you　insult　persons　when　you　believe　that　they　are　not　in　a　state　to　hear　you。　Your　courage　likes　to　take　the　safe　side。〃

〃Be　reasonable；〃　replied　Camille。　〃I　placed　myself　at　Count　Larinski's　disposal：　you　cannot　require　me　to　fight　with　a　Samuel　Brohl！〃

Samuel　sprang　to　his　feet；　with　fierce　bearing　and　head　erect　he　advanced　to　the　young　man；　who　awaited　him　unflinchingly；　and　whose　resolute　manner　awed　him。　He　cast　upon　him　a　sinister　look；　turned；　and　reseated　himself；　bit　his　lips　until　the　blood　came；　then　said　in　a　placid　voice：

〃Will　you　do　me　the　favour　of　telling　me；　monsieur；　to　what　I　owe　the　honour　of　this　visit？〃

〃I　came　to　demand　of　you　a　portrait　that　Mlle。　Moriaz　is　desirous　of　having　returned。〃

〃If　I　refuse　to　give　it　up；　you　will　doubtless　appeal　to　my　delicacy？〃

〃Do　you　doubt　it？〃　ironically　replied　Camille。

〃That　proves；　monsieur；　that　you　still　believe　in　Count　Larinski；　that　it　is　to　him　you　speak　at　this　moment？〃

〃You　deceive　yourself。　I　came　to　see　Samuel　Brohl；　who　is　a　business…　man；　and　it　is　a　commercial　transaction　that　I　intend　to　hold　with　him。〃　And　drawing　from　his　pocket　a　porte…monnaie；　he　added：　〃You　see　I　do　not　come　empty…handed。〃

Samuel　settled　himself　in　his　arm…chair。　Half　closing　his　eyes；　he　watched　M。　Langis　through　his　eye…lashes。　A　change　passed　over　his　features；　his　nose　became　more　crooked；　and　his　chin　more　pointed；　he　no　longer　resembled　a　lion；　he　was　a　fox。　His　lips　wore　the　sugared　smile　of　a　usurer；　one　who　lays　snares　for　the　sons　of　wealthy　families；　and　who　scents　out　every　favourable　case。　If　at　this　moment　Jeremiah　Brohl　had　seen　him　from　the　other　world；　he　would　have　recognised　his　own　flesh　and　blood。

He　said　at　last　to　Camille：　〃You　are　a　man　of　understanding；　monsieur；　I　am　ready　to　listen　to　you。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　of　it；　and；　to　speak　frankly；　I　had　no　doubts　about　it。　I　knew　you　to　be　very　intelligent；　very　much　disposed　to　make　the　best　of　an　unpleasant　conjuncture。〃

〃Ah！　spare　my　modesty。　I　thank　you　for　your　excellent　opinion　of　me；　I　should　warn　you　that　I　am　accused　of　being　greedy　after　gain。　You　will　leave　some　of　the　feathers　from　your　wings　between　my　fingers。〃

For　a　reply　M。　Langis　significantly　patted　the　porte…monnaie　which　he　held　in　his　hand；　and　which　was　literally　stuffed　with　bank…notes。　Immediately　Samuel　took　from　a　locked　drawer　a　casket；　and　proceeded　to　open　it。

〃This　is　a　very　precious　gem；〃　he　said。　〃The　medallion　is　gold；　and　the　work　on　the　miniature　is　exquisite。　It　is　a　master…piecethe　colour　equals　the　design。　The　mouth　is　marvellously　rendered。　Mengs　or　Liotard　could　not　have　done　better。　At　what　do　you　value　this　work　of　art？〃

〃You　are　more　of　a　connoisseur　than　I。　I　will　leave　it　to　your　own　valuation。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　the　trinket　for　five　thousand　francs；　it　is　almost　nothing。〃

Camille　began　to　draw　out　the　five　thousand　francs　from　his　porte…　monnaie。　〃How　prompt　you　are！〃　remarked　Samuel。　〃The　portrait　has　not　only　a　value　as　a　work　of　art；　I　am　sure　you　attach　a　sentimental　value　to　it；　for　I　suspect　you　of　being　head　and　ears　in　love　with　the　original。〃

〃I　find　you　too　greedy；〃　replied　Camille；　casting　on　him　a　crushing　glance。

〃Do　not　be　angry。　I　am　accustome