samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第26节
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that the count concurred； more than concurred； with my views？ He is more
royalist than the king； he does not admit that a good rule allows of any
exception。 According to him； a poor man who marries a rich woman
forfeits his honour； debases himself； sells himself； he is a man in bondage。
He developed this theme with sombre eloquence。 I assure you that the lion
no longer bore resemblance to the fox。
〃After the departure of this fine musician and great orator； Abbe
Miollens； remaining alone with me； told me how much he was charmed
with his conversation and manners； he could not cease to sing his praises。 I
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think he went a little too far。 However； I joined with him in regretting that
a man of his merit should be reduced to live by expedients。 The abbe's arm
reaches a long way； he promised me that he would busy himself； at the
expense of all other business； to find some employment for M。 Larinski。
He remembered that there was some talk of establishing in London an
international school for the living languages。 One of the founders of this
institute had applied to him to learn if he could recommend some
professor of the Slavonian languages。 It would be exactly the thing； and I
should be delighted to procure for your /prot 間*/ an occupation that
would insure all the happiness that it is possible to enjoy on the other side
of the Channel。 After this； will you still accuse me of being prejudiced
against him？
〃Adieu； my dear monsieur。 Give my tender love to my amiable
goddaughter。 I rely on you to read my letters to her with care and
discretion。 Little girls should have only a part of the truth。〃
Eight days afterward Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a third letter； which was
thus expressed：
〃August 27th。
〃I am more and more content with M。 Larinski。 I blame myself for
the suspicions with which he inspired me。 The Viennese were right to
consider him a worthy man； and Abbe Miollens has not valued him too
highly。 You write； on your part； my dear friend； that you are not
dissatisfied with Antoinette。 She is gay； tranquil； she walks； paints； never
speaks of Count Abel Larinski； and； when you speak to her of him； she
smiles and does not reply。 You claim that she has reflected； that time and
absence have wrought their effect。 'Out of sight； out of mind；' you say。
Take care！ I am more mistrustful than you。 Are you very sure that
Antoinette may not be a slyboots？
〃What is certain is； that I received a charming epistle from her； in
which there is no more mention of M。 Larinski than if Poland and the Pole
did not exist。 She praises Engadine； she pretends that she would ask for
nothing better than to end her days in a pine…forest。 I can read between the
lines that it would be a pine… forest after her own heart； where there would
be reunions； balls； guests to dinner； small parties； a conservatory of music；
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and the opera。 The last paragraph of her letter is devoted to the
insurrection in Herzegovina； and it is hardly worth while to say that all her
sympathies are with the insurgents。 'If I were a man；' she writes； 'I would
go and fight for them。' That is very well； she always took the part of
thieves against the police。 I remember long agoshe was ten years oldI
told her the story of an unfortunate traveller besieged in a forest by an
army of wolves。 He made a barricade about himself； and around it he
lighted great fires。 The wolves fell into the flames； where they roasted； one
after the other。 Antoinette began to weep bitterly； and I imagined that she
was lamenting the terror of the unfortunate man。 'Not at all；' she cried： 'the
poor beasts！' She was made so； we cannot remake her。 She will always
side with the wolves； especially with the lean ones who scarcely can make
two ends meet。
〃I told you that Count Larinski was a worthy man。 He came to see me
the day before yesterday。 We have become very good friends。 I asked him
if Paris still pleased him； and he replied； with the most gracious smile；
'What I like best in Paris is Maisons Lafitte。' Thereupon he said some
exceedingly pretty things； which I will not repeat。 We walked /tete…a… tete/
around the park。 Heaven be praised that I returned heart…whole！ We talked
politics； he bears the reputation of being hot…headed； but he is not wanting
in good sense。 I wished to know if he was in favour of the Turks or of the
Bosnians。 He replied：
〃 'As a Christian； as a Catholic； I am interested in the Christians of
the East； and I am for the Cross against the Crescent。' He pronounced
these words； Christian； Catholic； and cross； in a tone full of unction。 I
surmise that he is a devotee。 He added； 'As a Pole； I am for Turkey。'
〃 'I believed；' said I； 'that the Poles had sympathy with all the
oppressed。'
〃 'Poles；' he replied； 'cannot like those who like their oppressors； and
they cannot forget that the Osmanlis are their natural allies； and； on
occasions； their refuge。'
〃I gave him Antoinette's letter to read。 I was very glad； at any hazard；
to prove to him that she could write four pages without asking about him。
He read it with extreme attention： but when he came to the famous
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passage'If I were a man； I would go and fight for them！'he smiled； and
returned me the letter； saying； in a disdainful and rather a dry tone：
〃 'Write for me to Mlle。 Moriaz that I believe I am a man； yet that I
will not fight for the Bosnians； and that the Turks are my greatest friends。'
〃 'She is foolish；' I said。 'Fortunately； she changes her folly with every
new moon！'
〃 'What would you have？' he replied； 'in order not to be insipid； it is
well to be a little foolish。 My poor mother used often to say： 〃My son；
youth should be employed in laying by a great store of extravagant
enthusiasm； otherwise； at the end of life's journey the heart will be void；
for much is left on the road。〃 '
〃Calm； /seigneur/； your excited fears； no one has designs on your
daughter； we evidently find her charming； but are by no means in love
with her。 With much precaution and circumlocution I gently proceeded to
question Count Larinski on the state of his affairs； about which he never
has opened his mouth。 He frowned。 I did not lose courage。 I offered him
this place of professor of the Slavonian languages of which the abbe had
again spoken。 I saw in an instant that his sensitive pride had taken alarm。
However； upon reflection； he softened； thanked me； declined my kind
offer； and announcedguess what！ How much is my news worth？ what
will you give for it？ He announced； I tell you； that in two weeksyou
understand mehe will return to Vienna； where he has been promised a
post in the archives of the Minister of War。 I did not dare to ask what was
the salary； after all； if he is satisfied； it is not for us to be harder to please
than he。 When I affirm that Count Larinski is a good； worthy man！In two
weeks！ you understand me perfectly。
〃My dear friend； I am enchanted to know that the water of Saint
Moritz and the air of the Engadine have entirely re…established your health；
but do not be imprudent。 Half…cures are fatal。 Be careful not to leave
Churwalden too soon； for the descent into the heavy atmosphere of the
plains。 Your physician； whom I have just seen； declares that； if you hasten
your return he will not answer for the consequences。 Antoinette； I am sure；
will join her entreaties to ours。 Do not let us see you before the end of
three weeks！ Follow my orders； my dear profe
