samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第53节
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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
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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
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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
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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 accustomed to exercise methodical precision in
business affairs。 My father always sold at a fixed price； and I； too； never
lower my charges。 You will readily understand that what is worth five
thousand francs to a friend is worth double to a lover。 This gem is worth
ten thousand francs。 You can take it or leave it。〃
〃I will take it；〃 replied M。 Langis。
〃Since we agree；〃 continued Samuel； 〃I possess still other
