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of him。 His memory was surprising； and his whole soul seemed to be at
the ends of his fingers； and he drew marvellous strains from an instrument
which； in itself； was far from being a marvel。 He sang； too； he had a
barytone voice； mellow and resonant。 After having hummed in a low tone
some Roumanic melodies； he struck up one of his own national songs。
This he failed to finish； tears started in his eyes； emotion overpowered his
voice。 He broke off abruptly； asking pardon for the weakness that had
caused him to make himself ridiculous； but one glance at Mlle。 Moriaz
convinced him that she did not find him ridiculous。
A most invaluable resource； indeed； in a mountain…country where the
evenings are long； is a Pole who knows how to talk and to sing。 M。 Moriaz
liked music； but he liked something else besides。 When he could not go
into society and was forbidden to work； he grew sleepy after dinner； in
order to rouse himself he was glad to play a hand of /bezique/ or /ecarte/。
For want of some one better； he played with Mlle。 Moiseney； but this
make…shift was little to his taste； he disliked immensely coming into too
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close proximity with the pinched visage and yellow ribbons of Pope Joan。
He proposed to Count Larinski to take a hand with him； and his proposal
was accepted with the best grace in the world。 〃Decidedly this man is
good for everything；〃 thought M。 Moriaz； and he conceived a great liking
for him。 The result was； that during an entire week Count Abel passed
every evening at the Hotel Badrutt。
〃Your father is a most peculiar man；〃 said Mlle。 Moiseney； indignantly；
to Antoinette。 〃He is shockingly egotistical。 He has confiscated M。
Larinski。 The idea of employing such a man as that to play /bezique/！ He
will stop coming。〃
But the count's former savageness seemed wholly subdued。 He did not
stop coming。
One evening M。 Moriaz committed an imprudence。 In making an odd
trick； he carelessly asked M。 Larinski who had been his piano professor。
〃One whose portrait I always carry about me；〃 was the reply。
And； drawing from his vest…pocket a medallion； he presented it to M。
Moriaz； who； after having looked at it； passed it over to his daughter。 The
medallion contained the portrait of a woman with blond hair； blue eyes； a
refined； lovely mouth； a fragile； delicate being with countenance at the
same time sweet and sad； the face of an angel； but an angel who had lived
and suffered。
〃What an exquisite face！〃 cried Mlle。 Moriaz。
Truly it was exquisite。 Some one has asserted that a Polish woman is
like punch made with holy…water。 One may like neither the punch nor the
holy…water； and yet be very fond of Polish women。 They form one of the
best chapters in the great book of the Creator。
〃It is the portrait of my mother；〃 said Count Larinski。
〃Are you so fortunate as to still possess her？〃 asked Antoinette。
〃She was a tender flower；〃 he replied； 〃and tender flowers never live
long。〃
〃Her portrait shows it plainly； one can see that she suffered much； but
was resigned to live。〃
For the first time the count departed from the reserve he had shown
towards Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz。 〃I have no words to tell you；〃 he
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exclaimed； 〃how happy I am that my mother pleases you！〃
Othello was accused of having employed secret philters to win
Desdemona's love。 Brabantio had only himself to blame； he had taken a
liking to Othello； and often invited him to come to him； he did not make
him play /bezique/； but he questioned him on his past。 The Moor
recounted his life； his sufferings； his adventures； and Desdemona wept。
The fathers question； the heroes or adventurers recount； and the daughters
weep。 Such are the outlines of a history as old as the world。 Abel Larinski
had left the card…table。 He had taken his seat in an arm…chair； facing Mlle。
Moiseney。 He was questioned； he replied。
His destiny had been neither light nor easy。 He was quite young when
his father； Count Witold Larinski； implicated in a conspiracy； had been
compelled to flee from Warsaw。 His property was confiscated； but luckily
he had some investments away from home； which prevented him from
being left wholly penniless。 He was a man of projects。 He emigrated to
America with his wife and his son； he dreamed of making a name and a
fortune by cutting a canal through the Isthmus of Panama。 He repaired to
New Granada； there to make his studies and his charts。 He made them so
thoroughly that he died of yellow fever before having begun his work；
having come to the end of his money and leaving his widow in the most
cruel destitution。 Countess Larinski said to her son： 〃We have nothing
more to live on； but； then； is it so necessary to live？〃 She uttered these
words with an angelic smile about her lips。 Abel set out for California。 He
undertook the most menial services； he swept the streets； acted as porter；
what cared he； so long as his mother did not die of hunger？ All that he
earned he sent to her； enduring himself the most terrible privations；
making her think that he denied himself nothing。 In the course of time
Fortune favoured him； he had acquired a certain competency。 The countess
came to rejoin him in San Francisco； but angels cannot live in the rude；
exciting atmosphere of the gold…seekers； they suffer； spread their wings；
and fly away。 Some weeks after having lost his motherit was in 1863
Count Abel learned from a journal that fell into his hands that Poland had
risen again。 He was twenty…one years of age。 He thought he heard a voice
calling him； and another voice from the skies whispered： 〃She calls thee。
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Go； it is thy duty。〃 And he went。 Two months later he crossed the frontier
of Galicia to join the bands of Langiewicz。
Othello spoke to Desdemona of caverns； deserts； quarries； rocks； and
hills whose heads touch heaven； of cannibals； the anthropophagi； and men
whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders。 Count Abel spoke to Mlle。
Moriaz