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He had no reason to feel very cheerful。 He had quitted Vienna in order
to betake himself to the Saxon Casino； where /roulette/ and /trente… et…
quarante/ are played。 His ill…luck would have it that he stopped on the way
at Milan； and fell in with a circle of ill repute； where this most imprudent
of men played and lost。 There remained to him just enough cash to carry
him to Saxon； but what can be accomplished in a casino when one has
empty pockets？ Before crossing the Splugen he had written to a petty Jew
banker of his acquaintance for money。 He counted but little on the
compliance of this Hebrew； and this was why he paused five minutes to
contemplate the Plessur； after which he retraced his steps。 Twenty minutes
later he was crossing a public square； ornamented with a pretty Gothic
fountain； and seeing before him a cathedral； he hastened to enter it。
The cathedral of Chur possesses； among other curiosities； a painting
by Albert Durer； a St。 Lawrence on the gridiron； attributed to Holbein； a
piece of the true cross； and some relics of St。 Lucius and his sister Ernesta。
Count Abel only accorded a wandering attention to either St。 Lucius or St。
Lawrence。 Scarcely had he made his way into the nave of the building；
when he beheld something that appeared to him far more interesting than
paintings or relics。 An English poet has said that at times there is revealed
to us a glimpse of paradise in a woman's face； and it was such a rare
blessing that was at this moment vouchsafed unto Count Larinski。 He was
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not a romantic man； and yet he remained for some moments motionless；
rooted to the spot in admiration。 Was it a premonition of his destiny？ The
fact is that； in beholding for the first time Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz； for it
was none other than she who thus riveted his attention； he experienced an
inexplicable surprise； a thrilling of the heart； such as he never before had
experienced。 In his first impression of this charming girl he made one
slight mistake。 He divined at once that the man by whom she was
accompanied； who had gray hair； a broad； open brow； vivacious eyes；
shaded by beautiful； heavy eye…brows； belonged to some learned fraternity；
but he imagined that this individual with a white cravat； who had evidently
preserved his freshness of heart； although past sixty years of age； was the
fortunate suitor of the beautiful girl by his side。
There are some women whom it is impossible not to gaze upon。
Wherever Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz appeared she was the object of
universal observation： first； because she was charming； and； then； because
she had a way of her own of dressing and of arranging her hair； a peculiar
movement of the head； a grace of carriage； which inevitably must attract
notice。 There were those who made so bold as to assert that she assumed
certain little peculiarities solely for the purpose of attracting the chance
observer。 Do not believe a word of it。 She was altogether indifferent to
public opinion and consulted her own taste alone； which was certainly
impregnated with a touch of audacity； but she did not seek to appear
audaciousshe merely acted according to her natural bent。 Observing her
from a distance； people were apt to fancy her affected； and somewhat
inclined to be fantastic； but on approaching her； their minds were speedily
disabused of this fancy。 The purity of her countenance； her air of
refinement and thorough modesty； speedily dispelled any suspicious
thoughts； and those who had for a moment harboured them would say
mentally； 〃Pardon me； mademoiselle； I mistook。〃 Such； at least； was the
mental comment of Count Abel； as she passed close by him on leaving the
church。 Her father was telling her something that made her smile； this
smile was that of a young girl just budding into womanhood； who has
nothing yet to conceal from her guardian angel。 Count Larinski left the
church after her； and followed her with his eyes as she crossed the square。
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On returning to the hotel he had a curiosity to satisfy。 He questioned one
of the /garcons/； who pointed out to him in the hotel register for travellers
the following entry： 〃M。 Moriaz； member of the Institute of France； and
his daughter； from Paris； /en route/ for Saint Moritz。〃 〃And where then？〃
he asked himself； then dismissed the subject from his mind。
When he had dined； he repaired to the post…office to inquire for a letter
he was expecting from Vienna。 He found it； and returned to shut himself
up in his chamber； where he tore open the envelope with a feverish hand。
This letter； written in a more peculiar than felicitous French； was the reply
of the Jew banker。 It read as follows：
〃M。 LE COMTE：
〃Although you both write and understand German very well； you do
not like to read it； and therefore I write to you in French。 It grieves me
deeply not to have it in my power to satisfy your honoured demand。
Business is very dull。 It is impossible for me to advance you another florin；
or even to renew your note； which falls due shortly。 I am the father of a
family； it pains me to be compelled to remind you of this。
〃I wish to tell you quite freely what I think。 I did believe in your gun；
but I believe in it no longer； no one believes in it any more。 When strong；
it was too heavy； when you made it lighter； it was no longer strong。 What
came next？ You know it burst。 Beware how you further perfect it； or it will
explode whenever it becomes aware that any one is looking at it。 This
accursed gun has eaten up the little you had； and some of my savings
besides； although I have confidence that you will； at least； pay me the
interest due on that。 It grieves me to tell you so； M。 de Comte； but all
inventors are more or less crack…brained； and end in the hospital。 For the
love of God； leave guns as they are； and invent nothing more； or you will
go overboard； and there will be no one to fish you out。〃
Abel Larinski paused at this place。 He put his l