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conscientiously； have you ever read of a more heroic act in Plutarch's
/Lives of Great Men/？〃
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〃She herself； what did she say to you？〃
〃She was so enchanted； so delighted with the change； that she was
dying to embrace me。〃
〃She shall pay for it。 And he； did you see him？〃
〃Just caught a glimpse of him； looked up to him as was befitting the
humility of my position。 This fortunate man； this glorious mortal； was
enthroned on the top of the mail…coach。〃
〃Is he really so fascinating？〃
〃He has； I assure you； a certain look of deep profundity； and he bears
his exploits inscribed on his brow。 What am I； to contend against him！ You
must allow that I have the appearance of a school…boy。 And yet； if I were
to boast。 This road in Transylvania for which I had the contract was by no
means easy to construct。 We had to cut through the solid rock； working in
the air； suspended by ropes。 This perilous labour so disheartened our
workmen that some of them left us； to encourage the rest； I was slung up
like them； and like them handled the pickaxe。 One day； in the explosion of
a charge a piece of stone struck the rope of one of my men with such
violence that it cut it as clean in two as the edge of a razor would have
done。 The man fellI believed him to be lost； by a miracle； his clothes
caught in some brushwood； to which he succeeded in clinging。 It was I
who went to his assistance； and I swear to you that in this rescue I proved
the strength of my muscles； and ran the risk twenty times of breaking my
neck。 The workmen had mistrusted me on account of my youth； from that
day； I can assure you； they held me in respect。〃
〃Did you relate this incident to Antoinette？〃
〃What would have been the use？ With women it does not suffice to be
a great man； you must have the look of one too。〃 And Camille Langis
cried out； clinching his hands： 〃Ah！ madame； I entreat you； do you know
where I can procure a Polish head； a Polish mustache； a Polish smile？ Pray；
where are these articles to be had； and what is their market price？ I will
not haggle！ O women！ what a set you areplague on you！〃
〃And are aunts the same？〃 gravely asked Mme。 de Lorcy。
He answered more calmly： 〃No； madame； you are a woman without an
equal； and I name you every day in my prayers。 You are my only resource；
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my consolation； my counsel。 Do not refuse me your precious instructions！
What ought I to do？〃
Mme。 de Lorcy gazed up at the ceiling for an instant； and then said：
〃Love elsewhere； my dear； abandon this foolish girl to her fate and her
Pole。〃
He started and replied： 〃You demand what is impossible。 I am no
longer my own master； she has taken possession of meshe holds me。
Love elsewhere？ Can you think of it？ I detest herI curse herbut I adore
her！〃
She rejoined： 〃You should not use hyperbole any more than metaphors。
Both are unsolid food。 When you decide not to love； you will love no
more。〃
〃That supposes that I have several hearts to choose from。 I never had
but one； and that no longer belongs to me。 So you refuse me your advice？〃
〃What advice would you have me give you before having seen M。
Larinski before having taken the measure of this hero？〃
〃What！ you expect to see him？〃
〃I am waiting for him to call； and I am sorry he keeps me waiting。〃
〃Seriously； will you receive this man？〃
〃I have been asked to examine him。〃
〃I am lost； if you feel the need of hearing before condemning him。 Our
most sacred duty is to be resolutely unjust towards the enemies of our
friends。〃
〃Nonsense！ I shall not be indulgent towards him。〃
〃Do as you like； I have my plan。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃I shall seek some groundless quarrel with this contraband； this
poacher； and I will blow his brains out。〃
〃A fine scheme； my dear Camille！ And afterward； when you have
killed him； you will have gained a great deal。 Have you confidence in me？
I have already begun to work for you。 The Abbe Miollens； as you know； is
well acquainted in the society of Polish emigrants； I have sent to him for
information。 I have also written to Vienna for intelligence concerning him。
Antoinette is foolish in forming such an acquaintance； it must be admitted；
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but； in matters of honour； she is as delicate as an ermine in tending the
whiteness of her robe； if there be in M。 Larinski's past a stain no larger
than a ten…sou piece； she will forever discard him。 Let me act； be wise； do
not blow out any one's brains。 /Grand Dieu！/ what would become of us； if
the only way to get rid of people was by killing them？〃
As she pronounced these words a servant entered； bearing a card on a
silver salver。 She took the card and exclaimed： 〃When you speak of the
wolf Here is our man！〃 She begged M。 Langis to retire； he implored
permission to remain； promising to be a model of discretion。 She was
insisting on his leaving when Count Abel Larinski appeared。
Samuel Brohl had scarcely taken three steps in Mme。 de Lorcy's
/salon/ before he conjectured why M。 Moriaz had asked him to go there；
and what was the significance of the commission with which he was
charged。 Notwithstanding the /salon/ had a southern exposure； and that it
was then the middle of the month of August； it seemed to him to be cold
there。 He thought that he felt a draught of chilly air； an icy wind； which
pierced him through and through； and caused him an unpleasant shiver。 He
did not need to look very attentively at Mme。 de Lorcy to be convinced
that he was before his judge； and that this judge was not a friendly one；
and； as soon as his gaze met that of M。 Camille Langis； something warned
him that this young man was his enemy。 Samuel Brohl had the gift of
observation。
He delivered his message； and handed Mme。 de Lorcy the little
portfolio that contained Mlle。 Moriaz's painting； expressing his regret that
business had prevented his coming sooner。 Mme。 de Lorcy than