按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
88
… Page 89…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
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 professor； and all will go well。
89
… Page 90…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
Camille is about to leave； he has become insupportable。 He had the
audacity to assert to me that I was a good woman； but very credulous；
which in my estimation is not very polite。 He no longer acts as a nephew；
and respect is dead。〃
Ten days later M。 Moriaz received at Churwalden a fourth and last
letter：
〃September 6th。
〃Decidedly my dear friend； Count Larinski is a delightful man； and I
never will pardon myself for having judged ill of him。 The day before
yesterday I did not know the extent of his merit and of his virtues。 His
beautiful soul is like a country where one passes from one pleasing
discovery to another； and at each step a new scene is revealed。 Between
ourselves； Antoinette is a dreamer： where has she got the idea that this
man is in love with her？ These Counts Larinski have artists' enthusiasm；
tender and sensitive hearts； and poetic imaginations； they love everything；
and they love nothing； they admire a pretty woman as they admire a
beautiful flower； a humming…bird； a picture of Titian's。 Did I tell you that
the other day； as I was showing him through my park； he almost fainted
before my purple beechwhich assuredly is a marvel？ He was in ecstasy； I
truly believe there were tears in his eyes。 I might have supposed he was in
love with my beech； yet he has not asked my permission to marry it。
〃Moreover； if he were up to his eyes in love with your daughter； have
no fear； he will not marry her； and this is the reason Wait a little； I must
go further back。
〃Abbe Miollens came to see me yesterday afternoon； he was
distressed that M。 Larinski had not approved of his proposition。
〃 'The evil is not so great；' I said； 'let him go back to Vienna； where
all his acquaintances are； he will be happier there。'
〃 'The evil that I see in it；' he replied； 'is that he will be lost to us
forever。 Vienna is so far away！ Professor in London； only ten hours'
journey from Paris； he could cross the Channel sometimes； and we could
have our music together。'
〃You can understand that this reasoning did not touch me in the least；
whatever it cost me I will bear it； and resign myself to lose M。 Larinski
90
… Page 91…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
forever； but the abbe is obstinate。
〃 'I fear；' he said； 'that the Austrians pay their archivists badly； the
English manage matters better； and Lord C… gave me /carte blanche/。'
〃 'Oh！ but that；' rejoined I； 'is a delicate point to touch。 As soon as you
approach the bread…and…butter question； our man assumes a rigid； formal
manner； as if an attack had been made on his dignity。'
〃 'I truly believe；' he replied； 'that there is a fundamental basis of
incomparable nobility of sentiment in his character； he is not proud； he is
pride itself。'
〃The abbe is passionately fond of Horace； he assets that it is to this
great poet that he owes that profound knowledge of men for which he is
distinguished。 He quoted a Latin verse that he was kind enough to
translate for me； and that signified something equivalent to the statement
that certain horses rear and kick when you touch the sensitive spot。 'That is
like the Poles；' he said。
〃Meanwhile； M。 Larinski entered； and I retained the two gentlemen
to d