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！
among the rocks； you see what it may lead to。
93
… Page 94…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃Once more； do not hasten your departure。 We have had for some
days stifling heat； we literally suffocate。 You need to spend a fortnight
longer amid the shade of the pine…trees； and four thousand feet above the
level of the sea。
〃Adieu； my dear professor！ I am interrupted in my writing by the
incredulous； the sceptical； the suspicious； the absurd； the ridiculous
Camille； who respectfully recommends himself to your indulgent
friendship。〃
94
… Page 95…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
CHAPTER VI
In reading the fourth letter of Mme。 de Lorcy； M。 Moriaz experienced
a feeling of satisfaction and deliverance； over which he was not master。
His daughter had gone to pay a visit in the neighbourhood； and he was
alone with Mlle。 Moiseney； who said to him； 〃You have received good
news； monsieur？〃
〃It is excellent；〃 he replied； then； promptly correcting himself； he
added： 〃Excellent； or to be regretted； or vexatious； I leave that to our
powers of discernment。〃
When he had finished reading the letter； and replaced it in the envelope；
he remained thoughtful for some moments； he was wondering how he
should proceed to announce the excellent news。 For three weeks his
daughter had been a mystery to him。 She never once had pronounced the
name of Count Larinski。 Churwalden pleased her as much as Saint Moritz；
apparently； she was gay； tranquil； perfectly happy。 Had her delusion passed
away？ Had she changed her mind？ M。 Moriaz did not know； but he
surmised that still waters should be mistrusted； and that a young girl's
imagination is like an abyss。 One thoroughly good warning is worth two
indifferent ones； henceforth； he feared everything。 〃If I speak to her；〃
thought he； 〃I shall not be able to dissimulate my joy； and perhaps she will
go into hysterics。〃 He had a horror of hysterics； he resolved to have
recourse to Mlle。 Moiseney； and he said to her； abruptly：
〃I suppose； mademoiselle； that you are acquainted with all that has
passed； and that Antoinette has given you her confidence？〃
She opened her eyes wide； and was on the point of answering that she
knew nothing； but she restrained herself； and setting her little pointed head
erect on her thin shoulders； she said； proudly； 〃Can you imagine that
Antoinette would keep any secrets from me？〃
〃Heaven forbid！〃 replied he。 〃And do you approve； do you encourage
her sentiments for M。 Larinski？〃
Mlle。 Moiseney started； she had been far from suspecting that Count
Larinski had specially impressed Mlle。 Moriaz； and； as on certain
occasions her mind worked rapidly； she understood immediately all the
95
… Page 96…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
consequences of this prodigious event。 There was a cloud before her eyes；
and in this cloud she beheld all manner of things； both pleasing and
displeasing to her； her mouth open； she strove to clear her ideas。 She said
to herself： 〃It is an imprudent act； not only that； it cannot be；〃 but she also
said： 〃Mlle。 Antoinette can no more make a mistake than the Queen of
England can； because she wishes it； she is right in wishing it。〃 Mlle。
Moiseney ended by regaining her self…possession； her lips formed the most
pleasant smile； as she exclaimed：
〃He has no fortune； but he has a beautiful name。 Mme。 la Comtesse
Larinski！ it sounds well to the ear。〃
〃Like music； I grant； it is perfect；〃 rejoined M。 Moriaz。 〃Unfortunately；
music is not everything in the affairs of this world。〃
She was not listening to him。 Full of her own idea； without taking time
to breathe： 〃You jest； monsieur；〃 she continued； with extraordinary
volubility。 〃Believe me or not； I have foreseen this marriage for some time。
I have presentiments that never deceive me。 I was sure that it would be
thus。 What a handsome couple！ Fancy them driving in an open carriage
through the park； or entering a proscenium…box at the opera！ They will
make a sensation。 And truly； without boasting； I think I may call your
attention to the fact that I have been of some account in the affair。 The first
time I saw Count Larinski； you know； at the /table d'hote/ in Bergun； I
recognised at once that he was beyond comparison〃
〃By…the…way； he ate trout？〃 interrupted M。 Moriaz； 〃it does honour to
your discernment。〃
〃You had better ask Antoinette；〃 replied she； 〃if that very evening I did
not praise the handsome stranger。 She maintained that he stooped； and that
his head was badly poised； would you believe it？his head badly poised！
Ah！ I was sure it would end so。 Do you wish to prove my discernment？
Shall I tell you where your letter comes from that contains such excellent
news？ The count wrote it； he has at last proposed。 I guessed it at once。 Ah！
monsieur； I sympathize in your joy。 He is； indeed； the son…in…law that I
have dreamed of for you。 A superior man； so open…hearted； so unaffected
and frank！〃
〃Do you really think so？〃 asked M。 Moriaz； fanning himself with the
96
… Page 97…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
letter。
〃He related to us his whole life；〃 rejoined she； in a pedantic tone。
〃How many people could do as much？〃
〃A delightful narration。 I only regret that he was silent concerning one
detail which was of a nature to interest us。〃
〃An unpleasant detail？〃 she asked； raising her gooseberry…coloured
eyes to him。
〃On the contrary； a circumstance that does him honour； and for which I
am obliged to him。 Believe me； my dear demoiselle； I should be charmed
to receive a son…in…law from your hands； and to give my daughter to a man
whose genius and noble sentiments you divined from merely seeing him
eat。 Unfortunately； I fear this marriage will not come about； there is one
little difficulty。〃
〃Wh