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！
there occurred to him an unfortunate and disastrous thought。 He could not
resist the desire to see Mlle。 Moriaz once more； to impress forever on his
memory her adored image。 He turned； and their eyes met。 He paid dearly
for this weakness of the will。 Apparently the violent restraint that he had
exercised over himself for an hour had exhausted his strength。 It seemed to
him that his heart ceased to beat； he felt his legs stiffen； and refuse to serve
him； his teeth clinched； his pupils dilated； consciousness forsook him。
Suddenly； heavily as a mass of lead； he fell prone upon the floor； where he
remained in a senseless condition。
Mlle。 Moriaz could not suppress a cry； and seemed for a moment on
the point of fainting herself。 Mme。 de Lorcy drew her arm around her
waist； and hurried her into the next room； throwing to M。 Langis a bottle
of salts as she did so； and saying； 〃Take care of Count Larinski。〃
105
… Page 106…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
The first thing that M。 Langis did was to set the bottle on the table；
after which he went close up to Samuel Brohl； who； fainting and inanimate；
bore almost the appearance of death。 He examined him an instant； bent
over him； then； folding his arms and shrugging his shoulders； he said to
him； 〃Monsieur； Mlle。 Moriaz is no longer here。〃
Samuel Brohl did not stir。 〃You did not hear me；〃 continued Camille。
〃You are superb； M。 le Comte； you are very handsome； your attitude is
irreproachable； and you might well be taken for a dead person。 You fell
admirably； I swear I never saw at the theatre a more successful fainting…fit；
but spare yourself further trouble for the performance。 I repeat； Mlle。
Moriaz is no longer here。〃
Samuel Brohl remained inert and rigid。
〃Perhaps you want to try the strength of my wrists；〃 continued Camille。
〃Very well； I will give you that satisfaction。〃
And； with these words； he seized him round his waist； summoned all
his strength in order to lift him； and deposited him at full length on the
sofa。
He examined him again； and said： 〃Will this tragi…comedy last much
longer？ Shall I not find a secret to resuscitate you？ Listen to me； monsieur。
I love with all my soul the woman that you pretend to love。 Does that not
suffice？ Monsieur； you are a Polish adventurer； and I have as much
admiration for your social talents as I have little esteem for yourself。 Does
that not suffice yet？ I would not； however； lift my hand to you。 I entreat
you to consider the affront received。〃
It seemed as if the dead man trembled slightly； and Camille exclaimed：
〃Thank God！ this time you have given sign of life； and the insult found the
way to your heart。 I would be charmed to restore you to your senses。 I
await your commands。 The day； the place； and the weapons； I leave to
your choice。 And； stay！ You can count on my absolute discretion。 No one；
I give you my word； shall learn from me that your fainting…fit had ears；
and resented insults。 Here is my address； monsieur。〃
And； drawing from his pocket a visiting…card； he tried to slip it into the
cold； listless； pendent hand； which let it fall to the ground。
〃What obstinacy！〃 he said。 〃As you will； M。 le Comte； I am at the end
106
… Page 107…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
of my eloquence。〃
He turned his back； seated himself in a chair； and taking a paper； he
unfolded it。 Meanwhile the door opened； and Mme。 de Lorcy appeared。
〃What are you doing here； Camille？〃 she exclaimed。
〃You see； madame；〃 he answered； 〃I am waiting until this great
comedian has finished playing his piece。〃
He was not aware that Mlle。 Moriaz also had just entered the /salon/。
She cast him an angry； indignant； threatening glance； in which he read his
condemnation。 He tried to find some word of excuse or explanation to
disarm her anger； but his voice failed him。 He bowed low； took his hat； and
went away。
Mme。 de Lorcy； very much agitated； opened a window； then she threw
water into Samuel Brohl's face； rubbed his temples with a vivacity that
was not altogether exempt from roughness； and made him smell English
salts。
〃Ah； my dear！ pray go away；〃 she said to Antoinette； 〃this is no place
for you。〃
Antoinette did not go away； her face contracted； her lips trembling； she
seated herself aside at some distance from the sofa。
Mme。 de Lorcy's energetic exertions at last produced their effect。
Samuel Brohl was not dead； a quiver ran through his frame； his limbs
relaxed； and at the end of a few instants he reopened his eyes； then his
mouth； he sat up； and stammered： 〃Where am I？ What has happened？ Ah；
my God！ it was but a moment ago that she was here！〃
Mme。 de Lorcy laid her hand on his mouth； and； bending over his ears；
she said； in a severe； imperious tone； 〃She is here still！〃
She did not succeed in making herself understood。 One only recovers
by degrees from such a fainting…fit。 Samuel Brohl was again overcome by
weakness； his eyes closed once more； and he let his head sink between his
hands。 After a silence of a few moments he said； in a choked voice： 〃Ah！
pardon me； madame。 I am ashamed of myself。 My courage failed me； my
strength betrayed me。 I love her madly； and I had sworn never to see her
again。 It was in order to fly from her that I was going away。〃
He raised his head； he saw Antoinette； he looked wildly at her； as
107
… Page 108…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
though he did not recognise her。
He recognised her at last； made a gesture of alarm； rose precipitately；
and fled。
Mlle。 Moriaz drew near Mme。 de Lorcy； and said to her； 〃Well； what
do you think of it？〃
〃I think； my dear；〃 she replied； 〃that Mme。 de Lorcy is a fool； and that
Count Larinski is a powerful man。〃
Antoinette looked at her with a bitter smile； and touched her arm
lightly。 〃Admit； madame；〃 she said； 〃that if he had a hundred thousand
livres' income； you would not think of doubting his sincerity。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy did not reply； she could not say 〃No；〃 and she was
enraged to feel that she was both right and wrong。 It is an accident that
happens sometimes to women of the world。