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！
〃Did I not warn you that when once a formula has been pronounced；
one is apt to keep on repeating it forever？〃
〃Either he or no one： that is my last word。 Would you not rather that it
should be he？ Are you willing to accept him？〃
〃I will submit。〃
〃With a good grace？〃
〃With resignation。〃
〃With cheerful resignation？〃
〃I shall certainly do my best to acquire it； or； rather； if he makes you
happy； I shall welcome him all the days of my life； in the contrary case； I
will repeat； morning and evening； like Mme。 de Lorcy： 'You would not
listen to me； you ought to have believed me。' 〃
〃It is agreed； you are a good father； and now we are in perfect
harmony；〃 she replied； impulsively seizing his two hands； and pressing
them in her own。
He watched her a moment between his half…closed eyes； and then he
cried； half resentfully：
〃But； /mon Dieu/ why do you love this man？〃
She replied； in a low voice： 〃Because I love him； this is my sole reason；
but I find it good。〃
〃Certainly most decisive。 But； come； let us go quickly；〃 he replied；
rising。 〃I fear that my retorts and crucibles； if they listen to you much
longer； will fall into a syncope as prolonged as that of M。 Larinski。 Was
114
… Page 115…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
ever such a debate heard of in a chemical laboratory？〃
As soon as dinner was over； M。 Moriaz made ready to repair to
Maisons； where Abbe Miollens passed the summer in the vicinity of Mme。
de Lorcy。 Mlle。 Moiseney followed him to the carriage； and said：
〃You have a remarkable daughter； monsieur！ With what courage she
has assumed her role！ With what resolution she has renounced an
impossible happiness！ Did you observe her during dinner？ How tranquil
she was！ how attentive！ Is she not astonishing？〃
〃As astonishing as you are sagacious；〃 he replied。
〃Ah！ undoubtedly； I never thought that she loved him so much as you
imagine I did： but he pleased her； she admired him。 Did she ever utter a
word of complaint； or a sigh； on learning the cruel truth？ what strength of
mind！ what equability of temperament！ what nobility of sentiment！ You do
not admire her enough； monsieur； you are not proud enough of having
such a daughter。 As to me； I glory in having been of some value in her
education。 I always made a point of developing her judgment； and putting
her on her guard against all erratic tendencies。 Yes； I can safely say that I
took great pains to cultivate and fortify her reason。〃
〃I thank you with all my heart；〃 rejoined M。 Moriaz； leaning back in
one corner of the carriage； 〃you can most assuredly boast of having
accomplished a marvellous work； but I beg of you； mademoiselle； when
you have finished your discourse； will you kindly say to the coachman that
I am ready to start？〃
During the drive； M。 Moriaz gave himself up to the most melancholy
reflections； he even tormented himself with sundry reproaches。 〃We have
acted contrary to good sense；〃 he thought。 〃Her imagination has been
taken by storm； in time it would have calmed down。 We should have left
her to herself； to her natural defenceher own good judgment； for she has
a large stock of it。 I fell on the unlucky idea of calling Mme。 de Lorcy to
my aid； and she has spoiled everything by her boasted /finesse/。 As soon as
Antoinette had reason to suspect that her choice was condemned by us；
and that we were plotting the enemy's destruction； the sympathy； mingled
with admiration； which she accorded to M。 Larinski； became transformed
into love； the fire smouldering beneath ashes leaped up into flames。 We
115
… Page 116…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
neglected to count on that passion which is innate in women； and which
phrenologists call combativeness。 With her there is now a cause to be
gained； and； when love unites its interests with cards or with war； it
becomes irresistible。 Truly our campaign is greatly jeopardized； unless
Heaven or M。 Larinski interfere。〃
Thus reasoned M。 Moriaz； whom paternal misadventures and recent
experiences had rendered a better psychologist than he ever had been。
While busied with his reflections the carriage drove rapidly onward； and
thirty…five minutes sufficed to reach the little /maison de campagne/
occupied by Abbe Miollens。 He found him in his cabinet； installed in a
cushioned arm…chair embroidered by Mme。 de Lorcy； slowly sipping a cup
of excellent tea brought him by the missionaries from China。 On his left
was his violin…box； on his right his beloved Horace； Orelli's edition；
Zurich； 1844。
Conversation began。 As soon as M。 Moriaz had pronounced the name
of Count Larinski； the abbe assumed the charmed and contented
countenance of a dog lying in wait for its favourite game。
He exclaimed； 〃A most truly admirable man！〃
〃Mercy upon us！〃 thought M。 Moriaz。 〃Here we have an exordium
strangely similar to that of Mlle。 Moiseney。 Do they think to condemn me
to a state of perpetual admiration of their prodigy？ I fear there must be
some kinship of spirit between our friend the abbe and that crack…brained
woman； that he is cousin…german to her at least。〃
〃How grateful I am to you； my dear monsieur；〃 continued Abbe
Miollens； lying back in his chair； 〃for having given us the pleasure of the
acquaintance of this rare man！ It is you who sent him to us； to you belongs
the merit of having discovered him； or invented him； if you choose。〃
〃Oh！ I beg of you not to exaggerate；〃 humbly rejoined M。 Moriaz。 〃He
invented himself； I assure you。〃
〃At all events it was you who patronized him； who made him known
to us； without you the world never would have suspected the existence of
this superb genius； this noble character； who was hidden from sight like
the violet in the grass。〃
〃He is unquestionably her cousin…german；〃 thought M。 Moriaz。
116
… Page 117…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃Only think；〃 continued the abbe； 〃I have found M。 Larinski all over
again in Horace！ Yes； Horace has represented him； trait for trait； in the
person of Lollius。