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！
again in Horace！ Yes； Horace has represented him； trait for trait； in the
person of Lollius。 You know Marcus Lollius； to whom he addressed Ode
ix。 of book iv。； and who was consul in the year 733 after the foundation of
Rome。 The resemblance is striking； pay attention！〃
Depositing his cup on the table he took the book in his right hand； and
placing the forefinger of his left by turns on his lips or complacently
following with it the lines of especial beauty in the text； he exclaimed：
〃Now what do you say to this？ 'Thy soul is wise；' wrote Horace to Lollius；
'and resists with the same constancy the temptations of happiness as those
of adversity/est animus tibi et secundis temporibus dubiisque rectus/。' Is
not this Count Larinski？ Listen further： 'Lollius detested fraud and
cupidity； he despised money which seduces most men/abstinens ducentis
ad se cuncta pecuniae/。' This trait is very striking； I find even； between
ourselves； that our dear count despises money entirely too much； he turns
from it in horror； its very name is odious to him； he is an Epictetus； he is a
Diogenes； he is an anchorite of ancient times who would live happily in a
Thebaid。 He told us himself that it made little difference to him whether he
dined on a piece of bread and a glass of water； or in luxury at the Caf*
Anglais。 But I have not finished。 'Happy be those；' exclaimed Horace；
'who know how to suffer uncomplainingly the hardships of poverty/qui
duram que callet pauperiem pati/！' Of whom does he speakof Lollius； or
of our friend； who not only endures his poverty but who loves it； cherishes
it as a lover adores his mistress？ And the final trait； what to you think of it？
Lollius was always ready to die for his country'/non ille pro patria
timidus perire/。' In good faith； is it not curious？ Does it not seem as though
Horace had known Count Larinski at Rome or at Tibur？〃
〃I do not doubt it for an instant；〃 replied M。 Moriaz； taking the book
from the hands of Abbe Miollens and placing it respectfully on the table。
〃Luckily； our friend Larinski； as you call him； fell upon the excellent idea
of resuscitating himself some thirty years ago； which procured for us the
great joy of meeting him at Saint Moritz； and while we are on the subject
My dear abbe； have you a free； impartial mind？ Can you listen to me？ I
have a question to propound； an elucidation to demand。 It is not only the
117
… Page 118…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
friend to whom I address myself； it is the confessor； the director of
consciences； the man of the whole universe in whose discretion I place
most reliance。〃
〃I am all ears；〃 responded the abbe； crossing the shapely legs in which
he took no little pride。
M。 Moriaz entered at once into the subject that troubled him。 It was
some moments before Abbe Miollens divined whither he was tending。 As
soon as he had grasped a ray of light； his face contracted； and uncrossing
his limbs； he cried： 〃Ah； what a misfortune！ You will have to renounce
your delightful dream； my dear Monsieur； and； believe me； no one can be
more grieved than I。 I fully comprehend with what joy you would have
seen your charming daughter consecrate； I will not say her fortune； for you
know as well as I how little Count Larinski would care for that； but
consecrate； I say； her graces； her beauty； and all the qualities of her angelic
character to the happiness of a man of rare merit who has been cruelly
scourged by Providence。 She loves him； she is loved by him； Heaven
would have blest their union。 Ah； what a misfortune！ I must repeat it； this
marriage is impossible； our friend is already married。〃
〃You are sure of it？〃 cried M。 Moriaz； in a burst of enthusiasm that the
good abbe mistook for an access of despair。
〃I scarcely can pardon myself for causing you this pain。 You ask if I
am sure of it！ I have it from our friend himself。 One evening； apropos of I
scarcely remember what； it occurred to me to ask if he were married； and
he replied； briefly： 'I thought I had told you so。' Ah！ my dear professor； it
were needless to discuss whether such a marriage would be a happy one；
for it never can take place。〃
〃Well； now we have something positive；〃 M。 Moriaz hastened to
observe； 〃and there is nothing to do but yield to evidence。〃
〃Alas！ yes；〃 rejoined the abbe； and； then； after a pause； during which
he wore a reflective air； he added； 〃However〃
〃There is no 'however；' M。 l'Abbe。 Believe me； your word suffices。〃
〃But I might possibly have misunderstood。〃
〃I have entire confidence in your earsthey are excellent。〃
〃But pray allow me to observe that it is never worth while to despair
118
… Page 119…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
too soon。 Do you know what？ Count Larinski came recently to see me
without finding me at home。 I owe him a farewell visit。 To…morrow
morning； I promise you； I will call on him。〃
〃For what purpose？〃 interrupted M。 Moriaz。 〃I thank you a thousand
times for your kindly intentions； but God forbid that I should uselessly
interfere with your daily pursuits； your time is too precious！ I declare
myself completely edified。 I consider the proof firmly established； there is
no further doubt。〃
As Madame de Lorcy had remarked； Abbe Miollens was not one to
easily relax his hold upon an idea he had once deemed good。 In vain M。
Moriaz combated his proposition； bestowing secret maledictions on his
excess of zeal； the abbe would not give up； and M。 Moriaz was forced to
be resigned。 It was agreed that the next day the worthy man should call on
Count Larinski； and that from Paris he should repair to Cormeilles； in
order to communicate to the proper person the result of his mission。 M。
Moriaz perceived the advantage of having Antoinette learn from the abbe's
own lips the fatal truth； and he did not leave without impressing upon him
to be very circumspect； as prudent as a serpent； as discreet as a father
confessor。 He started for home with quite a contented mind； seeing the
future lie smoothly and pleasantly before him； and it really seemed to him
that the drive from Maisons to Cormeilles was a much shorter and more
agreeable one than that fro