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〃I knew well that if I saw you again I should be lost。〃
〃Say； rather； saved。 Your mind was sick； I have cured you。 I work
miracles； you once took the pains to write me so。 Will you touch my hand？
That will not bind you to anything； you can return it to me if you choose。〃
He took the hand she extended to him； he did not carry it to his lips；
but he held it within his own。
〃Listen to me；〃 she resumed。 〃To…day； this very hour； you will set out
for Cormeilles； and you will say to my father： 'She has given me her hand；
it has seemed good to me to keep it； allow me to do so？' Is it agreed upon？
Will you obey me？〃
He exclaimed： 〃You are here； you speak to me； the world has
disappeared； henceforth I believe only in you！〃
〃Well done！ You see when two people frankly discuss matters they
soon come to an understanding； but the main essential is to see each other。
Since you are so wise when you see me； I naturally desire to have you see
me always。 Theretake that！〃 And she handed him a medallion containing
her portrait； then she moved towards the door。 On the threshold she turned。
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〃Please tell Mlle。 Galet；〃 said she； 〃that I respect her nap； and will return
to…morrow。 Mlle。 Moiseney awaits me； and must be growing impatient。 I
have your word of honour？ Adieu； then； until this evening。 I must hasten
away。〃
And she did hasten； or； rather； she flew away。
Returning from as well as driving into Paris； the coachman put his
horses to full speed； and Cormeilles was reached before the soup was cold。
Nevertheless； M。 Moriaz had had abundant time for anxiety。 He did not
take his seat at table without first questioning Mlle。 Moiseney； knowing
nothing； she could give him no information； but she responded indefinitely
to his queries with that air of mystery beneath which it was her wont to
disguise her ignorance。 He resolved to question Antoinette after dinner。
She anticipated him； taking him aside and recounting to him what had
occurred。
〃I presume；〃 said she； 〃that henceforth you will believe in his pride
and his disinterestedness。 Did I not foretell you that I should have to put
myself on my knees to compel him to marry me？〃
He could not repress a movement of indignation。
〃Oh； reassure yourself！〃 she resumed； 〃that is only my way of
speaking。 He was at my feet and I was standing。〃
M。 Moriaz opened his lips and closed them again three times without
speaking。 He finally contented himself with a gesture； which signified；
〃The die is cast； let come what must。〃
Samuel Brohl religiously kept his word。 After having made a most
faultless toilet； he repaired by the railway to Argenteuil； where he took a
carriage。 He reached Cormeilles as the clock struck nine。 He was ushered
into the /salon/； where M。 Moriaz was reading his journal。 Samuel was
pale； and his lips trembled with emotion。 He greeted M。 Moriaz with
profound respect； saying：
〃I feel； monsieur； like a criminal。 Be merciful； and refuse her to me。〃
M。 Moriaz replied： 〃The fact is； you come； monsieur； in the words of
the evangelist； 'like a thief in the night'； but I have nothing to refuse you。
You are not the son…in…law I frankly avow； whom I should have chosen。
This matters not； my daughter belongs to herself； she is mistress of her
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own actions； and I have no reason to believe that she errs in her choice。
You are a man of taste and of honour； and you know the worth of what she
has given you。 If you render Antoinette happy； you will find in me a warm
friend。 I have said all that is necessary； let us suppose that you have
replied to me； and talk of something else。〃
Samuel Brohl considered the matter settled； he insisted no longer； and
entered at once upon another topic。 He knew how to be agreeable and
dignified at the same time。 He was as amiable and gracious as his lively
emotion would permit。 M。 Moriaz was obliged to confess to himself that
Count Larinski was as good company at Cormeilles as he had been at
Saint Moritz； and had no other fault than having taken it into his head to
become his son…in…law。
Their interview was a prolonged one。 During this time Antoinette had
been promenading the walk in front of the house； inhaling the jasmine…
perfumed air； pouring out her heart to the night and to the stars。 Her happy
reverie was troubled only by the presence of a bat； flitting incessantly
from one end of the terrace to the other； flapping its wings about her head。
The loathsome creature seemed to be especially in quest of her； circling
around and above her with obstinate persistency； even venturing to graze
her hair in passing； Antoinette even fancied that she could distinguish its
hideous face； with deep pouches and long ears； and she moved away；
quivering with disgust。
She heard a step on the gravel…walk。 Samuel Brohl had taken leave of
M。 Moriaz and was crossing the terrace to regain his carriage。 He
recognised Antoinette； approached her and clasped on her wrist a bracelet
he held in his hand； saying as he did so： 〃What could I give you that would
equal in value the medallion you deigned to offer me and that should
never leave me？ However； here is a trinket by which I set great store。 My
mother loved it； she always refused to part with it； even in the time of her
greatest distress； she wore it on her arm when she died。〃
We are not all moulded alike； and there is no human clay in which are
not intermingled some spangles of gold。 Intriguers as well as downright
knaves are often capable of experiencing moments of sincere and pure
sentiments； in certain encounters every human being rises superior to him…
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or herself。 The upper part of Mlle。 Moriaz's face was shaded by her red
hood； the lower part lit up by the moon； which was slowly rising above the
hills。 Samuel Brohl contemplated her in silence； she seemed to him as
beautiful as a dream。 During two entire minutes he forgot that she had an
income of