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/diable/ of a man has an indescribable charm about him。 I can detect only
one fault in him： he has committed the error of existing at all； it is a grave
error； I admit； but thus far I have nothing else with which to reproach him。
〃When one loses a battle； nothing remains but to plan an orderly
retreat。 Count Larinski； I regret to inform you； is armed with all needful
weapons； he carries with him his certificate of birth； and certificate of the
registry of death of both his parents。 No pretext can be made on this score；
and my future son…in…law will not aid me to gain time。 The sole point upon
which we must henceforth direct our attention is the contract。 We scarcely
can take too many precautions； we must see that this Pole's hands are
absolutely tied。 If you will permit me； I will one day ask you to confer
with me and my notary； who is also yours。 I venture to hope that upon this
point Antoinette will consent to be guided by our counsels。
〃I am not gay； my friend； but； having been born a philosopher； I bear
my misfortunes patiently； and I will forthwith reread /Le Monde comme il
va； ou la Vision de Babouc/； in order to endeavour to persuade myself that；
if all is not well； all is at least supportable。〃
The evening of the same day； M。 Moriaz received the following
response：
〃I never will pardon you。 You are a great chemist； I grant； but a pitiful；
a most deplorable father。 Your weakness； which well merits another name；
is without excuse。 You should have resisted； you should have stood your
ground firmly。 Antoinette； although she is of age； never in the world would
have decided to address to you a formal request of consent to this marriage。
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She would have made some scenes； she would have pouted； she would
have endeavoured to soften you by assuming the airs of a tearful； heart…
broken widow； she would have draped herself in black crape。 And after
that？ Desperate case！ These Artemisias are very tiresome； I admit； but one
can accustom one's self to anything。 Should philosophers； who plead such
sublime indifference about the affairs of this mundane sphere； be at the
mercy of a fit of the sulks； or a dress of black crape？ Besides； black is all
the fashion just now； even for those who are not in mourning。
〃You speak of contracts！ You are surely jesting！ What！ distrustful of a
Pole？ take precautions against an antique man？I quote from Abbe
Miollensagainst a soul as noble as great？ Think what you are doing！ At
the mere thought of his disinterestedness being called into question； M。
Larinski would swoon away as he did in my /salon/。 It is a little way he
has； which is most excellent； since it proves successful。 Do not think of
such trifles as contracts； marry them with equal rights； and leave the
consequences to Providence！ Follies have neither beauty nor merit； unless
they are complete。 Ah； my good friend； Poland has its charm； has it？
Admirable！ But you must swallow the whole thing。 I am your obedient
servant。〃
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CHAPTER IX
The pitiless sentence pronounced by Mme。 de Lorcy grieved M。
Moriaz； but did not discourage him。 It was his opinion that； let her say
what she might； precautions were good； that； well though it might be to
bear our misfortunes patiently； there was no law forbidding us to assuage
them； that it was quite permissible to prefer to complete follies those of a
modified character； and that a bad cold or an influenza was decidedly
preferable to inflammation of the lungs； which is so apt to prove fatal。
〃Time and myself will suffice for all things；〃 proudly said Philip II。 M。
Moriaz said； with perhaps less pride： 〃To postpone a thing so long as
possible； and to hold deliberate counsel with one's notary； are the best
correctives of a dangerous marriage that cannot be prevented。〃 His notary；
M。 Noirot； in whom he reposed entire confidence； was absent； a case of
importance had carried him to Italy。 Nothing remained but to await his
return； until which everything stood in suspense。
In the first conversation he had with his daughter on the subject； M。
Moriaz found her very reasonable； very well disposed to enter into his
views； to accede to his desires。 She was too thoroughly pleased with his
resignation not to be willing to reward him for it with a little complaisancy；
besides； she was too happy to be impatient； she had gained the main points
of her caseit cost her little to yield in matters of secondary detail。
〃You will be accused of having taken a most inconsiderate step；〃 said
her father to her。 〃You are little sensible to the judgment of the world； to
what people say； I am much more so。 Humour my weakness or cowardice。
Let us endeavour to keep up appearances； do not let us appear to be in a
hurry； or to have something to hide； let us act with due deliberation。 Just at
present no one is in Paris； let us give our friends time to return there。 We
will present Count Larinski to them。 Great happiness does not fear being
discussed。 Your choice will be regarded unfavourably by some； approved
by others。 M。 Larinski has the gift of pleasing； he will please； and all the
world will pardon my resignation； which Mme。 de Lorcy esteems a
crime。〃
〃You promised me that your resignation would be mingled with
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cheerfulness： I find it somewhat melancholy。〃
〃You scarcely could expect me to be intoxicated with joy。〃
〃Will you at least assure me that you have taken your part bravely； and
that you will think of no further appeal？〃
〃I swear it to you！〃
〃Very good； then we will honour your weakness；〃 she replied； and she
said Amen to all that he proposed。
It was agreed that the marriage should take place during the winter；
and that two months should be allowed to elapse before proceeding to the
preliminary formalities。 M。 Moriaz undertook to explain matters to
Samuel Brohl； who found the arrangement little to his taste。 He