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Samuel Brohl； who found the arrangement little to his taste。 He took pains；
however； to give no signs of this。 He told M。 Moriaz that he was still in the
first bewildering surprise of his happiness； that he was not sorry to have
time to recover from it； but he secretly promised himself to devise some
artifice for abridging delays； for hastening the /denoument/。 He was
apprehensive of accidents； unforeseen occurrences； squalls； storms；
tornadoes； sudden blights； in short everything that might damage or
destroy a harvest； he impatiently longed to gather in his； and to have it
carefully stowed away in his granary。 In the interim he wrote to his old
friend M。 Guldenthal a letter at once majestic and confidential； which
produced a most striking effect。 M。 Guldenthal concluded that a good
marriage was much better security than a poor gun。 Besides； he had had
the agreeable surprise of being completely reimbursed for his loan； capital
and interest。 He was charmed to have so excellent a debtor return to him；
and he hastened to advance to him all that he could possibly want； even
more。
A month passed peaceably by； during which time Samuel Brohl
repaired two or three times each week to Cormeilles。 He made himself
adored by the entire household； including the gardener； the porter and his
family； and the Angora cat that had welcomed him at the time of his first
visit。 This pretty； soft white puss had conceived for Samuel Brohl a most
deplorable sympathy； perhaps she had recognised that he possessed the
soul of a cat； together with all the feline graces。 She lavished on him the
most flattering attentions； she loved to rub coaxingly against him； to
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spring on his knee； to repose in his lap。 In retaliation； the great； tawny
spaniel belonging to Mlle。 Moriaz treated the newcomer with the utmost
severity and was continually looking askance at him； when Samuel
attempted a caress； he would growl ominously and show his teeth； which
called forth numerous stern corrections from his mistress。 Dogs are born
gendarmes or police agents； they have marvellous powers of divination
and instinctive hatred of people whose social status is not orthodox； whose
credentials are irregular； or who have borrowed the credentials of others。
As to Mlle。 Moiseney； who had not the scent of a spaniel； she had gone
distracted over this noble； this heroic； this incomparable Count Larinski。
In a /tete…a…tete/ he had contrived to have with her； he had evinced much
respect for her character； so much admiration for her natural and acquired
enlightenment； that she had been moved to tears； for the first time she felt
herself understood。 What moved her； however； still more was that he
asked her as a favour never to quit Mlle。 Moriaz and to consider as her
own the house he hoped one day to possess。 〃What a man！〃 she ejaculated；
with as much conviction as Mlle。 Galet。
The principal study of Samuel Brohl was to insinuate himself into the
good graces of M。 Moriaz； whose mental reservations he dreaded。 He
succeeded in some measure； or at least he disarmed any lingering
suspicions by the irreproachable adjustment of his manners； by the reserve
of his language； by his great show of lack of curiosity regarding all
questions that might have a proximate or remote connection with his
interests。 How； then； had Mme。 de Lorcy come to take it into her head that
there was something of the appraiser about Samuel Brohl； and that his
eyes took an inventory of her furniture？ If he had forgotten himself at
Maisons； he never forgot himself at Cormeilles。 What cared he for the
sordid affairs of the sublunary sphere？ He floated in ether； heaven had
opened to him its portals； the blessed are too absorbed in their ecstasy to
pay heed to details or to take an inventory of paradise。 Nevertheless；
Samuel's ecstasies did not prevent him from embracing every opportunity
to render himself useful or agreeable to M。 Moriaz。 He frequently asked
permission to accompany him into his laboratory。 M。 Moriaz flattered
himself that he had discovered a new body to which he attributed most
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curious properties。 Since his return he had been occupied with some very
delicate experiments； which he did not always carry out to his satisfaction；
his movements were brusque； his hands all thumbs； very often he chanced
to ruin everything by breaking his vessels。 Samuel proposed to assist him
in a manipulation requiring considerable dexterity； he had very flexible
fingers； was as expert as a juggler； and the manipulation succeeded beyond
all hopes。
Mme。 de Lorcy was furious at having been outwitted by Count
Larinski； she retracted all the concessions she had made concerning him；
her rancour had decided that the man of fainting…fits could not be other
than an imposter。 She had disputes on this subject with M。 Langis； who
persisted in maintaining that M。 Larinski was a great comedian； but that
this； strictly considered； did not prevent his being a true count； in the
course of his travels he had met specimens of them who cheated at cards
and pocketed affronts。 Mme。 de Lorcy； in return； accused him of being a
simpleton。 She had written again to Vienna； in hopes of obtaining some
further intelligence； she had been able to learn nothing satisfactory。 She
did not lose courage； she well knew that； in the important affairs of life； M。
Moriaz found it difficult to dispense with her approbation； and she
promised herself to choose with discretion the moment to make a decisive
assault upon him。 In the meanwhile she gave herself the pleasure of
tormenting him by her silence； and of grieving him by her long…continued
pouting。 One day M。 Moriaz said to his daughter：
〃Mme。 de Lorcy is displeased with us； this grieves me。 I fear you have
dropped some word that has wounded her。 I shall be greatly obliged to you
if you will go and see her and coax her into good…humour。〃