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！
〃You are wrong； I can certify to you that your refusal plunged me for
as much as forty…eight hours into the depths of despairI mean one of
those genuine despairs that neither eat； drink； nor sleep； and that speak
openly of suicide！〃
〃And at the end of forty…eight hours were you consoled？〃
〃/Eh！ bon Dieu/； it surely was time to come to reason。 I had hesitated a
long time before asking your hand； because I thought； 'If she refuses me； I
cannot see her any more。' But I still do see you； so all is well！〃
〃And how soon do you mean to marry？〃
〃I？ Never！ I shall die a bachelor。 An aspirant to the hand of Mlle。
Moriaz； being unable to win her； could not care for another woman。
Nothing remains but to strike the attitude of the inconsolable lover。〃
〃And when this ceases to hinder one from eating； drinking； or sleeping
what then？〃
〃One becomes interesting without being inconvenienced by the
consequences；〃 he gaily interposed。 Then； letting his eyes wander idly
around for a moment； he added： 〃It seems to me that you have in some
way changed the order of this terrace； put to the right what was at the left；
thinned out the shrubbery； cut the trees； I feel completely lost here。〃
〃You mistake greatly； nothing is changed here； it is you who have
151
… Page 152…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
become forgetful。 How！ you now longer recognise this terrace； scene of so
many exploits？ I was a thorough tyrant； I did with you what I pleased。 You
revolted sometimes； but in his heart the slave adored his chains。 Open your
eyes。 See！ here is the sycamore you climbed one day to escape me when I
wanted you to make believe that you were a girl； as you said； and you had
little fancy for such a silly role。 There is the alley where we played ball；
and yonder the hedge and the grove where we played hide…and…seek。〃
〃Say rather； /cligne…musette/； it is more poetical；〃 he rejoined。 〃When I
was down in Transylvania I made a /chanson/ about it all； and set it myself
to music。〃
〃Sing me your /chanson/。〃
〃You are mocking at me； my voice is false； as you well know； but I
will consent to recite it to you。 The rhymes are not richI am no son of
Parnassus。〃
With these words； lowering his voice； not daring to look her in the face；
he recited the couplets。
〃Your /chanson/ is very pretty；〃 said she； 〃but it does not tell the truth；
for here we are sitting together on this bench； we have not lost each other
at all。〃
She was so innocent that she had no idea of the torture she was
inflicting； and he saw this so plainly that he could not so much as have the
satisfaction of finding fault with her； yet he asked himself whether in the
best woman's heart there was not a foundation of cruelty； of unconscious
ferocity。 He felt the tears start to his eyes； he scarcely could restrain them；
he abruptly bowed his head； and began to examine a beautiful horned
beetle； which was just crossing the gravel…path at a quick pace； apparently
having some very important affairs to regulate。 When M。 Langis raised his
head his eyes were dry； his face serene； his lips smiling。
〃It is very certain；〃 he observed； 〃that two years ago I must have
appeared supremely ridiculous to you。 This little playmate of old； this
foolish little Camille； to attempt to transform himself into a husband！ The
pretension was absurd indeed。〃
〃Not at all；〃 she replied； 〃but I thought at once that it was a mistake。
Little Camilles are apt to be hot…headed and fanciful； they are subject to
152
… Page 153…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
self…deceptions regarding their sentiments。 Friendship and love； however；
are two entirely different things！ I once said to Mlle。 Moiseney that a
woman never should marry an intimate friend； because it would be a sure
way of losing him as such； and friends are good to keep。〃
〃Bah！ How much do you care now for yours？ I find my role very
modest； very insignificant。 Open the trap…doorit is time for me to
disappear。〃
〃Bad counsel！ I shall not open the trap…door。 One always has need of
friends。 I can readily imagine the possibility of the very happiest married
woman needing some advice or assistance that she could not ask of her
husband； for husbands do not understand everything。 If ever such a thing
happens to me； Camille； I shall turn to you。〃
〃Agreed！〃 he cried； 〃to help you out of embarrassment； I would run； if
necessary； all the way from Transylvania。〃
He held out his right hand； which she shook warmly。
At this moment they heard a step that Mlle。 Moriaz at once recognised；
and Count Larinski appeared from the walk bordering the house。
Antoinette hastened to meet him； and led him forward by laying hold of
the tip of his glove； which he was in the act of drawing off。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said she； 〃I do not need to present you to each other； you
are already acquainted。〃
It is a very difficult thing to lead two men who do not like each other
into conversation： the present effort proved a total failure。 Fortunately for
all parties； M。 Moriaz shortly made his appearance at the end of the terrace；
and M。 Langis arose to join him。 Antoinette remained alone with Samuel
Brohl； who at once rather brusquely asked：
〃Has M。 Langis the intention of remaining here forever？〃
〃He has only just arrived；〃 she replied。
〃And you will send him away soon？〃
〃I thought so little of sending him away that I asked him to dinner； in
order to give you an opportunity of becoming more fully acquainted with
him。〃
〃I thank you for your amiable intentions； but M。 Langis pleases me
little。〃
153
… Page 154…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃What have you against him？〃
〃I have met him sometimes at Mme。 de Lorcy's； and he always has
shown me a most dubious politeness。 I scent in him an enemy。〃
〃Pure imagination！ M。 Langis has been my friend from childhood up；
and I have forewarned him that it is his duty to love the people whom I
love。〃
〃I mistrust these childhood's friends；〃 said he； growing excited。 〃I
should not wonder if this youth was in love with you。〃
〃Ah； indeed！ then you should have heard hi