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should not wonder if this youth was in love with you。〃
〃Ah； indeed！ then you should have heard him but now。 He has been
reminding me； this youth； that two years ago he sought my hand； and he
assured me that forty…eight hours sufficed to console him for my refusal。〃
〃I did not know that the case was so grave； or the personage so
dangerous。 Truly； do you mean to keep him to dinner？〃
〃I invited him； can I retract？〃
〃Very well； I will leave the place；〃 he cried； rising。
She uplifted her eyes to his face and remained transfixed with
astonishment； so completely was his face transformed。 His contracted
brows formed an acute angle； and he had a sharp； hard； evil air。 This was a
Larinski with whom she was not yet acquainted； or rather it was Samuel
Brohl who had just appeared to herSamuel Brohl； who had entered upon
the scene as suddenly as though he had emerged from a magic surprise…
box。 She could not remove her eyes from him； and he at once perceived
the impression he was making on her。 Forthwith Samuel Brohl re…entered
his box； whose cover closed over him； and it was a true Pole who said to
Mlle。 Moriaz； in a grave； melancholy； and respectful tone：
〃Pardon me； I am not always master of my impressions。〃
〃That is right；〃 said she； 〃and you will remain； won't you？〃
〃Impossible；〃 he replied； 〃I should be cross； and you would not be
pleased。〃
She urged him； he opposed her entreaties with a polite but firm
resistance。
〃Adieu；〃 said she。 〃When shall I see you again？〃
〃To…morrowor the day afterI do not know。〃
〃Really； do you not know？〃
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SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
He perceived that her eyes were full of tears。 Tenderly kissing her
hand he said； with a smile that consoled her：
〃This is the first time we have had any dispute； it is possible that I may
be wrong； but it seems to me that if I were a woman I would not willingly
marry a man who was always right。〃
These words uttered； he assured himself anew that her eyes were
humid； and then he left； charmed to have proved the extent of the empire
he held over her。
When she rejoined M。 Langis； the young man asked：
〃Does it chance to be I who put Count Larinski to flight？ If so； I
should be quite heart…broken。〃
〃Reassure yourself；〃 said she； 〃he came expressly to inform me that
his evening was not free。〃
The dinner was only passably lively。 Mlle。 Moiseney owed M。 Langis
a grudge； she could not forgive him for having made fun of her more than
oncein her eyes an unpardonable sin。 M。 Moriaz was enchanted to find
himself once more in company with his dear Camille； but he kept asking
himself； mournfully； 〃Why is not he to be my son…in…law？〃 Antoinette had
several attacks of abstraction； she did not； however； omit the least friendly
attention to Camille。 Love had become master of this generous soul； it
might cause it to commit many imprudences； but it was not in its power to
cause it to commit an injustice。
At nine o'clock M。 Langis mounted his horse and took his departure。
Meanwhile； Mlle。 Moriaz； her arm resting on the ledge of her window；
was meditating on the strange conduct of Count Larinski as she gazed on
the stars； the sky was without clouds； unless a little black speck above
Mount…Valerien might be so called。 Mlle。 Moriaz's heart swelled with
emotion； and she felt implicit confidence that all would be arranged the
next day。 What is one black spot in the immensity of a starry sky？
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SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
CHAPTER X
In all that Samuel Brohl did； even in his wildest freaks； there was
somewhat of calculation； or contrivance。 Unquestionably； he had
experienced intense displeasure at encountering M。 Camille Langis at
Cormeilles； he had； doubtless； very particular and very personal reasons
for not liking him。 He knew； however； that there was need for controlling
his temper； his impressions； his rancour； and； if he ceased to do so for a
moment； it was because he counted upon deriving advantage therefrom。
He was impatient to enter into possession； to feel his good…fortune
sheltered from all hazards； delays； procrastinations； long waiting；
displeased and irritated him。 He suspected M。 Moriaz of purposely putting
his shoulder to the wheel of time； and of preparing a contract that would
completely tie the hands of Count Larinski。 He resolved to seize the first
opportunity of proving that he was mistrustful； stormy； susceptible； in the
hope that Mlle。 Moriaz would become alarmed and say to her father； 〃I
intend to marry in three weeks； and without any conditions。〃 The
opportunity had presented itself； and Samuel Brohl had taken good care
not to lose it。
The next day he received the following note：
〃You have caused me pain； a great deal of pain。 Already！ I passed a
sorrowful evening； and slept wretchedly all night。 I have reflected
seriously upon our dispute； I have endeavoured to persuade myself that I
was in the wrong： I have neither been able to succeed； nor to comprehend
you。 Ah！ how your lack of confidence astonishes me！ It is so easy to
believe when one loves。 Please write me word quickly that you also have
reflected； and that you have acknowledged your misdemeanour。 I will not
insist upon your doing penance； your face humbled to the ground； but I
will condemn you to love me to…day more than yesterday； to…morrow more
than to…day。 Upon these conditions； I will pass a sponge across your grave
error； and we shall speak of it no more。
〃Ever yours。 It is agreed； is it not？〃 Samuel Brohl had the surprise of
receiving at the same time another
letter； thus worded：
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SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃MY DEAR COUNT： I cannot explain to myself your conduct； you
no longer give me any signs of life。 I believed that I had some claims upon
you； and that you would hasten to announce to me in person the great
event of events； and seek my congratulations。 Come； I beg of