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adding； in a most affable tone； 〃We meet to…day under less tragic
circumstances than the last time you were here； and I hope you will bear
away a pleasanter remembrance of Maisons。〃
He respectfully kissed her hand； saying： 〃Happiness must be
purchased； I cannot pay too dearly for mine。〃
She ushered him into the /salon/； where he had scarcely set foot； when
he descried an old woman lounging on a /causeuse/； fanning herself as she
chatted with Abbe Miollens。 He remained motionless； his eyes fixed；
scarcely breathing； cold as marble； it seemed to him that the four walls of
the /salon/ swayed from right to left； and left to right； and that the floor
was sliding from under his feet like the deck of a pitching vessel。
The previous day； Antoinette once departed； Mme。 de Lorcy had
resumed her attack on Princess Gulof； and the princess had ended by
consenting to delay her departure； to dine with the adventurer of the green
eyes； and to subject him to a close scrutiny。 There she was； yes； it was
indeed she！ The first impulse of Samuel Brohl was to regain the door as
speedily as possible； but he did nothing of the kind。 He looked at Mme。 de
Lorcy： she herself was regarding him with astonishment； she wondered
what could suddenly have overcome him； she could find no explanation
for the bewilderment apparent in his countenance。 〃It is a mere chance；〃
he thought at last； 〃she has not intentionally drawn me into a snare。〃 This
thought was productive of a sort of half relief。
〃/Eh bien！/ what is it？〃 she asked。 〃Has my poor /salon/ still the
misfortune to be hurtful to you？〃
He pointed to a /jardiniere/； saying： 〃You are fond of hyacinths and
tuberoses； their perfume overpowered me for a moment。 I fear you think
me very effeminate。〃
She replied in a caressing voice： 〃I take you for a most worthy man
who has terrible nerves； but you know by experience that if you have
weaknesses I have salts。 Will you have my smelling…bottle？〃
〃You are a thousand times too good；〃 he rejoined； and bravely
marched forward to face the danger。 It is a well…known fact that dangers in
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a silken robe are the most formidable of all。
Mme。 de Lorcy presented him to the princess； who raised her chin to
examine him with her little glittering eyes。 It seemed to him that those
gray orbs directed at him were two balls； which struck him in the heart； he
quivered from head to foot and asked himself confusedly whether he were
dead or living。 He soon perceived that he was still living； the princess had
remained impassiblenot a muscle of her face had moved。 She ended by
bestowing upon Samuel a smile that was almost gracious； and addressing
to him some insignificant words； which he only half understood； but
which seemed to him exquisitedelicious。 He fancied that she was saying
to him： 〃You have a chance； you were born lucky； my sight has been
impaired for some years； and I do not recognise you。 Bless your star； you
are saved！〃 He experienced such a transport of joy that he could have
flung his arms about the neck of Abbe Miollens； who came up to him with
extended hand； saying：
〃What have you been thinking about； my dear count？ Since we last
met a very great event has been accomplished。 What woman wishes； God
wishes； but； after all； my own humble efforts were not without avail； and I
am proud of it。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy requested Count Larinski to offer his arm to Princess
Gulof and lead her out to dinner。 He mechanically complied； but he had
not the strength to utter a syllable as he conducted the princess to table。
She herself said nothing； she seemed wholly busied in arranging with her
unoccupied hand a lock of her gray hair； which had strayed too far over
her forehead。 He looked fixedly at this short； plump hand； which one day
in a fit of jealous fury had administered to him two smart blows； his
cheeks recognised it。
During dinner the princess was very gay： she paid more attention to
Abbe Miollens than to Count Larinski； she took pleasure in teasing the
good priestin endeavouring to shock him a little。 It was not easy to shock
him； to his natural； easy good…nature he united an innate respect for
grandeurs and for princesses。 She did not neglect so good an opportunity
to air her monkey…development theories。 He merrily flung back the ball；
he declared that he should prefer to be a fallen angel rather than a
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perfected monkey； that in his estimation a parvenu made a much sorrier
figure in the world than the descendent of an old family of ruined nobility。
She replied that she was more democratic than he。 〃It is pleasant to me；〃
said she； 〃to think that I am a progressive ape； who has a wide future
before him； and who； by taking proper pains； may hope to attain new
advancement。〃
While they were thus chatting； Samuel Brohl was striving with all his
might to recover from the terrible blow he had received。 He noted with
keen satisfaction that the eyesight of the princess was considerably
impaired； that the microscopic studies； for which she had always had a
taste； had resulted in rendering her somewhat near…sighted； that she was
obliged to look out carefully to find her way among her wine… glasses。
〃She has not seen me for six years；〃 thought he； 〃and I have become a
different man； I have undergone a complete metamorphosis； I have
difficulty sometimes in recognising myself。 Formerly； my face was close…
shaven； now I have let my entire beard grow。 My voice； my accent； the
poise of my head； my manners； the expression of my countenance； all are
changed； Poland has entered my bloodI am Samuel no longer； I am
Larinski。〃 He blessed the microscope； which enfeebled the sight of old
women； he blessed Count Abel Larinski； who had made of him his twin
brother。 Before the end of the repast he had recovered all his assurance； all
his aplomb。 He began to take part in the conversation：