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his aplomb。 He began to take part in the conversation： he recounted in a
sorrowful tone a sorrowful little story； he retailed sundry playful anecdotes
with a melancholy grace and sprightliness； he expressed the most
chivalrous sentiments； shaking his lion's mane； he spoke of the prisoner at
the Vatican with tears in his voice。 It were impossible to be a more
thorough Larinski。
The princess manifested； in listening to him； an astonished curiosity；
she concluded by saying to him： 〃Count； I admire you； but I believe only
in physiology； and you are a little too much of a Pole for me。〃
After they had left the table and repaired to the /salon/； several callers
dropped in。 It was like a deliverance to Samuel。 If the society was not
numerous enough for him to lose himself in it； at least it served him as a
shield。 He held it for a certainty that the princess had not recognised him；
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yet he did not cease feeling in her presence unutterably ill at ease。 This
Calmuck visage of hers recalled to him all the miseries； the shame； the
hard； grinding slavery of his youth； he could not look at her without
feeling his brow burn as though it were being seared with a hot iron。
He entered into conversation with a supercilious； haughty； and
pedantic counsellor…at…law； whose interminable monologues distilled ennui。
This fine speaker seemed charming to Samuel； who found in him wit；
knowledge； scholarship； and taste； he possessed the （in his eyes）
meritorious quality of not knowing Samuel Brohl。 For Samuel had come
to divide the human race into two categories： the first comprehended those
well…to…do； thriving people who did not know a certain Brohl； he placed in
the second old women who did know him。 He interrogated the counsellor
with deference； he hung upon his words； he smiled with an air of
approbation at all the absurdities that escaped him； he would have been
willing to have his discourse last three hours by the watch； if this
charming bore had shown symptoms of escaping him； he would have held
him back by the button。
Suddenly he heard a harsh voice； saying to Mme。 de Lorcy： 〃Where is
Count Larinski？ Bring him to me； I want to have a discussion with him。〃
He could not do otherwise than comply； he quitted his counsellor with
regret； went over and took a seat in the arm…chair that Mme。 de Lorcy
drew up for him at the side of the princess； and which had for him the
effect of a stool of repentance。 Mme。 de Lorcy moved away； and he was
left /tete…a…tete/ with Princess Gulof； who said to him； 〃I have been told
that congratulations are due to you； and I must make them at once
although we are enemies。〃
〃By what right are we enemies； princess？〃 he asked with a slightly
troubled feeling； which quickly passed away as she answered：
〃I am a Russian and you are a Pole； but we shall have no time for
fighting； I leave for London to…morrow morning at seven o'clock。〃
He was on the point of casting himself at her feet and tenderly kissing
her two hands； in testimony of his gratitude。 〃To…morrow at seven
o'clock；〃 he mentally ejaculated。 〃I have slandered her； she has some good
in her。〃
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〃When I say that I am a Russian；〃 resumed the princess； 〃it is merely a
formal speech。 Love of country is a prejudice； an idea that has had its day；
that had sense in the times of Epaminondas or of Theseus； but that has it
no longer。 We live in the age of the telegraph； the locomotive； and I know
of nothing more absurd now than a frontier； or more ridiculous than a
patriot。 Rumour says that you fought like a hero in the insurrection of
1863； that you gave proof of incomparable prowess； and that you killed
with your own hand ten Cossacks？ What harm had they done you； those
poor Cossacks？ Do they not sometimes haunt your dreams？ Can you think
of your victims without disquietude and without remorse？〃
He replied； in a dry； haughty tone： 〃I really do not know； princess； how
many Cossacks I have killed； but I do know that there are some subjects
on which I do not love to expatiate。〃
〃You are rightI should not comprehend you。 Don Quixote did not do
Sancho the honour to explain himself to him every day。〃
〃Ah； I beg of you； let us talk a little of the man…monkey；〃 he observed；
in a rather more pliant tone than he had at first assumed。 〃That is a
question that has the advantage of being neither Russian nor Polish。〃
〃You will not succeed that way in throwing me off the track。 I mean to
tell you all the evil I think of you； no matter how it may incense you。 You
uttered； at table； theories that displeased me。 You are not only a Polish
patriot； you are an idealist； a true disciple of Plato； and you do not know
how I always have detested this man。 In all these sixty years that I have
been in this world； I have seen nothing but selfishness； and grasping after
self…gratification。 Twice during dinner you spoke of an ideal world。 What
is an ideal world？ Where is it situated？ You speak of it as of a house
whose inhabitants you are well acquainted with； whose key is in your
pocket。 Can you show me the key？ I promise not to steal it from you。 O
poet！for you are quite as much of a poet as of a Pole； which is not saying
much〃
〃Nothing remains but to hang me；〃 he interposed； smilingly。
〃No； I shall not hang you。 Opinions are free； and there is room enough
in the world for all； even idealists。 Besides； if you were to be hanged； it
would bring to the verge of despair a charming girl who adores you； who
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was created expressly for you； and whom you will shortly marry。 When
will the ceremony take place？〃
〃If I dared hope that you would do me the honour of being present；
princess； I should postpone it until your return from England。〃
〃You are too amiable； but I could not on any consideration retard the
happiness of Mlle。 Moria