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！
defied her to accomplish his underhand intrigue！ She could not resign
herself to the idea； and the consequence was that； during the night she
spent at Maisons； she scarcely closed her eyes。
169
… Page 170…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
CHAPTER XI
The following day； after breakfast； Mlle。 Moriaz was walking alone on
the terrace。 The weather was delightfully mild。 She was bare…headed； and
had opened her white silk umbrella to protect herself from the sun； for
Samuel Brohl had been a true prophetthere was sunshine。 She looked up
at the sky； where no trace was left of the wind…storm of the preceding
evening； and it seemed to her that she never had seen the sky so blue。 She
looked at her flower…beds； and the flowers that she saw were perhaps not
there。 She looked at the orchard； growing on the slope that bordered the
terrace； and she admired the foliage of the apple…trees； over which Autumn；
with liberal hand； had scattered gold and purple； the grass there was as
high as her knee； and was fragrant and glossy。 Above the apple…trees she
saw the spire of the church at Cormeilles； it seemed to amuse itself
watching the flying clouds。 It was a high…festival day。 The bells were
ringing out a full peal； they spoke to this happy girl of that far…off；
mysterious land which we remember； without ever having seen it。 Their
silvery voices were answered by the cheerful cackling of the hens。 She at
once understood that a joyful event was occurring in the poultry…yard； as
well as in the belfry； that below； as well as above； an arrival was being
celebrated。 But what pleased her more than all the rest was the little deep…
set gateway with its ivy…hung arch at the end of the orchard。 It was
through this gate that he would come。
She walked several times around the terrace。 The gravel was elastic；
and rebounded under her step。 Never had Mlle。 Moriaz felt so light： life；
the present； the future； weighed no heavier on her brow than a bird in the
hand that holds it and feels it tremble。 Her heart fluttered like a bird； like a
bird it had wings； and only asked to fly。 She believed that there was
happiness everywhere； there seemed to be joy diffused through the air； in
the wind； in every sound； and in all silences。 She gazed smilingly on the
vast landscape that was spread out before her eyes； and the sparkling Seine
sent back her smile。
Some one came to announce that a lady； a stranger； had called； who
wished to speak with her。 Immediately thereupon the stranger appeared；
170
… Page 171…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
and Mlle。 Moriaz was most disagreeably surprised to find herself in the
presence of the Princess Gulof； whom she would willingly never have
seen again。 〃This is an unpleasant visit；〃 she thought； as she asked her
guest to be seated on a rustic bench。 〃What can this woman want with
me？〃
〃It was M。 Moriaz whom I desired to speak with；〃 began the princess。
〃I am told that he is out。 I shall leave in a few hours for Calais； I cannot
await his return； and I have； therefore； decided to address myself to you；
mademoiselle。 I have come here to render you one of those little services
that one woman owes to another； but； first of all； I would like to be
assured that I may rely on your absolute discretion； I do not desire to
appear in this affair。〃
〃In what affair； madame？〃
〃One of no little consequence； it concerns your marriage。〃
〃You are extremely kind to concern yourself with my marriage； but I
do not understand〃
〃You will understand in a few moments。 So you promise me〃
〃I promise nothing； madame； before I understand。〃
The princess looked in amazement at Mlle。 Moriaz。 She had
anticipated talking with a dove； she found that the dove had a less
accommodating temper and a much stiffer neck than she had believed。 She
hesitated for a moment whether she would not at once end the interview；
she decided； however； to proceed：
〃I have a story to relate to you；〃 she continued； in a familiar tone；
〃listen with attention； I beg of you。 I err if in the end you do not find it
interesting。 Thirteen or fourteen years ago； one of those unlucky chances；
common in travelling； obliged me to pass several hours in a miserable
little town in Galicia。 The inn； or rather the tavern； where I stopped； was
very dirty； the tavern…keeper； an ill… looking little German Jew； was still
dirtier than his tavern； and he had a son who was in no better condition。 I
am given to forming illusions about people。 In spite of his filth； this youth
interested me。 His stupid father refused him all instruction； and beat him
unmercifully； he appeared intelligent； he made me think of a fresh… water
fish condemned to live in a quagmire。 He was called Samuel Brohl：
171
… Page 172…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
remember the name。 I pitied him and I saw no other way of saving him
than to buy him of his father。 This horrid little man demanded an
exorbitant price。 I assure you his pretensions were absurd。 Well； my dear； I
was out of cash； I had with me just the money sufficient for the expenses
of the rest of the journey； but I wore on my arm a bracelet that had the
advantage of pleasing him。 It was a Persian trinket； more singular than
beautiful。 I can see it now； it was formed of three large plates of gold
ornamented with grotesque animals； and joined by a filigree network。 I
valued this bracelet； it had been brought to me from Teheran。 By means of
a secret spring； one of the plates opened； and I had had engraved inside the
most interesting dates of my life； and underneath them my profession of
faith； with which you have no concern。 Ah！ my dear； when one has once
been touched by that dangerous passion called philanthropy； one becomes
capable of exchanging a Persian bracelet for a Samuel Brohl； and I swear
to you that it was a real fool's bargain that I made。 This miserable fellow
paid me badly for my kindness to him。 I sent him to the university； and