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！
… Page 175…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
pleasure will be spoiled。〃 There was a tinge of coldness in her welcome to
M。 Langis； of which he was sensible。
〃I am in the way；〃 he said； making a movement to retire。
She kept him； and altered her tone： 〃You are never in the way； Camille。
Sit there。〃
He seated himself； and talked of the races at Chantilly； that he had
attended the day before。
She listened to him； bowed her head in sign of approval； but she heard
his voice through a mist that veiled her senses。 She lifted her hand to brush
away a wasp that annoyed her by its buzzing。 The lace of her cuff； in
falling back； left her wrist exposed。
〃What a curious bracelet you have！〃 said M。 Langis。
〃Have you not seen it before？〃 she replied。 〃It is some time since〃
She interrupted herself； a sudden idea occurring to her。 She looked at
her wrist。 This bracelet from which she never was partedthis bracelet that
Count Larinski had given to herthis bracelet that he loved because it had
belonged to his mother； and that the late Countess Larinski had worn as
long as she livedresembled none other； but Mlle。 Moriaz observed that it
had a strong resemblance to the Persian bracelet that the Princess Gulof
had described to her； and which she had exchanged for Samuel Brohl。 The
three gold plates； the grotesque animals； the filigree networknothing was
wanting。 She took it from her arm and handed it to M。 Langis； saying to
him： 〃There is； it seems； something written on the interior of one of these
plates； but you must know the secret to be able to open it。 Can you guess
secrets？〃
He carefully examined the bracelet。 〃Two of these plates；〃 said he； 〃are
solid； and of heavy gold； the third is hollow； and might serve as a case。 I
see a little hinge that is almost invisible； but I seek in vain for the secretI
cannot find it。〃
〃Is the hinge strong？〃
〃Not very； and the lid easily could be forced open。〃
〃That is what I want you to do；〃 she rejoined。
〃What are you thinking of？ I would not spoil a trinket that you value。〃
She replied： 〃I have made the acquaintance of a Russian princess who
175
… Page 176…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
has a mania for physiology and dissection。 I have caught the disease； and I
want to begin to dissect。 I am fond of this trinket； but I want to know what
is inside。 Do as I tell you；〃 she continued。 〃You will find in the laboratory
the necessary instruments。 Go； the key is in the door。〃 He consulted her
look； her eye was burning； her voice broken； and she repeated： 〃Gogo！
Do you not understand me？〃
He obeyed； went to the laboratory； taking the bracelet with him。 After
five minutes he returned saying： 〃I am very unskilful； I crushed the lid in
raising it； but you wished it； and your curiosity will be satisfied。〃
She could； in truth； satisfy her curiosity。 She eagerly seized the
bracelet； and on the back of the plate； now left bare； she saw engraved in
the gold； characters almost microscopic in size。 Through the greatest
attention she succeeded in deciphering them。 She distinguished several
dates； marking the year； the month； and the day； when some important
event had occurred to the Princess Gulof。 These dates； accompanied by no
indication of any kind； formerly sufficed to recall the principal
experiments that she had practised on mankind before having discovered
Samuel Brohl。 The result had not been very cheerful； for beneath this form
of calendar stood a confession of faith； thus expressed； 〃Vanity of vanities；
all is vanity！〃 This melancholy declaration was signed； and the signature
was perfectly legible。 Mlle。 Moriaz spelled it out readily； although at that
moment her sight was dim； and she was convinced that the trinket； which
Count Larinski had presented to her as a family relic； had belonged to
Anna Petrovna； Princess Gulof。
She grew mortally pale； and lost consciousness； she seemed on the
verge of an attack of delirium。 In the agitation of her mind； she imagined
that she saw herself at a great distance； at the end of the world； and very
small； she was climbing a mountain； on the other side of which there was
a man awaiting her。 She questioned herself； 〃Am I； or is this traveller； Mlle。
Moriaz？〃 She closed her eyes； and saw a blank abyss open before her； in
which her life was ingulfed； whirled about； like the leaf of a tree in a
whirlpool。
M。 Langis drew near her； and； lightly slapping the palms of her hands；
said； 〃What is the matter？〃
176
… Page 177…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
She roused herself； made an effort to lift her head； and let it sink again。
The trouble that lay in the depths of her heart choked her； she experienced
an irresistible need of confiding in some one； and she judged that the man
who was talking to her was one of those men to whom a woman can tell
her secret； one of those souls to whom she could pour out her shame
without blushing。 She began； in a broken voice； a confused； disconnected
recital that Camille could scarcely follow。 However； he finally understood；
he felt himself divided between an immense pity for her despair； and a
fierce lover's joy that tightened his throat and well…nigh strangled him。
The belfry of Cormeilles had recovered its voice； two o'clock rang out
on the air。 Antoinette rose and exclaimed： 〃I was to meet him at the pretty
little gate that you see from here！ He will have the right to be angry if I
keep him waiting。〃
At once she hastened towards the balustered steps that led from the
terrace to the orchard。 M。 Langis followed her； seeking to detain her。 〃You
need not see him again；〃 said he。 〃I will meet him。 Pray； charge me with
your explanations。〃
She repelled him and replied； in a voice of authority： 〃I wish to see
him； no one but I can say to him what I have in my heart。 I command you
to remain here； I intend that he shall blame no one but me。〃 She added
with a curl of the lips meant for a smile： 〃You must remember； I do not
believe yet that I have been deceived； I will not believe it until I have read
the lie in his eyes。〃
She hastily descended into the orchard； and； during five minutes； her
eye fixed on the gate； she waited for Samuel Brohl。 Her impatience
counted the seconds； and yet Mlle。 Moriaz could have