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ation。 Was it a premonition of his destiny？ The fact is that； in beholding for the first time Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz； for it was none other than she who thus riveted his attention； he experienced an inexplicable surprise； a thrilling of the heart； such as he never before had experienced。 In his first impression of this charming girl he made one slight mistake。 He divined at once that the man by whom she was accompanied； who had gray hair； a broad； open brow； vivacious eyes； shaded by beautiful； heavy eye…brows； belonged to some learned fraternity； but he imagined that this individual with a white cravat； who had evidently preserved his freshness of heart； although past sixty years of age； was the fortunate suitor of the beautiful girl by his side。
There are some women whom it is impossible not to gaze upon。 Wherever Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz appeared she was the object of universal observation： first； because she was charming； and； then； because she had a way of her own of dressing and of arranging her hair； a peculiar movement of the head； a grace of carriage； which inevitably must attract notice。 There were those who made so bold as to assert that she assumed certain little peculiarities solely for the purpose of attracting the chance observer。 Do not believe a word of it。 She was altogether indifferent to public opinion and consulted her own taste alone； which was certainly impregnated with a touch of audacity； but she did not seek to appear audaciousshe merely acted according to her natural bent。 Observing her from a distance； people were apt to fancy her affected； and somewhat inclined to be fantastic； but on approaching her； their minds were speedily disabused of this fancy。 The purity of her countenance； her air of refinement and thorough modesty； speedily dispelled any suspicious thoughts； and those who had for a moment harboured them would say mentally； 〃Pardon me； mademoiselle； I mistook。〃 Such； at least； was the mental comment of Count Abel； as she passed close by him on leaving the church。 Her father was telling her something that made her smile； this smile was that of a young girl just budding into womanhood； who has nothing yet to conceal from her guardian angel。 Count Larinski left the church after her； and followed her with his eyes as she crossed the square。 On returning to the hotel he had a curiosity to satisfy。 He questioned one of the /garcons/； who pointed out to him in the hotel register for travellers the following entry： 〃M。 Moriaz； member of the Institute of France； and his daughter； from Paris； /en route/ for Saint Moritz。〃 〃And where then？〃 he asked himself； then dismissed the subject from his mind。
When he had dined； he repaired to the post…office to inquire for a letter he was expecting from Vienna。 He found it； and returned to shut himself up in his chamber； where he tore open the envelope with a feverish hand。 This letter； written in a more peculiar than felicitous French； was the reply of the Jew banker。 It read as follows：
〃M。 LE COMTE：
〃Although you both write and understand German very well； you do not like to read it； and therefore I write to you in French。 It grieves me deeply not to have it in my power to satisfy your honoured demand。 Business is very dull。 It is impossible for me to advance you another florin； or even to renew your note； which falls due shortly。 I am the father of a family； it pains me to be compelled to remind you of this。
〃I wish to tell you quite freely what I think。 I did believe in your gun； but I believe in it no longer； no one believes in it any more。 When strong； it was too heavy； when you made it lighter； it was no longer strong。 What came next？ You know it burst。 Beware how you further perfect it； or it will explode whenever it becomes aware that any one is looking at it。 This accursed gun has eaten up the little you had； and some of my savings besides； although I have confidence that you will； at least； pay me the interest due on that。 It grieves me to tell you so； M。 de Comte； but all inventors are more or less crack…brained； and end in the hospital。 For the love of God； leave guns as they are； and invent nothing more； or you will go overboard； and there will be no one to fish you out。〃
Abel Larinski paused at this place。 He put his letter down on the table； and； turning round in his arm…chair； with a savage air； his eye fixed on a distant corner of the room； he fell to thus soliloquizing in a sepulchral voice：
〃Do you hear； idiot？ This old knave is right。 Accursed be the day when the genius of invention thrilled your sublime brain！ A grand discovery you have made； forsooth！ What have I gained from it？ Grand illusions； grand discomfitures！ What hath it availed me that I passed whole nights discussing with you breech…loaders； screw…plates； tumbrels； sockets； bridges； ovoid balls； and spring…locks？ What fruits have I gained from these refreshing conversations？ You foresaw everything； my great man； except that one little thing which great men so often fail to see； that mysterious something； I know not what； which makes success。 When you spoke to me； in your slow； monotonous tones； when you fixed upon me your melancholy gaze； I should have been able to read in your eyes that you were only a fool。 The devil take thee and thy gun； thy gun and thee； hollow head； head full of chimeras； true Pole； true Larinski！〃
To whom was Count Abel speaking？ To a phantom？ To his double？ He alone knew。 When he had uttered the last words； he resumed the perusal of his letter； which ended thus：
〃Will you permit me to give you a piece of advice； M。 le Comte； a good little piece of advice？ I have known you for three years； and have taken much interest in your welfare。 You invent guns； which； when they are strong； lack lightness。 I beg your pardon； but I do not comprehend you； M。 le Comte。 The name you bear is excellent； the head you carry on your shoulders is superb； and it is the general opinion that you resemble /Faust/； but neither name nor head does you any good。 Leave the guns as they are； and bestow your attention upon women； they； and they alone； can draw you out of the deep waters where you are now floundering。 There is no time to lose。 I beg your pardon； but you must be thirty years old； and perhaps a little more。 This /diable/ of a gun has made you lose three valuable years。
〃It pains me； M。 le Comte； to be compelled to remind you that the little note falls due shortly。 I have had the value of the bracelet you left with me as a pledge estimated； it is not worth a thousand florins； as you believed； it is a piece of antiquity that has a value to only those who can indulge in a caprice for fancy articles； and such caprices are rare nowadays； the time for such is past。
〃I am； M。 le Comte； with much respect； your humble and obedient servant；
〃MOSES GULDENTHAL。〃
Abel Larinski turned once more in his chair。 He crumpled up between his fingers the letter of M。 Moses Guldenthal； saying to himself as he did so； that the Guldenthals are often very clear…sighted folks。 〃Ay； to be sure；〃 thought he； 〃this Hebrew is right； I have lost three valuable years。 I have had fever； an