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At this moment the voice of his worthy friend appeared to Samuel Brohl the most harmonious of all music。 He felt a delicious thrill quiver through his frame。 The abbe was telling him nothing he had not known before； but there are things of which we are certain； things that we have told ourselves a hundred times； and yet that seem new when told us for the first time by another。
〃You are not misleading me？〃 ejaculated Samuel Brohl； overwhelmed with joy； transported beyond himself。 〃Can it really be true！One day I may flatter myselfone day she may judge me worthy Ah！ what a glorious vision you cause to pass before my eyes！ How good and cruel together you are to me！ What bitterness is intermingled with the ineffable sweetness of your words！ No； I never could have believed that there could be so much joy in anguish； so much anguish in joy。〃
〃What would you imply； my dear count？〃 interposed Abbe Miollens。 〃Have you need of a negotiator？ I can boast of having had some experience in that line。 I am wholly at your service。〃
These words calmed Samuel Brohl。 Quickly recovering himself； he coldly rejoined：
〃A negotiator？ What occasion would I have for a negotiator？ Do not delude me with a chimera； and above all do not tempt me to sacrifice my honour to it。 This height of felicity that you offer to me I must renounce forever； I have told you why。〃
Abbe Miollens was at first inclined to be indignant； he even took the liberty to rebuke； to expostulate with his noble friend。 He endeavoured to prove to him that his principles were too rigorous； that such a thing is possible as exaggeration in virtue； too great refinement in delicacy of conscience。 He represented to him that noble souls should beware of exaltation of sentiment。 He cited the Gospels； he cited Bossuet； he also cited his well…beloved Horace； who censored all that was ultra or excessive； and recommended the sage to flee all extremities。 His reasoning was weak against the unwavering resolution of Samuel； who resisted； with the firmness of a rock； all his remonstrances； and finally ended these with the words：
〃Peace； I implore you！ Respect my folly； which is surely wisdom in the eyes of God。 I repeat it to you； I am no longer free； and； even if I were； do you not know that there is between Mlle。 Moriaz and myself an insurmountable barrier？〃
〃And pray； what is that？〃 demanded the abbe。
〃Her fortune and my pride；〃 said Samuel。 〃She is rich； I am poor； this adorable being is not made for me。 I told Mme。 de Lorcy one day what I thought of this kind of alliances； or； to speak more clearly； of bargains。 Yes； my revered friend； I love Mlle。 Moriaz with an ardour of passion with which I reproach myself as though it were a crime。 Nothing remains to me but to avoid seeing her； and I never will see her again。 Let me follow to its end my solitary and rugged path。 One consolation will accompany me： I can say that happiness has not been denied to me： that it is my conscience； admonished from on high； which has refused to accept it； and there is a divine sweetness in great trials religiously accepted。 Believe me； it is God who speaks to me； as he spoke to me of old in San Francisco； to enjoin me to forsake everything and give my blood for my country。 I recognise his voice； which to…day bids my heart be silent and immolate itself on the altar of its chosen cause。 God and Poland！ Beyond this； my watch…word； I have no longer the right to yield to anything。〃
And； turning towards the statuette； he exclaimed： 〃It is at her feet that I lay down my dolorous offering； she it is who will cure my bruised and broken heart。〃
Samuel Brohl spoke in a voice thrilling with emotion； the breath of the Divine Spirit seemed to play through his hair； and make his eyes grow humid。 The eyes of the good abbe also grew moist： he was profoundly moved； he gazed with veneration upon this hero； he was filled with respect for this antique character； for this truly celestial soul。 He never had seen anything like it； either in the odes or in the epistles of Horace。 Lollius himself was surpassed。 Transported with admiration； he opened wide his arms to Samuel Brohl； spreading them out their full length； as though otherwise they might fail to accomplish their object； and； clasping him to his bosom； he cried：
〃Ah！ my dear count； how grand you are！ You are immense as the world！〃
CHAPTER VIII
Abbe Miollens hastened to repair to Cormeilles； where he gave a faithful circumstantial account of his conference with Count Larinski。 He was still warm from the interview； and he gave free vent to the effusions of his enthusiasm。 He struck up a Canticle of Zion in honour of the antique soul； the celestial soul； which had just been revealing to him all its hidden treasures。 M。 Moriaz； both astonished and scandalized； observed； dryly：
〃You are right； this Pole is a prodigy； he should either be canonized or hanged； I do not know which。〃
Antoinette said not a word； she kept her reflections to herself。 She retired to her chamber； where she paced to and fro for some time； uncertain regarding what she was about to do； or； rather more restless than uncertain。 Several times she approached her writing…table； and gazed earnestly at her inkstand； then； seized with a sudden scruple； she would move away。 At last she formed a resolute decision； seized her pen； and wrote the following lines：
〃MONSIEUR： Before setting out for Vienna； will you be so good as to come and pass some moments at Cormeilles？ I desire to have a conversation with you in the presence of my father。
〃Accept； monsieur； I beg of you； the expression of my most profound esteem。
〃ANTOINETTE MORIAZ。〃
The next morning she received by the first mail the response she awaited； and which was thus fashioned：
〃This test would be more than my courage could endure。 I never shall see you again； for； should I do so； I would be a lost man。〃
This short response caused Mlle。 Moriaz a disappointment full of bitterness； and blended with no little wrath。 She held in her hand a pencil； which she deliberately snapped in two； apparently to console herself for not having broken the proud and obstinate will of Count Abel Larinski。 And yet can one break iron or a diamond？ The carrier had brought her at the same time another letter； which she opened mechanically； merely to satisfy her conscience。 She ran through the first lines without succeeding in comprehending a single word that she read。 Suddenly her attention became riveted； her face brightened up； her eyes kindled。 This letter； which a kind Providence had sent her as a supreme resource in her distress； was from the hand of Mlle。 Galet； and here was what this retired florist of the Rue Mouffetard wrote：
〃MA CHERE DEMOISELLE： I learn that you have returned。 What happiness for me！ and how I long to see you！ You are my good angel； whom I should like to see every day of my life； and the time has seemed so long to me without you。 When you enter the garret of the poor； infirm old woman； it seems to her as though there were three suns in the heavens； when you abandon her； the blackness of midnight surrounds her。 Mme。 de Lorcy has been very good to me。 As my angel requested her； she