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〃A friend? Are you very sure that it is only friendship that he feels for you?〃
Whereupon M。 Moriaz told her all the rest。 She grew pensive and sank into a reverie。 Suddenly the door of the /salon/ opened; and Camille entered。 After inquiring after her health; he informed her that in consequence of a cold he; too; had been sick; and; as he was now free from business engagements; his physician was sending him to pass the winter in Sorrento。
She replied: 〃That is a journey that I would like to make。 Will you take me with you?〃
She gazed fixedly at him; there was everything in her gaze。 He bent his knee before her; and for some moments they remained hand…in…hand; and eye to eye。 In the midst of this; Mlle。 Moiseney appeared; who; at sight of this /tableau vivant/; stood perfectly confounded。
〃You are very much astonished; mademoiselle;〃 said M。 Moriaz to her。
〃Not so much as you fancy; monsieur;〃 replied she; recovering herself。 〃I did not dare to say it; but in my heart I always believed; always thought Yes; I always was sure that it would end thus。〃
〃God bless Pope Joan!〃 he cried; 〃I shall cease to correct her。〃
We have failed to learn what Samuel Brohl is doing in America。 In waiting for something better; has he become an humble teacher? has he attempted a new matrimonial enterprise? has he become a reporter of the /New York Herald/; or a politician in one of the Northern States; or a carpet…bagger in South Carolina? does he dream of being some day President of the glorious republic with the starry banner?
Up to the present time; no American journal has devoted the shortest paragraph to him。 Adventurers are beings who constantly vanish and reappear; they belong to the family of divers; but; after many plunges; they always end by some catastrophe。 The wave supports the drowning man an instant; then bears him away and drags him down to the depths of the briny abyss; there is heard a splash; a ripple; a hoarse cry; followed by a smothered groan; and Samuel Brohl is no more! For some days the question is agitated whether his real name is Brohl; Kicks; or Larinski; soon something else is talked about; and his memory becomes a prey to eternal silence。
End