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play on it； and； believing he was doing good； lent him books。 One day；
Samuel modestly expressed to his father a desire to go to the gymnasium
at Lemberg to learn various things that seemed good to him to know。 It
was then that he received from the paternal hand a great blow； which made
him see all the stars of heaven in broad daylight。 Old Jeremiah Brohl had
taken a dislike to his son Samuel Brohl； because he thought he saw
something in his eyes that seemed to say that Samuel despised his father。
〃Poor devil！〃 murmured Count Abel； picking up a pebble and tossing it
into the air。 〃Fate owes him compensation； it has dealt so roughly with him
thus far。 He fell from the frying…pan into the fire； he exchanged his
servitude for a still worse slavery。 When he left the land of Egypt； he
fancied he saw the palms of the promised land。 Alas！ it was not long
before he regretted Egypt and Pharaoh！ Why was not this woman Portia？
why was she neither young nor beautiful？〃 And he added： 〃Ah！ old fairy；
you made him suffer！〃
It seemed to Count Larinski that this woman； this ugly fairy who had
made Samuel Brohl suffer so much； stood there； before him； and that she
scanned him from head to foot； as a fairy； whether old or young； might
scan a worm。 She had an imperious； contemptuous smile on her lips； the
smile of a czarina； so Catharine II smiled； when she was dissatisfied with
Potemkin； and said to herself； 〃I made him what he is； and to…morrow I
can ruin him。〃 〃Yes； it was she； it was surely she；〃 thought Count Larinski。
〃I cannot mistake。 I saw her five weeks ago； in the Vallee du Diable； she
made me tremble！〃
This woman who had taken Samuel Brohl from out of the land of
Egypt； and had showered attentions upon him； was a Russian princess。 She
owned an estate of Podolia； and chance would have it that one day； in
passing； she stopped at the tavern where young Samuel was growing up in
the shadow of the tabernacle。 He was then sixteen。 In spite of his squalid
rags； she was struck by his figure。 She was a woman of intelligence； and
had no prejudices。 〃When he is well washed and cared for；〃 she thought；
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〃when he is divested of his native impurities； when he has seen the world
and had communication with honest people； he certainly will be a noble
fellow。〃 She made him talk； and found him intelligent； she liked intelligent
men。 She made him sing； assured herself that he had a voice； she adored
music。 She questioned him； he told her all his misery； and while he talked
she said to herself： 〃No； I do not mistake； he has a future before him； in
two or three years he will be superb。 Three years is not long： the gardener
who grafts a young tree is often condemned to wait longer than that。〃
When he had ended his narrative； she told him that she was in want of a
secretary； that she had had several； but that she had soon tired of them； on
account of their not having the desired qualifications； she asked him if he
would like to accept the position。 He replied only by pointing his finger to
his father； who was smoking his pipe on the door…step。 A moment later she
was closeted with Jeremiah Brohl。
She at once proposed to him to buy his son； he dropped his arms in
astonishment； then felt delighted and charmed。 He declared； at first； that
his son was not for sale； and then he insinuated that if ever he did sell him
he would sell him dear； he was； according to his opinion； merchandise of
the best quality； a rich and rare article。 He raised his demands ridiculously；
she exclaimed； he affirmed he could not put them lower； that he had his
terms； and that he always sold at a fixed price。 They disputed a long time；
she was about to give up； he yielded； and they ended by making the
transaction。 She sent for Samuel and said to him： 〃My boy； you belong to
meI have bought you for cash。 You are satisfied with the bargain； are you
not？〃
He was stupefied to learn that he had a commercial value； he never
had suspected it。 He wanted very much to know what he was worth； but
the princess was discreet upon the subject； and desired that he should
believe that he had cost her a fabulous sum。 After reflection； he made his
conditions； he stipulated that he should belong to himself for three years；
which time he would employ in study and in satisfying a multitude of
curious longings。
She readily consented； as that had been her own intention： it would
take fully three years before the fruit was ripe and ready to be served at the
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princely table。 She gave him instructions and advice； all bearing the stamp
of a superior mind； she understood the world； the state of public affairs；
and physiology； all that can be learned； and all that cannot be learned。
Thus Samuel Brohl set out； his pocket well filled； for the University of
Prague； which he soon left to settle at Heidelberg； whence he went to
Bonn； then to Berlin； then to Paris。 He was restless； he did not know what
he wanted； but wherever he went he studied semiquavers； naturals； and
flats； it was part of the conditions。
The princess was herself a great traveller； two or three times a year
Samuel Brohl received a visit from her。 She questioned him； examined
him； felt him； as we feel a peach to be certain it is ripe。 Samuel was very
happy； he was free； he enjoyed his life； he did as he pleased。 One single
thing spoiled his happiness； when he looked in the glass； he would
sometimes say within himself： 〃These are the features of a man who is
sold； and the woman who bought him is neither young nor beautiful。〃
Several times he determined to learn a trade； so that he might be in a
position to refund the debt and break the bargain。 But he never did。 He
was both ambitious and idle。 He wanted to fly at once； he had a horror of
beginnings of apprenticeships。 His early education had been so neglected
that in order to recover lost time he would have been compelled to study
hardall the more so because； although he was quick…witted； and had a
marvellous facility for entering into the thoughts of others； his own stock
was poor； he had no ideas of his own； nor individuality of mind。 He
possessed a collection of half…talents； even in music； he was incapable of
originating； when he attempted to compose； his inspirations proved mere
reminiscences。 He did himself justice； he felt that； strive as he might； his
half…talents never would aid him to secure the first position； and he
disdained the second。 In fact； what he most needed was will； which； after
all； makes the man。 He tried to fling himself from his horse； which carried
him where he did not desire to go； but he felt that his feet held firm in the
stirrup； he had not strength to disengage them； and he remained in the
saddle。 Not being able to be a great man； he abandoned himself to his fate；
which condemned him to be only a knave。 At the expiration of his term of
freedom； he declared himself solvent； and the princess took possession of
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her merchandise。
〃Yes； poets are corrupters；〃 thought Count Abel Larinski。 〃If Samuel
Brohl never had read /The Merchant of Venice/； or /Egmont/； a tragedy in
five acts； or Schiller's ballads； he would have been resigned to his new
position； he would have seen its good sides； and would have eaten and
drunk his shame in peace； without experiencing any uncomfortable
sensations； but he had read the poets； and he grew disgusted； nauseated。
He was dying with desire to get away； and the princess suspected it。 She
kept him always in sight； she held him close； she paid him quarterly；
shilling by shilling； his meagre allowance。 She said to herself： 'So long as
he has nothing； he cannot escape。' She mistook； he did escape； and he