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〃Look at me well； have I not the appearance of an adventurer？〃 The
abbe recoiled。 〃This word shocks you？〃 continued Samuel。 〃Yes； I am a
man of adventures； born to be always on my feet； and ready to start off at a
moment's warning。 Marriage was not instituted for those whose lives are
liable at any time to be in jeopardy。〃 With a tragic accent； he added： 〃You
know what occurred in Bosnia。 How do we know that war may not very
shortly be proclaimed； and who can foresee the consequences？ I must hold
myself in readiness for the great day。 Perhaps an inscrutable Providence
may ere long offer me a new occasion to risk my life for my country；
perhaps Poland will call me； crying； 'Come； I have need of thee！' If I
should respond： 'I belong no more to myself； I have given my heart to a
woman who holds me in chains； I have henceforth a roof； a family； a
hearthstone； dear ties that I dare not break！' I ask you； M。 l'Abbe； would
not Poland have a right to say to me； 'Thou hast violated thy vow； thou
hast denied me； upon thy head rest forever my maledictions？' 〃
Abbe Miollens had just taken a pinch of snuff； and he hearkened to
this harangue； tapping his fingers impatiently on the lid of his handsome
gold snuff…box； which had been presented to him by the most amiable of
his penitents。
〃If this be the way you view it；〃 replied he； 〃is your conscience quite
tranquil； my dear friend？ for you will permit me； I trust； to call you so。 Ay；
is it sure that from your standpoint your conscience has no accusations to
make you？ Is it certain that your heart has not been unfaithful to its
mistress？ If I may believe a certain rumour that has reached my ear； there
took place a most singular scene yesterday at the house of Mme。 de
Lorcy。〃
Samuel Brohl trembled violently； he changed colour； he buried his
face in his hands； doubtless to hide from the abbe the blushes remorse had
caused to mantle his cheeks。 In a faint voice he murmured：
〃Not a word more！ you know not how deep a wound you have
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probed。〃
〃It is； then； true that you love Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz？〃 asked the
abbe。
〃I have sworn that she never shall know it；〃 replied Samuel； in accents
of the most humble contrition。 〃Yesterday I had the unworthy weakness to
betray myself。 /Mon Dieu！/ what must she have thought of me？〃
As he spoke thus； his face buried in his hands； he slightly moved apart
his fingers； and fixed upon the abbe two glittering eyes that； like cats' eyes；
were capable of seeing clearly in the dark。
〃What she thinks of you！〃 echoed the abbe； taking a fresh pinch of
snuff。 〃Bah！ my dear count； women never are angry when a man swoons
away because of their bright eyes； especially when this man is a noble
chevalier； a true knight of the Round Table。 I have reason to believe that
Mlle。 Moriaz did not take your accident unkindly。 Shall I tell you my
whole thought？ I should not be surprised if you had touched her heart； and
that； if you take the pains； you may flatter yourself with the hope of one
day being loved by her。〃
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
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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
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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！〃
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CHAPTER VIII