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favourable view of a case； he surely should not be disturbed in his first
sleep to consider it。〃
〃My dear master； I am truly distressed to be compelled to be
disagreeable to you； but it is absolutely necessary that you should listen to
me。 Two years ago； for the first time； I asked of you your daughter's hand。
After having consulted Antoinetteyou will permit me to call her
Antoinette； will you not？after having consulted her； you told me that I
was too young； that she would not listen seriously to my proposal； and you
gave me your permission to try again in two years。 I have employed these
two mortal years in constructing a railroad and a wire bridge in Hungary；
and； believe me； I took infinite pains to forget Antoinette。 In vain！ She is
the romance of my youth； I never can have another。 On July 5； 1873； did
you not tell me to return in two years？ We are now at July 5； 1875； and I
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return。 Am I a punctual man？〃
〃As punctual as insupportable；〃 rejoined M。 Moriaz； casting a
melancholy look at his pillow。 〃Now； candidly； is it the thing to seek the
presence of the President of the Academy of Sciences between eleven
o'clock and midnight； to pour such silly stuff into his ear？ You are wanting
in respect for the Institute。 Besides； my dear boy； people change in two
years； you are a proof of it。 You have developed from boyhood almost into
manhood； and you have done well to let your imperial grow； it gives you
quite a dashing military airone would divine at first sight that you were
fresh from Hungary。 But； while you have changed for the better； are you
sure that Antoinette has not changed for the worse？ Are you sure that she
is still the Antoinette of your romance？〃
〃I beg your pardon； I saw her just now； without her seeing me。 She
was promenading on your arm in the hotel…garden； which was lit up in her
honour。 Formerly she was enchanting； she has become adorable。 If you
would have the immense goodness to give her to me； I would be capable
of doing anything agreeable to you。 I would relieve you of all your little
troublesome jobs； I would clean your retorts； I would put labels on your
bottles and jars； I would sweep out your laboratory。 I know German very
wellI would read all the large German books it might please you to
consult； I would read them； pen in hand； I would make extractswritten
extractsand such extracts！ /Grand Dieu！/ they would be like copperplate。
My dear master； will you give her to me？〃
〃The absurd creature！ He imagines that it only depends upon me to
give him my daughter。 I could as easily dispose of the moon。 Since she has
had teeth； she had made me desire everything she desires。〃
〃At least you will give me permission to pay my addresses to her to…
morrow？〃
〃Beware； unlucky youth！〃 cried M。 Moriaz。 〃You will ruin your case
forever。 Since you have been away she has refused two offers； one of them
from a second secretary of legation； Viscount de R…； and at the present
moment she holds in holy horror all suitors。 She is accompanying me to
Saint Moritz in order to gather flowers and paint aquarelle sketches of
them。 Should you presume to interrupt her in her favourite occupations；
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should you present yourself before her like a creditor on the day of
maturity； I swear to you that your note would be protested； and that you
would have nothing better to do than return to Hungary。〃
〃You are sure of it？〃
〃As sure as that sulphuric acid will turn litmus red。〃
〃And you have the heart to sent me back to Paris without having
spoken with her？〃
〃What I have said is for your good； and you know whether I mean you
well or not。〃
〃It is agreed； then； that you will take charge of my interests； that you
will plead my cause？〃
〃It is understood that I will sound the premises； that I will prepare the
way〃
〃And that you will send me tidings shortly； and that these tidings will
be good。 I shall await them here； at the Hotel Steinbock。〃
〃As you please； but； for the love of Heaven； let me sleep！〃
M。 Camille Langis pressed his two arms and said； with much emotion：
〃I place myself in your hands； take care how you answer for my life！〃
〃O youth！〃 murmured M。 Moriaz； actually thrusting Camille from the
room。 〃One might search in vain for a more beautiful invention。〃
Ten hours later； a post…chaise bore in the direction of Engadine Mlle。
Antoinette Moriaz； her father； her /demoiselle de compagnie/； and her
/femme de chambre/。 They breakfasted tolerably well in a village situated
in the lower portion of a notch； called Tiefenkasten； which means； literally；
/deep chest/； and certainly a deeper never has been seen。 After breakfast
they pursued their way farther； and towards four o'clock in the afternoon
they reached the entrance of the savage defile of Bergunerstein； which
deserves to be compared with that of Via Mala。 The road lies between a
wall of rocks and a precipice of nearly two hundred metres； at the bottom
of which rush the swift waters of the Albula。 This wild scenery deeply
moved Mlle。 Moriaz； she never had seen anything like it at Cormeilles or
anywhere about Paris。 She alighted； and； moving towards the parapet；
leaned over it； contemplating at her ease the depths below； which the
foaming torrent beneath filled with its roars。
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Her father speedily joined her。
〃Do you not find this music charming？〃 she asked of him。
〃Charming； I grant；〃 he replied； 〃but more charming still are those
brave workmen who； at the risk of their necks； have engineered such a
suspended highway as we see here。 I think you admire the torrent too
much； and the road not enough。〃 And after a pause he added； 〃I wish that
our friend Camille Langis had had fewer dangers to contend with in
constructing his。〃 Antoinette turned quickly and looked at her father； then
she bestowed her attention once more upon the Albula。 〃To be sure；〃
resumed M。 Moriaz； stroking his whiskers with the head of his cane；
〃Camille is just the man to make his way through difficulties。 He has a
youthful air that is very deceptive； but he always has been astonishingly
precocious。 At twenty years of age he became head of his class at the
Central School； but the best thing about him is that； although in possession
of a fortune； yet he has a passion for work。 The rich man who works
accepts voluntary poverty。〃
There arose from the precipice a damp； chill breeze； Mlle。 Moriaz
drew over her head a red hood that she held in her hand； and scraping off
with her finger some of the facing of the parapet； which glittered with
scales of mica； she asked： 〃What do you call this？〃
〃It is gneiss； a sort of sheet…granite； but do not you too admire people
who work when they are not compelled to do anything？〃
〃Then you must admire yourself a great deal。〃
〃Oh； I！ In my early youth I worked from necessity； and then I formed a
habit which I cannot now get rid of； while Camille Langis〃
〃Once more？〃 she ejaculated； with a gesture of impatience。 〃What
prompts you to speak to me of Camille？〃
〃Nothing。 I often think of him。〃
〃Do not let us two play at diplomacy。 You have had news of him
lately？〃
〃You just remind me that I have； through a letter from Mme。 De
Lorcy。〃
〃Mme de Lorcy； my godmother； would do better to meddle with what
concerns her。 That woman is incorrigible。〃
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〃Of what would you have her correct herself？〃
〃Simply of her mania for making my happiness after her own fashion。
I read in your eyes that Camille has returned to Paris。 What is his object？〃