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However； he was not the man to wholly absorb himself in such a
reverie。 His thoughts travelled farther； in idea he embraced his entire
future； which he fashioned out at pleasure。 He took leave of his sorrowful
past as a blind man who by some miracle recovers his sight； parts from his
dog and his stafftroublesome witnesses of evil days。 He had done with
petty employments； with ungrateful toil； with humiliating servitude； with
anxiety about the morrow； with the necessity for counting every sou； with
meagre repasts； with sordid expedients； with sorrow； distress； and usuries；
to all these he said farewell。 Henceforth he would pick up silver and gold
by the shovelful； he would have a share in abundance of festivalsthe joy
of doing nothingthe pleasure of commandingall the sweetness and all
the calm satisfaction of delightful egotismreposing in a bed of eider…
downfed upon delicate birdsowning two or three houses； a carriage；
horses； and a box at the opera。 What a future！ At intervals Samuel Brohl
passed his tongue over his lips； they were parched with thirst。
Alnaschar the Lazy received one hundred drachms of silver as his
entire patrimony； and he promised himself that he would one day marry
the daughter of the grand…vizier。 He meant to clothe himself like a prince；
to mount upon a horse with a saddle of fine gold and housings of gold；
richly embroidered with diamonds and pearls。 He proposed to see that his
wife formed good habits； to train her to obedience； to teach her to stand
before him and be always ready to wait upon him； he resolved to
discipline her with his looks； his hand； and his foot。 Samuel Brohl
possessed a calmer spirit than the Athenian Hippoclide； he was less brutal
than Alnaschar of Bagdad： was he much less ferocious？ He proposed； he
also； to educate his wife； he intended that the daughter of the grand…vizier
should consecrate herself wholly to his happiness； to his service。 To
possess a beautiful slave； with velvety eyes； chestnut hair； tinged with gold；
who would make of Samuel Brohl her padishah and her god； who would
pass her life at his knees on the alert for his wishes； reading his good
pleasure in his face； attentive to his fancies and to his eye…brows；
belonging to him body and soul； uplifting to him the gaze of a timid
gazelle or a faithful spanielsuch was his dream of conjugal felicity。 And
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little need would he have to exert himself much in the education of Mlle。
Antoinette Moriaz。 Love would charge itself with that。 She adored Samuel
Brohl； and he relied upon her devotion； it were impossible that she could
refuse him anything！ She was prepared in advance for every compliance；
every obedience； she was ready to be his humble servant in all things。
Knaves make it their boast that they can readily fathom honest people； the
truth is； they only half comprehend them。 Honest people have sentiments；
as do certain languages； reputed easy； which are full of mystery； of refined
delicacy； inaccessible to the vulgar mind。 A commercial traveller often
learns to speak Italian in three weeks； and yet never really knows the
language； Samuel Brohl had gained a superficial knowledge of Mlle。
Moriaz in a few days； and yet he was far from having a true
comprehension of her。
He arrived at Maisons in the most cheerful； self…satisfied frame of
mind。 As he walked through the park； he remembered that Mme。 de Lorcy
had lost her only two children when they were still of a tender age； that
she was therefore free to will her property as she pleased； that she had a
short neck； an apoplectic temperament； that Antoinette was her
goddaughter； that although she was piqued with Count Larinski the count
was adroit； and would find a way to regain her sympathies。 The park
appeared to him magnificent； he admired its long； regular alleys； which
had the appearance of extending as far as Peking； he paused some
moments before the purple beech； and it seemed to him that there must be
some resemblance between this beautiful tree and himself。 He
contemplated with the eyes of proprietorship the terrace planted with
superb lindens； and he decided that he would establish himself in his
Maisons chateau； that his pretty Cormeilles villa would merely be his
country…seat。 As it may be seen； his imagination refused him nothing； it
placed happiness and wealth untold at his command。
We are unable to state whether Mme。 de Lorcy actually had an
apoplectic temperament； the one thing certain is； that she was not dead。
Samuel Brohl perceived her from afar on the veranda； which she had just
stepped out upon in order to watch for his arrival。 He had forgotten
himself in the park； which should one day be his park； and she was
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beginning to be uneasy about his coming。
She cried out to him： 〃At last！ You always make us wait for you；〃
adding； in a most affable tone； 〃We meet to…day under less tragic
circumstances than the last time you were here； and I hope you will bear
away a pleasanter remembrance of Maisons。〃
He respectfully kissed her hand； saying： 〃Happiness must be
purchased； I cannot pay too dearly for mine。〃
She ushered him into the /salon/； where he had scarcely set foot； when
he descried an old woman lounging on a /causeuse/； fanning herself as she
chatted with Abbe Miollens。 He remained motionless； his eyes fixed；
scarcely breathing； cold as marble； it seemed to him that the four walls of
the /salon/ swayed from right to left； and left to right； and that the floor
was sliding from under his feet like the deck of a pitching vessel。
The previous day； Antoinette once departed； Mme。 de Lorcy had
resumed her attack on Princess Gulof； and the princess had ended by
consenting to delay her departure； to dine with the adventurer of the green
eyes； and to subject him to a close scrutiny。 There she was； yes； it was
indeed she！ The first impulse of Samuel Brohl was to regain the door as
speedily as possible； but he did nothing of the kind。 He looked at Mme。 de
Lorcy： she herself was regarding him with astonishment； she wondered
what could suddenly have overcome him； she could find no explanation
for the bewilderment apparent in his countenance。 〃It is a mere chance；〃
he thought at last； 〃she has not intentionally drawn me into a snare。〃 This
thought was productive of a sort of half relief。
〃/Eh bien！/ what is it？〃 she asked。 〃Has my poor /salon/ still the
misfortune to be hurtful to you？〃
He pointed to a /jardiniere/； saying： 〃You are fond of hyacinths and
tuberoses； their perfume overpowered me for a moment。 I fear you think
me very effeminate。〃
She replied in a caressing voice： 〃I take you for a most worthy man
who has terrible nerves； but you know by experience that if you have
weaknesses I have salts。 Will you have my smelling…bottle？〃
〃You are a thousand times too good；〃 he rejoined； and bravely
marched forward to face the danger。 It is a well…known fact that dangers in
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a silken robe are the most formidable of all。
Mme。 de Lorcy presented him to the princess； who raised her chin to
examine him with her little glittering eyes。 It seemed to him that those
gray orbs directed at him were two balls； which struck him in the heart； he
quivered from head to foot and asked himself confusedly whether he were
dead or living。 He soon perceived that he was still living； the princess had
remained impassiblenot a muscle of her face had moved。 She ended by