按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
remained impassiblenot a muscle of her face had moved。 She ended by
bestowing upon Samuel a smile that was almost gracious； and addressing
to him some insignificant words； which he only half understood； but
which seemed to him exquisitedelicious。 He fancied that she was saying
to him： 〃You have a chance； you were born lucky； my sight has been
impaired for some years； and I do not recognise you。 Bless your star； you
are saved！〃 He experienced such a transport of joy that he could have
flung his arms about the neck of Abbe Miollens； who came up to him with
extended hand； saying：
〃What have you been thinking about； my dear count？ Since we last
met a very great event has been accomplished。 What woman wishes； God
wishes； but； after all； my own humble efforts were not without avail； and I
am proud of it。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy requested Count Larinski to offer his arm to Princess
Gulof and lead her out to dinner。 He mechanically complied； but he had
not the strength to utter a syllable as he conducted the princess to table。
She herself said nothing； she seemed wholly busied in arranging with her
unoccupied hand a lock of her gray hair； which had strayed too far over
her forehead。 He looked fixedly at this short； plump hand； which one day
in a fit of jealous fury had administered to him two smart blows； his
cheeks recognised it。
During dinner the princess was very gay： she paid more attention to
Abbe Miollens than to Count Larinski； she took pleasure in teasing the
good priestin endeavouring to shock him a little。 It was not easy to shock
him； to his natural； easy good…nature he united an innate respect for
grandeurs and for princesses。 She did not neglect so good an opportunity
to air her monkey…development theories。 He merrily flung back the ball；
he declared that he should prefer to be a fallen angel rather than a
163
… Page 164…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
perfected monkey； that in his estimation a parvenu made a much sorrier
figure in the world than the descendent of an old family of ruined nobility。
She replied that she was more democratic than he。 〃It is pleasant to me；〃
said she； 〃to think that I am a progressive ape； who has a wide future
before him； and who； by taking proper pains； may hope to attain new
advancement。〃
While they were thus chatting； Samuel Brohl was striving with all his
might to recover from the terrible blow he had received。 He noted with
keen satisfaction that the eyesight of the princess was considerably
impaired； that the microscopic studies； for which she had always had a
taste； had resulted in rendering her somewhat near…sighted； that she was
obliged to look out carefully to find her way among her wine… glasses。
〃She has not seen me for six years；〃 thought he； 〃and I have become a
different man； I have undergone a complete metamorphosis； I have
difficulty sometimes in recognising myself。 Formerly； my face was close…
shaven； now I have let my entire beard grow。 My voice； my accent； the
poise of my head； my manners； the expression of my countenance； all are
changed； Poland has entered my bloodI am Samuel no longer； I am
Larinski。〃 He blessed the microscope； which enfeebled the sight of old
women； he blessed Count Abel Larinski； who had made of him his twin
brother。 Before the end of the repast he had recovered all his assurance； all
his aplomb。 He began to take part in the conversation： he recounted in a
sorrowful tone a sorrowful little story； he retailed sundry playful anecdotes
with a melancholy grace and sprightliness； he expressed the most
chivalrous sentiments； shaking his lion's mane； he spoke of the prisoner at
the Vatican with tears in his voice。 It were impossible to be a more
thorough Larinski。
The princess manifested； in listening to him； an astonished curiosity；
she concluded by saying to him： 〃Count； I admire you； but I believe only
in physiology； and you are a little too much of a Pole for me。〃
After they had left the table and repaired to the /salon/； several callers
dropped in。 It was like a deliverance to Samuel。 If the society was not
numerous enough for him to lose himself in it； at least it served him as a
shield。 He held it for a certainty that the princess had not recognised him；
164
… Page 165…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
yet he did not cease feeling in her presence unutterably ill at ease。 This
Calmuck visage of hers recalled to him all the miseries； the shame； the
hard； grinding slavery of his youth； he could not look at her without
feeling his brow burn as though it were being seared with a hot iron。
He entered into conversation with a supercilious； haughty； and
pedantic counsellor…at…law； whose interminable monologues distilled ennui。
This fine speaker seemed charming to Samuel； who found in him wit；
knowledge； scholarship； and taste； he possessed the （in his eyes）
meritorious quality of not knowing Samuel Brohl。 For Samuel had come
to divide the human race into two categories： the first comprehended those
well…to…do； thriving people who did not know a certain Brohl； he placed in
the second old women who did know him。 He interrogated the counsellor
with deference； he hung upon his words； he smiled with an air of
approbation at all the absurdities that escaped him； he would have been
willing to have his discourse last three hours by the watch； if this
charming bore had shown symptoms of escaping him； he would have held
him back by the button。
Suddenly he heard a harsh voice； saying to Mme。 de Lorcy： 〃Where is
Count Larinski？ Bring him to me； I want to have a discussion with him。〃
He could not do otherwise than comply； he quitted his counsellor with
regret； went over and took a seat in the arm…chair that Mme。 de Lorcy
drew up for him at the side of the princess； and which had for him the
effect of a stool of repentance。 Mme。 de Lorcy moved away； and he was
left /tete…a…tete/ with Princess Gulof； who said to him； 〃I have been told
that congratulations are due to you； and I must make them at once
although we are enemies。〃
〃By what right are we enemies； princess？〃 he asked with a slightly
troubled feeling； which quickly passed away as she answered：
〃I am a Russian and you are a Pole； but we shall have no time for
fighting； I leave for London to…morrow morning at seven o'clock。〃
He was on the point of casting himself at her feet and tenderly kissing
her two hands； in testimony of his gratitude。 〃To…morrow at seven
o'clock；〃 he mentally ejaculated。 〃I have slandered her； she has some good
in her。〃
165
… Page 166…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃When I say that I am a Russian；〃 resumed the princess； 〃it is merely a
formal speech。 Love of country is a prejudice； an idea that has had its day；
that had sense in the times of Epaminondas or of Theseus； but that has it
no longer。 We live in the age of the telegraph； the locomotive； and I know
of nothing more absurd now than a frontier； or more ridiculous than a
patriot。 Rumour says that you fought like a hero in the insurrection of
1863； that you gave proof of incomparable prowess； and that you killed
with your own hand ten Cossacks？ What harm had they done you； those
poor Cossacks？ Do they not sometimes haunt your dreams？ Can you think
of your victims without disquietude and without remorse？〃
He replied； in a dry； haughty tone： 〃I really do not know； princess； how
many Cossacks I have killed； but I do know that there are some subjects
on which I do not love to expatiate。〃
〃You are rightI should not comprehend you。 Don Quixote did not do
Sancho the honour to explain himself to him e