samuel brohl & company-第19章
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Samuel crossed his hands on his knee； then he continued： 〃May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth； may my blood cease to flow in my veins； may the marrow dry up in my bones； if ever I forget to be grateful for what I owe to you； Abel Larinski； or cease to remember the forlorn hovel in which we passed the first night of our journey！ You were attacked by suffocation。 You had only time to call and wake me。 I hastened to you。 You gave me； in a dying voice； your last instructions。 You delivered into my hands your last fifty florins； which were as acceptable as an orange would have been to the shipwrecked passengers of the Medusa。 Then you pointed with your finger to a box； in which were inclosed family relics； letters； your journal； and papers。 You said： 'Destroy all that； Poland is dead； let no one remember that I have lived！' After that you breathed your last。 Well！ I confess that I did not fulfil your orders。 I kept your mother's portrait； the papers； all； and； in announcing your decease to the police； I made them believe that the man who was dead was named Samuel Brohl； and that Count Larinski still lived。 What would you have me do？ The temptation was too great。 Samuel Brohl had disgraceful antecedents； he was base…born； he had been sold； there was a stain on his past that never could be wiped away； and； as he had had the misfortune to read the poets； it had come about that he often despised himself。 It was； indeed； time that he should be thrown into the shade； and my joy was extreme to know that he was dead； and to feel that I was alive。 As soon as I succeeded in persuading myself that I was indeed Count Abel Larinski； I was as happy as a child whose parents have dressed him in new clothes； and who struts about to show them。 With your name I acquired a noble past； in thought； I roamed through it with delight； I visited its every nook and corner； as a poor devil would make the circuit of a park that he has just come to inherit。 You bequeathed me your relations； your adventures； your exploits。 When you fought for your country； I was there； when you received a gun…shot… wound near Dubrod； it was into my flesh that the bullet penetrated。 Of what do you complain？ Between friends is not everything in common？ I left my own skin； I entered yours； I was satisfied there； and desired to remain。 To…day I resemble you in everything； I assure you that if we were seen together it would be difficult to tell us apart。 I have assumed your habits； your manners； your language； the poise of your head； your playful melancholy； your pride； your opinions； all； even to the colour of your hair and your handwriting。 Abel Larinski； I have become you： I mistake； I am more Pole； more Larinski； than you were yourself。〃
At this moment Samuel Brohl had a singular expression of countenance； his gaze was fixed。 He was no longer of this worldhe conversed with a spirit； but he was neither terrified nor awed； as was Hamlet in talking to the shade of his father。 He treated familiarly the shade of the true Abel Larinski； it was precisely as we treat a partner that has transacted business with us in the same firm。
〃It is very true； my dear Abel；〃 he continued； 〃that the principle of partnership accomplishes wonders； one man alone is a small affair。 But； of all partnerships； the most useful and convenient is the one that we have made together。 The living and the dead can render each other important services； and they never quarrel。 You should be satisfied； you play a fine role； you are the signature of the house。 We will not speak of your gun； that was a poor speculation； for which I scarcely can pardon you。 It was the fault of your disordered brain that we wandered off on that bypath； but； thanks be to Heaven！ we have at last gained the highway。 Five weeks ago we met a woman； and what a woman！ She has velvety…brown eyes； whence glances well forth like fresh and living waters。 To praise her grace properly； I must borrow the language of the 'Song of Solomon'： 'Thy lips； O my spouse！ drop as the honey…comb； honey and milk are under thy tongue； and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon。 This thy stature is like to a palm…tree。 Thou art all fair； my love； there is no spot in thee。 A garden inclosed is my sister； my spouse： a spring shut upa fountain sealed。' Some day she will cry out； with the Shulamite； 'Let my beloved come into his garden； and eat his pleasant fruits。' She belongs to us； my dear Larinskimy dear partner； she had yielded； and you and I share the honour of the victory。 I presented myself before her； and my presence did not displease her。 I related to her your history； as you would have related it yourself； with delicacy and simplicity； neither adding nor omitting。 Her heart was touched； her heart was taken captive。 You will wed hershe will bear your name； but you will marry her by proxy； and I shall be your proctor。 I promise to consider myself your mandatory； or； to express it better； you will own the property and I will have the usufruct。 Never fear that I shall forget what I owe to you； or the modesty proper to my estate。〃
At these words； he made a grand gesture； as if to banish the phantom that he had conjured up； and that fled away trembling with sorrow； shame； and indignation。 The peacock cried anew a mournful shriek。 〃Stupid bird！〃 thought Samuel Brohl； quaking with sudden dread。
He looked at his watch； and reflected that the hour was advancing that he was losing time with the spirits。 He rose hastily； and wended his way toward Cormeilles； thence he wished to come upon a sunny path that led to the banks of the Seine； and Sartrouville； the belfry of which was plainly visible。 When he reached the foot of the declivity； he turned his head and saw； on the summit of the hill； through the space left by the crooked branches of two plantains； a white wall； that seemed to laugh amid the verdure； and a little higher the pointed roof of the dove…cote； where Mlle。 Moriaz's doves had their nests。 He did not need to look long at this roof to recognise it。 He threw a burning kiss in the aira kiss that was sent to the doves as well as to the dove…coteto the house as well as to the womanto the woman as well as the house。 For the first time in his life； Samuel Brohl was in love； but Samuel Brohl's love differed from Abel Larinski's。 When they adore a woman； be she as beautiful as a picture； the frame； if it is a rich one； pleases them as much as the painting； and they propose to possess their mistress with all her appendages and appurtenances。
CHAPTER V
Mme。 de Lorcy was a woman of about fifty years of age； who still possessed remains of beauty。 She had been a widow for long years； and never had thought of marrying again。 Although her wedded life had been a happy one； she considered that liberty is to be prized above all else； she employed hers in a most irreproachable manner。 She was self… possessed； even better acquainted with numbers than with dress； and managed her property herself； which was by no means a trifling thing to do。 Liking to make good use of her time； she thought to do it by busying herself in the affairs of others。 She had a real vocation for the profession of a consulting lawyer。 Usually her advice was sensible and judiciousnothing better could be done than to follow it； only her clients complained that she pronounced her sentences with too little tenderness； without granting any appeal。 She was good； charitable； but lacked unction； and she had no sympathy with the illusions of others。 A German poet； in making his New…Year offerings； wishes that the rich may be kind…hearted； that the poor may have bread； that the ladies may have pretty dresses； that the men may have patience； that the foolish may get a little reason； and that sensible people may grow poetic。 Mme。 de Lorcy was kind…hearted； she had pretty dresses and a great deal of reason； but her reason was wanting in poetry； and poetic people to whom she gave advice required a good deal of patience to listen to the end。 Those who permitted themselves to despise her counsel； and who were happy after their own fashion； incurred her lasting displeasure。 She obstinately asserted to them that their seeming happiness was all a deceit； that they had fastened a stone
