samuel brohl & company-第23章
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oft bed； composed of two mattresses； on which she piled five feather…beds； between the two mattresses she slipped three peas。 The next day the traveller was asked how she had slept。 'Very badly；' she replied。 'I do not know what was in my bed； but my whole body is bruised； I am black and blue； and I never closed my eyes until dawn！' 'She is a true princess；' cried the queen。 Is M。 Larinski a true prince？ I made him undergo the test of the three peas。 I allowed myself to question him with indiscreet； urgent； improper curiosity； he did not appear to feel the indiscretion。 He replied promptly and submissively； he endeavoured to satisfy me； and I was not satisfied。 I shall see him again to…morrowhe comes to dine at Maisons。 I only wish to be able to prove to myself that he is a true prince。
〃My dear professor； you are the most imprudent of men； and； whatever happens； you have only yourself to blame。 People do not open their doors so easily to strangers。 You tell me that； thanks to M。 Larinski's kindness； you did not break your leg。 Mercy on me！ a father would better break his leg in three places than expose his daughter to the risk of marrying an adventurer； his leg could be easily set。 There is nothing so frightful in that。
〃/Postscriptum/。I open my letter。 I want to prove to you how much I desire to be just； and how far my impartiality goes。 You know that my neighbour； Abbe Miollens； lived a long time in Poland； and has correspondents there。 I begged him to get me information concerning the countof course； without explaining anything to him。 He reports that Count Abel Larinski is a true count。 His
father； the confiscation of the property； the emigration to America； the Isthmus of Panamaall is true； the history is authentic。 Countess Larinski was a saint。 Concerning the son； nothing is known； he must have been three or four years old when he landed in New York。 No one ever saw him； no one seems to know anything about his taking part in the insurrection of 1863。 Having spoken the truth about his parents； it is to be presumed that he told the truth about himself。 Very well； but one can fight for one's country； and have a saint for one's mother； and yet possess none of the qualities that go towards making a happy household。 I take back the word adventurer； but I still hold to all I have said about him。 Why did he take an inventory of my furniture with his eyes？ Why did he sleep so soundly in a bed where there were three peas？ This requires an explanation。
〃Kiss Antoinette for me。 Give my regards to Mlle。 Moiseney； without telling her that I think her a simpleton； it is a conviction in which I shall die。 Was it； indeed； very difficult to descend from that terrible rock of yours？〃
Three days later； Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a second letter：
〃August 19th。
〃I have received this very moment； my dear monsieur； the reply from Vienna that I have been expecting； and which I hasten to share with you。 I had applied to our friend Baron B…； first secretary of the embassy from France to Vienna； in order to try to learn what reputation Count Larinski had left there。 He is esteemed there as a most worthy man； as an inventor who was more daring than wise； as a devoted patriot； as one of those Poles whose only thought is of Poland and of their Utopia； and who would set fire to the four corners of the earth without wincing； for the sole purpose of procuring embers at which to roast their chestnuts。 I will not return to the subject of the gun； you know all about it。 It seems that there was some good in this explosive gun； and that he who invented it united a sort of genius with ingenuousness； inexperience； and ignorance enough to make one weep。 Nothing can be said against the private character of the man。 He had a few debts； and his tradespeople felt considerable anxiety when he left Vienna one morning on foot。 He had no sooner reached Switzerland than he sent back money to settle everything。 Here we have an admirable trait。 However； his tastes were simple； and he led a steady life； it was the gun that brought his finances into disorder。 I will add that M。 Larinski visited in Vienna at several of the most distinguished houses； where he is remembered most kindly。 He was sought everywhere on account of his talents as a musician； which were far more to be relied on than his talent as a gunsmith。 He plays the piano to perfection； and has a very beautiful voice。 Had he employed these talents； he could have made his way to the opera； but his dignity held him back。 Now you know what has been communicated to me by Baron B…。 On the faith of an honest woman； I have neither added nor omitted anything。
〃I am going to astonish you。 Would you believe that I am beginning to be reconciled to Count Larinski？ What shocked me in him is explained and excused by his long residence in America。 He is a mixed breed of Yankee and Pole。 Far from having prejudices against him； I now have them in his favour。 Do you know； I am by no means sure that he cherishes in his heart any serious sentiment for your daughter？ As a man of taste he admires her。 I should like to know who would not admire her！ I suspect Antoinette of allowing her imagination to become excited about nothing。 He talks of her on all occasions in as free and tranquil a fashion as he would talk of a work of art。 I find it impossible to believe that he is in love。 I have in vain watched his green eyes。 I never have seen a suspicious look。
〃As I announced to you； he came to Maisons yesterday to dine。 I had invited Abbe Miollens； and Camille had invited himself； promising that he would act like a philosopher； he only half kept his promise： for I must inform you that my nephew has conceived； I do not know why； an insurmountable antipathy to M。 Larinski； he is subject to taking dislikes to people。 During dinner； Abbe Miollens； who is a great linguist and a great traveller； and who has at the ends of his fingers everything concerning Poland and the Poles； led the conversation to the insurrection of 1863。 M。 Larinski； at first； refrained from discussing this sad subject； little by little the flood…gates were opened： he related his adventures or campaigns without boasting； praising others rather than himself； when suddenly his voice grew husky and his eyes dim； he interrupted himself； and begged we would speak of other things。 Fortunately； at this moment； he did not see Camille； whose lips were a sinister smile。 Young Frenchmen have become such sceptics！ I made eyes at the bad boy； and on leaving the table I sent him to smoke a cigar in the park。
〃I should confess to you that M。 Larinski has made a conquest of Abbe Miollens； who of all men is the most difficult to please； and who disputes with Providence the privilege of fathoming the depths of the human heart。 You are aware that the abbe is a remarkable violinist： he sent for his instrument； M。 Larinski seated himself at the piano； and the two gentlemen played a concert by Mozart divine music performed by two angels of the first class。 The conversation that followed charmed me more than the concerto。 I do not know by what fatality we came to speak of marriage。 I did not miss the opportunity to disclose with a most innocent air； my little theories； with which you are acquainted。 Would you believe that the count concurred； more than concurred； with my views？ He is more royalist than the king； he does not admit that a good rule allows of any exception。 According to him； a poor man who marries a rich woman forfeits his honour； debases himself； sells himself； he is a man in bondage。 He developed this theme with sombre eloquence。 I assure you that the lion no longer bore resemblance to the fox。
〃After the departure of this fine musician and great orator； Abbe Miollens； remaining alone with me； told me how much he was charmed with his conversation and manners； he could not cease to sing his praises。 I think he went a little too far。 However； I joined with him in regretting that a man of his merit should be reduced to li
