samuel brohl & company-第24章
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oo far。 However； I joined with him in regretting that a man of his merit should be reduced to live by expedients。 The abbe's arm reaches a long way； he promised me that he would busy himself； at the expense of all other business； to find some employment for M。 Larinski。 He remembered that there was some talk of establishing in London an international school for the living languages。 One of the founders of this institute had applied to him to learn if he could recommend some professor of the Slavonian languages。 It would be exactly the thing； and I should be delighted to procure for your /protégé/ an occupation that would insure all the happiness that it is possible to enjoy on the other side of the Channel。 After this； will you still accuse me of being prejudiced against him？
〃Adieu； my dear monsieur。 Give my tender love to my amiable goddaughter。 I rely on you to read my letters to her with care and discretion。 Little girls should have only a part of the truth。〃
Eight days afterward Mme。 de Lorcy wrote a third letter； which was thus expressed：
〃August 27th。
〃I am more and more content with M。 Larinski。 I blame myself for the suspicions with which he inspired me。 The Viennese were right to consider him a worthy man； and Abbe Miollens has not valued him too highly。 You write； on your part； my dear friend； that you are not dissatisfied with Antoinette。 She is gay； tranquil； she walks； paints； never speaks of Count Abel Larinski； and； when you speak to her of him； she smiles and does not reply。 You claim that she has reflected； that time and absence have wrought their effect。 'Out of sight； out of mind；' you say。 Take care！ I am more mistrustful than you。 Are you very sure that Antoinette may not be a slyboots？
〃What is certain is； that I received a charming epistle from her； in which there is no more mention of M。 Larinski than if Poland and the Pole did not exist。 She praises Engadine； she pretends that she would ask for nothing better than to end her days in a pine…forest。 I can read between the lines that it would be a pine… forest after her own heart； where there would be reunions； balls； guests to dinner； small parties； a conservatory of music； and the opera。 The last paragraph of her letter is devoted to the insurrection in Herzegovina； and it is hardly worth while to say that all her sympathies are with the insurgents。 'If I were a man；' she writes； 'I would go and fight for them。' That is very well； she always took the part of thieves against the police。 I remember long agoshe was ten years oldI told her the story of an unfortunate traveller besieged in a forest by an army of wolves。 He made a barricade about himself； and around it he lighted great fires。 The wolves fell into the flames； where they roasted； one after the other。 Antoinette began to weep bitterly； and I imagined that she was lamenting the terror of the unfortunate man。 'Not at all；' she cried： 'the poor beasts！' She was made so； we cannot remake her。 She will always side with the wolves； especially with the lean ones who scarcely can make two ends meet。
〃I told you that Count Larinski was a worthy man。 He came to see me the day before yesterday。 We have become very good friends。 I asked him if Paris still pleased him； and he replied； with the most gracious smile； 'What I like best in Paris is Maisons Lafitte。' Thereupon he said some exceedingly pretty things； which I will not repeat。 We walked /tete…a… tete/ around the park。 Heaven be praised that I returned heart…whole！ We talked politics； he bears the reputation of being hot…headed； but he is not wanting in good sense。 I wished to know if he was in favour of the Turks or of the Bosnians。 He replied：
〃 'As a Christian； as a Catholic； I am interested in the Christians of the East； and I am for the Cross against the Crescent。' He pronounced these words； Christian； Catholic； and cross； in a tone full of unction。 I surmise that he is a devotee。 He added； 'As a Pole； I am for Turkey。'
〃 'I believed；' said I； 'that the Poles had sympathy with all the oppressed。'
〃 'Poles；' he replied； 'cannot like those who like their oppressors； and they cannot forget that the Osmanlis are their natural allies； and； on occasions； their refuge。'
〃I gave him Antoinette's letter to read。 I was very glad； at any hazard； to prove to him that she could write four pages without asking about him。 He read it with extreme attention： but when he came to the famous passage'If I were a man； I would go and fight for them！'he smiled； and returned me the letter； saying； in a disdainful and rather a dry tone：
〃 'Write for me to Mlle。 Moriaz that I believe I am a man； yet that I will not fight for the Bosnians； and that the Turks are my greatest friends。'
〃 'She is foolish；' I said。 'Fortunately； she changes her folly with every new moon！'
〃 'What would you have？' he replied； 'in order not to be insipid； it is well to be a little foolish。 My poor mother used often to say： 〃My son； youth should be employed in laying by a great store of extravagant enthusiasm； otherwise； at the end of life's journey the heart will be void； for much is left on the road。〃 '
〃Calm； /seigneur/； your excited fears； no one has designs on your daughter； we evidently find her charming； but are by no means in love with her。 With much precaution and circumlocution I gently proceeded to question Count Larinski on the state of his affairs； about which he never has opened his mouth。 He frowned。 I did not lose courage。 I offered him this place of professor of the Slavonian languages of which the abbe had again spoken。 I saw in an instant that his sensitive pride had taken alarm。 However； upon reflection； he softened； thanked me； declined my kind offer； and announcedguess what！ How much is my news worth？ what will you give for it？ He announced； I tell you； that in two weeksyou understand mehe will return to Vienna； where he has been promised a post in the archives of the Minister of War。 I did not dare to ask what was the salary； after all； if he is satisfied； it is not for us to be harder to please than he。 When I affirm that Count Larinski is a good； worthy man！In two weeks！ you understand me perfectly。
〃My dear friend； I am enchanted to know that the water of Saint Moritz and the air of the Engadine have entirely re…established your health； but do not be imprudent。 Half…cures are fatal。 Be careful not to leave Churwalden too soon； for the descent into the heavy atmosphere of the plains。 Your physician； whom I have just seen； declares that； if you hasten your return he will not answer for the consequences。 Antoinette； I am sure； will join her entreaties to ours。 Do not let us see you before the end of three weeks！ Follow my orders； my dear professor； and all will go well。 Camille is about to leave； he has become insupportable。 He had the audacity to assert to me that I was a good woman； but very credulous； which in my estimation is not very polite。 He no longer acts as a nephew； and respect is dead。〃
Ten days later M。 Moriaz received at Churwalden a fourth and last letter：
〃September 6th。
〃Decidedly my dear friend； Count Larinski is a delightful man； and I never will pardon myself for having judged ill of him。 The day before yesterday I did not know the extent of his merit and of his virtues。 His beautiful soul is like a country where one passes from one pleasing discovery to another； and at each step a new scene is revealed。 Between ourselves； Antoinette is a dreamer： where has she got the idea that this man is in love with her？ These Counts Larinski have artists' enthusiasm； tender and sensitive hearts； and poetic imaginations； they love everything； and they love nothing； they admire a pretty woman as they admire a beautiful flower； a humming…bird； a picture of Titian's。 Did I tell you that the other day； as I was showing him through my park； he almost fainted before my purple beechwhich assuredly is a marvel？ He was in ecstasy； I truly believe there were tears in his eyes。 I might
