samuel brohl & company-第34章
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table； and gazed earnestly at her inkstand； then； seized with a sudden scruple； she would move away。 At last she formed a resolute decision； seized her pen； and wrote the following lines：
〃MONSIEUR： Before setting out for Vienna； will you be so good as to come and pass some moments at Cormeilles？ I desire to have a conversation with you in the presence of my father。
〃Accept； monsieur； I beg of you； the expression of my most profound esteem。
〃ANTOINETTE MORIAZ。〃
The next morning she received by the first mail the response she awaited； and which was thus fashioned：
〃This test would be more than my courage could endure。 I never shall see you again； for； should I do so； I would be a lost man。〃
This short response caused Mlle。 Moriaz a disappointment full of bitterness； and blended with no little wrath。 She held in her hand a pencil； which she deliberately snapped in two； apparently to console herself for not having broken the proud and obstinate will of Count Abel Larinski。 And yet can one break iron or a diamond？ The carrier had brought her at the same time another letter； which she opened mechanically； merely to satisfy her conscience。 She ran through the first lines without succeeding in comprehending a single word that she read。 Suddenly her attention became riveted； her face brightened up； her eyes kindled。 This letter； which a kind Providence had sent her as a supreme resource in her distress； was from the hand of Mlle。 Galet； and here was what this retired florist of the Rue Mouffetard wrote：
〃MA CHERE DEMOISELLE： I learn that you have returned。 What happiness for me！ and how I long to see you！ You are my good angel； whom I should like to see every day of my life； and the time has seemed so long to me without you。 When you enter the garret of the poor； infirm old woman； it seems to her as though there were three suns in the heavens； when you abandon her； the blackness of midnight surrounds her。 Mme。 de Lorcy has been very good to me。 As my angel requested her； she came a fortnight since to pay me the quarter due of my pension。 She is a very charitable lady； and she dresses beautifully； but she is a little hard on poor people。 She asks a great many questions； she wants to know everything。 She reproached me with spending too much； being too fond of luxury； and you know how that is。 She forgets that everything is higher priced than it used to be； that meat and vegetables are exorbitant； and that just now eggs cost one franc and fifty centimes a dozen。 Besides； a poor creature； deprived of the use of her limbs； as I am； cannot go to market herself； and it is quite possible that my /femme de menage/ does not purchase as wisely as she might。 I know I have great scenes with her sometimes for bringing me early vegetables； /le bon Dieu/ can； at least； bear me witness that I am no glutton。
〃The good Mme。 de Lorcy scolded me about a bouquet of camellias she saw on my table； just like those for which I have been grateful to my angel。 I don't know what notions she got into her head about them。 Ah！ well； /ma chere demoiselle/； I have learned since that these double camelliasthey are variegated； red and whitecame to me from a man； for； at present； as it would appear； men have taken to give me bouquets and making me visits； it is rather late in the day。 The particular man to whom I refer presented himself one fine morning； and； telling me that you had spoken to him of me； said that he wished to assure himself that I was well and wanted nothing。 He returned several times； always pampering me with some attention or other。 But the best of all was when he came to tell me that my angel had returned。 What a man he is！ he has surely dropped right down from the skies！ One evening when I was sick he gave me my medicine himself； and would have sat up with me all night if I had been willing to let him。 You must tell me who he is； for it puzzles me greatly。 He has the head of some grand lion； he is as generous as he is handsome； but very sad。 He must have some great sorrow on his heart。 The misfortune； so far as I am concerned； is that he cannot spoil me much longerit is almost over now。 He expects to leave here in two days； and he has announced to me that he will come to make his adieus； to…morrow afternoon。
〃You will come soon； won't you； /ma chere demoiselle/？ I burn with impatience to embrace you； since you permit me to embrace you。 You are my angel and my sunshine； and I am your very humble and devoted servant；
〃LOUISE GALET。〃
This letter of Mlle。 Louise Galet continued nothing definite； beyond； perhaps； the passage relative to the early vegetables； and the supposed scenes with her /chambriere/。 Whatever may have been the good demoiselle's past record； she certainly was not void of principles； and she prided herself on her truthfulness； only she did not always see the necessity of telling everything she knew； in her narratives she frequently omitted certain details。 She had written at the instigation of Samuel Brohl； who had not explained to her his motives。 To be sure； she had partially divined these； being shrewd and sly。 He had commended himself to her discretion； for which he had paid liberally。 Mlle。 Galet had at first refused the round sum he had offered her； she had ended by accepting it with tender gratitude。 These little pampering attentions make good friends。
An audacious idea suddenly came to Mlle。 Moriaz； there was no time to recoil from it。 She ordered up her coupe。 M。 Moriaz had just gone out to make a call in the neighbourhood。 She determined to profit by his absence； and besought Mlle。 Moiseney to make ready in haste to accompany her to Paris； where she had to confer with her dressmaker。 Ten minutes later she stepped into her carriage； having ordered her coachman to drive like the wind。
Her dressmaker did not detain her long； from the Rue de la Paix she ordered to be driven to No。 27 Rue Mouffetard。 She never was in the habit of permitting Mlle。 Moiseney； who was very short of breath； to climb with her to the fifth story； where Mlle。 Galet lodged； upon this occasion she indicated to her an express order to remain peaceably below in the coupe to await her return。
She slowly mounted the stairs； on her way up she encountered a servant； who informed her that Mlle。 Galet was lying down taking a nap； being somewhat indisposed； but that the key was in the door。 The apartment of which Mlle。 Moriaz was in quest was composed of three rooms； a vestibule serving as a kitchen； a tiny /salon/； and a bed… chamber。 She paused a few moments in the vestibule to regain her breath； to gather together all her courage； to compose her mind； she had at once divined that there was some one in the /salon/。 She entered； Mlle。 Galet was not there； but he was there； the man whom she had come to seek。 Apparently； he awaited the awakening of the mistress of the place。 In perceiving the woman whom he had sworn never to see again； he trembled violently； and his eyes sought some loophole of escape； there was none。 Standing upon the threshold； Antoinette barred the passage。 She looked fixedly at him and felt certain of her victory； he had the air of one vanquished； and his defeat resembled a complete routing。
She crossed her arms； she smiled； and； in a firm； half…mocking tone； said：
〃So this is the way you rob me of my poor people！ They flourish under it； I am well aware。 Confess now that there is a little hypocrisy in your virtue。 Mlle。 Galet never for a moment doubted that these famous camellias were given for my sake。 Bouquets costing sixty francs！ absolute folly！ How you despise money！ Why； then； do you not despise mine？ You are afraid of it； you fear to burn your fingers by touching it。 You will not aid me to throw it out of the windows？ Your poor and mine will surely pick it up。 Say； will you not？ My fortune is not such a great affair； but it is certain that I alone do not suffice to spend it properly； there is plenty for twofor two would really only be one。 You cannot consent to share it with me？ You are too proudthat is it。 The day before yesterday you were playing comedy； you do not love me。 It costs little to owe
