samuel brohl & company-第43章
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r the evening previous； her face animated； her cheeks flushed； her countenance full of reproach； her eyes tearful。 She never had appeared to him so charming。 He believed himself so madly in love that he was inclined to mock a little at himself。 He teased in anticipation the joys that were in reserve for him； he revelled in thought of the day and the hour when this superb creature would be his； when he could view her as his own undisputed possession； and devour page after page； chapter after chapter； of this elegantly printed； richly bound book。
However； he was not the man to wholly absorb himself in such a reverie。 His thoughts travelled farther； in idea he embraced his entire future； which he fashioned out at pleasure。 He took leave of his sorrowful past as a blind man who by some miracle recovers his sight； parts from his dog and his stafftroublesome witnesses of evil days。 He had done with petty employments； with ungrateful toil； with humiliating servitude； with anxiety about the morrow； with the necessity for counting every sou； with meagre repasts； with sordid expedients； with sorrow； distress； and usuries； to all these he said farewell。 Henceforth he would pick up silver and gold by the shovelful； he would have a share in abundance of festivalsthe joy of doing nothingthe pleasure of commandingall the sweetness and all the calm satisfaction of delightful egotismreposing in a bed of eider…downfed upon delicate birdsowning two or three houses； a carriage； horses； and a box at the opera。 What a future！ At intervals Samuel Brohl passed his tongue over his lips； they were parched with thirst。
Alnaschar the Lazy received one hundred drachms of silver as his entire patrimony； and he promised himself that he would one day marry the daughter of the grand…vizier。 He meant to clothe himself like a prince； to mount upon a horse with a saddle of fine gold and housings of gold； richly embroidered with diamonds and pearls。 He proposed to see that his wife formed good habits； to train her to obedience； to teach her to stand before him and be always ready to wait upon him； he resolved to discipline her with his looks； his hand； and his foot。 Samuel Brohl possessed a calmer spirit than the Athenian Hippoclide； he was less brutal than Alnaschar of Bagdad： was he much less ferocious？ He proposed； he also； to educate his wife； he intended that the daughter of the grand…vizier should consecrate herself wholly to his happiness； to his service。 To possess a beautiful slave； with velvety eyes； chestnut hair； tinged with gold； who would make of Samuel Brohl her padishah and her god； who would pass her life at his knees on the alert for his wishes； reading his good pleasure in his face； attentive to his fancies and to his eye…brows； belonging to him body and soul； uplifting to him the gaze of a timid gazelle or a faithful spanielsuch was his dream of conjugal felicity。 And little need would he have to exert himself much in the education of Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz。 Love would charge itself with that。 She adored Samuel Brohl； and he relied upon her devotion； it were impossible that she could refuse him anything！ She was prepared in advance for every compliance； every obedience； she was ready to be his humble servant in all things。 Knaves make it their boast that they can readily fathom honest people； the truth is； they only half comprehend them。 Honest people have sentiments； as do certain languages； reputed easy； which are full of mystery； of refined delicacy； inaccessible to the vulgar mind。 A commercial traveller often learns to speak Italian in three weeks； and yet never really knows the language； Samuel Brohl had gained a superficial knowledge of Mlle。 Moriaz in a few days； and yet he was far from having a true comprehension of her。
He arrived at Maisons in the most cheerful； self…satisfied frame of mind。 As he walked through the park； he remembered that Mme。 de Lorcy had lost her only two children when they were still of a tender age； that she was therefore free to will her property as she pleased； that she had a short neck； an apoplectic temperament； that Antoinette was her goddaughter； that although she was piqued with Count Larinski the count was adroit； and would find a way to regain her sympathies。 The park appeared to him magnificent； he admired its long； regular alleys； which had the appearance of extending as far as Peking； he paused some moments before the purple beech； and it seemed to him that there must be some resemblance between this beautiful tree and himself。 He contemplated with the eyes of proprietorship the terrace planted with superb lindens； and he decided that he would establish himself in his Maisons chateau； that his pretty Cormeilles villa would merely be his country…seat。 As it may be seen； his imagination refused him nothing； it placed happiness and wealth untold at his command。
We are unable to state whether Mme。 de Lorcy actually had an apoplectic temperament； the one thing certain is； that she was not dead。 Samuel Brohl perceived her from afar on the veranda； which she had just stepped out upon in order to watch for his arrival。 He had forgotten himself in the park； which should one day be his park； and she was beginning to be uneasy about his coming。
She cried out to him： 〃At last！ You always make us wait for you；〃 adding； in a most affable tone； 〃We meet to…day under less tragic circumstances than the last time you were here； and I hope you will bear away a pleasanter remembrance of Maisons。〃
He respectfully kissed her hand； saying： 〃Happiness must be purchased； I cannot pay too dearly for mine。〃
She ushered him into the /salon/； where he had scarcely set foot； when he descried an old woman lounging on a /causeuse/； fanning herself as she chatted with Abbe Miollens。 He remained motionless； his eyes fixed； scarcely breathing； cold as marble； it seemed to him that the four walls of the /salon/ swayed from right to left； and left to right； and that the floor was sliding from under his feet like the deck of a pitching vessel。
The previous day； Antoinette once departed； Mme。 de Lorcy had resumed her attack on Princess Gulof； and the princess had ended by consenting to delay her departure； to dine with the adventurer of the green eyes； and to subject him to a close scrutiny。 There she was； yes； it was indeed she！ The first impulse of Samuel Brohl was to regain the door as speedily as possible； but he did nothing of the kind。 He looked at Mme。 de Lorcy： she herself was regarding him with astonishment； she wondered what could suddenly have overcome him； she could find no explanation for the bewilderment apparent in his countenance。 〃It is a mere chance；〃 he thought at last； 〃she has not intentionally drawn me into a snare。〃 This thought was productive of a sort of half relief。
〃/Eh bien！/ what is it？〃 she asked。 〃Has my poor /salon/ still the misfortune to be hurtful to you？〃
He pointed to a /jardiniere/； saying： 〃You are fond of hyacinths and tuberoses； their perfume overpowered me for a moment。 I fear you think me very effeminate。〃
She replied in a caressing voice： 〃I take you for a most worthy man who has terrible nerves； but you know by experience that if you have weaknesses I have salts。 Will you have my smelling…bottle？〃
〃You are a thousand times too good；〃 he rejoined； and bravely marched forward to face the danger。 It is a well…known fact that dangers in a silken robe are the most formidable of all。
Mme。 de Lorcy presented him to the princess； who raised her chin to examine him with her little glittering eyes。 It seemed to him that those gray orbs directed at him were two balls； which struck him in the heart； he quivered from head to foot and asked himself confusedly whether he were dead or living。 He soon perceived that he was still living； the princess had 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！〃 H
