samuel brohl & company-第49章

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〃Be　reasonable；〃　replied　Camille。　〃I　placed　myself　at　Count　Larinski's　disposal：　you　cannot　require　me　to　fight　with　a　Samuel　Brohl！〃

Samuel　sprang　to　his　feet；　with　fierce　bearing　and　head　erect　he　advanced　to　the　young　man；　who　awaited　him　unflinchingly；　and　whose　resolute　manner　awed　him。　He　cast　upon　him　a　sinister　look；　turned；　and　reseated　himself；　bit　his　lips　until　the　blood　came；　then　said　in　a　placid　voice：

〃Will　you　do　me　the　favour　of　telling　me；　monsieur；　to　what　I　owe　the　honour　of　this　visit？〃

〃I　came　to　demand　of　you　a　portrait　that　Mlle。　Moriaz　is　desirous　of　having　returned。〃

〃If　I　refuse　to　give　it　up；　you　will　doubtless　appeal　to　my　delicacy？〃

〃Do　you　doubt　it？〃　ironically　replied　Camille。

〃That　proves；　monsieur；　that　you　still　believe　in　Count　Larinski；　that　it　is　to　him　you　speak　at　this　moment？〃

〃You　deceive　yourself。　I　came　to　see　Samuel　Brohl；　who　is　a　business…　man；　and　it　is　a　commercial　transaction　that　I　intend　to　hold　with　him。〃　And　drawing　from　his　pocket　a　porte…monnaie；　he　added：　〃You　see　I　do　not　come　empty…handed。〃

Samuel　settled　himself　in　his　arm…chair。　Half　closing　his　eyes；　he　watched　M。　Langis　through　his　eye…lashes。　A　change　passed　over　his　features；　his　nose　became　more　crooked；　and　his　chin　more　pointed；　he　no　longer　resembled　a　lion；　he　was　a　fox。　His　lips　wore　the　sugared　smile　of　a　usurer；　one　who　lays　snares　for　the　sons　of　wealthy　families；　and　who　scents　out　every　favourable　case。　If　at　this　moment　Jeremiah　Brohl　had　seen　him　from　the　other　world；　he　would　have　recognised　his　own　flesh　and　blood。

He　said　at　last　to　Camille：　〃You　are　a　man　of　understanding；　monsieur；　I　am　ready　to　listen　to　you。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　of　it；　and；　to　speak　frankly；　I　had　no　doubts　about　it。　I　knew　you　to　be　very　intelligent；　very　much　disposed　to　make　the　best　of　an　unpleasant　conjuncture。〃

〃Ah！　spare　my　modesty。　I　thank　you　for　your　excellent　opinion　of　me；　I　should　warn　you　that　I　am　accused　of　being　greedy　after　gain。　You　will　leave　some　of　the　feathers　from　your　wings　between　my　fingers。〃

For　a　reply　M。　Langis　significantly　patted　the　porte…monnaie　which　he　held　in　his　hand；　and　which　was　literally　stuffed　with　bank…notes。　Immediately　Samuel　took　from　a　locked　drawer　a　casket；　and　proceeded　to　open　it。

〃This　is　a　very　precious　gem；〃　he　said。　〃The　medallion　is　gold；　and　the　work　on　the　miniature　is　exquisite。　It　is　a　master…piecethe　colour　equals　the　design。　The　mouth　is　marvellously　rendered。　Mengs　or　Liotard　could　not　have　done　better。　At　what　do　you　value　this　work　of　art？〃

〃You　are　more　of　a　connoisseur　than　I。　I　will　leave　it　to　your　own　valuation。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　the　trinket　for　five　thousand　francs；　it　is　almost　nothing。〃

Camille　began　to　draw　out　the　five　thousand　francs　from　his　porte…　monnaie。　〃How　prompt　you　are！〃　remarked　Samuel。　〃The　portrait　has　not　only　a　value　as　a　work　of　art；　I　am　sure　you　attach　a　sentimental　value　to　it；　for　I　suspect　you　of　being　head　and　ears　in　love　with　the　original。〃

〃I　find　you　too　greedy；〃　replied　Camille；　casting　on　him　a　crushing　glance。

〃Do　not　be　angry。　I　am　accustomed　to　exercise　methodical　precision　in　business　affairs。　My　father　always　sold　at　a　fixed　price；　and　I；　too；　never　lower　my　charges。　You　will　readily　understand　that　what　is　worth　five　thousand　francs　to　a　friend　is　worth　double　to　a　lover。　This　gem　is　worth　ten　thousand　francs。　You　can　take　it　or　leave　it。〃

〃I　will　take　it；〃　replied　M。　Langis。

〃Since　we　agree；〃　continued　Samuel；　〃I　possess　still　other　articles　which　might　suit　you。〃

〃Why；　do　you　think　of　selling　me　your　clothing？〃

〃Let　us　come　to　an　understanding。　I　have　other　articles　of　the　same　lot。〃

And　he　brought　from　a　closet　the　red　hood；　which　he　spread　out　on　the　table。

〃Here　is　an　article　of　clothingto　use　your　own　wordsthat　may　be　of　interest　to　you。　Its　colour　is　beautiful；　if　you　saw　it　in　the　sunshine；　it　would　dazzle　you。　I　grant　that　the　stuff　is　commonit　is　very　ordinary　cashmerebut　if　you　deign　to　examine　it　closely；　you　will　be　struck　by　the　peculiar　perfume　that　it　exhales。　The　Italians　call　it　'/l'odor　femminino/。'　〃

〃And　what　is　your　rate　of　charge　for　the　'/odor　femminino/？'　〃

〃I　will　be　moderate。　I　will　let　you　have　this　article　and　its　perfume　for　five　thousand　francs。　It　is　actually　giving　it　away。〃

〃Assuredly。　We　will　say　ten　and　fivethat　makes　fifteen　thousand。〃

〃One　moment。　You　can　pay　for　all　together。　I　have　other　things　to　offer　you。　One　would　say　that　the　floor　burned　your　feet；　and　that　you　could　not　endure　being　in　this　room。〃

〃I　allow　that　I　long　to　leave　thiswhat　shall　I　say？this　shop；　lair；　or　den。〃

〃You　are　young；　monsieur；　it　never　does　to　hurry；　haste　causes　us　acts　of　forgetfulness　that　we　afterwards　regret。　You　would　be　sorry　not　to　take　away　with　you　these　two　scraps　of　paper。〃

At　these　words　he　drew　from　his　note…book　two　letters；　which　he　unfolded。

〃Is　there　much　more？〃　demanded　Camille。　〃I　fear　that　I　shall　become　short　of　funds；　and　be　obliged　to　go　back　for　more。〃

〃Ah！　these　two　letters；　I　will　not　part　with　them　for　a　trifle；　the　second　especially。　It　is　only　twelve　lines　in　length；　but　what　pretty　English　handwriting！　Only　see！　and　the　style　is　loving　and　tender。　I　will　add　that　it　is　signed。　Ah！　monsieur；　Mlle。　Moriaz　will　be　charmed　to　see　these　scrawls　again。　Under　what　obligations　she　will　be　to　you！　You　will　make　the　most　of　it；　you　will　tell　her　that　you　wrested　them　from　me；　your　dagger　at　my　throatthat　you　terrified　me。　With　what　a　gracious　smile　she　will　reward　your　heroism！　According　to　my　opinion；　that　smile　is　as　well　worth　ten　thousand　francs　as　the　medallionthe　two　gems　are　of　equal　value。〃

〃If　you　want　more；　it　makes　no　difference。〃

〃No；　monsieur；　I　have　told　you　I　have　only　one　price。〃

〃At　this　rate；　it　is　twenty…five　thousand　francs　that　I　owe　you。　You　have　nothing　more　to　sell　me？〃

〃Alas！　that　is　all。〃

〃Will　you　swear　it？〃

〃What；　monsieur！　you　admit；　then；　that　Samuel　Brohl　has　a　word　of　honourthat　when　he　has　sworn；　he　can　be　believed？〃

〃You　are　right；　I　am　still　very　young。〃

〃That　is　all；　then；　I　swear　to　you；〃　affirmed　Samuel；　sighing。　〃My　shop　is　poorly　stocked；　I　had　begun　laying　in　a　supply；　but　an　unfortunate　accident　deranged　my　little　business。〃

〃Bah！　be　consoled；〃　replied　M。　Langis；　〃you　will　find　another　opportunity；　a　genius　of　such　lofty　flights　as　yours　never　is　at　a　loss。　You　have　been　unfortunate；　some　day　Fortune　will　compensate　you　for　the　wrongs　she　has　done　you；　and　the　world　will　accord　justice　to　your　fine　talents。〃

Speaking　thus；　he　laid　on　the　table　twenty…five　notes　of　a　thousand　francs　each。　He　counted　them；　Samuel　counted　them　after　him；　and　at　once　delivered　to　him　the　medallion；　the　hood；　and　the　two　letters。

Camille　rose　to　leave。　〃Monsieur　Brohl；〃　he　said；　〃from　the　first　day　I　saw　you；　I　formed　the　highest　opinion　of　your　character。　The　reality　surpasses　my　expectations。　I　am　charmed　to　have　made　your　acquaintance；　and　I　venture　to　hope　that　you　are　not　sorry　to　have　made　mine。　However；　I　shall　not　say；　/au　revoir/。〃

〃Who　knows？〃　replied　Samuel；　suddenly　changing　his　countenance　and　attitude。　And　he　added；　〃If　you　are　fond　of　being　astonished；　monsieur；　will　you　remain　still　another　instant　in　this　den？〃

He　rolled　and　twisted　the　twenty…five　one…thousand…franc　notes　into　lamp…lighters；　then；　with　a　grand　gesture；　/a　la　Poniatowski/；　he　approached　the　candle；　held　them　in　the　flame　until　they　blazed；　and　then　threw　them　on　the　hearth；　where　they　were　soon　consumed。

Turning　towards　M。　Langis；　he　cried；　〃Will　you　now　do　me　the　honour　of　fighting　with　me？〃

〃After　such　a　noble　act　as　that；　I　can　refuse　you　nothing；〃　returned　Camille。　〃I　will　do　you　that　signal　honour。〃

〃Just　what　I　desire；〃　replied　Samuel。　〃I　am　the　offended；　I　have　the　choice　of　arms。〃　And；　in　showing　M。　Langis　out；　he　said；　〃I　will　not　conceal　from　you　that　I　have　frequented　the　shooting…galleries；　and　that　I　am　a　first…class　pistol…shot。〃

Camille　bowed　and　went　out。

The　next　day；　in　a　lucid　interval；　Mlle。　Moriaz　saw　at　the　foot　of　her　bed　a　medallion　laid　on　a　red　hood。　From　that　moment　the　physician　announced　an　improvement