samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第10节
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His natural good spirits returned to him； and he gaily narrated to his
Amphitryon his deplorable Odyssey。 In return； Abel recounted to him a
similar adventure he had had in the Carpathian Mountains。 It is very easy
to take a liking to a man who helps you out of a scrape； who gives you
drink when you are thirsty； and food when you are hungry； but； even had
not M。 Moriaz been under great obligations to Count Larinski； he could
not have avoided the discovery that this amiable stranger was a man of
good address and agreeable conversation。
Nevertheless； so soon as the repast was finished； he said： 〃We have
forgotten ourselves in our talk。 I am the happy father of a charming
daughter who has a vivid imagination。 She will believe that I have met
with an untimely end if I do not hasten as speedily as possible to reassure
her。〃
Count Abel hereupon gave his hand to M。 Moriaz to aid him in
preserving his equilibrium as he crossed the plank； which was not wide。
Throughout the descent he overwhelmed him with attentions； sustaining
him with his arm when the descent became too abrupt。 So soon as they
had made their way to a foot…path； they resumed their conversation。 Abel
was very clear…sighted； and； like Socrates； as we said before； he was
master in the art of interrogating。 He turned the conversation to erratic
glaciers and boulders。 M。 Moriaz was enchanted with his manner of
asking questions； as Professor of the College of France； he was well
pleased to owe his life to an intelligent man。
As they traversed a pine…forest； they heard a voice hailing them； and
they were shortly joined by a guide whom Mlle。 Moriaz； mortally
disquieted at the prolonged absence of her father； had sent in quest of him。
Pale with emotion； trembling in every fibre； she had seated herself on the
bank of a stream。 She was completely a prey to terror； and in her
imagination plainly saw her father lying half dead at the bottom of some
precipice or rocky crevasse。 On perceiving him she uttered a cry of joy
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and ran to meet him。
〃Ah！ truly； my love；〃 said he； 〃I have been more fortunate than wise。
And I shall have to ask my deliverer his name in order to present him to
you。〃
Count Abel appeared not to have heard these last words。 He
stammered out something about M。 Moriaz having exaggerated the worth
of the little service it had been his good fortune to render him； and then
with a cold； formal； dignified air； he bowed to Antoinette and moved
hurriedly away； as a man who cares little to make new acquaintances； and
who longs to get back to his solitude。
He was already at some distance when M。 Moriaz； who had been
busily recounting his adventures to his daughter； bethought him that he
had kept his deliverer's overcoat。 He searched in the pockets； and there
found a memorandum…book and some visiting…cards bearing the name of
Count Abel Larinski。 Before dinner he made the tour of all the hotels in
Saint Moritz without discovering where M。 Larinski lodged。 He learned it
in the evening from a peasant who came over from Cellarina for the
overcoat。
The good Mlle。 Moiseney was quite taken with Count Abel； first；
because he was handsome； and then because he played the piano
bewitchingly。 There could be no doubt that Antoinette would feel grateful
to this good…looking musician who had restored to her her father。 Certain
of being no longer thwarted in her enthusiasm； she said to her that evening；
with a smile which was meant to be excessively ironical：
〃Well； my dear； do you still think that Count Larinski has a stoop in his
shoulders； and that his head is badly poised？〃
〃It is a matter of small import； but I do not gainsay it。〃
〃Ah； if you had only heard him play one of Schumann's romances！〃
〃A talent for music is a noble one。 Nevertheless； the man's chief merit；
in my eyes； is that he has a taste for saving life。〃
〃Oh； I was sure from the first； perfectly sure； that this man had a large
heart and a noble soul。 I read physiognomies very correctly； and I never
need to see people twice to know how far they can be relied on。〃 After a
pause she added； 〃I wonder if I dare tell you； my dear； of an idea that has
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occurred to me？〃
〃Tell me； by all means。 Your ideas sometimes amuse me。〃
〃Might it not turn out that the author of a certain note； and sender of a
certain thing； was M。 le Comte Abel Larinski？〃 〃Why he rather than any
other？〃 queried Antoinette。 〃I believe you do him wrong： he appears to be
a gentleman； and gentlemen do not write anonymous letters。〃
〃Oh！ that was a very innocent one； and you may be sure that he wrote
it in perfect good faith。〃
〃You believe； then； mademoiselle； that in good faith a man about to
put a halter about his neck would renounce his project because he had
encountered Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz on a public highway？〃
〃Why not？〃 cried Mlle。 Moiseney； looking at her with eyes wide open
with admiration。 〃Besides； you know the Poles are a hot…headed people；
whose hearts are open to all noble enthusiasms。 One could pardon in
Count Larinski what could not be overlooked in a Parisian。〃
〃I will pardon him on condition that he will keep his promise and
never make himself known to me； for this is unquestionably the first duty
of a mysterious unknown。 Just now he refused to let my father present him
to me； which is a good mark in his favour。 If he alters his mind； he
becomes at once a condemned man。 I pity you； my dear Joan；〃 added
Antoinette； laughingly。 〃You are dying with longing to hear one of those
romances without words； which M。 Larinski plays so divinely； and if M。
Larinski be the man of the letter； his own avowal prohibits him from
appearing before me again。 How can you extricate yourself from this
dilemma？ The case is embarrassing。〃
It was M。 Moriaz who undertook the solution of this embarrassing
dilemma。 Three days later； some moments before dinner； he was walking
in the hotel…grounds； smoking a cigar。 He saw passing along the road
Count Abel； on his way back to Cellarina。 A storm was coming up； already
great drops of rain were beginning to fall。 M。 Moriaz ran after the count
and seized him by the button； saying： 〃You have saved my lifepermit me；
at least； to save you from the rain。 Do me the honour to share our dinner；
we will have it served in my apartment。〃
Abel strongly resisted this proposition； giving reasons that sounded
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like mere pretences。 A rumbling of thunder was heard。 M。 Moriaz took his
man by the arm； and led him in by force。 He presented him to his daughter；
saying： 〃Antoinette； let me present to you M。 le Comte Larinski； a most
excellent man； but little inclined to sociability。 I was compelled to use
violence in bringing him here。〃
The count acknowledged these remarks with a constrained smile。 He
wore the manner of a prisoner； but； as he prided himself on his good…
breeding and on his philosophy； he seemed to be endeavouring to make
the best of his prison。 During dinner he was grave。 He treated Antoinette
with frigid politeness； paid some attention to Mlle。 Moiseney； but reserved
his chief assiduities for Mr。 Moriaz。 He addressed his conversation more
particularly to him； and listened to him with profound respect。 A professor
is always sensible to this kind of courtesy。
After the coffee was served； the crusting of ice in which Count Abel
had incased himself began to thaw。 He had been all over the world； he
knew the United States and Turkey； New Orleans and Bucharest； San
Franci
