samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第17节
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SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
impatience the moment for executing his projects。 He left the casino； his
face flushed and radiant； he was so joyful that he became tender and
affectionate； and； had M。 Guldenthal himself come in his way； he could
have embraced him。
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CHAPTER IV
Although he had said nothing about it to Mlle。 Moriaz in narrating to
her his voyages and Odysseys； Count Abel was already acquainted with
Paris； having made several long sojourns there。 This may seem improbable。
Gone in his early youth to America； he had not recrossed the ocean until
he returned to fight in Poland； since then he had lived in Roumania and
Vienna。 Where； then； had he found time to visit France？ Certain it is；
however； that he was at home on the boulevard； and that he knew well the
streets that led to the places where Paris amuses itself； but he had no
thoughts now for amusements。 Notwithstanding the fact that his purse was
full； he proposed to live a retired and austere life。 He found suitable
apartments in one of the lodging…houses of Rue Mont…Thabor。 These
apartments； on the fifth floor； were pleasant but modest； they consisted of
two rooms having a view of the chestnut…trees in the garden of the
Tuileries。 The portress was a nice woman； whose good…will Count Abel
gained on the very first day。 He considered it useful； in the affairs of this
world； to be at peace with both conscience and portress。
After getting installed in his garret his first care was to write to M。
Moses Guldenthal。 He informed him that he was ready to refund interest
and capital； and he commissioned him to pay off some trifling debts that
he had left in Vienna； he also desired him to send him the bracelet； which
he hoped to make use of。 He felt a genuine relief in the thought that he
owed no man anything； that his condition was clear and transparent。 When
a man is proud he likes to be out of debt； and when he is clever he foresees
all possible contingencies。 His second care was to go to the Passage de
l'Opera and buy a bouquet for sixty francs； which he carried to No。 27 Rue
Mouffetard。 He had one of those memories that retain everything and let
nothing escape them。 This bouquetthe most beautiful Mlle。 Galet ever
had receivedcaused her great astonishment。 She did not know to whom
to attribute it； the modest donor having escaped from the effusions of her
gratitude by not making himself known。 She supposed that Mlle。 Moriaz
had sent it to her； and； as she had taste for composition； she wrote to her a
four page letter of thanks。
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Count Abel had not forgotten that he was the bearer of a commission
from Mlle Moriaz。 A few days after his arrival； he decided to go to
Maisons； but to take the longest route there； he wanted to see Cormeilles
in passing； and a certain villa in which he was particularly interested。 He
went in the Argenteuil cars； got out at Sannois； climbed that pretty hill that
commands the loveliest of views； and stopped at the inn of Trouillet mills
in order to breakfast there。 The morning was charmingit was in the
middle of Augustand the approach of autumn was already felt； which
enhances the beauty of all things。 The sky was flecked with small gray
clouds； a light； silvery mist hung on the brow of the hills； in two places the
Seine appeared glittering in the sunshine。 Abel breakfasted in the open air；
while eating he gazed on the sky and on the great garden…plain extending
at his feet； covered with vegetables； grape…vines； and asparagus；
interspersed with fruit…trees。 The wooded hills bordering it formed an
admirable frame。 In his present mood Count Larinski was charmed with
the landscape； which was at once grand and smiling。 Then he questioned
himself as to how much a bed of asparagus would yield at the gates of
Paris； and； having finished his calculation； he surveyed with the eye of a
poet the heather and broom that surrounded him。 He decided that the
Sannois Hill is more beautiful than Koseg； and indeed it is not necessary
to be in love with Mlle。 Moriaz to hold that opinion。
After having had a good breakfast； he again set out； following the crest
of the hill and going through the woods。 As he approached Cormeilles； he
saw in the distance； beyond a grove of oaks； the white walls of a pretty
villa。 His heart beat faster； and by a sort of divination he said within
himself； 〃That must be it。〃 He inquired； he had made no mistake。 Five
minutes later he stood before a railing； through which he saw a green lawn。
At the entrance of the porter's lodge a woman sat knitting。
〃Can you tell me where M。 Moriaz lives？〃 asked Count Larinski。
〃Here； monsieur；〃 she replied； 〃but M。 Moriaz is absent； he will not
return for a month。 If you come from a distance； monsieur；〃 she added；
graciously； 〃perhaps you would like to rest awhile on the terrace。 The view
is beautiful。〃
This hospitable reception seemed a good omen； for； sensible as he was；
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he believed in presentiments and prognostics。 He entered without waiting
to be urged。 When he had crossed the lawn he stood facing two detached
buildings； separated by a mass of verdure： to the right； an old summer…
house； used from time immemorial for M。 Moriaz's collections； laboratory；
and library； to the left； a new two…story house； part stone； part brick； built
in an elegant but unobtrusive style； without ornament or pretension； and
flanked by a turret covered with ivy and clematis； which served for a
dove…cote。 The house was not a palace； but there was an air about it of
well…being； comfort； and happiness。 In looking at it you felt like saying；
〃The inmates here ought to be happy！〃 This was about what Count Abel
said to himself； in fact； he could hardly refrain from exclaiming； 〃Dieu！
how happy I shall be here！〃 The situation； the terrace； the garden；
everything pleased him infinitely。 It seemed to him that the air here was
fresher； more delightful than elsewhere； that it was exhilarating in the
extreme； it seemed to him that the grass on the lawn was greener than any
grass he ever had seen before； that the flowers in the carefully tended
borders exhaled an unusually delicious perfume。 He espied an open
window on the ground…floor。 He drew near it； the room into which he
gazed； full of /bric…a…brac/ of exquisite choice； was Mlle。 Moriaz's study。
There was in the appearance of this little sanctuary； hung with white silken
drapery； and as elegant as the divinity whose favourite tarrying…place it
was； something of purity； chastity； and maidenliness。 It opened its
windows to the fresh breezes and to the perfume of the flowers； but it
seemed as if nothing could penetrate there that was coarse or suspicious；
that the entrance was forbidden to all doubtful or malignant beings who
might have a secret crime to hide； to all pilgrims through life who had
travelled its highways and had brought hence dust and mud on the soles of
their shoes。 Strange to say； Count Abel experienced an attack of timidity
and embarrassment。 He felt that he was indiscreet； he averted his eyes and
went away。
This impression was soon dispelled。 He regained his assurance； and
walked around the terrace twice； treading the gravel with the step of a
conqueror； making it feel the full weight of his foot。 He finally seated
himself on a bench； he had the nonchalant attitude of a man who is at
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