samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第21节
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what do you complain？ Between friends is not everything in common？ I
left my own skin； I entered yours； I was satisfied there； and desired to
remain。 To…day I resemble you in everything； I assure you that if we were
seen together it would be difficult to tell us apart。 I have assumed your
habits； your manners； your language； the poise of your head； your playful
melancholy； your pride； your opinions； all； even to the colour of your hair
and your handwriting。 Abel Larinski； I have become you： I mistake； I am
more Pole； more Larinski； than you were yourself。〃
At this moment Samuel Brohl had a singular expression of
countenance； his gaze was fixed。 He was no longer of this worldhe
conversed with a spirit； but he was neither terrified nor awed； as was
Hamlet in talking to the shade of his father。 He treated familiarly the shade
of the true Abel Larinski； it was precisely as we treat a partner that has
transacted business with us in the same firm。
〃It is very true； my dear Abel；〃 he continued； 〃that the principle of
partnership accomplishes wonders； one man alone is a small affair。 But； of
all partnerships； the most useful and convenient is the one that we have
made together。 The living and the dead can render each other important
services； and they never quarrel。 You should be satisfied； you play a fine
role； you are the signature of the house。 We will not speak of your gun；
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that was a poor speculation； for which I scarcely can pardon you。 It was
the fault of your disordered brain that we wandered off on that bypath； but；
thanks be to Heaven！ we have at last gained the highway。 Five weeks ago
we met a woman； and what a woman！ She has velvety…brown eyes；
whence glances well forth like fresh and living waters。 To praise her grace
properly； I must borrow the language of the 'Song of Solomon'： 'Thy lips；
O my spouse！ drop as the honey…comb； honey and milk are under thy
tongue； and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon。 This
thy stature is like to a palm…tree。 Thou art all fair； my love； there is no spot
in thee。 A garden inclosed is my sister； my spouse： a spring shut upa
fountain sealed。' Some day she will cry out； with the Shulamite； 'Let my
beloved come into his garden； and eat his pleasant fruits。' She belongs to
us； my dear Larinskimy dear partner； she had yielded； and you and I
share the honour of the victory。 I presented myself before her； and my
presence did not displease her。 I related to her your history； as you would
have related it yourself； with delicacy and simplicity； neither adding nor
omitting。 Her heart was touched； her heart was taken captive。 You will
wed hershe will bear your name； but you will marry her by proxy； and I
shall be your proctor。 I promise to consider myself your mandatory； or； to
express it better； you will own the property and I will have the usufruct。
Never fear that I shall forget what I owe to you； or the modesty proper to
my estate。〃
At these words； he made a grand gesture； as if to banish the phantom
that he had conjured up； and that fled away trembling with sorrow； shame；
and indignation。 The peacock cried anew a mournful shriek。 〃Stupid bird！〃
thought Samuel Brohl； quaking with sudden dread。
He looked at his watch； and reflected that the hour was advancing
that he was losing time with the spirits。 He rose hastily； and wended his
way toward Cormeilles； thence he wished to come upon a sunny path that
led to the banks of the Seine； and Sartrouville； the belfry of which was
plainly visible。 When he reached the foot of the declivity； he turned his
head and saw； on the summit of the hill； through the space left by the
crooked branches of two plantains； a white wall； that seemed to laugh
amid the verdure； and a little higher the pointed roof of the dove…cote；
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where Mlle。 Moriaz's doves had their nests。 He did not need to look long
at this roof to recognise it。 He threw a burning kiss in the aira kiss that
was sent to the doves as well as to the dove…coteto the house as well as to
the womanto the woman as well as the house。 For the first time in his life；
Samuel Brohl was in love； but Samuel Brohl's love differed from Abel
Larinski's。 When they adore a woman； be she as beautiful as a picture； the
frame； if it is a rich one； pleases them as much as the painting； and they
propose to possess their mistress with all her appendages and
appurtenances。
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CHAPTER V
Mme。 de Lorcy was a woman of about fifty years of age； who still
possessed remains of beauty。 She had been a widow for long years； and
never had thought of marrying again。 Although her wedded life had been a
happy one； she considered that liberty is to be prized above all else； she
employed hers in a most irreproachable manner。 She was self… possessed；
even better acquainted with numbers than with dress； and managed her
property herself； which was by no means a trifling thing to do。 Liking to
make good use of her time； she thought to do it by busying herself in the
affairs of others。 She had a real vocation for the profession of a consulting
lawyer。 Usually her advice was sensible and judiciousnothing better
could be done than to follow it； only her clients complained that she
pronounced her sentences with too little tenderness； without granting any
appeal。 She was good； charitable； but lacked unction； and she had no
sympathy with the illusions of others。 A German poet； in making his New…
Year offerings； wishes that the rich may be kind…hearted； that the poor may
have bread； that the ladies may have pretty dresses； that the men may have
patience； that the foolish may get a little reason； and that sensible people
may grow poetic。 Mme。 de Lorcy was kind…hearted； she had pretty dresses
and a great deal of reason； but her reason was wanting in poetry； and
poetic people to whom she gave advice required a good deal of patience to
listen to the end。 Those who permitted themselves to despise her counsel；
and who were happy after their own fashion； incurred her lasting
displeasure。 She obstinately asserted to them that their seeming happiness
was all a deceit； that they had fastened a stone about their necks； and that；
without appearing to do so； at the bottom of their hearts they bitterly
repented。 She added； 〃It is not my fault； I told you； but you would not
believe me。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy had an almost maternal affection for her nephew； M。
Camille Langis。 Confident that he could not be otherwise than successful
in a love…affair； she promised him that he should marry Mlle。 Moriaz。 To
be sure； he was rather young； but she had decided that the question of age
made no difference； and that in all else there was a perfect fitness between
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the parties。 M。 Langis hesitated a long time about declaring himself。 He
said to Mme。 de Lorcy： 〃If she refuse me； I shall no longer be able to see
her； and so long as I can see her； I am only half…wretched。〃 It was Mme。 de
Lorcy who forced him to draw his sword and open the campaign； in which
she was to act as second。 This campaign had not been a successful one。
Deeply wounded at the refusal； which she had in vain attempted to prevent；
she was ready to force Mlle。 Moriaz into compliance。 They made her
believe； to pacify her； that the sentence was not definite； or at least that a
period of grace would be granted to the condemned。 M。 Langis set out for
Hungary； and he had now returned。 In the mean time； Antoinette had
refused two offers。 Mme。 de Lorcy had inferred this to be a favourable
omen for her
