samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第40节
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succeeded in moving his lips； and he murmured：
〃Is it you； Abel？ I believed you dead。〃
Evidently Count Abel； the veritable Abel Larinski； was not dead。 He
was on his feet； his eyes were terribly wide open； and his face never had
worn more life…like colouring。 Nothing remained but to believe that he had
been buried alive； and that he had been resuscitated。 In coming forth from
the tomb； he had carried with him a portion of its dust； his hair was
covered with a singular powder of an earthy hue； and at intervals he shook
himself as though to make it fall from him。
With the exception of this there was nothing alarming in his
appearance； but a mocking； half…crafty smile played about his lips。 After a
long pause； he said to Samuel：
〃Yes； it is indeed I。 You did not expect me？〃
〃Are you sure that you are not dead？〃 rejoined Samuel。
〃Perfectly sure；〃 he replied； once more shaking a mass of dust from his
head。 〃Does my return incommode you； Samuel Brohl？〃 he added。 〃Your
name is Samuel； I believe； it is a pretty name。 Why have you taken mine？
You must give it back to me。〃
〃Not to…day；〃 pleaded Samuel； in a stifled voice； 〃nor to…morrow； nor
the day after to…morrow； but after the marriage。〃 Count Abel burst out
laughing； which was by no means his habit； and which therefore greatly
surprised Samuel。 Then he cried：
〃It is I she will marryshe will be the Countess Larinski。〃
Suddenly the door opened again； and Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz
appeared； robed in white like a bride； a crown on her head； a bouquet in
her hand。 She bent her steps towards Samuel； but the apparition arrested
her progress； saying：
〃It is not he whom you love； it is my history。 Do you not see that this
is a false Pole？ His father was a German Jew； who kept a tavern。 Here it
was that this hero grew up。 I will relate to you how。〃
Here Samuel put his hand over his mouth； and stammered： 〃Oh； for
mercy's sake； say nothing！〃
Heeding him not； the apparition continued： 〃Yes； Samuel Brohl is a
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hero。 For five years he was the pledged lover of an old woman； and he
fulfilled all the duties of his post。 This cherished hero well earned his
money。 Are you not eager to be called Mme。 Brohl？〃
With these words； he opened wide his arms to Mlle。 Moriaz； who fixed
upon him a gaze at the same time astonishing and tender； and straining her
to his bosom； kissed her hair and her crown。
Then Samuel Brohl recovered strength； life； movement； clinching his
hands； he sprang forward to dispute with Abel Larinski his prey。 Suddenly；
with a shiver of terror and dismay； he paused； he had heard proceeding
from a distant corner of the chamber a shrill； malignant laugh。 He turned；
and distinctly perceived his fathera greasy cap on his head； wrapped in a
forlorn； threadbare； dirty caftan。 This was unquestionably Jeremiah Brohl；
and this night it seemed truly that the whole world had arisen from the
dead。 The little old man continued to laugh jeeringly； then in a sharp；
peevish voice； he cried： 〃/Schandbube！ vermaledeiter Schlingel！ ich will
dich zu Brei schlagen！/〃 which signifies： 〃Scoundrel！ accursed blackguard！
I will beat you to a jelly！〃 It was a mode of address that Samuel had heard
often in his infancy； but familiar though he might be with paternal
amenities； when he saw his father uplift a withered； claw…like hand； a cry
escaped his lips； he started back to evade the blow； entangled his feet in
the legs of a chair； stumbled； and flung himself violently against a table。
He opened his eyes and saw no one。 He ran to the window and threw
open the shutter； the growing dawn illumined the chamber with its grayish
light。 Thank God！ there was no one there。 The vision had been so real that
it was some time before Samuel Brohl could fully regain his senses； and
persuade himself that his nightmare was forever dissipated； that phantoms
were phantoms； that cemeteries do not surrender their prey。 When he had
once acquired this rejoicing conviction； he spoke to the dead man who had
appeared to him； and whose provoking visit had indiscreetly troubled his
sleep； and with considerable hauteur he said； in a tone of superb defiance：
〃We must be resigned； my poor Abel； we shall see each other again only in
the valley of Jehosaphat； I have seen twenty shovelfuls of earth cast upon
youyou are dead； I live； and she is mine！〃
Thereupon he hastened to settle his account； and to quit the Coeur…
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Volant； within whose walls he promised himself never again to set foot。
At the very same moment； M。 Moriaz； who had risen early； was
engaged in writing the following letter：
〃It is done； my dear friendI have yielded。 Pray； do not reproach me
with my weakness； what else could I do？ When one has been for twenty
years the most submissive of fathers； one does not emancipate one's self in
a day； I never have been in the habit of erecting barriers； and it is scarcely
likely that I could learn to do so at my age。 Ah！ /mon Dieu！/ who knows if；
after all； her heart has not counselled her well； if one day she will not
satisfy us all that she was in the right/ It must be confessed that this
/diable/ of a man has an indescribable charm about him。 I can detect only
one fault in him： he has committed the error of existing at all； it is a grave
error； I admit； but thus far I have nothing else with which to reproach him。
〃When one loses a battle； nothing remains but to plan an orderly
retreat。 Count Larinski； I regret to inform you； is armed with all needful
weapons； he carries with him his certificate of birth； and certificate of the
registry of death of both his parents。 No pretext can be made on this score；
and my future son…in…law will not aid me to gain time。 The sole point upon
which we must henceforth direct our attention is the contract。 We scarcely
can take too many precautions； we must see that this Pole's hands are
absolutely tied。 If you will permit me； I will one day ask you to confer
with me and my notary； who is also yours。 I venture to hope that upon this
point Antoinette will consent to be guided by our counsels。
〃I am not gay； my friend； but； having been born a philosopher； I bear
my misfortunes patiently； and I will forthwith reread /Le Monde comme il
va； ou la Vision de Babouc/； in order to endeavour to persuade myself that；
if all is not well； all is at least supportable。〃
The evening of the same day； M。 Moriaz received the following
response：
〃I never will pardon you。 You are a great chemist； I grant； but a pitiful；
a most deplorable father。 Your weakness； which well merits another name；
is without excuse。 You should have resisted； you should have stood your
ground firmly。 Antoinette； although she is of age； never in the world would
have decided to address to you a formal request of consent to this marriage。
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She would have made some scenes； she would have pouted； she would
have endeavoured to soften you by assuming the airs of a tearful； heart…
broken widow； she would have draped herself in black crape。 And after
that？ Desperate case！ These Artemisias are very tiresome； I admit； but one
can accustom one's self to anything。 Should philosophers； who plead such
sublime indifference about the affairs of this mundane sphere； be at the
mercy of a fit of the sulks； or a dress of black crape？ Besides； black is all
the fashion just now； even for those who are not in mourning。
〃You speak of contracts！ You are surely jesting！ What！ distrustful of a
Pole？ take precautions against an antique man？I quote from Abbe
Miollensagainst a soul as noble as great？ Think what you are doing！ At
the mere thought of his disinterestedness being called into question； M。
Larinski would swoon away as he did in my /salon/。 It is a little way he
has； which is most excellent； since it proves successful。 Do not think
