samuel brohl & company-第15部分
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y never thought of his being handsome； because they suspected him of being a Jew。 Why had he gone to Bucharesta city where all Germans are Jews； and where Jews are not considered men？ Although he had earned a little money； he grew melancholy； and he began to think seriously of killing himself。〃
Count Abel Larinski leaned forward； plucked a spray of heather； tickled his lips with it； and began to laugh； then； striking his breast； he said； in an undertone； 〃Thank God； Samuel Brohl is not dead； for he is here！〃
He spoke the truth： Samuel Brohl was not dead； and life was of value to him； since he had met Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz in the cathedral in Chur。 It was Samuel Brohl who had come to Cormeilles； and who was seated； at this moment； in the midst of a grove of oaks。 Perhaps the lark that he had heard singing a quarter of an hour before had recognised him； for it had ceased singing。 The peacock continued its screaming； and its doleful cries sounded like a warning。 Yes； the man seated among the heather； employed in narrating his own history to himself； was indeed Samuel Brohl； and the proof of this was that he had laughed； while Count Abel Larinski never laughed； moreover； for four years the latter had been out of the world。 The second reason is； perhaps； the better。
He whom； with or without his consent； we shall call henceforth Samuel Brohl； reproached himself for this access of levity； as he would have reproached himself for a false note that had escaped him in executing a Mozart sonata。 He resumed his grave； dignified air； in order to salute with a wave of his hand the phantom that had just appeared before him。 It was the same that he had summoned one evening at the Hotel Steinbock； and treated there as an addle…brain； as a visionary； and even as an imbecile； but this time he gave him a more indulgent and gracious reception。 He bore him no ill…will； he wished him well； he was under essential obligations to him； and Samuel Brohl was no ingrate。
〃Ah！ well； my poor friend； I am here；〃 he said； in that mute language that phantoms understand。 〃I have taken your place； and almost your form； I play your part in the great fair of this world； and； although your noble body has rested for four years； six feet underground； thanks to me you still live。 I always have had a most sincere admiration for you。 I considered you a phenomenon； a prodigy。 You were courageous； devoted； generosity itself； you esteemed honour above all the gold deposits in California； you detested all coarse thoughts and doubtful actions； your mother had nourished you in all sublime follies。 You were a true chevalier； a true Pole； the last Don Quixote in this age of sceptics； plunderers； and interlopers。 Blessed be the chance that made us acquainted！ You lived retired； solitary； unknown； in a miserable hovel just outside of Bucharest。 So goes the world！ You were in hidingyou who had nothing to hide from either God or man you who deserved a crown。 Alas！ the Russian Government had the poor taste not to appreciate your exploits； and you feared that it would claim and obtain your extradition。 At our first meeting I pleased you； and you took me into your friendship； I spoke Polish； and you loved music。 I became your intimate friend； your sole companion； your confidant。 You must grant that you owe to me the last happy moments of your short existence。 I soon knew your origin； the history of your youth； of your enterprises； and of your misfortunes。 You initiated me into the secret of the great invention that you had just made； you explained to me in detail the mechanism of your famous gun。 I was intelligent； I understood； or thought I understood。 This gun； you said； would one day make my fortune； for； on your own account； you had renounced all hope； you had heart…disease； and you knew that you were condemned to a speedy end。 My imagination was kindled。 Through my entreaty you decided to leave with me for Vienna。 This expedition was fatal to you； but I swear to you I did not foresee it。〃
Samuel crossed his hands on his knee； then he continued： 〃May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth； may my blood cease to flow in my veins； may the marrow dry up in my bones； if ever I forget to be grateful for what I owe to you； Abel Larinski； or cease to remember the forlorn hovel in which we passed the first night of our journey！ You were attacked by suffocation。 You had only time to call and wake me。 I hastened to you。 You gave me； in a dying voice； your last instructions。 You delivered into my hands your last fifty florins； which were as acceptable as an orange would have been to the shipwrecked passengers of the Medusa。 Then you pointed with your finger to a box； in which were inclosed family relics； letters； your journal； and papers。 You said： 'Destroy all that； Poland is dead； let no one remember that I have lived！' After that you breathed your last。 Well！ I confess that I did not fulfil your orders。 I kept your mother's portrait； the papers； all； and； in announcing your decease to the police； I made them believe that the man who was dead was named Samuel Brohl； and that Count Larinski still lived。 What would you have me do？ The temptation was too great。 Samuel Brohl had disgraceful antecedents； he was base…born； he had been sold； there was a stain on his past that never could be wiped away； and； as he had had the misfortune to read the poets； it had come about that he often despised himself。 It was； indeed； time that he should be thrown into the shade； and my joy was extreme to know that he was dead； and to feel that I was alive。 As soon as I succeeded in persuading myself that I was indeed Count Abel Larinski； I was as happy as a child whose parents have dressed him in new clothes； and who struts about to show them。 With your name I acquired a noble past； in thought； I roamed through it with delight； I visited its every nook and corner； as a poor devil would make the circuit of a park that he has just come to inherit。 You bequeathed me your relations； your adventures； your exploits。 When you fought for your country； I was there； when you received a gun…shot… wound near Dubrod； it was into my flesh that the bullet penetrated。 Of 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； 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； 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
