samuel brohl & company-第39部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



He　rose　and　started　to　run　towards　the　well。　She　was　in　front　of　him　and　barred　the　passage；　but　at　the　same　moment　she　felt　two　hands　clasp　her　waist；　and　the　breath　of　two　lips　that　sought　her　lips　and　that　murmured；　〃You　love　me　still；　since　you　do　not　want　me　to　die。〃

She　struggled　with　violence　and　horror；　she　succeeded；　by　a　frantic　effort；　in　disengaging　herself　from　his　grasp。　She　fled　towards　the　house。　Samuel　Brohl　rushed　after　her　in　mad　pursuit；　he　was　just　reaching　her；　when　he　suddenly　stopped。　He　had　caught　sight　of　M。　Langis；　hurrying　from　out　a　thicket；　where　he　had　been　hidden。　Growing　uneasy；　he　had　approached　the　orchard　through　a　path　concealed　by　the　heavy　foliage。　Antoinette；　out　of　breath；　ran　to　him；　gasping；　〃Camille；　save　me　from　this　man！〃　and　she　threw　herself　into　his　arms；　which　closed　about　her　with　delight。　He　felt　her　sink；　she　would　have　fallen　had　he　not　supported　her。

At　the　same　instant　a　menacing　voice　saluted　him　with　the　words；　〃Monsieur；　we　will　meet　again！〃

〃To…day；　if　you　will；〃　he　replied。

Antoinette's　wild　excitement　had　given　place　to　insensibility；　she　neither　saw　nor　heard；　her　limbs　no　longer　sustained　her。　Camille　had　great　difficulty　in　bringing　her　to　the　house；　she　could　not　ascend　the　steps　of　the　terrace；　he　was　obliged　to　carry　her。　Mlle。　Moiseney　saw　him；　and　filled　the　air　with　her　cries。　She　ran　forward；　she　lavished　her　best　care　on　her　queen。　All　the　time　she　was　busy　in　bringing　her　to　her　senses　she　was　asking　Camille　for　explanations；　to　which　she　did　not　pay　the　least　attention；　she　interrupted　him　at　every　word　to　exclaim：　〃This　has　been　designed；　and　you　are　at　the　bottom　of　the　plot。　I　have　suspected　youyou　owe　Antoinette　a　grudge。　Your　wounded　vanity　never　has　recovered　from　her　refusal；　and　you　are　determined　to　be　revenged。　Perhaps　you　flatter　yourself　that　she　will　end　by　loving　you。　She　does　not　love　you；　and　she　never　will　love　you。　Who　are　you；　to　dare　compare　yourself　with　Count　Larinski？　Be　silent！　Do　I　believe　in　Samuel　Brohl？　I　do　not　know　Samuel　Brohl。　I　venture　my　head　that　there　is　no　such　person　as　Samuel　Brohl。〃

〃Not　much　of　a　venture；　mademoiselle；〃　replied　M。　Moriaz；　who　had　arrived　in　the　meantime。

Antoinette　remained　during　an　hour　in　a　state　of　mute　languor；　then　a　violent　fever　took　possession　of　her。　When　the　physician　who　had　been　sent　for　arrived；　M。　Langis　accompanied　him　into　the　chamber　of　the　sick　girl。　She　was　delirious：　seated　upright；　she　kept　continually　passing　her　hand　over　her　brow；　she　sought　to　efface　the　taint　of　a　kiss　she　had　received　one　moonlight　night；　and　the　impression　in　her　hair　of　the　flapping　of　a　bat's　wings　that　had　caught　in　her　hood。　These　two　things　were　confounded　in　her　memory。　From　time　to　time　she　said：　〃Where　is　my　portrait？　Give　me　my　portrait。〃

It　was　about　ten　o'clock　when　M。　Langis　called　on　Samuel　Brohl；　who　was　not　astonished　to　see　him　appear；　he　had　hoped　he　would　come。　Samuel　had　regained　self…possession。　He　was　calm　and　dignified。　However；　the　tempest　through　which　he　had　gone　had　left　on　his　features　some　vestige　of　its　passage。　His　lips　quivered；　and　his　beautiful　chestnut　locks　curled　like　serpents　about　his　temples；　and　gave　his　head　a　Medusa…like　appearance。

He　said　to　Camille：　〃Where　and　when？　Our　seconds　will　undertake　the　arrangement　of　the　rest。〃

〃You　mistake；　monsieur；　the　motive　of　my　visit；〃　replied　M。　Langis。　〃I　am　grieved　to　destroy　your　illusions；　but　I　did　not　come　to　arrange　a　meeting　with　you。〃

〃Do　you　refuse　to　give　me　satisfaction？〃

〃What　satisfaction　do　I　owe　you？〃

〃You　insulted　me。〃

〃When？〃

〃And　you　said：　'The　day；　the　place；　the　weapons。　I　leave　all　to　your　choice。'　〃

M。　Langis　could　not　refrain　from　smiling。　〃Ah！　you　at　last　acknowledge　that　your　fainting…fit　was　comedy？〃　he　rejoined。

〃Acknowledge　on　your　part；〃　replied　Samuel；　〃that　you　insult　persons　when　you　believe　that　they　are　not　in　a　state　to　hear　you。　Your　courage　likes　to　take　the　safe　side。〃

〃Be　reasonable；〃　replied　Camille。　〃I　placed　myself　at　Count　Larinski's　disposal：　you　cannot　require　me　to　fight　with　a　Samuel　Brohl！〃

Samuel　sprang　to　his　feet；　with　fierce　bearing　and　head　erect　he　advanced　to　the　young　man；　who　awaited　him　unflinchingly；　and　whose　resolute　manner　awed　him。　He　cast　upon　him　a　sinister　look；　turned；　and　reseated　himself；　bit　his　lips　until　the　blood　came；　then　said　in　a　placid　voice：

〃Will　you　do　me　the　favour　of　telling　me；　monsieur；　to　what　I　owe　the　honour　of　this　visit？〃

〃I　came　to　demand　of　you　a　portrait　that　Mlle。　Moriaz　is　desirous　of　having　returned。〃

〃If　I　refuse　to　give　it　up；　you　will　doubtless　appeal　to　my　delicacy？〃

〃Do　you　doubt　it？〃　ironically　replied　Camille。

〃That　proves；　monsieur；　that　you　still　believe　in　Count　Larinski；　that　it　is　to　him　you　speak　at　this　moment？〃

〃You　deceive　yourself。　I　came　to　see　Samuel　Brohl；　who　is　a　business…　man；　and　it　is　a　commercial　transaction　that　I　intend　to　hold　with　him。〃　And　drawing　from　his　pocket　a　porte…monnaie；　he　added：　〃You　see　I　do　not　come　empty…handed。〃

Samuel　settled　himself　in　his　arm…chair。　Half　closing　his　eyes；　he　watched　M。　Langis　through　his　eye…lashes。　A　change　passed　over　his　features；　his　nose　became　more　crooked；　and　his　chin　more　pointed；　he　no　longer　resembled　a　lion；　he　was　a　fox。　His　lips　wore　the　sugared　smile　of　a　usurer；　one　who　lays　snares　for　the　sons　of　wealthy　families；　and　who　scents　out　every　favourable　case。　If　at　this　moment　Jeremiah　Brohl　had　seen　him　from　the　other　world；　he　would　have　recognised　his　own　flesh　and　blood。

He　said　at　last　to　Camille：　〃You　are　a　man　of　understanding；　monsieur；　I　am　ready　to　listen　to　you。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　of　it；　and；　to　speak　frankly；　I　had　no　doubts　about　it。　I　knew　you　to　be　very　intelligent；　very　much　disposed　to　make　the　best　of　an　unpleasant　conjuncture。〃

〃Ah！　spare　my　modesty。　I　thank　you　for　your　excellent　opinion　of　me；　I　should　warn　you　that　I　am　accused　of　being　greedy　after　gain。　You　will　leave　some　of　the　feathers　from　your　wings　between　my　fingers。〃

For　a　reply　M。　Langis　significantly　patted　the　porte…monnaie　which　he　held　in　his　hand；　and　which　was　literally　stuffed　with　bank…notes。　Immediately　Samuel　took　from　a　locked　drawer　a　casket；　and　proceeded　to　open　it。

〃This　is　a　very　precious　gem；〃　he　said。　〃The　medallion　is　gold；　and　the　work　on　the　miniature　is　exquisite。　It　is　a　master…piecethe　colour　equals　the　design。　The　mouth　is　marvellously　rendered。　Mengs　or　Liotard　could　not　have　done　better。　At　what　do　you　value　this　work　of　art？〃

〃You　are　more　of　a　connoisseur　than　I。　I　will　leave　it　to　your　own　valuation。〃

〃I　will　let　you　have　the　trinket　for　five　thousand　francs；　it　is　almost　nothing。〃

Camille　began　to　draw　out　the　five　thousand　francs　from　his　porte…　monnaie。　〃How　prompt　you　are！〃　remarked　Samuel。　〃The　portrait　has　not　only　a　value　as　a　work　of　art；　I　am　sure　you　attach　a　sentimental　value　to　it；　for　I　suspect　you　of　being　head　and　ears　in　love　with　the　original。〃

〃I　find　you　too　greedy；〃　replied　Camille；　casting　on　him　a　crushing　glance。

〃Do　not　be　angry。　I　am　accustomed　to　exercise　methodical　precision　in　business　affairs。　My　father　always　sold　at　a　fixed　price；　and　I；　too；　never　lower　my　charges。　You　will　readily　understand　that　what　is　worth　five　thousand　francs　to　a　friend　is　worth　double　to　a　lover。　This　gem　is　worth　ten　thousand　francs。　You　can　take　it　or　leave　it。〃

〃I　will　take　it；〃　replied　M。　Langis。

〃Since　we　agree；〃　continued　Samuel；　〃I　possess　still　other　articles　which　might　suit　you。〃

〃Why；　do　you　think　of　selling　me　your　clothing？〃

〃Let　us　come　to　an　understanding。　I　have　other　articles　of　the　same　lot。〃

And　he　brought　from　a　closet　the　red　hood；　which　he　spread　out　on　the　table。

〃Here　is　an　article　of　clothingto　use　your　own　wordsthat　may　be　of　interest　to　you。　Its　colour　is　beautiful；　if　you　saw　it　in　the　sunshine；　it　would　dazzle　you。　I　grant　that　the　stuff　is　commonit　is　very　ordinary　cashmerebut　if　you　deign　to　examine　it　closely；　you　will　be　struck　by　the　peculiar　perfume　that　it　exhales。　The　Italians　call　it　'/l'odor　femminino/。'　〃

〃And　what　is　your　rate　of　charge　for　the　'/odor　femminino/？'　〃

〃I　will　be　moderate。　I　will　let　you　have　this　article　and　its　perfume　for　five　thousand　francs。　It　is　actually　giving　it　away。〃

〃Assuredly。　We　will　say　ten　and　fivethat　makes　fifteen　thousand。〃

〃One　moment。　You　can　pay　for　all　together。　I　have　other　things　to　offer　you。　One　would　say　that　the　floor　burned　your　feet；　and　that　you　could　not　endure　being　in　this　room。〃

〃I　allow　that　I　long　to　leave　thiswhat　shall　I　say？this　shop；　lair；　or　den。〃

〃You　are　young；　monsieur；　it　never　does　to　hurry；　haste　causes　us　acts　of　forgetfulness　that　we　afterwards　regret。　You　would　be　sorry　not　to　take　away　with　you　these　two　scraps　of　paper。〃

At　these　words　he　drew　from　his　note…book　two　letters；　which　he　unfolded。

〃Is　there　much　more？〃　demanded　Camille。　〃I　fear　that　I　shall　become　short　of　funds；　and　be　obliged　to　go　back　for　more。〃

〃Ah！　these　two　letters；　I　will　not　part　with　them　for　a　trifle；　the　second　especially。　It　is　only　twelve　lines　in　length；　but　what　pretty　English　handwriting！　Only　see！　and　the　style　is　loving　and　tender。　I　will　add　that　it　is　signed。　Ah！　monsieur；　Mlle。　Moriaz　will　be　charmed　to　see　these　scrawls　again。　Under　what　obligations　she　will　be　to　you！　You　will　make　the　most　of　it；　you　will　tell　her　that　you　wrested　them　from　me；　your　dagger　at　my　throatthat　you　terrified　me。　With　what　a　gracious　smile　she　will　reward　your　heroism！　According　to　my　opinion；　that　smile　is　as　well　worth　ten　thousand　francs　as　the　medallionthe　two　gems　are　of　equal　value。〃

〃If　you　want　more；　it　makes　no　difference。〃

〃No；　monsieur；　I　have　told　you　I　have　only　one　price。〃

〃At　this　rate；　it　is　twenty…five　thousand　francs　that　I　owe　you。　You　have　nothing　more　to　sell　me？〃

〃Alas！　that　is　all。〃

〃Will　you　swear　it？〃

〃What；　monsieur！　you　admit；　then；　that　Samuel　Brohl　has　a　word　of　honourthat　when　he　has　sworn；　he　can　be　believed？〃

〃You　are　right；　I　am　still　very　young。〃

〃That　is　all；　then；　I　swear　to　you；〃　affirmed　Samuel；　sighing。　〃My　shop　is　poorly　stocked；　I　had　begun　laying　in　a　supply；　but