samuel brohl & company-第7部分

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ine　and　larch　trees。　He　was　not　yet　sufficiently　accustomed　to　the　mountains　to　realize　how　deceptive　distances　become　there。　After　having　drained　two　glasses　of　the　chalybeate　waters；　and　breakfasted　heartily；　he　set　out；　crossed　the　Inn；　and　began　the　ascent　to　the　forest。　The　slope　grew　more　and　more　abrupt；　and　ere　long　he　discovered　that　he　had　wandered　from　the　foot…path。　He　was　not　one　to　be　easily　disheartened；　he　continued　climbing；　laying　hold　of　the　brushwood　with　his　hands；　planting　his　feet　among　perfidious　pine…　needles；　which　form　a　carpet　as　smooth　as　a　mirror；　making　three　steps　forward　and　two　backward。　Great　drops　of　perspiration　started　out　on　his　brow；　and　he　sat　down　for　a　moment　to　wipe　them　away；　hoping　that　some　wood…cutter　might　appear　and　show　him　the　way　back　to　the　path；　if　there　was　one。　But　no　human　soul　came　within　sight；　and　plucking　up　his　courage　again　he　resumed　the　ascent；　until　he　had　nearly　reached　a　breastwork　of　rock；　in　which　he　vainly　sought　an　opening。　He　was　about　retracing　his　steps　when　he　remembered　that　from　the　gallery　of　the　hotel　he　had　observed　this　breastwork　of　reddish　rock；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　remembered　also　that　it　formed　the　buttress　of　the　mountain…stronghold　of　which　he　was　in　quest；　and　so　he　concluded　that　this　would　be　the　last　obstacle　he　would　have　to　overcome。　He　thought　that　it　would　be　actually　humiliating　to　be　so　near　the　goal　and　yet　renounce　it。　The　rock；　worn　by　the　frost；　presented　sundry　crevices　and　indentures；　forming　a　natural　stairway。　Arming　himself　with　all　his　strength；　and　making　free　use　of　his　nails；　he　undertook　to　scale　it；　and　in　five　minutes　had　gained　a　sort　of　plateau；　which；　unluckily　for　him；　he　found　to　be　commanded　by　a　smooth　granite　wall　of　a　fearful　height。　The　only　satisfactory　procedure　for　him　now　was　to　return　whence　he　had　come；　but　in　these　perilous　passages　to　ascend　is　easier　than　to　descend；　it　being　impossible　to　choose　one's　steps；　descent　might　lead　to　a　rather　undesirable　adventure。　M。　Moriaz　did　not　dare　to　risk　this　adventure。

He　walked　the　whole　length　of　the　plateau　where　he　found　himself　in　the　hope　of　discovering　some　outlet；　but　the　sole　outlet　he　could　discover　had　already　been　monopolized　by　a　mountain…torrent　whose　troubled　waters　noisily　precipitated　themselves　through　it　to　the　depths　below。　This　torrent　was　much　too　wide　to　wade；　and　to　think　of　leaping　over　it　would　have　been　preposterous。　All　retreat　being　cut　off；　M。　Moriaz　began　to　regret　his　audacity。　Seized　by　a　sudden　agony　of　alarm；　he　began　to　ask　himself　if　he　was　not　condemned　to　end　his　days　in　this　eagle's…nest；　he　thought　with　envy　of　the　felicity　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　plains；　he　cast　piteous　glances　at　the　implacable　wall　whose　frowning　visage　seemed　to　reproach　him　with　his　imprudence。　It　seemed　to　him　that　the　human　mind　never　had　devised　anything　more　beautiful　than　a　great　highway；　and　it　would　have　taken　little　to　make　him　exclaim　with　Panurge；　〃Oh；　thriceay；　quadruplyhappy　those　who　plant　cabbages！〃

Although　there　seemed　small　chance　of　his　being　heard　in　this　solitude；　he　called　aloud　several　times；　he　had　great　difficulty　in　raising　his　voice　above　the　noise　of　the　cataract。　Suddenly　he　believed　that　he　heard　below　him　a　distant　voice　replying　to　his　call。　He　redoubled　his　cries；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　the　voice　drew　nearer；　and　soon　he　saw　emerging　from　the　thicket　bordering　the　opposite　bank　of　the　torrent　a　pale　face　with　chestnut　beard；　which　he　remembered　having　beheld　in　the　cathedral　at　Chur；　and　to　have　seen　again　at　Bergun。

〃You　are　a　prisoner；　monsieur；〃　was　the　salutation　of　Count　Larinski；　for；　of　course；　the　newcomer　was　none　other　than　he。　〃One　moment's　patience；　and　I　am　with　you。〃　And　his　face　beamed　with　joy。　He　had　him　at　last；　this　precious　game　which　has　caused　him　so　many　steps。

He　turned　away；　bounding　from　rock　to　rock　with　the　agility　of　a　chamois。　In　about　twenty　minutes　he　reappeared；　bearing　on　his　shoulder　a　long　plank　which　he　had　detached　from　the　inclosure　of　a　piece　of　pasture…land。　He　threw　it　across　the　torrent；　secured　it　as　well　as　he　could；　crossed　this　impromptu　foot…bridge　of　his　own　device；　and　joined　M。　Moriaz；　who　was　quite　ready　to　embrace　him。

〃Nothing　is　more　perfidious　than　the　mountains；〃　said　the　count。　〃They　are　haunted　by　some　mysterious　sprite；　who　fairly　delights　in　playing　tricks　with　venturesome　people；　but　'all's　well　that　ends　well。'　Before　setting　out　from　here　you　need　something　to　revive　you。　The　rarefied　atmosphere　of　these　high　regions　makes　the　stomach　frightfully　hollow。　More　prudent　than　you；　I　never　undertake　these　expeditions　without　providing　myself　with　some　refreshment。　But　how　pale　you　are！〃　he　added；　looking　at　him　with　sympathetic；　almost　tender；　eyes。　〃Put　on；　I　beg　of　you；　my　overcoat；　and　I　will　wrap　myself　up　in　my　plaid；　and　then　we　will　both　be　warm。〃

With　these　words　he　took　off　his　overcoat　and　handed　it　to　M。　Moriaz；　who；　feeling　almost　frozen；　offered　feeble　objections　to　donning　the　garment；　although　he　had　some　difficulty　in　getting　into　the　sleeves。

During　this　time　Count　Abel　had　thrown　down　on　the　rock　the　wallet　he　carried　slung　to　a　leathern　strap　over　his　shoulders。　He　drew　forth　from　it　a　loaf　of　light　bread；　some　hard…boiled　eggs；　a　/pate/　of　venison；　and　a　bottle　of　excellent　burgundy。　These　provisions　he　spread　out　around　him；　and　then　presented　to　M。　Moriaz　a　cup　cut　from　a　cocoanut…shell；　and　filled　it　to　the　brim；　saying；　〃Here　is　something　that　will　entirely　restore　you。〃　M。　Moriaz　drained　the　cup；　and　soon　felt　his　weakness　disappear。　His　natural　good　spirits　returned　to　him；　and　he　gaily　narrated　to　his　Amphitryon　his　deplorable　Odyssey。　In　return；　Abel　recounted　to　him　a　similar　adventure　he　had　had　in　the　Carpathian　Mountains。　It　is　very　easy　to　take　a　liking　to　a　man　who　helps　you　out　of　a　scrape；　who　gives　you　drink　when　you　are　thirsty；　and　food　when　you　are　hungry；　but；　even　had　not　M。　Moriaz　been　under　great　obligations　to　Count　Larinski；　he　could　not　have　avoided　the　discovery　that　this　amiable　stranger　was　a　man　of　good　address　and　agreeable　conversation。

Nevertheless；　so　soon　as　the　repast　was　finished；　he　said：　〃We　have　forgotten　ourselves　in　our　talk。　I　am　the　happy　father　of　a　charming　daughter　who　has　a　vivid　imagination。　She　will　believe　that　I　have　met　with　an　untimely　end　if　I　do　not　hasten　as　speedily　as　possible　to　reassure　her。〃

Count　Abel　hereupon　gave　his　hand　to　M。　Moriaz　to　aid　him　in　preserving　his　equilibrium　as　he　crossed　the　plank；　which　was　not　wide。　Throughout　the　descent　he　overwhelmed　him　with　attentions；　sustaining　him　with　his　arm　when　the　descent　became　too　abrupt。　So　soon　as　they　had　made　their　way　to　a　foot…path；　they　resumed　their　conversation。　Abel　was　very　clear…sighted；　and；　like　Socrates；　as　we　said　before；　he　was　master　in　the　art　of　interrogating。　He　turned　the　conversation　to　erratic　glaciers　and　boulders。　M。　Moriaz　was　enchanted　with　his　manner　of　asking　questions；　as　Professor　of　the　College　of　France；　he　was　well　pleased　to　owe　his　life　to　an　intelligent　man。

As　they　traversed　a　pine…forest；　they　heard　a　voice　hailing　them；　and　they　were　shortly　joined　by　a　guide　whom　Mlle。　Moriaz；　mortally　disquieted　at　the　prolonged　absence　of　her　father；　had　sent　in　quest　of　him。　Pale　with　emotion；　trembling　in　every　fibre；　she　had　seated　herself　on　the　bank　of　a　stream。　She　was　completely　a　prey　to　terror；　and　in　her　imagination　plainly　saw　her　father　lying　half　dead　at　the　bottom　of　some　precipice　or　rocky　crevasse。　On　perceiving　him　she　uttered　a　cry　of　joy　and　ran　to　meet　him。

〃Ah！　truly；　my　love；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　been　more　fortunate　than　wise。　And　I　shall　have　to　ask　my　deliverer　his　name　in　order　to　present　him　to　you。〃

Count　Abel　appeared　not　to　have　heard　these　last　words。　He　stammered　out　something　about　M。　Moriaz　having　exaggerated　the　worth　of　the　little　service　it　had　been　his　good　fortune　to　render　him；　and　then　with　a　cold；　formal；　dignified　air；　he　bowed　to　Antoinette　and　moved　hurriedly　away；　as　a　man　who　cares　little　to　make　new　acquaintances；　and　who　longs　to　get　back　to　his　solitude。

He　was　already　at　some　distance　when　M。　Moriaz；　who　had　been　busily　recounting　his　adventures　to　his　daughter；　bethought　him　that　he　had　kept　his　deliverer's　overcoat。　He　searched　in　the　pockets；　and　there　found　a　memorandum…book　and　some　visiting…cards　bearing　the　name　of　Count　Abel　Larinski。　Before　dinner　he　made　the　tour　of　all　the　hotels　in　Saint　Moritz　without　discovering　where　M。　Larinski　lodged。　He　learned　it　in　the　evening　from　a　peasant　who　came　over　from　Cellarina　for　the　overcoat。

The　good　Mlle。　Moiseney　was　quite　taken　with　Count　Abel；　first；　because　he　was　handsome；　and　then　because　he　played　the　piano　bewitchingly。　There　could　be　no　doubt　that　Antoinette　would　feel　grateful　to　this　good…looking　musician　who　had　restored　to　her　her　father。　Certain　of　being　no　longer　thwarted　in　her　enthusiasm；　she　said　to　her　that　evening；　with　a　smile　which　was　meant　to　be　excessively　ironical：

〃Well；　my　dear；　do　you　still　think　that　Count　Larinski　has　a　stoop　in　his　shoulders；　and　that　his　head　is　badly　poised？〃

〃It　is　a　matter　of　small　import；　but　I　do　not　gainsay　it。〃

〃Ah；　if　you　had　only　heard　him　play　one　of　Schumann's　romances！〃

〃A　talent　for　music　is　a　noble　one。　Nevertheless；　the　man's　chief　merit；　in　my　eyes；　is　that　he　has　a　taste　for　saving　life。〃

〃Oh；　I　was　sure　from　the　first；　perfectly　sure；　that　this　man　had　a　large　heart　and　a　noble　soul。　I　read　physiognomies　very　correctly；　and　I　never　need　to　see　people　twice　to　know　how　far　they　can　be　relied　on。〃　After　a　pause　she　added；　〃I　wonder　if　I　dare　tell　you；　my　dear；　of　an　idea　that　has　occurred　to　me？〃

〃Tell　me；　by　all　means。　Your　ideas　sometimes　amuse　me。〃

〃Might　it　not　turn　out　that　the　author　of　a　certain　note；　and　sender　of　a　certain　thing；　was　M。　le　Comte　Abel　Larinski？〃

〃Why　he　rather　than　any　other？〃　queried　Antoinette。　〃I　believe　you　do　him　wrong：　he　appears　to　be　a　gentleman；　and　gentlemen　do　not　write　anonymous　letters。〃

〃Oh！　that　was　a　very　innocent　one；　and　you　may　be　sure　that　he　wrote　it　in　perfect　good　faith。〃

〃You　believe；　then；　mademoiselle；　that　in　good