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light to dawn。 Samuel Brohl felt that he had had a film over his eyes； and
that it was now removed。 He saw things that he never had seen before； and
he felt joy mingled with terror。 He learned /The Merchant of Venice/ by
heart。 He shut himself up in the barn； so that he might cry out with
Shylock： 〃Hath not a Jew eyes？ hath not a Jew hands； organs； dimensions；
senses； affections； passions？ If you prick us； do we not bleed？ If you tickle
us； do we not laugh？ if you poison us； do we not die？ and if you wrong us；
shall we not revenge？〃 He repeated； too； with Lorenzo：
〃Sit； Jessica。 Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with
patines of bright gold。 There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st
But in his motion like an angel sings； Still quiring to the young…eyed
cherubins： Such harmony is in immortal souls； But whilst this muddy
vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in； we cannot hear it。〃
Samuel sometimes rose at night to watch the heavens； and he fancied
he heard the voices of the 〃young…eyed cherubins。〃 He dreamed of a world
where Jessicas and Portias were to be met； of a world where Jews were as
proud as Shylock； as vindictive as Shylock； and； as Shylock； ate the hearts
of their enemies for revenge。 He also dreamed； poor fool； that there was in
Samuel Brohl's mind or bosom an immortal soul； and that in this soul
there was music； but that he could not hear it because the muddy vesture
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of decay too grossly closed it in。 Then he experienced a feeling of disgust
for Galicia； for the tavern； for the tavern…keeper； and for Samuel Brohl
himself。 An old schoolmaster； who owned a harpsichord； taught him to
play on it； and； believing he was doing good； lent him books。 One day；
Samuel modestly expressed to his father a desire to go to the gymnasium
at Lemberg to learn various things that seemed good to him to know。 It
was then that he received from the paternal hand a great blow； which made
him see all the stars of heaven in broad daylight。 Old Jeremiah Brohl had
taken a dislike to his son Samuel Brohl； because he thought he saw
something in his eyes that seemed to say that Samuel despised his father。
〃Poor devil！〃 murmured Count Abel； picking up a pebble and tossing it
into the air。 〃Fate owes him compensation； it has dealt so roughly with him
thus far。 He fell from the frying…pan into the fire； he exchanged his
servitude for a still worse slavery。 When he left the land of Egypt； he
fancied he saw the palms of the promised land。 Alas！ it was not long
before he regretted Egypt and Pharaoh！ Why was not this woman Portia？
why was she neither young nor beautiful？〃 And he added： 〃Ah！ old fairy；
you made him suffer！〃
It seemed to Count Larinski that this woman； this ugly fairy who had
made Samuel Brohl suffer so much； stood there； before him； and that she
scanned him from head to foot； as a fairy； whether old or young； might
scan a worm。 She had an imperious； contemptuous smile on her lips； the
smile of a czarina； so Catharine II smiled； when she was dissatisfied with
Potemkin； and said to herself； 〃I made him what he is； and to…morrow I
can ruin him。〃 〃Yes； it was she； it was surely she；〃 thought Count Larinski。
〃I cannot mistake。 I saw her five weeks ago； in the Vallee du Diable； she
made me tremble！〃
This woman who had taken Samuel Brohl from out of the land of
Egypt； and had showered attentions upon him； was a Russian princess。 She
owned an estate of Podolia； and chance would have it that one day； in
passing； she stopped at the tavern where young Samuel was growing up in
the shadow of the tabernacle。 He was then sixteen。 In spite of his squalid
rags； she was struck by his figure。 She was a woman of intelligence； and
had no prejudices。 〃When he is well washed and cared for；〃 she thought；
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〃when he is divested of his native impurities； when he has seen the world
and had communication with honest people； he certainly will be a noble
fellow。〃 She made him talk； and found him intelligent； she liked intelligent
men。 She made him sing； assured herself that he had a voice； she adored
music。 She questioned him； he told her all his misery； and while he talked
she said to herself： 〃No； I do not mistake； he has a future before him； in
two or three years he will be superb。 Three years is not long： the gardener
who grafts a young tree is often condemned to wait longer than that。〃
When he had ended his narrative； she told him that she was in want of a
secretary； that she had had several； but that she had soon tired of them； on
account of their not having the desired qualifications； she asked him if he
would like to accept the position。 He replied only by pointing his finger to
his father； who was smoking his pipe on the door…step。 A moment later she
was closeted with Jeremiah Brohl。
She at once proposed to him to buy his son； he dropped his arms in
astonishment； then felt delighted and charmed。 He declared； at first； that
his son was not for sale； and then he insinuated that if ever he did sell him
he would sell him dear； he was； according to his opinion； merchandise of
the best quality； a rich and rare article。 He raised his demands ridiculously；
she exclaimed； he affirmed he could not put them lower； that he had his
terms； and that he always sold at a fixed price。 They disputed a long time；
she was about to give up； he yielded； and they ended by making the
transaction。 She sent for Samuel and said to him： 〃My boy； you belong to
meI have bought you for cash。 You are satisfied with the bargain； are you
not？〃
He was stupefied to learn that he had a commercial value； he never
had suspected it。 He wanted very much to know what he was worth； but
the princess was discreet upon the subject； and desired that he should
believe that he had cost her a fabulous sum。 After reflection； he made his
conditions； he stipulated that he should belong to himself for three years；
which time he would employ in study and in satisfying a multitude of
curious longings。
She readily consented； as that had been her own intention： it would
take fully three years before the fruit was ripe and ready to be served at the
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princely table。 She gave him instructions and advice； all bearing the stamp
of a superior mind； she understood the world； the state of public affairs；
and physiology； all that can be learned； and all that cannot be learned。
Thus Samuel Brohl set out； his pocket well filled； for the University of
Prague； which he soon left to settle at Heidelberg； whence he went to
Bonn； then to Berlin； then to Paris。 He was restless； he did not know what
he wanted； but wherever he went he studied semiquavers； naturals； and
flats； it was part of the conditions。
The princess was herself a great traveller； two or three times a year
Samuel Brohl received a visit from her。 She questioned him； examined
him； felt him； as we fe