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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；
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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 differed from Abel
Larinski's。 When they adore a woman； be she as beautiful as a picture； the
frame； if it is a rich one； pleases them as much as the painting； and they
propose to possess their mistress with all her appendages and
appurtenances。
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CHAPTER V
Mme。 de Lorcy was a woman of about fifty years of age； who still
possessed remains of beauty。 She had been a widow for long years； and
never had thought of marrying again。 Although her wedded life had been a
happy one； she considered that liberty is to be prized above all else； she
employed hers in a most irreproachable manner。 She was self… possessed；
even better acquainted with numbers than with dress； and managed her
property herself； which was by no means a trifling thing to do。 Liking to
make good use of her time； she thought to do it by busying herself in the
affairs of others。 She had a real vocation for the profession of a consulting
lawyer。 Usually her advice was sensible and judiciousnothing better
could be done than to follow it； only her clients complained that she
pronounced her sentences with too little tenderness； without granting any
appeal。 She was good； charitable； but lacked unction； and she had no
sympathy with the illusions of others。 A German poet； in making his New…
Year offerings； wishes that the rich may be kind…hearted； that the poor may
have bread； that the ladies may have pretty dresses； that the men may have
patience； that the foolish may get a little reason； and that sensible people
may grow poetic。 Mme。 de Lorcy was kind…hearted； she had pretty dresses
and a great deal of reason； but her reason was wanting in poetry； and
poetic people to whom she gave advice required a good deal of patience to
listen to the end。 Those who permitted themselves to despise her counsel；
and who were happy after their own fashion； incurred her lasting
displeasure。 She obstinately asserted to them that their seeming happiness
was all a deceit； that they had fastened a stone about their necks； and that；
without appearing to do so； at the bottom of their hearts they bitterly
repented。 She added； 〃It is not my fault； I told you； but you would not
believe me。〃
Mme。 de Lorcy had an almost maternal affection for her nephew； M。
Camille Langis。 Confident that he could not be otherwise than successful
in a love…affair； she promised him that he should marry Mlle。 Moriaz。 To
be sure； he was rather young； but she had decided that the question of age
made no difference； and that in all else there was a perfect fitness between
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the parties。 M。 Langis hesitated a long time about declaring himself。 He
said to Mme。 de Lorcy： 〃If she refuse me； I shall no longer be able to see
her； and so long as I can see her； I am only half…wretched。〃 It was Mme。 de
Lorcy who forced him to draw his sword and open the campaign； in which
she was to act as second。 This campaign had not been a successful one。
Deeply wounded at the refusal； which she had in vain attempted to prevent；
she was ready to force Mlle。 Moriaz into compliance。 They made her
believe； to pacify her； that the sentence was not definite； or at least that a
period of grace would be granted to the condemned。 M。 Langis set out for
Hungary； and he had now returned。 In the mean time； Antoinette had
refused two offers。 Mme。 de Lorcy had inferred this to be a favourable
omen for her projects。 Thus she felt annoyance mingled with anger on
receiving the following letter from M。 Moriaz：
〃DEAR MADAME：
〃You will be charmed to learn that I am extremely well。 My cheeks
are full； my complexion florid； my legs as nimble as a chamois； my
appetite like that of an ogre。 If ever you become anemic； which God forbid；
you should set out forthwith for Saint Moritz； and I shall soon have good
news from you。 Saint Moritz is a place where you find what you want； but
you find； besides； what you do not want。 I do not speak of bears； I have
not seen any； and should I meet one； I am strong enough to strangle it。
Besides； bears are taciturn animals； they never relate their histories； and
the only animals I fear are those that have the gift of narrating； and that
one is not allowed to strangle。 I will say no more。 Have I made myself
intelligible？ You are so intelligent。
〃Apropos； Antoinette sends you a sketch or a painting； I do not know
which； that will be handed to you by Count Abel Larinski。 He is a Pole； of
that there can be no doubt； you will perceive it at once。 I wish him well； he
was obliging enough to extricate me from a breakneck position into which
I had foolishly thrust myself。 That I have a pair of legs to walk on； and a
hand to write with； I owe to him。 I recommend him to your kind reception；
and I beg you to get him to relate his history。 He is one of those who
narrate； not every day； it is true； but when you touch the right spring； he
starts； and cannot be stopped。 Seriously； M。 Larinski is no ordinary man；
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you will find pleasure in his acquaintance。 I have discovered that he is in
rather embarrassed circumstances。 He is the son of an emigrant； whose
property has been confiscated。 His father was a half fool； who made great
attempts to cut a channel through the Isthmus of Panama； and never
succeeded in cutting his way through anything。 He was himself beginning
to earn money in San Francisco； when； in 1863； he gave everything up to
go and fight against the Russians。 This enthusiastic patriot has since
adopted the calling of an inventor； in which he has been unsuccessful； he
is now in search of a livelihood。 Do not think he will ask for anything； he
is an hidalgo； he wraps himself proudly in his poverty； as a Castilian does
in his cloak。 I am interested in him；； I want to assist him； give him a lift；
but； first； I wish to feel sure that he is worthy of my sympathy。 Examine
him closely； sift him well； I trust your eyes rather than my own； I have the
greatest faith in you