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The abbe knit his brows； his countenance assumed an expression of
chagrin and disapproval。 He was about delivering to his dear count a
sermon on the immorality and positive danger of free unions； but Samuel
Brohl gave him no time。 〃I am not going to Vienna to rejoin my mistress；〃
he interposed。 〃She never leaves me； she accompanies me everywhere； she
is here。〃
Abbe Miollens cast about him a startled； bewildered gaze； expecting to
see a woman start out of some closet or come forward from behind some
curtain。
〃I tell you that she is here；〃 repeated Samuel Brohl； pointing to an
alabaster statuette； posed on a /piedouche/。 The statuette represented a
woman bound tightly； on whom two Cossacks were inflicting the knout；
the socle bore the inscription； 〃Polonia vincta et flagellata。〃
The abbe's countenance became transformed in the twinkling of an eye；
the wrinkles smoothed away from his brow； his mouth relaxed； a joyous
light shone in his eyes。 〃How well it is that I came！〃 thought he。 〃And
under what obligations M。 Moriaz will be to me！〃
Turning towards Samuel he exclaimed：
〃I am simply a fool； I imagined Ah！ I comprehend； your mistress is
Poland； this is delightful； and it is truly a union that is as sacred as
marriage。 It has； besides； this advantagethat it interferes with nothing
else。 Poland is not jealous； and if； peradventure； you should meet a woman
worthy of you whom you would like to marry； your mistress would have
nothing to say against it。 To speak accurately； however； she is not your
mistress； one's country is one's mother； and reasonable mothers never
prevent their sons from marrying。〃
It was now Samuel's turn to assume a stern and sombre countenance。
His eye fixed upon the statuette； he replied：
〃You deceive yourself； M。 l'Abbe； I belong to her； I have no longer the
right to dispose of either my heart； or my soul； or my life； she will have
my every thought and my last drop of blood。 I am bound to her by my
vows quite as much； I think； as is the monk by his。〃
〃Excuse me； my dear count；〃 said the abbe； 〃this is fanaticism； or I
greatly mistake。 Since when have patriots come to take the vow of
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celibacy？ Their first duty is to become the fathers of children who will
become good citizens。 The day when there will cease to be Poles； there
will cease also to be a Poland。〃
Samuel Brohl interrupted him； pressing his arm earnestly； and saying：
〃Look at me well； have I not the appearance of an adventurer？〃 The
abbe recoiled。 〃This word shocks you？〃 continued Samuel。 〃Yes； I am a
man of adventures； born to be always on my feet； and ready to start off at a
moment's warning。 Marriage was not instituted for those whose lives are
liable at any time to be in jeopardy。〃 With a tragic accent； he added： 〃You
know what occurred in Bosnia。 How do we know that war may not very
shortly be proclaimed； and who can foresee the consequences？ I must hold
myself in readiness for the great day。 Perhaps an inscrutable Providence
may ere long offer me a new occasion to risk my life for my country；
perhaps Poland will call me； crying； 'Come； I have need of thee！' If I
should respond： 'I belong no more to myself； I have given my heart to a
woman who holds me in chains； I have henceforth a roof； a family； a
hearthstone； dear ties that I dare not break！' I ask you； M。 l'Abbe； would
not Poland have a right to say to me； 'Thou hast violated thy vow； thou
hast denied me； upon thy head rest forever my maledictions？' 〃
Abbe Miollens had just taken a pinch of snuff； and he hearkened to
this harangue； tapping his fingers impatiently on the lid of his handsome
gold snuff…box； which had been presented to him by the most amiable of
his penitents。
〃If this be the way you view it；〃 replied he； 〃is your conscience quite
tranquil； my dear friend？ for you will permit me； I trust； to call you so。 Ay；
is it sure that from your standpoint your conscience has no accusations to
make you？ Is it certain that your heart has not been unfaithful to its
mistress？ If I may believe a certain rumour that has reached my ear； there
took place a most singular scene yesterday at the house of Mme。 de
Lorcy。〃
Samuel Brohl trembled violently； he changed colour； he buried his
face in his hands； doubtless to hide from the abbe the blushes remorse had
caused to mantle his cheeks。 In a faint voice he murmured：
〃Not a word more！ you know not how deep a wound you have
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probed。〃
〃It is； then； true that you love Mlle。 Antoinette Moriaz？〃 asked the
abbe。
〃I have sworn that she never shall know it；〃 replied Samuel； in accents
of the most humble contrition。 〃Yesterday I had the unworthy weakness to
betray myself。 /Mon Dieu！/ what must she have thought of me？〃
As he spoke thus； his face buried in his hands； he slightly moved apart
his fingers； and fixed upon the abbe two glittering eyes that； like cats' eyes；
were capable of seeing clearly in the dark。
〃What she thinks of you！〃 echoed the abbe； taking a fresh pinch of
snuff。 〃Bah！ my dear count； women never are angry when a man swoons
away because of their bright eyes； especially when this man is a noble
chevalier； a true knight of the Round Table。 I have reason to believe that
Mlle。 Moriaz did not take your accident unkindly。 Shall I tell you my
whole thought？ I should not be surprised if you had touched her heart； and
that； if you take the pains； you may flatter yourself with the hope of one
day being loved by her。〃
At this moment the voice of his worthy friend appeared to Samuel
Brohl the most harmonious of all music。 He felt a delicious thrill quiver
through his frame。 The abbe was telling him nothing he had not known
before； but there are things of which we are certain； things that we have
told ourselves a hundred times； and yet that seem new when told us for the
first time by another。
〃You are not misleading me？〃 ejaculated Samuel Brohl； overwhelmed
with joy； transported beyond himself。 〃Can it really be true！One day I
may flatter myselfone day she may judge me worthy Ah！ what a
glorious vision you cause to pass before my eyes！ How good and cruel
together you are to me！ What bitterness is intermingled with the ineffable
sweetness of your words！ No； I never could have believed that there could
be so much joy in anguish； so much anguish in joy。〃
〃What would you imply； my dear count？〃 interposed Abbe Miollens。
〃Have you need of a negotiator？ I can boast of having had some
experience in that line。 I am wholly at your service。〃
These words calmed Samuel Brohl。 Quickly recovering himself； he
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coldly rejoined：
〃A negotiator？ What occasion would I have for a nego