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！
〃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
181
… Page 182…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
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
182
… Page 183…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
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/？' 〃
183
… Page 184…
SAMUEL BROHL & COMPANY
〃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！ yo