You are wanting in respect for the Institute.Besides, my dear boy, people change in two years; you are a proof of it.You have developed from boyhood almost into manhood, and you have done well to let your imperial grow; it gives you quite a dashing military air--one would divine at first sight that you were fresh from Hungary.But, while you have changed for the better, are you sure that Antoinette has not changed for the worse? Are you sure that she is still the Antoinette of your romance?""I beg your pardon; I saw her just now, without her seeing me.She was promenading on your arm in the hotel-garden, which was lit up in her honour.Formerly she was enchanting, she has become adorable.If you would have the immense goodness to give her to me, I would be capable of doing anything agreeable to you.I would relieve you of all your little troublesome jobs; I would clean your retorts; I would put labels on your bottles and jars; I would sweep out your laboratory.Iknow German very well--I would read all the large German books it might please you to consult; I would read them, pen in hand; I would make extracts--written extracts--and such extracts! /Grand Dieu!/ they would be like copperplate.My dear master, will you give her to me?""The absurd creature! He imagines that it only depends upon me to give him my daughter.I could as easily dispose of the moon.Since she has had teeth, she had made me desire everything she desires.""At least you will give me permission to pay my addresses to her to-morrow?""Beware, unlucky youth!" cried M.Moriaz."You will ruin your case forever.Since you have been away she has refused two offers, one of them from a second secretary of legation, Viscount de R---, and at the present moment she holds in holy horror all suitors.She is accompanying me to Saint Moritz in order to gather flowers and paint aquarelle sketches of them.Should you presume to interrupt her in her favourite occupations, should you present yourself before her like a creditor on the day of maturity, I swear to you that your note would be protested, and that you would have nothing better to do than return to Hungary.""You are sure of it?"
"As sure as that sulphuric acid will turn litmus red.""And you have the heart to sent me back to Paris without having spoken with her?""What I have said is for your good, and you know whether I mean you well or not.""It is agreed, then, that you will take charge of my interests; that you will plead my cause?""It is understood that I will sound the premises, that I will prepare the way--""And that you will send me tidings shortly, and that these tidings will be good.I shall await them here, at the Hotel Steinbock.""As you please; but, for the love of Heaven, let me sleep!"M.Camille Langis pressed his two arms and said, with much emotion: "Iplace myself in your hands; take care how you answer for my life!""O youth!" murmured M.Moriaz, actually thrusting Camille from the room."One might search in vain for a more beautiful invention."Ten hours later, a post-chaise bore in the direction of Engadine Mlle.
Antoinette Moriaz, her father, her /demoiselle de compagnie/, and her /femme de chambre/.They breakfasted tolerably well in a village situated in the lower portion of a notch, called Tiefenkasten, which means, literally, /deep chest/, and certainly a deeper never has been seen.After breakfast they pursued their way farther, and towards four o'clock in the afternoon they reached the entrance of the savage defile of Bergunerstein, which deserves to be compared with that of Via Mala.The road lies between a wall of rocks and a precipice of nearly two hundred metres, at the bottom of which rush the swift waters of the Albula.This wild scenery deeply moved Mlle.Moriaz; she never had seen anything like it at Cormeilles or anywhere about Paris.
She alighted, and, moving towards the parapet, leaned over it, contemplating at her ease the depths below, which the foaming torrent beneath filled with its roars.
Her father speedily joined her.
"Do you not find this music charming?" she asked of him.
"Charming, I grant," he replied; "but more charming still are those brave workmen who, at the risk of their necks, have engineered such a suspended highway as we see here.I think you admire the torrent too much, and the road not enough." And after a pause he added, "I wish that our friend Camille Langis had had fewer dangers to contend with in constructing his." Antoinette turned quickly and looked at her father; then she bestowed her attention once more upon the Albula."To be sure," resumed M.Moriaz, stroking his whiskers with the head of his cane, "Camille is just the man to make his way through difficulties.He has a youthful air that is very deceptive, but he always has been astonishingly precocious.At twenty years of age he became head of his class at the Central School; but the best thing about him is that, although in possession of a fortune, yet he has a passion for work.The rich man who works accepts voluntary poverty."There arose from the precipice a damp, chill breeze; Mlle.Moriaz drew over her head a red hood that she held in her hand, and scraping off with her finger some of the facing of the parapet, which glittered with scales of mica, she asked: "What do you call this?""It is gneiss, a sort of sheet-granite; but do not you too admire people who work when they are not compelled to do anything?""Then you must admire yourself a great deal.""Oh, I! In my early youth I worked from necessity, and then I formed a habit which I cannot now get rid of; while Camille Langis--""Once more?" she ejaculated, with a gesture of impatience."What prompts you to speak to me of Camille?""Nothing.I often think of him."
