"It is very certain," he observed, "that two years ago I must have appeared supremely ridiculous to you.This little playmate of old, this foolish little Camille, to attempt to transform himself into a husband! The pretension was absurd indeed.""Not at all," she replied; "but I thought at once that it was a mistake.Little Camilles are apt to be hot-headed and fanciful; they are subject to self-deceptions regarding their sentiments.Friendship and love, however, are two entirely different things! I once said to Mlle.Moiseney that a woman never should marry an intimate friend, because it would be a sure way of losing him as such, and friends are good to keep.""Bah! How much do you care now for yours? I find my role very modest, very insignificant.Open the trap-door--it is time for me to disappear.""Bad counsel! I shall not open the trap-door.One always has need of friends.I can readily imagine the possibility of the very happiest married woman needing some advice or assistance that she could not ask of her husband, for husbands do not understand everything.If ever such a thing happens to me, Camille, I shall turn to you.""Agreed!" he cried; "to help you out of embarrassment, I would run, if necessary, all the way from Transylvania."He held out his right hand, which she shook warmly.
At this moment they heard a step that Mlle.Moriaz at once recognised, and Count Larinski appeared from the walk bordering the house.
Antoinette hastened to meet him, and led him forward by laying hold of the tip of his glove, which he was in the act of drawing off.
"Gentlemen," said she, "I do not need to present you to each other;you are already acquainted."
It is a very difficult thing to lead two men who do not like each other into conversation: the present effort proved a total failure.
Fortunately for all parties, M.Moriaz shortly made his appearance at the end of the terrace, and M.Langis arose to join him.Antoinette remained alone with Samuel Brohl, who at once rather brusquely asked:
"Has M.Langis the intention of remaining here forever?""He has only just arrived," she replied.
"And you will send him away soon?"
"I thought so little of sending him away that I asked him to dinner, in order to give you an opportunity of becoming more fully acquainted with him.""I thank you for your amiable intentions, but M.Langis pleases me little.""What have you against him?"
"I have met him sometimes at Mme.de Lorcy's, and he always has shown me a most dubious politeness.I scent in him an enemy.""Pure imagination! M.Langis has been my friend from childhood up, and I have forewarned him that it is his duty to love the people whom Ilove."
"I mistrust these childhood's friends," said he, growing excited."Ishould not wonder if this youth was in love with you.""Ah, indeed! then you should have heard him but now.He has been reminding me, this youth, that two years ago he sought my hand, and he assured me that forty-eight hours sufficed to console him for my refusal.""I did not know that the case was so grave, or the personage so dangerous.Truly, do you mean to keep him to dinner?""I invited him; can I retract?"
"Very well, I will leave the place," he cried, rising.
She uplifted her eyes to his face and remained transfixed with astonishment, so completely was his face transformed.His contracted brows formed an acute angle, and he had a sharp, hard, evil air.This was a Larinski with whom she was not yet acquainted, or rather it was Samuel Brohl who had just appeared to her--Samuel Brohl, who had entered upon the scene as suddenly as though he had emerged from a magic surprise-box.She could not remove her eyes from him, and he at once perceived the impression he was making on her.Forthwith Samuel Brohl re-entered his box, whose cover closed over him, and it was a true Pole who said to Mlle.Moriaz, in a grave, melancholy, and respectful tone:
"Pardon me, I am not always master of my impressions.""That is right," said she; "and you will remain, won't you?""Impossible," he replied; "I should be cross, and you would not be pleased."She urged him; he opposed her entreaties with a polite but firm resistance.
"Adieu," said she."When shall I see you again?""To-morrow--or the day after--I do not know.""Really, do you not know?"
He perceived that her eyes were full of tears.Tenderly kissing her hand he said, with a smile that consoled her:
"This is the first time we have had any dispute; it is possible that Imay be wrong, but it seems to me that if I were a woman I would not willingly marry a man who was always right."These words uttered, he assured himself anew that her eyes were humid, and then he left, charmed to have proved the extent of the empire he held over her.
When she rejoined M.Langis, the young man asked:
"Does it chance to be I who put Count Larinski to flight? If so, Ishould be quite heart-broken."
"Reassure yourself," said she, "he came expressly to inform me that his evening was not free."The dinner was only passably lively.Mlle.Moiseney owed M.Langis a grudge; she could not forgive him for having made fun of her more than once--in her eyes an unpardonable sin.M.Moriaz was enchanted to find himself once more in company with his dear Camille; but he kept asking himself, mournfully, "Why is not he to be my son-in-law?" Antoinette had several attacks of abstraction; she did not, however, omit the least friendly attention to Camille.Love had become master of this generous soul; it might cause it to commit many imprudences, but it was not in its power to cause it to commit an injustice.
At nine o'clock M.Langis mounted his horse and took his departure.
Meanwhile, Mlle.Moriaz, her arm resting on the ledge of her window, was meditating on the strange conduct of Count Larinski as she gazed on the stars; the sky was without clouds, unless a little black speck above Mount-Valerien might be so called.Mlle.Moriaz's heart swelled with emotion, and she felt implicit confidence that all would be arranged the next day.What is one black spot in the immensity of a starry sky?
