In all that Samuel Brohl did, even in his wildest freaks, there was somewhat of calculation, or contrivance.Unquestionably, he had experienced intense displeasure at encountering M.Camille Langis at Cormeilles; he had, doubtless, very particular and very personal reasons for not liking him.He knew, however, that there was need for controlling his temper, his impressions, his rancour; and, if he ceased to do so for a moment, it was because he counted upon deriving advantage therefrom.He was impatient to enter into possession, to feel his good-fortune sheltered from all hazards; delays, procrastinations, long waiting, displeased and irritated him.He suspected M.Moriaz of purposely putting his shoulder to the wheel of time, and of preparing a contract that would completely tie the hands of Count Larinski.He resolved to seize the first opportunity of proving that he was mistrustful, stormy, susceptible, in the hope that Mlle.Moriaz would become alarmed and say to her father, "I intend to marry in three weeks, and without any conditions." The opportunity had presented itself, and Samuel Brohl had taken good care not to lose it.
The next day he received the following note:
"You have caused me pain, a great deal of pain.Already! I passed a sorrowful evening, and slept wretchedly all night.I have reflected seriously upon our dispute; I have endeavoured to persuade myself that I was in the wrong: I have neither been able to succeed, nor to comprehend you.Ah! how your lack of confidence astonishes me! It is so easy to believe when one loves.Please write me word quickly that you also have reflected, and that you have acknowledged your misdemeanour.I will not insist upon your doing penance, your face humbled to the ground; but I will condemn you to love me to-day more than yesterday, to-morrow more than to-day.Upon these conditions, I will pass a sponge across your grave error, and we shall speak of it no more.
"Ever yours.It is agreed, is it not?"
Samuel Brohl had the surprise of receiving at the same time anotherletter, thus worded:
"MY DEAR COUNT: I cannot explain to myself your conduct; you no longer give me any signs of life.I believed that I had some claims upon you, and that you would hasten to announce to me in person the great event of events, and seek my congratulations.
Come, I beg of you, and dine this evening at Maisons with Abbe Miollens, who is dying to embrace you; he studies men in Horace, you know, and he finds none whom he prefers to you.
"You need not answer, but come; else I will be displeased with you as long as I live."Samuel replied as follows to Mlle.Moriaz:
"Be assured I have suffered more than you.Forgive me; much should be forgiven a man who has suffered much.My imagination is subject to the wildest alarms.Great, unlooked-for joy has rendered me mistrustful.I have been especially low-spirited of late.After having resolutely fought against my happiness, I tremble now lest it escape me; it appears to me too beautiful not to prove only a dream.To be loved by you! How can I help fearing to lose the great boon? Each evening I ask myself: 'Will she still love me to-morrow?' Perhaps my anxiety is blended with secret remorse.My pride, ever on the alert to take umbrage, has often been my torment; you can tell me it is only self-love: I will endeavour to cure myself of it, but this cannot be done in a day.During these long months of waiting there will come to me more than one suspicion, more than one troubled thought.I promise you, however, that I shall maintain a rigid silence concerning them, and, if possible, hide them.
"You condemn me, for my punishment, to love you to-day more than yesterday; you know well this were impossible.No; I shall inflict upon myself another chastisement.Mme.de Lorcy has invited me to dinner.I suspect her of having a very mediocre feeling of good-will for me, and I also accuse her of being cold and insensible;of understanding nothing whatever of the heart's unreasonableness, which is true wisdom.Nevertheless, I will refrain from declining her invitation.It is at Maisons and not at Cormeilles that Ishall this day pass my evening.Are you content with me? Is not the penance severe enough?
"But to-morrow--oh! I shall arrive at your home to-morrow by two o'clock, and I shall enter by the little green gate at the foot of the orchard.Will you do me a favour? Promenade about two o'clock in the gravel-walk that I adore.The wall being low at that place, I shall perceive from afar, before entering, the white silk of your sun-umbrella.I am counting, you see, upon sunshine.How very childish! Yet, even this is not strange; I was born three months and a half ago; I commenced to live July 5th of this year; at four o'clock in the afternoon, in the cathedral at Chur.Forgive me all my errors, my suspicions, my childish absurdities."Mlle.Moriaz concluded that it would be well to shorten the term of waiting, and that she would ask Count Larinski to fix the date of their marriage himself.As to the contract, she had immediate occasion to speak of it to her father, who announced to her that he had invited his notary, Maitre Noirot, to dine with him the next day.
She was silent a few moments, and then said, "Can you explain to me the use of notaries?"He replied about as did /le Philosophe sans le savoir/: "We only see the present; notaries foresee the future and possible contingencies."She replied that she did not believe in contingencies, and that she did not like precautions, because they presupposed distrust, and might appear offensive.
"We have charming weather to-day," said her father; "nevertheless there is a possibility of rain to-morrow.If I started this evening on a journey, I should carry my umbrella, without fearing to insult Providence.Who speaks to you of offending M.Larinski? Not content with approving of the step I propose taking, he will thank me for it.
