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Blessed be the chance that made us acquainted！ You lived retired； solitary；
unknown； in a miserable hovel just outside of Bucharest。 So goes the
world！ You were in hidingyou who had nothing to hide from either God
or man you who deserved a crown。 Alas！ the Russian Government had
the poor taste not to appreciate your exploits； and you feared that it would
claim and obtain your extradition。 At our first meeting I pleased you； and
you took me into your friendship； I spoke Polish； and you loved music。 I
became your intimate friend； your sole companion； your confidant。 You
must grant that you owe to me the last happy moments of your short
existence。 I soon knew your origin； the history of your youth； of your
enterprises； and of your misfortunes。 You initiated me into the secret of the
great invention that you had just made； you explained to me in detail the
mechanism of your famous gun。 I was intelligent； I understood； or thought
I understood。 This gun； you said； would one day make my fortune； for； on
your own account； you had renounced all hope； you had heart…disease； and
you knew that you were condemned to a speedy end。 My imagination was
kindled。 Through my entreaty you decided to leave with me for Vienna。
This expedition was fatal to you； but I swear to you I did not foresee it。〃
Samuel crossed his hands on his knee； then he continued： 〃May my
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth； may my blood cease to flow in my
veins； may the marrow dry up in my bones； if ever I forget to be grateful
for what I owe to you； Abel Larinski； or cease to remember the forlorn
hovel in which we passed the first night of our journey！ You were attacked
by suffocation。 You had only time to call and wake me。 I hastened to you。
You gave me； in a dying voice； your last instructions。 You delivered into
my hands your last fifty florins； which were as acceptable as an orange
would have been to the shipwrecked passengers of the Medusa。 Then you
pointed with your finger to a box； in which were inclosed family relics；
letters； your journal； and papers。 You said： 'Destroy all that； Poland is dead；
let no one remember that I have lived！' After that you breathed your last。
Well！ I confess that I did not fulfil your orders。 I kept your mother's
portrait； the papers； all； and； in announcing your decease to the police； I
made them believe that the man who was dead was named Samuel Brohl；
and that Count Larinski still lived。 What would you have me do？ The
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temptation was too great。 Samuel Brohl had disgraceful antecedents； he
was base…born； he had been sold； there was a stain on his past that never
could be wiped away； and； as he had had the misfortune to read the poets；
it had come about that he often despised himself。 It was； indeed； time that
he should be thrown into the shade； and my joy was extreme to know that
he was dead； and to feel that I was alive。 As soon as I succeeded in
persuading myself that I was indeed Count Abel Larinski； I was as happy
as a child whose parents have dressed him in new clothes； and who struts
about to show them。 With your name I acquired a noble past； in thought； I
roamed through it with delight； I visited its every nook and corner； as a
poor devil would make the circuit of a park that he has just come to inherit。
You bequeathed me your relations； your adventures； your exploits。 When
you fought for your country； I was there； when you received a gun…shot…
wound near Dubrod； it was into my flesh that the bullet penetrated。 Of
what do you complain？ Between friends is not everything in common？ I
left my own skin； I entered yours； I was satisfied there； and desired to
remain。 To…day I resemble you in everything； I assure you that if we were
seen together it would be difficult to tell us apart。 I have assumed your
habits； your manners； your language； the poise of your head； your playful
melancholy； your pride； your opinions； all； even to the colour of your hair
and your handwriting。 Abel Larinski； I have become you： I mistake； I am
more Pole； more Larinski； than you were yourself。〃
At this moment Samuel Brohl had a singular expression of
countenance； his gaze was fixed。 He was no longer of this worldhe
conversed with a spirit； but he was neither terrified nor awed； as was
Hamlet in talking to the shade of his father。 He treated familiarly the shade
of the true Abel Larinski； it was precisely as we treat a partner that has
transacted business with us in the same firm。
〃It is very true； my dear Abel；〃 he continued； 〃that the principle of
partnership accomplishes wonders； one man alone is a small affair。 But； of
all partnerships； the most useful and convenient is the one that we have
made together。 The living and the dead can render each other important
services； and they never quarrel。 You should be satisfied； you play a fine
role； you are the signature of the house。 We will not speak of your gun；
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that was a poor speculation； for which I scarcely can pardon you。 It was
the fault of your disordered brain that we wandered off on that bypath； but；
thanks be to Heaven！ we have at last gained the highway。 Five weeks ago
we met a woman； and what a woman！ She has velvety…brown eyes；
whence glances well forth like fresh and living waters。 To praise her grace
properly； I must borrow the language of the 'Song of Solomon'： 'Thy lips；
O my spouse！ drop as the honey…comb； honey and milk are under thy
tongue； and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon。 This
thy stature is like to a palm…tree。 Thou art all fair； my love； there is no spot
in thee。 A garden inclosed is my sister； my spouse： a spring shut upa
fountain sealed。' Some day she will cry out； with the Shulamite； 'Let my
beloved come into his garden； and eat his pleasant fruits。' She belongs to
us； my dear Larinskimy dear partner； she had yielded； and you and I
share the honour of the victory。 I presented myself before her； and my
presence did not displease her。 I related to her your history； as you would
have related it yourself； with delicacy and simplicity； neither adding nor
omitting。 Her heart was touched； her heart was taken captive。 You will
wed hershe will bear your name； but you will marry her by proxy； and I
shall be your proctor。 I promise to consider myself your mandatory； or； to
express it better； you will own the property and I will have the usufruct。
Never fear that I shall forget what I owe to you； or the modesty proper to
my estate。〃
At these words； he made a grand gesture； as if to banish the phantom
that he had conjured up； and that fled away trembling with sorrow； shame；
and indignation。 The peacock cried anew a mournful shriek。 〃Stupid bird！〃
thought Samuel Brohl； quaking with sudden dread。
He looked at his watch； and reflected that the hour was advancing
that he was losing time with the spirits。 He rose hastily； and wended his
way toward Cormeilles； thence he wished to come upon a sunny path that
led to the banks of the Seine；