Listen further： 'Lollius detested fraud and cupidity； he despised money which seduces most men--/abstinens ducentis ad se cuncta pecuniae/.' This trait is very striking； I find even， between ourselves， that our dear count despises money entirely too much， he turns from it in horror， its very name is odious to him； he is an Epictetus， he is a Diogenes， he is an anchorite of ancient times who would live happily in a Thebaid.He told us himself that it made little difference to him whether he dined on a piece of bread and a glass of water， or in luxury at the Café Anglais.But I have not finished.'Happy be those，' exclaimed Horace， 'who know how to suffer uncomplainingly the hardships of poverty--/qui duram que callet pauperiem pati/！' Of whom does he speak--of Lollius， or of our friend， who not only endures his poverty but who loves it， cherishes it as a lover adores his mistress？ And the final trait， what to you think of it？ Lollius was always ready to die for his country--'/non ille pro patria timidus perire/.' In good faith， is it not curious？ Does it not seem as though Horace had known Count Larinski at Rome or at Tibur？""I do not doubt it for an instant，" replied M.Moriaz， taking the book from the hands of Abbe Miollens and placing it respectfully on the table."Luckily， our friend Larinski， as you call him， fell upon the excellent idea of resuscitating himself some thirty years ago， which procured for us the great joy of meeting him at Saint Moritz； and while we are on the subject-- My dear abbe， have you a free， impartial mind？ Can you listen to me？ I have a question to propound， an elucidation to demand.It is not only the friend to whom I address myself， it is the confessor， the director of consciences， the man of the whole universe in whose discretion I place most reliance.""I am all ears，" responded the abbe， crossing the shapely legs in which he took no little pride.
M.Moriaz entered at once into the subject that troubled him.It was some moments before Abbe Miollens divined whither he was tending.As soon as he had grasped a ray of light， his face contracted， and uncrossing his limbs， he cried： "Ah， what a misfortune！ You will have to renounce your delightful dream， my dear Monsieur， and， believe me， no one can be more grieved than I.I fully comprehend with what joy you would have seen your charming daughter consecrate， I will not say her fortune， for you know as well as I how little Count Larinski would care for that， but consecrate， I say， her graces， her beauty， and all the qualities of her angelic character to the happiness of a man of rare merit who has been cruelly scourged by Providence.She loves him， she is loved by him； Heaven would have blest their union.Ah， what a misfortune！ I must repeat it， this marriage is impossible； our friend is already married.""You are sure of it？" cried M.Moriaz， in a burst of enthusiasm that the good abbe mistook for an access of despair.
"I scarcely can pardon myself for causing you this pain.You ask if Iam sure of it！ I have it from our friend himself.One evening， apropos of I scarcely remember what， it occurred to me to ask if he were married， and he replied， briefly： 'I thought I had told you so.' Ah！
my dear professor， it were needless to discuss whether such a marriage would be a happy one， for it never can take place.""Well， now we have something positive，" M.Moriaz hastened to observe， "and there is nothing to do but yield to evidence.""Alas！ yes，" rejoined the abbe； and， then， after a pause， during which he wore a reflective air， he added， "However--""There is no 'however，' M.l'Abbe.Believe me， your word suffices.""But I might possibly have misunderstood.""I have entire confidence in your ears--they are excellent.""But pray allow me to observe that it is never worth while to despair too soon.Do you know what？ Count Larinski came recently to see me without finding me at home.I owe him a farewell visit.To-morrow morning， I promise you， I will call on him.""For what purpose？" interrupted M.Moriaz."I thank you a thousand times for your kindly intentions， but God forbid that I should uselessly interfere with your daily pursuits； your time is too precious！ I declare myself completely edified.I consider the proof firmly established； there is no further doubt."As Madame de Lorcy had remarked， Abbe Miollens was not one to easily relax his hold upon an idea he had once deemed good.In vain M.Moriaz combated his proposition， bestowing secret maledictions on his excess of zeal； the abbe would not give up， and M.Moriaz was forced to be resigned.It was agreed that the next day the worthy man should call on Count Larinski， and that from Paris he should repair to Cormeilles， in order to communicate to the proper person the result of his mission.M.Moriaz perceived the advantage of having Antoinette learn from the abbe's own lips the fatal truth； and he did not leave without impressing upon him to be very circumspect， as prudent as a serpent， as discreet as a father confessor.He started for home with quite a contented mind， seeing the future lie smoothly and pleasantly before him， and it really seemed to him that the drive from Maisons to Cormeilles was a much shorter and more agreeable one than that from Cormeilles to Maisons.
