登陆注册
19909700000041

第41章

"Perhaps I am now too late.Madame distrusts me.I dare say she has her reasons.She went to you.You were to occupy me.I was young, I liked the society of women, I was gay and careless.She has decked me out as one would deck a monkey (and doubtless she calls me one behind my back), and has offered me a sword to play with.

"In America, when a man puts a sword in his hand, it is to kill somebody.Here--aye, all over the continent, for that matter--swords are baubles for young nobles, used to slash each other in love affairs.I respect and admire you; had I not done so, Ishould not have spoken.Countess, be frank with me, as frank as I have been with you; have I not guessed rightly?""Yes, Monsieur," her head bowed and her cheeks white."Yes, yes!

it was a miserable game.But I love Madame; I would sacrifice my pride and my heart for her, if need be.""I can believe that."

"And believe me when I say that the moment I saw you, I knew that my conduct was going to be detestable.But I had given my promise.A woman has but little to offer to her country; I have offered my pride, and I am a proud woman, Monsieur.I am ashamed.

I am glad that you spoke, for it was becoming unbearable to throw myself at a man whose heart I knew intuitively to be elsewhere." She raised her eyes, which were filled with a strange luster."Will you forgive me, Monsieur?""With all my heart.For now I know that we shall be friends.You will be relieved of an odious part; for you are too handsome not to have in keeping some other heart besides your own."He then began gaily to describe some of his humorous adventures, and continued in this vein till they arrived once more at the chateau.Sometimes the countess laughed, but he could see that her sprightliness was gone.When they came under the porte cochere he sprang from his horse and assisted her to dismount;and he did not relinquish her hand till he had given it a friendly pressure.She stood motionless on the steps, centered a look on him which he failed to interpret, then ran swiftly into the hall, thence to her room, the door of which she bolted.

"It would not be difficult," he mused, communing with the thought which had come to him."It would be something real, and not a chimera."He turned over the horses to the grooms, and went in search of Fitzgerald to inform him of his discovery; but the Englishman was nowhere to be found.Neither was Madame.Being thirsty, he proceeded to the dining hall.Fadette, the maid, was laying the silver.

"Ah, the `pantry maid,'" he thought."Good day, Fadette.""Does Monsieur wish for something?"

"A glass of water.Thanks!"

She retreated and kept her eyes lowered.

"Fadette, you are charming.Has any one ever told you that?""O, Monsieur!" blushing.

"Have they?" lessening the distance between them.

"Sometimes," faintly.She could not withstand his glance, so she retired a few more steps, only to find herself up with the wall.

With a laugh he sprang forward and caught her face between his hands and imprinted a kiss on her left cheek.Suddenly she wrenched herself loose, uttered a frightened cry and fled down the pantryway.

"What's the matter with the girl?" he muttered aloud."I wanted to ask her some questions.""Ask them of me, Monsieur," said a voice from the doorway.

Maurice wheeled.It was Madame, but her face expressed nothing.

He saw that he had been caught.The humor of the situation got the better of him, and he laughed.Madame ignored this unseemly hilarity.

"Monsieur, is this the way you return my kindness?""Permit me to apologize.As to your kindness, I have just discovered that it is of a most dangerous quality.""What do you mean?"

"I mean that I could not kiss Madame the countess with the same sense of security as I could the-- pantry maid," bowing.

Just now Madame's face expressed a good deal."Of what are you talking?" advancing a step.

"I had in mind what our friend, Colonel Beauvais, remarked in his recent dispatch: I know no discrimination.The fact is, I do.

I found the dispatch on the floor this morning.Allow me to return it to you.I have kept silent, Madame, because I did not know how to act.""You have dared--?" her lips pressed and her eyes thunderous.

"To read it? Aye.I am a prisoner; it was in self-defense.

Madame, you do me great honor.A countess! What consideration to the indiscriminate! Au revoir, then, till luncheon;" and he left the room, whistling--Voici le sabre de mon pere!

同类推荐
  • H307

    H307

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 八大菩萨曼荼罗经

    八大菩萨曼荼罗经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 谥法

    谥法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孙文垣医案

    孙文垣医案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灵宝无量度人上品妙经符图

    灵宝无量度人上品妙经符图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 戮世勋爵

    戮世勋爵

    天道崩裂,衍化万界,吾为道而争,血染四方,故世人皆称我为魔。魔又何妨?吾心无悔,天弃我,吾为命而战,只求心安。书友群:【161191232】,欢迎大家入驻。【感谢阅文书评团提供书评支持!】
  • 沧海月明珠有泪

    沧海月明珠有泪

    来自现代人的灵魂,有着古代人的许多束缚,爱情终归何处?是英勇霸气的少年天子?还是年少英雄的魔教之主?抑或是情深旖旎的音辰楼主?一切尽在不言中……
  • 在历史的拐点上:世纪伟人邓小平的智慧和胆识

    在历史的拐点上:世纪伟人邓小平的智慧和胆识

    一代伟人邓小平是新中国第一代中央领导集体的重要成员,第二代领导集体的核心,改革开放的总设计师。值此纪念邓小平南方谈话20周年之际,本书选择邓小平波澜壮阔的一生中所经历的重大事件,以最新的认识视角记述历史的真实,追思这位世纪老人对中国革命和建设的丰功伟绩,景仰一代领袖的雄才大略,再次领悟一代伟人的智谋和胆识。
  • 后青春虐恋

    后青春虐恋

    萧刹是一个来自小县城的男孩,在高中认识了雨希这个女孩,从此开启了单边受虐的爱情,这部小说是本人的亲生经历,这段孽缘本人希望能忘记,但是忘不了
  • 穿越红楼之蛮玉难降

    穿越红楼之蛮玉难降

    “贾宝玉,我要抱~”他目不斜视的看着手中的书,“我宁愿去抱猪。”“你嫌弃我!我要回娘家!”
  • 我的梦里有你,最爱的真知棒

    我的梦里有你,最爱的真知棒

    丫头,这算是写给你的一封礼物吧,我答应过你会写出来的,意外么?
  • 神域天痕

    神域天痕

    紫气东来,乾坤无量,傲绝苍穹,龙渊之源,血飒之露,月华之巅,龙腾虎跃,凤舞九天,米粒之珠岂能与皓月争辉!诸位可愿与吾一起,踏破这天这地?
  • 诺守

    诺守

    忘不掉,爱不了,舍不得,只能这样下去,改变不了自己的心意,不承认也无法忘怀的爱。
  • 红云的进击之路

    红云的进击之路

    混沌三千大道代表三千尊位,由于三千神魔的逝去,宇宙万族生灵为了求证那三千大道,付出了无穷的代价,公元2000年,一位年轻人穿越洪荒,发出了我命由我不由天的悲声,但却被一声娇喝打断,“说,你还逆天吗?”看着眼前磨拳擦掌的人,“不敢了”红云说着还打个寒颤……
  • 赤炼

    赤炼

    我叫初颜,师傅说我是他从山下的草堆里拣来的。当第一缕晨光照到我的身上的时候,他发现了我,我安静的躺着,没有哭。师傅说他抱起我的时候我对他笑了。所以他决定收我做徒弟。我既然笑了。那自便是同意了。师傅如是说。