Part 3 (2/2)

schemes enabled to mature The most precious life in Europe even was only to be saved if its price went to swell the pockets of de Batz, or to further his future aed an entire nation St Just felt as sickened with this self-seeking Royalist as he did with the savage brutes who struck to right or left for their own delectation He was s, with a hope of finding there a word for him from the chief--a word to remind him that men did live nowadays who had other aims besides their own advancement--other ideals besides the deification of self

The curtain had descended on the first act, and traditionally, as the works of M de Moliere deain without any interval St Just rose ready with a pretext for parting with his friend The curtain was being slowly drawn up on the second act, and disclosed Alceste in wrathful conversation with Celi speech is short Whilst the actor spoke it Are; with hand outstretched, he waswhat he hoped would prove a polite excuse for thus leaving his aun

De Batz--vexed and impatient--had not by any ht that his specious arguments--delivered with boundless conviction--hadman That impression, however, he desired to deepen, and whilst Aroing away, de Batz was racking his to find one for keeping him here

Then it was that the ard demon Chance intervened Had St Just risen but two ested the desired excuse more readily, who knohat unspeakable sorrohat heartrending ht have been spared both him and those for whom he cared? Those two minutes--did he but know it--decided the whole course of his future life The excuse hovered on his lips, de Batz reluctantly was preparing to bid hih in answer to her quarrelso out to his friend and to turn back towards the stage

It was an exquisite voice that had spoken--a voice mellow and tender, with deep tones in it that betrayed latent power The voice had caused Ared the first tiny link of that chain which riveted him forever after to the speaker

It is difficult to say if such a thing really exists as love at first sight Poets and romancists will have us believe that it does; idealists swear by it as being the only true love worthy of the name

I do not know if I aard to Are's exquisite voice certainly had charet his et away Mechanically ale of the box, he rested his chin in his hand, and listened The words which the late M de Moliere puts into the h, yet every tie's lips moved Armand watched her, entranced

There, no doubt, thee--'tis a s a weary trail of tragic circumstances

Armand, who had a passion for e's perfect voice until the curtain came down on the last act, had not his friend de Batz seen the keen enchant enthusiast

Now de Batz was a man who never allowed an opportunity to slip by, if that opportunity led towards the furtherance of his own desires He did not want to lose sight of Ariven hi what he wanted

He waited quietly until the fall of the curtain at the end of Act II; then, as Arht, leaned back in his chair, and closing his eyes appeared to be living the last half-hour all over again, de Batz ree is a pro actress Do you not think so, my friend?”

”She has a perfect voice--it was exquisite melody to the ear,” replied Armand ”I was conscious of little else”

”She is a beautiful wo the next act, est that you open your eyes as well as your ears”

Are seemed in harraceful, with a sure, which appeared still more so above the wide hoops and draped panniers of the fashi+ons of Moliere's ti man hardly knew Measured by certain standards, she certainly was not so, for herbut classical in outline But the eyes were brown, and they had that half-veiled look in the lashes that seemed to make a perpetual tender appeal to the masculine heart: the lips, too, were full andwhite

Yes!--on the whole we h we did not admit that she was beautiful

Painter David has made a sketch of her; we have all seen it at the Musee Carnavalet, and all wondered why that charular, little face made such an impression of sadness

There are five acts in ”Le Misanthrope,” during which Celie At the end of the fourth act de Batz said casually to his friend:

”I have the honour of personal acquaintanceshi+p with Mlle Lange An you care for an introduction to her, we can go round to the green room after the play”

Did prudence then whisper, ”Desist”? Did loyalty to the leader murmur, ”Obey”? It were indeed difficult to say Are's s of prudence or even than the call of duty

He thanked de Batz war the last half-hour, while the misanthropical lover spurned repentant Celimene, he was conscious of a curious sensation of i to hear those full e brown eyes throw their half-veiled look into his own

CHAPTER IV MADEMOISELLE LANGE

The green-room was crohen de Batz and St Just arrived there after the perforh the open door The crowd did not suit his purpose, and he dragged his coe, sitting in a far corner of the roo, and by innumerable floral tributes offered to her beauty and to her success