Volume III Part 65 (2/2)
”What robbed me? When? How? Can you return ht you capable of such a thing I never forgive a robber or a liar”
”You are too hasty, sir I aiveto return to you the theft”
”You are a singular woiveness, but restore immediately what you have taken”
”This is what I stole”
”What! that monster's letter? Did you read it?”
”Yes, of course, for otherwise I should not have committed a theft, should I?”
”You have robbed ive ”
”I confess I have My theft is all the greater in that I cannot make restoration Nevertheless, I proht to gain me my pardon Give it ive you, and here is the pledge ofI fastened my lips on hers
”I don't doubt the validity of your pardon; you have signed with a double and a triple seal”
”Yes; but for the future do not read, or so much as touch, any of my papers, as I am the depositary of secrets of which I aood; but what shall I do when I find papers on the ground, as that letter was?”
”You must pick them up, but not read them”
”I proet the horrors you have read”
”Listen to me Allow ainer Let us talk over this affair, which has iven you two mortal blows--one in the body and one in the soul; but that is not the worst, as she thinks that Mada, is the worst of all; for, in spite of the affront, your ht continue, and the disease which the infamous creature has communicated to you would pass off; but if the malicious wo et the matter, then, but let us talk it over and see what can be done”
I thought I was drea with more acuteness than Minerva displays in her colloquies with Telemachus She had captured not only my esteem but my respect
”Yes, my dear,” I answered, ”let us think over so a woood ht that we have some chance of success makes me indebted to you Let us think of it and talk of it froht Think kindly of Madame----, pardon her first slip, protect her honour, and have pity on my distress From henceforth call me no more your master but your friend I will be your friend till death; I swear it to you What you say is full of wisdom; my heart is yours E people, and we o astray I only wish for your friendshi+p; but I do not want you to give it toyou solid proofs of my friendshi+p for you In the meanwhile I will tell them to serve dinner, and I hope that after you have eaten so you will be quite well”
I was astonished at her sagacity It ht be to seduce me, but I did not trouble myself about that I found myself almost in love with her, and like to be the dupe of her principles, which would have made themselves felt, even if she had openly shared my love I decided that I would add no fuel to o out of their own accord By leaving ued like a fool
I forgot that it is not possible to stop at friendshi+p with a pretty woman whom one sees constantly, and especially when one suspects her of being in love herself At its height friendshi+p becomes love, and the palliative one is forced to apply to soothe it for a moment only increases its intensity Such was the experience of Anacreon with Smerdis, and Cleobulus with Badyllus A Platonist who pretends that one is able to live with a young wo more than her friend, is a visionary who knows not what he says My housekeeper was too young, too pretty, and above all too pleasant, she had too keen a wit, for me not to be captivated by all these qualities conjoined; I was bound to beco anything about the affair we had at heart, for nothing is erous than to speak in the presence of servants, who out of norance put the worst construction on what they hear; add or die theirbeen entrusted with them
As soon as ere alone, my dear Dubois asked me if I had sufficient proof of Le Duc's fidelity
”Well, ate, full of inorant, a fearful liar, and nobody but ood quality, and that is blind obedience to allows if it were far enough off When I have to ford a river onhim, and jumps in to see if I can across in safety”