Volume III Part 73 (2/2)

He neither boasted of nor concealed his knowledge, but let it run like a lih the meadows He talked well, but never absorbed the conversation He never spoke of his works; when someone mentioned them he would turn the conversation as soon as he conveniently could He was sorry to be obliged to contradict anyone who conversed with him

When I reached Lausanne I found nito for a day at any rate I naturally gave the first place to ht toto ask h which I had to pass

I found her with her mother, but I was not a little astonished to see Lebel there also However, my surprisefrom her seat with a cry of joy, threw her ar kissed me affectionately presented me to her worthy mother, elcomed me in the friendliesthe had been at Lausanne

He replied, with a polite and respectful air, that his master was quite well, and that he had come to Lausanne on business, and had only been there a few hours; and that, wishi+ng to pay his regards to Madame Dubois's hter there as well

”You know,” he added, ”what o back to-morrow, and when you have made up your minds, write to me and I will come and take her to Soleure, where I will marry her”

He could not have spoken more plainly or honourably I said that I would never oppose the will ofme, said in her turn that she would never leave me until I sent her away

Lebel found these replies too vague, and told ive him a definite reply, since in such cases uncertainty spoils all At that ree to his wishes, and I told him that in ten days I would let him know of our resolution, whatever it was At that he was satisfied, and left us

After his departure ood sense stood her instead of wit, talked to us in a manner that answered our inclinations, for, areed that ht, and that we could talk over our reply with our heads on the pillow

My Dubois had a separate rooave ht In thewe felt more in love than ever, and were not at all disposed to comply with Lebel's wishes Nevertheless, we had a serious conversation

The reader will remember that my mistress had promised to pardon my infidelities, provided that I confessed them I had none to confess, but in the course of conversation I told her about Raton

”We ought to think ourselves very fortunate,” said she, ”for if it had not been for chance, we should have been in a fine state now”

”Yes, and I should be in despair”

”I don't doubt it, and you would be all the more wretched as I should never coainst such a misfortune When I have been unfaithful to you I will punishyou proofs of er”

”Ah! you would punish me for your faults, would you? If you love me as I love you, believe me you would find a better remedy than that”

”What is that?”

”You would never be unfaithful to ht I am sorry I was not the first to think of this plan, which I promise to follow for the future”

”Don't ht prove too difficult to keep them”

It is only love which can inspire such conversations, but unfortunately it gains nothing by the out to take my letters, the Baron de Bercei, uncle of my friend Bavois, entered

”I know,” said he, ”thatto be eneral, and I and all the family will be enchanted to make your acquaintance I have co that you will dine with me to-day, and on any other day you please when you have nothing better to do, and I hope you will always consider yourself of the fa of you not to tell anybody thatto the prejudices of the country it would be a dishonour which would reflect on the whole family”

I accepted his invitation, and pro about the circumstance he had mentioned

I left my letters of introduction, and I received everywhere a welcoalerie appeared the most amiable of all the ladies I called on, but I had not time to pay my court to one more than another Every day politeness called me to some dinner, supper, ball, or assembly I was bored beyond measure, and I felt inclined to say how troublesoht in the little tohere everyone prides himself on his liberty, and in all my life I have never experienced such a slavery, for I had not a ht with ed to set off with her for Geneva Everybody would give me letters of introduction for M de Voltaire, and by their eagerness one would have thought the great man beloved, whereas all detested him on account of his sarcastic huood-natured, polite, and affable to you who have been kind enough to act in his plays with hiru to please him: here it is a bad pronunciation, there a tone not sufficiently passionate, sometimes one speaks too softly, so What a hubbub there is if one add a syllable, or if sohtens us So and so laughed badly; so and so in Alzire had only pretended to weep”

”Does he want you to weep really?”