Volume III Part 83 (1/2)
”But,” said she, laughing, ”you have only got to stay”
”Give me some hope, and I will stay till to-s more quietly”
I contentedas usual only to yield to violence, when I was obliged to restrain myself on the appearance of her husband, who took the precaution ofa noise before he cahtest perturbation, ”I have persuaded the gentleman to stay tell the day after to-morrow”
”I am all the more pleased to hear it, e”
With these words he took up a pack of cards, which came as readily to his hands as if they had been placed there on purpose, and seating hian to deal
I could not draw back, and astill they came to tell me dinner was ready
”I have no time to dress,” said the lady, ”so I will have entlemen will keep me company”
How could I refuse? The husband went out to order the dinner, and feeling myself authorized by the loss of twenty Louis, I told the hussy that if she would not give o ahen I had hadWe shall be alone”
After receiving from her certain earnests of her promise, I promised to stay on
We dined by her bedside, and I told Le Duc that I should not be going till the afternoon of the next day, which made the husband and wife radiant When we had done, the lady said she would like to get up; and I went out, pro to return and play piquet with her I proceeded to reline my purse, and I met Desarave her coachman two Louis to substitute a sick horse for his own”
”It's a ive and take,” said I; ”I a off ot all I want out of her”
”I am afraid you will have to pay pretty dearly for your pleasure
However, I will do what I can for your interests”
I thanked hiht o'clock under pretext of a violent headache, after having lost ten louis to her I re at nine o'clock, and I left her in the ht as I walked towards the peasant's house, where I was to see my dear M---- M---- once more I was impatient to see what the visit, on which the rest offorth
I had taken the precaution to provideat my side, for I was not wholly devoid of suspicion in this place, where there were so e I saw the wo towards me She told me that the nun could not coh the , by means of a ladder which she had placed there for the purpose
I drew near, and not seeing any light I should not have easily decided on going up, if I had not heard the voice I thought I kneell, saying, ”Fear nothing; coh up, and there could not be ht for certain that I held my dear M---- M---- in my arms, as I covered her face with my ardent kisses
”Why,” said I, in Venetian, ”have you not a light? I hope you are going to inform me of an event which seems wonderful to me; quick, dearest, satisfy uessher voice close to me I found that she was not M---- M---- She told me that she did not understand Venetian, and that I did not require a light to tell her what M de Coudert had decided on doing to save her from her peril
”You surprise me; I do not know M de Coudert What! Are you not a Venetian? Are you not the nun I saw this ?”
”Hapless one! I have , but I aone, for I have nothing to say to you! Whisper, for if the lay-sister woke up I should be undone”
”Do not be afraid of my discretion What deceived me was your exact likeness to a nun of your order ill be always dear to me: and if you had not allowed ive the tenderness I shewed towards you, though you must think me very audacious”
”You astonished me very much, but you did not offend me I wish I were the nun in whom you are interested I am on the brink of a fearful precipice”
”If ten louis are any good to you, it will be an honour for ive you theive you back the louis you sent ”
”The louis was for the country-woman You increase my surprise; pray tell me what is the misfortune under which you labour, for which ”