Volume IV Part 8 (1/2)
”That's fine I see I ae You would do well to beco a fool as you think”
”I a for a walk; mind you don't leave my room for a moment”
I had scarcely shut the door when the chevalier accosted me and overwhelmed me with thanks
”Sir, I don't knohat you are referring”
He thankedby the banks of the Rhone, which geographers say is theat the ancient bridge At dinner-time I went back to the inn, and as the landlord knew that I paid six francs a meal he treated me to an exquisite repast Here, I ree It was so delicious that I drank nothing else I wished to ed the landlord to procure uide, and after I had dressed I went to the theatre
I found the Astrodi at the door, and giving her ate Salviati, who came in a little later, surrounded by a nuentleold lace
The so-called father of the false Astrodi caed me to say that she was the celebrated Astrodi I had known at Paris I replied, also in a whisper, that I would not run the risk of being posted as a liar by bolstering up an ientle; he must think his confidence confers an honour
At the end of the first act a score of lackeys in the prince's livery took round ices to the front boxes I thought it entleman, as fair as love, came up to me, and with easy politeness askedthe honour to know anyone here, I did not care that anyone should be able to say that he had regaled one as unknown to him”
”But you, sir, are a man who needs no introduction”
”You doat the 'St O here to see Vaucluse, where I think of going to-uide”
”If you would do hted
My nauard”
”I feel the honour you dooffer I will put off my start till your arrival”
”I will be with you at seven”
I was astonished at the easy grace of this young Adonis, who irl if the tone of his voice had not announced hiswas as poor as her face, and who kept staring at arded , which must have made the audience notice me, and doubtless pity my bad taste
The voice and eyes of one actress pleasedand tall, but hunchbacked to an extraordinary degree She was tall in spite of her enormous humps, and if it had not been for this h Besides her pleasing eyes and very tolerable voice I fancied that, like all hunchbacks, she was intelligent I found her at the door with the ugly Astrodi when I was leaving the theatre
The latter aiting to thanktickets for her benefit
After the Astrodi had thanked irl turned towards me, and with a smile that stretched from ear to ear and displayed at least twenty-four exquisite teeth, she said that she hoped I would honour her by being present at her benefit
”If I don't leave before it comes off, I will,” I replied
At this the i of several ladies waiting for their carriages told ht be sure of ht
”Give hiave her two louis Then in a lower voice the Astrodi said, ”After the shoill come and sup with you, but on the condition that you ask nobody else, as ant to be alone”
In spite of a feeling of anger, I thought that such a supper-party would be a, and as no one in the town knew h