Volume IV Part 80 (2/2)
”Yes, but I hope to see you at the ball in the evening”
Zenobia's betrothed brought me my domino, and the countess had hers already As the ball did not begin till the opera was over, I went to hear Therese's singing In the interval between the acts I lost another two hundred sequins, and then went home to dress for the ball The countess said that if I would be kind enough to take her to the ball in e and fetch her home in it, she would not send for the Marquis Triulzi's I replied that I was at her service
Under the iiven me the preference to enable lad to give her the dress, and that the only condition was that I should spent a night with her
”You insult me cruelly,” said she, ”you must know , ; you can easily forgive me if you pluck up a little spirit; traet the dress, and ”
”That it all very hen one is in love, but youis more likely to make me hate you than love you”
”I use that style, because I want to come to the point; I have no time to waste And you, countess, hted to haveat your feet”
”It would be all the same to reed on one point at all events, for I love you no more than you love me”
”And yet you would spend a thousand sequins for the pleasure of passing a night with me”
”Not at all, I don't want to sleep with you for the sake of the pleasure, but to mortify your infernal pride, which becomes you so ill”
God knohat the fierce Spaniard would have answered, but at that e stopped at the door of the theatre We parted, and after I had got tired of threading -rooain the money I had lost I had ood credit at the bank, but I certainly didI had I sat down at Canano's bank, and noticing that the poor count, who followed ht I should have a lucky evening I only punted on one card, and spent four hours without losing or gaining Towards the end, wishi+ng to force fortune's favour, I lost rapidly, and left all my money in the hands of the banker I went back to the ball-room, where the countess rejoined e, she said,--
”You lost an iive you a thousand sequins, and theyou luck”
”And you, too, for I suppose you will have the dress?”
”Maybe”
”No, madam, you shall never have it in this way, and you know the other
I despise a thousand sequins”
”And I despise you and your presents”
”You may despise me as much as you please, and you may be sure I despise you”
With these polite expressions we reached the house When I got toface, as if he wanted to pity ave hiive you a thousand sequins; that will fit you up again”
”For the dress you ive it to your wife, but she said she would despise it, co from my hands”
”You astonish hty teet the thousand sequins”
”I will let you know to-morrow”