Volume IV Part 92 (1/2)
Her brother and the marquis left the room, and two sedan-chairs I had summoned took off the cousins
As soon as the marquis was alone with me he asked uessed you were going to humiliate me”
”Such was not my intention, and I do not insist; but then you know I shall be huood sense It really costs ive you my word to let you pay for all the parties of pleasure we enjoy together during the carnival We will sup here when you like; you shall invite the company, and I will leave you to pay the bill”
”That arrangement will suit me ad attendant I did not think that such a beauty could exist in Milan unknown to all but you”
”She is a tooman, who kno to keep a secret Do you not?”
”I would rather die than tell anyone that this gentleht; always keep your word, and take this trifle as a souvenir of , which Zenobia received with ht be worth about fifty sequins
When the one, Zenobia undressed ave her twenty-four sequins, and told her she o and comfort her husband
”He won't be uneasy,” said she, ”he is a philosopher”
”He need be with such a pretty wife Kiss ain, Zenobia, and then weme her happiness and her providence Her fiery kisses produced their natural effect, and after I had given her a fresh proof of the power of her charms, she left me and I went to sleep
It o o'clock when I awoke ravenously hungry I had an excellent dinner, and then I dressed to call on the char Mdlle Q----, whom I did not expect to find too hard oncards with the exception of herself She was standing by areading so attentively that she did not hear me come into the room, but when she saw me near her, she blushed, shut up the book, and put it in her pocket
”I will not betray you,” said I, ”or tell anyone that I surprised you reading a prayer-book”
”No, don't; for ht to be a devotee”
”Has there been any talk of the masqued ball or of theelse, and condole with us for not having been to the ball, but no one can guess who the beggars were It seee and four that sped like the wind took thee, and where they went next God alone knows! It is said that ive thears were, as you loaded them with ducats”
”One must let people say and believe what they like and not betray ourselves”
”You are right; and after all we had a delightful evening If you acquit yourself of all commissions in the same way, you must be a wonderful ive me such a commission”
”I to-day, and another to-morrow”
”I see you think I am inconstant, but believe me if I find favour in your eyes your face will ever dwell in irls the same story, and after they have admitted you to their favour you have despised them”
”Pray do not use the word 'despise,' or I shall suppose you think me a monster Beauty seduces iven me from other motives than love that I despise it
How should I despise one who loved me? I should first be compelled to despise myself You are beautiful and I worshi+p you, but you are mistaken if you think that I should be content for you to surrender yourself to me out of mere kindness”