Volume V Part 23 (2/2)
I shut up my jewels and asked the,--
”Sir, I have come to ask you to do me a favour which will cost you but little, while it will be of ihter andLyons at day-break to-morrow”
”I know it, for you said so at dinner; but we shall be ready at any hour Be kind enough to give e I will, of course, pay for a third horse, and will ride post”
”You cannot have seen the carriage”
”Excuse me, I have done so It is, I know, only meant for one, but she could easily squeeze into it I know I a you, but if you were aware of the convenience it would be to ence are taken up to next week, and if I don't get to Paris in six days I ether If I were a rich man I would post, but that would cost four hundred francs, and I cannot afford to spend so ence tohter bound to the roof You see, sir, the idea makes her weep, and I don't like it irl, and found her too pretty for me to keep within bounds if I travelled alone with her I was sad, and the tor from Marcoline had ht have siht this resolve necessary for irl,” I said tothat I should fall in love with her if I yield to the father's request, and I do not wish for any such result”
I turned to the father and said,--
”I sympathize with you sincerely; but I really don't see what I can do for you without causing reatest inconvenience”
”Perhaps you think that I shall not be able to ride so many posts in succession, but you needn't be afraid on that score:”
”The horse ht have a fall, and I know that I should feel obliged to stop, and I aent one, I am sorry, for to me it appears unanswerable”
”Let us run the risk, sir, at all events”
”There is a still greater risk of which I can tell you nothing In brief, sir, you ask what is iirl, with a voice and a look that would have pierced a heart of stone, ”rescue ence! The very ideaoff all the way; besides, there is sorant me this favour, and I will sit at your feet so as not to discomfort you”
”This is too much! You do not know me, mademoiselle I am neither cruel nor ih ive way you ret it afterwards, and I do not wish that to happen” Then, turning to the father, I said,--
”A post-chaise costs six Louis Here they are; take them I will put off my departure for a few hours, if necessary, to answer for the chaise, supposing you are not known here, and an extra horse will cost four Louis take the two places in the diligence”
”You are very kind, sir, but I cannot accept your gift I am not worthy of it, and I should be still less worthy if I accepted the ive us, sir, if we have wasted half an hour of your time
Come, ged him to wait, as her sobs al received one look froer, and said,
”Calm yourself, mademoiselle It shall never be said that I remained unmoved while beauty wept I yield to your request, for if I did not I should not be able to sleep all night But I accede on one condition,”
I added, turning to her father, ”and that is that you sit at the back of the carriage”
”Certainly; but what is to become of your servant?”
”He will ride on in front Everything is settled Go to bed now, and be ready to start at six o'clock”
”Certainly, but you will allow me to pay for the extra horse?”