Volume I Part 16 (2/2)
”Well, yes, I was Edmond's mistress, I still am; for, if he has had a caprice for you, it's not what can be called love!”
”Really! you believe that? you think that a man may not love me? Well!
you are mistaken, my dear; on the contrary, he loves me dearly, he adores me; he told me so just now.”
”Listen, girl, remember what I am going to say.”
”If it's a song you are going to teach me, I'll remember it if I know the tune.”
”Don't jest, for my words are most serious.”
”I don't care if they are; I am never serious myself.”
”I forbid you--do you understand?--I forbid you to go to Edmond's rooms again; and if you disobey me, beware! you have no idea to what length jealousy may drive me.”
”If it could drive you home to bed now, what an excellent thing it would be!”
”You have heard me--and you will obey.”
”Not much! This was a foolish step of yours, my dear; for I have quarrelled with Edmond and I didn't intend to see him again; just a minute ago he begged me to go to supper with him, and I refused; but now that you forbid me to--oh! that puts a different face on the matter; I will accept. I'll make it up with him, and we'll be like turtle-doves again.”
”Beware! don't drive me to extremities, you little strumpet!”
”Oh! if I'm a little strumpet, you're a big one! Let me tell you that I snap my finger at you and your threats; and to prove it, there's Edmond now, looking everywhere for me, and I'm going with him.”
Edmond Didier was, in fact, coming toward them; he was still looking for his little _debardeur_. Mademoiselle Amelia ran to him and seized his arm, saying:
”I'm not angry any more, dear boy; I love you more than ever, and I'll go to supper with you. You're glad of that, aren't you?”
The young man, thunderstruck by the sudden change that had taken place in the grisette's humor, stared at her and tried to read in her eyes whether she really meant what she said.
But she continued:
”You're surprised that I am not sulky any longer? Well! who do you suppose you owe it to? I'll tell you; it's that tall mouse-gray domino who's looking at us over there, and glaring at me as if she'd shoot me!
She forbade me to go with you! That instantly made me want to do it.”
Edmond looked at the masker the girl pointed out; it was a fact that in the eyes which were fixed upon his companion and himself there was a gleam which had in it something fascinating. Those eyes were easily recognizable, for, as Monsieur Beauregard had said, there were no others at the ball which could be compared with them.
Edmond divined therefore who the person was who glared at him so, and, in spite of himself, he was disturbed and embarra.s.sed for a moment beneath Thelenie's burning glance.
”Oh!” he stammered, ”that domino told you--forbade you to speak to me, did she?”
”Yes, she's one of your old ones, you must recognize her. Madame is jealous, but I don't care a fig! You're through with her, I hope. At all events, I'm not jealous--I'm no such fool! I prefer to dance. You are going to galop with me.”
The pearl-gray domino, whose eyes were still fixed on the young couple, suddenly walked toward them, stopped beside Edmond and said in an undertone:
<script>