Part 27 (1/2)

Lucile's eyes had follow'd his own, and discern'd The boast they implied.

He repeated, ”And you?”

And, still watching Matilda, she answer'd, ”I too.”

And he thought, as with that word she left him, she sigh'd.

The next moment her place she resumed by the side Of Matilda; and they soon shook hands at the gate Of the selfsame hotel.

x.x.x.

One depress'd, one elate, The Duke and Lord Alfred again, thro' the glooms Of the thick linden alley, return'd to the Rooms.

His cigar each had lighted, a moment before, At the inn, as they turn'd, arm-in-arm, from the door.

Ems cigars do not cheer a man's spirits, experto (Me miserum quoties!) crede Roberto.

In silence, awhile, they walk'd onward.

At last The Duke's thoughts to language half consciously pa.s.s'd.

LUVOIS.

Once more! yet once more!

ALFRED.

What?

LUVOIS.

We meet her, once more, The woman for whom we two madmen of yore (Laugh, mon cher Alfred, laugh!) were about to destroy Each other!

ALFRED.

It is not with laughter that I Raise the ghost of that once troubled time. Say! can you Recall it with coolness and quietude now?

LUVOIS.

Now? yes! I, mon cher, am a true Parisien: Now, the red revolution, the tocsin, and then The dance and the play. I am now at the play.

ALFRED.

At the play, are you now? Then perchance I now may Presume, Duke, to ask you what, ever until Such a moment, I waited...

LUVOIS.

Oh! ask what you will.

Franc jeu! on the table my cards I spread out.

Ask!

ALFRED.

Duke, you were called to a meeting (no doubt You remember it yet) with Lucile. It was night When you went; and before you return'd it was light.