Part 19 (2/2)
What do you mean by whatever may happen?
G.o.dLER.
We never know! The human heart....
JOHN.
You believe me so weak, so much in love, and so base as to pardon this woman after what she has done! You know perfectly well that you despise me. It is my fault. My past weakness gives you the right to believe anything of me.
G.o.dLER.
I believe nothing, I suppose nothing, but the whole thing appears to me very obscure, and pa.s.sion, perhaps, has made you see things that do not exist. All I know is, that yesterday, in this house, Nourvady, before leaving us, spoke a long while in a low tone to the Countess. I heard nothing, but Trevele was relating all sorts of nonsense to me, and I was supposed to be listening to it....
TReVELe.
Continue.
G.o.dLER.
I looked unperceived at the Countess de Hun. Not only did she not listen with interest to her interlocutor, but two or three times her att.i.tude and looks were indicative of anger. She threw something violently out of this window. I do not know what--a note, a trinket, a ring perhaps; and when Nourvady took leave of her, she said,--The insolent fellow! (_To_ TReVELe.) Is it true?
TReVELe.
It is quite true....
JOHN.
She changed her mind afterwards. Night brings counsel: and she is only all the more guilty, as she knew very well what she was doing. Do not speak of her any more, I shall have to think enough about it for the rest of my life, which fortunately will not be long. At present I am going away, as I have no money, and must go and look for some.
G.o.dLER.
My dear fellow!...
JOHN.
You understand, without my telling you, that I ask you for none, and that I should accept none. I confide in you because you are the only persons that I can consider at all as friends in our station, where one has so few; and what you do not give me out of friends.h.i.+p, you give me in esteem and compa.s.sion.
(G.o.dLER _and_ TReVELe _take him warmly by the hand_.)
TReVELe.
But the Countess, where is she?
JOHN.
She is, no doubt, in her house in the Champs Elysees.
TReVELe.
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