The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 70 (2/2)
Esperance had started ”It is nothing,lady?”
”The pretty blonde is the one I h of relief, ”I congratulate you, most warmly You love her?”
”I hardly know I am attracted by her, I adure and her manner Is this love?”
”I have no experience in such matters, you know”
”But you have instinct, which is worth ten times as much as experience
Carmen is an adorable creature, and when I am with her I can think of no one else Twenty ti the decisive words were on my lips”
”And why did you not speak?”
”Ah! that is as e reluctance kept me back--almost a presentiment of evil Do you knohat Iat times”
”But to return to Car her tomisfortune”
”You are not well, perhaps?”
”Bless reatly in love, and yet--”
”Upon my word!” said the Vicomte, ”I can't see what you expect me to say”
”I have not told you all, and I have an adreeable The truth is, I was so carried away by Cared to her?”
”I kissed her, my friend, and I was not repulsed nor reproved She considered the kiss given to her fiance And now, shall I marry her? I tell you, that even when my lips met hers, I felt more sharply than ever the presentiment of which I spoke I know that after what has taken place I ought to apply to her father for her hand Why do I hesitate? I cannot tell”
”Does Monsieur de Laisangy inspire you with absolute confidence?” asked Esperance, after a long pause
The two friends had passed the Arc de Triomphe by this time, and entered the dark shadows of the Bois
”Monsieur de Laisangy seems to have an excellent reputation Bankers are measured by a standard of their own, and public opinion is never very strict in regard to they is rich, but no one says he hasof his past, but have never heard a whisper against him, and yet sometimes he inspires me with absolute repulsion”
”My dear Goutran,” said Esperance, in that grave, steady voice, which was so like his father's, ”I a of life, I have never loved, but it seems to me that I could not speak as you have done, if I felt sincerely or deeply I do not think I could analyze an to speak ive up one's entire being, to live in another You say that you love, that your lips have touched those of whom you have chosen, and that your heart sank at that say!”
At this moment both men heard the report of a pistol
”What is that?” cried Goutran
”Some crime, I fear,” answered his companion