Part 3 (2/2)
”But of importance to yourself, monsieur, or to me?”
”To us both, I hope,” he answered her, a world ofin his fine, ardent eyes
”You whet my curiosity, monsieur; and, of course, I am a dutiful niece
It follows that I shall be honoured to receive you”
”Not honoured, mademoiselle; you will confer the honour To-morrow at this hour, then, I shall have the felicity to wait upon you”
He bowed again; and again he bore her fingers to his lips, what time she curtsied Thereupon, with noof the ice, they parted
She was a little breathless now, a little dazzled by the beauty of the man, his princely air, and the confidence of power he seemed to radiate
Involuntarily almost, she contrasted him with his critic--the lean and impudent Andre-Louis in his plain brown coat and steel-buckled shoes--and she felt guilty of an unpardonable offence in having permitted even one word of that presumptuous criticisreat position, a great rank And already she had derogated fro to her froreat an eain would she be so weak and childish as to permit Andre-Louis to utter his ribald comments upon a man by comparison houed vanity and ambition with her better self and to her vast annoyance her better self would not admit entire conviction
Meanwhile, M de La Tour d'Azyr was clie He had spoken a word of farewell to M de Kercadiou, and he had also had a word for M de Vilmorin in reply to which M de Vile rolled away, the powdered footold very stiff behind it, M de La Tour d'Azyr bowing to mademoiselle, aved to hih that of Andre Louis, and said to him, ”Come, Andre”
”But you'll stay to dine, both of you!” cried the hospitable Lord of Gavrillac ”We'll drink a certain toast,” he added, winking an eye that strayed towards ood soul that he was
M de Vil himself the honour He was very stiff and formal
”And you, Andre?”
”I? Oh, I share the appointainst toasts” He had no wish to re reception of M de La Tour d'Azyr and the sordid bargain he saw her set onfrom the loss of an illusion
CHAPTER III THE ELOQUENCE OF M DE VILMORIN
As they walked down the hill together, it was now M de Vilmorin as silent and preoccupied, Andre-Louis as talkative He had chosen Woman as a subject for his present discourse He claimed--quite unjustifiably--to have discovered Wos he had to say of the sex were unflattering, and occasionally al ascertained the subject, did not listen Singular though itFrench abbe of his day, M de Vilmorin was not interested in Woman Poor Philippe was in several ways exceptional
Opposite the Breton are of Gavrillac--M de Vil to the dizziest heights of caustic invective, and Andre-Louis, restored thereby to actualities, observed the carriage of M de La Tour d'Azyr standing before the door of the hostelry
”I don't believe you've been listening to me,” said he
”Had you been less interested in what you were saying, you ht have observed it sooner and spared your breath The fact is, you disappoint otten ent for I have an appointment here with M le Marquis He desires to hear me further in theThe time was ill-chosen as it happened But I have hopes of M le Marquis”
”Hopes of what?”
”That he will make what reparation lies in his power Provide for theand the orphans Why else should he desire to hear me further?”