For a Pole, I call that firm."
"He will ruin you," said Clementine, in the sharp tone of a Parisian
woman, when she shows her feline distrusts.
"Oh, I know him," said Adam; "he will sacrifice Malaga, if I ask him."
"We shall see," remarked the countess.
"If it is best for his own happiness, I sha'n't hesitate to ask him to
leave her. Constantin says that since Paz has been with her he, sober
as he is, has sometimes come home quite excited. If he takes to
intoxication I shall be just as grieved as if he were my own son."
"Don't tell me anything more about it," cried the countess, with a
gesture of disgust.
Two days later the captain perceived in the manner, the tones of
voice, but, above all, in the eyes of the countess, the terrible
results of Adam's confidences. Contempt had opened a gulf between the
beloved woman and himself. He was suddenly plunged into the deepest
distress of mind, for the thought gnawed him, "I have myself made her
despise me!" His own folly stared him in the face. Life then became a
burden to him, the very sun turned gray. And yet, amid all these
bitter thoughts, he found again some moments of pure joy. There were
times when he could give himself up wholly to his admiration for his
mistress, who paid not the slightest attention to him. Hanging about
in corners at her parties and receptions, silent, all heart and eyes,
he never lost one of her attitudes, nor a tone of her voice when she
sang.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75