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In the house I am friends with all with Lisa who has gone with Mademoiselle Mathilde who has gone with Mademoiselle Desiree, so-called Madame Darragon, who remains. With all except you. Why should we not be friends?" "But we are friends " protested Sebastian, with a bow.
A certain sort of friendship seemed to exist between Charles Darragon and Colonel de Casimir not without patronage on one side and a slightly constraining sense of obligation on the other. It was de Casimir who had introduced Charles to Mathilde Sebastian at a formal reception at General Rapp's. Charles, of course, fell in love with Mathilde, and out again after half-an-hour's conversation.
He asked me if I was Russki I! Then he wanted to hold my hand. And he went to sleep. He will wake among the angels that parishioner." Not only had no one heard of Charles Darragon, but few knew the name of the commander to whose staff he had been attached in Moscow. There was nothing for it but to go on towards Kowno, where it was understood temporary head-quarters had been established.
"You know that Madame Darragon has an elder sister, Mademoiselle Mathilde Sebastian?" "Yes." De Casimir raised himself on his elbows again, with an effort, and gave a short, half shamefaced laugh which was quite genuine. It was odd that Mathilde and he, who had walked most circumspectly, should both have been tripped up, as it were, by love.
"That is hardly the question," he interrupted; "I was thinking of your displeasure. But I have an excuse, I assure you. I only ask a moment to tell you that I have heard from Konigsberg that Charles Darragon is in good health there, and is moving forward with the advance-guard to the frontier."
"How long will you be here?" asked Desiree, who was eminently practical. A billet was a misfortune which Charles Darragon had hitherto succeeded in warding off. He had some small influence as an officer of the head-quarters' staff. Barlasch held up a reproving hand. The question, he seemed to think, was not quite delicate. "I pay my own," he said. "Give and take that is my motto.
And Desiree did not deny her meaning. Sebastian looked from one to the other. It was the irony of Fate that had married one of his daughters to Charles Darragon, and affianced the other to De Casimir. His own secret, so well kept, had turned in his hand like a concealed weapon. They were all startled by Barlasch, who spoke from the kitchen door, where he had been standing unobserved or forgotten.
One of them being addressed to you, furnishes a clue to their owner, who must have dropped them in the hurry of the advance. Should Captain Charles Darragon be your husband, I have the pleasure to inform you that he was seen alive and well at the end of the day." The writer assured Desiree of his respectful consideration, and wrote "Surgeon" after his name.
So Charles Darragon was permitted to pay his addresses to Desiree in the somewhat formal manner of a day which, upon careful consideration, will be found to have been no more foolish than the present. He made no inquiries respecting Desiree's parentage. It was Desiree he wanted, and that was all. They understood the arts of love and war in the great days of the Empire.
He finished the thought with three gestures, which seemed to illustrate the placing of a man against a wall and shooting him. His meaning could not be mistaken. "And that is what the patron means when he says that Monsieur Charles Darragon will not return to Dantzig. I knew that he meant that last night, when he was so angry on the mat." "And why did you not tell me?"
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