United States or Mexico ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Listen: I am entrusted with a prodigious sum in cash by a political organization, the headquarters of which in France are here, at the old marchioness's a veteran puller of the wires that move the European puppets. They have practically seized my German bands, and unless I retake them at the head of a column of victorious French, I may as well say good-bye to them.
Odo's glimpse of the square at Oropa told him that here was a band of strolling players such as Cantapresto had talked of on the ride back to Donnaz. Don Gervaso's instructions and the old Marchioness's warning against the theatre were present enough in the boy's mind to add a touch of awe to the curiosity with which he observed these strange objects of the Church's reprobation.
"What was it?" asked Strozzi, breathless with expectation. "The Canale Grande was so crowded with splendid gondolas that it was hard to say what had attracted the marchioness's attention. But after a moment or two of waiting, Mademoiselle Victorine saw that one of the gondolas was stationary just opposite to the palace." "Whose gondola? Who was in it?" cried Strozzi, imperiously.
But when one spends double one's income every year, you know " The landlord stopped short, to call Lecoq's attention to two ladies who were passing along the street, one of them, a woman of forty, dressed in black; the other, a girl half-way through her teens. "There," quoth the wine-seller, "goes the marchioness's granddaughter, Mademoiselle Claire, with her governess, Mademoiselle Smith."
And as to that pretty Franceska, who had blossomed into the flower of the flock, he foresaw heart- break for her when he watched the Marchioness's countenance on hearing that her son had accepted Sir Ferdinand's invitation to cruise to-morrow in the yacht. Vainly was Ivinghoe reminded of the agricultural dinner. He was only too glad to escape it, and besides, he thought he could be there in time.
The elder one, on leaving the marchioness's service, had shaken her fist in her face, feeling secure with the secrets in her knowledge, and told her that she would repent having dismissed her and her sister, and that she would make a clean breast of the whole affair, even were she to be hung first.
I read the marchioness's sonnet, and found it easy, flowing, and well written. It was composed in praise of the King of Prussia, who had just conquered Silesia by a masterly stroke. It is impossible for a man accustomed to write poetry to abstain when a happy subject smiles upon his delighted imagination. If he attempted to smother the poetical flame running through his veins it would consume him.
The magic edifice of his hopes had crumbled beneath the weight of this man's words as completely as if it were some frail house of cards erected by a child. He had only sufficient strength to murmur: "Nothing nothing at all." Then, as he could endure this torture of uncertainty no longer, he went toward the marchioness's house and rang the bell.
Her husband did remember this circumstance; and in recording his recollection, he exchanged a significant glance with his wife. "Now," said the detective, "I should like to have this marchioness's address." "She lives in the Faubourg St. Germain," replied Madame Doisty, "near the Esplanade des Invalides." Lecoq had refrained from any sign of satisfaction while he was in the jeweler's presence.
But I did not dare say that; my tongue remained silent, and I passed my arm round the Marchioness's waist, in order to support her more easily. Alas! I had made a mistake; perhaps an irreparable one. In that supreme moment it was but too true that I adored her seductive charms. Let me cut it short.
Word Of The Day