Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 24, 2025
Of course, it will give me the greatest pleasure to dine tete-a-tete with you!" He was, perhaps, a shade too impressive, but Madame Christophor, as all women who greatly desire to read in a man's words what they choose to find there, hesitated. Finally, with a shrug of the shoulders, she turned away from the bell. "Three is such an impossible number," she declared, with well-assumed carelessness.
A curious expression of relief took the place of that appearance of strained anxiety. Her face became natural once more. She laid down the menu and took a sip of wine from her glass. Kendricks looked across at Julien and raised his glass to his lips. "We will drink, my dear Julien," he said, "to your visit to Madame Christophor, and what may come of it!"
"Madame Christophor," he said, "you are very kind, but I tell you frankly that I should accept your proposition with more pleasure if you had been of my own sex." "You have become a woman-hater?" "I cannot trust a woman," he answered coldly. "All the time I have the feeling of insecurity.
Madame Christophor looked steadfastly at her visitor. Was it her fancy or was he really growing older, this man of iron? The story of the last few weeks was written into his face, there were shadows under his eyes, a deep line across his forehead. "Since you are here, be seated," she invited, sinking herself wearily into a chair. "Tell me as quickly as you can what has brought you?"
"Dear Madame Christophor," he said earnestly, "you have been so kind to me, you have shown so much interest always in my doings and my troubles. Why not tell me something of your own life? I have felt so much the benefit of your sympathy. Is there nothing in the world I could do for you?" She sighed. "No person in the world," she declared, "could help me; certainly not one of your sex.
"You know, I want to be your secretary, Madame Christophor, if you will let me. My mother has entirely cast me off, so it doesn't matter." The Duchess made a most piquant gesture. It was really an insufferable position, but she was determined to remain graceful. "My dear Madame Christophor," she said, "you have no grown-up children, of course, so I cannot ask for your sympathy.
Herr Freudenberg has made one attempt upon me and has failed. I do not think that he is likely to risk everything by any open assaults. In these civilized days of the police, the telephone and the law courts, one is not so much at the mercy of a strong man as in the old days. I do not fear Herr Freudenberg." Madame Christophor shrugged her shoulders.
"This is Julien Portel," he answered. "Who is it speaking?" "I am Henriette Christophor," the voice replied. "I had word from England, Sir Julien Portel, that you were coming to see me." "I shall do myself that honor," Julien assured her, "before I leave Paris." "You were not polite," the voice continued, "that you did not come this afternoon."
"There is a plainer issue before us. In passing my threshold you have broken your word of honor. What do you want?" "I want Julien Portel!" Madame Christophor shrugged her shoulders. "You have wanted him for some little time." "Never so badly as at this instant," Falkenberg declared bitterly. "He has set all Europe in a ferment with those infernal letters. He knows too much.
"I wonder if he, too," Julien murmured, "has to call on Madame Christophor?" The whistle sounded. Kendricks put out his great hands. "Good luck to you, Julien, old fellow!" he said. "Stand up to life like a man and look it in the face. I tell you I haven't been gassing to-night. I'd hate to pose as a moralist, but I do believe that misfortunes are often blessings in disguise.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking