Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 1, 2025
It was by his advice that Paulina Durski altered her line of conduct on taking up her abode in England, and refrained altogether from any active share in the ruinous amusements for which men frequented her receptions.
She looked at the visitor with an inquisitive glance as she entered the room, and approached him softly, with her light, greenish-grey eyes fixed upon his face. "Madame Durski has been suffering from nervous headache all day," she said, "and has not yet risen. Her dinner-hour is half-past six. If your business is really of importance, and if you care to wait, she will be happy to see you then."
Miss Brewer told her dreadful story, as far as she knew it, with perfect truth; and her evidence, together with the evidence of the chemist who had supplied Madame Durski from time to time with the fatal consoler of all her pains and sorrows, made it clear that the luckless woman, lying quietly in the darkened room at Hilton House, had died from an over-dose of opium.
"Madam, I am at the mercy of your perspicuity," said Victor, with a mock bow; "however, a truce to badinage Douglas Dale is a rich man, and very much in love with Madame Durski; but he is the last man in the world to interfere with his cousin, by trying to win her affections, if he believes her attached to Sir Reginald.
Sir Reginald Eversleigh played his cards very cautiously. It was only after he had instilled a taste for gambling into his kinsman's breast that he ventured to introduce him to the fashionable gaming-house presided over by Paulina Durski. The introduction had a sinister effect upon his destiny.
Her hair was of the palest gold darker than flaxen, lighter than auburn hair that waved in sunny undulations on the broad white forehead, and imparted an unspeakable innocence to the beautiful face. Such was Paulina Durski. One charm alone was wanting to render this woman as lovable as she was lovely, and that wan the charm of expression. There was a lack of warmth in that perfect face.
"You will not accept the offer?" "Not unless my great scheme fails at the last moment as it cannot fail as it cannot!" he repeated, with the air of a man who tries to realize a possibility too horrible for imagination. It was very late that night before Paulina Durski, worn out by the emotion she had undergone, could be persuaded to retire to rest.
Paulina had her full share of the feminine love of mystery and intrigue, and she consented at once. "What can the name matter," she thought, "if it is really necessary for this man to be here?" "And there is another consideration which we must take into account," said Victor; "it is this. Mr. This will thoroughly account for my intimacy here. What do you say, Madame Durski?"
"You would find things much changed there now, Caversham, were the lady to favour you by an invitation. When Madame Durski first came to England she was so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of evil counsellors. She has learned since to know her friends from her enemies."
We had both sunk to the same level, and I had no right to reproach him for infamy which I shared. We had little affection for each other. Colonel Durski had sought me only because I was fitted to adorn his reception-rooms, and attract the dupes who were to suffer by their acquaintance with him. But if there was little love between us, we at least never quarrelled.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking