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A slight, almost inaudible movement took place beneath the table. Servigny resumed: "Mam'zelle Yvette, you will make me believe that you are in love if you keep on being as good as that. Now, with whom could you be in love? Let us think together, if you will; I put aside the army of vulgar sighers. I'll only take the principal ones. Is it Prince Kravalow?"
You will see among them a Frenchman, Monsieur de Belvigne; a Russian, called Prince Kravalow, and an Italian, Chevalier Valreali, who have all announced their candidacies and who are consequently maneuvering to the best of their ability. In addition to these there are several freebooters of less importance. The Marquise waits and watches. But I think that she has views about me.
Prince Kravalow was telling how he had killed an Austrian general in a duel. Then, further off, in the fields, she heard the noise of the night, the occasional barkings of a dog, the short cry of the frogs, the almost imperceptible rustling of the leaves. She took the bottle again, and saturated once more the little piece of wadding; then she began to breathe in the fumes again.
"Why, of course, Mam'zelle." "But truly, truly, now?" "Absolutely your friend, Mam'zelle, body and soul." "Even enough of a friend not to lie to me once, just once?" "Even twice, if necessary." "Even enough to tell me the absolute, exact truth?" "Yes, Mam'zelle." "Well, what do you think, way down in your heart, of the Prince of Kravalow?" "Ah, the devil!"
"You see that you are already preparing to lie." "Not at all, but I am seeking the words, the proper words. Great Heavens, Prince Kravalow is a Russian, who speaks Russian, who was born in Russia, who has perhaps had a passport to come to France, and about whom there is nothing false but his name and title." She looked him in the eyes: "You mean that he is ?" "An adventurer, Mam'zelle."
Servigny took Saval's arm and drew him away: "That is the latest serious suitor, Prince Kravalow. Isn't she superb?" "To my mind they are both superb. The mother would suffice for me perfectly," answered Saval. Servigny nodded and said: "At your disposal, my dear boy." The dancers elbowed them aside, as they were forming for a quadrille. "Now let us go and see the sharpers," said Servigny.
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