Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 15, 2025
The new-comer entered without any ceremony the notary's office, who was in a very thoughtful and splenetic mood, and who said to him very roughly, "I reserve the afternoon for my clients; when you wish to speak to me, come in the morning." "What fears?" "Do you not know?" "What?" "My duel with the Duke de Lucenay. Are you ignorant of it?" "Yes." "Really?" "Why this duel?"
"I do not wish to make your lordship haggle, so I say the lowest is forty-two thousand francs." "Gentlemen!" cried Lucenay, "let us admire D'Harville in silence. To arrange a surprise for his wife for forty-two thousand francs! The devil! don't go and noise that abroad; it will be a detestable example." "Laugh as much as you please, gentlemen," said the marquis, gayly.
By one of those strange contradictions of human nature at the sight of the hideous face of M. Ferrand, at the mere thought of what his conditions might be, Madame de Lucenay, notwithstanding her inquietudes and troubles, burst out in a laugh so frank, so loud, so mirthful, that the notary recoiled confounded.
Madame d'Harville came to me because she had seen these words, 'Write to Madame de Lucenay, traced on the fragment of a letter which this unhappy woman had written to a person unknown, whose aid she entreated." "She intended to write to you! Why?" "I am ignorant; I do not know her." "But she knew you!" cried Saint Remy, struck with a sudden idea. "What do you say?"
Hatred, envy, a kind of burning, savage resentment kindled in his looks, on his forehead, and his cheeks the most shameful and wicked passions. Seeing Madame de Lucenay on the point of commencing a conversation so delicate, he expected on her part some turnings, expedients. What was his surprise!
"Since we have the happiness to enjoy a representative government," said the Duke de Lucenay, "ought not the country to vote a million a year to Saint Remy, and charge him to represent at Paris French taste and fashion, which would thus decide the fashion of Europe and the world?" "Adopted!" was cried in chorus.
M. de Lucenay ought to have a certain influence: for, on the days when I go to dine with my great Aunt de Montbrison, he gives a dinner at home to some deputies; this is not done without some motive; this inconvenience must be paid for by some probable advantage. Once more, if we can serve you, command us.
Extending his arm toward the room where his son remained, the old man smiled with bitter irony, cast a withering look on Madame de Lucenay, and seemed to say to her: "Behold him for whom you have braved all shame, made every sacrifice! Behold him you have reproached me for abandoning!" The duchess understood the look; for a moment she hung her head under the weight of her shame.
I am afraid that even this will be in vain." For some minutes Madame de Lucenay had listened to the count with redoubled attention; suddenly she said, "Truly, it would be singular if these should be the same as those Madame d'Harville is so much interested for." "Who?" asked the count. "The widow of whom you speak is still young, and of a noble presence?" "She is so. But how do you know?"
"Are you vexed that I go out this morning so early?" asked Madame d'Harville, quickly, astonished at the tone of his voice. "If you ask it, I will put off my visit to Madame de Lucenay."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking