Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 21, 2025
And if a man takes such an idea into his head when his heart has never been touched before, and love begins to be a kind of religion with him, he little knows in what a hell he has set his foot. Armand de Montriveau suddenly took flight and went home in the first hot fever-fit of the first love that he had known.
After half an hour spent in ordinary talk, in which the words gained all their value from her tone and smiles, M. de Montriveau was about to retire discreetly, when the Duchess stopped him with an expressive gesture.
The General's face grew white; he was about to spring to her side, when Mme de Langeais rang the bell, the maid appeared, and, smiling with a mocking grace, the Duchess added, "Be so good as to return when I am visible." Then Montriveau felt the hardness of a woman as cold and keen as a steel blade; she was crushing in her scorn.
Julien went with the note. Julien, like his kind, was the victim of love's marches and countermarches. "What did M. de Montriveau reply?" she asked, as indifferently as she could, when the man came back to report himself. "M. le Marquis requested me to tell Mme la Duchesse that it was all right." Oh the dreadful reaction of the soul upon herself!
It was thus that, wholly absorbed by his happiness, Montriveau understood passion. "We belong to each other forever!" The thought was like a talisman fulfilling the wishes of his life. He did not ask whether the Duchess might not change, whether her love might not last. No, for he had faith. Without that virtue there is no future for Christianity, and perhaps it is even more necessary to society.
Her character for virtue was consolidated while she amused herself with other people's secrets, and kept her own to herself. Yet, after two months of assiduities, she saw with a vague dread in the depths of her soul that M. de Montriveau understood nothing of the subtleties of flirtation after the manner of the Faubourg Saint-Germain; he was taking a Parisienne's coquetry in earnest.
"If my dear niece is wise," said the Princess, "she will go to Court this evening fortunately, today is Monday, and reception day and you must see that we all rally round her and give the lie to this absurd rumour. There are hundreds of ways of explaining things; and if the Marquis de Montriveau is a gentleman, he will come to our assistance. We will bring these children to listen to reason "
"I have just come from Mme de Langeais' house; the servants say that she is out." "Then a great misfortune has happened, no doubt," returned the Vidame, "and through your fault. I left the Duchess at your door " "When?" "At a quarter to eight." "Good evening," returned Montriveau, and he hurried home to ask the porter whether he had seen a lady standing on the doorstep that evening.
Mme de Langeais kept her thoughts to herself, but is it not permissible to suppose that M. de Montriveau was no longer indifferent to her? And has not a man gained ground immensely when a woman thinks about him? He is bound to make progress with her either one way or the other afterwards.
But while Montriveau held her hand as a father might, and led her up and down flights of stairs, he was studying the throbbing pulses of this woman's heart so suddenly invaded by Love. Mme de Langeais, rejoicing in this power of speech, was glad to let him know all; but he was inflexible; his hand was passive in reply to the questionings of her hand.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking